Forced to Romance the Omega Psychiatrist - Chapter 40.2

Xin Wensheng gave her a knowing smile, her gaze drifting to a bouquet of lilies in the living room: “I think it was quite necessary. Though you do seem to be doing much better than I imagined.”

Those flowers clearly weren’t Bai Shuixi’s preference neither the original body nor Bai Shuixi herself cared much for flowers. They had been bought by Xia You one evening after work and placed in a vase.

Bai Shuixi followed Xin Wensheng’s gaze, momentarily at a loss for words: “That’s…”

She wanted to find an excuse, but found herself at a loss for words.

She really had no interest in flowers.

Bai Shuixi had assumed there would be some system or mechanism to balance things out, but to her surprise, Xin Wensheng took these little details as proof that she and Xia You were deeply in love.

Though they did live together quite harmoniously, the truth was there was no romance between her and Xia You.

After saying that, Xin Wensheng seemed unwilling to waste any more words on the matter. She ignored Bai Shuixi completely, her eyes curving into crescents as she beckoned Xia You over. “Xiao Xia, come, sit closer. Chat with me for a bit.”

Bai Shuixi: “…”

Xia You blinked, momentarily stunned.

She wasn’t afraid of talking to Xin Wensheng, but she couldn’t shake the guilt as if her identity as “Bai Shuixi’s girlfriend” was fraudulent, and she might be exposed at any moment.

Still, Xin Wensheng’s appearance gave Xia You a strange sense of familiarity.

Bai Shuixi clearly took after her. Both were strikingly beautiful, with sharp phoenix eyes and long lashes. Their expressions always carried a hint of coolness, only softening into something adorable when they smiled with genuine happiness.

Thinking of how Bai Shuixi usually looked when she laughed, Xia You instinctively glanced at her only to see the other woman turn her head away, almost as if avoiding something.

Xia You paused, surprised.

She studied the faint unease on Bai Shuixi’s otherwise calm profile and suddenly realized. So Bai Shuixi could feel awkward too?

Xia You couldn’t help but press her lips together in a small smile, momentarily forgetting the anger that had made her storm off only to be stopped by Xin Wensheng’s sudden appearance.

Neither of them let their emotions show too clearly, but Xin Wensheng, who had been watching Xia You the whole time, caught the subtle exchange. She raised a brow, glancing between the two before smiling knowingly and turning back to Xia You.

“Xiao Xia, come here.”

Bai Shuixi remained oblivious to the shift in atmosphere and had no interest in joining their conversation.

After a moment’s thought, she walked over to the open kitchen, poured a few glasses of soda water, and settled at the counter to drink in silence.

Xin Wensheng spoke softly with Xia You, her voice so soothing that Bai Shuixi nearly dozed off, her thoughts drifting.

Once this was all over, once she and Xia You went their separate ways, would Xin Wensheng still be this amicable?

How would Xia You handle things then?

And when Bai Shuixi eventually left this world to return to her own,  would Xia You be able to smoothly resume her old life?

Lost in thought, Bai Shuixi barely registered what Xin Wensheng and Xia You were discussing. Fortunately, Xin Wensheng had a packed schedule her visit today seemed to be solely because Bai Shuixi was, after all, her flesh and blood, impossible to abandon completely.

“Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi?” Xin Wensheng called her name twice before sighing in exasperation. “What are you spacing out for?”

Bai Shuixi snapped back to attention. “Huh? What?”

“I said you should take Xia You out sometime,” Xin Wensheng sighed again, as if Bai Shuixi was hopeless. “Manti knew I was back in the country and sent an invitation to a fashion gala it’s being held right here in G City. But I’m too busy to attend, so you’ll go in my place. Take Xia You with you, it’ll be fun.”

Bai Shuixi was taken aback and thought carefully for a moment, but still had no recollection. The fashion gala for the jewelry brand Mantie seemed to truly be an event outside the original storyline.

Did that mean she had even more room to maneuver?

