After Mistakenly Marking Her Stunning Omega Stepsister - Chapter 44

After a few days of warmer weather, the temperature suddenly dropped again.

In that instant, Lin Sui seemed to have caught a cold.

For two days in a row, she felt dazed and disoriented in class, her head throbbing incessantly.

Zhu Huan noticed Lin Sui’s pale complexion and looked worried. “Are you okay? Should we go to the infirmary?”

“No need.”

Lin Sui’s face was ashen as she glanced at the empty seat in front of her. “This is my last class. I’m going back to the dormitory to rest. Could you excuse me from evening study too?”

“Huh? Are you leaving now?”

Zhu Huan glanced at the clock on the blackboard. “There’s still half an hour left. If you don’t want to go to the infirmary, go back and take some medicine and get some sleep. Do you need me to walk you back?”

“No, thanks.”

Lin Sui quickly tidied her bag and raised her hand to leave.

Since it was a physiology class, the teacher didn’t say much, just telling her to take care of herself before letting her leave.

Lin Sui left the school building slowly, her head down.

The playground was still bustling with classes having PE, but she felt too listless to be interested.

On the way back to the dormitory, she passed the gymnasium.

Lin Sui glanced inside, her footsteps pausing.

The Tennis Club was training inside the gymnasium. She’d never even come to watch once…

Of course, she was only curious about how tennis training worked.

Before she knew it, her body had already moved.

By the time she realized what she was doing, she had already pushed open the gymnasium’s main doors.

The gym’s soundproofing was impressive. Outside, it was dead quiet, but as soon as Lin Sui pushed open the door, she was greeted by the familiar sounds of sneakers squeaking on the court and balls clattering against racquets.

“Good, just like that. Watch your posture.”

“Raise your right hand a little higher.”

“Don’t go out of bounds…”

At the edge of the court, a coach stood with her arms crossed, a whistle dangling around her neck, which she blew intermittently.

“What’s going on? You’ve gone out of bounds how many times now?”

Lin Sui squinted around the court and finally spotted Wen Xiangzhu on the right court. She wore only a thin sweater, holding her racquet and practicing diligently. A natural flush adorned her cheeks, and she was clearly sweating from the exertion.

Her opponent was a seasoned member of the middle school tennis club. Despite Wen Xiangzhu’s natural talent for tennis, her play lacked structure and strategy. Having learned mostly through self-discovery without formal training, she struggled to keep up with the more experienced player.

“Want to take a break?” her opponent asked hesitantly, watching her.

“No need.”

“…Alright then.”

With that, her opponent served the ball.

The serve was tricky, aimed just inside the left boundary line. Wen Xiangzhu barely managed to return it, sending the next shot to the right.

After two exchanges, Wen Xiangzhu was already breathing heavily.

As the ball came back, she braced herself to hit it, but then she suddenly saw Lin Sui standing nearby out of the corner of her eye.

The next moment, she collapsed to the ground along with the ball.

Her opponent froze for a moment, then rushed over.

“Are you okay? I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

Wen Xiangzhu remained silent, staring blankly in Lin Sui’s direction, murmuring:

“Sister…”

Lin Sui’s brows furrowed deeply. Before she could think twice, she had already hurried to Wen Xiangzhu’s side.

The opponent paused, turned around, and immediately recognized her.

After the sports meet last semester, everyone who didn’t know Lin Sui before now recognized her.

And they also knew about her relationship with Wen Xiangzhu.

“Well… I’ll head off to practice now. You should rest a bit,” the opponent said hesitantly, then got up and walked to another court, but kept glancing back at them with envy and curiosity.

Lin Sui wasn’t sure how she felt at that moment—complicated, and a little angry.

She lowered her gaze to Wen Xiangzhu, who was quietly looking back at her. The blush on her cheeks from earlier hadn’t faded, giving her a more charming look than usual.

After a moment, Lin Sui sighed and slowly crouched down.

“Where did you fall?”

“My knee,” Wen Xiangzhu murmured, gently lifting her pant leg.

A purplish-blue bruise appeared on her pale leg, with a scrape that made it stand out.

Lin Sui’s expression darkened. “You need to ice it. If it swells, you won’t be able to walk.”

She pulled the pant leg back down, stood up, and held out her hand. “Get up. Can you walk? I’ll help you over there to sit.”

