You Are My Omega - Chapter 72

The contract signed between Lin Xinyi and the Xu Corporation was still valid. When Xu Manyue sent Lin Xinyi away from the Xu household, she never mentioned the long-term contract that followed, which was set for ten years. Lin Xinyi also chose not to bring it up. Even when the Lin family later suggested terminating the contract, the matter was quietly dropped.

When Xu Manyue saw Lin Xinyi again, all the mental preparation she had made was useless. Lin Xinyi had always been beautiful, but now with light makeup and slightly curled hair, she looked mature without appearing old. Every gesture and movement carried quiet confidence.

Lin Xinyi had spent the past few years working abroad and had built a name for herself internationally. She had starred in many acclaimed film and television projects. Her acting was so exceptional that by the time she was only twenty-one, she had already won a Best Actress award. Every role she played left a deep impression, and for a time, she had captivated audiences worldwide.

Looking at Lin Xinyi now, Xu Manyue couldn’t help but think of Xu Shijiu. Despite her efforts to avoid any news related to Lin Xinyi, she still often saw her on TV and in online news feeds. Whenever she did, she would freeze in place, lost in thought.

No matter how much Xu Manyue tried, she could not block every recommendation on the computer or phone. The most she could do was stop the housekeepers from discussing Lin Xinyi openly. Everything else was out of her hands.

“Big sister,” Lin Xinyi greeted with a gentle smile. On the surface, she appeared composed, but only she knew how nervous she really felt, even after everything she had experienced in the entertainment world.

Xu Manyue stepped forward and took Lin Xinyi’s suitcase with a gentlemanly air. She shook her head and said with emotion, “You’ve really grown up. They say girls change a lot as they mature. Now you’re even more beautiful than before. I almost don’t dare to stand too close.”

“Sister, don’t say that,” Lin Xinyi said with a playful glare. As they walked, more and more people turned to look at them, but the two women remained calm and composed, moving steadily toward the exit.

Xu Manyue frowned slightly as she noticed people around them starting to raise their phones to take pictures and videos. She turned to Lin Xinyi, who didn’t seem the least bit concerned.

“Why didn’t you wear a mask or bring a personal assistant? It’s not safe to walk around like this. And why did you come back so suddenly?”

“A quiet return stirs up less noise,” Lin Xinyi answered calmly. “Besides, my connection with the Xu family has already been made public. There’s no reason to be afraid. The more you try to hide, the more attention it draws. I’d rather face it all openly.”

Xu Manyue was a little surprised by her answer. She studied Lin Xinyi thoughtfully, taking in the many ways she had changed. Perhaps it was Xu Manyue who had been stuck in the past, while the two younger women she used to worry about had already grown up.

Lin Xinyi noticed her looking and blinked at her. “What is it?”

Xu Manyue smiled, full of warmth. “You’ve both grown up.”

Both of them.

Lin Xinyi felt a sudden pause in her heart. She had grown up, and Xu Shijiu had also grown up.

She had been quietly following news about Xu Shijiu, but the only information she could get came through sparse media coverage. She didn’t dare ask her sister directly, and Xu Manyue had never mentioned Xu Shijiu of her own accord.

Xu Manyue noticed Lin Xinyi’s hesitation and knew what she wanted to ask. Once they got in the car and escaped the crowd, Xu Manyue finally spoke.

“Would you like to come to the Xu house for a meal?”

Lin Xinyi looked at her in surprise. That one simple question broke through all the effort she had made to steady her emotions.

“Don’t worry,” Xu Manyue added. “She’s not home.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the visible disappointment in Lin Xinyi’s eyes. And in her heart, she was relieved to know that Lin Xinyi still had feelings for Xu Shijiu.

“Since you invited me, I’d be honored,” Lin Xinyi replied.

She had wanted to return to the Xu home for a long time, just to see what had changed. And she missed the two cats, Blackie and Whitie. She never got to see them again before she left three years ago.

The drive back to the Xu house took them along familiar roads, surrounded by tall buildings and bustling crowds. Lin Xinyi suddenly felt dazed.

Nothing had changed. It was as if she had never left at all, as if those three years had never passed.

“By the way, how have things been with the Lin family? How are they treating you?” Xu Manyue asked with concern. Lin Xinyi and Lin Zhiling had once been close friends, both Omegas. Three years ago, when the Lin family brought in DNA test results and old photos of Lin Xinyi’s mother to prove their connection, Xu Manyue had been truly surprised.

The Lin family had grown stronger over the years. Xu Shijiu had always avoided direct conflict with them, choosing to keep her distance instead.

“It’s been fine,” Lin Xinyi replied with a smile, though the smile was just that—nothing more.

It wasn’t until Lin Zhiling’s mother revealed the truth that Lin Xinyi began to understand. She finally realized why the woman had acted so nervous during their previous meetings, and why Lin Zhiling had always treated her with such care and attention. The answer was simple. By blood, she was part of the Lin family too.

