After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The internet café had a quirky name: Jiangjiangmao Internet Café.

With its comfortable environment and convenient location near the school, it was a popular hangout for students.

Wen Xiangzhu stood out immediately, still wearing her school uniform.

The café owner at the front desk heard the door chime and looked up. Smiling, she straightened her wavy hair that draped across her chest. “Hey there, young lady. I’ve never seen you around here before. Looking to use a computer?”

“No, I’m not,” Wen Xiangzhu quickly shook her head. The faint smell of smoke in the air made her tense. She fidgeted with the hem of her school uniform, looking nervous. “I’m here to look for someone.”

A customer nearby who had come to use the internet heard the commotion and curiously glanced over, sizing her up.

Hearing this, the boss nodded and glanced inside. “Find her and get out quickly. This isn’t a place for you.”

With that, she sat back down. “Go on in.”

Wen Xiangzhu thanked the boss and walked inside.

The appearance of an Omega in an internet café was already attention-grabbing, especially when it was a beautiful one.

In an instant, the customers’ gazes shifted from their screens to Wen Xiangzhu.

She lowered her head, feeling uncomfortable, but needing to find Lin Sui, she had to look around.

The farther she went inside, the worse the smell became.

Besides the smell of smoke, there was also the scent of instant noodles.

Many customers at the computers were still playing games. They glanced at her briefly before returning to their keyboards, typing furiously and shouting into their headsets at their teammates.

The noise and stuffiness made Wen Xiangzhu uncomfortable. She instinctively quickened her pace, wanting to find Lin Sui and leave as soon as possible.

Just then, a slightly chubby man stood up from his computer station and took off his headphones. “Hey, sweetie, here to play Fantasy Glory too?”

Caught off guard by the man suddenly approaching, Wen Xiangzhu instinctively took a step back. “What’s Fantasy Glory?”

“It’s the new game that just went public today,” the man explained. “This internet café is usually never this busy. Wanna play together? I’ll show you the ropes.”

“No thanks. I’m just here to find my sister. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Your sister?” The man paused, a peculiar smile playing on his lips. “Is your sister an Omega too? I’ll help you look.”

Wen Xiangzhu’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. She shot the man a cold glance before stepping past him.

“No.”

The internet café was massive. Wen Xiangzhu wandered around for a while, but there was no sign of Lin Sui.

She’s not here, she thought, starting to feel discouraged.

Just then, a woman in a staff uniform walked past with food and water, pushing the door open to deliver it to a private room.

Quick as a flash, Wen Xiangzhu caught sight of a familiar figure inside before the door closed.

“Sister?”

Wen Xiangzhu hurried after the staff member into the private room.

When Lin Sui saw Wen Xiangzhu, she was startled at first, then frowned, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. “What are you doing here?”

“Sis, it’s getting late. Let’s go home,” she said, glancing at Zhu Huan beside her.

Zhu Huan raised an eyebrow, her expression turning slightly odd.

Just moments ago, she had been asking Lin Sui, “Wen Xiangzhu is being so attentive to you. Could it be she has a crush on you?”

Lin Sui chuckled and waved her off. “You’re overthinking it. We’re technically sisters now, since she just moved in with me. Her attentiveness is just her trying to win me over.”

“Really?”

Zhu Huan had almost believed her, but now that Wen Xiangzhu had actually come to the Jiangjiangmao Internet Café, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Sis, let’s just play a few more games. We’ll be home later. You can go ahead and head back.”

Wen Xiangzhu pressed her lips together, looking a little hurt. “But it’s dark outside. I don’t want to go home alone.”

“Well, we can’t have your sister dropping you off and then coming back here. She might beat you up if you try that,” Zhu Huan said with a laugh.

Wen Xiangzhu thought for a moment, then lowered her gaze to Lin Sui.

“Will Sis really beat me up?”

“……”

Lin Sui’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but her mind wasn’t on the two people beside her. Her attention had been following Wen Xiangzhu to the man by the door.

