After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, the Movie Queen Just Wants to Pamper Her Wife (LILY, ABO) - Chapter 13

“Mm, Sister Jiang likes me,” Xi Xiaoyan said without hesitation. “But I don’t like her.”

That kind of blunt honesty left people unsure whether to admire her boldness or be speechless by it.

Then again, if she really had feelings for Jiang Tianyang, she wouldn’t have married that scumbag A.

Meng Chuwu fell silent.

“Sister Wu is jealous,” Xi Xiaoyan said softly while stroking Axi.

Meng Chuwu didn’t respond. Instead, she started the car.

“I can’t stop others from liking me, right?” Xi Xiaoyan added casually.

“You can’t, but you can choose not to call her Sister Jiang. You can also choose not to smile at her like that, so sweetly.”

Meng Chuwu played along with her teasing.

Xi Xiaoyan lowered her head and smiled foolishly. In her heart, she thought, Sister Wu really is possessive.

That night, as usual, Xi Xiaoyan flirted endlessly with Meng Chuwu. It took a lot of effort before Meng Chuwu finally got her to sleep.

After making sure Xi Xiaoyan was sound asleep, Meng Chuwu walked alone to the garden. In her heart, she softly called out, “Axi.” In an instant, Athena appeared beside her.

Just like the night before, they sat on the white flower-covered swing.

“Earlier you said I was doomed. What did you mean?” Meng Chuwu asked directly. The question had been bothering her all night.

“Why are you asking something you already know?” The cat’s voice sounded discouraged.

“Can you explain a bit more clearly?”

“To explain it fully, the will of the original novel is very strong. You saw it for yourself. Jiang Tianyang, who wasn’t supposed to appear until after the first three chapters, showed up early. She’s hesitating to sign the contract. That means you probably triggered the hard mode storyline.”

“Is hard mode better than death mode?”

“Meng Chuwu, are you always this optimistic?”

“Tell me what it takes to sign the contract. What do I have to give up?”

“So you’re considering signing with me?”

“Axi, don’t you think you should first explain what the Scumbag A Redemption System really is, and what the contract involves?”

“There’s no price, really. This is a novel purification system managed by the Transmigration Bureau. I’m just a temporary worker sent into the book to complete tasks. You’re a good match for the system. You have the potential to change everything, so we chose you as a partner. Even though I go by the name Scumbag A Redemption System, I still need your help to complete the mission.

“We’ll work together to shift the story toward something healthier and more positive. Once that’s done, you’ll get to stay in this world, and I’ll return to where I came from. But I can only send you the full details after you agree to sign the contract.”

“I see.” Meng Chuwu still felt cautious and couldn’t bring herself to fully trust this mysterious folded-ear cat. “Can’t you at least give me a little preview?”

“Just grow old together with Xi Xiaoyan. That’s all.”

“Then wouldn’t that mean you have to wait until I die before the mission is complete?”

“A lifetime inside a book is just the time it takes to read a novel for someone from the Transmigration Bureau. Don’t worry about me. You should worry about yourself. The story hasn’t gone completely off track yet. Make your decision soon.”

“I don’t understand. Why does Xi Xiaoyan love Scumbag A so completely?”

“Meng Chuwu, try remembering how Scumbag A acted after meeting Xi Xiaoyan.”

Meng Chuwu fell silent. She remembered how, not long ago, at the premiere of her new movie, Scumbag A had seen Xi Xiaoyan for the first time. After that, she completely turned her life around to win her over. She became a perfect girlfriend. She stopped partying, cut ties with her bad friends, and focused all her attention on Xi Xiaoyan. Her entire heart was devoted to her.

Xi had once said that her father had a cruel subordinate who used to beat her just to control her.

To win her trust, Scumbag A spent money to hire a private investigator and dig up the man’s secrets. She used that information to threaten him and, with the help of a police officer friend, rescued Chen Lanying, who had been tortured almost beyond recognition.

Later, that man went around spreading rumors, saying that Scumbag A only wanted his daughter for her looks.

Ever since meeting Xi Xiaoyan, Scumbag A had completely changed.

“Even so, the internet is full of gossip and scandals about Scumbag A. There’s no way Xi Xiaoyan doesn’t know about that, right?”

