After Rebirth, My Archrival Omega Looks at Me Differently - Chapter 37

The bicycle lost its balance and fell toward a streetlamp. The metal frame hit the pole with a loud clang.

Under the quiet night sky, the warm yellow light from the lamp drew a bright circle around them, casting the two girls’ shadows within it.

This was the first time in both of Chi Yan’s lives that she had ever been hugged by someone.

It was also the first time she had seen Yan Youqing reveal any emotion other than her usual calmness.

Chi Yan had imagined many times what it would be like to see a different expression on Yan Youqing’s always composed face. But now that it was finally happening, the satisfaction she had once expected was nowhere to be found.

The street had gone completely silent, even the wind seemed to hold its breath. It was nighttime, but Chi Yan felt as if she had just been struck by the chill of morning dew.

Yan Youqing said nothing. She just suddenly hugged her. Her arms were thin and lacked strength, but Chi Yan could feel how tightly she was holding on, like someone desperately searching for comfort.

No one had ever depended on Chi Yan like this before.

She stared quietly at the girl leaning into her. Her arms, hanging stiffly at her sides, lifted a little, awkwardly at first.

She thought she should probably do something to comfort her.

Chi Yan had comforted others before. In the biology department, research didn’t always go smoothly. Success came with setbacks, and there were always moments when the team needed encouragement.

But the words she used back then had a certain sharpness, meant to boost morale. They didn’t feel right for the Omega clinging to her now.

Chi Yan had always been more rational than tender, from her Beta days to becoming an Alpha.

Carefully, she placed her hand on Yan Youqing’s back. Imitating what she had seen in TV dramas, she gently and clumsily rubbed in small, comforting circles.

“I’m sorry,” Chi Yan said softly. “I was too harsh earlier.”

Yan Youqing shook her head.

The girl’s head, buried in her chest, moved slightly, like a frightened little animal.

“Were you scared?” Chi Yan asked, looking down at her.

Yan Youqing didn’t reply, but her silence said everything.

Chi Yan had wanted to lecture her, to tell her how dangerous that situation had been. But the sharp edge in her heart had somehow softened without her noticing.

Her irritation faded. Even the scolding in her voice was now gentle.

“So now you’re scared? Where was all that bravery back there?”

A breeze passed by, lifting the long strands of hair covering Yan Youqing’s face.

She moved her head slightly and slowly looked up from Chi Yan’s arms.

Her face was calm as always, but under the soft blend of moonlight and lamplight, her eyes seemed to have lost their usual distance.

That missing distance felt like a protective shell she had always kept around her. Fear had worn it down, revealing a vulnerable side that made Chi Yan’s heart ache.

She no longer wanted to lecture her. Chi Yan simply let out a quiet sigh.

“When I’m around, don’t step forward like that again. Let me handle those things. I’m an Alpha. Can’t you trust me even a little?”

Sometimes, fear that creeps in late is even colder. Yan Youqing nodded quietly, more obedient than usual.

In the distance, the red light turned green. The brief stillness was broken by the roar of cars passing by.

Chi Yan thought it was about time for Yan Youqing to let go of her, but then a quiet voice rose beside her ear.

“Chi Yan.”

She looked down. “Yeah?”

It sounded like something hard to say. Yan Youqing’s voice was soft, nearly swallowed up by the sound of traffic.

“Can you…”

Before she could finish, Chi Yan already understood.

She knew Yan Youqing was still shaken. Without waiting for her to say more, she replied without hesitation.

“Okay.”

Chi Yan released her pheromones, gently wrapping them around the Omega in her arms.

The cars on the road raced past, making the light around them flicker brighter and dimmer.

In the quiet night, they embraced. The scent of tequila was warm and steady, and in that moment, it belonged only to Yan Youqing.

The wind blew gently from ahead, and on the wall beside them, the dry rose vines rustled softly.

The broken look in Yan Youqing’s eyes slowly faded. Resting quietly on Chi Yan’s shoulder, she let herself be held, selfishly wishing that time could stop right there.

And never move forward again.

Time passed like a blink. The schoolyard no longer had swirling autumn leaves. Bare tree branches stretched across the sky, unable to block the sun anymore.

But even without obstruction, the winter sun hanging in the sky gave no warmth. It shone bright and cold, good only for lighting the way, not for warming hearts.

That noon, when Chi Yan returned to class, she saw someone in a soft, puffy pink down jacket sitting at Yan Youqing’s desk.

Zhong Yi had turned around to chat with the girl in pink. In her hand was a box of fancy-looking chocolates.

“Is it good?” Chen Niannian asked.

Zhong Yi nodded. “This dark chocolate is really authentic.”

Chen Niannian smiled with joy. “You really like chocolate, don’t you?”

Zhong Yi nodded again and popped another piece into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully, then asked, “Hey, when is Yan Youqing’s birthday? Are you getting ready this early?”

“Winter break. January twentieth,” Chen Niannian replied, then paused for a moment. “But it’s not really early to start preparing now.”

“That’s true,” Zhong Yi agreed, not noticing the pause. “I heard her family’s pretty well-off. And since it’s her eighteenth birthday too, it’s a big deal. You can’t just give a random gift. That would be embarrassing.”

Chen Niannian let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Exactly. Youqing says she doesn’t care about stuff like this, but as her friend, I want to prepare something thoughtful. You only have one coming-of-age ceremony in your life.”

As she spoke, she looked up as if something had just come to mind and glanced at Zhong Yi.

“You seem to know a lot about chocolate. I’ll bring another box tomorrow. Can you help me pick the best one for her?”

Zhong Yi paused, then looked at the large box of chocolates in front of her. Her eyes sparkled.

