Scumbag Woman, But Pampering My Wife - Chapter 15

Qin Jue didn’t notice the sudden darkening of Lin Yuebai’s expression.

The manager’s face was grave. “I’ve suppressed the news. No one will find out about Yuebai’s past.”

Both Qin Jue and Zhuang Lan knew that if this were exposed, it would greatly damage Lin Yuebai’s reputation.

Qin Jue also didn’t want anyone focusing on anything other than Lin Yuebai’s acting skills.

“Understood.”

The office building where the crew was filming was located in an industrial park on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by desolation.

Qin Jue bought a hot latte at the coffee shop downstairs and stood at the entrance for a while before turning her attention to the man and woman in the lounge.

Qin Jue had an innate resistance to seeing Lin Yuebai’s darker side. In her heart, as the novel’s female lead, Lin Yuebai should always be radiant, untainted by the world’s filth, not subjected to so many hardships—especially when Qin Jue herself had become one of Lin Yuebai’s greatest trials.

Zhuang Lan followed behind Qin Jue, palms sweating nervously. Security personnel stood on either side of the lounge, looking intimidating.

“I’m telling you! Keeping us locked up here is illegal! I’ll call the police right now and have you all arrested!”

An elderly woman in a worn cotton-padded jacket stood there, spittle flying as her gnarled finger jabbed the air.

“Don’t think just because you have money you can do whatever you want! Her father and I raised Lin Yuebai all these years, and now that she’s grown up, she turns her back on us? What kind of ingrate is she? She deserves to be scorned by everyone!”

The old woman’s hair was a tangled mess, her wrinkles twisted with rage.

To conceive a son, she had taken medicine and undergone surgery, finally giving birth to her precious boy when she was nearly fifty—after aborting several girls.

An old man sat stiffly on the black leather sofa, his face expressionless, but the protruding veins on his bony fingers betrayed his anger.

Having read the original work, Qin Jue knew these two weren’t Lin Yuebai’s biological parents. However, the novel provided few details about her real parents, making it impossible to deduce their true identities.

It was a melodramatic story of switched identities. In the original, this couple had conspired with a nurse to swap Lin Yuebai with their own child. At the time, Lin Yuebai’s biological parents hadn’t yet made their fortune—they had earned some money in a small town and were preparing to expand their business in the capital.

Even so, their attire was far more respectable than others in that hospital, and they already owned a car, a symbol of status.

The couple before Qin Jue had secretly switched the babies, quickly leaving the hospital with the infant Lin Yuebai in their arms.

Qin Jue tightened her grip on the coffee cup, the rich hazelnut aroma turning bitter in her mouth.

The system’s voice echoed in her mind: “Detecting emotional fluctuations from the protagonist. The protagonist is secretly following you, watching from behind.”

Qin Jue sensed a gaze on her back but didn’t turn around, her fingers clenching the cup even tighter.

How absurd and despicable.

Seeing Qin Jue’s youth, the old woman refused to back down. “Let me tell you, if you don’t give me 500,000, forget about this matter! What’s so great about being a celebrity? Does being a celebrity mean you can neglect your filial duties?”

500,000 wasn’t much to Lin Yuebai.

Just the income from the lipstick endorsement Qin Jue had secured for her would be enough for this family to buy a decent house and car, and even set up her good-for-nothing younger brother with a small business. But why should Lin Yuebai give them anything?

Lin Yuebai’s face was icy cold as she stood behind a pillar in the company lobby, biting her lower lip. She couldn’t stand this endless bloodsucking. If all the money she earned was going to be drained by her birth family, how could she ever accumulate her own capital?

Her bl00d boiling, Lin Yuebai trembled slightly. The worst part was that Qin Jue had witnessed this scene.

What would Qin Jue think of her?

Lin Yuebai agonized. Did she have no self-respect? Why was it that whenever life started getting a little better, something always happened to drag her back down?

Then came Qin Jue’s calm voice from the front. “I’m Lin Yuebai’s boss. If you have anything to say, you can discuss it with me.”

Qin Jue wore a collared shirt beneath her coat, her outfit primarily in black, white, and gray, giving her the cool, sharp demeanor of a finance professional. She wore minimal accessories—her presence alone exuded luxury.

“I’ll have my lawyer review all the transfer records Lin Yuebai previously made to you, along with your bank statements, to verify every detail.”

Qin Jue’s gaze swept over the elderly couple, noting their shabby clothing and the keychain hanging from the old woman’s waist, which bore a photo of a chubby little boy.

No doubt all their money had been funneled to their precious son.

The daughter wasn’t their own, but the son was.

“Don’t talk to me about statements and records—I’m just an old woman who doesn’t understand any of that. Just give me the 500,000 now!”

The old woman’s face paled, and she exchanged a glance with her husband on the sofa, both looking uneasy.

Perhaps it was the stark class difference laid bare before them, making them hesitate, or perhaps it was Qin Jue’s overwhelming presence and her even tone, which felt like a dull knife slowly cutting into flesh.

Qin Jue ignored their protests.

“Is that your son on your keychain? What a cute, sturdy little boy. How old is he? Where does he go to school? I heard he lost everything in a failed business venture. I happen to know a few promising projects—maybe I could introduce him.”

Qin Jue walked over with her coffee cup, gloved hand resting on the old woman’s shoulder as she whispered words only a few could hear.

To an outsider, the scene might have looked heartwarming, as if they shared a close bond.

“Your precious son, still so young, got a girl at a brothel pregnant. When he couldn’t pay up but still wanted to see her, the brothel owner had him beaten. Instead of making a scene here, you’d better hurry home and check on him.”

This part had been glossed over in the original plot, but Qin Jue recalled it as she reviewed the story in her mind.

The old woman’s legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Qin Jue. “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

She made a few phone calls, her face growing paler by the minute.

Qin Jue’s lips curled into a gentle, comfortable smile, her cold eyes watching as the old man on the sofa lost his composure. He hastily helped his wife up and hurried out, only to find no taxis on the main road, slapping his chest in frustration.

The system cheered, “Host, you’re so cool! You totally give off that refined yet villainous vibe!”

Qin Jue suppressed the coldness in her eyes and turned to walk out of the lounge.

Lin Yuebai heard the rhythmic click of Qin Jue’s high heels against the tiles and immediately tried to leave, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

Slender, strong fingers adorned with golden rings—Lin Yuebai noticed they were her own props from filming.

The cheap rings on Qin Jue’s fingers looked like limited-edition pieces from a luxury boutique.

The system held its breath, waiting for the host to advance the plot.

Qin Jue gripped Lin Yuebai’s shoulder, spinning her around and pinning her against a pillar.

Lin Yuebai’s back pressed against the cold pillar, sending chills through her body. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Qin Jue’s gaze.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to peek…”

Qin Jue silently apologized in her heart before leaning in and biting down lightly on Lin Yuebai’s neck, her voice hoarse and mocking. “You just give your family whatever they ask for? Is that all you’re worth? Do your parents even know how you earn the money you give them?”

Her teeth grazed the fair skin, leaving a red mark like a plum blossom. “Do they know you’re pressed against a pillar, kissed until your legs go weak?”