After the Scumbag Alpha Heard her Inner Thoughts (GL) - Chapter 16

Not wanting to continue discussing anything related to Chu Muqing with Cheng Zhuo, Su Wanqing was about to find an excuse when she spotted Su Ningxuan coming out of the private room.

They waved at each other and met by the door.
Su Ningxuan leaned over, glanced around, and asked, “Who was that just now?”

“The owner of Yi He, Cheng Zhuo. He’s a good friend of Chu Muqing.”

“Oh,” Su Ningxuan replied simply.

The two of them had just sat down when a waiter entered and asked politely, “President Cheng said to directly serve you Set Menu 1. May I ask if there’s anything else you would like?”

Su Wanqing accepted the menu, crossed off half of the items, and said, “Just these, please.”

“Shall we start serving now?”

“Yes.”

After the waiter left, Su Wanqing asked, “Which university did you choose?”

“University of Sydney,” Su Ningxuan answered.

“That’s not bad,” she said.

“I originally wanted to go to the U.S., but it looked way too competitive. I’m not that ambitious,” he said, grinning.

“I thought you would have chosen to work instead.”

“I didn’t want to start working just yet. Back then, it was all because of Mom.”

As soon as he said that, Su Ningxuan realized he might have touched on a sore spot—Su Wanqing didn’t like talking about their mother.

“Sorry… has all this caused you trouble?”

“It’s no trouble,” Su Wanqing replied, thinking about her current situation with Chu Muqing.
In a way, it was Chu Muqing who needed her now.
Helping her half-brother find a university wasn’t a big deal.

The dishes arrived one after another. Even though Su Wanqing had crossed off most of the menu, eight dishes were still served.

Cheng Zhuo’s restaurant truly lived up to its reputation—everything looked and tasted exquisite.
Even Su Wanqing, who hadn’t had much of an appetite lately, found herself eating quite a lot.

After tasting several flavors, Su Wanqing grabbed a napkin and asked, “Is there anything else you need for studying abroad? I can take you shopping this afternoon.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Su Ningxuan hurriedly declined.
Originally, according to his mother’s plans, he was supposed to start working this year. Applying for graduate study abroad at this point had been a complicated process—if it hadn’t been for Assistant Xu’s help, the application wouldn’t have gone through so quickly.

He felt bad enough already and couldn’t bring himself to ask Su Wanqing for more.
Besides, he was a guy; rough living wasn’t a big deal.

“Sis, keep your money for yourself,” Su Ningxuan said quietly. “I know the Chu family isn’t exactly easy to live with.”

Having been born into a family like theirs, he understood more than he wished to—whether he wanted to or not, Fang Shucui had forced him to know.

“Tch,” Su Wanqing chuckled, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “So sensible now.”

Before she could say anything more, the door was pushed open. A waitress led in Fang Shucui, explaining apologetically, “Excuse me, Miss Su, this lady said she’s your mother.”

Su Wanqing caught sight of her and calmly said to the waitress, “It’s fine.”

The waitress stood there nervously.

The guests at Yi He were either wealthy or influential. Earlier, Cheng Zhuo had personally instructed them to take special care of the guests in Room 302.
When Fang Shucui arrived, looking aggressive, the waitress hadn’t dared to stop her. What if she really was a family member? If she blocked the wrong person, it would be impossible to explain. So reluctantly, she led her in.

Thankfully, the guest didn’t make a scene, and the waitress breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mom, why are you here?” Su Ningxuan quickly stood up and walked toward the door.

Fang Shucui didn’t waste any time—she grabbed a cup of water from the table and splashed it straight at Su Wanqing.

The water, already cold, dripped from the side of Su Wanqing’s face down to her neck.

“Mom, what are you doing?!” Su Ningxuan cried out in shock.

“It’s all because of you, you wretched girl!” Fang Shucui shrieked.
“You coaxed my son into going abroad!
You got yourself married off and abandoned us—and now you even dare to—”

Fang Shucui arrived in a fury. After shouting a few insults and still feeling unsatisfied, she grabbed the water cup from the table and hurled it straight at Su Wanqing.
Su Ningxuan rushed to intercept her, pulling Fang Shucui back.
The cup veered off course and hit Su Wanqing squarely on her collarbone.

