After the Scumbag Alpha Accidentally Marked the Blackened Villain - Chapter 16

Wang You had worked in the service industry for many years, but today was the first time he’d ever been treated as such a “valuable asset” by someone higher up. After receiving a transfer equivalent to a full year’s salary, he carried out the assigned task, handed his tray off to a colleague, and eagerly slipped away to report back with excitement.

“Yes, yes, I’ve already poured mango juice into Leng Jinxi’s wine. Don’t worry—once the allergic reaction kicks in, at most it’ll just be blamed on poor hospitality or a simple oversight in not checking the guest’s preferences.”

He hunched over the phone, laughing obsequiously. “You can count on me—there’s no way anyone will find out. So, about the rest of my payment—hey, what the hell?! Who are you?!”

Before he could finish his sentence, someone snatched the phone right out of his hand. He spun around in shock, ready to explode with anger—until he saw who had taken it.

The moment Wang You laid eyes on the person, all his fury was doused like a flame in cold water. His face turned pale, lips trembling, and when he finally spoke, even his voice was quivering.

“Ms… Ms. Lin…”

Lin Bie stared coldly at him, her mind echoing the words she had just overheard.

An allergic reaction… meant for Leng Jinxi?

Her brows furrowed so tightly it looked like she could crush a fly between them. She swallowed the rage bubbling inside and glanced at the phone in her hand. The call had already been hung up. When she dialed again, the number showed she’d been blocked.

Her face darkened further. With her jaw tight and knuckles white from the pressure of her grip, she asked through clenched teeth, “Who ordered you to do it?”

Wang You was slick enough to know there was no use lying now. He dropped to his knees immediately, spilling everything he knew.

“Ms. Lin, it wasn’t me—I was just following orders from someone higher up—”

Before he could finish groveling, Lin Bie glanced down at the name tag on his chest with an icy gaze. “I don’t have time to listen to your excuses. Wang You, was it? I’ll remember you.”

With that, she turned and strode off. She didn’t look at him again. Behind her, Wang You collapsed to the ground, legs weak and face full of despair.

It’s over. I’m done for.

Lin Bie stormed into the banquet hall, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes—but the familiar red silhouette was nowhere to be found. Panic immediately gripped her.

If Wang You had already made his report, that meant Leng Jinxi had likely received the wine… and possibly even taken a sip.

Her heart plummeted.

She had just sworn not to let anyone close to her suffer another allergic reaction—and now this?

Was fate playing a joke on her?

Lin Bie took a deep breath and moved quickly through the hall. People tried to approach her with smiles, but she brushed them off coldly. Throughout the crowd, one gaze followed her every step, as though enjoying the spectacle of her frantic search.

Finally, after covering more than half the hall, she spotted her.

In the corner stood Leng Jinxi, smiling politely as she held a glass of wine and chatted with a guest. She was just about to raise the glass to her lips.

Lin Bie’s pupils contracted. She rushed over and snatched the wine straight from Leng Jinxi’s hand, and under the stunned gazes of everyone around, downed it in one swift motion.

Leng Jinxi had been in the middle of a business conversation with Mr. Li. As they raised their glasses for a polite clink, Lin Bie suddenly appeared, grabbed her wine, and drank it herself.

Leng Jinxi froze.

She watched Lin Bie finish the entire glass in one gulp, her brows knitting ever so slightly. Was Lin Bie going to cause another scene?

But then she recalled—Lin Bie had promised not to act impulsively anymore. So she quickly recovered her composure and offered a polite, apologetic smile to Mr. Li.

After all, if Lin Bie was truly trying to earn her trust, she should give her a chance.

As Lin Bie lowered the glass, she realized the entire hall was staring at her. She let out an awkward chuckle.

“Sorry about that—I was just a little thirsty.”

A few people around them chuckled in amusement.

“Look at Little Lin—so thirsty she can’t even wait for water, has to drink from Jinxi’s glass instead.”

“What a newlywed couple—don’t even mind drinking after each other. Sweet as can be.”

“She didn’t even hesitate! Must be true love.”

Lin Bie thought to herself, Leng Jinxi never even touched that wine.

She reached for Leng Jinxi’s hand. The other woman stiffened slightly, but Lin Bie held on tighter, silently apologizing. She met Leng Jinxi’s emotionless gaze and said calmly:

“Wife, I need to talk to you.”

She made a move to leave, but someone blocked her path.

“Why not say it here? We’d all love to hear what the newlyweds have to discuss,” the man said, summoning a server and picking up two glasses from the tray.

“Jinxi and I were talking business before you interrupted. Since you caused the disruption, the least you two can do is each take a penalty drink.”

The surrounding crowd chimed in.

“Yeah, Lin, you really startled everyone. Don’t care how in love you are—some courtesy, please.”

“Since you’re married, why not drink a cross-cupped toast?”

Lin Bie frowned slightly at the two brightly colored drinks.

