My Virtual Wife Stepped Out of My Phone to Find Me - Chapter 50

Even after leaving the hot pot restaurant, Xing Xiaochu still couldn’t quite figure out what kind of relationship she and Qi Ying had now.

The sky had already darkened, and Xing Xiaochu, standing at the entrance of the hot pot restaurant in her blue-and-white school uniform, was quite conspicuous. With her backpack slung over her shoulders, she looked like a child waiting for her parent to finish paying the bill.

When Qi Ying came out after settling the bill, she saw the girl standing there bored, lost in thought. She walked over, took Xing Xiaochu’s backpack, and carried it in her hand, saying, “Let’s walk back.”

Xing Xiaochu had no objections and nodded silently.

The commercial street was bustling. Qi Ying spotted the ice cream Chen Dongdong and the others had eaten earlier and bought one for Xing Xiaochu too. The two strolled side by side, leisurely making their way home.

Xing Xiaochu held the orange cone in her hands and took a lick. The icy, refreshing texture and flavor made her eyes light up. She looked up at Qi Ying and said, “It’s orange-flavored.”

Qi Ying smiled and asked, “Is it good?”

Xing Xiaochu naturally raised the cone and held it out to Qi Ying’s lips. “Try it, sis.”

Qi Ying’s pupils flickered slightly as she looked at the orange-and-white ice cream in front of her. Suppressing a smile, she bent down and took a bite from the spot Xing Xiaochu had just licked. “It’s a mix of orange and cream. Really good,” she commented.

The tip of the ice cream was gone, including the part Xing Xiaochu had just licked. She stared at her cone for a moment before realizing how inappropriate this seemed.

But since it had already happened, saying anything now would just sound overly sensitive.

Blushing, Xing Xiaochu murmured an “Mhm,” took back her cone, and after staring at it for a while, continued eating.

Qi Ying kept glancing at her out of the corner of her eye, finding the sight of her reddened earlobes amusing. Whenever Xing Xiaochu looked up at her, she pretended not to notice.

Soon, they reached the neighborhood.

After finishing her ice cream, Xing Xiaochu ran to a nearby trash can to throw away the wrapper. Turning back, she noticed a 24-hour pharmacy still open on the street.

It suddenly occurred to her that her glands had been feeling warm these past few days. Counting the days, her heat cycle was probably approaching. Xing Xiaochu remembered that during Qi Ying’s last rut, most of the suppressants at home had been used up.

Should she buy some now?

But if she did, Qi Ying would definitely ask. What should she say then?

Just tell the truth?

Xing Xiaochu felt awkward about it—like she was telling Qi Ying, “I’m about to go into heat.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Xing Xiaochu staring blankly at the pharmacy after throwing away the trash, Qi Ying glanced at the 24-hour store in confusion. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Xing Xiaochu snapped out of it and shook her head repeatedly. Grabbing Qi Ying’s hand, she said, “No, I’m fine. I was just looking around. Let’s hurry home, sis.”

With that, she tugged Qi Ying toward the neighborhood.

Qi Ying turned back curiously, eyeing the pharmacy. On its front sign, bold letters read: Today Only: Buy One Get One Free on Suppressants.

Upon arriving home, Xiaochu happily scooped up the kitten that came bounding toward her and went to play on the sofa. The little furball had grown remarkably fast—it was already several times larger than when they first found it. The moment it saw Xiaochu, its tiny tail stood straight up like an antenna, utterly adorable.

“Don’t play for too long. Go take a bath soon,” Qi Ying said, placing her backpack on the sofa. “And don’t let it step on your chest—it’s gotten much heavier.”

The kitten was currently kneading enthusiastically, pressing painfully against Xiaochu’s chest. She picked it up with a soft “Mm,” waiting until Qi Ying had gone to the bedroom before secretly rubbing her sore chest and giving the little troublemaker a light tap on the nose.

After a warm shower, Xiaochu emerged in her nightgown, her hair still dripping as she toweled it dry.

“Jiejie, I’m done,” she said to Qi Ying, who had already changed into pajamas. “You can go shower now.”

Qi Ying stood from the sofa, pausing briefly as she passed Xiaochu.

“What’s wrong?” Xiaochu asked, puzzled.

“…Nothing,” Qi Ying murmured, frowning slightly. “You just smell really nice today.”

Xiaochu’s face flushed instantly. She clutched the hem of her nightgown, staring at Qi Ying in shock.

An Alpha telling an Omega “You smell nice” was blatant sexual harassment!

But remembering Qi Ying’s lack of ABO common sense, Xiaochu could only blush furiously, lips pressed tight as her eyes reddened. Without a word, she turned and retreated to her room.

Qi Ying: “?”

Confused, Qi Ying wondered if she’d said something wrong.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she approached Xiaochu’s slightly ajar door and knocked. Inside, the girl sat on the bed with her back turned, drying her hair—the damp strands darkening the fabric over her shoulders.

“Xiaochu, I didn’t mean to harass you,” Qi Ying explained. “You genuinely smell pleasant.”

Xiaochu: “…”

She sighed helplessly, glancing back at Qi Ying in the doorway before finally murmuring, “I understand, Jiejie. I’ll put on a scent patch.”