She rested her hand on the armrest and tilted her head slightly. “Still here?”

The man paused for a moment, then approached with a friendly smile. “Oh, it’s you, Lin-san! What a coincidence! Since I’m heading home anyway, how about I give your sister a ride back? What do you say?”

He turned to Wen Xiangzhu. “If your sister doesn’t want to leave, that’s fine. Just don’t bother her. I’ll give you a ride too, remember? You used to come to my stationery shop all the time to buy supplies.”

As his words faded, Lin Sui narrowed her eyes, finally remembering why this man looked so familiar. He was the owner of the stationery shop by the school gate.

But…

Wen Xiangzhu had only transferred to the school half a month ago. She always got in the car and went straight home after school. She probably hadn’t even been to that stationery shop once.

With this realization, Lin Sui scoffed. “Since when did anyone start taking me for a fool?”

In the next moment, a pine-scented pheromone suddenly filled the private room.

The staff member stumbled, his legs going weak. Abandoning any interest in watching the drama, he set down the tray and turned to leave.

Zhu Huan glanced at the man who was struggling to stand under the pheromonal pressure, then looked at Lin Sui, and finally her gaze settled on Wen Xiangzhu.

Having known Lin Sui for so long, Zhu Huan knew that in such situations, Lin Sui usually resorted to physical force rather than deploying her pheromones.

Compared to before, had she become… gentler?

The man’s legs trembled uncontrollably as he forced a strained smile.

“If you don’t want it, that’s fine. No need to get angry. Consider it my mistake for meddling. I’ll leave right away, right away…”

The moment he finished speaking, he hastily turned and fled.

He knew that despite being an Alpha himself, he stood no chance against Lin Sui, a genetically superior Alpha, in a pheromonal confrontation.

He could only be overwhelmed.

Zhu Huan chuckled. “He even remembered to close the door after running off. Not bad, not bad.”

She glanced at the screen and quickly grabbed the mouse. “Hurry, the resources are downloaded. Let’s try this mode.”

Lin Sui frowned, looking somewhat hesitant.

A soft voice spoke from the side, “I can wait for you here while I read.”

Lin Sui glanced at Wen Xiangzhu, who turned and found a small stool, sitting down obediently.

“No,” Lin Sui said.

“Hmm? No what?” Zhu Huan looked at Lin Sui suspiciously.

“I’m not playing anymore,” Lin Sui said, standing up and slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “I just remembered I have plans tomorrow, so I need to get home and rest early.”

“Plans? With Jiang Wanwan?” Zhu Huan raised an eyebrow. Seeing Lin Sui’s silence, she smiled. “Alright, I get it. Big things are coming, huh?”

“What are you talking about? It’s still early,” Lin Sui said, patting Zhu Huan on the shoulder. “I’m off.”

“Alright, then I won’t see you off. I’m going to play a bit longer.” Zhu Huan waved her hand, her gaze returning to the screen.

Wen Xiangzhu, who had been somewhat dazed, quickly stood up and zipped her backpack shut again. Perhaps due to her haste, her movements seemed slightly clumsy.

Lin Sui discreetly observed the scene, then ordered a ride on her phone and left Jiangjiangmao Internet Café with Wen Xiangzhu.

“Don’t come to places like this when you’re alone,” she said calmly.

Wen Xiangzhu lowered her gaze, biting her lower lip, then stole a glance at Lin Sui without replying.

Lin Sui glanced at her. “Did you hear me?”

“Mm-hmm. I know. I wouldn’t come here if you weren’t with me, Sis. But as long as you’re here, I’m not scared,” she murmured.

Lin Sui was so angry she almost laughed. “Then let me ask you this: what would you have done if I wasn’t at the café today?”

Wen Xiangzhu was silent for a moment. “I would have gone to another café to find you.”

“Is this about the café? Why are you so stubborn?” Lin Sui took a deep breath and asked again, “Let me ask you another question: why did you come looking for me in the first place?”

