After the Scumbag Alpha Accidentally Marked the Blackened Villain - Chapter 18

Ever since the two left, Leng Jinxi had been quietly watching from afar. Thankfully, Lin Bie returned not long after, her expression not much different from before.

Leng Jinxi didn’t quite know why she did it—she just had a strong urge to be close to this person. So, she didn’t stop herself when she reached out, and once Lin Bie approached, she took her hand and intertwined their fingers.

Every second Lin Bie was out of her sight, the absence of that familiar Alpha pheromone left her feeling unsettled.

Was it because of the temporary mark Lin Bie had left on her? She found herself growing addicted to that particular scent—tequila and lime—constantly thinking about it.

She just wanted… a little more.

Even though she’d only really known Lin Bie for three or four days, she still couldn’t tell whether what Lin Bie had said was the truth or just another carefully crafted lie. She didn’t trust anyone—not even her own chaotic, unreliable memories.

Glancing down at their linked hands, Leng Jinxi gently closed her eyes, and her fingers tightened through Lin Bie’s, locking them firmly together.

Lin Bie thought this sudden intimacy was part of their act, and though a flicker of surprise briefly froze her smile, it quickly returned to her lips as naturally as ever.

She didn’t care what Shan Yi thought. Her head was pounding and she just wanted to leave. Since Lin Qingsi was still deep in conversation with Shan Ningbai, she took the initiative to speak up and suggested she and Leng Jinxi head out first.

They had already discussed the arrangements beforehand, so Lin Qingsi offered no objections—only reminded her to be careful on the road before letting them go.

But when Lin Qingsi’s gaze fell on the two holding hands, her eyes visibly wavered. A bittersweet pang swelled in her chest.

And so, everyone in the hall watched as Lin Bie and Leng Jinxi walked out of the banquet together, fingers interlocked. Lin Bie even opened the car door for Leng Jinxi, a gesture that hinted at the depth of familiarity between them and cemented the public impression of a harmonious relationship.

Contrary to everyone’s assumptions, once they were in the car, Lin Bie immediately let go of Leng Jinxi’s hand and sat by the opposite window in the back seat. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the creeping dizziness from the alcohol.

Those two drinks were definitely strong. She had managed to hold herself together in the banquet hall, but now that she was seated comfortably in the soft leather seat, the alcohol quickly took over. She leaned against the window and closed her eyes to recover.

The driver was quiet as he focused on the road, and Leng Jinxi sat in silence as well. The interior of the car was warm and tranquil, and Lin Bie nearly drifted off.

Soon, her phone buzzed—it was a message from Lin Qingsi asking when she’d be home.

She had promised Leng Jinxi yesterday that she would review the new prenuptial agreement with her. If everything looked fine, they would sign it.

Estimating the distance and time in her head, she sent back a rough ETA.

Staring at her phone for too long while in a moving vehicle made her feel carsick, so she quickly put it away. Just then, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in her mind:

[Ding! Lin Qingsi’s favorability increased by 10%. Current value: -10.]

As she expected, Lin Qingsi’s attitude toward her was influenced by the hope she held as an older sister. Since Lin Bie hadn’t caused a scene at the banquet, the system rewarded her accordingly. If this continued, increasing favorability would be much easier going forward.

Running through the list of upcoming tasks in her head, the sleepiness gradually faded.

Still, there was no sound from the other side. Lin Bie assumed Leng Jinxi had fallen asleep too. But when she turned her head, she saw the other girl frowning slightly in discomfort.

Lin Bie had nearly forgotten—the villainess had a notoriously low alcohol tolerance. Her body, neglected in childhood and further burdened by her S-class Omega constitution, had always been fragile.

She couldn’t help but question whether the author’s idea of an “enhanced” S-class was truly an upgrade—or just another kind of torment.

Leng Jinxi had drunk too much tonight. Already weak from a recent cold and fever, her body hadn’t fully recovered. Her consciousness wavered, caught in a fog between sleep and wakefulness.

Suddenly, a gentle pressure massaged her temples. That dull fog seemed to lift, letting in a bit of light. The headache eased slightly.

