You Are My Omega - Chapter 38

After Xu Shijiu told Liu Lingyan everything she knew, she had no idea what happened next. She didn’t know how her sister and sister-in-law talked things through, or what the outcome of that conversation was.

Especially since her sister always avoided her. Even when she wanted to know more, Liu Lingyan, who was clearly on her sister’s side, would only offer comfort. She never revealed anything. What stopped Xu Shijiu from lashing out was that one sentence from Liu Lingyan: “Give Xu Manyue time.”

Perhaps it was because of that situation, or maybe because Liu Lingyan’s father had a new work arrangement, but somehow, her sister ended up skipping the planned meeting with the elders.

Lin Xinyi had been struggling with how to explain herself to Xu Shijiu, but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t find the right moment. And even when an opportunity came up, Xu Shijiu would always steer the conversation away.

Time passed quickly under the weight of schoolwork. In the blink of an eye, New Year’s Day was just around the corner, marking the beginning of a new year.

At school, Lin Xinyi always stayed close to Xu Shijiu. But for the New Year’s performance, she had been selected to join the class choir. She mentioned to Xu Shijiu that she could leave early, but Xu Shijiu insisted on staying. She wanted to see Lin Xinyi on stage.

She was sure Lin Xinyi would shine.

Xu Shijiu was certain of that. She really wanted to stay, to see that moment. But the looks from those around her made her hesitate. Without Lin Xinyi at her side, her courage started to fade.

She checked the performance schedule. There were still several acts before Lin Xinyi’s turn, and it would be a while. After thinking for a moment, Xu Shijiu quietly rolled her wheelchair out of the auditorium and went to the restroom, which she knew would be empty at that hour.

Her two bodyguards were both men, so they couldn’t follow her inside. They waited outside the door.

Xu Shijiu wheeled herself to the sink, stretched out her hand with some effort, and let the cold water run over her fingers. She washed her hands slowly.

“Xu Shijiu.”

The sudden, low voice startled her. Her entire body tensed. She looked up and saw in the mirror that Mo Jinlan was standing behind her. Only then did she exhale in relief.

“I want to talk to you,” Mo Jinlan said.

Xu Shijiu immediately noticed how Mo Jinlan’s eyes glanced at the blanket covering her legs. She saw the disdain and contempt there. Her hands clenched into fists without her realizing.

“You know, there’s no one else here right now,” Mo Jinlan said with a smile, her voice filled with satisfaction.

It was rare to find a moment like this. Getting a chance to speak to Xu Shijiu without anyone else around was nearly impossible. But today, the timing, the place, and the opportunity had all lined up perfectly. It was like fate itself was helping her.

“What do you want?” Xu Shijiu asked calmly. Her expression was composed, but she couldn’t deny the sudden panic in her chest.

“I don’t want anything.” Mo Jinlan shrugged, looking innocent. She pointed toward the door. “There are strong Alpha bodyguards right outside. What could I possibly do? I wouldn’t dare, not when you’re the little sister of the Xu family’s head.”

“I just want to talk. There are some things I need to say.” It was a rare chance. If she missed it, who knew when the next opportunity would come?

“Talk about what?” Xu Shijiu sensed danger. She watched as Mo Jinlan stepped closer and instinctively tried to roll away from her. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“You might not,” Mo Jinlan said quickly. Her hand darted out and grabbed Xu Shijiu’s wrist, the one holding the control switch on her wheelchair. With a small twist, she forced Xu Shijiu’s hand away from the controls.

“But if it’s about Lin Xinyi, are you sure you don’t want to talk?” Mo Jinlan smirked. She didn’t believe it. With Lin Xinyi being such a perfect top-tier Omega, how could someone like Xu Shijiu, an Alpha, not feel something?

If it had just been about the issues between them, Xu Shijiu wouldn’t have said another word. But if it involved Lin Xinyi, then things were different.

“Lin Xinyi already rejected you. What more do you want?” Xu Shijiu’s voice sharpened, and her gaze turned cold. Because of Mo Jinlan, so many cracks had formed between her and Lin Xinyi.

At this moment, she forgot that it was her own refusal to let Lin Xinyi explain that had pushed them apart in the first place.

Mo Jinlan hadn’t expected Xu Shijiu’s energy to shift so suddenly. Truth be told, seeing her like this reminded her of the Xu Shijiu she had once known.

“I don’t want anything,” Mo Jinlan replied with a shake of her head. Her smile had a mocking edge. “I just wanted to say, someone like you will only drag Lin Xinyi down. You don’t deserve a top-tier Omega like her.”

