The Alpha’s Hidden Marriage, Public Obsession - Chapter 27

Jiang Xue forcibly shoved Lin Yulan into the car, worried that the other might push the door open and leave while she was getting in. She even considerately fastened the seatbelt for Jiang Xue and pressed the window lock button to ensure everything was secure before finally settling into the driver’s seat with relief.

Jiang Xue: “…”

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

Jiang Xue didn’t respond, slowly turning her head away. After a long pause, she lowered her gaze and finally spoke in a tone that clearly conveyed her displeasure: “Aunt Ming isn’t here. You don’t have to force yourself like this.”

Lin Yulan’s hand, resting on the steering wheel, stiffened slightly. Though there was some pretense in her actions, her desire to make amends with Jiang Xue was genuine.

“I’m not forcing myself. It’s just… convenient. Think of me as a random taxi driver you hailed!”

“Random taxi drivers don’t share the same legal document with me.”

Lin Yulan was momentarily speechless. Jiang Xue wasn’t wrong, what kind of driver would appear on a marriage certificate? But she had already made her stance clear. She couldn’t understand why Jiang Xue was still upset. If Jiang Xue wanted a real marriage, that was impossible, something both of them had known from the start.

Wealth, status, material compensation, Lin Yulan could offer all of that to Jiang Xue. But not emotions. She couldn’t do it. Her heart already belonged to another Omega, and she couldn’t bring herself to seek physical compatibility with someone else without reservation.

“Did you tell your mother about our marriage?” Lin Yulan abruptly changed the subject, her tone stiff. “It’s a lifelong commitment, after all, and she’s your biological mother. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate not to mention it?”

Jiang Xue had no intention of answering. To her, marriage was far from a lifelong commitment. Even if she told Zhang Rong, her mother wouldn’t consider it cause for celebration. On the contrary, whether Jiang Xue married or not mattered little to Zhang Rong, what mattered was whether it brought her any benefits.

Like when Jiang Xue had just turned eighteen, and Zhang Rong had been eager to send her to the beds of those old, ugly, but wealthy Alphas. If she hadn’t run away back then, she’d probably have several children by now.

“What’s there to say? It’s not like this marriage will last anyway,” Jiang Xue replied with a bitter smile, turning to Lin Yulan. “What’s wrong, Xiao Lin? Did mocking me earlier not satisfy you, so now you want to drag my mother into it?”

Lin Yulan kept her eyes on the road but glanced back at Jiang Xue. The Omega’s forced smile seemed on the verge of shattering, making it hard for any Alpha not to feel a pang of sympathy.

“You know that’s not what we think. Otherwise, earlier is …..”

“So, Xiao Lin regrets it now?”

Jiang Xue let out a cold laugh. “Of course. After all, I’m not Qu Mengxin. To you, the most important thing is that I don’t embarrass you in public, right? If it had been Qu Mengxin in this situation today, you’d probably have torn the place apart. But a scheming Omega like me? I don’t deserve that kind of treatment, do I?”

Lin Yulan still felt somewhat guilty about the morning’s incident. So, from then on, she decided she would ignore Jiang Xue’s sarcastic remarks as long as they didn’t cross her bottom line.

Yet the moment she made her decision, Jiang Xue abruptly changed her tone: “What a shame though Qu Mengxin doesn’t want you. She didn’t even say goodbye before leaving the country. Who knows, maybe she’s already rolling around with some other Alpha.”

Before she could finish, Lin Yulan’s face darkened impossibly. Without warning, Lin slammed on the brakes. Jiang Xue, caught off guard, slammed her head against the seatback, the pain instantly making her grimace.

When Jiang Xue finally recovered and looked up, she found Lin Yulan glaring at her with icy fury. “Shut your mouth!” Lin spat.

The Alpha’s emotional turmoil was so intense that her wine-scented pheromones burst forth uncontrollably, quickly saturating the confined space with their spicy, acrid sting.

Normally, an Alpha’s pheromones would be irresistibly alluring to an Omega, just as an Omega’s scent would intoxicate an Alpha. But at this moment, Jiang Xue felt suffocated by the oppressive weight of Lin Yulan’s pheromones, gasping just to breathe normally.

“Why should I shut up? Was anything I said wrong?” Jiang Xue met Lin’s gaze unflinchingly. “Little Lin, sometimes you need to face reality. No matter how much you deny it, facts remain facts. If Qu Mengxin truly cared for you, she’d have found a way back despite her parents’ objections. Yet all these years, she hasn’t even sent word through others. The truth is Qu Mengxin never had you in her heart. What you call devotion is just—”

“Jiang Xue, shut the fuck up!”

Lin Yulan finally snapped, pinning Jiang Xue against the seat. “Listen well,” she growled. “Don’t you dare test my limits! Whether Qu Mengxin cares about me is between her and me. You have no right to interfere!”

Good. Exactly like this.

This way, Jiang Xue could convince herself that Lin Yulan’s earlier actions had been nothing but illusions.

