After Going on a Blind Date With My Omega Love Rival (ABO, GL) - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

During dinner, Chi Ying sat next to Old Madam Chi, while Chi Ruixi sat beside Chi Shengxi.

The entire table was silent except for Old Madam Chi asking Chi Ying about her studies. Neither Chi Ruixi nor Chi Shengxi spoke a word until near the end of the meal, when Old Madam Chi finally turned her attention to her younger daughter.

“Ruixi, you’re thirty this year, right?”

Caught off guard, Chi Ruixi put down her chopsticks, sat up straight, and answered her mother, “Yes.”

The Chi family had rules: when an elder spoke, you had to listen attentively.

But this rule only applied to Chi Ruixi, who wasn’t an Alpha.

Chi Shengxi, since differentiating, had never been so deferential. As a child, Chi Ruixi had tried to mimic her sister, but she was only scolded. Over time, she learned to be obedient, understanding the difference between herself and her sister.

“It’s time for you to get married.”

“The Jiang family’s Alpha, around your age. Meet him when you have time.”

Though Old Madam Chi was over sixty, her words carried a commanding force, leaving no room for Chi Ruixi to consider.

It was a notification.

Chi Ruixi bit her lip, gripped the tablecloth tightly, and looked at her mother with defiant eyes.

“I won’t go.”

Old Madam Chi, stunned by the refusal, widened her eyes. Even Chi Shengxi glanced over.

Chi Ruixi had always been an obedient child. Though she once envied other kids who were pampered and loved, that was when she was young. As she grew up, she knew clearly that being doted on by her mother was impossible.

So, she could only be good and compliant.

After years of obedience, Old Madam Chi had come to believe her younger daughter would never defy her.

Now, faced with Chi Ruixi’s refusal, Old Madam Chi’s face darkened.

The atmosphere grew tense, as if Old Madam Chi might explode any second.

Chi Ying glanced at her aunt, then at her grandmother, and finally at her mother, who showed no intention of speaking up for her aunt.

Chi Ying knew that in Old Madam Chi’s eyes, only Alphas had the right to choose for themselves. With her mother staying silent, it was up to her.

She hugged her grandmother’s arm, leaning on her shoulder and whining, “Grandma, what era is this? Arranged dates?”

Her granddaughter’s affection softened Old Madam Chi’s grim expression. She patted Chi Ying’s face and said, “It’s not an arranged date, just a chance for your aunt to meet someone.”

Chi Ying pouted behind her grandmother’s back. Meet someone? If her aunt agreed, her grandmother would probably arrange the meeting tomorrow and the wedding the day after.

She had to help her aunt.

“Grandma, Auntie’s grown up. Let her decide for herself.”

“What can an Omega like your aunt decide?”

Chi Ying’s smile froze. She looked back at Chi Ruixi, instantly regretting dragging her aunt back here.

Chi Ruixi felt she couldn’t eat anymore. She stood, glanced at Chi Shengxi, and said to her mother, “I already have an Alpha.”

Then she released her pheromones.

Not only did Old Madam Chi’s face change instantly, but Chi Shengxi and Chi Ying were also stunned.

Old Madam Chi pointed at Chi Ruixi; she was too angry to speak.

“You, you, you…”

Besides the peach-scented pheromones, Chi Ruixi carried the distinct oolong tea scent of an Alpha.

Though it was only a temporary mark, for someone as traditional and rigid as Old Madam Chi, it was unacceptable.

In her view, marked or not, an Omega belonged to one Alpha for life.

“I’ve been marked, so I’m afraid I can’t go to the arranged meeting you mentioned.”

As soon as she finished, Old Madam Chi stood, threw her chopsticks at Chi Ruixi, and shouted, “You’re an Omega! How can you be so shameless?”

When Chi Shengxi heard this, she frowned, about to speak, but Chi Ruixi tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, “I’m shameless? When Sister cycled through so many Omegas, why didn’t you say a word?”

“Your sister is an Alpha!”

“Heh…” Chi Ruixi let out a bitter laugh, her eyes reddening. She looked at Chi Shengxi and said, “Because she’s an Alpha?”

