Accidentally Marked My Ex’s Powerful Sister (GL, ABO) - Chapter 8
At the villa in Repulse Bay, Yu Li changed into fresh clothes after her shower, an oatmeal-colored high-neck cashmere sweater paired with light-colored wide-leg pants. The intellectual and gentle color palette softened her visual presence, though the impatience in her brows and the slight downturn of her lips still radiated an icy aura.
Qin Nanzhen, who knew Yu Li well, understood that she was uncomfortable right now and in no mood for pleasantries.
Yu Li had built herself into the public face of her company. As a famous and strikingly beautiful omega, she was the target of countless covetous gazes, not to mention the rivals eager to drag her down. She had endured no shortage of harassment.
To prevent further trouble, anyone who showed even the slightest ill intent toward Yu Li faced severe consequences. In this regard, her tolerance was razor-thin.
In the past, even if a minor alpha had so much as brushed against her, the matter wouldn’t have ended lightly.
Qin Nanzhen couldn’t fathom why Yu Li had been so lenient with that young alpha.
Was it simply because the girl was an innocent college student?
Despite being put through such an ordeal, Yu Li had actually let her go.
“A-Li, you just let that little alpha walk away? What if she talks? If she colludes with whoever’s behind this, it’ll be trouble,” Qin Nanzhen ventured cautiously.
“Her phone is tracked. Don’t worry about her,” Yu Li replied.
Qin Nanzhen wanted to press further, but seeing Yu Li’s reluctance to elaborate, she held back.
Yu Li’s tone made it clear she didn’t want interference.
Tracking the phone was one thing, but it wasn’t like they could monitor her every word.
Yu Li always had her own way of handling things. Suppressing her concerns, Qin Nanzhen decided she’d arrange for someone to keep an eye on the alpha privately. If the girl stepped out of line, she’d deal with it herself.
“Alright. Have something to eat first. Wen Shanna’s already scheduled you know how long she takes to get ready. Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor or have my mother come over?” Qin Nanzhen asked.
“No need,” Yu Li said, taking a seat at the dining table.
Yu Li knew her own body. Compared to previous episodes, her current condition could be managed with rest.
Her glands ached differently now.
The treated areas still throbbed uncomfortably, but the most noticeable pain was the muscle soreness like the lactic acid buildup after an intense workout, stubborn and slow to metabolize.
A long soak in hot water had done little to help. Recovery would take time, and seeing a doctor wouldn’t change that.
This discomfort was unlike the side effects she’d experienced from high-concentration suppressants.
The side effects of a living, breathing suppressant human-shaped and all were no small matter either.
Neither type of discomfort appealed to her.
“Weren’t you starving earlier? Why aren’t you eating?” Qin Nanzhen asked, watching Yu Li’s untouched meal.
Mealtime was always a struggle for her, a constant source of worry for both Qin Nanzhen and Qin Shuangxue.
She was teetering on the edge of an eating disorder, yet refused to take proper care of herself, accumulating one health issue after another.
In the car, Yu Li’s stomach had twisted with hunger, craving sustenance.
But now, faced with an exquisitely prepared meal, her appetite had vanished entirely.
She needed to replenish her energy before meeting with Wen Shanna.
Suppressing her discomfort, Yu Li forced down a few bites before her stomach rebelled, forcing her to vomit.
Her body rejected the food, no matter how much she willed herself to eat.
“Just prepare an IV instead,” Yu Li conceded. The cycle of eating only to expel everything was unbearable.
As Yu Li rinsed her mouth in the bathroom, Qin Nanzhen gathered the necessary supplies.
Though not professionally trained, she had learned enough from her mother to handle an IV insertion.
With practiced ease, she found the nutrient solution and hooked it up for Yu Li.
“Yesterday, my mother mentioned you ate something it was sent by Yu Li. She even went to inquire about the chef. Yu Li said it was just a housekeeping auntie and didn’t know who specifically. Seems she’s picking up bad habits from her brother. I’ll look into which housekeeping services Yu Li uses and question them one by one,” Qin Nanzhen said while administering the IV.
“Mmm…” Yu Li responded softly.
Her heat symptoms had eased, but her appetite still hadn’t returned.
She’d eaten a little yesterday whether by coincidence or not, who could say?
