Marked by My Omega Rival After Moving In (GL, ABO) - Chapter 51

The meeting ended a little after four in the afternoon.

Both sides had rushed through lunch to prepare for it, and after a long and exhausting negotiation, everyone was starving. Now that a satisfying deal had finally been reached, they decided to go out for a big meal together—it was also a good chance to bond.

Yu Xiaoxiao had a gift tucked in her pocket. She had originally planned to go home and cook, but since the others were her subordinates, she figured they might feel uncomfortable if she joined the dinner—or worse, feel obligated to toast her. So, she simply excused herself early.

“No forcing my team to drink, okay?” she said with a bright smile as she greeted the lead representative from the other company. “They all drove here, so not even a drop.”

“Of course, of course,” the other person nodded quickly, recognizing her. “Absolutely, Director Yu.”

After the quick farewell, she left with Xiang Qing. As they walked through the company hallway, Xiang Qing, who was the main project lead, walked just half a step behind her, asking about the details of the plan.

Even though she was wearing heels, Xiang Qing was still about five centimeters shorter than her. Yu Xiaoxiao had to lean down slightly to hear her more clearly.

“Deputy Director Yu…” the young omega woman said, “Thank you for taking me with you. I really wasn’t comfortable staying… It would’ve been awkward to go with them…”

“It’s nothing, really,” Yu Xiaoxiao said with a wink. “Honestly, I don’t like those dinners either. They’re loud and boring—and at least if you’re not drinking, it’s bearable. So, Xiao Xiang, will you be okay getting home? You didn’t drive—need me to drop you off?”

Xiang Qing looked a little nervous and quickly shook her head. “N-no need, thank you, Deputy Director—”

“—Hey, hey! Xiaoyu-jie!”

Just then, someone called out to Yu Xiaoxiao. She looked up and saw a familiar face—Yang Guan, a playboy alpha she’d met a few times.

…She remembered that Yang Guan had once chased after Gu Wei’s younger sister. He gave up in just a few weeks when he couldn’t win her over and quickly moved on to his next target. He was always surrounded by models and had a reputation for being sleazy.

“Xiaoyu-jie! Director Yu!” Yang Guan was the nephew of the CEO of the company. Even though they didn’t really know each other well, he greeted her like an old friend as he walked over enthusiastically. “Long time no see!”

Yu Xiaoxiao stepped forward calmly, positioning herself in front of Xiang Qing. “Old Yang?”

“Director Yu! It’s been half a year—almost didn’t recognize you,” he said with a grin, trying to act chummy. “You’ve really changed… And who’s this? Not going to introduce me? So pretty… Xiaoyu-jie, are you dating someone from the office now? Great taste—”

Xiang Qing opened her mouth, clearly wanting to explain, but she stopped herself.

…She’d heard these kinds of jokes before—being a female omega, it wasn’t new to her.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Yu Xiaoxiao’s voice turned cold. “Just because your own private life is a mess doesn’t mean everyone else’s is.”

Yang Guan froze, then laughed awkwardly. “Hey, I was just joking, that’s all, haha…”

“You think you’re the only one with a mouth who knows how to joke? Did anyone laugh?” Yu Xiaoxiao’s voice was sharp. “She’s my colleague. Apologize.”

Xiang Qing looked surprised and tried to speak up to smooth things over, but Yu Xiaoxiao held her back.

Seeing she was actually angry, Yang Guan realized he couldn’t get away with it. He gave a dry laugh and awkwardly apologized to Xiang Qing.

Still, he hadn’t come over just to make trouble—he wanted to build a connection. He’d hoped Yu Xiaoxiao would help him put in a good word with her boss. Now that things had backfired and she was annoyed, he didn’t want to leave empty-handed.

His eyes darted around, then suddenly he thought of something and quickly said, “Oh right, Xiaoyu-jie—speaking of which—I heard there’s a matchmaking dinner tonight, and the big boss from the Xiang family is going. Isn’t that something?”

