Scumbag Woman, But Pampering My Wife - Chapter 39

Lin Yuebai’s gaze fixed on the bottle of amber-colored brandy in Qin Jue’s hand.

While Lin was staring at the liquor bottle, Qin was studying her instead.

Qin’s eyes seemed to contain countless unspoken words, overly bright in the darkness, their gaze setting one’s entire body aflame.

Lin tried to identify the brand on the bottle—Remy Martin? Hennessy? She couldn’t quite tell, nor did she have any interest in wine appreciation.

The atmosphere in the car grew increasingly heated as Qin simultaneously observed Lin’s expressions.

To the system, Qin probably appeared ready to cause trouble again.

But Qin harbored no such intentions.

She casually returned the bottle to the storage compartment and grasped the steering wheel with both hands as if nothing had happened.

The black sedan’s headlights shot like arrows through the rainy darkness, speeding down the road.

Lin sat in the passenger seat, quietly replying to messages on her phone.

Qin’s gaze drifted toward her intermittently until they nearly reached the garage, when Lin finally spoke up in a small voice.

After parking, Qin didn’t immediately exit the car.

“What is it?”

“Online analysts have been comparing my bone structure with my parents’, saying I should be the Jing family’s daughter.”

Qin nodded—this aligned with her own thoughts. “And?”

Lin stumbled over her words under Qin’s questioning gaze. “Should we make it public?”

She flipped her phone face-down on her lap, knees rubbing together nervously, perhaps from the chill of her thin clothing.

Qin didn’t understand the hesitation. With an amused smile, she asked, “It’s entirely up to you. What does our little moon think?”

Qin radiated irresistible charm, making Lin’s face flush increasingly red until it burned like fever. The younger woman quickly covered her cheeks with her hands, trying to cool them.

Noticing these adorable gestures, Qin’s smile softened further.

“The truth will come out eventually online. It’s just a matter of whether you acknowledge it. Your father’s birthday is coming up—we could arrange some interviews then to formally announce your identity.”

Each word struck Lin’s mind like a hammer. She looked up dumbfounded, wanting to say more, but Qin had already closed the car door and stepped out.

Lin: “……!”

Lin chased after her, uncertain why Qin would go to such lengths—whether for her beauty or satisfaction between the sheets.

Regardless, a triumphant smile curled at Lin’s lips.

She was indeed obedient, and excelled at feigning obedience—knowing exactly how to appeal to Qin’s preferences.

Qin headed for the bathroom—the villa had separate bathing facilities.

Dropping her coat on the rack, she filled the tub, adding agarwood rose essential oil. As the warm water rose past her collarbones, Qin closed her eyes to contemplate future business dealings and the system’s assigned tasks.

System: “Detecting protagonist’s approach.”

Qin’s eyelashes fluttered. Sure enough, slippers scuffed against the hallway floor outside.

She opened her eyes, their depths misty.

System: “Why is the protagonist deliberately coming when you’re bathing?”

Classical music flowed from the corner record player. Qin hummed along absently, responding mentally to the system…

“Yes, why is that? I’ve bullied the protagonist so much, why does she still come?”

Qin Jue asked knowingly.

System: “…Did you secretly coerce the protagonist behind my back?”

Qin Jue: “…” The system really isn’t very bright.

But maybe it’s better that way.

A knock sounded at the door, but Qin Jue didn’t open her eyes. Lin Yuebai knocked a few more times from outside, holding a glass of sparkling wine.

The bathroom door was pushed open, and Lin Yuebai walked in wrapped in a bathrobe.

The white robe slipped loose and was carelessly discarded on the floor as she stepped barefoot into the bathtub.

The porcelain tub wasn’t very large—comfortable for one, but a bit cramped for two.

Bubbles fizzed upward in the wine glass, carbon dioxide surging relentlessly.

Qin Jue felt a soft body press against hers, the swirling water from the jacuzzi jets sending tingling waves across her skin.

