You Are My Omega (GL) - Chapter 14

Xu Shijiu had truly listened.

Lin Xinyi realized this clearly when Xu Shijiu allowed herself to be pushed into the school without saying a single word of protest.

“Shijiu, did you and Xinyi talk about something?” Xu Manyue could not hide her curiosity. She had expected that, no matter what, Xu Shijiu would at least complain or resist a little. But she had not. From the moment they left home to the moment they entered the school gates, everything had been unusually quiet.

It was morning arrival time, and the school was full of students. The large crowd was normal, but their group still stood out. People could not help but look. Xu Shijiu was in a wheelchair. They were surrounded by bodyguards. And then there was the Omega walking beside them who drew even more attention.

“It was nothing,” Xu Shijiu said softly. She could feel the many eyes on her and lowered her head.

“Do not worry,” Lin Xinyi said gently. She noticed how tense Xu Shijiu had become and lightly patted the back of her hand. Her voice was warm and calm. “You do not need to care about them.”

Trying to live while constantly worrying about what others think is exhausting.

What Lin Xinyi had not noticed was that while many people were staring at Xu Shijiu, just as many were sneaking glances at her as well.

Even though she wore a pheromone-blocking patch, it was not enough to completely hide that she was a top-tier Omega. Any nearby Alpha or Omega could sense it clearly.

Also, Xu Manyue had enrolled them in a private school attended mostly by the children of wealthy families. When Lin Xinyi first came to live with the Xu family, Mr. Xu had already made her background public. Anyone who paid attention to the Xu family would likely know about her.

“A top-tier Omega. That is amazing.”

“Calm down. No matter how amazing she is, she is already engaged to that useless Alpha from the Xu family.”

“What a waste.”

“That is unfair to the Omega. She is ranked so high.”

Whispers and comments followed them as they walked through the halls.

Xu Shijiu did not want to hear them, but the words kept slipping into her ears no matter how hard she tried to block them out.

She did not say anything, but Xu Manyue was already getting angry. She hated hearing people talk about Shijiu like that. She frowned and leaned closer.

“Shijiu, maybe we should…”

“I am fine,” Xu Shijiu interrupted. She looked at Lin Xinyi beside her, took a deep breath, and steadied herself. “I am fine,” she repeated.

She was not the only one being talked about. Lin Xinyi was too. But Lin Xinyi did not seem to care. If even an Omega could ignore it, then as an Alpha, she could not fall apart because of it.

She could handle this. As long as she chose not to care, nothing could hurt her.

Just like Lin Xinyi.

At the classroom door, Xu Manyue spoke with the teacher, giving all kinds of instructions and reminders. She only stopped when the warning bell rang. Under Xu Shijiu’s urging, she finally turned to leave, looking back several times before walking out of the school.

Although the school allowed bodyguards inside, they could not enter the classroom. They waited at the door, one on each side, like guards standing still. Their presence made the students from the same class too nervous to even walk in normally.

Lin Xinyi pushed Xu Shijiu to a seat at the very back of the classroom and calmly chose to sit beside her.

“You could have sat closer to the front,” Xu Shijiu said in a low voice. Her mood was clearly not great.

“You can still learn well from the back,” Lin Xinyi replied. She had thought about sitting in the front, but…

Seeing how Xu Shijiu was feeling, she could not leave her alone.

“I can handle this myself,” Xu Shijiu said, trying to be strong. She did not want to drag Lin Xinyi down. Her sister had told her that Lin Xinyi was always at the top of the class, getting the highest scores in every exam. She did not want to be a burden.

Lin Xinyi shook her head. She did not laugh at her for trying to act tough. Her voice was steady and serious.

“I do not feel safe leaving you alone.”

Xu Shijiu was not sure how she was feeling anymore, but Lin Xinyi had clearly noticed how her hands were trembling.

She had not expected Lin Xinyi to speak so directly. But maybe that was why she finally stopped worrying about it.

“Hello there!” a cheerful voice called out just as Lin Xinyi finished arranging her desk and was about to help Xu Shijiu with hers.

“Hmm?” Lin Xinyi looked up, surprised that someone was speaking to her. She smiled politely.

The girl had her hair tied in a ponytail and wore a bright, sunny smile. “Hi, I am Lin Zhilin. I am an Omega too. Want to be friends?”

“Nice to meet you. I am Lin Xinyi,” she replied calmly.

“I know who you are. You are so beautiful,” Lin Zhiling said with open admiration. She could feel that Lin Xinyi’s presence was very different from other Omegas she had met.

