ABO My Alpha is a Housewife - Chapter 21

Mo Chi had successfully played his part and withdrew gracefully.

Qin Ziyao was a clever man. If he still couldn’t grasp the situation after this performance, Mo Chi would no longer interfere in their affairs. After all, he had his own romantic entanglements to ponder.

Seeing Mo Chi leave, Li Ziyu quickly followed. He and Ji Shuran were friends, but being forced to look at Ji Shuran with loving eyes was truly awkward for him. His mind had been entirely occupied with thoughts of his game skins.

Ji Shuran simply stared at Qin Ziyao, waiting for him to speak. She wanted to see if he recognized the familiarity of everything that had just transpired.

Qin Ziyao gazed at Ji Shuran’s stubborn, unwavering gaze, his heart filled with guilt. After a long silence, he finally spoke with difficulty, I’m sorry. Is this how Zhao Qing and I have made you feel all along?

Of the ten sentences Ji Shuran had spoken, he had uttered eight of them himself.

Ji Shuran’s tears finally spilled over. If not for this staged scene today, given my stubborn nature, can you imagine where we would have ended up?

Qin Ziyao remained silent. He knew, because he understood Ji Shuran well, that if left to her own devices, she would never have thought of such a drastic way to make him realize her predicament. Their relationship would have grown increasingly strained due to Zhao Qing’s presence, eventually becoming irreparable, perhaps even leading to… the dissolution of their engagement.

He suddenly remembered what he had said about marriage in the car, and Ji Shuran’s reply that it was still too early.

His voice trembled with suspicion. Have you… already considered breaking off the engagement?

Yes, Ji Shuran replied bluntly, unwilling to offer false comfort. I honestly don’t know what to do. I think as our relationship grows more strained, everything we once had will become irretrievable.

I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I thought Zhao Qing and I were just friends. You were overthinking it.

Are you familiar with the way Li Ziyu was looking at me just now?

Yes. It was exactly the same way Zhao Qing looks at him.

What do you think?

I’ll talk to Zhao Qing and keep my distance from him. I’ll never participate in any activities with just him again.

Ji Shuran finally smiled through his tears. I thought you’d try to shut me up by saying Zhao Qing is just a friend or that he saved your life.

I’m sorry. I never paid attention to how people looked at me. Zhao Qing has always looked at everyone that way, so I assumed he didn’t like me. Plus, he knew I had a fiancée and had even met you. I never imagined…

I can’t believe he was already provoking me back then! I wanted to slap him so badly. How shameless! I only held back because he saved you!

Qin Ziyao hugged Ji Shuran tightly. I’m sorry. I was blinded by my studies. Please give me another chance. Remember how good I was to you before? I promise to be even better now. I’ll keep my distance from other Omegas too.

Qin Ziyao had always thought having a fiancée excused him from maintaining boundaries with other Omegas. Now, suddenly clear-headed, he realized that was no excuse at all.

He was always quick to grasp things, and everything clicked into place. Many past misunderstandings suddenly made sense.

The issue that had plagued Ji Shuran for so long was resolved in an instant, leaving him feeling almost giddy. Wait, was it really that simple?

He had even considered breaking off the engagement over something so easily resolved.

Wiping away his useless tears, Ji Shuran felt the half-dead hope that had withered when he saw Zhao Qing following Qin Ziyao off the plane finally revive.

They continued talking as they entered the shop.

No one noticed Shen Jin’an in the corner. He had come with Li Ziyu—or rather, he had been in the car with Li Ziyu when Mo Chi called.

Lately, Shen Jin’an had been feeling unstable. His heat cycle seemed to be approaching, yet it never quite arrived. He only felt secure when an Alpha was nearby.

He didn’t dare face Mo Chi directly. After arriving with Li Ziyu, he had hidden himself, watching everything unfold.

He began to wonder How could Mo Chi, who was so perceptive about matters of the heart, fail to notice Shen Jin’an’s feelings for him?

Were his feelings really that subtle?

That couldn’t be right. Li Ziyu had noticed, and yesterday, Ji Shuran had asked about it after Shen Jin’an’s persistent questioning. Even his family had picked up on it, and Mo Chi’s father knew too.

So why was Mo Chi the only one who believed Shen Jin’an couldn’t possibly like him? Why did Mo Chi dismiss his sincere confessions as nonsense?

Shen Jin’an couldn’t make sense of it.

Li Ziyu excused himself and stepped outside, only to find Shen Jin’an crouching on the ground. Thinking his heat cycle had started, Li Ziyu panicked and rushed over. Brother Shen, are you okay? Is your heat cycle starting? Should I call Mo Chi?

Shen Jin’an This is even more of a headache.

Shen Jin’an stood up. I’m fine. I was just thinking. Let’s go.

Knowing Mo Chi always chose his formal wear at this shop, he had deliberately made an appointment at another store to avoid running into him.

Li Ziyu, as always, spoke his mind.

Brother Shen, you’ve been acting so strange these past few days. Why are you avoiding Brother Mo specifically? If you’re in your sensitive period, avoiding just him won’t help, right?

