After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Slave to My Beloved Wife (GL) - Chapter 15

As soon as Jiang Nian got off the plane, she rushed straight back to the seaside villa. She had already messaged Jiang Fenyun, instructing the PR team to take down the trending topics.

But simply removing the headlines wasn’t enough. What Jiang Nian worried about most was Qiao Wenyu being ostracized or looked down on by the production crew.

Thankfully, when she arrived on set, she saw Jiang Fenyun staying close to Qiao Wenyu. The other guests also seemed genuinely concerned for her, comforting her and telling her not to overthink things.

Fortunately, filming was scheduled for the evening. Qiao Wenyu had been resting all day and appeared to be in relatively good shape.

“I’m fine, really. You don’t need to worry,” Qiao Wenyu reassured Jiang Nian, who looked visibly anxious.

Jiang Nian knelt in front of her, looking up with earnest eyes.
“Sis, if you’re still feeling even the slightest bit unwell, I’ll stay with you. I won’t let anyone take advantage of the situation. Don’t be scared—I’ll protect you.”

“It’s just an earlobe mark. Don’t worry. With so many people on set, nothing will happen again.”
Qiao Wenyu reached out, gently holding Jiang Nian’s hands and placing them on her knees.
“Xiao Nian, I… I was more afraid that you’d be upset.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was marked by another alpha. Even if it wasn’t a full mark, I worried that you’d feel uncomfortable. I know our relationship isn’t official or anything, but I still didn’t want to disgust you.”
Qiao Wenyu gave a bitter smile.
“If you can’t accept it, I’ll keep my distance.”

Hearing that, Jiang Nian’s heart ached. She leaned over and rested her head on Qiao Wenyu’s knees like a drenched little pup, her eyes fixed on her.
“Sis, how could you think that? I’m worried sick about you—I’d never not want to see you.”

Realizing she had gone too far, Qiao Wenyu reached back and gently stroked the soft, slightly curled strands of Jiang Nian’s dark hair.
“Sorry, Xiao Nian. I overthought it.”

She wasn’t intentionally pushing Jiang Nian away—it was just that she had long gotten used to treading carefully, used to trusting no one.

Jiang Nian smiled faintly.
“If you don’t want to film today, you can take the day off.”

But the shoot schedule was tight. Qiao Wenyu didn’t want to delay the team and politely declined, insisting she could finish today’s scenes.

The director, upon hearing she didn’t intend to pause filming, gave her a heartfelt gesture of gratitude with clasped hands.

“Everyone, start getting ready. Lighting crew, prep the prop lights on location—today we’re shooting a night scene. Makeup and styling, please be in position ASAP,” the director called out.
“Contestants, have dinner quickly and prepare for the evening shoot.”

This segment would form the first half of Episode 2 in the reality show Heartbeat Code. From the second and third episodes onward, the tasks were designed to gradually increase group interaction.

By the time the cast had finished dinner and gathered again, the sky had already darkened.

The director presented today’s mission, which was different from the usual format.
“Good evening, everyone. Today’s task is our Heartbeat Code Courage Challenge. Each pair will draw lots to determine the order of departure. You’re not allowed to carry any light sources—only the small candles provided by the crew. Here’s the route map. Please proceed to the grouping area.”

The courage challenge wasn’t just for fun—it was cleverly designed. The order of departure depended on each team’s performance in a squat challenge.

But it wasn’t a regular squat.

One person in the pair had to carry the other—either by princess carry or piggyback—and do as many squats as possible in one minute. The team with the highest number could choose their departure slot.

“What? I’m supposed to carry… her?” Jiang Fenyun was stunned when she heard the rules. She sized up Tong Yunyao—they were roughly the same height.

No matter who carried whom, it would be awkward.

The director stayed neutral.
“Alright, each team, get ready.”

“Director, can I swap who I carry?” Jiang Fenyun joked.

The director, seeing that the boss wasn’t thrilled with her CP partner, could only laugh awkwardly.
“President Jiang… you can choose to forfeit.”

“Forfeit. Definitely forfeit.”
Jiang Fenyun wasn’t fond of Tong Yunyao, and she certainly didn’t want physical contact with her.

Tong Yunyao didn’t object either. She quietly accepted the forfeit, though her eyes kept flicking toward Qiao Wenyu—dark irises filled with veiled calculation.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nian was preparing to lift Qiao Wenyu and was just about to ask for her permission—completely unaware that someone else in the room was watching them intently.

“Sis, let me carry you?” Jiang Nian offered, extending her hands.

Qiao Wenyu shook her head.
“You’re wearing heels. It’ll be hard to do squats like that.”

“I can manage—wait, hey! W-wait, what?!”
Jiang Nian froze in disbelief as Qiao Wenyu strode over, turned around, and crouched down. In one smooth motion, she hoisted Jiang Nian onto her back with practiced ease.

Qiao Wenyu stood up steadily, her legs strong and sure.

“Sis! Put me down—you’re not heavy?” Jiang Nian’s legs dangled as her high heels hovered just a few centimeters above the ground.

The director blew his whistle.
“Start!”

