After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister - Chapter 41

Everyone froze, turning to look at the door.

Wen Xiangzhu stood there, smiling awkwardly.

“So… you two are both Omegas?”

Jiang Qing was stunned. She pulled Wen Xiangzhu inside and shut the door tightly.

“Yes,” Wen Xiangzhu nodded quickly.

Jiang Wanwan blinked, exchanged a glance with her, and nodded too.

“Yes, that’s right. What’s wrong with two Omegas?”

Jiang Qing: “……”

Is this right? Is this even possible?!

Her heart felt heavy.

“When did this happen?”

Jiang Wanwan blinked, meeting Jiang Qing’s probing gaze, and guiltily lowered her eyes.

Wen Xiangzhu glanced at her and answered, “Just these past few days… We’re serious about this, Sister Jiang Qing. Would you really want me to just stand by and watch the person I love be with my sister? That would be cruel.”

“…”

“But…”

Jiang Qing hesitated.

Although Wen Xiangzhu was now part of the Lin family, and a marriage alliance wasn’t out of the question, there was still…

Could two Omegas really be together?

“Cousin, please, I’m begging you, help us,” Jiang Wanwan pleaded, her eyelashes fluttering as she adopted a coquettish tone.

Jiang Qing clicked her tongue.

“Does Lin Sui know about this?”

“She knows some of it, and she doesn’t object,” Wen Xiangzhu said with a smile. “I just told her.”

“Is that so?”

Jiang Qing frowned. “Will Auntie Lin agree to this?”

Wen Xiangzhu paused. “I remember asking Auntie Lin about the marriage alliance recently. She was willing.”

*******

At that moment, inside the room…

Wen Xiangzhu lowered her gaze and said softly, “But this marriage is what the elders of both families want.”

“Then what about Sister? What does she want?”

Lin Wei visibly paused, hesitating before replying, “If she doesn’t want it, I won’t force her.”

“Because I want her to be happy.”

“That’s what Auntie Lin said,” Wen Xiangzhu added, her eyes downcast.

Hearing this, Jiang Qing sighed and turned to Jiang Wanwan.

“Wanwan…” she paused, “Sister also wants you to be happy.”

“Cousin…” Jiang Wanwan’s eyelashes fluttered, her expression touched.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her,” Jiang Qing said, standing up and smiling reassuringly at Jiang Wanwan’s slightly reddened eyes. “Don’t worry.”

“Mm…” Jiang Wanwan smiled. “But don’t mention Wenwen just yet. I’m afraid she won’t be able to handle it.”

After a pause, she added, “Take it slow. Tell her gradually later.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Qing nodded, greeted Sang Shinian, and left the room.

The two remaining girls sighed in relief, yet felt a flutter of nervousness.

Sang Shinian raised an eyebrow, smiling. “How unusual.”

“Huh?” Jiang Wanwan paused, then quickly added, as if afraid of being misunderstood, “No, Wenwen and I are just friends!”

Wen Xiangzhu’s eyes widened in surprise, her face tense with uncertainty.

They had just put on that whole act, barely managing to achieve their goal.

And now… it was all coming out?

Sang Shinian stared in confusion. “What? You two aren’t…”

Then realization dawned, her eyes widening in shock. She rushed to the door and called out, “Jiang Qing…”

“Sister Sang!” Jiang Wanwan finally reacted, her heart pounding. She rushed forward and covered Sang Shinian’s mouth. “Don’t say a word!”

Sang Shinian stared at her flustered expression and suddenly chuckled.

The warm breath from her laugh brushed softly against Jiang Wanwan’s palm.

Her palm itched, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly withdrew her hand and feigned calmness. “What’s so funny?”

“You’re adorable,” Sang Shinian said bluntly, staring unabashedly at the faint blush on Wanwan’s earlobes. “You’re even lying to get out of the engagement now.”

“Why not?” Jiang Wanwan blinked, then hmphed. “Do… do you even have a fiancée?”

“Me?” Sang Shinian paused, chuckling softly. “I just got back from abroad and don’t even have a girlfriend. Where would I get a fiancée?”

