The Five Heartless Scumbag Alphas Turned Against Each Other Because Of Me - Chapter 24

The system couldn’t help but laugh out loud, showing no consideration whatsoever. Tan Hua, however, remained expressionless, quickly regaining her composure.
“What do I have to feel guilty about?” she said calmly. “If anything, it’s those three who should be uneasy.”

With practiced ease, Tan Hua tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The smile tugging at her lips was so charming, it was almost intoxicating.

The system paused, puzzled. “Wait… why would those three feel guilty?”

“We’re all suitors of Cheng Yuan,” Tan Hua replied, her crimson lips curling into a smile full of mischief and anticipation. “I’d wager they’ve all heard of each other, at least in passing. Now imagine—if one of them found out that another had secretly approached Cheng Yuan’s stand-in…”

“She wouldn’t let that golden opportunity to kick out a rival just slip away, would she?”

Tan Hua’s smile was bright and sweet. “And even if they aren’t aware of one another’s existence yet… on a sunny day like today, I’ll be kind enough to enlighten them.”

“After all, I am such a kind and honest person.”

Kind? Honest? The system fell silent. Host, do you even know the meaning of those words?

Watching Tan Hua stay calm and composed—even preparing to stir up drama in the face of an imminent disaster—the system could only feel a wave of hopelessness wash over it.
Isn’t there anyone who can rein her in?

Faced with Lu Huaixu’s deliberate provocation, Tan Hua remained unruffled. She turned with a smile to look at Zheng Jinyu and greeted her in a friendly tone:
“President Zheng, what a coincidence.”

Earlier, Zheng Jinyu had grown increasingly agitated over her inability to reach Tan Hua. Rationally, she knew she shouldn’t get involved anymore. But emotionally, she simply couldn’t turn a blind eye to this Omega.

After all, she had always been the one in the wrong. And with the Omega’s delicate disposition, Zheng Jinyu had feared that Tan Hua’s silence might be a call for help.

She had tried to contact her endlessly, but there was no response. In her anxiety, Zheng Jinyu had nearly called the police—only to unexpectedly run into Tan Hua here.

Her eyes scanned Tan Hua’s elegantly dressed figure: a cascade of silky black hair pinned up neatly, revealing the delicate whiteness of her nape. The cartoon-style suppressant patch clashed slightly with the seductive coolness of her evening gown, yet it only made her seem more obedient and endearing.

Tan Hua wore light makeup, yet she looked like a fresh and graceful lotus—soft, beautiful, and ethereal.

Zheng Jinyu found herself briefly dazed, only to be overwhelmed by an inexplicable wave of shame and frustration.
I was worried sick about her, couldn’t sleep a wink… and yet she completely ignored my messages and waltzed off to a party with another Alpha?

Her expression darkened at once.

Tan Hua glanced at her, confused by Zheng Jinyu’s sudden unhappiness—but she didn’t let it affect her mood. Maintaining her polite and composed smile, she asked considerately,
“President Zheng, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

There was a flicker of something that might have been grievance in Zheng Jinyu’s eyes.
“No,” she replied curtly.

Her gaze shifted to Lu Huaixu, who exuded cold elegance, and Sheng Yiheng, hands stuffed in her pockets, looking wild and unruly—but in truth, she was especially easy to fool.
“You just got here too?” she asked.

Sheng Yiheng nodded, steering the conversation back to its main course. Turning to Zheng Jinyu, she gestured toward Tan Hua with her chin.
“You two know each other?”

Zheng Jinyu hesitated, reluctant to answer.

If she admitted to knowing Tan Hua, wouldn’t it be impossible to hide the fact that she once mistook her for Cheng Yuan’s substitute—and even got legally married to her?

Sheng Yiheng might be easy to mislead, but someone sharp and meticulous like Lu Huaixu would definitely notice something was off.

As Zheng Jinyu faltered in silence, Tan Hua glanced over, then smiled sweetly.
“Of course we know each other. President Zheng is a prominent figure—she’s often featured in financial papers and news reports. How could I not recognize her?”

Her eyes sparkled with innocence and sincerity.
“I’m the kind of Omega whose eyes light up at the sight of money. I make it a point to know all the big names in the country.”

