The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Napoleon Cake – My Wife’s Mouth is Very Sharp!

She said she would see her in her next life, but Xia Jinzhao still showed up in the evening.

The sunset glow was blazing in the sky, its brilliance hardly concealed even by the thick clouds. The woman walked into the room, her whole being cloaked in light and the dust of travel.

Ming Xi was sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees, boredly counting her toes. Hearing the sound of the door unlocking, she looked up.

“Didn’t you say you’d see me in your next life?” she grumbled, her resentment almost solidifying and pouring out.

Xia Jinzhao raised an eyebrow, ignoring the excessive accusation: “Grandma heard the news and called to check on us.”

With just one sentence, Ming Xi knew the dramatic couple had to go to work again.

“Is she here at the film city?” she asked, anxiously looking downstairs.

“The elderly are busy with a million things; they don’t have time to play house with us. She just told me to take good care of you.”

Xia Jinzhao deliberately emphasized the word “care,” a subtle hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes as they shifted.

This turmoil had caused a massive stir. Given the age difference between Shi Dezao and Xia Jinzhao, allowing the matter to fester would only lead to a scandal.

As a result, the crew decided to replace Shi Dezao with another male actor, citing his status as a morally compromised artist. The extensive script changes forced some actors to stop filming for a period.

Otherwise, at this time of day, Xia Jinzhao would never appear at the hotel.

Hearing that she would receive Xia Jinzhao’s “special care,” Ming Xi’s hairs stood on end. She rubbed her arms, vigilantly asking, “What are you trying to do?”

“Take you out for dinner.”

Xia Jinzhao raised her hand and placed a light green baseball cap on Ming Xi’s head. The rich, refreshing, and cold fragrance filled her cuff, like being in a vast, deep forest.

The sudden movement made Ming Xi freeze slightly.

A gentle pressure came from her head. Staring at the beautiful face so close to hers, she issued a soul-searching question.

“Why is it green?”

“I got it from Xiao Zhou. Make do with it.”

Xiao Zhou was Xia Jinzhao’s assistant, roughly the same age as Ming Xi, and enjoyed tinkering with trendy fashion.

Looking into the full-length mirror on the wall, Ming Xi adjusted the cap. Her long hair framed her smooth face, and her lively eyes revealed a touch of playful mischievousness, like a small, green seedling sprouting and swaying.

Later, Song Yu will sweep in and steal the love, willingly becoming the third party. In a sense, I truly deserve to be wearing green.

Wait! Green is the color of life and hope. It looks so fresh and comfortable!

Ming Xi comforted herself internally, quickly placating her own feelings. She put on a mask, disguised herself as suspicious personnel, and followed Xia Jinzhao downstairs.

It was easy to run into colleagues in the film city. To avoid being recognized, the two deliberately drove a roundabout route to a nearby street.

Compared to the bustling front street, the back street’s establishments were more high-end and luxurious. Walking into a private restaurant, Ming Xi was instantly blinded by the dazzling golden hall.

She gasped in a low voice.

As expected of a wealthy person! The tiles in this restaurant must be made of gold!

Perhaps her envious gaze was too hard to ignore. The woman beside her gave her a sideways glance.

Ming Xi: I feel like I’m being looked down upon 🙂

She cleared her throat, wanting to gain the upper hand. Seeing Xia Jinzhao walking towards the front desk, she quickly intercepted her halfway.

“Hey, with me here, how can I let you pay!” Ming Xi said righteously, lifting her chin arrogantly.

Although she needed money for many things, she couldn’t let anyone think she was a kept woman. Squeezing out a little less than half a month’s salary should be enough.

She tightly clutched the three brand new and familiar bills, staring so hard at the front desk server that she almost burned a hole through them.

Xia Jinzhao: …You should keep those nice words for yourself.

She lagged half a step behind Ming Xi, leisurely watching the latter awkwardly lean on the counter, stammering for a long time.

“Do you still have any open tables…”

Ming Xi wished she could strangle the part of herself from a few seconds ago that was putting on airs. Two streams of noodle tears flowed in her heart.

Is it still too late to go eat street food? My precious money is about to fly away with wings QAQ…

Just then, a delicate, fair hand rested beside her. A finger with a membership card pressed it forward.

“Lan Gui.” The voice, steeped in opulence, carried a hint of laziness.

The server at the front desk took the membership card with both hands, processed it on the computer, and then respectfully pointed them in a direction.

“Take the elevator straight to the third floor, turn right, and a waiter will assist you.”

Xia Jinzhao nodded. As she retrieved the membership card, she didn’t forget to glance at the person next to her, who was embarrassed and at a loss. She curled her lips into a slight sneer and turned to walk towards the elevator.

Ming Xi’s chest was tight, like carrying an inflated balloon. Her face was flushed, almost burning up.

