Senior, Stop Pretending to be an Alpha - Chapter 38

I like her…

All the muddled emotions from before suddenly threaded together at this moment, surfacing before Yu Qiao’s eyes with absolute clarity.

 

The restless and unfamiliar heartbeat, the lack of any repulsion toward physical contact, the obvious favoritism…

 

It turned out the truth had always been that simple.

 

She really liked her.

 

In her momentary daze, Xie Bufei pressed down on her shoulders, and both of them fell backward together, landing on the soft, large bed.

 

The girl licked her lips delicately, like a reckless young beast out on its first hunt, tasting the prey before her with clumsy movements. It was unrefined, yet it carried an indescribable allure.

 

Dizzy, Yu Qiao narrowed her eyes as her fingers slowly gripped the bedsheets. She felt strange; a person’s lips shouldn’t have a taste, but this kiss felt as though she were kissing a fragrant, dew-drenched lily of the valley, carrying a very faint sweetness.

 

She suddenly felt a sharp sting on her lips; Xie Bufei had bitten her. The girl looked at her and pulled away slightly, a glistening silver thread connecting them.

 

She let out a small laugh, her red lips wet and bright, asking coquettishly, “Does it feel good?”

 

Yu Qiao covered her mouth with the back of her hand, the tips of her ears burning intensely. “It feels very good.”

 

Xie Bufei pulled Yu Qiao’s hand away, pecked her on the lips, and fell contentedly beside her.

 

She rolled over and buried her face in the crook of Yu Qiao’s neck again, her nose twitching as she sniffed around. Her warm lips brushed against the side of Yu Qiao’s neck intermittently.

 

The breath tickled her nape in waves. Yu Qiao quickly pressed against her shoulders to create distance. “Senior, no.” For some reason, Xie Bufei seemed obsessed with her glands today.

 

“So fragrant.” Xie Bufei’s expression was hazy, and like a cat on catnip, she rubbed against Yu Qiao limply.

 

Yu Qiao frowned, thinking to herself that Alphas were supposed to repel one another, yet Xie Bufei seemed exceptionally fond of her pheromones.

 

During their movements, Yu Qiao’s hem became disarrayed, revealing a small section of her firm, pale waist. Xie Bufei stared at the smooth skin and gently placed her hand there, tracing light circles with her nails.

 

In the next second, she began to reach further inward.

 

Yu Qiao’s train of thought was broken. Her face flushed instantly, and she grabbed the girl’s wrist. “Senior, don’t move around.”

 

“Aren’t you hot?” Xie Bufei asked. “You’re wearing so much.”

 

“I’m not hot.” Yu Qiao struggled to sit up, tucked the girl into the blanket, and rolled her into a ball. “Senior, you need to brush your teeth and go to sleep.”

 

“I already brushed them.” Xie Bufei bared her white teeth and then pouted defiantly. “You won’t even sleep with me.”

 

Yu Qiao’s face turned bright red, and she stammered, “Y-you’re drunk right now. You’re not thinking clearly.”

 

She couldn’t take advantage of someone while they were not in their right mind.

 

“I am very clear.” Trapped in the blanket, Xie Bufei only showed her angry face, her thin eyebrows knitting together. “Liar. You said you’d stay and sleep with me.”

 

Yu Qiao rubbed her temples and sighed. “Go to sleep. I won’t leave.”

 

She thought helplessly: I’ll leave after you fall asleep.

 

Xie Bufei said, “I don’t believe you.”

 

“Really.” Yu Qiao sat beside her and reached out to stroke her head. “I’ll stay here with you.”

 

“Fine.” Xie Bufei blinked, her eyes shimmering. She extended a slender index finger and tapped her lips lightly, signaling for her to come closer.

 

Yu Qiao looked at her, puzzled.

 

“Goodnight kiss,” Xie Bufei said with a smile, pointing at her pale red lips.

