After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 8

Xie Rong’s face was still etched with a cold, stern expression, her brows furrowed. Her actions hadn’t eased up, she was still pressing Qi Musi against the bed ladder. Upon hearing the other party’s answer, Xie Rong’s first reaction was one of absurdity.

…How could any Alpha find another Alpha’s pheromones pleasant, let alone want to taint themselves with some?

Such a situation only ever occurred between an Alpha and an Omega.

Yet, Qi Musi’s reply also stated that she didn’t think Xie Rong smelled like an Omega.

Just as the two were locked in this stalemate, the opposite bunk made some noise. Zhao Rongrong and Mo Yue were getting out of bed.

Xie Rong lowered her gaze, released her grip, and stepped back. She didn’t comment on the matter, only saying, “Don’t make jokes like that next time.”

Qi Musi smiled and shook her wrist, her eyes and lips curved into a perpetual smile that, due to her usual habit, unexpectedly looked affectionate.

If it were in the past, according to Qi Musi’s usual way of interacting with people, she might have chosen to apologize the moment the other person got angry and promised never to repeat the mistake. But now…

For some reason, she unexpectedly chose not to follow that approach.

Therefore, in the face of Xie Rong’s warning, Qi Musi uncharacteristically did not reply.

Perhaps because the incident was too surprising, causing a significant shock, or maybe because Zhao Rongrong and Mo Yue were about to wake up, Xie Rong did not pursue the matter further. Thus, she didn’t insist on waiting for Qi Musi’s answer. After giving the warning, she went to the balcony.

It was only after Xie Rong turned around that Qi Musi looked down at her wrist, finding that it had been clenched red.

Qi Musi wasn’t angry; instead, she laughed inwardly. As expected of an Alpha, such great strength.

However… Qi Musi hadn’t expected to see Xie Rong’s expression after the “ice broke.” Although it was anger, it was surprisingly interesting.

Much better looking than her previous expressionless face.

This wayward thought flashed by quickly, and Qi Musi didn’t dwell on it or intend to rein it in. She simply concealed her inner thoughts, and the expression on her face returned to normal.

Seats in university classrooms are not fixed the early bird gets to choose. Typically, people from the same dorm sit together, so it’s easy to see Alphas clustered on one side and Omegas on the other.

As for Betas… they could sit wherever they liked.

When Qi Musi arrived at the classroom, she undoubtedly received a lot of attention. Some people even thought she was from another major, just auditing the class.

Because they hadn’t seen her come before.

Zhao Rongrong said, “What these people are thinking right now is exactly what I thought originally.”

Mo Yue picked a seat and sat down. The others followed suit, walking inside. Zhao Rongrong naturally went first and sat next to Mo Yue.

“I thought Musi was from another major. Who would have thought someone like her would choose the Early Childhood Education program.”

Mo Yue placed her book down. “Then what major did you think it would be?”

“Finance, maybe… after all, isn’t Musi’s family quite wealthy?”

The two people in front had already sat down and started chatting, while Xie Rong stood in the aisle, looking coldly at the row of inseparable seats.

Qi Musi stood behind her, smiling meaningfully. “Why aren’t you going in?”

She asked deliberately, but she knew the answer in her heart. Xie Rong was probably still bothered by the morning’s incident, so she was hesitant about sitting next to her.

Although she hadn’t expressed anything, Qi Musi was surprisingly able to see through her current emotions.

A mischievous, almost teasing, malice welled up uncontrollably in Qi Musi’s heart, and the smile on her lips deepened. The more Xie Rong didn’t want to sit next to her, the more she… wanted to force the issue.

Because seeing that habitually cold and self-possessed face display other emotions was truly amusing.

Qi Musi stepped forward and placed a hand on Xie Rong’s shoulder. Xie Rong’s body stiffened slightly, and she instinctively turned her head.

Qi Musi smiled. “We’re standing here, we’re probably blocking others’ way.”

Xie Rong frowned upon hearing this and belatedly realized that the person behind her was attracting the attention of most of the class.

The seats in university classrooms are usually connected, arranged in left, middle, and right sections. Although there are aisles, if the two of them kept blocking the way, it would affect others.

Xie Rong didn’t want to make a fuss, so she pursed her lips and walked in.

Seeing Xie Rong sit down, Zhao Rongrong stopped her chatter and turned to examine Xie Rong. “Xiao Rong, why do I feel like you’re in a bad mood today?”

Xie Rong paused and denied it. “No.”

At this moment, Qi Musi also sat down. Hearing the conversation between the two, her red lips curved up, and her eyes held a spark of light-like laughter, but she said nothing, simply sitting leisurely next to Xie Rong.

Xie Rong took a breath, closed her eyes for a moment, and tried hard not to let the morning’s incident bother her. But the more she tried not to think about it, the more she was forced to care, and even the back of her neck felt a strange… anomaly right now.

She turned to look at Zhao Rongrong next to her, and an idea suddenly surged up in her mind. She actually wanted to ask Zhao Rongrong… what it felt like to have your scent gland touched.

But very quickly, Xie Rong suppressed the impulse. She felt like she was going mad. Did she even need to ask this question?

No Alpha would ever like their scent gland to be touched by another Alpha.

