Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 15

Laceyne’s masterclass truly deserved the school’s extensive promotion. Even Zhi Qiu, who had no prior interest in art, found herself enlightened, gaining a newfound appreciation for the allure of design.

The rain had stopped, leaving no rainbow in its wake, but the air’s gentle coolness was perfectly refreshing. A girl with long, flowing hair slowly strolled across Noadon’s lush green lawns, pushing a wheelchair.

Crickets chirped and cicadas buzzed, serenely singing of their fleeting lives.

Moonchase Lake, its waters crystal-clear, teemed with playful fish darting through the pristine depths. Occasionally, gulls and herons skimmed across the tranquil surface, unafraid of the passersby, gracefully dancing above the water as they leisurely hunted for food.

Ruan Ye sat by the lake, pushing the wheelchair.

The lake’s serenity, the air’s freshness, and the quietude of the surroundings created an illusion of having stumbled into Peach Blossom Spring, making one reluctant to break the tranquil spell with a single word.

Feeling a warm hand gently stroke her head, the girl, who had been quietly meditating, opened her eyes. Ruan Ye tilted her head slightly, gazing up at the serene, refined profile of the hand’s owner.

Ruan Ye had been praised for her beauty countless times and had seen many beautiful people, yet she couldn’t deny that the Alpha before her was truly stunning.

If an Omega possessed such striking beauty, they might be cherished and protected by their family, living a life of pampered happiness, albeit one constrained by expectations.

But fate, in a cruel twist of irony, bestowed these exquisite features upon an Alpha, rendering her both stunningly beautiful and initially indistinguishable from an Omega.

This ambiguity was fatal for any family heir, especially one from a centuries-old lineage like the Zhi Family.

“What are you thinking about?” Zhi Qiu asked with a smile, her gaze softening as she looked down at the girl who couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away.

Ruan Ye suppressed a surge of inexplicable emotion and replied quietly, “Nothing.”

Though her words were dismissive, the deep furrow between her brows betrayed her troubled mood.

Zhi Qiu didn’t understand. She opened her mouth several times to speak, but each time, the words caught in her throat, swallowed back before they could escape.

She longed to ask Ruan Ye so many things:

What kind of person are you?

What exactly do you think about every day?

What experiences shaped you into the person you are today?

If liking someone meant constantly exploring their past, then loving someone might mean reaching out to touch them, only to withdraw your hand.

The air was cool, yet Zhi Qiu felt hotter than the sweltering summer heat.

The wheelchair began to tremble with its owner’s anxiety, like a person shivering in the cold, greedily huddling around a blazing furnace.

The Truth System had been passively triggered.

Zhi Qiu felt an overwhelming urge to express herself, more than ever before.

Her injured leg was immobilized in a cast, but she ignored the throbbing pain. She knelt on one knee, her gaze level with the girl who feared her emotions would be exposed, and spoke slowly.

“That utopian proposition earlier… it made me think a lot. I’ve always believed I was someone with no attachments, but now I think I’ve finally found my purpose for being here.”

Ruan Ye turned around in surprise to see Zhi Qiu kneeling on the ground with her injured leg bent.

Concern overwhelmed her inexplicable emotions. She reached out to help Zhi Qiu back into her wheelchair, but her hands were firmly grasped in return.

Those were strong, burning hands.

And the person looking earnestly into her eyes was the owner of those hands.

“I’ve never believed I had any particular talent. There will always be someone better, someone stronger. But…”

“If you’re destined to be a successful genius painter, I hope to become the most outstanding talent in some other field—and achieve success before you do. The Zhi Family’s influence can pave the way for you, but that means you’ll always be weighed on the scales of profit. If I grow into someone who can protect you, then before making any decisions, I’ll only need to consider your happiness. And if one day your talent brings you pain, I’ll be the best fallback you could ever have.”

At first, Ruan Ye was bewildered.

An onion has no heart beneath its layers, but humans do. No one dislikes grand, romantic promises, even if they’re rarely kept. Even geniuses are not immune to such sentiments.

Her dull gray eyes began to sparkle again, shining as brightly as stars.

A person who is loved always shines brightly.

Midday by Moonchase Lake was the perfect time for sightseeing, but it was also Noadon’s school dismissal time. Passersby hurried past, casting only cursory glances at the picturesque scenery before rushing away.

