After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 4

When Xie Rong woke up the next day, she blinked confusedly. In her drowsiness, she vaguely felt a faint, unfamiliar Alpha’s pheromone in the air Xie Rong was slightly startled, instinctively sat up, and the sleepiness in her eyes was replaced by a trace of vigilance and caution.

It wasn’t until she sat up that she remembered this should be the pheromone of the new roommate, Qi Musi.

Xie Rong rubbed her forehead, and the tension around her eased. She picked up her phone and checked the time it was already past seven.

Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li would probably return around nine or ten, and after they tidied up, they would be ready to go out for a meal with Qi Musi.

This was the plan they had discussed last night.

Xie Rong pulled back the curtain and got out of bed. After washing up, she noticed that Qi Musi was also awake.

Xie Rong glanced at her and nodded as a greeting. Qi Musi smiled with curved eyes. Although they had only met yesterday, she behaved as if she had known Xie Rong for a long time.

Her every gesture and word exuded closeness and intimacy.

“Are those two coming back later?” Qi Musi asked.

Xie Rong nodded, “Yes.”

Qi Musi nodded thoughtfully, “Around what time? I might need to go out for a bit, and then meet up with you all when it’s time, alright?”

She looked over with her peach blossom eyes, her gaze filled with warmth, not seeming like she was asking for a roommate’s opinion, but rather like…

Xie Rong reined in her thoughts and stopped musing. She replied, “Nine or ten. We’ll be at the restaurant by eleven.”

“That’s good. Send me the location, and I’ll go directly there then.”

Xie Rong didn’t press for details and sent her the address.

After receiving the message, Qi Musi smiled at Xie Rong. When she smiled, even her eyes held a subtle glow, watching someone with an intense focus that was intoxicating like red wine, as if she could drown a person in her gentle and affectionate gaze.

However, on that bright and alluring face, the smile was seductive yet innocent, as if all her captivating smiles were merely unintentional actions.

A few strands of Qi Musi’s slightly curled hair fell in front of her, rising and falling slightly with the beautiful and soft curve of her chest the dark hair against her fair skin and bright red lips, like a painter’s brushstrokes, outlined this beautiful Alpha.

Perhaps because she had never seen Qi Musi around the school before, Xie Rong thought that if she were willing to step out more often, this so-called title of ‘most beautiful Alpha’ might be hers.

Qi Musi left the dorm room.

Strictly speaking, she didn’t have anything important to do, but she felt there was nothing to do and no fun to be had staying in the dorm, so she might as well go for a walk, and… visit her newly made “friend.”

She arrived at the Omega dormitories not far away, standing under the pavilion, one hand holding her phone, waiting for the person to arrive.

A beautiful and striking Alpha standing below the Omega dormitories was clearly a very eye catching sight. Everyone coming and going, when passing the pavilion, would unconsciously turn their heads to secretly look.

Although the reason and purpose for an Alpha waiting here were self-evident that is, their Omega partner lived here.

But even so, some people couldn’t resist walking forward, wanting to ask for Qi Musi’s contact information.

“Um… hello, I, I forgot to bring my phone. Could I borrow your phone to call my roommate?” A petite Omega walked over. She was very nervous, fiddling with her hair, and her eyes were shifting.

This was clearly a transparent and easily exposed excuse, but… well, all Alphas are like that, aren’t they? They always help or openly accept an Omega’s request for help or gesture of goodwill.

The Omega thought to herself.

As an Omega, she had certain privileges, so the Alpha would yield to her.

The person opposite her had no intention of concealing her thoughts, and her intentions were as clear as pebbles beneath a clear stream.

If it were another Alpha, they might have found her cute and, holding some unspoken intention, pretended not to notice and handed over the phone.

But Qi Musi was not that kind of person.

She smiled faintly, expertly masking the fleeting indifference and lack of interest in her eyes. Then she took out her phone but did not hand it to the Omega. Instead, she asked with a gentle laugh, “What’s your roommate’s phone number?”

The Omega thought her plan had succeeded, but then she saw the pretty girl in front of her with a light, seductive smile on her red lips, speaking softly, “I’ll have my girlfriend call for you.”

“…”

The girl opposite her froze in place, clearly not expecting such a rejection. Her lips opened and closed a few times, but she ultimately said nothing.

Finally, she turned away in embarrassment and took a step back: “No, it’s nothing…” and then left.

Qi Musi watched her retreating figure, her eyes cool and indifferent, smiling without much emotion as she continued to wait.

She had seen too much of this kind of admiration and goodwill. It was merely a sentiment arising from lust and appearance, as fragile and fleeting as the moon in the water, utterly insignificant.

A hint of sarcasm flashed across Qi Musi’s lips.

Even if they looked sincere now, what good was a genuine feeling that only came for one’s looks and appearance? If they encountered someone more attractive tomorrow, they would still abandon her and leave.

Such superficial, perfunctory, and shallow affection was what Qi Musi disliked the most.

It was too cheap.

She simply didn’t care, didn’t value it, and was even disgusted by it.

Qi Musi lowered her gaze, hiding a trace of darkness in her eyes.

“Musi.”

Qi Musi paused and lifted her eyes.

The Omega in front of her, wearing a sun hat, was smiling at her.

She was wearing a white dress, and her smile was warm, like the sun in spring, bringing warmth and comfort to one’s heart. The smile and eyes looking back at her were incredibly clear, like translucent glass.

Qi Musi felt all the hostility in her heart dissipate.

She couldn’t help but return a smile and then walked forward, “Thank you for coming down.”

Zhuang Xinbai didn’t mind making the trip. She handed the item to Qi Musi: “Here, I’ve washed it clean.”

The bag contained a piece of women’s clothing with a faint floral scent.

Qi Musi smiled and reached out to take it. “I told you it was fine, you didn’t have to wash it.”

