Chapter 11

Alpha Hostility

The spacious bed was covered with dozens of new outfits, all the latest designs—and all painfully expensive.

It was clear that An Jianqing had put a great deal of effort into preparing for this birthday party.

Lowering her gaze for a moment, Ning Xuechu forced down the anger building inside her. When she looked up again, she was smiling sweetly.

“Jiejie, you’re so beautiful, and your figure is perfect. No matter what you wear, you’ll be the most stunning Alpha in the room.”

She subtly emphasized the word “Alpha.”

An Jianqing didn’t brighten at the compliment. Instead, the excitement that had sparkled in her eyes moments ago dimmed.

She lowered her head, a faint, bitter smile touching her lips.
“Yes… I’m an Alpha, after all…”

Her voice trailed off into a whisper—so quiet that even standing close, Ning Xuechu couldn’t make out the rest.

The air in the room grew heavy, the cheerful atmosphere fading away without a trace.

Seeing the faint disappointment on An Jianqing’s face, a strange flicker of satisfaction stirred inside Ning Xuechu.

If she was right, all this dressing up—this meticulous attention to every detail—was to surprise that Alpha named Qiu Mengxi.

That, she would never allow to happen.

“Jiejie, why don’t you wear this white dress?” Ning Xuechu said softly, picking it up from the bed. “It’s elegant and graceful—perfect for a birthday banquet.”

“Alright.” An Jianqing smiled faintly and accepted the dress, though her enthusiasm had clearly faded.

Ning Xuechu’s heart bloomed with quiet satisfaction.

She excused herself and stepped out of the room, carefully closing the door to give An Jianqing her space.

Ten minutes later, the door opened again, and An Jianqing appeared—wearing that white dress.

Ning Xuechu’s face lit up, her smile as sweet as a child’s.
“See, Jiejie? I told you. You look so beautiful—pure and graceful, like a fairy.”

“You always know how to flatter me,” An Jianqing laughed softly, though after a moment she added, a little anxiously,
“Do you really think so? It won’t look too plain? Not festive enough?”

“Not at all!” Ning Xuechu shook her head firmly, her tone full of conviction.

Relieved, An Jianqing’s lips curved into a soft smile.
“I hope she likes it too,” she murmured under her breath.

The words were quiet—but Ning Xuechu heard them clearly.

The moment An Jianqing turned away, her eyes darkened, and her fingers clenched tightly together.

It took her a moment to calm the storm of jealousy burning in her chest.

She really wanted to see—just what kind of woman could make An Jianqing so smitten.

The birthday party was held at a luxury hotel, scheduled for two o’clock in the afternoon.

This time, An Jianqing had only invited a few close friends.

Of course, her circle of “friends” were far from ordinary—they were all heiresses from elite families, every one of them elegant, wealthy, and beautiful. Even their pheromone levels were A+ or higher.

Amid this dazzling crowd, Ning Xuechu—a low-grade Omega—stood out like an awkward duckling among swans, completely out of place.

“Jianqing, who’s this?” one woman asked lazily, leaning against the sofa with a glass of red wine in hand. Her tone was casual, but her gaze—curious and faintly condescending—lingered on Ning Xuechu.

Before An Jianqing could answer, another woman chimed in with a teasing laugh.
“My guess? She’s Jianqing’s little lover.”

“Little lover? Then who’s the big one?” another asked eagerly, her interest immediately piqued.

“Well, that would be—” the woman began, dragging out the words—but when her eyes met An Jianqing’s suddenly cold expression, she stopped short and laughed it off instead.
“Why don’t you ask Jianqing yourself?”

“You’re just trying to keep us in suspense! If she was willing to tell, I wouldn’t be asking you.” One woman snorted, but still turned an expectant gaze toward An Jianqing.

“I’ll tell you about her later,” An Jianqing said calmly, neatly sidestepping the “big lover” question.

At that, the others wisely dropped the subject and resumed chatting.

They were all well-acquainted—comfortable enough to gossip endlessly.

Ning Xuechu, however, couldn’t fit in at all. She didn’t even try. Sitting quietly in the corner of the sofa, she observed the group silently, her expression neutral but her mind sharp.

As she scanned the room, she didn’t see the woman named Qiu Mengxi anywhere.

Still, the name came up more than once in their conversations.

“It’s already half past two—where’s Miss Qiu? Don’t tell me she’s still busy in someone’s bed?” one of them joked, laughing.

“Why are you so anxious? Jianqing doesn’t look worried. You know her—always late. Being thirty minutes behind schedule is practically early for her.”

Laughter rippled through the group as they continued drinking and talking.

They didn’t seem to care when the birthday party would actually begin — as if they were just there to chat and catch up.

Listening to the group of women chirping noisily, Ning Xuechu felt a bit overwhelmed by the clamor.

She stood up and walked to An Jianqing’s side, whispering softly,
“Elder sister, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Alright, be quick. Everyone’s almost here.”
An Jianqing glanced at her watch as she spoke.

Ning Xuechu nodded and turned to leave.

But instead of heading to the restroom, she wandered aimlessly through the hotel corridors.

