After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 71

Xie Rong was still entangled and troubled by this question before falling asleep.

She didn’t know the answer, or rather, Xie Rong probably had a certain idea deep down, but due to a kind of timidity, she dared not face it directly or admit it.

So, why was she afraid to admit it?

Was it because she felt it was shameful for two Alphas to be in love?

No.

Xie Rong was not the kind of pedantic or stubborn person. Furthermore, she always believed that if she fell in love with someone, she wouldn’t care about the various external circumstances of the other person, and gender was naturally included in that.

Xie Rong was just afraid of her own heart. Did she… truly fall for Qi Musi?

Xie Rong now felt a slight aversion to the word “love.” Not because she no longer longed for or anticipated it, but because Xie Rong feared this would be the second time she misunderstood her own feelings.

She could see that Qi Musi was very serious about her. If she couldn’t reciprocate with equally serious feelings, Xie Rong felt she shouldn’t have responded at all in the first place.

If she agreed, only to regret it or have shallow feelings later, wouldn’t that be letting Qi Musi down?

That was something Xie Rong absolutely could not do.

She had been earnest, steady, and extremely cautious when dealing with Zhuang Xinbai, and she was equally cautious now when facing Qi Musi.

She absolutely mustn’t take a wrong step.

She wanted to confirm her feelings more seriously and solemnly before giving Qi Musi a response.

The next day, Zhao Rongrong acutely noticed that the atmosphere in the dorm had changed again.

While it didn’t seem to be changing for the worse, it didn’t seem to have improved either.

She knew Xie Rong and Qi Musi must have had a talk, but she didn’t expect them not to reconcile after the conversation, which couldn’t help but remind Zhao Rongrong of her previous traumatic experiences. She was getting a little nervous.

On the way to the cafeteria, Zhao Rongrong trailed two steps behind with Mo Li. She tugged at Mo Li’s arm and couldn’t help but ask for help, “Mo Li, do you think they can still make up?”

Mo Li, conversely, was more insightful than Zhao Rongrong. She nodded calmly, “Naturally, they can.”

Zhao Rongrong pouted, still a bit scared.

Zhao Rongrong was probably just too worried to think straight, but Mo Li, observing from the outside, saw clearly.

If, before today, the two of them were in a pattern of one advancing and one retreating one using pouting as a means of aggressive pursuit, and the other in a state of confusion and helplessly backing away then after today, Xie Rong’s state had shifted significantly.

She certainly hadn’t given an explicit response yet, but she was no longer confused. She probably had an answer, and she wasn’t running away from this answer that didn’t quite conform to the secular world. This was already great progress.

Presumably, it wouldn’t be long before she fully saw and admitted her feelings.

Mo Li thought of the bet she had made with Zhao Rongrong and mentally concluded that she was definitely going to win.

Xie Rong wasn’t still holding a grudge against Qi Musi she was just thinking things through seriously.

Xie Rong was consistently serious when it came to matters of the heart.

Although she had only vaguely figured out the possible feelings she held for Qi Musi the day before, she couldn’t be certain. She needed a few days to think seriously, confirm everything thoroughly, and then be honest with Qi Musi.

At that time, she would accept and reciprocate Qi Musi’s feelings, responding to all the affection the other person had placed on her during this period.

Xie Rong would give Qi Musi a direct answer.

But clearly, now was not the time.

Qi Musi walked straight ahead, yet the corner of her eye was constantly scanning Xie Rong, trying to analyze her inner thoughts from her expression and state.

As the first person to truly care for and be concerned about Xie Rong, Qi Musi had naturally noticed the change in Xie Rong’s emotional state early on.

While this made her a little nervous, thankfully, the change was in a good direction.

Only now could Qi Musi sincerely breathe a sigh of relief, no longer so tense and worried.

In truth, she knew her tactic had been somewhat aggressive it might have forced Xie Rong to completely erupt, making all the previously laid groundwork useless. Qi Musi was not unworried, but she understood the principle that nothing would progress if she did nothing.

Therefore, after calculating things in her mind, Qi Musi still opted for this “retreat as a means of advancement” strategy.

But now, it seemed everything was well.

Although she didn’t know exactly what Xie Rong was thinking or hesitating about, the fact that the other party had neither fled nor rejected her was already the best outcome.

She only hoped… Xie Rong could see her own feelings as soon as possible.

Qi Musi’s anger that day was partly due to Xie Rong underestimating her feelings, not believing that Qi Musi genuinely liked her and would be able to stand up to the world for her. The other part was because Xie Rong had clearly developed feelings but was unaware of it. She was obviously feeling jealous at the time, yet she maintained an appearance of being completely indifferent to Qi Musi.

This was what truly angered Qi Musi.

She was angry that Xie Rong couldn’t see her own heart, and even more angry that Xie Rong was afraid to face it.