The cool rim of the glass touched Qin Jue’s face, and she finally opened her eyes.

“I remember there’s another bathroom down the hall.”

The system shrieked in Qin Jue’s mind, “This wasn’t in the plot! The protagonist has a shoot tomorrow—don’t mess around!”

Qin Jue rested a hand on Lin Yuebai’s waist. Tilting her head back, Lin Yuebai took a sip of the chilled wine before leaning down to pass it into Qin Jue’s mouth.

Lips already flushed from the steam now glistened with moisture.

The system blared another alarm: “No, no, no! Don’t you dare fade to black!”

Once the scene blurred into pixelation, the system could no longer hear their conversation. But it knew full well that Qin Jue, the villain, was far from a considerate partner.

She was wicked.

Absolutely wicked! The kind of wicked that left the protagonist covered in bruises and muscle strains!

The original villain in the story had never treated the protagonist this harshly!

The system’s glowing form puffed up like an angry blowfish. “If you lay another finger on the protagonist, I’ll shock you!”

Qin Jue’s head throbbed from the noise. The sparkling wine swirled in her mouth as Lin Yuebai’s tongue coaxed her to swallow.

Qin Jue had a decent tolerance, but she wasn’t in the habit of drinking regularly.

She disliked the dizzying loss of control.

The warmth of Lin Yuebai’s mouth heated the chilled wine.

“It’s an honor to be by your side, President Qin,” Lin Yuebai murmured. “If not for you, I’d still have no idea who my real parents are. Recently, my mother called and said she wants to take me shopping—to make up for all the years she missed.”

“I also heard Jing Xin went abroad and won’t be back anytime soon. I was worried she might fight me for the inheritance, but it seems she has no such intentions. Still, without our parents’ support, her art business in Europe probably won’t go smoothly.”

A triumphant kitten swaying its tail, hoping for a loving stroke.

Lin Yuebai sucked on an ice cube before trailing it along Qin Jue’s neck.

But today, Qin Jue was unusually distant, her body tensing momentarily without reciprocation.

She had just been zapped by the system.

Qin Jue: “…”

System: “It’s only been a few days since you last bullied the protagonist! Even the worst villains aren’t this cruel!”

Once, the system had naively worried Qin Jue might go easy on the protagonist. Now it realized the naive one was itself.

Qin Jue massaged her aching temples. The system’s shock had been measured—just a sharp crackle.

Not unbearable.

While the system was shocking her, it had already curled up into a damp little ball, crying.

The system sobbed and pleaded, “The protagonist has had a tough journey. You need to give her enough room to grow, to turn humiliation into a drive for success—not keep her caged by your side as some purebred canary or a tool for venting desires.”

Qin Jue felt utterly wronged.

The little one on top of her whimpered pitifully. She had clearly exhausted herself filming all day, yet still came to provoke her.

“I’m tired. You should go back first.”

Qin Jue patted Lin Yuebai’s back. “Be good.”

Lin Yuebai asked softly, “Did I not do well enough?”

Did Qin Jue not like her type?

Or had her body lost its appeal? Just last night, Qin Jue had actively held her close, responding immediately to the slightest touch with unrestrained demands.

Why was today different?

Lin Yuebai was good at summarizing successful strategies. She thought she had figured out Qin Jue’s temperament and knew how to cater to her preferences.

“I want my father to acknowledge me at the birthday party. I also want a respectable background. Could you arrange for the media to write a few articles? I want everyone to know.”

“Dad isn’t too comfortable with us being together. He offered to give me a house so I wouldn’t live with you.”

With rumors swirling online, it was time to confirm them.

Lin Yuebai sat on Qin Jue’s lap, trying to cling closer, but was gently held back by a hand.

“Don’t get too caught up in this. You’re still young.”

The system’s incessant whining gave Qin Jue a headache. She told it to shut up and stop crying.

The noise in her head ceased, replaced by sniffles. “Promise me you won’t bully the protagonist today. You’re really such a beast.”

