After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine (GL) - Chapter 10

Pei Jiuyao still didn’t manage to win the chance to “come back and get her clothes.”

Chi Yang rejected her firmly and cleanly, shoved the paper bag into her arms, and opened the door. For a moment, Pei Jiuyao thought she was about to be tossed out like a stray dog—by the collar, no less.

Thankfully, in the end, she walked out on her own two long, slender legs.

A textbook example of self-reliance.

With the paper bag in hand, she followed Chi Yang silently into the garage, her eyelids drooping slightly as she stared at the elegant lines of Chi Yang’s shoulders and back, zoning out.

Hmph. Cold, fickle woman. All she wants is my tooth. Wait till I…

Oh right. There’s actually nothing I can do about it.

Pei Jiuyao sighed softly and pressed her car key. A silver Pagani flashed its lights.

She blinked in surprise. “Xiao Chi, you drive something this cool?”

The nickname “Xiao Chi” made Chi Yang’s cheeks flush slightly. She replied coolly, “Is that not allowed?”

Pei Jiuyao leaned in close to whisper by her ear with a playful smile, “Of course it’s allowed. A beauty and a sports car—perfect combo.”

Her breath brushed against the side of Chi Yang’s neck and vanished in an instant. Chi Yang froze, then instinctively pressed her hand to her neck and snorted, “Miss Pei sure is good at flirting with Omegas.”

Before Pei Jiuyao could respond, Chi Yang climbed into the passenger seat.

Pei Jiuyao bit her lip, helpless. “Was I really flirting though?”

She opened the car door, tossed the paper bag in the back seat, and settled behind the wheel. The cabin retained its signature jet-cockpit design, all sleek lines and metallic edge.

Pei Jiuyao started the engine. The powerful roar and the sudden thrust pressed her into the seat. She glanced at Chi Yang, “This is actually my first time driving a Pagani.”

Chi Yang gripped her seatbelt tightly. “Are you sure you’re up for this? Maybe I should drive.”

Pei Jiuyao raised a brow. “Relax, I used to race.”

Chi Yang frowned. Since when did Pei Jiuyao know how to race? If she had that kind of skill, wouldn’t she have shown off ages ago?

Before she could finish the thought, the car stalled.

The safety belt yanked Chi Yang back from slamming into the windshield.

She blinked in confusion and shook her head.

Pei Jiuyao turned to see Chi Yang’s face darken. “Are you really up for this?”

“I am! I promise!” Pei Jiuyao insisted, flashing a grin with slightly exposed canine teeth, aiming to please.

But her hands gripping the steering wheel betrayed her own uncertainty.

Since arriving in this world, nothing had felt quite right. It was like she’d lost her edge.

Fortunately, the rest of the ride went smoothly. They arrived at the hospital without further mishap.

As she got out of the car, Pei Jiuyao gave the Pagani several backward glances, her curiosity only deepening.

Chi Yang noticed. “If you really like the car, then I—”

“You’ll give it to me?” Pei Jiuyao interrupted, eyes sparkling.

To her surprise, Chi Yang nodded.

A limited edition car worth nearly a hundred million, offered just like that…

“Sugar mommy, am I really worth that much?” Pei Jiuyao leaned in close, dropping her voice to a low murmur. “Am I that skilled in bed?”

Her tone was gentle, slow, and seductive—this hunter didn’t even bother to hide her fangs.

Chi Yang saw it as a dangerous sign. Pei Jiuyao was getting bolder, pushing boundaries.

Especially that word—“skilled.” It could only mean one thing.

Just the thought that Pei Jiuyao had learned this kind of seductive teasing from countless Omegas—using it now to breach Chi Yang’s emotional defenses, wearing a charming mask while playing with hearts—

And all Chi Yang could do was let her get away with it, completely powerless to fight back.

Chi Yang’s expression darkened. “I said you could borrow it for two days. Who said I was giving it to you? And your ‘skills’ are terrible!”

Pei Jiuyao teased, “I think I did okay. I mean, technically it was my first time… or well, second, strictly speaking…”

She was doing it on purpose! And that kind of doing it!