That’s why they had that argument. And that’s why Qi Musi made her subsequent “calculations.”

She wanted Xie Rong to see her own heart clearly.

Qi Musi did not want Xie Rong to agree because she felt “forced” by her rather, she hoped Xie Rong could truly agree out of love.

For this outcome, Qi Musi was willing to endure the waiting for now.

This subtle atmosphere between the two neither intimate nor quarrelsome lasted for two or three days. Zhao Rongrong also went from being extremely uncomfortable at first to becoming impatient and restless later on.

I beg you two, just get together already!

Zhao Rongrong thought to herself, This is unbelievable! How can there be two people like this? They clearly have feelings for each other but still refuse to be together.

However, Zhao Rongrong wasn’t Xie Rong or Qi Musi, so she couldn’t fully understand their thoughts.

It was precisely because they were serious and cared that they couldn’t make a hasty decision.

If they were to hastily decide to be together just because of a momentary emotional impulse and a fleeting good feeling, what would become of them when those feelings faded?

Xie Rong was unwilling to rush into a relationship only to quickly break up. She hated the days of separation and cutting emotional ties. Therefore, Xie Rong needed to consider matters of the heart very carefully.

Her personality was like that of the older generation, once she decided to be with someone, she would be attentive and dedicated, ideally walking forward with that person and never separating for a lifetime.

Therefore, in matters like this, Xie Rong was never a careless or impulsive person.

Her current hesitation was not just directed at herself; a small part of it was also directed at Qi Musi.

What if one day Qi Musi’s feelings for her faded…? At that time, would she need to withdraw and find an Omega to form a family?

Xie Rong couldn’t fathom such a result.

Qi Musi’s thoughts, on the other hand, were simpler. She had already laid all her true feelings before Xie Rong from the beginning. Instead of saying she was currently fighting for the relationship, waiting was a more suitable word.

Qi Musi stood still, holding her sincere heart, waiting for Xie Rong’s contemplation, her decision, and the final result that belonged to her.

Since Xie Rong wanted to think, Qi Musi would let her think. No matter what the final result Xie Rong came up with, Qi Musi would accept it.

Of course, acceptance did not mean resignation she would still fight for what she felt was right.

While Xie Rong was hesitant between moving forward and retreating, she went out for a change of pace, hoping to briefly escape the influence that the Qi Musi matter was having on her.

Xie Rong arrived at Lu Yuan’s coffee shop and found a seat.

Seeing her arrive, Lu Yuan naturally walked over to greet Xie Rong, then pulled out a chair and sat opposite her.

He immediately saw, upon looking up, that Xie Rong had something on her mind, similar to the last time. So, acting as a knowing elder brother, he asked, “What is it this time?”

Xie Rong paused, about to shake her head, but then stopped.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow in surprise. Oh, this is good. Unexpectedly, she’s not avoiding her own feelings or the concern of an outsider. Of course, it could also be that she truly encountered something confusing and perplexing.

So, Lu Yuan adopted a listening posture, all ears.

Xie Rong hesitated before speaking, “If, I have a friend…”

Lu Yuan got a headache upon hearing this familiar opening. He squinted his eyes and interrupted Xie Rong directly, “You, still playing games with your own brother?”

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly and sneered, “What do you mean, ‘You have a friend’? Why don’t you just say you have a relationship issue you want to ask me about?”

Xie Rong: “…”

She really couldn’t do anything about her cousin. Xie Rong lowered her eyes and sighed helplessly. Then, slowly and gradually, she told Lu Yuan everything that had been on her mind, including her concerns and points of hesitation.

She whispered, “Do you think I should take that step?”

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and the expression on his face turned a little strange.

He didn’t immediately answer Xie Rong’s question but first asked the most crucial point, “You tell me first, is the person you’re hesitating about this time related to the Alpha who accidentally marked you last time you told me about?”

The expression on Xie Rong’s face instantly froze.

Because so much had happened, she herself had forgotten that she had told her cousin about this matter.

Oh, she had even said at the time that she would retaliate eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

Though she never did in the end.

Xie Rong didn’t answer immediately, but Lu Yuan didn’t need her to. He had already gotten the answer from Xie Rong’s expression.

Lu Yuan’s expression darkened, his eyes showing ferocity, and he ground out, “I’ll f*cking kill that Alpha bastard!”

Lu Yuan’s Alpha discrimination wasn’t new, but this was the first time Xie Rong had heard him use such blatant profanity.

Xie Rong was silent for two seconds, “Cousin, I…”

Unexpectedly, Lu Yuan grabbed her hand directly, his expression sincere, “Xiao Rong, tell me, has that Alpha brainwashed you? What’s the term for it? Alpha PUA?”

Xie Rong: “…”