Xin Wensheng didn’t mind Bai Shuixi’s distraction and turned to Xia You with a smile, saying, “Xia You, just pick whatever you like from the past, consider it a gift from me.”

Xia You paused, feeling a bit embarrassed, and responded gently to Xin Wensheng’s offer, neither agreeing to accept the jewelry nor refusing outright.

Xin Wensheng didn’t press the matter either. Adjusting her shawl, she stood up and glanced at Bai Shuixi. “I have other matters to attend to. Since I’m back in the country for a short while, there are still a few people I need to meet. I won’t keep an eye on you. Wait until your mother returns, then you can all gather at home.”

This was only natural. Bai Shuixi nodded. “Alright.”

Xin Wensheng then waved at Xia You, signaling her not to see her off, and only had Bai Shuixi accompany her to the door.

Truthfully, Xin Wensheng didn’t have anything particularly important to say to Bai Shuixi just a simple reminder: “Now that you’re taking things seriously, make sure to manage that little company of yours properly. Don’t go stirring up trouble for no reason.”

Bai Shuixi, inexplicably accused of ‘stirring up trouble,’ nodded absentmindedly as she saw Xin Wensheng off.

Her thoughts had been preoccupied with the upcoming fashion gala, and it took her a moment to snap back to reality. Only when she slowly pushed the door closed and felt the weight of a gaze behind her did she realize. Xia You was still upset.

She had chased after Xia You all the way back. If Xin Wensheng hadn’t suddenly appeared and stopped Xia You, she might have left outright.

Bai Shuixi gripped the doorknob, feeling the intensity of the gaze behind her almost making her palms sweat.

Silence filled the living room.

Xia You was still waiting by the sofa but hadn’t spoken.

After a moment of hesitation, Bai Shuixi turned and walked back to the sofa. Looking at Xia You’s quiet profile, her eyes downcast, she decided to try coaxing her way out of this.

Bai Shuixi glanced at Xia You and lightly hooked her fingers around Xia You’s hand resting on her lap. “Jiejie, why did you leave without waiting for me earlier? Was the dessert not to your liking today?”

Xia You stiffened slightly, feeling a sudden chill in her heart.

Was Bai Shuixi dodging the truth?

Did she not want to talk about what had just happened?

Xia You didn’t know how to bring up what the woman outside the dessert shop had said. Even if they talked it out, it would only prove that she meant nothing to Bai Shuixi. But,  she really wanted to ask did Bai Shuixi care about her, even just a little? Did she respect her at all?

Had she been, too forward before?

Bai Shuixi, still holding Xia You’s hand, clearly saw the shift in her expression and hesitated over what to say next.

She could probably guess what the woman at the dessert shop had told Xia You. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to sweet-talk her way out of this, but she wasn’t sure if she should even try.

Admitting once that Xia You was her girlfriend had already been a mistake. Was she really going to keep playing along, pretending they were in love?

She wasn’t exactly holding the female lead’s script.

An eerie tension hung between them until Xia You finally broke the silence. Her clear eyes brimmed with sadness as she spoke softly, “Back then,  when you appeared by my side, was it all part of a plan?”

Bai Shuixi froze.

“Was I just a momentary amusement to you?” Xia You looked at Bai Shuixi’s stunned expression, her voice trembling slightly.

She had thought she wouldn’t ask, but once the words were out, the rest didn’t seem so hard to say: “Do you actually like me, or am I just a bedmate to you, a challenging, entertaining lover to pass the time?”

Bai Shuixi opened her mouth, hesitating.

The idea of being lovers didn’t seem so bad. In fact, it aligned perfectly with how the original “Bai Shuixi” in the story had positioned Xia You enough to keep her from being too heartbroken while still ensuring Bai Shuixi’s mission remained unaffected.

But after a moment’s thought, Bai Shuixi countered instead: “Then,  have you ever liked me, sister?”

Xia You hadn’t expected that question. She froze, then quickly turned her face away. “Wh-what does that matter? Even if I didn’t like you that much, does that mean you can go around telling people about,  about us? The details of what happened between us?”

Bai Shuixi blinked.