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Jiang Wanwan with an unreadable expression. “What’s this? Trying to get me to spill?”

“No! Absolutely not! You’re overthinking it!” Jiang Wanwan choked on her words, vehemently denying it.

But after hearing Sang Shinian’s words, her mood visibly lifted.

“Alright, I won’t tell anyone.” Sang Shinian’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at her. “This is our secret.”

“Mm.”

“Secret.”

A secret belonging only to us.

******

The banquet was about to start, and Lin Sui couldn’t stay in her room any longer. After Lin Wei called her, she went downstairs.

“Where’s Wenwen?”

Lin Wei had come with Wen Wenfu.

The guy was dressed in a suit and looked quite presentable today.

Lin Sui glanced at him and completely ignored him.

“Wenwen is probably talking to Wanwan. I haven’t seen her.”

Lin Wei nodded, understanding.

The birthday party proceeded as planned. Wen Xiangzhu came down with Jiang Wanwan.

Mrs. Jiang, supported by Jiang Qing, descended the stairs with a dark expression.

“Thank you all for attending my daughter Wanwan’s birthday party… Today, I also have another announcement to make.”

Mrs. Jiang paused before continuing, “Today, Jiang Qing will officially become the recognized heir of the Jiang Corporation and join the company.”

Lin Sui raised an eyebrow, her expression complicated as she watched Mrs. Jiang on the stage. It was supposed to be Jiang Wanwan’s birthday, yet it had turned into an announcement of the heir.

She paused and glanced at Jiang Wanwan standing nearby. The younger woman didn’t seem to show any signs of distress.

When the speeches finally ended, Zhu Huan finally found a chance to run over to Lin Sui.

“Suisui!”

“Hmm? When did you get here?”

Lin Sui was startled. She’d been so busy with everything that she’d almost forgotten about Zhu Huan.

Zhu Huan clicked her tongue in displeasure.

“You clearly don’t care about me at all.”

Lin Sui: “……”

“Look, see this?”

Zhu Huan smiled, nodding her chin toward something.

Lin Sui blinked and turned her head in the direction Zhu Huan was indicating. There stood a girl she’d never seen before, standing next to Jiang Wanwan.

“That’s Xu…” Lin Sui couldn’t remember the name.

Zhu Huan clicked her tongue. “Her name is Xu Nianen.”

“Oh.” Lin Sui raised an eyebrow. “How far have you two gotten?”

“Just… holding hands,” Zhu Huan said with an embarrassed laugh. “I’m still pure and innocent, okay?!”

Lin Sui scoffed.

“But,” Zhu Huan added, “you haven’t even held hands with anyone, so you have no right to laugh at me.”

Lin Sui’s breath hitched, and she fell silent for a long moment.

The truth was… she’d even tried a Temporary Mark.

*****

Though that wasn’t her intention!

Xu Nianen seemed to have spotted Zhu Huan and, smiling, pulled Jiang Wanwan over.

“Zhu Huan, you’re here too.”

“Mm-hmm.” Zhu Huan smiled faintly, momentarily at a loss for words.

Lin Sui raised an eyebrow, glancing at the pair before speaking up. “Wanwan, are there any mini cakes today?”

“Yep! There’s a whole tray over there. I’ll show you.” Jiang Wanwan smiled and led her away.

But Lin Sui wasn’t really interested in the cakes. After picking one at random, she turned to watch Zhu Huan and Xu Nianen with keen interest.

Come to think of it, she realized Lin Wei and Wen Wenfu had disappeared at some point.

Lin Sui narrowed her eyes, glancing at Jiang Wanwan.

“What is it? Still hungry?” Jiang Wanwan noticed her gaze and asked with a smile.

“No.”

Lin Sui shook her head. “Did you tell Jiang Qing?”

“Hmm?”

Jiang Wanwan paused, then understood. “Oh, right. I told her. She just went to talk to my mom. Mom looked really angry.”

She paused, glancing around the room.

“Mom should have gone upstairs by now. Aunt’s nowhere to be seen… and Jiang Qing’s disappeared too.”

But fortunately, Sang Shinian was still there.

