After The Mission Failed, The Scumbag Alpha Ran Away - Chapter 39

39: Fighting and Kissing

Jiang Youbai tilted her head back, cursing Chi Ruo inwardly.

What was the point of telling Lou Huaiche that she was still alive?

Before Lou Huaiche knew, they had maintained a polite, temporary marking relationship. Now that she knew, she immediately reverted to her old habit of biting an Alpha’s glands.

This madwoman bit like a rabid dog, refusing to let go no matter how hard she was pushed. The harder she was pushed, the fiercer she bit. What Alpha could endure this?

If this continued, they’d both end up in heat again.

It seemed their afternoon meal was off the table. Jiang Youbai grew anxious, struggling to make Lou Huaiche calm down.

“Miss Lou, calm down. Let’s talk properly without resorting to biting. Miss Lou? Miss Lou! Leader!” Jiang Youbai’s lips trembled from the pain, soon unable to speak, only weakly trying to push Lou Huaiche away.

Jiang Youbai felt that if someone could save her from this predicament right now, she’d willingly pledge her life to them.

She didn’t expect that person to arrive so quickly.

A loud banging sounded at the door. Lou Chuxue’s voice, even through two walls and doors, came through clearly into Lou Huaiche’s bedroom.

“Boss, boss! Are you there? There’s a guest here, says it’s urgent business from the Upper District. They’ve been waiting for you for a long time. You didn’t reply to their messages, so I came up to check.”

Jiang Youbai mustered her strength and said to Lou Huaiche, “Lou Chuxue has something urgent. Go see what’s going on.”

Lou Huaiche finally listened.

There were priorities. If she couldn’t finish biting her neck now, she could always continue tonight.

Lou Huaiche snorted coldly, viciously biting down one last time before reluctantly letting go.

Her expression was unreadable as she stared at Jiang Youbai for a few seconds, then let out a sinister chuckle.

Jiang Youbai shuddered. “Miss Lou, don’t laugh like that. It’s unsettling. It feels like your laughter is saying, ‘Just wait till tonight.’”

Lou Huaiche smiled brightly. “You’re absolutely right.”

Lou Chuxue was still waiting outside. Lou Huaiche didn’t waste time bantering with Jiang Youbai. She got up, quickly washed up, changed clothes, and made herself somewhat presentable before opening the door. With a dark expression, she asked Lou Chuxue, “What guest?”

The guest was here for Lou Huaiche and had nothing to do with Jiang Youbai. Jiang Youbai lazily stayed in bed, draping an outer robe over herself as she emerged, peeking out from behind Lou Huaiche and waving at Lou Chuxue, planning to ask her to bring some food up later.

Lou Chuxue waved back at Jiang Youbai before answering Lou Huaiche’s question. “Hmm, I don’t know this guest. She said her name is Chi Ruo, an old acquaintance of yours. She seemed in a real hurry today.”

Jiang Youbai sucked in a breath. “What did you say her name was?”

“Chi Ruo. She’s a Beta. She said she sent you messages, but you didn’t reply, so she rushed to the Lower District in person.”

Lou Huaiche glanced back at Jiang Youbai, who was only wearing an outer robe with messy hair. “Your Highness, go wash up.”

Since the visitor was Chi Ruo, she couldn’t possibly be here for Lou Huaiche. Jiang Youbai resigned herself and went back to clean up.

Soon, Jiang Youbai finished freshening up and followed Lou Huaiche and Lou Chuxue downstairs.

The reception room was on the other side of the first floor—a small, mostly useless space. After all, Lou Huaiche’s group was ostensibly a mercenary organization, so a formal reception room wasn’t necessary.

Chi Ruo paced anxiously in the small room, occasionally checking her personal terminal for Lou Huaiche’s replies.

When Jiang Youbai entered with the other two, Chi Ruo rushed forward in her high heels, grabbing Jiang Youbai and scrutinizing her from head to toe. Only after confirming Jiang Youbai was unharmed did she relax.

