Everyone Loves the Alpha, But He’s Not Interested [Transmigration] - Chapter 23

The next morning’s script reading session ended smoothly. Jiang Yuanxin and Wang You had other matters to attend to and left early. After lunch at the villa, Ning Xi was once again persuaded by Yu Qingxue to stay until after dinner before she finally prepared to return to school.

The incident with the online post had been perfectly resolved. Yu Qingxue had heard from Fang Huailian that Cai Yixuan had become notorious at Beihua Academy and could no longer continue her studies there. Her uncle, Cai Zhenggen, made a large donation to a top university in the Free State to secure her an admission spot. He sent Cai Yixuan abroad to study.

Now that there was no reason to keep Ning Xi, Yu Qingxue started to look forward to the filming that would begin in just two days.

“I’ll take you back,” Yu Qingxue said as she stood up.

Ning Xi quickly responded, “I can just take a taxi. President Yu, you’ve had a long day. You should get some rest.”

But Yu Qingxue did not listen. She was already at the door, putting on her coat and holding her car keys.

When she saw Ning Xi still standing in place, she turned and asked, “You don’t want to leave?”

Ning Xi had come to understand just how persistent Yu Qingxue could be. Once she decided on something, she never changed her mind.

She walked over to Yu Qingxue’s side with a gentle, slightly helpless smile. “President Yu, I’m just worried about your health.”

Yu Qingxue thought to herself, You should be more worried about your own health. My heat cycle lasts ten days.

“I only felt weak before because I was hungry. After lunch, I completely recovered. I’m not going out of my way to drive you. I have something to do nearby, so it’s along the way.”

Given Yu Qingxue’s previous excuses, Ning Xi did not believe for a moment that it was just a coincidence.

In the end, she still gave in. “Thank you, President Yu.”

Just before leaving the villa, Ning Xi remembered that the items she had bought were still upstairs. She was about to go get them when Yu Qingxue said, “It’s too much of a hassle to bring all those bags to the set. I’ll have my assistant send them over for you.”

Ning Xi felt that no matter how many times she said thank you, it would never be enough to repay Yu Qingxue’s kindness.

To her, Yu Qingxue was truly a good person.

Yu Qingxue walked ahead, completely unaware that she had just been quietly placed into the “good person” category again by Ning Xi.

Yu Qingxue’s house was about an hour’s drive from Beihua Academy. As they left the villa, the sun had already started to set. By the time the car merged onto the highway, night had completely fallen. The streetlights on both sides of the road cast a warm yellow glow over the city. In the distance, tall buildings shimmered with countless lights, beautifully stacked one after another.

Ning Xi turned her head slightly to glance at Yu Qingxue, who was focused on driving.

The warm light split her face into both brightness and shadow. From Ning Xi’s perspective, only the half immersed in darkness was visible. The soft orange light traced the delicate lines of her face. Her light-colored eyes reflected both the night and the city lights, creating a beauty that was breathtaking.

If someone were to ask Ning Xi who the most beautiful woman she had ever seen was, she would answer without hesitation. It was Yu Qingxue.

Suddenly, Ning Xi’s phone vibrated twice in her pocket. Just as she was about to take it out, it started buzzing repeatedly.

Even Yu Qingxue, who was focused on the road, noticed. The car stopped at a red light. Yu Qingxue slowly brought the car to a halt. Seeing Ning Xi checking her phone, her slender fingers curled slightly on the steering wheel. She asked casually, “Who is it? Sounds like something urgent.”

Ning Xi opened WeChat and saw the name “Qi Huaihuai” at the top of the chat. After a brief moment, she remembered who it was.

Qi Huaihuai had been her good friend at the orphanage. She had arrived two years after Ning Xi and was two years younger, but they had started school together.

Two weeks ago, Qi Huaihuai had entered her secondary gender differentiation period and was hospitalized in isolation. It happened so suddenly she had not taken her phone with her. She and the original Ning Xi had lost contact completely.

“It’s a friend from the orphanage, Qi Huaihuai. She just finished her differentiation period and got back to school. She’s messaging me about how painful it was.”

Yu Qingxue immediately felt on edge. “Qi Huaihuai sounds like a nice name. What gender did she differentiate into?”