Su Wanqing hissed in pain, clutching her collarbone.
She was about to fire back when she spotted Chu Muqing approaching, her face dark as thunder.

Su Ningxuan froze, not knowing whether to continue restraining Fang Shucui or to check if Su Wanqing was hurt.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Chu Muqing—and was immediately terrified.

Chu Muqing strode over in large, angry steps, reaching Su Wanqing’s side and pulling her gently into her arms.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, voice low but tense.

Su Wanqing rubbed her collarbone and shook her head. It hurt a bit, but it wasn’t serious—not enough to break a bone.
“Why are you back already? Wasn’t your flight supposed to land at four?”

Chu Muqing paused for a second, looking down at her.
“You knew about my flight?”

She had assumed Su Wanqing didn’t care about her itinerary. Her reaction was unexpected.

“I finished work early and changed my flight,” Chu Muqing explained.

After speaking, she carefully helped Su Wanqing sit down. Standing behind her, Chu Muqing casually pulled out her phone and typed a message.

Her movements were slow and deliberate.
Meanwhile, the other three people in the room didn’t dare move a muscle.
The atmosphere instantly froze to an icy silence.

Fang Shucui had come here after making sure Chu Muqing was supposedly out of the country.
She had planned to cause trouble first, then retreat and demand that Su Wanqing find a job for Ningxuan—threaten a little, compromise a little, and ultimately get what she wanted: for Ningxuan to stay in the country.

She had calculated it perfectly.

What she hadn’t expected was Chu Muqing’s sudden return.

Chu Muqing’s “reputation” preceded her.
Facing her, Fang Shucui didn’t dare say a word.
She shrank behind Su Ningxuan, trying to make herself invisible.

Chu Muqing finished sending the message and pocketed her phone.
Moments later, Cheng Zhuo walked in, looking completely bewildered.
Glancing around the room, he raised an eyebrow at Chu Muqing and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Come here,” Chu Muqing said.

Though confused, Cheng Zhuo obediently approached.

Seizing the moment while they were distracted, Fang Shucui tugged Su Ningxuan’s sleeve, trying to sneak away.

Su Ningxuan also knew it was best not to stay any longer.
They had only taken two steps when Chu Muqing’s cold voice cut through the air:

“Mother-in-law,” she said mockingly, “you came all this way and barely said a word before leaving?
That would make me look rude, wouldn’t it?”

Chu Muqing hadn’t even released her pheromones, yet the pressure she radiated was suffocating.

Fang Shucui froze on the spot, panic flooding her mind.
She was doomed.
She had come looking for trouble, but now—there was no escape.
Gone was her earlier arrogance.
She stood there awkwardly, trying to think of a way out.

Chu Muqing gently patted Su Wanqing’s shoulder.
“Cheng Zhuo, check her. That cup hit her chest just now.”

“I’m not an orthopedic doctor, you know,” Cheng Zhuo muttered under his breath.
Still, he bent down and examined Su Wanqing’s collarbone.
“It’s just bruised—no fracture,” he said after checking.

He reached out and gently pressed the area.
“Does it hurt?”

“It’s alright,” Su Wanqing replied.

“No fracture,” Cheng Zhuo confirmed.

But Chu Muqing’s attention wasn’t on the diagnosis—it was on the way Cheng Zhuo’s hand brushed Su Wanqing’s skin.

Cheng Zhuo was an Alpha too; the faint trace of his pheromones still lingered in the air.

Having been already enraged, Chu Muqing’s Alpha instincts were dangerously close to snapping.

The moment Cheng Zhuo finished speaking, Chu Muqing pulled his hand away and stepped firmly between the two of them.

Cheng Zhuo stumbled slightly, surprised by the force.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he silently grumbled: Has she been working overtime so much she’s gone crazy?

Chu Muqing pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Sit. Everyone. Sit down,” she said calmly.

The words were polite, but the room felt like the calm before a storm.

Cheng Zhuo immediately sensed something was wrong.
Muttering a quick, “Call me if you need anything,” he slipped along the edge of the room and left.

Su Ningxuan didn’t dare sit.
Leaning on the table’s edge, he bowed his head and stammered, “President Chu, today… it’s my mother’s fault. She has a bad temper.”

