Divorcee O Finds Me Irresistible - Chapter 18

On her way home, Xu Qing passed through a bustling commercial district and stopped to buy fried chicken burgers. While waiting in line, she realized that Bai Lu might not have eaten yet, so she ordered an extra meal.

The Xu Family’s situation was unique. Both her parents worked in government agencies and ate all their meals in the staff cafeteria, even after retirement. As a result, everyone assumed Xu Qing had already eaten at work, and no one cared that she was starving after a long day.

Putting herself in Bai Lu’s shoes, Xu Qing remembered that Bai Lu had to wake up even earlier than her to squeeze onto the subway for work. Her lunch breaks were short, and Xu Qing wondered if she was home yet, if she had eaten, and if anyone cared about her.

Even if Bai Lu had already eaten, wouldn’t it be nice to buy her some milk tea, desserts, or snacks?

Should she text to see if Bai Lu was off work?

Xu Qing picked up her phone and saw that their last conversation had been the previous afternoon.

She almost never initiates contact. Should I reach out first?

Would that seem like I’m pursuing her?

Hesitantly, Xu Qing closed the chat window, thinking, Just buy the stuff! No need to overthink it.

Twenty minutes later, Xu Qing’s car was laden with snack bags hanging from the handlebars and back seat, making her look like a delivery driver. She excitedly drove home with her “cargo.” Before unlocking the door with her fingerprint, she politely knocked to give the person inside a heads-up.

A faint meow drifted from inside the apartment. Xu Qing pushed the door open, and it bumped into something soft. Looking down, she saw a pair of glowing eyes. Koala rubbed against her affectionately, forcing Xu Qing to set down the seven or eight paper bags. She bent down to pick up the cat before turning on the light.

The apartment looked exactly as she had left it that morning. Cradling Koala in her arms, Xu Qing sat on the sofa and noticed a peculiar, indescribable stench.

The source of the odor was Koala’s litter box. Litter was scattered everywhere, and cat feces had rolled onto the floor. The cat seemed utterly inept at burying its waste. Now, meowing insistently, Koala jumped down from Xu Qing’s lap and pointed its not-so-bright head at its food bowl.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you?” Xu Qing said. “Where’s your owner?”

Koala didn’t understand the word “owner.” To demonstrate, it walked to its food bowl and turned its head toward Xu Qing, meowing.

The cat’s body language made it clear it was starving. Xu Qing replied innocently, “I know you’re hungry, but I don’t have any food for you either.”

She searched the apartment but couldn’t find Koala’s cat food. Attempts to feed the cat fried chicken, rice cakes, and other snacks all failed. Finally, Xu Qing had no choice but to call Bai Lu.

The first call went unanswered. Xu Qing poured some milk for Koala, who thankfully lapped it up eagerly.

Xu Qing used the opportunity to clean the litter box and then went to the nearby pet store.

Twenty-five minutes later, Xu Qing’s phone rang. She came out of the bathroom to answer it, but before she could say “Hello,” the voice on the other end announced, “Your delivery is here!”

Xu Qing hung up, retrieved the cat food she had just ordered online, and poured some into Koala’s bowl.

She felt a pang of disappointment. When the delivery call came, Xu Qing had momentarily hoped it would be Bai Lu.

Why hasn’t she called me?

When did I start caring about her so much?

It was already 10:23 PM. Could a female Omega be in danger outside at this hour?

Xu Qing texted Bai Lu: “Off work yet?”

After about five or six minutes, Bai Lu replied: “Just got out of the shower and didn’t see your message. I’m off work now.”

Xu Qing stared at the word “shower,” a strange emotion stirring within her. She typed “Where are you?” into the chat box, then immediately deleted it.

What kind of relationship do we even have? What right do I have to know where she is right now?

She’s off work but not home, spending the night out, showering at someone else’s place, neglecting Koala… It’s wrong, but what can Xu Qing do about it?

Even as the landlord, she had no right to restrict her tenant’s freedom.

Xu Qingsi pondered the situation, tossed her phone onto the sofa, and initially decided to ignore it. After a moment, she picked it up again and replied to Bai Lu with a curt, “Oh.”

