Pretending to Be a Submissive O: My Fiancee Is a Little Pup - Chapter 17

“Drink it while it’s hot, it won’t taste good once it’s cold.” Ji Yaran hadn’t had a drop of water all day and was parched. She finished her drink in a few gulps and tossed the empty cup into the trash.

Song Qingxue picked up her cup and took a small sip. It had a bit too much sugar, but it was still sweet.

Suddenly, a ringtone echoed through the room. Song Qingxue glanced over and saw Ji Yaran’s phone vibrating.

“Sister, your phone.”

Ji Yaran had barely sat down for a few seconds before she sprang up from the sofa. She hurried over to pick up the phone and saw the caller ID: Ji Yahan.

Why is my sister calling out of the blue? she wondered. She answered the call immediately.

“Hello?”

“Yaran, are you free lately?”

“I’m currently filming with a crew. What’s up, Sister? Is something wrong?”

“Your brother-in-law and I are planning to head home this month. Since you’re filming, we’ll work around your schedule.”

“Okay, I’ll call you back then,” Ji Yaran said.

After she hung up, Song Qingxue asked, “Sister, who was that?”

“My sister,” Ji Yaran put the phone back on the table. “She wants me to find time to go home.”

“Are you biological sisters?”

“Yes, she’s three years older than me.”

“So you aren’t the only child in your family. I thought… you were like me.”

Ji Yaran caught the key piece of information and looked up. “Are you an only child?”

“Yes,” Song Qingxue nodded, but her eyes dimmed. Her long eyelashes cast a shadow, making her dark pupils look even deeper, like a bottomless well. “However, my parents passed away a long time ago.”

Ji Yaran was stunned. This was the first time she had heard Song Qingxue mention her family.

To have passed parents, no siblings, and to be all alone in the world must be a very lonely existence. One could tell from Song Qingxue’s expression that this must have been a heavy blow. She and her parents must have had a very good relationship.

The topic of deceased relatives is often taboo, even among the closest of friends. Ji Yaran clearly felt she didn’t have the right to pry into Song Qingxue’s past, even if her intentions were kind.

She walked to the bedside, ruffled Song Qingxue’s hair, and said earnestly, “Your family would surely want you to be happy living on your own.”

Song Qingxue reached out, her warm palm covering the back of Ji Yaran’s hand. She looked up and said, “Don’t worry, Sister, that was all a long time ago. I’ve moved on.”

She paused, a gentle smile blooming on her lips. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself instead?”

“About me?”

“Mhm,” Song Qingxue nodded, a faint look of anticipation in her eyes. “I’ve never heard you mention your family before.”

“Well, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed,” Ji Yaran walked to the table and poured a glass of water to clear her throat, recalling the description of Ji Yahan from the original book. “My sister is much more successful than I am.”

Song Qingxue was curious. “In what way?”

“My sister is a top-tier scholar. She’s only three years older than me, but she already finished her PhD abroad. After returning, it only took her six months to take over the group. Not only do my parents value her, but even the shareholders of the group respect her immensely.”

“A group? Sister, is your family very wealthy?”

Ji Yaran carried her water back to the bed and sat down, pinching the other girl’s cheek. “My sister manages all the family money, so I can’t just take it whenever I want.”

As the female supporting character with the most screen time in the original book, Ji Yaran did have quite a background. Her father, Ji Peilin, founded the Ji Group, and her mother, Tang Yafen, was also a senior executive. The eldest daughter had inherited their business acumen since childhood and was very driven, a Beta who didn’t lose to any Alpha. Unfortunately, the younger daughter, Ji Yaran, had been spoiled since birth and was useless aside from her beauty.

Since Ji Yaran’s parents were self-made entrepreneurs, they naturally wouldn’t give their daughter too much money to squander. From the time she started school, Ji Yahan was in charge of her tuition and living expenses. As the saying goes, “an elder sister is like a mother,” and Ji Yahan had indeed managed every detail of Ji Yaran’s life for many years.

Song Qingxue lowered her eyes, gazing at the clear liquid swaying gently in the water glass. Her voice was deeper than usual. “So… you really are the heiress of the Ji Group.”

Ji Yaran’s hand paused slightly. She looked up to see Song Qingxue shifting toward the head of the bed, moving closer to her.

“How did you know…” Ji Yaran only got halfway through before stopping.

The Ji Group was very famous in this city. Song Qingxue wasn’t some naive college student, so connecting the dots wasn’t difficult. However, Song Qingxue’s next words were completely unexpected.

“Sister, I was present at that banquet.”

“The banquet?” Ji Yaran was stunned, then realized something. “You mean…”

“Yes,” Song Qingxue narrowed her beautiful fox-like eyes meaningfully. “The night we met.”

“How could you…”

“Director Yu’s friend returned to the country, and she hosted a banquet for them. She invited many members of the upper class and celebrities. An artist I used to manage was invited and wanted me to go with her, so I went.”

“So… you saw me and Yu Shi then?”

“I saw you,” Song Qingxue paused. “But I didn’t know your identity then.”

“Then did you…” Ji Yaran swallowed. Recalling the ridiculous things the original host had done that day, she didn’t have the face to keep asking.

Song Qingxue saw through her thoughts and smiled. “Sister, I didn’t even know you then. I only saw you from a distance. Later, I didn’t like the atmosphere of the banquet, so I went downstairs to make a phone call. I didn’t expect you to come downstairs too.”

She raised her eyes, the corners tilting up slightly. Her expression was playful, as if she were testing something. A glint of cold light flickered in the depths of her eyes, blending into the night like the flick of a poisonous snake’s tongue, sending a shiver down one’s spine.

“I guess we really were fated.” Knowing that Song Qingxue hadn’t seen her pestering Yu Shi at the banquet, Ji Yaran breathed a secret sigh of relief.

