I Was Just a Scumbag Extra, But She Loved Me Anyway [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 10
By the time Jiang Youning walked out of the Jiashi Group building, night had already fallen completely.
Thick clouds rolled slowly over the city skyline, and a light drizzle had begun to fall. Jiang Youning tilted her head back, watching as a faint greyish glow seeped through the gaps in the clouds.
“Professor Jiang, here—take this. It’s started raining.”
One of Jiashi Group’s administrative staff members stepped up quietly beside her and handed over a black umbrella. Jiang Youning lowered her gaze, glanced at the staffer, and took the umbrella with a polite nod. “Thank you.”
The staffer withdrew with a gentle smile. “You’re very welcome.”
As warm yellow lights lit up one after another behind the curtain of rain, Jiang Youning slowly opened the umbrella, stepping into the fine drizzle.
Raindrops hitting the umbrella made a soft, muffled sound—oddly calming. Holding the umbrella with steady hands, she made her way across the parking lot to her car.
A discreet, dark BMW 3 Series. It fit Jiang Youning’s personality perfectly—low-profile, reliable, composed.
She climbed in quietly and started the engine.
The dashboard lights came on, but Jiang Youning made no move to drive. She stared at the dials and readings for a long moment, then let her body sink back into the seat, suddenly feeling a little weary.
Staring blankly at the car ceiling, she noted vaguely that rain sounded heavier from inside a car than it did under an umbrella.
Today marked the third day since the university had halted Lin Chuan’s research project. In the world of scientific research, 72 hours could mean everything or nothing—but for Jiang Youning, this was her personal deadline.
Past tonight, the funding issue had to be resolved.
She couldn’t say why, but she had instinctively placed the Su Group as her very last option. These past few days, she’d been reaching out to other companies instead—like Jiashi.
Jiang Youning knew full well that Lin Chuan’s small project probably wouldn’t catch the eye of any major corporations. If she wanted results, she needed to provide a guarantee herself. So, she had approached Jiashi’s technical director—Ji Zhou, an old classmate from their time abroad.
She could still recall what Ji Zhou had said in his spacious office.
“It’s definitely a promising and valuable project. Under normal circumstances, I don’t doubt many companies would be willing to invest. But with the Zhong family actively suppressing it right now, you won’t find many who’d risk crossing them over something this small. Unless…”
Ji Zhou looked at her meaningfully.
“Unless you’re willing to switch jobs. If you jumped ship, I bet companies would line up to take the risk. But I know you’re not someone who gives up her students so easily. That only leaves one option: the Su Group.”
The Su Group…
So, in the end, she still couldn’t avoid that young Alpha.
After a moment’s silence, Jiang Youning quietly started the car. Since there were no other options left, she might as well stop by the research center first, then send President Su a formal email tonight to arrange a meeting.
She drove through the city until she passed a public square.
Glancing at a lit-up sign on the roadside, she considered pulling over for a cup of hot cocoa. Just as she was about to make the turn, her phone buzzed from the passenger seat.
She glanced at the screen—it was one of her PhD students, currently overseeing an off-site project.
She parked the car and picked up.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she answered.
“Professor, things aren’t looking good over here.” The student’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “It looks like we’ve hit a dead end. The results from the Phase II experiment are flat—nothing innovative, nothing promising. Several senior engineers from the company came by and couldn’t offer any useful feedback either. And the higher-ups are pressuring us to commercialize. Now the big boss is here too—his face is not looking good. I didn’t dare say a word. Professor… did we get the direction wrong?”
Jiang Youning’s brow furrowed. Her face immediately turned serious. After thinking for a few seconds, she glanced at her watch. “Is it the new concept we discussed last month?”
“Yes.”
Jiang Youning calculated the time silently. The lab was in a neighboring city, about a three-hour drive. If she left now, she could make it tonight.
She could head there to handle the emergency and still email President Su to set up the meeting. Once she had a confirmed time, she could return in time to do both.
“All right. Don’t panic. I’ll come take a look,” she said calmly.
“You’re coming?!” The student sounded shocked.
Of course I am, Jiang Youning thought. What else can I do? Sit here and watch it all fall apart?
She shifted the gear into reverse and was just about to release the brake when someone knocked sharply—tap tap—on her window.
Jiang Youning flinched slightly and turned to look.
In the blurry, dim light outside the car, she saw a figure standing there.
After a brief hesitation, she reached for the control and rolled the window down.
The sound of rain became noticeably louder as the car window rolled down, the cool air rushing in along with the crisp pattering of raindrops hitting the pavement—somehow easing the anxious pressure in Jiang Youning’s chest.
“Can I help you with—”
She stopped mid-sentence.