That single, icy “Oh” carried a wealth of unspoken emotions, easily deciphered by anyone who knew her well.

Xu Qing set down her phone, having expressed her displeasure, and headed to the bathroom for a long, satisfying shower.

Afterward, she noticed two missed calls on her phone: one from Madam Min and the other from her maternal uncle.

The chat window with Bai Lu remained open on the “Oh” message. Was Bai Lu genuinely too busy to respond, or was she simply being deliberately cold? Xu Qing couldn’t tell.

She turned off her phone, glanced at the late hour, and decided to go to bed.

The next morning, Xu Qing woke up earlier than usual to a clattering and clanging outside. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was only 6:58 AM.

She considered pulling the covers over her head and going back to sleep, but the thought of Bai Lu having spent the night at someone else’s house the previous night made her sit up in anger.

Pushing open her bedroom door, she was nearly overwhelmed by Fu Shuang’s youthful energy.

“Good morning!” Fu Shuang stood in the doorway, beaming at her, holding the paper bag Xu Qing had brought home the night before. “Older Sister, would you like some breakfast?” she asked, her tone ingratiating.

Xu Qing’s eyes drooped, her messy hair clinging softly to her face as she glanced at Fu Shuang and said, “No.”

“I ran into some trouble last night and ended up staying at a friend’s place,” Fu Shuang said, completely ignoring Xu Qing’s displeasure as she followed her to the sink. “I saw you bought so much food—was it for me?” She smiled. “Older Sister, did you wait up for me last night?”

Xu Qing shoved her toothbrush into her mouth, brushing sleepily as she glanced at Fu Shuang in the mirror. “No,” she mumbled.

“Then why did you buy so much food, and none of it’s been opened?” Fu Shuang pressed.

Mouth full of toothpaste, Xu Qing mumbled, “It’s for me.”

“Okay,” Fu Shuang said, pursing her lips and tilting her head to study Xu Qing’s expression. “Older Sister, when I called you last night, your phone was off. Are you mad at me?”

Xu Qing spat out the foam, remembering she’d turned off her phone. She stared at her reflection for a moment before replying slowly, “No.”

Fu Shuang’s probing gaze finally relaxed. She exhaled in relief. “That’s good. I saw you bought cat food for Koala. I actually have some canned food in the cabinet under the TV. I’m really sorry about last night. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

Xu Qing chuckled softly and turned to look at her. Fu Shuang wiped the foam from the corner of her mouth, her face pale from just waking up, her expression unusually cold—perhaps the legendary “morning grumpiness” that created an instant sense of distance.

Fu Shuang unconsciously straightened her posture, her clear, hazel eyes blinking as she looked at Xu Qing with a bewildered expression.

Xu Qing’s smile was ambiguous. “What exactly are you promising?”

Fu Shuang froze, biting her rose-colored lip.

Xu Qing stepped closer, catching the scent of Fu Shuang’s shampoo—

A rich, floral fragrance of roses, with the refined undertones of lily perfume, filled Xu Qing’s nostrils, almost overwhelming.

Staying overnight at someone else’s house, using their shampoo.

An unnamed fire smoldered in Xu Qing’s chest, though her face remained calm. She narrowed her eyes. “Can you promise not to stay out overnight? Or that you’ll always answer my calls on time?”

Fu Shuang frowned, her soft brows furrowing as tears welled in her eyes. Without hesitation, she agreed, “Okay, Older Sister, I promise.”

Xu Qing couldn’t bear to see her cry. The girl’s theatrics had her completely flustered, and she easily fell into the emotional trap Fu Shuang had laid.

Clearing her throat, Xu Qing glanced at Fu Shuang from head to toe, her smile returning to its usual gentle warmth. Her tone was casual, almost dismissive. “Actually, you don’t need to. If you’re staying out, you don’t need to report to me. I can’t control you. But the cat is your responsibility—you can’t neglect it.”

Her polite tone, combined with her spring-breeze-like expression, made it sound as if she were comforting Fu Shuang.

But the truth was, her dear Alpha Older Sister didn’t care about her at all.

She didn’t like Fu Shuang as much as she had imagined.

Fu Shuang suddenly felt uneasy.