Accidentally Marked My Ex’s Powerful Sister (GL, ABO) - Chapter 2
Around nine o’clock, thunder rumbled as the rain grew heavier. Wind blew sheets of rain sideways, scattering them across the sky.
Yu Qing stood by the window, looking out. A tall figure was getting soaked in the garden, being urged to leave by security.
That was Ye Zhixun, the one Yu Qing had just thrown out.
Through the rain and blur, Yu Qing thought she could feel Ye Zhixun turn and look up at her.
She could picture those familiar almond-shaped eyes, wide and slightly trembling, filled with shock and disbelief.
Yu Qing had always acted sweet and innocent in front of Ye Zhixun. In the end, she had shattered that image completely.
She closed her eyes and pulled the curtains shut. She didn’t want to think about it anymore.
She wasn’t a naive teenager.
To gain something, she had to give something up.
Yu Qing kept repeating that to herself like a mantra.
Her phone chimed with a new message.
Princess Qing, are you awake yet? I’m on my way to pick you up. By the way, the Victoria is all set to host your birthday party. I’ve sent you the digital invitation. Let me know if you like the design.
It was a message from Song Feiyu.
Yu Qing’s eyes widened.
The Victoria. Song Feiyu had actually managed to rent out the Victoria yacht for her birthday party.
Her mood immediately lifted. The heaviness and guilt she had felt just a moment ago were pushed down. She picked up her phone, ready to call her stylist, when she saw the food Ye Zhixun had left behind on the table.
She knew how perfectly it matched her tastes. She also knew how satisfying that cake would be.
But she had already decided to let go. She didn’t want to linger on it.
If Song Feiyu saw the food, it might be awkward.
Still, throwing it away seemed like such a waste.
Just then, another message came in.
Qing, Yu Li is at Victoria Garden today. Go check in on her. Use the excuse of inviting her to your party and see how she’s doing.
This was from her brother, Yu Qi.
Yu Qing and Yu Qi were full siblings. Yu Li was their half-sister.
Yu Li’s mother and Yu Qing’s mother had been at odds for decades. Their feud had now passed on to the younger generation.
More than ten years ago, to be blunt, Yu Qing’s mother had taken the position of the legitimate wife by pushing out Yu Li’s mother. She had enjoyed her moment of glory until the Yu Group neared bankruptcy. They desperately needed someone to step in, and sixteen-year-old Yu Li was the only one they could turn to.
No one expected that Yu Li would not only revive the company but also grow it into something even greater.
There was a period when Yu Qing, her mother, and her brother all had to act humbly.
Yu Qing still didn’t understand where her mother and brother got their confidence, thinking they could win against Yu Li in the upcoming leadership transition.
She had wanted to stay out of it, but her mother and brother kept feeding her their plans and opinions. They were her family, and she couldn’t completely distance herself from them.
After all, she had benefited from their protection for years. Maybe it was time she helped them a little.
Her choice of university, even her decision to live at Victoria Garden, had all been arranged by them.
Back then, she had been naive. When she first met Yu Li, she had sweetly called her sister. Their relationship hadn’t been as strained as the one between Yu Li and her mother and brother. It was relatively neutral.
Only recently had Yu Qing begun to understand more.
Yu Li’s heat cycles were kept secret from her business rivals. It wasn’t easy to find out the details.
Sometimes Yu Qi would ask her to probe for information about Yu Li, and now and then he would ask her to visit in person.
Looking at her brother’s message, Yu Qing felt a headache coming on. But an idea popped into her head.
Since she was going to see Yu Li anyway, she might as well take this food along.
Yu Li was even pickier than she was. Whether she accepted it or not didn’t matter. It would at least be more acceptable for Yu Li to throw it out than for her to do it herself.
With that thought, Yu Qing felt a little better.
She called to book her stylist, quickly freshened up, changed into a dress, packed the food and cake neatly into containers, and headed out.
At the elevator, she made a call to Yu Li.
“Sis, are you home at Victoria Garden? I have something tasty I want to bring you,” she said in a soft and sugary voice.
A slightly husky voice replied.
“Yes.”
“Then I’m coming up now,” Yu Qing said, deliberately sounding cheerful.
When Yu Li and her mother had been forced out of the main house, they had stayed at Victoria Garden. Yu Li had grown attached to it. Even now, though she could live in the Yu family’s ancestral home, she preferred this place.
Yu Qing quickly reached the right floor. The elevator opened automatically, and she stepped out with her hands full.