The two figures by the lake supported each other as Ruan Ye stood up, smiling. “You always say such surprising things, even though…”

Before the words had even finished leaving her lips, a pebble splashed into the lake.

The ripples disrupted the ambiguous atmosphere between them.

Zhi Qiu looked up and saw a boy with black-rimmed glasses, dressed in his school uniform, standing there with a cold expression. He held an English textbook in his left hand, while his right hand still bore traces of mud from picking up the pebble.

Chu Yuan adjusted his glasses and handed over an exquisitely decorated invitation. “My apologies for interrupting,” he said. “Student Zhi, President Zhi asked me to deliver this invitation to you personally.”

The Fu Family’s evening banquet.

To celebrate President Fu’s long-awaited reunion with his son, the banquet was an extravagant affair.

Under artificial control, the garden’s vibrant flowers bloomed in competitive splendor. In the central fountain pond, koi swam among silver coins scattered across the bottom, occasionally snatching bits of fish food offered by passing guests from servants stationed nearby, sparking frenzied competition among the fish.

The banquet was held on the most expensive plot of land in the southern part of the city.

A feng shui treasure, President Fu had sacrificed significant business profits and spent a fortune to secure it from the clutches of rival aristocratic families.

President Fu took great pride in this achievement. Using the most advanced technology available, he had constructed a luxurious villa residential area on this prime piece of land, which served as the venue for tonight’s grand banquet.

At the villa’s entrance, attendants stood holding signs bearing guests’ names.

Luxury cars arrived in succession, their occupants gracefully stepping out and scanning the entrance for their designated greeters.

The guests were dressed in a variety of styles—some in impeccably tailored suits, others in flamboyant attire, and still others in casual wear—but all were scions of wealthy and influential families.

A group of early arrivals had already entered the Fu Family villa’s inner chambers.

These early birds were mostly self-made first-generation entrepreneurs, who belonged to a different echelon than the younger generation. Among them was Zhi Qiu’s father, Zhi Ze’en.

Several tall, impeccably dressed waiters in uniform professional attire moved through the crowd, balancing trays of drinks in one hand as they offered red wine to the men who navigated the social scene with practiced ease.

“Jin Yan and Jin Xing are both so young and accomplished,” Zhi Ze’en boomed, raising his wine glass in a toast and draining it in one gulp. “President Fu, you’re truly blessed! The Fu Family’s future looks bright!”

The man raising his glass in return was over fifty, with a kind and benevolent face.

The Zhi Family had been established for a century, with numerous branches, but control had always remained with Zhi Ze’en’s lineage. However, the family faced a succession crisis: their only Alpha heir was a dissolute and uneducated young man who spent his days causing trouble at school. Just days ago, he had even been involved in a car accident over a romantic rivalry involving an Omega.

Zhi Ze’en drank his wine with gusto.

Fu Fu, well aware of his son’s recent foolish actions, took a measured sip of his wine, weighed the pros and cons, and offered gentle counsel. “Brother Zhi, there’s no need for self-blame or sorrow. Our families have collaborated for decades; these are merely youthful squabbles. Jin Yan was also at fault in the school incident. Besides, isn’t the boy standing here perfectly fine now?”

The portly man beckoned to his left, and a tall, upright figure quickly appeared at his side. Fu Fu draped an arm around his son’s shoulder, beaming. “The Fu Family’s success today stems from our belief that harmony brings prosperity. Jin Yan, greet Uncle Zhi.”

Fu Fu originally had two sons and four daughters. Now, he had also reclaimed an illegitimate son who had recently come of age and differentiated into an Alpha.

In the future, the Fu Family’s inheritance would undoubtedly fall to one of the Alphas. This new rival made Fu Shangyue seethe with resentment. Throughout the house, people were subtly signaling Fu Jin Yan, urging him to teach the newcomer a lesson.

The greater good must prevail.

How could Fu Jin Yan possibly fulfill his stepmother’s wishes and become the laughingstock of others?

Today, Fu Jin Yan wore a gray suit with a meticulously knotted tie, his demeanor exuding warmth and approachability—the very image of a family’s eldest son and a caring elder brother. He leaned forward, carefully positioning his glass a few centimeters lower than the one being raised across from him, and spoke with polite deference.

“Uncle Zhi.”