"The Alpha Who Abandoned Love—And Got a Second Chance" - Chapter 4

As soon as Lin Xi spoke, Chu Muqing’s gaze fell on her face again.
This Alpha in front of her—for whatever reason—had somehow managed to earn Chengcheng’s trust. But unlike the innocent child, she herself wasn’t so easily swayed.
Everything Lin Xi had done over the past few days only made Chu Muqing more certain: she wanted a divorce.
“No matter what game you think you’re playing,” Chu Muqing lifted her eyes slightly, staring at Lin Xi with a calm that held no trace of emotion, “I don’t have the time or energy to play along.”
—Game?
Lin Xi was completely baffled. Did Chu Muqing think she was joking?
“I… I’m not joking with you,” Lin Xi said, a flicker of panic in her heart. Chu Muqing didn’t believe her at all.
Just what had the original Lin Xi done to her? Why was Chu Muqing so deeply repulsed by her?
“I don’t remember what I did to you before,” Lin Xi blinked, speaking earnestly. “But I swear, it was never my intention. Chu Muqing, please believe me. I didn’t mean any harm. It won’t happen again.”
No sooner had the words left her lips than a faint, mocking smile finally appeared on Chu Muqing’s otherwise impassive face.
“Miss Lin, you really are forgetful,” she said coldly, voice laced with sarcasm, every word deliberate. “Last time, you made the exact same promise. You said there wouldn’t be a ‘next time’. So? What happened?”
Lin Xi: “…”
A deep sense of helplessness washed over her.
Even that distant “Miss Lin” had driven an even larger wedge between them.
“…Sigh.”
Lowering her head in defeat, Lin Xi had nothing left to say.
She had just arrived in this strange ABO world. She didn’t know how things would unfold here—there were too many unpredictable variables.
But judging by Chu Muqing’s obvious hostility, the original Lin Xi must have done something truly unforgivable. For now, the smartest move was not to divorce—at least not until she could change Chu Muqing’s impression of her.
One thing was certain: the story’s Alpha female lead, Feng Zijin, hadn’t appeared yet.
Her future was uncertain. Lin Xi had always believed that destiny could be changed, that one’s fate was determined by effort. Even without a privileged background, she believed she could still build a life with her own hands.
But this world wasn’t the real one. As a transmigrator facing an uncertain future, she had no guarantee what consequences might come from altering the original storyline.
At the very least, until the real Alpha appeared, she couldn’t afford to divorce Chu Muqing—or make the same mistakes the original Lin Xi had.
She had to keep playing her part. She wasn’t ready to become a lab subject the moment she landed here.
“No words left?” Chu Muqing curled her lips in a faint smile.
“…I do,” Lin Xi looked up at her.
Chu Muqing replied flatly, “What is it?”
Lin Xi blurted out a lie: “I don’t have time tomorrow. I have to work overtime at the company.”
Chu Muqing froze, her brows knitting together. “Lin Xi, is it really necessary to make up such an excuse?”
Their eyes met, and Lin Xi suddenly couldn’t find the words to respond.
This elegant, mature woman—even from a distance—exuded a faint, icy fragrance, like a pine forest on a frozen mountainside. It only enhanced her aloof, proud aura.
The air conditioning in the shop must have been broken; a sudden blast of cold air swept through, making Lin Xi shiver.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the little girl shiver as well.
Maybe because her mother was arguing, the child’s face had gone pale, but she didn’t make a sound—just muffled a whimper.
Lin Xi furrowed her brow in concern. “Do we really have to talk about this here?”
Chu Muqing also noticed something wasn’t right with her daughter. She looked away, and when she spoke again, her voice had softened slightly. “Where do you want to talk?”
Lin Xi replied awkwardly, “Let’s go home first. We can talk about the divorce after we get back.”
“Home?” Chu Muqing’s gaze flicked toward her. “You’re coming with us?”
Lin Xi was caught off guard by the sudden swell of emotion in her chest. Chu Muqing seemed surprised by her request.
