After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 55

Xie Rong was slightly startled.

She somewhat understood that Qi Musi didn’t want to stay in City A, and she had more or less guessed some reasons. However, the fact that the other party mentioned wanting to come to City C… made her think more deeply.

Why did she want to come to City C? There were so many relaxing places and cities around City A, and City C was not the best choice. Was Qi Musi choosing to come here simply because she wanted a place to hide, or was it due to some personal motive?

And what that personal motive was, Xie Rong dared not investigate, even though she already had a guess in her heart.

There was silence from the other end for a short time, and Qi Musi thought Xie Rong didn’t want to talk anymore, so she chuckled softly: “Good night.”

Xie Rong’s eyelashes flickered, “Good night.”

The next day, after having breakfast, Xie Rong started packing her luggage.

Packing luggage for the summer or winter break to go home was a relatively troublesome and major task, unlike going home for the National Day holiday where she just needed to bring a couple of clothes and toiletries.

For a long holiday, she had to take back everything she used, even her laptop.

Fortunately, Xie Rong was quick and managed to finish packing before her departure time.

Qi Musi sat nearby, watching Xie Rong work. She didn’t say much, nor did she rashly step in to help her organize; she just quietly watched the other person, her reflection visible in her eyes.

When Xie Rong finished packing and sat down to rest, she slightly raised her eyes and met Qi Musi’s gaze.

She paused, then nonchalantly shifted her sight, yet the suspicion from last night resurfaced.

Xie Rong didn’t dare to easily confirm her own suspicion, nor did she dare to bring up the suspicion itself to ask Qi Musi.

She couldn’t quite say why, but she felt a little uneasy, completely lacking the decisiveness she would have when facing confessions from others. If she had to say, it might be because she and Qi Musi were still roommates.

Xie Rong thought this to herself.

Qi Musi probably didn’t notice her abnormality, only thinking Xie Rong was tired.

She chuckled softly and poured a glass of water for Xie Rong, placing it on the desk.

Xie Rong looked down at it, “Thank you.”

Qi Musi laughed out loud, “I just poured a glass of water, Xiao Rong, you’re too polite.”

Xie Rong didn’t answer. After a while, she asked, “When are you going back?”

Qi Musi replied carelessly, “Maybe this afternoon, maybe tonight.”

Xie Rong nodded and didn’t say anything more.

Regarding Qi Musi’s affairs, knowing about them was one thing, but easily judging or commenting was another. Ultimately, these were Qi Musi’s private matters, and Xie Rong wouldn’t rashly infringe upon the other party’s privacy.

On her phone, Zhuang Xinbai also sent a message that they could set off.

Xie Rong checked the time, “I have to leave now.”

Qi Musi stood up straight, “I’ll see you downstairs.”

Xie Rong was slightly surprised but still refused, “It’s fine, I don’t have much stuff.”

Qi Musi looked at her, then smiled wryly, “Then I’ll just help you carry the laptop, okay? I also need to go eat.”

This time, Xie Rong didn’t refuse, especially since Qi Musi had already put her words into action and directly picked up the laptop. So, Xie Rong got up, pulled her suitcase, “Then thank you.”

As they left the room, Qi Musi softly sighed with emotion, “Xiao Rong, you are truly polite to me.”

Xie Rong was unconcerned, “It’s what I should do.” It wasn’t just because of Qi Musi, if it were Zhao Rongrong, Xie Rong would also thank her.

Qi Musi lowered her eyes and smiled, concealing the unspoken words in her heart.

If possible, she wished Xie Rong could freely and naturally order her around, and tell her all her requests, instead of being polite and formal like she was with a friend.

When the two went downstairs, they saw Zhuang Xinbai waiting outside. Qi Musi narrowed her eyes, and the fingers holding the laptop tightened for a moment, but she quickly returned to normal.

Don’t care too much, and don’t be too nervous. Qi Musi told herself in her heart.

She knew Xie Rong and Zhuang Xinbai were from the same city, so it was normal for them to go home together.

After Xie Rong finished signing out, she took the laptop. The first time she tried to take it back, she didn’t manage to pull it away. She paused slightly and looked up at Qi Musi.

Qi Musi came back to her senses and smiled apologetically, pursing her lips, “Sorry, I was thinking about something just now.”

Xie Rong lowered her eyes and responded with an ‘oh,’ not asking what she was thinking about.

Qi Musi withdrew her hand, “Then take care, when you get home…”

She had originally intended to say that Xie Rong should text her when she got home to let her know she was safe, but Qi Musi finally just said, “Remember to say something in the group chat.”

Xie Rong nodded, “Okay.”

So, Qi Musi stood on the steps, watching Xie Rong leave with Zhuang Xinbai.

An Alpha and an Omega, they looked quite well-matched.

Qi Musi gave a self-mocking twitch of her lips and dismissed the last image in her mind.

Qi Musi stayed in the dorm until the last day before the building locked up. After all, she didn’t want to return home early, so it was the same for her whether she stayed outside or in the dorm during these days.

