After The Mission Failed, The Scumbag Alpha Ran Away - Chapter 36

36: Identity Suspicions Exposed

Lou Huaiche felt a gentle kiss land beneath her eyes. The Alpha, as if full of tenderness, lightly pecked her, then raised her gaze with a smile, locking eyes with Lou Huaiche.

Lou Huaiche’s heartstrings trembled uncontrollably as she stared at the Alpha before her.

The Alpha’s eyes were clear and bright, dark as lacquer, filled with soft affection.

Lou Huaiche was almost scalded by such warmth.

Just as the tension in her heart reached its peak, she heard Jiang Youbai’s words.

The moment “formal mark” was uttered, the room fell into deathly silence.

Lou Huaiche’s smile vanished almost instantly, all emotions in her heart sinking, once again shrouded in coldness and exhaustion.

She didn’t want to discuss this issue, but their ruts were becoming increasingly frequent, making the formal mark an unavoidable problem.

Problems only grow more difficult the longer they’re delayed. Avoiding it now would only make facing it later even more awkward.

Recalling that this Alpha seemed rather inexperienced—even mentioning “responsibility” after their first temporary mark—Lou Huaiche thought it best to clarify some things: “For me, a formal mark is just a way to alleviate rut symptoms. Understand?”

“I’ve emphasized that I won’t waste time on romance.”

Jiang Youbai’s expression remained unchanged. Lou Huaiche’s words were within her expectations. She curved her lips into a smile and said, “Leader, I understand. After the formal mark, once the rut stabilizes and eases, we’ll go wash it off.”

Generally, rut symptoms and their severity only arise after a formal mark, but stable, regular formal marks can effectively alleviate the issue.

Lou Huaiche remembered the doctor’s words when they’d gone to wash the mark before and paused. “For Alphas and Omegas with overly compatible pheromones, it’s very difficult to completely wash away the mark. If we proceed with the formal mark and the symptoms still don’t ease, yet we can’t fully wash it away, we’ll be stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Jiang Youbai sighed softly, exhaling the frustration and gloom in her heart. “Leader, I know these issues, but… there’s no other solution right now. Prescriptions for ruts have never been encouraged either.”

Secretly, Jiang Youbai felt a sliver of relief.

At least, for now, Lou Huaiche’s rut couldn’t overpower her—perhaps because she didn’t want to fight over this. Either way, Lou Huaiche hadn’t bitten her gland in return.

If they had to bite each other daily, an Alpha’s more fragile glands would suffer even more than an Omega’s.

Lou Huaiche pondered for a moment. “Let’s wait a bit longer. Give it two or three days. If there’s still no improvement, we’ll proceed with the formal mark.”

Truthfully, something had been weighing on her, making it hard to commit to the formal mark with this Alpha.

The Alpha’s identity still hadn’t been fully investigated. If they went through with the formal mark now and it turned out “Li Sisi” had problems, it would spell significant trouble for Lou Huaiche, who’d been formally marked by her.

Jiang Youbai was also considering the timeline. Calculating the days, she estimated Chi Ruo would come looking for her soon. Delaying a bit longer might be for the best.

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead, Leader. I’ll head out for a bit, stroll around.”

Once the topic shifted, the previously rising romantic atmosphere dissipated instantly. The interrupted awkwardness resurfaced, and to avoid it, Jiang Youbai decided to escape for a while.

She couldn’t quite articulate what she was running from—the awkwardness of the moment or her unwillingness to confront herself.

Outwardly, there was their inability to be honest, their entangled, unclear relationship where it was hard to say who was winning or losing, and the chaotic realities they faced.

Inwardly, there was Jiang Youbai’s struggle to understand herself.

She felt a pang of confusion. The momentary flutter in her heart when facing Lou Huaiche was undeniable, yet her current calm indifference was equally real.

Moreover, amidst such entanglements, Jiang Youbai was unwilling to indulge herself further. Under the system’s coercion, she hadn’t wanted to face Lou Huaiche’s indifferent heart. Now, without the system, she was even less willing to confront it.

