The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Red Bean Dorayaki: Say I’m Pretty, I’ll Give You My Life (?)…

Although she wasn’t seriously injured, Lu Litong still gave Ming Xi two days off to recuperate at home.

Due to timely medication, the wound on her face had scabbed over, looking more like a terrifying centipede. Ming Xi stood on her tiptoes against the mirror, carefully applying the medicine.

After the initial skin damage, the pain was replaced by itchiness. She kept half her face rigid, letting the medicine dry, then tossed the cotton swab into the trash can under the floating sink.

The screen of her phone on the shelf lit up. The sender was Zhen Wenjing.

Paparazzi Sis: “Did you hear? That kid was asked to leave school.”

Ming Xi: “Didn’t they say she was held at the juvenile detention center for a few days and then released?”

Paparazzi Sis: “Who knows? Her school is a key high school. Maybe they were worried about the bad influence [Shrug]”

Ming Xi slowly typed a reply, then deleted the entire content of the chat box.

Forget it. The matter is over anyway. Whatever the outcome, it has nothing to do with me.

Ming Xi: “Thank you for driving me back last time. Shall we grab a meal sometime?”

Although Zhen Wenjing’s act of secretly taking photos and fabricating rumors was unethical, she was at least willing to lend a helping hand in a crisis. Ming Xi had no reason to harbor ill will toward her.

The other party quickly replied.

Paparazzi Sis: “I’d be happier if you’d give me Xia Jinzhao’s contact information [Wink]”

Ming Xi: “Other than that.”

Paparazzi Sis: “Fine. I’m free the day after tomorrow. You pick the place.”

The meeting was thus settled. Ming Xi turned off her phone, took the hair tie off her wrist, and tied up her hair.

Cleaning the glue was not easy. That night, she almost passed out lying in the bathtub. When she got out, her body was pale and wrinkled, almost turning into a bloated corpse.

The unmanageable hair was simply cut. To maintain harmony, she meticulously trimmed the edges. The ends of her shoulder-length hair curled slightly inward, making her look bright and youthful, like a pure college student.

After admiring her beauty in the mirror, Ming Xi pushed the door open.

The vast hall was bright and clear, uniformly minimalist in Bauhaus style. Xia Jinzhao leaned against the armrest of the sofa, wearing a white, waist-cinching long dress, looking like a long-stemmed lily from a distance.

She was casually flipping through a magazine, her smooth, bare legs crossed.

When this person doesn’t speak, she’s quite pleasing to the eye.

But she was living under someone else’s roof, so Ming Xi quickly put on a cheerful smile and greeted her enthusiastically.

“Xia Jinzhao, what a coincidence!”

The woman wrapped a lock of hair around her index finger and raised her eyes incredulously: “This is my home.”

The implication being that Ming Xi didn’t need to try to make small talk.

Ming Xi, whose enthusiasm was dampened, looked awkward. She immediately picked up the water cup on the coffee table and said fawningly: “I’ll change your hot water.”

Without waiting for Xia Jinzhao’s response, she dashed into the kitchen, pouring the cool water into the sink.

The rushing water turned white as it washed away Ming Xi’s discomfort. The sight of her pretending to be busy shifted Xia Jinzhao’s attention from the magazine.

“Are you very uncomfortable when I’m home?”

She rested one hand on her temple, her lazy posture like ivy dangling from a wall corner.

Ming Xi vehemently denied it: “How could I be? This is your home!”

“The tea leaves in your cup have been rinsed three times. They are already very clean.”

This subtle reminder made Ming Xi feel mortified. She simply admitted: “A little.”

Whenever Ming Xi tried to initiate a conversation, she always felt a barrier between herself and Xia Jinzhao. They were more like the most familiar strangers than intimate lovers.

The taboo of being overly familiar with casual acquaintances also applied to them.

“Is that so?” Xia Jinzhao lowered her gaze.

The woman’s voice was deep, and the question sounded like a statement due to the suppressed ending tone. For a long time, both fell into an awkward silence.

“Then you’ll just have to tolerate it,” Xia Jinzhao sighed helplessly after an unknown duration.

Ming Xi: …

Why is talking to her so frustrating? I’m so annoyed!

The tea leaves spread out as they were infused with hot water, floating up to show their vibrant green and then settling at the bottom. Ming Xi controlled her expression, walked to the living room, and silently put down the cup.

Xia Jinzhao adjusted her posture, observing Ming Xi’s expression.

“Don’t curse me in your mind.”

“I didn’t! You’re the one overthinking it,” Ming Xi choked, having been seen through.

Hearing this, Xia Jinzhao frowned: “Why didn’t I notice you were so—”

She paused, seemingly searching for the right word.

Cute? Honest? Or sensitive? Ming Xi filled in the blanks in her mind.

“Noisy.”

Well, I knew she wouldn’t say anything nice.

Ming Xi silently raised her hand and made a zipping motion over her mouth.

Seeing her obediently standing there, as if waiting for instructions, Xia Jinzhao curved her lips, feeling pleased.

“Who were you messaging just now?”

“You even know that!” Ming Xi was shocked, suspecting the other party had installed a camera in the bathroom.

“You took that long. Is it my fault?”

Ming Xi didn’t plan to hide it: “Do you remember the two paparazzi from the film studio before?”

“They want to connect with you through me.”

Hearing this, Xia Jinzhao didn’t even lift her eyes: “Let them come talk to me after they get some compromising photos of me.”

It was an expected reaction, and Ming Xi wasn’t disappointed by the rejection. Given the other party’s attitude, Zhen Wenjing would likely have to wait indefinitely.

Xia Jinzhao’s life was like a blank sheet of paper. No matter how much color was painted on it, it would become dull and uninteresting. She wasn’t interested in anything and was far from having bad habits.

