The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 24.1

Chapter 24.1: Apple Candy – The Days and Nights of Mutual Bickering with the Movie Queen in the Hospital…

When she was finally pulled ashore, Xia Jinzhao was briefly unconscious. She was curled up by the poolside like a startled animal, only the rise and fall of her chest indicating she was still alive.

The normally aloof and detached woman suddenly revealing a vulnerable side made Ming Xi feel a surge of guilt.

In the confusion just now, she accidentally pulled Xia Jinzhao back into the water.

She won’t hold a grudge, will she?

Ming Xi was uneasy. She saw Song Yu coughing up water and wiping herself dry, her refined and gentle demeanor completely soaked.

After tidying up, Song Yu stood up, meeting Ming Xi’s gaze, which held a mixture of confusion and slight annoyance.

Bound by the crowd, she couldn’t openly lash out and questioned her in a muffled voice.

“Miss Ming, your action just now was too rash.”

Ming Xi, whose cover was blown, dared not retort, vaguely covering up: “I’m sorry, I was just too worried about Jinzhao, that’s why…”

Wait, now is not the time to shirk responsibility!

She quickly knelt beside Xia Jinzhao and said anxiously, “This is bad, Jinzhao has lost consciousness!”

Her poor, melodramatic acting was like a housekeeper in a typical CEO novel—her exaggerated script-reading skills were extremely effective.

Sure enough, Song Yu’s attention shifted. She saw Ming Xi brushing away the wet strands of hair clinging to Xia Jinzhao’s cheek and suggested, “The situation doesn’t look good, let’s take her to the hospital!”

Hospital my foot!

Seeing the female lead’s full and moist lips, don’t you want to do something about it?

Ming Xi was disappointed in her lack of initiative: “There’s no time! Hurry up and give her mouth-to-mouth!”

Song Yu was taking off her outer shirt to wring out the water. Hearing this, her face was taken aback: “This…”

After all, the rumors about her and Xia Jinzhao were rampant. Now that the latter’s official wife was present, although saving a life was paramount, based on her years of swimming experience, Xia Jinzhao should be fine.

“Mouth-to-mouth, is it really necessary?” She wanted to politely decline, but her eyes met Ming Xi’s starry-eyed gaze.

The clear, brown eyes sparkled brightly, filled with longing and expectation.

So dazzling.

Faced with Ming Xi’s offensive, Song Yu couldn’t cope. She was torn, yet felt like she was judging a noble person with a small heart.

It’s mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, not kissing. Where do all these romantic thoughts come from?

Thinking this, she hesitated, gazing at Xia Jinzhao’s face.

The woman’s face was pale, her delicate brows seemed darker, and her lovely lips still had water clinging to them.

Leaning forward, the fine vellus hair was clearly visible, lying obediently by her cheek. Song Yu lowered her head, feeling a faint airflow sweep across her skin.

However, the intense stare sandwiched between them was truly hard to ignore.

Ming Xi: Staring—

Song Yu froze and awkwardly held her forehead: “Miss Ming, you’re too close, I’m a bit uncomfortable.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! Just pretend I’m invisible!” Seeing the two about to kiss, Ming Xi wished she could turn into a head-smooshing squad.

This is a bonus plot that wasn’t even in the book! I accidentally made it happen!

Kiss! Kiss quickly!

Just as she was anxiously jumping up and down, Song Yu suddenly stumbled backward. Not just her, even Ming Xi was startled.

Xia Jinzhao had woken up at some point, her dark pupils locked tightly onto Ming Xi.

She first pushed Song Yu away, then reached out and grabbed Ming Xi’s collar, forcing the latter to lean in.

The dress, soaked in cold air, clung completely to her, outlining the woman’s smooth, graceful curves.

Startled by the sudden close contact with Xia Jinzhao, Ming Xi widened her eyes.

Hot breath from her words was right by Ming Xi’s ear, making her earlobe steam and flush red. The other party called out a name.

“Ming Xi.”

The two words were full of a gnashing-teeth quality. Ming Xi instantly broke out in a waterfall of sweat.