Chi Yang’s ears turned red. “Shut up! Don’t use the same tricks you used on other Omegas with me!”

—

Recent reflections on her love life, by Pei Jiuyao:

Chi Yang is a fox that’s nearly impossible to tease into a smile—except when she’s in heat.

To be honest, when she’s not in heat, she’s hardly a fox at all. More like an aloof ice queen.

As Ying Ning extracted a sample of Pei Jiuyao’s pheromones, Chi Yang stood silently nearby, her gaze distant and cool.

Pei Jiuyao wasn’t smiling either. They looked exactly like a couple in the middle of a silent argument.

Ying Ning asked in a low voice, “Did you two have a fight?”

“No,” Pei Jiuyao sighed. “She’s always angry with me lately. I have no idea what I did wrong.”

“Dating is so hard,” she added with a touch of melancholy. “Though honestly, Chi Yang probably doesn’t even think we’re dating. Maybe I just suck at making people happy.”

Ying Ning was also an Alpha. Pei Jiuyao figured she might have more experience in this area, and so, unconsciously, started opening up.

Unexpectedly, Ying Ning looked down slightly and murmured, “It is hard to make someone happy.”

Now Pei Jiuyao was intrigued. “Doctor Ying, do you have romantic troubles?”

“I wouldn’t call it love exactly,” Ying Ning replied.

Pei Jiuyao’s heat cycle had passed, and now she seemed… oddly approachable. A soft warmth lingered in her gaze, tinged with just a trace of yearning.

It was a stark contrast to the arrogant, heartless “scumbag” image others once painted of her.

Ying Ning finished drawing bl00d, pulled out the needle, and spoke more freely than usual. “Yangyang is in heat right now. It’s normal for her to be a bit moody. Take good care of her.”

Pei Jiuyao later found her own inhibitor bracelet back at home.

When she returned it to Ying Ning, she smiled gently. “Of course, I’ll take good care of her.”

After all, her own life was still in Chi Yang’s hands.

As she pressed a cotton swab to her arm and left the exam room, Chi Yang looked at her from the side and said coolly, “You seemed to be getting along well with Dr. Ying.”

“Oh, so you can flirt with Alphas too?”

Ah. Still upset over that “high-level flirting skill” remark.

This little fox really knew how to hold a grudge—though Pei Jiuyao was being sincere. She hadn’t flirted at all, not really.

Pei Jiuyao tossed the cotton swab. “I was just asking Dr. Ying for advice on how to make my sponsor happy.”

“I told you—I’m not your sponsor. We’re business partners.” Chi Yang didn’t actually mind the nickname.

But because their relationship had been so tense before—Pei Jiuyao treating her as a secret rival—of course she would find that kind of label patronizing.

Even within the bounds of their agreement, Chi Yang still hoped for mutual respect.

“But we’re not dating, and you still gave me an insanely expensive dress. What else can I call you but my sugar mommy?” Pei Jiuyao smiled, eyes curving. “Does my sugar mommy have any other requests for little Pei?”

Chi Yang let out a small scoff and rolled her eyes. “Is that Dr. Ying’s method of cheering people up?”

“She’s no good at cheering people up either. I said it from the heart—just wanted to make you smile.”

Seeing no reaction, Pei Jiuyao’s expression dimmed slightly. “But because of who I used to be, you must think I’m just a smooth talker. All bark, no sincerity.”

“No,” Chi Yang said quietly, her smile fading.

“It’s fine if you do. But if something makes you uncomfortable, tell me. I promised I will draw a line between who I was and who I am now. I won’t lie to you.”

When they reached the elevator, Pei Jiuyao leaned in and whispered, “Want to know a secret? The truth is, I’m not the same Pei Jiuyao you used to know.”

Chi Yang stiffened and looked up at her sharply.

But Pei Jiuyao’s gaze stayed on the elevator’s upward arrow. Her face was blank, hands stuffed casually in her coat pockets, posture straight as ever.

