Pretending to Be a Scumbag A, But Being Targeted by a Paranoid O - Chapter 8

The guests attending Xia Yan’s birthday banquet were all prominent figures, well aware of the Yun Family’s eldest daughter’s affection for Xia Yan.

 

Since childhood, Yun Shu had been Xia Yan’s constant shadow, always the first to apologize whenever they quarreled.

 

Xia Yan hadn’t expected Yun Shu to stand her ground without flinching. She glanced around at the onlookers’ reactions, her hand instinctively clenching her skirt.

 

Yun Shu’s status was undeniable. Publicly humiliating her in front of everyone… this could have serious consequences.

 

Besides, Xia Yan hadn’t truly intended to hurt her. Yun Shu could have easily dodged the blow—it was all her own fault for being so slow!

 

Before Xia Yan could finish her thoughts, Yun Shu calmly pulled out a tissue and wiped the bl00d from her forehead.

 

Her father stepped in to smooth things over. “Xia Yan, apologize to Xiao Shu immediately.”

 

Xia Yan bit her lower lip stubbornly, refusing to apologize.

 

Why should she apologize to this useless girl?

 

Yun Shu had nothing to offer beyond her pretty face. Her only redeeming quality used to be her kindness toward Xia Yan, but even that had vanished. With no reason left to pretend, Xia Yan saw no point in maintaining the facade.

 

Having never been publicly reprimanded by her father before, Xia Yan’s eyes instantly reddened. She grabbed her skirt and fled back to her room.

 

Xia Zheng’s face flushed with embarrassment as he lowered his voice. “Xiao Shu, let me call the family doctor to check you over.”

 

Yun Shu shook her head, her tone polite yet distant. “Thank you, Uncle, but that won’t be necessary.”

 

Her resolve was unwavering. She turned and left immediately, leaving Xia Zheng no room for argument.

 

This incident provided the perfect opportunity to sever ties with Xia Yan completely.

 

The System buzzed in her mind: Host, you should go to the hospital for a checkup.

 

Yun Shu shook her head, her face pale. “It’s nothing. I just need to wash it off when I get home.”

 

When she returned home, Aunt Shen was cleaning the living room. The sight of Yun Shu’s disheveled state startled her so much that she dropped her broom.

 

“Miss,” Aunt Shen ventured cautiously, “shall I clean you up?”

 

Yun Shu had endured a series of setbacks in recent days, and her heart was brimming with pent-up frustration.

 

Being alone was one thing, but the moment she returned home and felt someone’s concern, her eyes instantly reddened.

 

She wiped her eyes and nodded, her voice choked with emotion.

 

Aunt Shen, initially worried that Yun Shu might mock her for meddling, quickly retrieved the first-aid kit and began bandaging her wounds when she saw the young lady’s tear-streaked face.

 

Yun Shu had forgotten how many years it had been since she last saw herself cry.

 

Uncomfortable around elders, Yun Shu found Aunt Shen’s gentle touch as she cleaned her wounds particularly soothing. The terrifying bloodstains on her face gradually disappeared.

 

With her eyes lowered, Yun Shu obediently murmured, “Thank you.”

 

Seeing Yun Shu’s dazed and dejected state, Aunt Shen recalled the strange tension between her and Xie Tang a few days prior. She guessed they had quarreled.

 

Silently observing, Aunt Shen sighed helplessly.

 

After all, she was just a servant with little say in such matters.

 

After her wounds were treated, Yun Shu listlessly retreated to her room.

 

The System quietly comforted her: Host, don’t be sad.

 

Though merely a collection of data, the System understood that no one would feel good after being forced to attend a birthday party and then getting injured.

 

“I’m not that sad,” Yun Shu forced a smile. “It just feels like everything I do goes wrong.”

 

Yun Shu opened a textbook on her desk, trying to focus on studying, but she couldn’t concentrate.

 

In the end, she doodled a crying emoji on a piece of scrap paper.

 

In the dimly lit room, Xie Tang’s dark hair spilled across the bed, her eyes unfocused.

 

The suppressants had no effect whatsoever. Xie Tang could only endure the torment, taking countless cold showers to barely resist her primal instincts.

 

She was now a fully mature Omega.

 

She should have sought an Alpha to weather this difficult period, but Xie Tang had no interest in any Alpha. She loathed their touch.

 

She would rather inject suppressants until death than submit to anyone.

 

With a blank expression, Xie Tang gulped down nutrient solution. Her heat cycle was short, lasting only two days.

 

Xie Tang hadn’t forgotten her promise to Yun Shu to return to the Yun Family on the agreed date.

 

She had planned to look for part-time jobs nearby to work during her free time, but then a news alert popped up:

 

Yun Family Heiress Injured at Xia Family Heiress’s Birthday Banquet! Suspected Engagement Collapse!

 

Xie Tang’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

Xia Yan… she vaguely remembered her.

 

A complete spoiled, pampered young lady.

 

She clicked on the photo, her pupils contracting slightly.

 

In the picture, Yun Shu’s profile was covered in bl00d, her expression far from pleasant.

 

That idiot…

 

Couldn’t she even try to dodge?

 

Xie Tang’s breathing suddenly grew heavier.

 

She didn’t feel any particular affection for Yun Shu, only finding her a bit dim-witted, like a puppy trying to act aloof but with eyes that sparkled too brightly to hide her true nature.

 

Though she didn’t know Yun Shu’s motives for approaching her, someone so clueless probably couldn’t harbor any malicious intentions.

