The Five Heartless Scumbag Alphas Turned Against Each Other Because Of Me - Chapter 8
Wen Chuan gave a sweeping glance at the two trembling Alphas nearby, then shifted her eyes to Zheng Jinyu—the one who truly caught her attention.
This woman’s pheromones were powerful—gentle, yet undeniably dominant. She was at least on par with Wen Chuan herself in rank, maybe even stronger due to age and experience. Wen Chuan could feel her instincts being completely subdued in Zheng Jinyu’s presence.
But what confused her most was: how could such an exceptional Alpha… end up selling herself in a place like this?
A fleeting trace of bewilderment passed through her obsidian eyes, but she quickly refocused on Tan Hua.
“What she said… is it true?”
Tan Hua hesitated. She neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, she lazily tossed out,
“My personal business isn’t something I’m obligated to report to you, is it?”
Wen Chuan’s breath caught in her throat.
No—she had no right to expect that kind of answer. Still, the way Tan Hua sidestepped it so easily stung.
Irritated, she withdrew her hand and scoffed coldly.
“Who wants to manage your life? I just didn’t want to see you fall into a trap and get taken advantage of.”
So stubborn, Tan Hua thought, watching her with a half-smile.
Wen Chuan avoided her gaze, frustrated by Tan Hua’s refusal to acknowledge her concern—and even more furious at herself for caring in the first place.
Why should she worry about someone like her?
Tan Hua was clearly enjoying herself here, basking in luxury and attention. What did she need her concern for?
Besides—Tan Hua was just a stand-in for Sister Cheng Yuan.
Wen Chuan’s expression darkened, her face taut with tension. She didn’t look back again as she turned sharply and walked back toward her group of friends.
They were already looking curiously at the delicate Omega on the couch. Before anyone could say a word, Wen Chuan snapped—like someone guarding her private property.
“What are you looking at? Drink your damn drinks.”
The group quickly averted their eyes, shooting her aggrieved looks.
We just glanced once—no need to bite our heads off.
Tan Hua watched as Wen Chuan and her group left, her expression unchanged. She then turned back to Mu Wanyi, her lips curving into a soft smile.
“Wanyi.”
She said the name gently, sweetly—so harmless it almost seemed innocent.
But for some reason, Mu Wanyi felt a shiver run down her spine. Something about Tan Hua’s tone made her skin crawl with unease. It felt… threatening.
“You know me so well,” Tan Hua said with a beaming smile.
Mu Wanyi felt her hairs stand on end, her smile turning stiff. She laughed awkwardly.
“Of course. We’ve known each other for so many years.”
Tan Hua didn’t respond. She just stared at her meaningfully for a few seconds.
Mu Wanyi, flustered, grabbed her lemon water and took a long sip to mask her discomfort. Fortunately, Tan Hua didn’t press further. She dropped her gaze, and Mu Wanyi exhaled in relief.
But a beat later, she caught herself thinking:
Why am I afraid of her?
I’m the wife of a powerful Alpha executive. Why should I be intimidated by some broke, low-class Omega weighed down by gambling debts?
A flare of indignation rose in her chest. She turned, ready to confront Tan Hua—
Only to see her now flanked by two Alphas, chatting calmly and smiling. Meanwhile, Zheng Jinyu sat diagonally across, watching Mu Wanyi with an unsettling intensity.
Mu Wanyi’s breath hitched. She immediately dropped the idea of starting anything.
Once the unfamiliar Omegas quieted down, Zheng Jinyu averted her gaze from Mu Wanyi and focused back on Tan Hua. Her expression was thoughtful, scrutinizing.
There was something different about her tonight. So different that it felt like… she’d become a completely different person.
Though a part of her found it unfamiliar, Zheng Jinyu couldn’t deny the unexpected freshness of it.
She had worked with Tan Hua for nearly two years. In all that time, Zheng Jinyu had never developed any particular emotional attachment to her. In her eyes, Tan Hua was merely a stand-in—someone to satisfy her personal fantasies. Nothing more.
If she got bored of one substitute, she simply found another. It was never a problem.
Just like a few months ago—when she’d grown tired of Tan Hua’s petty drama and irrational tantrums, she’d ended their contract on the spot. Cold, clean, and absolute. No matter how much Tan Hua had cried, pleaded, or begged, Zheng Jinyu never once wavered.
A substitute needed to know her place. Those who overstepped—who foolishly tried to replace the original—deserved to be discarded.
And yet, even knowing full well that Tan Hua was scheming something tonight, Zheng Jinyu couldn’t seem to hate her for it.
Perhaps it was her new attitude—aloof, bold, unyielding. It stirred something in Zheng Jinyu. A rare flicker of interest.
Meanwhile, Tan Hua had no time to read Zheng Jinyu’s thoughts. She was too busy arguing with her system.
“Something doesn’t add up,” she muttered. “I said way worse things to Lu Huaixu and Wen Chuan before. Why didn’t the main system zap me then?”
“But now that I’m playing nice and following the rules, it suddenly decides I’m the problem?”
The system wanted to respond with What part of you is “playing nice”? But instead, it kept a straight face and listened attentively. After Tan Hua finished ranting, it finally offered,
“The punishment mechanism only activates when two or more target characters are present in the same scene.”
