Dressed as the Scumbag Alpha Mom of the Tragic Female Lead (ABO, GL) - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

The four put away their luggage—Zhao Zi and Gu Lingjun’s rooms were next to each other, and Zhuang Qi and Jiang Chuxie’s rooms were also adjacent, but the two pairs were far apart. Gu Lingjun and Zhao Zi’s rooms were in the most secure area, a VIP suite designated for Omegas, where Alphas were strictly prohibited.

Many high-end hotels had such exclusive zones, which seemed like special care for Omegas, but Jiang Chuxie felt it carried a hint of discriminatory treatment.

When Gu Lingjun and Zhao Zi arrived at the restaurant, Jiang Chuxie and Zhuang Qi had already ordered food. Uncle Wu finally stopped hovering around Gu Lingjun, allowing the four to relax a bit.

“After lunch, we can take a walk around. The scenery nearby is nice. There’s a lake halfway up the mountain where you can go ice fishing. In summer and autumn, people camp there, but it’s too cold now.”

Zhuang Qi wasn’t new to the place and had done some research to ensure a fun trip with friends.

“There are indoor and outdoor hot springs, some separated by gender, and some mixed…”

“We’ll stick to separate ones.”

Zhao Zi, Gu Lingjun, and Jiang Chuxie said in unison.

Zhuang Qi laughed. “I was just explaining, why so tense? I’m not into mixed bathing either. Separate is best, of course.”

“There are also beauty hot springs here, supposed to be good for your skin and health. Not sure if that’s true,” Zhao Zi said, flipping through a promotional booklet. “When are we going skiing? Soaking in a hot spring after skiing is the best.”

The resort had a natural ski slope, and with recent heavy snow, it was perfect for skiing.

“Up to you. If you’re not tired, we can go later,” Zhuang Qi said.

“Nah, I can’t ski. I’ll pass.”

In both her past and current life, Jiang Chuxie had never learned to ski.

“No big deal if you can’t. I can teach you, or there are coaches here,” Zhuang Qi, a sports enthusiast skilled in many activities, said eagerly. “Gu Lingjun, can you ski? If not, you two can learn together. If you can, you could teach Chuxie.”

Gu Lingjun glanced at Jiang Chuxie and smiled. “I can’t either.”

Actually… she could, and she’d learned at a young age. But seeing that Jiang Chuxie didn’t seem interested, she saw no need to teach.

“No need, no need. I can’t ski… I’m afraid of heights.”

Whether it was riding the cable car up the mountain or sliding down, Jiang Chuxie’s fear of heights made extreme sports like skiing, skydiving, or bungee jumping a no-go.

“You’re afraid of heights?” Zhuang Qi looked intrigued. “How did I not know this? Chuxie, seriously, an Alpha like you, so delicate?”

“It’s an instinctive reaction, not something I can control. What’s it got to do with gender?”

Jiang Chuxie shot Zhuang Qi a look, unbothered by any shame.

Zhao Zi chimed in, “Exactly. Are you saying Alphas can’t be delicate, but Omegas are naturally delicate?”

“Ah, I didn’t mean that.”

Zhuang Qi’s weak retort fizzled as she glanced at the three others and decided to shut up.

Before meeting Jiang Chuxie, Zhuang Qi thought she was already a very respectful Alpha toward Omegas and took pride in it. But after Zhao Zi compared her to Jiang Chuxie repeatedly, she realized that true respect might come from not consciously trying to be respectful.

She’d been curious about Jiang Chuxie, puzzled by her, and even had a fleeting hint of admiration. Maybe because of those feelings, when Zhao Zi compared them, Zhuang Qi didn’t feel annoyed. Instead, she often thought that Jiang Chuxie really didn’t seem like an Alpha.

There was no贬低 in that—it was just an observation. In fact, she greatly admired Jiang Chuxie, both for her talent and her character.

She admired how Jiang Chuxie could do things she couldn’t.

If only she had a suitable Omega sibling, she wouldn’t be trying to pair Gu Lingjun with Jiang Chuxie—it’d be better to keep it in the family, right?

“You’re really not going? What about you, Gu Lingjun?” Seeing Jiang Chuxie’s firm refusal, Zhuang Qi guessed Gu Lingjun wouldn’t go either but asked anyway. “You coming with us or staying at the hotel?”

“I’ll pass too. I’m not good with the cold,” Gu Lingjun gave the expected answer. “You two go ahead, don’t worry about me.”

“Then I won’t bother you guys?”

