The Alpha’s Hidden Marriage, Public Obsession (GL) - Chapter 16
After taking the photos, Lin Yulan and Jiang Xue sat in the waiting area outside for the photographer to develop the pictures. Once they received the printed photos, they could hand them over to the staff at the front desk to be affixed to their certificates, stamped, and finalized. With that, their marriage certificate would be officially completed.
From this moment onward, they were legally recognized as spouses, partners who would walk through life together.
Strangely enough, now that everything was settled, Lin Yulan didn’t feel as angry as before. Instead, she found the whole situation oddly surreal. It was as if, after all these years of living carefree under her parents’ roof, she had finally gained a home of her own.
But she quickly suppressed that terrifying thought.
If not for Jiang Xue, she might not be feeling this surreal. Instead, the moment she stepped into the civil affairs bureau, she would have been so overwhelmed with joy that she’d grab her partner’s hand and excitedly tell every staff member present how beautiful marriage truly was because she had married the girl she loved most.
But the person she married wasn’t Qu Mengxin.
How could she possibly smile about that?!
“Well, Professor Jiang must be satisfied now, right?”
Jiang Xue turned to look at her, though her gaze lingered on the empty seat between them. “Am I really that terrifying? Do you need to keep a whole chair’s distance just to talk to me?”
Lin Yulan scoffed. There were many things she wasn’t sure about, but one thing was clear, if they were legally married, then unless Jiang Xue went too far, any physical altercation between them wouldn’t be considered domestic violence. At most, it would be dismissed as playful marital banter.
In that case, she wouldn’t even be able to call the police. She’d just have to lie there and take it, let alone complain to Ming Zhelan.
Ming Zhelan would undoubtedly say, She must have done something to deserve it. Otherwise, how could someone as gentle, considerate, and seemingly harmless as Jiang Xue possibly strike first?
Having a deceptively delicate appearance really was an advantage. No matter what she did, as long as she maintained that fragile, pitiable demeanor, people would instinctively feel protective of her. Who would ever suspect someone like her of wrongdoing?
“I’ll do as I please. Got a problem with that?” Lin Yulan said coldly. “I only married you because of my mother. But don’t think for a second that this changes anything between us. The title of the Lin family’s young madam belongs to another Omega. You should’ve known that from the moment you schemed to force me into this marriage.”
“I know.”
“Then why ask such an unnecessary question? Wasn’t the answer obvious?”
Indeed, it was.
Jiang Xue slowly turned her face away. She glanced around, it was nearly 3 p.m., and several more couples had arrived. Without exception, every one of them was beaming with happiness.
Their joy was genuine.
Unlike the two of them, anyone who saw them would’ve thought they were here for a divorce.
Jiang Xue cast envious glances at the beaming newlyweds around them before finally lowering her head in distress. She felt like crying, but that would be too humiliating especially since she’d been the one to insist on coming with Lin Yulan to register their marriage. She had no right to tears.
Noticing her silence and bowed head, Lin Yulan grew irritated. Whether from habit after comforting so many Omegas or something else, she couldn’t stand seeing Omegas cry or look miserable. Back in school, she’d instinctively offer comfort whenever an Omega seemed down, until it became second nature.
But she refused to comfort Jiang Xue, this scheming Omega! If anyone deserved to be angry, heartbroken or miserable, it should be her, the victim of this forced marriage! Jiang Xue had no business being upset.
Unless… Could it be Jiang Xue had her eye on some richer, more attractive alpha and now regretted marrying her?!
Wait.
She’d nearly forgotten about that female alpha they’d encountered at the restaurant. Judging by the expensive designer outfit, easily worth tens of thousands for the complete ensemble that woman was clearly loaded. And based on their interaction, Jiang Xue’s heart undoubtedly belonged to her. Yet here Jiang Xue was, marrying someone else. How could that woman not be devastated?
Unless…
Maybe she didn’t know! Jiang Xue might never have told her about the wedding!
Yes, that had to be it! No alpha would calmly watch their beloved Omega marry another after mutual affection was confessed. That poor woman!
So Jiang Xue’s current melancholy likely stemmed from guilt, regretting abandoning her true love for money and status, yet unable to escape her conscience. Hence the miserable act.
Absolutely! This explained everything!
