After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine (GL) - Chapter 19.1

After a few knocks, the door clicked open—yet no one pushed it.

Pei Jiuyao stepped in and gently closed it behind her. Chi Yang was already seated on the sofa.

Before Pei Jiuyao could speak, Chi Yang wrinkled her nose and complained, “You reek of smoke.”

“I changed my clothes,” Pei Jiuyao said as she walked over, standing obediently in front of Chi Yang like a puppy.

Chi Yang snorted. “You drank even when I told you not to. Do you even care about the agreement?”

“Nope.” Pei Jiuyao looked up at her, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “An agreement can’t hold me down.”

“I figured,” Chi Yang’s fingers curled into a fist, her brows furrowing in anger.

Pei Jiuyao chuckled. “I treat you well because I like you—not because of some stupid agreement.”

Chi Yang’s fingers trembled slightly, then slowly relaxed. “So now it’s just ‘like’? Not ‘love’ anymore?”

“You like me too.”

Chi Yang turned her head slightly, voice cold and unwilling to admit it. “I told you, there’s no ‘like’—only the agreement.”

After a pause, she softened a bit. “And don’t use foul language.”

“Okay.” Pei Jiuyao lowered her head with a small laugh. Then she asked gently, “Can I sit next to you?”

Chi Yang didn’t reply—she just shifted over a little.

A slight smile curved Pei Jiuyao’s lips as she sat down.

There was a plate of strawberries on the table. Chi Yang pushed it toward her and turned on the TV, curling up on the sofa with her knees tucked under her.

“Isn’t this the variety show we’re filming?”

Chi Yang nodded. “Have you seen it?”

“No.”

Pei Jiuyao had been too busy working on her ‘favorability points’ to spare time for anything else.

Chi Yang shot her a side glance. “You’re really not worried, are you? Have you decided which song to sing for the final stage?”

“I already told you—I’m singing the one I wrote for you,” Pei Jiuyao said as she speared a strawberry and popped it into her mouth.

The show on screen was loud and chaotic. Chi Yang glanced at her again. “I didn’t even know you could write songs.”

She paused, then added incredulously, “If you could, Wen-jie would’ve given you an album already. Why turn you into a pretty face with no substance?”

“I’m not that good,” Pei Jiuyao laughed lightly. “It’s just something I wrote casually. If it’s bad, don’t get mad.”

Chi Yang frowned slightly, her expression serious. “You should just pick a classic. They haven’t even announced the guest list yet, and the hashtag #PeiJiuyaoSuspectedToJoinXX is already trending. If you mess up, you’ll get flamed online.”

She hesitated, then compromised. “But if you really insist on writing one, sing it to me in private first.”

Pei Jiuyao raised an eyebrow. “Are you worried about me, Xiao Li?”

Chi Yang replied coldly, “I just don’t want to get dragged into your mess. And as a senior, I’m giving you some advice.”

“Well then, thank you for the kind advice, Senior,” Pei Jiuyao said with a playful wink. “But don’t worry. Even if I get flamed, I’ll take it.”

Though hastily written, the song was more than enough for this type of variety show.

Chi Yang gave her a helpless look. “You really are…”

She considered saying more but gave up. Might as well let her be.

Chi Yang knew she and Pei Jiuyao weren’t close enough for this kind of concern.

Besides, Pei Jiuyao was stubborn and rarely listened to anyone. She definitely wouldn’t take her words to heart.

Then, Chi Yang shifted the subject. “Don’t call me that… nickname in front of others. If someone hears, it’ll be awkward.”

Though her voice remained cold, the tips of her ears flushed red.

When their eyes met, she quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened.

She had no idea how adorable she looked in that moment.

Still watching the show, Pei Jiuyao leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Then I’ll only call you that in private. It’ll be our little secret.”

“But you’re welcome to call me my ‘pet name’ anytime. I don’t mind.”

She emphasized the words “pet name” on purpose.

Chi Yang scoffed, “As if. That’s way too dumb.”

Two knocks came at the door. A key card beeped, followed by the sound of it unlocking.

Pei Jiuyao peeked over—it was Ye Ci.

“Sis, it’s time for makeup.” Ye Ci held coffee and sandwiches, leaving a portion for Pei Jiuyao as well.

Chi Yang changed into her outfit in the room. When she came out and saw Pei Jiuyao still watching her, she scolded lightly, “Finish watching the show properly.”

“Got it,” Pei Jiuyao replied, grinning as she draped herself over the sofa backrest.

At the door, Chi Yang turned again. “And don’t go online these days.”

“Yes ma’am!” Pei Jiuyao called out, eyes trailing her all the way to the door.

Once they were gone, she pulled out her phone and started scrolling through entertainment gossip about Bonfire Music Festival.

[Heard Pei Jiuyao’s on the second episode. Seriously, I saw her today!]

There was a blurry photo attached—thankfully Chi Yang wasn’t visible.

So there were even stalker fans now.

Pei Jiuyao kept scrolling.

[What’s a vase like her even doing there? Everyone else is a legit singer.

What, Chi Yang’s a legit singer too now?

She’s just trying to ride Chi Yang’s fame.

Ride her fame? My girl doesn’t need anyone’s fame—she’s top-tier.

Top-tier in what, setting the table?]

…

Later posts accused Pei Jiuyao of being a diva—refusing invitations, insulting producers, using her connections to kick out another guest just so she could appear alongside Chi Yang.

When in truth, she was almost the one kicked out.

Pei Jiuyao sneered and tossed the phone aside, leaning back on the sofa with a fork in one hand and a strawberry in the other while watching the variety show.

