After the Scumbag Alpha Heard her Inner Thoughts (GL) - Chapter 10

The true culprit, Fang Shucui, put on a dramatic “face-changing” act the moment she saw Chu Muqing — her impatience instantly turned into obsequiousness.

“Muqing~” Fang Shucui rose and walked over. “I wasn’t really angry. Qingqing just wasn’t properly taught by us, and I was worried she might embarrass herself at the Chu family. I merely said a few words to her.”

“Oh?” Chu Muqing didn’t wait for her to approach; she pulled out a chair beside Su Wanqing and sat down, tilting her head slightly to look at Su Wanqing with a probing gaze. “Is that so?”

Chu Muqing asked this with a calm face, not even a flicker of emotion showing — but Su Wanqing could hear the underlying threat in her voice.
If she dared say otherwise, the next second the table might well be overturned.

This dinner had been arranged mainly for the sake of retrieving her mother’s belongings. Since Chu Muqing was here, there was no need for Su Wanqing to offend Fang Shucui unnecessarily.

Fang Shucui glared at her, her eyes practically shouting, “Do you dare say otherwise?”

Su Wanqing rubbed her shoulder and said, “Mm, Aunt Fang is right.”

Chu Muqing stared at Su Wanqing. It was such an obvious lie, yet she didn’t call her out on it. Even so, she wasn’t pleased — few dared to play this kind of double game in front of her.

Fang Shucui finally relaxed, feeling grateful that Su Wanqing knew her place. Since she was already standing near the door, she called for the waiter to start serving the dishes.

“Muqing~ The crab dishes here are especially good. You should give them a try,” Fang Shucui said in a sickeningly sweet tone, eager to curry favor.

“Sorry, I’m allergic to seafood,” Chu Muqing replied casually.

A brief look of embarrassment flashed across Fang Shucui’s face. “No problem, there are plenty of other dishes. The golden silk tofu soup is quite good.”

In the original plot, Chu Muqing wasn’t allergic to seafood — it seemed she had said that purely because she couldn’t stand Fang Shucui.

Su Wanqing also disliked Fang Shucui’s fawning face, but the circumstances today were special.

Under the table, Su Wanqing lightly tugged at Chu Muqing’s sleeve — if Chu Muqing kept playing verbal games, she might not get the item she needed.

“Alright, no need to fuss. We’re all family here,” Chu Muqing said.

The waiters gradually brought out the dishes. As the head of the family, Su Pingwei spoke first. “Muqing, our two families joining through marriage may have started for other reasons, but it’s still a kind of fate. I’m busy with work, and Qingqing has grown up a little undisciplined. If she ever behaves improperly, I hope you’ll be forgiving.”

Chu Muqing gave a faint “Mm” in response.

“Well then, let’s eat,” Su Pingwei said, pretending not to notice her indifference.

This was just how he was — neither competitive nor confrontational, turning a blind eye to most things. It was the same with his work, and the same with Fang Shucui.

Whatever others said, he simply accepted.

Somewhat honest, somewhat spineless.

As the dishes were fully laid out, the waiter pressed the automatic rotation button, and the table slowly began to turn.
Su Wanqing caught sight of the signature crab dish — the crabs were neatly tied up and placed on a platter, bound with edible ribbons.

Crab meat was scarce and troublesome to eat — not ideal for a meal where everyone was ready to start a “meeting” at any moment.

Su Wanqing had to give up and turned to other dishes.

After Chu Muqing declared her seafood allergy, everyone at the table seemed to silently reach a consensus — no one touched the crab. After two full turns of the table, the crabs remained untouched.

Su Wanqing licked her lips and picked up a piece of lobster.

This crab was different from the usual kind — it was pure white. She had heard that only one in ten thousand crabs would be white like that, called a “Jade Crab.”

She wondered what it tasted like, and whether there was a difference between male and female crabs.

When the crab platter rotated to Chu Muqing’s side, Chu Muqing directly reached out and grabbed two crabs, placing them on the plate in front of her.

Everyone looked on in stunned confusion. Su Ningxuan even discreetly pulled out her phone, ready to call an ambulance at any moment.

But no one dared to speak out — they simply pretended not to see and continued eating and drinking as usual.

