She Pretends to be A, She Pretends to be O - Chapter 10

Ning Xuechu held her phone, searching for information about Qiu Mengxi, and soon numerous web pages and videos popped up.

Every headline recounted the romantic escapades of the Qiu family’s young mistress, who changed girlfriends every three months.

From A-list actresses to fashion models whether sweet and elegant or sexy and fiery there wasn’t anyone she fancied that she couldn’t win over.

Qiu Mengxi not only came from a prestigious family but was also outstanding in every aspect. Just being an S-rank Alpha alone was enough to make people fall for her, not to mention she was also incredibly generous with her money.

The Qiu and Ning families were both prominent local elites, with both competition and cooperation between them.

The outside world loved to compare Qiu Mengxi and An Jianqing, with tabloids often portraying them as polar opposites.

Alphas of the same rank naturally harbored intense hostility toward each other, especially when they represented their respective families.

Yet no one could have guessed that the two, rumored to be enemies, were actually good friends.

Ning Xuechu rubbed her slightly sore eyes, turned off her phone, and tossed it aside.

The most important thing right now was preparing a birthday gift for An Jianqing.

After a day of contemplation and browsing countless guides, Ning Xuechu finally settled on an idea.

She bought paintbrushes, paper, and a pound of sweet-and-sour cherries.

After two nights of work, the gift was finally ready.

Pleased with her efforts, Ning Xuechu carefully wrapped the present, planning to give it to An Jianqing in front of everyone at the birthday party tomorrow.

“Xuechu, what have you been up to lately? You’ve been acting so secretive,” An Jianqing asked, peeking in from the doorway.

Ning Xuechu was startled by the sudden voice, and the box in her hands fell to the ground with a loud clang.

An Jianqing followed the sound and saw an exquisitely wrapped gift box lying on the floor, tied with a beautiful ribbon.

“Xuechu, what’s this?” An Jianqing stepped into the room, eyeing the box curiously.

Hearing this, Ning Xuechu hurriedly picked up the box, turning away awkwardly to hide it in the cabinet. “It’s nothing,” she mumbled.

“Can I take a look?” An Jianqing smiled gently, her eyes gleaming with understanding.

“Jiejie, I…” Realizing she couldn’t hide it, Ning Xuechu’s cheeks flushed slightly as she lowered her head shyly and nervously. “This birthday gift. I wanted to give it to you tomorrow.”

“What if I want to see it now?” An Jianqing teased, taking a few steps closer.

She could have resisted the urge, but seeing the younger girl so flustered and secretive made her feel a sudden eagerness.

Or perhaps, she just wanted to tease her a little.

“I…” Ning Xuechu’s face burned even redder, her dark eyes shimmering as if she might cry.

Noticing this, An Jianqing realized her joke had gone too far and was about to take back her words when the shy girl suddenly lifted her head, her expression filled with newfound determination.

“Jiejie, if you close your eyes. I’ll open it for you,” Ning Xuechu said, her face scarlet before she ducked her head again, her fingers nervously tracing the edges of the box.

An Jianqing couldn’t help but chuckle, her voice a mix of reassurance and affection. “Alright, I’ll close my eyes.”

With that, she shut her eyes, willingly surrendering to the darkness.

“Jiejie,” Ning Xuechu called softly as she carefully unwrapped the box, her voice barely above a whisper. “Jiejie, you can’t peek.”

An Jianqing couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, suppressing her amusement as she earnestly promised, “I won’t peek. I’ll only open my eyes when Xuechu says ‘okay.'”

“Then,” Ning Xuechu hastily swallowed the final “okay” before it could escape her throat.

She carefully unwrapped the package, maintaining an innocent and guileless expression throughout.

Even though An Jianqing couldn’t see her, she had to be cautious, ensuring her true nature remained hidden.

Halfway through opening the box, Ning Xuechu paused and waved her hand in front of An Jianqing’s face.

“Xuechu, can I open my eyes now?” An Jianqing asked, tilting her head slightly.

The loss of vision made her rely more on her hearing, unconsciously straining to catch every sound.

“Not yet,” Ning Xuechu quickly replied, her voice tinged with nervousness. “You have to wait for me to say the word.”

“Okay,” An Jianqing agreed, humoring her.

Children truly were children, so fixated on the promise of that single word, afraid to utter it carelessly.

Ning Xuechu quietly exhaled. As she reached the final layer, her fingers trembled slightly, and her heartbeat quickened.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether this was just an act or if she was genuinely nervous.

The only thing she was certain of was how much she looked forward to seeing the expression on this person’s face when she saw the gift.

“Jiejie, it’s ready. You can open your eyes now,” Ning Xuechu whispered, a faint quiver in her voice.

An Jianqing noticed it immediately.

Deprived of sight, her other senses had sharpened. She could clearly perceive the child’s tension and the sweet-and-sour scent of cherries wafting from the box.

“Cherries,” An Jianqing said, her eyes still closed, a pleased smile curling at her lips.

