From Trashy A to the Heiress’s Little Son-in-Law After the Idol Competition (GL, ABO) - Chapter 36

Xiao Yanjin caught a faint whiff of the rose scent she subconsciously released, and her heart suddenly bloomed with an itch she couldn’t resist.

“Ji Yunuo, you’ve always been so perfect, do you really feel guilty now?” Xiao Yanjin chuckled.

Ji Yunuo didn’t respond, simply letting herself be held. Despite such an intimate posture, she refused to do anything further.

Xiao Yanjin could feel the warmth of the person in her arms growing hotter. As she glanced outside at the relentless downpour, an inexplicable urgency rose in her chest.

“Ji Yunuo,” she said, “You’ll be alright, won’t you?”

“Hmm?” Ji Yunuo lifted her head slightly, and Xiao Yanjin saw the confusion and loneliness in her eyes.

Last night’s dream had also been filled with heavy rain. In it, Ji Yunuo had looked unbearably lonely so much so that Xiao Yanjin had wanted to protect her.

Then, a sudden coolness brushed her lips. Xiao Yanjin froze as Ji Yunuo’s mouth met hers.

“Let’s bury the hatchet, okay? I won’t say those things again, I promise,” Ji Yunuo pleaded, a rare moment of vulnerability. In that instant, driven by instinct, she kissed her.

Xiao Yanjin wanted to say yes. But then she remembered Shi Zhengyi’s words. What if Ji Yunuo was only reconciling with her out of fleeting interest? Someone as rational as her, when it came time to marry, how could Wei Qin and Ji Zhiye possibly approve? And what if, for the sake of her family, Ji Yunuo abandoned her again?

She was just a bankrupt rich kid, what right did she have to stand beside the heiress of Lan City’s wealthiest family?

The memory of their breakup resurfaced, Ji Yunuo’s cold, mocking expression flashing before her eyes.

Xiao Yanjin shuddered. She refused to be humiliated like that again.

If she gave in just because Ji Yunuo was trying to appease her, wouldn’t that make her cheap?

“No.” The icy rejection doused Ji Yunuo like cold water. Despite her fever, she trembled uncontrollably.

She was already sick, yet Xiao Yanjin could still coldly reject her. It meant she had firmly decided not to reconcile.

But why? This was someone who usually brushed off insults without a care, why couldn’t she accept her?

Helplessness threatened to overwhelm Ji Yunuo. She gripped Xiao Yanjin’s shoulders tightly.

Never had she felt so powerless. Tears welled up despite herself.

Yet Xiao Yanjin pretended not to see.

By the next day, the rain had finally lightened. Ji Yunuo’s constitution was strong aside from a slight cold, her fever had subsided, thanks largely to Xiao Yanjin’s care the night before. When a few passersby woke and saw an Alpha and Omega curled up together, their expressions turned odd.

The two then made their way back with difficulty, heading straight for the showers.

Freshly washed, Xiao Yanjin stepped out, feeling immensely refreshed.

Shi Zhengyi lounged on the bed, scrolling through her phone. “What were you and Miss Ji up to, huh?” she teased.

Xiao Yanjin shot her a glare but didn’t answer.

Just then, Chu Luo hurried in. She’d been taking time off lately while others assumed she was filming ads, she’d actually been partying at clubs, drinking nonstop, and indulging with women in hotels.

The moment she sensed her rival’s presence, Xiao Yanjin snapped back to attention.

Still resentful over the last incident where Xiao Yanjin had humiliated Ji Yunuo, Chu Luo sneered, “Some people put on this act of aloof superiority. Who are they trying to fool? It’s disgusting.”

Xiao Yanjin didn’t respond. Arguing with a fool would only make bystanders think both were fools.

Seeing her lack of reaction, Chu Luo grew even angrier.

She continued to berate, “Xiao Yanjin, who the hell do you think you are?! In your eyes, is every Omega just your plaything? Yun Nuo was kind enough to help you, and you had the nerve to throw a tantrum, who do you think you’re performing for?! Are you so proud and smug that people might think Ji Yun Nuo is chasing you? Let me make this clear, you and Yun Nuo will never happen. You’ll never be good enough for her!”

Xiao Yanjin suddenly grabbed her collar. “Say one more damn word and see what happens!”

Chu Luo burst into laughter. “Look at the state of your family! The rest of the Xiao clan will never take you back. By then, you and your parents won’t even have a roof over your heads. And you still dream of debuting? Not a chance! An Alpha who rises to fame by clinging to an Omega’s CP fans is nothing but a coward! A loser! Trash!”

Xiao Yanjin’s fist shot past her ear with a whoosh, only to slam into the door handle with a thud.

Chu Luo’s heart skipped a beat.