Then, Chi Ruo looked at Jiang Youbai, then at Lou Huaiche, and immediately deduced why neither had responded to her messages all day.

Chi Ruo was furious.

She’d been worried sick all day, and these two had been doing this?

Unable to vent her anger at Lou Huaiche, she kicked the leg of a nearby table and pointed at Jiang Youbai, unleashing a tirade without pausing for breath.

“Didn’t I message you yesterday asking for an explanation? You just said ‘no’ and ignored the dozen other messages I sent—all for this? This?”

She jabbed at the marks on Jiang Youbai’s neck and collarbone. “Just for this! Were you so busy you couldn’t reply to a single message? I’ve been worried sick since last night!”

Jiang Youbai dodged her fingers, raising her hands defensively. Though guilty, she feigned nonchalance. “Hey, hey, stop poking. It hurts. I didn’t have time yesterday—I threw my personal terminal down the drain. But it’s fine now, no harm done. Don’t be mad.”

Chi Ruo: “…”

Chi Ruo nearly fainted from anger. “‘No harm done’? That’s your line? Your mouth is so stubborn it’d still be intact even if you were cremated.”

Jiang Youbai quickly retreated behind Lou Huaiche. “It’s not entirely my fault… Why are you here? Let’s talk business first.”

Chi Ruo glanced at Lou Chuxue, who blinked and tactfully excused herself, closing the door behind her. Before leaving, she peeked her head back in with a bright smile and a peace sign. “Don’t worry! I’ll patrol outside. No one will eavesdrop on your secret talk!”

Chi Ruo blinked, then smiled softly. “Okay.”

Jiang Youbai recognized that look—Chi Ruo had a thing for girls like Lou Chuxue. She leaned in and whispered, “Don’t even think about it. That girl could take on ten people at once. I can barely lift her.”

Chi Ruo’s love life had never been Jiang Youbai’s business. Over the years, Chi Ruo had had so many partners that Jiang Youbai couldn’t keep track.

But from what Jiang Youbai remembered, most of them had been mutual attractions that quickly turned into public displays of affection.

Jiang Youbai glanced at Lou Huaiche and thought, If only I had that skill, we might’ve been buried together by now.

Chi Ruo ignored Jiang Youbai. She took a sip of water and said to Lou Huaiche, “Did Jiang Youbai tell you why she faked her death?”

When Lou Huaiche shook her head, Chi Ruo exploded. “Jiang Youbai! I knew your mouth was only good for arguing! You can’t spit out a single word about important matters, but you’re a master at bickering!”

She took a deep breath, recalling Ning Yunze’s reluctance to let Lou Huaiche know what he’d done, and Jiang Youbai’s earlier entanglement with Lou Huaiche due to the system. She wasn’t sure how to explain it to Lou Huaiche.

Whether Lou Huaiche could accept the truth was another matter entirely.

Chi Ruo poked Jiang Youbai, her anger deflating. “You explain it yourself.”

Jiang Youbai knew exactly why Chi Ruo couldn’t say it. Talking about this was inherently difficult—otherwise, she wouldn’t have dodged the subject entirely. But with Chi Ruo here, Lou Huaiche couldn’t possibly bite her again.

After some thought, Jiang Youbai decided to omit Ning Yunze’s involvement and spun a wild tale.

“Here’s the thing. A system calling itself a ‘cannon fodder’ approached me, saying this is a novel, you’re the villain destined to destroy the world, and I’m the cannon fodder who abandons you, causing your descent into darkness. But the plot deviated—you didn’t turn evil—so it wanted me to hurry up and ‘conquer’ you.”

Chi Ruo shot Jiang Youbai a warning look, wishing she could clamp a hand over her mouth.

Was this something you just blurted out? Wasn’t she afraid Lou Huaiche would lose it?

Jiang Youbai didn’t notice. Her expression grew solemn as she continued.

