Marked by My Omega Rival After Moving In (GL, ABO) - Chapter 53

Even though she had stayed up until two or three in the morning writing out her confession plan, Yu Xiaoxiao still looked full of energy when the alarm clock woke her right at 7 a.m. She jumped out of bed, rushed to wash up, changed clothes, and dashed to the kitchen.

Xiang Shuhuai was already there, standing by the kitchen island, defrosting the steaks she was going to cook. The two of them had agreed on this arrangement: Shuhuai would make breakfast because she usually got up earlier, while Xiaoxiao would take care of dinner.

“I made milk pudding,” Shuhuai said softly when she saw Xiaoxiao walk in. “It tastes okay—I figured we could add it to the iced coffee later…”

Xiaoxiao’s daily routine was usually pretty all over the place, often flipping day and night. Even on weekdays, she only managed to keep a healthy sleep schedule because she had to work. On weekends, she usually slept in until noon.

So, Yu Xiaoxiao being up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday was a rare sight. Shuhuai couldn’t help but take a second look. “Why are you up so early today?”

Xiaoxiao didn’t answer. She just stood there, staring at Shuhuai in her apron, and slowly turned red in the ears.

This… this really felt like they were a couple who had been living together for years after getting married.

Seeing Xiaoxiao zoning out while staring at her, Shuhuai looked a little confused. “Yu Xiaoxiao?”

“Ah… ah!” Xiaoxiao snapped out of it like she’d been caught red-handed. “No! I-I wasn’t thinking about anything, really!”

Yeah, right.

Shuhuai gave her a helpless look but didn’t say anything.

Xiaoxiao grinned and said, “Okay, Big Ice Block, I’ll go make the soy milk then?”

—The small steaks were soon done, sizzling in oil and served on fresh lettuce leaves. On the side were boiled eggs, two meat buns, the red bean soy milk Xiaoxiao had made, and peeled, sliced apples. Shuhuai’s plate had one less egg and one less bun, and the empty space was filled with cherry tomatoes instead.

“Big Ice Block,” Xiaoxiao pouted. “Are you a bunny or something?”

Shuhuai glanced at her without answering.

“Okay then,” Xiaoxiao said while cutting into her steak, “you’re not a cat anymore—you’re a polar rabbit. White and tiny, and cold as ice—”

A cherry tomato flew her way. She caught it with ease.

Xiaoxiao looked up, smiled at Shuhuai who was pretending to be mad, and popped the tomato into her mouth.

Her attack had failed, so Shuhuai looked away and ignored her.

…But she didn’t get far with her food before she started feeling something strange.

—At some point, Xiaoxiao had stopped eating and was just staring at her in a daze. The alpha girl had a dreamy smile on her face, like she was lost in thought.

That strange gaze felt almost solid. It made Shuhuai so uncomfortable that she tapped Xiaoxiao’s wrist with her spoon. “…Yu Xiaoxiao.”

Xiaoxiao suddenly snapped out of it and tilted her head. “Eh?”

Even though she looked a bit dazed, that silly smile still lingered at the corners of her lips. She looked like a dog who had suddenly gotten happy for no reason, tail wagging like crazy.

Her hair was thick and a little wild, and even though she had brushed it after washing up, a few wet strands still stuck out here and there, making her look a little silly.

Looking at her like that, Shuhuai asked, “What were you thinking about?”

Xiaoxiao stretched out the sound, “Hmm——” for a long time, then suddenly grinned. “—Secret!”

With that, she quickly finished the rest of her boiled egg, grabbed her bun, and stood up.

“Big Ice Block!”

Xiaoxiao brought her dishes to the sink, grabbed a napkin to hold the bun, and hurried out of the kitchen. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and peeked back at Shuhuai from the doorway.

“Remember that wish you promised me last time? Come with me somewhere tonight! I’ll pick you up at 5:30—”

“Okay…” Shuhuai looked a little lost. “But, where are we going…”

“—That’s settled then!”

As soon as she heard the “okay,” Xiaoxiao’s fluffy head disappeared behind the door, completely ignoring the “but” and any questions that followed.