As a princ, Jiang Youbai had nothing left to gamble.

As Jiang Youbai, if she lost this battle of hearts, it would be a complete and utter defeat.

Only by steeling her heart could she avoid suffering retribution from anyone or any emotion.

…

The next day, Chi Ruo sent Jiang Youbai a message:

“Tomorrow, meet at this location in District A.”

Attached was a detailed map.

Even through text, Jiang Youbai could sense Chi Ruo’s exhaustion and bewilderment:

“Jiang Qingxian has truly gone mad. She’s almost exactly like her father now—but restrained in her actions. No one can find fault with her. Honestly, she’s no different from you back then. Both lunatics.”

Jiang Youbai: “How is Jiang Qingxian sometimes my uncle and sometimes me? Can’t she just be Jiang Qingxian?”

“Ever since she learned about her background, she’s been a bit unhinged. Later, I don’t know what she dug up or if she was pushed to the brink by the conservatives and the old imperial faction. Jiang Qingxian and Ning Yunze… Ugh, it’s another mess. Worse than your emotional entanglements with Lou Huaiche. I can’t be bothered to explain now. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

Jiang Youbai sighed when she read the part about Ning Yunze.

Ning Yunze and Jiang Qingxian were indeed a tangled, unsolvable mess.

She replied to Chi Ruo: “Alright, see you tomorrow.”

…

Jiang Youbai and Chi Ruo’s meeting went smoothly. After the prince withdrew from the imperial power struggle, Chi Ruo, as a relatively neutral young Beta legislator, drew far less attention in the imperial capital’s upper district.

Coupled with her own influence, stirring up trouble for Jiang Qingxian and Crown Prince Jiang Qingjia, then squeezing in time to meet Jiang Youbai, wasn’t particularly difficult.

Near the border of District A and the upper district lay a desolate ruin—plenty of cover, minimal surveillance, and unlikely to attract notice. They agreed to meet there.

Before leaving, Lou Chuxue, clutching a file folder, nearly collided with Jiang Youbai in her haste to reach the conference room. Lou Chuxue was running so fast that both almost stumbled.

Jiang Youbai, a head taller, steadied the dazed Lou Chuxue and glanced at the tightly sealed black file in her hands. Unable to resist, she chided, “Be careful when walking. Don’t lose important documents with your recklessness.”

Lou Chuxue flashed her a grateful, radiant smile. “Thanks! I’ve got urgent business with the boss, so I’ll catch you later!”

Jiang Youbai nodded, dismissing the matter, and left the base’s courtyard.

…

Lou Chuxue burst into the conference room and slapped the file onto Lou Huaiche’s desk. “Boss! I’ve finished what you asked. It’s pretty much as you suspected. See for yourself.”

Lou Huaiche had tasked Lou Chuxue with investigating Li Sisi’s background.

If Li Sisi’s origins were clean, Lou Chuxue would’ve simply reported verbally.

The thick stack of documents suggested this Alpha’s background was highly problematic.

Lou Huaiche weighed the file, quickly assessing its contents, then addressed the Betas in the meeting. “Let’s adjourn here today. Continue tomorrow.”

The Betas gathered their belongings and filed out.

Once alone, Lou Chuxue shut the door. Lou Huaiche opened the meticulously packaged folder and began reading.

The first red flag was Li Sisi’s background.

Though an orphan, Li Sisi had two close friends. Lou Chuxue sent a few idle Betas to gather intel, eventually uncovering details about Li Sisi in District D, the farthest from District A.

Alphas were rare in the lower districts, making identification effortless. District-wide, only one Alpha went by “Li Sisi.”

Since Li Sisi had died six months prior, Lou Chuxue offered generous rewards, prompting her two friends to divulge everything, including a key detail:

“Sisi had a physical disability… Otherwise, an Alpha like her wouldn’t have stayed in the lower districts. She died of illness last July. By the time we found her, her personal terminal had already been stolen.”

