After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister - Chapter 39

Wen Xiangzhu didn’t say anything else.

Soon, the manager came over with the packed dress, slightly bowing. “Miss Lin, Miss Wen, the dress has been packed and altered to your size, Miss Wen. It fits perfectly, so you can wear it with confidence.”

“Mm,” Lin Sui replied, taking out a VIP Black Card from her bag and handing it to the manager. “Charge this.”

“Right away.”

When they left the store, Lin Sui was carrying three bags.

Wen Xiangzhu followed behind her, hesitating for a long time. It wasn’t until they entered the elevator that she mustered the courage to say, “Let me carry two bags too.”

“No need, it’s just a short walk,” Lin Sui replied casually.

The two of them were alone in the elevator, quickly falling into silence.

The numbers on the screen jumped, but for some reason, the time seemed to pass excruciatingly slowly, almost painfully.

“Sister,” Wen Xiangzhu couldn’t resist breaking the silence. “Did you really just give me such an expensive dress as a greeting gift?”

Lin Sui froze for a moment, pursing her lips and remaining silent.

“Sister,” Wen Xiangzhu persisted, determined to keep asking until she got an answer.

Lin Sui sighed. “A little, but mostly I just want to make it up to you.”

“I’m really sorry about what happened to your health.”

With those words, silence fell in the elevator.

Wen Xiangzhu pressed her lips together. “You don’t need to feel sorry.”

The elevator chimed as it stopped smoothly on the third underground floor.

The door slid open. Lin Sui, seeming reluctant to continue the conversation, hurried toward the car.

Wen Xiangzhu paused, then jogged to catch up.

She watched Lin Sui open the trunk, put the bags inside, and close it.

“Let’s go pick out a gift.”

“Oh…”

Lin Sui led Wen Xiangzhu to another jewelry floor. It was a little busier than the last, but this kind of high-end mall wasn’t a place most people could afford to shop.

Wen Xiangzhu kept her head down, still reeling from the fact that Lin Sui had just spent four or five hundred thousand yuan in one swipe.

That’s… too much. Too expensive.

Why is it so expensive?!

She followed Lin Sui absentmindedly, then suddenly bumped into someone.

Lin Sui glanced back. “What are you spacing out for while we’re walking?”

“I… I’m fine.”

Wen Xiangzhu pressed her lips together and walked beside Lin Sui.

Lin Sui stopped in front of a high-end luxury brand counter. The display was dazzling, filled with so many sparkling items that it was overwhelming.

“What do you think she’d like?” Lin Sui asked, looking troubled.

Wen Xiangzhu hesitated. “Didn’t Sister just say we need to prepare a special gift?”

Lin Sui chuckled softly. “That’s true, but we’ll be giving the gift in front of all the guests. We can’t just give something half-hearted and embarrass ourselves—and the Jiang family.”

“Oh, I see,” Wen Xiangzhu nodded thoughtfully. “Then… let’s get her a bracelet.”

“Why a bracelet?” Lin Sui asked.

“Because bracelets are discreet—unlike rings, which are more noticeable—and less troublesome than necklaces. And since Wanwan doesn’t have pierced ears, a bracelet is the best choice,” Wen Xiangzhu explained softly.

Lin Sui considered this and realized it made perfect sense.

“If you’re right, then I guess I have to get a bracelet. But if I get her a bracelet, what will you get her?”

“I’ll get her a jade bracelet,” Wen Xiangzhu said with a smile. “A Khotan jade bracelet. Jade nourishes the wearer, and the wearer nourishes the jade—it’s good for her health.”

“Alright then.”

Lin Sui nodded and didn’t say anything else. She picked out a bracelet costing over 70,000 yuan and asked the clerk to wrap it up.

The two women, carrying their purchases, went to another jade shop.

Wen Xiangzhu immediately fell for a white jade bracelet, her gaze lingering on it.

“Not bad,” she remarked.

Lin Sui glanced at it and nodded. “It’s certainly nice.”

Wen Xiangzhu asked the clerk to take out the bracelet so she could examine its quality. She quickly made up her mind.

Just before paying, she glanced at the price tag and gasped.

“50,000 yuan?”

