After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 53

Xie Rong slightly raised an eyebrow, looking at Zhao Rongrong’s startled expression. She felt a little confused but also didn’t think it was anything worth paying attention to.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care about Zhao Rongrong, but Zhao Rongrong had many moments like this, and they were usually for… unimportant things not worth worrying about.

So, gradually, Xie Rong became indifferent to Zhao Rongrong’s overreactions.

However, this time she asked one more question, “What, do you genuinely have something on your mind?”

Zhao Rongrong hesitated, her expression slightly twisted.

She did have something on her mind and wanted to offer a warning, but she was afraid that if she didn’t handle it well, she might drag herself into it too. After all, this matter was truly embarrassing, and the parties involved were both her roommates. Zhao Rongrong felt that no matter whose side she took, it would feel like betraying the other.

So, she thought for a moment and decided to stay neutral.

Zhao Rongrong shook her head, stuffed the fruit into Xie Rong’s arms, and said, “No, it’s nothing. You eat the fruit.”

Xie Rong lowered her eyes to look at the fruit, noncommittal, but accepted it and casually placed it nearby.

“Aren’t you two eating lunch?”

Zhao Rongrong replied, “My train ticket is booked for the morning. I’ll leave as soon as I finish packing. What about Mo Li?”

Mo Li: “Me too.”

“Then perfect, we can go together.”

Seeing this, Xie Rong said nothing more.

Zhao Rongrong and Mo Li quickly packed their luggage and got ready to leave with their things.

Xie Rong stood up and saw them off to the door, her expression calm, not at all like she was bidding farewell to roommates for a holiday, but more like seeing them off to buy groceries.

Zhao Rongrong said, “I’m going to miss you, Xiaorong.”

Xie Rong looked at her, “It’s not like we won’t see each other for the rest of our lives.”

Zhao Rongrong choked, “You have no sense of romance.”

Xie Rong lightly chuckled, leaning against the door frame, “Is this the first day you’ve known about this?”

Naturally, it wasn’t.

Zhao Rongrong had complained about this when she first got familiar with Xie Rong. Xie Rong was probably naturally disinclined and unable to be romantic, so these touching moments were just like any other for her, and she seemed entirely unemotional.

Zhao Rongrong sighed, “Then I’m leaving, okay? When you leave, remember to turn off the power and water in the dorm.”

Xie Rong nodded, her expression composed, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

Zhao Rongrong’s lips moved. Ultimately, she felt too guilty to leave without saying anything, so she quietly and awkwardly mumbled, “Well, Xiaorong, sleep well alone tonight, okay?”

Xie Rong slightly narrowed her eyes, wondering what she meant by that.

However, Zhao Rongrong dared not say another word. She coughed and left with Mo Li.

Watching Zhao Rongrong leave, Xie Rong looked at Qi Musi, “Do you know what she meant by that last sentence?”

Of course, Qi Musi knew.

After all, Zhao Rongrong knew her feelings. Although Qi Musi was surprised by this concern, she wasn’t entirely unexpected. But facing Xie Rong’s question, she just smiled and shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Xie Rong looked at her, not indicating whether she believed her or not.

After lunch, Xie Rong received a message from Zhuang Xinbai.

She asked which train she was taking and if she wanted to go to the station together, etc.

Xie Rong lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, then called Zhuang Xinbai.

Xie Rong rarely makes phone calls. If she does, she usually goes outside or to the balcony, as this is considered… dorm etiquette?

However, due to special circumstances, coupled with the genuinely cold weather outside, Xie Rong was too lazy to go out.

She sat in her spot, listening to the dial tone on her phone.

Soon, the call connected.

“Ah, Xiaorong?” Zhuang Xinbai’s voice sounded surprised yet delighted. She seemed very happy, “You called me? What’s up?”

Xie Rong said, “Nothing much, just asking about the train ticket you mentioned. You haven’t booked a ticket yet?”

“Yeah, because I was afraid I wouldn’t be on the same train as you.”

Xie Rong paused, “I’m taking the high-speed rail back. There are only two train services a day to the neighboring city, and I… am leaving in the morning.”

Zhuang Xinbai, understanding Xie Rong’s subtle implication, immediately said, “Ah, ah, ah, okay, I know! I’ll go book the ticket right away.”

Xie Rong lowered her gaze, “Mmm, if there isn’t one, then never mind.”

Zhuang Xinbai whispered, “There definitely will be. It’s not a public holiday or peak season right now.”

Xie Rong’s lips moved, but she said nothing further.

Zhuang Xinbai thought for a moment, then carefully asked, “Um, Xiaorong, are you… angry with me?”

Xie Rong was stunned and countered, “Why would I be angry with you?”

To be precise, Xie Rong’s tone wasn’t a counter question because she didn’t seek an answer from Zhuang Xinbai. Xie Rong’s tone was more like sincere confusion, as she truly didn’t understand why Zhuang Xinbai would think she was angry.

After all, Zhuang Xinbai hadn’t done anything wrong. On the contrary, she had comforted Xie Rong, patiently responded to her confession, and honestly expressed her feelings.