Xiao Yanjin slowly released her, then strode straight to the door and shouted into the dormitory hallway, “Listen up, everyone! The esteemed Miss Chu Luo was at a club last night, dancing on a pole with two sexy Omegas and even took them to a hotel for a wild night!”

“Don’t believe me? I’ve got the video! This hypocrite keeps preaching about being with Ji Yun Nuo, yet here she is fooling around with other Omegas. What a noble young lady clearly, she’s never heard of shame!”

True to her singer’s voice, Xiao Yanjin’s words carried clearly through the hallway, reaching every dorm room.

Several doors opened as trainees peeked out, glancing between Xiao Yanjin and a horrified Chu Luo, who had just stumbled out.

Chu Luo’s face turned deathly pale under their murmurs and stares.

“Xiao Yanjin, shut your mouth!” she shrieked.

Xiao Yanjin clapped mockingly. “Look at her, throwing a tantrum now! What Omega in their right mind would want her? What a waste! All that elegance and nobility? Just an act! She smokes, drinks, picks fights, and loves ogling beauties at bars. Who knows how many people she’s slept with?”

Luckily, a friend of the original host had spotted Chu Luo at the bar and, knowing their rivalry, sent the video to Xiao Yanjin.

Heh… There was nothing Chu Luo did that she couldn’t find out about.

Trembling, Chu Luo chased after Xiao Yanjin, but the sidelong glances around her, once filled with admiration, now held disbelief, ridicule, and confusion. The weight of judgment crushed her.

It was as if she had been dragged into an inquisition, with no hope of redemption!

Xiao Yanjin marched into the practice room, where Shi Zhengyi and Jiang Nan were chatting, oblivious to the earlier commotion.

She stared straight at them and smirked. “Wanna hear some juicy gossip?”

“SHUT UP!!”

Chu Luo couldn’t bear the humiliation of her fall from grace. Every glance thrown her way made her shiver being doubted and looked down on was unbearable.

Clenching her fists, she steeled herself and charged after Xiao Yanjin, swearing to fight her to the end.

“Xiao Yanjin!” she roared. “If you’ve got the guts, face me one-on-one!”

Shi Zhengyi and Jiang Nan both turned to look at Xiao Yanjin.

Xiao Yanjin was stunned at first, the cameras were still rolling, yet this person dared to challenge her in broad daylight.

Xiao Yanjin gave a bitter laugh. “Are you insane?”

“I’m not insane!” Chu Luo shouted with all her might. “It’s you who ruined me, you who slandered me! I don’t want to compete anymore, I don’t want to debut, I just want to see how you’ll be defeated by me right here!”

Xiao Yanjin shrugged helplessly. “You’re out of your mind. I don’t want to get into a fight and have netizens turn it into another online storm.” Having just vented her anger with the earlier exposé, she was still rational.

Chu Luo sneered coldly. “What, are you scared to fight me? Someone as cowardly as you, how could Yun Nuo ever take a liking to you? What a joke!”

If this had been the old Xiao Yanjin, she would’ve brushed it off, no matter how threatening Chu Luo’s words were.

But she had mentioned Ji Yun Nuo. In Xiao Yanjin’s eyes, she couldn’t let Ji Yun Nuo down. Unconsciously, her fists clenched.

Shi Zhengyi, sensing the tension, quickly grabbed her. “Don’t fight the consequences would be unthinkable!”

Chu Luo’s insults were unbearable, but now wasn’t the right time.

Yet Chu Luo saw her hesitation and knew exactly how to provoke her. “Oh, so you really do like Yun Nuo? Someone as outstanding and beautiful as her she’s only worthy of herself! What are you, some nobody? No wonder her family wants nothing to do with you. You’re just trash!”

BAM!

In a flash, Xiao Yanjin pinned Chu Luo beneath her.

Chu Luo’s face twisted in shock, she never expected this woman to be so strong.

For a moment, she couldn’t break free at all.

She could only roar, “Xiao Yanjin, let me go!”

Xiao Yanjin smirked coldly. “I won’t hit you, but don’t even think about getting away. Every insult you throw at me, I’ll keep you pinned for another hour. If you want this to be a fight to the death, then I’ll keep you here for life!”

Panic flashed in Chu Luo’s eyes. “Are you crazy?!”

Xiao Yanjin suddenly slapped her, leaving red marks on Chu Luo’s cheek. She said calmly, “I’m being so affectionate with you, why are you yelling at me? Was my slap not gentle enough, Chu Luo?”

“Shut up!” Chu Luo pushed her away with all her strength and tried to kick, but Xiao Yanjin hooked her leg.

With a swift flip, Chu Luo was thrown to the ground.

Shi Zhengyi couldn’t help but clap. “Nice one, A-Jin!”

Coincidentally, Ji Yun Nuo witnessed the entire altercation between Chu Luo and Xiao Yanjin.