“During this process, I realized you were the protagonist. The system was an external predator. If your ‘protagonist aura’ was stolen, the world would collapse. But your aura was incomplete—part of it was with me. If I faked my death, it’d return to you. So I asked Chi Ruo to arrange a cloned body for me, transferred my consciousness, and staged my death…”

She left out Ning Yunze entirely, concluding with: “Now, the situation is that I’ve become the ‘chosen one,’ Jiang Qingxian seems to be the new villain, and he’s placed Ning Yunze under house arrest. Chi Ruo and I want to return to the Upper District to investigate Jiang Qingxian.”

Chi Ruo closed her eyes, feeling Jiang Youbai’s stupidity was too much to bear.

To her surprise, Lou Huaiche listened quietly until the end, showing no unusual reaction.

Lou Huaiche stood in the room, her bl00d running cold.

Seven lifetimes—she had struggled through these cycles, transforming from a living person into the maddened wreck she was now.

She had raged against fate, died in resentful madness, and once, upon rebirth, had been so overwhelmed by the pain that she killed herself immediately.

The truth behind this endless torment was this?

It wasn’t that Lou Huaiche was destined to die tragically, forever shrouded in darkness.

Jiang Youbai’s death wasn’t her fault either.

The furious bl00d boiling in her veins suddenly stilled.

Thinking of Jiang Youbai, Lou Huaiche gradually calmed down, regaining her sanity at the brink of madness. She suddenly asked, “Why did the system bind itself to you?”

Chi Ruo subtly stepped back, pinching Jiang Youbai’s arm as a hint to say something comforting and not upset Lou Huaiche further.

Jiang Youbai didn’t hesitate. “The system said I was the cannon fodder who abandons you, driving you to darkness. It wanted me to hurry up and ‘conquer’ you.”

Chi Ruo covered her face. Too stupid.

Lou Huaiche stared at Jiang Youbai, her eyes unblinking. Her lips curled into a faint smile. “So that’s how it was.”

So Jiang Youbai’s ambiguous affection, those intoxicating sweet nothings—this was the truth.

Jiang Youbai frowned. Something felt off about Lou Huaiche’s mood. She felt like she’d forgotten something important. After a pause, she added, “Of course, love and hate aren’t measured in numbers. I didn’t take the system’s words at face value—otherwise, I wouldn’t have realized the truth.”

Chi Ruo quickly jumped in, trying to salvage Jiang Youbai’s crumbling love life. “Right. The issue now is that the ‘chosen one’ has changed. We know nothing about Jiang Youbai’s worldline, so we’ll have to start with the suspected villain, Jiang Qingxian.”

Lou Huaiche suddenly recalled that over the past six months, she’d never once dreamed of Jiang Youbai. Instead, she often dreamed of golden fragments peeling away from her body, drifting toward an unknown destination.

Subconsciously, she’d felt those fragments were flowing toward Jiang Youbai, so she’d let them go.

Perhaps those golden fragments were the “protagonist aura” Jiang Youbai and Lou Huaiche spoke of.

Lou Huaiche rubbed her fingers, thinking: If Jiang Youbai has taken my aura, then it’s only fair I never let her go, right?

Jiang Youbai hummed. “Lou Huaiche and I have formally marked each other, so my rut cycles shouldn’t be as frequent now. We’ve communicated, and the rut issue is much more manageable.”

Chi Ruo nodded. “It’s hard for you to return to the Lower District, but Lou Huaiche can easily go to the Upper District. Pack up and come back with me now.”

Jiang Youbai blinked. “Now? So soon?”

Lou Huaiche added, “I need to go back too. Xiao Ning’s fate is unknown. I won’t rest easy until I see for myself.”

Chi Ruo said, “Understandable.”

Lou Huaiche and Ning Yunze were like Jiang Youbai and Chi Ruo—though perhaps not as inseparable, their bond was just as deep.

Ning Yunze had done so much for Lou Huaiche in secret. It hadn’t been in vain.

Jiang Youbai muttered, “I haven’t eaten yet…”

Chi Ruo ruffled her hair. “We’ll eat later. But openly returning from the Lower District to the Upper District is complicated, and we can’t be seen together too much. By the time we’re done, it’ll be past midnight.”

