The Alpha’s Hidden Marriage, Public Obsession - Chapter 71

Everyone loves gossip, and Jiang Xue’s situation was undoubtedly fishy. However, no one dared to say anything in front of the person involved. After that afternoon, Jiang Xue was frequently asked about the mark on her ankle. Though her tone sounded indignant, everyone noticed one detail Jiang Xue was in a good mood, her expressions livelier than before.

This left the Alphas who secretly admired or pursued her heartbroken. No matter how they probed or inquired, they couldn’t get any answers. It wasn’t until everyone noticed a red BMW frequently parked near the school gate that the truth slowly dawned on them. Chu Yuan, one of Jiang Xue’s few friends at school, was often called out to collect snacks, cakes, and other treats delivered to her. Eventually, it became clear that was likely Jiang Xue’s partner.

“Xue, your admirers are driving me crazy lately. They keep cornering me in the classroom, asking if the person outside the school gate is your woman,” Chu Yuan said between bites of the pudding Lin Yulan had delivered the day before.

Jiang Xue wanted to smack her for being so shameless. “Didn’t I tell you not to take anything from her? And why are you so eager when she calls you out, but never this enthusiastic when I ask you for anything?!”

Jiang Xue was leaving for Melbourne in three days, and Lin Yulan had been showing up every day. Not only that, she brought piles of things with her. Jiang Xue had no idea how Lin Yulan had gotten Chu Yuan’s number or how she’d managed to bribe her so thoroughly during her seven-day heat.

But judging by Chu Yuan’s shameless behavior, that bastard Lin Yulan must have showered her with gifts.

“Xue, you can’t blame me for this. As the saying goes, don’t let money slip through your fingers! Besides, you’re already married to her, what’s the harm in me enjoying some of her treats?!” Chu Yuan declared righteously. “She whisked you away without even asking me, your future child’s godmother, for permission. Eating her food is the least she owes me!”

Well that did make some sense.

Wait, no.

That wasn’t the point!

Jiang Xue snatched the pudding from Chu Yuan’s hands. “Didn’t I tell you? I haven’t forgiven her yet! If you keep accepting her stuff, how am I supposed to stand my ground when I talk to her?!”

At this, Chu Yuan had to admit Lin Yulan was a bit of a scoundrel. They’d been married for so long, yet there’d been no wedding banquet fine, whatever but not even a ring? Typical Alpha, all talk and no action when it came to love!

“Exactly! That’s all the more reason I shouldn’t let her offerings go to waste!” Chu Yuan circled behind Jiang Xue. “Think about it, Xue. After how she treated you before, this is what she owes you. Don’t feel guilty spend her money without hesitation. Alphas are unreliable no, scratch that, nothing’s more reliable than money! When she’s willing to spend on you, milk her dry. Otherwise, once she moves on to some young Omega for fun, you’ll regret not taking advantage while you could!”

“She wouldn’t dare!”

“See? Getting worked up again.”

Jiang Xue realized she wasn’t as resolute toward Lin Yulan as before and reluctantly closed her mouth.

Chu Yuan said, “Xue, when it comes to Alphas, you have to learn the art of playing hard to get. You can’t let them have you completely under their thumb. You need to master the way of handling Alphas to make them devoted to you.”

“The way of handling Alphas?” Jiang Xue looked at her skeptically. “Where on earth did you learn all this? What kind of nonsense is this?!”

If Lin Yulan dared to mess around with other Omegas during their marriage, she would make sure Lin Yulan could never be with anyone again!

“Our situation isn’t what you think. Even if I were to spend her money, I’d have to sort everything out clearly first.”

Chu Yuan asked, “So, do you forgive her or not?”

“I don’t know.”

Although she wasn’t as resistant to seeing Lin Yulan as before and didn’t recoil from physical contact with her, she still couldn’t get past the mental barrier. Some grievances were like knots not painful or itchy, but impossible to ignore.

That’s why she insisted on going to Melbourne this time. A big part of it was to find a new environment to clear her mind and think about whether she should truly accept Lin Yulan again and move forward together.

“Not knowing means you still haven’t figured out your own feelings,” Chu Yuan sat down and analyzed slowly. “I get it now you still like her. You can’t forget her, and you don’t resist physical intimacy with her. You’re just unsure whether she’ll truly treat you well in the future. To put it bluntly, you’re afraid of getting hurt again, of investing your heart only to end up with nothing, right?”

Jiang Xue didn’t deny it.

But that wasn’t the main reason.

Chu Yuan took her hand and said, “So why did you give your heart away so quickly? Not in that sense, I just mean, if you really like her that much, why not give it a try? Start over. Besides, you’ve already slept together. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to do it a few more times?!”

