I Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha and Stole the Heroine from Her Tragic Romance ( LILY, ABO ) - Chapter 9

At least he had some sense left.

Yu Peirong sneered silently in her heart, but her voice softened with careful tenderness, as if she were gently chastising a naive and thoughtless younger brother who didn’t understand how hard his sister was working on his behalf.

“Ah Shang, stop being ridiculous. How could your sister ever team up with an outsider to make trouble for you? You must be too tired lately. Are you starting to imagine things?”

These words were the exact lines the male lead had once used to manipulate the female lead in the novel. He had spoken with the same gentle tone, like a breeze brushing the skin. Yu Peirong was a woman, an actress, and a two-time award-winning film queen known for her voice control and acting skill. When she spoke those words, her voice was even more delicate and soft, so gentle it could almost drip water.

But the gentler her tone, the more uncomfortable Yu Shang felt.

All she had done was echo back, in a roundabout way, the kind of treatment he once gave Qi Xiyao. And yet even this made him squirm.

Yu Peirong didn’t give him a chance to interrupt. She kept up her gentle, infuriating act as she continued speaking with the calm air of an older sibling giving advice.

“You told me before that Qi Xiyao didn’t have much going for her. Just a pretty face. There are plenty of beautiful women in the entertainment industry. She should have been swept away like all the others, right?”

“I know you like her. You care about her. I’m your sister. If I don’t support you, who else would? I’m just helping her learn to speak with a little more force. If she was rude, that was all part of her training. I’m doing this for your own good, Yu Shang. An Omega like that, all looks and no depth, staying close to you like a flower vase… I really do worry she might drag you down.”

Yu Shang was burning with frustration but didn’t dare show it. The company shares were still firmly in her hands.

She might have been seen as an irresponsible rich girl who only knew how to spend money, but her mother had left her a powerful legacy. Even the most respected elites in the city would be envious of the assets she controlled.

As long as she wasn’t deliberately targeting him, he would endure it. Holding back his temper, he forced a half-hearted smile and said in a joking tone,

“You really do know how to think things through, Peirong. I was too soft on Yaoyao before. She’s such a gentle Omega, I never expected her to speak so crudely, especially to me. I was just caught off guard.”

He was only trying to save face. Last night, when he heard Qi Xiyao actually dare talk to him that way, he had almost exploded with rage. He had wanted to grab her by the collar and demand to know where she learned to speak so sharply.

But when he retold the story, it turned into, “I’m just worried she’s been led astray.” He spoke like a disapproving parent, as if Qi Xiyao belonged to him and was only allowed to behave according to his wishes.

If Yu Shang wanted to keep pretending, Yu Peirong was in no hurry to stop him. She poured herself a glass of water and sipped it slowly as she listened to him ramble on. Eventually, he circled around to his real question.

“So, how long do you plan on staying at the company this time?”

Yu Peirong smiled. Finally, he was getting to the point.

“I’m thinking of attending Director Zhu’s event next month. I’ll need to keep up appearances here at the company for now so I can show my face when the time comes. I heard a lot of actors will be there…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Yu Shang understood. He relaxed completely.

So his sister hadn’t changed after all. She was still the same, only interested in pretty faces. His heart filled with disdain, though his expression was full of polite admiration.

Qi Xiyao had accepted an ad for fruit jelly. It wasn’t a household name, but it was still a decent endorsement. A few days later, Yu Peirong lined up some additional work for her, including smaller endorsements and runway appearances. None of it was high profile, but it helped rebuild her presence in the public eye.

Back when Qi Xiyao had refused to give in to him, Yu Shang said nothing out loud, but he had taken revenge quietly. For several months, she received no job offers. That fruit jelly commercial and a ten-minute acting role had been all she had for the past half-year. When Yu Peirong looked at her schedule, she couldn’t help but find it both pitiful and absurd.

What were her fans even supporting?

Air?

Yu Peirong had never worked as a manager before, but she had been an actress. She knew what an artist really needed.

Endorsements and appearances were just background noise. What Qi Xiyao truly needed was a script that would let her shine, not just side roles or background extras. That ten-minute role might have been impressive, but once edited down, it would not be enough to truly attract attention.

Of course, Yu Peirong was not rushing. She was currently reaching out to her network and reviewing scripts carefully.

