After the Scumbag Alpha Heard her Inner Thoughts (GL) - Chapter 34

Chu Muqing had just returned. Her suitcase was still unpacked, and she was standing there in seven-centimeter high heels.

Su Wanqing, dressed in loose pajamas and shuffling around in slippers like a little bunny, was pulled straight into Chu Muqing’s arms.

The scent of roses surrounded them, different from the usual pheromone-heavy Alpha scent — it carried no pressure at all.

Chu Muqing gently tightened her embrace. Su Wanqing was still in a daze; she didn’t even think about pushing her away. Her hands hung helplessly at her sides, unsure of what to do.

Chu Muqing’s hand moved up to lightly stroke her hair, which was still damp, carrying the fresh lemony scent of shampoo.

Beneath that clean, fruity smell, there was a faint trace of Su Wanqing’s epiphyllum pheromone. Chu Muqing swallowed hard.
The doctor had warned her: Su Wanqing’s pheromones were unstable, her glands hadn’t fully healed yet — she couldn’t be marked, and they couldn’t do anything intimate.

They stayed like that for who knows how long until Su Wanqing gave a small push and softly said,
“That’s enough.”

They couldn’t just stand there hugging all night.

Only then did Chu Muqing reluctantly let her go.

Su Wanqing stepped back, putting a little distance between them. She looked up at Chu Muqing, about to ask why she had come back so suddenly — but before she could say a word, a thought hit her:
She remembered what she had said that morning.
Could Chu Muqing really be here tonight to make her keep that promise?

Even though… she wasn’t ready at all.

When Chu Muqing noticed the wary look in Su Wanqing’s eyes, she smiled teasingly.
She hadn’t sounded so cautious on the phone earlier.

Stubborn girl.

Chu Muqing took a step forward. Su Wanqing’s pupils widened slightly, but she didn’t move away.

Chu Muqing chuckled and gently tucked a lock of Su Wanqing’s hair behind her ear.
“What’s wrong, President Su? Getting cold feet?”

Su Wanqing: “…”

At that moment, Su Wanqing truly understood what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot.
She desperately wanted to go back to the morning and slap her past self for being so stubborn.

“If President Chu is willing to model for us,” Su Wanqing bit her lip and said, “then… it’s not like I’m refusing.”

Her words sounded fearless, but the look on her face was pure resignation.

Standing tall in her heels, Chu Muqing had to lean down slightly. She pinched Su Wanqing’s chin lightly and tilted it up.
“Oh? So President Su thinks I’m good-looking too?”

Su Wanqing bit her lip and stayed silent.

[Was that even a question?]

[She’s the legendary Heartbreaker Alpha — of course she’s beautiful!]

[If it weren’t for that face… she wouldn’t have forgotten time after time that Chu Muqing was a scoundrel.]

Especially with that wolf-cut hairstyle — it had been her ultimate dream look.

Though Chu Muqing’s hair had grown longer now, falling into a short, shoulder-length style, her aura hadn’t changed at all.

She was still… heartbreakingly beautiful.

How did it come to this? When had she become so shallow — so much of a face-con?

Chu Muqing raised her eyebrows.
It had been a long time since she’d heard Su Wanqing’s inner thoughts so clearly. She was a little unused to it, but after hearing them, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

So… she was obsessed with her face, huh?

Well — that wasn’t so bad.
In the future, Chu Muqing thought, she would let Su Wanqing fall for more than just her looks.

The hand that was resting by her ear slowly slid down to her neck. Chu Muqing squeezed gently, making Su Wanqing tremble all over.

Chu Muqing hooked an arm around her neck and pulled her into her arms.
“I won’t do anything tonight. I’m just going to take a shower first.”

Su Wanqing finally let out a breath of relief.

As Chu Muqing walked toward the bathroom, she brushed her fingers lightly over Su Wanqing’s shoulder and said,
“It’s the doctor who forbade it, not that I can’t.”

Su Wanqing: …

Who asked you that!?

Blushing fiercely, Su Wanqing hurried back to the bedroom, sat down at her vanity, and began applying toner and moisturizer.
Her face was still burning to the touch.

She had met so many beautiful women before—even Lu Qinghe hadn’t been able to make her blush and lose her composure like this.
How could the softer side of Chu Muqing be so dangerously charming?

