The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Sacher Torte: I Hear You Never Make a Choice

A slight stinging pain grew quietly to the right of her scar, signaling that everything that had just happened was not an illusion. Xia Jinzhao watched Ming Xi silently, her eyes calm, as if expecting a reaction. So, Ming Xi pulled back, adopting a posture of self-protection.

“Stop touching me! You almost ruined my face!” She touched the still-healing scar and complained, using it to cover her momentary panic.

“It’s fine when you cut it with a knife, but it will shatter if I touch it?” Xia Jinzhao stared at her left cheek. “Tell me, what is this if not targeting?”

“You started it,” Ming Xi insisted stubbornly, looking both defiant and timid.

“If I were truly targeting you, I would present you with the bill for the damages.”

There are many ways to make someone grovel, but only one way to make Ming Xi grovel. Hearing the implication that Xia Jinzhao wanted compensation, Ming Xi’s face instantly collapsed.

“I don’t have that much money.”

She desperately tried to clutch the corner of her clothes, only to realize she was wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon, so she resorted to blinking to achieve her goal of eliciting sympathy.

The aggressive attitude from before vanished. Xia Jinzhao languidly raised her eyes, noticing Ming Xi’s quickly changing expression, and an involuntary curve appeared at the corner of her lips. To Ming Xi’s eyes, this could only be interpreted as: You smiled just now, didn’t you?

This led to the following conversation, an attempt to save face.

“But don’t worry, I’ll work hard to earn money to pay off the debt!” Ming Xi’s eyes were bright, filled with confidence and assertiveness. However, her poor condition in the hospital, with a straight spine like a rugged mountain ridge, made her promise unconvincing.

Xia Jinzhao didn’t crush her fantasy. Given the value of the apartment in Huayang Qingyuan, even if Ming Xi transformed into a baboon and worked since ancient times, she might not be able to cover a fraction of the cost.

She bent down to arrange the meal, placing the cutlery handles toward Ming Xi for easy access. “Eat first.”

When conversation is fruitless, silence is best. Ming Xi avoided the burned areas and carefully took the food. If she ignored the formidable figure sitting next to her, this would be a pleasant lunch. The woman sat in the shadow behind the curtain, her features deep-set, the unspoken pressure she exerted completely unlike that of a family member accompanying a sick person.

“My aunt will be over later,” she suddenly said.

Ming Xi was scooping pork tripe congee into her mouth, and tensed up at the news: “Then do I need to prepare anything?”

“Prepare?” Xia Jinzhao was confused by her choice of words. “What do you need to prepare?”

“Should I pretend to be asleep?”

Good idea! She could use this to avoid the usual polite inquiries from relatives. Ming Xi silently considered the feasibility of the suggestion.

“No need. Auntie won’t make things difficult for you.” Xia Jinzhao’s mouth twisted into a hint of sarcasm, perhaps recalling something.

She stood up and adjusted the IV bag connected to the machine. The liquid dripped steadily down the clear tube. Once Ming Xi’s vital signs were stable, she could be taken home to continue her recovery with a doctor visiting.

Her tall figure stood at the foot of the bed, obscuring the hazy view outside the window. Today was not a particularly nice day. Layers of leaden clouds hung low, making people feel down.

Ming Xi chewed diligently, sensing that Xia Jinzhao was not in good spirits. The crisp windbreaker swung as she moved, brushing against the edge of the bed and stirring up a little dust, as if she were enduring fatigue and forcing herself to keep up appearances. Could it be that she hadn’t slept well during the two days I was unconscious?

A possibility flashed through her mind, but Ming Xi quickly dismissed it. Xia Jinzhao disliked her so much that “out of sight, out of mind” was her motto. How could she go to such lengths?

The meal was eaten in peace. Her stomach was full, and she felt much better than when she first woke up. Ming Xi sighed contentedly, looking at the woman slumped in the sofa opposite her. After much hesitation, she spoke softly.

“If you have things to do, you can go ahead and be busy. You don’t have to stay with me…” Actors of Xia Jinzhao’s caliber are usually constantly flying to gigs, so busy they’re never seen, right? Why does she have the leisure to be a caretaker in the hospital?