She just scoffed at me, didn’t she? Didn’t she!

Quickly composing herself, she jogged to catch up, saying with passive aggressiveness.

“Fine, I’m a bumpkin.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Xia Jinzhao spread her hands, her tone quite innocent.

Entering the private room, Ming Xi was still quite annoyed and didn’t exchange a word with Xia Jinzhao until the food was served.

The room was quiet, with only the crisp sound of porcelain clinking. Their figures were reflected and intertwined on the massive glass wall behind them, complementing the neon lights seeping through the curtain gaps.

The woman delicately picked up her knife and fork, swallowing a small piece of meat. Remembering the phone call from Xia Xuefeng, a hint of displeasure crossed her eyes.

She disliked being manipulated and arranged by her family but had no choice but to conform to the elders’ expectations and be obedient.

Casually playing with the watermark on the napkin, Xia Jinzhao slowly spoke: “When you return to S City, move in and live with me.”

Ming Xi was gnawing on corn kernels like a hamster, and subconsciously asked, “Why?”

“It’s easier for people to follow you if you live outside,” Xia Jinzhao raised her eyes lazily.

“But wouldn’t it be easier to be discovered if I live with you?”

“You can be my domestic helper.”

Ming Xi: …

OK, she means to announce to the outside world that I’m a nanny. Although this excuse is perfectly logical, why do I feel inexplicably annoyed? Am I going to have to serve the female lead AND work like a dog on a 996 schedule?

Hehe, she really thinks I’m a soft persimmon, huh! Everyone comes up to pinch me, and then complains, ‘Ew, how rotten.’

Ming Xi gripped her dinner fork. The shiny, sharp blade reflected her gnashing teeth.

“I refuse!” she protested sharply.

“This is a notification, not a discussion.” The woman’s words were undeniable, quickly dismissing the protest.

“Besides, long-term separation will eventually be discovered by the family.”

Understood. Everything depends on Grandma Xia’s mood.

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Ming Xi puffed out her cheeks: “But how can I be a domestic helper with my beautiful and charming looks? Won’t the paparazzi easily expose us?”

With that, she flipped her long hair. The shadow cast by the baseball cap covered the girl’s eyes, yet did nothing to diminish their brightness.

The words lay on the ground, and no one rushed to pick them up. The prolonged silence permeated the air, gradually generating a faint awkwardness.

Xia Jinzhao flicked the silver fork with her thumb, remaining silent. Only her eyes seemed to speak, subtly scrutinizing Ming Xi’s face before quickly looking away.

She spoke lightly: “Pardon my directness, but you haven’t reached the point of needing to be kept as a mistress.”

“The community is highly private, and ordinary people can’t get in. You don’t have to worry about that.”

What does changing the subject mean? I’m going to throw a fit!

Ming Xi slammed her hand on the table, standing up in a vain attempt to assert dominance.

“We are at least in this together. How can you be so perfunctory about such a big matter? What am I supposed to do?”

“You mean ‘two people tied to the same rope,’ not ‘in a rope.’ Who taught you Chinese?”

“That’s not important. The media outside is watching like a tiger. What if I’m in danger?”

“Whose fault is all this?”

“If worst comes to worst, hire a personal assistant. That would be more convincing.”

“Fans know I never live with my assistant.”

After several rounds, Ming Xi was left speechless, sitting back down sheepishly. Just then, Xia Jinzhao spoke again.

“Instead of worrying about a lack of proper status, it’s more practical to read fewer trashy novels.”

The insinuating remark caused Ming Xi to freeze for a few seconds. After realizing what was said, she instantly blushed with shame, stammering incoherently.

“Who, who reads those books!”

She has the nerve to talk about me! She herself is the female lead in a mediocre novel!

The glass cup hit the tabletop, making a dull sound, which also interrupted her internal monologue.

“Miss Ming, it seems you are in no position to bargain with me.”

Xia Jinzhao clearly had no more patience for gentle talk. If this continued, even the slight guilt she felt for misjudging Ming Xi would be completely eroded.

Ming Xi, driven by her rebellious nature, glared fiercely at her. The woman, however, was calmly rubbing the lipstick stain on the rim of her cup, watching her rebellion unfold.

After an unknown duration of confrontation, Ming Xi finally backed down, responding sullenly.

“Fine! Domestic helper it is! When the fans expose us, and I get kicked out, you, Xia Jinzhao, just wait for your pursuit-of-wife-in-cremation-ground arc!” (A Chinese slang for a male character fiercely regretting mistreating his love interest and having to work hard to win her back)

“Well, then I’ll thank them for solving a big problem for me.”

Xia Jinzhao remained unmoved, raising her wine glass in a toast towards Ming Xi.

Ming Xi: …

She was utterly speechless.