Omega, Always Wants to Mark Me - Chapter 15

“A-Yue! You’re finally back!” The first to approach was another Omega, Wu Yingyun, Ming Xiaoyue’s best friend and confidante. They were said to have been university classmates.

Lu Jinxi stood nearby, lowering her gaze, her expression troubled. Her eyebrows trembled slightly. In truth, she and Wu Yingyun shared a complicated history.

In her previous life, just as Lu Jinxi’s career was finally gaining momentum, she had wanted to leverage her family’s influence to help Ming Xiaoyue. However, she couldn’t bring herself to approach Ming Xiaoyue directly.

After all, the last words Ming Xiaoyue had spoken to her, as Lu Jinxi remembered, were to never show her face again.

Through a series of convoluted maneuvers, Lu Jinxi had finally contacted Wu Yingyun. But Wu Yingyun had scoffed at Lu Jinxi’s past betrayal of Ming Xiaoyue and her decision to abandon their partnership. Fortunately, after repeated pleading and persuasion, Lu Jinxi had finally convinced Wu Yingyun.

But as Lu Jinxi continued to dwell on this, her head began to ache. Wu Yingyun’s sudden confession later on had disrupted the delicate balance of their arrangement. Just as this thought crossed her mind, Lu Jinxi looked up and unexpectedly met Wu Yingyun’s gaze.

Lu Jinxi couldn’t tell if Wu Yingyun was looking her way intentionally or by chance.

“A Jin, you seem to have lost some weight. It’s only been a few days, hasn’t it?”

Lu Jinxi wasn’t sure how the conversation had turned to her. She simply gave a curt “Mm” and replied, “I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.”

“It’s been so hot lately. You could try fruit salads or something…”

“Alright, Yingyun,” Ming Xiaoyue interrupted, glancing at Lu Jinxi before continuing, “Let’s focus on the stage performance in five days.”

The elimination round was just five days away. Teams of five were competing, and while other groups had likely finished their rehearsals, Lu Jinxi and Ming Xiaoyue’s separate MV shoots had set them back considerably.

Fortunately, the team had been formed through self-selection. In addition to the three of them, it included Wen Yifan, the lead vocalist, and Song Wanwen, a skilled dancer.

Both Wen Yifan and Song Wanwen were Omegas and a popular CP, even more so than Lu Jinxi and Ming Xiaoyue. Consistently ranking in the top ten, they had no worries about elimination. As long as they maintained their performance, they stood a good chance of debuting.

They merely nodded slightly toward Ming Xiaoyue, showing no real reproach.

“We’ve chosen the song. Wen Yifan will be the lead vocalist, and Song Wanwen will lead the dance. But…” Wu Yingyun hesitated, her expression conflicted.

A flicker of impatience crossed Ming Xiaoyue’s eyes, though her face remained composed. “What is it? Is there a problem?” she asked.

“There’s a solo dance segment in the middle, and we haven’t chosen anyone for it yet…” Wu Yingyun said, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward Lu Jinxi.

Ming Xiaoyue followed her gaze, her eyes flickering slightly as she looked at Wu Yingyun. She remembered their last explosive argument, when she had discovered that Wu Yingyun had always harbored feelings for Lu Jinxi. During that fight, Wu Yingyun had accused Ming Xiaoyue of monopolizing Lu Jinxi’s attention, leaving her no chance.

The argument had unleashed all the pent-up resentment between them, ultimately leading to their parting ways.

In the aftermath, Ming Xiaoyue had been consumed by self-doubt, unable to understand how a friendship of five or six years could shatter over an outsider.

Ming Xiaoyue felt no guilt about her role in the friendship with Wu Yingyun. Perhaps, having lived through it once before, she had already foreseen that their paths would inevitably diverge.

The pure, innocent feelings she once held had faded. At least now, she could see the hidden affection in Wu Yingyun’s eyes for Lu Jinxi, yet her heart remained unmoved.

Her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Lu Jinxi, only to catch her avoiding her eyes. A sudden amusement sparked within her. Had Lu Jinxi known all along about Wu Yingyun’s feelings?

“Let’s discuss this,” Ming Xiaoyue suggested, breaking the silence. In their previous life, this segment had been cut when Lu Jinxi went solo.

The group gathered around, watching the clip in silence. It was undeniably a solo performance, and if executed well, it could electrify the entire venue.

After all, this was a chance to shine, and everyone wanted to seize it. Wen Yifan and Song Wanwen, already having their own established stages, simply observed the other three.

“Any thoughts?” Ming Xiaoyue asked, breaking the silence.

“A Jin has to be one of them,” Song Wanwen stated objectively. “He’s the tallest in our group, which will create visual impact.”

“Agreed!” The others chimed in without hesitation.

What about the other spot? At that moment, Wu Yingyun’s gaze involuntarily met Ming Xiaoyue’s. Seeing the yearning in her eyes, Ming Xiaoyue waved her hand dismissively.

Though Ming Xiaoyue also craved more screen time for her debut, she hesitated, remembering the last, hysterical argument with Wu Yingyun in their previous life. She took a step back and said, “Then let Yingyun have it. I just finished filming a music video and don’t need the exposure right now.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Wu Yingyun grinned and reached for Ming Xiaoyue’s arm. But Lu Jinxi’s expression turned icy, her displeasure at the arrangement clear on her face.

