After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 33

Xie Rong’s body tensed slightly due to Qi Musi’s action. She glanced sideways at the other person in the gloom, the indifference and resistance in her eyes undisguised.

“What are you doing?” Xie Rong asked.

The scent of cherry was still faintly present in her nostrils. Xie Rong didn’t know if it was her illusion, but the other person’s pheromones didn’t seem to be as aggressive toward her, and she didn’t feel excessive repulsion smelling another Alpha’s pheromones at such close range.

She even vaguely… wanted to get closer.

Noticing this change, Xie Rong’s face darkened, and she was undoubtedly displeased. But she didn’t pay too much attention, merely comforting herself internally after all, it hadn’t been many days since the marking… this was a normal situation now.

Qi Musi was not intimidated by Xie Rong’s coldness; she merely curved her lips and chuckled softly, then said sincerely, “The suggestion just now, I was serious about it, Xiao Rong.”

The suggestion just now… Xie Rong’s eyes shifted, referring to Qi Musi’s willingness to be marked by Xie Rong.

She didn’t answer immediately, nor did she react.

Xie Rong had never encountered such a situation before. Although she was a beautiful Alpha and received a lot of attention in her daily life, in most cases, the Omega or Beta who showed affection for her were not so open, and their declarations of love were also very subtle.

Even if an Alpha expressed a different meaning to her, they all wished to mark Xie Rong, rather than be possessed themselves; of course, Xie Rong had always rebuffed them all.

No one had ever been as direct as Qi Musi, putting “willing to be marked by you” on her lips.

So, faced with such words, Xie Rong didn’t know how to handle them for a moment, let alone since the person saying it was an Alpha.

But the principles Xie Rong firmly held would not change.

She closed her eyelids, and then said, “No need, my answer is what I said before.”

She would not mark someone without an emotional relationship.

Qi Musi felt disappointed, but also affirmed that this was to be expected. She lowered her gaze and said softly, “But besides that, I don’t know what else I can do to appease you.”

Xie Rong’s eyebrows moved slightly, “Appease me for what?”

Qi Musi raised her eyes to look at her, with hidden affection and genuine tenderness in her gaze, “Because I want to restore the previous relationship with Xiao Rong. Not this alienated state we are in now. Although you have forgiven me, you treat me like a stranger. I don’t like this relationship that feels like we are passing ships.”

Xie Rong paused and glanced at her. Qi Musi let her examine her, her expression unchanged.

At this time, a song finished, and the music volume lowered. Xie Rong withdrew her gaze and leaned back against the sofa.

Qi Musi unconsciously squeezed her fingertips. Had this succeeded or failed? Had she agreed or not?

She didn’t know, she felt uncertain.

But Qi Musi knew she wouldn’t give up.

Fortunately, after finishing one song, Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li immediately started the next one, and the sound of the accompaniment played again, providing cover for the two of them.

Qi Musi also leaned back, turned her head to face Xie Rong, and pressed, “Xiao Rong?”

Xie Rong pursed her lips, her fingers subconsciously tapped her arm, and finally, she vaguely said, “We’ll see.”

Qi Musi suppressed the urge to ask, but couldn’t resist, “How long do I have to wait?”

Xie Rong glanced at her, feeling a little irritable again. Her face dark, she gritted her teeth, “I don’t know. After all, I’ve never experienced being forcibly marked by an Alpha roommate, and then being dragged into forcibly seeking reconciliation.”

Not to mention this Alpha was even willing to be bitten back.

Qi Musi paused, and fell silent, no longer speaking. She was a little afraid that if she said anything more, even the “we’ll see” would disappear.

Xie Rong, who had briefly vented her emotions, closed her eyes, exhaled, and stopped looking at her.

Qi Musi was uncertain about this, but how could Xie Rong be certain?

Although she was no longer angry and her temper had cooled, the emotional distance was still there. How could she possibly restore the harmonious relationship she had with Qi Musi as if she didn’t mind anything?

But she didn’t want to take revenge, and she couldn’t reconcile… She was stuck in the middle, neither up nor down. The key was that Qi Musi kept pestering her.

Xie Rong twitched her lips, feeling annoyed herself.

She didn’t know what was wrong. She had already decided to completely ignore Qi Musi, but she still allowed the other person to slip through a tiny crack and gain an advantage.

Xie Rong opened her eyes and looked down at the lines on her palm, feeling a bit helpless after a moment.

She had very few friends. Due to her personality, Xie Rong had never had deep friendships with the people around her. She found establishing a relationship tiring, so she was always passive.

Although there were people who wanted to get close to Xie Rong, others would be scared and retreat upon seeing Xie Rong’s face and aura, not daring to take the initiative. Coupled with Xie Rong’s initial coolness, besides Zhuang Xinbai, Xie Rong had always been alone, even when she moved into a dormitory during middle school.

Other people’s roommates became friends or even best friends, but Xie Rong entered the dorm alone and left the dorm alone.

Sometimes she would feel lonely and isolated, but more often, Xie Rong felt that with her temperament, it was better not to implicate others. Not everyone was obliged to indulge her or chase after her. So for all these years, Xie Rong only had Zhuang Xinbai by her side, and she valued Zhuang Xinbai very much.

