Mark Me, Okay? - Chapter 15

Qi Xiangxing didn’t know what had come over her. By the time she realized it, she already had a warm, soft body in her arms. She had always been curious about what Luan Li’s pheromones smelled like, but even now, she couldn’t distinguish Luan Li’s scent from the various aromas in the air.

Remembering the scene at the start of the semester when she saw that girl handing Luan Li a love letter, Qi Xiangxing secretly pouted. As sourness welled up in her heart, she thought bitterly: I wonder how that girl who gave Luan Li the love letter would feel now that she’s presented as an alpha.

Luan Li noticed Qi Xiangxing’s stiffness and realized the hug had lasted too long. Just as she was about to say something to diffuse the awkward atmosphere, there was a knock on Qi Xiangxing’s door—it was Qi’s mother:

“Xingxing, Lili? I’ve cut some fruit. Can I come in?”

The two quickly separated, then pretended nothing had happened as they composed themselves. Qi Xiangxing called out, “Come in, come in!”

Mrs. Qi entered with a fruit platter, smiling. Seeing Luan Li sitting by the desk, she chided her daughter, “Don’t neglect Lili when she’s visiting.”

Qi Xiangxing took the fruit platter and murmured an acknowledgment.

Noticing the flush on her daughter’s cheeks, Mrs. Qi remarked casually, “Why are you so red? If you’re hot, turn on the AC, but don’t set it too low!”

Blushing, Qi Xiangxing replied, “Got it, got it.”

Only then did Mrs. Qi leave contentedly: “Alright, you two have fun.”

Once certain her mother had gone downstairs, Qi Xiangxing exhaled deeply, looking visibly relieved. She plopped onto her bed and patted her chest.

Luan Li watched her with an unreadable expression. She’d sensed for a while that Qi Xiangxing was hiding something from her. Luan Li wracked her brain but couldn’t recall doing anything unusual recently. She lifted her gaze to meet Qi Xiangxing’s.

Qi Xiangxing looked down just in time to meet Luan Li’s beautiful eyes. For a moment, she was at a loss. Just as she was about to instinctively avert her gaze as usual, Luan Li grabbed her hand.

“You have something to tell me,” Luan Li stated firmly.

Qi Xiangxing reflexively denied it: “I don’t.”

“You do.” Luan Li didn’t blink, staring fixedly at Qi Xiangxing as if certain she had something to say.

Qi Xiangxing froze. She opened her mouth, only to suddenly forget what she’d meant to say. Instead, she blurted out, “At the start of the semester, I saw a girl give you a love letter.”

Luan Li hadn’t expected this to be the topic. Her body stiffened, and she released Qi Xiangxing’s hand.

The more Luan Li thought about it, the harder it was to suppress her laughter. Trembling with suppressed mirth, she collapsed onto the desk, laughing uncontrollably.

But Qi Xiangxing grew increasingly aggrieved: “You even had girls giving you love letters. Back then, everyone thought you’d present as an omega. Now? You’re an alpha. Does she still like you? If you don’t like her, just say so—don’t leave her hanging like some heartless player.”

“What?!” Luan Li wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. “That love letter was for you.”

Qi Xiangxing, who had been gearing up for an emotional indictment, froze: ???

???

What the hell?

So in the end, I was the one who didn’t respond???

The grievance she’d painstakingly built up suddenly got stuck in her throat. Her mouth hung slightly open, eyes still red-rimmed as she blinked in confusion.

“That girl liked you and gave me a love letter…” Luan Li spread her hands with an apologetic expression that didn’t reach her eyes. “Since I couldn’t find you, I gave it to your deskmate. Didn’t he pass it to you?”

Her words said sorry, but her face remained impassive.

Luan Li gave a soft humph, the little figure in her heart crossing its arms proudly.

Qi Xiangxing swallowed hard: “Then…”

“She stopped me that day saying she liked you. Later I got busy and forgot to tell you,” Luan Li continued her explanation. “If you mind, I can take you to find her.”

