After The Mission Failed, The Scumbag Alpha Ran Away - Chapter 14

14: Your Highness, Your Acting is Excellent

Jiang Youbai’s understanding of Lou Huaiche was only superficial—limited to a set of system-provided materials and some information she had someone investigate. Beyond that, she knew nothing else.

To pursue someone and make them fall for her, surface-level knowledge alone wasn’t enough.

Jiang Youbai observed Lou Huaiche and found the situation rather tricky.

She would need to dedicate a significant amount of time to interact with Lou Huaiche, win her over despite her inherently cold personality, and—on top of that—Lou Huaiche likely already had someone in her heart.

Jiang Youbai let out a soft tsk.

She hated complications.

From before she was even born, her life had been meticulously planned, step by step, filled with calculated risks and schemes. Countless people had surrounded her, gradually pushing her to where she was today.

In Jiang Youbai’s life, there were no accidents. She could see the end at a glance.

So she concealed her true nature, suppressed herself, and hid behind a flawless mask, lurking in the shadows, kneeling under imperial authority, pretending to be a docile and harmless little rabbit—utterly non-threatening.

Jiang Youbai couldn’t afford a single misstep. She was the child of the former Crown Princess, enjoying wealth and privilege but also enduring schemes and isolation.

Lou Huaiche leaned against the table, propping her chin on her hand as she watched Jiang Youbai. Hearing her tsk, she instinctively asked, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Youbai turned her face toward her. Under the light, her expression was perfectly gentle, without a single flaw. “Nothing, just a bit of pain near my gland.”

Lou Huaichelet out an “Oh,” twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “Your Highness, your acting is truly excellent. If you were to act, you’d definitely become a star.”

Jiang Youbai lowered her gaze, mentally noting this down.

Lou Huaicheknew her true face, so she couldn’t use the same tactics she employed on others.

It would be too easy to see through the false mask.

This is getting even trickier, Jiang Youbai thought.

After finishing their meal, the two left the private room together. As they descended from the second floor, Jiang Youbai glanced toward the entrance and saw Ning Yunze and Jiang Qingxian walking out side by side, looking rather intimate.

Jiang Youbai raised an eyebrow. Earlier, Jiang Qingxian had mentioned bringing almond tofu to a friend—that friend was undoubtedly Ning Yunze. Ning Yunze loved almond tofu, was friends with Lou Huaiche , and Lou Huaichehad also ordered almond tofu.

Her gaze toward Jiang Qingxian instantly filled with deep respect.

Having lived on a satellite for over twenty years and becoming an urban legend in the imperial capital, Jiang Qingxian still managed to know so many of the capital’s Omegas at once. No wonder she was the protagonist.

This networking skill was something others simply couldn’t replicate.

Lou Huaiche was also watching Jiang Qingxian.

Her feelings toward Jiang Qingxian were complicated. After six cycles of reincarnation, no matter how far she fell into betrayal and isolation, this gentle and kind princess had never changed her attitude toward her.

Jiang Qingxian didn’t necessarily believe in her—she simply pitied all living things.

During the first cycle, Lou Huaichehad been moved by such tender kindness—not because she had genuinely fallen in love with Jiang Qingxian.

In the depths of extreme hardship and despair, she had been stung by Jiang Qingxian’s kindness, then quickly began to crave her compassion, viewing her as her salvation.

Being liked and pursued by a notorious criminal guilty of crimes against humanity was hardly a good thing. Lou Huaiche knew she was merely trying to grasp at something to fill the void in her heart during her mental collapse.

It was wrong, but Lou Huaiche couldn’t control it.

She was like a madwoman locked in an attic, pacing frantically around the room, either smashing everything in sight or claiming it as her own.

Before her death in the first cycle, she had gone mad, locking herself and Jiang Qingxian in a room and setting it on fire. Laughing hysterically, she twirled in circles, skirts swirling.

Lou Huaiche still remembered the scene vividly—thick black smoke, the air distorted by the intense heat. Amidst it all, Jiang Qingxian maintained her fragile melancholy and compassion, softly saying to her, “Huaichen, cry if you need to. I won’t look.”

Her fine, curly hair had been singed black by the flames.

Lou Huaiche had wept uncontrollably in the smoke and rapidly spreading fire.

Once again, she had been pierced by such absolute tenderness.

In every cycle after that, she never allowed herself to grow closer to Jiang Qingxian again.