It was an outdoor variety show, broadcast live from start to finish.

The format was risky. No trending celebs were willing to join at first, and most viewers didn’t have high expectations.

Until Chi Yang joined.

With her, the small show exploded overnight. It topped trending charts, and even roped in several major stars as regular guests.

Because it was broadcast live, it also gave talented singers and likable underdogs a chance at a comeback.

Chu Si was one of those—able to charm anyone, navigating the show with ease.

Before she realized it, Pei Jiuyao had been sitting on the sofa for over an hour and a half.

Beyond the usual segments, the final act was always the guest stage. Tonight’s was Chi Yang’s. Tomorrow’s would be Pei Jiuyao’s.

As the show neared its end, dusk fell. Opening the glass window, she could hear the crashing waves in the distance—relentless and wild.

Pei Jiuyao swallowed the last bite of her sandwich, the hazy moon above shrouded in mist, casting a soft orange crescent through the fog.

Nan Port was humid. The coastal mist rose with the wind, clinging to everything it touched.

After finishing her meal, she washed her hands and sighed.

It was boring staying at the hotel—even if it was Chi Yang’s room.

She flipped to the variety show’s dedicated channel. The main broadcast started at 8 PM, but the pre-show was already playing at 7.

The screen showed an earlier interview of Chi Yang.

She had been invited by a senior from their former agency—Meng Yu. Most of the interview centered around the two of them.

Pei Jiuyao wasn’t familiar with Meng Yu and hadn’t heard Chi Yang mention her either. A quick search online showed Meng Yu to be a bold, glamorous alpha—same type as Pei Jiuyao.

Another Alpha.

Pei Jiuyao turned off the TV.

She thought about running through the song she was going to perform tomorrow, but also felt like seeing Chi Yang.

After some internal struggle, she ended up calling Ye Ci.

________________________________________

Ye Ci brought her phone to the dressing room, where Chi Yang was still getting her makeup done.

Chi Yang had always carried a cool, aloof, goddess-like image. Even in interviews, her makeup tended to be minimalist.

But since tonight she would be singing a retro-style song, the makeup artist was redoing her entire look to match.

Most of the studio staff knew about the arrangement between Chi Yang and Pei Jiuyao.

Ye Ci didn’t bother being discreet. She handed the phone to Chi Yang and leaned in to whisper,

“Pei Jiuyao says she wants to stop by and check things out.”

Chi Yang lifted her chin slightly. After the makeup artist curled her lashes, she finally lowered her gaze and said,

“Let her come. Have her blend in with the crew, stay off-camera, and say a quick hello to the director.”

“You want to talk to her yourself?” Ye Ci asked.

Chi Yang glanced at the phone for a second, then closed her eyes. “Forget it. Just tell her she can come.”

By the time she finished her makeup, it was already 7:30 p.m.

The variety show aired in prime time from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m., but it began broadcasting pre-recorded interview clips starting at 7:00. Guests would gradually arrive on set.

The equipment had already been tested earlier. Chi Yang rested her eyes for a few minutes until Ye Ci knocked gently. Then she stood up, lifting her skirt, and made her way to the venue.

The set was decorated warmly and invitingly. Since Chi Yang rarely did variety shows, she wasn’t familiar with most of the musicians present.

At a glance, her eyes landed on Chu Si.

Short bobbed hair, heavy smoky eye makeup, one leg crossed over the other, lounging on the sofa while swirling a champagne glass.

She gave Chi Yang a lazy wave.

Chi Yang nodded in acknowledgment and chose a sofa farther away, diagonally opposite Chu Si’s.

The weather here was mild, though the sea breeze was salty and damp—it got a bit chilly at night.

Chi Yang sipped a little champagne, the faint alcohol carrying a crisp, icy note that tingled across her tongue.

She couldn’t help but think of the night Pei Jiuyao got drunk.

That night, her pheromones had smelled different—normally cool and refreshing, but mixed with traces of cream and orange blossom.

Chi Yang knew her own pheromones turned cloyingly sweet during heat and were slightly sour otherwise.

Could Pei Jiuyao’s susceptibility period be approaching?

Surely she wasn’t clueless enough not to know her own cycle?

Chi Yang absentmindedly swirled the champagne in her glass, staring at the golden liquid settled at the bottom.

“Chi Yang-senpai.”

A teasing laugh sounded above her head.

She looked up—it was Chu Si, who had silently approached.

Chi Yang didn’t particularly like Chu Si, and after finding out about her relationship with Song Mo, she liked her even less.

Seeing Chu Si about to sit down, Chi Yang said coldly, “This seat’s taken.”

Completely ignoring the cue, Chu Si plopped down anyway, lounging with her usual irreverence.

“It’s not like it’s Pei Jiuyao. Whoever it is, I’ll give up the seat if she shows up.”

Chi Yang frowned slightly at that comment.

“Aren’t you afraid of offending someone important?” she asked, scooting away a little.

She already disliked Chu Si because of Song Mo. Now she had one more reason.

“I don’t care,” Chu Si said with a smirk, casually pouring her some more champagne.

“I picked this bottle. Very light fruit notes, crisp and clean.”

Then she leaned closer and whispered,

“Smells a lot like Pei Jiuyao’s pheromones.”

Chi Yang jerked her head toward her, a sharp, icy glare in her eyes.

But Chu Si had already backed off, reclining lazily on the sofa again.

“You’d better treat Song Mo well,” Chi Yang said, turning away and taking a small sip of her drink.

Chu Si just chuckled lightly, offering no response.