Before Jiang Nian could struggle free, Qiao Wenyu—dressed in sneakers—began doing squats with fluid precision. Each movement was deep and stable, rising and falling with perfect form.

Jiang Nian was taller than her, and every time Qiao Wenyu dipped low, her feet almost brushed the ground.

Watching this unfold, Jiang Fenyun laughed so hard she nearly lost her breath.
“Sis, you—haha! You look just like a dainty, delicate little omega wife being carried by her doting alpha!”

Jiang Nian’s face flushed crimson from neck to cheek. Embarrassed, and worried about the cameras capturing her expression, she buried her face into Qiao Wenyu’s shoulder.

In just one minute, Jiang Nian felt like she had lost every ounce of dignity she’d ever had.

She deeply regretted her decision to wear heels to yesterday’s meeting. If she hadn’t, she would’ve been the one carrying her sister—not the one getting carried.

After the director called time, the staff began tallying each team’s results.

Although Qiao Wenyu had decent strength and stamina for an omega, carrying an alpha who was half a head taller than herself proved difficult. Her squat count came in last place.

“You did amazing, Sis,” Jiang Nian said, still red-faced, but unhesitant in her praise. She rubbed her chin awkwardly.
“If I were wearing flats, we definitely would’ve come in first.”

“Oh… is that so?” Qiao Wenyu chuckled gently, still catching her breath.

Jiang Nian nodded earnestly.
“Of course! I’ll go switch shoes now and show you my true power.”

“It’s alright,” Qiao Wenyu replied with a warm smile.
“The courage challenge is about to start. Maybe next time, I’ll get to see just how strong Xiao Nian really is.”

Just as her face had returned to normal, Jiang Nian blushed all over again.

Heavens, why does she have to be so pretty… and that smile, even prettier!

“Xiao Nian? Xiao Nian?”
The crew was organizing the lineup for the courage challenge, but Qiao Wenyu had to call her several times before she snapped out of her daze.

“Yes, Sis?” Jiang Nian realized she had totally spaced out and hurried to refocus.

Their team was third in line to choose their route, and after discussing it, Jiang Nian and Qiao Wenyu agreed to go last.

Once all order slots were finalized, the challenge officially began.

Jiang Fenyun’s team went first, walking into the pitch-black woods with just a candle in hand. The flame’s faint glow was quickly swallowed by darkness.

“There’s not a single light…” Jiang Nian muttered, watching her friend disappear after just a few steps.

Qiao Wenyu looked at the shadows ahead without much concern.
“It’s fine. The candlelight should be enough.”

“Yeah… right.”
Jiang Nian forced herself to stay calm. Though she was a firm materialist, anything related to ghosts or the supernatural made her uneasy.

Teams entered at ten-minute intervals. By the time Jiang Nian and Qiao Wenyu stepped into the forest, the others were already long gone.

Dense leaves blocked all moonlight. The forest was suffocatingly dark, their candle barely illuminating a single step ahead.

Jiang Nian fought off her urge to bolt. She opened the map provided by the production crew and tried to study their route. The layout was complicated, designed for maximum horror. Filming would rely only on tracking drones, with camera crews capturing just the starting point.

They had to circle through the woods, descend from a cliff into a seaside cave, place their candle inside the cave, swap it for a flashlight, and return the way they came.

“Sis… it says here… the crew will have NPCs hiding along the way to scare us,” Jiang Nian gulped nervously.

In the overwhelming silence, her voice echoed faintly through the trees.

The sound of her own voice startled her.

Seeing Jiang Nian’s growing fear, Qiao Wenyu reached out and took her wrist.
“Let’s walk together. It’s too dark to go alone.”

A few hundred meters into the trail, Jiang Nian suddenly heard eerie sobbing from a woman nearby. Curious, she lifted her head—only to see a figure in red with long black hair standing directly ahead.

A “ghost.”

Jiang Nian didn’t scream. She didn’t move. She simply froze, brain completely short-circuited.

Qiao Wenyu realized it was one of the NPCs meant to block their path. She immediately grabbed Jiang Nian’s hand and bolted forward.

The ghost chased close behind, letting out bloodcurdling wails.

Jiang Nian thought they were moving too slowly. At this rate, they’d be caught. And being caught would be worse than death. So—

She suddenly turned and scooped Qiao Wenyu up, carrying her over her shoulder, and sprinted forward in heels like it was nothing.

Qiao Wenyu was stunned.
So Jiang Nian wasn’t bluffing… she really is that strong.

“Sis, I’m so scared! Say something!” Jiang Nian cried out as she ran.

The ghost was close behind, but after they rounded a corner, it vanished.

Jiang Nian looked back and saw no one. She finally let out a breath of relief—only to be met, in the very next second, by a gaping bloody face right in front of her.

Startled, she instinctively loosened her grip. Qiao Wenyu slipped from her shoulder.

As she fell, Jiang Nian lunged forward to catch her.

But just then, her heel was tripped by something—no doubt another NPC.

She fell forward, catching Qiao Wenyu protectively, cradling the back of her head.

They landed together—Jiang Nian on top.

Their lips were just a breath apart.

One tiny tilt, and they’d be kissing.