After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance (GL) - Chapter 18

The next day started just like any other.

Before 8 a.m., members of the project team began arriving at the lab one after another.

This was a place full of people with real passion. No one needed to be pushed or supervised; everyone worked on their own initiative.

Jian Ya arrived early too.

She was never the type to procrastinate. Back in her previous life, during her startup days, she had pulled more all-nighters than she could count just to get projects delivered on time.

Her teammates from back then had jokingly called her a “devil boss.”

But the truth was, she never asked others to overwork. She just held herself to very high standards.

Last night, because of Shen Shuyi, she hadn’t stayed at the lab too late.

But after going home, the project still wasn’t finished, and her perfectionist tendencies kicked in. She barely slept at all.

So first thing this morning, the moment she arrived, Jian Ya opened her computer and went straight to work.

Her focused and intense working style shocked the other team members.

This newcomer wasn’t just hardworking—she was almost too intense, even more driven than they were.

Jiang Shuqi also came in early. She was normally one of the most diligent ones on the team, but as soon as she sat down, she heard rapid typing from Jian Ya’s station.

She reached out and touched the side of the computer. It was warm.

There was no way Jian Ya had just started.

“Whoa… Jian Ya, when did you get here?” Jiang Shuqi asked in surprise.

“I came in when the door opened,” Jian Ya replied without even turning around.

“That means you were here at six? You’re working way too hard,” Jiang Shuqi said, her eye twitching a little.

Jian Ya just smiled and didn’t say anything.

“Oh, I get it now,” Jiang Shuqi teased. “You’re still not giving up, huh? You know Professor Shen really likes people who are talented and hardworking, so you’re trying to impress her, aren’t you?”

That actually caught Jian Ya off guard.

She turned around, a little curious, and asked with a smile, “So that’s the kind of person Professor Shen likes?”

“Ha, don’t pretend you don’t know. I’ve got you figured out,” Jiang Shuqi said confidently. “You Alphas are all the same. But listen, I’m giving you a heads-up here. Yes, she does admire people like that, but that’s admiration, not attraction.”

Then, in a gossipy tone, she added, “Look, don’t you think Professor Qin Bai is amazing?”

Jian Ya glanced at Qin Bai, who was sitting nearby, and nodded.

By this world’s standards, Qin Bai was indeed an outstanding Alpha—smart, stable, and charming.

“Someone like Professor Qin chased after Professor Shen for over a year and still didn’t succeed. That should tell you something.”

That actually stunned Jian Ya.

“Professor Qin tried to pursue Professor Shen?” she asked, eyes wide.

That part wasn’t in the book.

“Oh, you got here late, so you probably didn’t hear about it,” Jiang Shuqi said. “Ask around. Everyone in the project team knows. I’m telling you this so you’ll keep your expectations in check. It’s totally fine to admire Professor Shen, but don’t fall too deep. She’s not someone you can easily win over.”

Jian Ya nodded in agreement.

“Still,” Jiang Shuqi went on, “I really wonder who she’s going to marry someday. For someone as incredible as her, her future partner must be amazing too. Otherwise, they’d have to be someone who saved the entire galaxy in a past life.”

Jian Ya nodded again.

But this time, it wasn’t because she agreed with the first part.

But it was the second part she agreed with. Whoever married Shen Shuyi must have saved the galaxy in their past life.

“Alright then. I won’t bother you anymore. Work hard.” Jiang Shuqi waved as she picked up her cup and headed to the break room.

As she entered, she looked up and saw the very person she had just been gossiping about—Professor Shen—standing by the sink.

Even though she hadn’t said anything bad, seeing Shen Shuyi right after talking about her still made her feel a little guilty.

She hurried to fill her cup, hoping to leave quickly.

But just as she reached out, she noticed a small white medicine bottle next to Shen Shuyi.

From the way she moved, it looked like she had just taken something from it.

Jiang Shuqi paused for a moment and asked instinctively, “Professor Shen, is that…?”

She pointed to the little bottle.

Shen Shuyi’s expression stayed calm. She picked up the bottle and tucked it into her bag as she replied, “Vitamins.”

“Oh, right.” Jiang Shuqi nodded without thinking much of it. In their line of work, with the pressure and long hours, it wasn’t unusual for people to take supplements. A lot of researchers had minor health issues from the stress, and taking vitamins was common.

After filling her cup, she gave them a cheerful smile. “Well, I’ll leave you two to chat. I’m heading back.”

Just as she turned to go, Shen Shuyi called out, “Shuqi.”

“Huh?” Jiang Shuqi stopped immediately.

“Could you go to my lounge? There’s a set of lab uniforms on my desk. Bring one to Jian Ya.”

Jiang Shuqi’s eyes lit up, a smile spreading across her face.

“Sure thing.”

She knew that if Professor Shen was willing to personally arrange a lab coat for Jian Ya, that meant she had accepted her.

And honestly, she felt genuinely happy for Jian Ya.

When she returned to the lab with the uniform, Jian Ya was still completely focused on her work.

Her expression was intense, eyes glued to the screen, every movement precise and serious.

Jiang Shuqi almost didn’t want to interrupt her.

But when her eyes shifted to where Li Lu sat at the head of the room, she smiled faintly. Then, keeping her voice light but loud enough to carry across the room, she said, “Jian Ya, guess what I’ve brought you?”

Jian Ya looked up and saw the brand-new lab coat in Jiang Shuqi’s hands.

“This is for me?” Jian Ya raised an eyebrow.

“Of course it is. Professor Shen picked it out herself and asked me to bring it to you from her lounge,” Jiang Shuqi said, putting emphasis on the words Professor Shen.

She wasn’t saying that for Jian Ya’s benefit. She said it so that Li Lu could hear.

She knew Li Lu well. She was strong-willed, didn’t like being questioned, and especially disliked when someone more capable than her stood out.

To be fair, Li Lu was the most skilled among them.

So even if people had complaints, no one dared say them out loud. They just put up with it.

But ever since Jian Ya arrived and started showing her talent, Jiang Shuqi could sense the subtle ways Li Lu was pushing back against her.

It didn’t sit right with her.

That was why she raised her voice now. She wanted Li Lu to hear it clearly—Jian Ya had earned Professor Shen’s trust. It would be better not to make things difficult for her.

As expected, when Li Lu heard that, she looked up at Jian Ya with obvious displeasure in her eyes.

Jian Ya didn’t notice the look. She stood up and asked again, “Professor Shen gave this to me herself?”

Her eyes were bright with a smile that couldn’t be hidden.