The Black Lotus Wife Forces Me to Pretend to Be an Omega. - Chapter 44

Luo Xiaoxiao felt an itch in her heart as she looked at the hand extended toward her.

As these words were spoken, countless eyes in the stadium turned toward the cage.

“Who is that?”

“Looks like she’s an Omega!”

“Min Nanxi already has her pro license—why would she fight some nobody?”

“Who knows? Who even is this Omega?”

“I recognize her! She was on TV once—what was her name again…”

“If you can’t remember, then don’t bother.”

Luo Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, a polite smile playing on her lips. “Fighting in private isn’t a good idea. But if you don’t mind, we could train together instead.”

Min Nanxi shrugged, thinking this wasn’t a bad compromise. After all, sparring could easily lead to injuries if they weren’t careful, and getting hurt right before a match would be a waste.

“That works. I could use a sparring partner—but looking at your build, are you sure you can handle it?”

Luo Xiaoxiao scoffed internally. Was she really being underestimated?

“Want to find out?”

For the next two hours, the two of them engaged in one bout after another, testing each other’s stamina and skills.

When they first stepped onto the mechanical treadmills, Min Nanxi had even tried to dissuade her. “Maybe we should just drop it. What if—”

But before she could finish, Luo Xiaoxiao had already started the timer and began sprinting at full speed.

Watching her pace and rhythm, Min Nanxi realized—this was definitely a professional!

Instantly, Luo Xiaoxiao had ignited her competitive spirit.

–

Meanwhile, at Fan City Amusement Park, Lu Yu and Zhu Yuxin were strolling around.

Though Zhu Yuxin insisted this wasn’t just idle wandering—it was a way to scout for business opportunities.

After hours of walking, Lu Yu was exhausted.

“I’m tired,” the young mistress declared, plopping down onto a bench.

Zhu Yuxin sat beside her, fingers flying across her phone screen as she offered words of comfort. “If you’re tired, rest for a bit. I just got a payment in, so I need to transfer the money to Sun Yumeng.”

“Mhm.” Lu Yu pouted, taking Zhu Yuxin’s hand to fiddle with. They had been together for a while now, even living together, but nothing intimate had happened between them.

“Zhu Yuxin,” Lu Yu called out.

“Yeah?”

“Why won’t you do it with me?”

“Do what?” Zhu Yuxin’s fingers paused for a second. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Mark me.” Lu Yu met her gaze. The young mistress had never been taught shame—though she had received thorough education on matters of intimacy.

Ever since they got together, she had wanted to take their relationship further.

But every time Lu Yu brought it up, Zhu Yuxin would dodge the question. Was there something wrong? Did Zhu Yuxin, like Li Fanshuang, need to see an Alpha specialist?

“I don’t think it’s the right time yet,” Zhu Yuxin deflected again.

Lu Yu yanked her hand away. “What do you mean? When will it ever be the right time? We’ve been together this long, and you keep avoiding it. Zhu Yuxin, I’m an Omega.”

The young lady felt somewhat aggrieved. She had never experienced anything like this before, having never been in love until now. To have her first relationship be with her sworn enemy was bad enough, but for the other party to treat her this way…

At this thought, a wave of grievance welled up in Lu Yu’s heart. She lowered her head and began to sob quietly.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuxin immediately put down her work. She crouched before Lu Yu, holding her hands and looking into her eyes. “I just thought that since we’ve just gotten together, if we were to engage in marking behavior and one day you regretted being with me…”

Her voice trailed off. Lu Yu’s heart trembled slightly. Pressing her lips together, she hadn’t expected Zhu Yuxin to have considered so much.

“I hadn’t thought that far. I just felt that since we’re together now, we should…” Lu Yu didn’t know how to continue.

Zhu Yuxin sighed and sat beside her. “Do you know about Li Fanshuang’s parents?”

“Her parents?” Lu Yu looked puzzled. “I haven’t heard anything. I only know she made her own way in the entertainment industry.”

A faint smile appeared on Zhu Yuxin’s lips. “The reason she came to Jincheng to develop her career—aside from it being a good place—was that her Alpha mother asked my father to look after her.”