“…Who’s matchmaking?” Yu Xiaoxiao was stunned the moment she heard that name connected to “matchmaking.” “What dinner?”

“That circle of heirs and heiresses,” Yang Guan replied casually. “The matchmaking dinner at the Autumn Banquet, hosted by Zhongming. It’s every year. Since Xiang Shuhuai is showing up this time, you can bet a lot of others who weren’t interested before are going too… What’s up, Xiaoyu-jie, you didn’t know?”

It hit her like a brick to the head. Yu Xiaoxiao froze in place, then murmured in disbelief:

“…Xiang Shuhuai is going to a matchmaking dinner?”

“Yeah, that’s what my aunt said. My dad even told me to check it out… Of course, even if she’s a beta, someone like her wouldn’t be interested in me,” Yang Guan rambled on. “I only got my hands on an invite because I tagged along with someone else.”

Seeing the look on Yu Xiaoxiao’s face, he leaned in eagerly. “Xiaoyu-jie, do you want to go? If you want, you can totally use my invitation—I’ll go get it for you—”

“…No need.”

After refusing, Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t want to waste any more time. She quickly brushed him off and parted ways with Xiang Qing at the front of the building. Xiang Qing glanced back at her, a little worried, but left with her bag in hand.

Yu Xiaoxiao sat in her car for a while, unable to collect herself. She didn’t even start the engine.

Leaning back in the driver’s seat, she pressed a finger against the small box in her pocket and stared blankly at the cat paw charm on her phone.

Matchmaking.

…What matchmaking?

Xiang Shuhuai was going to a matchmaking dinner?

Just on the way to the meeting earlier, she’d been thinking about what kind of flowers to get her Big Ice Block of a partner, and she’d been browsing recipes on her phone, planning to welcome Xiang Shuhuai home with a homemade dinner.

That Big Ice Block had even promised to come home for her cooking this morning…

Why was she suddenly going to a matchmaking event?

Yu Xiaoxiao’s mind felt foggy. For some reason, she didn’t have the courage to ask Xiang Shuhuai directly. Instead, she opened her friend group chat and started messaging a few of her more playful contacts, one by one.

The first to reply was Gu Wei’s younger sister, Gu Mei.

[Yeah, Xiaoyu-jie, it’s true.]

[There’s a matchmaking dinner this year, and apparently Big Boss Xiang is going.]

[I don’t know the details—it’s just one of those elite heir/heiress events.]

[I heard a lot of couples actually get matched there every year.]

[My parents wanted my sister to go, but she refused. I don’t know much else… Xiaoyu-jie, is your mom making you go? Want me to ask my sister?]

Gu Wei chimed in with similar info.

[My parents wanted me to go to the Autumn Banquet too, but I just got a girlfriend—no way.]

She said, [If I really went to that matchmaking thing, my girlfriend would drown me with her tears.]

V: What’s up, Xiaoyu? Are you interested?

V: Didn’t you already have someone you like?

After a moment, she sent another message like she’d suddenly figured it out.

[Wait… don’t tell me the person you like is going to that matchmaking event too?]

V: Damn, Xiaoyu, that’s intense.

Ignoring her friend’s teasing, Yu Xiaoxiao felt more and more uneasy the longer she looked. She couldn’t sit still any longer. After replying with a few perfunctory words, she simply called her mom.

The ringtone played lazily for a while, and just when it had Yu Xiaoxiao feeling even more anxious and impatient, Yu Danchun finally picked up.

“Mom,” Yu Xiaoxiao got straight to the point, “do you know about that matchmaking—”

“…Matchmaking?” Yu Danchun paused for a second before catching on. “Ah, Xiaoxiao, you mean Zhongming’s autumn banquet?”

Yu Xiaoxiao asked, “…Is it for matchmaking?”

“Pretty much. It’s an event where people look for potential marriage partners,” Yu Danchun explained. “They host one every year, and a few couples usually come out of it. It’s become quite the thing—very boring, really… Why, Xiaoxiao, are you thinking of going?”