“Fine, no bullying today.”

A trace of weariness crossed Qin Jue’s brow. “I’ll handle the media. Focus on filming.”

“Leave your father to me.”

She patted Lin Yuebai, urging her to get some sleep.

Qin Jue didn’t follow the system’s orders blindly. It was easy to placate and posed no real obstacle—even its electric shocks were mild.

After receiving the promise, Lin Yuebai obediently left. At the door, she whispered, “Qin Jue, goodnight.”

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

Only then did Lin Yuebai smile and leave.

Once alone in the bathroom, Qin Jue’s expression darkened.

The system emerged from the corner, still seeing only pixelated images. Relieved to find Qin Jue bathing alone—it took privacy very seriously—it relaxed.

“Are you upset? I’m sorry, I won’t shock you again. I just thought you’ve been too harsh on the protagonist lately…”

The system began apologizing quietly. “Are you feeling unwell? Should I run a health check?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

The system scanned the protagonist’s mental state and sighed in relief—there were no intense negative emotions.

Every time the antagonist bullied the protagonist, the latter never seemed deeply resentful or humiliated. Shouldn’t there be extreme endurance and indignation?

The system didn’t understand, but it trusted Qin Jue’s efficiency.

Qin Jue silently rinsed off the soap, wrapped herself in a robe, and sat on the chaise lounge in the bedroom to review documents.

Her eyes weren’t focused on the e-ink tablet in her hands.

Her little moon seemed to have made some mistake.

Little Moon needed something from her, which was why she’d deliberately come in during her bath.

Truly worthy of being the protagonist—not drowning in romantic notions, but seeking every possible advantage within a relationship.

Qin Jue felt a twinge of irritation, yet couldn’t help but admire it. These tangled emotions eventually dissolved into a soft laugh, though she didn’t fall asleep until late into the night.

…

On the day of the birthday banquet, Qin Jue arrived early at the Jing residence with Lin Yuebai in tow.

Since she’d come ahead of time, Qin Jue discussed some work matters with the Jings while Lin Yuebai was led to her own room—Jing Yuanjie clearly intended to keep them apart.

By evening, all the guests had arrived. The hotel invested in by the Jing family was already opulent, but with the lights now glowing, it shimmered brilliantly, the atmosphere lively and bustling.

Qin Jue disliked noisy environments, but bound by the system’s task, she had no choice but to mingle with a glass of brandy in hand, exchanging pleasantries and fishing for information.

“Isn’t that Lin Yuebai? Why is she here?”

“Who is she? An actress?”

“It’s normal for actors to attend, right? Maybe she’s here to liven things up?”

“Don’t talk nonsense—I heard rumors online that Lin Yuebai is…”

The voices grew too faint for Lin Yuebai to catch the rest.

Zhuang Lan stayed close to her. “The media team is all set. Someone will come for an interview after the banquet.”

She pulled Lin Yuebai along, chatting animatedly before steering her toward a group for networking—quite the lively affair.

Those who could attend this banquet were either wealthy or influential, with most crowding around Jing Yuanjie.

“Ah, where have you been?”

Lin Yuebai was just being introduced to an investor by her manager when Zhang Wen hurried over in her high heels. The previously indifferent man immediately plastered on a smile at the sight of Madam Zhang.

“Madam Zhang, I heard you and President Qin have a joint project. I had to pull quite a few strings just to find out—truly impressive! Business is tough domestically these days, but if you can tap into international markets, the profits could be substantial.”

The investor, who had been dismissive moments ago, now launched into an elaborate spiel about grand business plans, spinning tales so extravagant that Lin Yuebai’s ears nearly went numb.

Zhang Wen brushed him off with a few perfunctory words before taking Lin Yuebai’s hand and guiding her aside. “Your father adores the birthday gift you gave him. Look—he’s already wearing the tie clip you picked out, bragging about it to everyone.”

“Mom, it was the least I could do.”