They looked like soda, lacked any alcohol burn, but were actually very strong. One glass was enough to knock out someone with a low tolerance.

Given the mocking gaze from Mr. Li and the expectant looks from others, Lin Bie knew she had no choice but to drink.

She wasn’t someone who passed out from a sip of alcohol—she just tended to get dizzy and sick the next day. But that didn’t matter right now. What mattered was whether those drinks had mango juice in them too.

While she weighed her options, Leng Jinxi maintained a graceful smile, standing beside her like a picture-perfect bride. When someone mentioned the cross-cupped toast, she didn’t object—just reached toward one of the glasses.

But her wrist was suddenly pinned down by slender, cool fingers.

Leng Jinxi’s lashes fluttered, and she turned to look.

Lin Bie smiled faintly, meeting Mr. Li’s gaze. “My wife doesn’t hold her liquor well. I’ll drink both.”

She picked up a glass and drank it in one go.

Leng Jinxi’s wrist trembled slightly under her touch. She looked up and saw Lin Bie downing the drink… then the second one.

She… she’s shielding me.

Under the light, the wine shimmered like clouds. The warmth of Lin Bie’s touch still lingered on her wrist, seeping through her skin, spreading like fire through her veins.

She stared at Lin Bie, emotions roiling behind her calm eyes.

Does she really have to play the role this thoroughly?

Lin Bie, expression unreadable, finished both strong drinks in a single breath, drawing more praise from the crowd.

“Wow, Little Lin really protects Jinxi. I didn’t believe it before, but now look—they’re practically joined at the hip.”

It was only then Lin Bie noticed that her hand had been taken—when did that happen?

Leng Jinxi’s fingers lightly traced her skin, warm and delicate like jade. It felt as if the sensation sank into her bloodstream and straight to her heart.

She raised her brows, unfazed. “About the Leng and Li family’s collaboration—we hope Mr. Li will be generous.”

Mr. Li was stunned. He had only intended to embarrass the young couple a little. But Lin Bie had shown no weakness, and now it looked like he was the one being petty.

He forced a smile. “Of course. With such sincerity, I’d be happy to proceed.”

He extended a hand, but Lin Bie just glanced at it before turning to Leng Jinxi and placing an arm around her shoulder.

“I’m feeling tipsy. Wife, come outside with me.”

Leng Jinxi was briefly dazed by the endearment. Even without showing it on her face, concern flickered in her eyes.

“…Okay.”

Mr. Li’s hand froze midair, then dropped awkwardly. He gritted his teeth as the couple walked off together, and tried to hide his embarrassment under the weight of the crowd’s amusement.

Arm in arm, Lin Bie and Leng Jinxi walked out of the banquet hall and into the garden. Only when they were out of sight did Lin Bie finally let go, her fingers numb from tension.

Maybe it was the aftereffect of their past pheromone contact, but just being near Leng Jinxi made her glands tremble beneath the scent of camellias. She had to take a step back to clear her head.

Facing Leng Jinxi, who had been silently observing her all this time, Lin Bie felt her anger surge again as she recalled Wang You’s call and the nearly swallowed wine.

Why do villains always have so many enemies—and why do I keep running into them?

Leng Jinxi, noticing her deepening frown, suddenly asked gently:

“Were you that worried I might get drunk?”

Lin Bie was caught off guard. Thinking about how close that drink had come to her lips, she felt a shiver of fear.

“…You’re allergic to mango, aren’t you? Someone poured mango juice into your drink.”

Her voice was low and tense.

She hadn’t realized it, but the scent of camellias was slowly wrapping around her like a soft net, calming her from the inside out.

Leng Jinxi lowered her gaze, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings in the moonlight.

So that’s why she rushed over—she was afraid I’d have an allergic reaction.

“I am allergic,” she said softly. “But how did you know someone put mango in my wine?”

Lin Bie blinked. Trust a villain to cut straight to the point.

She scratched her head. “You mentioned my sister’s allergy once. I got paranoid and memorized your allergens too. On the way out, I overheard a server making a call.”

She gave a rough summary of what had happened. Leng Jinxi’s gaze grew colder with every word.

Just after they’d parted, a server had come over with that wine, claiming it was from Lin Bie. She’d thought Lin Bie was too embarrassed to approach her after the rose specimen incident, and took the glass without suspicion.

If she had drunk it and had a reaction, everyone would believe Lin Bie had deliberately caused it to avoid the marriage. They wouldn’t doubt it for a second.

It was an incredibly clever setup.

And Lin Bie… she really was different from before.

Not just her actions, but something deeper.

Though she should’ve been angry at being targeted, Leng Jinxi smiled. Her ink-dark eyes flickered with something Lin Bie couldn’t read.

“Did you figure anything out?” she asked.

Coming back to herself, Leng Jinxi looked up and replied in a warm voice:

“That server said you ordered the drink for me.”

Lin Bie’s expression darkened.

What she didn’t know—was that Leng Jinxi had never told her she was allergic to mango.