After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 36

Zhao Rongrong shivered for no reason. She scratched her head and said, “Let’s go back, it’s strangely cold here.”

Mo Li nodded, and as she withdrew her gaze, she paused and looked towards Qi Musi.

The beautiful alpha, who had been wearing a smile all this time, now had all her emotions suppressed. Her dark eyes gazed intently in that direction, holding a dark, complex emotion that was inexplicably alarming.

Mo Li narrowed her eyes, and a certain guess in her heart suddenly became stronger.

“Musi?” Zhao Rongrong called out.

Qi Musi snapped back to reality. A smile reappeared on her lips, but at first, it carried a slight, twisted darkness before being forcefully suppressed.

Qi Musi closed her eyes and took a deep breath, finally reverting to her usual self.

“Okay, I know,” she turned and followed her roommates back to the dorm. The indentations from her fingernails, however, still remained in her palm.

As they walked upstairs, Zhao Rongrong muttered, “I was wondering why Xiao Rong didn’t walk with us. Turns out she had a date. Judging by the look of it, it seemed like an omega.”

Suddenly, Zhao Rongrong stopped, “Wait! Could it be! It’s the person Xiao Rong likes?!”

Mo Li rubbed her forehead, “You… can you stop making wild guesses first? Xiao Rong hasn’t said anything. What if she finds out you’re speculating about her behind her back?”

Mo Li raised an eyebrow coolly.

Zhao Rongrong was startled, “Sorry, sorry, my mistake.”

Mo Li smiled, but quickly dropped it.

And it wasn’t just Xie Rong the person next to her probably wouldn’t appreciate this topic either.

However, Mo Li didn’t say much or dwell on it. After all, it was just her speculation, and even if her guess turned out to be true, it wasn’t her place to intervene.

So, Mo Li stopped being nosy and continued up the stairs with Zhao Rongrong.

Qi Musi walked behind them, her eyes downcast, making it impossible to read the emotions within.

On the surface, she was as calm as usual, but her heart was anything but.

At this moment, Qi Musi was using all her strength to hold back the tumultuous emotions churning inside. No one knew how she felt when she saw Xie Rong walking with Zhuang Xinbai.

It wasn’t just jealousy towards Zhuang Xinbai and possessiveness towards Xie Rong there was also a thick, overwhelming sense of panic.

For a moment, Qi Musi was truly afraid. She felt that the two walking together meant they were truly in a relationship, and Qi Musi could not accept that outcome.

She hadn’t done anything yet, nor had she confessed her feelings to Xie Rong. Qi Musi could not accept the news of Xie Rong being with someone else.

She took deep, shaky breaths, filled with a suppressed tremor.

Qi Musi knew her mindset was wrong, but if Xie Rong really was with Zhuang Xinbai, Qi Musi felt she might lose control, take Xie Rong back, lock her up, and forcefully mark her.

She knew that was wrong, but in that moment, Qi Musi truly couldn’t control the dark emotions surging in her mind. She could only take deep breaths repeatedly, telling herself in her heart that Xie Rong and Zhuang Xinbai were just walking together, which didn’t mean anything. Only then could she suppress all the emotions.

Her palms were already covered in fingernail marks.

During dinner, Xie Rong said nothing, as she feared a result she might not be able to accept, and she might not be able to finish a full meal then.

Therefore, her plan was to confess on the way back.

The atmosphere between the two was familiar and warm. After all, they grew up together, so there was no awkwardness.

Zhuang Xinbai was very relaxed, smiling and occasionally talking to Xie Rong.

Xie Rong wore a very faint smile on her lips. Although she didn’t talk much, she listened very seriously to what Zhuang Xinbai was saying, without any impatience, only genuine attention.

On the way back after dinner, Zhuang Xinbai asked, “Xiao Rong, why do I always feel like you have something you want to tell me?”

As partners who grew up together, sometimes they could be that perceptive.

Xie Rong’s fingertips trembled. Then she took a deep breath, inhaling the chill unique to winter, and said, “Yes, there is something I want to tell you.”

Zhuang Xinbai: “What is it? Go ahead.”

After walking another couple of steps, Xie Rong finally felt her heart wasn’t beating so fast. She then softly spoke, “Xinbai, I like you.”

An extremely simple confession, yet it made Xie Rong’s heart pound so hard it hurt a little.

Xie Rong felt her fingertips trembling, and her palms were even cold with sweat from nervousness. She wiped them in her pocket, as if wiping away her anxiety.

She spoke the confession in a normal tone but dared not look at Zhuang Xinbai.

Zhuang Xinbai stopped in astonishment upon hearing this. She looked at Xie Rong, trying to discern any emotion, but Xie Rong’s expression was calm, with only deep emotions hidden in her eyes.

Zhuang Xinbai was still surprised, “…Is that true? Is that really true? You… you’re not kidding, are you?”

Xie Rong’s brow furrowed slightly, then she softly said, “No, I’m not. I’m talking to you seriously.”