“Of course,” Lin Xi squinted, giving her a friendly smile. “We haven’t divorced yet. As your legal Alpha, don’t I have the right to go home?”
Chu Muqing looked at her for a moment, then turned away and said flatly, “Suit yourself.”
Lin Xi wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but she thought she saw a flicker of something—uncertainty, perhaps—cross Chu Muqing’s eyes when she mentioned going home.
Like it meant something more than it seemed.
________________________________________
Ten minutes later, Lin Xi was sitting in the passenger seat of Chu Muqing’s car.
The car slowly exited the underground parking lot.
Chengcheng sat alone in the backseat, clutching Lin Xi’s phone. From the moment she got in, she’d been absorbed in her dress-up game.
The car was silent, except for the occasional “biu biu biu” from Chengcheng’s game.
Lin Xi stared straight ahead, focusing on her breathing to suppress the awkwardness.
If she’d known she’d be riding shotgun, she would’ve taken her phone back. Sitting this close to Chu Muqing was far too nerve-wracking.
Chu Muqing focused on the road ahead, silent and poised.
It was the tail end of summer, and the heat still lingered.
The car’s air conditioning wasn’t on, and the air was stuffy. Lin Xi shifted uncomfortably in her seat. No matter how much she wanted to maintain the peace, she couldn’t help but turn to ask, “Can I roll down the window a bit?”
Chu Muqing didn’t respond.
But the next second, the window on Lin Xi’s side rolled down slowly.
A cool breeze swept in, soothing her flushed skin. Lin Xi offered a polite smile. “Thank you.”
That simple act—Chu Muqing rolling down the window—was proof enough: things hadn’t yet devolved to all-out war between them.
In other words, she still had a chance.
Chu Muqing sat upright, still silent. Lin Xi quietly studied her from the side.
Delicate features, elegant brows, flawless skin, a graceful neckline—everything about her seemed perfectly proportioned. If not for the icy aura and overpowering presence she carried, Lin Xi might not have been so intimidated. As it was, she barely dared to breathe sitting this close.
Her elegance, her poise—they spoke of a noble upbringing, top-tier etiquette. Even when she’d suspected Lin Xi of kidnapping her daughter, she hadn’t uttered a single vulgar word.
Yet from a few scattered conversations with others, Lin Xi had learned Chu Muqing had been cast out by the Chu family.
Apparently, her own family loved making things hard for her.
Lin Xi hadn’t paid much attention to Chu Muqing’s background when she read the novel.
But she remembered the Chu family was one of the most powerful in the capital. Even after both Chu Muqing’s grandfather and father passed away, and the family business declined, it was still a case of a “starving camel being bigger than a horse.”
Clearing her throat, Lin Xi was just about to ask if Chu Muqing needed help.
Judging by the original’s apparent wealth—being a regular VIP at exclusive bars—maybe she could offer some financial support.
She probed cautiously, “Your family…”
But Chu Muqing suddenly interrupted her. “You really don’t need to worry.”
She had already sensed Lin Xi’s not-so-subtle glances.
Lin Xi froze for a second, slightly dazed by Chu Muqing’s soft profile. “What?”
Without sparing her a glance, Chu Muqing said calmly, “After the divorce, I’ll still transfer the money promised in our prenup to your account every month.”
Lin Xi was increasingly confused. “What money? Prenup?”
Chu Muqing opened her mouth, certain that Lin Xi was just playing dumb—but she didn’t mind repeating it.
“The agreement states that during the duration of our marriage, I would transfer three thousand yuan to your account every month.”
“Three thousand?” Lin Xi was stunned.
“Even after the divorce, I’m willing to pay you for another year. After all, it was my decision to end things.” Chu Muqing added, “Though to be fair, you crossed the line first. If you object, I suggest taking it up in court.”
Lin Xi: “…”
So… they had a fake marriage?
Wait—crossed the line?
What the hell had the original Lin Xi done to her?!