Xu Shijiu was indeed not home. But to Lin Xinyi’s surprise, someone else was there—Ling Mian, the Alpha who Xu Shijiu had once misunderstood to be close to her.

Lin Xinyi stared, eyes wide. Ling Mian looked a bit of a mess, with bandages on her face.

“What are you doing here?” Lin Xinyi asked in shock.

Ling Mian was just as startled. “Why are you here?”

Xu Manyue gave a helpless smile and looked at Ling Mian, who had completely forgotten she was a guest and had started acting like she owned the place.

“You really treat this place like your own home. This is my house. I brought Lin Xinyi here. That was my decision.”

Three years ago, Xu Manyue had warned Xu Shijiu not to regret her choices.

But over those three years, Xu Shijiu’s state made one thing clear. She had never truly let go of Lin Xinyi. She had never forgotten this Omega.

“Sister, what is going on?” Lin Xinyi asked, genuinely confused. Why was Ling Mian here? Why was she acting so casually in the Xu house? Wouldn’t Xu Shijiu be upset if she saw her?

“She’s a friend of mine,” Xu Manyue said quickly. “Since I’ve been staying home to recover, I often ask her to come and keep me company.”

It was a lie she had to tell. Even though the Ling family had stabilized, Xu Shijiu might still have trouble accepting the truth. She had always been strongly against Ling Mian.

“Friend?” Lin Xinyi was still doubtful.

Ling Mian pointed to the bandage on her cheek and said with a dramatic sigh, “This injury came from Xu Shijiu. She punched me out of nowhere.”

“I’m sorry,” Lin Xinyi said quietly. She knew the reason Xu Shijiu disliked Ling Mian was because of all the misunderstandings between them. Ling Mian had been completely innocent but was still hurt because Lin Xinyi had kept things hidden.

Ling Mian waved her hand and grinned. “No need to apologize. I’m an Alpha. I’ll heal fast.”

After all, a proper family member should never make things difficult for their future sister-in-law.

“Where are Hei Tuan and Bai Tuan? I brought them some cat food,” Lin Xinyi said as she looked around the house. “It’s a brand my friends overseas often recommended. It helps boost immunity, so I thought of them and bought some.”

As she spoke, her eyes scanned the familiar surroundings. The house looked the same as before, yet something about it felt completely different.

If her sister hadn’t agreed to pick her up today and hadn’t taken the initiative to invite her back to the Xu home, Lin Xinyi had originally planned to wait until she visited Xu Corporation tomorrow. She had hoped to see Xu Shijiu and ask her to pass the food to the two cats.

Lin Xinyi had come back with a clear purpose.

She had come back for Xu Shijiu.

In the past three years, Lin Xinyi had pushed herself to grow, to become better and stronger. She had worked hard to overcome the fear she once felt toward Xu Shijiu. She had also tried to break her old habit of hiding everything. At first, she had planned to return sooner, but in the end, she didn’t.

Part of her was afraid that Xu Shijiu would not accept her anymore. And part of it was the overwhelming workload. Her schedule had always been packed so tightly that it seemed deliberate, leaving her no room to come back. She could not bring herself to walk away from all that work and leave an entire crew of actors and directors waiting for her. She would not be the reason a production fell behind.

And she had been right about one thing. Someone had arranged it that way on purpose.

“Xinyi,” Xu Manyue said after a pause. She looked a little troubled as she accepted the two big bags of cat food. “Hei Tuan and Bai Tuan… they both got sick and passed away.”

Lin Xinyi stood frozen.

“That’s impossible,” she said quietly, disbelief flashing in her eyes. “You’re lying, aren’t you?”

She could not believe it. The last time she had heard the cats meow, their voices had been strong and clear. Even when they got sick, Xu Shijiu had taken them to the vet right away. No one had ever mentioned anything serious. How could they just die?

“It’s true,” Xu Manyue said with a sigh. “One week after you left, they both suddenly stopped breathing.”

That night, Xu Shijiu had stayed in the garden where they were buried. She sat beside their resting place for a long time. No one could convince her to come inside.

In the freezing night air, she kept watch over them until morning.

The pain hit Lin Xinyi like a thousand needles. It was sharp and quiet and deep. She tilted her head to stare at the ceiling, refusing to let her tears fall. Her hands were clenched so tightly that all the color had drained from her fingers.

She had once promised to be responsible. She had told Xu Shijiu that she would stay by her side. But in the end, the one who failed…

Was her.

That same night, Xu Shijiu had planned to stay late at the office, preparing for an upcoming contract signing. Despite everything she had accomplished, she still felt insecure when it came to expressing herself. She always liked to prepare in advance.

But her sister had called her with words that left no room for refusal. Every sentence made it clear that she had to come home early. Right away, Xu Shijiu sensed something was wrong.

A breaking news alert appeared on her screen just a moment later.

And that was when she understood.

She had come back.

Support You Are My Omega