The calmest of all was Su Wanqing. After all, she knew Chu Muqing wasn’t actually allergic.
Still, seeing Chu Muqing eat them made her even hungrier.
If Chu Muqing could eat them… did that mean she could too?

Chu Muqing raised her hand and untied the strap around the crab, then picked up the scissors nearby. With skilled movements, she first cut the legs, then the belly, and used a spoon to scoop out the crab roe inside.

Su Wanqing, who was sitting very close, could even smell the sweet fragrance drifting over.

Just as Chu Muqing had almost finished eating, Fang Shucui seized the opportunity to speak up.
“Muqing~ Since we’re family now, there’s no need to be so formal. Ningxuan, Su Wanqing’s younger brother, just graduated this year. I was wondering if there might be a suitable opportunity with you?”

“He graduated from a prestigious university — a 985 school,” Fang Shucui added proudly.
Fearing Chu Muqing might refuse, she quickly added, pretending to sound modest,
“Of course, I’m not saying you have to hire him outright — just offering a chance for him to interview.”

As if it was truly just an interview — Fang Shucui obviously expected it to be a mere formality leading directly to a job offer.
She was practically rubbing her hands with glee at the thought.

Su Pingwei, playing the good guy, added,
“Muqing, I understand your company must have strict policies. If it’s inconvenient, just forget it. We don’t want to trouble you.”

Trouble?!

Chu Muqing listened to their endless chatter without pausing her movements.
In the time it took for them to make their speeches, she had already processed two crabs.
Su Wanqing couldn’t help but glance over from time to time.

At first, she was simply tempted by the crab.
Later, she found herself mesmerized by Chu Muqing’s movements.

Her hands were slender and graceful, with clearly defined joints. Every motion — cutting, scooping, presenting — was fluid and elegant, almost like a performance.

What started as sneaky glances from Su Wanqing soon became open, unabashed staring.
And then, just as she was watching intently, Chu Muqing casually pushed a plate toward her.

“Eat,” Chu Muqing said.

What?!

Su Wanqing’s eyes instantly lit up.
“For me?” she asked.

“Your drool is about to drip out,” Chu Muqing said disdainfully, shooting her a glance.

Su Wanqing eagerly picked up her spoon, scooped up a large bite, and stuffed it into her mouth.
As expected, the taste was completely different from ordinary crabs — sweeter and more tender.

The flavor was rich and melted in her mouth.

Happiness bloomed on her face.
Su Wanqing closed her eyes slightly, savoring the moment before quickly taking another big bite.

As the heir of the Chu family, Chu Muqing rarely had quiet, leisurely meals without some hidden agenda — most of her dinners involved alcohol and business deals.

Over time, food had become meaningless to her: good, bad, it was all just fuel to keep going.

If it were possible to live without eating, Chu Muqing would probably have given up meals altogether.

Yet now, watching Su Wanqing eat — cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, golden crab roe smudged adorably at the corner of her lips, her quick tongue darting out to lick it clean —
it stirred something unexpected.

It was just two crabs, yet Su Wanqing’s bright apricot eyes seemed ready to burst into little hearts.
Completely different from the wary, guarded looks she had shown Chu Muqing in previous encounters.

It was the first time Chu Muqing had seen such a vivid, lively side of her.

And somehow… it made Chu Muqing feel hungry too.

After finishing her last bite, Su Wanqing glanced up — only to catch Chu Muqing still looking at her, openly, intently.
Su Wanqing panicked.
Oh no! I must’ve looked so ungraceful! Why didn’t I control myself?!

She was just about to say something to break the awkwardness when Chu Muqing turned to Fang Shucui.

“You were saying? About work?”

“Yes, yes!” Fang Shucui hurried to respond.
“He studied programming. He’s even developed a few apps by himself.”

Su Ningxuan stole a glance at Chu Muqing, trying to read her expression.
He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but judging by how she had just gone out of her way to prepare crab for Su Wanqing, their relationship probably wasn’t bad.

Su Wanqing’s earlier words — “don’t make things difficult” — probably weren’t just for show.

“Mom, can you say a little less?” Su Ningxuan said.

Chu Muqing wiped her hands and asked, “Which university?”

“Beicheng University,” Fang Shucui answered quickly.

“Send your résumé to your sister. I’ll take a look when I have time,” Chu Muqing said.

