The Five Heartless Scumbag Alphas Turned Against Each Other Because Of Me - Chapter 16
“Do we know each other?” That was an understatement.
Tan Hua nearly wanted to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing. Not only did they know each other—they were once technically married, in name if not in truth.
The system immediately picked up on her eagerness to stir the pot and fan the flames. Sensing trouble, it zapped her with a quick warning jolt before she could say anything. Then, in a serious tone, it said:
“Host, don’t mess this up.”
Tan Hua shut her mouth with a pout. “Fine.”
“But do you really think this whole scene won’t explode without my help?” she said with a sly smirk, like a cat that had just stolen something delicious. “Alphas are notoriously possessive. Just wait—these two might actually start fighting tonight.”
The system glanced nervously at Lu Huaixu, who was now staring emotionlessly at Zheng Jinyu. Its virtual vision dimmed in despair.
My sweet precious first-born and third-born… why must they fall out over a terrible woman like this?
“Yes, we know each other,” Zheng Jinyu answered calmly under Lu Huaixu’s questioning gaze. “She’s… a friend.” Then, turning the question around, she asked, “You two know each other as well?”
“Mhm.” Lu Huaixu responded with a nonchalant hum and nothing more.
Zheng Jinyu was clearly suspicious, but now wasn’t the time to dig. She pulled out a chair and sat down right beside Tan Hua. Lu Huaixu’s eyes darkened for a brief moment, but the change in her expression was so fast, it could’ve been a trick of the light.
Crossing her legs gracefully, Zheng Jinyu turned to Lu Huaixu. “I came to speak with you about something.”
As she spoke, her gaze flicked to Tan Hua, who was staring longingly at the table full of food. She looked torn, as if desperately hungry but too hesitant to act.
Zheng Jinyu’s eyes landed on Tan Hua’s twitching fingers and couldn’t help saying, “If you’re hungry, eat. Don’t be shy.”
Lu Huaixu raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zheng Jinyu. She expected Tan Hua to keep up the tough act. But the moment Zheng Jinyu gave permission, Tan Hua immediately picked up her chopsticks and piled several pieces of meat into her bowl, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Lu Huaixu: “…”
She stared hard at Tan Hua, who was now eating like a starving cat who’d just been handed a feast.
Tan Hua had wanted to keep playing it cool, but after dancing, performing, and being dragged around all night, she was absolutely starving—dizzy, even. Right now, she felt like she could eat an entire cow and still have room for a sheep.
So when Zheng Jinyu offered her a way out, she took it without hesitation. She didn’t care who really “ran the house” between Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu. She just wanted food.
Whatever happens, I’m not letting myself go hungry.
Let Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu argue all they wanted. Feeding herself came first.
Seeing Tan Hua quietly eating, Zheng Jinyu relaxed. Then she looked at Lu Huaixu, her tone tinged with disapproval.
“She’s still just a young girl. Fragile. And you have her dressed like that, working for you in the middle of the night? Doesn’t that violate Omega protection protocols?”
Oh-ho? Tan Hua’s ears perked up immediately. Did Zheng Jinyu just lecture Lu Huaixu in the tone of a concerned guardian?
Her eyes darted between the two of them, curiosity written all over her face.
Lu Huaixu noticed her little sneak-peeks and gave a faint smile. “She volunteered. Don’t believe me? Ask her.”
Reclining slightly in her chair, Lu Huaixu looked relaxed and indifferent. Zheng Jinyu couldn’t help but glance at Tan Hua.
Tan Hua met her gaze without flinching. Calm and composed, she replied smoothly, “Just trying to make a living, that’s all.”
She put down her chopsticks and gave a dazzling smile. “Unless you want to support me, President Zheng?”
Zheng Jinyu frowned at the bite in her words. Tan Hua stopped eating, her smile never fading as she stared back—clearly waiting for a response.
Zheng Jinyu knew Tan Hua was provoking her on purpose but didn’t take the bait. Instead, she simply said, “I could.”
That response left Tan Hua speechless. She chose not to reply and returned to eating instead.
“You two go ahead and talk.”
Zheng Jinyu took her eyes off Tan Hua and turned back to Lu Huaixu. “Let’s talk somewhere else?”
