The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Jasmine Milk Green Tea (Two-in-One): One Thing on the Surface, Another Behind…

The cold, uncompromising attitude left no room for doubt. When Ming Xi realized that Xia Jinzhao hadn’t come back with the genuine intention of picking her up, she felt shame for her previous self-pity. The light rain soaked her pants, creating a sense of cold indifference between them. She was furious out of embarrassment and raised her voice in defense.

“Didn’t you give it to me?”

At a time like this, she’s still thinking about her phone. Is my safety less important than that? Ming Xi subconsciously elevated herself to the same level as Xia Jinzhao’s personal belongings. It seemed that days of spending time together had given her the illusion that their relationship had thawed.

Seeing the woman remain silent, maintaining the stance of an open palm, Ming Xi was livid.

“Here! Here! Take it!” Ming Xi angrily pressed the phone into her arms, then turned to walk away.

It felt as though a cloudburst had poured over her head, soaking her from head to toe. A thick layer of grievance festered, gnawing and pulling at her, causing discomfort.

After walking a few steps, Ming Xi subconsciously turned her head. She assumed that after getting her phone, the other party would feel at ease and get back into the car.

Xia Jinzhao hadn’t moved. Her thin, stubborn figure stood in the halo of light, looking lonely and isolated. The rain was heavy, soaking her shoulders, which only made the woman look more pitiful. She has four wheels to drive home, and I can’t compare with my two legs. And I’m pitying others. I’m really worrying for nothing!

With this thought, Ming Xi gave up all hope and stepped back into the rain without looking back.

The mountain road was steep, and the stone steps covered with dark green moss were slippery. Fortunately, she was lucky. Soon she saw the directional sign at the intersection. Since the back mountain area wasn’t large, she finally rushed back to the mansion before eight o’clock.

When Ming Xi stood at the gate, she felt like an entire century had passed. Old housekeeper Wu Ma opened the door and was instantly heartbroken at the sight, immediately ushering her inside.

“Why are you so soaked? Aren’t you injured?” Elderly people tend to fuss, especially when they see juniors mistreating themselves. Wu Ma busied herself, offering towels and running a hot bath.

Seeing her running around, Ming Xi felt embarrassed: “Auntie, I’m still injured.”

Wu Ma slapped her forehead, realizing: “Right, right, right! The wound shouldn’t touch water!”

“I’ll do it myself.” Ming Xi wrapped the towel around her head to absorb the moisture.

Wu Ma couldn’t help much but couldn’t keep quiet, telling her all about the family situation. “Mrs. Xia is resting in bed. Xia Ling and Shurui just came back. Ninglan just went to take a shower… Hey, where is Jinzhao? Why didn’t Jinzhao come back with you?” She glanced out the door again. The cold wind outside created faint outlines of the distant garden scenery, like ghosts lurking in the dark.

Ming Xi paused in drying her hair: “Xia Jinzhao hasn’t returned?”

“No, I thought you came back with her!” Wu Ma frowned, her face clouded with worry, deepening her wrinkles.

At this, Ming Xi felt a tightness in her chest. Logically, Xia Jinzhao was driving. Her speed shouldn’t be slower than Ming Xi’s, right?

The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. Without even changing her sticky clothes, the first thing she did after powering up her phone was call Xia Jinzhao.

The phone rang three times, gradually sounding from behind the door. Following the sound, the woman held the door. Water droplets trickled down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. She looked as if she had been fished out of a river, shivering with cold from head to toe.

Seeing this, Wu Ma gasped, dropped the items in her hands onto the sofa, and rushed forward. “Oh my, why are you so soaked? Didn’t I ask Little Chen to drive you? Didn’t you wait for him?” The woman grabbed Xia Jinzhao’s arms, anxiously calling for help: “So soaked! She couldn’t touch water even when she was little…”

The ending of her Mandarin sentences carried a local dialect accent. The other helpers were called over, bustling in a panic, and passed Ming Xi in a rush, worried about disturbing Xia Xuefeng’s rest.

Ming Xi was stunned. She had guessed Xia Jinzhao might have been delayed on the way, but she never expected the latter to endure nearly two hours of rain during that time. The shock was immediately followed by fear. It was just a minor spat, not even a fight, and this way of handling it was… too immature.

No, it might not be because of me… She tried hard to dismiss the doubt in her mind. When she looked up, she met Xia Jinzhao’s gaze.

The woman’s eye rims were suspiciously red. Her pitch-black pupils were as still as dead water, slowly grinding her nervous system like a dull knife. Ming Xi subconsciously flinched, like a startled rabbit. This slight movement caught Xia Jinzhao’s eye. She lowered her long eyelashes.

