I Heard I’m a Scummy Alpha? [Transmigration] - Chapter 17

Back at home, Qi Yunwei handed her empty lunchbox to the butler and sighed. “Good thing I listened to you and skipped the sugar in the scrambled eggs with tomatoes—otherwise, it would’ve been impossible to eat.”

The butler asked, “Miss, you didn’t take a single rib?”

Qi Yunwei frowned. “She wouldn’t take any herself. I fed her one piece, but she looked like she was forcing it down. I felt bad, so I stopped.”

The butler tried to reassure her. “Taste takes time to develop. Maybe after a while she’ll start to like more things.”

Qi Yunwei’s mood lightened a little. The butler noticed the many shopping bags in her hands and asked out of curiosity, “Miss Yunwei, did you go shopping?”

Qi Yunwei raised the bags like a small show. “We went shopping after lunch. Yan Zui—really—wants to buy me everything she sees. I had to hold her back for ages before I only let her buy these, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to carry everything home.”

The butler, shown up by her display, simply blinked.

“Yan Zui says she’s the one who earns money and supports the family; I can just play at home. So she bought me a new computer, Uncle Jiang. You can rest — I’m off to the study to play on it.”

The butler watched her go into the study, thinking about how lively Qi Yunwei was and realizing that Yan Zui must like this kind of Alpha. No wonder Yan Zui never wanted to get married before—she simply hadn’t met anyone she liked.

Qi Yunwei spent the whole afternoon getting familiar with the computer, learning most of the controls and even finding the country’s largest IT forum. Just as she suspected, the forum had a board for bounty tasks—complete tasks and you could earn cash rewards.

“Knock knock knock! Miss Yunwei, dinner’s ready.” The butler called.

Qi Yunwei had been sitting all day; her back and neck ached. She stood and stretched, frowning as she decided she’d have to limit her computer time in the future. Her body was fragile—she needed to take care of it.

She opened the door to the dining room. Yan Zui was already seated at the table; when she heard Qi Yunwei’s footsteps she looked up.

“Good afternoon.” Qi Yunwei smiled and winked at her.

The butler chuckled from the side. “Miss, Miss Yunwei can’t stop talking about the computer you bought her. She’s been in the study all afternoon.”

Yan Zui remained expressionless. “Oh?” A computer?

Qi Yunwei caught the hint, sat next to Yan Zui, and said, “Yep. I’ve never used such a high-end computer before. The display is so clear and everything runs so smoothly. Thank you for buying it for me.”

Yan Zui quickly grasped the situation and calmly said, “You’re welcome.”

Knowing Qi Yunwei’s tastes, the butler had already prepared her favorite dishes without being told. When the sweet-and-sour pork with pineapple was placed on the table, Qi Yunwei immediately scooped a spoonful for Yan Zui. “Uncle Jiang said taste has to be cultivated. If you eat what I like more often, you’ll eventually develop the same taste as me.”

The pineapple and meat were coated in a tangy-sweet sauce, with bright green peppers for color—just looking at it made one’s mouth water.

“Try it.” Qi Yunwei watched her expectantly.

The butler, seeing Yan Zui hesitate to pick up her chopsticks, worried she might not want to eat and was about to say something to smooth things over—when Yan Zui suddenly picked up a piece of pineapple and put it in her mouth, then another piece of meat.

Her long, dark lashes drooped, shading whatever emotion might lie behind her eyes; it was hard to tell whether she liked it or not.

But Qi Yunwei was sure she did.

She remembered her conversation with the butler and didn’t overdo it—she only served Yan Zui three times.

After those three helpings, Yan Zui happily ate (her face still wearing that faint, neutral expression). Her bowl was empty, and she waited for Qi Yunwei to serve her more; when none came she glanced at Qi Yunwei with a faint puzzled look in her deep blue eyes.

Qi Yunwei understood immediately; she thought Yan Zui looked like a child right then—so earnest and simple about the things she liked, innocent and adorable.

The butler sat across from them, so Qi Yunwei could only blink and say, “Sorry—I think I gave you too many portions of something you don’t like. I promised to change your tastes gradually. At lunch I only gave you one helping, but just now I couldn’t help myself.”

Yan Zui knew she couldn’t get any more, looked at the sweet-and-sour pork, and pressed her lips together. “The portions you gave me are fine.”

The butler laughed. “Miss, you like Miss Yunwei so much you don’t mind.”

Qi Yunwei smiled inwardly—of course Yan Zui really liked the sweet-and-sour pork.

After dinner the butler took a phone call. When he returned he told them, “Master asked me to inform you: he plans to host your family, Miss, at home this Saturday evening. Don’t be late.”

Qi Yunwei: “…”

She wasn’t keen on meeting her family, especially Qi Fanghuai. Wasn’t he the first pervert she directly encountered in the book? Last time she had dumped a bowl of congee over his head and they’d parted on bad terms. She had no idea what Yan Zui would do if she found out what he might be planning.

Yan Zui nodded. “Understood.”

Yan Zui went to her room to change into workout clothes and headed to the gym. Qi Yunwei had exercised that morning and had spent half the day shopping, so she figured she’d had enough activity and stayed behind to watch the news in the living room.

To understand the world more quickly, she needed the news—especially online discussions—since they revealed a slice of public thought and the country’s atmosphere.

Qi Yunwei scrolled through Weibo while watching the news. When she heard Yan Zui come out of the gym and waited about fifteen minutes—enough time for her to shower and change—she went to the bedroom.

Yan Zui had just finished blow-drying her hair and set the hairdryer on the bedside table. “Remember to dry your hair after you shower.”

“Okay.” Qi Yunwei was touched by Yan Zui’s concern, and then heard her add, “Don’t get my pillow wet.”

“Okay.” Qi Yunwei smiled at her. Caring people could be awkward about it.

Yan Zui frowned slightly when Qi Yunwei suddenly laughed.

After drying her hair, Qi Yunwei went to the bed and noticed two pillows placed between her and Yan Zui. It was a little awkward. Glancing at Yan Zui, who was scrolling on her phone, Qi Yunwei said, “I used to sleep properly. I’m sorry about this morning.”

“It’s fine.” Yan Zui was even more embarrassed than Qi Yunwei—apparently she’d been the one sleeping oddly.

The extra pillows were meant to stop Yan Zui from flinging herself into Qi Yunwei’s arms in her sleep.

Before bed Qi Yunwei reminded Xiaoman: [If I cross any lines, wake me up loudly.]

[Okay, master!]

They slept well. In the morning, Qi Yunwei woke to a sweet scent in her nose and something soft and warm against her chest. She blinked and lowered her head—Yan Zui was asleep in her arms again. Cold sweat prickled her skin.

[Xiaoman, why didn’t you wake me??] she asked, frozen, too afraid to move and risk waking Yan Zui. She held Yan Zui as if she was a hot coal.

[Master didn’t cross any lines, Xiaoman couldn’t wake you.]

[But I’m holding her—how is that not crossing a line? Xiaoman, did you not wake me because of energy considerations?] Qi Yunwei suspected the system was being energy-conscious.

[No way! How could you think that, master? Energy is important, but your command is more important! Xiaoman didn’t wake you because you didn’t hold Yan Zui — Yan Zui held you, so Xiaoman didn’t wake you.]

[What?] Qi Yunwei froze.