From Trashy A to the Heiress’s Little Son-in-Law After the Idol Competition (GL, ABO) - Chapter 40

Xiao Yanjin watched as her rosy lips softly touched the ice cream, actually producing a faint, velvety sound that was unexpectedly pleasant to the ear.

Xiao Yanjin swallowed hard, seeing a tiny bit of ice cream clinging to her lips, slowly melting. She really wanted to lean in and give it a good lick.

With the added scent of roses, the taste would surely be amazing.

“Sis.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve still got a bit of ice cream on your lips.”

Just as Ji Yunuo was about to reach for a tissue in her bag, a cool, damp object brushed across her lips.

Xiao Yanjin leaned back with a smile, her eyes bright and playful. After licking her lips, she said, “Now it’s gone.”

Ji Yunuo glanced at the crowd not far away. “Aren’t you worried someone might see?”

Xiao Yanjin turned around—she had already checked that no one was nearby. “It’s fine. I was quick. Even a camera wouldn’t have caught it.”

Ji Yunuo burst into laughter.

Then, the alpha’s voice sounded again: “Lavender-flavored lip balm. So sweet, so fragrant. I love it.”

Later, the two reunited with Lan Yuanning and Jiang Nan to have lunch at a restaurant in the park.

After sitting down, Xiao Yanjin said, “I’ll go to the restroom first.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar luxury car by the entrance.

Ji Yunuo took off her sunglasses, and a familiar face appeared at the car window once more.

It was Luo Canghuai again. Ji Yunuo’s gaze turned icy.

“I never thought you’d get so close to that scumbag alpha, Xiao Yanjin,” Luo Canghuai remarked, watching the distant roller coaster rise and fall, mirroring the turbulence in his heart.

“Do you actually like that type? Trashy, uncultured, morally bankrupt—even insufferably arrogant. Someone as outstanding and highly educated as Qu Zhou, and you just treat him as a backup?” Luo Canghuai didn’t hold back, his words dripping with disbelief.

A proud, aloof young lady like her, falling for a scumbag alpha!

“Luo Canghuai, watch your tone!” Ji Yunuo glared at him coldly. “Not liking Qu Zhou is my business, but you have no right to speak about Xiao Yanjin like that.”

“Do you even know what kind of person she is?”

“Of course I know what kind of person she is—nothing like what you’re saying.” Ji Yunuo smirked coldly. “Weren’t you the one who always told your juniors to be gentlemanly and polite? You don’t understand Xiao Yanjin, yet you slander her without a second thought. Is that what a gentleman does?”

Luo Canghuai couldn’t stand this woman’s attitude. Back then, Qu Zhou had fallen apart over her, yet she hadn’t given him so much as a word of comfort. Now she was getting cozy with some scandal-ridden pretty boy. If Qu Zhou found out, he’d lose his mind.

“Ji Yunuo!” Luo Canghuai took a step closer, his aura dark and menacing. “Stop pretending to be some pristine, untouchable ice queen. You’re nothing but a heartless flirt who toys with people’s feelings.”

“Hey, alpha! Step away from that Omega!”

A voice suddenly rang out from behind. Xiao Yanjin stood there, her cold gaze fixed on Luo Canghuai, who froze as a chill ran down his spine.

When he turned, the hatred in his eyes only deepened.

“Well, well. The scheming alpha and the seductive Omega, together at last!”

“I know you—the second son of the Luo family. A big overseas business dynasty, isn’t it?” Xiao Yanjin said, stepping between them and shielding Ji Yunuo behind her.

Ji Yunuo was momentarily stunned, her eyes lingering on the alpha standing tall in front of her. A sudden warmth bloomed in her chest.

Luo Canghuai straightened his expression. “Good that you know.”

“Did you return to the country just to make my sister Nuò change her mind, all for the sake of that half-hearted friend of yours?” Xiao Yanjin waved her hands behind her back vigorously.

Ji Yunuo instinctively reached out, and Xiao Yanjin immediately grasped her hand. The warmth in her palm instantly gave Ji Yunuo a tremendous sense of security.

Luo Canghuai, unaware of their intertwined hands, sneered, “I’m not that bored.”

“Then why do you keep bothering her?” Xiao Yanjin’s voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of anger. Ji Yunuo was surprised—this was the first time she had seen Xiao Yanjin lose her temper.