“How could I not… I was on my cycle that time…” Zhuang Xinbai’s face flushed slightly. “Even if it didn’t get stained, I should have helped you wash it.”

Qi Musi chuckled, “Are you going to eat now?”

Zhuang Xinbai nodded, “Yes, I came down to return your clothes, and now I’m going to the cafeteria.”

Qi Musi took the bag, then preemptively asked, “Where are you going to eat? Let me treat you.”

Zhuang Xinbai opened her eyes wide in surprise and then shook her head: “No need, how can I let you treat me? You helped me, it should be me treating you.”

Qi Musi raised an eyebrow: “That works too, I don’t mind.” She narrowed her eyes, her smile carrying a hint of slyness.

Zhuang Xinbai didn’t dwell on it, nor did she see through the true hidden calculation behind Qi Musi’s smile, so she nodded: “Okay, what do you want to eat?”

Qi Musi hadn’t expected her casual suggestion to actually succeed, and at this moment, she genuinely felt a little regretful. Thus, two parts of sincerity mixed into her originally fabricated emotions.

Qi Musi spread her hands: “It’s a shame. Although I really want to go with you, it will have to be next time.”

She looked down, her deep eyes holding an indistinguishable mix of genuine and feigned tenderness and affection.

Zhuang Xinbai was a little puzzled: “Huh? What’s wrong?”

Qi Musi explained: “I just moved into the dorm, and my roommates are treating me to dinner today, so…”

Zhuang Xinbai nodded understandingly, though she was still curious as to why Qi Musi was only arriving now, in October, when all new students had moved in by early September.

However, Zhuang Xinbai knew her limits, so she merely suppressed her curiosity and didn’t actually ask.

But she didn’t realize that all her little thoughts and intentions had been observed by Qi Musi.

Noticing the other person was very thoughtful not to probe, Qi Musi’s smile deepened.

She had already walked with Zhuang Xinbai to the front of the cafeteria, and could only stop: “Next time, send me a message when that is, okay?”

Zhuang Xinbai nodded innocently, “Sure.”

Qi Musi’s smile was brilliant, and she winked at Zhuang Xinbai, a charming, captivating smile on her face, with dark hair and red lips, her appearance dazzling.

“Don’t you forget me.”

Inexplicably, Zhuang Xinbai, an Omega, felt a false sense of being seduced by an Alpha, a feeling that even made her blush. Zhuang Xinbai quickly nodded: “I won’t forget!”

Qi Musi then dropped the seductive air and smiled as she watched her enter.

By ten o’clock, both roommates had arrived. Although they were disappointed not to meet the fourth person right away, the thought of meeting her during dinner later kept them from being too upset.

Zhao Rongrong opened her gift and couldn’t help but let out an ignorant howl.

“Although I don’t understand fountain pens, this looks really good, boo-hoo!”

Mo Li calmly put down her phone: “More than that. I checked, and if it’s what I think it is, this is a Montblanc PIX series fountain pen, officially priced at over 2,000 RMB.” (Based on the search results, the price for a Montblanc PIX series pen is generally higher than 2,000 RMB, which matches the ‘2k+’ in the text).

“Which means, she casually gave her roommates, who she just met, a gift worth six thousand yuan.”

Although six thousand yuan might not sound like a lot, it was undoubtedly a large sum for students from ordinary families.

Not to mention, this was a gift for regular roommates.

Zhao Rongrong gasped, clutching her heart with a grotesque and comical expression.

Xie Rong paused, a hint of surprise appearing on her usually calm face.

Although she had guessed the fountain pen was of good quality, she hadn’t expected it to be in the four  figure range.

She frowned slightly, her gaze drifting toward the pen box she had put away.

Zhao Rongrong carefully asked, “Do you think paying her back with myself is enough for the rich sister?”

Mo Li laughed and scolded, “That rich sister would probably cry from the loss.”

Zhao Rongrong: “Pft.”

Mo Li looked over, contemplating: “Giving Little Rong in return might be more appropriate.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Rong looked up.

Her eyes were like cold stars, containing faint points of light, reflecting the light and the figures of the people.

Zhao Rongrong also quieted down, taking a sharp breath, “Then the rich sister would truly profit. Our Rong, aside from being an Alpha, is pretty much the standard for my dream lover.”

Xie Rong glanced at her, said nothing much, only: “Since we’ve decided to treat her to a meal, don’t change the plan. And I’ve already sent the address.”

Zhao Rongrong’s distracting topic came back on track. She sighed: “That’s all we can do.”

Mo Li rubbed her temples: “What if we privately try to make up the difference later?”

“Sounds like a good idea? What do you think, Little Rong?”

Xie Rong replied: “…Give her a return gift,” she paused, then added: “Or treat her a few more times.”

After all, trying to return the money as a price difference would look too awkward.

Mo Li and Zhao Rongrong agreed: “Okay.”

After the two of them finished getting ready, they prepared to head to the restaurant.

It was near the school, not too far.

While walking, Zhao Rongrong remarked emotionally: “Every time I walk with Little Rong, I feel like I’m next to an Omega, sigh.”

Mo Li: “Who’s complaining? Even passersby must think the same.”

Xie Rong’s steps paused, her eyes devoid of emotion, but she released her pheromones, which signified an Alpha’s scent.

Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li stiffened simultaneously, sensing the nearly aggressive emotion. They both involuntarily tensed up before quickly returning to normal.

Zhao Rongrong said with a wry smile: “It’s still too hard to get used to.”

“Yeah, when our usually calm and reserved Little Rong, who barely has any scent, suddenly releases slightly aggressive pheromones, I just can’t handle it.”

Xie Rong lowered her gaze, a very slight smile gracing her lips, and she walked past the two of them.

“Let’s go.”