The word “Mom” was spoken just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. The investor’s expression flickered between shock and confusion, his gaze darting suspiciously between Lin Yuebai and Madam Zhang, unable to decipher the family dynamics.

For a moment, the surroundings fell silent as countless eyes exchanged glances.

“Mom, I prepared a necklace for you too. I’ll show you later in private?”

“Of course, our Yuebai is always so thoughtful.”

How could Lin Yuebai possibly be a child of the Jing family? Weren’t all those online rumors just baseless gossip from marketing accounts???

Under the weight of everyone’s stares, Lin Yuebai’s eyes gleamed with newfound confidence.

She wasn’t one to stay silent—she seized every opportunity to climb higher.

“Mom, you should go mingle. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Lin Yuebai dutifully held onto Zhang Wen’s arm, noticing a trace of melancholy in her eyes—likely remembering the adopted daughter they’d raised for twenty years.

“Mom, I’m used to being alone. Don’t worry about me. Those uncles have been wanting to discuss business with you.”

Zhang Wen’s heart softened at her daughter’s words. She shook her head and patted Lin Yuebai’s hand.

“You’re too considerate. What if someone takes advantage of you…”

Meanwhile, Qin Jue was at the buffet.

She never had much interest in mass-produced catering. Even when she ate out, she preferred her own cooking or small, trusted eateries.

Her system, however, had never tasted such delicacies. With Qin Jue covering for it, the little glowing fluffball opened its maw and devoured plate after plate of fresh food.

Qin Jue: “…” Slow down.

The system fluffed up happily, shaking off golden sparkles in her mind.

“President Qin has quite the appetite!” Jing Yuanjie remarked, amazed.

The system, having just polished off three lobsters, burped and turned its attention to a platter of king crab. “Host, I want that next.”

Despite its fist-sized, fluffy appearance, there was no sign of where all that food had gone.

Qin Jue smiled faintly. “I don’t socialize much, but today is the chairman’s birthday. I’m genuinely in high spirits, so I ate a little more.”

Jing Yuanjie found Qin Jue utterly inscrutable—her notorious reputation clashing with the recent profitable investments she’d backed.

“Your birthday gift is too extravagant. I can’t possibly repay it.”

Qin Jue had given him a 20% stake in her investment firm. He’d expected flashy luxuries, not something this substantial.

Qin Jue: “Consider it for Lin Yuebai’s sake.”

Jing Yuanjie had once wanted Lin Yuebai to change her name, but as an actress, it wasn’t practical. At most, they could adjust her surname on official documents later.

His mood soured. Lin Yuebai was closer to Qin Jue than to her own family.

“She’s still young, President Qin. There’s no need to—”

“Precisely because she’s young, she needs protection. Otherwise, how much hardship would she face?”

Jing Yuanjie: “…” Smooth talker.

They exchanged idle chatter until the system finished eating.

Having devoured two whole king crabs, it hiccuped repeatedly.

“Full?”

“Let’s go do missions now! You’re nice—next time, I won’t electrocute you!”

Qin Jue mentally thanked it. “Now everyone here knows I can eat three lobsters, two king crabs, eighteen lamb chops, and two tubs of ice cream in one go.”

The system shrank into a corner of her consciousness, shedding fluff in distress.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuebai stood in the back garden, cooling off after interviews and a glass of wine.

Jing Yuanjie and Zhang Wen held her hand and officially acknowledged her as the sole heir of the Jing family in front of the media. They revealed she had been swapped at birth, sending shockwaves through the crowd. The invited journalists never expected to uncover such a bombshell today and were now feverishly drafting their articles.

Lin Yuebai disliked being scrutinized by so many eyes, but her goal had already been achieved.

Rather than struggling to establish herself in the entertainment industry with nothing, it was far more satisfying to let everyone know she now had a powerful backing.

The night breeze brushed through the loose strands of hair on Lin Yuebai’s forehead. Her expression relaxed as she took a sip of brandy, letting the intoxicating warmth spread through her body.