About half an hour later, Su Wanqing was lying in bed, drowsy. Chu Muqing, fresh from her shower and still carrying a slight chill, lifted the blanket and slid into bed.

Su Wanqing didn’t have many demands for her bedroom, but the bed had to be big.
When Chu Muqing lay down, it felt like there was a Mariana Trench-sized gap between them.

Chu Muqing reached out but didn’t feel anyone beside her. Frowning, she shuffled closer and pulled Su Wanqing into her arms.

Su Wanqing, warm under the covers for a while, suddenly felt the coolness from Chu Muqing’s body.

She wasn’t used to sleeping with someone else. Having someone beside her made her restless, and her position felt awkward. After curling up in Chu Muqing’s arms for a while, she began to wriggle out.

Chu Muqing let go without resisting and opened her eyes to look at her.

Su Wanqing rubbed her arm awkwardly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Chu Muqing’s gaze.
There was no anger in those eyes, no frustration—just a trace of confusion.

As if she didn’t understand why Su Wanqing would pull away.

Her gaze seemed distant, almost lost.

Su Wanqing remembered the time when she had rushed to find Chu Muqing in Country M.
In order not to waste time, she had caught the earliest available flight, but even then there had been no direct flights.

How had Chu Muqing gotten back?

A direct flight would take thirteen hours. Connecting flights would have been even more troublesome and time-consuming.
Counting the time carefully, Chu Muqing must have spent at least sixteen hours on the plane.

And that wasn’t even counting the extra hour it took to get from the airport to her place.

After all that, she must be exhausted.

Su Wanqing lifted the covers, found a comfortable position, and burrowed back into Chu Muqing’s arms.

Feeling her return, Chu Muqing pulled her in contentedly and slowly closed her eyes.

Su Wanqing, however, was wide awake.
“Are you sure it’s okay for you to come back like this?” she whispered.

“I’m fine,” Chu Muqing replied.

“Are you sure Assistant Xu can handle everything?”

“If he can’t, he’s fired,” Chu Muqing said bluntly.

Right now, Xu Chengke wasn’t even technically paid by Chu Muqing anymore—he was paying himself.

Chu Muqing had said that in Country M, after setting aside the initial capital, all profits would be split 50/50.

Considering how valuable Xu Chengke’s time was, he basically charged by the minute.
Would a guy like him even dare complain about working overtime?

“Then… give him a little bonus,” Su Wanqing suggested.

“You’re way too nosy. Shut up and sleep,” Chu Muqing said.

She didn’t want to hear anyone else’s name before falling asleep.

Her voice was hoarse, as if she was already half-asleep.

Su Wanqing obediently shut her mouth and didn’t bother her again.

Before falling into deep sleep, Chu Muqing released a small amount of her pheromones.
Her glands hadn’t fully recovered yet, so the soothing effect was minimal.

But as an S-Class Alpha, even a little was enough.

Su Wanqing, who usually slept lightly and had frequent dreams, slept exceptionally well that night.

The next morning, when she opened her eyes, Chu Muqing was lying on her side on the pillow, quietly watching her.

Being stared at like that made Su Wanqing feel like she wasn’t wearing anything.

She gave Chu Muqing a glance, then lowered her head and asked,
“You woke up early?”

“Just woke up,” Chu Muqing answered.

“Then… why are you staring at me?”

“Because you’re cute.”

What?

What did she just say?

Chu Muqing, do you even realize you’re breaking your character right now!?

Su Wanqing’s face turned red again.
She mumbled, “I was too sleepy last night and forgot to ask… When are you planning to go back?”

“My flight is at nine,” Chu Muqing said calmly.

“It’s already seven o’clock!” Su Wanqing instantly became wide awake. “You should be leaving now!”

“Yes, I should,” Chu Muqing replied.

After speaking, she sat up. The blanket slipped down to her waist. Su Wanqing also sat up, and the two of them looked at each other.

Su Wanqing’s eyes were full of confusion.

So? What now? Move! Get dressed!

Chu Muqing had originally planned to wake up early to catch her flight.
But when she opened her eyes and saw Su Wanqing sleeping soundly in her arms, she couldn’t bring herself to move.