 

Xie Tang had always been a person of clear-cut likes and dislikes. She wouldn’t hold the actions of the previous “Yun Shu” against the current one.

 

But that was merely not disliking her.

 

With only three months left on their contract, they would eventually go their separate ways.

 

Yet the image of Yun Shu’s bloodied forehead kept replaying in Xie Tang’s mind, making her realize this feeling was deeply unsettling.

 

Irritated, Xie Tang got out of bed, caught up on the coursework she’d neglected these past few days, and tidied her room.

 

She loathed these strange emotions.

 

Xie Tang had a clear plan for the future: work hard to earn money for her grandmother’s medical treatment while securing internships at several companies to secure a good job offer upon graduation.

 

The previous Yun Shu had already completely shattered Xie Tang’s carefully planned life, filling her with utter loathing. Even the sight of her face made Xie Tang sick to her stomach.

 

But this new Yun Shu…

 

If Xie Tang’s guess was correct, she must have transmigrated on the night Yun Shu was supposed to mark her.

 

At the time, Xie Tang had been injected with an aphrodisiac, rendering her pheromones completely uncontrollable.

 

Yet Yun Shu had somehow managed to resist marking her. Instead, she had clumsily made up excuses about preferring OA relationships to avoid harming Xie Tang.

 

Xie Tang, still resentful at the time, had bitten her hard.

 

Xie Tang glanced at the clock. It was already six in the morning of the next day.

 

Saturday had arrived.

 

The day stipulated in their contract.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Tang couldn’t resist changing her clothes and hurrying out the door.

 

By eight o’clock, Xie Tang arrived punctually at Yun Shu’s villa.

 

Aunt Shen was sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard when she saw Xie Tang. A flicker of joy lit up her eyes. “Miss Xie, you’ve come.”

 

This was Xie Tang’s first time voluntarily stepping onto Yun Family grounds. She nodded curtly, her gaze instinctively drifting to the main gate. “Is she awake?”

 

Aunt Shen suddenly sighed. “She came back yesterday with a big gash on her head. She cried from the pain when I was tending to her wound.”

 

Noticing Xie Tang’s lips twitch slightly downward, she continued, “She didn’t eat dinner last night and hasn’t come out of her room yet. I wonder how she’s doing.”

 

Xie Tang politely offered, “I’ll go check on her now.”

 

Aunt Shen was delighted by her response and quickly opened the main gate for her.

 

Xie Tang walked confidently to Yun Shu’s room. After a moment’s pause, she gave a polite knock.

 

The sound reached Yun Shu’s ears. She opened her eyes, lying listlessly in bed, her mind still foggy with sleep. In a soft, sleepy voice, she asked, “Who is it?”

 

This was the first time Xie Tang had heard Yun Shu’s voice completely stripped of its usual facade. It was exactly as she had imagined—sounding dazed and easily bullied.

 

Instead of answering immediately, Xie Tang lingered, wanting to hear Yun Shu’s unguarded voice again. She knocked twice more.

 

Yun Shu blinked her sleep-blurred eyes, rolled over in the covers, and finally got up to open the door.

 

As soon as Yun Shu opened the door, she saw Xie Tang standing there.

 

Xie Tang noticed Yun Shu was wearing a sky-blue pajama set, her hair still sticking up in disarray, her face blank with sleepiness, and a large bandage on her forehead.

 

In the next instant, Yun Shu slammed the door shut with a bang, the sudden gust of wind ruffling Xie Tang’s hair.

 

Flustered, Yun Shu cleared her throat and asked, “What are you doing here?”

 

She seems quite lively, Xie Tang thought. I thought she’d be hiding away, crying alone.

 

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Xie Tang’s lips. “Fulfilling my contractual obligations.”

 

Yun Shu’s head snapped up. Huh?

 

She wanted to cry but couldn’t.

 

She’d completely forgotten about that clause.

 

At the same time, an inexplicable sense of disappointment washed over her.

 

So Xie Tang didn’t come specifically to see me after all.

 

But then she remembered the contract terms: You must obey Yun Shu’s every command. You cannot refuse her.

 

The tips of her ears flushed red. I was just saying that.

 

Yun Shu had never even held a girl’s hand, let alone done anything intimate with one.

 

Besides… if Xie Tang already hated her, forcing her to do these things would only make her hate her even more, right?

 

Just a few days ago, she was so harsh with me. She must be swallowing her pride to come see me now.

 

Yun Shu pressed her lips into a tight line.

 

No matter what, I can’t let her be alone with Xie Tang.

 

What if Xie Tang discovers something? That would be terrible.

 

Xie Tang was about to speak when a sudden, violent coughing fit erupted from inside the room, so loud it seemed Yun Shu was deliberately trying to make sure Xie Tang heard.

 

Yun Shu coughed until the rims of her eyes turned red, still clinging to her persona as a cold, heartless Scum A.

 

She sneered coldly. “If This Lady hadn’t suddenly caught a cold today, do you think you could have escaped?”

 

“I don’t want to see you today. Leave.”

 

Xie Tang’s voice drifted through the door, as calm and composed as ever.

 

“Really?”

 

Yun Shu swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat and nodded. “Of course.”

 

A moment of silence hung in the air before Xie Tang replied, “Alright.”

 

After that, Yun Shu thought she heard Xie Tang’s footsteps receding.

 

The disappointment in Yun Shu’s heart surged to its peak. She puffed out her cheeks.

 

So, Xie Tang only came because of the contract?

 

Yun Shu opened the door with a heavy heart, only to be met by Xie Tang’s smiling eyes.