Hearing Ming Xi’s considerate remark, Xia Jinzhao pressed her hand to her eye sockets and smiled cryptically. “If I leave you here and it reaches others’ ears, what will they say?”

“They don’t know our relationship,” Ming Xi argued.

Xia Jinzhao seemed to have lost the desire to bicker with her. She leaned back against the sofa, trying to take a quick nap with her eyes closed. Someone sent her a message. After checking it, she stood up and picked up the room key card from the wooden table.

“Auntie is downstairs. I’m going to meet her.”

Compared to the time when Xia Jinzhao was hospitalized with a cold and fever, Ming Xi’s hospital room was vastly superior. Excluding the large, intricate, expensive equipment and the pervasive smell of disinfectant, it was practically a presidential suite. The privacy was excellent, which was why Xia Ling couldn’t come up.

The camel-colored figure disappeared at the door. Ming Xi lay back, staring at the ceiling, worried that Xia Shurui might come along to stir up trouble. Since the commotion at the coming-of-age ceremony last time, their relationship had deteriorated beyond repair. If Xia Ling brought her along this time, they would inevitably clash.

Full and horizontal, her mind was hazy and on the verge of falling asleep until uneven footsteps sounded near her ear. Accompanied by muffled conversation, Ming Xi propped up her upper body and met the gaze of Xia Ling as she pushed the door open.

The woman was still gloomy and thin, silently withdrawn like a withered tree. She sat by the bed and routinely asked: “How are you feeling?”

Seeing that Xia Shurui hadn’t followed, Ming Xi sighed in relief: “I’m fine. I’m almost better.” Facing a relatively unfamiliar elder, she wasn’t so thick-skinned as to fawn over her. Even though her whole body ached with a biting soreness, Ming Xi had to smile and say she was okay.

Xia Jinzhao stood by the window, her eyes lowered, lost in thought.

“I heard you had an accident. Mom was worried sick at home. If her health allowed it, she would definitely come to see you.” Xia Ling spoke with a bit of the S City accent, slurring some syllables, which softened her unapproachable demeanor.

At the mention of the so-called accident, Ming Xi blushed: “It’s nothing. Grandma should rest at home. There’s no need for her to make a special trip for me.”

In response to her foolish answer, Xia Ling’s brows relaxed. “This is not your fault. Don’t feel too guilty. Explosions are rare. Before…” Her dry lips moved a couple of times, wanting to say more, but Xia Jinzhao retracted her gaze and looked toward them. Xia Ling shook her head helplessly and muttered to herself: “Why am I telling you all this…”

It was rare to see a hint of regret on her face. In Ming Xi’s impression, Xia Ling was always solemn. Today’s interaction made her view the person in front of her differently.

The two made small talk, circling around Xia Xuefeng’s health or the recovery arrangements. Most of the time, Ming Xi just nodded, like a voice-activated responder.

“The anniversary of your eldest aunt’s death is in a few days. If you’re well enough, Jinzhao, take little Ming to the cemetery, will you?” The latter part of the sentence was directed at Xia Jinzhao.

Xia Ling leaned against the head of the bed. From the moment she entered, her demeanor had been overly reserved. Even her handbag was placed on her lap instead of being set down, as if she was ready to leave at any moment. Ultimately, the relationship wasn’t close enough. If Xia Xuefeng hadn’t instructed her, this abrupt visit wouldn’t have happened.

Throughout the visit, Xia Jinzhao rested her forearm on the windowsill. A light rain fell outside. The gray haze accentuated the dullness in her eyes, making her look like a mismatched puzzle piece, naturally separated from the others.

Hearing the instruction, she hummed in acknowledgment and lowered her eyes to look at Ming Xi. “It depends on Xi Xi’s recovery.”

Ming Xi felt speechless. Great. I’m the universal shield now.

Xia Ling gave a few more instructions and then left. The ward returned to its previous quietness. Xia Jinzhao had the brought-in tonics neatly stacked in the cabinet, while Ming Xi watched the people busy themselves, her leg dangling.

“When can I be discharged?”