“And?” Chu Muqing asked coldly, as if his explanation meant nothing.

Fang Shucui also tried to speak meekly.
“President Chu…”

“I don’t like wasting words,” Chu Muqing interrupted.
“The Su family has closed how many deals under my name?
Miss Fang, why don’t you count them yourself.”

“You should be thanking Su Wanqing for all of it.”

“If it weren’t for our marriage, what business would the Su family even have?”

“And what now? You want to burn the bridge before we’ve even crossed the river?”

Chu Muqing leaned back, her voice turning even colder.

“Tomorrow,” she said, “I’ll have my assistant terminate all cooperation with the Su family.”

Seeing the firm, unwavering look on Chu Muqing’s face, Fang Shucui broke into a cold sweat.
She had come today hoping to secure a job for Ningxuan.

Now not only was there no job in sight, but the Su family’s business ties were about to be severed as well.
She had clearly seen how, ever since Su Wanqing’s marriage to Chu Muqing, Su Pingwei’s career had soared.

She couldn’t let everything be ruined because of her own foolishness.

At this point, status and dignity no longer mattered.
Turning to Su Wanqing, Fang Shucui pleaded,
“Qingqing, I was wrong. Auntie was just too impulsive. I apologize.”

Chu Muqing tapped her knuckles lightly on the table.
“Ms. Fang,” she said lazily, “the decision isn’t in Su Wanqing’s hands. It’s in mine.”

“President Chu, I was wrong. You can’t treat the Su family like this!
No matter what, the Su and Chu families are in-laws,” Fang Shucui said anxiously.

Su Ningxuan stood frozen, not knowing how things had spiraled so badly.
He opened his mouth to speak but, after glancing at Su Wanqing, said nothing.

Chu Muqing turned to Su Wanqing.
“What do you think?”

“I don’t care.
Do whatever you want,” Su Wanqing said calmly.

Her patience with Fang Shucui had long worn thin.
After repeated provocations, she was done.
She wasn’t a saint—and what did the Su family have to do with her anymore?

“Good,” Chu Muqing replied.

She pulled out her phone and deliberately sent a voice message to her assistant.

Hearing the message, Xu Chengke was momentarily stunned.
He had always known that President Chu turned a blind eye to the Su family using her name for business deals—especially since her relationship with the Madam had been improving.

Why was she suddenly taking such drastic action?

Still, Chu Muqing’s decisions were absolute.
Xu Chengke immediately replied with a “Got it.”

Satisfied, Chu Muqing put her phone away and looked coldly at Fang Shucui.

Fang Shucui’s face was deathly pale.
Desperately, she looked at Su Wanqing and cried,
“Su Wanqing! Even if you don’t care about me, think about your father! Think about the whole Su family!
Aren’t you afraid people will call you ungrateful?
Aren’t you afraid they’ll stab you in the back?”

“Su Wanqing! You can’t do this!”

Turning her fire toward Chu Muqing, Fang Shucui added viciously:
“President Chu, don’t think I don’t know why you two got married.
You’re not afraid of your secrets coming out?”

Chu Muqing let out a low, mocking laugh.
“Ms. Fang, are you threatening me?”

“You’d be the first.”

“……”

Chu Muqing took a sip of water, then stood up.
“Let’s go. We’re going home.”

They walked toward the door.
Just before stepping out, Su Wanqing lightly tugged on Chu Muqing’s sleeve—accidentally brushing against her hand.

Alphas had a naturally higher body temperature than Omegas, and her fingertips instantly felt the warmth.

Chu Muqing glanced down at her in confusion.

Su Wanqing spoke softly:
“Su Ningxuan… he has nothing to do with this. His university application—”

“I know,” Chu Muqing interrupted, her voice low and slightly heavy.

Her mood wasn’t good.

Without even glancing back, Chu Muqing and Su Wanqing left the private room.

Fang Shucui tried to rush after them, but Su Ningxuan held her back.
He sighed and said, “Mom, what are you doing?”

Fang Shucui shook off his hand, her face filled with helplessness and frustration.
“What do you think I’m doing?
I’m doing this for your job!
Why go to some useless university when you could just stay and work in the Chu Group?”

