After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 60

Qi Musi stared blankly at the red carp themed red envelope in Xie Rong’s hand, her expression freezing instantly.

She had initially thought that when Xie Rong mentioned sending a red envelope, it was just a casual remark, or perhaps she would send it online. However, she never expected that the other party would actually hand the red envelope right in front of her eyes.

She thought… she thought…

In short, Qi Musi truly hadn’t expected it.

If it were her, it would be impossible to spend the New Year in the countryside at noon and then rush back in the afternoon just to deliver a red envelope.

Of course, she would still do it, but not as quickly as Xie Rong in fulfilling the promise.

It was as if Xie Rong was straightforwardly telling her: Look, I didn’t forget what I promised you.

Although Xie Rong had asked for her address, Qi Musi didn’t take it seriously, or rather, didn’t dare to hope. Therefore, she never thought Xie Rong would actually come, and follow through.

Qi Musi’s eyes were slightly red, and she remained stunned in place.

Xie Rong grew a little tired of holding it out and urged her, “Take it.”

Qi Musi took a step forward, but instead of taking the red envelope, she directly embraced Xie Rong.

Xie Rong’s eyes widened in surprise. “You…”

She hadn’t expected Qi Musi to be so direct, or rather, so moved.

Since this wasn’t the first time Qi Musi had hugged her, Xie Rong didn’t feel too embarrassed at the moment. Or perhaps, her embarrassment didn’t stem from the hug itself, but from the reaction to Qi Musi’s actions.

Xie Rong’s earlobes were slightly red, and her eyes held a hint of panic.

She hadn’t thought that merely sending a red envelope would cause such a significant emotional fluctuation in Qi Musi.

The other party seemed… extremely touched, which Xie Rong hadn’t anticipated.

After a moment of hesitation, Xie Rong patted Qi Musi’s back.

Because they were in a hotel with the heating and air conditioning constantly on, Qi Musi was only wearing her inner sweater. Xie Rong, having been indoors for a while, was also starting to feel warm.

But she was currently being held by Qi Musi, and for a moment, she couldn’t tell if Qi Musi’s embrace was warmer or if the surrounding environment was just hot.

She was cautiously nervous, careful not to wrinkle the red envelope. Fortunately, Qi Musi let go quickly.

Qi Musi lowered her gaze, pretending not to notice Xie Rong’s nervousness and the redness around her own eyes. She just chuckled lightly, “I didn’t expect you, Xiao Rong, to deliver it so quickly.”

Xie Rong nodded, handing her the red envelope, and said lightly, “I have free time now anyway.”

Qi Musi carefully accepted the red envelope, her fingers gently tracing the small carp sprinkled with gold dust on the envelope cover. A smile touched her eyes. “Can I open it and look?”

Xie Rong replied, “It’s not a gift, why ask so many questions.” Then she added, “Open it.”

However, this was Xie Rong’s first experience having someone open a red envelope in front of her.

Qi Musi gently opened the red envelope. Inside were two small red fish (money).

Qi Musi smiled, taking out the crisp, new bills.

Frankly, this was the smallest amount of red envelope she had ever received, but… it was the favorite red envelope, and gift, she had received since her mother’s.

A smile lingered on Qi Musi’s lips: “Thank you, Xiao Rong, I like it very much.”

Her thanks made it seem even more like a gift.

Xie Rong lowered her gaze. “It’s only two hundred yuan, not much.”

Qi Musi lightly raised an eyebrow. “Even if it was two dimes, I would still like it very much.”

Xie Rong glanced at her, then let out a light scoff, trying to appear relaxed, “Who gives two dimes nowadays?”

Qi Musi curved her eyes, said nothing more, and carefully put the precious red envelope into her bag.

She then turned and asked Xie Rong, “Did Xiao Rong come here specifically just to deliver the red envelope?”

Xie Rong nodded.

After all, she had nothing planned for the afternoon, and the matter was on her mind, so she just came straight over.

…Although, she didn’t know why she was so preoccupied with it. Perhaps, Xie Rong thought, it was because she didn’t like to deceive people, and she liked to keep her promises.

Qi Musi asked again, “Then is Xiao Rong leaving after delivering the red envelope?”

This time Xie Rong didn’t answer immediately. She hadn’t thought about this question yet.

While she had indeed come to deliver the red envelope, she hadn’t considered what to do or where to go afterward.

Qi Musi looked at her gently, a lingering smile on her lips, “If Xiao Rong is free this afternoon, why not stay here with me?”

Xie Rong paused, looking at Qi Musi.

She was indeed free, but staying here… Xie Rong felt a little uneasy, and it felt strange.

After all, she and Qi Musi…

Noticing Xie Rong’s subtle reluctance, Qi Musi smiled and didn’t insist, simply changing the subject. “Speaking of which, how many days will Xiao Rong be visiting relatives?”

Xie Rong noticed her deliberate avoidance of the previous topic, pursed her lips, and answered Qi Musi’s question first: “Three days.”

Qi Musi nodded. “So you’ll be free by the third day of the lunar new year.”

“Mhm,” Xie Rong replied lightly.

Then she thought for a moment. “When are you going back?”

Qi Musi didn’t answer directly but pondered. “It depends on the situation. If my dad asks me to go to the company for a period of internship, I’ll probably leave earlier. If he doesn’t call me, I’ll stay until school starts.”

