How Could a Scumbag Alpha Possibly Love His Wife? (GL, ABO) - Chapter 11
“You… why didn’t you wake me up…?”
Cheng Wan glanced at the time on her phone, tugging anxiously at her seatbelt. She muttered a complaint instinctively, but then suddenly remembered that the person next to her wasn’t a close friend—it was Bai Juntang. She froze in place immediately.
Bai Juntang looked at her, resting his head against the window, and said, “You never told me to wake you up.”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t blaming you. I overslept—it’s my fault,” Cheng Wan apologized, lowering her head. “I just woke up and wasn’t thinking straight.”
Cheng Wan was still a bit groggy from just waking up. Sometimes when she woke up too suddenly, she couldn’t even tell if she was really awake or still dreaming. That’s probably why she blurted out those complaints to Bai Juntang earlier—and it gave her quite a scare afterward.
How could she speak to Bai Juntang like that? What if she had gotten upset?
But Bai Juntang wasn’t that petty. She just looked at Cheng Wan and said calmly, “You got a call while you were sleeping. It rang twice, then stopped. Probably something important—you should check it.”
Only then did Cheng Wan lower her head and unlock her phone. Sure enough, there was a missed call.
It was from Manager Zhou, who had called around 9 a.m.—by then, Cheng Wan had probably still been fast asleep. Since the call didn’t go through, he left her a message.
“It’s time to clock in and you’re still not here, so I went ahead and marked you down for half a day off. Just come in by 2 p.m.—no need to rush.”
It was a WeChat message. Cheng Wan finally let out a breath of relief after reading it.
Thank goodness Manager Zhou had already arranged the time off for her—otherwise, it would’ve counted as an unexcused absence.
Bai Juntang noticed the change in her expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Cheng Wan put away her phone and looked over at her. “My manager gave me the morning off, so… I’m not technically late. I just need to be back at the office by 2.”
“Oh, I see.”
Bai Juntang’s eyes lit up slightly. She looked at Cheng Wan and smiled. “In that case, let’s take a little walk around. We can grab lunch, and I’ll take you back afterward.”
“Is that really okay?” Cheng Wan had barely finished asking when Bai Juntang drove off, not waiting for her reply.
Cheng Wan watched the elevator entrance get farther and farther away, and could only lean back in her seat with a helpless sigh. There was no point arguing—Bai Juntang never listened anyway. She might as well go along quietly and let her take the lead.
Her hand brushed against the coat on her lap, which still carried Bai Juntang’s scent. It made Cheng Wan feel warm and at ease.
Plant-type pheromones were naturally calming, especially for people who hadn’t been resting well. They had a soothing effect that was hard to describe.
Just like the scent of white peach on Cheng Wan helped Bai Juntang relax, Bai Juntang’s pheromones made Cheng Wan feel peaceful too.
The thick coat stayed on her lap, and Bai Juntang didn’t ask for it back. Instead, she drove straight to a shopping mall and parked in the underground garage.
Cheng Wan recognized the place. She’d come here to browse now and then, though she rarely bought anything—the prices were steep. A single dress could cost several thousand yuan, which wasn’t exactly affordable.
Still, the food here was reasonably priced. A hotpot meal for two or three people would only run about four to five hundred yuan—not too bad.
They got into the elevator. Bai Juntang didn’t say much, simply leading Cheng Wan into a high-end boutique.
The handmade clothing had a unique design style, and the store’s atmosphere felt calm and sophisticated. As soon as Bai Juntang stepped inside, a staff member came over to greet her.
“Miss Bai, welcome,” the sales associate said with a polite smile. He wore a clean, well-fitted suit and stood two steps away, speaking gently. “It’s been a while since we last saw you. We just got in some new arrivals—would you like to take a look?”
Bai Juntang glanced behind her at Cheng Wan, who was looking around curiously. But when Cheng Wan noticed Bai Juntang watching her, she quickly lowered her gaze.
“Pick out an outfit for her,” Bai Juntang said. “Something in a darker color.”
The sales associate looked at Cheng Wan and walked over with a friendly smile. “Miss, please come with me. The newest arrivals are in the back.”
Cheng Wan looked at Bai Juntang, confused. “This is…?”
“My mom is coming back this weekend to visit the family graves,” Bai Juntang explained. “I noticed your clothes don’t really suit the occasion, so I thought I’d bring you here while we had the time. I’ll cover the cost—you just need to cooperate.”
“But… I do have something appropriate to wear. There’s really no need to buy a new one,” Cheng Wan said gently. She glanced around the boutique—everything looked expensive. She didn’t want Bai Juntang to spend so much on her.
Bai Juntang raised her eyes to meet hers and stepped closer. “I don’t know what you consider appropriate. That’s why I brought you here to pick something out. If your parents knew about this, I think they’d be happy, wouldn’t they? So why rush to turn me down?”
Cheng Wan said nothing. Bai Juntang had a point. If her adoptive parents found out, they would probably be pleased.
Seeing that she didn’t argue anymore, Bai Juntang turned to the sales associate and said, “Please find something tasteful and suitable for a memorial visit.”
The associate nodded. “Right this way, miss.”
While Cheng Wan was in the fitting room, Bai Juntang strolled around the store.
