My Omega Rival in Love [Interstellar] - Chapter 15

Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Gu Jin looked at Diwu Lingmei with a mix of shock and suspicion. She really didn’t think they were that close.

“You!”

“Alright, alright, I knew you’d protect me, Jin,” Diwu Lingmei interrupted, skipping up two steps onto the royal platform. She stood directly in front of Gu Jin.

“My gift is myself! Jin, will you accept this gift?”

Standing coyly before Gu Jin who was currently leaning back with one leg crossed over the other Diwu Lingmei seemed to be living in her own world. Her declaration didn’t just stun Gu Jin; it left the entire audience speechless.

“Pfft!” The sound of someone spitting out a drink was exceptionally clear in the silent hall. Gu Jin followed the sound and, sure enough, it was He Yu, shamelessly gloating!

Meeting Gu Jin’s fiery gaze, He Yu didn’t flinch. She actually gave Gu Jin a rare, mischievous smile and arched an eyebrow.

Gu Jin’s heart skipped a beat. She hastily averted her eyes and adjusted her seat to move slightly back, her mind a complete blank. The anger she felt a moment ago had been scattered by He Yu’s look. She turned back to Diwu Lingmei and waved her off. “This gift is too heavy; keep it for yourself. If you don’t want me to get physical, get back to your designated seat.”

At Gu Jin’s dismissive attitude, Diwu Lingmei’s eyes darkened. She withdrew her hand with a trace of regret, stepped off the platform, and shot one last unwilling look at Gu Jin who didn’t spare her another glance.

With the farce over, Gu Ting was in a foul mood. He glanced at Xiao Ze, leaving the rest of the formalities to the Empress.

The routine speeches from friendly neighboring nations followed. Just as Gu Jin was about to fall asleep, the talking finally ended, and the ball began.

After Gu Ting and Xiao Ze led the first dance, everyone began pairing up freely. The previously solemn hall transformed into a ballroom with soft, hazy lighting.

Gu Jin found a table and sat down, drinking juice and eating snacks with no intention of getting up. She ignored the gazes some subtle, some blatant from the crowd.

Dance? Are you kidding? Is dancing better than cake?

She was planning to just wait out the time and leave, but then she looked up and saw Diwu Lingmei standing near Silas, looking ready to charge at her again. Gu Jin felt a headache coming on.

If it were an Alpha, she could beat them into unrecognizable pulp in seconds. But the other party was an Omega—a globally recognized protected group. She literally couldn’t touch her! It was infuriating.

Since she couldn’t fight, she decided to hide. Grabbing a small cake, she retreated to a corner table and let out a sigh of relief. She put down her cake, ready to greet whoever was sitting with her.

Her smile froze. He Yu was sitting there, looking at her with an amused expression. She even reached out a hand in a friendly wave. “Quite the luck with the ladies, aren’t you?”

Gu Jin: “…” How is this different from falling flat on my face and landing right in front of my arch-enemy?

But one must never lose momentum. Gu Jin immediately made a theatrical wave of her hand, looking helpless. “It can’t be helped. When you’re this outstanding, you never get to experience the peace of an ordinary person who no one pays attention to.”

Heh. Looking at the punchable face of Gu Jin, He Yu felt like she might lose her dinner. She rolled her eyes, ignored the girl who thought she was a gift from heaven, and looked back toward the center.

Unaccustomed to He Yu not biting back, Gu Jin followed her gaze out of spite. She saw Gu Ting’s table, where Qin Zhao was currently chatting and laughing with the Emperor.

Seeing He Yu’s focused gaze and Qin Zhao’s current “gentle nobleman” appearance, Gu Jin’s brow furrowed. “Tch! What kind of taste is that? You’re actually looking at a ‘Little Dragon Boy’?”

He Yu turned back, looking at the nitpicking Gu Jin. She raised an eyelid impatiently. “Why haven’t you left yet? What are you hanging around here for?”

Hey! Now she was being rejected. Gu Jin was so angry the cake lost its flavor. “I’m not leaving. What, does this table have your name on it?”

Being a local hooligan was Gu Jin’s standard operating procedure. He Yu was done wasting her breath over such trivialities, so she simply stood up. “Fine, then this table has ‘Marshal Gu’ written on it. I’ll leave, alright?”

As He Yu turned to walk away, Gu Jin noticed her outfit for the first time: a pure white gown. From the front, it was an asymmetrical collar revealing one shoulder, but the highlight was the back. The sheer lace design showed off He Yu’s elegantly curved spine, framed by her jet-black hair. Her skin looked even more luminous in contrast.

