Strategy to Tame My Dimwitted Older Sister A - Chapter 45.1

It was a cool kiss.

Yet it was also moist probably because of the lip balm and carried a faint, refreshing lemon scent, much like Chu Nanqiao’s natural pheromones. It wasn’t overpowering, just pleasantly fragrant.

Bai Xia didn’t react at first. By the time Chu Nanqiao’s lips touched hers, her entire body had stiffened as if frozen in place, like a rusted robot, her expression completely unreadable.

After planting that kiss on her cheek, Chu Nanqiao stood up and walked away alone.

Whether out of shyness or something else, by the time Bai Xia snapped out of it and chased after her, Chu Nanqiao had already returned to the villa and rejoined the party.

Not a single word was left behind.

Standing at the entrance of the Chu family’s mansion, Bai Xia touched the spot where she’d been kissed, feeling dazed. She couldn’t quite grasp what Chu Nanqiao had meant by that. Was it just a way to repay her for stepping in to help?

If so, wasn’t the sacrifice a bit too much?

But if not, then why?

Did she like her?

That couldn’t be.

She had made it so obvious anyone could see how terrified she was of Chu Nanqiao. It was practically written all over her face: Stay away from me. If Chu Nanqiao still liked her despite that, then the world must be a truly bizarre place.

Bai Xia still refused to believe that was the case. But if it was just gratitude, surely there were other ways to express it like giving her money or something. Using a kiss as repayment? That seemed like an awfully high price to pay.

Lost in her chaotic thoughts, Bai Xia tugged at her hair in frustration, an inexplicable irritation bubbling up inside her. She really wanted to march back in, drag Chu Nanqiao out, and demand an explanation. What exactly had that kiss meant?

Was it just gratitude? Or something more?

Bai Xia craned her neck, peering into the villa, but there was no sign of Chu Nanqiao. Instead, she caught Li Ai glaring at her, eyes sharp enough to kill, sending a shiver down her spine. Bai Xia quickly turned away.

Li Ai scoffed before shifting her attention to Chu Nanqiao, who was crouched on the ground, face buried in her hands. “I really don’t get you. What’s so great about her? She’s such a coward, I just looked at her, and she turtled up like a scaredy-cat. She’s totally the type of scummy Alpha who’d bail at the first sign of trouble!”

Chu Nanqiao’s face remained hidden, only her sparkling eyes peeking out as she mumbled, “S-She’s not like that.”

“Not like that? She totally is!” Li Ai couldn’t wrap her head around it. “What’s so special about her? How could you possibly like her?”

Chu Nanqiao answered matter-of-factly, “B-Because she’s pretty.”

“Pretty? Where?!”

“Isn’t, she pretty?”

Li Ai faltered. Bai Xia was undeniably beautiful.

She could admit that much.

But what good was beauty? It wasn’t like looks could fill your stomach. No matter how pretty she was, she was still just a vase useless beyond being eye candy!

“What’s the point of being pretty if it doesn’t put food on the table?” Li Ai fumed, exasperated. “Besides, she’s way out of your league. What does beauty even matter?”

Chu Nanqiao finally revealed her face and retorted, “Being, good-looking, is useful. I like, pretty ones, and, besides, I don’t, need her, to be able to put food on the table. I can, provide for her.”

Li Ai finally understood Chu Nanqiao’s meaning but was still very dissatisfied with Bai Xia. “What, you want her to live off you?”

Chu Nanqiao didn’t respond, silently confirming it.

Li Ai hadn’t originally had any issues with Bai Xia, but ever since learning that Bai Xia was Xu Mo’s roommate, she couldn’t view Bai Xia with a normal attitude.

Birds of a feather flock together, and people of the same kind stick together. Given Xu Mo’s character, Bai Xia might very well be the same. Chu Nanqiao, being an inexperienced omega, would be far too easy to deceive if Bai Xia really was that kind of person.

“She’s an alpha! An alpha living off an omega, doesn’t she feel ashamed?”

Chu Nanqiao declared righteously, “But, but, it’s not, her choice. It’s me, who wants, to provide for her.”

The logic was so impeccable that Li Ai was left speechless.

With a helpless sigh, Li Ai said, “Do you really like her that much? Her looks aren’t even that extraordinary. If you wanted someone like her, you could just tell Aunt Qing and Uncle Mu. Would you really struggle to find a second one?”

Of course, they could find one.

Money talks, and in this world, there’s nothing money can’t solve.

If it can’t be done, it’s only because there isn’t enough money.

Chu Nanqiao’s shy expression suddenly turned melancholic as she whispered, “But, if it’s, someone else, then it’s not her. I don’t want that.”

Seeing that Chu Nanqiao was completely smitten, Li Ai stopped trying to persuade her. “Fine, if you like her, I won’t stand in your way. But let’s be clear, if she ever does anything to hurt you, don’t blame me for turning on her without mercy.”

Hearing this, Chu Nanqiao immediately stood up from the ground and grabbed Li Ai’s arm. “So, so, Xiao Ai, you, accept her, right?!”

“No. But for your sake, I’ll grudgingly withhold my objections for now.”

Chu Nanqiao threw herself into Li Ai’s arms. “Thank you, Xiao Ai.”

Of course, Bai Xia didn’t see it that way.

She felt like Li Ai’s gaze at her was always filled with murderous intent, the kind that would leave no trace behind. She was certain she had never provoked Li Ai or done anything to wrong her, except for knowing Xu Mo.

Alright, now she understood the reason.

Bai Xia nervously returned to the car, terrified that Li Ai might chase her out. Plus, they were right outside the Chu family’s home. If any commotion broke out, Xu Qing and Chu Muqing would never let her off the hook.