Lin Xinyi had heard these kinds of compliments many times. She smiled and replied kindly, “You are beautiful too.”

“Also, this classmate here,” Lin Zhiling said, turning toward Xu Shijiu. She took a breath and spoke bravely, “Would you like to be friends?”

This Alpha had a strong presence. Even with a blocker on, it was easy for the Omegas around to feel it.

It was probably because of her that no one else had dared to come over and speak.

Xu Shijiu had not expected anyone to talk to her. She remained silent and did not lift her head.

For a moment, the atmosphere became a little awkward.

“This is Xu Shijiu. Please take care of her from now on,” Lin Xinyi stepped in to ease the tension. Her warm smile helped Lin Zhiling feel much less uncomfortable, although she did not try to speak to Xu Shijiu again.

Xu Shijiu kept her head down the whole time, silently listening as Lin Xinyi and the cheerful Omega named Lin Zhiling chatted back and forth.

Because Lin Zhiling had been the first to approach, other classmates who had been hesitant around Xu Shijiu also began to speak to Lin Xinyi.

Xu Shijiu sat by the window. Even though Lin Xinyi’s seat was lively, her own corner felt quiet and heavy. No one tried to talk to her.

They were sitting right next to each other, yet it felt like they were living in two completely different worlds.

Xu Shijiu was not asked to attend the opening ceremony because of her physical condition. Lin Xinyi stood in the classroom, torn between joining the ceremony and staying behind to keep her company.

“Xinyi, are you not going to the opening ceremony?” Lin Zhiling asked when she heard the bell signaling the students to gather. She looked at the teachers calling them outside and then turned back with a bit of regret.

“No, I am staying here. You should go. The teachers are waiting for you,” Lin Xinyi said with a smile and shook her head. Her tone was gentle but firm.

If she left too, then Shijiu would be left all alone.

“Alright then…” Lin Zhiling glanced carefully at Xu Shijiu, suddenly understanding why Lin Xinyi had chosen to stay. She left reluctantly.

The classroom was now quiet. Only Lin Xinyi and Xu Shijiu remained.

In this moment without anyone else around, Xu Shijiu finally spoke.

“You did not have to stay.”

“It is too hot outside. I do not want to get sunburned,” Lin Xinyi replied, shaking her head as if that were the only reason.

Whether or not it was true, only she knew for sure.

Xu Shijiu believed her. Omegas were often sensitive to sunlight, and Lin Xinyi’s skin was so pale. It would be a shame if it got burned.

Xu Shijiu sat quietly, holding the blanket across her lap, listening to the national anthem playing through the speakers. She stared ahead, lost in thought.

Lin Xinyi said nothing. She understood that Xu Shijiu needed quiet. After all the noise earlier, it was likely that her nerves were still unsettled.

“Why did I even come to school?” Xu Shijiu asked softly. Her voice was low and uncertain. The panic was starting to set in.

There were too many people. Too many voices. Too many eyes watching her.

“Are you going to run away now?” Lin Xinyi asked plainly.

Xu Shijiu was quiet. She was not sure.

Everything felt overwhelming. Everything felt terrifying.

Why did they look at her like that? Why did their eyes hold pity or curiosity? Why did they have to notice her at all?

It was all too much.

In the end, right before the opening ceremony finished and the students returned to their classrooms, Xu Shijiu left.

Lin Xinyi did not try to stop her. She stood at the classroom door and watched as the bodyguards pushed Xu Shijiu’s wheelchair down the hallway. She did not follow. Everything had to happen one step at a time, and someone like Xu Shijiu could not be rushed.

Xu Shijiu still had family. She had her sister. She could go home anytime she wanted.

That was something to envy.

If Lin Xinyi could go home too, and see her father again, she would run as fast as she could.

But that was impossible.

She shook her head, brushing those thoughts away. She sat back at her desk and picked up a tissue, continuing to wipe down Xu Shijiu’s desk. When she saw that Xu Shijiu had left her schoolbag in the drawer, she could not help but shake her head.

Being so forgetful was not a good habit.

It was as if Xu Manyue had expected this to happen. She had not driven away from the school, instead waiting in the car the entire time.

Although part of her did not want to see Xu Shijiu leave so soon, she also understood. After being stuck in one environment for so long, it was extremely hard to adjust to a new one.

No matter what Lin Xinyi had said to encourage her, the truth was that she never believed Xu Shijiu would make it through the whole day.

When she saw the bodyguards bringing Xu Shijiu out, she let out a small, helpless smile.

Still, it was a start.

At least she had stepped into the school.

Before, she would not even come near it.