After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 72

Xie Rong didn’t know where Lu Yuan got all those messy, strange terms from, or why he applied them to her.

She also didn’t know what kind of serious prejudice Lu Yuan held against Alphas that made him immediately jump to a wildly different, made up story.

Xie Rong let out a helpless, light laugh and could only explain, “No, please don’t misunderstand. After that incident, I was indeed angry with her, and I almost broke off our friendship.”

Lu Yuan asked sharply, “Then how did you two become so close again? And you still say she didn’t gaslight you!”

Xie Rong: “…Could you lower your voice?”

She pursed her lips, reluctant to reveal Qi Musi’s private matters, as it wasn’t appropriate unless the other party was willing. But faced with Lu Yuan’s increasingly distraught questioning, Xie Rong had no choice but to try and reassure him.

Finally, she could only say, “Her family background is a bit complicated one of those wealthy families, you… can imagine, right? Especially since she has a younger half-brother.”

At this point, Lu Yuan finally calmed down a bit.

He had watched countless TV shows and could naturally fill in the unspoken details Xie Rong was omitting.

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes. “But what does her being innocent and pitiful have to do with her forcibly Marking you?”

Xie Rong pursed her lips and said, “She was framed by her brother that time.”

Lu Yuan’s eyes widened. This time, he didn’t look scornful but was filled with disbelief.

“Really? Can something so fantastical actually happen in real life?”

Xie Rong said, “I have no reason to lie to you.”

It took Lu Yuan some time to digest this new piece of information, and he was still a little stunned.

After a while, Lu Yuan said, “Even so, you can’t just because you pity her…”

Xie Rong shook her head gently, cutting off Lu Yuan’s words.

She looked down at the table with lowered eyes. “It’s not pity.” Xie Rong knew the difference; she understood whether what she felt in her heart was pity or a flutter of excitement.

Xie Rong brought up the emotional premonition she had felt since the hot spring incident, the gradual deepening over their daily interactions, and finally, the “final blow” during the Chinese New Year.

Recalling Qi Musi’s face, Xie Rong’s feelings were no longer what they used to be; her heart was now filled with gentle emotions and a very faint, stirring heartbeat.

Lu Yuan, however, scoffed dismissively, mumbling softly, “A tactic commonly used by stinky Alphas.”

Xie Rong glanced at him, shaking her head resignedly.

Then, she composed her expression, though her eyes still held a hint of confusion. “Tell me, what should I do?”

Lu Yuan took a sip of coffee and peered at Xie Rong.

Although he suffered from Alpha prejudice, he didn’t have AA romance prejudice, especially when one of the members was his own sister. There was no way Lu Yuan would discriminate.

On the contrary, he was bolder than Xie Rong.

“Since you feel this way, just follow your heart and be with her.”

Xie Rong looked at Lu Yuan, whose expression was nonchalant, as if he had never worried about such things.

On second thought, that made sense. Lu Yuan was different from other Omegas from the start he was a very un-O-like O. When they were little, Xie Rong often mistakenly thought her brother was actually an Alpha.

Xie Rong whispered, “I’m just a little worried about whether I genuinely like her.”

Hearing Xie Rong’s words, Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows, looking shocked. “No way, you’re jealous of her, and you still don’t think it’s liking??”

Xie Rong was startled. “You think that’s jealousy?”

Lu Yuan smiled, raising an eyebrow. “Based on your description, it’s definitely jealousy. The smell of vinegar is strong enough to reach ten li.”

“…”

She was uncharacteristically embarrassed, her earlobes turning crimson, a little bit mortified. “What are you… talking nonsense about again!”

Lu Yuan sneered, “Just telling the truth.”

Xie Rong suddenly didn’t want to talk to him anymore. But deep down, she couldn’t help but wonder: was she really jealous? But she truly didn’t feel any jealousy at all; she just, just felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.

Lu Yuan took in all of Xie Rong’s expressions, a smile playing on his lips, accompanied by a feeling of a daughter growing up and leaving home (?).

No wonder his parents were rushing him to find an Alpha to settle down with, while at the same time being reluctant to let him marry off too soon. Such feelings were indeed understandable.

Lu Yuan said, “Anyway, I’m a straight-shooter, and I’ve always acted that way. If you like her, then be with her. That’s something you don’t need to doubt or agonize over.”

“And I think what you’re really agonizing over is whether you actually like her or not.”

Xie Rong didn’t deny it this time.

Lu Yuan glanced at her. “If this isn’t called liking, then I truly don’t know what level of feeling qualifies as liking.”

Xie Rong drifted off for a moment, thinking: if there was a level more intense than hers, it would probably be Qi Musi’s kind of liking.

The other party’s feelings were persistent, ardent, and intense, leaving no room for anyone to misunderstand her intention or ignore her affection.

Though she appeared somewhat promiscuous and emotionally detached, she was unexpectedly deeply passionate.

