Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 22

The night was gentle, and the private hospital stood in the bustling heart of the city. From the twentieth floor, the streets below teemed with traffic and pedestrians, a vibrant scene of urban life.

The unexpected phone call brought immense joy to the weary girl in the wheelchair. Her face lit up with a radiant smile, brighter than the sun itself.

“I’m busy right now. If you have any questions, ask Shang Wu. He’ll explain everything,” Zhi Qiu said dismissively before hanging up on Bai Ziming.

Whether she was worried about keeping the other person waiting or simply impatient herself, Zhi Qiu immediately dialed the familiar number the moment she ended the call.

The ringing tone sounded as usual, but to Zhi Qiu, the wait felt like an eternity.

She vividly remembered that in her previous life, Ruan Ye had never contacted her first. The only exception was before their wedding, but Zhi Qiu had been forced to follow the script and hang up.

The call connected.

Zhi Qiu wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth, no words came out. All the ancient classics, contemporary literature, and foreign masterpieces she had once devoured seemed to vanish from her mind.

It’s often said that reading subtly influences one’s expression. But after years of reading, she hadn’t seen any noticeable effect.

The girl in the wheelchair slammed her fist against the hospital bedside table in frustration, her cheeks flushed with annoyance.

On the other end of the line:

The girl had just finished showering, her jet-black hair still damp. She’d removed her makeup, leaving her complexion noticeably paler than during the day, and her slightly downcast eyes looked weary. Having only just finished her evening routine, it seemed she’d finally found a moment to relax after a long day.

The sound of her fist hitting the table was faint, but the girl’s sensitive hearing picked it up. After a moment’s hesitation, she carefully asked, “Zhi Qiu, are you upset?”

The hospital room was empty. Zhi Qiu had put her phone on speakerphone on the table. Hearing the hesitant, worried voice from the other end, she quickly grabbed the phone and blurted out, “No, no, I just…”

“Just… I miss you so much.”

Zhi Qiu’s cheeks burned fiercely, her body as feverish as the wheelchair trembling with excitement. Whether it was the Truth System at work or not, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Just what?”

A muffled voice came through the phone. Ruan Ye, who had just finished styling her hair and put on a shower cap, freed her other hand to press the volume button, turning the sound up to maximum as she pressed for an answer.

Zhi Qiu’s eyes dimmed as she murmured, “It’s nothing.”

Realizing her response sounded too curt, she quickly added, “I’m just tired. I just got back from the Fu Family’s banquet. After watching hours of song and dance performances, I got a little bored.”

The Alpha’s voice sounded weary, but her eagerness to explain herself was endearing. Ruan Ye smiled, her lips curving into a comforting smile. “Then you should rest early. I just suddenly realized I hadn’t called you yet and dialed on a whim.”

“So, I’ll hang up now?”

Zhi Qiu actually wanted to talk longer. After all, Ruan Ye was the only person in this world with whom she felt the urge to express herself. But she had no choice but to accept the other woman’s farewell.

The girl sitting in the wheelchair looked dejected, her long eyelashes drooping as if disappointed, like ripe wheat bowing its head to conceal her bright, beautiful eyes.

Zhi Qiu replied with a cheerful “Okay,” but then added, “I hope you’ll be happy tomorrow.”

I hope you’ll be happy tomorrow.

It sounded like a simple farewell greeting between friends, yet it made the girl sitting before the vanity mirror in the small room lower her head and smile.

After hanging up, Ruan Ye looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror, realizing she was smiling again for no apparent reason.

She shook her head helplessly. Ever since a wheelchair-bound person who always spoke in strange riddles had barged into her life without warning, she seemed to be smiling foolishly more and more often.

The Mid-Autumn Festival of Ancient Earth had passed, but the moon outside her window remained as full and round as it had been on that day.

The silvery moonlight streamed through the window, bathing the girl’s delicate and beautiful face in its glow. She picked up a Fox Mask and put it on. The mask was slightly too large, as if it hadn’t been custom-made, covering her philtrum and leaving only her pointed chin visible. She stood up, facing the moonlight, and walked to the window.

The moon reflected the sun’s light, yet it lacked the sun’s blinding intensity. Those who made wishes under the moonlight were devout believers in the moon. Ruan Ye clasped her hands together in prayer.

Under the clear moonlight, the pale gray eyes behind the Fox Mask seemed even more luminous.

The figure bathed in moonlight murmured to himself, “May we all be blessed with longevity… May we all be blessed with longevity…”

From the depths of night to the break of dawn, only a few short hours passed.

Six or seven hours later, the Ancient Roman-style architecture of Noadon School greeted the new day’s morning light.

The Fu Family’s recognition banquet the previous evening had been a grand affair, its extravagance surpassing even the most lavish gatherings of aristocratic families in recent memory.

But such grandeur also meant gossip spread quickly. Within hours of the banquet’s conclusion, the wealthy scions attending Noadon School were already buzzing with news of the scandalous events that had unfolded.

As the young masters of several prominent families stepped out of their cars, they clustered together in small groups to discuss the rumors.

When it came to gossip, curiosity knew no gender.

“When did Fu Jin Yan get involved with Bai Ziming?” one Alpha asked, draping an arm around his companion’s shoulder as they strolled. “Wasn’t he rumored to be dating Ruan Ye before? And I even saw his fiancée at the banquet yesterday! This guy’s juggling three relationships at once—truly a role model for our generation!” Their voices boomed as if they were desperate to ensure everyone knew they were in on the gossip.

In contrast, the Omegas were much more reserved, gathering in small groups, holding hands, and whispering amongst themselves. Perhaps they had stumbled upon an amusing topic, for a petite and delicate Omega couldn’t help but lift her head and let out a soft giggle.

Had she not looked up, Meng Yuan might have avoided disaster. But the moment she did, Meng Yuan nearly burst into tears—a classic case of joy turning to sorrow.

A tall, imposing man stood nearby, his face ashen. He wore his school uniform properly, yet no one could miss the bl00d-soaked flesh beneath, the wounds still raw from a recent whipping.

Fu Jin Yan’s arm, still stained with fresh bl00d, accidentally brushed against the Omega’s pink backpack.

He froze, carefully attempting to wipe the bloodstain off the bag, only to smear it further across the pink fabric.

Fu Jin Yan frowned, lowering his gaze to the flustered, petite Omega. Bandages covered much of the tall Alpha’s face; even a slight smile would strain his facial muscles and tear open the wounds.

His expression remained impassive as he spoke in as gentle a tone as he could muster: “I’m terribly sorry. It was an accident. If the stain can’t be removed, come to Qian Yan’s office and find me. I’ll compensate you.”