Armed with this timeline—July—Lou Chuxue followed the trail.

She first checked all hospital records concerning Alphas near the alley where they’d encountered Li Sisi.

Easily, based on the timeline, Lou Chuxue found relevant records at a hospital close to the alley.

However, the medical staff had rotated several times since then. Those privy to the details refused to speak, citing patient confidentiality.

Lou Chuxue didn’t need specifics. When the staff proved uncooperative, she turned to patients and their families.

Unlike the well-paid, tight-lipped medical staff, patients and families were strapped for cash. Within a day or two, Lou Chuxue pieced together a rough picture.

“Emergency admission around mid-August last year, brought from the upper district, carefully settled in. Discharged this April. No visitors. Since she never appeared publicly, no specifics on why she was hospitalized. Some claimed to have seen visitors before her discharge, but no descriptions or identities were obtained.”

Since Lou Huaiche had mentioned the personal terminal, Lou Chuxue also investigated but found little useful information.

“One scrap shop owner acted strangely when I mentioned Li Sisi and the upper district. Couldn’t get anything out of him. Also, since arriving at the base, Li Sisi has hidden her tracks impeccably—almost no flaws.”

Lou Huaiche continued reading, barely registering Lou Chuxue’s words. Her gaze lingered on the timeline Lou Chuxue had compiled, unable to look away.

Unnoticed, Lou Chuxue prattled on.

“Her movements are too well-hidden. I couldn’t dig up anything. That very perfection makes her more suspicious.”

“As for her personal terminal records, I checked. Everything from late July last year was fabricated. Easy to uncover. She probably didn’t expect to be exposed so quickly and didn’t have time to cover her tracks.”

Lou Huaiche hummed absently, still clutching the timeline.

These dates aligned almost perfectly with the timeline of Jiang Youbai’s incident.

Her hands trembled slightly, a raging fury igniting in her chest.

Who had cultivated this Alpha, Li Sisi—so eerily similar to Jiang Youbai—less than a month after Jiang Youbai’s death?

Lou Huaiche quickly steadied herself, rapping the desk.

No, that didn’t add up.

Li Sisi had been hospitalized from last August to this April, with no public appearances, making details scarce.

Lou Huaiche had contacted the Human Alliance and begun building the army last October.

The timelines didn’t perfectly overlap.

Li Sisi might not have been groomed specifically for her… but whoever stood behind her had to be uncovered.

Just then, a sentry outside announced, “Leader! Urgent report.”

“Enter.”

The sentry stepped in, shutting the door. His news also concerned Li Sisi.

“Leader, our squad spotted Alpha Li Sisi meeting a Beta at the upper-lower district border. The Beta came from the upper district. The squad leader contacted me urgently. Due to distance and their vigilance, we couldn’t capture the Beta’s face.”

The sentry handed Lou Huaiche a photo.

The image was clear, but zooming in revealed both figures wore anti-surveillance disguises—shoulder pads, obscured features.

Only Li Sisi’s exposed wrist and the uniquely styled personal terminal confirmed her identity.

Lou Huaiche nearly laughed at the absurdity. This Alpha was skilled, meticulous to a fault, yet undone by something beyond her awareness.

If Li Sisi knew a curved-screen personal terminal had betrayed her, she’d probably never wear one again.

Li Sisi was confirmed, but the Beta she met bore no identifiable traits.

The sentry awaited orders. “Leader, the squad’s lying in wait nearby. Your instructions?”

What to do?

Kill on sight, arrest immediately, or hold position?

Lou Huaiche tapped the desk, voice icy. “Do nothing. Don’t spook them. Pretend this never happened.”

“Li Sisi’s” emergence wasn’t coincidental. Her connection to Jiang Youbai’s death was undeniable.

Lou Huaiche’s grip on the desk tightened, her gaze turning glacial. A torrent of hatred simmered beneath her forced composure.

This involved Jiang Youbai’s death. She had to proceed cautiously, meticulously. No missteps could risk losing this hard-won lead.