Lin Sui glanced at it indifferently, then pulled out another black card from her purse. “Yes, put it on the card.”

Wen Xiangzhu: “……?” Just put it on the card?!

After buying the showy items, the two women planned to go back to the car to rest, have a meal, and figure out what else they needed to buy.

Wen Xiangzhu felt her hands trembling.

We’ve spent over 500,000 yuan in just a few hours?!

Is this what it’s like to be rich…?

Her eyelashes fluttered as she lowered her head, her mind a tangled mess.

She knew the Lin family was wealthy, but she hadn’t imagined they were this wealthy—so wealthy that spending 500,000 yuan was as simple as swiping a card.

Lin Sui looked completely indifferent, as if this was just a normal occurrence.

But she… didn’t even dare to think about it.

Wen Xiangzhu felt a pang of inferiority.

“What do you want to eat?” Lin Sui asked, relaxing into the car seat as soon as she got in.

“Anything’s fine,” Wen Xiangzhu murmured.

Lin Sui glanced at her, noticing nothing unusual, and nodded, turning back to her phone.

After a moment, she said, “There’s a Japanese restaurant nearby. Want to try it?”

“Sure,” Wen Xiangzhu replied.

Lin Sui nodded, gave the driver an address, and closed her eyes to rest.

The Japanese restaurant was indeed nearby, and they arrived before she could even fully doze off.

Throughout the meal, Wen Xiangzhu felt uneasy. She started paying close attention to the prices. Two people, one Japanese meal, and they’d spent over seven hundred? She frowned. How had she never noticed before how… casually Lin Sui spent money?

Perhaps it’s just a difference in perspective, she thought. To Wen Xiangzhu, seven hundred yuan could cover several good meals. To Lin Sui, it was barely a drop in the ocean.

They shopped all day, but in the end, they couldn’t find that special gift. Because anything they could buy with money… just wasn’t special enough.

*******

Jiang Wanwan’s birthday party was held in the afternoon, giving everyone ample time in the morning to get ready.

Lin Sui didn’t usually bother with grooming, but since it was a special occasion, she felt she should at least tidy herself up to show respect to the hostess.

After changing into her formal dress, she sat at her desk. The large round mirror on the opposite wall clearly reflected her current appearance.

The deep blue gown hugged her slender yet strong arms, revealing a generous expanse of pale neck and collarbone.

Her jet-black eyes remained impassive as usual, framed by lightly defined eyebrows and a bold crimson lipstick. Her naturally straight, silky black hair had been styled into soft curls and simply coiled into a princess-like bun.

The overall effect was strikingly beautiful, a far cry from her usual cool and refined demeanor.

Whether dressed simply or extravagantly, nothing seemed out of place on Lin Sui. Her face could handle anything.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

The stylist pushed the door open and entered. “Miss Lin, do you like it?”

“Mm, I’m quite satisfied,” Lin Sui replied, her tone calm.

“Has Wen Xiangzhu been taken care of yet?”

“Almost. Another stylist is working on Miss Wen’s hair.”

“Hmm.” Lin Sui nodded and stood up, heading for the door. “Take me to see her.”

At that moment, Wen Xiangzhu sat stiffly at the desk, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The person she saw there was so different from her usual self that her eyes held a hint of unfamiliarity.

She had never dressed so formally before…

Hearing the door open, she startled and turned to look.

“Sister?”

When she recognized the visitor, she froze.

She had never seen Lin Sui dressed so formally either.

“What are you spacing out for?”

Lin Sui looked at her curiously and sat down beside her.

The formal dress felt like a shackle. Once she put it on, every movement became more refined, infused with the grace and poise of someone raised with proper etiquette.

“It’s just… you’re so beautiful, Sister,” Wen Xiangzhu murmured, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Lin Sui paused, glancing at her reflection in the mirror to examine herself.

Knowing she was pretty was one thing; hearing such praise from someone else was another. She felt a little self-conscious.

But she pressed her lips together slightly and replied with her usual calm demeanor:

“I know. I don’t need you to tell me.”

Wen Xiangzhu: “……”

Lin Sui couldn’t figure herself out.

Before, she was so quiet she hardly spoke a word. Now, she even had the energy to bicker with people.