Zhuang Qi wasn’t worried. She could spend time alone with her girlfriend and create opportunities for her friends—a win-win. She wasn’t popular with Omegas for nothing; she’d long noticed Gu Lingjun liked Jiang Chuxie.

Sure, Alphas shouldn’t be too presumptuous, but with Gu Lingjun being so obvious, Jiang Chuxie’s cluelessness wasn’t great either. It wasn’t that Jiang Chuxie didn’t like her—she’d never seen her roommate care this much about another Omega.

So, Zhuang Qi concluded that Jiang Chuxie was partly oblivious and partly hesitant due to their different backgrounds. As her friend, Zhuang Qi felt obligated to encourage and help her.

Zhao Zi knew what Zhuang Qi was thinking and didn’t stop her because she saw that Gu Lingjun was the proactive one in this dynamic.

She supported Omegas pursuing love boldly and thought Jiang Chuxie was genuinely decent. In terms of values, Jiang Chuxie actually matched her partner standards better. Zhuang Qi was a rare Alpha, but compared to Jiang Chuxie, she fell just a bit short.

As Zhuang Qi said, Jiang Chuxie’s behavior and thinking didn’t seem very Alpha-like, which made her feel comfortable.

The only downside was that, maybe because she was too un-Alpha, even with Gu Lingjun being so forward, Jiang Chuxie still acted like a clueless goose.

“Jiang Chuxie, I’m entrusting Lingjun to your care. Don’t betray my trust,” Zhao Zi said with a senior’s air, addressing Jiang Chuxie but glancing at Gu Lingjun.

Jiang Chuxie assumed they were just going on a date and nodded. “You guys go have fun.”

Zhuang Qi and Zhao Zi were in the honeymoon phase, but having known each other for a while, they had a playful, almost teasing dynamic, without the shy awkwardness of new couples. Their natural rapport made Jiang Chuxie a bit envious, reminding her of hanging out with her best friend in her past life.

If there were no Alpha-Omega distinctions, the four of them hanging out would probably feel like a group of close girlfriends, right?

As Jiang Chuxie thought this, she glanced at Gu Lingjun, only to find her gazing back, her lively eyes sparkling with a warmth that made Jiang Chuxie’s heart skip.

But… you wouldn’t feel this way about a girlfriend, would you?

Suppressing her racing heart, Jiang Chuxie looked away, her thoughts in disarray.

She wanted to keep things with Gu Lingjun “pure,” like with her best friend in her past life. After all, she wasn’t a native Alpha and had never seen girls or Omegas as romantic prospects. That shouldn’t be so hard.

She could blame her fluttering heart on the plot’s influence or an Alpha’s instinctual reaction to an Omega, but she couldn’t pretend she didn’t care deeply about Gu Lingjun.

The more time she spent with Gu Lingjun, the more she wanted to protect her from the tragic fate in the original story—not as a partner, of course.

After lunch, Zhuang Qi and Zhao Zi geared up for the ski slope, while Jiang Chuxie and Gu Lingjun planned to wander around the resort.

In the city, snow was cleared the same day, but around the resort, aside from main roads, most areas were blanketed in white. The thick snow was shaped into various scenic displays along the paths.

“Senior, let’s check out over there.”

Since Gu Lingjun said she was sensitive to cold, Jiang Chuxie had planned to stroll briefly and return to the hotel. But Gu Lingjun got more excited as they walked, playfully brushing snow off plants and beaming with flushed cheeks at the sight of snow-sculpted animals.

Following Gu Lingjun’s slightly red, chilled fingertips, Jiang Chuxie saw a small wooden pavilion nearby. Unlike typical pavilions, it had steam rising from it, and there was no snow around it.

“It looks like a foot-soaking hot spring.”

The resort was rich in hot spring resources. Besides the hotel’s various springs, outdoor ones were scattered everywhere. Though not for bathing, soaking feet was pleasant.

“Let’s go soak.”

Gu Lingjun happily grabbed Jiang Chuxie’s hand and ran toward the pavilion.

Jiang Chuxie hadn’t expected the usually gentle and refined young lady to be so lively and childlike when out having fun. Her enthusiasm was infectious, filling Jiang Chuxie with genuine joy.

“Slow down a bit. The ground’s slippery—don’t fall.”

Gu Lingjun’s hand was soft and cold. Jiang Chuxie instinctively tightened her grip, enveloping it completely.

“Sorry,” Gu Lingjun slowed down, her cheeks, already red from the cold, blushing further with embarrassment. “It doesn’t snow this much in the south.”

It was true the south didn’t get heavy snow, but the main reason was that since differentiating as an Omega, Gu Lingjun hadn’t played in snow so freely in a long time.