…

Jiang Youbai was discussing matters with Chi Ruo.

Chi Ruo detailed recent events, ending with Ning Yunze.

“Ning Yunze’s under house arrest. I’ve tried everything—can’t get messages in or out. No idea what’s happening. Best guess: Jiang Qingxian’s been bound by the system.”

Jiang Youbai skimmed the report.

“Aside from Lou Huaiche, Jiang Qingxian’s the only one acting oddly in the capital. I’ve observed Lou Huaiche… Unlikely the system bound her.”

“Then Jiang Qingxian’s identity is confirmed. We don’t know how much the system knows, but Jiang Qingxian might realize you’re alive… Before your fake death, you stirred trouble between her and the crown prince, then the imperial grandson affair. Add Ning Yunze’s revelations about her background—she’s been swamped, no time to act.”

Chi Ruo continued, “I’ve also hindered her, pitting the reformists against her. But lately, her moves are flawless. Clearly her doing, yet untraceable. I fear within ten days, she’ll free up to come after you personally.”

Jiang Youbai flipped through the report. “This level of precision… Only the system could orchestrate such seamless operations.”

Chi Ruo nodded. “Worst-case scenario: Ning Yunze is already dead.”

Jiang Youbai burned the report, stamping out the embers. “No. She wouldn’t harm Ning Yunze.”

Chi Ruo sighed. “I’m not as adept as you at reading people. But Jiang Qingxian’s utterly inscrutable now. No clue why she’s snapped. I worry you might’ve misjudged her.”

Jiang Youbai said, “I know why she’s mad.”

Facing the mercurial old emperor, her tumultuous origins, and the vortex of power where she struggled to stand firm—anyone would crack under such relentless pressure.

Especially Jiang Qingxian, who’d had no respite before being bound to the arrogant, sinister system.

She and Ning Yunze likely grew up together, their bond deep, only to face his betrayal.

Such blows could shatter anyone’s sanity, driving them to drag everyone down.

Jiang Youbai had once stood where this fragile heir now stood.

No one understood this tormenting madness better than she.

Chi Ruo said, “Regardless, be careful. Returning to the upper district now… Your identity and appearance are one hurdle; your relationship with Lou Huaiche, another. How will you handle the ruts?”

Jiang Youbai frowned. “Only the formal mark can be tried.”

“Fine… As a Beta, I don’t fully grasp formal marks. Your call. It’s getting late—I should go.”

As Chi Ruo turned to leave, Jiang Youbai suddenly remembered something.

“Wait.”

“What?” Chi Ruo turned back, puzzled.

Jiang Youbai took a deep breath. “You still haven’t given me money, have you?”

Chi Ruo: “…” Oops. Forgot again.

Chi Ruo: “Hey, with Lou Huaiche, you won’t suffer!”

With that, as if fearing Jiang Youbai’s scolding, she hurried off.

Jiang Youbai stood there, torn between laughter and exasperation, then headed back to the base while daylight remained.

At the entrance, she bumped into Lou Chuxue. The petite Omega grinned. “Li Sisi, back already? How’d the formal mark talk with our boss go? I was in a rush this afternoon—didn’t get to ask!”

Jiang Youbai had always liked this clever, spirited young general. After a taxing day, she welcomed the mood lightener and smiled. “We’ll see. Both agreed to wait a few more days.”

“Ah, thought you’d mark right away. You’re the most promising among the ‘wives.’ Go on, win our boss’s heart!”

Jiang Youbai chuckled, shaking her head. “I’ve got things to do. Heading upstairs.”

“Go ahead. Won’t keep you.”

Lou Chuxue watched her ascend, then immediately messaged Lou Huaiche.

“Boss, Li Sisi’s inside. How to proceed?”

Lou Huaiche replied, “Good. Check if she’s in my room later. Lock her there. Clear the fourth-floor Alphas. Seal the floor. Boost guards.”

“Got it, Boss! Leave it to me!”