After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 7

It seemed that Qi Musi hadn’t expected Zhuang Xinbai to ask the question so directly. She froze for a moment, then slowly smiled. Her arms, which were wrapped around Zhuang Xinbai’s waist, had not yet been withdrawn. Maintaining the same distance, she lowered her gaze and chuckled softly.

“It seems I’m really not good at hiding my feelings.”

She said this, winking at Zhuang Xinbai.

Her suspicion had been confirmed, but Zhuang Xinbai felt no hidden pleasure; instead… she felt a bit unbelievable, even wondering inside: Is that really true?

She knew she shouldn’t question another person’s sincerity, but Zhuang Xinbai genuinely felt it was too unreal.

She pursed her lips, took a step back, and pulled away from Qi Musi’s embrace. After a moment of contemplation, Zhuang Xinbai still said, “But I still feel… it’s not like that.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not questioning you, much less doubting; I just find it hard to believe.” As she said this, genuine confusion and doubt appeared in Zhuang Xinbai’s eyes. “Why would an Alpha with such good qualities like you be interested in me?”

The description of “good qualities” was not a compliment to Qi Musi but simply the truth, viewed through an outsider’s eyes.

She was attractive, her pheromones smelled pleasant, she was gentle and polite, and her family background was excellent. Furthermore, based on their interactions so far, Qi Musi had no unbearable flaws.

So, Zhuang Xinbai complimenting her this way was reasonable.

It was a good question.

Why would she fall for Zhuang Xinbai?

Qi Musi lowered her eyes, which still held the pretense of a smile that hadn’t quite faded.

Qi Musi had always had a very clear idea of her criteria for a partner, or rather, the lover she hoped for in the future.

Because of her parents’ influence, Qi Musi particularly despised people who preached faithfulness but could turn around and change their minds for the sake of a pretty face.

Such people made her sick to her stomach.

Saying “I’ll love you forever” was just a false flag pulled out to achieve certain goals. Such people were filthy.

That’s why Qi Musi would never become like that. At the same time, witnessing her father’s infidelity made her especially disgusted by people of the same nature.

What Qi Musi liked… were clean people.

The first time she met Zhuang Xinbai was on a very ordinary day. Qi Musi had just had an argument with her father and walked out onto the street, strolling aimlessly, when she saw Zhuang Xinbai squatting there due to an embarrassing situation.

It happened that day that Zhuang Xinbai had accidentally gotten her clothes dirty because of an unexpected period. She was squatting not far from a supermarket, a place she could have reached by running a few steps, but her stained clothes prevented her from moving. She was forced to squat there, helpless and embarrassed, scrolling through her phone, hoping to call someone who could help her.

Qi Musi stood watching her from nearby.

Zhuang Xinbai lowered her gaze, looking particularly pitiful. Her fingers gripped her phone tightly, and her face was pale from pain. When she accidentally looked up and saw Qi Musi watching her, Zhuang Xinbai paused slightly, subconsciously pursed her lips, and gave the stranger who was watching her a shallow, light smile, yet she never thought of asking her for help.

Perhaps it was embarrassment, or maybe because Qi Musi was an Alpha.

But Qi Musi was stunned at that moment because of that single glance.

…The present day Qi Musi no longer knew how to describe the feeling of that moment, but she always remembered that when those clear, black and white eyes looked over, it was as if raindrops had washed away the dust and brightened the sky.

Qi Musi felt her heart pounding in her ears, beating rhythmically.

So, she walked over.

Qi Musi retracted her thoughts, subconsciously curving her red lips: “…Why do I like you? It’s a secret.”

Qi Musi blinked, smiling as she looked at her.

Zhuang Xinbai was slightly stunned, “Ah, even I have to be kept in the dark?”

Qi Musi nodded with a smile, “But you only need to know that I am sincere, and I am not teasing you.”

Zhuang Xinbai nodded, averting her gaze.

At the same time, Qi Musi also lowered her eyes.

For that brief moment, she actually felt her mind go blank, unable to formulate an answer.

Why she liked Zhuang Xinbai, what she liked about her… Qi Musi couldn’t think of a specific answer. It seemed that rather than a certain trait, she was more attracted to a certain feeling Zhuang Xinbai gave her.

Of course, no matter what, Qi Musi would not confuse her feelings for someone. Since she had fallen for Zhuang Xinbai, she would never change her mind.

Thinking this, the smile on Qi Musi’s face deepened.

She looked at Zhuang Xinbai: “Well then, is there anything else you want to ask?”

Zhuang Xinbai thought for a moment and shook her head blankly.

Although she didn’t know why… she somehow felt that the direction of their conversation had deviated from what she had initially anticipated.

Qi Musi looked at her: “In that case, I wonder if I have this qualification?”

Zhuang Xinbai subconsciously asked in return, “What qualification?”

Qi Musi said, “The qualification to pursue you.”

Zhuang Xinbai parted her lips, unsure how to answer. She also wasn’t sure if she was being overly sensitive to feel that Qi Musi’s affection was unreal, but… Zhuang Xinbai couldn’t bring herself to pour cold water on her in such an impolite manner when the other person asked this question. In the end, she could only give a vague nod.

