After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine (GL) - Chapter 23.2

Tianji was only a small corner of her business empire. By all rights, she shouldn’t be so hands-on.

But for whatever reason, she took an intense interest in the entertainment industry—and had a tight grip on every artist under her banner.

Pei Jiuyao understood—it was all about making money.

Her “talent” had only just started to show. She was nowhere near the level where she could pick her own projects.

“Then I’ll follow your lead, Wen-jie.”

She blinked playfully.

By the time Wen Li left, the sky was already paling with the first light of dawn. Outside the window, skyscrapers towered against the dim sky, their lights blinking out one by one.

Pei Jiuyao finally felt drowsy.

Maybe it was the sleep aid in the inhibitor—sleepiness came quickly. She barely made it back to the bedroom before collapsing onto the bed.

The moment her head hit the pillow, she was out.

More accurately—she passed out.

Her dreams were chaotic. People came and went. In the end, only Chi Yang remained.

Chi Yang said she didn’t love her.

Chi Yang said the contract was over.

Chi Yang said she hated her.

Said she would never forgive her.

Then turned and walked away, growing smaller and smaller until she disappeared.

Pei Jiuyao chased after her with everything she had—but it was hopeless.

She woke up drenched in sweat, sitting upright in bed, gasping for breath.

The clothes around the room had all been neatly put away.

Panicked, Pei Jiuyao opened the wardrobe, climbed inside, and buried herself among the clothes, clutching at the last faint trace of that familiar scent.

Just to calm down a little.

________________________________________

Her sensitivity period lasted five full days.

Wen Li was the one who looked after her through most of it—giving her an inhibitor shot each day, making sure she ate after she woke up.

It was no different from being her mother, really.

Still, Wen Li found Pei Jiuyao’s condition a little odd.

As a fully matured Alpha—one who’d marked plenty of Omegas—she shouldn’t be this clueless about handling a sensitivity period.

But these past few days, Pei Jiuyao had acted like some confused kid going through a second puberty.

…No. She shouldn’t call herself a confused kid.

Wen Li stirred the wellness soup simmering in the pot and rolled her eyes silently.

During that time, Pei Jiuyao had messaged Chi Yang, but was still blocked.

She’d also called Ye Ci.

Ye Ci answered every time, but always evaded questions—no useful information to be found.

It really seemed like Chi Yang was done for good—abandoning both the house and Pei Jiuyao.

Being left by your Omega during a sensitivity period was absolute hell. Your body and mind go haywire, and all you can think about is your Omega.

When she was lucid, Pei Jiuyao thought of Chi Yang.

When she dreamed, it was all Chi Yang.

Not until the sensitivity period finally began to fade did Pei Jiuyao start to pull herself out of that pit of despair.

One night, she sat by the floor-to-ceiling window drinking with Wen Li. She got drunk for once—mind fuzzy and a little unhinged—and clung to Wen Li, mumbling that she missed Chi Yang.

Wen Li figured she’d officially lost it.

“You have no idea how cute Chi Yang is when she’s in heat,” Pei Jiuyao slurred, clinging to her glass. “All clingy and soft, calling my name, pouting, begging me to go easy on her—but she likes it when I bite…”

Then she muttered, more to herself than anything:

“…Not telling you anymore. She’s mine. All mine.”

Wen Li’s usually laid-back face twisted with an incredulous smile.

“I swear, you’ve lost your damn mind. Chi Yang acting cute? She’d be doing you a favor if she doesn’t kill you on the spot.”

She shook her head, took a sip straight from the can, and sighed.

“Forget it. I’m not gonna argue with a heat-stricken Alpha. You Alphas always spiral into fantasy mode during sensitivity periods.”

“You Alphas? Who else are you talking about?”

Pei Jiuyao squinted, tipsy and amused, lowering her voice like it was a secret.

“You’ve been sneaking around making phone calls these past few days. Is it your girlfriend?”

“No. My sister.”

Pei Jiuyao’s head drooped as her intoxicated thoughts tumbled together.

“You have a sister? Like… bl00d-related?”

“No bl00d ties,” Wen Li replied calmly, cracking open another can with a sharp psshht.

The sound made Pei Jiuyao sway forward, but Wen Li pushed her back with one hand.

Holding her drink, Wen Li said lightly,

“She’s the daughter of a family friend. We grew up together…

Well, to be precise, I watched her grow up.”

She smiled faintly at the memory and took another sip.

Pei Jiuyao leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, her voice hazy and wistful.

“Must be nice. If I’d grown up with Chi Yang… she probably wouldn’t have left me behind like this.”

Wen Li had reached her limit with the drunken rambling. She hauled Pei Jiuyao up and dumped her onto the couch.

“Alright, ancestor. Your sensitivity period’s almost over anyway. I’m leaving. Go be dramatic on your own.”

She threw a blanket over her and turned to leave. Pei Jiuyao was already fast asleep on the couch, cheeks flushed with color.

Wen Li grabbed her coat and didn’t even bother checking the time—she simply pushed open the door and left.

When she got home and opened the front door, something shifted in the pitch-black living room.

Startled, Wen Li flinched, then quickly turned on the nightlight.

Ying Ning.

She was curled up on the couch, staring back at her with an eerie stillness.

“What the hell—are you trying to scare me to death?”

Wen Li tossed her bag onto the table and changed her shoes.

“Scare you? Isn’t that obvious?”

Ying Ning’s voice was cold and flat.

Wen Li chuckled, heading to the kitchen for a glass of water.

“How’d you know I was coming back tonight?”

“I didn’t.”

“So you were just sitting here waiting?”

