After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister - Chapter 2

Before long, Wen Xiangzhu hurried over, gasping for breath as she pulled open the car door. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Lin Sui glanced up at her, shifted slightly to make room, but said nothing.

The young girl pursed her lips and climbed into the car.

The driver, watching her through the rearview mirror, greeted her with a polite question. “Why did Second Miss visit the office today?”

“Mm-hmm,” she replied, stealing a glance at Lin Sui, who was engrossed in her phone. “The formaldehyde in the new dormitory building has mostly dissipated. The teacher distributed housing application forms for students who want to live on campus, and I went to submit everyone’s applications.”

“I see,” the driver said with a smile, starting the car. He casually asked, “So, Second Miss, are you planning to live on campus?”

“Yes.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Lin Sui’s fingers froze mid-swipe on her phone. She turned to stare at Wen Xiangzhu. “You want to live on campus?”

Wen Xiangzhu smiled faintly, her eyes curving into crescents, clear and pure, devoid of any trace of impurity. “Yes.”

Why would she give up living in a luxurious villa to live on campus? Lin Sui couldn’t understand what Wen Xiangzhu was thinking.

Ever since childhood, her mother had never denied Lin Sui anything material. But beyond material comforts, there was nothing else. Lin Corporation had climbed to become one of the world’s top 500 companies, single-handedly managed by Lin Wei, who worked tirelessly without rest. She never mentioned her ex-husband.

Yet recently, Lin Wei had started dating again, and her new partner was none other than Wen Xiangzhu’s father, Wen Wenfu.

Wen Wenfu lived up to his name, exuding the refined demeanor of a scholarly gentleman. Naturally, his family’s wealth couldn’t compare to that of the Lin family, a prominent and affluent clan.

In Lin Sui’s eyes, Wen Wenfu was nothing more than an older man using smooth talk to deceive Lin Wei for her money.

Beep. The phone automatically dimmed its screen.

Lin Sui snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at Wen Xiangzhu. “Why?”

Wen Xiangzhu was visibly taken aback. “I just want to live on campus now.”

She paused before adding in a small voice, “Does Sis live on campus?”

“……”

Lin Sui felt Wen Xiangzhu was asking a question she already knew the answer to.

The car drove to the private garage in the villa complex and turned off.

Lin Sui got out of the car, showing no intention of acknowledging Wen Xiangzhu as she strode toward the elevator.

Behind her, familiar footsteps echoed in the empty garage, sounding slightly hurried.

Truly… a tag-along.

The elevator ride to the villa was silent, with neither of them speaking a word.

“Sui Sui and Wen Wen are back? Come have some grapes.”

Wen Wenfu’s voice drifted from the living room.

Lin Sui glanced in that direction, feeling inexplicably resistant. Without a word, she turned and headed upstairs.

“Sister?” Wen Xiangzhu called out softly from behind. She had intended to follow Lin Sui upstairs, but hesitated and turned to greet the elders instead.

Lin Sui paused, inwardly scoffing, before retreating to her room.

At this hour, Lin Wei was usually at the company, so there was no need for Lin Sui to pretend to be friendly with someone she disliked.

Just as Lin Sui was brooding, staring blankly at her phone, a knock sounded at the door.

“Sister, may I come in?”

Lin Sui’s fingers tightened unconsciously around her phone. “What do you want?”

“I brought some fruit.”

The door remained ajar, and Wen Xiangzhu stood in the doorway, watching Lin Sui without moving.

Without looking up, Lin Sui said, “I don’t like grapes. Take them away.”

“These aren’t grapes.”

Wen Xiangzhu’s eyes widened slightly, as if urgently explaining. “These are apples. They’re already sliced.”

Hearing this, Lin Sui paused and turned to look. Seeing Wen Xiangzhu standing timidly in the doorway with the plate, she finally relented. “Come in.”

As the words faded, Wen Xiangzhu’s eyes brightened. She quickly walked to the table and placed the fruit plate on it.

“Did you make this?” Lin Sui asked, putting down her phone.

Wen Xiangzhu nodded gently. “Yes.”

Lin Sui lowered her gaze, looking at the perfectly sliced apple pieces arranged artfully on the plate.

Wen Xiangzhu felt that Wen Xiangzhu was always meticulously organized, leaving no room for criticism. Her demeanor was refined, exuding a natural aloofness.

The phone on the desk suddenly rang. Wen Xiangzhu’s sharp eyes caught the name on the screen:

Jiang Wanwan.

“Hello?”

“Alright then.”

“See you then.”

Wen Xiangzhu quietly observed Lin Sui until she hung up the phone. Then she asked, “Sister, you know Jiang Wanwan?”

“Mm-hmm, we’re childhood sweethearts.” Lin Sui paused. “Do you know her?”

“Childhood sweethearts… a marriage alliance…” Wen Xiangzhu murmured, lost in thought, lowering her head.

Lin Sui frowned slightly. “What’s with the dazed look? She’s technically a marriage alliance. When the company was struggling, she supported us. Now that Lin Corporation has grown, we can’t forget our roots.”

“Then… does Sister think marriage alliances are a good thing?” Wen Xiangzhu pursed her red lips, their delicate surface glistening with moisture.

“There’s nothing wrong with them. The two families already have business ties anyway. Besides, who you marry is just marriage in the end,” Lin Sui said nonchalantly.

“But…” Wen Xiangzhu’s small face creased with anxiety. “You don’t even like her, yet you’re going to marry her? What if you find someone you do like?”

“I probably… don’t have anyone I like,” Lin Sui said after a brief moment of thought.

“Why not?” Wen Xiangzhu pressed.

Lin Sui gave her a suspicious look. “Why do you ask so much? You still haven’t answered me—do you know Jiang Wanwan?”

