After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Slave to My Beloved Wife (GL) - Chapter 18

“Really…”

Hearing Qiao Wenyu say so earnestly that she liked someone made Jiang Nian feel deeply unsettled. It was even worse than hearing that Jiang Fenyun wanted to pursue her.

There was someone out there whom Qiao Wenyu loved—someone who had left on their own and never looked back.
Who did she think she was?

Noticing the change in Jiang Nian’s expression, Qiao Wenyu quickly shifted the topic.
“Xiao Nian, I have more important things to focus on now. Love or not—it’s all trivial. Don’t take it to heart.”

Jiang Nian forced a smile.
“Got it, Sis. I’ll head back to my room to rest. We’re going home tomorrow, so get some early sleep.”

It wasn’t exactly an argument, but they didn’t part on good terms. Especially Jiang Nian—she couldn’t understand the negative emotions bubbling inside her.
She didn’t like Qiao Wenyu… so why was she feeling jealous?

With that thought in mind, Jiang Nian resolved to reposition herself mentally. No more unnecessary thoughts about Qiao Wenyu.

Still, she wasn’t about to let just anyone get close to her. Especially not someone like Jiang Fenyun.

—

Over the following days, Heartbeat Code dominated trending searches—partly due to the revised prelude episode featuring the cast change, and partly due to the explosive video involving Tong Yunyao.

Netizens erupted with fury. Tong Yunyao’s accounts were bombarded and shut down, while Qiao Wenyu, once misunderstood, was now hailed as a “gentle-hearted beauty.” Her follower count surged by the millions.

As for Tong Yunyao, her punishment had only just begun.
Jiang Nian suggested to Jiang Fenyun that rather than banning or shelving her, they should continue giving her work—every resource she was promised, delivered in full.

TQ had disbanded. Qiao Wenyu was thriving thanks to public support.
Meanwhile, Tong Yunyao, now under constant surveillance by Jiang Fenyun, still had to attend events—only to be publicly shamed and humiliated by millions of viewers.

—

The weather was turning hot. Jiang Nian’s company was doing better than ever. She had nothing to complain about—except one thing: Jiang Fenyun’s relentless pursuit of Qiao Wenyu.

Over the past few months, Jiang Fenyun had been away on business trips, while Qiao Wenyu had ridden her momentum to guest on several shows and even pick up a few acting gigs.

But somehow, after that brief burst of attention, Qiao Wenyu’s fame started to fade again. Her resources dried up, and she returned to being a nameless little star.

Jiang Fenyun, upon hearing this after returning to the company, immediately booked a reservation at a luxury hotel—bringing a bouquet of roses and a folder of high-profile opportunities.

—

That evening, Jiang Nian picked Qiao Wenyu up on the way home. As they were driving, the car’s speaker rang out with Jiang Fenyun’s voice, inviting Qiao Wenyu to dinner.

Qiao Wenyu didn’t dare offend a boss and couldn’t refuse. After hanging up, she turned toward Jiang Nian and asked,
“Xiao Nian, you’re not upset, right? It’s just dinner.”

“Of course not, Sis. I’ll be home waiting like a good girl,” Jiang Nian replied with a sweet smile. “You haven’t had today’s pheromone treatment yet, remember?”

She had learned to play the perfect “supportive” housemate.
But in truth, Jiang Nian was screaming inside:
Please, Jiang Fenyun, just stay on your business trips forever!

You want to chase my sister? Absolutely not! I, Jiang Nian, do not approve of this engagement!

As soon as she heard the door close behind Qiao Wenyu, Jiang Nian sprang into action.

She rushed to her wardrobe. The original owner of her body had terrible taste—nothing but black dresses and suits.

After digging around, she managed to find a tracksuit. The fabric looked ancient. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was her old high school uniform.

Jiang Nian held up the clothes and thought for a moment.
Since she was about to do something as sneaky as spying, she needed a disguise. Something that would keep Qiao Wenyu from recognizing her.

This old uniform would have to do.

“Still missing something…”
She changed into the outfit and inspected herself in the mirror.

After a bit of pacing, she grabbed a pair of rimless glasses and a black face mask.

Perfect.

A sunny, cheerful, upright high school girl—
Jiang Nian couldn’t help but add a long string of flattering adjectives in front of “high school girl” as she admired her “brilliant” disguise.

—

Outfit secured, she hopped on the electric scooter her assistant had dropped off earlier and sped toward the luxury hotel Jiang Fenyun had mentioned on the phone.

Well—sped was a bit generous. The scooter maxed out at 40 km/h.
Despite going as fast as she could, she still arrived a bit late.

She parked by the roadside and headed toward the hotel’s main entrance—only to be greeted by an obnoxiously flashy pink sports car.
It had to be Jiang Fenyun’s. Who else would drive such a ridiculously modded vehicle?