It perfectly accounted for Jiang Xue’s gloominess about the marriage. Once registered, she’d be bound to Lin Yulan forever, forced to watch her beloved take another mate while trapped in this loveless union with no way out.
Within minutes, Lin Yulan had woven an elaborate tragic romance in her mind, quietly applauding her own brilliance until she accidentally chuckled aloud.
Jiang Xue looked up just then, startled by the sudden laughter. After a moment’s thought, her surprise turned to puzzlement, Lin Yulan certainly wasn’t laughing about their wedding.
“What’s so funny?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Yulan’s smile abruptly vanished. She couldn’t let Jiang Xue know she was secretly gloating after all, she still wanted to watch the drama unfold. It would be such a pity to miss such a good show.
“What I’m laughing about is none of your business,” Lin Yulan snapped. “Or do you think just because you’ve stepped into the Lin family, you can meddle in my affairs? Let me tell you, Jiang Xue, don’t get your hopes up. Even if we get that marriage certificate, I’ll never acknowledge you as my Omega. Oh wait, let me correct that, I’ll never acknowledge you as my wife.”
Jiang Xue instinctively pressed her lips together. She should have been used to Lin Yulan’s harsh words by now, and she knew the alpha could never like her. Yet every time she heard “I’ll never acknowledge you as my Omega,” she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness.
“That’s not what I meant, I just….”
She wanted to explain, but the words stuck in her throat as if something were choking her, refusing to let her speak.
“You just what?”
Biting her lip, Jiang Xue thought even if she explained, Lin Yulan probably wouldn’t listen. So what was the point? The outcome would be the same either way. “Never mind.”
Just as Lin Yulan was about to say something else, a staff member approached to inform them that their photos were ready and had been pasted onto the certificates. All that remained was to stamp them, and the marriage certificates would be finalized.
Both thanked the staff simultaneously before heading to the processing counter.
Soon after, they walked out of the civil affairs bureau, marriage certificates in hand.
At that moment, Lin Yulan’s phone rang.
Glancing at the screen, she saw it was Ye Jing calling.
“Hey, Jingjing, what’s up?”
Jiang Xue, standing nearby, couldn’t help but frown at the intimate nickname. But as Li Yulan had said inside, she had no right to interfere. Their marriage was forced upon Lin Yulan, there was no affection between them, let alone love.
So, she would simply play her role as Lin Yulan’s nominal wife.
Jiang Xue lowered her head and rummaged through her bag, pulling out a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. She put them on, selected a random song from her playlist, and cranked the volume to 80%, pretending she couldn’t hear who Lin Yulan was talking to or what was being said.
“Lan-jie, where are you? I went to the Lin residence but couldn’t find you. The housekeeper wouldn’t tell me anything. Where are you right now?”
The Omega’s voice on the other end was as piercing as a drill against a loudspeaker, forcing Lin Yulan to hold the phone away from her ear. “You came looking for me at home? What for? I’m at the civil affairs bureau.”
“What? Lan-jie, you’re at the civil affairs bureau?!” Ye Jing’s voice nearly spiraled out of control. “Why on earth are you there? Are you really going to marry that scheming woman? You know Aunt Ming only agreed to this because she’s been fooled by her! If you refuse to get the certificate, Aunt Ming can’t force you!”
Oh really?
As the person involved, Lin Yulan certainly hadn’t gotten that memo.
Wasn’t this already coercion? Did Ming Zhelan have to physically drag her here for it to count?
“Little Jingjing, this is my mom’s decision. She’s already talked to Uncle Zhao about it. If I don’t get the marriage certificate with Jiang Xue today, I’ll be sleeping on the streets tonight!” Lin Yulan glanced at Jiang Xue, inexplicably feeling a bit guilty, and took a few steps to the side, lowering his voice: “Besides, it’s too late for objections now. I’ve already registered the marriage with Jiang Xue, it’s in the national system. Do you know how difficult divorce is these days? I’d have to split half our marital assets with her. I’d be ruined!”
Ye Jing was absolutely fuming. She knew Ming Zelan was desperate to find Lin Yulan a compliant, controllable Omega for easier manipulation, and someone like Jiang Xue without status or connections was the perfect choice.
But she never expected Ming Zelan to move this fast, leaving her no time to react!