Looking at Luan Li’s smile, Qi Xiangxing had no doubt—if she really said she minded now, Luan Li would pull out a knife and murder her in the next second.

She shrunk her neck: “It’s fine.”

As long as it wasn’t a love letter for her Luan Li, it didn’t matter.

What? It was for her?

No problem—she’d intercepted letters for Luan Li before too.

“That matter’s settled.” Luan Li tapped her knuckle on the table. “You didn’t come to me just for this, right?” She pointed at the books she’d brought: “Why bring these?”

“To study!” Qi Xiangxing said as if it were obvious, pulling a chair next to Luan Li. “I’m going to study hard!”

Luan Li: …

She turned to look out the window.

Qi Xiangxing frowned: “What are you looking at?”

Luan Li: “Oh, just checking which direction the sun’s setting from today.”

Qi Xiangxing: !!!

She gritted her teeth: “Can’t I seriously study?”

Luan Li sighed: “Who upset you?”

Qi Xiangxing stiffened.

When she said she wanted to start studying seriously, everyone praised her for finally coming around, saying it was time she worked hard. Only Luan Li—only Luan Li asked if someone had hurt her.

Looking into Luan Li’s gentle eyes, Qi Xiangxing felt her nose sting and eyes grow hot.

It wasn’t even anger at that male beta’s provocation—just a sudden emotional collapse, waves of feeling crashing inside her that she couldn’t calm.

Luan Li pulled her into a hug, patting her back soothingly as she said: “There there, I’m right here. Why the sudden hormone dependency syndrome?”

She gave Qi Xiangxing’s emotional outburst an excuse, and Qi Xiangxing leaned into the embrace.

After a long while, when Qi Xiangxing had calmed down, she told Luan Li about her bet with that male beta.

Luan Li was silent for a moment before saying softly: “I see.” Pressing her lips together, a shadow flickered through her eyes. “I’ll go back and make you a study plan today. I’ll come wake you tomorrow morning.”

Qi Xiangxing nodded excitedly: “Thank you Chairwoman Luan for saving my sorry life!”

Luan Li: …

Qi Xiangxing obsequiously speared an apple slice and brought it to Luan Li’s lips: “Here Chairwoman, have some apple!”

The next morning, as dawn barely broke, Qi Xiangxing stared in shock at the athletic-clad Luan Li below her window, her hair a complete mess.

Seeing Qi Xiangxing poke her head out, Luan Li smiled and waved: “Qi Xiangxing! Morning!”

Qi Xiangxing was still half-asleep and hadn’t fully processed the situation. She mechanically waved back: “Morning.”

“Get up. Morning jog! Memorization!” Luan Li was brief and to the point.

Qi Xiangxing: ???

She frantically ruffled her own hair: “Luan Li! It’s only 5:30!!!”

“Exactly. I’m waiting for you. Hurry up!” Luan Li remained completely unmoved.

Before morning reading, Du Ziheng looked at Qi Xiangxing slumped weakly on her desk and asked curiously: “Class president? Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Could it be that his ship had been getting intimate too late last night, causing the class president to lose sleep?!

Du Ziheng’s eyes sparkled.

Qi Xiangxing replied weakly: “Woke up too early.” Suddenly remembering Luan Li had mentioned giving a love letter to Du Ziheng, she straightened up and gave him a glance: “Did Luan Li give you a love letter?”

Du Ziheng: ???

“How could sister-in-law possibly give me a love letter!” Du Ziheng froze, then immediately put on an expression of deep distress: “How could I possibly withhold a love letter meant for you!”

Qi Xiangxing eyed him suspiciously: “Really?”

Du Ziheng: “If I’m lying, may I never find a top in my lifetime!”

Qi Xiangxing: “…No need for such an extreme vow…”

She sighed, thinking she’d have to find time to apologize to that junior later.

Seeing Qi Xiangxing drop the subject, Du Ziheng finally exhaled in relief. Remembering how sister-in-law had awkwardly handed him someone else’s confession letter meant for the class president, he straightened his back—

My ship! I’ll protect it!

I’d trade a lifetime of singlehood for my ship to have a happy ending!