“Isn’t that right, President Sheng?”

Though Tan Hua’s voice was soft and sweet, almost coquettish, Sheng Yiheng couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something vaguely threatening in her words.

She stared at Tan Hua for a moment, then glanced at Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu. Sensing the tension, she wisely refrained from continuing the topic. The more you talk, the more likely you are to slip up—especially with cunning types like Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu around. If those two decided to join forces and expose her little secret—recruiting a stand-in to deceive Cheng Yuan—she’d be in real trouble.

So she smiled slightly and replied without hesitation, “You really do seem like that kind of person.”

Tan Hua’s smile twitched. Can we not kill the conversation like this?

She pursed her lips and shot Sheng Yiheng a disapproving glare—twice. Sheng Yiheng raised an eyebrow innocently, unfazed.

Looking at this tall, 190-centimeter CEO somehow giving off a soft and sweet aura, Tan Hua’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

“And what about you?” Zheng Jinyu looked at Sheng Yiheng, then at Tan Hua, clearly confused. “How did you two meet?”

“Oh, I just hired her as my new secretary,” Sheng Yiheng answered bluntly, seeing no need to hide it. “She’s working at my company now.”

There was no point in covering it up—these two could make a single call and probably find out the color of Tan Hua’s underwear today. Sheng Yiheng knew she couldn’t outplay them, so she didn’t even try.

It was a reasonable explanation—nothing suspicious on the surface—but deep down, Zheng Jinyu didn’t believe Tan Hua would so obediently go work at someone else’s company.

She had the urge to question her—Why not come work for me instead? That way, she could protect Tan Hua firsthand.

But after thinking it over, Zheng Jinyu kept the overly concerned words to herself. She couldn’t let Lu Huaixu get suspicious.

Sheng Yiheng caught the look of hesitation on Zheng Jinyu’s face and mentally noted her reaction. Rather than pressing her, she turned to Lu Huaixu and said with some surprise,
“I didn’t expect her to be with you.”

Narrowing her eyes slightly, she added meaningfully,
“After all, just last night, she called me saying she’d sprained her ankle and needed to go to the hospital.”

“And when I called her this morning to ask if she’d accompany me here, she turned me down.”

The implication was clear: Even I, her boss, couldn’t get her to show up—yet here she is with you, at your beck and call?

Faced with Sheng Yiheng’s suspicion and Zheng Jinyu’s probing gaze, Lu Huaixu remained as calm as ever—steady as a rock.

“She does some part-time work for me,” Lu Huaixu said coolly, as though she were explaining something entirely mundane.

“She comes from a very impoverished background, burdened with heavy debt. I’m just doing a bit of charity, helping an Omega in need and contributing to society.”

Tan Hua’s eyes widened in disbelief. “???”

What a load of high-sounding nonsense!

She almost wanted to applaud. Lu Huaixu’s ability to lie with a straight face was clearly on a higher level than her own.

She nodded in admiration and whispered to the system,
“I need to learn from her.”

System: “?!”
Please don’t.

This is not the kind of skill that’s going to help you. Learning everything indiscriminately will only bring disaster.

Zheng Jinyu, who knew the details of Tan Hua’s family background, didn’t question Lu Huaixu’s story.

But Sheng Yiheng, who only knew bits and pieces, glanced at Tan Hua in genuine surprise and asked hesitantly,
“Wait… your family’s really that poor?”

Clearly, the Alpha had misunderstood something—but Tan Hua didn’t mind. She immediately leaned into the role and began spinning her sob story.

“Yes,” she said with a tragic expression. “My parents are a mess—one drinks, the other gambles. They blew through all our savings and left us drowning in debt. Growing up, I never had enough to eat or wear. I was always starving—ribs practically poking through my back…”

Sheng Yiheng was speechless. You look perfectly well-nourished to me. Hard to believe you’ve ever gone hungry a day in your life.

Tan Hua had been tearfully reciting her tragic tale for a while before realizing no one was paying her any attention. Without missing a beat, she dropped the act and asked earnestly,
“President Sheng, since my family situation is so dire, would you be kind enough to give me a raise?”

She rubbed her hands together expectantly, her eyes fixed on Sheng Yiheng—only to see her turn to Lu Huaixu and Zheng Jinyu and say,
“Let’s go inside.”