 

The base of Yu Qiao’s ears heated up, and she hurriedly looked away.

 

“No, we just kissed.”

 

“Ah,” Xie Bufei muttered disappointedly. “Stingy.”

 

Yu Qiao reached out and closed the girl’s eyes, her long lashes brushing against her palm. She said softly, “Goodnight.”

 

Yu Qiao stood up quietly and turned off the lights. The room plunged into darkness. Xie Bufei kept her eyes closed, still a bit annoyed, and ignored her.

 

Wrapped in a heavy, dark-red haze behind her eyelids, everything was quiet. Smelling the faint scent of vegetation beside her, Xie Bufei actually began to feel drowsy.

 

After an unknown amount of time, Xie Bufei asked muddledly, “Are you still there?”

 

“I’m here,” Yu Qiao said. “Sleep.”

 

Only after Xie Bufei’s breathing became long and steady, confirming she was asleep, did Yu Qiao tiptoe out and leave the hotel silently.

 

…

 

Xie Bufei was woken up by her ringtone.

 

She originally intended to ignore it, but the phone on the nightstand rang incessantly for five minutes. It was so loud she was forced to open her eyes and reach a hand out from the warm covers to answer.

 

“Hey, Xie Bufei, are you up yet?” Cheng Yeli asked. “It’s already noon.”

 

Xie Bufei rubbed her eyes with her right hand, her voice raspy. “No. Haven’t slept enough. Don’t bother me.”

 

“That’s enough. You have class this afternoon,” Cheng Yeli said. “Where’s Yu Qiao? Is she next to you?”

 

Yu Qiao?

 

Hearing that name, Xie Bufei froze for a few seconds. Her eyes flew open, and her confused consciousness suddenly snapped awake.

 

She sat up abruptly and looked around.

 

Great. No one. The spot next to her was cold; she didn’t know when the other girl had left.

 

Xie Bufei immediately wilted, falling back into the soft bedding. “She’s not here. She must have left a long time ago.”

 

Cheng Yeli clicked his tongue, teasing her, “Seems like your charm is lacking. A dark night, a lonely Alpha and Omega, and you still couldn’t keep her there.”

 

“Shut up,” Xie Bufei murmured, staring at the ceiling. “She still doesn’t understand anything.”

 

“She doesn’t like you?” Cheng Yeli asked curiously. “I saw how gentle and considerate she was to you last night; I thought her heart was already yours.”

 

Xie Bufei gave a long yawn and climbed out of bed with sleepy eyes, dragging her slippers into the bathroom. “You’re overthinking. She’s a total blockhead.”

 

Cheng Yeli pitied her for a moment and said, “Stop sleeping. Get up and eat.”

 

“I know. I’m brushing my teeth,” Xie Bufei said, squeezing toothpaste with one hand. “I’m hanging up.”

 

After ending the call, Xie Bufei looked at herself in the mirror. Her messy long hair hung down to her waist. Her bare face was bright and beautiful, but her expression was sour.

 

Her head was still a bit dizzy from the hangover. She pinched the bridge of her nose to ease the sensation.

 

She had a problem where if she drank too much, she would black out and lose her memory of what happened while she was drunk.

 

Regarding last night, she seemed to remember some parts, but not very clearly.

 

Fragmented images surfaced in her mind: Yu Qiao helping her into a taxi, Yu Qiao coaxing her to sleep, her forcing a kiss on Yu Qiao…

 

Forcing a kiss?!

 

Xie Bufei stared at her slack-jawed reflection in despair. She silently put down her toothbrush as her cheeks turned bright red, her entire body flushing like a human tomato.

 

Damn it. The ancients were right: alcohol leads to trouble.

 

How did she dare to force a kiss on that blockhead!

 

She tried her best to recall the fragmented scenes; they looked passionate and heart-pounding.

 

Xie Bufei covered her face and let out a mix of a pained and happy whimper.

