The Wealthy Heiress Abandons The Disabled Alpha - Chapter 4

10:00 AM.

As soon as Ning Che finished her first class, she sent a message to Xie Yuqi.

Staring at their chat log, she couldn’t help but tap on Xie Yuqi’s profile picture.

Unlike other Omegas who favored cute or whimsical avatars, Xie Yuqi’s profile picture was a white stallion with wings. From the moment they had added each other as friends until now, that image had never changed.

Ning Che tapped into her Moments next.

Xie Yuqi’s feed was completely blank, displaying only a single line of gray text. [Friends can only view Moments from the last three days]

Her cover photo was a vast, open wilderness with no accompanying bio.

Back when Ning Che knew nothing about Xie Yuqi and was desperate to understand her, she had secretly used a search engine to identify that image. She discovered it was a desolate plateau located in the northwestern region of the Empire known as the Danikes Plateau. With an average altitude of over three thousand meters, the sky there felt high and the earth wide. Up close, it was an endless expanse of wilderness covered in lush shrubs and wild flowers, carved through by deep, crisscrossing canyons; in the distance, snow-capped mountains stretched out in a continuous chain. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful but completely isolated, a highly sought after destination for outdoor enthusiasts and explorers.

Ning Che had once asked her privately why she chose that picture as her cover.

Xie Yuqi had replied quite casually, “I took it during a summer camp back in middle school. Just picked it as a cover on a whim.”

So there wasn’t any deep meaning behind it. Ning Che had felt a bit disappointed at the time, but she secretly saved the photo anyway. In the depths of her heart, she harbored a quiet hope that one day, she and Xie Yuqi would set foot on the Danikes Plateau together.

After waiting for about ten minutes without receiving a reply, she had no choice but to put her phone away.

Meanwhile, at the Xie estate.

Xie Yuqi was in the study, talking with Xie Xuan.

Buzz. Buzz.

The phone sitting on the desk vibrated.

Opposite her, Xie Xuan immediately frowned. Elite aristocratic families maintained strict house rules, and he despised being interrupted when he spoke. However, seeing that his daughter didn’t look at her phone, he let it slide and continued, “Xiao Qi, your Uncle Ye and Aunt Wang are hosting a private dinner tomorrow to welcome home their eldest daughter, Ye Ling’yi. Our family has been invited. You know Ling’yi, you two went to kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school together. Now that she’s returned from studying abroad, it’s the perfect time for you to rekindle your old friendship. Don’t leave tonight, stay at home, and we’ll go together tomorrow.”

Xie Yuqi’s expression remained calm. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked at Xie Xuan.

“Does Father want me to maintain a close relationship with Ye Ling’yi?”

“Yes. The Ye family is highly influential right now, and their various industries are developing steadily. Maintaining a good relationship with the eldest daughter of the Ye family will benefit the deep cooperation between our two households.”

“But has Father considered that I am the only daughter of the Xie family? My every word and action represents our house. Ye Ling’yi is an Alpha, after all. If she and I become too close, it could easily spark rumors.”

Hearing this, Xie Xuan laughed heartily. “I’m glad you have such foresight, Xiao Qi. But you don’t need to worry. If any rumors do arise, your Uncle Ye and I will personally step forward to clarify them.”

Xie Yuqi’s gaze shifted slightly. Her test just now was to discern Xie Xuan’s true intentions. Refusing to give up, she pressed further, “Then Father’s meaning is…?”

Xie Xuan’s expression turned solemn. “You and Ye Lingyi are old acquaintances, and the Ye and Xie families have always been close, with frequent commercial collaborations. Father feels that if the relationship between you two takes a step further, it would be a good thing for both our families.”

“Xiao Qi, your father intends for you and Ye Lingyi to become engaged.”

Xie Yuqi’s heart sank instantly, but she didn’t let it show on her face. Instead, she widened her eyes in feigned surprise. “Father, have you already decided?”

Xie Xuan studied her, pondering for a moment before replying, “This is not just about your lifelong happiness, it also concerns the development of the Xie family. Of course Father won’t make a decision lightly. We are currently just in an observation phase. In short, the two of you should nurture your feelings for each other first.”

Xie Yuqi didn’t speak immediately, her mind racing to analyze the situation.

She did know Ye Lingyi, in fact, they were quite familiar. As the eldest daughter of the Ye family, Ye Lingyi had been domineering and arrogant since childhood. Because she was an S-grade Alpha, the Ye family had poured immense resources into grooming her, which only made her more insufferable.

Furthermore, ever since that incident occurred in middle school, she utterly despised Ye Lingyi.

Rekindle an old friendship? Impossible. Nurture feelings? Utterly out of the question!