Then came the sound of the door opening. Xiaoxiao quickly put on her shoes and left the house, calling back one last line:

“—Xiang Shuhuai, I’ll message you later!”

The door closed behind her. Xiaoxiao carried an empty, oversized backpack—inside was her carefully crafted confession plan, and a heart that was both nervous and excited.

—She was getting ready to confess her love!

The perfect confession, completed in one night, was pieced together from tons of different ideas. She’d pulled suggestions from all kinds of sources, and of course, the most came from her self-proclaimed love guru friend, Gu Wei.

The night before, Xiaoxiao had filled up a page with notes from gossip, movies, novels, and real-life examples. But every time she looked at an idea, she found a reason to throw it out—too dramatic, too boring, too cliché, or just not right to express her true feelings. None of them felt good enough. In the end, she had to ask for help.

Yu: Gu Wei, Gu Wei
Yu: WeiVVVVVVVVvvvvv
Yu: Save me
Yu: How did you confess??
Yu: [screenshot of a file]
Yu: Look at these plans. Are any of them good?

Gu Wei replied with a single dot: [.]

Before Xiaoxiao could ask more, Gu Wei just called her.

“Xiaoyu,” she said while probably flipping through the massive mind map Xiaoxiao had sent over—it was over ten megabytes—her voice filled with surprise and a bit of helplessness. “Why did you come up with so many plans? That’s not like you.”

Then she seemed to realize something. “…Wait, did you learn this from your person?”

It was true—this kind of methodical planning was something Xiaoxiao had picked up from Xiang Shuhuai. Normally, Xiaoxiao wasn’t a planner at all. She did everything on impulse, following her heart and imagination. She’d do whatever popped into her head.

…But when it came to confessing to Shuhuai, she just wanted everything to be perfect. As perfect as possible. So perfect that even the always-anxious, often-sad Big Ice Block would feel truly happy.

Thinking about that made Xiaoxiao so nervous she could barely sit still. She wanted every little part of the plan to be just right.

“I just want to do better…” Xiaoxiao said, her voice full of regret and frustration. “And I already gave her the confession gift ahead of time. Now I don’t even know what to give her…”

“Why would you give it early?” Gu Wei sounded exasperated.

“I couldn’t hold onto it…” Xiaoxiao muttered. “We were together at the time, and I just wanted to give her something good.”

Gu Wei let out a disgusted “ugh.”

“Hey, Xiaoyu,” Gu Wei said, “you already gave her a confession gift, so why didn’t you just confess back then?”

“That—That definitely wouldn’t have worked!” Yu Xiaoxiao said quickly. “It wasn’t the right situation. It would’ve been too casual, not formal at all— I want to give her the best, most perfect confession…”

“There’s no such thing as a ‘formal’ confession,” Gu Wei replied with a sigh. “If the mood is right, that’s all that matters. Sometimes you don’t even need a plan—it just happens naturally when the moment comes.”

“I’ve got experience, Xiaoyu, but I doubt any of it would work for you,” she added. “I confessed to my current girlfriend in a bar—after a few drinks and a kiss, we were together. Before that, I’ve done it after sleeping together, or even just after a one-night stand… But you two? You’re so pure it’s like watching elementary schoolers fall in love. Xiaoyu, are you sure that kind of confession would even work for you?”

…She didn’t even need to say it. Just hearing all that and imagining any of it happening between her and Xiang Shuhuai made Yu Xiaoxiao blush so hard her ears felt like they were on fire. She could barely get a word out.

“That’s why, Xiaoyu,” Gu Wei said, “there’s really no such thing as the perfect confession. There’s only the one that’s right for you two.”

“If you ask me, you don’t need to write so many versions. Just write the one you like best, the one you think suits her the most.”

…The one that suits Xiang Shuhuai the most?

What would that even look like?

With that thought, Yu Xiaoxiao scratched out all her previous plans, then spent half the night scribbling and sketching on her tablet. Finally, she drew out the scene she imagined in her mind.

When she looked at the final drawing, her eyes sparkled. A soft smile tugged at her lips.

She had left the house early this morning just to make that scene come to life. After all, while you could ask people to help with many things, when it came to flowers, you had to choose them yourself.

