Scumbag Woman, But Pampering My Wife - Chapter 49

“Alright, move over. No more kissing.”

Early in the morning, Lin Yuebai pushed Qin Jue aside, hogging the entire blanket for herself and leaving none for the CEO beside her.

Before dawn, Lin Yuebai had already sensed something squirming against her, insistently clinging to her.

When she opened her eyes, she found Qin Jue stealthily planting kisses on her again.

After being thoroughly exhausted the night before, waking up to that face again tested even Lin Yuebai’s patience.

Qin Jue didn’t take offense at being pushed away. She casually draped a blanket over herself and wrapped her arms around Lin Yuebai from behind.

She used to suffer from severe insomnia, likely due to her hectic work life—her nerves never fully relaxed. Every night was a battle against the endless dark until sunrise. But after transmigrating into this novel, her insomnia had miraculously vanished.

The sound of another person’s breathing beside her always helped Qin Jue unwind quickly.

But the consequence was—

“CEO Qin, have some self-respect.”

As the first rays of dawn stretched across the ocean, turning the water into a sea of molten gold, fragmented light shimmered beneath the waves like crushed foil. Lin Yuebai’s voice cut sharply through the morning stillness.

Qin Jue was promptly kicked out.

Every joint in Lin Yuebai’s body ached. Though Qin Jue hadn’t left any suspicious marks on her, last night had still been exhausting.

The door slammed shut, but Qin Jue remained unbothered, simply heading elsewhere to freshen up.

Left alone in bed, Lin Yuebai pulled the blanket over her head, a flicker of unease in her heart—would Qin Jue be angry?

She was too drowsy to dwell on it, her mind drifting back to yesterday when Qin Jue had knelt between her legs and—

No matter how hard she pushed, Qin Jue wouldn’t budge, pinning her wrists effortlessly with one hand.

She must have cried at some point, because she remembered Qin Jue holding her afterward, kissing away her tears.

It had gone on until nearly dawn.

For all her composed demeanor in public, Qin Jue was downright wicked at her core.

What a scoundrel.

Lin Yuebai rolled over, burying her face in Qin Jue’s pillow, and finally drifted back to sleep.

System: “Got kicked out by the protagonist?”

Qin Jue spat out the lemon-sea-salt-flavored toothpaste foam. “Yeah, what about it?”

In the mirror, her face was bare, but her spirits were high.

The system hesitated. “The entire ship is being live-streamed. Everything was recorded.”

Qin Jue turned and spotted a dark camera lens. She flashed it a smile.

Without the system’s reminder, she’d nearly forgotten—this wasn’t just a honeymoon trip. They were filming a variety show.

Part of the cruise ship had been booked for the reality show, while another section was rented by the “Conspiracy” film crew. Fortunately, the ship was massive enough that neither production interfered with regular passengers.

As Qin Jue ate breakfast, she skimmed through her schedule on the tablet, reviewing the day’s tasks.

Lin Yuebai would be filming scenes for the adjacent production, though her role was minor—just a few key shots.

Qin Jue had footed the entire bill for the cruise, treating it as a vacation for the entire crew.

Host: “Qin Jue, you’re up so early! Are you always a morning person?”

Qin Jue was eating a sandwich when the system in her head beeped twice, reminding her to maintain her villainous persona.

She glanced toward the camera and said, “As you can see, I’ve been kicked out by Lin Yuebai.”

The live chat for “Our Friendship” fell silent…

Qin Jue sighed almost imperceptibly. “Lin Yuebai is just too willful. I can’t do anything about it.”

Host: “Why did she kick you out?”

Crossing her legs and bathed in the morning sunlight, Qin Jue took a small sip of warm milk. “Maybe she didn’t want to see me first thing in the morning?”

The host remained speechless as viewers began noticing something amiss…

“Mom! Don’t believe a single word this woman says!” “Who gets thrown out with all their clothes still on?!” “What scenes are too VIP for me to see?!” “Reporting in—I was under the bed last night. I know exactly what they were doing.” “It’s normal for friends to have conflicts. My bestie and I always fight over blankets—no need to overthink it.” “Complaining about Little Moon’s temper while glowing like spring? I’d believe you if you could just tone down that smile.”

The system was stunned. “This actually works?”

Qin Jue finished the last of her warm milk. “If the protagonist knew her supposed bully was publicly tying their fates together like this, she’d definitely find me disgusting.”

The system fell silent.