However, she didn’t openly contradict Xie Xuan right away. As the patriarch of the Xie family, Xie Xuan was powerful and dictatorial. Even if he doted on her as his only daughter, he would never tolerate her casually defying him.

She needed concrete, powerful evidence before she could convince Xie Xuan to abandon an alliance with the Ye family.

Rebelling rashly right now would only result in stricter restrictions, bringing her peaceful days to an end even faster.

Xie Yuqi instinctively knit her brows.

Xie Xuan observed her with a sharp gaze. “Xiao Qi, if you have any thoughts, feel free to speak your mind. There is no need to hide anything from your father.”

Xie Yuqi immediately replied, “Father, I am a part of the Xie family, so of course I will work hard for our family’s future. Besides, I came back today specifically to spend time with you and Mother.”

This statement left Xie Xuan highly satisfied.

Right then, the study door was pushed open. A beautiful middle-aged woman stood at the doorway, looking at the father and daughter with a bright smile.

“Are you two finished talking? Aunt Wang specially made her signature pastries. Come and try some.”

Xie Xuan laughed out loud and turned to Xie Yuqi. “Xiao Qi, your mother usually blames me for spending too little time with her. Today, I’ve specially cleared my schedule to accompany you both. Let’s see what she has to say about that now!”

With that, he stood up and stroked out of the room.

Taking a step behind, Xie Yuqi finally had a chance to pick up her phone and check it.

It was a message from Ning Che.

[Baby, I’ve finished my first class. It’s recess now, I miss you.]

Ning Che sent her messages every single day, morning, noon, afternoon, and night, whenever she had a spare moment.

Xie Yuqi’s face remained expressionless.

She disliked the term “Baby.” It always felt incredibly casual, like something the vast majority of lovers called each other, making it feel exceptionally cheap. She had mentioned this to Ning Che before, but Ning Che kept using it anyway.

Weighed down by her worries, Xie Yuqi had absolutely no desire to reply.

If anything, this message only added to her irritation.

She didn’t want her marriage manipulated by others, she didn’t want to be engaged to someone she detested, and she certainly didn’t want to tie her entire life to someone so easily.

As for Ning Che… she had never actually considered a real future with her. Every single aspect of their lives indicated that it was impossible.

She didn’t even have the urge to complain to her about the impending marriage.

She just needed Ning Che to be well-behaved and obedient, so she wouldn’t add to her mounting frustrations.

At the doorway, Lu Ruixuan waved her hand. “Xiao Qi, come on over.”

Xie Yuqi pushed all her thoughts aside and walked quickly toward her mother.

At 11:30 AM, Ning Che wrapped up her class.

She closed her laptop and looked around the classroom at the youthful, vibrant faces.

“This semester’s curriculum concludes here. I’ve left thirty minutes for everyone. If anyone has questions, you may ask now.”

This was an elite class consisting of only fifteen high school seniors. Hearing this, they all raised their heads to look at Ning Che, their faces unanimously flashing with excitement.

They were immensely curious about this young, handsome substitute teacher. Even the self-proclaimed genius troublemakers behaved themselves perfectly in Ning Che’s class.

And for good reason, the title of top scorer in Central Province was earned through brutal competition, not a hollow reputation.

A male Alpha immediately grinned and asked, “Teacher Ning, do you think I can get into Federal University?”

He had a very short buzz cut and bold, handsome features, but the way his lips quirked and his eyes danced made it obvious he was the clever yet mischievous type.

Ning Che smiled faintly. “I’ve already taught you everything I know. The rest depends on your own abilities. However…”

Ning Che raised her index finger and wagged it.

“If you don’t pass, absolutely do not utter your teacher’s name.”

“Hahaha!”

The students burst into laughter. This particular boy laughed the loudest because Ning Che’s words clearly hinted that he had a very high chance of making it. He was already quite confident in himself to begin with.

Following that, several other students took turns asking questions, and Ning Che answered them one by one.

When only five minutes remained, a long haired Omega wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who looked quite refined and scholarly, asked, “Teacher Ning, is your girlfriend pretty?”

On the very first day of class, these students had caught wind of the fact that Ning Che had a girlfriend. Whenever they found an opportunity, they would pester her for details, but Ning Che had always kept her lips sealed.

She didn’t want more people knowing that Xie Yuqi was her girlfriend. It wasn’t out of low self-esteem, rather, she wanted to protect the purity of their relationship. She didn’t need an audience, nor did she need envy or blessings. She just wanted to quietly grow old with Xie Yuqi.

She hadn’t expected someone to ask again during the very last class.

Ning Che replied readily, “My girlfriend is very, very beautiful.”