She remembered the look of disbelief in Xia Jinzhao’s eyes when she retracted her hand.

It’s over. The female lead doesn’t think I abandoned her to die to inherit her estate, does she?

Xia Jinzhao had just been pulled out of the water, and her mental state was not good. After saying only those two words, her forehead rested on Ming Xi’s shoulder, coughing heavily.

She seemed to be in great distress.

Inexplicably, Ming Xi felt a surge of guilt and regret. Although it was for the sake of the plot and pushing the protagonists together, this was too much for a person to handle!

So, she shouted in her empty mind: System?

Oh, I almost forgot, I transmigrated without a cheat = =.

Now there was no one to blame. Everything was due to her selfish motives. If Xia Jinzhao wanted to blame her, or even cut her into a thousand pieces, she would accept it.

“I’m sorry.”

Ming Xi held Xia Jinzhao’s upper body, her apology a whisper, quiet as a mosquito.

To alleviate the discomfort of the person in her arms, she gently patted the other’s back, as if soothing a half-grown child.

The woman’s back was slender and fragile, her protruding shoulder blades like a delicate bone frame. Putting aside her intimidating demeanor, she was much frailer than Ming Xi had imagined.

Xia Jinzhao must have heard her, burying her face into Ming Xi’s neck, coughing weakly, like an abandoned puppy dragged from the water, her fur completely soaked.

Just then, the crowd of onlookers stirred, and soon, they parted to form a path.

Xia Xuefeng walked slowly forward, leaning on her cane, followed by a few familiar faces.

“What’s going on! Why was no one watching here!” The elderly woman angrily struck the ground with her cane, questioning with strong voice.

“Mom, I was negligent. I should have called the hotel staff—”

Xia Ling’s face was grim, her words cut short.

“I don’t believe Jinzhao fell in by herself!”

Xia Xuefeng tossed aside her cane, squatting down to tremblingly caress Xia Jinzhao’s face. Seeing her closed eyes and furrowed brow, she was heartbroken.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses. Get the hotel surveillance footage. I want to see who is so bold!”

Some people who witnessed the entire event dared not speak. After all, the Xia family was prominent in City S. Especially since Xia Xuefeng was clearly enraged, no one dared to stick their neck out.

Hiding in the crowd, Xia Shurui looked up, her eyes panicked as she sought help from Xia Ling.

She just couldn’t stand Ming Xi, she never, never meant to involve Sister Jinzhao!

Xia Ling always knew her youngest daughter was a troublemaker. A single glance was enough to understand the whole story immediately.

Always causing problems for her! Her brain is completely gone whenever she sees Ming Xi!

Xia Ninglan watched the whole show with her arms crossed, then left the pool area with a look of boredom.

Meanwhile, hearing Xia Xuefeng demanding the surveillance footage, Ming Xi instantly tensed up.

If the cameras caught her kicking Song Yu into the water, how would she explain herself?

The thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best!

She tightened her arm around Xia Jinzhao, putting her own coat over both of them.

“Grandma, I’m taking Jinzhao to take a hot shower.”

“Take good care of Jinzhao.” Xia Xuefeng instructed before they left.

Briefly escaping the suffocating poolside, the suppression on her heart lifted. In the corridor, Ming Xi was carrying the woman horizontally, her arms aching with fatigue.

The cold water had seeped into her bones. Even she, who was only splashed, was shivering, let alone the person involved, Xia Jinzhao.

It’s not a constant-temperature pool! Bad review!

But after all the blaming, the most hateful one was still herself. Xia Jinzhao came to help her out, how could she repay kindness with malice?

Even if the female lead sent her in now, she wouldn’t have any complaints T T.

As Ming Xi reached for the room card, she heard a faint murmur from the woman in her arms.

“Cold…”

“It’s okay. You’ll feel better after a hot bath. Just hold on a little longer.” Ming Xi comforted her gently.

“So cold… Ming…”

Xia Jinzhao was pressed against her chest, her rapid breathing emitting heat. She was trembling uncontrollably, like a patient with hysteria.