“Yanjin,” Ji Yunuo murmured.

Luo Canghuai said coldly, “You’d better stay out of this, or I’ll expose everything about Ji Yunuo’s past. Let’s see if she dares to continue in the competition.”

“Fine. I’d love to see whether the public would side with a hot-tempered lunatic like you and a love-obsessed fool who lives only for romance.” Xiao Yanjin retorted sharply, “If the audience chooses to stand with you, well—they’re nothing but a bunch of hypocrites using moral blackmail.”

“You—!”

“Yanjin.” Ji Yunuo pulled her hand free and pressed down on Xiao Yanjin’s trembling shoulders. “Thank you for coming, but let me handle this.”

Xiao Yanjin pursed her lips as Ji Yunuo turned to Luo Canghuai. “Lend me your phone. I need to call Qu Zhou.”

Suspicious, Luo Canghuai handed over his phone, and Ji Yunuo stepped aside to make the call.

The call connected quickly.

“Qu Zhou, it’s me.”

Hearing Ji Yunuo’s voice, Qu Zhou’s tone became unsteady.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yanjin and Luo Canghuai remained locked in their standoff.

Luo Canghuai scoffed. “You like Ji Yunuo, don’t you? Let me warn you—don’t fall for her. A woman like her only uses people’s affection for her own ends. Cold, selfish, and ruthlessly self-serving—those are her labels. And she doesn’t love anyone, including you.”

Xiao Yanjin burst into laughter.

Luo Canghuai frowned. “What’s so funny?”

“You got one thing wrong. Sister Nuò is indeed that kind of person, but people can change. Just like that once-noble friend of yours has changed too.”

Luo Canghuai took a deep breath, waiting for her to continue.

“Do you think she has to be the person you imagine? Do you think she has to like your friend?” Xiao Yanjin’s expression suddenly turned serious. “She can love anyone—or no one. That’s her freedom. She owes nothing to anyone, least of all your friend.”

Luo Canghuai’s chest tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“You’re well-educated. You know exactly what kind of person you are. Born into privilege, surrounded by influential figures—do you really believe your friend was so pure-hearted? He’s a grown man, yet he uses such childish methods to punish someone he supposedly loved. The one being punished isn’t Sister Nuò—it’s himself.”

Yet you only fixate on some nonsensical matter, chasing it from abroad back home. Two men with elite higher education, yet so childish and ridiculous—outwardly appearing mature while harboring immaturity more laughable than a child’s. Letting others point fingers at Sister Nuo, what kind of alphas bully an Omega like this?”

Footsteps approached. Ji Yunuo stood coldly, as if she’d been there for a while, having clearly heard every word.

“I’ve made myself perfectly clear to Qu Zhou. He understands my feelings and hopes you’d return home.” Ji Yunuo handed him the phone, her eyes still icy, though they softened slightly when glancing at Xiao Yanjin. “I may never see you all again, so I don’t want you going out of your way to find me.”

Luo Canghuai remained stunned as the two entered the house.

He looked at the distant rollercoaster, letting the splashing water hit him without flinching.

He laughed.

Childish?

Indeed, it was childish—so childish that he liked her yet dared not confess, resorting to extreme measures to force her compliance.

From the first moment he saw her, her pride and aloofness set her apart from other high-society Omegas, making him feel deeply inferior.

But it was all over now.

The dishes had all been served, with Jiang Nan and Lan Yuanning growing increasingly impatient.

“What took you so long?”

Xiao Yanjin smiled. “Oh, Sister Nuo dropped something outside. Luckily, we found it.”

Ji Yunuo said nothing, simply watching Xiao Yanjin with a faint smile. Sometimes she found Xiao Yanjin childish, but just now, all her usual antics—the coquettishness, the bad jokes, the teasing—had vanished, replaced by a dignified, righteous air.

This was the sense of security her alpha gave her.

It turned out even this childish alpha could stand up for her and mature when needed. She found herself liking her even more.

…

For the third performance, they needed a popular celebrity guest.

Xiao Yanjin’s group was assigned Jimo Ming, a rising Omega starlet.

At just twenty-one, she had skyrocketed to fame with a single hit song.

