After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister - Chapter 33

 

After dinner, there were still half an hour to go before the concert began.

Wen Xiangzhu glanced at her watch, looking worried. “Should we go through the ticket check now? It might get really crowded if we wait.”

Jiang Wanwan glanced at her, smiling. “Don’t worry. We’re going through the VIP entrance. It won’t be crowded.”

“VIP entrance?” Lin Sui froze, startled. “There’s such a thing?”

“Sister Sui, you’ve clearly never been to a performance like this before,” Jiang Wanwan said with a tilted head and a smile. “It’s pretty standard. As long as you have a VIP ticket, you can use the VIP entrance, which is right next to the regular entrance.”

“Really?” Lin Sui frowned. “I’ve never really liked coming to these kinds of things.”

Jiang Wanwan chuckled softly. “I’ll take you guys to see it.”

Lin Sui and Wen Xiangzhu exchanged a glance, then followed Jiang Wanwan to the venue.

Just as she’d said, there was already a long line at the regular entrance, and the VIP entrance was nearby.

“There are even dedicated staff to guide you,” Wen Xiangzhu remarked, her eyelashes fluttering as she marveled. “And they’re giving out glow sticks and merchandise!”

“Exactly,” Jiang Wanwan smiled, helping Wen Xiangzhu put on a small cap emblazoned with Shen Xing’s image. “Do the same for me, please.”

“Sure.”

Lin Sui paused to wait for them, clutching the merchandise and fan items handed out by the staff.

She lowered her head and absentmindedly pressed the switch on the fluorescent stick. The pink light suddenly shone in her face, a little blinding. She paused, then lazily turned it off again.

A moment later, Jiang Wanwan’s excited voice came from behind her.

“Sister Sui, let me help you put it on!”

Lin Sui frowned, looking reluctant. “I don’t need to wear it.”

“You don’t like it?” Jiang Wanwan blinked, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Alright then, let’s go inside first and talk about it later.”

As she spoke, she linked arms with Lin Sui and turned to Wen Xiangzhu. “Let’s go, Wenwen.”

“Mm…” Wen Xiangzhu’s gaze lingered on their linked arms, her eyes darkening slightly as she slowly followed.

Lin Sui felt uneasy. Partly because Jiang Wanwan was holding her arm, and partly because she kept sensing a lingering gaze behind her, making her back tingle with unease.

But when she turned to look, there was nothing behind her except Wen Xiangzhu.

Wen Xiangzhu smiled at her, a puzzled look in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Lin Sui shook her head and averted her gaze.

The three of them were quickly led to their seats by staff members.

The stage was already set up, and from their vantage point, they could clearly see the placement of every spotlight and even the pattern of the stage tiles.

Wen Xiangzhu blinked in awe. “I feel like I can interact with Shen Xing up close now.”

She pursed her lips, pointed at the stage, and asked, her eyes sparkling, “Shen Xing… she’ll stand right there, won’t she?”

“Right,” Jiang Wanwan said with a smile. “And maybe even…”

Before she could finish, her voice trailed off.

Lin Sui looked over suspiciously and saw Jiang Wanwan’s face pale, her lips pressed tightly together as she clutched her stomach.

“What’s wrong?”

Lin Sui hesitated, about to step forward, but Wen Xiangzhu beat her to it, supporting Jiang Wanwan.

“Wanwan, are you feeling unwell?”

“I might have eaten something bad earlier.”

Jiang Wanwan grimaced in pain, then lit up her phone to check the time. “I’m going to the restroom. Don’t worry about me.”

With that, she hurried over to the staff, exchanged a few words, and left with them.

Lin Sui turned her gaze to Wen Xiangzhu. “That restaurant might not have been very clean… Are you feeling okay?”

Wen Xiangzhu blinked and shook her head gently. “No, I’m fine. I’m not as delicate as Wanwan, who was raised pampered and coddled with a golden spoon in her mouth.”

Lin Sui nodded and sat down.

“Actually, Sister,” Wen Xiangzhu said, sitting down beside her, “are you feeling okay?”

“Me?”

Lin Sui paused, then chuckled softly. “Are you implying I look delicate?”

“Not exactly…” Wen Xiangzhu hesitated. “I just… I’m worried about you.”

As she spoke, her hat tilted slightly, a strand of hair falling across her eye. Lin Sui reached out to straighten the cardboard fanart hat.

The gesture was instinctive. But before she could pull her hand back, she froze.

She felt… somehow different.

Wen Xiangzhu’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyes glimmering with confusion as she stared at Lin Sui, motionless and silent.

Lin Sui snapped out of her daze, her fingertips tingling as if burned. She quickly withdrew her hand and turned away, refusing to look at Wen Xiangzhu. “You can do it yourself.”

After a moment, Wen Xiangzhu opened her mouth. “Sister, your hand is so cold.”

Lin Sui froze, staring at Wen Xiangzhu in surprise. Then, her hand was gently taken.

Warm and soft, Wen Xiangzhu guided her hand into the pocket of her down jacket.

