After Becoming an Alpha, I Became a Charmer (GL) - Chapter 29.2

Xia Zhiyu was actually a little embarrassed by their teasing.

When the conversation outside died down, Xia Zhiyu composed her inexplicably nervous feelings and walked toward the living room.

The crisp sound of high heels clicking on the floor rang out. The three people sitting in the living room eating fruit turned their heads at the sound. The moment they saw Xia Zhiyu’s face, their eyes flashed with astonishment.

“Hello. I’m Xia Zhiyu, Ms. Ruan’s secretary, currently staying at Ms. Ruan’s house.” Xia Zhiyu smiled and greeted the three.

Song Yourui was the first to snap back. She immediately stood up and walked to Xia Zhiyu, shaking her hand. “Hello, hello! We finally meet. I’m Ruan Ruan’s friend, Song Yourui. You can just call me Yourui.”

Pang Jingyi looked at Xia Zhiyu with shining eyes. “Secondary differentiation really makes a difference. You weren’t this beautiful the last time I saw you, Secretary Xia. You’re incredible. Hello, I’m Pang Jingyi.”

Jing Yan said, “I’m Jing Yan.”

After brief introductions, Ruan Wu’s three friends, all of whom had good personalities, warmly invited Xia Zhiyu to sit down and chat.

Xia Zhiyu smiled. “I think I’ll go check on Ms. Ruan first. I wonder if she needs any help.”

Pang Jingyi was about to say something but was stopped by Song Yourui. Song Yourui said, “Okay, okay. Go check on her.”

Xia Zhiyu went to the kitchen. Pang Jingyi asked in confusion, “Ruan Ruan hates having anyone around when she’s cooking. Why did you let her go in? It’ll be awkward if Ruan Ruan gets angry.”

Song Yourui whispered, “Xia Zhiyu has been with Ruan Ruan for over three years and has been living with her for nearly a week. Doesn’t she know Ruan Ruan’s temperament? Since she offered to help, it means it’s fine. Just wait and see. I guarantee Ruan Ruan won’t be angry with her.”

Jing Yan also said, “Don’t just talk about Ruan Ruan. Even an Alpha wouldn’t be able to stay angry at Secretary Xia’s face.”

Xia Zhiyu walked through the dining area to the kitchen and saw Ruan Wu washing vegetables. Ruan Wu’s waist, encircled by the apron, was slender. Xia Zhiyu remembered the inexplicable sense of satisfaction she felt when Ruan Wu was in her arms. She watched Ruan Wu for a moment before speaking. “Ms. Ruan, do you need any help?”

Ruan Wu paused her action, frowning with her back to Xia Zhiyu. She disliked being disturbed when she was cooking, just as much as when she was working. However, Xia Zhiyu didn’t know this habit, so she wouldn’t hold it against her for the first time.

“No need,” Ruan Wu refused coldly.

Xia Zhiyu didn’t want to give up easily. She wanted to help, but she also wanted Ruan Wu to see her makeup and outfit. “Ms. Ruan, have you planned what dishes you’re going to make? Will cooking for five people be too tiring?”

Ruan Wu paused her movements. What is going on with Xia Zhiyu today? She’s being unexpectedly clingy! She wasn’t at all like before, where she would immediately leave the moment Ruan Wu refused.

“Is something wrong?” Is she uncomfortable facing three strangers? Is she shy?

Ruan Wu put down the vegetables in her hand, ready to tell Xia Zhiyu her rules about cooking. “Secretary Xia, when I cook, I really don’t…”

Ruan Wu turned around. Xia Zhiyu, leaning back against the kitchen island with her hands, blinked at her in confusion. “Ms. Ruan, you really don’t… what when you cook?”

Ruan Wu’s gaze swept from her dazzling face downward, where she was momentarily distracted by Xia Zhiyu’s excellent figure. Her gaze darted back to Xia Zhiyu’s face.

Ruan Wu pursed her lips, turned back around, and said faintly, “I really don’t like being alone in the kitchen. It’s perceptive of you to come in and keep me company.”

Xia Zhiyu walked over. “Ms. Ruan, can I help you wash the vegetables?”