Several Omegas instantly squealed.

“Wow!”

“Teacher Ning used ‘very’ twice!”

Ning Che checked her wristwatch, stood up, and said, “I sincerely wish each of you admission into your preferred universities. This semester’s course officially ends here. Class dismissed!”

She packed her backpack swiftly, but she was still crowded by seven or eight Omegas.

“Teacher Ning, I want to hire you as my private tutor. This is my dad’s business card.”

“Teacher Ning, I want to hire you too! My parents agreed to pay you triple the standard hourly rate…”

“Teacher Ning, I still have a lot of academic questions to ask. Can I add you as a contact?”

Ning Che could only reply politely, “My apologies. I’m approaching graduation, so my schedule will be extremely hectic. I’m afraid I won’t have the time or energy. As for academic questions, you can consult the other teachers at Mingde.”

“Goodbye.”

Amid the disappointed sighs of her students, she quickly walked out of the classroom.

Over the past four years, in order to save up money, she had sacrificed a great deal of her extracurricular time to work as a substitute teacher. Xie Yuqi had been very displeased about this, though she hadn’t forced her to quit.

Ning Che had always carried a sense of guilt over it.

Now that she had saved up enough money, she wanted to focus entirely on accompanying her.

Heading upstairs, she saw someone loitering near the stairwell. Catching sight of Ning Che, the person beamed and teased, “Wow, look who it is! Our grand lecturer, Ning Che!”

This was a female Alpha with striking, sharp features and a head of vibrant, messy blue short hair. She was cheerful, talkative, generous, and fiercely loyal. Ning Che’s university classmate and roommate, Xu Fan.

Like Ning Che, Xu Fan was also a provincial top scorer, though her family background was significantly better than Ning Che’s. The two of them worked together as substitute teachers at Mingde.

Ignoring her teasing, Ning Che asked, “Are your classes finished too?”

Xu Fan raised her chin high. “Of course. I can’t be holding back our great lecturer Ning, now can I?”

Ning Che punched her shoulder lightly. “Get lost.”

Deep down, however, Ning Che was touched. Xu Fan’s family didn’t lack money, she had only applied to Mingde to keep her company. Once Mingde found out she was also a provincial top scorer, they had eagerly invited her to stay, which was why Xu Fan took the job.

Today, both of them completed their teaching duties. Next, they just had to wait for their lesson fees to be settled.

Xu Fan pulled her toward the lounge, a space dedicated to the substitute teachers where free boxed lunches were provided every afternoon.

The two of them grabbed a boxed lunch each from the counter and found a place to sit down.

“Ning Che, the hourly rate for a gold-medal lecturer isn’t low, and you were leading the senior elite class. It’s got to be triple what I make, right? What do you plan to do once you get the money?”

Ning Che had kept her plans tightly guarded from everyone, telling absolutely no one. But now that her wish was on the verge of fulfillment and Xu Fan was her best friend, she thought about it and decided to tell her.

“Seriously?!”

Upon hearing it, Xu Fan nearly jumped out of her seat!

Ning Che quickly pressed down on her shoulder. “Shh! Keep it down.”

Xu Fan’s eyes danced with excitement. “This is a joyous occasion! And since you requested…” Ning Che shot her a warning glare, causing Xu Fan to shut her mouth just in time before changing her tune. “I mean, if you want to give her a surprise, you should definitely make it grand and spectacular! What’s the point of being so secretive?”

Ning Che replied, “I still have things to confirm. There can be no mistakes.”

“Alright, fine.” Xu Fan looked at her with an expression of immense envy and regret.

Before starting her meal, Ning Che checked her phone.

There was no reply.

Is she busy?

In truth, she frequently received no response to the texts she sent Xie Yuqi. In the beginning, she thought Xie Yuqi simply disliked texting, but later she realized she was just too lazy to reply.

Over the span of four years, Ning Che had grown accustomed to it.

But being accustomed to it didn’t mean it felt good.

She sent another message:

[Baby, I’m having lunch right now. I’ll head back to school this afternoon. If you come back, let me know and I’ll come find you.]

After sending it, she placed her phone face down on the table and began to eat.

Xu Fan kept chatting with her, eventually veering the conversation back toward Xie Yuqi. She asked circuitously, “Ning Che, when are you two getting married? Where will it be? You absolutely have to invite me when the time comes. I’ll be your bridesmaid!”

Ning Che offered a quiet “mm” in response.

She couldn’t help but glance at her phone again.

Actually, she didn’t even need to look to know there was no reply. Because she had set a unique ringtone specifically for Xie Yuqi’s messages and calls, the moment it rang, she would know it was her.