After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine (GL) - Chapter 26.1

Pei Jiuyao sounded a little worn out. “Work’s been overwhelming lately. Once this period’s over, I’ll come see you, okay?”

Chi Yang was silent for a few seconds before she replied, “No.”

“Don’t want me to come? Or… you think I won’t?”

Her voice was sticky-sweet, but laced with a hint of chill.

“That’s not it. I just wrapped up a shoot. In a bit—”

“Is it because Chu Si marked me?”

Pei Jiuyao froze.

In the past, Chi Yang would’ve only used that incident to lash out at her. She was the type to wield a blade, never expose a wound.

But now… she was tearing herself open, throwing the wound in her face, asking questions like she’d given up.

As if she was teetering at the edge of a breakdown.

“She didn’t succeed in marking you, right?” Pei Jiuyao said patiently. “And you were the victim. How could I not come see you because of that?”

Chi Yang’s voice softened again. “Then prove it.”

“How?”

“Come see me.”

Pei Jiuyao lowered her phone slightly and whispered to Wen Li, “Wen-jie, when’s our flight?”

“In three hours,” Wen Li answered.

“Let’s swing by the hospital real quick. Just fifteen minutes.”

That’s nowhere near “on the way,” Wen Li thought, but she didn’t argue—she just told the driver to reroute.

Pei Jiuyao picked up the phone again. “Xiao Li, I’m coming over right now. Wait for me, okay?”

Satisfied, Chi Yang let out two soft hums and hung up.

—

When they arrived at the hospital, Chi Qing was already waiting by the door—and blocked Pei Jiuyao from going in.

“I told you not to give her false hope.”

“Chi… President Chi, she’s spiraling. I couldn’t not come.”

Pei Jiuyao grew a little anxious when Chi Qing didn’t respond.

“I have to catch a flight soon. Just fifteen minutes. Let me see her.”

Chi Qing finally stepped aside but called out, “Pei Jiuyao.”

Pei Jiuyao turned around.

Chi Qing’s expression was unreadable. “If you can’t treat a pet well for its entire life, don’t keep one. Same goes for people.”

Pei Jiuyao’s hand on the door trembled. She paused, said nothing, and walked in with her head lowered.

—

Chi Yang was still restrained to the hospital bed, but one of her hands was free. She held a bottle of nutrient fluid, straw between her lips.

Her long curls spilled softly on both sides of her hospital gown, like velvet.

She didn’t look as bad as Pei Jiuyao had imagined.

Hearing footsteps, Chi Yang turned her head, set the bottle down, and said softly, “You’re here.”

Her face was pale, lips completely drained of color—obviously enduring discomfort.

And yet, she didn’t complain. Instead, she asked first, “You look exhausted.”

“How have you been lately—”. Pei Jiuyao asked.

“I listened to Ying Ning,” Chi Yang interrupted. “Been sleeping and eating like I’m supposed to.”

She sounded like she was asking for praise.

“So good.” Pei Jiuyao walked over and sat beside her.

Chi Yang’s fingers, clenched for a while, reached out and tugged at Pei Jiuyao’s sleeve.

“You’re wearing a suppressor.” She stared at Pei Jiuyao’s wrist, her expression calm.

Too calm—it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Pei Jiuyao tried to pull her sleeve back, but Chi Yang gripped it tightly.

Pei Jiuyao looked up, and Chi Yang, as if nothing had happened, wore a cool, innocent expression.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Pei Jiuyao gave up and rested her hand on the edge of the bed. “I can’t stay long. I have to fly soon for a variety show shoot.”

“Why are you so busy lately?” Chi Yang asked, dissatisfied. Her fingers still gripped Pei Jiuyao’s sleeve, unmoving.

“Mo Tian scheduled it.”

“Mo Tian…” Chi Yang’s voice tightened. “Why is she working you so hard?”

Pei Jiuyao chuckled. “She’s my boss. Giving me work is kind of the point.”