Just as she arrived at the door, it opened.
The person who answered was Qin Shuangxue, a close friend of Yu Li’s mother and Yu Li’s personal physician. She was an Omega in her fifties and had a kind, gentle face.
“Aunt Qin,” Yu Qing greeted her with a polite smile. She already guessed that Yu Li was probably in her heat cycle.
Years ago, when Qin Shuangxue had fallen on hard times, Yu Li’s mother had sponsored her to study medicine abroad. The hospital she later opened had been funded by Yu Li. Their relationship wasn’t just doctor and patient but more like family.
Yu Qing knew this and was always very respectful toward her.
“You brought all this? That’s so much. Must have been heavy,” Qin Shuangxue said warmly, taking the items from her.
“It’s just some extra food from home. It’s pretty tasty, so I thought I’d bring some for my sister. It’s not heavy at all,” Yu Qing said as she changed into house slippers. She deliberately didn’t mention that the food was made by Ye Zhixun.
“She’s in the bedroom. She’s not feeling well today,” Qin Shuangxue said in a lowered voice.
“Can I go see her?” Yu Qing asked, also lowering her voice.
“She’s on a suppressant drip and feeling a bit weak, but she said that if it’s you, she definitely wants to see you,” Qin Shuangxue said with a gentle smile. Her words made Yu Qing feel a little more at ease.
Her mother and brother were afraid of Yu Li. Now that she knew their intentions, she could no longer face Yu Li as innocently as before. Every visit felt like walking on eggshells. She always feared being seen through, but she had no choice but to push forward.
Luckily, Yu Li had always treated her well, still seeing her as the naive and innocent younger sister.
Yu Qing thanked Qin Shuangxue and walked toward the bedroom. She knocked gently at the door.
“Come in,” came the low and hoarse voice from inside. Yu Qing felt her heart tremble slightly.
She slowly pushed open the door and saw Yu Li.
The room was dimly lit. Yu Li sat half-reclined on the bed, her long curls falling over her shoulders. Her back was perfectly straight, her posture elegant. She wore a two-piece silk pajama set. The skin around the gland at her neck was red and inflamed, but the rest of her skin was pale as fresh snow.
One of her arms had an IV line inserted. Cold liquid was slowly dripping into her veins. In her other hand, she held a long, slender stick that looked like a cigarette. She took a quiet drag, tilting her head back slightly. Even with her pale complexion and weary expression, the chill of her beauty and sensual charm radiated through the room.
“Qing, I’m sorry,” Yu Li said in her raspy voice. Yu Qing blushed.
She had to admit it. Yu Li was stunning. If Ye Zhixun was a kind of beauty that made people feel at peace, then Yu Li’s beauty had a sharpness to it that made others feel inadequate.
Very few Omegas could look like this.
It wasn’t just Yu Li’s success that made Yu Qing envious. It was this overwhelming presence.
But now, Yu Li looked like a rose about to wilt. Without nourishment, how long could she really hold on?
The IV bag contained a high-dose suppressant. The stick in her hand wasn’t an ordinary cigarette but an Omega heat suppressant designed to calm symptoms during a heat cycle.
Both were potent. Their side effects were serious, and they could damage the body severely. Most Omegas wouldn’t use them. A simple patch would usually be enough.
Yet Yu Li needed both.
Yu Qing could already feel a bit uncomfortable just standing near the door.
“You don’t have to apologize, sis. Are you alright?” she asked softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Seeing Yu Li like this struck a nerve. As an Omega herself, one with the same Yu family bl00d, Yu Qing couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy.
If she continued clinging to someone like Ye Zhixun, who lived with such restraint and refused to act, would she end up like this one day?
The last trace of reluctance over her breakup with Ye Zhixun faded.
“I’m alright. Thank you,” Yu Li replied gently. Her gaze lingered briefly on Yu Qing’s face. It was soft, but even that short glance made Yu Qing’s heart skip with guilt.
“Sis, today is my birthday. I’m having a party tonight on the Victoria. I wanted to invite you. But if you’re not feeling well, it’s totally fine. I won’t bother you any longer. I left the food I brought with Aunt Qin. Please rest well and remember to eat something,” Yu Qing said softly. Having seen Yu Li’s condition, she didn’t feel right lingering.
“Happy birthday,” Yu Li replied in a low voice, with a hint of a smile.
“Thank you, Sis,” Yu Qing said sweetly, her voice and expression full of charm.
