After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 3

Seeing that Qi Musi had really taken out the hairdryer and was about to plug it in to dry her hair, Xie Rong stood up, feeling uncomfortable.

“I… I can do it myself, you don’t need to trouble yourself.”

Xie Rong wasn’t quite used to Qi Musi’s physical proximity. This had little to do with whether the other party was an A or an O the most important thing was that they were still strangers.

Xie Rong couldn’t be so open and relaxed as to let an unfamiliar person blow dry her hair. She still maintained a sense of boundary in her heart.

Therefore, her movements were accompanied by a slight avoidance.

Qi Musi smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Who was it that just said they didn’t like it and thought it was troublesome?”

The person who had just said that: “…”

Qi Musi curved her eyes and smiled, holding back the somewhat teasing and seductive quality of her smile, instead bending her eyes with a degree of sincerity and consideration: “It’s fine, it’s just a small, helpful gesture, not a bother after all, we are roommates, and helping each other is perfectly normal.”

“Besides, you have long hair. If you blow dry it yourself, it’s quite a bit of trouble. It’s better if I help you. Anyway, I’m just sitting around idle. If you feel bad about it, why don’t you just blow dry my hair back next time?”

Qi Musi had finished all the possible arguments, both positive and negative. Xie Rong stood stiffly for a moment, then reluctantly yielded, sitting down under the pressure of Qi Musi’s hand on her shoulder.

She lowered her gaze and then replied, “Thank you, then.” She then added, “Next time you need to blow-dry your hair, you can call me.”

Qi Musi didn’t take this statement to heart; she just curled her lips and smiled, agreeing casually.

She came up behind the other person, her fingers gently landing on the damp hair, and then turned on the hairdryer. The humming warm air blew out from the nozzle, strong yet noisy, but fortunately, such a sound just happened to ease the subtle distance and awkwardness between the two, making it quite suitable.

Qi Musi’s movements were gentle and soft, as if handling a precious treasure. Her face was calm, her lips slightly curved, appearing very tender or in a good mood, but in her eyes, there was a field of indifference.

Qi Musi did not feel any pity or preciousness. Her actions were one thing, but her true emotions were a completely different picture abrupt yet strangely harmonious.

However, Xie Rong, sitting there with her back to her, was completely unaware of this.

The damp strands gradually dried in her hands, and the scent of shampoo continuously wafted over. As her fingers parted the hair layer by layer, very quickly, Qi Musi’s hand touched the innermost layer of hair, and further down… the scent gland located at the back of the neck.

Perhaps because the hair had been parted, the scent of pear blossoms, which had originally faded, suddenly became richer, lingering at Qi Musi’s nose.

Her movement imperceptibly paused, and she tilted her head slightly to the side, catching her breath.

And at this moment, Xie Rong was similarly uncomfortable because her scent gland was exposed, and she was facing an Alpha, which gave Xie Rong a tense feeling of nervousness.

She moved slightly: “That’s enough…”

But as she spoke, Qi Musi had already adjusted her emotions. She composed herself, continuing to blow dry Xie Rong’s hair with a light smile, like a Beta unaffected by anything.

Xie Rong paused. Seeing no reaction from her, she didn’t know what else to say. However, she still couldn’t help but subconsciously tense her back while Qi Musi was working.

After a while, Qi Musi finally turned off the hairdryer, and the room instantly fell quiet.

Xie Rong tilted her head, feeling slightly unaccustomed to the silence.

She paused for a moment, finding that Qi Musi still hadn’t let go of her hair. Just as she was about to say something, she felt the other person pick up a lock of her hair, lower her head, and take a sniff.

Qi Musi’s lips curved: “It smells very good.”

Xie Rong: “…Thank you.”

Qi Musi’s action was too sudden and startling. Even Xie Rong stiffened in place, and besides saying thanks, she couldn’t think of anything to reply.

Fortunately, the other person quickly let go and began to tidy up the hairdryer.

Xie Rong sighed in relief internally, subconsciously touching her hair, trying to ease the slight tremor on her scalp. Then, she brought up the topic of a return gift.

Hearing that they wanted to treat her to a meal as a return gift, Qi Musi raised her eyebrows. “Sure, then I won’t decline.”

Xie Rong: “Do you have a preferred cuisine or restaurant?”

Qi Musi smiled: “No, I’m flexible. You can decide.”

Xie Rong nodded upon hearing this, picked up her phone to message the others, and used this to escape the strange atmosphere.

Just as she opened the group chat, Xie Rong suddenly remembered something hadn’t Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li asked her to keep it a secret first?

Xie Rong’s thoughts started to wander, and then she thought about the words she had already spoken. She fell silent.

Just now, to avoid the subtle atmosphere, she had subconsciously used the return gift as a topic. So, the so-called surprise and secrecy were gone.

Xie Rong felt an almost helpless sigh in her heart. But what was done was done, and her frustration was useless. She could only face it bravely.