Ning Xi, unaware of the subtle tension in Yu Qingxue’s voice, scrolled to the top of the messages and said, “Omega. She became an Omega.”

Yu Qingxue instantly felt a sense of crisis.

Someone who had grown up in the same orphanage with Ning Xi and was now also an Omega? That meant she had shared all of Ning Xi’s past. Qi Huaihuai knew everything that Yu Qingxue did not.

They had grown up together. Childhood companions. Shared memories. A bond forged over time.

Every part of Yu Qingxue’s body was now filled with jealousy.

The red light turned green, but she was so caught up in her thoughts that she forgot to drive. Only when the car behind honked did she snap back and continue on.

She glanced sideways at Ning Xi, who was busy replying to messages. Silently, Yu Qingxue decided to find an excuse later to meet this newly differentiated little childhood friend in person.

Ning Xi had no idea about Yu Qingxue’s inner conflict. Qi Huaihuai had sent a flood of messages. After reading through all of them, Ning Xi found only two pieces of important information.

The first was that Qi Huaihuai had become an Omega and had finally gotten her phone back at school.

The second was that she wanted to see Ning Xi and missed her very much.

Ning Xi didn’t even need to recall the original plot. Just based on the situation, she could guess that Qi Huaihuai was one of the original Ning Xi’s many admirers.

Ning Xi replied,
“I’m on my way back to school. It’s getting late. You just got back. Rest well tonight and let’s meet tomorrow.”

Qi Huaihuai answered,
“Ning Xi, but I really really want to see you. I don’t have any family. You are the only one I have. We haven’t seen each other in half a month. Don’t you miss me even a little?”

Qi Huaihuai had always been a bit manipulative and talkative. Since childhood, she had enjoyed being spoiled. In the original story, Ning Xi had developed feelings for her during adolescence, but it had always been a secret.

The author described how Qi Huaihuai enjoyed being admired, though she had no real interest in the original Ning Xi. She pretended not to notice the affection, often acted cute and needy, and said she treated her like family. This left Ning Xi emotionally confused and hopelessly devoted.

But this Ning Xi was not the same person. She had no intention of indulging Qi Huaihuai.

Ning Xi replied simply,
“Be good. Get some rest early tonight.”

Qi Huaihuai responded with crying and pouting emojis,
“You don’t care about me anymore. I’m so sad.”

Ning Xi glanced at the message briefly, then exited the app and stopped replying.

Her phone kept vibrating. Yu Qingxue noticed that Ning Xi had put her phone down and asked, “Why aren’t you reading the messages?”

Ning Xi replied, “She’s just being dramatic. It’s not important. I’ll check it again when I’m back at the dorm.”

The phrase “just a kid” lifted Yu Qingxue’s mood immediately. It meant Ning Xi didn’t even see Qi Huaihuai as a grown woman.

Forty minutes later, Yu Qingxue parked the car outside the gates of Beihua Academy.

The area in front of the gate was brightly lit, almost as bright as day. Students were walking in and out in groups. Yu Qingxue’s luxury car parked right at the entrance, drawing plenty of attention. Many passersby couldn’t help but stare, and some even took out their phones to snap pictures.

Noticing this, Ning Xi turned to Yu Qingxue and said, “President Yu, maybe you should move the car to a quieter spot. Parking here draws too much attention. If someone recognizes you, a crowd might gather, and then it will be hard for you to leave.”

“That makes sense,” Yu Qingxue said, though deep down she was feeling a little disappointed. If she and Ning Xi were not biologically different as an Alpha and Omega, she might have used this as an excuse to stay overnight in Ning Xi’s dorm.

She drove the car a short distance away. The streetlights in this area were dim, almost completely out, so students rarely passed by here at night.

“Thank you, President Yu. Be careful on your way back,” Ning Xi said as she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door to get out.

“Wait a moment.” Yu Qingxue unfastened her own seatbelt. “Fang Huailian should still be on campus. I want to have a chat with him. Let’s go in together.”

Ning Xi looked at Yu Qingxue’s beautiful face, still striking even under the dim light, and asked, “Won’t people recognize you?”

After all, wearing sunglasses at night wasn’t really an option.

“They won’t,” Yu Qingxue replied confidently. She turned around and grabbed a brown bucket hat from the back seat. The brim was wider than usual, and once she put it on, most of her face was hidden. From the front, only her nose and lips could be seen. From the side, only her refined jawline was visible.