“Why no right? I’m your wife now. Everything I say is justified.” Jiang Xue deliberately provoked. “Whatever happened between you two belongs to the past. But I’m your lawful spouse now. When my Alpha yells at me over another Omega, I have every right to fight back.”

Lin Yulan suddenly felt like the world’s biggest fool for believing Jiang Xue would keep her word. “So Teacher Jiang admits all those emotions were just an act, huh?”

Jiang Xue stared back silently.

“Fine. Just perfect. You’re really something, Jiang Xue!” Lin Yulan laughed bitterly. “With acting skills like yours, why waste time teaching? You could’ve been an award-winning actress by now! I never should’ve—”

“Never should’ve helped me, right?” Jiang Xue finished knowingly. “Finally speaking the truth, Little Lin.”

Lin Yulan should’ve explained that she’d genuinely wanted to help, that she couldn’t stand seeing any Omega bullied. But consumed by rage, all explanations could go to hell.

Qu Yuxin was her bottom line. Even if it were Ming Zelan saying those words, she would still lose her temper.

“Yes, so what?!”

“…Nothing.”

Jiang Xue pried her hand away to unbuckle the seatbelt, then opened the car door and stepped out without looking back.

Lin Yulan wanted to call out to stop her, but the more she thought about Jiang Xue’s words, the angrier she became. It wasn’t like she had forced Jiang Xue to get out of the car. Even if Ming Zelan asked about it later, it would still be Jiang Xue’s own problem, nothing to do with her.

“Damn it!”

Muttering under her breath, Lin Yulan drove off in a huff.

Jiang Xue stood there, watching the Mercedes-Benz grow smaller and smaller in the distance until it finally disappeared from view. Unable to hold back any longer, she covered her face and crouched down, crying helplessly.

She didn’t know how long she had been crying, only that her eyes ached from the tears. Wiping her face, she finally stood up.

She wanted to hail a taxi, but after scanning the area, she realized no cabs would stop at this spot. She’d have to walk ahead, take the overpass, and head toward the marked roads.

Unfamiliar with the surroundings, Jiang Xue pulled up her phone’s navigation and started walking while checking her location. Just as she was about to climb the overpass, a familiar voice called out from behind.

Turning around, she saw Xia Ran.

“It really is you!”

Xia Ran drove closer, only to notice the Omega’s reddened eyes clearly from crying with even the corners tinged crimson, her face streaked with tears like rain-soaked pear blossoms. “What… what happened?” Xia Ran remembered just moments ago, while still in the car, she had been in contact with Lin Yulan, who had confirmed she was with Jiang Xue. But now, after a quick scan, there was no sign of Lin Yulan. “Where’s Yulan? She just told me she was with you. Why are you alone now?”

“She left first.”

“Huh?”

What did “left first” mean?

Had Lin Yulan kicked her out of the car midway?

That couldn’t be!

Xia Ran knew Lin Yulan well. No matter how much she disliked someone, she wouldn’t resort to such petty revenge.

“I… don’t really understand what you mean…”

Jiang Xue was the type to stick to facts and wouldn’t take her anger out on innocent people. She explained patiently, “It means she drove off first. If you hurry, you might still catch up to her. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

As she turned to leave, Xia Ran immediately called out, “Jiang Xue! The road ahead is under construction. If you’re trying to get a taxi, you’ll have to walk at least half an hour. Just ride with me!”

Jiang Xue froze mid-step. “What?”

“Didn’t you check your navigation properly? It shows several sections ahead are under construction, so you won’t find any cabs around here.”

Jiang Xue wasn’t keen on riding with Xia Ran, but a half-hour walk was too far, especially in this weather. Without an umbrella, she’d likely end up drenched if it started raining.

After some hesitation, she turned back slowly and asked, “Can you take me back to campus?”

As the wife of her best friend, Xia Ran naturally wouldn’t refuse such a small favor. “Of course! Get in. Looks like it’s about to pour any minute now.”

Jiang Xue said “thank you” before pushing the car door open and sitting in the back seat.

Xia Ran glanced at Jiang Xue through the rearview mirror, noticing she kept her head lowered. Unable to hold back any longer, she finally asked, “Were you… crying just now? Did you have a fight with Yu Lan?”

Jiang Xue didn’t respond, nor did she raise her head, leaving Xia Ran in an awkward silence. As the mediator, she couldn’t take sides, nor could she say something like, “Lin Yu Lan has never truly forgotten Qu Mengxin you should’ve known that when you insisted on marrying her. Sometimes, letting go makes life easier.” That would just be empty talk from someone who didn’t understand the pain.

“Did she… kick you out of the car?” Xia Ran still couldn’t shake the question.

But Jiang Xue remained silent, her head still bowed, lost in thought. Her eyes only grew redder. Before long, Xia Ran spotted clear tear streaks on Jiang Xue’s cheeks in the rearview mirror the Omega was crying.

Support The Alpha’s Hidden Marriage, Public Obsession