Stealing My Stepsister's Fiancée - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Su Yu’s Daughter-in-Law

Ni Hezhi woke up to the noisy crowing of roosters. Before fully regaining consciousness, her feet had already led her to the window. Morning sunlight cast soft shadows as she spotted Su Yu crouched nearby, carefully tying dried sweet potato vines into neat bundles in a corner.

Only eighteen, Su Yu wore a faded, old school uniform, yet there was a regal air about her—aloof and unapproachable. The contrast made her seem enigmatic and dazzling, like a clear summer sky at noon.

Ni Hezhi narrowed her eyes, admiring the little fool’s striking face. It was captivating—if only she weren’t so cold and distant. What would she be like if her emotions ever flared?

Could this icy and proud expression make someone fall for her?

Ni Hezhi wasn’t rushing to block her feelings. After many failed guesses, she figured Su Yu might prefer a more casual, half-blue style. She chose a simple suspender skirt, applied light, delicate makeup, and stepped outside.

Walking closer, the skirt swayed behind her, catching the sunlight. Su Yu kept busy with her work, but suddenly a faint scent, like sandalwood, brushed her nose. Her heart tightened as tears pricked her eyes. Before she could turn away, a pair of slender, cold hands gently cupped her cheeks.

“You look worn out, all sweaty this early,” Ni Hezhi said softly, wiping the sweat from Su Yu’s nose with a tender hand. Her voice was sweet and flirtatious, “You really do push yourself too hard and never take a break.”

The brief touch froze Su Yu completely. Memories from the previous night flooded her mind.

She quickly stood up and used the moment to pull away, taking a few steps back until she was several meters distant. Her breath hitched as she said, “I’m not tired…”

Seeing she dared not meet her gaze, Ni Hezhi stepped closer, resting her pale wrists on Su Yu’s shoulders and whispered, “Is all you ever do just study and work? Nothing else?”

“Little metaphor,” Ni Hezhi teased, “It’s so dull being cooped up at home. How about playing a game with me?”

Game?

What game?

Su Yu nearly blurted out the question but caught herself. Seeing Ni Hezhi’s playful eyes, she silently pushed away the dangerous thought of falling for her trap and softly refused, “I don’t play.”

“Why not?” Ni Hezhi’s voice softened into a sweet, flirtatious tone.

“I can’t play with you.” Su Yu lowered her eyes, unable to face her unabashed look.

Ni Hezhi found her shy retreat amusing and smiled. “You haven’t even tried, how do you know you’ll lose?”

Ni Hezhi tiptoed, lips moving closer, lips painted bright red. Su Yu sensed the move, her breath tightened, eyes clouded.

It was a trap.

Ni Hezhi, the master of the game, would always win.

The Omega lifted her chin, eyes half-closed, inviting a kiss.

Su Yu forced herself to push her away, grabbed her basket, and walked off.

“Hey, where are you going?” Ni Hezhi called after her.

“To pick tomatoes.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Su Yu took a breath, hearing her voice tremble slightly, “No need, just warm up at home.”

Warm up?

What a joke.

If she could sit still and read, she might as well knit a sweater while the teacher lectured.

Ni Hezhi came from a wealthy family. She attended a prestigious school that guaranteed study abroad and entrance to top international universities without exams. She had a fast track to “Rome,” the city where she studied for ten years, breaking through the grueling “college entrance exam” bottleneck.

But Ni Hezhi’s ambition wasn’t to be top scholar; she wanted to enter the entertainment industry and shine under the spotlight.

Ni Hezhi glanced back at Su Yu’s retreating figure. This idiot was hard to seduce—maybe because she hadn’t yet “differentiated” (into Omega).

Lost in thought, Ni Hezhi bumped into Fang Shuhui at the doorstep. “What’s the rush?”

Since Ni Hezhi had helped her before, Shuhui hadn’t been bullied again, and their friendship had grown. Though Shuhui was deaf, she could read lips and use sign language, so communication was manageable.

Fang Shuhui raised a bag, gesturing. Ni Hezhi opened it to find two lotus-leaf-wrapped rice balls. “For your sister?”

Ni Hezhi spoke slowly, so Fang Shuhui understood and nodded enthusiastically.

Ni Hezhi’s eyes sparkled. She spread her hands wide and leaned in: “I’ll deliver them.”

Her lips curved into a growing smile, “I’m sending them to her.”

In July and August, the tomato harvest season brought the whole children’s village to life.

Years ago, under government guidance, every household planted tomatoes. Supplies in the mountains were limited, but the fertile land produced juicy, sandy-flavored tomatoes loved by city folks.

Su Yu’s family had three members: Grandma and sister, who didn’t work much. They grew fewer tomatoes than others—only three or four acres—but even that was exhausting.

Tomatoes ripened quickly—green and firm one day, red and soft the next—so they had to be picked swiftly during harvest season, or the fruit would spoil, wasting a year’s effort.