When she was sitting, it wasn’t as noticeable, but standing up, the irregular hemline and sophisticated design combined with He Yu’s striking figure made her an instant focal point.

On impulse, Gu Jin chased after her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her back. She took off her own heavy long coat and draped it over He Yu’s shoulders.

Holding down the struggling He Yu, Gu Jin leaned down with a serious expression. “Do you really want everyone to see your spine? You look as thin as a monkey.”

He Yu: “???” You’re the monkey!

He Yu slapped Gu Jin’s arm, but then hissed in pain. Looking down, she realized Gu Jin’s sleeves were covered in various sharp, miniature military badges.

“Serves you right,” Gu Jin mocked mercilessly, but her hands were kinder. She pulled He Yu’s hand toward her, took a small sphere from her quantum ring, and placed it on He Yu’s reddened palm.

He Yu wanted to pull away, but within a second, she realized the pain had vanished. Looking at the sphere, she realized it was a recently developed short-wave therapy device.

Gu Jin closed He Yu’s fingers over the device. “Keep it. It’s perfect for a clumsy ‘ball’ like you who manages to kill themselves while trying to hit someone else.”

Even knowing Gu Jin meant well, He Yu still felt a powerful urge to kick her.

“I don’t need your concern. As long as you stay away from me, I’m perfectly safe.” She tried to give the device back, but as she walked away, she remembered she was still wearing Gu Jin’s coat.

She turned back. “Take your coat. I don’t need you meddling in my affairs.”

To Gu Jin, it felt like her good intentions were constantly being thrown back in her face. She had never met such an ungrateful person.

She was about to snap back when she saw Qin Zhao walking toward them from behind He Yu. Her expression shifted. She quickly grabbed He Yu’s hand. “You want me to take the coat? Fine. Dance with me, and I’ll take it back.”

He Yu tried to shake her off but failed. She let out a frustrated huff. “Gu Jin, what are you on about? Dancing with me? Are you insane?”

“I was driven insane by you long ago,” Gu Jin whispered through gritted teeth, pulling He Yu into her arms.

Ignoring He Yu’s struggle, Gu Jin looked up at the approaching Qin Zhao and put on a polished smile. “Long time no see.”

Suddenly spun around, He Yu froze. She found herself face-to-face with Qin Zhao. She stopped struggling and looked at him awkwardly.

“Gu Jin, what is this?” As top-tier galactic fighters, Qin Zhao and Gu Jin had sparred before, though they usually stopped just short of a real fight. Qin Zhao admired Gu Jin; they were essentially half-friends, though it wasn’t always obvious.

“Nothing. By the way, why are you here? I thought you hated these events.”

He Yu pinched Gu Jin’s waist hard. Gu Jin tightened her grip on He Yu’s shoulder as a warning but kept chatting with Qin Zhao without missing a beat.

Uninterested in their subtle movements, Qin Zhao blushed slightly. “I have other business. Since the nations have been at peace for so long, we should improve our relations so my father sent me.”

Gu Jin: …Are you sure you’re the right person for the job?

If you asked anyone in the galaxy, they knew Second Prince Qin Zhao was a legendary god of slaughter. He looked like a gentle scholar, but he was a violent warrior who didn’t know the meaning of the word “peace.”

For him to say he was here for “friendly exchange” made Gu Jin wonder if Xulong was actually declaring war.

“By the way, Gu Jin…” Qin Zhao looked at He Yu with a bit of hesitation. “Is it convenient? I have something I want to ask you.”

Seeing his intent, Gu Jin looked at He Yu who was still staring at Qin Zhao. She felt the situation was not simple. Her hunch was right!

She gave Qin Zhao’s back a disdainful look and pouted. “What’s so good about this Little Dragon Boy? I’m telling you, don’t you dare get any ideas about him.”

“What does that have to do with you? Let go.” He Yu tried to pull her arm away. She felt Gu Jin was being exceptionally weird today. First, she called her thin, then forced a coat on her, and now she was dictating who she could look at? How could someone be this annoying?

Doesn’t she realize that if it weren’t for her mark, I wouldn’t be in this mess?

Gu Jin was so angry she laughed. What does it have to do with me? It really didn’t…

But it still wasn’t allowed. Regardless of whether it was her business, she couldn’t stand seeing He Yu look at Qin Zhao.