Jiang Youbai: “…”

Jiang Youbai: “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Can’t you wait ten minutes for me to eat?”

Chi Ruo confirmed, “I am.”

To return to the Upper District, Jiang Youbai’s identity had to be flawless. Any carelessness could expose her.

Chi Ruo said, “If you’re up against Jiang Qingxian, being an Alpha is inconvenient. You’ll disguise as a Beta—less noticeable.”

“Betas are harder to investigate in the Lower District. Easier to hide than an Alpha. Just suppress your pheromones.”

Lou Huaiche called Lou Chuxue back in. “Are there any recently deceased or near-death Betas in the base whose personal terminals haven’t been updated?”

Lou Chuxue’s eyes darted around before she listed four names. “These four. Three female Betas, one male Beta.”

The petite, lively Omega caught Chi Ruo’s attention again. Remembering Jiang Youbai’s earlier words and knowing Lou Huaiche’s base was actually a military group, Chi Ruo smiled. “Little General, your memory is impressive.”

Lou Chuxue loved being called “Little General.” Delighted, she beamed at Chi Ruo like a praised child.

“Of course!” Lou Chuxue bounded up to Lou Huaiche like an eager puppy. “Boss, I’m amazing, right? What do you need? I’ll get it ready now.”

Lou Huaiche patted her head. “Get a new identity for Li Sisi.”

Lou Chuxue looked at Jiang Youbai, puzzled. “Didn’t I find out she was suspicious?”

Jiang Youbai: “…”

Jiang Youbai: “So you were the one investigating me? And here I thought we were buddies.” She’d assumed this naive girl was just leaking secrets, never suspecting her.

Lou Huaiche massaged her temples and briefly explained, “She’s not a spy. An old friend of mine. Get her a new identity so she can return to the Upper District.”

Lou Chuxue didn’t pry. She blinked, flashed Jiang Youbai a cheerful smile, and said to Lou Huaiche, “Easy. I’ll make sure the records are flawless.”

Jiang Youbai: “Was that shade?”

Lou Chuxue hurried out, light on her feet. Watching her lively, efficient demeanor, Chi Ruo suddenly said, “I feel like we’re similar… both unlucky lackeys under ruthless bosses.”

Jiang Youbai thought, My entire fortune is still in your hands, but to avoid another scolding, she stayed silent.

Lou Chuxue quickly returned with a new personal terminal—an outdated model with limited identity-tracking capabilities. She instructed Jiang Youbai, “This belongs to a female Beta named Bai Mu. Memorize her background. There are many Betas with this name in the Lower District—hard to trace.”

With that, she turned to leave, giving them privacy.

Lou Huaiche stopped her. “I’ll be away for a while. Hold down the fort.”

Lou Chuxue’s face fell. “Boss!”

“It’s urgent. Won’t be long.”

Lou Chuxue pouted but reluctantly left.

Jiang Youbai fiddled with the new terminal, memorizing Bai Mu’s details and tweaking some information.

Chi Ruo said, “Now, we just need to get you back to the Upper District.”

Originally, slipping Jiang Youbai into the Upper District unnoticed—without linking her to Chi Ruo—would’ve taken meticulous planning. But with Lou Huaiche as the leader of one of A District’s largest factions, the problem vanished.

Chi Ruo couldn’t help complaining, “Why didn’t you just tell Lou Huaiche earlier… Wait, no. What is your relationship? It’s so weird.”

Lou Huaiche and Lou Chuxue left to handle paperwork. Alone with Chi Ruo, Jiang Youbai hesitated, finding it hard to articulate their messy dynamic.

Chi Ruo, a romance veteran, took one look and understood.

“Figures. Even the perfect princess is a love novice.”

Jiang Youbai’s upbringing had trained her to never act without absolute certainty—a survival skill in the imperial court.

But in matters of the heart, such caution became hesitation.

Love and power were different. Power could be bided; opportunities would come. But love?

Miss the moment, and it might be gone forever.

Chi Ruo felt like Jiang Youbai’s reincarnated mother, even worrying about her love life. She was about to lecture her further when footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Lou Huaiche and Lou Chuxue were back.