But when the room fell silent, Lin Sui finally had the leisure to observe Wen Xiangzhu.

The girl was wearing light makeup today, making her features appear even more delicate. Instead of her usual sweet demeanor, she looked more vibrant and lovely, like a flower that had just bloomed in the morning, still glistening with dewdrops, its petals so tender they seemed to hold water.

Lin Sui’s thoughts drifted, her eyes unconsciously darkening.

The stylist had given Wen Xiangzhu curly hair, but her hair was softer, making her finished look more fluffy, like a soft cloud.

I want to touch it and feel how soft it is.

Lin Sui frowned, realizing what she was thinking, and quickly dismissed the thought.

Don’t look at what’s improper…

Just as she was thinking this, Lin Sui’s phone suddenly rang a few times.

She looked down and saw a message from Zhu Huan.

[ZhuZhuZhu: I’m almost there. Miss me?]

[No.]

[ZhuZhuZhu: You don’t miss me even after so long? No more love, Suisui? I’m gonna cry for you.]

[Really? Go on, cry.]

[ZhuZhuZhu: …If you keep this up, I won’t introduce you to the Omega I know today!]

Reading this, Lin Sui froze, her mind was momentarily unable to process the information.

[What do you mean? Is your little girlfriend coming too?]

[ZhuZhuZhu: What little girlfriend? I’m still very faithful, you know! She’s from the Xu family—Xu Nianen.]

Lin Sui frowned.

The Xu family… The Xu family? Isn’t that Jiang Wanwan’s aunt, Xu Ming’s family?!

[You hid this so well! Isn’t she related to Wanwan?]

Lin Sui’s mind was spinning, and she couldn’t be bothered to figure out the exact relationship between Jiang Wanwan and Xu Nianen, so she just lumped them together as relatives.

[ZhuZhuZhu: Right, but I didn’t know that at first.]

[When are you arriving? Should I pick you up?]

[ZhuZhuZhu: No need. Just protect your look and wait for me to find you.]

Look?

Lin Sui raised an eyebrow and glanced at the mirror again.

Hmm, the look is perfect.

Wen Xiangzhu stared at her curiously.

“Sister, what are you looking at?”

Lin Sui’s expression froze, suddenly remembering she was in Wen Xiangzhu’s room.

She forced a dry laugh. “Just checking if there’s any dirt on my face.”

“Dirt?”

Wen Xiangzhu blinked and leaned in close.

The stylist must have left at some point, perhaps while Lin Sui was looking at her phone. Now it was just the two of them in the room.

Her hair draped behind her, concealing the Blocker Patch on the back of her neck. But with this sudden movement, a small corner peeked out.

The overwhelming scent hit Lin Sui, freezing her entire body.

Another ambush, completely unprepared.

Wen Xiangzhu didn’t do anything else; she just leaned in close, studying Lin Sui’s face intently.

Lin Sui tilted her head back slightly, and after a moment, Wen Xiangzhu finally stepped back. “There’s no dirt on your face,” she said. “It’s perfectly clean and smells lovely.”

Lin Sui blinked, then straightened up, her expression returning to normal. “Good,” she said. “Otherwise, the stylist would have wasted all that work earlier.”

“Right,” Wen Xiangzhu replied with a chuckle, for some reason.

“Alright then.”

Feeling a little uneasy, Lin Sui stood up. “Let’s go check on Wanwan.”

“Okay.”

The two walked out of the room and stopped in front of Jiang Wanwan’s door.

Before they could knock, clear voices drifted out from inside.

“Wanwan, your mother plans to announce your engagement to Suisui during your birthday party today,” Mrs. Jiang said softly. “You’ll be graduating next year, so we’ll combine the engagement ceremony and coming-of-age celebration.”

Jiang Wanwan’s voice sounded hesitant. “But has Sister Sui agreed to this? And has the Lin family agreed to announce it so early?”

“Once we announce it, won’t she find out?” Mrs. Jiang chuckled. “You two grew up together and share a deep bond. Suisui has always been good to you, and the Lin family has long since tacitly approved of this. We agreed on this many years ago. They wouldn’t object.”

Jiang Wanwan frowned, facing Xu Ming and the imposing Mrs. Jiang. She pursed her lips and finally lowered her head.