She didn’t want Chi Yang worrying about things like this.

“Well, she shouldn’t overwork you.” Chi Yang frowned, coughing lightly to mask her irritation.

“You should stop working for her sooner rather than later. Mo Tian isn’t a good person.”

Pei Jiuyao blanked out for a moment. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Chi Yang’s eyes flickered. Then, in a quieter voice, she asked, “Can’t you not work?”

“Of course not.” Pei Jiuyao laughed, gently pinching Chi Yang’s fingers. “I have to earn money. Next time I visit, I’ll bring you a gift, okay?”

Chi Yang huffed quietly, mumbling, “I have plenty of money.”

“Yes, my rich little patron is loaded,” Pei Jiuyao teased with a smile. “But let me handle work on my own.”

“You can’t handle it at all,” Chi Yang muttered.

She hooked Pei Jiuyao’s pinky. “So, are you leaving now?”

Pei Jiuyao nodded. “Mm. I’ll visit again next time.”

“Then give me some of your pheromones.” Chi Yang turned, her light brown glassy eyes glinting, a mischievous smile appearing at last.

Like she’d been waiting all night to say this.

“No. You—”

“I’m perfectly fine right now!” Chi Yang protested.

“Yeah, totally fine,” Pei Jiuyao said, amused.

So fine you’re sneakily holding my hand. You think I’m made of wood?

“But Ying Ning said you still can’t inhale Alpha pheromones. You have to hang in there a bit longer.”

Chi Yang tightened her hold on Pei Jiuyao’s finger. “Hmph. Then when can I?”

When you finally stop asking for it, Pei Jiuyao thought silently.

“Soon. Very soon.” She coaxed her like a child.

Chi Yang relented again. “Then next time. You have to let me smell your pheromones next time.”

“Okay.” Pei Jiuyao patted her shoulder and slowly pulled her hand free, retreating from the room under Chi Yang’s pitiful, resentful gaze.

“She looks like she’s doing okay, doesn’t she?”

When Pei Jiuyao stepped out, Chi Qing was already waiting outside.

Pei Jiuyao gently closed the door and replied softly, “Better than I expected.”

“That’s because she knew you were coming. She forced herself out of bed to shower, changed into clean clothes, and even took an inhibitor shot.”

Pei Jiuyao’s hand lingered on the doorknob. She suddenly regretted not being gentler with Chi Yang inside.

Chi Qing seemed to read her mind.

“Not giving her false hope is the kindest thing you can do right now. Everyone has to walk their own path eventually.”

Pei Jiuyao noticed that Chi Qing loved giving life lectures — and annoyingly, they were always hard to argue against.

“She’s only acting like this because her pheromone imbalance is triggering cognitive confusion. She developed a strong dependence on the Alpha who marked her — you — and in that fog, she may even crave intimacy or think you should act on it. But once her mind clears, all of that will change.”

“I know,” Pei Jiuyao let go of the doorknob. “Ying Ning explained it to me.”

“Chi Yang might look cold and composed on the surface, but she’s possessive to the core. The more unstable she is, the less you should engage. That’s the best way to protect yourself.”

With that, Chi Qing walked off without another word.

Ironically, she’d probably said more to Pei Jiuyao tonight than she ever said to her own sister. Whether she genuinely cared or not was anyone’s guess — but her warning wasn’t wrong.

And it was precisely because it wasn’t wrong, that Pei Jiuyao now felt unsure how to face Chi Yang at all.

________________________________________

On the way to Jiang City for a variety show shoot, Wen Li handed Pei Jiuyao a script.

“Remember Sheng Xia?”

Pei Jiuyao nodded, taking the script. “Another one of Mo Tian’s ‘resources’?”

“She’s just finishing up a TV drama. You’ll be doing a guest role. Just a couple of days’ work — consider it a breather.”

Pei Jiuyao picked up on the subtext immediately. “You arranged this for me, didn’t you?”

Wen Li smiled faintly. “Director Zheng has this unofficial rule — no phones on set.”