Chi Ruo dropped the subject, deciding to educate Jiang Youbai another time.

Lou Huaiche pushed the door open, Lou Chuxue trailing behind.

“Done. Once the formalities are settled, we can go.”

Chi Ruo stood. “I shouldn’t attract attention. To avoid suspicion, I’ll head back first.”

Lou Huaiche nodded calmly. “Lou Chuxue, escort Miss Chi out.”

Chi Ruo’s attention shifted to Lou Chuxue. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she smiled. “Then I’ll trouble Little General Lou.”

Lou Chuxue brightened, sticking out her tongue playfully. “No trouble! You called me ‘Little General,’ so you’re good people. I like you.”

Chi Ruo laughed, charmed, and moved to leave with Lou Chuxue.

Jiang Youbai finally snapped out of it. “Wait—”

Too late. Chi Ruo, engrossed with Lou Chuxue, closed the door behind them.

Jiang Youbai looked up at Lou Huaiche’s inscrutable expression and felt like a mouse under a snake’s gaze. She covered her glands and stepped back.

Lou Huaiche scoffed.

Jiang Youbai narrowed her eyes, a sudden boldness surging. She struck first, pinning Lou Huaiche’s arms and smiling sweetly. “Miss Lou, let me reiterate—you cannot bite an Alpha’s glands like that.”

Lou Huaiche struggled, taunting, “If you don’t know how to be an Alpha, I’ll teach you.”

Jiang Youbai smirked coldly. “Oh? Then why are you pinned down by me? Teach me now. I’m waiting.”

Lou Huaiche grabbed her throat, and the two began brawling in the conference room.

Both were skilled fighters. Unarmed, they were evenly matched, neither willing to yield. The fight grew fiercer, insults flying alongside blows.

Losing here felt like losing dignity itself.

At some point, one of them began releasing pheromones, trying to force the other into heat first.

Their scents, already mingled from mutual markings, filled the room—cedar and tea, raising the temperature.

Mid-fight, their breaths uneven, they began kissing.

Lips and tongues tangled, pheromones thick in the air, body heat transferring between them.

Kisses seemed to convey the emotions they couldn’t voice, a hazy expression of love.

Jiang Youbai and Lou Huaiche held each other, kissing fervently.

Even in such intimacy, they still fought for dominance, each trying to mark the other first.

Jiang Youbai laughed angrily. “Miss Lou, be good.”

Lou Huaiche flipped them over, pressing down on Jiang Youbai’s waist and legs. “The loser should be the obedient one.”

Gazing into Jiang Youbai’s bright eyes, she couldn’t help leaning down to kiss her again.

Breaths intertwined, they kissed while wrestling, each desperate to overpower the other.

The heat between them rose, pushing them into rut. Jiang Youbai flipped Lou Huaiche onto the floor, pinning her wrists.

Disheveled, her clothes askew, revealing pale skin and delicate collarbones, Jiang Youbai smirked arrogantly. “Miss Lou, my apologies.”

Then she sank her teeth into Lou Huaiche’s glands.

Lou Huaiche trembled, her eyes glazing over with moisture. Biting her lip, she felt as though she’d returned to last night, when Jiang Youbai had formally marked her.

“Your Highness…” Her voice trembled, unknowingly laced with a pitiful sob.

Jiang Youbai lifted her head, her gaze landing on the small blue rose tattoo on Lou Huaiche’s collarbone.

She traced it gently, pressing a tender kiss to the tiny blue rose before whispering in Lou Huaiche’s ear, “Miss Lou, you lost.”

……

Lou Huaiche felt dragged into an inescapable haze.

Her consciousness floated, anchored only by the clarity of the person before her.

She parted her lips slightly, clutching Jiang Youbai’s shoulders, scratching her back as she kissed her again.

They both loved kissing.

Kisses could banish despair and kindle love like a warm hearth.

Lou Huaiche gritted her teeth, her voice hoarse but still defiant. “Let me teach you!”