After the Scumbag Alpha Accidentally Marked the Blackened Villain - Chapter 23.1

“But why do you keep helping me like this?” Leng Jinxi sat on a nearby chair, one leg crossed over the other. Her head rested in her palm, lips curled into a faint smile, though her gaze remained sharp and probing.

“To you, I’m just a business marriage partner. I doubt I offer you any real benefit.” She chuckled softly, then seeing Lin Bie frown, decided to change the subject. “Thanks for saying all that—but let’s just leave it at that—”

“Don’t say that. This isn’t about helping or not helping. What happened is between me and Shan Yi. If it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t have targeted you. You wouldn’t have been tricked into that supply closet.”

The ‘villain’ was once again filled with doubt, falling back into her own insecurities. Lin Bie felt a dull frustration boiling inside her. Her eyes shimmered with restrained emotion, and her brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly.

“All of this—and what happened before—was between me and those people. You got dragged into it and suffered because of me. Shan Yi and Gu Ban are just out of their minds. Why should we let them get away with it?”

She had come to believe that Leng Jinxi was the kind of person who, even when bullied, would quietly endure it—a delicate little flower, swaying in the wind and rain, never resisting. It made Lin Bie both angry and distressed.

See? Even though this version of the ‘villain’ was seventy percent “blackened,” she was still fragile—unable to fight back when hurt. Who knew what terrible things the original Lin Bie had done to make Leng Jinxi decide on such a self-destructive ending?

The more Lin Bie thought about it, the worse she felt. Huffing out a breath, she silently cursed the original Lin Bie and this ridiculous world all over again.

Leng Jinxi, taken aback by her intense reaction, was momentarily at a loss for words. Perhaps Lin Bie’s firm defense had flustered her. She nervously bit her swollen lip. “You… really mean that?”

“Of course.” Lin Bie didn’t just mean that—she had also made up her mind to stay far away from Leng Jinxi. All of this misfortune seemed to happen because of her. Whenever she was near Leng Jinxi, bad things followed.

It was too dangerous. For both their sakes, they had to keep their distance. She couldn’t possibly have resolved to give Leng Jinxi her freedom from the story, only to end up dragging her into darkness again.

Lin Bie reaffirmed her commitment to staying out of the villain’s life. She looked steady and sure on the surface.

“Don’t overthink it. The people who hurt you deserve to pay for it.” Her tone left no room for doubt—including the original Lin Bie.

Leng Jinxi inhaled deeply. Her fingertips, resting on the table, trembled slightly. Lin Bie’s words stirred something inside her, disrupting the calm waters of her heart. She looked at Lin Bie, taking in the sweat-

soaked forehead and bl00d-speckled cheek.

“I’m a bit tired,” she murmured, turning her gaze away, as if unable to look at Lin Bie any longer.

Lin Bie immediately understood. “Then I’ll go. Get some rest.”

“No.” Leng Jinxi lifted her head, rubbing her temples. “Take a shower here before you go. I’ve got clean clothes you can wear.”

Only then did Lin Bie realize she was completely drenched, her clothes dusty, clinging to her skin from sweat—filthy and uncomfortable.

She shuddered, appalled by her own state. Just how long had it been since anyone cleaned that supply closet? Thank goodness nothing had actually happened in there.

“Okay,” she replied without hesitation.

As she turned to head toward the bathroom, carrying the clean underwear Leng Jinxi had prepared, the other woman stopped her and handed her some band-aids.

“Don’t let the wounds get wet. Cover them with these first,” she said.

Lin Bie’s heart skipped. So she had noticed, after all.

She didn’t argue—just smiled and took the band-aids before heading into the bathroom.

As the sound of running water filled the room, Leng Jinxi finally relaxed. Her body collapsed slightly into the chair, eyes closing as a storm of emotions surged through her chest.

Lin Bie’s words had hit her like a quiet wave turning into a violent tide. No one had ever voiced such direct concern for her. What’s more—she had said those things on purpose to test Lin Bie… and Lin Bie had responded without hesitation, choosing to stand by her side.

She never expected that such sincere words would come from someone who used to be a complete scoundrel—nor did she expect Lin Bie’s concern to be so genuine.

Her mind drifted back to that cramped, dim supply closet—the breathless tension, the restraint. Lin Bie had clung to reason with bloodied lips and clenched fists. Leng Jinxi could feel her trembling as she held her.

She knew.

Of course she knew. She had taken heat suppressants before entering that room. She watched, fully conscious, as Lin Bie suffered to avoid marking her—sweating, trembling, on the verge of collapse.

Her clothes, now covered in dust and that cloying perfume someone else had used to seduce, smelled awful. She hated that smell. She only liked Lin Bie’s faint scent—tequila and lime. When mixed with any other fragrance, it repulsed her deeply.

Somewhere deep down, she believed—instinctively—that scent should be hers alone.

She changed into clean pajamas but didn’t leave the room. Instead, she crouched and fished a new key from her pocket.

Her pale hand clenched it tightly, so hard it left a deep imprint in her palm. That key—to the supply closet—was now symbolic. Just like Lin Bie, who had now etched herself deep into Leng Jinxi’s heart.

She still couldn’t be sure what Lin Bie felt for her, nor whether the change in her was real. Lin Bie was no longer irritable, sensitive, or flirtatious. She even seemed to have forgotten the conflicts and wrongs between them.