“Sister, it’s warm here,” Wen Xiangzhu said with a bright smile. “Come warm your hand.”

The area was deserted. The staff stood dutifully at the entrance, their gazes fixed straight ahead like statues, motionless.

The stage lights were off, with only the aisle lights and the underside of each row of seats illuminated.

The entire arena was dimly lit, yet Wen Xiangzhu’s face and eyes stood out with striking clarity.

Lin Sui stared at her, her mind going blank.

Even now, Lin Sui’s hand remained in Wen Xiangzhu’s jacket pocket, tightly held.

Her face tense, Lin Sui gently withdrew her hand and muttered, “I’m not cold.”

“Then what about me?” Wen Xiangzhu tilted her head, asking.

Lin Sui’s temples throbbed. “If you’re cold, put your hand in your pocket.”

“Sister used my bag to warm her hands just now. Does that mean I can put my hand in Sister’s bag now?” Wen Xiangzhu paused before adding, “We should exchange courtesies.”

Lin Sui: “……”

Here we go again, back to this tit-for-tat.

“Can you really use that word like that?” Lin Sui asked, her lips curling slightly.

“Why not?” Wen Xiangzhu chuckled, slowly reaching into Lin Sui’s pocket. “It fits the context and the meaning.”

Lin Sui met Wen Xiangzhu’s gaze. Despite the chilly temperature inside the arena, the tips of her ears inexplicably began to burn.

She averted her eyes, pretending nonchalance. “Just for a moment.”

“How long is a moment?” Wen Xiangzhu asked.

Lin Sui briefly pondered. “Ten seconds.”

As soon as she spoke, Wen Xiangzhu burst out laughing and actually started counting: “One, two, three…”

By the time she reached ten, she obediently withdrew her hand. “All warmed up now. Thanks, Sister.”

Lin Sui gave her a cool glance, remaining silent.

But her flushed ears betrayed her, revealing her true feelings.

In Lin Sui’s mind, though, this was purely due to the stuffy air in the arena!

Yes, that’s it!

A distance separated the VIP seats from the regular seating, but the growing noise from behind was still audible.

Lin Sui glanced back. The seats were already about three-quarters full.

“How come Jiang Wanwan still hasn’t arrived?” Lin Sui frowned, glancing toward the entrance.

Several other VIP ticket holders approached and sat down, followed by a trickle of additional attendees. Yet Jiang Wanwan remained conspicuously absent.

Growing worried, Lin Sui called her.

The call connected quickly, and a weak voice answered, “Sister Sui, is the show about to start?”

“Never mind that. How are you feeling?” Lin Sui asked.

“I’m fine,” Jiang Wanwan replied weakly. “Don’t worry about me.”

Lin Sui’s expression turned serious.

They’d come excitedly to the concert, only for Wen Xiangzhu to get carsick first, and now Jiang Wanwan was suffering from stomach trouble…

What was going on?

The seats behind them were nearly full, a sea of people stretching back as far as the eye could see.

A single spotlight had already lit up the stage, with five minutes to go until the official start time.

Lin Sui glanced at Wen Xiangzhu and said into the phone, “Where are you? I’ll come find you.”

“No need,” Jiang Wanwan said cheerfully, though her voice trembled slightly. “I missed the concert, but you and Wenwen shouldn’t miss it! Alright, gotta go now. Bye!”

With that, Jiang Wanwan hung up immediately.

She lowered her head, hunched over on the bathroom bench, staring at the message screen.

19:23

[Grandma’s in trouble. She wants to see you one last time.]

19:34

[Why isn’t your phone working?]

19:46

[Jiang Wanwan, pick up your phone!]

19:52

[Grandma’s passed away.]

[Have you no conscience? Is that stupid concert more important than your grandmother who raised you by hand?!]

Jiang Wanwan lowered her eyes, staring blankly at the screen. She didn’t move until it dimmed and then turned off with a beep.

She remembered… on the bus, she’d set her phone to silent mode so as not to disturb Wen Xiangzhu’s sleep.

But she’d missed the call. A very important call.

Did that mean she’d also missed her last chance to see her grandmother?

Jiang Wanwan had been raised by her grandmother.

Back then, her mother was too busy to take care of her, so she’d hired a nanny.

But her grandmother couldn’t bear to entrust her to a stranger, so she flew to Ningcheng herself to care for her and raise her.

For years and years.

Her grandmother loved her more than anyone. In her final moments, she must have desperately wanted to see her. But as she lay weak in bed, watching her family try to call her but fail…

What must she have been thinking?

She must have been terribly disappointed.

Jiang Wanwan felt a tightness in her chest, a stinging in her nose, and a lump in her throat.

Her eyes stared blankly at the dark screen, which reflected her slightly pale face.

Plop. A single tear landed on the screen.

Jiang Wanwan gritted her teeth, but she couldn’t stop crying.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her breathing ragged. With trembling fingers, she dialed the number and choked out, “Aunt, where’s Grandma?”