“You’re like this now. You can’t do anything. You can’t even walk. How are you going to protect an Omega? Don’t forget, Lin Xinyi is an Omega. She needs an Alpha who can protect her. What she doesn’t need is someone like you, someone who’s just a burden, someone who will only make her life harder.”

Mo Jinlan leaned in close, whispering into Xu Shijiu’s ear. Her voice was low, almost gentle, but her eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction. Emotional attacks like this always worked better than physical ones. They hurt more and cut deeper.

She knew that well.

Some people were immune to such things. Unfortunately for Xu Shijiu, she was not one of them. This method worked perfectly on her.

Xu Shijiu felt like something was stuck in her throat. She couldn’t make a sound, couldn’t form a single word to fight back. She couldn’t stop Mo Jinlan from continuing.

What hurt most wasn’t what Mo Jinlan said.

It was that she wasn’t wrong.

Mo Jinlan took advantage of Xu Shijiu’s dazed state. She reached forward and pushed aside the thick bangs covering her forehead.

A jagged scar ran from one temple to the other, stretching across her forehead.

The skin was uneven. The scar was deep and harsh. It was ugly.

Mo Jinlan’s mocking smile deepened. Before Xu Shijiu could react, she pressed down on her bangs with one hand and grabbed her chin with the other, forcefully turning her head to face the mirror.

She wanted Xu Shijiu to see clearly. To look directly into the mirror and face what she had become. To see how ugly she looked now.

“What are you doing?”

Xu Shijiu caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She saw her disfigured reflection, but before she could even finish her question, Mo Jinlan covered her mouth.

“Are you going to scream? You want the bodyguards to rush in and see what you really look like? You want them to see that hideous face?”

The words were like a devil’s whisper.

A voice so cruel and low that it seemed to drain all strength from Xu Shijiu’s body in an instant.

It hurt. Everything hurt.

The scar exposed under the harsh bathroom light stung. Her jaw, still gripped tightly by Mo Jinlan, throbbed. Her eyes burned with tears.

But what hurt the most was her heart.

“Look how ugly you are,” Mo Jinlan said softly, brushing her fingers across the horrifying scar on Xu Shijiu’s forehead with a strange gentleness. Her touch was light, as if handling something fragile and precious. But her words were sharp and merciless.

“How could someone like you deserve Lin Xinyi? Yes, she rejected me. But do you know why she rejected me? Because you keep her chained to your side, using the excuse of being her fiancée. That’s the only reason she turned me down.”

“Do you really think she could ever like you? Just look at yourself. You’re disgusting. If Lin Xinyi ever saw that scar, she would be terrified.”

“Xu Shijiu, you’re not good enough for her.”

After Lin Xinyi went on stage, she didn’t see Xu Shijiu in the spot where she was supposed to be. That absence distracted her so much that she sang off-key several times during the harmonies. Fortunately, she wasn’t near the microphone. She had been placed in the back row, and though her outfit stood out a little, her voice barely reached the audience.

As soon as she stepped off the stage, without even changing out of her performance costume, Lin Xinyi rushed off to find Xu Shijiu.

But she found no one.

Not even a shadow of her.

“Lin Xinyi?”

That voice made her freeze. She wanted so badly to pretend she hadn’t heard it and walk away. But she couldn’t.

She owed Mo Jinlan a favor. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, she couldn’t just ignore her.

“Mo Jinlan,” Lin Xinyi greeted, forcing a polite smile.

“Are you looking for something?” Mo Jinlan paused and then asked, “Where’s Xu Shijiu? Isn’t she usually with you?”

“I’m looking for her now,” Lin Xinyi replied tactfully, clearly hinting she wanted to leave.

But Mo Jinlan pretended not to understand at all. She smiled warmly.

“Want me to help you look? The more people searching, the better. I can even ask my friends to keep an eye out.”

Lin Xinyi hesitated. After a brief pause, she gave in and nodded.

“Alright. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Xu Shijiu is my classmate, after all,” Mo Jinlan said kindly, flashing a smile behind Lin Xinyi’s back.

Yes. Xu Shijiu was her classmate.

They searched all over the school and still couldn’t find her. Cold sweat began to form on Lin Xinyi’s back. Panic rose in her chest. Finally, after forcing herself to stay calm, she remembered to call Xu Manyue to ask if she had gone home.

When she heard that Xu Shijiu had returned home, Lin Xinyi finally exhaled the breath she had been holding. The weight in her chest began to lift.

She was safe. At least she was okay.

But then a new wave of worry washed over her. She had sent so many messages and made so many calls. Why hadn’t Xu Shijiu answered?

Her heart grew uneasy, but she tried to convince herself it was something simple. Maybe her phone had died. Maybe it had turned off by itself.

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