Yu Xiaoxiao finished her call after confirming the arrangements, then walked through the flower market, eyes scanning the vibrant, colorful blossoms.

—She had a feeling Xiang Shuhuai would really like this.

At 5:00 p.m., Yu Xiaoxiao drove home and waited downstairs. At exactly 5:25, as always, Xiang Shuhuai showed up five minutes early.

—In the twenty-five minutes she’d been waiting, Yu Xiaoxiao had already taken deep breaths countless times, telling herself over and over: stay calm, don’t be nervous.

But even though her breathing had evened out, the moment Xiang Shuhuai opened the car door and climbed in, just catching the side of her pale, relaxed face, Yu Xiaoxiao’s heart skipped a beat and then started pounding wildly again.

Thump, thump, thump.

Xiang Shuhuai didn’t seem to notice anything. She just looked around, sniffing lightly, and asked with a puzzled look, “…Where did you go?”

“…I—I didn’t go anywhere!” Yu Xiaoxiao blurted out, way too fast. “Ah, um, why do you ask?”

She was really bad at lying. Just hearing her answer basically screamed, I went somewhere, but I’m not telling you, and I feel super guilty about it. Even she was stunned by herself and wanted to smack her own forehead in frustration.

Luckily, Xiang Shuhuai didn’t press her. She just said casually, “You smell like flowers. Fresh flowers.”

“Huh?” Yu Xiaoxiao blinked. “…Really?”

Xiang Shuhuai nodded.

She leaned back into the soft passenger seat, absentmindedly squeezing the pillow that had been in the backseat—it felt soft and squishy.

…But not quite as soft as Yu Xiaoxiao’s puffy, round cheeks, she thought fleetingly.

Then Xiang Shuhuai asked softly, “Where are we going?”

Yu Xiaoxiao grinned proudly and started the car. “Secret.”

…Suspicious.

Considering the last time Yu Xiaoxiao insisted on driving somewhere—when they were supposed to go swimming but ended up meeting her parents—Xiang Shuhuai couldn’t help being wary. She shifted a little in her seat but ultimately let Yu Xiaoxiao take the wheel and followed along.

Yu Xiaoxiao drove smoothly and confidently on the highway. The car moved quickly but steadily, with barely any jostling. Outside the dark-tinted windows, the scenery rushed by in a blur, while the inside of the car stayed quiet. Xiang Shuhuai leaned against the soft headrest, breathing in the light, sweet scent in the car. Slowly, she started to feel sleepy.

“Tired?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked softly when she noticed. “Then take a nap. We’ll be there when you wake up.”

…Even more suspicious. Xiang Shuhuai narrowed her eyes a little.

She mumbled quietly, “…You’re not trying to sell me off or something, are you, Yu Xiaoxiao?”

“You wish,” Yu Xiaoxiao teased. “You’re too skinny to fetch a good price, Big Ice Block. Not worth selling.”

Xiang Shuhuai gave her an annoyed look and didn’t say another word.

…And then, she really did fall asleep in the seat.

When she woke up, the car had stopped. Yu Xiaoxiao was sitting beside her, slightly turned to the side, head down, scribbling something on her tablet with full concentration.

She made a few final strokes, then looked up—straight into Xiang Shuhuai’s sleepy, unfocused black eyes.

“Ah…”

Yu Xiaoxiao froze for two seconds, her pen still moving.

Then suddenly, as if she realized what was happening, she flung the stylus aside, turned off the screen, and her face turned bright red.

Xiang Shuhuai blinked, confused, and frowned a little. “…Hm?”

“Nothing, nothing, nothing at all,” Yu Xiaoxiao said quickly. “Big Ice Block, you’re awake—shall we go?”

Go where?

Xiang Shuhuai was still half-asleep, stretching her stiff neck from sleeping awkwardly in the car. But the view outside the window quickly answered her question.

A massive Western-style building, bright and whimsical like something out of a fairy tale. Colorful castles stretching in every direction, all kinds of rides and attractions, and a giant Ferris wheel towering high into the dim evening sky.

…An amusement park?

“Dun-dun-dun-dun—”

Yu Xiaoxiao started singing, her eyes sparkling as she smiled brightly at her.