“Ah?” Lu Yu was stunned. So Li Fanshuang was from a wealthy family too?

Zhu Yuxin nodded emphatically. “Her mother is the top investment banker in the capital—a formidable figure. Originally, there was a family business for her to inherit, and her mother had even arranged a marriage alliance for her.”

As she spoke, Zhu Yuxin carefully observed Lu Yu’s expression.

Lu Yu simply said “Oh,” completely missing the implication in Zhu Yuxin’s words.

“What I mean is… the marriage partner her mother arranged for her… was me.”

The moment these words were spoken, Lu Yu looked at Zhu Yuxin in disbelief, her eyes filled with complexity. “Your families are that progressive? Two Alphas?”

“Don’t take it the wrong way—I didn’t mean anything by it,” Lu Yu added hastily.

How was she to know their families were so open-minded as to arrange a marriage between two Alphas?

Zhu Yuxin chuckled. “But at that time, both she and I were already quite old. We both refused—she didn’t want to inherit the family business, and I…” She gazed steadily at the girl before her. “I already liked you by then.”

“Liked me?” Lu Yu clicked her tongue and leaned back slightly, putting some distance between them. “First, explain clearly—when exactly was ‘then’?”

“Hmm…” Zhu Yuxin thought for a moment. “When we were studying in England together. We were neighbors at the time.”

“Hold on!” Lu Yu raised her hand, looking at Zhu Yuxin with disdain. “You call that liking me? Were you messing with me?”

Zhu Yuxin shook her head blankly. “What kind of talk is that? I was worried you wouldn’t be used to English food, so I cooked for you every day and packed your meals.”

“You were the one putting lunchboxes in my bag?” Lu Yu’s mouth fell open slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me? I always thought it was our housekeeper who did it.”

A trace of confusion flickered across Zhu Yuxin’s brow. “But isn’t liking someone supposed to be silent? Why would I say it out loud? Wouldn’t that make me seem… too calculated?”

Lu Yu nearly choked on her words. “Hey hey, Zhu Yuxin, what do you take me for? Some phoenix girl who can read minds? You did all these things without telling me—how was I supposed to know? I thought the lunch boxes were from the housekeeper! I even fired her over it. Turns out I wronged the poor woman.”

Zhu Yuxin paused. “If someone was leaving you meals every day, why fire them?”

Lu Yu rolled her eyes. “I’m allergic to mangoes. One day I found a mango mille-feuille inside—good heavens, that would’ve killed me! Of course I had to let her go.”

Zhu Yuxin froze. She’s allergic? Thank goodness she hadn’t chopped up any mangoes, or Lu Yu would have been in real danger back then.

“Yuyu, are you okay?”

Lu Yu waved dismissively. “I’m not stupid enough to eat something I know I’m allergic to. So it seems you were the one trying to kill me back then?”

“How could I ever want to harm you?” Zhu Yuxin protested vehemently.

Lu Yu snorted, hands on hips. “You treated me horribly back then! There were only two Chinese students in our class, and whenever I tried talking to you, you’d give me the cold shoulder. And when I joined the drama club, you mocked me relentlessly!”

The memory still rankled. At sixteen, Lu Yu had auditioned for Snow White—she’d approached Zhu Yuxin, then drama club president, hoping for special consideration. Naively, she’d thought their shared heritage would count for something.

Instead, Zhu Yuxin told her, “I think you’d be better suited to play the tree outside the dwarves’ cottage.”

Thus the young heiress found herself playing a tree while classmates snickered. The humiliation nearly drove Lu Yu to challenge Zhu Yuxin to a fight.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuxin quickly defended herself. “I didn’t want you playing the princess because that Jerry playing the prince was clearly trouble. What if he harassed you during rehearsals?”

Lu Yu shook her head with a wry smile. “Then why the constant cold shoulder? With that attitude, I always thought you hated me.”

“I didn’t want to come on too strong and make you uncomfortable.”