It wasn’t until the final deadline arrived and Qi Rong started urging her that Qi Musi hastily packed her belongings and got into the family car.

Qi Muyan had been on holiday for a while. As soon as Qi Musi returned, she saw him sitting on the sofa. Seeing Qi Musi arrive, he twitched his lips, finally forcing a look of insincere smile.

At that moment, Zhong Ling also came out of the kitchen. Seeing Qi Musi look over, she tucked her hair, showing no trace of the argumentative manner she had on the phone with Qi Musi before.

“Musi is back. You must be tired from the journey. Hurry back to your room and rest.”

Qi Musi looked listless and didn’t want to put on a show with this mother and son anymore, so she directly carried her suitcase upstairs.

After all, she had already known before coming home that there would be many more days of such pretense in the future.

Qi Musi opened her phone and checked. Besides the day she went home for the holiday when Xie Rong reported she was safe in the group chat, she hadn’t spoken again in the remaining time, nor did she post anything on her social media or Moments.

Qi Musi’s fingers rubbed the screen, looking down at the other party’s profile picture, feeling a sense of emptiness and loneliness in her heart.

What should I do, I’ve already started missing her.

Qi Musi closed her eyes and exhaled, then tossed her suitcase aside, took a set of pajamas, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

The sound of hot water poured from the showerhead, and steam quickly spread through the bathroom.

Qi Musi glanced sideways at the bathtub next to her. After a moment of hesitation, she ran the water into it.

Normally, Qi Musi didn’t like taking baths in the tub, but perhaps she was a little exhausted today, so she unusually felt like soaking.

Turning off the shower, Qi Musi stepped into the tub.

Warm water enveloped her from all directions, bringing a sense of oppression.

Qi Musi leaned back against the soft headrest, closing her eyes. Xie Rong’s face appeared in her mind.

Beautiful and exquisite, with a captivating coolness, and the sweet fragrance of pear blossoms faintly wrapped in a hint of snow.

Qi Musi’s hand slowly moved down.

After a while, she opened her eyes, then drained the water and got up, opening the bathroom window to disperse the roomful of strong wine scented cherry aroma.

Xie Rong’s life at home was very relaxed and comfortable.

She didn’t have to worry about too much or think about too many things. Moreover, since she didn’t have extra things to keep her busy, there were no annoying relatives to deal with.

However, the more free time she had, the more Xie Rong couldn’t help but think about more things. For example, Qi Musi.

The suspicion and thought in her mind did not subside with her distance from Qi Musi. On the contrary, during the days when she didn’t see the other party, her suspicion escalated, practically about to be written on Xie Rong’s forehead every night she dreamt.

Xie Rong was a little troubled, but she couldn’t discuss such matters with anyone.

Now, Qi Musi hadn’t revealed or made things clear, so Xie Rong could pretend to be oblivious. But once the other party crossed the line and laid everything bare before Xie Rong, how should she respond then?

Should she reject her?

As soon as she thought of such a scenario, Xie Rong felt she couldn’t formulate the words of rejection.

She rubbed her temples and sighed.

She could only pray that Qi Musi wouldn’t make things clear so quickly. Perhaps this was just a momentary misperception on her part, and once the illusion disappeared, she wouldn’t have such thoughts.

Besides… two Alphas, how could they possibly be together?

One day, Xie Rong suddenly received a message from Zhao Rongrong.

The other party hesitantly asked her if anything unusual had happened on the day she left school.

Xie Rong narrowed her eyes, staring at the message. She didn’t immediately answer the question but instead asked Zhao Rongrong back: [Something did happen, but the ‘thing’ you’re referring to, what kind is it? Or rather, how serious is it.]

Under normal circumstances, Xie Rong might have simply answered Zhao Rongrong truthfully as if nothing was wrong, but since she herself had guessed a certain possibility, Xie Rong had to think more carefully about the question from Zhao Rongrong.

She wondered what meaning lay behind Zhao Rongrong’s question.

And the thing she thought of, was she the only one who thought of it? Would Zhao Rongrong and Mo Yue have noticed some clues?

With this thought, Xie Rong did not answer truthfully but skewed part of the facts.

As expected, upon seeing her message, Zhao Rongrong was greatly alarmed: [Holy crap, holy crap, did something really happen?!]

Xie Rong paused: [Yes. It involves Qi Musi.]

Zhao Rongrong: […]

Zhao Rongrong: [Um, Xiao Rong, don’t be too angry, okay? Although Musi is like this and that, I can tell this time she’s not being frivolous. It seems she really is, just a little bit serious about you.]

[No, not just a little bit, she’s serious.]

Xie Rong stopped what she was doing, looking down at the message from Zhao Rongrong.

She thought, it wasn’t her own misperception, nor was she the only one who saw it. Zhao Rongrong had indeed sensed something.

Having realized this, Xie Rong’s heart rate slightly accelerated. She couldn’t say whether she was nervous or what, but her emotions at the moment were definitely not calm.

Xie Rong closed her eyes, then asked with a hint of determination and desperation.

She asked Zhao Rongrong: [You know Qi Musi’s feelings, don’t you?]