She Pretends to be A, She Pretends to be O - Chapter 5

Standing directly in front of Ning Xuechu were three female students dressed in an overly mature fashion.

The one in the middle was an Omega named Duan Ran, her petite face filled with an air of arrogance and condescension.

The look she gave Ning Xuechu was laced with a sneering smile.

The two on either side were Betas, fawning over the Omega in the middle with sycophantic expressions.

Ning Xuechu had often been targeted by these three, frequently subjected to their unwarranted bullying and verbal abuse.

She wasn’t particularly familiar with Duan Ran, and at first, she couldn’t understand why Duan Ran always singled her out.

Later, she realized it was because she was the poorest student in the class, the easiest target.

And since no one would ever stand up for her, Duan Ran felt free to torment her again and again without consequence.

Duan Ran herself wasn’t well-liked in class either, often seen flirting with older Alphas from outside school, earning her quiet mockery from classmates.

Bullying a poor student like Ning Xuechu gave her the greatest sense of superiority.

“Ning Xuechu, that outfit of yours looks like designer wear did that rich Alpha girl buy it for you just now?” Duan Ran taunted with a mocking smile, a flicker of jealousy flashing in her eyes. “Everyone praises you as the model student, but who knew you were this vain?”

Hearing the emphasis on the word “this,” Ning Xuechu smirked coldly, her icy gaze meeting Duan Ran’s head-on. “Seems like you’re aware of your own reputation among our classmates. How rare for you to have that much self-awareness.”

She deliberately stressed the last sentence.

Normally, when faced with Duan Ran’s provocations, Ning Xuechu would avoid conflict and swallow her pride to keep the peace.

This time, however, her sharp retort caught Duan Ran completely off guard.

For a moment, Duan Ran was stunned.

Then, her heavily made-up face twisted in fury.

She took a step forward, chin raised high, glaring at Ning Xuechu with vicious intensity. “I wonder what kind of tricks you used to seduce that rich girl. If the teachers found out you were involved in something shady, your scholarship would be gone in an instant.”

Having said that, Duan Ran smirked triumphantly, tilting her head with an air of superiority. “Apologize to me right now. Say ‘I’m sorry,’ and I’ll forgive your rudeness.”

Ning Xuechu scoffed, her cold eyes looking at Duan Ran as if she were an idiot. Mimicking Duan Ran’s disdainful tone, she said, “Not everyone is as pitiful as you, groveling for scraps and selling yourself. That wealthy Alpha you saw earlier? She’s my new girlfriend.”

“Impossible!” Duan Ran shrieked, nearly forgetting they were still on school grounds. “A nobody like you could never land someone that rich and beautiful! I don’t believe it.”

She had always taken every opportunity to mock Ning Xuechu’s poverty, unable to accept that someone she deemed inferior could attract such an outstanding Alpha.

A surge of bitter jealousy rose in her chest, twisting her expression into something ugly. Then, her gaze flickered to something behind Ning Xuechu, and a calculating smirk spread across her face.

“Ning Xuechu,” she said loudly, “if she’s really your girlfriend, then tell us when did you two start dating?”

“Why should I tell you anything?” Ning Xuechu retorted with a cold laugh.

But the moment the words left her mouth, her body stiffened.

She could sense someone standing behind her the faint, familiar scent drifting through the air.

Her heart clenched. Slowly, she turned her head and came face-to-face with a stunningly beautiful yet aloof visage.

The woman stood there unmoving, her cool, detached gaze carrying an untouchable air of arrogance.

Ning Xuechu’s heartbeat quickened, her rosy lips turning pale from the cold, parting several times without uttering a word.

She didn’t know, how much had An Jianqing actually heard?

Would she expose her lies right then and there?

Would she despise her?

Ning Xuechu’s panicked heart pounded wildly, her fingers clenching together as she trembled uncontrollably.

“Are you really Ning Xuechu’s girlfriend?” Duan Ran asked loudly, a smug look on her face as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Everyone says I’m much prettier than her.”

An Jianqing curved her lips into a faint smile, ignoring the provocation.

At twenty-something, youth and beauty were at their peak, it was only natural for young girls to be a little vain and competitive.

But she hadn’t expected Omegas these days to be so bold, openly flirting with a stranger who was an Alpha.

“Ning Xuechu, she didn’t even answer that means she doesn’t acknowledge it. Stop deluding yourself,” Duan Ran sneered arrogantly, her face full of triumphant mockery. “If even ordinary people wouldn’t look at you twice, how could an outstanding Alpha like her ever be interested? Don’t get your hopes up.”

Hearing this, Ning Xuechu lowered her head in humiliation, biting her lip hard.

She desperately wanted to run away, but her legs felt as heavy as lead, frozen in place.

Even though she was bundled in warm clothes, her entire body couldn’t stop shaking.

A chill rose from the depths of her heart, sweeping through her, making her instinctively shrink into herself.

Suddenly, a warm embrace enveloped her from behind, the scent of an Alpha wrapping around her completely.

Warmth spread through their connected skin, seeping straight into her heart.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes widened in surprise, her long lashes fluttering rapidly as her heartbeat raced even faster than before.

Noticing this subtle reaction, An Jianqing couldn’t help but chuckle softly, her voice low and steady. “This classmate of yours, my Xuechu is an utterly unique and adorable Omega not just anyone can compare.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a faint, ambiguous sweetness in its pleasant tone.

Ning Xuechu immediately felt a shiver of warmth brush against her ear, her icy body suddenly heating up in an instant.