Ruan Wu’s movements paused. She felt Xia Zhiyu’s proximity, and her body stiffened. “No need. Just stand there and talk to me. I don’t need any help when I’m cooking.”

“Alright.” Xia Zhiyu was a little disappointed and stepped back to her original spot. She really wanted to witness how those delicious dishes were born.

Xia Zhiyu backed away. Ruan Wu’s movements returned to normal, and she began preparing the meal in an orderly fashion.

Xia Zhiyu said, “Your friends seem to have really good personalities, Ms. Ruan.”

Ruan Wu said, “They are very nice.”

“Birds of a feather flock together. Since you’re so wonderful, Ms. Ruan, the friends you attract must also be good people.”

“Mhm.”

Ruan Wu was slightly distracted. What exactly does Xia Zhiyu want to say? Or is all this just leading up to that final compliment?

“Ms. Ruan, are all your friends married?”

“Some are married, and some are dating and planning to marry next year.” Only she is single.

“I heard that if you’re a bridesmaid three times, you’ll never get married. How many times have you been a bridesmaid, Ms. Ruan?”

Ruan Wu: “…” I’ve never heard of that superstition.

“I never planned to get married anyway,” she said. So, asking me how many times I’ve been a bridesmaid is pointless.

“Oh, right.” Xia Zhiyu also felt her question was odd.

She looked at Ruan Wu’s back as she cooked, mesmerized. For some reason, she felt a little sad that Ruan Wu wouldn’t marry.

If Ruan Wu ever wanted to marry, I would definitely be the first to pursue her.

Ruan Wu noticed Xia Zhiyu stopped talking after she said that. She felt relieved but also a little strange.

“You should go,” Ruan Wu said, her voice turning cold.

“Okay, Ms. Ruan.” Xia Zhiyu was spacing out and instinctively answered with Ruan Wu’s commanding tone. After answering, she immediately regretted it. She had enjoyed the feeling of quietly keeping Ruan Wu company behind her. She blamed her habit. Now that the words were out, she couldn’t take them back.

Xia Zhiyu stood up and said reluctantly, “Ms. Ruan, I’ll go out now. Call me anytime if you need me. I’ll keep one ear open for you.”

Xia Zhiyu didn’t move after saying this, seemingly waiting for Ruan Wu’s reply.

Ruan Wu: “…Mhm.”

Only then did Xia Zhiyu leave the kitchen.

When Xia Zhiyu left the living room, Song Yourui and the others purposefully timed her to see how long it would take for her to be kicked out.

Pang Jingyi guessed thirty seconds, Jing Yan guessed three minutes, and Song Yourui guessed five minutes.

They were all astonished when Xia Zhiyu came out after more than ten minutes.

The three were impressed. Pang Jingyi couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Xia Xia, may I call you that? What did you help Ruan Ruan with in the kitchen?”

Song Yourui secretly pinched Pang Jingyi. How can you call Secretary Xia so intimately!

Xia Zhiyu had been called that cute nickname for the first time in both her lives. It sounded perfectly matched with “Ruan Ruan,” so she happily accepted the name. She nodded. “I’m clueless about cooking, so I just kept Ms. Ruan company and chatted with her.”

“I originally wanted to help wash the vegetables, but Ms. Ruan said she prefers someone to stand and keep her company. But then I think I said the wrong thing, and I got kicked out.”

Jing Yan and the other two could barely contain their excitement. Listen to what Ruan Ruan said! She needs someone to keep her company while she cooks!

Song Yourui signaled to Pang Jingyi and Jing Yan. They had agreed before coming that if Ruan Wu truly had romantic feelings for Xia Zhiyu, they would test Xia Zhiyu for her.

“Ahem, Xia Xia, what… I mean, what kind of Omega would you like to be with in the future?”

Pang Jingyi asked.

Jing Yan quickly covered for her. “It doesn’t have to be an Omega. What if Xia Zhiyu likes Betas? Zhiyu, Jingyi is asking if you prefer male or female partners.”

Xia Zhiyu smiled. “I understand what you mean.”