Meanwhile, Lin Sui hung up the phone, her expression still serious.

She felt something was off about Jiang Wanwan, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what.

Wen Xiangzhu noticed she had hung up and wasn’t saying anything. She blinked and asked, “Sister, what’s wrong with Wanwan? Did she say when she’d be back? The concert is about to start.”

“I don’t know,” Lin Sui replied, shaking her head. “She didn’t say. She just told us not to miss the concert.”

Wen Xiangzhu frowned at this.

Why did that sound so strange?

Music suddenly filled the arena as the countdown to the concert began—just one minute to go.

The pre-show was starting.

“I still have a bad feeling about this,” Lin Sui said, her gaze lowered and her expression grave.

Wen Xiangzhu hesitated, her eyelashes trembling slightly. “Should we call her again?”

She unlocked her phone, glanced down at it for a moment, and then said, “Sister, Wanwan’s on her way home.”

“What?”

Lin Sui frowned and took the phone from Wen Xiangzhu.

[Wenwen, I’m really sorry, but I can’t make it to the concert with you guys. Something’s come up at home, and I need to rush back. I feel terrible, since I was the one who invited Sister Sui, and now I’m the one backing out. I don’t even know how to tell her, so I’m asking you to let her know for me. At least you’ll be there with her; otherwise, I’d feel terrible. Have a great New Year’s Eve! Sending you a happy New Year in advance!]

In the garage, Jiang Wanwan stood by her car, her were eyes red as she pressed the send button on her phone. She took a deep breath and tucked it into her bag.

The driver opened the car door respectfully. “Miss, it’s time to go.”

“Mm.”

Lin Sui frowned as she read the message, then sighed silently.

“What could be so urgent? She was clearly looking forward to the concert.”

“I don’t know,” Wen Xiangzhu said softly, shaking her head. “But Wanwan doesn’t seem to want to talk about it, and it wouldn’t be right for us to press her.”

Lin Sui nodded and looked toward the stage. “Let’s just let it be, then. The concert is about to start.”

“Shen Xing! Shen Xing! Shen Xing…”

The noise behind them grew louder and louder.

The music gradually faded away, then suddenly switched to the intro of a song.

Wen Xiangzhu lit up her glow stick and excitedly tugged at Lin Sui’s hand.

“It’s Shen Xing’s hit song! She’s coming out!”

Lin Sui smiled helplessly and lit up her own glow stick.

She’d seen pictures of Shen Xing online before—a distinctive-looking Alpha with a beautiful voice. It was no surprise she’d become so popular.

By now, Shen Xing had already appeared on stage via a lift, the screams from the crowd making her head ring.

Lin Sui rubbed her temples.

Are there really this many crazy fans?

But you had to admit, Shen Xing’s singing was truly amazing—even live, she was incredibly steady.

A walking CD, pure and simple.

The concert went on for several hours.

******

As midnight approached, Shen Xing said from the stage, “Next is the last song. The New Year’s bell is about to toll, and I’m honored to be able to ring it in with you all.”

“The song is called ‘The 365 Days I Love You.'”

As soon as she finished speaking, a deafening roar of screams erupted from the crowd.

Wen Xiangzhu nearly jumped up. “This is my favorite song!”

As the soothing melody began, Shen Xing, bathed in the spotlight, slowly began to sing.

“There’s a kind of feeling, involuntary…”

“Ripples in my heart, unforgettable…”

“…”

“I think that if one day I could stand by your side, just like that summer of our tender moments, every sun, moon, and star, every kiss on the forehead, would be 365 days of loving you…”

The New Year’s bell chimed as the song continued.

“Happy New Year! Everyone, happy New Year!” Shen Xing stood on the moving platform, waving as she slowly exited. “Stay safe on your way home!”

“Sister,” Wen Xiangzhu said with a smile, tugging at Lin Sui’s sleeve. “Happy New Year!”

Lin Sui paused, turning to look at her. After a moment, she replied, “Mm, happy New Year.”

The lights in the audience area came back on as staff began ushering people out.

Wen Xiangzhu grinned, picking up a fan-made cap. “Sister, put this on for a bit. Let’s take a picture!”

“wear… this?”

Lin Sui raised an eyebrow, puzzled as to why they needed to wear this for a photo.

Wen Xiangzhu nodded. “It’s for the photo! Let me put it on you.”

She reached out her hand.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Sui lowered her head, allowing Wen Xiangzhu to place the fan hat on her head.

“Alright! Now, look at the camera!”

Lin Sui glanced at Wen Xiangzhu, her gaze settling on the phone in her hand. With a forced smile, she managed a strained grin.

“Three, two, one, cheese!”

“Sister!”

Wen Xiangzhu grinned, tugging at Lin Sui’s hand. “I’m so happy.”

“Mm, because of the concert?” Lin Sui asked, her tone indifferent.

Wen Xiangzhu widened her eyes, looking at her, and shook her head. “No.”

“Because this is the first New Year we’re celebrating together, Sister and I.”

The first.

Would there be many more after this?