I Fall Every Time I Meet an Alpha [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 12

“Zhong Xiaoxiao, no matter what my brother says, just keep rejecting him. Say no every time until he breaks up with Gan Qingyun. Got it?” After class, Meng Yuqing pulled Zhong Xiaoxiao aside to talk in private.

“I have been rejecting him, haven’t I?” Zhong Xiaoxiao replied with a bit of annoyance.

She found Meng Yuqing even more irritating than before. Ever since that kiss, just looking at her made Zhong Xiaoxiao feel uncomfortable. The memory of her tongue inside her mouth made her stomach turn. How could something that ridiculous happen to her of all people?

Meng Yuqing noticed her expression and knew she was still angry about what happened the day before. She gently took Zhong Xiaoxiao’s hand and said, “I’m sorry. I really went too far yesterday. I got carried away. Please accept my apology.”

Hearing that, Zhong Xiaoxiao felt a little less angry, but her guard was still up. Her expression remained serious.

“Meng Yuqing, I’m warning you. That better never happen again.”

“I understand.”

“This is just an act. If you’re trying to turn it into something real, I’m not playing along.”

“Right. I’m really sorry.”

Seeing that she was being sincere, Zhong Xiaoxiao decided to let it go for now. After all, Meng Yuqing was just a teenage girl. A good scolding was probably enough. It wasn’t like she could punch her for it.

Meng Yuqing could tell she had been forgiven, and her smile returned.

“So can we keep working together?”

“What’s the plan this time?” Zhong Xiaoxiao asked. Now that Meng Yuqing had taken over the scheming, she didn’t need to think much. She just followed along.

“I’ll keep pretending to be a boy and go on fake dates with you. That way my brother will get more jealous,” Meng Yuqing said.

“But what if he sees you up close? Wouldn’t he recognize you?” Zhong Xiaoxiao asked, raising a valid concern.

“You don’t trust my makeup skills?” Meng Yuqing smiled confidently.

Zhong Xiaoxiao looked at the mole on the tip of her nose, then at her eyes. Since Meng Yuqing was taller, she had to tilt her head up to meet her gaze. Compared to Meng Yuzhou, she had a more delicate look, but there was nothing weak about her. Yesterday’s disguise as a boy had been surprisingly convincing.

“As long as he doesn’t see your face clearly, he probably won’t figure it out. If he’s just seeing you from a distance, it should be fine,” Zhong Xiaoxiao said.

“Exactly,” Meng Yuqing nodded. “My brother already believes there’s a guy from the class next door who likes you. If we push a little more, it should work.”

“So are we doing another fake date today?”

“Of course. If we’re going to do this, we have to fully commit.”

Zhong Xiaoxiao didn’t argue. The two agreed on the time and place, then went back to their classrooms.

Meng Yuqing returned a few minutes later and sat at her desk, thinking about something Zhong Xiaoxiao had said earlier. Her concern was valid. After all, she was still the male lead’s biological sister. If he happened to see her up close and recognized her, everything would fall apart.

Meng Yuqing silently asked the system, “System, is there a way to make sure my brother doesn’t recognize me when I’m dressed as a boy? Don’t you have some kind of illusion function? Just apply it to him.”

System 666 replied, “You really do come up with things on the spot.”

Meng Yuqing answered, “I’m only trying to complete the mission.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

Once the system agreed, Meng Yuqing let out a quiet sigh of relief. Now she didn’t have to worry about her brother figuring it out.

That afternoon after school, Meng Yuzhou tried again to invite Zhong Xiaoxiao to the library.

“I already have plans. I’m sorry,” she said quickly while packing her bag. Before he could respond, she rushed out of the classroom. She looked like she couldn’t wait to leave, and it made Meng Yuzhou feel even worse.

“Yuzhou, do you want to see a movie together?” Gan Qingyun came over with a smile.

But Meng Yuzhou was already upset about Zhong Xiaoxiao and didn’t feel like pretending to be polite.

“I don’t want to go. You can go on your own,” he replied without looking at her.

Gan Qingyun knew he was in a bad mood because of Zhong Xiaoxiao. But she didn’t mind the rejection. In her mind, Zhong Xiaoxiao was already dating someone else. Sooner or later, Meng Yuzhou would come back to her. All she had to do was wait.

She continued walking with him. As they exited the school gates, they saw Zhong Xiaoxiao walking away with a boy. The two of them were holding hands and looked very close.

“Isn’t that Zhong Xiaoxiao?” Gan Qingyun said, pretending to be surprised. “Who’s the guy with her? They’re holding hands. Could that be her boyfriend?”