Tan Hua: “……So it’s a sneaky little bureaucrat AI.”
Just when I think I’m safe and free to do whatever I want, it waits until I drop my guard—and zaps me. Treacherous.
The system sighed internally. And whose fault is that? You practically destroyed the last world with how unhinged you were. If the main system didn’t put some safeguards in place, this entire ABO arc would go off the rails in no time.
Honestly, it understood why the main system had taken action. Still, it couldn’t help but feel bitter—it had been dragged into this punishment too.
Tan Hua took a deep breath and sipped from the glass of water one of the Alphas handed her. Her thoughts were already spinning.
“If this ‘Yang-xin Protocol’ only activates when two targets are present, then…”
“What if I just made sure every future scene is strictly one-on-one?”
Her eyes sparkled. A loophole.
She turned her gaze sharply to Zheng Jinyu, and the woman—caught off guard—met her eyes, confused.
“What is it?” Zheng Jinyu asked.
Tan Hua smiled sweetly, all innocent charm. But her words? Razor-sharp.
“President Zheng,” she said.
The system tensed. Oh no.
“You’re not really planning to just sit here all night watching me flirt with other Alphas, are you?”
She blinked those wide, innocent eyes.
“Wouldn’t that… taint all those precious little memories you’re still holding onto?”
The air temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.
Mu Wanyi rubbed the sudden goosebumps from her arms and instinctively edged away. What the hell is wrong with this woman tonight?!
Zheng Jinyu didn’t move. But her face had clearly darkened.
Good. Tan Hua smiled, knowing she’d hit her mark.
“Honestly, just watching me like this must be boring,” she continued politely. “Why don’t I call a couple Omega companions over for you too? It’s just chatting, nothing explicit or scandalous.”
She tilted her head playfully.
“What do you think?”
As soon as she said it, the air went silent—dead quiet. So quiet, even Mu Wanyi felt suffocated.
The system instinctively held its breath, counting the seconds in dread.
But… nothing happened.
No punishment. No jolt. No zapping.
Its eyes flew wide. Wait… it actually worked?
Did she really just glitch the system?!
Not being electrocuted by the main system gave it a slight sense of relief—but right after, its heart tightened again.
“…Host, mind your words.”
Look at how furious you’ve made Zheng Jinyu—her normally elegant and refined face has turned completely sullen!
The system shrank back in fright, while Tan Hua curiously observed Zheng Jinyu. After confirming that this wouldn’t trigger any punishment from the main system, she relaxed a little.
“President Zheng?” Zheng Jinyu kept her silence, holding back her anger, so Tan Hua called out to her, hoping to provoke some reaction. Unexpectedly, Zheng Jinyu stood up without a word. Instinctively, Tan Hua scooted closer to Mu Wanyi, her eyes cautious.
“President Zheng, please, we’re in public—mind your actions.”
The system: “……”
Zheng Jinyu was clearly enraged. Without sparing Tan Hua a single glance, she turned on her heel and left.
Reflexively, Tan Hua reached out to stop her, but Mu Wanyi quickly held her back.
Tan Hua turned to her in confusion. Mu Wanyi’s lips trembled slightly as she said,
“If she wants to go, let her go.”
The Alpha’s presence… was genuinely intimidating.
If she spent another moment around an Alpha like that, her fragile heart might shatter from the overwhelming tension.
Tan Hua raised her brows, suddenly enlightened.
“Oh, so you want to selfishly keep me all to yourself—I understand now.” She patted Mu Wanyi’s hand. “I understand everything.”
“We’ve known each other for so many years, and we’re so close. It’s only natural that you’d feel possessive of me.”
Mu Wanyi had to restrain the urge to roll her eyes.
You understand? My foot.
She pulled her hand away in disdain.
“Are you planning to settle down here tonight?” She leaned closer to Tan Hua, squinting. “If you have nowhere to go, I can reluctantly let you stay the night.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Tan Hua smiled faintly and pointed toward the two Alphas who had been shooed off to the side.
“Do you know how tragic their backgrounds are?”
Mu Wanyi: “?” She genuinely didn’t.
“One has a gambling father, a sick mother, and a younger brother in school. One is supporting all her siblings. One’s business failed and she’s deep in debt. Another suffered domestic abuse from her ex-husband and still owes money. One is divorced with a child and left the marriage with nothing… and so on and so forth.”
“They were all forced down this path. Now, as a proud successor of the 21st-century new era, tell me—shouldn’t I stay behind and try to save them?”
Mu Wanyi’s eyelid twitched: “……”
“You should try saving yourself first.” She sneered.
“You’re supposed to be at work by 7 a.m. tomorrow. Your office is in Chongyang District. You’re currently in Blue Lake District. Are you planning to wake up at 5 a.m. just to catch the bus?”
Tan Hua: “?”
She already had to play substitute for five Alphas in a single day—why did she have to get up so early for work too?!
“Host,” the system chimed in just in time to clarify,
“The CEO of your company is one of your target individuals—Sheng Yiheng.”
“You’re currently her newly hired assistant.”