*****

After a moment, she said, “Why don’t we go tell Sister Sui first?”

“You’ve become quite the questioner, haven’t you?” Mrs. Jiang frowned. “You used to be much more obedient than this.”

“Ah, come now,” Xu Ming sighed, stepping in to smooth things over. “Wanwan is just worried about us making decisions without consulting her. It’s true that we shouldn’t just act without letting her know first.”

“Wanwan, your cousin will be back soon. If there’s anything you’re hesitant to discuss with us elders, you can talk to her.”

Xu Ming’s words carried an unspoken meaning, but her smile remained warm as she watched Jiang Wanwan.

Jiang Wanwan stared blankly into her eyes for a moment before nodding.

“That’s more like it,” Xu Ming said.

Xu Ming gently patted Jiang Wanwan on the shoulder, then turned and said, “Alright, we should get ready. We don’t want to embarrass ourselves in front of the guests.”

Before Mrs. Jiang could react, Xu Ming walked to the door and pulled it open.

Seeing Lin Sui and Wen Xiangzhu standing outside, she visibly froze.

“Suisui, Wenwen? What are you two doing here?”

Hearing the voices, the other two women in the room also turned to look.

Mrs. Jiang frowned, about to say something, but Xu Ming spoke first. “You’re here for Wanwan, right? Come in, Wanwan’s been waiting for you.”

She then turned to Mrs. Jiang. “Let’s leave the young ones to chat. We shouldn’t linger here.”

Mrs. Jiang nodded without another word and rose to leave the room with Xu Ming.

Lin Sui’s lips twitched slightly as she pulled Wen Xiangzhu into the room and closed the door behind them.

“Wanwan.”

Jiang Wanwan’s eyelashes fluttered, a hint of dejection in her eyes, but she forced a smile. “You two look stunning today.”

Wen Xiangzhu walked over and sat down beside Jiang Wanwan. “You’re the one celebrating, Wanwan…”

Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Wanwan smiled. “Did you all hear that?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lin Sui pressed her lips together and sat down beside her.

“Sister Sui, if my mother really plans to announce this at my birthday party, would you mind?” Jiang Wanwan’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked up, her eyes tinged with apprehension.

Lin Sui lowered her gaze, hesitating. “We need to talk about this properly.”

“Right…” Jiang Wanwan sighed. “I can’t stop them, but I can promise you this: I have no ulterior motives when it comes to you.”

“I know,” Lin Sui said with a smile. “We’re friends.”

Merchants are driven solely by profit. It’s understandable that the Jiang family, eager to secure an alliance with the Lin family through marriage, would cling tightly to this opportunity, fearing they might lose it.

But not everyone is like them.

That Xu Ming… she seemed different somehow.

Lin Sui had a vague sense of this, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

“By the way, Wanwan, I heard your aunt mention your cousin earlier?”

“Right,” Jiang Wanwan nodded. “You know Jiang Qing, right? We used to play together all the time when we were little. She went abroad for her studies later, and it’s been years since we’ve seen her.”

Hearing this, Lin Sui remembered. Jiang Qing and Jiang Wanwan had been close, but their treatment within the family had been quite different.

To put it simply, Jiang Qing was being groomed as the Jiang family’s successor, while Jiang Wanwan was being carefully nurtured like a greenhouse flower.

A successor needed strength and resolve, while a flower only needed to maintain her beauty until she could be married off to a suitable partner and maximize her value.

In other words, her value lay in a strategic marriage alliance.

For a moment, Lin Sui felt a pang of sadness.

She felt for Jiang Wanwan, who was clearly so capable, yet destined to be nothing more than a pampered flower in a greenhouse, all because she was an Omega.

She paused, then nodded.

“Right, I remember. She’s coming back?”

“Yes,” Jiang Wanwan said with a smile. “I really miss her.”

She sat by the window, staring listlessly at the family garden.

There wasn’t much to see—just flowers, plants, and decorations. She saw the same thing every day, and it all looked the same.

She sighed, about to turn away, when she suddenly froze.

A vivid orange-yellow caught her eye.

Jiang Wanwan was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up as she recognized the person who had appeared in the garden.