“Are you that eager to work and pay off your debt to me?” Xia Jinzhao laughed.

“But it’s so boring here.” Ming Xi felt sluggish. If she lay any longer, her muscles would atrophy, making even walking difficult.

“Play on your phone.”

“I’m tired of it.”

After saying this, Xia Jinzhao didn’t reply. Ming Xi saw her seriously flipping through a script and unwilling to talk to her, so she started making small talk again. “Are you still going to be busy in a few days?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you staying these days? Surely not Huayang Qingyuan?”

At the mention of this “sad topic,” Xia Jinzhao looked up, her gaze chilling Ming Xi. The latter wisely retracted her head, only showing her eyes, which was strangely endearing.

Xia Jinzhao’s heart softened slightly. Her tone wasn’t as cold as before: “I have a few other properties downtown. I’ve asked people to clean them up recently.”

“Oh, okay.” Ming Xi nodded in earnest, her guilt slightly diminished.

The rain pattered against the glass, leaving streaks of water. A sense of dullness brewed in the room. Ming Xi couldn’t turn over, maintaining the same posture as she looked at Xia Jinzhao. One point in Xia Ling’s conversation earlier stuck with her.

“When you were talking to Auntie just now, you mentioned the past. What exactly happened?” Ming Xi propped her cheek with the back of her hand, looking like an inquisitive student. It was all because she only skimmed the novel, skipping anything remotely related to the plot. This left her with a half-understanding of the Xia family relationships.

Xia Jinzhao was pouring water. She paused at the question, causing the water to spill and splash onto the back of her hand. “Aren’t you uninterested in these things?” The original owner had a simple personality. Her sole motivation for currying favor with Xia Xuefeng was money. As for the intricacies of the collateral relationships, she usually stayed out of it.

“I’m just asking. I’m curious,” Ming Xi wiggled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of innocence.

Xia Jinzhao pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped the water stains: “My eldest aunt used to run a factory. Later, an explosion caused the death of a young girl. Maybe because you’re hospitalized, she just made the association.” She didn’t shy away from these past events. Given the Xia family’s name, it was easily searchable online.

Her words abruptly stopped. The woman looked up thoughtfully, her gaze carrying a hint of invasiveness. Ming Xi felt uneasy but heard the other party raise her hand, as if measuring and comparing. “If that child were still alive, she would be about your age.”

That’s a bit inauspicious to say. Ming Xi felt ashamed, then saw Xia Jinzhao slightly shake her head, correcting herself: “She should be a little older than you.”

She suddenly realized a possibility and tentatively asked: “Was your eldest aunt affected by this incident…”

“And died from sorrow,” Xia Jinzhao added plainly.

The Xia family was not as prominent then as it is now. Public opinion could crush a cautious person, and many affected families came to the mansion to cause trouble. It dominated all the major headlines. Even without an advanced internet, it was quickly spread through paper documents.

“But this matter should have been investigated. She couldn’t have shouldered all the consequences herself,” Ming Xi wondered.

“If you had met my eldest aunt, you might not think that,” Xia Jinzhao forced a smile and walked over. She was kind enough to take in a homeless child, giving her a job, only to be exploited and manipulated by those with ulterior motives, which ultimately cost her her life.

Ming Xi felt that such a bizarre event shouldn’t happen in reality. Explosions, car accidents—all earth-shattering events only appeared in novels. But considering that she was currently in a novel, she felt relieved.

“If it were me, I would definitely choose to shamelessly return to the Xia family to live off them. At the very least, I’d investigate whether someone manipulated things,” Ming Xi said regretfully. “What do you think?”

As she spoke, a clear, cool fragrance lingered, and her vision was enveloped in a shadow. Xia Jinzhao had approached at some point, resting one hand on the edge of the bed. Staring at the woman’s leaning upper body, Ming Xi held her breath, her peripheral vision catching the sharp line of the other party’s jaw, where light flowed smoothly, illuminating the small area of neck concealed by the collar.

Xia Jinzhao glanced at the empty IV bag, her tone unreadable. “I never make a choice.”

With that, she pressed the call button by the bed.