Jiang Nian pulled her mask up tighter and slipped into the flow of foot traffic toward the door.

But just as she reached the entrance, a staff member stopped her.
They looked her up and down, clearly confused by her “schoolgirl” outfit.

Jiang Nian knew this hotel well. All the elite heirs in this part of town came here. It was one of only a handful of top-tier venues.

She raised a finger to her lips in a shhh gesture, then lowered her mask just enough to reveal part of her face. From her pocket, she pulled out a sleek black card and flashed it.

The concierge’s attitude changed instantly.
“Ah, Miss Jiang! I didn’t recognize you in that outfit. Please forgive me for my poor eyesight.”

Jiang Nian pulled her mask back up, laughing awkwardly.
“Just… handling a private matter.”

Jiang Nian knew this hotel well.
For the rich kids in this area, there were only a few upscale places worth going to—and this was one of them.

“Shhh…”
She pressed a finger to her mask, pulling it down slightly to reveal part of her face. She flashed a black VIP card at the concierge.

The staffer’s attitude flipped instantly.
“Oh! Miss Jiang, I didn’t recognize you in that outfit. Please forgive my oversight.”

Jiang Nian awkwardly tugged her mask back up.
“I’ve got… a bit of a special situation to handle.”

The concierge couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask… what kind of situation?”

Jiang Nian hesitated—then muttered the most awkward excuse she could think of:
“C-c-catching someone… cheating?”

“…What?”
The staff’s polite smile froze on his face. It was the first time he’d heard something so scandalous from a VIP.
“I see. Please, right this way.”

“Don’t tell anyone I was here. Got it?” Jiang Nian warned, crouching slightly as she made her way in.

“Of course, of course!”
The staff bowed behind her.
“I’ll notify the other shift staff to ensure you’re not disturbed.”

—

Thanks to the concierge’s help, Jiang Nian passed smoothly through the lobby and into the dining area. No one stopped her.

She scanned the restaurant—and quickly spotted Jiang Fenyun and Qiao Wenyu seated at a table near the window.

Back straight and head low, Jiang Nian quietly took the table directly behind theirs. She sat with her back to them, hiding behind a menu, pretending to browse dishes.

Perfect vantage point.
She wouldn’t be seen—and she could hear everything.

At the next table, Jiang Fenyun was resting her chin on her hand, sweet-talking Qiao Wenyu while introducing the dishes.

Qiao Wenyu responded politely, but her tone stayed neutral.

After a while, Jiang Fenyun put down her knife and fork and shifted the conversation toward resources.

“Wenyu, your visibility’s really dropped lately. If you don’t boost exposure soon, fans will forget you.”

“I know. But there’s nothing I can really do about that.”
Qiao Wenyu didn’t seem particularly concerned—her tone was calm, even uninterested.

Jiang Fenyun, like a peacock in full display, kept talking in vague flirtations.
Anyone with a brain could tell what she meant.

But Qiao Wenyu kept it surface-level. “Mm.” “Okay.” “Sounds good.”

Sitting behind them, Jiang Nian was having the time of her life.
She was practically grinning from ear to ear—barely holding in her laughter. Serves you right for hitting a wall, Jiang Fenyun.

Just as she thought her friend would finally give up—

She heard Jiang Fenyun’s chair scrape backward.

“Wenyu, I really like you,” she said, suddenly serious. “Would you be willing to… give us a try?”
As she spoke, she pulled out the bouquet of roses she’d prepared earlier and held them out across the table.
“I mean it.”

Jiang Nian nearly jumped out of her seat.

Nope. Absolutely not. Shut that mouth right now.

She pushed her chair back abruptly.
Jiang Fenyun’s chair was close—just a slight nudge, and it bumped right into her.

“Ow!” Jiang Fenyun stood up in surprise, her thigh knocking against the edge of the chair. The bouquet nearly slipped from her hands.

But it wasn’t enough to stop her.
She was still holding the flowers, still murmuring,
“I like you…”

That was it. Jiang Nian couldn’t take it anymore.

She shot up from her seat with a dramatic whoosh, pretending to head to the restroom.
As she passed by, she “accidentally” knocked into the wine glass in Jiang Fenyun’s hand.

Red wine spilled all over the table and splashed down her clothes.

“Hey! What the—”
Jiang Fenyun looked down, horrified. She turned to scold the person who bumped her—

But Jiang Nian was already bolting for the door.

She didn’t even look back. Her ponytail had come loose in her rush, and the hair tie fell to the floor.

Qiao Wenyu didn’t say a word.
She simply watched the “high school student” dash out the hotel doors.

There was something about that figure—something she couldn’t quite place.

Familiar.