“Amusement park! What do you think, Big Ice Block? Isn’t it nice? It just so happens we got night tickets. There aren’t many people, so we can grab something to eat first! Come on, Big Ice Block.”

Xiang Shuhuai nodded a bit dazedly, letting Yu Xiaoxiao pull her out of the car and toward the amusement park.

…This was her first time at a real amusement park.

She didn’t know what kind of tickets Yu Xiaoxiao bought or what the process was. She just followed her steps, dazed and quiet, led by that warm and firm grip on her wrist, passing easily into a place that had only existed in her childish dreams—a land for carefree kids.

Maybe it was because it was nighttime, but there weren’t too many visitors. It wasn’t crowded, yet not too empty either—just like a peaceful, relaxing park.

Groups of friends, couples, and families strolled around. Kids and teens ran about, laughing and playing. Under the slowly darkening sky, tinted with a soft blue hue, the entire fairy tale town seemed wrapped in a mist of warmth and life.

…It’s so nice.

Xiang Shuhuai thought, unconsciously slowing her steps.

She didn’t like crowds and had always disliked noisy places. Sometimes, loud and busy environments made her anxious.

But surprisingly, she didn’t dislike it here.

Standing on the fairy tale-like street, paved with colorful cobblestones, she felt like she had become that child again—dreaming of visiting an amusement park, laughing and playing with friends like a normal kid.

Wearing mismatched clothes passed down from the older sister next door all year round, washing away fresh nosebleeds and wine stains in the school’s freezing water basin, the wet fabric clinging coldly to her skin—she used to hide all her unrealistic dreams deep in her heart.

Xiang Shuhuai stood there, staring blankly at where the castle lights met the sky, unable to snap out of it. Until she felt a small tug on her wrist—a thin plastic ribbon.

She looked up and saw Yu Xiaoxiao standing there, holding a big colorful helium balloon.

The cartoon balloon swayed in the breeze, and Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled. Her face wore the same bright smile as always.

“Big Ice Block,” she said, “You hold this, okay? If you’re worried it’ll float away, want me to tie it to your wrist?”

“…No need,” Xiang Shuhuai said softly. But she still reached out, taking the string and gripping it tightly. “I won’t lose it.”

“Alright.” Yu Xiaoxiao beamed. “So, what should we eat? I remember the Western food here isn’t great, but the burgers are pretty good—oh, and hot dogs! You can’t go to an amusement park and not eat a hot dog! And we’re just in time—they haven’t closed yet—”

Her energy was incredible, and she acted so fast that Xiang Shuhuai hadn’t even reacted yet before she was being pulled along again, hurrying toward the hot dog stand. She stumbled after her, tightly holding on to the balloon string, making sure it didn’t fly away.

By the time they reached the hot dog cart, Xiang Shuhuai was completely out of breath. She collapsed onto a nearby bench, cheeks flushed and breathing hard. But Yu Xiaoxiao was still full of energy, cheerfully skipping over to the stand, where only one customer was ordering. In no time, she came back with two hot dogs, two orders of fries, half a fried chicken, and two cups of soda.

Xiang Shuhuai stared, amazed at how she managed to carry so much like some kind of circus act—without even spilling a drop of soda.

Yu Xiaoxiao sat beside her, laid out the food on a napkin between them, handed her a soda, and tied the balloon to the bench’s armrest.

“Big Ice Block,” she said, looking at Xiang Shuhuai with serious eyes, “What should we ride later?”

Xiang Shuhuai stuffed a chicken leg into her mouth: “Eat first.”

Yu Xiaoxiao replied with a muffled “Okay” through her full mouth.

After finishing their hot, delicious dinner, they tried all the night rides. There wasn’t a giant rollercoaster, and the haunted house was closed, but there was a mini drop tower, flying swings, a small coaster that circled the whole park, go-karts, and a merry-go-round.

She tied the balloon to different railings at each ride but always remembered to untie it and hold it tightly again. Yu Xiaoxiao would laugh and watch her, sometimes running off and coming back with oversized cotton candy or balloon animals from nearby stands, stuffing them into Xiang Shuhuai’s arms.