“Do I get to keep the rest?”

Chen Niannian nodded. “I can’t finish them anyway. If you like them, they’re yours.”

“Then please shower me with chocolate,” Zhong Yi said, cradling the box like a treasure, completely absorbed in her foodie joy.

Chi Yan had been listening nearby the whole time. As she pulled out her chair, she couldn’t help teasing them.

“Wow. If chocolate knew it could help bring people closer like this, it would feel honored to melt.”

Chen Niannian’s face turned bright red. Under the classroom lights, her pink down jacket made her look like a blushing peach.

She wasn’t as calm as Yan Youqing. The moment she noticed Chi Yan looking her way, she quickly grabbed the documents Yan Youqing had left on the desk and hurried out of the classroom.

Zhong Yi watched Chen Niannian leave and got flustered.

“Chi Yan, what nonsense are you saying?”

“Am I wrong?”

Chi Yan shrugged as she reached out to grab a piece of chocolate from Zhong Yi’s desk.

But before she could touch it, her hand was slapped away with a loud smack.

“No, you’re wrong,” Zhong Yi said firmly, hugging the box of chocolate like a protective cat and turning back to her desk.

If only her eyes weren’t so obviously guilty.

Chi Yan watched from the back row, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at Zhong Yi’s back.

She was just about to tease this love-struck Alpha again when the warning bell for class rang.

The first class that afternoon was biology, a subject Chi Yan could breeze through. While the teacher wrote on the board, her mind wandered off.

Outside the window, a cloud drifted by. It looked heavy but soft. Chin in hand, Chi Yan stared at it, and suddenly remembered the conversation between Zhong Yi and Chen Niannian.

January twentieth.

Yan Youqing’s birthday.

Still two full months away.

Chi Yan wondered if she should also prepare a gift.

Partly to thank her. And partly…

Her pen scratched lightly on the paper as she took notes.

Chi Yan glanced at the girl beside her. The winter sunlight fell gently across Yan Youqing’s face. Her eyes were lowered, lashes casting soft shadows. Her skin was fair and seemed to glow faintly in the light. She looked serene and beautiful, perfectly suited to this quiet season.

“This point is important. It’s been on the exam for the past two years,” the biology teacher’s voice suddenly echoed across the room, knocking through the calm like a rock dropped into a still pond.

Chi Yan was like the startled fish in that pond.

She quickly looked away from Yan Youqing’s profile and silently finished the sentence in her mind.

Partly to thank her. And partly just to thank her.

Although the teacher had broken the quiet with a loud reminder, Chi Yan’s thoughts soon drifted again with the cloud outside the window.

If she was going to give a birthday gift, what should it be?

Did Yan Youqing like anything in particular?

Chi Yan rested her chin on her hand, eyes fixed on the blackboard, her expression growing more serious.

She really had no idea what Yan Youqing liked.

Even though they had interacted a lot in her previous life, she couldn’t exactly give her a set of lab equipment from the biology department. And even if she wanted to, she couldn’t afford it.

A dark cloud passed over the sun outside, dimming the classroom.

Chi Yan sighed in frustration. Then she suddenly remembered the school forum that Wang Chuning always talked about.

It was anonymous, filled with all kinds of students, and known for clever solutions.

Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone from inside her desk and quickly typed:

How do you find out what someone you’re not close with likes?

Even though class was in session, it didn’t stop people from actively browsing the forum.

Her post received replies almost immediately.

User 1: “Observe their daily habits. Start from there and pick something they need. They’ll probably like it.”

User 3: “That feels a little risky. What if they’re already used to what they have and don’t need anything new?”

User 4: “I smell a secret crush. Go for it, OP!”

User 5: “If you’re not familiar with the person, it’s best to first understand their personality and habits. You can usually pick up on what they like from small details.”

The biology teacher continued explaining dominant and recessive genes while Chi Yan secretly read the replies on her phone, more focused than most of the class.

After reading several suggestions, Chi Yan thought quiet observation was the safest option.

Start with the details. Give Yan Youqing a gift she didn’t expect. Let her be surprised and impressed by the effort.

Chi Yan made up her mind. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and she cast a subtle glance at the girl sitting beside her.

Desks in senior year were like small fortresses, but Yan Youqing’s desk stood out for its neatness.

Her books were organized in clearly divided sections, either stacked or arranged upright. The space available for shared use was almost twice as large as others, clean and orderly.

This girl didn’t seem to lack anything.

Luxury fountain pen. An English reading pen Chi Yan wouldn’t even buy for herself. A brand-new coat from a high-end designer. Limited-edition sneakers.

After all that observing, Chi Yan still didn’t figure out what Yan Youqing liked. But she did manage to spot a bunch of things she herself wanted.

What did Yan Youqing like?

Even with two lifetimes of experience and help from forum strangers, Chi Yan still had no answer.

Outside, the winter wind had stilled. The heavy clouds crept slowly across the sky, blocking out the light completely.

At that moment, Yan Youqing’s hand paused in the middle of writing notes.

Chi Yan noticed she might look up, and quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be focused on class.

But her book was turned to the wrong page, and the lesson didn’t match. She was fumbling through it when a cool, quiet voice reached her right ear.

“Turn the page,” said Yan Youqing.

Chi Yan froze, her guilty conscience catching up to her.

The next second, she casually flipped the page as if nothing had happened.

The teacher’s voice continued explaining biology. But Yan Youqing had stopped taking notes.

Her eyes were calm and unreadable as she looked at Chi Yan, who was trying very hard to look like she was paying attention.

Then she spoke softly.

“Chi Yan, do you know that biologically speaking, Omegas are naturally sensitive to their surroundings?”

“You’ve already looked at me many times this class.”

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