"The Alpha Who Abandoned Love—And Got a Second Chance" - Chapter 5

A black sedan slowly rolled into Dongcheng District, gliding past several neon-lit streets before pulling into a residential compound.
Chu Muqing parked the car in a designated spot. Lin Xi got out first, then walked around to the backseat to help unbuckle the child’s seatbelt and gently lift her out.
Lin Xi was unfamiliar with the area and didn’t dare to walk ahead on her own.
At first glance, this appeared to be an old neighborhood. The buildings weren’t tall, but the landscaping was quite well maintained.
Holding the little girl in her arms, Lin Xi whispered softly in her ear, “Sweetie, put the phone in Mommy Lin’s pocket for now, okay? You can play with it when we get home.”
The child, obedient and sweet, immediately did as she was told.
Lin Xi kissed her chubby cheek. “Good girl.”
Chu Muqing stood by the car, tall and graceful. A gentle breeze brushed past, sweeping strands of hair across her cheek.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and said to Lin Xi, “Let me carry her.”
“No, no, it’s fine!” Lin Xi quickly replied, glancing at the puddles on the ground. She gestured toward the folder in Chu Muqing’s hand and added, “It looks like it just rained. You’re wearing heels—it’s inconvenient. Plus, you’ve got things to carry.”
Chu Muqing narrowed her eyes slightly, a flicker of suspicion in her gaze.
“Oh, come on, don’t be so stiff!” Lin Xi smiled teasingly. “I’m an Alpha—I’ve got plenty of strength. I could carry her up five floors without breaking a sweat, let alone just a little kid.”
Chu Muqing considered for a moment, then said nothing more.
Lin Xi took the lead, striding ahead with the child in her arms.
Chu Muqing followed behind at a slower pace, carrying her folder and handbag, trailing the tall figure and the tiny one walking together ahead.
Lin Xi walked briskly, chatting softly with the child in her arms, asking if she was cold. When Chengcheng nodded, Lin Xi hugged her tighter, smiling indulgently. “Well, you’re not cold now, right?”
The little girl giggled joyfully.
Watching their interaction, Chu Muqing’s gaze darkened. She couldn’t quite figure Lin Xi out.
Was she putting on a show—or was there something more?
After all, just yesterday, Lin Xi had gone completely berserk.
She’d screamed at Chu Muqing like a madwoman, threatening to storm into the school, drag Chengcheng out, and throw her into a lake to drown.
But now? She was acting like a loving mother, as if she were a completely different person.
Lin Xi had initially walked fast, but the outdated layout of the old neighborhood became more evident the further they went. The streetlights were sparse, leaving much of the path in darkness.
Worried that Chu Muqing might have trouble walking in heels, Lin Xi slowed her pace to allow her to catch up.
As expected, when they reached a corner, Chu Muqing suddenly stumbled.
Lin Xi reacted quickly, grabbing her arm. “Careful!”
The close distance brought with it a familiar scent—cedarwood. Lin Xi immediately recognized it.
“Thanks,” Chu Muqing said, stepping back slightly, her expression a little stiff and distant.
Lin Xi shrugged and said, “It just rained. Be careful—it’s slippery.”
Chu Muqing quickly masked the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, returning to her usual aloof expression. “Thank you,” she repeated politely.
Lin Xi felt a twinge of frustration. So cold…
But then again, from Chu Muqing’s perspective, she had every right to be distant. The original Lin Xi had only entered a fake marriage with her—yet tried to take advantage of her. No one would be friendly in that situation.
Thinking of it that way, Chu Muqing’s current attitude was already relatively gracious. Lin Xi knew she couldn’t ask for more.
The old neighborhood was quiet. The sky was overcast—no moon, not even a single star.
Lin Xi felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to say something to Chu Muqing, but she was afraid that opening her mouth would lead straight to divorce talk.
Better to keep quiet and play dead for now.
Suddenly, the clear, gentle sound of piano music broke the silence.
The soothing melody came from Chu Muqing’s direction.
She pulled out her phone, glanced at the caller ID, and hesitated for a moment.
Then, she swiped to answer.
The music stopped abruptly.
“Hello?” Chu Muqing said, pausing. “Manager Sun?”
