After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 47

Time flew by, and soon it was the following week. It seemed like the final exam period had truly begun, as almost every course instructor started outlining key points and reviewing knowledge for the students.

The initially deserted classrooms instantly became “overcrowded and bustling with activity.”

However, the reason for saying “almost” was because some instructors remained principled, refusing to outline key points. When asked, they simply stated that the entire textbook was important.

Xie Rong didn’t mind this. After all, whether the teacher outlined them or not, she would study diligently. She wouldn’t abandon a course just because there were no key points, nor would she neglect it because of them.

Zhao Rongrong was overwhelmed: “Finals week is always when I start regretting not studying harder. If heaven could give me another chance.”

“You still wouldn’t study hard,” Mo Li retorted coolly.

Zhao Rongrong’s face twisted, “Can’t you let me have some dignity!”

Xie Rong ignored their squabbling and lowered her gaze to the new message on her phone. It was… from Zhuang Xinbai.

Since the confession incident, Xie Rong hadn’t seen Zhuang Xinbai for a while.

Although the other party, afraid of making her feel awkward, hadn’t dared to seek her out frequently, she also hadn’t forgotten about Xie Rong. Instead, she maintained the attitude and frequency of a friend, occasionally reaching out to Xie Rong online.

However, the two hadn’t arranged to eat together or meet in person again.

But when chatting, Zhuang Xinbai didn’t reveal any attitude of avoidance.

She maintained a distance that was neither too far nor too close, ensuring she didn’t overstep boundaries or make Xie Rong feel awkward.

Xie Rong’s fingers rubbed against her phone, her eyelids lowered.

In truth, Xie Rong no longer felt much negative emotion. The reason she had avoided seeing Zhuang Xinbai before was partly the subconscious avoidance people feel after a failed confession, and partly because she still hadn’t figured out the definition of “liking,” making it difficult to face Zhuang Xinbai.

Because Xie Rong couldn’t understand, it inevitably led to a faint sense of resentment.

Therefore, she didn’t want to interact with Zhuang Xinbai with such an attitude, it wouldn’t be fair to her. Xie Rong wanted to fully process her emotions before facing her again.

Now… although she hadn’t fully figured it out, she seemed to have vaguely grasped a little bit of the content.

About what Zhuang Xinbai said, about liking.

So, she felt somewhat relieved. And not as upset.

The other party asked her on QQ if she had started outlining key points and preparing for exams yet, and also inquired about when she would be going back home, asking if they should book tickets together.

Xie Rong thought for a moment and replied: [The exam schedule for our major hasn’t been released yet. Let’s decide after the exam time is confirmed.]

Zhuang Xinbai felt a little flattered. She had originally thought that after such an awkward incident last time, Xie Rong wouldn’t want to talk to her or go home with her anymore, but thankfully she was overthinking.

Xie Rong was still Xie Rong.

Although she appeared distant, her heart remained warm. In such an awkward situation, and despite being rejected, she still prioritized Zhuang Xinbai as a friend, not as the person who rejected her.

Zhuang Xinbai knew she couldn’t be as composed as Xie Rong, so she was extremely happy that Xie Rong didn’t mind.

She quickly replied: [Okay, no problem, I’m not in a hurry.]

Qi Musi looked back and saw Xie Rong replying to a message with her head down. Out of politeness, she didn’t lean over to look, but her intuition told Qi Musi that Xie Rong was definitely messaging Zhuang Xinbai right now.

She paused, and the sourness in her heart resurfaced.

Xie Rong truly liked Zhuang Xinbai… even after her confession was rejected, she still maintained contact with her.

Xie Rong really likes Zhuang Xinbai… even after her confession was rejected, she still maintains contact with her, Qi Musi thought moodily. If it were her, confessing to someone she liked and getting rejected, she would have kept far away from them and even deleted their contact information!

Of course, only Qi Musi herself knew how ridiculous and baseless this thought was. Because when she had this thought, Qi Musi felt no genuine anger or empathy, only a profound, sour feeling.

Moreover, with her personality, if she were ever rejected by Xie Rong in the future, how could she easily give up? She would probably try everything to persevere.

Seeing Xie Rong put down her phone, Qi Musi casually asked, “Who are you messaging, Xiaorong? You look so engrossed.”

Xie Rong slightly frowned, “No.” She first subconsciously denied the word ‘engrossed,’ then paused and added: “Xinbai.”

She didn’t hide anything because Xie Rong didn’t think there was anything worth concealing.

Her guess was confirmed, but Qi Musi felt no joy. Instead, her heart felt sour and bubbly.

She pursed her lips and then chuckled softly, “So, Xiaorong and Xinbai have made up already.”

Xie Rong’s eyebrows twitched, “What do you mean? We didn’t have a falling out.”

“…”

Now the sour bubbles in Qi Musi’s heart grew even larger. She felt that if she tasted one, she’d be so sour she’d pee.