Jiang Xue: “…” She really shouldn’t have discussed this with Chu Yuan, it only added to her troubles.

Still, voicing her thoughts had lightened her heart somewhat. Jiang Xue stood up and walked toward the balcony. Unsurprisingly, Lin Yulan’s car was parked in its usual spot.

Chu Yuan followed her out, linking arms with her. “You’re leaving for Melbourne tomorrow morning. Aren’t you going to tell her?”

Jiang Xue had originally planned to, but after careful consideration, she decided against it.

“No need. It’s not like I’m not coming back.”

Then again, it was hard to say. If she still couldn’t sort out her feelings, she might stay longer. Or, if she couldn’t resolve things, she might bring up divorce with Lin Yulan.

“Even so, shouldn’t you at least let her know you’re leaving so she can see you off?” Chu Yuan murmured. “Besides, I think she genuinely wants to be with you. Before, you told me how much she cared about her ex, that kind of ‘white moonlight’ figure is something most people can never forget. If your woman has truly let go, it means she’s figured out what she really wants and who’s worth committing to for life. Just give her a chance try one more time.”

Jiang Xue didn’t speak. She stared at the red Mercedes BMW for a long while before finally saying, “I’m going down for a bit.”

“Are you going down to see her?”

“Mhm.”

“Then can you check what delicious food she brought today? If it’s tiramisu again, can you ask her to switch it up? Eating the same thing every day is so boring!”

“…”

Jiang Xue didn’t know what to say. She felt a little helpless but didn’t refuse. After changing her clothes, she headed downstairs.

It took her about twenty minutes.

Jiang Xue walked out of the school gate and went straight toward where Lin Yulan had parked.

Though Lin Yulan came whenever she had time, she had been busy with work lately and often brought her laptop. So when Jiang Xue approached, Lin Yulan was still working.

Knock knock!

The car window was tapped, and Lin Yulan abruptly looked up.

“Xiao Xue!”

Lin Yulan quickly set her laptop aside and pushed the car door open. “Y-you came down?!”

What she really wanted to ask was, Did you come down specifically to see me? But she swallowed the words in the end.

Jiang Xue glanced at the glowing laptop in the car and, after a moment of thought, asked, “Why not work at the office? You don’t have to come every day. Besides, I’m leaving for Melbourne soon. You don’t need to keep doing this.”

“I know,” Lin Yulan said. “I just wanted to see you.”

Jiang Xue asked, “How can you see me from here? By staring at the school buildings?”

Lin Yulan paused. “If you don’t want me to go in and find you, then I’ll wait outside.”

Truthfully, Jiang Xue had long stopped caring about that post-marriage agreement. But since she hadn’t forgiven Lin Yulan yet, she wasn’t ready to acknowledge to others that Lin Yulan was her Alpha.

She wanted Lin Yulan to experience what it felt like to have no official standing.

“Did you come down to tell me something?” Lin Yulan asked, her heart uneasy.

Jiang Xue shook her head. “I just came to tell you that I’m going to Melbourne. You don’t need to drive here anymore. Also, I’m not sure when I’ll be back. The project is supposed to last half a year, but I’ve taken a long leave from the school. So even if the project ends in six months, you still don’t need to come.”

“I understand.”

“Then I’ve said what I needed to. I’ll head back now.”

Lin Yulan didn’t stop her. The fact that Jiang Xue had come down specifically to see her already made her happy. Some things had to be taken slowly, there was no rushing them.

However, just as Lin Yulan was about to get back into the car, she saw Jiang Xue suddenly turn around.

And extend her hand toward her.

Lin Yulan was confused. She had no idea what Jiang Xue was asking for.

The next second, she heard Jiang Xue say, “Where’s today’s food?”

Lin Yulan froze, then burst into laughter.

Jiang Xue’s ears instantly turned red. She had originally planned to leave, but after taking a few steps, Chu Yuan had bombarded her with endless calls. In the end, she had no choice but to turn back and ask.

“What’s so funny? Is it really that hilarious?!”

Lin Yulan found Jiang Xue utterly adorable like this and was tempted to press her into the car and kiss her senseless. But afraid that laughing too arrogantly might actually anger her, he abruptly stopped after a few chuckles. “No, I just thought Professor Jiang didn’t like those things.”

It wasn’t that she disliked them, really.

Jiang Xue had eaten quite a bit of the snacks Chu Yuan brought back.

“I was getting them for Chu Yuan!” Jiang Xue immediately shifted all the blame onto Chu Yuan.

Lin Yulan reached into the passenger seat and handed her a large box. “Just tell me directly if there’s anything you want to eat from now on.”

Jiang Xue took the box and replied, “Then let’s wait until Young Master Lin succeeds in winning someone back first.”

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