Meng Yuzhou had already seen them. He didn’t need Gan Qingyun to say anything. Her words only made his mood worse.

He stared at the boy holding Zhong Xiaoxiao’s hand, and jealousy filled his heart.

Zhong Xiaoxiao used to like him. He had been so sure of it. Did she really move on that quickly? Was she so disappointed in him that she gave up and ran into someone else’s arms?

A memory flashed in his mind. That day, when she looked at him with tears in her eyes. She must have been heartbroken. She must have been so disappointed that she gave up on him completely.

When had this started?

Their first meeting ended with a kiss.

Wasn’t that too fast? Had she already let go of him? Was she spiraling out of control?

Then a terrifying thought crossed his mind. If she had kissed him on the first day, would she go even further next time?

The idea of her going to a hotel with that boy made his heart freeze.

Even he was shocked by his own thoughts.

In his mind, Zhong Xiaoxiao had already become a girl hurt by love, someone who had fallen for someone else and was slowly losing herself.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch her spiral like this.

Especially not if it was all his fault to begin with.

“Sorry,” Meng Yuzhou said suddenly to Gan Qingyun. “I have something I need to take care of.”

“Yuzhou, where are you going?” Gan Qingyun asked, noticing he was about to leave. She tried to follow him.

“Don’t follow me!” Meng Yuzhou turned around and shouted at her.

Gan Qingyun froze in place, staring at his back as he walked away from her. The distance between them grew wider and wider, and her heart began to grow cold.

Was it really that hard for him to see her with someone else?

What good would it do to chase after her now?

Gan Qingyun hated how things were turning out. Why was it that the person she loved didn’t love her back? And if he didn’t love her, then why had he agreed to be with her in the first place? Why had he given her hope? Why was he torturing her like this?

Meng Yuzhou, if you never loved me, then why did you agree to be with me?

Do you even know who it is you truly care about?

Gan Qingyun was sinking into this emotional pit and couldn’t pull herself out.

When you love someone, it’s not something you can control. She didn’t want to be this pathetic, but she had no way to stop herself.

She just wanted to be near him. She wanted to look at him. She wanted to be with him.

Suddenly, a teasing voice came from behind.

“Well well, isn’t this Gan Qingyun? What are you doing here? Got dumped?”

Gan Qingyun turned around and saw a group of boys and girls staring at her.

Leading the group was Du Lingyan. Gan Qingyun frowned slightly. She was from her own class but not someone she got along with.

Gan Qingyun had no interest in dealing with them and turned to leave, but Du Lingyan stepped in to block her way.

“Why are you leaving, beauty? Come hang out with us.”

Du Lingyan had a bold and flashy style. Her uniform was unbuttoned at the top, revealing a black bra underneath. Expensive-looking jewelry sparkled on her neck and wrists. Her long, choppy hair hung freely, and her blunt bangs looked like they had been cut with a kitchen knife. But despite her rough look, her face was striking. She had peach-shaped eyes, a sharp nose, and full, glossy lips. Large hoop earrings gave her a rebellious edge.

She was wild and unpredictable, the kind of girl no one wanted to mess with.

Gan Qingyun knew all about Du Lingyan and her little crew. They were trouble, and most people stayed away from them.

Because of her beauty and aloof nature, Gan Qingyun didn’t have many friends in her class. She never expected to catch their attention.

“Sorry, I need to go home,” she said quickly and tried to leave, but the group surrounded her and blocked her path.

“Gan Qingyun, we’re being nice by inviting you. Don’t act like you’re better than us,” one of the girls snapped.

Du Lingyan didn’t like her tone and frowned.

“Hey, show some respect. She’s our school beauty, remember?”

“Right, right, boss,” the group quickly changed their tone, smiling and nodding.

With no way out, Gan Qingyun turned back to face Du Lingyan directly.

“What do you want from me?” she asked plainly.

“I already told you. We just want to hang out. Why don’t you believe me?” Du Lingyan said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and starting to lead her away. “Come on, let’s go get something to eat.”

Gan Qingyun felt like she was being dragged off by a group of delinquents. Her heart sank. She wanted to call for help, but she didn’t know who she could turn to.

“We’re classmates. I’m not going to hurt you. Relax,” Du Lingyan said with a laid-back voice, but her presence felt overwhelming. She was a little taller than Gan Qingyun, and her tone was casual but carried an unshakable confidence.

Gan Qingyun felt increasingly uncomfortable, but she couldn’t break free.

Surrounded by five or six people, she was swept away down the street with no choice but to go along with them.