As they played, the crowds thinned out. When night fully settled and the castle lit up in soft, colorful lights, Yu Xiaoxiao suddenly said:

“—Big Ice Block, let’s go ride the Ferris wheel?”

Xiang Shuhuai looked up and saw the tall, fairy-tale-themed Ferris wheel gently turning. The cabins glowed with a soft light, and the highest point seemed to pierce the sky.

“…Okay,” she agreed.

The deeper they walked in, the fewer people there were. But no staff came to stop them.

So the two of them, holding the same helium balloon, walked through half the park to the Ferris wheel, climbed up to the platform, and tied the balloon to a nearby railing.

A cabin slowly approached them—it looked empty.

“…No one’s inside,” Xiang Shuhuai asked. “Should we take this one?”

“Sure!” Yu Xiaoxiao nodded.

So Xiang Shuhuai stepped forward.

She tried opening the door—and froze.

Inside was a small, white table. On it sat a ceramic figure of a puppy, calmly sitting. The little golden retriever had a champagne rose held in its mouth.

The cabin gently came to a stop.

—Right in front of her, the rose petals were soft and fragrant. Under the cabin’s light, their pale yellow edges glowed orange, trembling slightly with the gentle sway.

Xiang Shuhuai stared, confused, then turned to Yu Xiaoxiao. The other girl simply nodded, her expression gentle: “Take it, Big Ice Block.”

After Xiang Shuhuai had taken the champagne rose and was standing steady on the platform, the Ferris wheel began to turn again, slowly.

The second cabin held another little dog, this one lying on its back. Two soft golden lisianthus flowers rested on its paws.

Yu Xiaoxiao stood there, watching Xiang Shuhuai stare blankly at the flowers reflected in her wide eyes. The nervous beating of her heart slowly calmed.

Four flowers. Eight. Sixteen. Thirty-two…

Xiang Shuhuai picked them up from the little tables, one by one, until her arms were full. When she couldn’t carry any more, Yu Xiaoxiao stepped forward, took some from her, and placed them at her feet, surrounding her with a sea of flowers.

As the cabins came, the flowers grew more and more abundant—eventually filling each cabin with a dazzling sea of petals, blooming brightly under the soft lights.

Yu Xiaoxiao picked out the prettiest one and gently placed it in Xiang Shuhuai’s arms.

Roses, wild roses, strawflowers, hydrangeas, plumeria, garden roses… one after another filled her embrace, almost burying her completely. Like a vast sea of blossoms blooming all around her.

But through it all, there was no sunflower.

Until the last cabin slowly arrived.

Yu Xiaoxiao gently opened the door—there was nothing inside. No flowers, no dog figurine, no little table. Just an empty space. She held out her hand to Xiang Shuhuai.

“Big Ice Block,” she said softly, “Let’s go in.”

Xiang Shuhuai set down the flowers, took her hand, and quietly stepped into the cabin.

The cabin was semi-transparent, gently rising into the sky. Through the glass windows on both sides, they could see the peaceful night outside—

And the cabins nearby, filled with flowers.

“…What is all this?” Xiang Shuhuai asked softly, not looking at her. “Yu Xiaoxiao, what are these?”

“Uh—that, um…” Yu Xiaoxiao fumbled in her pocket, flustered. “Wait a sec, Big Ice Block…”

She found a small box and held it between them, opening it.

Her hand trembled a little.

—A sunflower.

A sunflower brooch, delicately carved from crystal.

The only flower that would never wilt. Eternal.

The Ferris wheel reached its highest point. Fireworks bloomed silently in the distant sky.

And in that moment, all her fears, worries, and the doubts buried in her heart faded away.

“Xiang Shuhuai.”

Yu Xiaoxiao heard herself speak, her voice gentle, as if she was afraid of scaring the person in front of her.

“I like you, Xiang Shuhuai.”

She saw her eyes go wide, staring at her in disbelief.

The sunflower’s golden glow reflected in those eyes—like cracks breaking through a frozen river. The ice let in sunlight, and deep within, something cold began to shift, trembling with light.

Yu Xiaoxiao said:

“…Will you be with me?”