“What’s there to be uncomfortable about?” Lu Yu shrugged. “Now tell me why you refused to mark me.”

Zhu Yuxin’s expression darkened. She knew Lu Yu wouldn’t let this go today.

“I want this to be serious—permanent. Not some temporary mark. Your father has… exacting standards. I understand his expectations—he wants you to inherit the family fortune married to some controllable nobody. I was never his first choice.”

“You…” Lu Yu’s voice caught. She’d never considered these complications.

“I was thinking of making some achievements first, then bringing a lawyer to properly notarize our assets. I have no say in your family’s company matters. Regardless of how things turn out between us, I want him to have a good impression of me.”

“In this circle, many Alpha heirs from families looking to strengthen their influence will choose to mark an Omega from another family—preferably getting them pregnant. That way, the Alpha’s family can take advantage. I don’t want your father to think I’m that kind of person, Yuyu. I want a future with you.”

These heartfelt words made Lu Yu burst into tears. “It’s my fault, I’m sorry for being so willful. Zhu Yuxin, is it exhausting being with me?”

Zhu Yuxin shook her head. She and Lu Yu had met overseas while both studying law. She never imagined Lu Yu would one day become an idol.

When she learned Lu Yu had gone on that variety show with Fang Jin, Zhu Yuxin admitted she couldn’t sit still—how could she do a CP act with that kind of man?

But Lu Yu remained true to herself, not giving Fang Jin any face.

“Zhu Yuxin, keep working hard. I believe in you.” Lu Yu clenched her little fists in encouragement.

Zhu Yuxin smiled warmly. “Mm, I know. Don’t worry. Would you like some ice cream? I’ll go buy some.”

“Sure!” Lu Yu nodded happily. “I want vanilla and chocolate flavors.”

“Okay.” Zhu Yuxin stood up. “How about matcha too?”

“Sounds good.”

“Wait here for me then.”

With that, Zhu Yuxin headed toward the ice cream shop nearby.

As autumn set in, the weather turned slightly cool, so there weren’t many people buying ice cream. About five minutes later, Zhu Yuxin returned to the bench with the treats.

But Lu Yu was no longer there.

Zhu Yuxin stared blankly at the empty seat. Lu Yu’s phone had been left behind.

Her eyes burned—she knew Lu Yu had been taken, and by whom was obvious.

Old Yu had made his move.

Plop—

The beautiful tri-colored ice cream fell to the ground, the sweet scoops splattering messily across the concrete.

“Why?” Zhu Yuxin gasped for breath. After a long moment, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She pulled out her phone and made a call.

After a few rings, the person answered.

“Li Fanshuang, can you help me? Yuyu’s been taken by her father.”

“He might force her to be with someone she doesn’t love. I don’t know what to do.”

Li Fanshuang, who had just been resting, was surprised by the call. “Old Yu dares to reach into Jincheng? Why don’t you tell your father?”

Zhu Yuxin scoffed coldly. “My father and Old Yu don’t get along. If I told him, he’d probably celebrate with fireworks.”

Li Fanshuang frowned, thinking carefully before speaking again. “You know my situation with my family.”

“I know.” Zhu Yuxin sighed helplessly. “You’re a rebellious kid too. But I really don’t know who else to turn to. I hope you can help me.”

Hearing the plea in her words, Li Fanshuang felt a pang of reluctance. Zhu Yuxin was several years younger than her. If not for the unreasonable meddling of the adults, their relationship would likely still be as close as it had been years ago.

“Alright, I’ll have a good friend check on the Lu family in Hushi,” Li Fanshuang said, unwilling to casually use her mother’s connections. Having ventured out on her own for so long, she hadn’t relied on family resources.

Zhu Yuxin thanked her, “Okay, I appreciate it.”

“No need to be so formal.”

After hanging up, Zhu Yuxin knew she couldn’t just sit around. She decided to return to the hotel to pack and head straight to Hushi.

As soon as she entered the hotel lobby, she spotted a familiar figure.

Wasn’t that Luo Xiaoxiao? And who was that beside her?

