"After Becoming the Protagonist's Scumbag Alpha Ex-Wife" (ABO) - Chapter 7

A’Mei turned to check on Rou Rou while Qin Ran stepped outside, where the cold winter air bit at her skin and made her shiver.

It really was freezing out.

The snow in the villa’s garden had already been cleared by the groundskeepers, leaving behind a bare, bleak winter landscape. From not far off, the flower conservatory stood in stark contrast—vibrant with color, blooming with life. But then, a loud crash echoed from inside.

Qin Ran’s gaze sharpened. Even just hearing that sound gave her a sense of the chaos within.

The one living in the flower conservatory was none other than Wen Qingyun—Qin Ran’s wife, legally speaking.

Back when Old Master Wen was still around, he had taken Wen Qingyun to see the best neurologists and psychiatrists. Multiple specialists had diagnosed her with irreversible brain damage that affected both her physical and mental health, concluding that she would need lifelong care.

While the old man was alive, Wen Qingyun’s life was relatively peaceful. Even when she had episodes, there was always someone there to comfort her. But ever since he had suffered a stroke and became bedridden, things fell apart. The loyal old butler was dismissed, and on top of that, “Qin Ran” had tried to force a divorce, even going so far as to use their daughter as leverage. That had only made Wen Qingyun’s “condition” worse—her episodes became more frequent and more intense.

Everyone said Wen Qingyun was mentally unstable, maybe even insane. But Qin Ran, thanks to her knowledge of the original plot, knew the truth—Wen Qingyun wasn’t crazy at all. Her mind was sharper than anyone’s.

She was a genius at mental arithmetic, capable of memorizing complex academic texts in mere minutes, word for word. She could master a foreign language in a week or two. But her towering intellect came at a cost—language impairment, poor motor coordination, and sometimes, an inability to control her emotions or body.

Her so-called “episodes” were just moments when she got lost in her own world and couldn’t manage her emotions.

Later in the story, it would be revealed that Wen Qingyun suffered from a rare acquired form of savant syndrome.

(*Savant syndrome is a phenomenon where someone demonstrates exceptional aptitude in one domain, such as art or mathematics, despite significant social or intellectual impairment.)

When the Wen family’s old butler was still around, he had helped Wen Qingyun submit a few academic papers. They hadn’t received any responses yet, but once those papers were reviewed and verified, Wen Qingyun would be hailed as a national treasure in the biomedical field. And when that day came, she would have the full support of the state behind her.

Qin Ran didn’t even want to think that far ahead. She needed to change Wen Qingyun’s opinion of her fast.

If not, the moment Wen Qingyun gained recognition, it would also be the moment Qin Ran faced her vengeance.

Right now, Wen Qingyun was staying in the flower conservatory without access to lab equipment. She probably wasn’t carrying any hazardous viruses or experimental fungi—like the kind that could melt your skin, make your hair fall out, or your teeth drop. Probably.

Qin Ran inhaled deeply to steady herself and knocked on the door.

The crashing sounds inside stopped.

Knowing Wen Qingyun couldn’t speak, Qin Ran didn’t wait for a verbal reply.

“It’s me—Qin Ran. I’d like to come in and talk,” she said gently. After a short pause with no response, she opened the door herself.

Even knowing her condition, Qin Ran still found herself stunned at the sight of Wen Qingyun.

She stood barefoot in a loose white loungewear set, her long hair was tangled and unkempt, her complexion was pale and bloodless, with dark circles under her eyes. No makeup, no signs of care. And yet—her delicate features were still breathtaking. When her dark, sharply defined eyes turned toward Qin Ran, they were ghostly, almost haunting—like a spirit out of a tragic tale, both beautiful and terrifying.

Qin Ran was awestruck, but also deeply unsettled.

How was she supposed to talk to someone like this?

Was Wen Qingyun here to haunt her or what?

Before she could move, Wen Qingyun walked straight toward her—and then, suddenly, collapsed with a loud thud.

Qin Ran winced at the sound of bone hitting the floor.

Wen Qingyun still couldn’t walk properly—her body just wouldn’t cooperate. She fell frequently.

She tried to push herself up but couldn’t lift her own weight.

Qin Ran sighed inwardly and stepped forward to help her up. She bent down and had just barely touched her arm when Wen Qingyun, looking frail just moments ago, suddenly lunged at her with surprising force, knocking her flat on her back.

At the same time, a pair of thin hands clamped around Qin Ran’s neck.

The grip wasn’t all that strong, but the nails were long and dug sharply into her skin. Qin Ran looked up at the woman now sprawled over her, hair cascading down like a curtain, and her heart nearly stopped.

Wen Qingyun’s face was turned red and her bloodshot eyes were burning with hatred. It was so intense and practically tangible.

Qin Ran quickly grabbed her wrists. They were so thin and fragile, practically just bone. Qin Ran was genuinely afraid they’d snap if she applied too much force.

A strange wave of emotion surged up in her—a sorrow that couldn’t be put into words. It wasn’t romantic or sentimental, just a fundamental kind of pity that an alpha might feel toward a wounded omega.

“Wen Qingyun, please don’t get upset. I promise—I won’t hurt you or Rou Rou,” Qin Ran said softly, trying to sound as soothing as possible.

But Wen Qingyun’s fingers curled like claws and her body was struggling violently. It was clear that she didn’t believe a word Qin Ran was saying. Her ragged breathing grew heavier and her actions were filled with desperate intensity—as if she truly wanted to kill her.

Qin Ran was suddenly very thankful that the old butler had once worried about Wen Qingyun’s safety—and had removed anything sharp or dangerous things from the conservatory. Even the utensils used for meals were made of shatterproof material. No chopsticks, no forks, nothing that could be turned into a weapon.

