She doesn’t want to pretend to be an Omega either! - Chapter 21

Zhu Shen heard the answer he was looking for. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the figure outside the glass conservatory coming to a sudden, jolting halt.

The conservatory was meticulously maintained, its transparent glass polished to a pristine, smudge-free shine. This allowed Zhu Shen to clearly see the shock and bewilderment written across Wei Mingshu’s face.

A faint smirk played on Zhu Shen’s lips.

With her back to the door and to Zhu Shen, Wen Mo had no idea what was happening behind her. She calmly finished taking her last photo before straightening her back and slowly turning around.

In Zhu Shen’s peripheral vision, Wei Mingshu reacted quickly, turning away and ducking behind a large, decorative shrub. Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the reaction.

Why hide? Why not charge in and demand an explanation?

Wen Mo, seeing only Zhu Shen’s handsome, slightly puzzled face, felt a ripple of pleasant surprise. He looks puzzled! Not annoyed, not dismissive!

Did this mean her act was finally starting to get through to him?

Knowing she couldn’t celebrate too early, Wen Mo maintained her hesitant, worried expression. She knit her brows and asked softly, “Young President Zhu, do you still doubt me?”

Wei Mingshu was no longer visible, but Zhu Shen guessed he hadn’t left yet. Anyone would be curious after accidentally stumbling upon a secret of that magnitude regarding a childhood friend.

“I don’t,” Zhu Shen said.

“Really?” Wen Mo asked, her surprise genuine.

Of course, it was mostly alarm. In their last conversation, Zhu Shen had been mocking her, his words dripping with skepticism regarding her “Omega” status. Why the sudden change of heart?

“Really,” Zhu Shen nodded. “I’ve thought about it. You truly have no reason to concoct such a flimsy, easily debunked lie to deceive me. It’s unnecessary.”

“Exactly! It’s completely unnecessary!” Wen Mo beamed on the surface, while her mind continued to race with suspicion. He really just ‘thought about it’? This is way too sudden!

“Besides,” Zhu Shen continued, his gaze sharpening, “I don’t care if you’re an Alpha or an Omega; it has nothing to do with me. I trust you wouldn’t dare have any designs on Qingyue again.”

Wen Mo having just been threatened let out a long sigh of relief.

That’s more like it! This fit Zhu Shen’s character perfectly.

She smiled with genuine relief. “It’s as you say. But since I really am an Omega, you can rest easy! I truly, truly just want to be friends with her! I have absolutely no ill intentions!”

“Hmph,” Zhu Shen snorted. “Is ‘Qingyue’ a name you’re allowed to call her?”

Without a hint of temper, Wen Mo immediately corrected herself: “Yin Qingyue!”

He really is the typical ‘possessive of even the female lead’s dog’ second male lead!

Zhu Shen glanced outside the glass again. The figure remained hidden. It seemed Wei Mingshu wasn’t planning on showing himself. Zhu Shen checked his watch again, having no intention of lingering. After all, he had successfully “fed” the secret to Wei Mingshu. Whatever the boy decided to do with that information. whether to treat Wen Mo differently, spread the word, or help her keep the secret was their business. Zhu Shen didn’t care.

He only hoped that Wei Mingshu would cause enough trouble for Wen Mo to make his own participation in this little “play” worthwhile.

“I’m heading back,” Zhu Shen said.

“So soon?” Wen Mo asked.

“Why?” Zhu Shen looked up. “Do you want to continue being alone with me?”

Wen Mo: “…”

How am I supposed to answer that?

If she said “no,” she’d be slighting the great President Zhu. If she said “yes,” it would look like she had ulterior motives especially since her current “true identity” was an Omega. An Alpha and an Omega, alone at night in a romantic glass conservatory? It was practically a recipe for a misunderstanding!

Wait? Was he asking because he suspected she actually did have a crush on him?

Wen Mo peered at Zhu Shen’s face. As usual, she could read absolutely nothing. He didn’t seem like the type to be that narcissistic; she was probably just oversensitive to the word “crush.”

“What are you looking at?” Zhu Shen asked coldly.

“Nothing,” Wen Mo replied, feeling a rare moment of honesty. “I just don’t know how to answer your question.”

Zhu Shen blinked, momentarily stunned by her sudden sincerity. He had just been teasing her; couldn’t she tell? Or was this “honesty” just another layer of her performance?

He hadn’t expected an answer, and even if she gave one, he wouldn’t have believed a word of it. But now, he was intrigued.

“If you want to, say so. If you don’t, say so,” Zhu Shen said. “What’s there to be stumped about?”

Wen Mo let out a long, wistful sigh. “It’s because your status is too high, and mine is too low. I have to be careful.”

Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow, wondering which script she was following now. “Your status is low?” He paused. “Well, your family’s standing is decent, I suppose.”

Wen Mo: “…”

Only ‘decent’? Wow, as expected of Zhu Shen.

“Compared to your family, we’re far behind,” she said modestly.

Zhu Shen was surprised again. If his subordinates hadn’t been with him for years, and if their competence hadn’t been proven a thousand times over, he would have doubted the reliability of the report.