A bad feeling crept into Zhu Yuxin’s heart. That person seemed awfully close to Luo Xiaoxiao—could it be her secret lover?

Damn it!

Zhu Yuxin rolled up her non-existent sleeves. “Li Fanshuang, just wait till I see how deep your green hat goes!”

Luo Xiaoxiao and Min Nanxi had trained at the gym for over three hours. Finding each other great company, they decided to grab a bite together.

Min Nanxi was fine—she’d brought a change of clothes to the gym and freshened up after their session. But Luo Xiaoxiao needed to return to the hotel to tidy up.

Min Nanxi gazed at the opulent hotel lobby. “Girl, I had no idea you were loaded! This is the Fan City Haosheng Hotel!”

Luo Xiaoxiao waved it off. “My wife booked it.”

“You’re married?!” Min Nanxi stared at Luo Xiaoxiao’s youthful, collagen-rich face. This young Omega was telling her she was already married?

Luo Xiaoxiao nodded. “Yes, I am. If you don’t mind waiting in the lobby, my wife’s identity is… special. It’s not convenient to have others in the room.”

“No problem,” Min Nanxi said, though a hint of suspicion arose. She muttered under her breath, “Could Luo Xiaoxiao’s wife actually be some big celebrity?”

The receptionist nearby overheard and stifled a laugh. Oh, she definitely was.

Seeing Luo Xiaoxiao leave alone, Zhu Yuxin sighed in relief. Maybe she’d overthought things.

Just then, Li Fanshuang returned to the hotel.

Surrounded by her crew, she walked through the center as a swarm of reporters rushed forward.

Microphones were thrust toward Li Fanshuang’s face.

“Best Actress Li, could you share some details about ‘Zhiyu Pavilion’? How faithful is it to the original novel?”

“Best Actress Li, do you feel a lot of pressure?”

“Best Actress Li, we heard Director Qi is also filming in the city. Will it be awkward if you run into each other?”

Li Fanshuang waved her hand, signaling she wouldn’t entertain such trivial questions.

From a distance, Min Nanxi gaped at the commotion. It was her idol, Li Fanshuang!

She whipped out her phone, snapping a fangirl photo.

“Li Fanshuang!” Zhu Yuxin strode over with a stern expression.

Li Fanshuang paused and nodded at her.

Zhu Yuxin sighed, her face conflicted. “You really didn’t have to go this far for my sake.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Li Fanshuang said, raising an eyebrow at Zhu Yuxin before gesturing toward the cameras.

Zhu Yuxin took a deep breath before continuing in a solemn tone, “My girlfriend’s father took her away from me. If the media has any news about Yuyu, I will be deeply grateful.”

After speaking, Zhu Yuxin bowed to the gathered media outlets, his sincere attitude leaving everyone astonished.

This was Zhu Yuxin—an Alpha from Jin City’s elite families!

To think he would bow to us under such circumstances?

The media personnel were visibly moved. An Omega stepped forward and declared loudly, “Don’t worry, with us here, we’ll definitely help find Yuyu.”

“Damn that old bastard!”

“What era is this? Forcibly taking away his own child? Is he really dissatisfied with such an outstanding Alpha like Zhu Yuxin?”

The crowd began voicing their opinions, especially those who had watched the show “True or False Lovers,” speaking even more passionately.

“Oh my god, is that Lu Yu we’re talking about?”

“Exactly! At first, Old Fish actually wanted to pair her with someone like Fang Jin.”

“Has that father lost his mind? Rejecting Zhu Yuxin for that ugly loser?”

“Don’t you think that’s going too far? Fang Jin isn’t bad.”

“Not bad, but compared to whom? Do you think he and Lu Yu look good together?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Without Fang Jin even knowing, he had silently become the target of online bullying.

Min Nanxi watched the scene unfold from afar, becoming an onlooker herself.

“Who are they talking about?” Min Nanxi quietly asked a girl beside her.

The girl scoffed, “Are you from another planet? Haven’t you seen the show ‘True or False Lovers’? That’s where Lu Yu and Zhu Yuxin got together.”