Pei Jiuyao lowered the script, hesitating.

Chi Yang’s current state required her to be on constant alert.

Despite Chi Qing’s objections to their contact, she still let Pei Jiuyao visit. Ying Ning had insisted: without contact with the Alpha who marked her, Chi Yang’s recovery would only be slower — maybe even trigger acute stress responses.

“If Mo Tian wants to run you into the ground, she has a hundred ways to keep you from resting. But if you take this gig, I’ll have a reason to push your schedule back.”

Wen Li patted her hand.

“And let’s be honest — you can’t help Chi Yang right now. If you keep getting worked like this, Mo Tian will burn you out.”

“As for phone calls… just sneak one after your scenes.”

Pei Jiuyao hadn’t slept in three days. The workload was brutal — and it wasn’t letting up. Mo Tian had even signed her up for a fast-paced reality show on the seventh day without telling her.

It was pure exploitation.

The worst part? Pei Jiuyao couldn’t even refuse — all contracts were pre-signed by Mo Tian. If she backed out, she will be the one breaching contract, labeled as “difficult,” and likely blacklisted.

“Thanks, Wen-jie.” Pei Jiuyao clutched the script tightly.

Wen Li leaned back, smiling lazily. “No big deal. I’ve known you all these years — I’m not going to just stand by and watch you crash and burn.”

“Get some rest. I’ll let Director Zheng know you’ll join the team tonight.”

________________________________________

After filming the variety show, Pei Jiuyao studied the script several times. She knew her acting wasn’t top-tier yet, and even though it was just a guest role, she still took notes seriously — she didn’t want to waste Wen Li’s favor.

After meeting Director Zheng, she returned to the hotel with Wen Li.

Another all-nighter followed. Pei Jiuyao collapsed on the bed, feeling like her internal organs were about to fall apart.

Back in her original world, even the strictest directors hadn’t pushed her this hard. During the show, she had downed three cups of coffee just to stay upright.

That was when Chi Yang, just regaining clarity, called.

Pei Jiuyao crawled under the covers, gazing at the pale dawn sky as she put her phone to her ear.

“You’re still awake?” Chi Yang’s voice was soft.

“Mm, still early,” Pei Jiuyao murmured.

“What are you doing?”

“Just got back to the hotel. Lying down.”

“You’re on set?”

“Oh — yeah,” Pei Jiuyao explained. “You know Director Zheng Qiuhua? She asked me to guest star in a last-minute role.”

Chi Yang’s voice immediately turned sulky through the phone.

“Zheng Qiuhua? Ugh, she’s the worst. Her sets don’t even allow phones. Why are you doing a guest role for her of all people? That’s not even worth it — you should be with me instead.”

Chi Qing was right — her mental state was clearly unstable, just well-disguised.

“Xiao Li…”

Before Pei Jiuyao could continue, Chi Yang cut in.

“I’m not saying she’s terrible. It’s fine you’re doing the role. Just… don’t forget to call me.”

Then she added, “Hide your phone somewhere. Just in case.”

Pei Jiuyao was suddenly hit by exhaustion. She murmured a soft “Mm.”

Chi Yang went quiet. After a long pause, she asked, “Are you mad at me?”

“Why would I be mad…”

“For badmouthing other people.”

Pei Jiuyao rubbed her eyes with one hand. “No, I’m just a little sleepy.”

“Xiao Li, I’ll keep you company tomorrow. I promise I’ll call. As soon as I—”

“As soon as you what?” Chi Yang waited for a long time, but all she heard was soft, even breathing.

“…”

Chi Yang suddenly felt agitated.

________________________________________

After finally getting some sleep, Pei Jiuyao woke the next day to find her phone had died.

Director Zheng’s set banned phones entirely. They even used signal blockers to keep actors focused on their roles.

Chi Yang usually slept or did therapy during the day, only calling at night. So Pei Jiuyao decided to just leave her phone at the hotel.