“I… I was scared alone.”

“Liar,” Lin Sui scoffed. “Didn’t Uncle Wang take you home? What were you scared of?”

“I was scared because you weren’t there, Sis.”

“……”

Lin Sui fell silent, watching Wen Xiangzhu’s innocent and pitiful expression. She sighed helplessly, silently cursing under her breath:

Tag-along.

******

At school, Wen Xiangzhu would secretly follow Lin Sui everywhere: to the shop, to the office, even to the restroom, always maintaining a careful distance.

One or two times could be coincidental, but with so many instances, it was hard not to suspect something.

Even when alone, Lin Sui found herself wondering:

Could Wen Xiangzhu… have some kind of mental illness?

As she pondered this, a car pulled up in front of them.

Lin Sui checked the license plate number, confirming it was correct before approaching and opening the door.

“Get in.”

Wen Xiangzhu approached the car, blinked hesitantly, and asked, “Sister, are you coming with me?”

Lin Sui was exasperated. “Yes, do you think I’m going to run away?”

Hearing this, Wen Xiangzhu seemed to relax and obediently climbed into the car.

Lin Sui sat down beside her. The moment the door closed, the driver started the engine.

The scenery outside the car blurred into a blur as it sped past. Inside, the only sounds were their steady breathing and the navigation app’s voice on the driver’s phone.

“Sis,” Wen Xiangzhu broke the silence after a long pause, “are you meeting Jiang Wanwan tomorrow?”

“Mm-hmm,” Lin Sui replied. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason, just curious.”

After that, neither spoke again. When they got home, they each went to their own rooms to rest.

Early the next morning, Lin Sui was woken by the alarm she’d set the night before.

She opened her eyes, glanced at the clock, and got up to get ready.

Lin Sui grabbed a small purse from the wardrobe and slung it over her shoulder. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, then went to the drawer, grabbed a lip balm, and applied it before putting it in her purse.

When Lin Sui went downstairs, Wen Xiangzhu was already sitting at the dining table drinking milk. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lin Sui. “Sister, breakfast is ready.”

“I’m not hungry. Jiang Wanwan’s waiting for me,” Lin Sui said absentmindedly, her eyes fixed on her phone.

As Lin Sui stepped out the door, Wen Xiangzhu called out, “I’m going out with my classmates today.”

“Mm.”

Lin Sui paused for a moment.

“There’s no need to tell me about such trivial things.”

Lin Sui and Jiang Wanwan met at a bubble tea shop in Central Plaza.

When they met, Jiang Wanwan’s long hair cascaded over her shoulders as she warmly greeted Lin Sui and invited her to sit down.

“Sister Sui, I got you your favorite, the sweet potato flavor.”

“Mm,” Lin Sui replied. “Thanks. How have you been lately?”

“Pretty good! It’s my mom who’s been talking about you nonstop though,” Jiang Wanwan said with a smile.

“It’s surprising Auntie even remembers me,” Lin Sui remarked casually.

Jiang Wanwan chuckled softly. “Well, you know we’re childhood sweethearts. If my mom isn’t thinking about you, who else would she be thinking about?”

As the two chatted casually, Wen Xiangzhu and Lu Xiaomeng stood just around the corner, peering cautiously into the bubble tea shop.

“Wenwen…” Lu Xiaomeng tugged at Wen Xiangzhu’s sleeve, her expression conflicted. “Isn’t this stalking a bit… not right?”

“What stalking? This isn’t stalking.” Wen Xiangzhu paused. “This is a coincidence.”

“…”

Re-defining “coincidence”

“By the way, Mengmeng.” Wen Xiangzhu pursed her lips, looking nervous. “What should I say when I go over there?”

“Say…” Lu Xiaomeng pondered. “What a coincidence!”

Wen Xiangzhu frowned slightly. “That’s such a cliché opening line.”

“…”

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