Min Nanxi shook her head, “I really don’t know. I don’t follow these things. Are the people on this show very famous?”

“Seriously? You don’t know Li Fanshuang?”

“Of course I do!” Min Nanxi raised her voice slightly, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward Li Fanshuang in the crowd—her goddess.

“She and her wife are staying in this hotel…”

“When did she get married?” Min Nanxi felt her heart shatter. Suddenly, she felt like drinking.

Which bastard had tricked her goddess into marriage?

Seeing her furious expression, the girl chuckled, “You don’t actually think someone tricked Li Fanshuang, do you? Her wife is so young—it’s obvious who tricked whom. That poor wife of hers…”

Min Nanxi frowned, utterly confused by the conversation.

Having achieved her goal, Li Fanshuang apologized to the media and quickly led Zhu Yuxin away.

Once inside the private elevator, Li Fanshuang removed her sunglasses and asked, “Where were you when this happened?”

“I was out shopping.” Zhu Yuxin knocked his own head in frustration—why hadn’t he taken Yuyu with him?

Li Fanshuang sighed softly, “What’s done is done. Don’t blame yourself. Besides, it’s her father—she’s definitely safe.”

“You’re right.” With Li Fanshuang’s reassurance, Zhu Yuxin finally calmed down.

“By the way, I just saw your wife with a Beta,” someone mentioned.

Li Fanshuang paused before responding in a low voice, “Oh?”

“I’ve never seen that Beta before. Does she have friends in Fancheng?”

“No,” Li Fanshuang answered firmly.

Not just in Fancheng—she didn’t have any other acquaintances in this entire world.

So who was that person?

A strange feeling flickered in Li Fanshuang’s heart.

“What? Feeling jealous?” Zhu Yuxin raised an eyebrow teasingly.

“What’s this? We’re all—”

Her words were cut short as Zhu Yuxin raised a hand to interrupt, “Why pretend with me? You know exactly what her status is.”

“Enough, discussing these matters outside is too sensitive.” Li Fanshuang glanced at the security camera, then subtly signaled Zhu Yuxin with a meaningful look.

Zhu Yuxin nodded. Elevator cameras were the most dangerous—one careless word between her and Li Fanshuang could easily end up as headline news across major media outlets.

“No need to be overly paranoid either,” Li Fanshuang chuckled lightly. “This hotel’s security measures are quite good.”

Despite her reassurance, Zhu Yuxin remained uneasy. “From a business perspective, you still need to be cautious.”

The two returned to the room together. By then, Luo Xiaoxiao had finished showering and was changing in the bathroom. Hearing the door open, she knew Li Fanshuang was back and was about to greet her when Zhu Yuxin’s voice rang out.

“So, what do you think? Is there really no chance left for me with Old Yu?”

Luo Xiaoxiao was surprised—what was Zhu Yuxin doing here?

“Hmm, my mother said he’s an extremely rigid person. Plus, he’s obsessed with traditional marriage—a total relic. You and Lu Yu have been together for so long without any progress?”

A hint of disdain curled at the corner of Li Fanshuang’s lips.

Zhu Yuxin rolled her eyes, refusing to back down. “Don’t point fingers at me—you’re no better yourself.”

“Tch.” Li Fanshuang turned away, ignoring the jab. “About your situation, I’ve already spoken to Lu Chenfeng.”

“What’s the point of telling her? She’s just some small-time doctor.”

Li Fanshuang stood to fetch her a bottle of water before sitting opposite her. “The Lu family is a powerhouse in pharmaceuticals and investments. Both her parents are titans in Hu City’s medical industry. Who else would I go to?”

Zhu Yuxin scoffed. “That woman’s a hypocrite. I can’t stand her. Didn’t she have a crush on you when you were kids?”

“That was ages ago,” Li Fanshuang replied with a cold laugh, utterly indifferent.

Zhu Yuxin sighed deeply. “So, what do you think about your wife’s affair?”

In the bathroom, Luo Xiaoxiao pointed at herself in shock—My affair? Since when did I have an affair?