Normally, it would agree—Qin Jue usually completed missions swiftly and precisely.

“Maybe?” “Absolutely. Do you have doubts?”

The poor little system found itself thoroughly bamboozled. Maybe… no problem?

The variety show wasn’t live 24/7. By the time Lin Yuebai woke up and made an appearance, the broadcast had ended. She wandered the ship searching for Qin Jue, only to run into Zhuang Lan instead.

Zhuang Lan handed her a script. “Got your lines memorized?”

Every inch of Lin Yuebai’s body ached—her waist, abdomen, and thighs stiff from prolonged tension. Qin Jue had massaged her that morning, providing some relief, but those wandering hands proved too much. After repeated rejections went unheeded, Lin Yuebai had no choice but to physically remove her.

“Where’s President Qin?” “She had business. Sent me to take you to film the deck mission scene first.”

Without a word, Lin Yuebai headed to the production floor, changing into a white blouse and long coat with a prop gun holstered at her waist.

In the dressing room, Zhuang Lan sighed. “That account ‘Moonlight Upon Me’ just donated tens of thousands again. Their Weibo shows your entire endorsement collection—photocards, postcards, keychains, everything.”

Zhuang Lan tapped her calculator, displaying a staggering sum before Lin Yuebai. “This is just their donations over the past six months—enough to buy a villa in the best district!” And that didn’t even include merchandise purchases.

“We’ve reached out through official channels, but they refuse all contact. Won’t even meet at the studio.” Zhuang Lan had hoped to collaborate on promotional campaigns, but this fan seemed content to simply shower Lin Yuebai with unconditional support.

Lin Yuebai’s gaze lingered on the Weibo avatar—a plump rabbit curled atop a crescent moon.

Lin Yuebai inexplicably recalled the small moon-shaped agate always hanging on Qin Jue’s ink-screen tablet.

It seemed to be the same little moon.

Lin Yuebai shook her head. “We’ll talk about it later.”

A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind, but she immediately dismissed it with a self-deprecating shake of her head. Someone like Qin Jue would never pretend to be her fan and spend money on her.

Qin Jue was someone who expressed love and dislike with stark clarity—when she liked someone, she clung to them relentlessly; when she disliked someone, she couldn’t even be bothered to spare them a glance.

She was a businesswoman who never wasted energy and operated with ruthless efficiency.

“Keep an eye on her IP address for me.”

…

“I found it!”

Qin Jue lounged on the deck, basking in the sun, as Gong Man handed her a coconut.

She took a sip of the coconut water while Gong Man sat cross-legged on the adjacent lounge chair. “There’s a banquet on the cruise tonight. Guess who I ran into.”

Gong Man practically vibrated with excitement. “Ask me! Ask me!”

Her voluminous curls blocked most of the sunlight. Qin Jue pushed her sunglasses up to her forehead and noticed the system, which had taken the form of a small glowing orb, munching on the fruit platter beside her.

Qin Jue: “…”

The system chewed noisily. “Don’t forget—tonight’s banquet has a key scene in the original plot. The antagonist flirts with another girl, showing off his playboy tendencies. When she rejects him, he gets humiliated, gets drunk, and takes it out on the protagonist in front of everyone—”

Qin Jue’s left ear caught Gong Man’s words while her right ear processed the system’s narration.

“In front of everyone…?”

“The antagonist tries to take advantage of the protagonist publicly, even attempting to kiss her. Of course, she resists and dumps a glass of ice water in his face.”

Though the original scene wasn’t set on a cruise, the banquet setting was close enough.

Qin Jue nodded and turned back to Gong Man. “Sorry, I zoned out. Say that again.”

Gong Man blinked at the half-empty fruit platter, rubbing her eyes.

Was she seeing things?

“I saw your brother.”

A faint crease formed between Qin Jue’s brows.

“Qin Chenyi is here too. Your father found him a well-matched young lady to set them up. They’re vacationing on the ship and will definitely attend tonight’s banquet.”

Qin Jue acknowledged with a cool nod. She barely noticed when Gong Man left, her mind drifting to the Qin family’s investments in the entertainment industry. Beyond Star River Entertainment, their portfolio was vast, though they had originally built their fortune in manufacturing and real estate.

Now, despite their decline, a centipede dies but never falls—old money never truly fades. Qin Jue had some interest in the family assets.

Her thoughts wandered as she opened her tablet to check unread emails.

