After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance (GL) - Chapter 19

“Alright, alright, look at how happy you are. Hurry up and try it on.” Jiang Shuqi couldn’t help but laugh at how excited Jian Ya was.

It reminded her of her school days—back when her deskmate had a crush on a girl he called his “goddess.” If she so much as glanced at him, he’d be thrilled for days.

Jian Ya was acting exactly like that now.

Without saying much, Jian Ya took the brand-new lab coat from Jiang Shuqi and slipped it on.

It fit perfectly, like it had been custom-made just for her.

“How do I look?” Jian Ya raised an eyebrow, asking with a hint of confidence.

Though, judging by Jiang Shuqi’s stunned expression, she already knew the answer.

“You look amazing,” Jiang Shuqi said without hesitation. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, looked at Jian Ya for a few moments, then said seriously,
“Jian Ya, whatever you do, don’t wear that coat outside.”

“Huh?” Jian Ya was confused. She thought there might be some kind of hidden rule, so she asked, “Why not?”

“Because I’m afraid you’ll end up stealing girls’ hearts on the street,” Jiang Shuqi replied sincerely.

Jian Ya: “…”

She wasn’t even joking.

There was no denying it—Jian Ya was beautiful. The kind of beauty that pulled people in effortlessly.

She had naturally seductive eyes, and when she smiled, her whole face lit up. Anyone with a weak will could easily get lost in that smile.

And it wasn’t just a soft or quiet beauty—it had presence. It was bold and a little dangerous.

But now, wearing that white lab coat, it was like a filter had been placed over her charm.

That boldness was toned down, replaced with a sense of calm and professionalism.

Still, the quiet confidence and allure she gave off hadn’t changed one bit.

To Jiang Shuqi, Jian Ya was the perfect example of someone who looked gentle on the outside but was dangerously charming underneath.

Jian Ya knew Jiang Shuqi was just teasing, and she was about to say something playful in return when a cold voice cut in from the side.

“Stop flirting and get back to work. Did you finish the project I gave you yesterday? At this rate, the only people you’re going to mess with are your own teammates.”

It was Li Lu. Her tone was sharp and distant, and the cheerful energy in the room disappeared instantly.

The other team members, who had been quietly enjoying the fun, immediately stopped smiling and turned their attention back to their screens.

Jiang Shuqi was used to Li Lu’s blunt personality by now.

But this time, seeing her constantly pick on Jian Ya without letting up, Jiang Shuqi started to feel uncomfortable. She wanted to stand up for her friend.

So, she said, “That project was already difficult. We originally planned to work on it together. Jian Ya only had one day and had to do it alone. How much progress could you expect?”

Her defense made Li Lu even more annoyed.

It felt like she was losing control over the team.

But Jiang Shuqi was well-liked in the group, and Li Lu didn’t want to cause more trouble—so instead, she took out her frustration on Jian Ya.

“There’s bound to be a certain level of difficulty—this is research, after all. No one gets through it without facing challenges. But if you hit a wall and still don’t take the initiative to ask for help, then the problem isn’t your ability—it’s your attitude…”

Li Lu was still lecturing, but Jian Ya didn’t feel like listening anymore.

She knew this kind of situation all too well.

In her previous life, there had been people like this in the teams she led—senior members who used their experience to suppress newcomers, just to assert their authority and sense of superiority.

This was Shen Shuyi’s team, and Jian Ya didn’t want to create conflict with Li Lu. But that didn’t mean she would sit there and let herself be singled out and criticized.

So, she spoke up.
“I’ve already finished it.”

Li Lu’s voice stopped mid-sentence.

The entire group turned to look at her, eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.

Finished?

The same task that would take the whole team several days to complete?

She did it in one?

Jian Ya met everyone’s doubtful gazes calmly.
“The entire main framework of the code is complete. All the core functions have been implemented. There are a few secondary features that haven’t been added yet, but if needed, I can finish those quickly. The only part left is the final testing phase. If it’s urgent, I can take care of that right away, too.”

It had been a while since she personally worked on this kind of project—but that didn’t mean she had forgotten how.