“Sorry, I can’t answer that. The system can only communicate with the chosen partner. As for why Xi Xiaoyan loves Scumbag A so much, you’ll have to figure that out for yourself. It’s not that hard to guess, is it? Most love is blind. Do you really need a reason to like someone? You’ve read the novel. You already know that Scumbag A is really good at making people feel happy. Plus, she’s attractive and has good qualities on paper.”

“Living the rest of my life with someone who loves someone else is just too painful.” The image of Xi Xiaoyan’s radiant face appeared clearly in Meng Chuwu’s mind.

“What do you mean, someone else? You are the same person. Right now, Scumbag A’s dark side hasn’t been revealed to Xi Xiaoyan. You can carry on her bright side and suppress the flaws. Let Xi fall in love with you naturally.

“Xi Xiaoyan’s love for Scumbag A runs deep. The deeper her love is now, the more painful the heartbreak will be later. You have the power and the opportunity to stop her from suffering both physically and emotionally. Signing the contract and working with me to purify these novel benefits everyone.

“You’ve read the book. You know what happens to Xi Xiaoyan after Scumbag A disappears from the story.”

Meng Chuwu quickly interrupted Axi.
“I haven’t actually read the part after Scumbag A exits the story.”

“Do you remember what I told you last night? That Xi Xiaoyan was affected by this relationship for the rest of her life? The tone of the later chapters becomes very dark. After Scumbag A disappears, even though Xi Xiaoyan is surrounded by excellent suitors and even tries to start over, every attempt ends in failure. The same tragic cycle repeats itself. Every new relationship starts in a rush and ends just as abruptly. The author explains that her inability to love again is the permanent scar Scumbag A left behind.”

“You make it sound like I have no choice but to sign the contract with you.”

“You do have a choice. The story before the starting point of the novel, meaning Scumbag A’s past, is part of the main character’s memories. The Transmigration Bureau has no authority to reset that. If you truly cannot accept her past and choose not to cooperate with us, the Bureau might have to lock the book. That means the world inside the novel will pause until the author decides to continue writing or until we find someone else.”

“What if I insist on leaving Xi Xiaoyan?”

“How can you still be thinking about separation? Divorcing Xi Xiaoyan would be the same as failing this collaboration. You already know how much Xi Xiaoyan loves Scumbag A. She values feelings deeply. Any sign of you falling out of love would hurt her badly. Doing that would trigger the author’s original storyline again, and you would quickly end up as cannon fodder.”

“As long as I haven’t signed the contract, I haven’t truly merged with Scumbag A. The plot shouldn’t be able to control me.” Meng Chuwu knew she had no real options left. Her heart was already wavering, but she still didn’t know what exactly she was holding out for or what she was trying to reject.

“You really are the kind of person who won’t stop until you hit rock bottom. I warn you, don’t keep pushing your luck. You’ve already died once. If you want to survive a little longer, the only way is to merge with Scumbag A and devote yourself to loving your wife.”

Athena, clearly upset, disappeared without another word.

Meng Chuwu remained unaffected by Axi’s sudden departure.

But the cat’s final sentence kept echoing in her mind.

To die with dignity or to live by loving someone else’s wife, both weighed heavily on the heart.

Was it really possible to carry on Scumbag A’s better qualities and make Xi Xiaoyan fall in love with her?

In Meng Chuwu’s eyes, Xi Xiaoyan was absolutely someone worth cherishing. She thought of what Xi had said before falling asleep:
“Hold me all night. Tomorrow, I want to wake up still in Sister Wu’s arms.”

She smiled to herself. This girl was certainly clingy.

Since transmigrating into the novel, she hadn’t behaved like Scumbag A at all. She wasn’t smooth-talking or flirtatious. That contrast must have been obvious to Xi Xiaoyan by now.

But no matter what, she was still Sister Wu in Xi Xiaoyan’s eyes.

Meng Chuwu had to admit that Axi had a point. Maybe she could truly become Xi Xiaoyan’s Sister Wu. With her own kindness and warmth, combined with Xi’s deep love for Scumbag A, perhaps she really could protect this delicate girl from a future of heartbreak and suffering. That in itself would be a meaningful goal.

She would sign the contract. Survival came first. Once she had mentally prepared herself, she would seek out Axi and sign the agreement. Everything else could wait until she adjusted to this world.

Originally, Meng Chuwu thought it would take her a few more days of struggling to come to this decision. But what happened the next day made her realize she couldn’t afford to delay any longer.

The plot had already started to turn dangerous.