 

Actually, it wasn’t a total loss, she thought, finding humor in her misery. Alcohol gives a coward courage; why didn’t she take the chance to sleep with Yu Qiao yesterday?

 

How useless!

 

After washing up, Xie Bufei changed her clothes and checked out at the front desk, intending to move back to school.

 

Since she had already met Yu Qiao, staying at the hotel was pointless.

 

Back at school, Xie Bufei ran into Bai Yi in the dormitory hallway.

 

The moment Bai Yi saw her, she tried to bolt downstairs. “It’s not my fault!”

 

Xie Bufei was faster and blocked her path. “Stop. Don’t even think about running.”

 

Bai Yi stood still like she was in time-out, looking at her piteously. “I was drunk then; I don’t even know what I said.”

 

Xie Bufei patted her shoulder instead. “You did a good job this time.” She had essentially gotten a free kiss from Yu Qiao because of it.

 

Bai Yi watched her drag her suitcase into the dorm and scratched the back of her head foolishly. “Huh?” So she wasn’t here to settle the score?!

 

In Dorm Room 301:

 

Yao Rudong let out a scream. “Qiaoqiao, what did you say?”

 

“I’ve fallen for someone,” Yu Qiao said. “What should I do now?”

 

Yao Rudong’s pupils shook. She looked at Yu Qiao as if she’d seen a ghost and asked tremulously, “Um, can I ask who it is?”

 

Yu Qiao opened her mouth to speak, but Lu Yun beat her to it. “Xie Bufei?”

 

Yao Rudong said, “No way! Senior Xie is an Alpha! Don’t defile their pure socialist sisterhood!”

 

She turned to see Yu Qiao’s expression and paused. “Damn. So it really is Senior Xie?!”

 

Yu Qiao confirmed, “It’s her.”

 

Yao Rudong was shocked beyond words.

 

“As expected of the school beauty. Her charm is just too much; even a stone tree can blossom,” she murmured, turning to Lu Yun. “Xiao Yun, how did you guess?”

 

Lu Yun smiled and shrugged. “Was there a need to guess? Qiaoqiao only has a few close friends. Aside from us, she just rejected Meng Ling. That only leaves Senior Xie.”

 

“I just didn’t expect you to actually fall for her,” Lu Yun said thoughtfully. “She looks quite hard to pursue.”

 

Yao Rudong recovered from the shock and rubbed her hands excitedly. “Qiaoqiao, why don’t you just confess directly?”

 

“No,” Lu Yun analyzed. “Someone like Xie Bufei has a strong sense of boundaries and distance. If she doesn’t like you and you confess, you definitely won’t be able to stay friends. She will distance herself from you.”

 

Yu Qiao nodded. “Yes. That’s why I want to take it slow.”

 

“Do you guys know how to pursue her?”

 

Hearing this, Yao Rudong took a few steps back and yielded the stage. “Thanks for the invite, but I’ve never pursued anyone. I can’t give useful advice.”

 

Lu Yun teased her, “You probably haven’t even given away your first kiss yet, have you?”

“So what? I’m just a ‘mother-to-birth’ solo. You’re the only one in this room with any relationship experience. Qiaoqiao must be just like me!” Yao Rudong stood with her hands on her hips, seeking validation from Yu Qiao. “Right, Qiaoqiao?”

Yu Qiao looked at her and suddenly fell silent.

 

The atmosphere turned eerie for a moment, and the smile on Yao Rudong’s face gradually vanished. “No way…” Her eyes widened. “When did you give away your first kiss?”

 

Lu Yun also pressed nervously, “To whom?!”

 

Yu Qiao rubbed the tip of her nose sheepishly. Recalling the previous kiss, she said in a small voice, “Senior Xie.”

 

Yao Rudong exclaimed, “What do you mean? Did you force a kiss on her yesterday?!”

 

Lu Yun asked a soul-searching question, looking shocked. “How did it come to this?”