“Mom, if you don’t have real ability, it doesn’t matter where you stay,” Su Ningxuan said patiently.
“I’m going to study for my graduate degree. It’ll open up a lot more opportunities later.
Why should I depend on backdoor favors?”

“If the Su family wants to rise again,” he continued, “we have to rely on ourselves.
Depending on others won’t last forever.
Look at what’s happening with the Gu family—that’s a perfect example.”

Recently, there had been plenty of rumors about the Gu family.
Years ago, they had risen with the Chu family’s help, but later, their relationship soured.
Though they maintained appearances on the surface, everyone knew things were falling apart.

Fang Shucui had heard bits and pieces of those complicated stories too.

While they were talking, Fang Shucui’s phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, her hands trembled as she answered.

“Pingwei, what’s wrong?”

“What did you do?!”
Su Pingwei, usually gentle and soft-spoken, roared for the first time ever.
“Why are all the contracts we negotiated suddenly being canceled—some even breaking the deals and paying penalties?!”

Fang Shucui collapsed onto the floor, feeling utterly defeated.

Meanwhile, Chu Muqing and Su Wanqing exited the restaurant, with Cheng Zhuo following behind.

“Sister Qing, call me if you need anything,” Cheng Zhuo said.

“Mhm,” Chu Muqing replied.

She pressed the car key to unlock it and opened the passenger side door.
Su Wanqing gave her a glance and ducked into the car.

Chu Muqing circled around to the driver’s seat and started the engine, one hand resting loosely on the steering wheel.

Su Wanqing couldn’t read her mood and didn’t know what to say for a while.

The two of them stayed silent the entire drive.
The car finally stopped in front of Dijin Mansion.

Su Wanqing glanced around, puzzled.
“I…”

Why had they come here instead of taking her back to Ban Gui Villa?
It was only three o’clock—there was still time.
Maybe she could trouble Assistant Xu later.

She silently calculated her options.

After getting out of the car, she followed Chu Muqing closely, feeling a little lost—she hadn’t visited Dijin Mansion many times before.

Just as they stepped into the entryway, Chu Muqing suddenly pinned Su Wanqing against the door.

“Chu Muqing! What are you doing?!” she cried.

“I’m in my heat cycle,” Chu Muqing said flatly.

Su Wanqing: “……”

“You act like your heat cycle is some excuse to eat meals—how is it happening again so soon?”

Ignoring her protests, Chu Muqing lowered her head to sniff at Su Wanqing’s neck like a dog who had finally found its owner after being away too long.

The scent of roses—Chu Muqing’s pheromones—spread out, wrapping Su Wanqing in a soft, inescapable net.

Su Wanqing didn’t struggle anymore.
She tilted her head slightly, exposing her gland.

After rubbing against her enough, Chu Muqing suddenly bit down.

The sharp sound of skin breaking echoed in Su Wanqing’s ear, followed by a sting of pain.

The wild scent of roses surged from her gland, spreading rapidly throughout her body.

There was no tenderness—no careful affection—
it was like taking bitter medicine: harsh, mechanical, a marking born out of necessity.

An overwhelming sense of emptiness flooded Su Wanqing.

Instinctively, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around Chu Muqing, searching for an anchor.

Her small movements made Chu Muqing frown.
Wrapping an arm tightly around Su Wanqing’s waist, Chu Muqing continued to inject her pheromones steadily.

Her heat cycle had hit suddenly during the trip abroad.
She had forced herself to endure for two days, even taking a suppressant injection to make it back home.

“Chu Muqing… it hurts,” Su Wanqing whimpered softly.

Her voice was delicate and tender, like a soft breeze brushing the heart.
Hearing it, Chu Muqing’s anger melted slightly, and she slowed down.

Ten minutes later, the marking was complete.

Chu Muqing steadied Su Wanqing in her arms.
“Can you walk by yourself?” she asked.

Su Wanqing shook her head weakly.

Chu Muqing chuckled softly, a rare smile playing on her lips.
Without hesitation, she bent down, lifted Su Wanqing into her arms, and carried her easily.

Such a spoiled little princess.
And they weren’t even halfway through yet.