“But I don’t understand. Since your family has such a massive business, why would you struggle to find acting roles?” The Ji Group had assets in the entertainment industry as well, and could easily give Ji Yaran excellent resources without her needing to rely on Yu Shi.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Ji Yaran hadn’t expected this question. She choked on her water, spraying a bit out.

Song Qingxue quickly grabbed a tissue and wiped her chin. “Sister, are you okay?”

Ji Yaran hurried to say, “I’m fine… I just choked.”

She knew exactly why. Because the original host had entered the entertainment industry solely for Yu Shi. Yu Shi had promised the original host plenty of film and television resources, and she had believed it, willingly staying by Yu Shi’s side as a “little lover.” When her parents found out she was involved with a woman in such a disgraceful way, they were so angry they wanted to disown her. Naturally, they wouldn’t support her career.

Furthermore, facts proved that believing in Yu Shi led to no good end. The original host had zero talent for acting, and every show she starred in would be mocked until it trended.

Since the reason was so embarrassing, Ji Yaran couldn’t tell the truth, so she made up an excuse on the spot. “I don’t want to rely on my parents. I want to carve out a world for myself using my own strength.”

After saying this, Ji Yaran thought of the original host’s past actions and felt like she was bragging. Just as she felt embarrassed and wanted to walk back her statement, Song Qingxue looked at her with total sincerity. “Sister, I believe you can do it.”

“You don’t think it’s funny?” If it were Yu Shi, she would definitely think I was talking big.

“Of course not,” Song Qingxue’s voice was firm. “Everyone needs a goal, and dreams have to be realized one step at a time.”

Hearing this, Ji Yaran couldn’t help but feel emotional. Someone like Song Qingxue, who wouldn’t mock someone else’s dreams, was truly rare in this fickle society.

“I have to go home in a few days. I’ll probably stay for a bit before coming back. Will you be okay here by yourself?” Ever since Xue Yan was taken away by the police for investigation, the film crew had temporarily halted work, so it wouldn’t be a problem for Ji Yaran to be away for a few days.

She was only worried about Song Qingxue. Song Qingxue was an Omega with a clingy personality, but since she was going home to see her parents and sister, she really had no reason to bring her along.

“Don’t worry, Sister,” Song Qingxue smiled at her. “I’ll stay right here and won’t go anywhere. I’ll be fine.”

Only then did Ji Yaran feel at ease. She said, “If anything happens, call me.”

**

Two days later, Ji Yaran returned to the Ji family home.

The villa was located in the most expensive area of the city center. It was a three-story Western-style house with its own small garden and a beautiful environment. It was said that the neighbors were all people of high status.

Since graduation, the original host had been entangled with Yu Shi and hadn’t returned home. Ji Yahan had a small apartment near the company where she usually lived, and her visits home were also few and far between.

The main reason Ji Yahan had organized this family gathering and called Ji Yaran home was for the matter of the engagement. Beyond that, she wanted to use this opportunity to ease the tension between Ji Yaran and their parents.

“Sister, I’m at the door. I’m coming in now.”

Ji Yahan had been calling her throughout the journey, fearing her headstrong sister would find an excuse not to show up. So, as soon as Ji Yaran got out of the car, she called her sister.

“Alright. Your brother-in-law and I are already here. Hurry up.”

After the call, Ji Yaran stepped into the living room. She immediately saw her father, Ji Peilin, sitting in a wheelchair with a cold face, talking to her mother, Tang Yafen. As soon as Ji Yaran entered, the voices in the room stopped, and the atmosphere turned awkward.

Ji Yaran lowered her head slightly and called out tentatively, “Dad… Mom.”

Ji Peilin gave a cold snort. “So you still remember the way back.”

Ji Yaran explained sheepishly, “I’ve been busy with work lately…”

Before she could finish, Ji Yahan, who had arrived early to help, walked over quickly in her high heels. She took Ji Yaran’s hand and smiled to lighten the mood. “Yaran, it’s been a while. How have you been? Mom and Dad missed you, and we sisters haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

Unlike Ji Yaran, who had spent years in the entertainment circle, Ji Yahan didn’t look as delicate or glamorous. However, her aura was extremely striking. Dressed in a white suit with shoulder-length black hair, she looked capable and sharp.

“Sister, Brother-in-law, when did you arrive?” Ji Yaran was clearly much more relaxed when speaking to her sister.

“We’ve been here since eight this morning,” replied her brother-in-law, Chen Peihui.

Chen Peihui was wearing a black suit. He was tall and upright, but he had a quiet personality and a powerful aura, always maintaining a serious expression. He and Ji Yahan had met while studying for their doctorates abroad. Both were Betas, they were from families of equal social standing, and both were leaders in their respective fields. They shared a rare rapport in their views on academia and work. Not long after meeting, they hit it off and became partners who were perfectly compatible in both life and love. Now that they had been together for four years and their relationship was stable, they were preparing for marriage.

To Ji Yaran, Chen Peihui was like a second father, even stricter with her than Ji Peilin. Whenever Ji Yaran had a problem and went to Ji Yahan, her sister would always discuss the solution with Chen Peihui.

Ji Yahan still doted on her younger sister. She glanced toward the windows, then pulled her aside and whispered, “Did you come alone?”

“Yes, Sister.”

“That’s good.” Ji Yahan breathed a secret sigh of relief. She wanted to ask more, but Chen Peihui frowned and slowly shook his head at her.

Ji Yahan sighed inwardly and ultimately swallowed what she wanted to say. She lowered her voice and said to Ji Yaran, “Peihui and I are back today. For our sake, Mom and Dad shouldn’t be too hard on you for your past nonsense. Just be obedient and don’t make them angry, okay?”

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