She’d been busy with work lately and hadn’t had time to shop in a while. With the seasons changing, she picked out two summer outfits, tried them on, and was satisfied enough to have them packed up.
Once she was done with her own shopping, she realized Cheng Wan still hadn’t come out of the fitting room. She walked over and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock—
“What kind of outfit takes that long to change into?” Bai Juntang teased from outside.
There was a soft click, and the door slowly opened. Cheng Wan looked up at her and said quietly, “I’m done…”
She stood there in a black two-piece outfit—a sleek, stylish top paired with a matching skirt patterned with subtle dark textures. A silver belt wrapped around her slim waist, emphasizing her figure.
Her fair, long legs were exposed beneath the hem, and she wore a pair of black kitten heels from the fitting room.
The sales associate’s eyes lit up the moment she saw her. “Wow, this outfit really flatters your complexion! It’ll look great with a nice pair of leather shoes or heels.”
Cheng Wan had always been slim, but this outfit gave her figure a more balanced look. The black color made her skin appear even fairer, and standing in front of the mirror, she looked as if she’d grown taller by ten centimeters.
“You look great,” Bai Juntang said, her eyes trailing over Cheng Wan’s long legs and slender waist. After a pause, she turned to the associate and said, “Bring her a pair of shoes to try on as well.”
After Cheng Wan put on the slim black heels, she looked far more elegant than she had in her simple dress earlier. Even Bai Juntang couldn’t take her eyes off her.
How had she never noticed before how well Cheng Wan’s figure suited formal clothes?
If only she were a little fuller, Bai Juntang thought to herself.
She studied Cheng Wan carefully, then glanced down at the heels on her feet. Something suddenly occurred to her. She turned to the sales associate and said, “Wait—she’s pregnant. She probably shouldn’t be wearing heels, right?”
Cheng Wan froze the moment she heard those words.
The sales associate glanced curiously between the two of them, then smiled and said, “Oh, yes—if she’s expecting, heels really aren’t a good idea. If she slips, it could be dangerous. I’ll bring a pair of flats instead.”
After the associate left, Cheng Wan turned to Bai Juntang and said, “It’s not really necessary. I can still wear heels if I’m careful.”
Bai Juntang looked at her with interest, stepped forward, and gently rested a hand on her waist. Cheng Wan tensed up immediately.
“You’re carrying my child. That’s something everyone knows,” Bai Juntang said as she leaned closer, watching Cheng Wan’s nervous reaction. “Miss Cheng, we’re going to be spending at least a year together. I’ll be there when the baby’s born, and I’ll help take care of it. Do you really still need to be so formal with me?”
Cheng Wan caught the familiar scent of Bai Juntang’s pheromones, and her cheeks turned red almost instantly.
“I…”
“I know neither of us planned this child,” Bai Juntang continued softly.
She gently placed her other hand over Cheng Wan’s stomach, feeling her body react with a slight shiver.
A strange curiosity stirred in Bai Juntang’s mind. That night, when she had lost control—had Cheng Wan trembled in her arms the same way?
Had she clung to her in fear, eyes red with unshed tears? Had she—
“Miss Bai.” Cheng Wan’s quiet voice brought her back to reality. She turned her head slightly and said, “The sales associate is back.”
Bai Juntang pulled her hand away and looked up. The associate had returned with two pairs of shoes—one was a pair of simple black leather flats, the other, black combat-style boots.
“These are both flat and very comfortable,” the associate said politely. “Please have a seat, miss. I’ll help you try them on.”
Cheng Wan stepped around Bai Juntang and sat on the sofa. Bai Juntang noticed how red her ears were and couldn’t help wondering what she was thinking.
In the end, Cheng Wan chose the leather flats. They were made from soft, genuine leather and very comfortable. Plus, they had a clean, professional look—perfect for work later on.
When it came time to pay, Cheng Wan noticed the price seemed to involve quite a few zeros, but she didn’t dare say anything.
By then, it was nearly lunchtime. Bai Juntang chose a nearby home-style restaurant. The place was fairly busy, and the two of them found a quiet table in the corner.
“You didn’t seem used to Western food last time,” Bai Juntang said, scanning the QR code. She handed her phone to Cheng Wan. “You’ll probably be more comfortable with this. Pick two dishes you like.”
Cheng Wan took the phone and softly said, “Thank you.”
Their fingers brushed briefly as she took it. Bai Juntang leaned on one hand, quietly watching her. Cheng Wan was looking through the menu so carefully, as if picking dishes were a serious decision.
Bai Juntang couldn’t help but wonder, would her sharp-tongued, critical mother ever like someone like Cheng Wan?
But then she shook the thought away. Why did it matter what her mother thought? Once the baby was born, Cheng Wan would be gone. She wanted the child, not a partner.
After choosing two dishes, Cheng Wan handed the phone back. Bai Juntang glanced at the screen and saw she had only ordered tofu and cabbage soup, and a simple plate of stir-fried lotus root.
Bai Juntang frowned slightly. As she began adding a few heavier dishes to the order, some meat and fish—she looked at Cheng Wan and asked, “Is the Cheng family starving you or something?”
Cheng Wan blinked, confused, and looked up at her with a puzzled expression.
After placing the order, Bai Juntang said, “If you keep eating plain vegetables and tofu every day, how is my baby supposed to grow properly?”