“Yes.”

Wen Xiangzhu lowered her gaze. “We were classmates before I transferred here.”

“Then, for National Day, I’m planning to have dinner with her. Want to join us?” Lin Sui asked.

But the words had barely left her mouth when she regretted them.

Damn it, what was I thinking?!

Wen Xiangzhu’s eyes lit up. “Sure!”

Lin Sui: “……”

“Never mind. It’d be weird for you to come with me,” Lin Sui said, averting her gaze.

Wen Xiangzhu fell silent for a moment, her voice tinged with disappointment. “Oh…”

“Where are you planning to go?”

“Depends on the situation,” Lin Sui replied absently, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair around her slender finger. Seeing Wen Xiangzhu still standing there, she hesitated before adding, “Want to… sit down?”

“Thank you, Sis.” Wen Xiangzhu smiled and pulled up a stool to sit beside her.

Lin Sui quickly looked away, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

Lin Sui had a naturally spirited appearance, with sharp, angled eyebrows and upturned eyes. Coupled with her prickly personality, she gave off an aura of “keep your distance.” Most people found her difficult to approach and avoided getting too close.

But Wen Xiangzhu was different. The little girl didn’t seem scared of her at all.

As Lin Sui pondered this, Wen Xiangzhu had already skewered a piece of apple with a toothpick and was holding it up to her lips.

“Sister, try this.”

Lin Sui instinctively leaned back, reaching out to take it. “I can get it myself.”

“Oh…” Wen Xiangzhu murmured softly.

The toothpick was so small that their fingertips inevitably touched.

Wen Xiangzhu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she stiffly withdrew her hand.

Lin Sui took a bite of the apple, its juice glistening on her lips.

The sourness made her wince slightly, and when she looked up, she found Wen Xiangzhu staring intently at her lips.

Lin Sui: “……”

Did this kid deliberately pick a sour apple to mess with me?

In the next moment, Wen Xiangzhu snapped her gaze away as if stung by lightning. A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks as she hastily lowered her head.

Noticing this sudden change, Lin Sui: “……?”

Caught red-handed.

Lin Sui chuckled inwardly and picked up a piece of apple with a toothpick, offering it to Wen Xiangzhu. “Here, have some.”

Wen Xiangzhu looked at her, a little surprised by the gesture, then leaned forward and took a bite from the piece she was holding.

Lin Sui paused, sensing something was off about the situation. Her heart felt like it was crawling with ants—tingling and restless, yet impossible to scratch. She cleared her throat and turned away. “I meant for you to take a piece yourself.”

Wen Xiangzhu blinked, then obediently took the apple. The tips of her ears flushed pink. “This apple is a bit tart. I’ll go cut another one.”

Lin Sui’s eyebrows arched slightly, and she quickly stopped her. “That would be a waste. Just finish this one first.”

After speaking, she lowered her gaze and pressed her lips together. “Okay.”

Wen Xiangzhu sat back down and obediently ate two or three pieces of the apple in quick succession. The sourness brought tears to her eyes, making the rims of her eyelids slightly red.

Lin Sui watched her quietly, feeling a pang of sympathy at her pitiful appearance. She sighed silently. “Forget it. We’re not that short on money.”

If this continued, Lin Sui felt she was turning into the wicked step-sister from a fairy tale, bullying Cinderella…

Wen Xiangzhu hesitated, but when she saw Lin Sui showing no signs of anger, she secretly sighed in relief.

“Sister, I didn’t mean to do it.”

“Mm,” Lin Sui replied, glancing at Wen Xiangzhu. Seeing the slight redness at the tip of her nose, as if she were about to cry, she quickly added, “I’m not blaming you.”

She frowned slightly.

She felt that whenever she was with Wen Xiangzhu, she ended up talking more. But it wasn’t because she wanted to talk to Wen Xiangzhu; it was simply because Wen Xiangzhu’s vulnerable demeanor made it hard to ignore her.

Just then, Lin Sui paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes. “Why is your face so red?”

“Red?” Wen Xiangzhu blinked, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice soft and syrupy, as if her mouth were full of sticky rice.

“Red.”

Lin Sui’s expression grew serious.

Earlier, Wen Xiangzhu’s blush had been a natural, healthy flush, like the pale pink of a ripe peach. But now, her face was unnaturally flushed, as if she were sick.

As Lin Sui pondered this, she caught a faint scent of wine. She never drank at home, yet the smell grew stronger, as if emanating from Wen Xiangzhu herself.

Frowning, Lin Sui suddenly remembered seeing Wen Xiangzhu’s file. Under the “Pheromones” section, it had simply said “red wine.”

Lin Sui urgently asked, “Where’s your Inhibitor?”

Wen Xiangzhu looked a bit dazed, blinking blankly as if only now realizing her pheromones had leaked out. She quickly stood up. “Sorry…”

With that, she turned and hurried out of the room.

Lin Sui stared at the suddenly empty room, blinking in confusion.

What’s there to apologize for?

A faint scent of wine lingered in the air. Lin Sui pressed her lips together, her thoughts in turmoil. She got up and opened the window wider.

Standing by the window, she took a deep breath and absentmindedly grabbed a cookie, taking a bite.

Why do my teeth feel so itchy…?

Moments later, footsteps stopped outside the door.

“Sister.”

Lin Sui didn’t turn around.

The soft voice spoke again. “We’re out of inhibitors.”

Lin Sui considered for a moment. “Then I’ll call the driver and have him run an errand.”

“Don’t!” Wen Xiangzhu exclaimed urgently. Realizing she had lost her composure, she lowered her head. “No, don’t let anyone else go.”

“Then have your father go.”

“He just left for the office.”

“…”

Lin Sui gritted her teeth. “So… you’re saying I should go?”

Support After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister