After Being Mistaken for a Heartless Alpha by My Childhood Sweetheart - Chapter 4

Four years ago, Yue Ximing was still studying fashion design abroad.

Late one night, while she was completely swamped with course assignments and working herself to the bone, her mother called her on an international line, tentatively asking a question.

“What do you think of Qiao Yang?”

Yue Ximing caught the hidden meaning right away. Her pen paused on the paper, leaving a dark blotch of ink right where two design lines met.

“Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

“Oh, you child,” the woman on the other end teased gently. “Do I really have to spell it out for you?”

Her mother’s tone was warm and soft, but her next words made Yue Ximing’s heart race. “I’ve watched Qiao Qiao grow up since she was a little girl, so we know her family inside and out. She has a wonderful personality, and the two of you have always been close. Her mother actually came to ask me if we should arrange an engagement between you two.”

“An engagement…” Yue Ximing tore off the unfinished design sheet and flipped to a fresh page.

The sketchbook paper was clean and snowy white. As she raised her pen to start a new sketch, her chaotic thoughts began to clear up. She asked, “Is this Qiao Yang’s idea, or her mother’s?”

Honestly, she didn’t even need to ask. Knowing her childhood friend’s personality, this was bound to be the Qiao family’s wish alone.

“Well,” her mother let out a soft laugh. “In that case, we won’t interfere. I’ll go let them know.”

After that, her schoolwork and social schedule became even more demanding, and the phone call slipped to the back of Yue Ximing’s mind. She never expected to receive another call from her mother just a week later.

This time, her mother got straight to the point. “Did you and Qiao Qiao get into a fight?”

“No, what happened?” Yue Ximing frowned, a sudden bad feeling washing over her.

“I heard Qiao Qiao had a massive argument with her family, and now no one can get in touch with her.”

As soon as her mother finished speaking, Yue Ximing tapped open Qiao Yang’s profile.

Their last contact had been three days ago, and a cute cat emoji was still visible at the bottom of the chat box. Qiao Yang had asked her, When are you coming back? Baigao is about to forget what you look like.

But now, when Yue Ximing tried to send a message, all that appeared was a bright red exclamation mark.

She froze for a moment, feeling like a lost dove, flying in circles to no avail.

Her mother sounded hesitant. “Ah Yue, there’s something I don’t know if I should tell you. It’s about that engagement proposal from last time.”

Yue Ximing forced her voice to sound calm. “Go ahead.”

“The Qiao family got back to me and said Qiao Yang was extremely resistant to the idea of marrying you. Of course, I don’t know if she just hated her family’s meddling, or if she hated—”

Before her mother could finish the sentence, Yue Ximing cut her off. “I understand.”

She hadn’t thought much about herself back then; she was only worried about whether Qiao Yang was doing alright out there on her own. Qiao Yang had deleted all her social media accounts, and her phone number was completely disconnected, making it impossible to check on her.

It wasn’t until a few months later, when she managed to catch bits and pieces of news from mutual friends, that she finally relaxed a little.

Over the years, Yue Ximing had come up with countless theories. Perhaps Qiao Yang simply didn’t want to marry her and chose to run away to escape it, only sending an anonymous gift whenever Yue Ximing’s birthday rolled around. Did growing up together mean they were destined to be a couple? Maybe in Qiao Yang’s heart, they were just exceptionally close friends.

And what about her own feelings?

Yue Ximing hadn’t figured it out even by the time she boarded her flight back home. Did she want to push for an answer, or should she pretend she knew nothing and simply maintain their old relationship?

Even so, she had still contacted Qiao Yang’s Alpha mother to ask exactly why Qiao Yang had run away from home all those years ago. Surprisingly, Qiao Yang’s mother had made an unexpected request: she wanted Yue Ximing to go through with the engagement to Qiao Yang.

Yue Ximing didn’t understand the hidden motives behind the request, so she preferred to find Qiao Yang first before making any decisions.

Yet, fate had other plans.

Her childhood friend had suddenly lost her memory. She knew absolutely nothing and had completely forgotten every single thing related to her.

Yue Ximing hung up the phone and looked back into the living room.

Qiao Yang was busily changing the cat’s water and litter, filling up the automatic feeder with kibble, and then waving a feather wand around to play with her. A soft smile danced on her face, her eyes curving into lovely crescents. The way she looked at the cat was infinitely more gentle than the way she looked at Yue Ximing.

The dishes on the table were left unwashed, of course. Yue Ximing took it upon herself to clean up the kitchen, and then she drove Qiao Yang back to the hospital.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to remind her, “I’ll be back tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.”