At school, with classmates around, she couldn’t let loose. But for some reason, with Jiang Chuxie, she felt unreserved.

“I get it.” Jiang Chuxie recalled her first time seeing heavy snow in the north in her past life, playing excitedly for hours, only to fall ill that night, leaving her best friend to care for her for days. “But falling wouldn’t be good. Let’s walk slowly.”

Jiang Chuxie’s hand was warm and strong, but what Gu Lingjun felt most was the gentleness radiating from that warmth and strength.

“Mm.”

Unlike other Alphas’ aggressiveness, this quality made Gu Lingjun like Jiang Chuxie more and more.

The pavilion was empty, with a wooden bench circling a steaming water channel below.

Gu Lingjun bent down, dipping her hand in the water. The temperature, a bit too hot for her cold fingers, spread from her fingertips.

“So hot!” She pulled back her hand, not annoyed but delighted, turning to Jiang Chuxie. “Senior, it’s really a hot spring!”

No matter how mature she seemed, Gu Lingjun was still a young woman just past adulthood. Seeing her so happy, Jiang Chuxie finally let go of the lingering worries in her heart.

“This is a hot spring resort, of course there are hot springs.” She glanced around and asked, “Want to soak your feet here?”

“Mm, let’s sit for a bit.”

Thanks to the hot spring’s steam, the pavilion was warmer than the surroundings, making it a cozy spot to enjoy the scenery.

“You soak. I brought a handkerchief to dry off later.”

Since coming to this world, Jiang Chuxie hadn’t felt this relaxed in a long time. Without comparison, she might never have realized how tense she’d been.

“I brought a handkerchief too. Come on, Senior, soak with me.”

Gu Lingjun pulled Jiang Chuxie to the bench and began removing her boots. Jiang Chuxie thought for a moment, decided not to be fussy, and sat beside her, taking off her shoes and socks.

As an Alpha, though her body was still female-like, her height and build far exceeded her past life’s. At first, she wasn’t used to it, but since it made many tasks easier, she stopped minding.

Now, with their legs in the hot spring, Gu Lingjun, an Omega, looked delicate and cute in every way by comparison.

“Wow, so comfy!”

Gu Lingjun cautiously dipped her feet in, the perfect warmth gradually seeping into her soles, dispelling the chill from walking in the snow.

“Mm…”

Relaxed, Jiang Chuxie squinted, leaning against a pavilion pillar with a serene expression.

If she hadn’t died suddenly in her past life, she’d be 32 now. Maybe this kind of leisurely life would suit her better.

Hanging out with a few friends during holidays or relaxing at a resort with her best friend. But at that age, everyone would probably be married, right?

What would 32-year-old her be like?

Feeling the warm water flow over her feet, seeing the snow-covered greenery, and sensing the long-lost comfort of trusted company, Jiang Chuxie relaxed.

Zhuang Qi was right—balancing work and rest was crucial. In this calm, slow pace, her accumulated fatigue seemed to fade.

“Senior…”

As Jiang Chuxie felt a hint of drowsiness, Gu Lingjun shifted slightly, leaning against her shoulder.

“Mm, what’s up?”

Gu Lingjun wasn’t sure why, but in that moment, she suddenly felt Jiang Chuxie was far away—not just from her, but from the world.

Their time together made her realize Jiang Chuxie wasn’t just upright but incredibly talented. Starting a business while managing studies in her junior year made Gu Lingjun feel like a sheltered flower.

In business, Jiang Chuxie wasn’t as laid-back as she seemed. Gu Lingjun admired her driven attitude but only noticed her underlying fatigue in this serene moment. Jiang Chuxie’s efforts might not be entirely ambition-driven.

Thinking deeper, Jiang Chuxie seemed guarded toward everything, always on edge, as if something were pushing her to rush forward, even in her business ventures.

That Jiang Chuxie wasn’t fake, but Gu Lingjun felt the lazy Jiang Chuxie now was more real.

“There’s something I want to apologize for.”

Seeing this true side of Jiang Chuxie, Gu Lingjun thought she’d be happy. But before joy, she felt unease and panic.

This real Jiang Chuxie felt unprecedentedly distant, as if she might vanish from the world if Gu Lingjun wasn’t careful. She seemed strangely out of place, like someone who didn’t belong here.

Feeling Gu Lingjun’s weight against her, Jiang Chuxie’s heart settled with an inexplicable calm, her reply tinged with a lazy drawl.

“Mm… why do you need to apologize?”

She wasn’t thinking too hard, just treating it as casual chatter with a friend. She didn’t think Gu Lingjun had anything to apologize for, but knowing her personality, she probably felt guilty about something small.

