After Going on a Blind Date With My Omega Love Rival (ABO, GL) - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Before Chi Ruixi could respond, another WeChat message came from Chi Shengxi.

“Do you have time now? I want to talk about Chi Ying.”

Chi Ruixi held her phone, glanced up at Chi Ying, then back at the message, her expression hesitant.

Seeing her like that, Yu Heyi thought something was wrong and walked over to ask, “What’s up?”

But Chi Ruixi didn’t look at her; she looked at Chi Ying. Yu Heyi followed her gaze, frowning, wondering if it had something to do with Chi Ying.

Chi Ying, confused by their stares, blinked and asked, “What’s wrong, Auntie?”

It wasn’t a big deal, but… Chi Ying had just fought with Chi Shengxi. Chi Ruixi was worried mentioning it would upset her, but she couldn’t keep it from her either.

“We might not be able to go shopping.”

After she said that, Chi Ying tilted her head, even more puzzled. “What’s going on?”

“Your mom wants to meet me.”

As expected, when Chi Ruixi finished, a flash of disgust crossed Chi Ying’s eyes. Chi Ruixi feared she’d react like this, or say something harsh.

But she didn’t. Chi Ying shrugged, as if she’d anticipated it. “I knew it. She’d come to you.”

Her face looked indifferent, but her next words carried a hint of emotion. Chi Ying muttered softly, “Whenever something’s up with me, she goes to you.”

From yesterday’s events, Yu Heyi had pieced together most of it. Seeing Chi Ying’s expression now, she was sure Chi Ying’s relationship with her mom wasn’t great. The fight was probably due to some mother-daughter conflict.

And judging by Chi Ruixi’s reaction, she was definitely going to the meeting.

Yu Heyi smiled, walked to Chi Ying’s side, put an arm around her shoulders, and said, “Let your auntie go. We can shop anytime. We’ll stay home and play games.”

She glanced at Chi Ruixi and asked, “That’s okay, right?”

Chi Ruixi nodded slightly, and Chi Ying grinned, saying, “Totally okay, Uncle! We’ll play games at home while Auntie goes to see that annoying person.”

Seeing Chi Ying’s smile, Yu Heyi thought, kids are so easy to please—games are enough to cheer her up.

And just like that, Chi Ruixi was “abandoned” by the two, even pushed out the door by Chi Ying.

As Chi Ying pushed her, Chi Ruixi was still a bit worried, turning back to ask, “Are you two really okay staying home alone?”

If it was just Chi Ying, the question wouldn’t seem odd. But with Yu Heyi there, it felt like Chi Ruixi didn’t trust her, the “adult.”

“Chi Ying’s almost grown. What could happen? Plus, I’m here, an adult.”

She said that, but Yu Heyi didn’t miss the worry in Chi Ruixi’s eyes. Knowing she was concerned about Chi Ying’s mood, Yu Heyi stepped forward, told Chi Ying to go back inside, and walked out with Chi Ruixi.

They stopped at the elevator.

“I’ll take Chi Ying out to have fun this afternoon. Don’t worry.”

Hearing her, Chi Ruixi nodded. After all, Yu Heyi was pretty good at having fun.

Yu Heyi watched the elevator doors close before heading back. As soon as she entered, she saw Chi Ying standing at the door, looking a bit down.

Though she didn’t know exactly what happened, her job now was to cheer Chi Ying up, right?

Yu Heyi waved her phone in front of Chi Ying. “What do you want to play? PUBG, Honor of Kings, or something else?”

Games have a powerful pull. Chi Ying’s attention instantly shifted. She grabbed her phone and said, “Honor of Kings.”

Chi Shengxi had chosen a café near Chi Ruixi’s place, just a ten-minute walk. At the door, Chi Ruixi spotted Chi Shengxi by the window, dressed in a black women’s suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, focused on something.

Looking at her from outside, Chi Ruixi suddenly felt… she was a stranger.

This version of her sister had never existed in her world. As a child, her sister was gentle as water; as an adult, she was cold and strict.

As a Chi family member, Chi Ruixi had never been to the family company. Maybe she went as a kid, but she didn’t remember.

So she’d never seen Chi Shengxi at work.

She stared, lost in thought, unaware that Chi Shengxi had noticed her and taken off her glasses. Seeing her familiar demeanor, Chi Ruixi snapped back, pushed the door, and went in.

They sat across from each other, neither speaking first. Soon, a waiter came over and asked what Chi Ruixi wanted.

“Caramel macchiato, thanks.”

“You still love sweets,” Chi Shengxi said.

Chi Ruixi glanced at the iced Americano across from her and smirked. “And you still love bitter?”

Chi Shengxi smiled at her words, took a sip of her coffee, and said with a hint of emotion, “Life is bitter, after all.”

