After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Marriage Cannot Be Rushed

Before Qin Shiyang returned, Tang Li thought it over and decided to climb out the window. The height wasn’t much of a challenge for her, and since the rain had stopped, it was easy to get down wearing today’s casual clothes—much more practical than what she had on last night.

Still, to ensure the beautiful sister could find her, Tang Li, ever the ethical one, left a note on the table with her contact information.

She left early to avoid being discovered, and also because this whole time-travel thing had left her confused—she needed a quiet place to process everything.

By the time the tipster paparazzi rushed upstairs to get firsthand photos, Tang Li had already swaggered out of the hotel and was checking her phone, which had over 99 unread messages.

Filtering out promotions and group chats, she found some messages from friends, including her third and fourth cousins. Going through the chat logs, she pieced together what had happened before she arrived at the hotel. The trigger helped jog her fragmented memory.

Before she showed up, the original host had attended a family gathering with relatives. After being criticized by an elder, she retorted sarcastically. The atmosphere turned sour, and she stormed out in anger.

Then, back at the hotel arranged for her, she ran into the Omega meant for her.

This whole sequence? Absolutely a mess.

The original host was considered the ultimate slacker in the family. She had just turned 22 and still drifted around doing nothing. She was a senior in college, supposed to be interning, but barely made an effort. The matriarch of the family adored the host’s mother and thus spoiled her daughter too. Still, the family was stricter with Alphas than Omegas and had a zero-tolerance policy for casually marking others.

So in the original storyline, the host failed to resist the Omega’s temptation.

Checking her bank balance, Tang Li hailed a ride from the hotel to a nearby mall to grab a meal.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, when Qin Shiyang returned to find a note on the table and an empty room, a strange look flickered across her deep-set eyes.

She wasn’t being careless—just that from Tang Li’s behavior, it was clear the girl wasn’t some experienced Alpha player. Qin Shiyang wasn’t conservative, but she had a certain psychological aversion: if her partner were a playboy-type Alpha, she would’ve rather suffered through the heat.

The toxins in her system had troubled her for too long and were seriously affecting her health. Qin Shiyang was never one to hesitate—when such a rare opportunity presented itself, she didn’t want to miss it.

But after glancing at the black-and-white agreement on the table, she folded the papers together and fed them into the shredder before Pei Xuan arrived. Pei Xuan had just gotten word of a celebrity gossip incident—something about an Alpha upstairs—but since it didn’t concern them, she came to report back.

Noticing the shredded paper fluttering into the bin, Pei Xuan sensed something was off. A business suite wasn’t large; even trying not to look, it was hard to miss the IV setup covered with a black cloth and the messy bed.

The lingering pheromone scent in the air hadn’t completely dissipated. When it’s that strong, even a Beta could smell something.

“Pei Xuan, help me find out who stayed upstairs yesterday. Was anyone from the Bai family there?” Qin Shiyang vaguely remembered seeing Tang Li’s face before—she was some young lady from the Bai family, but couldn’t recall the name. Her voice was low and calm: “Keep this quiet.”

Pei Xuan felt a migraine coming on, but since this concerned Qin Shiyang’s privacy, she agreed without asking more.

It took only about ten minutes to drive to the nearest mall. Tang Li picked a grilled fish restaurant that looked appealing and ordered a single-person meal, sipping on bubbling sugar-free cola.

Ding~ Her phone buzzed—a new friend request. Tang Li’s settings made requests hard to get through, so someone getting through in one second was no coincidence. Unsurprisingly, the first message read:

I’m Qin Shiyu.

“My friends call me Xiaoyu. You can save me as Xiaoyu~”

Tang Li had just typed I’m Tang Li but felt it sounded too stiff. Then she clicked on the voice message—the Omega’s soft voice became slightly muffled toward the end.

Tang Li misheard it as “Xiao Yu” (Little Fish)?

“Thank you for helping me last night. Let me treat you to dinner sometime.”

Unlike the coldness before, “Little Fish” came off as incredibly gentle online. This nickname made Tang Li’s ears flush—she didn’t know how to respond.

Her current username was CatCatLovesFish, which sounded a bit childish. But paired with that nickname? It felt suspiciously like a couple’s ID.

Is this how people express affection these days?

Was the female lead… trying to date her?

But what if the person’s actual name was Xiaoyu and she was just overthinking it?

Pure-hearted, genuine catgirl Tang Li was torn and conflicted.

As she struggled, she suddenly realized that leaving without saying goodbye might have been rude. While she was still indecisive, the waiter served her piping-hot grilled fish—fresh Mekong fillet under a layer of sauce with meatballs and veggies.

After exhausting so much energy, the sight of hot food stirred her appetite. The other party didn’t reply, so Tang Li quietly ate alone. She was focused and didn’t have the habit of checking her phone while eating—she finished every last bite.

On her way out, a girl even shyly asked for her contact info, but Tang Li politely declined. She felt a little empty and aimless, so she bought a high-speed train ticket back home. Her place was in another district of Huadu, too far to take a cab—an hour and a half drive. High-speed rail was faster, and the station was nearby.