She was casually nibbling on some pastries in a corner, still wearing her bright orange dress from earlier. She hadn’t changed into formal attire or bothered with any special grooming. She looked completely out of place in the banquet hall, yet she stood out brilliantly.

Jiang Wanwan watched her for a moment, then said, “Sister Sui, I’m going to go look around.”

“Mm, okay,” Lin Sui replied absently, finding a small sofa and settling down with a weary sigh.

She watched as Jiang Wanwan approached Sang Shinian, and the two began chatting animatedly.

After a while, Lin Sui saw Mrs. Jiang and Lin Wei descending the stairs together.

Looks like… the conversation went okay?

“Suisui,” Lin Wei approached, her expression somewhat wistful. “Tell me honestly, do you… have feelings for Wanwan?”

Lin Sui froze, momentarily stunned.

At first, she didn’t understand why Lin Wei would suddenly ask this, but it quickly clicked. The two families must have had a discussion and reached some kind of understanding.

“I just see her as a friend,” she said truthfully.

Lin Wei nodded. “We spoke with Auntie Jiang and took the liberty of canceling the engagement for you.”

She paused before adding, “Because Xu Ming mentioned that Wanwan has someone she likes.”

“Is that so?” Lin Sui raised an eyebrow, nodding thoughtfully. “Alright, I understand.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re not upset,” Lin Wei said, visibly relieved.

Lin Sui’s eyes darkened slightly. “There’s nothing to be upset about.”

In fact, I feel a lot lighter.

She suspected Xu Ming had been deliberately helping with this.

Compared to Mrs. Jiang, Xu Ming seemed to care more about Jiang Wanwan’s feelings.

Lin Sui popped a small cherry tomato into her mouth.

As the banquet neared its end, she retreated to her room early, shedding her formal gown for comfortable loungewear.

The weight on her shoulders instantly lifted, and she felt her entire body relax.

Without even bothering to remove her makeup or change her hair, she flopped onto the bed.

******

A comfortable bed, a soft quilt… So cozy!

I’d expected today to be bustling with activity, but it’s turned out surprisingly dull.

Zhu Huan is definitely with Xu Nianen right now. Jiang Wanwan is probably being grilled by Mrs. Jiang. Jiang Qing is likely with Sang Shinian, so…

Where’s Wen Xiangzhu?

The thought struck Lin Sui like a jolt of adrenaline, clearing her mind instantly.

From the start of the banquet until now, she’d only seen Wen Xiangzhu briefly at the beginning. After that, she’d vanished without a trace!

Lin Sui’s heart tightened. She shot out of bed and rushed out of her room.

The banquet hall downstairs was still packed with guests, so she didn’t go down. Instead, she stopped outside Wen Xiangzhu’s bedroom door.

She knocked. “Wen Xiangzhu, are you in there?”

No response.

Lin Sui pressed her ear against the door, her expression grave… Still nothing.

“Wen Xiangzhu?!”

She was starting to panic.

After a moment, the door opened.

Wen Xiangzhu had changed out of her formal dress and undone her hair and makeup. Her small face looked deathly pale.

“Why… did you take so long to open the door?” Lin Sui lowered her hand, perhaps realizing she had lost her composure earlier. “You could have at least knocked.”

“I wasn’t feeling well,” Wen Xiangzhu said, pursing her lips. “But there were so many people around, I didn’t want to bother you.”

For a moment, Lin Sui was stunned. Then she understood. She pulled Wen Xiangzhu into the room and closed the door behind them.

“If you’re unwell, just tell me. There’s no need to tough it out.”

“Mm…”

Lin Sui sighed, thinking. She had nothing on hand, so she’d have to… sacrifice her dignity a little.

She took Wen Xiangzhu’s hand. “Does this feel better?”

“A little.”

Lin Sui blinked, then used both hands.

“How about this?”

“A little better,” Wen Xiangzhu said.

Lin Sui: “……”

Just a little?!

She couldn’t understand.

“Sister, I’ve washed up,” Wen Xiangzhu said, looking at her pleadingly. Her small face looked a little better than before. “You can hug me now.”

Lin Sui: “……?”

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