She had once been a top expert in this field. And in this current world, the field hadn’t developed nearly as far as it had in her previous life. That quiet confidence, the ease she carried herself with—it was enough to shut down the words of doubt Li Lu hadn’t yet spoken.

Li Lu looked at her with a mix of shock and uncertainty.

Her first instinct was to assume Jian Ya was bluffing.

But… what if she wasn’t?

Instead of arguing, she said,
“Let me take a look.”

Jian Ya stood up and stepped aside, letting Li Lu sit down to review her work.

She herself took a seat nearby, resting her chin on her hand and leaning back comfortably in the chair.

It was the kind of posture that came from total confidence in her own work.

Seeing this, Jiang Shuqi took the opportunity—while Li Lu wasn’t looking—to secretly give Jian Ya a big thumbs-up.

Beautiful, capable, confident but not arrogant—

Exactly the kind of Alpha she admired most.

Jian Ya responded with a soft smile, a silent thank-you for Jiang Shuqi’s earlier support.

Meanwhile, Shen Shuyi had just finished tidying up and was heading back to the lab.

Her phone rang—it was a call from Ni Ruoyun.

Ever since Ni Ruoyun found out that Jian Ya had joined Shen Shuyi’s lab, she’d practically gone into full combat mode. Her nerves had been on edge ever since. If it weren’t for the lab’s strict entry standards, she probably would’ve barged in and joined the team herself.

But precisely because of that, even though she couldn’t come in person, Ni Ruoyun still called at least three times a day.

As she put it, she had to constantly make sure Shen Shuyi hadn’t been harmed.

The call connected, and Ni Ruoyun’s urgent voice came through right away.

“Shuyi, are you okay today? Has that maniac been acting strange lately?” she asked.

“I’m fine. Everything’s good.”

“Everything’s good? What about that maniac? Have you thought of any excuse to get her out of there as soon as possible?” Ni Ruoyun pressed.

She couldn’t relax for even a minute with Jian Ya still around Shen Shuyi.

Shen Shuyi paused for a moment after hearing the question.

“I’m planning to let her stay,” she said calmly.

“What?” Ni Ruoyun’s voice instantly shot up. “Are you out of your mind?”

“No. I’ve thought it through. This time, she doesn’t seem to have any hidden agenda. And… she’s incredibly capable. I don’t know the full extent yet, but in terms of computer science, she might be the strongest person in the lab. She could really help move our research forward. And… I think she truly loves this field. That kind of passion can’t be faked,” Shen Shuyi explained.

Listening to this, Ni Ruoyun felt like either Shen Shuyi had gone insane—or she had.

She took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Shen Shuyi, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what she did to you. Your pheromone imbalance syndrome—she caused that. You know how unstable she is. Even if—even if—she came purely out of passion for the work, then keep it strictly professional! You need to stay rational!” Her voice grew more serious and forceful.

She knew her friend too well. Shen Shuyi had one major weakness—she was too softhearted.

No matter how cold and distant she might seem on the surface, the moment someone showed her a little kindness, she’d start to forgive.

Ni Ruoyun was afraid that Shen Shuyi would forgive Jian Ya far too easily.

After all, that woman’s every move needed to be treated with serious caution.

Even though her tone was harsh, Shen Shuyi understood it came from worry.

A wave of warmth passed through her heart. And something she had been feeling conflicted about these past few days suddenly felt clearer.

“I understand. I haven’t forgotten.”

Ni Ruoyun was still anxious when she heard that brief reply.

But then, she heard Shen Shuyi’s voice again, soft and steady through the receiver:

“The medication for pheromone regulation… tastes really bitter.”

It was bitter enough that every time she took it, she’d remember what happened that day. She couldn’t forget—even if she wanted to.

As for Jian Ya…

Yes, she had been conflicted these past two days.

But now, she was clear on what she truly felt.

What she admired was Jian Ya’s ability—not Jian Ya herself.

Stay rational. Keep the boundaries clear.

Right now, they were just coworkers.

Nothing more.
And in the future, there would still be—nothing more.