Desperate times called for desperate measures; they’d bring the person in first and figure it out later.
As Qin Nanzhen finished tending to Yu Li, she noticed Yu Li’s other hand tapping on a tablet.
“Close your eyes and rest for a bit. I need to discuss a few things with you. Wen Shanna is sharp and loves stirring up trouble. If she catches on, it’ll be problematic,” Qin Nanzhen said, taking the tablet.
“Thank you,” Yu Li replied, releasing the device and leaning back into the sofa.
“The board has called a shareholders’ meeting at headquarters, citing your prolonged illness and lack of contact as reasons to vote on several major decisions. Should we make our move while they’re in session?” Qin Nanzhen asked.
“Yes. Have the PR team ready. What exactly are they discussing? Get someone on our side in the meeting to find out,” Yu Li instructed.
Qin Nanzhen immediately went to make arrangements.
Yu Li closed her eyes, feeling her body gradually cool from the chilled nutrient solution.
This brought back memories of last night’s warmth.
An alpha’s warmth.
Like a heat source, continuously radiating warmth.
The accompanying pain also resurfaced, causing Yu Li to frown.
Tsk, young alphas really were so reckless.
“The selection of partners for the mine renovation project and changes to the procurement methods from South Africa…” Qin Nanzhen’s voice pulled Yu Li back to the present, refocusing her attention.
Meanwhile, by the time Ye Zhixun arrived home, over an hour had passed.
When she got out of the car, Yu Li had given her a phone and an umbrella to take a taxi back.
The umbrella had been pulled from the SUV’s door clearly high quality.
Logically, with both phone and umbrella provided, Ye Zhixun should have felt reassured.
But Yu Li’s final words left her uneasy.
It was like having a sword hanging over her head.
When it would fall was entirely up to Yu Li.
The suspense was agonizing.
And all because she’d taken that pill and lost her senses.
Who could she blame?
As Ye Zhixun numbly opened the door, a startled cry snapped her back to reality.
“Ah-Xuan! You’re finally back! I was about to call the police if you didn’t show up soon!”
It was Gu Qiaqia’s voice.
Gu Qiaqia studied Ye Zhixun, her expression still calm, but her eyes vacant, her clothes wrinkled, and her hair disheveled with a few loose strands. For Ye Zhixun, this was an uncharacteristically disheveled state.
The heartbreak must have hit her hard.
“Sorry for worrying you. I left my phone at… Xiao Xi’s place,” Ye Zhixun said.
“I know. She answered when I called. I forgot to tell you yesterday the birthday venue changed. Where did you end up going?” Gu Qiaqia asked cautiously.
“The Seaton Grand Hotel,” Ye Zhixun replied, her expression freezing as her face grew increasingly distressed.
If it weren’t for Yu Li’s birthday party, she would never have gone to a place like the Sutton Grand Hotel under normal circumstances.
Originally, she had intended to win Yu Lii back, but now…
“Ah, it’s a good thing you didn’t go on the Victoria. You made the right choice, I won’t say more, and you should probably avoid checking online for now.” Gu Qiaqia seemed to want to say something but hesitated, holding back out of consideration for Ye Zhixun, who had just gone through a breakup.
What Gu Qiaqia didn’t know was that, for Ye Zhixun at this moment, the breakup was the least of her worries.
Between life and death lies true terror.
Not to mention, another event nearly as significant as life and death had happened on the same day.
So much so that being dumped had become trivial in comparison.
Ye Zhixun didn’t have the energy to talk much, nor was she particularly curious about what had happened on the Victoria.
After putting her things away, she grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the shower.
Assuming Ye Zhixun was too exhausted to cook, Gu Qiaqia ordered takeout for her.
After her shower, Ye Zhixun’s dazed mind settled slightly, but some previously hazy memories became clearer, only adding to her turmoil.
Once she substituted Yu Li as the one she had taken advantage of, Ye Zhixun felt utterly wretched.
This was way too illegal her life was practically begging for a prison sentence!
Being thrown into the sea wouldn’t even be an unjust punishment!
“Ah-Zhian, I ordered takeout for you. Just eat whatever, no need to cook today. By the way, did you just abandon your phone at Yu Li’s place? And why did you buy the latest model? Also, this umbrella… the logo on it is this the real deal? I heard these usually cost over a hundred grand each. Did you meet some sugar mommy or something?”