Wen Xiangzhu blinked, took Lin Sui’s hand, and slowly stood with her help.

“How did you end up here?”

“Just passing by,” Lin Sui said casually.

Wen Xiangzhu frowned, sensing something was off. Even the warmth of Lin Sui’s hand felt hotter than usual.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Wen Xiangzhu asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

Lin Sui paused, looking at her in surprise. “Why do you ask?”

“Because at this time, you should be in class.”

After a brief silence, Lin Sui murmured, “Yeah, I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I was planning to go back to the dorm and get some rest.”

Wen Xiangzhu narrowed her eyes. “Go to the infirmary. I’ll go with you.”

“What’s the point? It’s such a hassle. I just need some sleep…”

“No, you have to go,” Wen Xiangzhu said, her expression unusually serious and determined, as if she would persist until she got her way.

Lin Sui’s expression darkened. “I’m not going. I don’t need it.”

Wen Xiangzhu looked at her, pondered for a few seconds, then changed her approach. “Then I’ll go. I got injured and want to get it checked out, but I can’t walk well…”

“Let me help you,” Lin Sui said quietly.

Just rephrasing it made it much easier to accept. Lin Sui nodded, keeping a close eye on Wen Xiangzhu’s leg injury. Worried about her pain, she supported her gently as they walked slowly.

Fortunately, the infirmary wasn’t far, and the two quickly arrived.

The same nurse from before looked up as they entered, her gaze settling on Wen Xiangzhu’s limping leg.

She paused, then chuckled softly. “Little sister, what happened to your leg this time?”

Wen Xiangzhu pursed her lips, a little embarrassed. “I just tripped.”

“Be more careful. Come here and sit down. Let me take a look.”

“No, no, you should look at my sister first,” Wen Xiangzhu said, waving her hand urgently.

Lin Sui frowned. “I don’t need to be examined.”

“I’ll look at you first,” Wen Xiangzhu said, glancing at her sister before turning back to the nurse. “Sister, I’m not in a hurry. Please examine my sister first. She’s been feeling unwell for a few days.”

The nurse’s gaze shifted between the two, her smile unreadable.

“Alright. Sit down next to each other and don’t move.”

She turned to rummage through a cabinet, then returned with a digital thermometer.

Gently brushing aside the stray hair on Lin Sui’s forehead, she took several readings. After glancing at the display, she said, “You have a slight fever, but it’s nothing serious. I’ll prescribe some medicine. Take it for a few days and you should be fine.”

“Thank you, Sister,” Wen Xiangzhu said with a smile.

Lin Sui glanced at Wen Xiangzhu, the word “Sister” she had just called out still echoing in her mind.

…Tsk.

Why did it feel a little irritating?

The nurse complimented Wen Xiangzhu on her sweet words before turning to fetch the medicine.

“You need to take these two medications together.”

“Okay.”

Wen Xiangzhu took the medicine and stood up. “I’ll walk you back to your dorm.”

Lin Sui raised an eyebrow, looking at her languidly. “Do I really need you to walk me? You should check your leg first.”

“Nurse Sister, she’s also injured.”

The nurse: “……?”

Why does this feel like it’s part of their little game?

Still, she had to admit, the close-up gossiping and shipping was kind of fun.

“I’m fine. I can walk. I’ll take you back to your dorm first, then come back to the infirmary,” Wen Xiangzhu insisted.

“You…”

Lin Sui’s anger flared. She was still sick, dizzy, and struggling to keep her eyes open, completely drained of energy.

“Listen to me this time. Come on, I’ll help you walk.”

Wen Xiangzhu reached out to pull her up.

Lin Sui’s head spun violently, her body completely drained. She sighed inwardly and forced her eyes open.

Looking down, she saw Wen Xiangzhu’s leg. It didn’t seem injured at all…

Having made this assessment, Lin Sui nodded reluctantly and rose, leaning heavily on her for support as they walked out.

Watching the pair walk away, the nurse narrowed her eyes, pondering for a moment before pulling out her phone and pressing the voice message button:

“Listen, we have two students at our school…”

******

The distance from the infirmary to the dormitory was considerable.

Only after the class ended did Wen Xiangzhu, her body aching from exhaustion, help Lin Sui onto the bed.

After catching her breath, she walked to the desk, prepared the medication according to the instructions, and then went to fetch warm water.