Qiao Yang remained indifferent. “Hmph, don’t flatter yourself. I don’t need your concern.”

Today alone, Yue Ximing had heard three cold huffs, endured a dozen baseless accusations, and spent hours blowing in the chilly autumn wind while wearing nothing but a thin dress.

She let out a soft smile that looked as warm as a gentle spring breeze, making Qiao Yang instantly guard her heart.

Then, she heard Yue Ximing murmur softly, “Goodnight, Qiao Qiao.”

She turned and left, her high heels making a rhythmic clicking sound against the floor. It was a steady, unhurried pace, perfectly matching her calm composure.

Well, what else could she do? After all, this was her own childhood friend.

Perhaps because she had spent the previous day running around and dealing with so many things, Yue Ximing slept all the way until the sun was high in the sky the next morning.

She was eventually woken up by a highly demanding phone call.

Still half-asleep, she heard Qiao Yang’s voice through the receiver. “I miss Baigao.”

“Hmm?” Yue Ximing raised a hand to block out the sunlight filtering through the window, her brain not fully awake yet.

Qiao Yang sniffled, acting as though she were just making casual conversation. “The apartment is so big, but there’s no one there to talk to Baigao. She must be so lonely, so bored, and so hungry.”

“…”

This wasn’t even a hint anymore; it was a blatant demand. Yue Ximing’s sleepiness vanished entirely.

She switched the phone to speaker, putting it on the bed as she changed her clothes. “Give me an hour. What do you want for lunch? I’ll take you out to get some.”

Qiao Yang answered without a moment’s hesitation, “Spicy hot pot.”

Yue Ximing vetoed it instantly. “No. The injury on your head is still healing. You need to eat something light.”

“Roasted fish.”

“No.”

On the other end of the line, Qiao Yang ground her teeth, holding her breath in sheer frustration.

“Ice cream.”

Yue Ximing was still completely unyielding. “No. It’s too cold, and ice cream doesn’t count as lunch.”

Qiao Yang puffed up her cheeks in anger. This wasn’t allowed; that wasn’t allowed. She was suffering so much humiliation by Yue Ximing’s side, yet she was miserably falling for her anyway. She knew that every little thing Yue Ximing offered always came with a price.

Qiao Yang said coldly, “Whatever you say.”

With that, she hung up the phone.

Yue Ximing had no idea that Qiao Yang had cooked up an entire melodrama in her head during those few short seconds.

She gathered her things and left the house, listing out today’s schedule in her notes app along the way. The doctor had mentioned that introducing the patient to familiar things would help recover her memory. So, she planned to take Qiao Yang out shopping today and also meet up with Xuyu.

She had been a bit too firm about the lunch issue just now. Should she buy a slice of cake on the way to soothe her?

By the time she reached the hospital, her notes were mostly completed. Pushing open the door, she saw Qiao Yang standing by the window. She was dressed lightly, her expression looking deeply melancholic.

Yue Ximing was already used to Qiao Yang’s dramatic expressions, so she said casually, “Qiao Qiao, go put on a coat.”

The silhouette by the window didn’t budge.

Left with no choice, Yue Ximing picked up the coat from the hanger herself, preparing to help Qiao Yang put it on.

The wool coat had just settled over Qiao Yang’s shoulders when the girl suddenly spun around, practically throwing herself straight into Yue Ximing’s arms.

Caught completely off guard, Yue Ximing didn’t have time to push her away. She could only let the arms wrapping around her tighten until there was absolutely no space left between them.

Yue Ximing froze on the spot, still holding the coat in her hands, not hugging her back.

So, it wasn’t a perfect embrace.

But holding Qiao Yang in her arms felt like being wrapped in a bundle of soft, cozy fleece, making her want to pick her up and squeeze her. A cool breeze drifted past her ear, contrasting sharply with the warm, damp breath resting against her shoulder.

She caught the sweet and sour scent of peaches coming from the girl in her arms. It was the Omega’s pheromones. It felt like drinking a warm cup of sweet milk tea on a freezing autumn day. It wasn’t exactly a heart-stopping thrill, but she liked it a lot.

Yue Ximing carefully adjusted her breathing, terrified that Qiao Yang might hear how fast her heart was beating.

Meanwhile, Qiao Yang buried her head in Yue Ximing’s chest and nuzzled around randomly. Squinting her eyes, she whispered in a tiny voice, “A hug in exchange for an ice cream. That’s my final offer.”

“I won’t back down anymore.”

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