Wasn’t Wen Mo supposed to be a high-profile, arrogant, and overbearing “second-gen” brat? Who was this person whose very bones seemed engraved with humility and low-profile grace?

Zhu Shen was speechless. He honestly wanted to suggest she drop Philosophy—with her grades, she’d never be a philosopher anyway and go straight into acting. With her looks and talent, she’d be a superstar. But he couldn’t give that advice yet, as he still intended to eventually expose her.

“Enough nonsense,” Zhu Shen waved a hand. “Answer however you want. It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

You won’t eat me, but you might hit me or inadvertently trigger my ‘cannon fodder’ death, Wen Mo thought. Seeing his patience wearing thin, she stopped stalling.

“If I say I want to stay well, I’m an Omega, so it’s embarrassing,” she said, mixing her real thoughts with her act. “But if I say I don’t, wouldn’t that be a blow to your ego, President Zhu?”

Zhu Shen shot her a look. “You certainly overthink things.”

Wen Mo lowered her eyes and smiled shyly. “An Omega has to be delicate and thoughtful, after all.”

Zhu Shen: “…”

She’s really committed to the role.

“You’re certainly not shy about praising yourself,” he snorted.

Wen Mo: “…”

Does he have to argue with everything?

Satisfied to see Wen Mo’s smile stiffen, Zhu Shen felt his mood improve. “I’m leaving.” Without further ado, he stepped out of the conservatory.

As he exited, he glanced to his left. The tall ornamental trees swayed slightly, despite there being no wind.

It seemed her childhood friend was still there. Excellent. He had clearly heard Wen Mo repeatedly emphasizing her “Omega” status.

Zhu Shen’s mood brightened instantly, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. He had briefly felt annoyed with himself for wasting time arguing with her about whether she “wanted” to stay. Now, it seemed the time hadn’t been entirely wasted after all.

Wen Mo followed silently behind him. She couldn’t see his face, but she could sense something lighthearted in his “I’m leaving” and his buoyant gait.

Why? Because he managed to tease me into silence?

Childish. Utterly childish!

At the same time, Wen Mo realized that Zhu Shen wasn’t quite as terrifying as she had initially imagined.

His tongue was still as poisonous and petty as ever, but he wasn’t completely unreasonable. His patience with her seemed much stronger than during their previous encounters; he had even let her happily snap photos for a good while, staying quiet and not disturbing her or rushing her to leave. He’d even engaged in that utterly mindless banter with her.

Wen Mo stared at Zhu Shen’s tall, upright back, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

My hard work isn’t going to waste!

Did Zhu Shen’s current behavior mean he no longer harbored such hostility toward her?

However, when Wen Mo and Zhu Shen returned to the banquet hall—one behind the other and she spotted a beautiful girl being pulled back and forth by two handsome young men in the center of the room, she suspected she might have been overthinking things.

Perhaps Zhu Shen’s lighthearted tone and buoyant stride were simply because he knew Yin Qingyue was coming, and he was about to see the girl he loved.

Still, the scene before them was a bit provocative.

The sight of two male Alphas fighting over a female Omega was a total eye-catcher, drawing the gazes of all the surrounding guests. Everyone seemed to be in the mood for a good show, yet perhaps out of fear of the two Alphas’ identities, no one dared to intervene. The scene was frozen in an awkward deadlock; the once-boisterous hall was now silent, save for the drifting notes of a melodic piano piece.

Wen Mo glanced at the three protagonists in the center of the room.

One was Yin Qingyue. The other two handsome, tall youths were strangers to her. Since neither had “granny gray” hair, the male lead wasn’t present. Both youths had dark, somber expressions, making it impossible to discern their personalities or tell who was who based on the original character archetypes. After all, Yin Qingyue had no shortage of admirers—one, two, three, four, five, six.

Wen Mo turned to look at the other admirer standing right beside her.

Zhu Shen was expressionless, his face unreadable.

Wen Mo was slightly surprised. He’s this calm?

They were all “love rivals,” so why the double standard? He’d treated her with hostility and mockery, yet he remained unfazed by these two.

Wen Mo felt slighted.

“Are you okay?” she whispered, her face masked with feigned concern.

Zhu Shen’s peripheral vision swept over her dismissively. “What?”

Wen Mo pointed at the three people still entangled in their dispute nearby. “Well, them. Don’t you want to go over and take a look?”

Go on! Kick their asses! You’re all supporting male leads, who’s afraid of whom!

Hearing this, Zhu Shen turned his head and looked intently at Wen Mo. She blinked innocently, her face full of worry.

“You want to watch the drama,” Zhu Shen stated, seeing right through her. Regardless of her “identity,” he ruthlessly exposed her intent.

Wen Mo’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly waved her hands. “How could you say that! I’m just worried that Qing—, Yin Qingyue is in a difficult spot. Aren’t you going to help her?”

Getting glared at just for accidentally saying ‘Qingyue’ in a moment of urgency, where is the justice!

“Don’t you always claim to be her friend?” Zhu Shen countered. “Why don’t you go help her?”