As Ye Zhixun stepped out of the shower, Gu Qiaqia casually remarked.
Ye Zhixun froze.
She hadn’t paid much attention to the phone or the umbrella.
“Qiaqia, thanks. I needed a phone, so I bought one. The umbrella was just from a street stall,” Ye Zhixun murmured, lowering her gaze. Yu Li had forbidden her from speaking about their connection, so she had no choice but to lie.
“Street stall umbrellas are pretty good quality these days, huh? Well, lucky you.” Gu Qiaqia gave the umbrella another glance before shrugging.
Ye Zhixun didn’t respond, gathering her things and taking them back to her room before devouring the takeout Gu Qiaqia had ordered.
Despite the exhaustion and the chaos in her mind, her appetite remained unaffected.
Delicious or not, she could eat anything.
After finishing the food, Ye Zhixun wanted to sleep, but the images flooding her mind made it impossible to calm down. Unable to rest, she told Gu Qiaqia she was going out.
“Ah-Zhian, you’re not planning to go after Yu Li, are you? I didn’t want to upset you earlier, so I didn’t show you the photos online. But honestly, you shouldn’t bother, she’s already with someone new. Song Feiyu, remember her? The student council president from two terms ago.” Seeing Ye Zhixun’s distracted state, Gu Qiaqia couldn’t help but feel pity, grabbing her arm and speaking softly, afraid of triggering her.
“…” Ye Zhixun paused. The news that Yu Li had moved on so quickly didn’t sadden or anger her because she had done something far worse…
“Thanks, I just need some air,” Ye Zhixun said before leaving anyway.
“Ugh… guess she won’t give up until she hits a wall.” Gu Qiaqia sighed, assuming Ye Zhixun was still determined to see Yu Li.
With how devoted Ye Zhixun was, who knew how long it would take for her to move on?
Well, if she needed to try, let her.
Ye Zhixun walked to the university and began running laps around the track, burning off energy.
After yesterday’s birthday banquet on the Victoria, everyone at Harbor City University knew Yu Li and Ye Zhixun had broken up, and that Yu Li had a new girlfriend.
Someone who recognized Ye Zhixun saw her running in the rain and took a photo, posting it to the campus forum, sparking gossip.
Yu Li, who was secretly slacking off during a shareholders’ meeting at Yu’s Jewelry headquarters, scrolled through her phone and saw it, already topping the campus trending list.
Ye Zhixun wore a hooded windbreaker, her face obscured, but those long legs and familiar silhouette were unmistakable to Yu Li.
[The little nobody and the wealthy princess break up, running in the rain to vent, tsk tsk, how tragic.]
[So, does running actually help with heartbreak?]
[Probably just trying to win our little princess’s sympathy. How scheming.]
There were plenty of comments underneath.
Yu Li stared blankly at the photo of Ye Zhixun’s retreating figure.
After several years together, of course Yu Li had loved her.
Breaking up had just been a calculated decision.
Even now, Yu Li still had feelings for her.
Seeing her running like this did tug at her heart.
But so what?
They were on different levels, from different worlds doomed from the start.
“Everyone, I believe we need to discuss the matter of the CEO’s appointment. Take a look at the latest trending topic.” A deep voice snapped Yu Li back to reality. She looked up the screen, which had been displaying a PowerPoint, now showed the latest hot search.
What Yu Li had been browsing earlier was just the campus forum. This trending topic wasn’t some small-scale gossip, it was a nationwide sensation.
#Yu Li Spotted Leaving Hotel with Married Alpha, Unsteady on Her Feet#
#Which Alpha Plucked Yu Jewelry’s Rose?#
The headlines oozed malice and invasive speculation about an omega’s privacy. Clicking in led to blurry, ambiguous photos and suggestive commentary, all dripping with slander.
The photos from when Yu Li arrived yesterday had been clearer, but the ones of her leaving showed only her back, her outfit changed though her figure was similar fueling endless conjecture.
“No wonder Yu Li’s been unreachable, she was busy with this! This is disastrous for Yu Jewelry’s reputation! I propose she step down immediately.”
“Yu Li’s been slacking off these past two years. As an omega, her physical limitations make her unfit for this position.”