Then she took out a face mask from her bag and put it on, completely covering her face.

“Can you still recognize me like this?” Yu Qingxue tilted her chin up slightly as she asked.

“Let me see.” Ning Xi examined her outfit carefully. She reached out and brushed back Yu Qingxue’s soft, voluminous curls. “I’ve never seen anyone else with hair as beautiful as yours.”

“Would you like me to tie it up for you?” Ning Xi asked gently.

Yu Qingxue was glad the lighting was so dim. Otherwise, her flushed cheeks would have been very obvious.

“Only if you have a hair tie,” she replied.

“I do.” Ning Xi always kept one in the pocket of her school uniform jacket. “President Yu, turn around and face the other way. It’ll only take a moment.”

Yu Qingxue obediently turned her back to her, feeling a little nervous. Ning Xi held the tie in one hand and gathered Yu Qingxue’s curls with the other, gently looping the hair tie twice, not too tight, so her lovely hair wouldn’t get creased.

“Is it done?” Yu Qingxue asked softly.

“Yes,” Ning Xi replied. “Your beautiful hair looks great even tied up.”

Yu Qingxue seriously wondered if Ning Xi had just drunk a bottle of honey. Every word she spoke sounded sweet enough to melt a person.

They got out of the car and began walking toward the school entrance together. No one seemed to notice Yu Qingxue at all, because everyone’s eyes were focused on Ning Xi’s face.

At first, Ning Xi had only been admired among students who appreciated good looks. But ever since the incident with Cai Yixuan, her name had spread throughout the entire campus.

“Ning Xi, we’ll always support you!” Two girls passing by gathered their courage and called out.

Ning Xi was slightly surprised but gave them a smile in return. “Thank you.”

Yu Qingxue silently glanced at the two girls. A wave of jealousy began to rise again in her chest.

Ning Xi was clearly more popular than she had imagined.

Their voices were not loud, but loud enough to be heard within a few meters.

Nearby, standing by the gate, was a pretty girl with twin ponytails. She had been glancing around anxiously, and when she heard the familiar name, her large round eyes immediately turned toward Ning Xi.

“Ning Xi?” Qi Huaihuai walked closer, calling out uncertainly.

Ning Xi turned at the sound of her voice and looked surprised. “Huaihuai? What are you doing here? I told you to get some rest.”

The tall girl in front of her barely resembled the person from her memory, but after hearing that familiar tone of care, Qi Huaihuai instantly recognized her good friend.

“Ning Xi, it really is you!” Qi Huaihuai’s eyes sparkled with emotion as she studied her face. “I really wanted to see you. You said you were on your way back to school, so I came to the gate to wait for you.”

“I’ve been waiting a long time.” She reached out playfully, trying to wrap her arms around Ning Xi’s.

But Ning Xi quickly stepped back, avoiding her touch.

Qi Huaihuai froze for a moment. “Ning Xi, what’s wrong?”

“You’re an Omega now,” Ning Xi said calmly. “I’m an Alpha. We shouldn’t be too physically close.”

Qi Huaihuai pouted. “I don’t care what other people think. I just know I haven’t seen you in so long and I really missed you. Can’t I at least hug you?”

Tears shimmered in her large eyes, full of frustration and hurt. “I waited here for over half an hour, and now you won’t even give me a hug.”

Ning Xi had nothing to say. She must be crazy to hug Qi Huaihuai right now.

Just as Ning Xi was struggling with how to respond, Yu Qingxue, who had been silent at her side until now, suddenly spoke.

“You must be Qi Huaihuai. Ning Xi talks about you often.”

Qi Huaihuai looked up at the strangely dressed woman beside Ning Xi. Frowning, she asked, “Who are you?”

Yu Qingxue’s soft, sweet voice carried both a smile and a subtle warning. “I’m Ning Xi’s boss. She’s signed a contract with me. During the contract period, she’s not allowed to have any gossip or rumors involving Omegas.”

She gave a gentle pause, then added with a hint of teasing in her voice, “If you don’t want Ning Xi to be forced to sell herself to the company for life because she can’t afford the penalty fees, little sister, you’d better make sure to keep your distance from her from now on.”