Although her emotions were fluctuating internally, Qi Musi maintained a polite smile outwardly. Since class hadn’t started yet, she was enjoying the leisure and simply turned her head toward Xie Rong.

“I was just thinking, didn’t Xiaorong just get rejected after a confession? It’s too harmonious that you can reconcile with the person so quickly.”

Hearing this topic, Xie Rong paused. She lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, and then softly said, “In my heart, Xinbai is first and foremost a friend I grew up with for over ten years, and secondarily the person who rejected me. So, I don’t want the sadness of being rejected to taint her. She did nothing wrong.”

Or perhaps, anyone who rejects a confession shouldn’t be wrong; they simply don’t like the person, and that’s all.

Hearing Xie Rong’s explanation, Qi Musi was stunned, as if she hadn’t expected it. The smile, which had leaned toward being fake, softened a little.

A moment later, she whispered, “I hadn’t expected you to think that way.”

Xie Rong was different from her. Qi Musi subconsciously pursed her lips, then curved her smile again.

But it was precisely this pure Xie Rong that she liked even more.

She liked her a little more every day than the day before.

Xie Rong didn’t think much of it, “Everyone has their own thoughts.” She summarized simply.

Then, she inadvertently caught sight of Qi Musi’s current expression, subconsciously frowned, and then said, “You…”

Qi Musi regained her focus and curved her eyes again, “What’s wrong?”

The feeling just now was stronger.

Xie Rong averted her gaze, opened her textbook, paused for two seconds, and said, “I just feel that your smile right now is somewhat false.”

The expression on Qi Musi’s face froze. Her eyes widened in astonishment, “My… what?”

Her question was purely instinctive because in that moment, Qi Musi understood what Xie Rong was referring to.

She was indeed smiling falsely because, on the surface, she was pretending to be a good roommate inquiring for information, but in her heart, she was feeling sour. It was impossible for her to have a peaceful mood or a gentle smile.

Xie Rong thought for a moment and asked her, “Are you still in love with Xinbai?”

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to have this guess; otherwise, there was no way to explain why Qi Musi’s emotions had suddenly undergone such a big change.

Qi Musi denied it without any hesitation: “No, what I said before was true. I no longer like Xinbai, and I’ve made it clear where my feelings for her came from. Xiaorong, I didn’t lie to you about this.”

Xie Rong realized the other party had misunderstood, “I didn’t mean that.”

She thought for a moment, “I meant to ask, could it be that after that, you discovered your true feelings…”

Qi Musi almost laughed out of annoyance, “I remember telling you that the reason I was able to clarify my feelings for Xinbai was because I found the person I truly like, right?”

Xie Rong paused, and only then remembered.

That was indeed the case… Qi Musi had someone she liked, and it wasn’t Xinbai, so it was impossible for her to “change her mind” and fall back in love with Zhuang Xinbai.

“Sorry, I guessed wrong,” Xie Rong apologized.

Qi Musi wasn’t genuinely angry; she was just a little frustrated.

She shook her head, “It’s nothing.”

Then she chuckled internally, Anyway, once you know who the person I like is, you’ll… know.

Xie Rong casually asked, “Then who is the person you like? Haven’t you confessed?”

Qi Musi’s hand movements slowly stopped. She looked up and gave Xie Rong a meaningful glance, the smile on her lips becoming genuine.

“Not yet, because she doesn’t know my feelings.”

Xie Rong slightly frowned, pointing out what was incorrect in her words, “If you never say anything, how could she know?”

Just like she herself had been.

Qi Musi lowered her gaze and chuckled softly, “You’re wrong, Xiaorong. She can know. It’s just that currently, she doesn’t know.”

Because you’ve never thought of me in that way.

Qi Musi’s words were cryptic, and Xie Rong wasn’t keen on guessing games, so she didn’t ask further; after all, she wasn’t particularly gossipy.

The schedule for finals week was quickly finalized: two exams a day, finishing in about a week.

With the time known, they could choose which day to leave campus based on the end of the exams.

“When are you guys leaving?” Zhao Rongrong asked.

Mo Li said, “I’ll leave right after the exams.”

Zhao Rongrong: “Oh, I want to leave right after the exams too. What about Xiaorong?”

Xie Rong disliked being too rushed, so she said, “The day after.”

“And Musi… I’m sorry to interrupt, I forgot you’re from A City, so you can leave whenever you want.”

Qi Musi lowered her gaze and smiled, her sight sweeping over Xie Rong.

She was still thinking about how she could go to C City to find Xie Rong without it seeming too deliberate.

Because she not only wanted to find Xie Rong but also wanted to celebrate the New Year with her.

She wanted Xie Rong to accompany her.

But there was no rush; there was still time.

Qi Musi curved her eyes and smiled, “I’ll leave the day after, just like Xiaorong.”

At least for now, she could spend a little more time with Xie Rong.