The discussion erupted.
Whether the rumors were true or not didn’t matter these people just wanted an excuse.
“With this scandal, PR needs to act fast and suppress the trending topic. If Yu Jewelry’s image takes a hit, the stock will plummet!” The more neutral voices sounded urgent.
In an instant, the original agenda of the shareholders’ meeting was sidelined, replaced by debates over Yu Li’s competence. Many stood to denounce her, turning the meeting into a full-blown condemnation.
Some watched silently, others tried to defend her though few knew the truth.
The power struggle had begun even before the official leadership transition.
At this rate, they might force Yu Li out before her term ended.
Yu Li remained silent, witnessing firsthand just how dark and ruthless people’s hearts could be.
“Everyone, after all this discussion, you’ve already assumed that trending topic was true. Are you in such a hurry to push President Yu off her seat to make way for your masters? Those who maliciously fabricated this false news know exactly who they are. The trending post claims President Yu left the hotel after 10 AM. But look at what she was actually doing between 9 AM and 10 AM, she was meeting with jewelry connoisseur Ms. Wen Shanna regarding our new product line…”
Soon, a middle-aged man stood up and spoke, showing his phone to the crowd.
Yu Qi frowned and checked his phone. He hadn’t spoken much earlier, letting his people do the talking instead.
The notorious paparazzo had been hired by him, and framing Yu Li was done with Song Feiyu’s help these were solid facts. How could there be a reversal?
Yet the interview video of Yu Li with socialite Wen Shanna on his phone was completely irrefutable.
The expressions in the room were a sight to behold.
[Seeing the trending topic shocked and angered me! Sorry if I’m incoherent, I’m just so furious. Why spread vulgar rumors about an unmarried, career-driven omega? Why attack her with such malice? Meeting her today, she was so beautiful and elegant. When she saw I was upset, she even comforted me. Whoever is trying to harm her, I won’t wait for Yu’s Jewelry to act. I’ll hire lawyers to sue the rumor-mongers into bankruptcy…]
Wen Shanna’s post, accompanied by the video and a series of photos, instantly shot to the top of the trending list, exploding in popularity.
This wasn’t the first time Yu Li had been smeared, but it was the first time the accusations came with seemingly concrete evidence.
The more vicious the initial attacks, the more intense the backlash when the truth came out.
The hotel, after receiving a police report, soon released surveillance footage. The photo of the departing figure in the trending post wasn’t Yu Li at all it was another guest who resembled her in build, and the person beside her was actually her husband.
With multiple layers of reversal, the earlier smear campaign turned into a farcical joke.
Yu Li’s team seized the moment to promote both her and the new seasonal collection.
Yu Qi’s expression grew increasingly grim.
Why was Yu Li so hard to take down?!
She had clearly fallen into the trap last night, how did she still have the presence of mind to orchestrate all this?
Yu Qi couldn’t make sense of it, but he knew he’d failed again. He wanted nothing more than to smash his phone in frustration.
Nearby, Yu Li watched the news with a calm expression, though inwardly she felt a twinge of regret.
That poster, it wouldn’t be possible to replace the person on it anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Yu Li bid farewell to socialite Wen Shanna. Instead of resting, she immediately rushed off to her next engagement.
Though she’d received IV nutrients, the immense strain from the previous night, coupled with pushing herself this far, left her feeling utterly drained. Her temples throbbed painfully, as if forcibly stretched taut without relief.
As the car carried her to the next destination, Yu Li leaned back in the aerospace seat and thought of Ye Zhixun.
Perhaps she shouldn’t have let Ye Zhixun leave. If she were here, the comfort of her pheromones might have eased the discomfort.
Yu Li pulled out her phone and glanced at it.
The GPS on the phone she’d given Ye Zhixun wasn’t meant for surveillance, it was simply for convenience in locating her when needed.
Opening the app, Yu Li noticed an additional feature: a map of Ye Zhixun’s recent movements, showing her running in circles around something.
20.2 kilometers. Two hours. 2100 kilocalories burned.
Yu Li paused at the data.
Ye Zhixun actually had time to go running instead of sleeping after going back was she training for a marathon?!
She still had energy to run?!
[Come here]
Yu Li sent Ye Zhixun a location pin with a dark expression.