Chi Yang bit her lip and looked down. She knew the girl was joking—so why did her heart skip a beat?

Ding—

The ding of the elevator brought her thoughts back. Chi Yang stepped into the elevator a moment before Pei Jiuyao.

Just as the doors were about to close, Ying Ning ran up and blocked them. Chi Yang quickly pressed the “open” button.

“Yangyang,” Ying Ning said as she stepped in, still breathless from running, “Song Mo came to the hospital last night. The doctor on duty knew I knew her, so he told me she had quite a few injuries. But she wouldn’t say how she got them—just took the medication and left.”

“What?” Chi Yang frowned and immediately pulled out her phone to call Song Mo, but no one answered.

“Don’t worry,” Ying Ning added quickly. “I checked her medical record—just some superficial wounds, nothing serious. Maybe she just… fell or something.”

“Alright. Thank you, Ningning.” Chi Yang dialed again several times, still no answer. She finally sent a message instead.

Ying Ning walked them to the building’s exit. Chi Yang and Pei Jiuyao headed together toward the parking garage.

Even after getting into the car, Chi Yang continued calling anxiously. Her unease was obvious.

“Xiao Pei, I want to go check on Xiao Mo.”

Whether she’d said “Xiao Pei” naturally after calling Song Mo “Xiao Mo,” or if it was Pei Jiuyao’s earlier words subtly influencing her, she didn’t know. It wasn’t particularly intimate—but it was definitely closer than simply calling her “Pei Jiuyao.” The nickname had slipped out without warning.

After she said it, they exchanged awkward glances. Sitting in the passenger seat, Chi Yang’s fair skin, which barely hid her emotions to begin with, flushed pink. The tips of her ears turned crimson. She quickly turned her head away as Pei Jiuyao climbed into the car.

Pei Jiuyao felt a flicker of delight, but remembering the situation with Song Mo, she quickly composed herself and lightly tapped Chi Yang on the shoulder.

“What?” she snapped, turning toward her.

“Address,” she said, pointing at the GPS screen.

Chi Yang let out a soft “Oh” and pulled up an address from the driving log.

As Pei Jiuyou drove along the route, she suddenly said, out of nowhere, “I like it.”

Chi Yang visibly flinched, startled, then realized she may have overreacted. Embarrassed, she leaned against the car window and asked, “Like what?”

“I like the way you called me just now,” Pei Jiuyao said, pausing slightly before slowly repeating, “Xiao Pei.”

Darkness fell all at once, the city lights scattered like fragmented stars across the distant skyline.

Seventh Avenue was hopelessly congested. The sports car was stuck in the middle of the bridge.

Chi Yang rolled the window down slightly. The cool night wind, laced with moisture, blew in and calmed her nerves.

The sunset was nestled among the glazed-tile rooftops. Across the urban river from the stream of traffic, the blue of dusk deepened. And as if triggered by a signal, the stars exploded across the sky like a galaxy in motion, revealing a soft, buttery moon.

“I’m actually quite a bit older than you,” Chi Yang said. As she turned to look out the window, her hair caught the breeze and fell gently across Pei Jiuyao’s shoulder.

A moment later, as the traffic began to move again, she rolled the window up a bit.

Pei Jiuyao chuckled softly. “Not by much—you’re what, not even three years older than me?”

The rumble of the engine rose, vibrations climbing through the frame of the car.

“And besides,” Pei Jiuyao added, her voice threading through the wind, “you’re pretty childish. Honestly, I feel more like the older one.”

So rude. They’d only known each other a few days and she already thought she could act like her big sister? Didn’t she know she hated being called that?

Chi Yang glanced at her. The wind had blown her hair into disarray.

Pei Jiuyao had a soft but stubborn face. It left a lot of space—room for stories, for shadows.

Chi Yang thought, if she were a better actress, that face would be perfect for film.

The car window framed the streets like a strip of film, racing backward at breakneck speed.

In that moment, Chi Yang suddenly understood why she liked driving fast cars.

The roar of the engine, the wind slicing past—every sense was lit up, every emotion pulled taut with adrenaline and joy.