Delicate and pretty, with long flowing hair and dressed in a fresh crop top, she had recently starred in a sweet romantic drama.

She greeted everyone warmly, then winked playfully at Xiao Yanjin, her voice sugary. “Long time no see.”

Xiao Yanjin didn’t recall meeting her, but after a moment’s thought, she realized the original owner must have. Wait—hadn’t they shared a brief flirtation before Jimo Ming pursued singing? They hadn’t seen each other since.

Just as she thought this, Jimo Ming leaned in close, her lips curving into a charming smile. “You little thing, why aren’t you smiling at me?” She reached out to poke Xiao Yanjin’s cheek.

Xiao Yanjin startled, quickly stepping back.

Jimo Ming pouted, clearly displeased. “A-Jin, why aren’t you calling me ‘sister’ like before? Two years ago, we watched the stars together and talked about life, remember?”

“Ooooh,” the others teased, intrigued.

He Rou waggled her eyebrows. “Xiao Yanjin, you’ve got quite the luck with women.”

Xiao Yanjin pursed her lips. That was the original owner’s doing—her heart now belonged solely to Ji Yunuo.

“Uh… Alphas and Omegas shouldn’t be too familiar. Let’s focus on practice.”

He Rou nodded, but Ji Mo Ming insisted on making things clear: “A Jin, I came here for you. If it weren’t for you, why would I have come at all?”

Noticing Xiao Yanjin’s discomfort, He Rou quickly smoothed things over, “Let’s focus on training for now. We can talk about other things afterward.”

Once training ended, Xiao Yanjin hurriedly distanced herself from the scene.

She had made plans with Jiang Nan and Shi Zhengyi to eat together in the cafeteria.

Yet Ji Mo Ming stubbornly followed, deliberately sitting next to Xiao Yanjin.

Shi Zhengyi asked curiously, “Hey, aren’t you Ji Mo Ming, the singer of ‘Little Sweetheart’?”

Ji Mo Ming smiled, “That’s right.”

Jiang Nan’s eyes lit up, “Hello! I used to have your song on repeat. I never thought I’d get to meet you in person.”

Ji Mo Ming gave a nonchalant hum, but her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Yanjin.

Shi Zhengyi looked surprised, “So you two are…”

“I’m Xiao Yanjin’s dear older sister,” Ji Mo Ming declared.

Xiao Yanjin nearly choked on her food.

Shi Zhengyi immediately understood, “Oh, that kind of sister.”

Xiao Yanjin shook her head, “No, we’re just friends.”

Ji Mo Ming’s expression darkened, “A Jin, what do you mean? Back then, you were the one who asked me to go hiking with you. At night, you even insisted I accompany you to the mountaintop to gaze at the stars and moon, chatting about poetry, songs, and life philosophies. Is that something ordinary AO friends would do?”

Xiao Yanjin avoided her gaze, her tone turning cold, “Miss Ji Mo, that was when I was sixteen. There’s no need to bring up the past.”

“You used to call me ‘Sister Ji Mo,’ but now it’s ‘Miss Ji Mo’? After two years apart, you’ve grown so distant! Are you angry that I left for the entertainment industry? But you couldn’t bear to let me go, so you decided to join this talent show, didn’t you? A Jin, I know that’s what you were thinking, which is why I felt so guilty and came to the show to be with you.”

Xiao Yanjin massaged her temples. What nonsense was this? She had only joined the show because she was tricked!

Now that Xiao Yanjin was with Ji Yunuo, she naturally felt a sense of caution—she couldn’t get too close to other Omegas or Betas. She didn’t want Ji Yunuo to see this.

“I’m done eating,” she said, about to leave, but Ji Mo Ming grabbed her hand.

The other woman demanded coldly, “Explain yourself. Did you find someone new here? Or are those CP fans right—are you and Ji Yunuo actually involved?”

Ji Mo Ming’s voice was loud, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Xiao Yanjin glared at her furiously, “Let—go—of—me!”

Ji Mo Ming was agitated, but Xiao Yanjin was even more frantic.

Damn it! Flirting with a respectable Alpha in public—why wasn’t anyone stopping this?!

“Miss Ji Mo.” A slightly icy voice came from nearby.

Xiao Yanjin turned to see Ji Yunuo, who had just finished training.

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