Song Wanwen, noticing Lu Jinxi’s reaction, whispered, “Are you okay?”

Lu Jinxi took a deep breath and replied calmly, “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just going to the restroom.”

She stood up, while Ming Xiaoyue subtly evaded Wu Yingyun’s grasp and also rose. “I’ll go to the restroom too,” she said.

Once they were out of camera range, Lu Jinxi’s face hardened into a glacial mask, so cold it would make anyone retreat in fear.

Instead of heading to the restroom, she walked to the stairwell—a recognized sanctuary within the girl group, where members could catch their breath away from the constant scrutiny of cameras.

The stairwell’s proximity to the restrooms also made her absence less suspicious. Closing the fire escape door behind her, Lu Jinxi took another deep breath.

She couldn’t understand why Ming Xiaoyue had pushed her forward. For some reason, she had a strong intuition that Ming Xiaoyue knew Wu Yingyun harbored feelings for her.

But precisely because of this, Lu Jinxi was even more furious. What did Ming Xiaoyue take her for?

Creak! The door suddenly opened from the outside. Lu Jinxi composed herself, straightened up, and prepared to leave, only to find Ming Xiaoyue entering.

Lu Jinxi glanced at her, her lips twitching slightly, but she ultimately pressed them tightly together, her expression grave as she tried to leave. This was an unspoken rule in this place: when the next person entered, the one inside would automatically leave.

Just as she was about to brush past Ming Xiaoyue, Ming Xiaoyue called out, “Lu Jinxi, wait.”

Lu Jinxi froze the moment Ming Xiaoyue spoke.

Ming Xiaoyue cut straight to the chase. “You don’t seem very satisfied with the arrangements?”

Lu Jinxi turned her head slightly to look at her, wondering if Ming Xiaoyue was genuinely unaware or feigning ignorance.

For once, she gave vent to her temper and retorted, “Should I be?”

At that moment, Lu Jinxi still clung to the hope that Ming Xiaoyue had come to comfort her, to offer platitudes about the team and try to persuade her to accept the situation. But instead, Ming Xiaoyue cut straight to the chase.

“You must know that Wu Yingyun likes you, right?”

Lu Jinxi felt a sudden pang in her chest. When all her suspicions were confirmed and laid bare before her, it was a completely different sensation.

Even when Lu Jinxi thought her heart had grown numb, a dull ache flared the moment Ming Xiaoyue spoke.

“Yes,” Lu Jinxi admitted, unable to deny what was written in Wu Yingyun’s eyes.

Ming Xiaoyue smirked. “Perfect, then. That solo performance will be incredibly intense—perfect for you two.”

“Ming Xiaoyue,” Lu Jinxi said, her hands clenching at her sides, fists trembling slightly. Her voice had lost its usual gentleness.

As she spoke, her gaze locked onto Ming Xiaoyue, the unique oppressive aura of her Alpha presence washing over her.

“What makes you think I’d accept this arrangement? Hmm?” Lu Jinxi said, her voice low and menacing as she stepped closer.

Sensing Lu Jinxi’s rising anger, Ming Xiaoyue involuntarily took a small step back. Yet she met Lu Jinxi’s gaze squarely, whispering, “She likes you, and I don’t. Isn’t that perfect?”

“Ming Xiaoyue, just because I like you doesn’t mean I’ll let you manipulate me. And let me make this clear: I don’t like Wu Yingyun. Do you understand?”

“Heh, I wouldn’t like you either,” Ming Xiaoyue retorted, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Watching Lu Jinxi’s relentless advance, Ming Xiaoyue pressed a fingertip against her shoulder, giving a light poke. “Lu Jinxi, I won’t like you, and I won’t pair up with you on the show. I don’t believe a word you said earlier.”

“You have zero credibility with me. I only acted in front of your grandfather because I felt sorry for the lonely old man and didn’t want him to worry. It had nothing to do with you. Do you understand?”

Lu Jinxi’s throat tightened, her body trembling slightly.

“Alright, I think I’ve made myself clear. Let’s keep some distance between us on the show from now on,” Ming Xiaoyue said, turning to leave.

But the moment she turned, Lu Jinxi’s voice, tinged with a dark edge, called out from behind: “Ming Xiaoyue.”

Ming Xiaoyue frowned slightly. Hadn’t she made herself clear enough? she thought, growing impatient. She was about to turn around when Lu Jinxi suddenly lunged forward.

With a thud, Ming Xiaoyue was slammed against the door. The dim hallway light cast long shadows, barely illuminating Lu Jinxi’s face against the light. The warmth that usually softened Lu Jinxi’s features had vanished. Ming Xiaoyue could feel the slight tremor in Lu Jinxi’s body as she pinned her against the door, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Get off me!” Ming Xiaoyue demanded coldly.

“What right do you have to make decisions for me?!”

“Lu Jinxi, I said get off me!” Ming Xiaoyue’s voice now carried a sharp rebuke.

“Are you just taking advantage of the fact that I won’t do anything to you?!”

“Then what do you want to do?!” Ming Xiaoyue retorted, meeting her gaze defiantly.