Scumbag A's Plan to Save the Heroine - Chapter 43

Until the day before the ball, Zhi Qiu hadn’t shown up at school, and even her phone was unreachable. After days of radio silence, Ruan Ye finally realized how little she truly knew about Zhi Qiu. Ever since they met, their relationship had seemed to be one-sided, with Zhi Qiu acting as if they were already close.

An emerald-green pendant dangled from the girl’s earlobe. Instead of her usual ponytail, she had clipped her raven-black hair back with a transparent green hairpin. She had already tried on several of the smallest-sized gowns, each one flattering her complexion, but Ruan Ye kept feeling like something was missing.

“Ruan Ye, why haven’t you chosen yet? Which one are you going with?” Chen Nuo strutted over in a crimson tailcoat, dressed to the nines, his hips swaying flamboyantly. The tailcoat made him look particularly regal, perfectly fitting his self-styled image as a wealthy young master.

The more someone lacks something, the more they try to prove they possess it through outward displays.

The emerald pendant swayed gently in the warm breeze, its green luminescence dazzling in the bright sunlight, as if vying for brilliance with the sun itself.

The rare jewelry left Chen Nuo momentarily speechless, forgetting the draft he had carefully composed in his mind. His eyes burned with envy, tinged with jealousy.

Ruan Ye was still rummaging through the gowns, and he relentlessly pursued her, demanding, “Which room did you find that pendant in? I was in there before you—how did I miss it? Did you secretly hide it?”

The man’s voice was already shrill, and his relentless questioning finally frayed Ruan Ye’s patience, despite her normally mild temperament. Clutching a gown in her left hand, she shrugged, turned, and brusquely shook off his hand from her arm.

Autumn’s chill lingered in the air, yet the air conditioning relentlessly pumped out warm air, striving to warm everyone. The girl’s abrupt movement caused the clip to slip from her smooth hair, sending her raven locks cascading down. Only when a warm gust lifted her fallen strands did onlookers catch the icy glint in her gray eyes.

“Don’t touch me,” Ruan Ye said, her expression impassive, revealing no emotion. Even her words were clipped and economical.

The commotion near the fitting rooms had been relatively subdued, but Chen Nuo’s shrill voice and his eagerness to show off his new outfit to everyone had drawn a crowd. Now, onlookers stared intently at the unfolding drama, eager to see how Chen Nuo and Ruan Ye would resolve their conflict.

Meng Yuan leaned lazily against a pillar, draped in a white silk dress.

“You… you…” Chen Nuo sputtered, his voice trembling with anger. To match the tuxedo he had meticulously chosen, he had visited a renowned nail salon earlier that day and gotten a set of crimson acrylics. He pointed his freshly sharpened nails at the woman before him, who remained composed as she continued browsing through the evening gowns.

The other members of their clique had already stepped in to mediate, urging him to avoid further conflict. But the man was beyond reason, his rage boiling over. He jabbed his sharp nails in the girl’s direction, spewing venomous words: “You’re utterly ungrateful! Do you really think you’ve become a phoenix just because some rich Alphas are fawning over you? One dropped out, the other’s crippled—no wonder Zhi Qiu can’t come to school! She’s probably terrified of catching your bad luck!”

You’re nothing but a jinx.

Before he could finish the last sentence, Chen Nuo’s mind suddenly went blank, his ears ringing into deafness. His body reacted faster than his brain: he instinctively raised a hand to his swollen, burning cheek, only to find his palm covered in bl00d—it was streaming from his ear.

Chen Nuo lifted his head in disbelief, staring at the person before him.

How could this be?

They had been classmates for over three years. How dare this Omega, who came from such a humble background and had always been at the bottom of the school’s social hierarchy, actually strike him?!

Chen Nuo had always been a bully who preyed on the weak. Now that his usual punching bag had suddenly become unyielding, he didn’t know what to do. He simply collapsed to the ground, sobbing hysterically, snot and tears streaming down his face.

His shrill wails quickly drew the attention of school staff. The burly Beta security guards stood awkwardly before the weeping Omega, unsure how to handle the situation. They exchanged helpless glances, seeking guidance from the onlookers who had gathered.

“It was her! She hit Chen Nuo! Security, arrest her now!”

“That’s a lie! Chen Nuo started it with his rude remarks. Ruan Ye only retaliated! Don’t think your friendship gives you the right to twist the truth!”

Amid the conflicting accusations, the guards couldn’t determine who to believe. They decided to escort both parties out, hoping to defuse the situation. Two trainee guards silently dragged the thrashing, rolling man out of the dressing room, while the captain turned to face the woman. She remained composed, as if nothing had happened, still meticulously examining the elaborate gowns, finding fault with every detail.

The Captain cleared his throat twice, testing the waters. When that had no effect, he was about to approach and physically escort the man away when a pair of slender hands blocked his path, slipping a folded piece of paper into his br3ast pocket.

Meng Yuan, who had been silent until now, materialized as if from thin air, producing a check for 100,000 Star Coins. She raised an eyebrow, her gaze subtly gesturing toward the fitting room door. The man was still sprawled on the floor, sobbing and refusing to leave.

The Captain had spent at least ten years working security at Noadon before outlasting his mentor to become team leader. With his qualifications, he could have easily secured a high-paying entry-level job in the Federation, but he had chosen to remain at the school. Compared to the Federation’s grueling work, life here was far more comfortable, largely thanks to the discreet tips from wealthy students.

He pressed the check against his chest, turned solemnly to the girl selecting gowns, and bowed deeply. His expression was dignified, betraying no hint of having accepted a bribe.

“We will report this incident of disrespect to the Academic Affairs Department without fail, Miss Ruan Ye. Please take your time selecting your gown. We must attend to other matters and will take our leave now.”

After delivering his warning, the captain turned and gestured to the security guards outside the door. Three men roughly hoisted the male Omega onto their shoulders and stormed off toward Noadon’s Academic Affairs Department.

The girl remained focused, seemingly unfazed by the brief commotion. Meng Yuan crossed her arms, watching with amusement as the Omega, whose profile was strikingly beautiful, meticulously scrutinized the gowns.

Ten minutes passed, and Meng Yuan stood ramrod straight.

Half an hour later, she leaned against a pillar, looking utterly drained.

An hour later, Meng Yuan could no longer stand. Propped against the pillar, her expression turned slightly resentful as she muttered, “Aren’t you going to thank me? I helped you get rid of that big nuisance so you could pick your clothes in peace.”

The girl’s hand, which had been holding a gown, paused. Finally, she showed a flicker of reaction to the outside world.

Though the room was heated, the moment those gray eyes turned toward Meng Yuan, they radiated a bone-chilling cold. A chill surged through Meng Yuan’s heart, and she shivered, thinking the air conditioning had malfunctioned.

It wasn’t until the clear, feminine voice answered her muttered complaint that she realized the cold wasn’t from the air conditioning, but from the woman before her.

“You were doing it for yourself, weren’t you?”