Qi Musi’s smile deepened, as if she had received some great honor. She curved her eyes, her thick, long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes, letting people only see the smile on her face.

“I am very honored.”

The next day, there were morning classes, and the dormitory naturally returned to its routine of early rising.

Xie Rong rolled over and turned off her alarm clock. Her eyes were still hazy with sleep, and due to her posture, her nightgown was pulled up, revealing her fair thighs.

Her waist was flexible, and some black hair fell from her back, resting on the curve of her waist, looking very smooth.

Xie Rong rubbed her eyes, and the familiar scent of cherries wafted into her nose again.

However, today she was calm enough, because before her body tensed up, Xie Rong’s brain had already reacted this was Qi Musi’s pheromone.

Changing her clothes and pulling back the bed curtain, Xie Rong just happened to see Qi Musi walking below.

Hearing the movement, the other person looked up, meeting Xie Rong’s eyes.

Qi Musi paused, then smiled and tilted her head, greeting Xie Rong: “Morning.”

“…Morning.”

Xie Rong got out of bed. Since Zhao Rongrong and Mo Yue were not yet awake, she kept her movements light.

Qi Musi stood in front of her with her arms crossed, choosing not to move. After Xie Rong landed on the floor, she took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

Sensing her action, Xie Rong looked up, expressing her confusion.

Because she had just woken up, her expression looked less aloof than usual her dark hair was spread across her back like silk, and her eyes, clear and moist, contained a sense of innocent vulnerability.

Qi Musi’s fingers twitched, and she secretly raised an eyebrow in her heart.

She hadn’t expected Xie Rong to look like this after waking up…

Qi Musi curved her red lips. Although she was barefaced at the moment, she was still beautiful. Her dark eyes, when looking over, contained a faint smile, and the corners of her eyes held a seductive curve. She was like a ripe cherry.

“When you woke up, your pheromone scent… seemed to be much more concentrated,” the person opposite her said in a soft tone.

Xie Rong suddenly looked up, frowning slightly. The next moment, she realized that she had indeed let out a lot of pheromones.

It seemed she hadn’t paid attention when she first woke up.

Xie Rong was about to rein in her pheromones and apologize after all, not every Alpha could calmly face the pheromones of the same gender but the next moment, Qi Musi leaned closer.

Xie Rong’s eyes widened slightly. Before her brain, still foggy from sleep, could react, someone pinched the back of her neck.

The slightly protruding scent gland felt a sensation of pressure, whether of provocation or teasing. Xie Rong’s mind went blank for a moment, and she instinctively grabbed Qi Musi’s wrist, then pressed her against the bed ladder.

Their backs collided with the bed ladder, making a sound. Xie Rong’s fingers tightly gripped the other person’s slender wrist, holding it across her front, while pressing downward, confining Qi Musi between her arm and the bed ladder, leaving no room for escape.

“What are you doing?” Xie Rong said coldly.

It wasn’t that she was sensitive or overreacting; it was that no Alpha could tolerate such a provocation, especially right after waking up.

Uncontrollably, Xie Rong released some more pheromones, and the faint, snow laced pear blossom scent hit the air.

Qi Musi held her breath for a moment, then glanced sideways at their posture and her own seized wrist, smiling helplessly: “I apologize, I didn’t expect you to react so intensely. I was just…”

Xie Rong looked down at her.

Qi Musi’s peach-blossom eyes curved slightly, “Just trying to touch your scent gland to see if you had entered your rut.”

The force under Xie Rong’s hand involuntarily increased.

“Do you think I look like an Alpha in their rut?”

An Alpha’s rut, which is equivalent to an Omega’s heat, is a very obvious feature that is absolutely difficult to hide once it starts. Even if suppressants are used, some characteristics will still show.

Xie Rong was perfectly clear about her own condition, so Qi Musi’s words seemed to her to be no explanation at all.

Qi Musi paused, “It was just a guess. Alright… there was another reason.”

Xie Rong looked at her.

Qi Musi looked at the person in front of her, smiled faintly, the corners of her eyes turning up—a cunning and seductive smile like a little fox, even her eyelashes seemed to become enticing.

“I also wanted to touch your scent gland and get some of your pheromone scent on me.”

Xie Rong frowned.

Qi Musi curved her red lips, smiling tenderly: “Because it smells so good, I couldn’t help but make such an inappropriate move. I apologize, Xiao Rong.”

“…”

This answer was absolutely unexpected by Xie Rong, or rather, she couldn’t come up with a reason for Qi Musi to do this.

But now that she had the reason, Xie Rong couldn’t quite describe her own mood…

There was shock and disbelief, and also a feeling of absurdity.

“Are you joking?” How could one Alpha find another Alpha’s pheromones pleasant? It was already good if they didn’t fight or repel each other.

Xie Rong’s dark eyes looked at her, “Or are you implying that I resemble an Omega?”

“How could that be?” Qi Musi chuckled, “Your pheromones have completely told me that you are an Alpha, a thoroughly Alpha.”

Her voice was a soft, gentle whisper, like a declaration of deep affection.

“But even so, what does that have to do with me finding your pheromones pleasant?” She curved her eyes, her smile full of charm.

“…”