After Being Marked By A Love Rival - Chapter 9

Xie Rong slightly knitted her brows, watching Qi Musi walk towards her.

Because she was still standing in the sun and hadn’t moved away, the bright sunlight shone down from above, landing on her fair skin and making her face appear even brighter.

Perhaps due to her current expression, or maybe because of her inherent temperament, the heat of the sunlight on her didn’t feel scorching, but instead carried an indescribable… holy-light-like filter.

It actually made her look as if she possessed icy skin and jade bones.

Qi Musi stepped out from under the pavilion into the sunlight, a bewitching smile on her lips.

Although Xie Rong was wary because of the morning incident, she hadn’t broken off ties or fallen out with her roommate. Therefore, she couldn’t bring herself to avoid someone who was clearly walking towards her. So, she simply stopped and watched her.

As Qi Musi approached, she glanced at Xie Rong. Though she didn’t show it, she felt a momentary choking sensation due to the overwhelming refinement the other person displayed.

No wonder… so many people were eager to place an Alpha in the position of Campus Belle.

She asked, “Just went out to buy food to eat back here?” However, Qi Musi didn’t need Xie Rong’s answer; this was obvious at a glance.

She chuckled softly, “That’s right, your sense of smell is so sensitive, you probably don’t like the environment of the cafeteria.”

The other party had guessed correctly on this point.

Xie Rong was not in the mood to discuss other topics. She simply asked, “Is it appropriate for you to leave your Omega like this and come over?”

Undeniably, some Omegas are straightforward and outgoing, with personalities no different from those of other genders. However, a portion of Omegas are still sensitive and prone to overthinking, intensely desiring all of their Alpha’s attention, and possess absolute possessiveness towards their own A, which is comparable to Alphas after they’ve marked an Omega.

So when an A leaves them behind, many Os probably dislike or even reject such a situation, eventually leading to arguments between the Omega and the Alpha or a third party. This is why Xie Rong asked the question.

Qi Musi raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled ambiguously, “What is it? Are you so concerned about that Omega?”

Xie Rong frowned, not wanting Qi Musi to misunderstand. Alpha’s possessiveness is notoriously strong. So, she simply explained in a detached tone, “This is just a normal inquiry. After all, I don’t want to be sought out.”

Qi Musi’s mind quickly turned, and she understood Xie Rong’s meaning, which made her smile exceptionally meaningful. “But you are an A.”

No one would ever think that two Alphas could have any ambiguous relationship, as the pairing and attraction between Alpha and Omega seems to be the accepted norm in this world.

Xie Rong’s eyebrow twitched slightly, and she retorted calmly, “Do you think this has anything to do with gender?”

In other words, if an Omega were to overthink things, any impossibility could increase its likelihood by half in her eyes. That’s why Xie Rong wanted to avoid such a possibility.

Qi Musi curved her lips, then finally conceded, “Don’t worry, she won’t.”

Xie Rong simply shrugged, “That’s good.” She didn’t concern herself with the relationship between Qi Musi and that Omega. After that, she prepared to return to the dorm.

Qi Musi caught up with her and walked up the stairs with her. Xie Rong was usually quiet and disliked talking, especially when climbing stairs. When Qi Musi also fell silent, the two of them had absolutely nothing to say to each other.

Although, based on Qi Musi’s previously demonstrated personality, she should have said a few words on the way back to the dorm… Xie Rong didn’t bother to investigate the matter. Whether Qi Musi spoke or not was irrelevant to her.

Finally, reaching the fourth floor, their dorm floor, Qi Musi curved her eyes into a smile and spoke, “Tired?”

Xie Rong glanced at her. “Are you joking with me?”

How could an A be tired from climbing four flights of stairs?

Qi Musi, however, did not take her rhetorical question, but only chuckled softly, “That’s good.”

“…”

Only then did Xie Rong belatedly realize that Qi Musi had remained silent during the journey earlier simply because she didn’t want Xie Rong to waste energy.

After realizing this, Xie Rong’s eyebrows moved slightly, but she didn’t say anything more. However, the wariness she felt from the morning incident dissipated a great deal.

Although she wasn’t accustomed to receiving such care from others, when she genuinely received it, she wouldn’t fail to appreciate the good intention.

The two entered the dorm together. At this moment, Zhao Rongrong and Mo Yue hadn’t returned yet. They weren’t as “particular” as Xie Rong and were perfectly fine with eating in the cafeteria.

Xie Rong then noticed Qi Musi’s situation. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Aren’t you going out to eat?”

Qi Musi’s movements paused slightly.

Of course, she was going out… The reason she followed Xie Rong up was partly because Qi Musi indeed needed to come back to change clothes and put on a sun hat. The other part was an unclear, inexplicable reason that even she couldn’t explain.

It was as if she had just glanced up and seen Xie Rong in the pavilion today, and inexplicably felt the urge to follow her.

…In the past, Qi Musi would never have abandoned the Omega right in front of her. She knew O’s sensitivity and thoughtfulness, which is why she was always extra considerate of their feelings.

But in that instant, as if seeing Xie Rong, she forgot everything else that required attention around her.

As if the Omega in front of her was no longer important.

This change made Qi Musi somewhat at a loss as to how to explain it. She subconsciously avoided it, not daring to delve deeper, and just smiled, “Yes, I am. I came back to get a hat, it’s too hot outside.”

“…”

Xie Rong looked at her and said nothing more.

When she turned around, Qi Musi pinched her brow bone. The smile on her face faded; her usually flirtatious and charming peach blossom eyes, once devoid of emotion, appeared exceptionally cold.

Qi Musi lowered her gaze, concealing various emotions in her eyes.