If Wen Qingyun had even a metal fork right now, Qin Ran was sure she’d be lying in a pool of bl00d now.

“Wen Qingyun, calm down. I know what I did before was horrible—I was wrong. I won’t do it again. I just want to talk to you. Can you hear me?” Qin Ran continued, trying to pacify the situation. She released a faint trace of her pheromones, hoping it might help soothe Wen Qingyun.

Omegas were extremely sensitive to alpha pheromones.

Usually, when an alpha released pheromones toward an omega without a romantic relationship, it came off as aggressive and invasive—often deeply uncomfortable.

High-ranking alphas could even force a low-ranking omega into an early heat.

But emotional therapy alphas were different. Their pheromones had a gentler chemical composition, and more importantly, they had superior control over their glands. Even outside of rut, they could release calming, non-aggressive pheromones—soothing without provoking discomfort.

The better their control, the higher their certification level as a therapeutic alpha.

Every omega responded differently to pheromones. Some didn’t react to certain types at all. That’s why emotional therapists often started with a small “test release,” like an allergy test—gauging the reaction before slowly increasing the intensity if it helped.

The pheromones Qin Ran released toward Wen Qingyun were purely to soothe the mind—gentle and almost scentless.

Wen Qingyun was still struggling, and since she couldn’t speak, Qin Ran wasn’t sure whether the pheromones weren’t working or if she simply hadn’t released enough. Just as she was about to ask, Wen Qingyun’s movements suddenly halted. Her body went weak and collapsed onto ’s and Qin Ranher cheeks were pressing into Qin Ran’s neck, motionless.

Qin Ran felt the heat of Wen Qingyun’s body—noticeably hotter than normal—pressed against her, especially at her face and chest.

Both of them were dressed lightly, and with Wen Qingyun lying on top of her, their chests pressed together. Qin Ran’s face flushed instantly with embarrassment.

Though Wen Qingyun was slender, she was surprisingly well-developed in that area—more so than Qin Ran herself.

“Wen Qingyun?” Qin Ran quickly placed her hands on her shoulders and gently lifted her up.

But there was no response. Her head drooped weakly and eyes were tightly shut. The fierce, menacing expression from earlier had completely vanished. What was left was pale and sickly, delicate and heartbreaking woman—like she had become a completely different person.

Qin Ran realized she’d fainted. Carefully supporting her upright, she checked her breathing—still steady—but her forehead was warm. She was clearly running a fever.

Looking around, Qin Ran noted how simple the room was. Bare, really. Aside from a bed, there were only some piles of books arranged by the old butler before he’d been dismissed. The amenities hadn’t kept up with Wen Qingyun’s needs. Though there was an air conditioner, it wasn’t warm enough, and the floor was icy cold—no underfloor heating.

This place had originally been a storeroom and a breakroom for the gardeners. Back then, the original Qin Ran had used Wen Qingyun’s “madness” as an excuse to throw her out—claiming that she was dangerous to Rou Rou—and forced her to move out, cutting off contact with her daughter completely.

Qin Ran grabbed the blanket from the bed and wrapped it around Wen Qingyun, then gently picked her up.

If she wanted to improve Wen Qingyun’s favorability, she’d have to start by taking her back into the main house—and letting her see Rou Rou again.

It was Qin Ran’s first time carrying an adult female omega. She hadn’t expected her to be this light. Even bundled in the blanket, she felt lighter than Rou Rou.

Qin Ran carried Wen Qingyun into the villa’s main hall. Knowing A’Mei was still with Rou Rou, she didn’t call for her anymore. Looking around, she spotted a maid who had been working with A’Mei earlier.

“A’Fang, call the family doctor—have him come immediately,” Qin Ran instructed.

The maid was surprised but quickly nodded and went to the landline in the living room to make the call.

As Qin Ran carried Wen Qingyun upstairs, she didn’t notice that the maid who had just placed the call was glancing up at them with a flicker of something in her eyes. Then, she lowered her head and quietly sent a message on her own phone.

Qin Ran brought Wen Qingyun into her old room on the second floor.

This room was still simply furnished, but compared to the conservatory, it was much more spacious, well-lit, and warm. The large, plush bed looked far more comfortable.

She gently placed Wen Qingyun on the bed.

Wen Qingyun curled up into a tight ball, her brows furrowed in discomfort and her face looked sad—like she was caught in a nightmare.

Qin Ran felt something twist in her chest.

The fearsome omega who had attacked her moments ago—the one she had thought of as a boss-level final boss—now looked like a fragile, abandoned kitten.

Qin Ran released a slightly stronger wave of pheromones, hoping to ease Wen Qingyun’s distress. But instead, Wen Qingyun’s brows knitted even tighter. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye.

She was an omega—but much more emotionally complex. She wasn’t like Rou Rou, who could be soothed so easily.

Qin Ran didn’t dare release her pheromones any more. She turned on the air exchanger to purify the surrounding air. As the scent of her pheromones faded, Wen Qingyun’s tense expression gradually relaxed.

Qin Ran was stunned.

Wen Qingyun was unconscious now. She couldn’t see Qin Ran, and this reaction was purely instinctive. Did that mean Qin Ran’s pheromones couldn’t soothe her?

Maybe it was because the original Qin Ran’s pheromones were similar to hers—and Wen Qingyun had developed a strong trauma response to that scent. So now, anything similar triggered a deep, primal rejection?

Or maybe it was simply that not enough time had passed since she transmigrated—maybe her bloodstream still carried the chemical traces of the original owner’s scent, giving her pheromones an aggressive edge. Even the slightest amount could be overwhelming to a sensitive omega.

Qin Ran frowned in thought. If just seeing her would make Wen Qingyun angry and made her want to kill her, raising her favorability score was going to be a difficult task.

She needed to come up with a new strategy.