There was a teasing tone in her voice. “Well, this is rare. You’re finally opening up a little, huh?”

“…Yeah.” Yu Xiaoxiao heard herself say, “I want to go.”

Yu Danchun sounded a little surprised. After a moment, she replied, “…It’s fine to go take a look. Just treat it as having some fun. Yaoyao’s going too. Do you want her to go with you?”

Yu Xiaoxiao shook her head. “I… I have a friend there.”

“Alright then, I’ll just let Yaoyao do her own thing. No need for her to look after you,” Yu Danchun didn’t ask any more questions. “—Xiaoxiao, if you see someone you like, remember to tell Mom.”

After a lighthearted tease, she hung up the call.

Yu Xiaoxiao sat there in a bit of a daze, then opened her chat with Big Ice Block. Their messages from the morning were still on the screen. That morning, she had sent a pretty good home-cooked recipe to Xiang Shuhuai, asking her to cross out anything she couldn’t eat. Xiang Shuhuai had replied: [I’m good with all of it.]

The last message was an animated sticker of a puppy giving a thumbs-up that Yu Xiaoxiao had sent.

…And after that, there was nothing else.

The box in her pocket pressed painfully against her leg. Yu Xiaoxiao stared at Xiang Shuhuai’s pale blue profile picture for a moment, then finally typed out a few messages.

Fish: Big Ice Block
Fish: What do you want to drink?
Fish: I’m thinking of buying a little alcohol tonight. Do you like sake?

About two or three minutes later, she got a reply.

Little Cheese: Sure.
Little Cheese: [Puppy thumbs-up sticker]

Seeing those two replies, Yu Xiaoxiao completely forgot to tease her about stealing her sticker. She stared at the short response, wide-eyed in disbelief and full of frustration.

…Not only was she bailing on their plans to go to a matchmaking event, but she didn’t even say a word to her?

Yu Xiaoxiao felt bitter and angry.

She threw her phone aside, started the car, and headed toward the Zhongming Clubhouse.

Matchmaking, huh?

If Big Ice Block could go, then so could she!

—She was going to see for herself just how attractive and “amazing” those people trying to date Big Ice Block really were.

5 PM, the autumn banquet main hall.

When Yu Xiaoxiao arrived, she instantly drew attention.

Word had spread that she was gradually taking over the business of the Fu Xiao group. On top of that, she had never shown up at events like this before. As a young, strikingly attractive alpha girl, she had no shortage of admirers.

But whenever someone tried to approach her, one look at her clearly unwelcoming expression was enough to make them back off wisely.

So Yu Xiaoxiao ended up sitting alone at one end of the long table, forming a bubble around her as she kept her eyes on the center of the banquet.

…She spotted Big Ice Block.

She stood surrounded by a crowd, still dressed in a casual suit, casually holding a wine glass. The liquid swirled in the glass, casting flickering reflections on her pale hand and her neatly buttoned cuff. The only change was that her long hair wasn’t tied up—it had been let down slightly, with a loose strand covering a small scar on her forehead.

…Had she taken off the bandage?

Yu Xiaoxiao stared at that distant, calm face, growing angrier by the second.

She was clearly still hurt, and instead of resting, she’d covered it up with makeup and insisted on attending this dumb matchmaking party. Xiang Shuhuai had always been frail—she healed slowly from even the smallest injury—and she was still pushing herself like this?

Were those people buzzing around her the ones she was supposed to be “dating”?

Yu Xiaoxiao set down her juice glass and began carefully examining each of them.

That skinny guy in a suit standing next to Xiang Shuhuai? He looked like a stick. Barely taller than Big Ice Block, with short legs and poor proportions. He looked so weak—Big Ice Block could probably knock him over with one push. How would he ever protect her? No way. Absolutely not.

That noisy guy in shorts? Way too loud. Couldn’t he see that Big Ice Block was frowning? Sure, his face wasn’t bad and he looked young—but was he still in high school? Already trying to flirt? His intentions couldn’t be good. Totally unacceptable.