Su Wanqing slept exactly the same way she had the night before — quietly nestled in her arms.
Her long lashes cast soft shadows over her cheeks, her face was slightly dry from the air, and her lips were gently parted.

She looked like a peaceful, sleeping doll, making people feel a strange sense of calm.
Chu Muqing didn’t even dare to touch her, afraid of waking her up.

“I just… don’t really want to leave,” Chu Muqing admitted.

Su Wanqing: “…”

Xu Chengke had mentioned to Su Wanqing that things in Country M weren’t going too well, and it might be a long time before Chu Muqing could come back.
Even though Su Wanqing had said she wasn’t in a hurry, deep down, she had been happy that Chu Muqing had returned.

But now she knew Chu Muqing really had to leave.
If she stayed any longer, it would only delay important work.

Su Wanqing scooted closer, stretched out her arms, and hugged Chu Muqing around the waist.
“Alright, get up. If people find out that President Chu is lying in bed being lazy, your reputation will be ruined.”

She imitated how Chu Muqing had hugged her the night before, returning the embrace.

Her clothes were thin, and the soft touch pressed gently against Chu Muqing’s chest.
Chu Muqing sighed quietly — was this really encouraging her to leave?

Chu Muqing didn’t understand why she had insisted on rushing back here.
She couldn’t even sleep properly with Su Wanqing — only dared to hug her.
But the longer she hugged her, the stronger her reactions became.

It was pure torture.

With one hand, Chu Muqing grabbed Su Wanqing by the collar, gently lifted her, and set her aside.
“Get up,” she said.

Chu Muqing got out of bed, quickly washed up, and opened her suitcase to change clothes.

Su Wanqing stayed lying on the bed, watching her.

She didn’t feel like getting up yet — it wasn’t time for work anyway.

Chu Muqing was very used to business trips.
She packed quickly and neatly, and within ten minutes, she was fully dressed and had zipped up her suitcase.

“I’m heading out,” Chu Muqing said.

“Do you want me to drive you to the airport?” Su Wanqing asked.

“No need.”

Chu Muqing glanced at her — still sitting in bed, her eyes misty with sleep, a little tuft of messy hair poking up from her head, her hair spreading out over her shoulders.

For a moment, Chu Muqing loosened her grip on the suitcase handle.

She walked back to the bed and, while Su Wanqing was still zoning out, leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

Su Wanqing had just been being polite anyway.
If Chu Muqing drove herself, she could get to the airport fast and steady.
If Su Wanqing drove, she’d probably miss several flights.

Wrapped in her pajama robe, Su Wanqing went to the window and looked downstairs.

From the seventh floor, she could faintly make out Chu Muqing’s figure and her silver suitcase.

It was as if Chu Muqing could sense it.
Just before getting into the car, she looked up.
Through the window, she could see a small figure standing there.

Chu Muqing waved at her, then opened the car door and got inside.

The headlights flashed, and the car sped away.

Chu Muqing had returned like a gust of wind — fast and fierce — and now she was gone again, leaving behind nothing but a mess of emotions.

Su Wanqing turned around and, like countless mornings before, washed up, changed clothes, packed her bag, and got ready for work.

But this morning, her mind kept drifting back to Chu Muqing.

It wasn’t overwhelming sadness.
It wasn’t unbearable heartache.
It was something harder to describe — a deep, nagging emptiness.

It felt like something important had gone missing.

They had only spent one night together.
Why did it feel like she was already having withdrawal symptoms?

Su Wanqing thought it must be because Ji Yu wasn’t around, and the office was too quiet.
When everything went still, it was easy to overthink.

Ji Yu had been away for three days, occasionally sending Su Wanqing a few updates.

Lanqing Corporation had only been established recently.
At the time it was founded, the Chu family was going through a sensitive period, so they hadn’t expanded much.
There were only three factories under the company.

The first two factories seemed normal.

But when Ji Yu arrived at the third factory, she sensed something wrong.

Not only were the samples hidden from the outside world, but even the workers inside seemed strange.
To be safe, Ji Yu had sent Su Wanqing a warning ahead of time, telling her to be ready to call the police if needed.

At ten in the morning, the time they had agreed for Ji Yu to check in — Ji Yu suddenly lost contact.