She had already overheard Xiao Yanjin’s words in the hallway earlier, but by the time she stepped out, Xiao Yanjin had already left the dormitory.

She felt she had to do something.

Ji Yun Nuo’s expression darkened.

Xiao Yanjin quickly scrambled off Chu Luo and instinctively put on an innocent act. “Sis… she called me a bad person. I couldn’t help but hit her.”

Ji Yun Nuo glanced at her, her heartache imperceptible to others.

Chu Luo immediately pointed at Xiao Yanjin and cried, “Yun Nuo, Yun Nuo, you came at the right time! Xiao Yanjin slandered me, she fabricated fake scandals to ruin me! I confronted her, and she tried to hit me!”

Xiao Yanjin sneered inwardly. This idiot is spouting nonsense, she’s beyond hopeless.

“Sister, I was wrong. My friend shouldn’t have seen Chu Luo hugging girls at the bar and gossiped behind her back. She shouldn’t have sent me that video either. To make amends, I’m willing to show you the video.” Xiao Yanjin clung to her arm, her puppy-dog eyes looking pitifully aggrieved.

Shi Zhengyi got goosebumps all over again. Just moments ago, Xiao Yanjin had been fierce and eloquent against Chu Luo, refusing to back down. Now, she was acting like a delicate damsel in need of her sister’s comfort.

Xiao Yanjin! Shi Zhengyi thought in admiration. You’re really something!

Chu Luo was on the verge of a breakdown. She absolutely couldn’t allow Xiao Yanjin to show Ji Yunuo that video.

Ji Yunuo turned to her, her tone unreadable neither happy nor disappointed. “If you’ve been deliberately distancing yourself from me, why are you suddenly sweet-talking me now?”

Xiao Yanjin froze.

She had only wanted to deal with Chu Luo… She hadn’t meant anything else by it. In other words, she had simply grown accustomed to putting on an obedient act in front of Ji Yunuo whenever Chu Luo was around.

Seeing this, Chu Luo burst into triumphant laughter. “Yunuo, you’re right. This girl is nothing but a scheming hypocrite. She acts all sweet and docile in front of you but lashes out at others with vicious words, ”

“Shut up!” Ji Yunuo snapped coldly.

Chu Luo faltered.

“Why are you talking to me like this? Did I do something wrong?”

Ji Yunuo faced her, years of cultivated restraint dissolving into icy hostility. “Do you really not know what you’ve done wrong?” Xiao Yanjin had already told Ji Yunuo everything, and Ji Yunuo wasn’t about to scold her in front of an outsider. Seeing Xiao Yanjin repeatedly targeted by Chu Luo had naturally displeased her.

Chu Luo staggered back in disbelief. “You… You’re really going to believe her? Haven’t you already seen her true colors? A liar, a fake innocent, how can you side with her?”

Ji Yunuo glanced at Xiao Yanjin, a faint smile tugging at her lips. So what if she’s a schemer? So what if she puts on an act? As long as it’s only for me, I’ll gladly accept it.

“Chu Luo,” she said coolly, “what kind of person you are others might not know, but I do. We’re both from business families. No matter how well you hide your affairs, do you really think I wouldn’t find out? Your so-called friends talk, and they talk to me too. Even if Xiao Yanjin puts on an act, so what? What I despise are people like you hypocrites who act one way in public and another in private. People who do things but lack the spine to own up to them. Give it up. I’ll never like you.”

Chu Luo still refused to believe it. “No way. Xiao Yanjin told you, didn’t she? She’s slandering me!”

With that, she swung a slap at Xiao Yanjin, only for Ji Yunuo to catch her wrist firmly.

Xiao Yanjin’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at Ji Yunuo in shock. She actually shielded me from that slap.

Shi Zhengyi let out a muffled sound, speaking up for Xiao Yanjin. “She’s so violent!”

Ji Yunuo’s expression was colder than ever. “I won’t allow you to hit her here especially not in front of me.”

Xiao Yanjin stared at Ji Yunuo, stunned.

Chu Luo looked as if she’d been struck by lightning, her lips trembling wordlessly.

After a moment of silent fury, she shot Xiao Yanjin one last glare and stormed out.

Ji Yunuo’s gaze dropped to Xiao Yanjin’s hand, where a faint red mark from Chu Luo’s nails was visible.

Frowning, she asked, “You’re hurt?”

Xiao Yanjin only then noticed the scratch and shrugged. “It’s fine.”

Ji Yunuo’s voice softened slightly. “Does it hurt?”

Xiao Yanjin really wanted to say it hurt, but she had forgotten one thing.

That was her original intention to avoid any entanglement with Ji Yunuo. Yet because of Chu Luo earlier, she had momentarily forgotten her mission. Ji Yunuo’s gaze was too intense, scorching her to the point she couldn’t break free.