The expression between her brows was relaxed. She spoke as if it wasn’t about her own family affairs, or the fiercely contested business and company, but a trivial matter, as flatly as checking a train schedule.

Xie Rong, however, frowned slightly. “If he doesn’t call you, does that mean your younger brother…”

She remembered what Qi Musi had mentioned before that she had an Omega younger brother coveting the family property. Although she didn’t know if her brother would amount to anything, he was still a threat.

Qi Musi smiled carelessly, “Perhaps, it depends on how my dad wants to balance things.”

However, she wasn’t particularly worried. Even if she didn’t step up, Qi Muyan wouldn’t necessarily succeed in the short term, as he was, by all accounts, an incompetent good for nothing.

Moreover… Qi Musi was quite confident she would be called to the company.

But she didn’t tell Xie Rong all of this. It wasn’t because she was worried or minded Xie Rong leaking the information, but because Qi Musi wanted to see more of Xie Rong’s concern for her.

Although Xie Rong hadn’t realized it herself, Qi Musi had keenly sensed the other party’s emotions.

She rarely had such an opportunity, and this wasn’t a deception, merely a partial concealment of the facts. So… Qi Musi wanted to use these little tricks to gain Xie Rong’s attention and sympathy.

As expected, after hearing Qi Musi’s words, Xie Rong’s brow furrowed. Some worry and concern that she didn’t even realize were there leaked out from the corners of her eyes.

“Are you… not worried?” Xie Rong asked hesitantly.

Qi Musi shrugged. “Not particularly. After all, I don’t crave his family fortune.”

Besides, she had her own fallback plan. If the Qi family fell into Qi Muyan’s hands, she wouldn’t starve. After all, Qi Musi wasn’t genuinely concerned about these things.

Of course, the shares of the Qi family were fragmented. Her maternal grandfather and she herself held shares. It would be difficult for Qi Muyan to truly achieve a unilateral control. At that time, Qi Musi could first watch him tie himself in knots and head towards ruin before stepping in to deal with these matters.

But there was no need to mention these things.

Hearing Qi Musi’s words, the emotions on Xie Rong’s face shifted, and she ultimately said nothing more.

After all, firstly, it was Qi Musi’s family and personal matter, and Xie Rong couldn’t comment too much. Secondly, Xie Rong didn’t understand what Qi Musi wanted or what she was planning, so there was no need to get too involved; a brief acknowledgment was enough.

So, Xie Rong nodded, “In any case, as long as you know what you’re doing.”

Qi Musi smiled, having observed enough of the sympathy directed at her, then laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t let myself starve.”

Xie Rong had only come to deliver the red envelope, and she had run over mostly on a whim. Now that the red envelope was delivered and her mind wasn’t so hot anymore, Xie Rong started to feel a little uncomfortable.

She checked the time, it was already four or five in the afternoon.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going,” Xie Rong said hesitantly.

Qi Musi looked up at her, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

“Does Xiao Rong have other plans this afternoon?”

Xie Rong paused, then confessed, “No.”

Qi Musi’s eyes brightened, and a smile appeared on her face. “Then why don’t you stay here and keep me company, Xiao Rong?”

This time, Qi Musi made the request even more directly.

Xie Rong paused, unsure how to refuse a second time.

Qi Musi added, “I’m very bored staying in the hotel alone. You don’t have to do anything, Xiao Rong, just stay here and keep me company. We can watch a movie together or something. Is that okay?”

She blinked softly, a hint of loneliness in her eyes.

Xie Rong hesitated, then nodded. “Okay, just one movie.”

Qi Musi curved her eyes and smiled: “Good.”

So, she went to get her tablet and gestured for Xie Rong to come and sit down.

In front of the two beanbag chairs placed on the floor was a fluffy carpet. Even stepping on it barefoot wouldn’t feel cold; on the contrary, it only felt soft and cozy.

Xie Rong took off her shoes and walked over, sitting down on the beanbag.

The chair was very low and soft, perfectly suitable for semi-reclining while watching a movie.

Qi Musi asked, “Is there anything you want to watch, Xiao Rong?”

Xie Rong shook her head.

“Then I’ll choose myself?”

Xie Rong didn’t object.

Soon, Qi Musi chose a movie.

It wasn’t a domestic film.

The movie started plainly, with slow and gentle background music, and as the plot progressed, the pace gradually quickened.

Xie Rong was slightly stunned, only belatedly realizing that the movie featured two female protagonists.

Similarly, it was a love story between two female protagonists.

In the world of the movie, there was no distinction between ABO or pheromones, making the love between the two women even more like an Alpha and Alpha relationship: taboo, not accepted by the world, but also filled with the courage to break through social norms.

Xie Rong’s eyelashes trembled, and she couldn’t help but wonder why Qi Musi chose such a movie.

Was she trying to hint at something?

Xie Rong began to feel anxious.

Just then, the two female leads in the film began their first and last intense confrontation.

They confronted each other with elevated voices, articulating their accusations, gradually moving from initial sharp hostility to a softening, and finally, confessing their innermost feelings.

The atmosphere in the movie grew ambiguous and passionate. The two female protagonists gradually moved closer, then embraced, and began to kiss.

Xie Rong’s fingertips suddenly stiffened, pinching herself.