To be touched by one’s own Omega is intimacy, but to be touched by another unrelated Alpha (excluding a doctor) is an act of provocation.

Recalling the reason Qi Musi gave, Xie Rong only felt more stifled.

Saying she wanted to taint herself with her pheromones… was she taking her for a fool?

However, since the other party had already said that, if Xie Rong were to continue to obsess or hold a grudge over such a small matter, she would seem petty.

She closed her eyes, deciding to let it go. In any case, she had already given a warning. If there was a next time…

Xie Rong opened her eyes, a hint of coldness flashing through them.

She would definitely send Qi Musi to the infirmary.

During the break, many people, as expected, came over to talk to Qi Musi, curious about her.

Qi Musi sat in her seat, smiling gently and appropriately, handling everyone’s inquiries. When faced with some interesting questions, she even curved her eyes and chuckled softly.

Perhaps due to her appearance, or perhaps her personality, she always looked particularly amorous when smiling. The curve of her eyes always outlined a seductive feeling, and when her dark eyes gazed at someone, it was enough to make their cheeks flush.

Many Omegas quietly turned their heads, their faces red, due to her gaze.

Xie Rong was forced to sit inside and listen to the buzz next to her.

“How did you decide to choose this major, Student Qi?”

“Yeah, I just feel like… you don’t really seem like the type to study this major.”

Qi Musi chuckled upon hearing this. “Oh? I don’t seem like it?” Qi Musi thoughtfully tapped her cheek.

“Well, if that’s the case…” She tilted her head slightly, looking at Xie Rong next to her who was flipping through a book with a distant expression, and smiled. “Why did Xiao Rong choose this major? After all, you don’t look like it either.”

Qi Musi winked at her. “Probably even less like it than me.”

Suddenly mentioned, Xie Rong raised her eyes and gave her a faint look. Their eyes met, one emotionless, the other holding a warm, soft smile.

Someone helped answer at this point. “Xie Rong? Xie Rong seems to have chosen purely because of a hobby.”

Qi Musi was slightly surprised. “A hobby?”

Xie Rong glanced at her and still didn’t deliberately start trouble in front of so many people. She merely nodded perfunctorily, not even bothering to reply verbally.

But Qi Musi became interested. She fixed her gaze on Xie Rong but didn’t press for the answer at that moment. She simply laughed softly and withdrew her gaze.

“As for me… it’s probably because of my mother. She really likes children. She wanted to choose this major when she was in university, but couldn’t for various reasons. That’s why I chose this major, to check it out for her.”

“Wow, I see…”

“I feel like your aunt must also be a gentle person who loves children.”

The smile on Qi Musi’s lips paused briefly, and then she nodded. “Yes, she is.”

The crowd dispersed closer to the start of class, and Xie Rong finally felt her nose and ears return to clarity and quiet.

Qi Musi looked at her, her eyes reflecting a thoughtful emotion, and asked, “Don’t like so many people around you?”

Xie Rong raised her eyes at the question and looked directly at Qi Musi, but she didn’t answer.

Evidently, the usual Xie Rong would not treat her roommate like this. Although she was aloof, she wasn’t rude; Xie Rong still maintained proper social etiquette.

The reason she was deliberately leaving the conversation hanging now was still the matter of her scent gland being squeezed.

…Perhaps she was still a bit narrow minded, Xie Rong thought to herself. Then she lowered her eyes, finally giving an answer. “Mmm.”

Qi Musi was slightly stunned, and then slowly smiled at Xie Rong. “I thought you were still angry and wouldn’t want to speak to me.”

Xie Rong glanced at her. “That is indeed the case.”

Qi Musi tilted her head slightly. “Then?”

Xie Rong did not reply anymore.

Qi Musi was not angry, merely smiling with an indescribably complex, unanalyzable emotion. When Xie Rong wasn’t paying attention, she softly muttered a complaint: “…Petty, hard to coax.”

Although she used such words, her tone carried an incredible tenderness.

At noon, Xie Rong bought food as usual, preparing to take it back to the dorm.

On the way out of the cafeteria towards the Alpha dorm, Xie Rong casually looked to the side and unexpectedly saw Qi Musi talking with an Omega.

Both faces bore pleasant smiles. The Omega’s face was also flushed, clearly in a state of admiration for someone.

Xie Rong didn’t look further or think much about it, merely a casual guess crossing her mind: perhaps it was Qi Musi and her Omega girlfriend.

When passing by the pavilion, Xie Rong felt a slight scent of a small Omega’s pheromones.

…It smelled of chocolate.

Before Xie Rong passed by, Qi Musi, who had been speaking while looking down, suddenly raised her head and met Xie Rong’s gaze.

Since she wasn’t deliberately prying, Xie Rong didn’t feel the awkwardness of being caught. She remained nonchalant, ready to withdraw her gaze.

However, at that moment, Qi Musi said something to the person in front of her, left the Omega, and walked over.

Xie Rong’s steps paused slightly. Although she had a guess, she still felt it was unlikely. She frowned slightly and slowed her pace.

Sure enough, Qi Musi walked past the chocolate scented Omega without a backward glance, a smile on her face, and approached Xie Rong.