The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 24.2
Chapter 24.2
A long, long time ago, in a distant kingdom, a woman completely soaked in water stopped in front of a castle.
She asked the castle’s owner if she could provide her with shelter. The kind-hearted owner quickly prepared a goose-down quilt for her.
When the woman woke up the next morning, she felt sore all over, as if something was digging into her beneath the sheets.
“The bed is uncomfortable. Change it.” Princess Pea – Xia commanded Ming Xi, who had just finished washing up.
“Huh? I slept fine last night.” The thick-skinned Ming Xi held her waist, reluctantly shutting up and complying under the other’s scrutiny.
“Who sent these flowers? So tacky. Throw them away.” Xia Jinzhao looked at the narrow-necked vase on the bedside table with disdain.
“I bought these downstairs! They were so expensive, twenty yuan, even with the discount, wow!” Ming Xi hugged the blooming yellow flowers, painfully tossing them into the trash can.
“The soup is too salty. The salt hasn’t even dissolved. Go buy a new one.”
Taking a sip of the takeout lunch box Ming Xi brought, Xia Jinzhao put down the spoon and frowned.
Ming Xi was standing opposite her, helping to tuck in the bedsheet. Large patches of sunlight danced from the window, breaking into blocks of light and shadow on the floor.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead, stubbornly taking the bowl of soup and tasting a spoonful.
“I think it’s just right. Maybe it’s because you’re sick?”
Xia Jinzhao stared coldly at the spoon in her hand, reminding her faintly.
“That’s my spoon.”
No way, is she that possessive? Can’t even touch a used spoon?
To take care of Xia Jinzhao last night, Ming Xi slept on the folding bed in the corner. Early in the morning, before she had enough sleep, she was woken up by the nurse who came to check the room.
“Hello, Miss Xia called for you.” The nurse smiled sweetly, as if she had done a great deed.
Ming Xi rubbed her sleepy eyes, seeing Xia Jinzhao, who should have been unconscious, sitting up in bed.
Even the sunlight favored the female lead, illuminating her cold, clear eyes to a crystal-clear state, glowing with a mica-like sheen. Her spirit was much better than last night.
Joy welled up in her heart. Before she could offer any greetings, Xia Jinzhao began to completely drain Ming Xi’s energy.
Three hours! Three full hours since she woke up! She served this ancestor non-stop and was constantly being nitpicked!
OK, I understand that you only ever use a private doctor, and have never stayed in such a simple, poverty-stricken (HIGHLIGHT) hospital room. But I applied for this room by overdrawing next month’s salary! Could you at least — appreciate her effort a little?
To this, Xia Jinzhao replied:
“Oh, and so?”
The flashback ended. Ming Xi held the soup bowl, looking at the displeased Xia Jinzhao, and suddenly a desire for revenge emerged.
She held the spoon Xia Jinzhao had used, scooped up a spoonful, and swallowed it right in front of her.
Then, she poked a dimple in her cheek with her index finger, blinked her large eyes, and innocently imitated Xia Jinzhao’s soft tone.
“Oh, and so?”
This tactic of wounding the enemy a thousand times while losing ten thousand oneself—even Ming Xi thought she was just too low!
Sure enough, Xia Jinzhao lying on the bed froze.
After a brief few seconds, she laughed, her hair lightly sweeping her collarbone as her shoulders trembled.
Seeing this reaction, Ming Xi’s alarm bells immediately went off.
The woman curled her hand to her mouth, concealing her amusement, a sly look inadvertently showing in her lazy eyes.
“Ming Xi, you must have heard this saying,” she smiled like a fox, “A husband and wife are birds in the same forest. When disaster strikes…”
Xia Jinzhao deliberately left the last three words hanging, constantly reminding Ming Xi that she remembered her behavior of abandoning her in the pool last night.
Ming Xi: …
Alright, alright. You’re using this to threaten me, aren’t you? Fine, you succeeded.
Ming Xi was like a fish struggling to die. Xia Jinzhao held her down and chopped her up. The moment she hit the chopping board, she immediately bounced up.
“You want light-flavored soup, right? Consider it done!”
