Marked by My Omega Rival After Moving In (GL, ABO) - Chapter 76

“Why are you being so formal?” Yu Xiaoxiao interjected, breaking the tone. “It sounds so weird.”

She leaned forward and grabbed the teacup out of Gu Wei’s hand, cutting off her smug little smile. “We’re just talking—why are you holding a cup and smiling all sly and cryptic?”

“And you,” she turned to Xiang Shuhuai, “why are you calling her Manager Gu? I call her Weiwei, and everyone else calls her Sister Wei, Old Gu, or Little Gu. Any of those work.”

As she spoke, her bright, round eyes glimmered with mischief. She grinned at her lover sitting beside her and tugged gently at her hand, insistent. “Okay, Big Ice Block? Don’t be so nervous.”

Xiang Shuhuai lightly nodded, her fingers curling slightly but not pulling away. “…Okay.”

Seeing this, Gu Wei dramatically raised her hand to cover her eyes.

“Alright, alright,” she said, waving her hand and leaning back into her chair. “You two stick together, do whatever. I’m not watching.”

Hearing this, Yu Xiaoxiao gave an embarrassed grin, while Xiang Shuhuai’s ears turned completely red.

Gu Wei exchanged a glance with her love-struck, clueless best friend, only to look away with a grimace of exaggerated disgust. “…Ugh.”

Throughout the meal, it was the same. Gu Wei watched as the quiet Xiang Shuhuai let Yu Xiaoxiao dote on her endlessly. Her ears stayed red as she awkwardly endured the touches and care.

This dynamic was miles away from what Gu Wei had imagined.

After all, the person across from her was that Xiang Shuhuai, a high-level executive.

And her best friend? A naive and clumsy fool with a childlike face, shorter even than Xiang Shuhuai. Sure, Yu Xiaoxiao was an Alpha, but honestly, her secondary gender didn’t seem to make much difference.

Gu Wei had expected something more like the classic stories, where the CEO-type Xiang Shuhuai would be the assertive one, holding the upper hand, with her silly little friend clinging to her side, looking up at her with admiration.

But instead, while Xiang Shuhuai was indeed held firmly in Yu Xiaoxiao’s grasp, their roles were completely reversed. The more Gu Wei watched, the more confused she became. Wasn’t this dynamic… flipped?

And Yu Xiaoxiao’s attention to detail was almost too much.

From ordering food and serving soup to swapping Xiang Shuhuai’s hand towel for a warmer one before the meal—she did everything but spoon-feed her. Actually, Gu Wei didn’t want to know if they were feeding each other in private. She really didn’t.

It was just… Gu Wei had never seen Yu Xiaoxiao treat anyone this seriously before.

When Yu Xiaoxiao once confessed her crush on Cong You, Gu Wei had known all about it. But from her experienced perspective, it had seemed more like a childish infatuation or admiration for an older sister figure than anything truly romantic.

But now, watching Yu Xiaoxiao gaze at her lover with such warmth and affection in her eyes, Gu Wei realized this time was different. Yu Xiaoxiao was genuinely, deeply in love.

Her best friend was serious, and Xiang Shuhuai’s own lovestruck demeanor didn’t seem fake. In that case, this relationship was actually… pretty good.

Besides, Gu Wei thought to herself, smirking secretly, what was there to scam out of Yu Xiaoxiao, aside from her feelings? And what would the great Xiang Shuhuai even gain from tricking her?

By the time the meal ended, and Yu Xiaoxiao left to freshen up in the restroom, only Gu Wei and Xiang Shuhuai were left at the table. It was then that Xiang Shuhuai suddenly brought up something from the past.

“Um, Gu Wei…” She looked at Gu Wei with a calm, apologetic expression. “I’m sorry.”

It was about the time Xiang Corporation had acquired her father’s company.

“Forget it.” Gu Wei waved it off with a crooked smile. “I know my dad. He’s not great at judging people, and after changing managers, he messed up one thing after another. How many grudges can I hold, anyway?”

“Besides, now that he’s stepped aside and my mom’s taken over, things are looking pretty good.”

She stood up, straightened the sleek hem of her tailored jacket, and smiled. “No need for apologies. Just take good care of Xiaoyu. Don’t bully my dumb little fish, okay?”

Yu Xiaoxiao returned just in time to hear the last part.

“Gu Wei!” She bounded over, turning it into a playful scuffle. “Why am I the dumb one?!”

After saying goodbye to Gu Wei, the afternoon was clear and crisp.

The autumn sky was bright, dotted with only a few wispy clouds. The breeze rustled the treetops, carrying a fresh scent, while golden sunlight spilled across the ground.

Back in the car, Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at the shimmering light and suddenly had an idea.

