After Cat A Saved the Wrong Female Lead - Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Drunken Troublemaker
Suddenly thrust into a situation with someone she “liked,” Tang Li was utterly confused:
“?”
She quickly denied it:
“It’s not that—I didn’t—when did I ever like someone?”
Just saying that made her uneasy and guilty, as if yesterday’s events had been discovered. She bit her lip. Although she and the female lead had shared an unexpected encounter, it didn’t mean she had fallen for her. That feeling was pity, not love—Tang Li still felt intimidated by the lead. Her voice trembled with urgency.
Yao Cheche, her good friend and classmate, saw how anxious she was and stopped teasing her, steering the conversation in another direction:
“Ah, I just heard it from Guo Fucui—she really loves to gossip.” Seeing Tang Li still struggling to respond, Yao Cheche hooked her arm and said, “Let’s go—for now. We can come back for those later. Didn’t you say you’d treat me today? Li Zi, should we go to Crescent or to Wu Dong?”
Tang Li’s memory system was like it needed a trigger to activate. She recognized “Crescent” as a bar and “Wu Dong” as a club—both unfamiliar to her, but Yao Cheche’s invite was enthusiastic. To avoid raising suspicion, Tang Li couldn’t refuse and followed her friend.
After a moment’s hesitation, she decided:
“Let’s go to Wu Dong.”
….
In the club, a towering champagne tower was bathed in colorful, dizzying light.
The lighting was dim and yellowed; everyone’s faces were half-hidden. In their private room, an air purifier tried to block stray pheromones from Alphas and Omegas—but it couldn’t stop the rising surge of atmosphere.
Yao Cheche ordered drinks and a snack platter—fried chicken bites, taro balls, fries with black truffle dip—for over 300 yuan. Paired with two alcoholic drinks as a “tipsy appetizer combo,” it cost nearly ten thousand yuan, shocking Tang Li.
Though Tang Li’s family never let her run short of money, she wasn’t ignorant of prices. In the original story, the host—Tang Li’s body—had wasted her family’s support. After a divorce and loss of backing, she ended up broke and worse off.
Tang Li knew her current identity’s fate. She wasn’t stingy, but she wouldn’t spend recklessly.
The club also had game rooms. Yao Cheche booked a K‑song booth, swiped an iPad expertly, familiar with the place. The plush room had a golden-patterned floor, mood lighting, and a side door. Soon, that door opened and a middle-aged Beta ushered in a group of flamboyantly made-up Omegas and Betas.
Yao Cheche asked with a smile: “Tables 5, 9, and 12—any catch your eye, Li Zi? Want me to pick a couple for you?”
The DJ outside blasted loud music, echoing through the space. Tang Li, nibbling fried chicken, found it average—and the atmosphere unlike her style—so she lost her appetite. She leaned close to Yao Cheche and whispered:
“I thought this was just the two of us?”
“Just the two of us isn’t fun,” Yao Cheche shrugged. “Want to roll dice?”
Noticing Tang Li’s discomfort, she patted her gently: “Don’t worry—I’m not spending all the money.”
Tang Li wasn’t naive. She recognized the meaning behind her words. She straightened her posture, avoiding Yao’s touch.
“I’m okay, you go on and play.”
She felt thirsty and irritated. She picked up a tall glass of cobalt-blue drink. Its fizzy taste startled her—she coughed when the flavor hit her. Undeterred, she took a few more sips.
Dice rattled in a glass as Yao Cheche’s new group laughed, but the sound faded behind the pounding music.
Gradually, Tang Li’s vision blurred. She couldn’t follow the laughter. Only Yao’s voice calling her occasionally registered faintly.
Tang Li shook her head to clear her fog.
Although they didn’t always get along, Yao Cheche sensed something was off tonight. Tang Li looked unwell. Yao’s attempts at flirting with an Omega in front of her suddenly felt wrong. As Yao opened her mouth to speak, Tang Li already stood up.
“I need to go. You enjoy yourselves.”
Without waiting for a reply, she took the iPad from a Beta, paid the bill, and walked toward the exit. Yao Cheche called after her:
“Be careful out there—”
Suddenly, Tang Li collapsed into her arms, and Yao turned away to keep playing dice.