“Thank you, Sister Muqing,” Su Ningxuan said gratefully.

Fang Shucui hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly.
Relaxing completely, she began eating heartily and even later ordered a bottle of wine, proposing a couple of toasts to Chu Muqing.

Chu Muqing had known all along they came with an agenda.
But since it was a matter concerning Su Wanqing’s family, she left the decision in Su Wanqing’s hands.

After the meal, Su Pingwei offered a few polite words.

“Muqing, a batch of spring tea will be arriving at my place soon. If you enjoy tea, you’re welcome to come pick some.”

“If I have time, I’ll stop by,” Chu Muqing said, then added, pulling Su Wanqing closer to her side,
“And I’ll have Su Wanqing bring me over.”

Xu Chengke came to pick them up. Before they got in the car, he carefully observed the two — they seemed to be in good spirits, so dinner must have gone well.
Once inside, he tactfully raised the privacy partition.

The car cruised smoothly through the streets, the scenery outside sliding steadily by.

“As for the job matter,” Chu Muqing said lazily,
“it’s up to you. If you want to help him, have Xu Chengke arrange something.”

Su Wanqing remembered that in the original plot, Su Ningxuan hadn’t ended up well.
Chu Muqing had assigned him to a small company, where the boss later stole his research results and sold them to the Gu family.

An entire quarter’s project was ruined, causing a loss of over a billion yuan.

Chu Muqing mistakenly thought that the Su family had colluded with the Gu family, planting spies in her company.
As a result, she took her anger out on Su Wanqing.

Personally, Su Wanqing didn’t want to give Su Ningxuan a recommendation at all.
But Fang Shucui was shrewd — without a formal job in hand, she definitely wouldn’t hand over the things Su Wanqing wanted.

So annoying.

“If he applied through the normal process, would he even have a chance?” Su Wanqing asked.

“None,” Chu Muqing replied.

“Not even a little?”

“You can ask Xu Chengke about our hiring standards.”

Su Wanqing fell silent.

“Judging by your tone, you don’t want to help?” Chu Muqing asked.

“I just think it should be fair,” Su Wanqing said softly.

Fair?

Chu Muqing let out a soft laugh.
In this world, what was “fair”? Only strength earned you the right to even speak of fairness.

“Then why were you so eager to get me to come last night?” Chu Muqing asked, puzzled.

“……”

From the moment she walked into the private room, Chu Muqing could tell that Su Wanqing didn’t get along with her stepmother.
Yet despite that, she had still chosen to help.
Why?
If someone hesitated like that, it usually meant the other side had something they wanted — or had a hold over them.

After countless rounds of negotiation and power plays, Chu Muqing quickly figured it out.

The two of them sat in the back seat, a large space separating them.
Chu Muqing leaned over slightly and reached behind Su Wanqing, her hand hooking around the back of her neck.

With a firm tug, she pulled her closer.

“My people — and you’re afraid of something?” Chu Muqing’s fingers tightened slightly.
“What does she have over you?” she asked.

“M-My mother’s things,” Su Wanqing stammered.

“I see,” Chu Muqing said.

No wonder she had swallowed her pride and gone to such lengths yesterday.

Chu Muqing hadn’t realized her grip was a bit too firm until she heard Su Wanqing inhale sharply, barely audibly.

She clicked her tongue in mild annoyance.
I didn’t even use that much force — this girl is as delicate as the princess in ‘The Princess and the Pea’.

The car pulled into Yuejing, their residential community.
Xu Chengke lowered the partition and asked,
“Boss, where will you be staying tonight?”

“I’ll stay here,” Chu Muqing said casually.

The moment she heard that, Su Wanqing stiffened completely — even the ache in her shoulder disappeared.
She turned desperately to Xu Chengke for help, but he carefully avoided her gaze.

The car made a loop through the community entrance and drove into the underground parking garage.

At the elevator, Su Wanqing still hadn’t thought of a way to persuade Chu Muqing to go home.
All she could do was pray silently that Chu Muqing would suddenly change her mind.

When they reached the door, she watched helplessly as Chu Muqing pressed her fingerprint on the lock.
With a soft “ding,” the door opened — it sounded like the clang of a death sentence.

Su Wanqing’s legs turned to jelly.
She followed Chu Muqing inside, looking like a walking corpse.