After that, Chi Ruixi didn’t respond, and the silence grew heavy.

Soon, the waiter brought the caramel macchiato and set it on the table.

Chi Ruixi took a sip and said, “Did you really just ask me here for coffee?”

Chi Shengxi’s lips moved slightly, then she looked at her.

She looked at this sister who resembled her so much but was full of warmth, unlike her, covered in armor.

The sisters hadn’t truly talked in ages. Every time, Chi Ying was the excuse for meeting. Sometimes it was about Chi Ying; sometimes, she just wanted to talk to Chi Ruixi.

But… besides Chi Ying, they had little else to talk about.

Thinking of this, her heart felt heavy. She took a sip of coffee to mask it, sat up straight, and said, “Yesterday, Xiao Ying fought with me.”

Chi Ruixi, still sipping her coffee, didn’t look up. “I know.”

After saying those three words, she said nothing more, leaving Chi Shengxi at a loss, unsure where to begin.

Her silence made the air cold.

Clearly, Chi Ruixi was upset with her, and she knew it. She’d always known. It wasn’t just about Chi Ying—it was about herself too.

After a long pause, Chi Shengxi spoke again. “Ruixi, how long has it been since we really talked?”

This time, Chi Ruixi looked at her, her eyes seeming to see her and yet not, as if looking through her at something else.

“Sister, almost twenty years.”

Chi Shengxi’s face stiffened. So she was really thinking about how long it had been.

Yes, almost twenty years. Chi Ying was seventeen now.

Chi Shengxi’s heart felt bitterly sour.

Growing distant from her sister and daughter was a path she chose.

She didn’t want it, but they drifted further apart.

“Sister, I don’t know what you think of our relationship, but Chi Ying is your daughter. You shouldn’t treat her like this.”

Chi Ruixi’s words seemed to ignore her own grievances, focusing only on Chi Ying. As an adult, she could manage her emotions.

And more importantly, Chi Shengxi’s treatment of her, good or bad, was just a sisterly bond. Many siblings are close as kids but grow distant as adults.

But Chi Ying was different—she was Chi Shengxi’s own daughter.

Chi Shengxi’s hand trembled holding her coffee. She pursed her lips, unsure what to say. She cared about Chi Ying but didn’t know how to show it.

She wanted to know everything about Chi Ying, how she was doing, but didn’t know how to connect.

“Ruixi, I actually…” Chi Shengxi started, then stopped.

“You actually what? You actually love Chi Ying?” Chi Ruixi said with a mocking smile.

She could tell her sister wasn’t as cold as she seemed. It wasn’t just from the few times she reached out about Chi Ying over the years, but from the fragile, soft look on Chi Shengxi’s face when she spoke of her—unlike her usual coldness.

Though rare, Chi Ruixi felt it was her truest reaction.

But why? Why did she always hold herself back?

This behavior pushed her away. As a child, Chi Ruixi couldn’t understand, feeling wronged and resentful. As an adult, she saw it clearly but no longer wanted to get close.

Chi Ying had it worse—she still hadn’t seen through her mother’s façade.

“Sister, Chi Ying told me about the fight. I hope you won’t talk to her like that again. Because, for Chi Ying, I’m the one who raised her.” She paused, noticing Chi Shengxi’s poor expression, but continued.

“I know, so… I came to ask how she’s doing.” Chi Shengxi’s defeat was obvious. Chi Ruixi felt uneasy seeing it and looked away, saying, “She’s doing fine with me.”

“That’s good. I’m relieved she’s with you.”

Chi Ruixi got a bit angry hearing that. She wanted to ask if Chi Ying was really her daughter—how could she be so reassured leaving her with someone else?

But seeing Chi Shengxi’s expression, she held back. She’d expected Chi Shengxi to look smug, as if handing Chi Ying over was enough. But…

She saw that fragile, helpless look on Chi Shengxi’s face again.

“Chi Ying cried hard yesterday. I suggest you care for her more.”

Before leaving, Chi Ruixi left those words. Though she couldn’t stand it, seeing Chi Shengxi’s expression softened her heart.

Her sister was different from their mother.

In all these years, she’d never seen that expression on her mother’s face, as if everything she did was justified, and Chi Ruixi just had to obey. Disobedience meant she wasn’t a good daughter.

Chi Ruixi pushed open the café door and stepped out. After two steps, Chi Shengxi chased after her, grabbing her hand.

Chi Ruixi turned, looking at her sister holding her wrist, feeling her warmth. It was a long-lost sensation—she and Chi Shengxi hadn’t been this close in ages.

They were once the closest sisters, but now…

She thought Chi Shengxi would let go quickly, but she didn’t. Instead, she stepped closer, showing an expression Chi Ruixi hadn’t seen in twenty years.

The gentle, kind sister.

“Ruixi, with Chi Ying… can you help me?”