And that older man? Please. Was he out of his mind? He looked to be in his 30s or 40s, trying to hit on a 20-something like Xiang Shuhuai. His greasy hair alone could be used as a slide for flies. His face looked so unnatural—had he gotten work done? Standing next to Big Ice Block, he could practically call her “granddaughter.” How did he even dare show up?

Then there was that girl in the cute dress with curly hair… Okay, standing next to Xiang Shuhuai in a suit, they did look sort of cute together. But she was so small and dainty—was Big Ice Block supposed to take care of her? With Big Ice Block being so picky and not liking strangers in her home, she’d never hire a housekeeper. Would she be expected to do everything herself? No way.

As for the guy offering a drink? Totally out of line. Couldn’t he read the room? Who gave him the right to ask Xiang Shuhuai to drink?

—The only small comfort Yu Xiaoxiao had was that throughout all this, Xiang Shuhuai’s face remained calm and distant, showing no emotion. Her dark eyes were as cold as ice, and she kept a polite distance from everyone. Even when talking to that cute curly-haired girl, she only said a few more words than usual and that was it.

…Still, those few extra words were enough to bother Yu Xiaoxiao.

What did Big Ice Block say?

What made that curly-haired girl pause, touch her little hair clip, and then smile so brightly?

Yu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but feel a sour pang in her chest.

—So Big Ice Block liked that kind of type?

She liked calm and elegant women like Sister Youyou, and sweet and innocent girls like that curly-haired kid?

…So fickle!
Yu Xiaoxiao was so angry just thinking about it. She puffed up her cheeks and stared hard in Xiang Shuhuai’s direction, hoping to see when that cold block of ice—who was happily mingling among all those potential matches—would finally notice her death stare.

She didn’t know how long she’d been glaring, but eventually Xiang Shuhuai managed to break away from the crowd. She casually set down her wine glass, swept her eyes across the room—and then her gaze collided with Yu Xiaoxiao’s.

…Those black eyes lit up all of a sudden, like the brightest moonlight shining into a still, quiet lake, sending ripples of surprise and joy across the surface.

Xiang Shuhuai froze in place.

“Block of ice,” Yu Xiaoxiao mouthed silently, puffing out her cheeks, “I’m. Mad. At. You.”

But it seemed Xiang Shuhuai didn’t understand the lip-reading. She certainly didn’t look the least bit guilty. Instead, she looked both surprised and delighted as she walked over.

“Yu Xiaoxiao?” she stopped in front of her, speaking softly. “Why are you here?”

She’d walked over quickly, even jogging the last few steps. Her long, usually neat hair was a little messy now from moving around, with a few loose strands falling near her cheeks. Gone was the cold, untouchable look she’d had just moments ago—instead, she looked more like a fluffy cat.

Yu Xiaoxiao just kept glaring at her, cheeks puffed.

—If I didn’t come, you’d be swept away by some random rich kid into some arranged marriage!

Those people… all of them were so random and ridiculous, not a single decent one in the bunch!

But Xiang Shuhuai didn’t seem to understand her silent protest.

“You came…” she started, but then hesitated. “Ah.”

She had probably wanted to ask if Yu Xiaoxiao was here for the matchmaking too—but seeing Yu Xiaoxiao sitting alone at the edge of the room drinking juice with an expression that screamed stay away, she must’ve realized that wasn’t the case. Who comes to a matchmaking event looking like that?

“My sister’s not here today,” Xiang Shuhuai said instinctively. “You don’t have to look for her. She doesn’t come to these kinds of things…”

But when she saw how much more upset Yu Xiaoxiao looked at that, she stopped mid-sentence.

She glanced around the room, then back at Yu Xiaoxiao, then down at herself.

“…Did you come to see me?”

Yu Xiaoxiao, mouth still downturned, answered stiffly and defiantly: “—Yeah.”

She looked ridiculously cute when she was sulking. Her cheeks were puffed up, and her eyes were sharp and accusing, like a little puppy that had just had its toy taken away and was now making helpless little growly noises at the thief.

