After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 2

Clearly, Xie Rong’s brief appraisal couldn’t satisfy the curiosity of her two other roommates, but unfortunately, Xie Rong couldn’t provide any more information after all, her interaction with the fourth person was brief, only a first encounter.

Although the other two were disappointed, they were happy to learn that their new roommate was a beautiful older sister in any case, beautiful people must be kind, right?

And since she was an Alpha, a beautiful Alpha was a sight for sore eyes.

As for any other information, they would have to wait until they arrived at the dorm to investigate.

After finishing her meal, Xie Rong returned her tray and left the cafeteria without hesitation.

Once outside, she finally seemed to relax, letting out a sigh and supporting her forehead with her hand.

Fortunately, there weren’t many people eating just now, and no one sat at the same table as her, otherwise Xie Rong would truly go crazy. But even so, the mixed scents of various pheromones in the restaurant were already making her feel a little uncomfortable.

Alpha’s, Omega’s… all kinds.

Although everyone was good about using suppressants and didn’t deliberately release their pheromones aggressively, for Xie Rong, with her sensitive sense of smell, she still couldn’t quite accept so many pheromones mixed with the smell of food.

So many complex smells perhaps they would be pleasant if separated, but mixed together, they turned into a less than pleasant odor.

Thinking of this, Xie Rong’s mind drifted for a moment, recalling Qi Musi’s pheromone.

Although the other party was also an Alpha, and she made no effort to conceal or suppress her pheromones, her pheromone scent actually seemed… rather good.

At least it was very fresh.

Xie Rong quickly dismissed the thought, as she wasn’t interested in Alphas.

Back at the dorm, the door was unexpectedly locked; it looked like the person had left again. Xie Rong didn’t mind she took out her key.

After entering, Xie Rong sat down at her desk, just about to relax for a while, when she surprisingly discovered a small gift placed on her desk.

She paused slightly and picked it up.

Inside the gift box was a fountain pen that looked very exquisite and expensive, and a small note was tucked beside it. Xie Rong unfolded it and, without surprise, saw that it was a gift from Qi Musi.

Xie Rong was a little astonished, she hadn’t expected Qi Musi to prepare a gift just for a first meeting as roommates.

Recalling the smiling, enchanting woman in her mind, Xie Rong’s expression softened slightly.

Subsequently, she pondered how to return the favor. After all, having accepted a gift from the person, especially a welcome gift from a roommate, it would be inappropriate not to show some appreciation.

Xie Rong mentioned this in the group chat, and her two other roommates immediately spammed her with exclamation marks.

【A University’s First Alpha】: woc I’m shocked! Is such a divine roommate actually real?!!!

【A University’s Most Aggressive Alpha】: Wow wow wow I’m drooling, I’m okay with Sister even if she’s an A!

【A University’s First Alpha】: Rich lady, food, hungry, hungry

【A University’s Most Aggressive Alpha】: The doctor said my stomach hasn’t been well recently, I can’t eat hard things

【.】: .

Xie Rong’s cold and abrupt period briefly interrupted the spamming of her two roommates, but they soon continued to express their feelings.

They were used to it, after all. Xie Rong’s reply was perfectly in line with her personality.

Xie Rong watched the content on her phone helplessly, then let out a soft laugh.

It was rare for her to smile the addition of this smile made her originally cold and aloof face even more beautiful and refined, as if a person in a painting had come to life, every movement and smile intoxicating.

It was a good thing the other two roommates weren’t there, or they would likely be startled again and definitely work together to put Xie Rong’s smile on the front page of A University’s news.

Afterward, Xie Rong asked about a return gift.

The other two roommates changed the topic and began discussing, ultimately deciding to settle on a meal. They would treat the new roommate to a meal as a welcome to the 408 family.

Xie Rong made no comment on the “408 family” moniker but agreed with the suggestion of treating her to a meal.

She lowered her eyes and offered a few dining options.

Then, the other two asked Xie Rong to discreetly find out Qi Musi’s preferences before they arrived.

Xie Rong accepted the task entrusted to her but couldn’t guarantee that she could perfectly gather the information without revealing the surprise.

For the rest of the time, Xie Rong read a book and entertained herself for a while. During this period, Qi Musi never returned.

If it weren’t for the extra items in the dorm and the faint residual scent of pheromones in the air, Xie Rong would have even thought that the encounter that afternoon was just her imagination.

Around eight o’clock, Xie Rong put down her phone, preparing to go and wash up.

Because she was a little tired from the journey today, she planned to wash up early and then rest.

They were in a four person dorm, and although all four still slept in one room, all other necessary amenities were not lacking. A balcony, private bathroom, and shower were all included.

Xie Rong grabbed a change of clothes and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

The rising steam quickly filled the room. Xie Rong stood under the water flow, feeling the hot water slowly trickle down. She exhaled a breath, and a slight hint of her pheromone seeped out.

A very faint, sweet scent of pear blossom diffused in the bathroom, carrying a hint of icy coolness, but at this moment, the fresh icy scent was melted by the hot water, bringing with it a trace of ambiguous warmth.

Despite being an Alpha’s pheromone, it was unexpectedly intoxicating.

It carried no aggression, but instead, was full of temptation.

Because she was alone, Xie Rong no longer deliberately held back or suppressed her pheromones but released them unrestrainedly, allowing them to spread.