After buying the ticket, she saw a trending Weibo pop-up about something at the Huadu Vilu Hotel. Her heart clenched. Clicking in, she saw it was about an Alpha celebrity caught in a fan scandal.

She wasn’t interested, so she closed it and leaned back on a bench in the mall, trying to nap. But that faint spring tea-and-mist scent lingered in her mind.

….

Pei Xuan worked quickly. That very afternoon, a full report on Tang Li’s past—from major offenses to minor class-skipping—was delivered to Qin Shiyang.

But as a child from high society, although she was spoiled by some elders, the original host hadn’t done anything truly outrageous. Her worst was arguing with people and maybe gambling a bit. To Qin Shiyang, who had seen real scandals, this was child’s play.

By then, she had changed into a comfortable cardigan and fitted pants. The sky-blue outfit made her seem even more soft and gentle. With no outsiders around, her relaxed posture and stunning looks made her appear even more alluring.

“Tang Li.”

She repeated the name several times, trying to recall it. But it didn’t ring a bell. Pei Xuan, who had been with Qin Shiyang since her secondary differentiation, was both her secretary and personal assistant. There were no secrets between them.

“We haven’t met before, right?”

“If we did, it must’ve been from a distance. We never spoke.”

Pei Xuan was sure. The Qin family empire was a national powerhouse. Qin Shiyang was incredibly busy and her social circle was well-documented. Tang Li’s unforgettable cat-like eyes would’ve left a mark had they met.

Whether Tang Li recognized Qin Shiyang, though, was another question.

Qin Shiyang didn’t do interviews or push a charitable persona. As heir to the Qin family, she kept a low profile and wasn’t a celebrity. So it made sense that someone outside her circle wouldn’t know her.

Still, Tang Li had seemed genuinely clueless that night. Her actions and demeanor didn’t match her reputation. And Pei Xuan’s intel was solid—nothing was fabricated. So was Tang Li just pretending, or was there another reason?

Qin Shiyang had spent a whole hour mulling this over. But eventually, for reasons even she couldn’t explain, she impulsively registered a new account using a different—but still plausible—identity and sent Tang Li a friend request.

She was curious. She wanted to see how Tang Li would react.

Tang Li, for her part, didn’t hold any outdated beliefs about Alphas or Omegas. To her, as long as adults consented, there was no “losing out.” Her texts were pleasant and respectful—neither too forward nor too distant.

Qin Shiyang found herself weaving an entire backstory—down to why she was in the hotel that night: she had won a voucher to stay for free. After all, with Vilu Hotel’s prices, most average people wouldn’t dare book a room.

Back at home, Tang Li dropped off her clothes for dry cleaning.

Though the original host wasn’t well-liked by her family, she was still a wealthy heiress—not short on money. Her Alpha and Omega moms had divorced years ago. She lived in a nearby city and split time between both homes.

Her rebellious antics were nothing new—both moms knew. Since she couldn’t take calls on the high-speed train, she called back as soon as she got home. Her Omega mom, Bai Xuan, answered:

“Why didn’t you stay in Huadu for a few days? Are you upset, my little Pear? Want to come stay with me?” Bai Xuan’s background noise sounded like mahjong, but she raised her voice so Tang Li could hear. “Those busybodies are just yapping. My daughter didn’t commit a crime—she can do whatever she wants. What’s it to them?”

Tang Li nearly choked on her water at the phrase “didn’t commit a crime”. It stung a little.

She hadn’t committed a crime…

But she had gotten into something big…

Looking back, Tang Li was amazed at her own courage that night. Surely it was the Omega’s gentle demeanor that muddled her mind and made her forget that in the original plot, the heroine—who now seemed so tender—was the same woman who would eventually manipulate her into ruin.

How could she have let her guard down just because the beauty looked soft and fragile?

Too late now—she could only steel herself and continue onward. If the female lead ever hated her, she’d be doomed.

While Tang Li sat there dazed, Bai Xuan kept ranting for a bit before hanging up. Then she transferred her daughter 200,000 yuan.

Have fun before your internship starts, sweetie. Once you’re working, behave, okay?

The original host had been slacking for half a year. It was already April, and family pressure had finally forced her to find an internship. None of the kids in the family were allowed to train at their own companies—that was the rule, even Bai Xuan couldn’t bend it.

After hanging up, Tang Li flopped onto her bed like an octopus and let out a long sigh.

….

Huadu, the country’s economic center, was just as bustling at night. After catching up on sleep, Tang Li woke around 7 p.m. to an invitation from a classmate to go shopping. They passed a jewelry store, and she stopped at the entrance.

She remembered—most girls, to some extent, liked pretty accessories.

The display sparkled with dazzling pieces. Tang Li was overwhelmed and pulled her friend over to help her pick. The saleswoman was enthusiastic, offering her recommendations. Tang Li’s mind drifted to Qin Shiyang’s stunning face.

Hmm… none of these seem quite right.

Yao Cheche, her close friend and classmate, noticed how unusually serious she was about picking jewelry and grew curious. After a moment, something clicked. Her voice rose slightly in surprise:

“Li Zi, are you finally planning to make a move on that girl you like?”