Has The Live-in Alpha Stepped Up - Chapter 19
19: Consider It Returning Home
“You still know how to come back! Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? You left your medication here and refused treatment. Do you think antidepressants can just be stopped like that?”
“I’ve told you so many times, you don’t need to work to earn money—just take care of yourself. How come after all these years, you still won’t listen? Before, it didn’t interfere with your studies, so I let it slide. But now the school has called so many times, saying you’re skipping classes to work two or three jobs outside!”
“Why are you so stubborn? Do you know how terrified I was that you might do something reckless?!”
The scolding came like a torrent, laced with deep concern.
The information overload was even greater than what Yu Guqiu had uncovered. An Yizhu simply hunched her shoulders and quietly endured the reprimand.
The clothes hanger in the woman’s hand was just for show—all bark and no bite, landing lightly on An Yizhu’s clothes. Her voice was thick with tears.
As she scolded, she began carefully inspecting An Yizhu’s condition. Suddenly, she caught sight of the inhibitor patch on An Yizhu’s nape and exclaimed in shock, “Xiao An, you’ve presented?!”
An Yizhu didn’t recognize the woman before her, but based on the child’s earlier cries of “Sister Xiao An” and “Old Mom An,” she deduced this was Director An, the woman who had adopted the original An Yizhu.
Director An’s frantic concern reminded An Yizhu of her own mother, filling her heart with warmth.
She reached out to steady Director An’s hand and explained, half-truthfully, “Yes, I presented a few days ago, but the side effect was losing most of my memories. This is Yu Guqiu—she took me in and helped me recover my identity. When she learned I grew up in this orphanage, she brought me back to visit.”
The sheer volume of information in those few sentences made Director An’s mouth drop open. She swayed on her feet, but An Yizhu had already steadied her, preventing her from collapsing.
Director An’s brain struggled to process everything, so she focused on the first thing first.
She handed the hanger to An Yizhu, wiped her hands clean on her clothes, and then clasped Yu Guqiu’s hands tightly. “Yu Guqiu—CEO Yu! The head of Yu Corporation! I know of you—you’re a public figure. Really, I… I don’t even know what to say. Thank you so much for taking care of our Xiao An these past few days!”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, the simple and sincere woman could only think to kneel in thanks.
Yu Guqiu quickly held onto Director An’s hands, rough with calluses and scars from chilblains, and helped her up alongside An Yizhu. “There’s no need for that. Please, don’t be so formal.”
Yu Guqiu had a thousand ways to handle gratitude, but faced with Director An’s sincerity, she found herself at a loss.
The scene moved her deeply. Director An and An Yizhu shared no bl00d relation, yet the older woman genuinely cared for her.
She glanced behind them at the dilapidated buildings and the children peeking shyly from behind the walls.
None of these children were related to Director An by bl00d, yet she had selflessly taken them all in.
This small woman carried an immense love in her heart.
An Yizhu was equally unsure how to proceed. Yu Guqiu had brought her here to test her, and she had been completely unprepared. Now, Yu Guqiu was surely stunned by the orphanage’s dire conditions.
An Yizhu could only suggest, “Maybe we shouldn’t stand here? Let’s go inside and sit down to talk?”
“Ah! Right, right, of course! Look at me, I’ve been so rude.” Director An was both flustered and overjoyed. She never imagined the CEO of Yu Corporation would be willing to step foot inside their shabby orphanage.
The last person she had invited to visit had been a small-time businessman, who had only glanced at the entrance from ten meters away before leaving some food and supplies behind.
Director An, despite her small frame, moved with surprising energy, scurrying into the courtyard.
The children inside were quick to help, bringing out three clean plastic stools and placing them in the quietest, neatest spot in the yard before retreating behind various hiding places.
Director An fetched a cup of water from inside.
An Yizhu walked in, casually handed the hanger back to the loud-mouthed child, and set down the items she was carrying. With a smile, she said, “These are gifts Guqiu prepared—some fruit, supplements, and the like.”
“Oh, we couldn’t possibly accept that! You’ve already brought Xiao An back to us, and now you’re giving us gifts? No, no, we can’t take these.” Director An handed the cup of hot water to Yu Guqiu and tried to return the gifts.
“It’s nothing to feel awkward about. Please accept them. After all, this is her first time visiting, but you could also consider it… accompanying me back to my family home.” An Yizhu searched for the right way to phrase it.
She said it so casually, yet so abruptly, that Director An nearly dropped the teacup in her hands. Yu Guqiu swiftly caught it before it could fall.
The cup was spotless, with little sign of wear—clearly one of Director An’s prized possessions, even if it was just an inexpensive enamel mug.
Yu Guqiu sighed softly and shot An Yizhu a reproachful look.
This An Yizhu—not only was she sharp-tongued with enemies, but she also gave her loved ones no time to prepare, dropping bombshells without warning.
Director An worried she had misunderstood. “Xiao An, you can’t joke about things like this! Someone as prominent as CEO Yu is under constant media scrutiny. If the wrong people hear this—”
An Yizhu didn’t bother explaining further this time. She simply pulled out the marriage certificate from her bag and handed it over.
Proof spoke louder than words.
Director An took the certificate with both hands.
She examined the front.
Then the inside.
The red booklet.
The official seal.
The photos of two beautiful women.
There was no mistake—they were really, truly married!
Director An took several deep breaths to steady herself before gripping Yu Guqiu’s hands again. After a long pause, she finally managed to ask, “This… this… CEO Yu, what on earth do you see in Xiao An?”
An Yizhu couldn’t help but laugh.
Well, from a conventional standpoint, Yu Guqiu really shouldn’t have fallen for someone like her.
Yet Yu Guqiu gave a precise answer: “I adore Xiao An’s smile.”
Huh?
An Yizhu turned to Yu Guqiu in surprise.
Yu Guqiu continued earnestly to Director An, “Her smile is soft and warm. When she grins, her little canine teeth show—it’s adorable.”
Huh?!
An Yizhu covered her mouth.
Yu Guqiu wasn’t done. “Unlike my cautious nature, she’s endlessly optimistic and driven. I didn’t understand why before, but now that I’ve met you, I think I get it. You must have given her so much love.”
An Yizhu was genuinely moved by this “confession.”
When had Yu Guqiu prepared such perfect answers?
Anyone listening would think they were long-time lovers, with Yu Guqiu recounting the exact moments she had fallen for her.
But An Yizhu’s joy lasted only seconds before guilt set in. She glanced nervously at Director An.
Because Yu Guqiu’s description fit her—this An Yizhu—not the original Xiao An!
Remembering Director An’s earlier scolding—
“Do you think antidepressants can just be stopped like that?”
The original Xiao An had depression.
Even if she had shared An Yizhu’s optimistic, cheerful side, stopping her medication wouldn’t have allowed her to behave like this.
Sure enough, Director An’s smile slowly froze. She stared at An Yizhu and stood up abruptly.
She shook her head mechanically and took a step back. “You’re not Xiao An. Who are you?”
Yu Guqiu tensed at the scene, her brows furrowing as she looked at An Yizhu.
An Yizhu quickly grabbed Director An’s hands, holding them tightly to prevent her from reaching for any “weapons” to drive her away.
[Think, stupid brain! It’s time to turn things around again—say something!]
An Yizhu urged herself.
She borrowed the “loudmouth” child’s nickname for Director An and pleaded, “Old Mom An, calm down first and listen to me!”