Walking through the club foyer, Tang Li felt dizzy. She refused help, taking off her heels and walking barefoot, which helped steady her.
April was the transition from late spring to early summer—the night breeze was warm. Tang Li embraced herself barefoot by the roadside. Her face and head felt feverishly hot. She stared at passing cars until one stopped. She flagged it down.
Inside, the driver was dropping off Qin Shiyang’s secretary Pei Xuan. The sharp braking made Pei Xuan jolt forward. She looked up to see a flushed Tang Li.
“Stop.”
Pei Xuan recognized her—she knew about Tang Li’s relationship with her boss. She’d once suggested to Qin Shiyang to handle her. Qin Shiyang had refused.
Although an Omega, Qin Shiyang didn’t fear word spreading. In her ten years at the helm, she had the strength to control her image. Her “arrangement” was handled discreetly.
Yet seeing Tang Li drunk by the roadside upset Pei Xuan. She’d heard Tang Li was tricky. Bringing her there for a checkup—or at least some scolding—sounded right. But now?
Pei Xuan sent Qin Shiyang a message as the car drove off: Bring her over.
Qin Shiyang disliked interference. Pei Xuan, loyal and obedient, followed. They turned the car around and drove to Qin Shiyang’s old family home.
Though Qin Shiyang now lived in luxury, she still preferred this warm, familiar house—holding some of her earliest memories. Omegas’ heat cycles occur every 2–3 months and last 3–5 days. The toxin made hers especially painful. Though her symptoms had eased slightly after being with Tang Li, she was still ‘in heat.’
Qin Shiyang’s will was strong—but the effects had washed over her. She’d considered a stable relationship with Tang Li. But now, hearing that the Alpha’s effect might just have been a coincidence, hesitation crept in.
When Pei Xuan said Tang Li had been drunken by the roadside, Qin Shiyang expected someone half-catatonic. But on arrival, she found Tang Li standing normally, fully dressed, just barefoot, leaning on Pei Xuan for support.
Tang Li wore a long beige trench coat, a simple chiffon blouse, and washed jeans—clean but casual. Her high heels were nowhere to be seen. There was a faint smell of rum and a trace of alcohol‑tinged pheromones—not seductive, but enough to remind Qin Shiyang of the heat from that night.
Brushing her own nerves aside, Qin Shiyang took Tang Li’s arm and helped her inside. As the door closed, Tang Li laid her head on Qin Shiyang’s shoulder in unguarded trust.
“Xiaoyu,” Tang Li’s voice was softer and slightly nasal, with a hint of affectionate cooing. “Was it you who called the car? Thank you.”
She tried to open her eyes and look around, the soft warmth easing her anxiety. As the heroine, Tang Li felt she could trust this gentle stranger who wouldn’t trick her.
After helping her to the sofa, Qin Shiyang misstepped, falling onto Tang Li as she tried to support her—pressing down heavily. Tang Li let out a soft groan in pain.
Even the composed Qin Shiyang hadn’t expected this.
Letting go of Tang Li’s hand, she realized she might’ve made a mistake inviting this troublesome Alpha in.
Tang Li, half-conscious, kept mumbling unintelligibly. Qin Shiyang sighed:
“Can you take a shower?”
Tang Li nodded weakly.
Her nanny had left at 8 pm. With no help, Qin Shiyang went to run the hot water herself. Tang Li, in a haze, used Qin Shiyang’s bathroom a second time.
Qin Shiyang sat on the sofa with her iPad, answering emails. After 10 minutes passed and no sign of Tang Li, she went to check. Sure enough, Tang Li was half-undressed, sitting motionless on a stool; her blonde hair damp and tangled, her cheeks flushed, eyelashes quivering, lips moving as she whispered:
“Xiaoyu…”
Qin Shiyang leaned closer, holding her breath until she could make out the garbled words:
“I will try hard to protect you…”
What on earth?
She stared at Tang Li in disbelief, suddenly regretting having brought this troublemaker into her life.