So even though Xiang Shuhuai was the one being scolded, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“It’s okay, you didn’t have to come find me,” she said softly, in a reassuring tone. “I was planning to leave soon anyway.”

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at her watch—it wasn’t even 5:30 yet. The Zhongming Clubhouse wasn’t far from their home, and even with traffic, she’d be back in half an hour. That was actually earlier than Xiang Shuhuai’s normal work schedule.

This was right around their usual dinnertime. And today, Yu Xiaoxiao had cooked for the first time, so it had taken her longer than usual.

…It made sense. As she thought about it, she suddenly realized she was wavering.

Just an excuse, she thought. If I hadn’t come, who knows how long she’d be talking to those people!

She quickly shook her head to clear the thought, putting her angry face back on, and gave a dramatic “hmph” from her nose.

Xiang Shuhuai looked at her, confused, still unsure why she was mad.

—Then, she reached out and gently poked Yu Xiaoxiao’s puffed-up cheek with her fingertip.

The cool, soft touch landed like a petal on her face, like a kiss brushing across her cheek.

Yu Xiaoxiao froze, completely caught off guard. All the anger she’d worked so hard to build up instantly crumbled.

“…What the heck! Block of ice!” she protested, swatting at Xiang Shuhuai’s hand, flustered. “Don’t just go touching people—ugh, Xiang Shuhuai, I’m still mad at you!”

Xiang Shuhuai asked softly, “—Why are you mad?”

Because you came to a matchmaking event!

Yu Xiaoxiao wanted to shout it at her, but suddenly remembered: she hadn’t confessed yet.

She was still chasing Xiang Shuhuai. They were just friends.

…Which meant she technically had no right to stop her from going to matchmaking events.

The thought made Yu Xiaoxiao even more frustrated. She pouted in silence for a while before finally mumbling, completely defeated, “…Don’t go on blind dates.”

Xiang Shuhuai blinked, confused. “Hmm?”

Yu Xiaoxiao lightly tugged at her sleeve, looked up, and stared seriously into her eyes.

“Don’t go to matchmaking events,” she said.

The cold-faced block of ice froze. “Ah…”

Then Yu Xiaoxiao pulled out the small box she’d been carrying in her pocket and gently opened it.

Inside, resting on velvet, was a bracelet.

The chain was delicate and silver, like it had been carved from snow and ice, with tiny snowflake patterns. Hanging from it was a small crystal pendant wrapped in fine, thorny chains. Under the soft lights of the banquet hall, the crystal glowed like the sun. Within it were tiny shards like broken glass, and at its center was a glowing orange-red color—like a flame that would never go out.

It was The Snow Queen fairy tale. Ice, the shattered mirror, and the heart.

“This is… I mean, I…” Yu Xiaoxiao stammered softly, for some reason nervous enough to swallow her words. “I designed this myself. For you. Block of ice.”

She spoke as she gently took Xiang Shuhuai’s wrist and tried to put the bracelet on her.

She meant to put it on her left wrist, but there were still old injuries hidden under her sleeve, wrapped in bandages. Yu Xiaoxiao was afraid of accidentally hurting her.

Xiang Shuhuai looked stunned, staring at her. Yu Xiaoxiao stared right back.

“…So,” Yu Xiaoxiao said—her words a little out of order, “Xiang Shuhuai, don’t go on a blind date, okay?”

In those quiet, moonlit black eyes, she saw her own reflection.

…And saw a flicker of hesitation ripple across them.

Yu Xiaoxiao whispered her name:

“Xiang Shuhuai?”

Xiang Shuhuai didn’t answer right away. She just looked down, gently touching the tiny pendant—the one that held the color of fire at its center.

Then, suddenly, she reached out and softly held Yu Xiaoxiao’s hand. In her black eyes, a small, flickering flame seemed to light up.

“—Yu Xiaoxiao,” she said.

“Let’s run away.”