She Pretends to Be an Alpha, She Pretends to Be an Omega (GL) - Chapter 6

The bell signaling the end of the last class rang, and Ning Xuechu’s phone received a message.

It was from An Jianqing: “Xuechu, I’m already at the school gate. You should be done with class now, right?”

“Sister, wait for me a moment, I’ll be right there,” Ning Xuechu typed quickly with both hands, replying swiftly.

“It’s okay, no need to rush,” An Jianqing replied instantly, her smile apparent in the message.

Despite that, Ning Xuechu still quickly packed her textbooks and rushed out of the school gate.

As she passed a fruit stand, her gaze sharpened, and she stopped.

Adjusting her backpack on her shoulder, Ning Xuechu walked into the fruit stand, looked around, and asked, “Boss, do you have any sweet and sour cherries here?”

“Our cherries are all sweet, not sour at all. If you don’t believe me, try one,” the boss replied with a confident smile, his voice full of conviction.

“I want some that are a bit sour,” Ning Xuechu insisted. “If they’re sour, I’ll buy them.”

She spoke with great certainty, a hint of coldness on her thin face, not looking like someone easy to fool.

The boss’s mind raced, and he instantly changed his tune. “Look at these cherries here. To be honest with you, they’re a little bit sour, but overall they’re sweet.”

Seeing the boss sound sincere, Ning Xuechu reached out, picked up a cherry, casually wiped it, and took a small bite.

A sour sensation swept across her throat, like holding a piece of winter ice in her mouth. Ning Xuechu couldn’t help but shiver.

Her moist mouth was instantly stimulated to produce a lot of saliva. She chewed several times before finally swallowing.

Ning Xuechu frowned, coughed a few times, covered her lips to suppress the sourness in her mouth, and told the boss, “I’ll buy two jin (a unit of weight, roughly 1 kg).”

“Alright!” The boss’s face lit up with a smile, and he swiftly packed two jin.

Ning Xuechu paid and walked out of the store, unable to resist sticking out her tongue.

The sourness of the cherry seemed etched into her taste buds. Even now, thinking about it, she still felt a sourness eroding the nerves of her cerebral cortex.

But at the same time, a faint sweetness rose in her mouth.

The mix of sour and sweet was a bit strange.

She both feared the sourness and yet felt a lingering desire for the cherry’s sweetness.

Ning Xuechu’s crimson tongue licked the corner of her lips, finally suppressing the longing in her heart.

Her gaze fell on the nearby accessory store. She stood for a few seconds, then walked inside.

In just five minutes, Ning Xuechu emerged, holding a heart-shaped box.

She found a stone bench and sat down, placing the box on the stone table. Then, she neatly arranged the cherries from the bag inside the box.

Two jin of cherries, not too many, not too few, just enough to fill it perfectly.

The reddish-orange color of the cherries showed a hint of translucency, and placed in the red box, they instantly added a lot of romantic atmosphere.

If combined with a bouquet of roses, it would surely please a girlfriend as a gift.

Ning Xuechu’s lips curved slightly, then her smile froze as if she thought of something, returning to a cold arc.

The ‘girlfriend’ remark was just a lie; how could she have such fantasies?

Even if she was trying to please An Jianqing, it was only to reclaim the Ning family’s assets.

She would absolutely not fall in love with this high and mighty rich Alpha. She didn’t want to become a plaything for the wealthy like others.

Ning Xuechu clutched the heart-shaped box and quickly walked out of the school gate.

At first glance, she saw An Jianqing’s understated yet luxurious car.

Even parked in an inconspicuous corner, it still instantly caught one’s eye.

Next to the luxury car stood several students chatting loudly.

They wore delicate makeup and beautiful clothes, displaying charming smiles, their gazes occasionally darting towards the car.

Ning Xuechu immediately understood that these people had an ulterior motive; they were deliberately chatting there, hoping to attract the attention of the person inside the car.

She had seen such scenes several times at the school gate.

While feeling disdainful, she also felt a little envious of the girls’ boldness and beauty.

But this time, a slight uncomfortable feeling seemed to arise in her heart.

Ning Xuechu frowned, tapping her chest with her finger, wanting to dispel the dullness there.

The girls were still standing there chatting, some already deliberately tossing their hair and pulling down their necklines.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes turned cold, and she quickly ran over, holding the box.

She stopped by the passenger seat, turned sideways, and raised a hand to knock on the glass.

Through the reflection of the glass, Ning Xuechu saw the girls’ astonished and envious eyes, as if they couldn’t believe it.

A wave of joyful satisfaction instantly rose in her heart, and she glanced at the girls.

Her slightly upturned eyes carried a hint of triumph, instantly making the girls’ beautiful faces fill with jealousy.

The car window slowly rolled down, hiding all the girls’ expressions in the gap.

“Xuechu, get in,” An Jianqing looked out of the car, speaking with a light smile.

Ning Xuechu immediately smiled happily, her thin body blocking the girls’ view, preventing them from seeing the beautiful Alpha sitting in the car.

She got into the car, holding the box carefully and cautiously with both hands, her eyes flickering. She said nervously, “Sister, a small gift. I hope you like it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Xuechu’s fair face instantly flushed, like a winter plum blossom blooming, a mixture of cool aloofness and vibrant beauty.

An Jianqing’s nose twitched slightly, instantly catching a faint cherry scent.

It was her favorite sweet and sour flavor.

She couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy, a look of gratification appearing in her eyes.

