You Are My Omega - Chapter 78

Xu Shijiu’s invitation made Lin Xinyi truly happy. Even though it had been made clear that Fantuan was the one who wanted to see her, she still could not suppress the joy in her heart. No matter the reason, no matter the motivation, at the very least, Xu Shijiu had reached out to her. And that meant she could see her again.

Lin Xinyi arrived at the Liu residence very quickly, even before Fantuan had woken up from her afternoon nap.

Three years had changed Xu Shijiu in many ways, and Lin Xinyi too.

Seeing Lin Xinyi again, Liu Lingyan could not help but reflect quietly. Time was the most ruthless thing, and yet also the thing that made people grow.

“Lingyan, I brought a little something for you,” Lin Xinyi said, handing over a box of supplements. She tried to appear relaxed, but in truth, she was nervous. It had been so long since she last saw Liu Lingyan.

“You didn’t need to bring anything. Just having you here is enough. Come in and have a seat,” Liu Lingyan replied as she accepted the gift. When she saw the familiar brand on the packaging, she couldn’t help but smile. She noticed it was the exact same kind that Xu Shijiu had brought earlier. Same brand, same type, not even the slightest difference. It made her sigh inwardly. These two still had an unspoken understanding.

What Liu Lingyan did not know was that the supplements Xu Shijiu had brought were prepared by Xu Manyue. She had personally tested them and found them effective, so she kept a regular supply in the car’s trunk and had Xu Shijiu bring them along.

And this was something Liu Lingyan would never find out.

The moment the doorbell rang, Xu Shijiu already guessed it was Lin Xinyi. She had mentally prepared herself, but the moment she actually saw her, she realized how useless that preparation was. No matter how much time passed, no matter how much the setting changed, whenever she faced Lin Xinyi, she could never stay calm.

It felt just like yesterday. Xu Shijiu sat with her head down, sipping tea, much like the way she usually buried herself in documents. She never once looked up at Lin Xinyi.

The room fell into a quiet stillness. Liu Lingyan broke the silence gently.

“Come sit, Xinyi. I’ll pour you a cup of tea. Fantuan is still napping. She’ll be awake soon.”

“Thank you,” Lin Xinyi replied softly and sat on the single armchair across from Xu Shijiu. Her eyes kept drifting toward her. Perhaps because she was coming to spend time with Fantuan, Xu Shijiu was dressed casually in a tracksuit instead of the business suit she had worn the day before. It gave her a more relaxed, approachable look.

“Fantuan is in first grade now, right?” Lin Xinyi started the conversation. She didn’t want things between her and Xu Shijiu to make Liu Lingyan uncomfortable.

“Yes. In the beginning, she threw a fit every day about not wanting to go to school,” Liu Lingyan said with a laugh. She could still remember Fantuan clutching the table leg and crying, refusing to leave the house.

Lin Xinyi smiled too. She could picture it clearly.

“It’s always hard to adjust at first. Lingyan, are you still acting?”

From the way Liu Lingyan spoke about Fantuan’s routine, it seemed she was very involved in her daily life. If she were still filming frequently, she probably would not be so familiar. Once actors joined a production, they usually didn’t return home for at least two months.

“I only take roles when the script feels right. I haven’t done any television work lately, just some film projects,” Liu Lingyan explained. It was a choice she made. Turning down opportunities at the height of her career definitely impacted her fame and success. She loved acting, loved the sparks that flew between performers on set. But none of that was more important than Fantuan.

The constant travel and long shoots meant she couldn’t be there for Fantuan. Now that Fantuan was in a single-parent household, she couldn’t bear the idea of her daughter growing up lonely. That kind of emotional absence could do real harm to a child.

So between her career and her daughter, she chose Fantuan.

Xu Shijiu sat silently throughout the conversation, listening to Liu Lingyan and Lin Xinyi talk. She didn’t say a word. She stared into her empty teacup, fixated on the two koi fish etched into the bottom. If not for Liu Lingyan frequently refilling her tea, she probably would have just kept sitting there, lost in that quiet stare.

Lin Xinyi kept watching the Alpha and noticed every small detail. She saw how many cups of tea Xu Shijiu had already drunk and finally could not hold back.

“Xu Shijiu, if you keep drinking like that, your stomach’s going to feel awful,” she said gently.

Rather than slowing down, Xu Shijiu drank even faster. Why should she listen to Lin Xinyi? What was Lin Xinyi to her? As an Alpha, how could she let herself be controlled by the words of an Omega? If Lin Xinyi said not to drink, then she would do the opposite.

Both Liu Lingyan and Lin Xinyi looked at her and sighed helplessly.

“Shijiu, no more tea. Take a break,” Liu Lingyan said with a wry smile. Under Lin Xinyi’s pleading gaze, she had no choice but to step in.

Xu Shijiu hadn’t expected her to take Lin Xinyi’s side. She silently put down her cup, stood up, and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Lin Xinyi asked quickly, watching her closely.