The noon sun scorched the earth; mountains shimmered with golden light. Trucks laden with tomatoes moved through the valleys. The village chief stood atop a hill, waving flags to welcome buyers and shouting orders.

Su Yu wiped sweat from her brow and handed a kettle to the tall girl with a ponytail behind her. “Hai Lu, I’ll take over the basket later, don’t squat if your waist hurts.”

The ponytailed girl bounced like a grasshopper. “Who said my waist’s bad? Su Yu, do you know saying an Alpha has a bad waist is the biggest insult?”

Su Yu glanced at her flatly. “You were the one yelling about back pain.”

The girl, Miao Hailu, was the village chief’s granddaughter. She lived in the provincial capital but returned every summer. She was Su Yu’s only childhood friend.

Su Yu entered a prestigious high school in the provincial capital. Miao Hailu, through connections, got into Su Yu’s class and became her deskmate—their friendship deepened.

Since Miao Hailu was an Alpha, her parents arranged blind dates for her often. With Omegas becoming rarer, early marriages caused chaos.

She helped Su Yu pick tomatoes today to avoid another blind date. After a morning’s work, her pampered frame was nearly breaking.

She pressed her hand to her waist, lowered her sunhat brim, wiped sweat, and grumbled, “This awful weather! So hot…”

Miao Hailu wore sunscreen, thick gloves, and covered up tightly to avoid tanning.

Everyone was as dark as coal except Su Yu, who didn’t wear protection. Her soaked school uniform clung to her body, but her skin remained pale and flawless, sweat glistening like tiny beads.

The sun on her face made her look like a peeled lychee—bright and delicate.

Miao Hailu pinched Su Yu’s slender arm, envious. “Su Yu, are you secretly using some Omega gland oil? How else do you stay so pale?”

Su Yu chuckled, focused on working. “I heard cold skin doesn’t tan easily. You always hide from the sun because of your cold face.”

Su Yu looked sideways and kept picking tomatoes. “Don’t lift the basket. Help me put it in the sun drying area. If you’re late, no space.”

Miao Hailu frowned. “No matter when you go, Qiu Xiaoxia will save you a spot. Her dad’s the party secretary. She can make things easy.”

Su Yu’s expression was serious. “We’re just classmates.”

Miao Hailu joked without limit. “Classmates or not, rules don’t forbid classmates from falling in love. Too bad Qiu Xiaoxia’s a Beta. If she were Omega, she could help you differentiate.”

“Qiu Xiaoxia is pretty, though. Last year she made the semi-finals of school beauty. Su Yu, since you can’t differentiate, you’ll have to rely on skill.”

She hooked her arm around Su Yu’s neck, grinning. “I have a cooking video. Want to watch?”

Su Yu, buried in studies, didn’t understand and asked blankly, “What kind of food? My family rarely buys groceries.”

Miao Hailu laughed so hard she leaned back and forth before finally stopping. She whispered something in Su Yu’s ear. Su Yu’s face reddened. She pushed her away and walked toward the field ridge.

Miao Hailu chased after her, teasing, “Can’t you see? If others want to watch, I won’t share! Hey Su Yu, I’m thinking about you and Qiu Xiaoxia now…”

Suddenly Miao Hailu stopped mid-sentence, her eyes locked on something ahead.

“Frog fun, how can there be such a beautiful girl?” She clasped her hands and gasped.

She jabbed Su Yu’s arm excitedly. “Look, at ten o’clock… There’s a real stunner.”

Su Yu followed her finger. The glaring sun blurred her view, but she made out a figure.

A man holding a goose-yellow parasol moved in slow motion in her vision, frozen in time.

It was Ni Hezhi!

Wearing a tea-colored suspender skirt, her hair in fluffy braids tied with green bamboo ribbons, her fresh green outfit contrasted with ripe red tomatoes.

Pure yet alluring, a perfect blend of beauty’s extremes.

Ni Hezhi approached slowly, eyes shining, lips smiling enticingly.

Bright and dazzling.

Su Yu was still stunned when she caught a glimpse of Ni Hezhi’s red lips: “You ran off so fast you forgot your lunch.”

“….”

The little fool pouted innocently. Ni Hezhi stared intently, teasing as if looking right through her, “You’ll starve if you don’t eat.”

“I sent it for you, take it.” Ni Hezhi took Su Yu’s hand, passing the bag into it, but gently scratched her palm as she did.

Still teasing.

Su Yu quickly pulled her hand away, cheeks flaming.

“Thanks!” She curled her fingers and rubbed where she was scratched.

It felt itchy, like ants crawling.

Miao Hailu, watching the exchange, leaned in close. “Su Yu, who’s that girl?”

Su Yu pursed her lips, silent.

She didn’t know how to explain Ni Hezhi’s presence—they had come to the countryside for labor reform. How shameful.

Just then, Ni Hezhi looked up and smiled brightly: “I’m Su Yu’s daughter-in-law.”