Senior, Stop Pretending to be an Alpha - Chapter 44

Xie Bufei turned around, squinting at her for a moment before saying, “Say it one more time. Let me hear it.”

Yu Qiao obediently complied, “Sister.”

“So good.” Xie Bufei smiled with satisfaction. She reached out to brush away the stray hairs from Yu Qiao’s eyes, her voice warm. “Qiaoqiao, you’re always so obedient. You’ll be easily taken advantage of in the future.”

Xie Bufei’s fingers were slender and long, carrying the humid warmth unique to autumn. Her movements were soft and slow. Yu Qiao leaned into her touch slightly, thinking to herself: But I’m only like this with you.

They walked back toward the playground. On the way, Xie Bufei brought up the birthday banquet again, emphasizing repeatedly, “Remember to come early. I don’t want to be left all alone at home.”

Yu Qiao asked, “Is your family not there?”

Xie Bufei gave a small laugh, her expression somewhat cynical. “Do you think Xie Ke acts like family?”

She added, “My dad will be there too, but his heart is already biased toward Xie Ke’s side. I just treat him as if he doesn’t exist now.”

Yu Qiao didn’t pry further and simply nodded. “Then I’ll head over as soon as I wake up.”

Thinking about it, she was actually quite nervous. Although Xie Bufei’s father sounded difficult to deal with, he was still an elder…

Yu Qiao wasn’t used to such things. she didn’t know how to interact with elders properly to leave a good impression. Back at home, relatives often commented that she was too quiet and didn’t understand social etiquette.

Xie Bufei caught her expression and smiled, reassuring her, “Don’t be too nervous. Just come see me like you normally do.”

Yu Qiao remembered a banquet was being held and asked, “Should I dress very formally?”

“No need,” Xie Bufei said. “You can wear whatever you like.”

By the time they returned to the playground, the events were nearly finished. The final highlight was the faculty and staff race.

Rarely getting a chance to see their teachers make fools of themselves, the students cheered with all their might, their faces flushed with excitement. The air was thick with joy.

Yu Qiao sat in her seat, surrounded by the cheers of her classmates. She actually liked this lively atmosphere; everyone working together looked happy—happy enough to forget the drudgery of campus life. Even the most antisocial person could briefly blend into the class.

But happiness is always fleeting. The sports meet lasted three days, and for the remaining time, Yu Qiao stayed in the shade doing her homework.

When the final points were tallied, the Computer Science Department didn’t rank high. The sports meet concluded amidst the regret and laughter of the crowd.

On Friday night, Yu Qiao lay in bed, staring fixedly at the time on her phone. The moment the hour hand hit twelve, she immediately hit send: “Happy Birthday, Senior!”

Gary: “Hehehe, thank you Qiaoqiao! [Cat rolling over.gif]”

Gary: “Sending it now… are you trying to be the first person to wish me a happy birthday?”

Yu Qiao: “Mhm. Am I?”

Xie Bufei glanced at her message list. In truth, there were many people sending her well-wishes at the stroke of midnight. She ignored her conscience and replied: “Tada! Congratulations! Lucky Qiaoqiao, you’re the first!”

Yu Qiao seemed very happy, sending a system smiley face: “That’s great.”

Xie Bufei covered her face and couldn’t help but grin like a fool. That is great.

“Go to sleep early, you have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Okay, you go to sleep early too, Senior,” Yu Qiao said. “Goodnight.”

Gary: “Goodnight.”

Yu Qiao tossed and turned in bed, eventually drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, Yu Qiao woke up at seven. The thought of going to Xie Bufei’s house made it impossible for her to sleep any longer.

Even though Xie Bufei said she didn’t need to dress up, Yu Qiao felt it was safer to be a bit more formal.

Hearing that she was attending a birthday banquet, Yao Rudong and Lu Yun both climbed out of bed to act as her advisors.

“How is it that there isn’t a single dress in this closet?” Yao Rudong buried her head in the wardrobe, her voice muffled. “It’s all shirts and jeans!”

Yu Qiao said, “I don’t really like wearing dresses.” She just felt that pants were more comfortable.

Lu Yun searched for a long while without much luck. She mused, “Qiaoqiao and I have similar builds; she should be able to wear my clothes.”

“Yours are all too ‘ladylike’; they don’t suit her,” Yao Rudong countered.

After a while, she pulled out a light gray high-waisted pinafore dress. “This one is nice, Qiaoqiao! I’ve never seen you wear this.”

Lu Yun laughed. “It doesn’t look like a style you’d buy.”

Yu Qiao paused slightly and said, “I forgot I had it.”