Actually, whatever the emotion, it didn’t matter. After all… they were just roommates, and caring a bit more was perfectly acceptable. So, whether it was the inexplicable desire to follow Xie Rong or the fact that she had left her Omega, none of it was a serious issue.

After all… they are roommates.

Having figured this out, Qi Musi seemed to have reassured herself and put on her flawless smile again.

“I’m heading out now, Xiaorong.” She leaned one hand on the door frame and smiled at Xie Rong, her tone natural, like a caring and considerate husband before leaving the house.

This was Qi Musi’s habitual tone, she was used to using this method to close the distance between herself and others, but whether this would cause another misunderstanding… was not within the scope of her consideration.

Xie Rong was not disturbed by her tone. She simply nodded, indicating that she knew.

Qi Musi watched her calmly tidying her desk without turning around, and she licked the tip of her tongue against her teeth, feeling inexplicably a little sour. So, she uncharacteristically didn’t leave immediately and asked again, “Is there anything you need me to bring back for you?”

Xie Rong finally paused her actions and looked up at her. “No need.”

Qi Musi curved her lips, “Are you sure you don’t need anything? If I run this errand, you won’t have to.”

This sentence successfully tempted Xie Rong… She hesitated for a moment. “Help me bring a pack of tissue paper, please. I’ll transfer the money to you later.”

The true sincerity finally entered Qi Musi’s smile after getting the answer. She lowered her eyes and smiled, her red lips hooked up, the lip gloss flashing with a slight sheen.

“Okay, I’ve noted it down.”

Qi Musi maintained this genuinely sincere smile until she went downstairs. The sun shone down from above, wrapping around her hat and leaving some shadows. Light and shadow dappled and changed on her face, but only that smile remained unchanged.

Actually, Qi Musi couldn’t quite put her finger on why she wanted to smile so much. Initially, when she saw Xie Rong, she felt indifferent to her, or rather, very uninterested and keen to avoid her.

The other person was destined to be just an ordinary, unfamiliar roommate to her, and maintaining a surface level relationship would suffice.

But now…

It seemed quite interesting to have some interaction and speak with Xie Rong.

She found herself wanting to see other reactions from Xie Rong more than before, or rather, the emotions and reactions stemming from her.

Qi Musi had actually made an appointment with Zhuang Xinbai for today.

Since she said she was going to pursue her, she wouldn’t just talk the talk. However, Qi Musi also had no experience pursuing people, so her current actions could only be described as taking things one step at a time.

Standing downstairs outside the Omega dorm waiting for the person, Qi Musi’s internal emotions slowly settled down until she felt calm.

Even she felt a bit surprised that her current emotions while waiting here for Zhuang Xinbai… were not even as excited as when she spoke to Xie Rong just before leaving.

Qi Musi lowered her eyes, slowly suppressing this emotion. Of course, she didn’t take it too much to heart. After all… Xie Rong was a very special person with a very unique personality, so Qi Musi naturally assumed that the emotions she felt because of the other person were normal.

Furthermore, this was just about getting along well with a roommate. Everything was still within Qi Musi’s control.

She was not losing control, so naturally, she was not panicked.

When Qi Musi returned, she indeed brought the tissue paper back for her.

Xie Rong was slightly stunned. She wasn’t someone who didn’t appreciate good intentions, so she walked over to take the tissue paper, her expression rarely not so cold, but instead carrying a slight awkwardness.

“…Thank you. How much is it? I’ll transfer it to you.”

Qi Musi took off her hat, handed the tissue paper to Xie Rong with one hand, and scratched her hair with the other, letting out a breath. Her eyes were slightly red from the stuffy heat.

Hearing this, she looked at Xie Rong. “No need for that, it’s not expensive.” Qi Musi smiled with lowered eyes, seemingly completely unconcerned about the matter.

Xie Rong knew she was wealthy; otherwise, she wouldn’t have given an unacquainted roommate a four-figure pen as a gift. But business is business.

So she continued to ask, “Is your Alipay account your phone number?”

Qi Musi looked at her, then smiled helplessly. “It is.” She recited a string of numbers. “Send it to me, it’s just twenty.”

Xie Rong agreed.

After a while, the money was indeed transferred.

Qi Musi looked at the transfer on her phone and chuckled softly.

Qi Musi put away her hat, then unbuttoned one or two buttons to dissipate the heat.

She sat down at her desk, just about to send a message to Zhuang Xinbai on her phone, but then received a text message.

The opening sentence caused Qi Musi’s eyes to slightly darken, and the previous relaxed and pleasant mood disappeared.

She tapped to open the text message.

[Qi Muyan has been asking about your school and major recently, he might come over to find you.]

Seeing this message, Qi Musi’s eyes turned cold, and the smile on her lips became subtly sarcastic.

Qi Muyan coming over? It wasn’t impossible, it seemed like something a brainless person like him might do. She just wondered why her good younger brother would come looking for her.

Qi Musi lowered her eyes, contemplating.

Recently, because she chose a major that had nothing to do with the family business behind Qi Rong’s back, Qi Rong had been furious. It seemed like anger towards Qi Musi, but in another way, it was a measure of how highly he regarded her.

So the direction of Qi Rong’s leanings was already quite clear. Even her stepmother and her unaccomplished son could see Qi Rong’s choice in his heart, so it was reasonable that they would be anxious.

After all, if Qi Musi inherited the family business, there wouldn’t be much left for them.

Qi Muyan’s desire to test her waters now also stemmed from this reason.

Qi Musi suppressed the emotions in her eyes, only replying to the message to confirm she knew. She also instructed the sender not to act deliberately to expose themselves, as she could handle it.

The other party quickly replied, “Okay.”

And at the same time, she also received a message from Qi Muyan.

[Sis, I told Dad I’m coming to visit you this weekend, okay?]