Dressed as the Scumbag Alpha Mom of the Tragic Female Lead (ABO, GL) - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Jiang Chuxie hadn’t been sleeping well these past few days. On one hand, the instant messaging software she was developing had hit a bottleneck. On the other, she was floored by the money Gu Lian had transferred.

Five million!

In the world and era she came from, five million as thanks for saving a wealthy heiress might’ve made sense. But here, the purchasing power of five million was staggering.

In a top-tier city like B City, downtown housing cost less than five thousand per square meter, and a decent meal with one meat and two vegetable dishes was just two or three bucks. By rough conversion, this five million was equivalent to fifty million in her previous world.

Fifty million!!!

In her past life working at a stock exchange, she’d seen such sums—as pure numbers. But as her own money? Forget fifty million, or even five million—her savings never even hit fifty thousand.

She’d thought Gu Lian, a shrewd businesswoman, would cap her generosity at a hundred thousand. That’s the level she meant by “clear conscience.” Five hundred thousand would’ve made her anxious, but five million left her restless and uneasy.

Jiang Chuxie never imagined she’d be defeated by a “mere” five million in an ABO adult novel world. It also proved she was increasingly seeing this world as real.

Distracted by the money, she’d made no progress in work or studies. She used to dream of getting rich overnight when young, but who knew actually striking it rich would bring such烦恼—was she too honest?

“Chuxie, you eating or heading back to the dorm?”

With only two morning classes, it was a bit early for lunch, but going back to the dorm and coming out again was a hassle.

“I’m going to the library,” Jiang Chuxie said. Besides the classroom and dorm, the library was her most frequent haunt. “I need to look up some materials.”

“Oh~” Zhuang Qi patted her shoulder, grinning. “Then I’ll head back… You really not going to the welcome party tomorrow night?”

Jiang Chuxie shot her a look. “How many times are you gonna ask?”

Zhuang Qi blinked innocently, sighing. “I just really want my awesome roommate to be known. You’ve got looks, talent—why so reclusive? You can be like this as a student, but what about when you’re working? For adults, socializing is part of work and life.”

Jiang Chuxie understood the logic. Even when working part-time, she interacted normally. She just didn’t want to stand out, as it never ended well.

“Got it. I’ll change when I start working.”

Empty words. Zhuang Qi shook her head, watching Jiang Chuxie’s retreating figure and muttering, “Hasn’t that little junior made a move yet?”

Leaving the library with borrowed books, Jiang Chuxie’s mind was still on the money.

When she confirmed the five million, she’d wanted to call Gu Lian to return most of it. But having resolved to distance herself from the Gu family, that action might complicate things, so she’d been wrestling with it for days.

As for Gu Lingjun, she didn’t dare contact her at all.

If her conscience was too heavy, maybe she could donate the money later?

But she needed major funds for her startup. Donating here and scrambling for funds there felt utterly foolish.

Rich people were so reckless—didn’t they know such extravagance would trouble a poor person like her?

“…Lingjun, Gu Lingjun, please consider it seriously! I know lots of people invited you as their dance partner, but I guarantee I’m the best among them!”

Hearing Gu Lingjun’s name, Jiang Chuxie thought she was hallucinating from overthinking. But she soon realized it wasn’t her imagination. The library was quiet at this hour, and she quickly spotted two people at the steps below, one of them unmistakably Gu Lingjun.

Ah, this beautiful girl in the early winter sunlight, like Aphrodite, goddess of love and desire, stealing the eye—yeah, right!

Jiang Chuxie quickly turned her face, forcing her gaze away.

She couldn’t let her guard down for a second. They were on the same campus, and though she rarely wandered, running into Gu Lingjun was possible.

No big deal—just ignore her.

“Sorry, I…”

She could look away and pretend not to see, but she couldn’t blatantly cover her ears to block Gu Lingjun’s troubled, timid voice rejecting a persistent male Alpha.

“No need to say sorry, Lingjun. I know you don’t have a dance partner yet—why can’t it be me? I’ve heard rumors tying you to Senior Zhao Gang’s withdrawal. I don’t believe them and don’t care. Others in the council may shun you, but I’ll protect you.”

The Alpha spoke passionately, full of devotion—if he weren’t so performative in public, it might’ve been somewhat touching.

Jiang Chuxie kept walking, getting closer to them. Resisting the urge to scoff, her ears couldn’t help but listen more intently.

“This matter…” Gu Lingjun’s voice grew more distressed and anxious. “Can we talk about it later? I have something urgent. Could you please step aside?”

Jiang Chuxie felt eyes on her, and her mind instantly conjured Gu Lingjun’s pitiful gaze.

“Wait, Lingjun, we need to settle this today. The welcome party’s tomorrow!” The Alpha blocked Gu Lingjun’s path, his tone firm. “And I’ll only accept you agreeing to—”

His “霸道总裁” speech was cut off as a hand from nowhere landed on his shoulder.

“So, inviting a dance partner is a mandatory system now?”

Jiang Chuxie had never hated her meddling nature more than now, but she’d rather hate herself again than endure that brainless nonsense.

“Jiang—” Gu Lingjun’s eyes lit up, her anxious expression turning to joy at Jiang Chuxie’s intervention. Catching Jiang Chuxie’s look, she quickly changed “Miss” to “Senior.”

“Who are you?” The male Alpha, interrupted, was instantly furious. “What’s a Beta like you doing butting in?”

Jiang Chuxie pushed him aside, stepping next to Gu Lingjun with a smile. “Can’t you see she’s troubled by your words? I think anyone witnessing this would speak up.”

“Which eye of yours saw Lingjun troubled? Hmph, a Beta like you wouldn’t get it. An Omega’s reserve is just playing hard-to-get with an Alpha.”

Jiang Chuxie’s eye twitched, her fist clenching, itching to punch this pighead.