“The bathroom.”

Those two tightly spoken words made both Liu Lingyan and Lin Xinyi smile despite themselves.

With Xu Shijiu gone, Liu Lingyan and Lin Xinyi were finally alone.

“Xinyi, what really happened between you and Shijiu?” Liu Lingyan asked quietly. Her curiosity had been building for too long. What could have happened to make Xu Shijiu turn into someone so cold and defensive?

Lin Xinyi lowered her eyes and let out a long sigh.

“It was all my fault.”

Seeing her like this, Liu Lingyan didn’t press further. When Xu Shijiu returned, the atmosphere grew even more tense and awkward.

Thankfully, Fantuan woke up right then and saved them all from the heavy silence.

The moment Fantuan saw Lin Xinyi, she could hardly believe her eyes. She had seen the photos yesterday and already thought Aunt Lin looked beautiful. But seeing her up close now, Lin Xinyi looked even more stunning. Fantuan ran forward and wrapped her arms around her leg, her eyes full of wonder.

“Aunt Lin, you’re so beautiful!”

Lin Xinyi crouched down to meet her at eye level. She gently patted Fantuan’s head and smiled warmly.

“It’s been a long time, Fantuan. You look beautiful too, and so adorable.”

The little one who used to snuggle in her arms and cling to her for affection had now grown into a first grader. The child who once mumbled her words could now speak with such clarity and confidence. Looking at Fantuan, Lin Xinyi felt overwhelmed with emotion.

The sudden sound of a ringing phone broke the calm. The sharp tone instantly drew everyone’s attention. Xu Shijiu, composed as ever, answered the call in full view of them all.

“Do I have to come back now?” she asked, her voice sounding a bit reluctant.

Fantuan immediately tensed up. She walked over and held her little aunt’s hand tightly. Her eyes were full of unwillingness, but she said nothing and didn’t interrupt.

Of all times, the phone had to ring now. There was no doubt it had been arranged intentionally.

But when Xu Shijiu looked down and met Fantuan’s eyes, the words she was about to say got stuck in her throat. She sighed silently.

“Postpone it until tomorrow. I’ll return to the office and handle it then,” she said quietly into the phone.

For Fantuan, that was the best answer she could hope for. But just as her face lit up with happiness, she noticed the brief flash of hesitation in her little aunt’s expression. Her joy faded quickly as reason returned. She tugged gently on Xu Shijiu’s sleeve.

“Little Aunt, if work is important, you should go. I still have Aunt Lin and Mommy here with me.”

Despite knowing that Fantuan would still feel sad, Xu Shijiu chose to stay.

Lin Xinyi’s presence made it even more difficult. If she stayed, she would have to interact with Lin Xinyi in front of Fantuan. She couldn’t be cold, couldn’t ignore her, and couldn’t wear a stiff face. Fantuan was too sensitive not to notice. But Xu Shijiu truly could not bring herself to pretend everything was fine. She couldn’t fake warmth. She couldn’t pretend that nothing had happened between them.

“I should go,” she said softly, placing a kiss on Fantuan’s small hand before preparing to leave.

“I’ll walk you out,” Lin Xinyi quickly offered and followed after her.

Fantuan watched the two women’s backs as they walked out one after the other. She couldn’t tell whether they got along or didn’t. Confused, she looked up at her mother, hoping for some kind of answer.

Once they were out of sight, and no longer in front of Fantuan, Xu Shijiu no longer bothered to hide her irritation at Lin Xinyi’s presence. She walked quickly toward the car waiting outside. Hearing the footsteps behind her, she frowned and said without turning around, “I don’t need you to walk me out.”

“Xu Shijiu, I’m sorry,” Lin Xinyi said as she tried to keep up with her, even though her heels were rubbing painfully against her skin with every step.

Xu Shijiu didn’t slow down in the slightest. Her voice was cold.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Miss Lin. There’s nothing between us that calls for an apology. We are simply a superior and her subordinate. That’s all. There’s nothing more to say.”

Before Lin Xinyi could respond, Xu Shijiu had already climbed into the car and shut the door.

Lin Xinyi felt a wave of disappointment. Today’s meeting had been unexpected, but she had still hoped to make the most of it. In the end, she hadn’t even managed to say a few proper words to Xu Shijiu. It had all ended far too quickly.

She remembered what her sister had said. This was going to be a long battle. It was still early, just the beginning, and already it felt like she was losing ground.

Since Lin Xinyi’s return, what was once a peaceful office with only Yi Lu occasionally stopping by had now gained another frequent visitor, Lin Xinyi herself.

Xu Shijiu tried her best to avoid both Omegas. But they each had valid reasons related to work that allowed them to enter her office.

Yi Lu never posed much of a threat. She could not stir any emotion in Xu Shijiu, not even a flicker of interest. But Lin Xinyi was different.

Lin Xinyi, simply by existing, was enough to shake her resolve.

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