“How did it go?” Xu Mo eagerly asked. “Did you have a wonderful alone time with Junior Chu Nanqiao? Such a great opportunity, did you two do anything spicy?”

Bai Xia smacked her. “What are you thinking? Do I seem like that kind of person? Not everyone is as scummy as you. Get lost!”

Xu Mo obediently returned to the driver’s seat. “Fine, don’t tell me. No need to be so angry. I risked a lot to help you this time. You have no idea, I saw Li Ai earlier and nearly died of fright. Luckily, she didn’t notice me or come out. Otherwise, you’d have had to take a taxi back today.”

When it came to Li Ai, Bai Xia couldn’t help but recall the look Li Ai had given her earlier. Even more so, she couldn’t stop thinking about how none of these troubles would have happened if it weren’t for Xu Mo, that troublemaker.

Her temper flared instantly.

“Cut the nonsense. I just want to ask you one thing did you do this on purpose?”

Xu Mo’s heart skipped a beat, and she stammered, “W-what do you mean, on purpose? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Xia Xia.”

Bai Xia grabbed her ear and repeated sternly, “Spill it. Otherwise, I’ll expose the fact that you’re Li Ai’s arranged marriage partner. Let’s see if Chu Nanqiao doesn’t have someone beat you to a pulp.”

Xu Mo instantly wilted.

Oh no, oh no. Bai Xia knew everything.

She thought she could keep this under wraps. Could it be that Chu Nanqiao sold her out?!

Logically, that shouldn’t be the case.

Kids raised in the Chu family weren’t the type to go back on their word. Unless, Bai Xia figured it out herself?

But that was even stranger.

Why would Bai Xia randomly think about this? Could it be that she actually took her earlier suggestion seriously and decided to freeload off Chu Nanqiao?!

If that were the case, everything would make sense.

Xu Mo turned the tables. “So what if I did it on purpose? I was just trying to create some alone time for you lovebirds. Do you know how hard that is for me?!”

“Lovebirds? Who are you calling lovebirds, Xu Mo? If you keep spouting nonsense, I’m really going to lose it!”

“Huh? Aren’t you two together already? What you said at noon yesterday.”

Bai Xia was at a loss for words. Not only had Xu Mo screwed her over, but she’d done it in the most muddled way possible. She seriously suspected she must have committed some grave sin in her past life to be stuck with such an incorrigible troublemaker like Xu Mo in this one.

Wait, no she was stabbed to death by Chu Nanqiao in her past life. So it must have been the life before that where she’d done something terrible.

“Where did I ever say Chu Nanqiao and I were together? And when did you see us acting like a couple? Enough talk. I’m telling Chu Nanqiao as soon as I get back, and she’ll deal with you on Monday!”

Xu Mo immediately panicked and begged for mercy. “Xia Xia no, Sister Xia! I really didn’t know you two weren’t together yet. Think about what you said at noon wasn’t that exactly what a couple would say?”

Bai Xia was so angry she wanted to hit someone, but she forced herself to hold back. “Have you been watching too many dramas and filling in the blanks yourself? Everything I said was perfectly normal!”

Suddenly, realization dawned on her. “If that’s how you interpreted it, then that Lin Fei guy. So that’s why you two reacted like that, huh?!”

At this point, Xu Mo had no choice but to throw Lin Fei under the bus too. “Y-yeah, Lin Fei thought the same thing.”

“So the two of you showing up in the cafeteria, you were deliberately following me?”

“W-well, not exactly deliberately.”

Bai Xia pinched her. “Speak properly, or I’ll message Chu Nanqiao right now!”

With that, Bai Xia pulled out her phone and tapped on Chu Nanqiao’s WeChat profile.

Seeing this, Xu Mo quickly grabbed her hand. “No, no, Sister Xia, I admit I was wrong! I’ll talk, I’ll talk!”

Bai Xia stared at her with a stern expression, as if interrogating a criminal. “Alright, then hurry up and explain. Tell me everything in detail, and don’t leave out a single thing. Otherwise.”

“Got it, got it,” Xu Mo quickly replied. “Actually, we didn’t know what you were up to, Xiaxia. But you usually go out with me on weekends, and this time you refused. So we thought there must be something fishy going on. After class, we secretly followed you to see why you didn’t want to come with us. Who knew we’d accidentally stumble upon you having dinner with Chu Nanqiao? You really can’t blame us for that.”

Bai Xia clutched her head in frustration, growing angrier the more she thought about it.

Still, she couldn’t entirely blame Xu Mo and Lin Fei. Anyone would have jumped to conclusions in that situation though those two idiots took it a step further, immediately assuming they were dating. That part had genuinely caught her off guard.

No wonder their expressions had seemed off at the time. They must have thought Chu Nanqiao was with her, which was why they treated her so well.

She really couldn’t thank them enough.

Bai Xia asked, “What exactly did you two discuss with Chu Nanqiao?”

Xu Mo answered truthfully, “Not much, really. Chu Nanqiao has a banquet tonight and wanted to invite you. She was afraid you’d refuse if she asked directly, so she asked me to help persuade you.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“Nothing else?”

“Nothing!”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely sure!”

Xu Mo raised three fingers and swore, “I promise everything I’ve said is true. If I’ve lied even a little, let Li Ai beat me to death!”

Bai Xia finally put her phone down. “Fine, I’ll believe you one last time. But if I find out you’ve lied, you can wait for Li Ai to come to the dorm for you. No, I’ll personally drag you to her.”

The mere thought of that scenario made Xu Mo shudder. It was too cruel to even imagine.

The two sat in silence in the car for over ten minutes before Xu Mo hesitantly asked, “Xiaxia, weren’t you in a hurry to go home and see your mom? Are we still going?”

Bai Xia snapped, “Of course we are! I was so mad at you two I forgot. Now drive!”

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