She was experienced in this area and had no doubt she could land Qi Xiyao a strong supporting role with enough screen time to capture the audience’s interest.

While she was still filtering through scripts, her secretary finally delivered Qi Xiyao’s background report, three days after she had requested it.

Yu Peirong read through the file, her brow furrowed tighter with each page. She couldn’t help but wonder if the author of this story was secretly the male lead’s biggest fan. How else could they justify putting the female lead through this much suffering?

Some readers genuinely enjoyed these “fragile wife” stories. But this genre wasn’t the sweet romance it pretended to be. It was about turning a naive and innocent girl into prey for the domineering male lead to slowly devour.

Yu Peirong had read scripts like that before. As a rational adult, she found nothing appealing about lying flat and being “taken care of.” It was terrifying.

Qi Xiyao had been born into a decent middle-class family as an only child. Her father was an Alpha, her mother an Omega. They had once been happy. But three years ago, her mother fell seriously ill and required expensive treatment. In desperation, her father took a high-risk investment that failed. Not only did they lose everything, but they ended up drowning in debt.

As if that weren’t enough, her mother was later in a car accident and had both legs amputated below the knee. She lived in constant pain.

Her father was relentlessly hounded by debt collectors. Qi Xiyao was devastated. During a social event in the industry, she caught Yu Shang’s eye. Rumors began to spread that she was his girlfriend, though it was never publicly confirmed. In private, people called her his plaything.

The only good thing Yu Shang ever did for her was help her mother get into a decent hospital. That small favor had allowed her mother to survive.

To Yu Shang, that money was nothing. But to Qi Xiyao, it had been lifesaving.

That was why she tolerated so much. As long as he didn’t force her into things she couldn’t bear, she endured it. The errands, the insults, the shame. She accepted it all.

Yu Peirong had not asked her secretary to dig that deeply. She hadn’t pried into every detail of the family’s history. She still didn’t know exactly what had caused the fallout with the group at the bar.

But she could guess it might be related to borrowing money. Qi Xiyao’s mother did not have cancer, but her condition required multiple surgeries and constant hospital visits. With her limited income, Qi Xiyao simply could not keep up.

By now, Yu Peirong had formed a general idea.

Yu Shang had to know all of this. In fact, she suspected he had done it on purpose. He had allowed Qi Xiyao to barely scrape by, just enough to survive, never enough to escape. That way, she would keep struggling in the pit he had dug for her.

Yu Peirong suddenly remembered the first time she saw Qi Xiyao.

Her eyes had been misty, but her tears had refused to fall. That fragile determination had stirred something protective. Combined with her breathtaking beauty, she had seemed heartbreakingly vulnerable.

But if not for that flash of fury buried deep in her eyes, Yu Peirong might have thought this girl had given up entirely, ready to hand her body over in exchange for survival.

That day, she hadn’t truly helped Qi Xiyao. Maybe Qi Xiyao had used her pheromones as a last resort to get through the danger. But to fully hand herself over to someone else, to escape one predator only to fall into another’s hands, that didn’t seem like something she would do.

And someone who truly feared Yu Shang would never have dared to say such defiant things, not even with a little encouragement.

So, what was Qi Xiyao enduring all of this for?

What was she planning?

Yu Peirong realized she was getting curious.

**

Director Zhu’s full name was Zhu Libin. He was a kind-looking middle-aged man with a good reputation in the entertainment industry. He was well liked, and many people were eager to connect with him. As a result, his film launch event was packed with guests.

Yu Peirong had not directly inherited the original host’s memories, but when she saw certain people, the memories returned naturally. One of the producers present had a calm and friendly demeanor, with a strong reputation among audiences. Every film he produced guaranteed box office success.

But behind the pleasant image, he was a predator in disguise.

Yu Peirong remembered only after heading to the restroom to fix her lipstick.

She was washing her hands when someone suddenly tapped her shoulder. Instinctively, she turned away, only to find herself face to face with the very same producer who had just been smiling so politely on stage. His face was smug and playful, full of thinly veiled arrogance as he bared a row of pristine white teeth.

“Miss Yu, Room 2301 at the Changyuan Hotel. See you after the banquet?”

Yu Peirong answered casually, “Not interested.”

The man rolled his eyes, clearly mocking her as if she were putting on an act.