Ruan Wu kept few secrets from her friends, so the three of them must know about the contract between them.

They were probably worried that she would terminate the contract early, leaving Ruan Wu without her pheromone tool and thus harming Ruan Wu’s health.

“I’m not planning to date for now, so I haven’t thought about that question,” Xia Zhiyu said to reassure the three.

She was now Ruan Wu’s recognized friend and naturally cared about Ruan Wu’s health. She wouldn’t do anything that could harm Ruan Wu’s body.

But to Xia Zhiyu’s surprise, the three didn’t look satisfied. Instead, their eyes showed a hint of worry.

Hmm? What’s going on?

What’s wrong with saying I don’t want to date?

Are they worried that I’m just humoring them and won’t keep my word?

“You never know when it comes to love. You might suddenly fall for someone. The standard for my boyfriends used to be completely different from my husband, but I still ended up falling for him,” Song Yourui said earnestly. “So, Zhiyu, you shouldn’t say you don’t plan to date. You should be ready to fall in love at any time.”

“That’s right. Falling in love is a genuinely happy thing,” Pang Jingyi added.

Jing Yan continued, “I suggest that if you do fall in love, Zhiyu, you should choose the best person around you. Don’t waste your God-given looks.”

Xia Zhiyu blinked, confused by their sudden push for her to date. Were they testing her?

She realized she needed to come up with an excuse to reassure them. If they were relieved, they would surely tell Ruan Wu, relieving Ruan Wu’s worry.

Xia Zhiyu suddenly sighed, her eyes looking desolate. “To be honest, and please don’t laugh, I’ve always had a secret crush on someone. I haven’t even told Ms. Ruan about this.”

“What?!” Pang Jingyi jumped up in surprise. “How can you have a secret crush on someone else?”

Jing Yan pulled her back down, smiling at Xia Zhiyu. “Jingyi means, Zhiyu, how can you still need a secret crush? You should be able to confess to anyone right now, and they wouldn’t refuse.”

Song Yourui was also a little disbelieving. Xia Zhiyu is by Ruan Wu’s side every day, and she still has a secret crush on someone else?

Xia Zhiyu said, “It’s a long story. The person is already taken and is very loyal to their partner, so even after I differentiated into an Alpha, I couldn’t win her over. I’m honestly tired of trying and have decided to stop dating altogether, focusing on my work, like Ms. Ruan. Romance will only affect my efficiency in making money.”

Song Yourui and the others: “…”

Oh no. She has a secret love. No wonder she signed that kind of contract with Ruan Wu, despite being an Alpha.

The three of them, who had intended to alleviate Ruan Wu’s worries, were unexpectedly given this piece of news. They felt frustrated and worried.

Song Yourui and Jing Yan excused themselves to the restroom to discuss their strategy.

“We should tell Ruan Ruan about this before her feelings for Xia Zhiyu get too deep,” Jing Yan said.

Song Yourui frowned. “I’m just afraid Ruan Ruan is experiencing first love and will be stubborn, fixating on Xia Zhiyu. It’s fine now that they have a contract, but what if the contract ends, or Xia Zhiyu’s secret crush changes their mind? I really don’t want Ruan Ruan to get hurt.”

“Xia Zhiyu is too beautiful, cheerful, and deeply affectionate. It’ll be impossible to find a replacement.”

The two decided they had to tell Ruan Wu, no matter what. Even if Ruan Wu was upset at first, they would help her through it. If her feelings weren’t too deep, she could forget Xia Zhiyu.

Ruan Wu finished making a table full of food, and Xia Zhiyu busied herself with carrying the dishes. When they sat down, Xia Zhiyu and Ruan Wu were across from each other. Pang Jingyi and the other two were already seated, taking the seats on either side of the two, completely separating them.

However, Ruan Wu and Xia Zhiyu always ate across from each other, so they sat down as usual without noticing anything amiss.

Song Yourui and the others were preoccupied and barely tasted their food, which made Ruan Wu wonder if her cooking was off today.

Xia Zhiyu didn’t think too much about it. She focused on enjoying the meal. Every dish was amazingly delicious. She wanted to praise Ruan Wu but didn’t want to stop eating.