 

“No!” Yu Qiao waved her hands frantically, heat rising to her face and the tips of her ears turning red. “B-because Senior was drunk last night and wasn’t thinking clearly. She just hugged me and kissed me.”

 

Lu Yun realized what had happened and didn’t doubt her. After all, people do act unsightly when drunk; some just love to kiss others randomly. It wasn’t strange.

 

“So, nothing happened between you two last night?”

 

Yu Qiao shook her head blankly.

 

“You’re a true woman of honor, Qiaoqiao!” Yao Rudong patted her shoulder. “To have a beauty in your arms and remain unmoved, I admire you.”

 

Lu Yun asked, “Have you really decided to pursue her? Xie Bufei isn’t someone who is easily won over.”

 

Yu Qiao’s gaze was firm. “I’ve decided.”

 

She had been thinking about this ever since last night.

 

She was indeed moved by Xie Bufei and wanted to be with her.

 

Lu Yun smiled and exchanged a glance with Yao Rudong. “Alright, don’t worry. The two of us will provide the assist.”

 

Xie Bufei took a nap at noon and then got up to go to class.

 

In the afternoon, she had a music theory class combined with the neighboring class. The teacher was a middle-aged man in his fifties with a “Mediterranean” bald spot, but he dressed very fashionably and would occasionally drop some trendy jokes, making the students below burst into laughter.

 

Following him into the room was a strange young woman. She held a stack of exam papers in one hand and had the other tucked into her pocket. Wearing a leather jacket and jeans with long wavy hair swaying behind her, she looked very young. She took a seat in the front row and stayed there.

 

The woman was beautiful, and many people couldn’t help but look her way frequently. Xie Bufei had no interest; she gave her a glance and then continued listening to the lecture.

 

As the end of class approached, she felt a bit tired. She twisted her stiff neck left and right and suddenly saw a familiar figure outside the window.

 

Yu Qiao was standing in the corridor outside, holding a book. Noticing her gaze, Yu Qiao curled her eyes and gave a small smile.

 

Xie Bufei’s breath hitched.

 

Is she waiting for me?

 

She stared at Yu Qiao foolishly for a moment and couldn’t help but ask soundlessly, “Is something wrong?”

 

Yu Qiao wore a blank expression, seemingly unable to read her lips, and tilted her head.

 

Xie Bufei mouthed questions at her for a long time, and Yu Qiao spoke back. The two of them were like a chicken talking to a duck; neither knew what the other was saying.

 

Her strange behavior caught the attention of the person on stage. The teacher asked with a smile, “Student Xie Bufei, what are you gesturing about over there?”

 

The gazes of the crowd shifted toward her in unison. Under dozens of pairs of eyes, Xie Bufei couldn’t help but stiffen. She feigned composure and said, “It’s nothing.”

 

The teacher didn’t mind, smiling before continuing the lecture. Xie Bufei suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t resist glancing out the window again, seeing the girl leaning against the railing, smiling at her with curved eyes.

 

Yu Qiao didn’t smile often; she usually had a neutral expression, but she looked beautiful when she did. She wore an off-white knit sweater with her black hair draped over her shoulders. Under the sunlight, she seemed draped in a soft halo. A sense of joy flowed from her clear eyes, making her look very gentle.

 

Xie Bufei couldn’t help but cover her burning face. She felt like she had been a bit of a ditz just now, embarrassing herself again, and even being caught in the act by Yu Qiao.

 

When class finally ended, Xie Bufei walked quickly out of the classroom to get away from the scene of her embarrassment and approached Yu Qiao.

 

“Why are you here? Is there something you need?”

 

Yu Qiao smiled. “It’s nothing. I was passing by the library and happened to see Senior in class.”

 

Xie Bufei realized, “What a coincidence…” Her gaze landed on Yu Qiao’s lips. Recalling the events of last night for an instant, she felt a bit embarrassed and guiltily looked away.