She had never been one to overshare, and the thought had never even crossed her mind. It took her a second to grasp what Xia You meant, and she immediately stumbled over her words: “What? Me, telling others? No way, why would I?”

Seeing the faint mix of hurt and anger in Xia You’s expression, Bai Shuixi finally understood what that woman outside the dessert shop must have said to her. A surge of irritation rose in her chest, she wished she could turn back time and slap that woman right then and there.

What kind of nonsense was that? Absolute slander!

She could play the villain, but something this low was beneath her dignity.

Bai Shuixi took a slow breath and met Xia You’s gaze. “I didn’t say that. I never told anyone about us. I don’t know where she heard it from, but I’ll find out.”

Xia You stared at her, unconsciously repeating her words: “You, you didn’t—”

“No,” Bai Shuixi said flatly, her expression dark. She wasn’t some lunatic who’d go around blabbing about private matters.

“Then how did she?” Xia You’s expression softened slightly, belated embarrassment creeping in. “How did she know so much? Who’s spreading rumors about us?”

Bai Shuixi glanced at her, swallowing back the questions she wanted to ask Xia You. Lowering her eyes, she said quietly, “I’ll look into it. Whoever’s spreading lies won’t get away with it.”

“…” Xia You hesitated. “Ah, well maybe don’t go too far.”

The corner of Bai Shuixi’s lips curved faintly as she looked at Xia You, a teasing glint in her eyes. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

“…” Xia You fell silent.

After meeting Xin Wen Sheng earlier, Xia You had gained a new understanding of just how wealthy Bai Shuixi’s family was. She had assumed someone like Bai Shuixi, a privileged rich heiress might act with reckless disregard for consequences but saying that out loud would have been foolish.

Xia You quickly turned away. “I’m tired. I want to rest. Do whatever you think is best.”

Bai Shuixi smiled but didn’t stop her, watching as Xia You hurried off. Just as Xia You was about to push open the bedroom door, Bai Shuixi suddenly called out, “Don’t forget about the banquet tonight. I’ll have a dress prepared for you. You’ll go with me, won’t you, sister?”

“Mmm… mmm.” Xia You hastily replied without even daring to glance at Bai Shuixi, quickly slipping into the room and hiding behind the door.

It wasn’t until Bai Shuixi saw Xia You’s figure disappear that the smile on her face faded slightly.

Though she didn’t voice it aloud, she had already formed suspicions in her mind. This incident was most likely spread through the spoiled rich kids’ circles in G City. Before her transmigration, the original owner had no sense of boundaries it wasn’t surprising she’d gossip about such things, especially since even Shen Yanxin knew about Xia You being the Omega she was pestering.

But why would anyone go tell Xia You about this? The original owner might have treated private matters as entertainment, yet she didn’t associate with those good-for-nothing socialites.

And now that she thought about it even their simultaneous appearance at that dessert shop seemed too deliberate.

If those two really lived nearby, why hadn’t they run into each other before?

Bai Shuixi sat alone in the living room for a while before heading into the study.

Though the original owner was uneducated, she spared no expense when it came to showcasing ‘taste’ and ‘sophistication.’ The study was impeccably decorated even someone as discerning as Bai Shuixi couldn’t find fault with it.

Standing by a display cabinet, Bai Shuixi idly toyed with some collectibles before suddenly speaking in a light, airy tone: “The plot’s development has become quite baffling, hasn’t it,  wouldn’t you agree, System?”

She deliberately emphasized the last word, giving it an inexplicably threatening edge.

The system, which had been secretly observing without daring to make a sound, was abruptly called out and let out an awkward chuckle as it materialized: 【Haha, well long time no see, Host.】

“Mmm,” Bai Shuixi responded nonchalantly, “Not really that long, just about a month. It’s not like it had any impact whatsoever on completing the mission.”

Her words were slow and deliberate, the displeasure and menace in them so palpable that even the non-living system shivered.

【About that Host, you have to let me explain.】 the system said miserably.

Bai Shuixi scoffed coldly: “Explain? What possible justification could you have?”