She made a clumsy salute, grabbed the lunch box, and ran excitedly towards the downstairs cafeteria.
When Ming Xi came running back, dripping with sweat, Xia Jinzhao was calmly scrolling through her phone. Hearing the noise, the person on the bed sighed.
“Any slower, and I would have been full just by breathing.”
Give her an inch and she’ll take a mile, will you?
“My lady, here is your light soup.” Ming Xi opened the lunch box. Due to her frantic running, the soup had spilled onto the edges, staining her fingers.
Seeing this, Xia Jinzhao deliberately distanced herself from her, avoiding getting the bedsheets dirty.
Ming Xi: Why didn’t I spit in her food when I was running errands just now?
“Drink it.”
She knew Xia Jinzhao was fastidious and wasn’t used to disposable cutlery from outside, so she had specifically washed the spoon from earlier until it was spotless.
Xia Jinzhao scooped up a mouthful. The soup, like plain water, slipped past her taste buds, bland and hard to swallow.
“Too bland.” She pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth.
“You’re sick, and you still want to eat rich food? The doctor said your fever hasn’t completely subsided. You need to be careful about this.” Ming Xi earnestly advised.
However, the usually aloof woman showed a childish side, ignoring her words and pulling the quilt up to cover herself.
Ming Xi didn’t even feel like losing her temper this time, afraid of angering this great Buddha and being cut into a thousand pieces.
A strong sense of frustration arose in her heart. She put down the dishes and grumbled unhappily.
“Why are you always so unhappy?” What exactly does she have to do to satisfy you?
Ming Xi only dared to keep the rest of her words to herself.
Xia Jinzhao raised her eyes to look out the window. It was late autumn. The twisting branches of the woods had shed their wildness. The yellow, withered leaves were swaying precariously, a desolate sight that naturally inspired melancholy.
Hearing her words, she turned her head, her dark pupils as deep as an unmoving cloud.
This sentence was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring up concentric ripples.
“Why should I be happy?” Xia Jinzhao asked.
At first, Ming Xi thought she was just using her usual unhelpful sarcasm to shut her up.
But when she looked up, meeting the woman’s serious expression, she suddenly froze, speechless.
Not getting an answer, Xia Jinzhao pressed: “Why do you think I should be happy?”
Ming Xi didn’t understand this cryptic question and scratched her head anxiously.
Wait, weren’t we in a very relaxed conversational atmosphere just now? What’s with the sudden emo?
“Well, you have a good family background, you’re pretty, you’re successful in your career, and your temper is… not bad.”
After saying such dishonest words, all the sins she committed before are wiped clean, yes.
Faced with this answer, Xia Jinzhao was unsurprised. She lowered her gaze and mocked: “You’re right. With so much, what could I possibly be dissatisfied with?”
“Exactly! People should be more open-minded.” Ming Xi was not good at giving long speeches to comfort people, so she could only agree enthusiastically.
In her opinion, it was normal for sick people to be sentimental and have a rich inner world. At this time, as the person closest to Xia Jinzhao—her—she should provide care and comfort.
After a few seconds of silence, Xia Jinzhao held her forehead and sighed heavily.
“Never mind. Why am I arguing with you?”
Thank you for letting this little person go.
Ming Xi’s veins were throbbing with anger, but she had to endure it.
Noticing Xia Jinzhao glance at the lunch box, knowing the other party was too proud, she cleverly picked up the soup bowl and said with a smile.
“Take a sip, come on—” Ming Xi childishly opened her mouth, as if feeding a kindergarten child.
Xia Jinzhao frowned, but to save face, her lips twitched, reluctantly opening her mouth.
The moment the spoon touched her lips, Xia Jinzhao was about to take a sip, when Ming Xi suddenly withdrew her hand, leaving her empty.
Heh. Although I don’t dare to defy her on major issues, manipulating you in small matters is easy, isn’t it?
“Oh, I remember you said the soup was too bland, right? Then don’t drink it.”
She was feeling playful, heartlessly mocking and laughing like an idiot. When she looked down, she suddenly met Xia Jinzhao’s cold eyes and instantly fell silent like a quail.