Ning Xuechu studied that expression intently, watching for a few seconds before a flicker of dissatisfaction stirred within her.

That smile was too fake not at all genuine, not radiating from the heart, and utterly devoid of any real surprise.

“Not just that, jiejie. Open your eyes and see,” Ning Xuechu urged softly, her voice brimming with anticipation.

Hearing this, An Jianqing felt a spark of curiosity.

She opened her eyes, and when she saw the gift before her, she gasped, covering her lips in astonishment.

Unrestrained delight spilled from her eyes, her joy unmistakable.

A sense of satisfaction rose in Ning Xuechu’s chest. Biting her lip nervously, she asked, “Jiejie, do you like it?”

“I love it. Thank you, Xuechu. This is the most surprising gift I’ve ever received,” An Jianqing replied happily, taking the gift and examining it closely.

Inside the box was a colored pencil drawing of her and seven cherries.

Ning Xuechu’s artistic skills were impressive her features were rendered vividly, especially her eyes, which looked so lifelike they could rival a photograph.

But what truly delighted her were the seven cherries, each engraved with a character that together spelled out, “Happy Birthday, An Jianqing.”

Such a creative and romantic touch required immense thoughtfulness, proving just how much Ning Xuechu had invested in her birthday.

“Jiejie, I’m glad you like it. I was worried you might think it was too shabby compared to what your friends could give,” Ning Xuechu murmured, lowering her head and clasping her hands in front of her.

Her slender frame radiated insecurity.

An Jianqing was taken aback for a moment, immediately understanding who the ‘friend’ in her words referred to. She gently comforted, “Xuechu, it’s the thought that counts. I love this heartfelt gift from you even more.”

“Really?” Ning Xuechu looked up in pleasant surprise, hugging An Jianqing tightly. “As long as you like it, no matter how much time and effort I spent was worth it.”

Suddenly being embraced, with the scent of cherries filling her nostrils, An Jianqing froze momentarily.

To successfully carve words on those cherries, the child must have put in tremendous effort.

Hearing the joy and choked sobs in her voice, An Jianqing’s heart softened, allowing her to continue holding on.

No matter how well-behaved and sensible she appeared, the completely different living environment from before had left the child deeply insecure inside.

Psychological immaturity makes one easily misled and deceived. Her decision to temporarily conceal the child’s identity was the right one.

After crying for a while, Ning Xuechu voluntarily let go, wiping her tears as she asked softly, “Sister, was I very embarrassing just now?”

“Not at all. Xuechu is adorable. No matter what, I’ll always like you.” An Jianqing smiled gently, stroking Ning Xuechu’s hair. “Thanks to you today, I’ve gained another beautiful memory.”

Ning Xuechu’s lips curved into a happy smile.

Although giving the gift ahead of time was unexpected, receiving such high praise from An Jianqing meant it wasn’t a bad thing after all.

“Sister, can I still attend your birthday party tomorrow?” Ning Xuechu asked cautiously, her large eyes blinking.

“Of course. I’ll drive you there tomorrow,” An Jianqing replied with a smile.

“Thank you, sister.” Ning Xuechu’s smile grew even brighter.

After keeping her hidden for so long, An Jianqing was finally willing to take her out.

She just wondered what identity this woman would use to introduce her.

Ning Xuechu felt both nervous and excited.

That night, she barely slept, constantly imagining various possibilities in her mind and rehearsing how she should behave when meeting An Jianqing’s friends.

After countless mental rehearsals, dawn arrived unnoticed.

Having stayed awake all night, Ning Xuechu didn’t feel the slightest bit tired.

“Xuechu, didn’t sleep well last night? You don’t look too good,” An Jianqing asked with concern while having breakfast.

“It’s sister’s birthday today. I’m so happy,” Ning Xuechu replied, pressing her lips together in a smile, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

An Jianqing couldn’t help but laugh.

It was her birthday, yet Ning Xuechu seemed as excited as if it were her own.

But this also showed how much Ning Xuechu valued her, otherwise she wouldn’t care so much about her birthday.

“Xuechu, come to my room later. There’s something I need your help with,” An Jianqing said hesitantly, her delicate cheeks gradually turning red as if shy and timid.

Ning Xuechu was momentarily stunned but quickly responded with a smile, “Sister, what is it?”

“You’ll know soon,” An Jianqing answered softly, lowering her head to hide her flushed cheeks.

Filled with curiosity, Ning Xuechu kept guessing what it could be, to the point that she completely lost her appetite.

Entering An Jianqing’s room, her vision was once again filled with vibrant roses.

After two days, these roses remained fresh, their fragrance undiminished.

“Achoo!” Ning Xuechu sneezed, lightly rubbing her nose.

The scent of roses here was overwhelmingly strong, almost pungent, yet An Jianqing showed no sign of discomfort instead, she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.

“Xuechu, which outfit do you think suits me better?” An Jianqing pointed at the pile of clothes on the bed, her face flushed as she asked in a soft voice.

Ning Xuechu felt a lump form in her throat, an inexplicable anger rising in her chest.

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