【Well, it’s just that your situation is so complicated! I’ve never encountered anything like it. To make an accurate assessment, I had to return to the main system for evaluation. That’s why I’ve been absent,】 the system chuckled awkwardly, 【I think my circumstances are quite understandable.】

As Bai Shuixi listened, her brows furrowed slightly.

Was it her imagination or did the system’s attitude toward her seem different this time?

Finding this observation strange, Bai Shuixi didn’t let on and asked calmly: “So what conclusions did your assessment reach?”

【Uh…】 The system hesitated before answering with forced enthusiasm, 【You just need to keep working hard! Stay the course!】

Bai Shuixi immediately knew the system was feeding her nonsense.

If all she had to do was follow the original mission path, what was there to evaluate?

Abandoning hope of getting any useful information from the system, she cut straight to the point: “Then what’s the deal with Madam Xin suddenly showing up? I don’t recall this happening in the original story.”

The system: 【Well,  you see, to maintain logical consistency, the plot can fluctuate. Like how you accidentally ended up in the hospital, and your character’s mother found out, of course she’d come check on you.】

“Fluctuate?” Bai Shuixi set down the rugged, primitive-style wooden mask she’d been holding.

If the plot is subject to change does that mean different choices could lead to different outcomes? Her final role might not necessarily be entirely that of a villain.

[“Yes, yes!”], the system quickly added, [“But these fluctuations usually stay within a certain range nothing too outrageous, since the story still needs to progress.”]

Is that so?

Bai Shuixi suddenly lost interest, absentmindedly eyeing the bizarre artifacts in the display case. “I thought the original body’s mother showed up to push some kind of development.”

[“Ah… well. Hmm, maybe that’s possible too.”], the system replied. If it were human, it would probably be sweating bullets by now.

It couldn’t very well tell Bai Shuixi that the plot was currently a complete mess, with every character’s role shifting unpredictably and that Bai Shuixi herself was just one step away from becoming the female lead. Things were chaotic enough as it was; revealing this would only make it worse!

In a dimension beyond Bai Shuixi’s perception, the system silently wept. Then it heard her speak in a weary tone: “And it’s not just the original body’s mother causing trouble there seem to be more people stirring things up behind the scenes.”

[“…Well, there’s nothing we can do about that,”] the system said, smoothly following Bai Shuixi’s train of thought for the first time. It also recalled the female alpha who had suddenly appeared and nearly provoked Xia You into anger, casually remarking,

[“This isn’t even the worst of it. Once word spreads to all the characters who adore the female lead, and they start reacting one by one that’s when things will really get messy. The plot will be all over the place. Tsk, tsk.”]

Bai Shuixi had no interest in ‘tsk-tsking.’ She immediately seized the key detail: “What exactly do you mean will spread? The news that Xia You almost argued with me? Or those fabricated rumors about me and Xia You?”

The system suddenly realized its slip-up: [“Ah! uh, well maybe just what that random NPC said earlier.”]

Bai Shuixi didn’t press further.

The system’s response reeked of evasion, but Bai Shuixi had already gleaned confirmation from its unintended remark.

Her judgment wasn’t wrong.

The underlying logic of this world was fairly tight, a new character’s appearance would inevitably drive something forward. Though the exact purpose remained unclear, the fact that that so-called ‘friend’ had spoken to Xia You outside the dessert shop would definitely reach the ears of those infatuated with the female lead.

Wouldn’t Bai Ye be among them?

As Bai Shuixi pondered how to deal with Bai Ye and remove her from the plot ahead of schedule, this incident gave her an idea.

Since Bai Ye loved meddling in Xia You’s affairs so much, she’d give her the perfect opportunity.

Watching Bai Shuixi lower her gaze with a faint smile, the system felt an inexplicable chill run through its nonexistent liver. Nervously, it asked, [“Host,  you’re not scheming to derail the plot again, are you?”]

“Of course not,” Bai Shuixi chuckled, lifting her head with a meaningful look. “Aren’t I part of the plot too? I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do.”

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