Setting the glass down, Wen Li looked at her and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Don’t tell me you sit here every night waiting to jump-scare me? Still holding a grudge just ‘cause I didn’t cook for you that one time?”

Ying Ning gave a disdainful snort.

“You spent five days with that Alpha.”

Wen Li sighed.

“I already told you, I was playing mom. What are you jealous for? Want me to be your mom for a few days too?”

Then she slapped her own mouth as the words registered.

“Sh1t—my aunt’s upstairs, right? She asleep?”

“She’s not here. They went on a trip. Romantic getaway. Left me all alone.”

Ying Ning’s tone was heavy with resentment.

“Just like you did. Went off with some Alpha, left me behind.”

“And you said you will cook for me. I waited. Might as well have waited for the fridge to start cooking.”

Wen Li replied with theatrical indignation,

“Same thing? How could that be the same? They went to enjoy life—I got worked to death for five days straight.”

She rubbed her shoulder and collapsed onto the sofa.

Ying Ning frowned slightly.

“Still full of energy. Five days and no tendonitis?”

Wen Li immediately sat up and glared.

“What kind of nonsense are you implying? Pei Jiuyao was in heat—I was just her live-in nanny!”

“Oh…” Ying Ning blinked, then turned back around.

“Want me to give you a massage?”

“Sure.” Wen Li flopped down on the couch without hesitation.

Maybe because Ying Ning was a doctor, her massages were always amazing.

Wen Li closed her eyes, completely relaxed.

“Little kitten… you’re getting more and more bold these days. You don’t even call me ‘Jie’ anymore.”

“You’re not my sister.”

Ying Ning’s fingers pressed harder, making Wen Li wince.

“But I did watch you grow up… ah—!”

Wen Li clenched her jaw against the pain but didn’t move. She muttered,

“You’re punishing me on purpose, aren’t you? Alright, fine. I’ll cook next time. So stubborn.”

“Why don’t you date anyone?”

Ying Ning’s hands pressed firmly against Wen Li’s shoulder blades.

“Me?” Wen Li chuckled.

“When do I have time for that?”

She peeked sideways at Ying Ning.

“Why ask? Got your eye on an Omega?”

Ying Ning said nothing.

“Alpha?”

Still silent.

“Beta?”

“No.”

Wen Li turned her head back with a knowing smirk.

Well, well. The iron tree blooms—my little kitten’s fallen for a Beta.

________________________________________

A few days later, Pei Jiuyao received a message from Wen Li:

[You miss Chi Yang so much—here’s a little water to quench your thirst.]

Attached was a digital invitation to a private evening party.

[Chi Yang will be there too.]

[Dress up. I’ll pick you up tonight.]

Pei Jiuyao’s fingers froze on the screen. She dressed quickly and drove home.

Because it was a private event, the company wouldn’t provide her with a borrowed gown. Standing in front of rows of dresses in her walk-in closet, her fingers inexplicably reached for the one Chi Yang had gifted her.

Maybe it was the lingering ripple effect of her sensitivity period.

She wanted to wear Chi Yang’s dress.

And she didn’t even care if anyone noticed.

—

That night, the moment the soft doors opened, the entire banquet hall came into view.

Pei Jiuyao stepped inside and spotted a few familiar faces.

The host was Mo Tian, and many artists from the same company were present—including Chu Si.

To avoid any slip-ups, Pei Jiuyao had done her homework, memorizing the faces and names of the more prominent female celebrities. But there were still many she couldn’t name.

Didn’t matter. She wasn’t here for them.

She was here to see Chi Yang.

She scanned the room, but Chi Yang was nowhere in sight. Sighing inwardly, she found a quiet spot and sat down.

Unexpectedly, Chu Si made her way through the crowd and plopped down beside her.

This woman had zero self-awareness. Pei Jiuyao had made her stance abundantly clear last time—but still, she clung like gum on a shoe.

Chu Si raised her glass and clinked it against Pei Jiuyao’s, lowering her voice.

“If I remember correctly, that dress was a limited piece. The designer only made two. One was bought by President Chi as a gift for her sister… and the other one—you’re wearing it?”

Pei Jiuyao moved her glass away.

“What does that have to do with you?”

“Nothing,” Chu Si said, laughing. “Just curious. Did Chi Yang give that to you? You two already that close?”

Pei Jiuyao frowned and shot her a warning glance.

Chu Si’s eyes gleamed.

“Or do you not know? That dress only exists in two copies worldwide.”

“Wearing that in public like this—aren’t you basically broadcasting your relationship with Chi Yang to the whole world?”

Pei Jiuyao’s eyes narrowed.

“Maybe I just happened to buy the second one. What then?”

She stood up, done with this nonsense—but Chu Si grabbed her wrist.

“Pei Jiuyao, did you know that Mo Tian—the big boss—once tried to keep Chi Yang?”

Pei Jiuyao froze mid-step.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, nothing,” Chu Si said with a smile. “Chi Yang turned her down, of course. That’s how her background ended up exposed. But Mo Tian’s always had a thing for Alphas. It’s no secret in the industry.”

“If she finds out you and Chi Yang are involved… imagine what she would do to you.”

“Not your concern,” Pei Jiuyao said coldly, yanking her wrist free. But her mind was already racing.

No wonder everyone had been staring when she walked in.

Good thing she and Chi Yang were known rivals in public.

They’d probably assume she wore this dress just to spite her.

Still… better to change. Safer.

She’d get Jiang Tian to bring another one.

Just as Pei Jiuyao started walking toward the restroom, murmurs stirred around her.

“Isn’t that Chi Yang?”