The faint scent of tequila and lime—the Alpha’s pheromone—was like fizzy water on a hot summer day, washing away the bitterness. Her furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and she opened her eyes slightly to find Lin Bie looking at her with concern.

Wrapped in that familiar scent, she didn’t feel quite so uncomfortable anymore. She closed her eyes again and allowed herself to sink into the comforting atmosphere.

For now… I’ll believe what this person says.

________________________________________

To avoid making Leng Jinxi carsick, Lin Bie asked the driver to slow down. By the time they reached her place, what should have been a 40-minute drive had stretched to an hour.

Originally, Lin Bie planned to wait until she woke up before going inside, but the moment the car stopped, Leng Jinxi opened her eyes—and immediately looked at her.

Caught off guard by the sudden gaze, Lin Bie instinctively straightened her posture and swallowed nervously.

Did she see me massaging her temples earlier? No way—she was asleep… wasn’t she?

She really didn’t want to get too involved with the villainess, so facing Leng Jinxi’s probing look, she could only muster her courage and hold her ground.

Luckily, Leng Jinxi only stared at her for a few seconds before her gaze cleared. She looked away and opened the car door.

“Let’s go up.”

The night air was chilly, and having come from the warmth of the car, Lin Bie felt instantly more alert as she stepped outside. She looked at Leng Jinxi, who showed no change in expression.

Lin Bie clicked her tongue. That’s a Best Actress for you.

This was the third time she’d come to Leng Jinxi’s place in just four days. It was starting to feel oddly familiar—like coming home.

As she bent down to change her shoes at the entryway, she heard a soft meow from the living room.

“Xiao Guai.” Leng Jinxi walked over and looked fondly at the little cat curled up on the sofa, rubbing its head with a smile.

The light silver Maine Coon let out another soft “meow,” seemingly detecting the scent of alcohol on its owner. It looked up worriedly and reached out a paw to touch her. Its moss-green eyes sparkled under the lights—adorable beyond words.

Leng Jinxi chuckled softly and went to prepare food for it.

Lin Bie remained by the door, watching the gentle scene unfold between human and cat. Anyone who saw this heartwarming moment would feel a touch of sweetness in their chest.

“How old is Xiao Guai?”

Leng Jinxi turned to look at her. “Six months.”

“Still just a baby.” Lin Bie came over and gently patted the kitten’s head. Since she had fed it before, Xiao Guai had no hostility toward her and happily munched on its food, letting out soft purring sounds.

As if it knew how cute it was, it deliberately rubbed against Lin Bie’s palm.

Her heart melted instantly.

“When did Xiao Guai come to live with you?” Lin Bie asked. In the original plot, Leng Jinxi didn’t have a pet. Could my arrival in this world already be causing narrative divergence?

“Three months ago. I found her in the woods near the villa complex,” Leng Jinxi replied simply.

Lin Bie’s hand froze for a moment. Coincidentally, it was around three months ago that her and Leng Jinxi’s fates first began to intertwine.

She looked down at the kitten, cheeks puffed as it ate. A vivid scene formed in her mind—rain pouring in a forest, a tiny drenched kitten blinking its moss-green eyes, staring at her pitifully.

It was a striking image.

She’d always thought Xiao Guai resembled Leng Jinxi a bit. And now, in her imagination, the kitten’s form wavered and shifted into that of a rain-soaked Leng Jinxi, eyes shining with starlight, gazing at her helplessly.

The double impact of cuteness and beauty hit her square in the heart. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her—as if, at some point in time, in some place she couldn’t recall, she had felt this same soft tenderness. Her gaze toward the kitten froze slightly.

Unaware of Lin Bie’s thoughts, Leng Jinxi waited until the kitten had eaten and drunk its fill before leading Lin Bie to the study to review the newly drafted prenuptial agreement.

Lin Bie had been uncharacteristically quiet since earlier, but she followed obediently.

The documents were stored in a drawer under the study desk. Leng Jinxi opened it and pulled out two identical copies—one for herself, and one she placed in front of Lin Bie.