What was Qin Jue doing right now?

Lin Yuebai stood before a vast expanse of snow-white camellias. The petals, larger than the palm of her hand, were layered like velvet brocade—unlike the delicate fragility of roses, these petals were thick and exuded strength, embodying both elegance and purity.

Behind her, Zhuang Lan covered her mouth in excitement and whispered, “The reports just went out. You’re now trending in the top three on all platforms. My WeChat is flooded with brands and directors wanting to collaborate with you.”

“There’s an agency asking if you’d like to redebut as an idol. They can either reform a group for you or focus solely on promoting you. You can even keep the name Aurora—they’ll bring back your former teammates, and you’ll still be the leader…”

“Yuebai, you’re the young mistress of the Jing family now!”

Zhuang Lan scrolled through notifications on various platforms, her inbox nearly exploding. “Yuebai, Yuebai, why aren’t you saying anything?”

She couldn’t understand why Lin Yuebai was hiding in this quiet corner when she could easily command the spotlight by mingling with the crowd.

A rustling sound made Zhuang Lan turn around, where she spotted a woman in a blazer standing beneath a white camellia.

A pristine flower had just fallen into the woman’s palm.

Unlike other flowers that wilt petal by petal, camellias drop whole from the stem—a heavy, magnificent bloom suddenly severed from its branch.

Qin Jue caught the falling flower with steady hands and gestured for Zhuang Lan to leave.

She held a liquor bottle in her grip while her system cheered her on internally.

“Don’t worry, I detect the protagonist is drunk. If you pour the alcohol on her now, she won’t get too angry. Tomorrow, though… that’s another story.”

Qin Jue: “Quiet.”

The system fell silent.

Outside, the clinking of glasses and lively chatter filled the air, but here, only the hum of insects could be heard.

Lin Yuebai caught a familiar fragrance in the breeze and turned to Qin Jue with a soft smile.

Now that her status had changed, did she stand a better chance with her?

Lin Yuebai had stepped out to sober up, but her body still felt dizzy and feverish. “President Qin… Sister Qin Jue, I’m not feeling well. Won’t you come kiss me?”

She walked toward Qin Jue and reached out to touch her face.

“I spoke to my mother today. She agreed to let us date.”

Her burning palm pressed against Qin Jue’s cheek, tracing from her brow to her lips.

“She’s just worried you might take advantage of your status and background to bully me. But I know you wouldn’t—she’s overthinking it.”

Qin Jue had always been good to her. She knew that well.

Lin Yuebai wasn’t good with alcohol, but social occasions inevitably led to drinking more than she could handle. Now her mind was clouded, her body floating in a pleasant haze.

She was no longer that child from a rural village. The parents who constantly asked her for money and the troublemaking younger brother no longer existed in her life. Like most people, she now had parents who truly loved her.

The hard, heavy shell formed by her past insecurities was gradually shedding from her being.

Her body felt light as a feather.

How wonderful, truly wonderful.

She wouldn’t wallow in self-pity, thinking all her past suffering had been in vain. If those hardships could be exchanged for her current triumph, it was a bargain well worth making.

Suddenly, a splash—a cup of wine spilled onto Lin Yuebai’s face.

“?!”

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and droplets of wine splattered across her face, though most of it soaked into the white dress she wore today.

“Qin Jue?”

The thin, delicate fabric turned translucent where the liquid had seeped in.

Qin Jue held a sip of wine in her mouth and pressed it into Lin Yuebai’s. “You’re so eager to be my girlfriend? Do you really like me, or do you want something else from me?”

Don’t you already have everything? Why do you still want to be with me?

Qin Jue had no intention of listening to the system, of being just a villainous tool meant to spur the protagonist’s growth.

Lin Yuebai was forced to swallow the wine in her mouth. Qin Jue pulled away from the kiss, lowering her head to lick the spilled wine from her neck and chest.

“Little Moon, you don’t trust me.”