On the desk’s shelf were three water cups, one of which was a cat-themed cup they had bought together for Christmas.

It was a pair.

Wen Xiangzhu blinked, then without hesitation picked up the cat-themed cup, filled it with hot water, and handed it to Lin Sui along with the medication.

“Take your medicine.”

Leaning against the headboard, Lin Sui’s head felt heavy and foggy. It took effort to even open her eyes when she heard the voice.

“Open your mouth,” Wen Xiangzhu said, frowning as she brought the cup to Lin Sui’s lips.

Fortunately, Lin Sui’s mind was too sluggish to protest, and she obediently followed instructions, making the process of taking the medicine smooth.

The only odd thing was that Wen Xiangzhu felt a little warm.

It was truly hot.

Perhaps it was from the exhaustion of carrying Lin Sui back, or perhaps it was the sensation of Lin Sui’s lips against her palm when she fed her the medicine.

Wen Xiangzhu composed herself, hurriedly helped Lin Sui lie down, and tucked her in.

“Sister, get some rest.”

Lin Sui cracked her eyes open, her voice weak. “You should go… Don’t get infected by me… Remember to go to the infirmary.”

“Okay, I will,” Wen Xiangzhu replied with a small smile, pursing her lips.

Hearing this, Lin Sui relaxed. Exhausted, she turned her head and fell into a deep sleep.

Wen Xiangzhu stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on Lin Sui’s face.

After a moment, as if struck by a sudden thought, she smiled.

“Sister…” she murmured so softly only she could hear, “I… I like being marked by you.”

“I… I’m looking forward to my next heat…”

*******

When Lin Sui woke up, it was already dark outside.

The dormitory lights were off, and there were no other sounds. It looked like no one had come back yet.

She felt parched, her head no longer as dizzy as before, but still not much better.

After a moment, she slowly sat up and picked up the cup beside her.

Good news: there was still water inside, so she didn’t have to get out of bed.

Bad news: the water had gone cold.

This was a big blow to Lin Sui, who had only just started to recover.

She forced down two mouthfuls of cold water, which cleared her head a little.

Just as she was about to put the cup down, her hand paused.

This was… that cup.

Lin Sui recognized it: the one Wen Xiangzhu had insisted on giving her.

She stared at it for half a minute before setting it back down.

As her head cleared, all her recent memories flooded back.

Lin Sui sat for a while, then found her phone beside her pillow.

Perhaps they were afraid of disturbing her rest, but no one had texted her.

After a moment’s thought, she opened Wen Xiangzhu’s chat window.

[Have you gone to the infirmary yet?]

She sent the message, then glanced at the time.

It was still study hall.

Given Wen Xiangzhu’s love for studying, she probably wasn’t on her phone.

Thinking this, Lin Sui sighed, feeling inexplicably hollow inside.

It was back to those days of waking up alone, facing the empty room alone.

Just as she was about to put down her phone, a message popped up with a beep.

[Copycat: I went. Put ice on it and applied some ointment.]

Copycat: [ cuteness.jpg ]

Lin Sui watched the still-animated cat GIF, a smile creeping across her face despite herself.

[ Still hurts?]

[Copycat: If I said it hurts, would you feel bad for me?]

[Stop messing around. I’m asking.]

[Copycat: Hmm… It does hurt. Only a kiss from Sister can make it better.]

[Huh?]

In the classroom, Wen Xiangzhu’s desk still held an unfinished test paper.

Perhaps in her haste, she had left a long, uneven streak of ink across the page when she set down her pen.

She was looking down at her phone, the screen’s light reflecting in her eyes. Her eyes were smiling, and the corners of her lips curved upward, making her look quite cheerful.

Lu Xiaomeng rarely saw Wen Xiangzhu like this.

How could Wen Xiangzhu be grinning at her phone after just a winter break?

Lu Xiaomeng looked away suspiciously and continued working on her problems.

Just as she picked up her pen, she paused, as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh, Wenwen, the Tennis League is coming up soon. With your leg injury, can you still play?”

“Of course,” Wen Xiangzhu replied, putting away her phone with a smile. “This kind of injury will heal in two days.”

“But with the competition approaching, the training intensity will increase. Are you sure you can handle it? And I remember your provincial math competition is coming up soon too…”

Lu Xiaomeng sounded worried.