Lin Xi listened quietly. Even though the call wasn’t on speaker, the man’s voice on the other end was loud and clear.
“Yes, yes, it’s me! Haha, I called you an hour ago, but you didn’t pick up.”
“Sorry,” Chu Muqing said calmly. “Something urgent came up.”
“No worries, no worries. I just wanted to let you know—someone made a pretty good offer for that apartment you asked me to sell last month.”
Chu Muqing turned slightly and glanced back at Lin Xi.
Lin Xi immediately lowered her head and deliberately kicked a small stone by her foot. It bounced into the bushes with a faint tap tap tap.
Don’t look at me! I’m not eavesdropping!
Chu Muqing turned away again and lowered her voice. “Let’s talk on WeChat.”
“Sure, I’ll send you the price.”
Then he added, “Miss Chu, I should remind you—selling at this price is a loss, based on current market trends. If you’re not in urgent need of cash, I’d suggest waiting a little longer.”
Chu Muqing paused. “It’s fine. Thank you.”
The man gave a bitter chuckle. “Alright then. I’m just curious… what happened that made you so desperate you’re willing to sell your own home?”
Chu Muqing didn’t reply. The other end didn’t press further. A dial tone followed.
He’d hung up first.
Lin Xi: “…”
She had overheard the entire conversation, word for word.
Chu Muqing was selling her apartment? Her primary residence?
Lin Xi’s brows furrowed slightly in disbelief.
In the original novel, it never fully explained why Chu Muqing suddenly needed money. It only mentioned vaguely that after marrying Lin Xi, she encountered a major crisis. What angered readers the most was that Lin Xi—the scumbag Alpha—took advantage of that low point, tricked her out of her money, and squandered every cent.
Lin Xi took a few steps forward, watching Chu Muqing’s back. She opened her mouth to speak—
But Chu Muqing, still holding her phone, suddenly let out a quiet breath, as if releasing some long-held tension. She said coldly, “Let’s go.”
Lin Xi quickly followed. “Okay.”
They entered a unit together. As expected, the old building had no elevator. They climbed up to the third floor, one behind the other.
Chu Muqing stopped in front of apartment 302 and fished for her keys.
While she was busy, Lin Xi asked cautiously, “Chu Muqing… are you in serious financial trouble?”
She didn’t expect a real answer.
Chu Muqing’s fingers froze for a second. Then she turned back and said blandly, “It’s none of your business.”
Lin Xi’s face fell. She muttered, disheartened, “I knew you wouldn’t tell me…”
“You don’t have to worry,” Chu Muqing said coldly. “Even if I am short on money, I’ll still transfer you the amount I promised. I won’t go back on my word.”
Lin Xi clicked her tongue in frustration. “What do I have to say for you to get it? I don’t want to divorce you! Why do we have to? Even if… even if you’re the one insisting on it, I won’t take a single cent from you!”
Her voice suddenly rose in volume. Chu Muqing glanced at the apartment next door—Room 301—and, worried the neighbors might be disturbed, quickly opened the door to 302.
She walked into the living room. Lin Xi set the little girl down in the entryway and took her hand as they followed inside.
“Chu Muqing!” Lin Xi called after her, urgent. “Please, just give me another chance. Let me take care of you… and our daughter—”
She stopped mid-sentence, her voice cut off abruptly.
The living room looked like a war zone—completely trashed.
The TV was shattered, broken pieces scattered across the floor. Several takeout containers sat cold on the coffee table, along with a barely-touched dish of peanuts. A purple clay teapot and teacups had been knocked to the ground. The sofa was littered with empty beer bottles, some still half-full, the spilled liquid reeking unpleasantly.
Lin Xi: “…”
Who did this?
A soft voice piped up behind her: “Mommy, what happened to our home?”
Lin Xi had the same question. Who’d gone on a drunken rampage?
She cautiously looked toward Chu Muqing, who was standing in the only clean patch of the room, arms folded, a cold smile tugging at her lips.
Lin Xi’s face went pale, then flushed red. She pointed at herself and asked, “Was… was this me?”
“Who else would it be?” Chu Muqing’s eyes narrowed in disdain.
“…”
With that answer, a swirl of complex emotions surged in Lin Xi’s chest. She almost blurted out a string of choice curses.
Damn.
A kind of… plant.