The rain had started to fall harder. The person outside the car was holding a black umbrella, with raindrops streaming down its ribs like broken beads on a thread…
The more Jiang Youning looked, the more familiar that silhouette seemed. That figure… why did it feel so familiar?
As the window lowered, the person outside shifted. Slowly, they leaned down. A cascade of long hair came into view first, followed by a pale, delicate jawline and soft red lips curved into a smile…
Just half a face was enough to tell how stunning she was. Jiang Youning’s hand instinctively tightened on the gearshift. She suddenly regretted not leaving a moment earlier.
The woman leaned in farther—until those infamous fox-like eyes came into view, glittering with mischief and that signature “bad girl” charm.
“Hey~”
It was Su Chenli.
Jiang Youning stared at the woman who had suddenly appeared at her window and blurted, “What are you doing here?”
“Just out for some fun,” Su Chenli said cheerfully, holding the umbrella in one hand and casually gesturing to the flashily wrapped Porsche Panamera behind her. “Car broke down. I was about to call someone when I saw your license plate and thought it looked familiar. Didn’t expect it to actually be you. Since we’ve run into each other, how about a ride, Professor Jiang?”
Still a bit surprised, Jiang Youning’s eyes flicked over to the Panamera. After a pause, she leaned back into her seat and replied coolly, “No thanks. I’m not going to the research center.”
“Well, I’m not going there either,” Su Chenli replied shamelessly.
Jiang Youning blinked. “…If you’re not going to the research center, why ask me for a ride?”
Su Chenli shrugged, completely unfazed. “No matter where you’re going, it’s still somewhere. Come on, Professor, can I get in or not?”
Jiang Youning frowned slightly. “I’m heading to Lin City.”
That meant getting on the expressway and driving straight out of town—clearly not helpful to someone just trying to wait out the rain.
Jiang Youning figured Su Chenli would give up and wait for the dealership to send someone—or maybe one of her many equally flashy friends. Then they’d part ways, end of story.
But instead, Su Chenli’s eyes lit up. “No way, really? What a coincidence. I’m headed to Lin City too! Want to go together?”
“…You are?” Jiang Youning frowned.
“Yup. Going there for a bit of fun,” Su Chenli said, then added with an exaggerated pout, “Look, it’s windy and rainy out here. I’ve been standing by your car forever. You’re really not going to let me in?”
Jiang Youning stayed silent for a moment, then pointed toward a nearby shopping mall. “Isn’t that a perfectly good place to take shelter from the rain?”
Su Chenli: “…”
Are all STEM professors this hard to fool?
The conversation stalled. Su Chenli had no choice but to hit reset.
“I’m serious,” she said, putting on her most sincere expression. “I need to go—right now.”
Jiang Youning frowned again. “If it’s urgent, you can still go tomorrow. Driving mountain roads on a rainy night is dangerous.”
“Well, you clearly know it’s dangerous, so why are you—”
Mid-sentence, Su Chenli realized what she was saying and abruptly shut up.
“What?” Jiang Youning asked, puzzled.
“Nothing,” Su Chenli brushed it off smoothly. No way she’d believe I have a system and already read this world’s plotline anyway. “All I know is, if you’re going tonight… then so am I.”
She made it clear she wasn’t backing down.
Jiang Youning’s lips parted slightly, as if she were about to argue, but then she gave up. Closing her eyes in resignation, she finally said, “Fine. Get in.”
…It wasn’t like trying to reason with her would work anyway.
“Great.” Su Chenli grinned, but instead of hopping in immediately, she glanced at Jiang Youning’s hand on the wheel and asked, “How about I drive?”
Jiang Youning froze and looked at her, surprised. “Why?”
“Rainy nights aren’t ideal for driving,” Su Chenli said, pointing to herself. “But I do off-road racing. Muddy mountain trails? First place.”
Jiang Youning stared at her for a moment. The answer was ridiculous—but not unreasonable. After a pause, she gave in and opened the door.
Su Chenli stepped back and held the umbrella up as Jiang Youning slid into the passenger seat. Only then did she fold up the umbrella and climb into the driver’s seat.
Though the BMW 3 Series was an older model, it still came equipped with most of the standard features—especially when it came to safety. The semi-automatic transmission made it a reliable choice. The interior was spacious enough, and Su Chenli quickly familiarized herself with the controls before resting her hands on the wheel.
With it in her hands, the responsibility—and the risk—was hers to manage.
“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” Jiang Youning asked as she buckled her seatbelt, clearly still unsure.
Su Chenli turned to her with a smile, eyes crinkling mischievously. “Come on, Professor Jiang. What kind of spoiled rich kid doesn’t know how to drive?”
Jiang Youning paused for a second, then gave a cool, “Mm.” She looked straight ahead and didn’t say another word.