… Give me some reaction, will you? You’re making this very awkward for me.
Ming Xi scratched her head and handed the soup bowl over. Xia Jinzhao raised an eyebrow, not reaching for it.
It was clearly an invitation to be fed.
“Fine, fine, you win.” Ming Xi said grumpily, scooping up a spoonful and putting it into Xia Jinzhao’s mouth.
Having learned her lesson from the previous embarrassment, the woman kept her lips tightly sealed, motionless.
Tch, childish.
“Open your mouth,” Ming Xi said stiffly.
Xia Jinzhao: Staring—
“If you keep this up, I’m going to pull out my trump card.” Ming Xi issued a final ultimatum.
However, the woman not only didn’t obey, but her face also showed an expression of “I’m looking forward to it.”
Fine, wait for it.
Ming Xi took a deep breath and suddenly leaned closer.
Her appearance was not that of a stunning beauty. Her softened eyes were filled with a colorful halo. In her gentle and lingering gaze, two tiny Xia Jinzhaos were reflected.
Faced with the sudden close-up of her face, Xia Jinzhao’s pupils contracted. She gripped the bedsheet beneath her tightly.
A soft, sweet voice was by her ear. Ming Xi tilted her head, her spoiled tone carrying an inescapable silliness.
“Sister, just one more bite, please.”
Hmph. This cutesy act is surely going to melt you!
However—
A distinct blush spread across Xia Jinzhao’s face, climbing from her cheeks to her ear tips. For the first time, Ming Xi saw a face genuinely red with anger and embarrassment.
“Get lost.”
She heard the woman squeeze out one word through her teeth.
This shouldn’t be happening! Did her female lead charm buff expire?
Thinking of the dazzling glow around Song Yu, a strong sense of imbalance arose in Ming Xi’s heart.
Finally, Xia Jinzhao turned her face away, not forgetting to land a final blow.
“Disgusting.”
“Eat it or don’t eat it, open your mouth!” Severely discouraged, Ming Xi gritted her teeth. This time, she honestly and dutifully performed her “nanny” duties.
Interrupted by the brief interlude, Xia Jinzhao calmed down significantly, drinking the soup sip by sip, like a cat licking a can. After that, the two stopped their antics. The quiet ward was only punctuated by the occasional clinking of cutlery.
Although Xia Jinzhao complained, the bowl of soup was soon empty, with only the oily film and floating scallions left.
“Want more?”
Ming Xi was about to discard this last spoonful. Seeing Xia Jinzhao slightly raise her chin, she understood and fed it to her.
You’re really not picky, you didn’t even leave the dregs.
Thinking this, she was about to collect the dishes for cleaning when a great force came from the end of the spoon.
Looking up, she saw the woman holding the spoon in her mouth, refusing to let go, watching her with a playful smile.
What does this mean? She doesn’t want her to leave?
Ming Xi certainly wasn’t that narcissistic. Her mouth twitched: “How old are you to still be playing such childish tricks?”
Hearing this, Xia Jinzhao was unmoved, as if to regain some ground from earlier. Her lips were slightly parted, showing a sliver of her snow-white teeth, which was strangely cute.
Of course, the female lead’s cold demeanor was completely incompatible with cuteness. This was purely willful revenge.
“Let go.” Ming Xi pulled again, but it didn’t budge.
You’re breaking your character, you know? A cold, noble female lead wouldn’t play such a stupid trick.
She didn’t know what kind of metal teeth the other party had; she was biting down so tightly.
So, Ming Xi started wrestling with her. She put all her effort into it. Just as she was about to seize the spoon, Xia Jinzhao saw her chance, smiled, and lazily released her grip, her eyes filled with amusement.
Just like that, Ming Xi, in a posture perfectly consistent with the laws of physics, suddenly lurched backward.
To steady herself, she instinctively hooked her foot around the bed frame, inevitably pulling down the IV pole next to her.
Crash! Glass shattered, and the white tape peeled off as the needle was pulled out, the sharp point dripping water.
Ming Xi: …
Xia Jinzhao: …