The system noticed a shadow of darkness flicker in its host’s eyes, and its fluffy little orb form shivered.

Her smile was three parts mockery, two parts greed, and five parts disdain.

Qin Jue caught the system’s stare. “Stop analyzing the pie chart in my eyes.”

The system swallowed the last bite of guava and retreated into the depths of Qin Jue’s mind.

Lin Yuebai hadn’t seen Qin Jue all day, and a restless unease settled in her chest.

Had Qin Jue really gotten angry just because she’d shut her out?

Filming had kept her busy all day, and her phone had been with her manager the whole time.

After work, Lin Yuebai tried calling Qin Jue—but the call didn’t go through.

Zhuang Lan rushed over anxiously, saying, “The gala dinner isn’t on our schedule—what should we do? We’ve all received invitations, but I didn’t bring any evening gowns…”

Beads of sweat formed on Zhuang Lan’s forehead. Everyone aboard this luxury cruise was either wealthy or influential, and since the route hadn’t officially launched yet, the first batch of passengers were all prominent figures in the industry.

Lin Yuebai’s expression darkened upon hearing this. She turned to rummage through her suitcase for something passable to wear.

“When is Qin Jue coming back?”

“You’re still thinking about CEO Qin? Whatever—I’ll go ask the crew if they have any spare outfits.”

Instead of Qin Jue returning to the room, Lin Yuebai was greeted by Qin Jue’s secretary, who delivered an evening gown.

The moon-white silk slip dress was embroidered with epiphyllum flowers, paired with a sheer chiffon shawl adorned with the same floral motifs.

Lin Yuebai ran her fingers along the hem, a complicated emotion welling up inside her.

Her slender frame made the ethereal dress appear even more elegant and refined. The translucent white shawl draped over her shoulders, and as she examined the details, she noticed a small silver-threaded goldfish embroidered into the fabric.

Qin Jue seemed to have a fondness for goldfish—she enjoyed fishing and raising them, a touch of domesticity in her life.

This dress hadn’t been prepared last-minute. Lin Yuebai had no idea why Qin Jue had brought it aboard, but the sizing was tailored precisely to her measurements.

When Zhuang Lan pushed the door open and saw Lin Yuebai styling her hair, she sighed in relief.

“Where did you get that dress?”

Compared to the plain white dress Zhuang Lan had borrowed from the crew, Lin Yuebai’s outfit was clearly haute couture. The embroidery resembled Shu-style needlework, with each hand-stitched epiphyllum petal far more lifelike than machine-made designs.

Since live-streaming wasn’t allowed at the gala, Zhuang Lan snapped a few photos to edit and post on Weibo later.

Her mood was conflicted. “CEO Qin really went all out…”

……

“Qin Jue, do you even have a heart?!”

Qin Jue leaned against the railing on the second floor of the gala venue, dressed in a loose blazer. The elderly voice on the phone roared so loudly it was nearly deafening.

“You’re using Star River Entertainment—your mother’s legacy—to promote some nobody actress, even arranging a speedboat to deliver a gown for her. Qin Jue, you’ve disappointed me.”

Qin Jue held the phone to her ear, its charm—a small agate carving of a crescent moon—swaying slightly.

Her father’s voice was so loud that even her secretary, standing beside her, winced at the sound.

Qin Jue: “I saw my brother.”

Her tone was indifferent. “Or, more accurately, your bastard child from an affair. That little brat really does look like you.”

Silence filled the line, followed by the sound of something shattering.

“Qin Jue, how dare you! Without the Qin family, you’re nothing.”

Resting her chin on one hand, Qin Jue gazed down at the extravagant scene below—the gilded opulence of the banquet hall. She enjoyed observing revelry from above, just as she had in Las Vegas, sipping champagne while watching gamblers lose themselves in ecstasy or despair.

Without the Qin family? That would just be her life before transmigrating into this novel.

Qin Jue chuckled softly, saying a few more words before the other end abruptly hung up—likely in a rage-induced near-heart attack.

Narrowing her eyes, Qin Jue twisted the gemstone ring on her index finger.

It was crafted into a fish, its gemstone scales winding elegantly around her knuckle.

The same fish as the one on Lin Yuebai’s dress.

“Water brings prosperity.”

Qin Jue was quite superstitious when it came to business, believing that goldfish attracted wealth. Over time, she had raised quite a few fish—koi, goldfish, and others. Once they got used to her, they would crowd near the shore, brushing against each other whenever someone approached.