“Then this set it is,” Yao Rudong decided. “Just wear a thin sweater underneath! Quick, quick, go change! We need to do your makeup when you come out!”

“Makeup too?” Yu Qiao was dizzily pushed into the bathroom by them.

Through the door, Yao Rudong spoke with mock seriousness, “Of course! You’re going to your crush’s house to attend her birthday! This is basically the same as meeting the parents!”

Meeting the parents…

Yu Qiao gripped the hem of the dress, becoming instantly nervous. She changed her clothes at lightning speed.

When she stepped out, Lu Yun and Yao Rudong’s eyes lit up. “Beautiful!”

“It’ll be perfect once we do your makeup.” Lu Yun pulled her to the vanity, took off her glasses, and sighed. “Qiaoqiao, why didn’t I realize before that you’re so good-looking?”

Yao Rudong filled in her eyebrows, giggling as she spoke, “Don’t you go falling for her; she’s already spoken for.”

“I’m just making an observation,” Lu Yun replied with a half-smile. “Everyone appreciates beauty.”

Yu Qiao was like a doll, obediently letting them work on her. One moment it was foundation, the next it was lipstick. She squinted at the mirror, feeling as though the person reflected there was no longer herself.

If Gu Cuilan were standing here, she probably wouldn’t recognize her at first glance.

The Xie Residence

The early morning wind swept through the courtyard, making the evergreen trees rustle like falling rain.

Xie Bufei sat cross-legged on the sofa, looking down at her phone.

Yu Qiao: “I’m in the car already.”

Xie Bufei sat up straight instantly.

Gary: “Let me know right before you arrive, I’ll come out to get you!”

“You have no posture at all. Why can’t you learn from your sister?” Xie Hongxin walked down the stairs, scolding her as usual. “Look at yourself. Do you still look like the eldest daughter of a prestigious family?”

Xie Bufei looked up at him and said lazily, “Oh.”

She heard this kind of talk eight hundred times a day. She had gone from being angry to numb, and finally to immune.

Xie Hongxin looked displeased. “Don’t play with your phone when your father is talking to you.”

Xie Bufei reluctantly put her phone down, only to hear him ask, “You’re dressed like that?”

Xie Bufei looked down at herself, confused. “Is there a problem?”

“You know a banquet is being held later…” Xie Hongxin said. “Everyone coming is from a prominent family. You’re dressed like this? Are you trying to make us a laughingstock?!”

Xie Bufei remained silent, her gaze drifting out the window.

The glass panes had been scrubbed spotless by the servants. A small bird landed on the evergreen tree to rest.

Seeing this, Xie Hongxin spoke with earnest gravity, “Feifei, this is a great opportunity for you to expand your network. Once you inherit the Xie family business, you won’t be able to avoid social politics in the business world. These people will become your support…”

His tone shifted as he said flatly, “Besides, you’re not getting any younger. It’s a good time to introduce you to a few Omegas.”

“I’m only a sophomore.”

Xie Bufei looked at him, her voice tightening. “You’re thinking too far ahead.”

“It’s not early,” Xie Hongxin said. “Start cultivating a relationship now, and you can prepare for an alliance once you graduate. That little girl from the Tang family is quite nice about your age, well-educated, and she could assist you well in the future. I’ll introduce her to you later.”

Xie Bufei took a deep breath, her temples throbbing with a creeping irritation. “Am I just a bargaining chip for you to use in an alliance?”

“What kind of talk is that?”

Xie Hongxin’s eyes widened, looking at her in shock. “I’m doing this for your own good! Is it a mistake to find you a partner of equal status?”

Xie Bufei looked at him, her expression cold. “I won’t marry someone I don’t like.”

“Could it be that you already have an Omega you like?”

Xie Hongxin’s gaze deepened. “Someone you met at school? Is it from the Cheng family? The Qi family? Or perhaps the Tangs?”

“You’re overthinking it.” Xie Bufei turned her head, looking out the window again. “It’s none of them.”

Xie Hongxin pointed a finger at her. “I will not allow you to be with just anyone. It would disgrace the Xie family name.”

Outside the glass window, the sun shone brilliantly, and the little bird on the evergreen tree spread its wings and flew away.

Xie Bufei watched it for a moment, then suddenly stood up and headed upstairs.

Xie Hongxin’s angry shout followed her from a distance. “Xie Bufei! Don’t always be so willful! You’ll enter this marriage whether you want to or not!”

Xie Bufei gave a small sneer, her footsteps never faltering. The light from the magnificent chandelier above fell upon her, yet she felt a chilling cold.

Much like this grand mansion—it had everything one could want, yet it lacked warmth.