She quietly closed the door behind her and let out a long breath.
Outside, Qin Shuangxue was a complete contrast to Yu Li’s cold demeanor. She was warm and lively as she walked Yu Qing to the door.
“Miss Yu Li, the little spy has left,” Qin Shuangxue said cheerfully once she returned to the bedroom.
“Alright,” Yu Li responded softly.
“She brought a thermal food box. It’s kind of heavy, and there’s also a six-inch cake. Said it was homemade. Surprising that she even remembered to bring something. Would you like to try some? You can’t just live on IV drips,” Qin Shuangxue asked gently.
“Aunt Qin, I can’t eat. If you want some, go ahead. If not, let Secretary Zhu and the others have it when they come,” Yu Li replied, picking up the closed laptop next to her.
“You only rested for less than ten minutes,” Qin Shuangxue said with concern. That visit from Yu Qing had been the only moment she’d stopped all day.
“Aunt Qin, I feel a lot better,” Yu Li said, lifting her eyes to meet hers.
“The lab is still testing that new suppressant formula designed for your condition. Even the strongest ones currently available on the market require you to take ten times the normal dose. You have such a high tolerance. Any other Omega would have collapsed by now. Are you really not going to consider a temporary mark from an Alpha? You don’t reject every scent. What if there’s one you don’t react badly to?” Qin Shuangxue looked at her with deep sympathy.
“Aunt Qin, please just keep monitoring the lab’s progress. If they need anything, let me know. Go do your own work. You don’t have to stay here. Secretary Zhu and the others will be arriving soon,” Yu Li said, calmly steering the conversation away.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on it all along. Just don’t push yourself too hard with the company matters,” Qin Shuangxue said, shaking her head with a sigh.
“I understand,” Yu Li replied more gently this time. Then she turned her focus back to the emails on her laptop, carefully reviewing and responding to each one.
While Yu Li worked, Qin Shuangxue returned to the living room to sort through the food Yu Qing had brought.
She would need to return the container later.
Opening the top layer of the box, she was immediately drawn in by the sight of golden shrimp balls sitting atop smooth mashed potato. They looked surprisingly appetizing. Unable to resist, she picked one up with a clean chopstick and tasted it.
It was unlikely Yu Qing would poison her own sister.
The first bite made her almost bite her tongue.
Though not someone easily swayed by food, Qin Shuangxue was blown away. The outer layer was crisp, the inside soft and sticky. The flavors were perfectly balanced, with the shrimp and potato combining beautifully. The texture was rich and satisfying.
She resisted the urge to eat more and opened the other layers to check. There was braised pork ribs in a glossy sauce, stir-fried asparagus with mushrooms, a few crab roe buns, and a thick, fragrant mung bean and millet porridge.
Qin Shuangxue took a little of each dish with clean chopsticks to taste.
Thinking about Yu Li still working while sick, she scooped out a portion of the porridge and heated it in the kitchen. She also cut a small slice of the cake and placed everything neatly on a tray before taking it to the bedroom.
“Miss Yu Li, the food’s quite good. This porridge is light and easy to digest. Just right for you right now. Try a little. It shouldn’t upset your stomach,” she said, standing beside the bed with the tray.
Yu Li hadn’t been able to keep anything down these past few days.
She was still typing an email and frowned as she shook her head.
Her gland was irritated, her stomach painfully empty, and she hadn’t slept properly in days. Her forehead throbbed like something was squeezing it tightly. She felt miserable.
She knew her body needed nourishment. IV fluids alone weren’t enough.
But her appetite was locked behind an invisible wall. She couldn’t summon any desire to eat.
“Just try one bite. Please,” Qin Shuangxue coaxed her gently.
After finishing the email, Yu Li looked at her. Seeing she wouldn’t give up, she finally gave in with a hint of resignation.
The tray was already in front of her. Even though she had no appetite at all, Yu Li picked up a spoon and gave it a try.
The porridge was soft, slightly sweet, and truly pleasant. It wasn’t enough to awaken a strong desire to eat, but there was something else hidden in the flavor. Something subtle and almost undetectable, but real.
That faint taste cracked open a narrow gap in her otherwise shut-down appetite.
Under Qin Shuangxue’s watchful gaze, Yu Li swallowed the spoonful. The warm porridge spread through her cold body, bringing with it a slow, comforting heat from the inside out.
Qin Shuangxue studied her carefully.
There were no signs of nausea.