Tan Hua: “?” Did she just ignore me?

She stood there fuming, teeth clenched, glaring at the three cold-hearted scoundrels.
“They’ll regret ignoring me. I’ll make sure of it!”

“What’s your plan?” The system opened one eye lazily. “You thinking of seducing a lucky Alpha on the spot to make them weep in regret?”

“…Not a bad idea,” Tan Hua considered seriously. “But honestly, I’ve already got my hands full with three. Adding another might be too much.”

She shook her head, abandoning the unrealistic fantasy.

“Female leads in Xianxia romances don’t say ‘can’t’!” the system encouraged enthusiastically. “You can do it, Host! Believe in yourself!”

Tan Hua: “?” That’s a ‘grandpa on the subway staring at his phone’ kind of response.

You’re just here to stir the pot, aren’t you?

Ignoring the trap the system was trying to set, Tan Hua quickly caught up with the three Alphas and, after some thought, chose to stand beside Lu Huaixu. Lu was rich and generous—at an event like this, naturally, she’d prefer to be the elegant accessory next to such a tall, impressive figure.

But Tan Hua immediately sensed the shift in the atmosphere. The moment she took her place next to Lu Huaixu, the number of hostile gazes thrown her way increased dramatically.

Understandable, really. A woman like Lu Huaixu—with power, wealth, and beauty—could tempt just about anyone, whether Omega, Beta, or Alpha.

“That’s why I must win her over,” Tan Hua concluded with conviction.

The system, having overheard this sudden change of heart, was speechless.
Wow. That was fast.

Since she was being paid, Tan Hua played her role diligently—like a loyal green leaf to Lu Huaixu’s noble tree, obedient and flattering in every detail. This made Lu Huaixu glance at her more than once.

Tan Hua maintained a polite smile, and when she noticed the repeated looks from Lu Huaixu, she batted her lashes and asked,
“Is something wrong, President Lu?”

“Nothing,” Lu Huaixu replied. Then after a beat, added, “You’re very clever.”

“But of course,” Tan Hua said, still smiling with poise. She subtly cast her words toward all three Alphas—including Sheng Yiheng and Zheng Jinyu—
“As long as the client pays well, even if she wants a star from the sky, I’ll find a way to get it for her.”

Lu Huaixu shot her a flat glance, Sheng Yiheng remained unmoved as always, but Zheng Jinyu lowered her head, deep in thought. Her thick lashes cast shadows that concealed whatever emotion flickered in her eyes.

Sensing a potential lead, Tan Hua immediately honed in on Zheng Jinyu and added suggestively,
“There’s nothing in this world that money can’t buy.”

“With enough money, even the most hollow illusion can become convincingly real.”

She left it at that. No need to push too hard—these seemingly aimless words would plant seeds of their own.

Tan Hua’s nonsensical chatter barely drew attention, just two random comments in a sea of cocktail chatter.

But she herself was gleefully focused, lifting her wine glass and watching Zheng Jinyu with a mischievous glint in her eye.
“I can’t wait to see her face when she takes the bait.”

The system, watching her laser-focused gaze, felt its temples pulse in alarm and quickly interrupted,
“Host, your bestie just arrived.”

“My bestie?” Tan Hua blinked in confusion. After a moment, a name emerged from the corners of her memory.
“Mu Wanyi?”

She lifted her head and glanced around. As expected, she quickly spotted the petite woman standing beside a tall, sharply dressed Alpha.

Her features were delicate, but her outfit was loud and over-the-top—like she had dug up everything of value from the bottom of her closet to flaunt her status and wealth.

With a subtle smile tugging at her red lips, Tan Hua turned back to Lu Huaixu and said,
“President Lu, I just saw my friend.”

Lu Huaixu didn’t cling to her. “Go ahead.”

She had been meaning to speak with Zheng Jinyu and Sheng Yiheng anyway, so Tan Hua’s departure came at the perfect time.

With permission granted, Tan Hua lifted her skirt slightly and dashed toward Mu Wanyi.
“Wanyi!” she called loudly.