It was just that gradually, this kind of friendship changed, turning into a secret crush. Sometimes Xie Rong couldn’t grasp the boundary and didn’t know if she and Zhuang Xinbai still counted as friends.

It wasn’t until university that she met the outgoing and lively Zhao Rongrong, and Mo Li, who was not as cheerful but easygoing. Although Xie Rong was still indifferent at first, under Zhao Rongrong’s lead, she gradually became friends with the two of them without realizing it.

They were her new, and only two, friends she recognized.

And then there was Qi Musi…

Although at first, Xie Rong and Qi Musi’s relationship was more like surface-level roommates who nodded to each other, later, as Qi Musi took the initiative, their relationship gradually improved.

Xie Rong regarded Qi Musi as her third friend.

But who could have imagined such a turn of events? Everything was messed up.

During the entire KTV session, it was mostly Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li singing. Qi Musi occasionally sang a couple of songs, but Xie Rong sat there the whole time, not saying a word, and not singing a single song.

However, Zhao Rongrong and the others didn’t dare to tease her or force Xie Rong to sing.

After coming out, Zhao Rongrong asked, “Want to watch a movie?”

Mo Li took out her phone and checked, “There are no current screenings. The closest one is at seven. The timing is awkward.”

Indeed, if they ate first, they wouldn’t be able to finish anything in less than half an hour, let alone enjoy the food properly. But if they watched a movie first, it would be close to nine when it finished, and coupled with dinner, it would be too late to go back.

It gets dark quickly in winter, so it’s not very safe.

Zhao Rongrong scratched her head, then asked them, “What are your opinions?”

Xie Rong said, “Let’s eat.”

The others thought about it and also voted for dinner, so they went to a hot pot restaurant.

The restaurant was steaming hot, shrouded in white mist. Xie Rong’s face was no longer so pale after walking in. She took her fingers out of her pocket and squeezed them, watching her icy white fingers slowly regain color from the pressed state, her expression faint.

Qi Musi noticed her actions. Her eyebrows moved slightly, and for a split second, she wanted to hold Xie Rong’s hand to help warm her. But she moved her fingertips, and ultimately did nothing.

Now was not the time, nor was it appropriate. She still had to take it slowly.

The four of them sat down in their seats.

Perhaps the conversation they had helped, so the atmosphere between Xie Rong and Qi Musi wasn’t so stiff, and they didn’t mind much when choosing seats.

In the end, Xie Rong and Qi Musi sat inside, facing each other.

Zhao Rongrong inwardly thought, “Wow,” and was secretly delighted. She had a way after all.

When ordering, everyone took turns ordering, each ordering only a few dishes, not too many. Qi Musi was the last one to order.

She lowered her eyes and scanned the dishes on the menu that had been checked, she knew what she wanted, and then checked off the dishes without hesitation.

Zhao Rongrong looked over and asked, “Musi is choosing so quickly.”

Qi Musi curved her lips and chuckled, but didn’t answer.

It wasn’t until a few plates of dishes were served that Xie Rong was stunned.

When everyone chooses, they naturally choose their favorite things to eat. For example, Zhao Rongrong loves to eat small fish balls, so she always orders them for hot pot.

But sometimes, if there are more favorite types of food than the allotted number of choices, some must be discarded, and some kept.

Like Xie Rong.

But she didn’t expect that after all the dishes were served, she realized that the few dishes Qi Musi had checked off just now were also her favorites…

Thinking of this, Xie Rong couldn’t help but look up at Qi Musi.

She happened to meet Qi Musi’s dark eyes. The other person was looking at her with a smile in her eyes, and the overhead light shone into her eyes, making them very bright.

Zhao Rongrong helped distribute the selected dishes to everyone’s side to make it easier to put them in the pot later. When she handed the dishes to Qi Musi, she casually asked, “So Musi likes these too.”

Qi Musi hooked her lips, with a gentle smile in her eyes, “No, it’s because Xiao Rong likes to eat them.”

Xie Rong suddenly looked up, her fingers tightening.

Zhao Rongrong’s movements also stopped. She opened her eyes wide and also opened her mouth.

“Wow…” Zhao Rongrong resisted the urge, but finally couldn’t help but ask, “Um, have you two made up?”

Qi Musi did not take advantage of Zhao Rongrong’s question to deliberately ask Xie Rong she didn’t want to pressure Xie Rong to answer or do anything. Whether the other party forgave her or not was Xie Rong’s own business.

Although Qi Musi was eager, she would never force Xie Rong.

So Qi Musi just took the dishes, smiled, and said, “I’m trying to please Teacher Xiao Rong.”

Or rather, deliberately coaxing her.

Xie Rong regained her composure, her gaze sweeping over the few plates of dishes, and then she asked Qi Musi, “How did you know?” That she liked these dishes.

Qi Musi rested one hand on her chin, her eyes smiling, “I noticed.”

Perhaps she didn’t know at first, but after she fell in love with Xie Rong, she would unconsciously observe the other person and pay attention to her preferences.

And these were what she had guessed during her observations.

Qi Musi’s eyes sparkled, and she curved her lips, “Does Xiao Rong like it?”

Xie Rong twitched her lips, didn’t answer, but didn’t deny it either.