How could Xie Rong be angry for that reason?

Qi Musi entered the room just as she heard that sentence.

Her eyes moved, and she looked over at Xie Rong, easily guessing she was talking to Zhuang Xinbai.

Sometimes Qi Musi hated being so perceptive.

Zhuang Xinbai understood what Xie Rong meant. She smiled apologetically and then said, “That’s good. Thank you, Xiaorong. You’re so kind.”

Xie Rong smiled very faintly… not exactly a smile, just a slight curve of her lips.

“It’s not worthy of such words.”

Zhuang Xinbai refuted, “It is, it is. Anyway… as long as you’re not angry with me, Xiaorong, I, I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

Xie Rong paused, “Me too.”

After hanging up the phone, Xie Rong realized Qi Musi was standing very close to her. She was holding a cup of hot water, looking down, lost in thought.

Xie Rong looked over at her, “What’s wrong?”

Qi Musi slightly raised an eyebrow, “Zhuang Xinbai’s call?”

Xie Rong didn’t try to hide it.

Qi Musi curved her lips without emotion and said, “That’s good.”

“No matter how she treats you, you treat her this way. That’s good.”

Xie Rong was stung by that remark. She couldn’t help but frown slightly, “What do you mean?”

Qi Musi also looked down at her, “The literal meaning.”

Xie Rong frowned, feeling somewhat irritated and slightly provoked by Qi Musi’s attitude.

Qi Musi just stood there, neither explaining nor leaving.

A moment later, Xie Rong turned her head, not wanting to continue this standoff with Qi Musi, as she felt it was a little silly and pointless. So, Xie Rong stood up, preparing to go fetch some hot water.

However, just before she left her seat, Qi Musi grabbed her wrist with one hand.

Xie Rong stopped and looked over, “What is it?”

Qi Musi said, “Don’t you have anything you want to say?”

“Should I have anything to say?” Xie Rong countered.

Qi Musi paused, and then realized her attitude was a bit sharp and her emotions had slightly slipped out of control.

She closed her eyes and slowly released her hand, “I apologize.”

Xie Rong withdrew her wrist, rubbed it with the other hand, and then prepared to leave.

However, before Xie Rong took a step, she suddenly paused, looked up at Qi Musi, and a faint suspicion arose in her heart.

But Xie Rong’s eyes flickered, and she ultimately said nothing.

Perhaps it was fear of confirming that suspicion, or perhaps she herself wasn’t entirely sure.

When Xie Rong returned with the hot water, Qi Musi had already returned to her own seat. She was holding her mug, looking down and drinking the hot water sip by sip, her expression calm, seemingly having cooled down.

Xie Rong didn’t want to pursue the previous incident or ask about it, so she simply put down the water in silence, then took off her shoes and socks and started soaking her feet.

Qi Musi’s gaze shifted, landing on Xie Rong’s bare feet in the water basin.

…They were slender and white, the toes slightly curled due to the water’s temperature, tinged with pink; the fine bones on the top of her feet were slightly exposed due to their slenderness, making her feet look exceptionally delicate.

Above them, water ripples danced repeatedly, reflecting the light.

Qi Musi paused, then took another sip of water.

She thought it best to stop looking so frequently.

Otherwise, she was afraid that as she looked, she might be unable to resist reaching out.

Qi Musi had never thought she had a problem after living for so many years, but now she had to admit she might actually have one.

Because just now, looking at Xie Rong’s bare feet in the water basin, she actually had an urge to cup them in her hands…

Qi Musi closed her eyes and let out a breath.

Fortunately, Xie Rong couldn’t read minds.

After getting some of her thoughts and emotions under control, Qi Musi asked again, “Are you and Zhuang Xinbai back to normal?”

Xie Rong looked at her, “Were we ever broken up?”

Qi Musi was silent for a moment, “I mean, after your failed confession to her… did you adjust your feelings so quickly?”

Xie Rong, understanding what she was asking, paused, and then calmly replied, “What else? What should I do..resent her? Or push her away and insult her?”

Qi Musi frowned slightly.

Xie Rong: “I can’t do any of that, and I wouldn’t.”

Hearing her say this, Qi Musi’s brow relaxed, and she let out a helpless light laugh, “You’re right.”

She couldn’t imagine Xie Rong acting like that either.

However, there were still some questions she wanted to clarify. Qi Musi paused, “So, what about your feelings for Zhuang Xinbai now…”

“They are, like that now.” Xie Rong said, and then she thought about it. Since this was not something worth hiding, she added, “I may be seeing clearly, or rather, I’ve already seen clearly the state of my own heart.”

Qi Musi’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked over, “Such as?”

Xie Rong’s expression was calm, containing a sense of indifference, “Perhaps my feelings for Xinbai really aren’t love, nor the kind of affection you have for a romantic partner.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Musi immediately recalled all the previous events and Xie Rong’s question to her.

Qi Musi’s eyes slightly widened, as if she understood something.

She pursed her lips, “So… that’s why you asked me that question that day…”

Xie Rong did not evade and nodded.

Qi Musi’s heart rate instantly accelerated.