Enveloped in her own pheromones, Xie Rong’s body and mind felt relaxed for a moment, so much so that she completely failed to notice that the new fourth person had returned.

As soon as Qi Musi entered the dorm, she smelled the scent of another person.

More accurately, the scent of another Alpha.

She paused, licked her teeth, and then the emotion in her eyes faded.

It was indeed a very pleasant scent, even comparable to any Omega pheromone Qi Musi had ever encountered, but…

No matter how pleasant it was, it couldn’t change the fact that it belonged to an Alpha.

Qi Musi bit the tip of her tongue. The disguise she wore earlier faded from her face, replaced by a trace of impatience and coldness in her eyes, before she closed the door and walked toward the balcony.

She naturally realized where the scent was coming from and who it belonged to.

There were no extra suitcases in the dorm, so the owner of this pheromone scent was quite obvious.

She hadn’t expected the “wooden beauty’s” pheromone to smell like this.

Qi Musi lowered her eyes and chuckled emotionlessly. She then took a deep breath, suppressing her uncomfortable feelings, and went to the balcony, opening the window to let the breeze coming in soothe the air in the room.

It wasn’t disgust, nor dislike; it was rooted in an Alpha’s instinct.

Qi Musi, who was essentially alone, shed her artificial smile and revealed her true cold indifference.

The breeze diluted some of the scent, and her mood recovered slightly.

Qi Musi leaned against the window, her eyes slightly closed.

Before she could rest for too long, the sound of the water stopped inside. She heard the slightly distinct sound of wiping and changing clothes, and soon, the door was opened.

The moment the door opened, Qi Musi concealed the true emotion between her eyebrows and put her mask back on.

When she opened her eyes again, she was back to her appearance from their first meeting.

Xie Rong hadn’t expected to encounter a stranger right after taking a bath.

She was startled, and after a brief moment of confusion, she realized that the person in front of her was her new roommate, so she slowly relaxed.

Xie Rong was wearing pajamas, and her hair, which was wet from the wash and not yet dried, was dripping and draped over her back.

The wet hair was separated from her back only by her pajamas and a towel.

Because she had just come out of the shower, she still carried a layer of steam. The soft pajamas seemed to stick to her skin, conforming to the curves of her body, making her appear soft and gentle.

It was this image that dispelled Xie Rong’s usual “ethereal quality,” adding a touch of approachable normalcy.

Qi Musi hadn’t expected her to come out looking like this.

The steamy, humid air rushed out from the bathroom. Xie Rong paused and reached out to close the door.

The movement brought Qi Musi back to her senses. She put away her unnecessary thoughts, curved her eyes, and lifted the corner of her lips: “I guessed it was you showering in there.”

Xie Rong stiffly nodded, then, thinking of her pheromones, she hurriedly reined in her previous indulgence.

“Sorry,” Xie Rong apologized somewhat unnaturally and unskillfully.

“Hm?” Qi Musi looked at her with her smiling, peach blossom eyes. The warm emotion in her eyes seemed to hold deep affection: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Rong said, “I thought you would be back later, so I wasn’t careful… I accidentally let my pheromones escape outside.”

“Ah, that.” Qi Musi tilted her head, acting as if she wasn’t the one who had been bothered by this and opened the window to let the air in. She wore an exquisite pretense, her red lips lifted, smiling charmingly.

“It’s okay. We are roommates, and this kind of thing is very normal. We’ll have to get used to it; that’s what living together is like.”

She smiled, “Besides, your pheromone scent is very pleasant.”

“…”

Xie Rong pursed her lips and mumbled an acknowledgment: “Mm.”

She actually admired Qi Musi because Xie Rong couldn’t bring herself to find another Alpha’s pheromone pleasant.

Qi Musi, when Xie Rong wasn’t paying attention, restored the window to its original position, then said, “Your hair is wet you should go and dry it.”

Xie Rong then stepped further into the room. The pear blossom scent on her body gradually faded as she suppressed it.

Qi Musi followed her inside. Seeing that Xie Rong didn’t seem to be reaching for a hairdryer, she asked, “Do you need a hairdryer?”

Although they were using the dorm’s electrical outlets, the school hadn’t restricted appliances with the power of a hairdryer, so it was permissible to use one in the dorm room.

Hearing Qi Musi’s inquiry, Xie Rong slowed her movement of wiping her hair. Her dark eyes looked over from behind her damp hair. Perhaps because of her posture and appearance, she didn’t look as cold and distant.

“It’s okay, no need. I’m not used to using a hairdryer.”

Qi Musi propped her cheek up with one hand, her red lips slightly curved as she watched her. Upon hearing this, she was slightly surprised: “But you have long hair. If you don’t dry it, you’ll get a headache tonight.”

Xie Rong replied, “I don’t really like it, and it’s a bit troublesome.”

Qi Musi’s red lips curved, and her dark eyes were smiling yet not smiling, carrying a hint of flirtatious impropriety, “Is it the former more, or the latter more?”

Xie Rong: “…”

Qi Musi then understood her thoughts. She smiled, got up, took out her own hairdryer, and walked next to Xie Rong.

Xie Rong: ?

Qi Musi leaned nearby, her smile soft and enticing, “I’ll help you dry it.”