After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance (GL) - Chapter 5

Early the next morning, Jian Ya and Shen Shuyi arrived at the entrance of the civil affairs bureau.

After getting out of the car, Jian Ya dragged her feet as she followed behind Shen Shuyi. Her entire body screamed reluctance as she slowly approached the building.

“Um… Shen Shuyi, are you sure we can’t reconsider?” Jian Ya asked in a small, hesitant voice.

Shen Shuyi gave her a sideways glance, saying nothing. Her silence was all the answer Jian Ya needed.

Jian Ya’s shoulders slumped immediately.

The two of them walked up to the entrance together. Apparently, today was considered a lucky day for marriage. Even though they had arrived early, there were already four couples ahead of them in line.

Judging by the way those couples interacted, it was clear they were all here to get married.

Jian Ya followed quietly behind Shen Shuyi, looking gloomy and saying nothing.

Because they didn’t want to alert either family, the two had chosen not to pull any strings or use family connections. They were going through the normal process like everyone else.

Maybe it was because both of them were too attractive—just standing there, they naturally became the center of attention.

“Xiaofeng, look at them! Are they getting married too? They’re both gorgeous!”

“Lulu, today is our registration day. Could you at least pay a little more attention to me?” came the jealous reply.

“I am looking at you. But don’t you think something’s off about those two?”

“Off? How so?”

“The woman in front looks really serious and cold. She’s probably super strict at home. And the one behind her looks like a poor little bullied puppy. Just look at her. I bet she gets pushed around all the time.”

“Oh wow, you’re right. And see how her hand is bandaged? Who knows how badly she gets treated at home.”

“Sigh, that ice queen in front is too heartless. If it were me, there’s no way I could let such a cute little puppy suffer like that.”

…

Their whispered conversation floated over on the breeze and reached Shen Shuyi’s ears. She was speechless for a moment.

Turning her head slightly, she glanced at Jian Ya. Just as those people had said, Jian Ya stood there with her head lowered, shoulders slumped, and her hands fidgeting restlessly. She really did look like someone who had been wronged but was too pitiful to complain.

It looked convincing—almost too convincing.

Shen Shuyi rolled her eyes in her heart. Who was Jian Ya trying to put on a show for? Anyone who truly knew her wouldn’t fall for that act.

Over the years, Shen Shuyi had heard all kinds of gossip and rumors. This kind of idle talk didn’t affect her in the slightest.

She had no intention of explaining herself either. She simply waited patiently for their turn.

At the same time, she kept a close eye on Jian Ya, just in case she suddenly changed her mind and tried to run. If that happened, they’d be forced to go through a lawsuit, which would definitely attract the attention of both families.

She didn’t want it to come to that.

Luckily, even though Jian Ya was clearly reluctant, she didn’t seem to have any real intention of going back on her word.

After waiting for over an hour, all four couples in front of them had received their marriage certificates and left happily.

When it was finally their turn, Jian Ya started dragging her feet again.

She looked at Shen Shuyi’s elegant, cold side profile and suddenly wondered—after this divorce, would she ever have another chance to be with her again in this lifetime?

Maybe… it was just wishful thinking.

That thought lingered in Jian Ya’s heart as the two of them slowly reached the service counter.

“What service are you here for today?” the clerk asked. The moment her eyes landed on the two women, a brief flash of surprise crossed her face. Even her usually professional, cold tone softened noticeably.

Were they here to get married?

The Alpha looked confident and striking.
The Omega was cool and breathtakingly beautiful.
Standing together, they looked like a perfect match. She couldn’t even tell which one she was more envious of. All she could do was sigh inwardly—was this what people meant by a match made in heaven?

Then came their answers.

Shen Shuyi: “Divorce.”
Jian Ya: “Marriage.”

The clerk blinked in confusion.

Shen Shuyi turned and gave Jian Ya a quiet, emotionless glance.

Jian Ya realized right away she had said what she was thinking instead of what she was supposed to say. Embarrassed, she quickly corrected herself in a soft voice.

“Divorce.”

The clerk paused.

Part of her felt that, whether professionally or personally, she should try to mediate. A couple like this splitting up would be such a shame.

But before she could speak, Shen Shuyi’s cold gaze met hers and instantly shut her down.

She gave up, quietly pulled two divorce application forms from under the desk, and handed them over.

“Please fill these out.”

Neither woman had much experience. Jian Ya had been single her whole life, and Shen Shuyi’s only relationship had been this one ill-fated contract marriage.

So neither of them said a word. They simply accepted the forms and began filling them in.

Thankfully, the questions were basic—name, gender, age, whether they had children.

Nothing difficult.

Until they reached one key question: reason for divorce.

Both paused.

They knew the real reason. Abuse.

But if they wrote that down, Jian Ya would be investigated, and everything would explode. That would help no one.

Shen Shuyi wasn’t the type to act on emotion. She understood that sometimes silence was smarter. The reason didn’t matter. It was just part of the process.

She picked up her pen and neatly wrote:
Incompatible personalities.

Jian Ya, meanwhile, stared at the blank space for a long time. Then, slowly, she wrote something else.

She thinks I’m ugly.

When they finished, they handed the forms back.

The clerk reviewed everything line by line, making sure there were no mistakes. All was fine until she got to the reason for divorce.

She stopped.

An Omega… rejected an Alpha because she thought she was ugly?

Her eyes slowly lifted and landed on Jian Ya’s face. She stared for a moment, then swallowed.

Ugly?

This face? If looks could break records, Jian Ya might be on the cover of a luxury brand ad. People would line up to bring someone like her into their families.

And this Omega wasn’t satisfied?

What standards. She was clearly a woman who knew what she wanted. The clerk quietly admired her.

But even admiration didn’t override procedure.

She carefully slid the forms back and explained in a gentle voice, “There’s a rule here. Both parties must list the same reason for divorce. If the reasons don’t match, we’re required to assign a mediator. Would you like to talk it over?”

Shen Shuyi glanced at Jian Ya’s form.

She thinks I’m ugly.

Shen Shuyi: …?

Jian Ya immediately felt like she could die from embarrassment. She just wanted to stall for time. “Sure, we can accept medi—”

“No need. We wrote the same thing,” Shen Shuyi interrupted flatly.

She picked up the pen and added a single line to her own form.

I think she’s ugly.

Jian Ya: …

Wow. She really does hate me enough to not even argue. Just five words. Cold, simple, final.