Mu Wanyi turned instinctively at the sound of her name. But the moment she saw it was Tan Hua, her expression fell. She quickly tried to pretend she hadn’t noticed and started to turn away—only to be stopped by the Alpha beside her.
“Who’s that?” the Alpha asked.

“Just a friend,” Mu Wanyi replied dismissively, not even bothering to introduce Tan Hua properly. Her eyes locked on the girl walking toward her, who now carried a faint air of elegance and refinement. Her expression was a mix of disbelief and wariness.
When did Tan Hua get so rich?

That designer gown—latest couture from a top brand—wasn’t something a penniless Omega could casually afford.

“Which wealthy family is your friend from? Strange I’ve never heard you mention her before.”

Du Yunshuo narrowed his eyes, sizing up the cheerful, confident Omega making her way toward them.
“What’s her name? Introduce me later—I’d like to get to know her.”

Mu Wanyi’s already sour mood worsened. She had felt overshadowed the moment she saw Tan Hua. Now, hearing Du Yunshuo express interest in her only made it worse.

Her tone turned biting, trying to smear Tan Hua in hopes of killing Du Yunshuo’s curiosity.
“She’s not some heiress or anything.”

“She’s the daughter of a drunk and a gambling addict,” Mu Wanyi said maliciously. “Her family’s millions in debt—and they still haven’t paid it off.”

But Du Yunshuo didn’t quite believe her.

The woman approaching exuded elegance, with her refined features, graceful figure, and composed demeanor. She didn’t seem like someone from a struggling background.

He frowned slightly. Sensing this, Mu Wanyi quickly added,
“She used to be very close with a wealthy Alpha.”

She wasn’t lying—Tan Hua had indeed grown close to Zheng Jinyu. And after that relationship began, her lifestyle had upgraded dramatically, by at least two levels.

What Mu Wanyi couldn’t understand was how an Alpha like Zheng Jinyu could fall for an Omega like Tan Hua. Even though Zheng Jinyu eventually abandoned her, the entire affair still left Mu Wanyi feeling resentful and unbalanced.

“You two talk,” Du Yunshuo said with waning interest. “If there’s a chance, try to build a connection with the Alpha backing her.”

Mu Wanyi felt a sudden wave of impatience, though she hid it well.
“Got it.”

As soon as Tan Hua arrived, Du Yunshuo walked away.

“Who was that?” Tan Hua asked casually.

Mu Wanyi stared at her, momentarily speechless. How can you forget my own husband?
“My husband,” she said flatly.

She didn’t want to discuss Du Yunshuo anymore, so she changed the subject.
“What are you doing here?”

Tonight’s banquet was hosted by a well-known billionaire, with a guest list made up entirely of the rich and powerful. Someone like Tan Hua shouldn’t have been able to get in at all.

“Oh, I came with my boss,” Tan Hua replied breezily, then looked around and sighed in awe,
“Wow! So many beautiful Alphas here!”

Her voice wasn’t exactly loud, but it was certainly loud enough—nearby Alphas turned to look, their heated gazes sweeping across the space and even landing on the utterly uninvolved Mu Wanyi.

Mu Wanyi: “…” I should’ve known—nothing good ever comes from running into Tan Hua.

Embarrassed and self-conscious, she instinctively stepped back, trying to put some distance between them.

But Tan Hua quickly hooked her arm through hers and clung to her like an old friend.
“Wanyi, you’ve been in this circle for a while—come on, introduce me to a few people.”

Tan Hua’s eyes sparkled with excitement, shining like a hungry wolf sizing up fresh prey.

Mu Wanyi’s face twitched. Her first instinct was to refuse. Being seen in public with someone like Tan Hua would only make others assume she was the same kind of person.

“I don’t know anyone,” Mu Wanyi said coldly, brushing her off and reaching out to push her away—but Tan Hua didn’t budge.

Tan Hua had finally found someone to cling to. There was no way she was letting her go that easily.

Quick on her feet, she pointed at a random person and asked Mu Wanyi, “Who’s that?”

“She looks pretty classy.”

Mu Wanyi glanced over, then looked back at Tan Hua with a blank expression.
“That’s the CEO of Cheng Corporation and her wife.”

The female lead’s parents? Tan Hua perked up immediately, studying the pair intently.

