Failed to Run Away After Transmigrating as the Scummy Alpha's Wife of the Villain - Chapter 9

“My favorite is Momo—full of youthful energy and vitality.”

“The one I dislike the most—” Jiang Ci deliberately drew out her words, keeping everyone in suspense, “is clumsy, means no harm but always causes trouble. It’s hard not to suspect she does it on purpose.”

The boatman asked, “And who is this person—?”

Jiang Ci shrugged and pointed at the petrified Chi Yuan. “My roommate, Chi Yuan.”

Chi Yuan twitched her lips, feeling utterly wronged. How have I caused trouble? Everything I did was to protect you, you villainous girl.

Before she could finish her thought, Jiang Ci added, “Plus, she’s not even good-looking—those flirtatious peach-blossom eyes, those thin crimson lips, the classic look of a heartbreaker. The type who’d dump you after marriage. Don’t be fooled by appearances.”

The cameraman promptly zoomed in on Chi Yuan’s bewildered face, giving her a full close-up.

Fuming, Chi Yuan stole a glance at Jiang Ci, who was covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, then rolled her eyes and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Teacher Jiang is just being tsundere. Last night, she was praising my figure, and now she’s forgotten all about it. Tell me, who’s the real heartbreaker here?”

Last night? Figure?

The crowd instantly latched onto the keywords, their eyes lighting up like searchlights as they stared at the intimate pair, their gossipy expressions impossible to hide.

Is this even okay to air?

Out of the camera’s view, Jiang Ci secretly rolled her eyes at Chi Yuan and, shielded by their bodies, pinched her hard on the lower back.

“Ah—!” The sudden pain on her injured spot made Chi Yuan’s hand slip from Jiang Ci’s shoulder as she hunched over, clutching her waist.

“My back hurts,” Chi Yuan muttered while rubbing the sore spot, only to notice everyone around her wearing suggestive, knowing looks.

??? What’s going on?

Among them, Gu Meng’s expression stood out the most—a mix of shock, devastation, and a strangely maternal smile.

Gu Meng: My ship is real! But I got the positions wrong!

Wait, isn’t Chi-jie a third-gender alpha? How is she the bottom?

Unless…

His gaze shifted to Jiang Ci, and he silently raised a thumbs-up.

Damn, Jiang-jie is the real legend—an omega who’s a top-tier alpha. Not to be underestimated.

Completely oblivious to his wild assumptions, Chi Yuan just looked confused.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ci, who fully grasped his train of thought, slowly, slowly raised a hand to cover her face.

As expected, nothing good ever happens when Chi Yuan’s around!

Jiang Ci explained, “Yesterday in the kitchen, Chi Yuan hurt her back. It still hasn’t healed.”

The crowd nodded in understanding: Ohhh, so her back was accidentally injured.

Jiang Ci: Judging by your expressions, you all seem a little disappointed.

Chi Yuan said, “My favorite is Momo. I think she’s a bright and driven girl. The one I dislike the most is Jiang Wan. Because—I’m jealous of her.”

Sensing drama, the production team pounced on the opportunity. “Why are you jealous?”

“Because she’s just too beautiful. It’s the kind of beauty that defies description, you know? Every time I see her, I start hallucinating.”

Wang Wen nodded in agreement. “Yeah, yeah, I totally get how Chi Yuan feels. Sometimes I feel the same way. Xiao Wan is just drop-dead gorgeous, exactly my type.”

Chi Yuan: No, we’re not the same.

Jiang Ci looked at Chi Yuan in surprise, her clear pupils conveying a message that was all too easy to read.

Are you blind or something?!

Jiang Wan had the delicate beauty of a traditional gentlewoman—fair skin, rosy lips, a petite oval face, and adorable doe eyes that gave her a sweet, girl-next-door charm when she smiled.

But calling her a celestial beauty, unparalleled and divine? That was just over-the-top marketing.

Jiang Ci carefully recalled Chi Yuan’s past lovers and girlfriends, realizing they all seemed to fit Jiang Wan’s type.

So, was she exclusively into this kind of look?

The production team, never one to miss a chance for drama, egged the boatman on to ask a sharper question. “Since Jiang Wan bears some resemblance to Teacher Jiang, she’s often called ‘Little Jiang Ci.’ So, President Chi, would you ever feel jealous of Teacher Jiang?”

Everyone turned to Chi Yuan and Jiang Ci again, curious about her response.

Jiang Ci waited, but then Chi Yuan suddenly leaned in, her striking face magnified in Jiang Ci’s vision, making her heart pound uncontrollably.

Her assessment of Chi Yuan’s “playgirl looks” was spot-on—the slight upward tilt of her peach-blossom eyes naturally exuded a flirtatious, fickle charm, so mesmerizing it made one want to press a kiss to them, just to make those eyes reflect only oneself.

Jiang Ci swallowed hard, meeting her gaze defiantly, only to see Chi Yuan slowly curve her lips into a smirk.

Chi Yuan: “But Teacher Jiang’s beauty is the kind that makes jealousy impossible.”

She took a step back and shrugged. “I’ll just keep being jealous of Jiang Wan, then.”

With the questions answered, the group boarded the narrow awning boat and set off toward the opposite shore.

The shimmering lake surface was dotted with birds skimming the water, their wings stirring gentle breezes.