Qin Chenyi suddenly felt a piercing gaze on his back. Looking up, he met Qin Jue’s smiling eyes. Her expression was gentle, yet it sent a shiver down his spine, nearly making him stumble.

This bl00d-related sister of his had allowed Lin Yuebai to wield a whip, leaving a scar on Qin Chenyi’s face to this day.

“Qin Chenyi?”

The woman beside him, sweet and demure, looked at him in confusion. Before he could respond, her attention was immediately drawn to a figure in moon-white.

“It’s Lin Yuebai! I adore her! Her visuals are just my type, and her acting has improved so much. I recently bought a coffee machine she endorsed—I barely managed to snag one of her signed postcards!”

Hearing that the woman his father had introduced was a fan of Lin Yuebai, Qin Chenyi’s already sour expression darkened further.

Lin Yuebai, holding the hem of her dress, scanned the banquet hall but didn’t spot Qin Jue. Instead, her gaze locked onto someone painfully familiar—how could she not recognize the man she had once whipped? Qin Chenyi paled instantly, instinctively stepping back.

Lin Yuebai’s smile faded slightly.

From the second floor, Qin Jue silently observed the scene.

System: “Aren’t you going down?”

It urged her to complete the mission, but Qin Jue merely sipped champagne from her glass, unhurried.

“Don’t rush. Didn’t you say I should harass some girl after getting drunk? Well, I’m drinking now.”

She took small, deliberate sips, showing no signs of intoxication. The system ruffled its metaphorical fur, not daring to push further—it, too, was a little afraid of Qin Jue.

Sometimes, she really was the villain.

System: “Aren’t you worried the protagonist might get bullied?”

Qin Jue arched a brow, raising her glass. “If Lin Yuebai gets bullied, I’ll pour this down. Don’t worry—my aim is excellent.”

The system was certain she was bluffing.

From afar, Qin Jue watched as Lin Yuebai cut through the crowd toward Qin Chenyi, her expression cold.

“Have you seen President Qin?”

Lin Yuebai wasn’t foolish—she knew full well about the enmity between Qin Chenyi and Qin Jue.

A bastard born of an affair, lacking both talent and virtue, he was laughably inferior to Qin Jue in every way—even his schemes were pitiful.

And then there was that arrow shot at the wild boar in the woods that day.

Thankfully, Qin Jue had been unharmed. But if she had been injured…

Wouldn’t that have played right into Qin Chenyi’s hands?

The woman beside Qin Chenyi, oblivious to their history, only knew that her family had set her up with this man—whom she found utterly insufferable. She promptly skipped over to Lin Yuebai.

“You’re Little Moon, right? I love you so much! Can we take a photo together? Please?”

Lin Yuebai looked momentarily puzzled, while Qin Chenyi’s face twisted further.

“I only know my father as President Qin. I’m not familiar with the one you’re referring to.”

Already in a foul mood, Lin Yuebai’s expression darkened further at the sight of Qin Chenyi. She forced a smile for the photo with the girl, then let it drop entirely.

The girl continued on her own, “Little Moon, don’t misunderstand. I was called here by my family for a blind date. I don’t know Qin Chenyi at all. The reason I agreed to come was because I heard insider news that you’d be filming on this cruise, and I thought maybe I could run into you…”

She lowered her head with an embarrassed smile.

She didn’t dare admit that she actually shipped Qin Jue and Lin Yuebai hard.

Hearing that Qin Chenyi knew Qin Jue, she’d come along without thinking much of it.

Qin Chenyi’s fists clenched until his knuckles cracked. His already unpleasant expression turned deathly pale.

The surrounding gazes shifted back to him, and in his twisted malice, he interpreted them all as mocking stares.

His father’s arranged blind date preferred Lin Yuebai. Even that so-called sister of his favored Lin Yuebai. What was so special about that woman?

Just because she had a pretty face—

Qin Chenyi’s lips curled into a sneer. “Oh right, I almost forgot you’re inseparable from Qin Jue. You’re looking for her, aren’t you? I heard many from her circle are aboard. Who knows which bed she’s warming right now? Do you really think she’d marry you, defending her like this?”

“That coffee machine my dear sister recently invested in is selling well, huh? In my opinion, it’s just industrial junk assembled together. Does she really think it can break into overseas markets? She’d be better off sticking to OEM for foreign brands instead of embarrassing herself with this vanity project.”

His voice carried just enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly.