“Big Ice Block!” She beamed, turning to the Omega girl in the passenger seat. “It’s going to be such a clear night with no clouds. Let’s go home and stargaze from the attic! We can even have a barbecue in the yard tonight. What do you think? What do you think?”

…They had just eaten.

But seeing her so excited, Xiang Shuhuai got momentarily lost in thought. When she came back to her senses, she found she had already nodded. Yu Xiaoxiao, delighted, started the car and drove them to shop for barbecue ingredients.

Though it was supposed to be just for a barbecue, they ended up buying three or four big bags of stuff, piled high in the back seat. Even as they got back in the car, Xiang Shuhuai’s cheeks were still red, her blush refusing to fade.

—Because in the store, Yu Xiaoxiao had been teasing her nonstop.

The location was a bit isolated, and the mall was nearly empty, with hardly any customers around. As they strolled, Yuyu Xiaoxiao kept secretly holding Xiang Shuhuai’s hand, walking a bit ahead, pushing the shopping cart while holding onto her. They quickly picked out some barbecue ingredients from the fresh produce section, then moved on to snacks and toys.

The shelves were full of tempting options. Xiang Shuhuai stared at the neatly arranged snacks in a daze when she suddenly felt a cool breeze brush across her cheek. Turning her head, she saw Yuyu Xiaoxiao holding a small dog toy, smiling at her.

“Big Ice Block, look!” she said, pointing to a small cat toy beside it, making them snuggle together. “This one’s you. This one’s me.”

Xiang Shuhuai sighed softly. “…So childish.”

But Yuyu Xiaoxiao wasn’t bothered. She kept smiling brightly. “So cute, right?”

—It’s childish, Xiang Shuhuai thought. She didn’t say anything, but she suddenly realized the alpha girl had tilted her head and smiled, putting down the toy. Instead, she leaned closer, her body moving closer and closer.

Her hand gently rested on Xiang Shuhuai’s shoulder, and they were hidden behind a tall, empty shelf. The shadows cast over them made it feel like the world only consisted of the two of them, and no one else could see.

…Would Yuyu Xiaoxiao kiss me?

That thought crossed Xiang Shuhuai’s mind.

She didn’t realize that the fluttering feeling in her chest was anticipation; she simply closed her eyes, waiting for a warm kiss.

But after waiting for what seemed like forever, with a blush creeping up her cheeks, all she felt was a cool sensation brushing against her lips.

Confused, she opened her eyes.

…Right in front of her was just the small dog toy.

Yuyu Xiaoxiao had only pressed the toy lightly to her lips and smiled, her eyes squinting into crescent moons, full of innocent brightness.

“What’s wrong, Big Ice Block?” She looked at Xiang Shuhuai, clearly surprised, and leaned in closer. “Why did you close your eyes? Did something get in your eyes? Let me check—”

…Xiang Shuhuai felt her ears burning at the mention of this.

She wasn’t sure if Yuyu Xiaoxiao was doing it on purpose or just playing around, but in that moment, she couldn’t explain her own feelings. Embarrassed and flustered, she simply bit her lip and turned away, ignoring her.

“What’s wrong, Big Ice Block?” Yuyu Xiaoxiao asked again, noticing her reaction. “Why are you… hey!”

After Xiang Shuhuai gave her a light punch, Yuyu Xiaoxiao rubbed her shoulder, sulking and going silent.

This continued until they were in the car, where Yuyu Xiaoxiao still seemed unaware of what was going on. She glanced at her, then at the bags piled up in the back seat, and then reached over, shoving the new fluffy dog toy into Xiang Shuhuai’s arms.

“Here you go, Big Ice Block,” she said, smiling. “Don’t stay mad.”

…I’m not mad.

Xiang Shuhuai’s eyes accidentally glanced at Yuyu Xiaoxiao’s full, soft lips, and the sight felt almost like it burned her, making her quickly look away.

She felt a little aggrieved, but… I don’t want this toy.

I want…

Her heart beat wildly, and those strange feelings seemed to be on the verge of igniting, creating a suffocating tension in her chest. She lowered her head, hiding her flushed cheeks.

But Yuyu Xiaoxiao didn’t notice any of her turmoil. Instead, she cheerfully ruffled her hair and started the car. “—Let’s go!”

Xiang Shuhuai held the plush dog toy silently, answering with a soft “mm.”

Although she didn’t want the stuffed toy, she soon found herself dozing off in the steady car ride, clutching it.

In her dream, she felt that long-awaited warmth brush her lips, but it was only for a moment, fleeting like smoke, like a bird skimming the ocean without ever landing.

Her lips, at last, felt a little fulfilled, and before Xiang Shuhuai could even open her eyes, she had drifted completely into a sweet, dark sleep.