Xie Rong quickly calmed her emotions and then asked Qi Musi, “Do you want to join our dorm group?”

Qi Musi’s red lips curved up: “Of course.”

So Xie Rong directly let Qi Musi scan her code to join the group.

The arrival of a new person quickly caught the attention of Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li. The two of them immediately appeared and gave the newly joined Qi Musi a remote welcome.

Seeing them chatting happily in the group, Xie Rong stopped paying attention and went to look for delicious restaurants nearby.

Just as Xie Rong was checking out different restaurants, a QQ notification popped up.

Xie Rong returned to check and saw Qi Musi’s friend request.

She looked up at Qi Musi, who was sitting on her seat, leaning back lazily in her chair, her eyes down as she replied to messages in the group, unaware of Xie Rong’s observation.

Xie Rong quickly withdrew her gaze and accepted the friend request.

Because they had already started chatting, the fact that Xie Rong couldn’t keep the surprise a secret was also quickly known by the two others. They sighed mournfully, saying that Xie Rong had failed the organization’s trust and was not up to the heavy task.

Xie Rong lowered her eyes to look at the message. She wasn’t angry or emotional rather, she was more used to it. She originally didn’t intend to reply, having become accustomed to their tone, but just before she exited, she saw a message sent by Qi Musi.

The other party… was explaining on her behalf, defending her.

Xie Rong paused, her finger resting on the screen, no longer moving.

Xie Rong watched their three way chat with lowered eyelashes, not making a sound or participating, and then she was suddenly mentioned by Qi Musi.

[Mousse]: Why isn’t Xie Rong joining in?

Xie Rong paused slightly, looked up at the other person, and their eyes met perfectly.

Qi Musi’s red lips were curved, her peach blossom eyes held a smile, and she winked at Xie Rong.

Xie Rong paused slightly.

It was a question directed at her. The two of them were in the dorm and could communicate at any time, but Qi Musi chose not to ask Xie Rong directly. Instead, when the three of them were chatting heatedly, she brought Xie Rong into their circle, as if she were constantly thinking of her.

It was as if she was worried that Xie Rong was being left out or ostracized.

[A Major’s Top A]: Don’t worry about it. Rongrong is just like that; she doesn’t like chatting with people.

[A Major’s Most Aggressive A]: Clearly, she doesn’t like communicating with humans.

[A Major’s Most Aggressive A]: Rong: Heh, humans, keep away from me.

Xie Rong: “…”

How did she not know she behaved like that?

Qi Musi looked at the messages on the screen and chuckled softly.

It was close, but not that close.

But contrary to Xie Rong’s thoughts, Qi Musi was not being kind. She was only making this move out of politeness and habit. She had no interest in or concern about whether Xie Rong liked to chat or not.

It was just a habitual action, like rinsing one’s mouth after brushing one’s teeth.

Qi Musi chatted with the other two for a few more sentences, then excused herself to wash up.

At this moment, Xie Rong had already gotten into bed, preparing to rest.

Qi Musi paused her movement of reaching for things, came to Xie Rong’s bedside, and knocked on the bed frame.

Xie Rong paused, pulled open the curtain, “What is it?”

Qi Musi chuckled: “I’m going to wash up. Will it bother you? I’ll try to be quiet.”

Xie Rong: “It’s fine, I’m not asleep.” After a pause, she explained, “I’m just lying in bed. You don’t need to restrain your actions and voice, it’s okay.”

Qi Musi nodded, then relaxed. She smiled at Xie Rong and said, “That’s good. Otherwise, if I woke you up, I’d feel uneasy.”

She spoke apologetically, but the smile in her eyes was enchanting, not at all like a powerful Alpha.

Xie Rong’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then she shook her head.

Subsequently, Qi Musi went to wash up.

Xie Rong heard the sound of her going into the bathroom, then pulled the curtain closed and lay back down.

Qi Musi was in the shower. She stood under the showerhead, looking up, feeling the gentle, warm water flow from her forehead across her cheeks. One hand ran through her black hair, pushing all the strands back, revealing her beautiful and striking features, and she exhaled a breath.

All the smiles on her face before, whether gentle or enchanting, completely vanished at this moment, leaving only the most primitive flatness. Qi Musi was even too lazy to make an expression.

After all, she was the only one here. Only at this moment was she the most genuine version of herself.

Regarding her roommates, regardless of their personalities or attitudes towards her, Qi Musi was not very concerned. After all, to her, these were ultimately things that could be handled.

And Qi Musi didn’t come to the dorm to experience life; she just wanted a place to live where she wouldn’t be disturbed by the Qi family.

If she lived outside, they would definitely cause trouble, whether by showing up or interfering. In any case, they would always find a way to work on Qi Musi. Qi Musi didn’t want to see them, which is why she chose the dorm.

If she lived on campus, the Qi family couldn’t very well bother her every day.

Therefore, any kind of roommate was fine, as long as she handled the surface matters.

Qi Musi’s eyebrows conveyed coldness.

After all, these people weren’t worth her attention.