 

Yu Qiao looked at her face, paused for a moment, and asked, “Do you have any more classes later?”

 

“No, I only had one class today.”

 

Yu Qiao nodded. “Then let’s go eat together.”

 

Xie Bufei blinked. “Okay.” Was it her imagination, or did it feel like Yu Qiao had become more proactive?

 

The two of them arrived at the cafeteria. As evening approached, the cafeteria was bustling, filled with a sea of people.

 

Yu Qiao asked, “What does Senior want to eat?”

 

“Let’s have the malatang from last time; it was quite good,” Xie Bufei said.

 

Yu Qiao turned to look. Business was great at the malatang stall today; a long queue had formed at the window. It would probably take a while before it was their turn.

 

She said, “Senior, go grab a seat first. I’ll just wait in line.”

 

Xie Bufei was a bit concerned. “Can you carry it all by yourself?”

 

“I can.” As Yu Qiao spoke, she pointed to a spot nearby. “There are two empty seats in that corner. Go sit there and wait for me.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Xie Bufei took the book from Yu Qiao’s hand, walked to that quiet corner, and sat down to wait.

 

Resting her chin on her hand, she curiously flipped through the book Yu Qiao had borrowed from the library. It was W. Somerset Maugham’s The Painted Veil.

 

She hadn’t expected her to like a book like this. Xie Bufei made a mental note of it and added it to her reading list.

 

She became quite absorbed in the book until the spicy fragrance gradually wafted toward her, snapping her back to reality.

 

Yu Qiao walked over carrying two bowls and placed one of them in front of her. “Are you reading my book?”

 

“Mhm.” Xie Bufei moved the book a bit further away to avoid any soup splashes. She suddenly paused and said in a panic, “I think I forgot to tell you what I wanted to eat just now!”

 

Yu Qiao nodded. “It’s okay. I ordered the same things you had last time.”

 

The hot steam wafted toward her eyes. Xie Bufei looked down at the bowl, her expression gradually turning into one of surprise.

 

It really was filled with exactly the items she liked to order.

 

“You still remember what I ate last time?”

 

Yu Qiao said, “I remember. Mildly spicy, no vinegar, no pepper powder, one spoonful of sesame oil, one spoonful of soy sauce, two spoonfuls of peanut butter, plus minced garlic and chopped green onions.”

 

Even the condiments were a perfect replica.

 

Xie Bufei looked at her, her heart suddenly racing. Her whole body felt light, as if she were walking on clouds.

 

She couldn’t help but feel a little smug, desperately suppressing the rising corners of her mouth as she said, “So Qiaoqiao cares about me this much.”

 

Yu Qiao paused and then smiled. “I do.”

 

Xie Bufei caught her breath and hurriedly looked away, her heart thumping loudly.

 

Why is this person smiling so much today? She seems to be in a very good mood.

 

And she smiled so beautifully that it was almost misleading.

 

“L-let’s eat.” She feigned calm as she gripped her spoon and scooped up a mouthful of soup. Just as she was about to drink it, Yu Qiao quickly pressed down on her hand.

 

“It’s hot, don’t drink it yet,” Yu Qiao said. “I’m fine eating it, but you’re sensitive to heat. Let it cool for a bit longer.”

 

She remembered that Xie Bufei had a “cat’s tongue” and was very afraid of eating hot things.

 

Xie Bufei dazed for a moment and then obediently lowered her hand. “Oh…”

 

She kept her eyes down, her gaze landing on the floor, looking a bit absent-minded.

 

Watching her reaction, Yu Qiao secretly pulled out her phone under the table and opened the dormitory WeChat group.

 

Yu Qiao: “She seems to have very little to say today. She isn’t taking the initiative to chat with me much.”

 

Yao Rudong: “Is it possible she’s in a bad mood?”

 

Yu Qiao: “Doesn’t look like it.”

 

Lu Yun: “Don’t worry about it, just go for it! A straight-ball approach is all you need!”