Qi Ying touched her cheek. “Alright. Rest early, then.”

Xiaochu gave a quiet “Mm,” watching as Qi Ying closed the door behind her.

The soft click of the latch signaled Qi Ying’s departure. Xiaochu listened carefully until her footsteps faded toward the bathroom, then set the towel aside and tiptoed to the door, cracking it open just enough to peek.

No one.

The bathroom door was shut, light still glowing beneath it—Qi Ying must be showering.

Once the sound of running water confirmed it, Xiaochu slipped out of her room and crept to the living room, rummaging through the first-aid kit. After several searches, she had to accept the truth: Qi Ying’s home had no Omega suppressants.

The growing heat at the nape of her neck made her anxious. She decided to wait until Qi Ying was asleep before sneaking out to buy suppressants.

Late at night.

Xiaochu woke groggily, blinking at the bedside lamp still lit. She’d meant to stay awake until midnight to leave but had dozed off.

Squinting, she grabbed the digital clock—3:40 a.m.

Going to the pharmacy at this hour would probably disturb the staff’s rest, right?

Xiaochu lay on the bed, her thoughts sluggish. Maybe… just wait until tomorrow… it’s not like it’s urgent anyway…

“Xiaochu?”

“Xing Xiaochu?”

Qi Ying’s voice seemed to reach Xiaochu’s ears through a layer of water. She slowly opened her eyes to see Qi Ying sitting by her bed with a concerned expression.

“…Mmm, sis.”

Xiaochu blinked slowly, confused. “Why are you in my room?”

Qi Ying pointed at the alarm clock. “It’s been ringing for ages and you didn’t wake up, so I came to check. What’s wrong? Your face is all red—are you feeling sick?”

She reached out to feel Xiaochu’s forehead and frowned slightly. “You’re burning up. Do you have a fever?”

Xiaochu knew this wasn’t a fever. The gland at the nape of her neck was even hotter—a clear sign of an impending heat.

“It’s nothing,” Xiaochu said, sitting up and touching her flushed cheeks. “I don’t have a fever. Maybe it was too hot last night.”

“Hot?” Qi Ying was puzzled. “It’s already autumn. How could it be hot?”

“Really, I’m fine,” Xiaochu insisted, lowering her head. “Must be the late summer heat. I need to get up now, or I’ll be late.”

Qi Ying felt something was off. While the game had seasonal changes, the temperature never fluctuated much—at least not for her. Every time she logged in, the weather was pleasantly mild.

Maybe it was different for Xiaochu as a 2D character.

“Alright,” Qi Ying said, knowing she should leave while Xiaochu changed. “I’ll go make breakfast. Get dressed.”

Only after Qi Ying left did Xiaochu touch the gland hidden beneath her hair. It was alarmingly hot, as if warning her of something, making her inexplicably anxious.

On the way to school, Qi Ying noticed Xiaochu constantly glancing at the roadside. Qi Ying frowned. Had it really been that long since she started looking for that punk girl?

She couldn’t understand it. That punk wasn’t as pretty as her, didn’t have as good a figure, had a gloomy personality, and even had a streak of green hair—how could a sweet, soft girl like Xiaochu be interested in her?

What exactly was she lacking compared to that punk??

The more Qi Ying thought about it, the angrier she became, her expression darkening. Unbeknownst to her, she was competing with someone who might not even be an adult yet. At the school gate, Qi Ying said stiffly, “Go on in. I’m heading to work.”

Xiaochu, distracted, replied with a vague “Mmm” and walked forward without looking back. “Be careful on your way, sis. I’m going in.”

Qi Ying: “…”

What?

Just because she didn’t see that green-haired punk, she couldn’t even bother with a proper goodbye?

Qi Ying felt like the cabbage she’d painstakingly raised was being stolen by some green-haired swine. Her chest tightened with frustration. She decided then and there to pick up and drop off Xiaochu punctually every day—no more straying onto the “wrong path.”

Meanwhile, Xiaochu, now inside the school gates, hid by the security booth and peeked outside. Once Qi Ying was gone, she tried to leave, only to be stopped by the guard. “Class starts in ten minutes. Where do you think you’re going?”

Xing Xiaochu quickly explained, “I left my homework at my sister’s place.” Without waiting for the security guard’s response, she dashed out. The elderly guard shouted after her in displeasure, “Latecomers get demerits!”

On her way here, Xing Xiaochu had noticed a pharmacy just around the corner—only 500 meters from school. She rushed in, panting, and said to the clerk, “Hello, I—I need a suppressant.”

When Xing Xiaochu hurried into the classroom right as the morning reading bell rang, many eyes turned toward her, including Su Yun’s. Su Yun glanced at her with slight surprise.

This model student who always arrived ten minutes early had actually cut it close today.

How unusual.

Xing Xiaochu herself felt a bit embarrassed. Her heart was still racing as she quickly made her way to her seat. While pulling out her stationery and textbooks from her bag, she suddenly heard Su Yun, who sat beside her, ask, “What’s that scent on you? It smells really nice.”