Seeing Chi Ruixi on the verge of tears, Chi Ying glared at her grandmother and mother, then went to Chi Ruixi’s side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Auntie, let’s go.”

She didn’t want to stay here. This family was too warped.

But Chi Ruixi shook off her hand, steadying herself on the table.

Chi Ying took a step forward, softly calling, “Auntie…”

Chi Ruixi took a deep breath and said, “No matter what you think, I won’t go to the arranged meeting. I have the right to choose my own life.”

With that, she turned and left.

Seeing her aunt leave, Chi Ying hurried after her.

Old Madam Chi trembled with rage, pointing at Chi Ruixi’s back. “If you walk out, I’ll disown you as my daughter.”

Chi Ruixi paused mid-step but didn’t turn around. “Then I thank you.”

“You…” Old Madam Chi grew even angrier, turning to Chi Shengxi. “Look at her, she actually…”

“Enough.” Chi Shengxi glanced at her mother, finally speaking her first words.

“I’ll handle this. Don’t worry about it.”

Old Madam Chi wanted to say more, but Chi Shengxi shot her a look. “I said I’ll handle it. What are you worried about?”

Chi Shengxi was the current head of the Chi family. Old Madam Chi could only control Chi Ruixi; she had no power to argue with her eldest daughter.

Of course, she didn’t want to argue, because Chi Shengxi was exceptional.

As Chi Ruixi walked out, Chi Ying kept calling after her, but Chi Ruixi ignored her, focused on leaving. Chi Ying ran a few steps and caught her before she got into the car.

“Auntie, don’t be mad.”

“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t insisted you come back with me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Chi Ruixi closed the car door and turned to face Chi Ying. Chi Ying saw her aunt’s eyes were terribly red, tears welling but not falling.

Chi Ying knew her aunt was strong. When Chi Shengxi was distant in her childhood, Chi Ying had always stuck to her aunt. From a young age, she often heard Chi Ruixi say, “Chi Ying, no matter what, you have to be strong.”

“Only when you’re strong can you avoid being controlled by others.”

As a child, she didn’t understand. Now she realized her aunt had always known a day like this would come.

Her aunt was being controlled by others right now.

Chi Ying felt like crying. She reached out, hugging Chi Ruixi, leaning into her with the most affectionate, dependent posture.

Choking back sobs, she said, “Auntie, I’m grown up. I can protect you now.”

Chi Ruixi’s nose stung, and tears fell. She hadn’t cried over her mother’s demands or her sister’s indifference, but now, her niece’s words made her cry.

“Chi Ying, Auntie can protect herself.” Chi Ruixi patted Chi Ying’s shoulder. After differentiating, Chi Ying had grown much taller, making it a bit of an effort.

“Chi Ying’s grown up. In the future, protect your own Omega.”

“But I want to protect Auntie too.”

Chi Ruixi smiled through her tears. Chi Ying was still like a child. She couldn’t resist teasing her. “Auntie has her own Alpha to protect her. She doesn’t need you.”

At that, Chi Ying pulled out of Chi Ruixi’s embrace, jealousy flaring. “Auntie, how come I didn’t know you had an Alpha? When did this happen?”

Thinking of Yu Heyi, Chi Ruixi’s smile deepened. Chi Ying’s face soured. At first, she thought Chi Ruixi was just trying to anger her grandmother, but after smelling the pheromones, she believed it.

Now, seeing her aunt’s goofy grin, she believed it even more, and her heart ached with jealousy.

Chi Ying didn’t depend on Chi Shengxi, but she had a strong attachment to Chi Ruixi, the aunt who raised her. The thought of her aunt becoming someone else’s Omega made her voice drop. “Auntie, is there really someone like that?”

Chi Ruixi looked at her like she was an idiot, as if saying, “Did you think I was joking?”

Seeing her aunt’s expression, Chi Ying’s eyes widened, her voice rising. “Auntie, who is she?”

Thinking of Yu Heyi, Chi Ruixi softened entirely, a smile playing on her lips. “Her? She’s a fool.”