The girl’s eyes widened suddenly, looking at Qin Chenyi as if he were some monster.

This man had been pretending to be the picture of gentlemanly manners in front of her. While not her ideal type looks-wise, he’d seemed decent enough as a friend.

How…

Suddenly realizing she’d stumbled upon major tea, the girl clapped a hand over her mouth, her gaze darting between Qin Chenyi and Lin Yuebai.

Zhuang Lan, who’d come with Lin Yuebai, frowned so deeply she could crush a fly between her brows. “Mind your words.”

Qin Chenyi had always sailed through life smoothly. Qin Jue’s terrible reputation and lack of talent made her utterly unfit to lead the conglomerate. Their father had never pinned his hopes on her anyway.

Thus Qin Chenyi was the sole suitable heir.

Lin Yuebai’s expression darkened severely as she flung her champagne into Qin Chenyi’s face.

The pale gold liquid streamed down his contorted features. For a blank moment, Qin Chenyi simply stood frozen before fury ignited him. His hand twitched upward to strike but hesitated, stopping short at the last second.

He’d nearly forgotten—Lin Yuebai wasn’t some pushover celebrity like the others. The scar on her face stood testament to that.

The girl found herself force-fed this dramatic scene, utterly at a loss until her eyes met Qin Jue’s gaze.

Girl: !

Qin Jue tilted her head back to drain the last of her champagne.

Qin Jue: “I’m drunk.”

System: “…Records indicate you could handle two pounds of baijiu before transmigrating.”

Qin Jue’s expression soured, and the system cowardly shut up.

Back then, drinking had been unavoidable. She never enjoyed it—only endured the business dinners, excusing herself to vomit in restrooms. Now the mere scent of alcohol turned her stomach.

The crisp click of heels echoed on the spiral staircase as Qin Jue, clad in a burgundy blazer, directly intercepted the fleeing girl.

The girl was wearing a gauzy skirt when she stumbled, her shoe catching on the hem as she nearly fell.

Qin Jue instinctively reached out to steady her. “Be careful.”

The girl happened to be a devoted shipper of their pairing, and at the sight of Qin Jue, her mind went completely blank. “Y-you—you two—”

Qin Jue: “?”

The girl’s flustered expression instantly transformed into a mysterious smile. “I like you! Give me your autograph, then take a photo with Little Moon for me!”

She bit her tongue, barely suppressing her grin.

Unaware of the relationship between Qin Jue and Qin Chenyi, but sensing the charged atmosphere and Qin Chenyi’s current expression, she knew there was something subtle between them.

Qin Jue was so beautiful—everything she did was perfect.

After ensuring the girl was steady, Qin Jue withdrew her hand, only for the girl to immediately grab it again, producing a pen from nowhere.

“Sign it now!”

With the chaos unfolding, there’d be no chance for autographs later.

After getting the signature, the girl threw an arm around Qin Jue’s shoulders for a selfie before finally stepping aside, temporarily satisfied.

Lin Yuebai nearly laughed at the scene—since when had her relationship with Qin Jue become public knowledge?

The system: “…”

The system shamefully announced the mission’s completion, allowing progression to the next phase.

Qin Jue hadn’t expected the system task to be completed so easily. Before she could strategize how to “harass” the girl, a few casual touches had already fulfilled the requirement.

Now only one task remained: getting doused with water after a failed kiss attempt.

Qin Chenyi’s knuckles cracked audibly as he clenched his fists, forcing out each word through suppressed fury: “Qin Jue, next week is your mother’s death anniversary. You should visit.”

After delivering this loaded statement, he left with a meaningful glance, his hurried footsteps betraying his composure.

Qin Jue subtly hooked her pinky with Lin Yuebai’s. “Sorry I couldn’t find you today—got tied up with work.”

A shipment had been held at customs, consuming her entire day.

Lin Yuebai shook her head. “Thank you for the clothes.”

Half-drunk, Qin Jue nuzzled her chin against Lin Yuebai’s shoulder like an overgrown puppy seeking comfort. Her voice dropped to a wounded whisper:

“Everyone bullies me—my father, that illegitimate half-brother… Running the business alone is so hard.”

All traces of Lin Yuebai’s earlier icy demeanor melted into helpless concern.

Qin Jue’s eyes shimmered like a siren emerging from the waves. “Yuebai, you’re all I have.”

She pressed Lin Yuebai’s hand against her abdomen. “Drank too much. My stomach hurts.”

System: ?