It was truly hard to imagine what leverage anyone could have on her.

“Then I’ll just reject her directly,” Ming Xi sat on a single-person sofa nearby.

“You trust me that much?” Xia Jinzhao raised an eyebrow.

“What dirt could you possibly have?” Ming Xi answered subconsciously.

But she saw the woman close the magazine and sit up. The docile lotus leaf collar hung down, revealing a small section of her fair, delicate collarbone.

“Want to know?” Xia Jinzhao looked at her, unusually flirty as she curled her finger. “Come here. I’ll tell you secretly.”

What is it? Being so mysterious.

However, Ming Xi was the type who loved to stir up trouble and enjoy the excitement. On an impulse, she crawled over on her hands and knees.

Shocking! A certain actress with a three-character name had a daughter with a rich man overseas!

The actress who has been active on screen for many years is actually a man!

Breaking: The popular movie queen is supporting a pretty boy. She spent 30 million in one night!

Her heart floated like a flickering balloon, letting Xia Jinzhao pull and tug the string at the end.

Ming Xi leaned in her ear. As she got closer, she smelled the profound and lingering fragrance on the woman, like clusters of lily of the valley with heavy petals hanging on the stems, their swaying collision striking her heart.

“Hoo!”

A brief puff of air, the warmth of the breath sprayed on her ear, quickly bringing a gradual blush.

Ming Xi covered her ear in shock, falling back onto the floor in disbelief.

“You…”

The person involved smiled with interest, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ming Xi’s face without missing an inch, as if informing her of the answer with her gaze.

Oh, I almost forgot. Xia Jinzhao’s biggest stain is herself.

But! That was no reason to play tricks on her!

Ming Xi carefully protected her ear, rapidly distancing herself until the heat on her cheeks subsided.

As they spoke, the doorbell suddenly rang. To escape the strange atmosphere with Xia Jinzhao, Ming Xi quickly got up to open the door.

Zhou Zhenhui stood on the steps, smiling at Ming Xi, followed by two staff members pushing clothing racks.

“The brand sent over the current season’s new styles for Sister Jinzhao to choose a suitable one. She can wear it casually, which also helps with promotion.”

The young assistant deliberately explained clearly, considering Ming Xi might not be familiar with these things.

After speaking, she poked her head inside: “Sister Jinzhao… is she home?”

“Oh, yes, she is! Please come in!” Ming Xi immediately stepped aside, allowing space to enter.

Trendy, niche clothes hung on the racks. The wheels rolled across the shiny floor tiles, reminding her of scenes she had only seen in TV dramas.

Xia Jinzhao had gotten up at some point. She walked over, her fingertips brushing the hangers, silently selecting her preferred styles and colors.

Seeing that she hadn’t spoken for a while, Zhou Zhenhui assumed she wasn’t quite satisfied and offered suggestions.

“Sister Xia, how about this one?”

The assistant took out a black and red cropped jacket. The material was similar to a soft-shell windbreaker. Black stripes extended from the shoulder to the forearm, contrasting with the large area of red, making it flamboyant and enthusiastic, like a ball of fire in winter.

Just a glance was enough to know it absolutely wouldn’t be Xia Jinzhao’s preferred style.

Indeed, the woman frowned: “Too flashy.”

Xia Jinzhao’s temperament leaned more toward a cold handful of pure snow on a mountaintop, chilling the heart. No wonder the media heavily praised her as the “Jade-Faced Beauty.”

To be honest, Ming Xi couldn’t imagine what a train wreck it would be if the other party joined the “Funeral Love Family” (a type of Chinese subculture).

Because this outfit was too non-mainstream. Even with a face that could conquer the world, wearing it easily gave the illusion of flightiness.

Zhou Zhenhui didn’t think so and kept pushing the item.

“Try a change of pace once in a while! What if it looks stunning on you? You’re used to the elegant, intellectual, and cold, aristocratic routes. You have to dare to break through!”

“Trust me, it will look great with cargo pants!”

Xia Jinzhao remained still. Ming Xi was inwardly gloating nearby.

A sharp glare shot over. She immediately straightened her face and nodded seriously.

“I agree.”

Cornered by their words, and thinking that trying it on wouldn’t hurt, Xia Jinzhao picked up the clothes and headed to the bathroom.

About three minutes later, the person inside walked out. Hearing the movement, Zhou Zhenhui looked up.

The woman’s jacket zipper was half-open, revealing a section of a black bodysuit underneath. Her long hair was tied up over her right shoulder. Her previous reserve and restraint were instantly suppressed by a vibrant energy. She was dashing and heroic, creating a gust of wind as she walked.

It was unexpectedly stunning.

“Oh my god, Sister Xia, you’re too handsome! I’m going to be completely smitten by you!”

Zhou Zhenhui held back a scream, wanting to take a dozen photos and post them on Weibo: “Wear this one next time! It’s guaranteed to be a sensational street style!”

“Just this one! Please don’t change!”

The exaggerated praise made Xia Jinzhao uncomfortable. She only felt restricted in her movement and vaguely heard a sharp friction sound when she turned around.

“But—”

Before she could finish, a burning gaze fell on her. Following the gaze, she saw Ming Xi’s eyes twinkling, staring at her unblinkingly.

…So dazzling.

“Sister Xia, don’t you like it?”

Zhou Zhenhui suppressed her excitement, her enthusiasm slightly dampened by the question.

“But I think it’s very bold and novel! Ming Xi, don’t you agree?”

“Mhm, mhm!” Ming Xi nodded vigorously.

…

The words of refusal were on her tongue, but she swallowed them back.

“It’s alright.”