“Qin Zhao is dangerous. He looks like a good person, but he’s a living weapon who can wipe out a planet’s army. He’s temperamental. He might smile at you now and crush you into the dirt the next. I’m warning you—pick anyone but him, or don’t blame me if you lose your life.”

She was trying to convince herself as much as He Yu. Yes, I’m just being kind. I don’t want the Vizer Empire to lose face by having He Yu chase after him.

He Yu studied Gu Jin suspiciously. “When did you become such a busybody?”

“You—!” Gu Jin glared at her, frustrated by He Yu’s stubbornness.

“Fine. I’m a fool for wasting my breath. Do whatever you want.”

She let go of He Yu and walked toward Qin Zhao, getting angrier with every step. Who she likes is none of my business. We slept together once, it doesn’t mean we’re tied together for life. Heh. I’m being ridiculous today.

She stood beside Qin Zhao, her fingers tapping a rapid, irritated rhythm on the railing. “Sorry for the wait. What did you want to ask?”

Qin Zhao was a bit confused by her mood, but he wasn’t one to pry. “I wanted to ask… do your brother and sister-in-law have a good relationship?”

Qin Zhao’s face turned red, but since the light was dim and Gu Jin was distracted, she didn’t notice.

Gu Jin froze. My brother and sister-in-law? Why is he interested in them?

Her first thought was that he was digging for intel, but then she realized Qin Zhao wasn’t a politician. He was even worse at schemes than she was; he preferred brute force. Why would he ask such useless questions?

Unless… he had suddenly developed a passion for gossip?

“Why are you asking?” she asked cautiously.

“Uh…” Qin Zhao hesitated, looking embarrassed. “It’s… hard to say. I just wanted to know. The reason is a bit embarrassing.”

Suddenly, a bolt of inspiration hit Gu Jin. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. “Heavens! You aren’t trying to steal my brother’s wife, are you? Brother, I admire your guts!”

“What does ‘steal a wife’ mean?” Qin Zhao clearly lacked some common slang.

Now it was Gu Jin’s turn to hesitate. She couldn’t just say, “Are you trying to seduce the Empress?”

“It means… are you trying to take someone away from my brother?” she explained.

“Take someone away…” Qin Zhao’s face turned even redder. He nodded shyly. “It is indeed hard to say, but I wanted to ask. If their relationship is good, then I would…”

“How should I put this…” Gu Jin felt she had guessed his meaning perfectly. She felt a strange surge of excitement at the idea of helping someone chase her own sister-in-law.

“I’m not one for gossip, but you have to be careful. How long have you liked him?” Gu Jin figured since Gu Ting and Xiao Ze were just a political match, there was no harm in playing matchmaker. She could save Xiao Ze from wasting his life in the palace. If Qin Zhao was sincere, she wouldn’t mind talking to her brother.

“For a long time. Ever since I first saw him five years ago, I felt I had found ‘the one.’ We Qin family members are loyal to the end. Once we choose someone, we never betray or give up. I decided then that it would be him for the rest of my life. But unfortunately, when I went back to ask my father, he was already married.”

Qin Zhao’s voice sounded so lonely it even made the heartless Gu Jin feel a bit sad.

“Sigh. A tragedy of errors. That’s too bad.”

Gu Jin felt her brother, who had accidentally blocked this romance, was quite a jerk.

“Have you asked how the other person feels?” she asked. This was between two people, after all. If Xiao Ze felt the same, it would be perfect.

“I’ve never said anything. It’s just my one-sided wish. Telling everyone wouldn’t be good. That’s why I wanted to ask you first.”

The two of them continued to talk at cross-purposes, communicating from two completely different directions with zero obstacles until they reached a consensus. Gu Jin was fully convinced.

“Don’t worry. They don’t have any real feelings; it’s just a political marriage. I can’t help you too much because I’m Gu Ting’s sister, but I’ll talk to my brother and see what he thinks. I don’t think he’s that rigid; he’ll likely agree.”

She clapped Qin Zhao on the shoulder, feeling like a noble soul guiding two people toward happiness.

“I really didn’t expect you to support me. I thought you’d oppose it. I misjudged you. I’m sorry.”

Qin Zhao felt his suppressed hopes coming back to life. He also clapped her shoulder. These days, there weren’t many people with the courage to support two Alphas being together especially when one was their own brother.

“From my position, I should oppose it, but I can’t stand seeing people suffer. Sigh. I’m just too kind-hearted. Good luck!”

Gu Jin waved him off, buoyed by the praise, completely unaware of the massive hole she had just dug for her brother.

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