Xie Rong collected her thoughts, then nodded lightly. “I understand.”

Lu Yuan looked at her, still uneasy. “Do you really understand?”

Xie Rong hummed.

Lu Yuan clicked his tongue. “It’s such a simple thing; how did you manage to agonize over it for days?”

Xie Rong refuted, “It wasn’t days.” She was just uncertain and concerned that her current feelings might be something other than genuine affection.

Lu Yuan chuckled, “Alright, alright, I’ll save you some face.”

After confessing her worries and coming to terms with her feelings, Xie Rong’s mood was noticeably better and more relaxed. Thinking that she could soon exchange mutual feelings with the person she liked, the expression in her eyes softened considerably.

Xie Rong had limited life experience, so there were many things she hadn’t considered. But if she wasn’t thinking about them, Lu Yuan had to think for her.

Lu Yuan tapped his finger on the table. “You said before that she is an heir to a very wealthy family?”

Xie Rong thought for a moment. “Heir… it’s hard to say for sure, but it should be a near certainty. Her father wants Musi, as an Alpha, to inherit the family business.”

This blatant pro-Alpha, anti-Omega rhetoric was naturally disliked by Lu Yuan, who curled his lip in utter disdain. But for Xie Rong’s sake, he had no choice but to hold his nose and continue his analysis.

“Look, she comes from a wealthy family, so this relationship already has difficulties. Not to mention you’re an AA couple, and furthermore, she’s expected to inherit the family business. Typically, old patriarchs prioritize arranged marriages and matching family status. With our family background, do you think her family will approve?”

Lu Yuan’s eyebrows were furrowed, making him look somewhat stern. “Moreover, even if her family could accept a ‘commoner’ family like ours, could her father accept your gender?”

Xie Rong paused slightly.

Seeing her expression, Lu Yuan felt a pang of distress.

Although his sister appeared aloof and was a tough Alpha, Lu Yuan knew she was different from those arrogant, self-important people.

Xie Rong’s name was very fitting for her character although her exterior seemed cool and indifferent, her heart was incredibly soft towards the people and things she acknowledged and accepted.

Lu Yuan both liked this trait and worried about it.

But he still had to put these issues on the table, explicitly telling Xie Rong so she could prepare herself.

“Do you know why her father insists on choosing an Alpha to inherit the family business?” Lu Yuan scoffed lightly. “On one hand, he doesn’t want the hard earned business to fall into the hands of outsiders when an Omega marries. On the other hand, her father naturally needs an Alpha who can bear his heir to take over the massive family business.”

Lu Yuan let out a cold laugh. “As everyone knows, a child born to an Omega will no longer belong to their family.”

Xie Rong lowered her eyes and fell silent.

Seeing her like this, Lu Yuan felt uncomfortable. The sharp words that had been swirling in his mind became words he couldn’t bear to say.

He ran his finger along the cup and finally said, “You… think about it again. I’m not trying to stop you. I just don’t want you to jump into this blindly and end up getting hurt.”

Xie Rong was indeed thinking, not just about Lu Yuan’s words, but about Qi Musi as a person. She wondered what Qi Musi would do if she encountered such a situation.

However, Xie Rong couldn’t immediately figure out how Qi Musi would handle it.

Then she wondered what she would do and think if she truly encountered such an issue. Would she still be willing to be with Qi Musi?

Finally, Xie Rong realized that she would still want to.

It wasn’t because she loved Qi Musi to the point of desperation. Xie Rong simply didn’t want this relationship, which hadn’t even begun, to be strangled in the cradle by an external issue that hadn’t even happened yet.

There would only be one reason for her not to be with Qi Musi: if she didn’t like Qi Musi, or if Qi Musi didn’t like her. Other than that, Xie Rong wasn’t afraid of anything.

Of course, she wasn’t confident that she could withstand the pressure Lu Yuan had listed. Xie Rong’s thinking was very simple… if her and Qi Musi’s relationship dissolved simply because of external factors, then let it dissolve. Xie Rong wouldn’t feel any pressure.

If Qi Musi ultimately chose her father’s side, Xie Rong could let go, as it would just mean she and Qi Musi were destined not to be together. Xie Rong wouldn’t harbor much resentment, as she would have at least experienced it.

But if she were to give up her recently confirmed feelings because of something that hadn’t happened yet, Xie Rong would feel a sense of unwillingness.

Why should she retreat before facing a tribulation that hadn’t even appeared, without even trying? Xie Rong didn’t understand and didn’t want to understand.

She had never been this kind of person.

Xie Rong would not be afraid to face external setbacks she was only ever afraid of internal struggles.

Therefore, Xie Rong’s choice was predictable.

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade her, Lu Yuan stopped trying, but he added one instruction: “Don’t let yourself get hurt, and remember, no matter what, I will stand by you.”

Xie Rong curved her lips into a smile. “Okay.”