Her pale lips regained their rosy hue, and her thin cheeks flushed as if scorched by fire.

It was as if she had been pulled from a bone-chilling ice cave straight into a springtime field of flowers, enveloped in comforting warmth from head to toe.

“You!” Duan Ran’s fingers trembled with anger.

Though the S-rank Alpha before her was only smiling gently, the aura around her was enough to exert overwhelming pressure.

Gritting her teeth in frustration, Duan Ran stormed off, her face twisted with unwillingness.

The next second, the warmth behind Ning Xuechu vanished, leaving only a lingering fragrance in the air.

Her gaze flickered uneasily as she lowered her head, wringing her hands together. In a barely audible voice, she murmured, “Jiejie, I’m sorry, I…”

When she looked up again, her reddened eyes were already brimming with tears.

Seeing this, a trace of heartache flickered in An Jianqing’s eyes.

No matter how stubbornly she armored her heart, she was still just a child who hadn’t even graduated yet.

With a soft laugh, a hint of helplessness flashed in her bright eyes. “You don’t do this again next time, alright?”

Her words were like a gentle breeze, carrying indulgent affection.

“I won’t speak carelessly again,” Ning Xuechu hurriedly promised, wiping away the tears that were about to fall.

As her fingers brushed past the strands of hair by her ear, the slight tremble was quietly hidden by her thick, dark locks.

“Good. I need to get to work,” An Jianqing said, glancing at her watch before walking away with graceful steps.

Watching An Jianqing’s retreating figure, Ning Xuechu’s anxious heart finally settled.

She took a deep breath, like a fish gasping for water, and looked down at her palm, already damp with a thin layer of sweat.

She had been too impulsive today, foolishly blurting out such an absurd lie, only to be overheard by the very person involved.

She had braced herself for scolding, but instead, An Jianqing had defended her.

This was an outcome she hadn’t expected, one she had never dared to hope for.

In the past, whether she was at fault or not, her uncle’s family always sided with her Alpha sister. The blame always fell on her.

Not only did she endure the injustice, but she also bore the punishment.

Being shielded like this protected with such favor was a first.

A flicker of warmth passed through Ning Xuechu’s chest, her eyes glimmering faintly.

Her expression darkened, and she quickly made her way to the classroom.

Once inside, she set down her bag and scanned the room, spotting Duan Ran in a corner.

Duan Ran was playfully roughhousing with a male classmate, but the moment she noticed Ning Xuechu’s gaze, she turned to glare.

Ning Xuechu curled her lips slightly, a hint of disdain in the gesture.

The next second, she saw Duan Ran’s face twist with suppressed fury wanting to lash out but forced to hold back.

Satisfied, Ning Xuechu lowered her head, opened her textbook, and began reviewing the previous lesson with quiet contentment.

She wasn’t worried that Duan Ran would spread the lie.

Having a stunning, exceptional Alpha girlfriend was something worth boasting about, but Duan Ran’s jealousy ran deep. She couldn’t stand to see Ning Xuechu thrive and would never help promote such a claim.

Nor would Ning Xuechu be foolish enough to repeat the lie to others, she’d only have to weave an even bigger web of deception later.

If An Jianqing discovered her ambitions, the consequences would far outweigh any gains.

“Don’t get too full of yourself, Ning Xuechu,” Duan Ran hissed under her breath as she approached. “Wealthy Alphas like her are just playing around. After feasting on delicacies, she just wants a taste of something plain and ordinary like you. Don’t actually think you can turn from a crow into a phoenix.”

Ning Xuechu’s mind involuntarily conjured an image of An Jianqing using her and then casting her out of the wealthy circle.

Her heart clenched, her gaze turning shadowed.

Though An Jianqing had been playing the role of a caring older sister so far, there was no telling when she might turn cold.

Rather than waiting in dread for the day she’d be discarded, it was better to carve out a place in that woman’s heart.

If she could make An Jianqing fall for her, the odds of winning this game would be far greater.

“You’ve hooked plenty of rich people you must be quite experienced,” Ning Xuechu tilted her head, a faint smile touching her otherwise indifferent face.

Duan Ran froze, her face flushing with anger. “What do you mean, ‘hooked’? They were the ones obsessed with my beauty.”

“Really?” Ning Xuechu scoffed, the disdain in her dark eyes deepening.

She had originally hoped to learn some tricks from Duan Ran about how to win over wealthy individuals, but judging by Duan Ran’s airheaded expression, she probably relied solely on youthful beauty and bold seduction.

One was willing to spend money, the other was willing to offer charm.

But what kind of Omega would someone as outstanding and perfect as An Jianqing truly like?

Ning Xuechu quickly grabbed her phone and searched for any scandalous news about An Jianqing.

After browsing for a long time, she still couldn’t find an answer.

Most of the tabloid rumors were just random photos slapped together with baseless claims, none of them could withstand even the slightest scrutiny.

Disappointed, Ning Xuechu set her phone down.

Staring blankly at her book for a while, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration there was one person who might know An Jianqing’s preferences.

Aunt Lian, the housekeeper who had worked for the Ning family for twenty years.

“Aunt Lian, Jianqing-jie’s birthday is coming up in a few days. I want to give her a gift, but I don’t know what she likes. Could you give me some suggestions?”

“Miss Qing is very fond of cherries, especially the kind that’s a little sweet and sour.”

Sweet and sour cherry flavor?

Wasn’t that exactly the scent of her own pheromones?

Ning Xuechu’s heart skipped a beat, hardly daring to believe the answer.

Support She Pretends to be A, She Pretends to be O