She paused, took a breath, and restraining her nervousness and shyness, she said to Zhuang Xinbai, “I like you, Xinbai, you didn’t mishear. I’ve always, always liked you…”

“I originally thought I shouldn’t wish for anything more, just guarding and waiting in the background would be enough. If you were to like me too, I would treat you very well, spoil you, love you, and never let go.”

“If you don’t like me, that’s okay too. I would still be your friend and partner, and I could offer my blessings when you find someone you love in the future…”

“But later I realized that constant waiting will not bring love; only striving for it can. So, I wanted to tell you how I feel.”

Zhuang Xinbai stared blankly at her, as if she hadn’t quite registered it.

After all, this was indeed very surprising to her, like a sister confessing her love.

Zhuang Xinbai rubbed her hair in distress, full of confusion and disbelief, “Is that true?” she murmured again.

Xie Rong turned to face her directly, looking down into Zhuang Xinbai’s clear, distinct eyes.

“It is,” Xie Rong said. “I’m very serious.”

Zhuang Xinbai stared back blankly and pursed her lips.

“I… I’ve never thought about it in that way before, because you know, I, I really see you as family,” she stammered, the confusion in her eyes evident.

Xie Rong looked down, “I know.” That was precisely why she chose to confess.

Because if things continued this way, she would never get what she wanted.

Zhuang Xinbai almost wanted to hold her head and squat down, as the shock of this information was too great, and she didn’t know how to respond immediately.

Xie Rong didn’t rush her but stood quietly and seriously with Zhuang Xinbai on the roadside, waiting.

After a few minutes, Zhuang Xinbai finally sighed, as if waking up.

“Your… your love for me, is it the kind of love where you want me to be your omega?”

Xie Rong looked down at her, her eyes very gentle, with a sense of calm.

She nodded softly and then said, “I want to take care of you, always take care of you.”

This was probably the first time Xie Rong had said such ambiguous and tender words, causing her ear tips to turn crimson.

Zhuang Xinbai understood Xie Rong, and naturally knew how difficult it was for the other person to say such words. While touched, she also felt a very strange sensation.

Zhuang Xinbai bit her lip and then asked, “Xiao Rong, let me have a moment to calm down and think. This is too sudden, and I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

Xie Rong naturally didn’t force her, only saying, “Okay, let’s go back first.”

Zhuang Xinbai nodded and walked back towards the school with Xie Rong.

As they walked, Zhuang Xinbai began to recall what Xie Rong had said. To be honest, she still felt a sense of unreality, but the person walking beside her silently told her that it was real, and it was happening.

However, Zhuang Xinbai had felt nothing about this before.

She thought Xie Rong’s care and closeness were just because they grew up together and because she was Xie Rong’s only friend.

She never expected that Xie Rong liked her.

Zhuang Xinbai pursed her lips, staring at the ground, her mind a mess.

After walking a distance, she finally spoke, “Xiao Rong, can… can I say something?”

Xie Rong nodded, “You can.”

Zhuang Xinbai said, “My words might be a little biased, but they are based on my own feelings. I hope you won’t be angry. I might be a little offensive.”

Hearing this, Xie Rong frowned slightly, feeling an inexplicable unease, and she couldn’t imagine what Zhuang Xinbai meant by “offensive.” This uncertainty made her a bit restless.

But Xie Rong still nodded, “Okay, it’s fine.”

Zhuang Xinbai took a breath and then said, “I always feel, Xiao Rong, could your affection not be the kind of love you think it is?”

Xie Rong tightened her brows and calmly asked, “What do you mean?”

Zhuang Xinbai explained, “That is, you think your feeling for me is the kind of love for an omega, but actually, you just mixed up your feelings for a sister or a family member.”

Hearing her say this, Xie Rong understood what Zhuang Xinbai was trying to say.

To be honest, in that moment, Xie Rong felt like getting angry, but she closed her eyes and suppressed the emotion.

Xie Rong didn’t like losing her temper with people she was close to.

She softly said, “No, Xinbai, I’m very clear about my own feelings.”

Zhuang Xinbai stopped and looked up at her friend, at the alpha who was both extremely aloof and strikingly beautiful.

“But Xiao Rong, how can a feeling like love be hidden?”

Xie Rong was stunned.

Zhuang Xinbai said, “You said you’ve been hiding your love, and I believe you, but if you truly loved someone deeply, how could that emotion be completely hidden?”

“We’ve spent a lot of time together, but until the moment you confessed, I had no idea you ever liked me. Xiao Rong, I have never felt your love.”

Xie Rong’s eyes trembled, “I…”

Zhuang Xinbai said, “Don’t rush, Xiao Rong, I’m not saying…” She scratched her head, “I’m not criticizing you, but having a calm discussion with you.”

“Feelings like love are hard to control. Even if not spoken, they will inevitably show up in actions, in the eyes, in one way or another.”

“Xiao Rong, I can feel your familial love for me, but that kind of romantic love for me, I… haven’t felt it.”

“Xiao Rong, you say you love me, yet I was completely unaware. I didn’t even notice anything.”