Only then did Ming Xi realize something was wrong, and she quickly felt her forehead.

Why is she so hot!

Forgetting to go back to the hall to explain, she hurriedly called a car and half-carried, half-supported the woman into the hospital.

The hospital lobby was always crowded. The air was filled with the light scent of disinfectant, and the sound of calling numbers echoed.

Ming Xi anxiously searched for Xia Xuefeng’s contact information. The doctor was diagnosing the woman lying on the bed. Soon after, he took off his mask and returned to the desk to write out orders.

“Irregular diet, terrible physique, and soaking in cold water—it’s utterly reckless!”

While scolding her, the doctor glanced at Xia Jinzhao’s face: “Even a celebrity shouldn’t act like this!”

“It’s my fault for not watching her. It has nothing to do with her.” To atone, Ming Xi strongly took the blame onto herself.

“Also, take fewer of those messy pills. The residue in an Omega’s body is very harmful.”

Remembering the pills the original owner gave Xia Jinzhao not long ago, Ming Xi broke out in a cold sweat.

“Yes, yes, it’s my fault, my fault.”

She took the doctor’s papers and signed her name respectfully.

Thus, the weak, helpless, little pitiable Xia, under Ming Xi’s extreme self-destructive efforts, unfortunately ended up in the hospital.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Ming Xi clenched her hands into fists, resting them against her forehead, repeatedly apologizing. Her body was hunched over, curled up on the stool by the bed, utterly despairing.

My heart is cold, and my wallet is empty.

The woman lying in bed was unconscious. In her delirium, the word “cold” kept faintly escaping her lips.

Ming Xi turned into a little servant, diligently applying hot towels, warming her hands, and tucking in the quilt, extremely attentive.

She had to prove that she had absolutely no intention of taking advantage!

Night settled, casting a strange halo on the glass window. She pulled the curtains in the room, hesitating about how to contact the Xia family.

Xia Jinzhao’s current condition meant she couldn’t leave her completely unattended…

Just then, her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. She answered it.

“Ming Xi, where is Jinzhao?” On the other end of the line, Xia Ling held the medicine she had brought, and a girl’s faint crying could be heard nearby.

Seeing the Xia family actively seek her out, Ming Xi explained the situation: “Jinzhao has a fever, I took her to the hospital.”

“Ah,” Xia Ling paused, “Is she okay? What did the doctor say?”

“It’s fine. Jinzhao has been too tired lately. A few days of rest will be enough. Where’s Grandma?”

A faint whimper came from behind her. The woman was sleeping restlessly, her long lashes fluttering.

Ming Xi lowered her voice, went to the restroom, and left the door ajar, listening to the vague words on the other end.

“She’s punishing Shurui. I’m sorry to cause you trouble.”

Xia Ling’s nature was identical to her appearance, exuding an air of aloofness. Even in a friendly conversation between relatives, not much sincerity could be heard.

“It’s nothing,” Ming Xi, tired after a long night, rubbed her eyes. “It’s late. Don’t tell her about Jinzhao’s hospitalization for now. We can talk about it tomorrow.”

After hanging up, Ming Xi saved the number and forced herself to return to the ward.

The room seemed too quiet. The bay window wasn’t fully closed, and the wind swayed the curtains through the gap. Xia Jinzhao was restlessly curled up in the quilt, like a shrunken, dry leaf.

Her breathing was heavy and labored. The discomfort in her chest showed on her face, spreading an unnatural flush.

Ming Xi poured a glass of warm water and placed it by the bedside, staring at the woman’s profile.

Whether it was the scorching body temperature, the vivid heartbeat, or the data displayed on the instruments, everything indicated that Xia Jinzhao was a living, breathing person who had broken through the dimension wall.

A strange tightness formed in her chest.

I shouldn’t have backed down then! Would I have lost a pound if I had consumed less manufactured sweetness!

The two had plenty of opportunities for ambiguity, but even with the female lead’s aura, she only had one life!

Ming Xi pounded her head repeatedly, finally burying her face in the blanket in frustration.

Tonight, I was the fool.