“You already know I was pretending to be well-behaved in front of you, so why do you still care about me?”

Ji Yunuo’s expression was calm, but her eyes shimmered with layers of tenderness, as if trying to see right through Xiao Yanjin. “I didn’t get to finish what I wanted to say last night. What I meant was, if we could go back to that time, I wouldn’t have said those words to you either. If possible, we could still continue being a CP, just… in a different way. That is, let’s be together.”

Xiao Yanjin trembled. Ji Yunuo’s gaze was unbearably gentle, as if it could soak through her entire being, soft and fluid like water.

“You don’t know anything! You have no idea!”

“I do. I’ve always known. You treat me differently from others. Haven’t you figured it out in your heart? Isn’t that why you feel this way about me?”

Xiao Yanjin wasn’t stupid, how could she not understand?

But everyone thought she wasn’t good enough for her!

“I know,” Xiao Yanjin’s eyes suddenly reddened, her voice hoarse and choked.

“I’ve known for a long time.”

“But… I’m sorry. I can’t handle the future.” She let go of Ji Yunuo’s hand and ran off.

Ji Yunuo stood frozen for a moment before helplessly walking away.

Shi Zhengyi and the others watched in stunned silence.

Jiang Nan gaped. “What do they know or not know?”

Shi Zhengyi: “I’d like to know too.”

Xiao Yanjin had initially been quite pleased seeing Chu Luo flee in panic, but under Ji Yunuo’s concerned questioning, her emotions surged, and her nose stung.

She had transmigrated here for no reason, only for her family to go bankrupt, forcing her into a survival show to earn money. It was unfair.

And then she fell for someone she shouldn’t have even more unfair.

Sitting on a chair, she quietly sobbed until Ji Yunuo approached.

Gently, Ji Yunuo wiped her tears with her own sleeve, unbothered by the mess, and said softly, “Don’t cry. I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

Xiao Yanjin stared at Ji Yunuo, who had followed her. The sincerity on her face, how could someone from a wealthy family show such emotion? Stunned, she stammered, “You, how did you know I was in the café?”

Ji Yunuo answered honestly, “I searched everywhere before finding you here.”

Xiao Yanjin was taken aback. Why was she being so nice to her? Was all of this just to achieve some goal? She couldn’t even tell what Ji Yunuo’s feelings for her were anymore.

Why did she care about her?

Did she… like her?

But how could someone like her ever be worthy?

Xiao Yanjin bit her lip and shouted, “Who gave you the right to care about me?!” Then she fled again.

Ji Yunuo clenched her fists tightly and stormed straight to Xiao Yanjin’s dorm, kicking the door open violently.

Shi Zhengyi yelped and hid under her blanket.

Seeing the furious Ji Yunuo, her mind went blank, what was she doing here?!

Ji Yunuo scanned the room, but Xiao Yanjin wasn’t there. She slammed the door shut with a bang.

Shi Zhengyi jumped in fright. “Big sis, what, what’s with the door?! I’m innocent!”

Ji Yunuo took slow, measured steps forward, locking eyes with her in a cold stare. “What did you say to Xiao Yanjin?” she demanded. Xiao Yanjin’s sudden change in attitude could only mean one of two things either she’d encountered some setback, or someone had been meddling nearby.

And the person closest to Xiao Yanjin was Shi Zhengyi.

Shi Zhengyi blinked innocently. “What did I say?”

Ji Yunuo shook her head. “No, you definitely said something you shouldn’t have, didn’t you?”

Shi Zhengyi thought back—she had repeated some things she’d overheard from their dorm to Xiao Yanjin. If she admitted that now, wouldn’t she get beaten up by the others in their dorm?

Ji Yunuo couldn’t wait any longer. “Speak!” she roared.

Shi Zhengyi was genuinely startled. In her eyes, Ji Yunuo had always been the composed, aristocratic young lady who never showed anger. Seeing her like this for the first time, she almost wondered if Xiao Yanjin had done something unforgivable to her.

Reluctantly, she answered, “I’m sorry. I accidentally overheard what your dormmates said. They told you not to get involved with someone from a different social class, or you’d be the one suffering for it.”

Ji Yunuo froze. Could it be that Xiao Yanjin had grown insecure because of this, unwilling to stand by her side?

She stood silent as a statue.

Shi Zhengyi quietly pulled the blanket over herself, relieved that Ji Yunuo hadn’t noticed the video playing on her phone.

Softly, she asked, “How is Xiao Yanjin?”

“I don’t know.” Ji Yunuo’s voice was icy, the kind of cold that no warmth could thaw, a desolate chill.

Everyone had warned her not to fall for Xiao Yanjin, but in truth, it also meant everyone blamed Xiao Yanjin for daring to love her.

But what did status matter? The only thing that mattered was love.

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