As she rounded the corner of the second floor, a soft voice sounded in her ear.

“Sister, have you finally found someone you like?”

Xie Bufei’s footsteps halted. “What business is it of yours?”

Xie Ke stood in the shadows where the sunlight couldn’t reach, looking up at her. Clad in a light cyan dress, the girl’s almond eyes were slightly curved and the corners of her mouth upturned, yet she gave off a bone-chilling coldness—like moss spreading in a damp, dark corner.

She gave a light chuckle. “I thought you were cold to everyone, but it turns out even you can be moved.”

Xie Bufei scoffed. “What, are you jealous?”

Xie Ke watched her for a moment, the curve of her smile widening. “I find it disgusting.”

Xie Bufei looked down at her. “The feeling is mutual.”

“Who is it that Sister likes?” Xie Ke tilted her head, her expression innocent and artless, yet her words made one’s heart turn cold. “I really want to know…”

“Then keep wondering.” Xie Bufei brushed past her, walking into her room without looking back.

The smile on Xie Ke’s face gradually vanished. She stood motionless, staring at Xie Bufei’s retreating back with a gaze that was almost cruel.

“I think I’ve guessed who it is.” The girl approached the glass window, her fingertip lightly poking the pane as she looked down. “How interesting.”

Xie Bufei walked into her room and buried her face in the covers.

So annoying…

Her phone vibrated slightly. She lifted her head from the bedding to see a message from Yu Qiao: “Senior, I’m almost there.”

Xie Bufei: “Okay, I’m coming down to get you right now.”

She rolled over on the bed and inadvertently saw herself in the vanity mirror across from her. She realized she was smiling.

Despite all the unpleasant things that had just happened, the thought of seeing Yu Qiao made her instantly happy again.

Xie Bufei suddenly recalled a passage she had read in The Little Prince. The fox said to the Little Prince: “If you come at four o’clock in the afternoon, then at three o’clock I shall begin to be happy. The closer the time comes, the happier I shall feel.”

She understood that feeling now.

Knowing that I will see you soon, I have been looking forward to it since this very second.

Xie Bufei stood up, smoothed her hair in the mirror, and straightened her dress.

Five minutes later, Yu Qiao’s message popped up: “I’ve arrived.”

Gary: “I’m coming!”

She pushed open the door and walked downstairs. Xie Hongxin was sitting on the living room sofa with Lin Qingwei and Xie Ke, chatting harmoniously.

Xie Hongxin: “Is Xiao Ke doing well at school? Can you keep up with your studies?”

Lin Qingwei: “If you’re not used to living there, just come home. The conditions at school can’t compare to home.”

Xie Ke said obediently, “No need. I’m very used to it, I can keep up with my studies, and my classmates are all very nice.”

Xie Hongxin chuckled. “I knew it. You’ve always been the one I worry about the least.”

The exchange was perfectly pleasant. Xie Bufei walked past them without a glance, heading for the front door.

Lin Qingwei turned to look at her. “Feifei, where are you going?”

Xie Bufei opened the door and stepped out.

The air outside the villa was fresh. She took a deep breath, feeling her entire body relax.

Xie Bufei walked toward the iron gate. From a distance, she saw a figure standing under a tree across from the villa.

Black hair draped over her shoulders, skin a cool white, and eyes clear and bright.

Xie Bufei watched her, a little surprised. She noticed that Yu Qiao was wearing light makeup and a dress she had never seen before.

It was different from any other time—she looked very formal.

Xie Bufei approached, teasing, “Miss Yu, you look so beautiful.”

Yu Qiao brushed her hair back, smiling bashfully. “Does it look strange?”

“Not at all.” Xie Bufei looked at her, her gaze tender. “I like it very much.”

She liked this formality; it felt as though she were being cherished.

As they walked, Yu Qiao spoke again. “Senior, happy birthday.”

“Didn’t you say that last night?”

Yu Qiao smiled. “I wanted to say it again in person.”

Xie Bufei wanted to tease her again, feigning regret. “Ah? So, you won’t say it when you give me your gift later?”

Yu Qiao paused, seemingly not having considered that.

“Then I’ll say it one more time.” She thought about it and said seriously, “You can hear it as many times as you want.”

Xie Bufei blinked, her lips parting slightly. She was stunned by the “straight ball.”

Yu Qiao looked at her and asked, “Senior, are you unhappy today?”

“You can tell even that?” Xie Bufei snapped out of it, smiling lazily. “Qiaoqiao, your insight is growing.”

“Your expression was very poor when you walked over,” Yu Qiao said. “Actually, more than wishing you a happy birthday, I hope you’re happy every single day.”

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