But against the scorching heat, the breeze did little to cool them down. The sun-baked, hole-riddled boat roof turned the cramped space into a suffocating sauna.

By the time they finally reached the shore, they still had a five-kilometer walk to the supermarket.

Under the blazing sun, the four of them trudged along the road like fish being fried over and over.

Chi Yuan, holding a parasol, asked Wang Wen, “Was last season of Peach Blossom Hometown like this too?”

Of the nine participants, Wang Wen was the only returning veteran.

Wang Wen: “No, last season was in the mountains across the island. There were peach groves there too, but it took about an hour to walk from the cabins to the supermarket.”

Gu Meng: “That brutal? When I watched the show, I thought they’d eventually drive you guys there.”

Wang Wen waved a hand. “Mountain roads—no cars, just walking. Otherwise, why do you think I’m the only one who came back? The others refused.”

Chi Yuan listened quietly, but then her gaze landed on Jiang Ci’s arm, reddened by the sun and covered in a rash-like scattering of red dots. Alarmed, she reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Are you allergic?”

Jiang Ci glanced at it indifferently, her tone calm. “A little. Probably just the sun. I’ll put some ointment on later.”

Chi Yuan: “That doesn’t look like ‘a little’ serious.”

Jiang Ci: “Really, it’s fine. We’re almost there anyway.”

Chi Yuan tugged off her cooling arm sleeve and tossed it to Jiang Ci. “Here, put this on.”

“Hurry up. If you pass out from heatstroke, I’m not carrying you.”

Jiang Ci’s cheeks were flushed with a sweat-dampened rosy hue, making her entire face glow like a radiant sunset. She flashed a charming smile at Chi Yuan as she carefully pulled on the ice sleeves.

Chi Yuan rubbed his nose and muttered, “That smile is downright unfair.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ci blinked playfully. “Wasn’t it you who asked me to be gentler with you? Now you’re complaining when I smile at you?”

“Not complaining,” Chi Yuan mumbled, scratching his itchy earlobe—a nervous habit of his. His voice dropped even lower. “It’d just be better if you only smiled like that at me.”

“What?” The last part of his words was nearly lost in the wind, spoken so softly Jiang Ci couldn’t quite catch it.

“Nothing.” Chi Yuan took a few steps forward, pressing a hand to his chest to steady his racing heartbeat.

Beauty is dangerous, beauty is dangerous.

Meanwhile, in the peach orchard, five figures bustled among the trees.

The orchard covered two-thirds of the island, vast and sprawling, with countless peach trees standing tall. The sight during harvest season was nothing short of spectacular.

By the time the guests arrived, many farmers were already hard at work picking peaches, baskets on the ground brimming with fruit.

The peach trees weren’t particularly tall, their wide, flat canopies heavy with plump, crimson peaches that bent the branches low. Occasionally, a few unripe green ones lay scattered in the grass—perfect for juicing into a uniquely refreshing summer drink.

Jiang Wan carried a basket on her back, her feet sinking into the soft soil as sweat beaded on her forehead.

The show’s requirement for the guests was simple: fill a basket with peaches, bring them to the collection point for weighing, and pass quality inspection.

The guest who picked the most qualified peaches would earn an extra “Village Head’s Bonus Vote” from the production team.

For seasoned farmers, this was child’s play, but for the inexperienced guests, it proved quite the challenge.

Half an hour in, Jiang Wan had only managed to pick three peaches—nowhere near her goal.

“Miss, that one’s not ripe yet—can’t pick it,” a nearby farmer kindly pointed out.

Jiang Wan frowned, irritation bubbling up. She wasn’t here to be a real farmer—just filling the basket would do. Why so picky?

But with the cameraman trailing behind her, capturing every move, she swallowed her frustration and moved to the next tree.

Just then, she ran into Momo, who was returning with a basket full to the brim.

“Momo, did you pick all these yourself?” Jiang Wan gaped at the overflowing load on Momo’s back.

Momo nodded, then glanced at Jiang Wan’s meager haul.

“Uh… Wanwan-jie, you’ve got a bit less than me.”

Jiang Wan: Yeah, “a bit” is an understatement.

The contrast was downright brutal.

“The sun’s really strong today, and my allergies are acting up again. I started feeling dizzy after picking a few under the trees. What should I do? I’m still so far from finishing…” Jiang Wan’s acting was flawless—her sigh was the picture of innocent distress. She even showed Momo the red marks on her arm.

(She’d scratched them herself after mosquito bites.)

“Oh no, Wanwan-jie, that looks pretty bad!” Momo’s face was full of concern.

Jiang Wan hid a smirk before lowering her head sadly. “Yeah… and with so few peaches, I’ll never finish alone. Momo, could you help me out?”

“Of course!” Momo patted her chest firmly, taking out the only three peaches from Jiang Wan’s basket and placing them into her own.

“Wanwan-jie, you should go rest. I’ll help transport these peaches for you.”

Jiang Wan: ???

Wait, why are you taking my peaches??

Shouldn’t the normal response be offering to share some with me or help me pick more?

“Momo, you—”

“Wanwan-jie, no need to thank me. We’re all sisters struggling through this show together. Helping each other is only right.”

Before Jiang Wan could say another word, Momo had already sprinted off toward the gathering point.

Jiang Wan: Come back! Give me back my three peaches!

She watched helplessly as the figure ran away, her vision darkening—this time, she really did feel dizzy.