She decided to praise her after she finished eating.

Even without Xia Zhiyu saying anything, Ruan Wu could tell from her expressions and actions how much she loved the food. The slight self-doubt Ruan Wu had felt earlier instantly vanished.

After the meal, Xia Zhiyu volunteered to clean the dishes, allowing Ruan Wu to sit and chat with her guests. “Ms. Ruan, you’re truly the salvation of my life.”

Xia Zhiyu’s voice wasn’t loud, but Ruan Wu was still startled. She immediately looked at her three friends, afraid her words would cause a misunderstanding. Fortunately, they were huddled together, seemingly discussing something, and hadn’t paid attention to them.

“Don’t say things like that,” Ruan Wu whispered.

“Okay, Ms. Ruan. Whatever you say, I’ll listen to you~”

Xia Zhiyu cleaned up, and Ruan Wu accompanied Song Yourui and the others back to the living room to chat.

“What were you three talking about just now?” Ruan Wu asked. “You looked quite secretive.”

Song Yourui sighed. “Ruan Ruan, we heard something from Zhiyu just now, and we’re debating whether or not to tell you.”

“Why can’t you tell me?” Ruan Wu asked. However, she frowned slightly when Song Yourui called Xia Zhiyu “Zhiyu.” Xia Zhiyu seems to have gotten along with them very well. How did they get so close so quickly? I don’t think I’ve ever called her by such a familiar nickname.

“I’ll tell her,” Jing Yan said.

“Zhiyu said she’s always had a secret crush on someone.”

Ruan Wu’s heart leaped. Xia Zhiyu told them about her crush on me?

Is that something to casually talk about?

“Impossible. She must be joking with you.” Ruan Wu only wanted to be friends with Xia Zhiyu. If this came out, she would have to reject Xia Zhiyu, and they wouldn’t even be able to be friends anymore.

Ruan Wu’s reaction seemed like disbelief to Song Yourui and the others.

Pang Jingyi said, “Xia Xia isn’t the type to joke about this. She was very serious. Although she said the person she crushes on is taken, she doesn’t plan to date anyone else.”

Ruan Wu’s attention was completely on “Xia Xia” after hearing Pang Jingyi’s words.

What is that nickname? It’s too intimate!

Ruan Wu pursed her lips, frowning as she tried to figure out how to make Pang Jingyi change the way she addressed Xia Zhiyu. Calling her “Zhiyu” is better than “Xia Xia.”

“Ruan Ruan, we know you’re very unhappy.”

Ruan Wu: I am quite unhappy.

“But since Zhiyu already has a secret crush and plans to never date again because of that person, you should sort out your own feelings.”

Ruan Wu: Xia Zhiyu plans to never date again because of me?

Ruan Wu was a little shocked. I haven’t done anything for her. Why is she so devoted to me?

“Ruan Ruan, stop liking Zhiyu,” Song Yourui advised. “Her attitude is firm. It won’t work out between the two of you.”

“What?” Ruan Wu looked at Song Yourui in surprise. “I like Xia Zhiyu?”

How did they come to that conclusion? Weren’t they talking about Xia Zhiyu’s secret crush on me?

“You don’t have to deny it. We can all see it,” Pang Jingyi said. “When have you ever been so nice to an Alpha? You didn’t even kick Xia Zhiyu out of the kitchen.”

That’s nonsense. I did kick her out.

“And you smile whenever you look at Zhiyu.”

That’s only because Xia Zhiyu’s smile is so infectious.

“We all know you like Zhiyu, but it won’t work out between you two. She’s very devoted and only likes the person she has a crush on. You should give up on her.”

“Wait a minute,” Ruan Wu interrupted their urging. “You must have misunderstood something.”

“First, I don’t like Xia Zhiyu. If I like her at all, it’s the same way I like a friend, like I like you.”

Song Yourui and the other two didn’t believe her at all.

Ruan Wu’s attitude toward Xia Zhiyu was completely different from her attitude toward them.

“Second, actually, the person Xia Zhiyu has a secret crush on is me.”