Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 34

The man leaned against the doorframe, panting heavily. He wore a wig styled into a golden rat-tail braid, a hairstyle from an ancient dynasty of Ancient Earth.

He was still in his film crew costume: a bright yellow dragon robe, its auspicious clouds and coiling dragon patterns woven with lifelike detail. The only incongruous detail was the muddy stain on the hem of his pants, as if they had been splashed with dirt.

Song Rang crouched on the ground, his hands braced on his knees, gasping for breath. After a moment, he released one hand and pressed his right hand against his aching lower abdomen.

He had run too fast, causing a stitch in his side. He bent over to recover until Ruan Ye called out to him, then straightened up to survey the house before him.

This was one of his properties, purchased on a whim because he thought the layout would be suitable for keeping small pets. Later, he had seized the opportunity to do Ruan Ye a favor by renting it to her.

Song Rang glanced at the girl standing rigidly before him.

She was as neat and tidy as ever, dressed in clean clothes, her hair neither permed nor dyed, but left in its natural glossy black. She looked so well-behaved, except…

Her expression was always cool and distant, even when he did her a favor. At most, she would lower her head and say, “Thank you. I’ll definitely repay you someday,” a polite formality.

Yet for some reason, Song Rang sensed an unusual warmth in Ruan Ye’s gaze today.

Recalling Feng Moyi’s phone call, he already had some suspicions.

After all, even the strongest Omega would need an Alpha to step in and resolve a stalking situation.

If Ruan Ye had been alone in the room, he would have immediately jumped to that conclusion. But due to an Alpha’s innate sensitivity to danger from his own kind, he couldn’t ignore the Alpha in the wheelchair, whose every movement radiated menace.

Having learned much about reading people through observation, Song Rang wasn’t fooled by the girl’s delicate features and instantly recognized her true gender.

He scratched his head, yanked off the wig, and revealed his slicked-back, tea-brown hair.

This was the Federation’s hottest hairstyle, specially styled by his manager for the upcoming gala.

Running so fast had soaked his hair gel with sweat, causing his carefully styled hair to teeter precariously, looking somewhat comical—like an unfinished building with a poorly laid foundation on the verge of collapse.

In the awkward silence, Song Rang finally found an excuse to steer the conversation toward the other person in the room.

“Xiao Ye, is your friend visiting? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have prepared some food to welcome our guest.”

Song Rang smiled with exaggerated tenderness, his tone as natural as a brother caring for his younger sister.

This calculated shift of power made Zhi Qiu feel like an unwelcome intruder.

Having navigated the Federation’s entertainment industry for years, Song Rang had long mastered the art of hiding daggers in his smiles and needles in his soft words. Regardless of Ruan Ye’s response, he would seize control of the conversation and emerge as the dominant party.

“I’m not a friend,” the woman replied firmly. “I’m Ruan Ye’s suitor.”

Song Rang froze, thinking he had misheard. He asked again, “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. What did you say?”

The person in the wheelchair finally lifted her gaze to meet the eyes of the man still dressed in his dragon robe costume. Suddenly, she stood up from the wheelchair and took a few steps forward.

Song Rang’s eyes widened as the overwhelming pressure closed in, a sudden wave of fear instinctively driving him back several steps.

The girl had been sitting in her wheelchair, leading him to assume she was at least a head shorter than him. Now that she had suddenly stood up, the combined pressure of her height and pheromones triggered his Alpha’s intense territorial instincts.

The man in the bright yellow dragon robe swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He stopped retreating and tilted his head slightly to meet the female Alpha’s dark eyes.

The calm lake that had once resided within those eyes suddenly churned into a raging storm. He realized then that what he had mistaken for an artificial lake was actually the boundless, perilous yet life-giving ocean.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

Song Rang retreated a few more steps, turning to Ruan Ye, who stood frozen beside him. He forced a sheepish smile. “Ruan Ye, what’s going on with your friend? Why has she suddenly come to our home? As an Omega, bringing an Alpha home like this isn’t really appropriate, is it?”

What?

A suitor?

What does this mean? Is it what I think it is?

The shock of these words was akin to the sun rising in the west or interstellar civilization reverting to the era of Ancient Earth. Ruan Ye was completely stunned, unable to register Song Rang’s pleading glances or hear any of the conversation.

“I’m Ruan Ye’s suitor.” The phrase echoed in her mind like a song on repeat, playing over and over.

Song Rang, accustomed to being the center of attention in the entertainment industry, had never experienced such cold treatment before. He felt utterly humiliated and wanted to disappear.

With only three people in the room, he couldn’t blame the unfamiliar Zhi Qiu, so he shifted the blame to Ruan Ye. Why is she being so unreasonable? Couldn’t she at least save me some face, give me a way out?

Song Rang’s face darkened. The guilt he had felt earlier for exploiting his childhood friend had vanished completely.

Barely maintaining his facade of gentleness, he pointed at the dazed girl, his voice rising in anger and embarrassment. “Ruan Ye, is this how your parents raised you? How could you be so shameless, bringing a scheming Alpha home like this?!”

The mention of her parents finally snapped Ruan Ye out of her daze. Her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to explain something, but she ultimately chose to remain silent.

A kind word warms three winter months; a harsh word chills six summer months.

Zhi Qiu’s words had initially stirred a restless feeling in her heart, her cheeks burning.

Parents?

Shame?

People who know nothing of the truth still dare to stand on moral high ground, judging her life.

Song Rang’s words felt like a bucket of ice-cold, heavily salted water poured over her hidden, unhealed wounds on a summer day.

Ruan Ye’s eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill. She turned her head away, gritting her teeth as she retorted, “What right do you have to speak of my parents?”

This was the first time Ruan Ye had ever argued back at Song Rang. Long ago, when she lived under her adoptive parents’ roof, it was only through Song Rang’s help that she managed to barely scrape by with enough food and clothing.

But Song Rang didn’t hear Ruan Ye’s reply. The moment he finished speaking, Zhi Qiu’s fist slammed into his eye.

A completely unguarded blow.

Song Rang clutched his right eye socket in agony. He tried to speak, but before he could, his left eye instantly saw stars.

The girl with reddened eyes didn’t intervene.

In the darkness, Song Rang cradled his head in his hands, faintly hearing a familiar voice filled with concern.

When he was a child, after scraping his knee by the pond, someone had tended to his wound while gently scolding him for taking such risks.

But this time…

He was no longer the one being cared for.

Ruan Ye held the medical kit, her heart aching as she gazed at the reopened wound. As she bandaged it, she murmured softly, “Zhi Qiu, does it hurt?”