You Are My Omega (GL) - Chapter 23

After thinking it over, Lin Xinyi still felt that nothing about today seemed out of the ordinary.

No, something was definitely off.

Lin Xinyi suddenly became alert. Earlier today, Mo Jinlan had mentioned meeting up with her tomorrow.

Could that be the reason?

Feeling confused, Lin Xinyi held her head, trying to figure it out. Was Xu Shijiu upset because of that? But why would she be?

She couldn’t understand it at all. Still, the only unusual thing that had happened today was that conversation with Mo Jinlan. So, it was probably that.

If that really was the case, then maybe the solution was simple.

She could just cancel her plans with Mo Jinlan.

With that decision made, Lin Xinyi picked up her phone to tell Mo Jinlan that she wouldn’t be available tomorrow. But as soon as she turned on her phone, she saw a message that had already been sent an hour ago. Mo Jinlan had told her the time and location for their meeting and had even thoughtfully added that if anything came up, Lin Xinyi could let her know and skip it.

With Mo Jinlan being so considerate, Lin Xinyi didn’t have the heart to cancel. She simply replied with a “Okay” and tossed her phone aside. Climbing into bed, she tossed and turned with a troubled heart before finally falling asleep much later.

Xu Shijiu’s mood did not improve after a night’s rest. In fact, to be honest, she hadn’t slept at all. She lay awake the entire night, staring at the lamp on her nightstand until morning came.

She understood that what upset her was Lin Xinyi going to meet Mo Jinlan. What she hadn’t expected was just how much it would bother her.

When Lin Xinyi finished getting ready to leave and stepped out of her room, she saw Xu Shijiu sitting alone in the living room. Her back looked so quiet and lonely that it made Lin Xinyi’s heart ache.

“Xu Shijiu,” Lin Xinyi called out, walking over without hesitation. She didn’t want to see Xu Shijiu looking so alone.

“Mo asked me out today. Is it okay if I go?” She wasn’t sure why she asked. The words just came out naturally without much thought.

“Go if you want. It has nothing to do with me,” Xu Shijiu replied with a cold snort. She made it sound like she didn’t care at all.

Yes, she didn’t care. She kept telling herself that over and over again, trying to convince her heart it was true.

But hearing that indifferent answer made Lin Xinyi feel a dull ache in her chest. She took a deep breath, calmed the uneasiness inside her, and waved at Xu Shijiu.

“Alright, I’m going then.”

She turned and walked out.

Since Xu Shijiu said it so clearly, there was no point in overthinking. It didn’t seem like she was angry about Mo Jinlan after all. What a waste of worry from the night before.

Once Lin Xinyi had truly left, the straight line of Xu Shijiu’s back slowly drooped. She stared in the direction Lin Xinyi had gone, eyes filled with sadness.

“Xiao Jiu, what are you looking at? Where’s Xinyi?” Xu Manyue had just come downstairs and saw her younger sister sitting alone, staring blankly toward the door.

“Lin Xinyi went out,” Xu Shijiu said softly.

“Out?” Xu Manyue frowned. “Where did she go?”

Today was the first day of winter break. Where could Lin Xinyi have to go on a day like this?

“Mo Jinlan asked her out,” Xu Shijiu replied in a quiet voice, her tone giving nothing away.

“Mo Jinlan, that Alpha from the Mo family?” Xu Manyue nodded slowly, still not fully understanding the situation.

Then suddenly she froze. “Wait, what? Xinyi went out with that Alpha from the Mo family?”

“Mo Jinlan likes Lin Xinyi,” Xu Shijiu said casually, but only she knew how upset she really was inside.

“I see.” Xu Manyue nodded again, but after a moment of silence, the meaning sank in. Her face changed.

“Mo Jinlan likes Xinyi?”

“Does Xinyi know how Mo Jinlan feels about her?” she asked immediately.

“She probably does,” Xu Shijiu answered, her expression dim as she nodded slowly.

“You’re just guessing, aren’t you?” Xu Manyue had been worried, but now she realized that Xu Shijiu had come to this conclusion on her own, without even asking Lin Xinyi directly.

“It’s so obvious. How could she not know?” Xu Shijiu insisted. Anyone with eyes would be able to see it.

Xu Manyue looked at her sister and sighed. “Xinyi has always been very unaware when it comes to things about herself. It’s entirely possible that she really doesn’t know how Mo Jinlan feels.”

Lin Xinyi was usually sharp when it came to other people. But when it came to her own relationships and emotions, she was surprisingly clueless.

Her entire focus was on studying and planning for the future. She had no energy left to think about anything else.

“That’s not possible,” Xu Shijiu said, trying to argue. But in her heart, she couldn’t help feeling a small sense of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, her sister was right.