That was fine. She’d tell Gu Lingjun not to sweat the small stuff.

Because they were friends now, weren’t they?

Gu Lingjun took a soft breath, her voice low.

“Do you remember… our conversation when we first met?”

Their first conversation?

Jiang Chuxie thought sluggishly, unsure if Gu Lingjun meant their talk at the Omega dorm or after the café incident.

“What did we say?”

Gu Lingjun gently grasped Jiang Chuxie’s hand, as if afraid she’d slip away.

“I said I wanted to be friends with you, Senior.”

Jiang Chuxie was no stranger to the Omega girl’s soft hand, and holding hands no longer felt awkward.

In her past life, she and her best friend were like this. Gu Lingjun’s behavior, minus the Alpha-Omega dynamic, was really no different.

Gu Lingjun said she didn’t see her as an Alpha, so as long as Jiang Chuxie didn’t overthink, there was no issue.

“I remember…” Gu Lingjun’s persistence back then puzzled Jiang Chuxie, but seeing her change over time, she vaguely understood. “We’re friends now.”

Maybe Gu Lingjun just needed a chance to open up. If Jiang Chuxie’s words and actions could encourage or help her, that was great.

“Senior,” but after Jiang Chuxie said that, Gu Lingjun tightened her grip, looking up at her face. “I want to apologize for that.”

Jiang Chuxie didn’t quite understand, but she figured it was just Gu Lingjun’s refined mindset differing from her own. She asked lazily, “Why apologize for that? Don’t you want to be friends anymore, or do you think you were too pushy back then?”

Honestly, when Gu Lingjun said those words, Jiang Chuxie found it unbelievable. She never imagined the Gu Lingjun from the original story—described as submissive and spineless—would express her wishes so strongly.

Jiang Chuxie chuckled softly. “I stopped caring about those words long ago. I hope you don’t mind my cold attitude back then either.”

Clearing this up should make their future interactions more natural and harmonious, right?

“No, Senior.” Gu Lingjun looked at Jiang Chuxie earnestly, contrasting sharply with Jiang Chuxie’s unguarded demeanor. “I want to apologize for saying I just wanted to be friends. Back then, I really meant it, but now…”

But she hadn’t felt that way for a long time.

If she hadn’t met Jiang Chuxie, she might have followed her parents’ arrangements, married a vetted Alpha, and lived a aimless life. But now, she knew she could never do that.

Having tasted light, who would return to darkness?

Having liked Jiang Chuxie, she could never like another Alpha.

This time, she wanted to fight for herself.

“Hm? What do you…”

Jiang Chuxie didn’t catch Gu Lingjun’s meaning at first, looking at her in confusion. But seeing Gu Lingjun’s moist eyes, flushed cheeks, and shy expression, the rest of her question stuck in her throat.

Someone once said a girl’s affection is like a flower’s fragrance, impossible to hide. It spills from her clear eyes, her fair skin, her tender lips like spring cherry blossoms.

That sweet, fragrant, intoxicating scent lures eager bees and butterflies, but she blooms for only one.

Jiang Chuxie smelled the scent of freesia—no, she hadn’t just smelled it. She’d been savoring it all along, so familiar that she only now realized it.

Gu Lingjun’s pheromones, subdued by suppressants, were faint, making their clear, elegant fragrance even more distinct.

What did Gu Lingjun mean?

Jiang Chuxie felt she should know, from her emotive eyes, her trembling lashes, her hesitant lips.

But her mind felt sluggish, like a crashed computer, unable to sort through the chaotic thoughts.

She thought that back then, so what did she think now?

Amid Jiang Chuxie’s nervous, pounding heart, there was a faint trace of anticipation.

She shouldn’t feel this way, should stop Gu Lingjun from continuing, but Gu Lingjun’s gaze, touch, and pheromone scent held her captive.

Being gazed at so purely by such a lovely girl, who wouldn’t be moved?

Even if she was the straightest woman in her past life, she’d still be charmed by this beauty—it was hopeless, wasn’t it?

The urge to hold Gu Lingjun tightly and hear her whisper love in her ear overwhelmed Jiang Chuxie’s mind, stronger than any instinct to refuse.

If Gu Lingjun really meant that…

Gu Lingjun’s lips parted. “Senior, I—”

If she really liked her…

“Senior Jiang, Gu Lingjun, what a coincidence! Are you guys here on vacation too?”

Just as Jiang Chuxie’s rationality teetered on the edge, a somewhat familiar young male voice shattered the intimate atmosphere in the pavilion.