The person in front of her, who had initially been resistant and repulsed, was now willing to approach her voluntarily. Finally, there was a great change, proving that her careful nurturing and meticulous care these past few days had not been in vain.

Although it was just a box of inexpensive cherries, it was enough to make her feel that all her efforts and sacrifices were worthwhile.

“Thank you, Xuechu. I really like this gift,” An Jianqing smiled happily, her gentle eyes full of doting affection.

“Sister, don’t mention it. I don’t have much ability right now, so I can only do this small thing for you,” Ning Xuechu said with an obedient smile, her words implicitly conveying a sense of guilt.

Hearing this, An Jianqing felt even more heartache for her thoughtfulness. She stroked Ning Xuechu’s soft hair, speaking gently like an elder, “It’s enough that you have the thought.”

Hearing this, Ning Xuechu lowered her head, her thick eyelashes concealing the coldness in her eyes.

She could feel that An Jianqing was just treating her like a child.

Insignificant, no threat.

Adults always thought children were ignorant, easy to bully, and that they could dispose of their lives as they pleased.

But she was no longer the foolish child who would blindly trust others over ten years ago.

“Sister, as long as you like this gift, I was worried that I might be clumsy and mess it up,” Ning Xuechu looked up, a flicker of panic crossing her delicate face, quickly turning into a relieved smile.

An Jianqing caught this expression, her face momentarily stunned. She then said seriously, “No matter what gift you give, sister will like it.”

Ning Xuechu gave this gift cautiously, afraid that she wouldn’t like it.

Children truly were sensitive, harboring worry and fear in their hearts, afraid that making mistakes would lead to dislike.

If it weren’t for those selfish and cruel people, her little sister wouldn’t be so sensitive that she would be anxious even when giving a gift.

“Thank you, Sister,” Ning Xuechu stiffened, then her eyes lit up with surprise.

An Jianqing, though she had seen it many times, still felt a pang of pain and chuckled softly, “Xuechu, let’s go home.”

“Okay, Sister,” Ning Xuechu nodded vigorously, a bright smile on her face.

Once the car started, she pretended to admire the scenery outside, turning her gaze to the window. Her distinct black and white eyes showed a hint of unspeakable sadness.

She had heard the word ‘home’ many times, but she didn’t know where her true home was.

When would this life of dependence and insecurity end?

In this world, who could truly give her a warm home?

Ning Xuechu closed her eyes, concealing the loneliness and sadness that surged within her.

Back at the villa, after dinner.

Ning Xuechu lay on the bed, her eyes fixed on the exquisite chandelier above, replaying An Jianqing’s smile and expression when she received the gift over and over again in her mind.

She thought carefully, finding nothing amiss.

This step was a success; she had pleased An Jianqing.

A woman who grew up in a wealthy family, never wanting for food or clothing, even enjoying all kinds of luxuries, was actually moved by a box of cheap cherries.

It was quite ridiculous.

Ning Xuechu’s lips curved, her gloomy eyes filled with disdain.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, followed by a gentle female voice, “Xuechu, are you asleep?”

“Not yet,” Ning Xuechu immediately got up from the bed, her voice becoming soft, as if laced with caution.

She walked towards the door. As she passed the mirror, she tilted her head and saw her cold face reflected in it. She immediately curved her lips into an obedient smile.

“Sister, is something wrong?” Ning Xuechu opened the door, her dark eyes flickered twice, and her face showed a troubled expression.

“I washed the cherries and wanted to eat them with you,” An Jianqing raised the fruit platter in her hands, her beautiful brows and eyes softening, her eyes questioning.

Hearing the words ‘cherries,’ Ning Xuechu immediately recalled the sensation of sourness across her throat. She imperceptibly swallowed, then said happily, “Okay, I also want to talk more with Sister…”

Towards the end of her sentence, Ning Xuechu’s face flushed slightly, and she shyly lowered her head.

An Jianqing smiled gently, brought the cherries inside, and discreetly glanced around, noticing that the room’s arrangement had basically not changed at all.

Even the fabric doll on the bed was still propped against the headboard, seemingly untouched.

“Xuechu, don’t you like the fabric doll?” An Jianqing asked softly, handing her a cherry as she spoke.

Ning Xuechu paused, quickly pondering the meaning of the question in her mind.

She reached out and took the cherry, taking a small bite. While chewing, she finally thought of a reply, “I like it very much. I sleep with it every night.”

In reality, she had no interest in the doll and had never touched it.

She had once liked fabric dolls very much, but after merely touching her aunt’s daughter’s doll, she had been slapped.

From then on, she never liked them again.

“That’s good. I was worried you wouldn’t like it,” An Jianqing smiled, eating the cherries in small bites, a joyful expression on her beautiful face.

Seeing this expression, Ning Xuechu couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, why do you like sweet and sour cherries? Aren’t sweet ones tastier?”

An Jianqing’s brows curved at the question, and a hint of sadness was barely concealed within her gentle smile. “When I was little, at the orphanage, being able to eat sweet and sour cherries was the happiest thing.”

“I’m sorry, Sister. I made you think of unpleasant things,” Ning Xuechu lowered her eyes apologetically, rubbing the cherry between her fingers.

“It’s okay. Although the old days were a bit tough, they were also very happy. Like these cherries, beneath a tart exterior, there’s a hint of sweetness,” An Jianqing looked at the cherries with a smile in her eyes, a sorrow in their depths that was hard to discern.

Ning Xuechu paused.

She didn’t understand that sentence, nor could she comprehend that nostalgic expression.

She never wanted to experience those hard times again.