“Don’t worry about me. I can manage,” Wen Xiangzhu said, resting her hand on the desk. She glanced at the unfinished worksheet on the desk. “Oh, right. Sister’s been feeling unwell these past few days, so I need to help her organize her notes.”

Lu Xiaomeng: “……”

Is she some kind of superhuman?

******

After taking her medicine, Lin Sui felt much better, but she still couldn’t get out of bed the next day.

Zhu Huan didn’t have the heart to wake her and called in another day of sick leave for her.

But somehow, Lin Wei quickly found out that Lin Sui was sick and had taken time off.

She was still asleep when her phone rang.

The curtains in the dormitory were drawn, making the room dim.

Lin Sui frowned, glanced at the caller ID, pressed the answer button, and slowly sat up to turn on the bedside lamp.

“Mom, what’s up?”

“Suisui, what are you doing right now?”

“I…” Lin Sui’s mind was a blank; she hadn’t even thought of how to answer when her mother continued.

“Are you awake? Have you taken your medicine?”

Lin Sui was taken aback. “I’m awake, but I haven’t taken it yet.”

“Ah, you’re living at school now, and Mom isn’t there to take care of you. You have to take care of yourself.”

“Are you getting along with your roommates? Do they grind their teeth or snore? Can you sleep well? Should I send you some good earplugs?”

Lin Sui blinked blankly, her thoughts a jumble. She remained silent.

“Suisui? Why aren’t you answering? Are you feeling unwell?”

Lin Wei’s voice sounded anxious.

Lin Sui snapped out of her daze and shook her head, then realized the person on the other end couldn’t see her movement and let out a bitter laugh.

“I’m fine.”

“Good. I’ll prepare some medicine these next few days. When you have time…”

“Mom,” Lin Sui interrupted softly, her eyes downcast.

There was a noticeable pause on the other end. “What is it?”

Lin Sui took a deep breath. “I want to move back home.”

It was still afternoon, before classes had ended.

Lin Sui glanced at the time and immediately began packing her belongings.

Maybe being sick really does make you more fragile.

She would have normally persevered, but she hadn’t expected Lin Wei’s unusually attentive concern… to make her eyes well up.

As soon as she mentioned wanting to move back, Lin Wei immediately agreed and called the school within ten minutes to handle the transfer procedures.

Within half an hour, the driver had been arranged.

“It’s good to have you back. Auntie Lin will make you soup to help you recover.”

“You’ve lost weight.”

“The food at school isn’t good, is it?”

The nagging that usually annoyed her now sounded strangely comforting.

By the time she finished packing, the bell signaling the end of the last class rang, and the car was already waiting at the school gate.

Lin Sui dragged her suitcase slowly toward the school gate, her head lowered, her mind blank.

Before she reached the gate, a voice called out from behind.

“Sister? Where are you going?”

Lin Sui stopped walking and turned to see Wen Xiangzhu, still slightly out of breath.

She seemed to have run over, but she didn’t look like she’d just finished training…

Right, she’s injured her leg.

Lin Sui’s thoughts were a jumble as she replied absently, “I’m moving back home.”

“Why? So suddenly…” Wen Xiangzhu’s eyelashes fluttered, thinking Lin Sui was trying to avoid her.

“…I just can’t get used to living in the dormitory,” Lin Sui said, her brow furrowing slightly. “That’s all.”

Wen Xiangzhu looked at her, silent for a moment, then declared, “Then I’m moving back too!”

Lin Sui stared in surprise as Wen Xiangzhu strode up to her. “Why would you move back?” she asked, frowning. “You still have to train.”

“I don’t care! I’m going to stay with you, wherever you go,” Wen Xiangzhu said, planting her hands on her hips, looking determined. Then, as if remembering something, she added, “Besides, it’ll be easier to get treatment if I’m with you.”

“Treatment?”

Lin Sui paused, then remembered what Wen Xiangzhu was referring to.

“Right, treating your illness… Sister, you wouldn’t be trying to get out of paying me back, would you?”

Wen Xiangzhu pursed her lips, looking at Lin Sui with a hint of hurt.

Seeing this, Lin Sui felt a throbbing in her temples and took a deep breath.

“No, I just… I forgot for a moment.”

“Good.”

Wen Xiangzhu smiled, her eyes curving as she looked at Lin Sui. “Sister, you have to take responsibility for me now.”

Lin Sui: “?”