Lu Huaixu didn’t object. The two of them got up and left the dining room, leaving Tan Hua behind to finish her meal in peace.
After a few more bites, Tan Hua turned to the housekeeper and asked, “Hey, what’s the relationship between Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu? Are they related or something?”
The housekeeper gave her a glance but said nothing.
Tan Hua wasn’t the least bit bothered by getting brushed off. She quickly filled her stomach and finally felt like she’d come back to life.
She pulled on the coat Zheng Jinyu had draped over her earlier. It carried a faint floral scent—soft, lingering, and tender, just like Zheng Jinyu herself.
Zheng Jinyu had a gentle, nurturing warmth. Compared to the cold, hard-edged Lu Huaixu, she was the complete opposite—an entirely different kind of allure.
As Tan Hua sipped the hot water the housekeeper handed her, she whispered to the system, “So… what do you think they’re talking about? What kind of world-shaking secret is so serious that I can’t be in the room for it?”
The system replied flatly, “Go ask them.”
“…Forget it.”
Tan Hua took another sip, narrowed her eyes, and after a moment of delayed realization, asked, “Wait… is this the person you brought to ‘rescue’ me?”
The system was caught off guard. “What?”
“Zheng Jinyu.” Tan Hua gave the system a tight, fake smile, staring at it while it guiltily looked away. “She’s your brilliant idea of a savior?”
“Yes, Host,” the system said, stiffly mimicking her usual habit of lying with a straight face. “Zheng Jinyu has some history with Lu Huaixu. She’s someone who can say the things you can’t, and her status is special enough that Lu Huaixu would probably cut you some slack out of respect.”
“Right, Host? Right?”
Right your face. Tan Hua took a slow sip of her water. If she hadn’t reacted quickly tonight, she probably would’ve gotten herself into a huge mess on her second day in this world.
She narrowed her eyes at the system, suspicion sharp in her gaze. She was almost certain it had set her up—but she didn’t have proof. Still, where there’s a scheme, there’s a countermeasure. She cast a meaningful glance at the still-unrepentant system and thought, This world is actually… kind of thrilling.
One twist after another—what a wild ride.
The system, sensing her shifting mood, suddenly realized—Oh no. Not only did my plan fail, it backfired.
What a disaster.
Not long after, Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu returned from their private conversation. Zheng Jinyu’s expression softened when she saw Tan Hua still wearing her coat.
“Had enough to eat?”
Her voice was as gentle as ever—so gentle it was almost dangerous.
Tan Hua nodded. “I’m full.” Then she turned to Lu Huaixu and smiled sweetly. “President Lu, time’s up. Don’t forget to transfer the payment.”
“Two and a half million. Not a penny less,” she reminded with a bright, cheeky smile.
Before Lu Huaixu could reply, Zheng Jinyu had already turned her head sharply, eyes wide in disbelief—her expression practically shouting, What the hell did you do to deserve millions in one night?!
Lu Huaixu remained perfectly calm. “Got it.”
Satisfied, Tan Hua blew her a flirty kiss. “If you need me again, you know where to find me.”
“Later. Bye-bye.” She took her belongings from the housekeeper, didn’t even glance at Zheng Jinyu, and wrapped the coat tighter around herself as she walked toward the door.
Zheng Jinyu snapped out of her daze and turned to Lu Huaixu. After a brief word, she hurried out after Tan Hua and grabbed her by the arm. “What were you doing at Lu Huaixu’s place tonight?”
Tan Hua glanced down at the hand gripping her wrist and replied pointedly, “Why don’t you ask her what she did to me?”
A now-familiar jolt of electricity shot through her—thanks to the system. Tan Hua swore under her breath. Her smirk almost faltered.
Zheng Jinyu hadn’t wanted to jump to conclusions. But after that remark, her thoughts ran wild, and she couldn’t stop them.
“Lu Huaixu touched you?” she asked slowly, every word deliberate.
“What’s it to you?” Tan Hua frowned, clearly annoyed. Her expression stung Zheng Jinyu more than she expected. She wasn’t sure why—she was usually calm and composed—but something about this made her snap. Her grip tightened until her nails nearly dug into Tan Hua’s soft skin.
“She touched you?” Zheng Jinyu asked again, her voice low and firm.
“Tell me, Hua Hua,” she said quietly, almost pleading.