Maybe Lin Xinyi really didn’t understand what Mo Jinlan was thinking. Maybe that was why she agreed to go.

Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding.

“What are you planning to do?” Xu Manyue saw the way Xu Shijiu’s eyes were darting around and immediately knew she was up to something.

Xu Shijiu gave a helpless smile. Her sister could always see through her thoughts.

So, what exactly was she planning?

When Xu Shijiu sent a message to the driver to ask where Lin Xinyi had been dropped off, it was already clear what she had in mind. Once she had the location, it was obvious she planned to go there.

Xu Manyue didn’t approve of the idea. But she couldn’t resist her younger sister’s persistence and eventually gave in, driving her to the destination.

She had thought about warning Lin Xinyi with a message, since following her felt a little inappropriate. But Xu Shijiu kept her eyes glued to her the entire time, as if she already knew her sister would try to send a warning. She didn’t give her a chance.

Lin Xinyi had no idea that everything she did was being watched by Xu Shijiu and Xu Manyue.

She arrived at the café that Mo Jinlan had chosen and sat down at a window seat, waiting for her to arrive.

She had assumed that since Mo Jinlan was the one who asked her out, she would arrive earlier.

But to her surprise, she was the one who arrived first, and there was still no sign of Mo Jinlan.

This made Lin Xinyi feel a little displeased.

“Should we go inside?” Xu Manyue asked gently as she watched Xu Shijiu clinging to the car window, staring intently at Lin Xinyi. “If we stay here, we won’t be able to hear anything.”

Xu Shijiu stayed silent for a moment. Of course, it would be nice to hear what was being said. But something about it didn’t feel right.

They had followed Lin Xinyi without being invited. If she found out, who knew how she would feel? And if they tried to listen in as well, it would be crossing a line.

Even though she was itching with curiosity, Xu Shijiu shook her head and refused. “No need.”

“I see.” Xu Manyue nodded, though her eyes carried a deeper meaning.

Mo Jinlan arrived at a run. By the time she reached Lin Xinyi, she was out of breath, and there was a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, even though it was winter.

“I’m sorry, Xinyi. Something happened at home, so I’m late,” Mo Jinlan said anxiously. Today’s meeting was supposed to be important, yet she had shown up late. Lin Xinyi was an Omega who valued punctuality more than anyone. Mo Jinlan was worried she might have upset her.

“It’s fine,” Lin Xinyi said, forcing a smile as she pushed down her displeasure. Judging by Mo Jinlan’s appearance, she must have really run into something unexpected.

“Would you like something to drink? The coffee here is rich and has a great flavor,” Mo Jinlan offered, placing the menu in front of Lin Xinyi and trying hard to appear more mature.

People always said that Omegas needed a strong sense of security. Naturally, a mature-looking Alpha was more likely to win their heart.

At least, that’s what Mo Jinlan believed.

However, after hearing that, Lin Xinyi’s brows furrowed slightly. She smiled and replied, “I don’t like bitter drinks.”

“Oh.” Mo Jinlan looked disappointed. Lin Xinyi usually seemed so composed that she assumed she must enjoy drinking coffee.

In the end, Lin Xinyi ordered a juice.

It wasn’t that Lin Xinyi never drank coffee. She could only accept the kind Xu Shijiu made, because Xu Shijiu always added lots of sugar and just the right amount of milk. It was never too bitter. That was the only coffee she could enjoy.

She sipped from her straw and looked at Mo Jinlan. She knew she should be listening carefully to what Mo Jinlan was saying, but her mind kept drifting away.

She kept thinking about Xu Shijiu.

Was Xu Shijiu still angry right now? What was she angry about, really? Even if she was upset, had she eaten properly? Was she eating her fruit? Had she thought about where they would go during winter break?

She thought about the mistakes on Xu Shijiu’s practice tests and wondered how to explain them so that she would understand better and not feel pressured.

Xu Shijiu. Over and over again, her thoughts were filled with Xu Shijiu.

Suddenly, Mo Jinlan called out loudly, “Lin Xinyi!”

Lin Xinyi snapped back to reality.

“Yes?” she replied, trying hard to focus on the Alpha sitting across from her. She didn’t want to keep thinking about Xu Shijiu. That wouldn’t be fair to Mo Jinlan.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t help it.

Her thoughts kept going back to Xu Shijiu.

“I like you,” Mo Jinlan said clearly, looking straight into Lin Xinyi’s eyes.

Lin Xinyi froze. She stared at Mo Jinlan in disbelief, her expression filled with shock. For once, her attention was fully on the person in front of her.

She wondered if maybe she had heard it wrong.