Although Cheng Yuan had presented as an Omega, both her parents were solid Betas.

In this world, Alphas and Omegas made up only a small fraction of the population—Betas were by far the majority. Compared to the rare and often revered Alphas and Omegas, Betas were common, dependable, and the backbone of society.

While Alphas were born with advantages Betas and Omegas couldn’t match, and Omegas were precious and protected due to their rarity and fragility, Betas were the tireless workhorses—unremarkable yet essential.

That Cheng Yuan’s Beta parents had managed to stand out among billions and amass wealth and status said a lot about their talent and capability.

For Betas to climb to the level of the Chengs took effort beyond most people’s comprehension.

Which only made Tan Hua admire them more.

The female lead really is the female lead—even her parents are first-rate.

Tan Hua couldn’t help but let a trace of envy slip onto her face.
“How nice. I wish I had parents like that.”

Mu Wanyi’s eyelid twitched. No need to go that far. Sure, your parents are terrible, but you don’t need to go coveting someone else’s, do you?

If you were after someone’s husband or wife, I could understand… but their parents?!

Mu Wanyi felt her thoughts spiraling under Tan Hua’s influence. She quickly cut herself off and snapped sarcastically,
“Don’t waste your time. That’s never going to happen. Maybe if you do enough good deeds in this life, the King of Hell will grant you your wish in the next one.”

“Thank you, Wanyi,” Tan Hua replied, her expression deeply touched. “I didn’t expect you to care about my next life. I’m genuinely moved to tears.”

Mu Wanyi: “??” Is she mentally okay? That was clearly an insult—how did she not catch that?

Mu Wanyi felt like she’d punched a pillow—her words landing with a thud, accomplishing nothing but making her feel worse.

Her urge to distance herself from Tan Hua grew stronger by the second. She made up a flimsy excuse.
“I need to go find my husband. You go wander around by yourself.”

“I’ll come with you!” Tan Hua chimed in without hesitation.

Mu Wanyi’s expression was blank. “Do you really think that’s appropriate?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Tan Hua blinked innocently. “It’s been ages since I saw your husband. I mean, I’m already here—it would be rude not to say hello—”

She was mid-sentence when suddenly, her foot seemed to miss a step. Her body tilted and she tumbled straight toward the pool.

Mid-air, Tan Hua widened her eyes and glared at Mu Wanyi.
Did you just push me?!

Mu Wanyi was stunned. Then, realizing what had happened, she frantically gestured and explained,
“It wasn’t me! I swear, I didn’t push you!”

“System,” Tan Hua called out in despair as she braced for impact. “What’s going on?”

The system replied instantly,
“Plot development, Host. Every villainess has her downfall moment. Don’t panic—there are a lot of people here. Someone will jump in to save you.”

Tan Hua, with a metaphorical question mark floating over her head: “But I didn’t do anything villainous!”

I haven’t even seduced a single Alpha yet! This plot twist is so unreasonable!

Her sudden fall had frozen the crowd in stunned silence.

Tan Hua flailed weakly in the water, scanning the crowd instinctively for Lu Huaixu, Sheng Yiheng, or Zheng Jinyu.

And the moment she saw them—her heart nearly stopped.

All three of the powerful, elegant Alphas were seated on the nearby couch, watching her fall… but none of them had moved.

They didn’t so much as twitch—no sign they planned to help. Were they stunned, or did they just not care whether she lived or died?

Tan Hua’s heart turned cold. Her expression darkened in anguish.
“So I misjudged them after all…”

“I gave my heart to the wrong people!”

But just as she was drowning in indignation, the sound of a splash came from behind her.

Her heart leapt. Her eyes lit up.
Someone jumped in?!

She quickly turned to see which brave and kind Alpha had come to her rescue.

If they’re good-looking, offering myself in return wouldn’t be out of the question…

She turned, expectant—

Then froze. Her smile vanished.

“That’s… that’s the female lead’s mom?!”

She stared, stunned.
I’m in danger… and the first one to jump in after me is Cheng Yuan’s delicate-looking, gentle mother?!

Tan Hua (internally): I can’t believe it. Truly, I never saw this coming.
System (relieved): At least the female lead’s mom is already married… (wipes sweat)