And if, by chance, someone who matched her aesthetic ideals was sitting beside her, it was like the suspension bridge effect. Impossible not to fall.

She might appear to be the obedient, proper girl. But deep down, she longed to live more like Pei Jiuyao.

—Well, minus the chaotic nightlife.

—

By the time they arrived at Song Mo’s place, night had fully fallen.

Chi Yang went to knock alone while Pei Jiuyao parked nearby to wait.

From online searches, it was clear this was the most luxurious residential area in Hai City. Just the annual management fee was over a million yuan—several tiers above even the upscale neighborhood where Pei Jiuyao and Chi Yang lived.

She hadn’t expected that one of the girls from that viral short video—originally posted by her predecessor—would have such an impressive background.

When Chi Yang returned, her mood was still heavy.

“She wasn’t home?” Pei Jiuyao asked.

Chi Yang shook her head. “Auntie Song said she went out with friends.”

“Then maybe it’s nothing serious.”

Pei Jiuyou placed a comforting arm around her and helped her into the car.

Chi Yang didn’t resist. She seemed distant, absent.

After getting in, Pei Jiuyao heard her let out a faint sigh. “Actually… Xiao Mo isn’t their biological daughter.”

“What?” Pei Jiuyao’s hand paused mid-way while fastening her seatbelt.

Chi Yang’s eyelashes lowered. She stared blankly at her phone. “It’s not a secret anymore. If you follow business news, you will know that a few years ago, the real estate mogul Mr. Song found his biological daughter. After that, Xiao Mo became distant from the family. She doesn’t have many friends. Now she won’t even answer my calls… I’m really worried about her.”

“Maybe she just didn’t hear them while she’s out?” Pei Jiuyao said gently, trying to reassure her. “Since she went home, it’s not like she’s avoiding you on purpose. And Dr. Ying said it was only superficial injuries.”

Chi Yang nodded, clutching her phone as she looked out the window.

As they passed a dark, unlit villa, her gaze deepened. She murmured, “She’s still not back.”

“Who?” Pei Jiuyao asked, confused.

Chi Yang pulled her gaze away and answered flatly, “President Chi.”

“Your sister?” Her tone was so stiff that Pei Jiuyao didn’t catch on right away.

“Your relationship with your family isn’t that great either, huh?” she asked, then quickly added, “Sorry. You don’t have to answer that if—”

“It’s not great,” Chi Yang interrupted. “She studied abroad for years. Only came back after our mother died. She doesn’t like the work I do now either.”

“Your mother…?”

“Car accident.”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t know.” Pei Jiuyao glanced at her cautiously, afraid of upsetting her further.

“It’s okay. It’s been over a decade.” Chi Yang’s tone was calm. “She was abroad at the time. I was alone in the hospital…”

She stopped there. The shift in her tone showed a flicker of emotion, but she didn’t continue.

Pei Jiuyao suspected this was why she hated staying at hospitals—especially at night. No matter how calm she seemed now, the trauma of losing a mother at a young age likely cast a long, lasting shadow.

After parking in the garage, Pei Jiuyao gently patted her shoulder. Her voice was soft. “You can treat me as family too, you know. Try leaning on me a little—I won’t let you down.”

Chi Yang froze, her eyes glimmering with restrained emotion.

She didn’t say anything. Just stepped out of the car in a daze.

Pei Jiuyao grabbed her jacket and followed her, watching as she walked away.

Then suddenly, Chi Yang turned back and asked quietly, “Can I really trust you?”

In that moment, Pei Jiuyao thought she looked like a single leaf caught in the wind—twisting in the air, about to be crushed and buried if no one reached out.

She swallowed the ache in her chest and walked up to her.

“Of course you can,” she said. “You can trust me. And you can rely on me.”

Chi Yang stood still for a few seconds before silently turning away.

Pei Jiuyao couldn’t help but take two steps forward and call after her, “Can we see each other again tomorrow?”

Chi Yang glanced over her shoulder and smiled faintly. “I don’t have any plans.”

Which meant: yes.