Moments later, the memory came flooding back. That same producer had once invited the original host to join him in abusing an Omega. The original host had been tempted but didn’t attend because of a family matter. Instead, she asked for recordings and later watched them for entertainment. Of course, the producer was careful not to appear in the footage himself.

From that, it was clear he saw the original host as someone like-minded. That was why he dared send her such disgusting content.

Later, another person approached her and quietly asked if she was interested in getting a certain actor drunk and sending them to a hotel room for a threesome.

Yu Peirong almost fainted from disgust.

What was this nightmare?

If she were not the one in control of this body now, she would have rushed to the hospital for a full-body examination. She seriously suspected that if the original host were still alive, she might have already contracted something unmentionable.

Like many industries, the entertainment world had its dark corners. Yu Peirong had never gotten involved. She found it nauseating and dangerous. Only fools played in that kind of water.

Unfortunately, the original host seemed to be in very deep. Yu Peirong began to wonder whether there were compromising materials out there. If the original host had ever tried to walk away, the people involved might have retaliated. If any explicit photos or videos were leaked, it would have caused a public scandal.

Thankfully, when she asked the system, it confirmed that no such evidence existed.

Due to family pressure and her fight for inheritance, the original host had been careful to keep a clean image. If she lost her health or reputation before securing her share, she would be thrown out and humiliated.

Most of her involvement had stayed in the realm of fantasy and observation. Her downward spiral had likely started when she impulsively force-marked Qi Xiyao in an attempt to provoke Yu Shang.

With that confirmation, Yu Peirong felt a little more at ease. When she returned to the main event, the formal part of the ceremony was wrapping up. After answering a few questions from the media, she shamelessly brought Qi Xiyao into the spotlight for exposure before heading toward the banquet.

Qi Xiyao’s appearance gave her a natural advantage. Women with bold features often aged quickly or looked harsh under camera lenses. Those with soft features lacked impact. Qi Xiyao had the perfect balance.

She wore a soft white fur-trimmed sweater today. Two matching pom-poms hung from the fringes, and the cinched waist beneath the oversized top made her figure stand out beautifully. On camera, she looked radiant. Her makeup was subtle and flattering, not overly done, so reporters were happy to ask her a few extra questions.

Still, Qi Xiyao felt nervous about the banquet. Her first encounter with Yu Peirong had ended with her being nearly dragged away afterward. On another occasion, Yu Shang had gotten drunk and tried to take her home.

This time, Yu Peirong had warned her to stay close. Qi Xiyao was happy to comply. She followed behind at a calm pace, refusing all drinks, ignoring anyone who tried to approach. No one tried to pull her aside or introduce her to others.

Except for one large man who kept staring at her.

Everyone else seemed restrained, likely out of respect for Yu Peirong.

However, Yu Peirong quickly noticed the predatory gaze, thanks to the system’s alert.

“Host, the male lead is planning to stage a rescue tonight. He intends to have the female lead quietly sent to Mr. Wang’s hotel room, then show up to save her. The goal is to win her trust and make her fall for him completely.”

Yu Peirong remembered the plot.

Mr. Wang was a side character, but his business was powerful. Compared to the younger generation relying on family wealth, he was entirely self-made. That gave him a different kind of influence.

If Mr. Wang could be used as a scapegoat, accused of attempting to assault an Omega, and Yu Shang appeared as the hero, it would serve his interests perfectly. There was no way he would let such a twisted plan go to waste.

Yu Peirong asked the system,

“So all I need to do is stick to the original personality and act like a truly scummy Alpha?”

“Yes, Host. You only need to play the part. Please do not break character.”

Yu Peirong understood immediately. With no hesitation, she swapped Yu Shang’s drink for one with high alcohol content. It was a strong liquor commonly used at banquets, known for hitting fast and hard. She had learned about it from one of the original host’s recovered memories.

Thirty minutes later, she walked over in heels and gently placed her hand on Yu Shang’s shoulder. He looked dazed and weak from the drink. Her expression was full of concern.

“That’s Mr. Wang, Yu Shang,” she whispered in his ear with practiced tenderness, mimicking his usual tone. She even reached out and patted his head in a comforting gesture. “A man only has so many prime years. If you land someone like him, do you still need to fight so hard at the company?”

She gave his back a gentle push.

“I already got the room key for you. Don’t worry. I’ll smooth things over with him tonight. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Come with me, Yu Shang.”