Shen Jin’an shot him a warning glance, and Li Ziyu immediately understood. I get it, I get it! I won’t ask what I shouldn’t.

Watching the two reconcile as if nothing had happened, Mo Chi felt a pang of envy. He could have been holding a soft, delicate Omega in his arms right after turning eighteen too!

Qin Ziyao Thank you! He was genuinely grateful to Mo Chi. Without his intervention, he would have handled today’s situation the same way he always had.

In the past, Ji Shuran would have misunderstood why he insisted on greeting Zhao Qing. He would have seen it as just a ten-minute chat with a friend and gotten angry, leading to another bitter parting.

Mo Chi waved his hand dismissively. It’s all thanks to Shuran’s reluctance to let you go. Otherwise, none of this would have happened. If you really want to thank me, just call on me less in class!

Mo Chi had calculated it meticulously Qin Ziyao called on him and Ji Shuran in class thirty percent more often than other students!

Qin Ziyao ……

Ever since An Xin stormed off after their last argument, she seemed to be angry too. He, on the other hand, felt much lighter.

After all, Shen Jin’an wouldn’t bother him anymore, and neither would An Xin.

Let those two lovebirds go be all sweet and lovey-dovey together. Just leave me alone!

Mo Chi rolled around on his bed, suddenly remembering the scene he’d witnessed in the hallway that day—Shen Jin’an and An Xin kissing.

Ugh! Get out of my head! Mo Chi slammed his face into his pillow. He was actually feeling a little jealous!

Thinking about tomorrow’s banquet, Shen Jin’an and An Xin… Damn, even their names sound perfect together!

Wait, if they’re going together, I need a dance partner too.

Who should I ask?

Li Ziyu?

No way! He’s always glued to Shen Jin’an’s side. Can’t compete with that. Pass!

Wait, that’s the wrong approach. I don’t like Alphas anyway. I should find a sweet, soft Omega.

Ji Shuran will definitely be with Qin Ziyao. Ji Jinzhao is the star of the banquet. Han Jingchen!

Right!

Mo Chi immediately stood up.

Han Jingchen, a top-tier Omega, possessed a face that could make anyone’s heart flutter. When they were kids, many in their group had fought over him.

But Han Jingchen never liked playing with them.

Mo Chi and Han Jingchen could still talk to each other.

Thinking this, Mo Chi pulled out Han Jingchen’s number and dialed.

Hey! Jingchen.

Han Jingchen glanced at the caller ID again, confirming it was Mo Chi. He was surprised they usually just exchanged greetings in person, never calling or texting. The saved number was practically just for show.

Why are you calling? Is something wrong? Subconsciously, he assumed Mo Chi would only call if something had happened.

Mo Chi How could this not be something wrong?

You’re going to the Ji Family’s banquet tomorrow, right? You don’t have a dance partner yet, do you? Be my dance partner!

Han Jingchen sighed in relief that nothing serious had happened, but he hesitated. You want me to be your dance partner?

Yeah!

But shouldn’t you be asking an Alpha to be your dance partner? Han Jingchen wanted to say, You’re an Omega now, you should ask an Alpha, but that would be like stabbing Mo Chi in the heart.

He swallowed the words and rephrased them.

Mo Chi, though lacking logic, stood his ground. But I don’t like Alphas! I want an Omega as my dance partner. Just tell me if you agree or not!

Han Jingchen didn’t mind. Alright, I’ll pick you up tomorrow.

No way! I’ll pick you up. How could Mo Chi, with the heart of an Alpha, allow himself to be the one being picked up for the dance?

Han Jingchen offered a practical reason. My house is far away. If I pick you up, we’ll be at the Ji Family’s place in no time.

That made sense.

With the dance partner settled, Mo Chi was thrilled. His partner would definitely be more handsome than Shen Jin’an’s!

In terms of looks, An Xin really wasn’t as good-looking as Han Jingchen. It was just that the old Mo Chi had preferred An Xin’s type.

Mo Chi didn’t notice that his comparison target wasn’t An Xin anymore. In high spirits, he went downstairs to cook.

Mo Yanfei’s jaw trembled as he watched. Mo Chi, what are you doing?

I’m cooking, Father! Mo Chi replied. You haven’t had my cooking in ages. You must be craving it, right?

I do miss it, but Mo Chi, I have urgent business at the company today. I need to head there now. I’ll see you later.

Watching his father flee as if escaping, Mo Chi fell silent. Was his cooking really that awful?

Determined to prove himself wrong, Mo Chi tasted his own dinner.

…It’s been too long since I last cooked. I’m getting rusty.

Suddenly, Mo Chi longed for Shen Jin’an’s cooking.

Sigh. It seemed even the best brothers would stab each other in the back once they fell in love.

Just look at how Shen Jin’an treated him before he started dating, compared to how he treats him now!

The difference was night and day!

Mo Chi grew even angrier.

Achoo!

A cold? Shen Jiaye looked at Shen Jin’an with surprise.

Shen Jin’an rubbed his nose. No, probably just someone badmouthing me!