As she passed by a luxurious suite, she noticed the door wasn’t locked.

From inside the room drifted a faintly sweet scent — an Omega’s pheromones, at least of A+ grade.

Ning Xuechu was instantly affected by the sugary fragrance, a wave of heat rising from deep within her.

She hurriedly tried to leave, but then a voice came from inside the room.

“Baby, I still have things to do. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
The woman’s voice was low, slightly amused, carrying an easy, teasing charm.

It sounded flirtatious and cynical, like someone who treated everything as a game.

“It’s just a birthday party,” the Omega said petulantly, their pheromones growing thicker in the air. “What’s so important about that? Is the cake tastier than me?”

The last line was dripping with sultry innuendo, both coy and inviting.

Standing outside the door, Ning Xuechu felt her own glands burning silently. She quickly covered her neck with one hand, steadying herself against the wall before turning to leave.

She hadn’t gone far when a powerful Alpha’s aura surged from behind her, followed by the trembling, pleading voice of an Omega.

Ning Xuechu stiffened instinctively, her eyes narrowing in alertness.

When she looked back, a woman emerged from that room — the flush on her neck a blatant sign of what had just happened.

Their gazes met. Ning Xuechu’s pupils contracted slightly.

The woman’s lips curved into a half-smile, her tone playful.
“Well, what do we have here — a cute little Omega.”

At those words, alarm bells rang in Ning Xuechu’s head.
She quickly pretended to be overwhelmed by the Alpha’s pheromones — her face flushed, body weak, and she leaned helplessly against the wall.

The woman chuckled softly, reining in her aura as she stepped toward Ning Xuechu.

Ning Xuechu exhaled shakily, trying to stand up straight.
Before the woman could reach her, she said quickly, “Thank you, I’m fine.”

She took a step forward — but before she could move far, a forceful hand yanked her backward, straight into the woman’s arms.

Ning Xuechu froze, just about to struggle when someone appeared around the corner.

“Xuechu, what are you doing here?”
An Jianqing’s anxious voice rang out — then her eyes widened in surprise.
“Mengxi? You’re here too? We’ve been waiting for you! Come on, everyone’s inside already.”

The happiness in her tone was impossible to hide.

“Alright.” Qiu Mengxi smiled, her fingers still wrapped around Ning Xuechu’s arm. She looked at An Jianqing with an amused glint in her eyes.
“Jianqing, is this the person you mentioned?”

Though she spoke lightly, Ning Xuechu instantly sensed the hostility beneath the smile — and the faint disdain toward her secondary gender rank.

Which meant that just as she had recognized this woman, the woman had recognized her too.

The fact that An Jianqing had shared such private information with this woman showed how much she trusted her.

A flicker of jealousy rose unbidden in Ning Xuechu’s chest.
She bit her lip, her eyes reddening slightly as she looked pitifully at An Jianqing.
“…Sister…”

Her voice trembled, thick with tears, and crystal droplets rolled down her cheeks.

An Jianqing immediately stepped forward in concern.
“Xuechu, what’s wrong?”

“She seemed unwell just now,” Qiu Mengxi said before Ning Xuechu could reply. “I saw her leaning against the wall looking dizzy.”

“Thank you. I was worried something might happen if she was wandering alone — lucky you ran into her.”
An Jianqing sighed in relief, her smile gentle.

The two of them talked over her as though she wasn’t even there, which made Ning Xuechu feel uneasy and small.

With this Alpha standing here, it was as if An Jianqing couldn’t see her anymore.

Ning Xuechu’s heart twisted with frustration. Subtly slipping free of Qiu Mengxi’s grip, she threw herself into An Jianqing’s arms, trembling as she cried,
“Sister, I got lost… I couldn’t remember the room number… I was so scared…”

“As long as you’re alright.”
An Jianqing smiled softly and patted her back in comfort.

That only made Ning Xuechu cry harder, clinging to An Jianqing even tighter.

Watching the scene, Qiu Mengxi’s eyes glinted faintly. She said with a teasing smile,
“Jianqing, this little Omega is really attached to you — like a child.”

“She’s only close to me. It’s natural for her to cling a bit,”
An Jianqing explained with a gentle tone, pulling out a tissue to wipe Ning Xuechu’s tears.

Ning Xuechu stood obediently beside her, fingers clutching An Jianqing’s sleeve tightly as if afraid she might disappear.

“She’s already twenty,” Qiu Mengxi said with a light smile, her gaze sweeping between them. “Not exactly a child anymore.”

An Jianqing caught the hidden meaning immediately. She gently pried Ning Xuechu’s hand off.
“Well, now that everyone’s here, we should start the banquet. If we keep them waiting any longer, I’ll be punished with extra drinks.”

“It’s my fault for being late. I’ll take your punishment and drink for you,” Qiu Mengxi said with a grin, wrapping her arm around An Jianqing’s shoulders in an intimate gesture.

“I’ll drink it myself.”
A faint blush rose on An Jianqing’s cheeks.

Ning Xuechu stood frozen, watching their overly close posture — her hands curling into tight fists.