Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 25

Fu Jin Yan’s words struck the tranquil lake like a thunderbolt, sending ripples cascading across its surface. Though the lake was small, a few of the surging waves would inevitably reach the vast ocean.

Meng Yuan gasped, covering her mouth in shock as the male voice continued from the stage.

“Yesterday’s Fu Family banquet sparked widespread public outrage. Due to my inappropriate remarks, many hardworking Betas felt disheartened, and I unfairly dismissed the efforts of Omegas who have striven to succeed through their own abilities. For this, I offer my sincerest apologies.”

“Furthermore, I must apologize to the Omegas at this school who have suffered harm, especially to Ruan Ye. My failure to promptly suppress the campus rumors, coupled with my overconfidence in my own charm, led me to mistakenly believe you reciprocated my feelings. As a result, I restricted your personal freedom at every turn, treating you as if we were in a relationship. I am deeply sorry. To express my remorse, I will relinquish my opportunity to continue studying at Noadon from today onward. I will also withdraw from all educational institutions, abandoning my pursuit of the Federation’s highest academic degree. That is all.”

Almost the instant the words left his mouth, every gaze in the audience pierced through the air, landing squarely on the Omega girl in the third row. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she wore the school uniform, her features refined and delicate.

She betrayed no emotion, her expression as indifferent as ever, unmoved by praise or criticism. She merely shifted the arm holding her parasol to better shade the head of the person in the wheelchair beside her.

Due to previous rumors of her being involved with Fu Jin Yan, Ruan Ye’s reputation at school had suffered. One incident led to another, and in the past week, her close relationship with Zhi Qiu had sparked even more gossip.

Now that the old misunderstandings had suddenly been cleared, many felt remorse for their past actions. But there were also those who were insincere, merely seeking attention and a chance to show off.

A male Omega, draped in designer logos and wearing heavy makeup, reached out with manicured fingers to tap Ruan Ye’s shoulder. He offered a disingenuous apology: “Ruan Ye, I’m so sorry about before. We misunderstood you, thinking you were really being kept by Fu Jin Yan. But the rumors didn’t start with us, and since we’re all in the same Teaching Class, I hope we can get along better from now on.”

Across from Chen Nuo’s beaming smile, Ruan Ye’s demeanor remained markedly aloof. She gently shook off his hand from her shoulder and turned away with a polite smile.

Meeting no reciprocation, Chen Nuo’s smile stiffened slightly. Forced to save face, he awkwardly covered his embarrassment.

He slunk back to his group of friends, rolled his eyes, and muttered under his breath, “What’s with the act? Just found another sugar daddy, huh?”

Ruan Ye didn’t smile—or rather, she didn’t smile genuinely. Zhi Qiu looked up, studying the girl’s pale gray eyes, searching for any hint of joy or relief, but found nothing.

Feeling a gentle tug on the corner of her uniform, Ruan Ye glanced down at the person in the wheelchair. The Alpha seated there had dark eyes filled with confusion and worry etched across his face. Yet Ruan Ye knew that beneath his seemingly fragile exterior lay a vibrant vitality, a capacity to give someone complete and unconditional love.

Zhi Qiu was someone entirely different from her.

“You’re not happy.”

Though phrased as a question, Zhi Qiu spoke with unwavering certainty. She immediately followed up, “Why?”

Ruan Ye smiled genuinely, though ninety percent of that smile was bitter. She crouched down beside the wheelchair, her pale gray eyes glistening with tears, and whispered hoarsely, “I don’t hate anyone.”

In Ruan Ning’s memories, Fu Jin Yan had also apologized to her, but that seemed to have been many years after graduation—so insignificant that she had never bothered to remember the exact time.

A woman sat quietly by the hospital bed, her skin as pale as snow and her hair as dark as ink. It was summer, and she wore a meticulously tailored silk qipao; the black fabric only accentuated her snow-white complexion. Her glossy hair was loosely coiled with a peachwood hairpin, and the occasional stray strand that escaped from the pin only added to her natural, effortless grace.

Even from a distance, it was clear that this was a woman of exquisite beauty, with an elegant figure and striking features.

Yet despite her beauty, she was a perfectionist and workaholic. A man in a formal suit and glasses rushed into the room, clutching stacks of documents. He seemed accustomed to working overtime in the hospital room and greeted her softly, “Boss.”

Hearing this, the woman with a refined, orchid-like aura opened her eyes. Her pale gray irises still held the fatigue of last night’s sleepless hours. Though Ruan Ning remained at the hospital, worried about her lover’s health, she couldn’t neglect her company’s affairs and had been working through the night in the hospital room.

Ruan Ning raised her hand, waiting for the new batch of documents. Her voice, tinged with weariness and curiosity, asked, “Why so early? Are these urgent? Which branch is causing trouble this time?”

Faced with his boss’s rapid-fire questions, Wang Lei stood frozen, holding the documents. He hesitated, then, as if making up his mind, he didn’t hand them over. Instead, he gritted his teeth and replied directly, “Boss, President Fu is outside the room and wishes to see you.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Ruan Ning’s eyes. She lowered her outstretched hand and noticed the man standing at the doorway.

He seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Dust clung to his suit pants, and his carefully styled hair had collapsed. Ruan Ye softened her expression and said gently, “Come in, Fu Jin Yan.”

Fu Jin Yan had arrived at the hospital three hours earlier, but the person inside the room appeared to have just fallen asleep. Unwilling to disturb her rest, he had sat outside for hours until Ruan Ning’s assistant arrived with the documents, at which point he stopped him.

It had been ten years since graduation, but Fu Jin Yan hadn’t changed a bit. Dressed in a sharp suit and polished leather shoes, his hair slicked back, he exuded the air of a seasoned businessman. He had already entered the room, but Ruan Ning didn’t even glance up. She took the documents from her assistant and casually flipped to a page.

Left standing awkwardly, Fu Jin Yan smiled good-naturedly and remarked, “Time flies, but you’re still the same—cold as ice. I wonder what it would take to warm you up.”

Careless words often carry hidden meanings. Ruan Ning snapped the file shut and glared at him, her voice icy. “Who came up with the bright idea to send you as a messenger? Stop beating around the bush and say what you want. If there’s nothing urgent, next time you want to see me, have your company schedule an appointment in advance. Let’s keep this professional. I don’t have time to waste on idle chatter.”

Her sharp gaze had pierced through his facade instantly. Though Fu Jin Yan had anticipated being discovered eventually, he hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

Since his marriage, he had avoided getting involved in the private affairs of other noble families. Meng Yuan usually handled such negotiations. But this time, Zhi Ze’en had personally requested his help, and Fu Jin Yan couldn’t refuse.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Fu Jin Yan simply sat down and confessed, “Ruan Ning, I’m here at your uncle’s request to persuade you.”