Leng Jinxi lowered her gaze, shadows flickering in her eyes. At first, this had all been acting… but by the time the medication wore off, when they were pressed together in that small space… she had done things she couldn’t deny.

Desire had surged, and she hadn’t held back from tasting the sweetness of that forbidden scent.

Walking over to the trash bin, she opened her hand. The key clattered into the bin, a sharp, jarring sound echoing in the quiet room. Her expression was unreadable, lost in shadow like a stormy night.

Whether it was real or an illusion—she wouldn’t let Lin Bie go again.

—

When Lin Bie stepped out of the bathroom, freshly washed, Leng Jinxi had changed into clean clothes and was curled on the sofa under a soft blanket. Her wavy hair framed her serene face, lit by the room’s warm amber light.

Lin Bie felt a strange warmth swell in her chest, as though a soft paw had stirred her heart. Her whole being softened.

She sat quietly on a small stool near the bed, not daring to disturb her, scrolling through her phone.

Shan Yi hadn’t found them in the supply room—her plan had failed. She would definitely try something else soon. Lin Bie had to shut her down quickly before she could involve Leng Jinxi again.

She glanced at the sleeping woman. Her guilt deepened.

This wasn’t Leng Jinxi’s battle. She shouldn’t be dragged into it again.

Gu Ban, Shan Yi, and the rest of the original Lin Bie’s so-called “friends” had to be handled carefully.

Sighing deeply, Lin Bie felt overwhelmed—but relieved she hadn’t deleted those incriminating voice recordings of Shan Yi. She also had a few suppressed scandals she’d found online as backup.

She anonymously sent everything to a paparazzi agency. Since the other side had already chosen to play dirty, there was no need to maintain some moral high ground.

After finishing her messages, she finally noticed a text from Lin Qingsi from half an hour ago:

Lin Qingsi: [Are you off work yet?]

Lin Bie: [Not yet. Probably another hour or so.]

She planned to leave with Leng Jinxi after her shoot ended. As long as she was around, Shan Yi wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Factoring in wake-up and packing time, an hour seemed about right.

Still… she had the nagging feeling she’d forgotten something important.

Since there was no reply yet, she closed her phone and rubbed her aching head.

She was still sick, and the ordeal in the supply room had drained her. Now, surrounded by warmth, exhaustion surged in like a rising tide. She yawned again and again.

“Want to borrow the sofa?” came a clear, cool voice.

The sudden sound startled Lin Bie mid-yawn. She snapped her mouth shut so fast she nearly bit her tongue.

“You’re awake?” she rubbed her eyes, still damp with tears, stifling another yawn.

“I was—until your yawning woke me.” Leng Jinxi glanced at her. Noticed the band-aids properly applied—but also the damp hair dripping down her neck.

She frowned. “You’re still sick. Why didn’t you dry your hair?”

“I didn’t want to wake you…” Lin Bie mumbled.

“And that’s reason enough to ignore your own health?” Leng Jinxi’s tone turned cold and sharp. Lin Bie blinked, startled.

She wanted to argue that the room temperature was fine and it wouldn’t worsen her cold—but seeing Leng Jinxi’s stern face, she swallowed the words.

Leng Jinxi looked genuinely angry.

Lin Bie stood there silently, head lowered, damp hair clinging to her cheeks like a scolded child. Leng Jinxi’s anger faltered—after all, the girl had done it out of care for her. Her frustration slowly calmed.

With a soft sigh, she stood, grabbed some clean clothes, and headed for the shower. “Forget it. Dry your hair first. Then you can leave.”

But Lin Bie’s eyes flashed stubbornly. “No. I’m staying with you. Shan Yi is still on set. What if she’s planning something again?”

She wouldn’t leave Leng Jinxi alone—not until Shan Yi got what she deserved.

Leng Jinxi paused, Lin Bie’s words slipping into her heart like warm wind stoking a slow-burning flame. Standing in the wardrobe’s shadow, she said nothing.

Lin Bie waited, thinking she was considering her words. But Leng Jinxi only took her clothes and walked into the bathroom.

Just before the door shut, her voice drifted out—calm, unreadable:

“…Do what you want.”

Lin Bie raised her eyebrows slightly—this meant she was allowed to stay. Her mood lifted instantly. She picked up the hairdryer and began drying her hair while replying to a message from Lin Qingsi.

Lin Qingsi: [I’ll come pick you up after work. Let’s grab a bite together. It’s been so long since we had dinner just the two of us.]

Lin Bie glanced toward the bathroom, still echoing with the sound of running water, and typed a reply after a moment’s thought:

Lin Bie: [Alright. Wait for me at the Hengdian gate. I’ll message you as soon as I get off work.]

Before she had time to open Lin Qingsi’s next message, a burst of commotion from outside the lounge caught her attention. She set the hairdryer down and lifted the curtain slightly—her pupils suddenly widened.

Marching toward the lounge, just a few dozen meters away, was the entire production crew from the livestream variety show—the same people who had been in the equipment room earlier.

That’s when it hit her—the important thing she’d forgotten. Damn it! Why were they still here?

Seeing them heading straight for Leng Jinxi’s lounge, Lin Bie had no time to think. She rushed to the door, locked it from the inside, stuffed her phone into her pocket, and turned to knock urgently on the bathroom door.

“Leng Jinxi, are you done? Xie Yushu and those variety show people are back!”