It somehow made people feel like she was showing weakness.

Ming Xi watched Xia Jinzhao return to her room. The woman’s figure was thin and delicate, like a stem battered and tilted by the heavy rain, overlapping with the figure she saw earlier on the mountain road.

Guilt tightened her heart. She stood downstairs, listening to Wu Ma sigh: “Such an adult, yet she still doesn’t know how to take care of herself, constantly causing worry.”

“It’s not her fault. She gave me the umbrella,” Ming Xi explained on Xia Jinzhao’s behalf. Thinking about it this way, the soaking rain was indeed unavoidable connected to her. The grievance and anger from being abandoned now turned into a surge of helplessness. Even though Xia Jinzhao was wrong first, she eventually came back, which could be considered an attempt to make amends.

Wu Ma teased: “No wonder the couple is so loving. Just a few words, and you’re already defending her.” She had worked for the Xia family for more than thirty years, practically watching these juniors grow up. She felt a connection with them beyond just an employer-employee relationship, and her ability to read people was sharp. “Speaking of which, did you two have a fight?”

Even Wu Ma, who didn’t know the details, could tell. Ming Xi scratched her head in embarrassment: “Can you please not tell Grandma? I’m afraid she’ll worry.” Besides, it was just a trivial matter. Ultimately, both parties were being overly dramatic.

“A fight at the head of the bed leads to reconciliation at the foot. Jinzhao has a stubborn nature. She keeps everything inside. Sometimes her awkwardness offends unintentionally. Don’t take it to heart.” Wu Ma took Ming Xi’s hand and advised her earnestly.

“I will,” Ming Xi nodded.

“Good child. I’ll go make her some warm water. You go check on her.”

After hearing this, Ming Xi went upstairs. The mansion had been occupied for a long time. Regular maintenance made it hard to tell its age. The symmetrically arranged corridors were lined with antique display shelves. In the dim light, she could barely see the way with the weak lighting.

Fortunately, Wu Ma pointed the way. Ming Xi stood at the door, nervously knocking twice. Hearing no movement, she knocked again. This time, the rustling of clothes, accompanied by slow, measured footsteps, came closer.

The door opened a crack. Xia Jinzhao stood to the side. The moisture on her face hadn’t evaporated, making her look even clearer, diluting her original coldness.

The words stuck in her throat. Ming Xi tightly compressed her cheeks, not daring to look directly at the other person. “Are you alright?” she quickly glanced over, feigning indifference, but her heart was pounding in her chest.

What if Xia Jinzhao shuts the door on me? Please, she must give me an out. Otherwise, if it gets out, everyone will know we argued tonight.

Xia Jinzhao was silent. The rainwater was chilling to the bone. Even soaking in a warm bath couldn’t completely dispel it. She gasped softly, her voice weak. “I’m okay.”

Unexpectedly, she didn’t snub Ming Xi, which made the latter feel flattered. A barrage of concern poured out. “I’m sorry I lost my temper at you earlier and caused you to get rained on.”

Xia Jinzhao curled her hand to her mouth, coughing uncomfortably. She wasn’t fond of warm, affectionate situations. A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on her face. “Mhm.”

What did “Mhm” mean? Forgiveness or perfunctoriness? Unable to guess her thoughts, Ming Xi wanted to flip the table. The original book said Xia Jinzhao was a woman who couldn’t be won over. It truly was difficult for Song Yu to remain persistent and offer warmth.

“Fortunately, you don’t have a fever. It looks like we won’t be able to go back tonight,” she looked at the dark sky outside the window. “Stay here.”

“If you want to leave, you can.” Xia Jinzhao spoke slowly, syllable by syllable. She was not good at humbling herself or showing weakness. Only this sentence carried a hint of accommodation.

Luckily, Wu Ma came upstairs in time with soup, saving Ming Xi from awkwardly standing in the doorway in the cold. Although Xia Jinzhao seemed okay, she still didn’t have much appetite during dinner, taking only two spoonfuls before putting the spoon aside.

Ming Xi walked out of the living room after her shower. A servant brought up cold medicine. She took it, preparing to mix it with water. Xia Jinzhao frowned, using her hand to stop her action.

“What’s wrong?” Ming Xi paused.

Xia Jinzhao turned her face away, put the medicine back in its original spot, and said sullenly: “I don’t drink this.”

“But you sound a little sick.”

“I’ll get better on my own.”

Ming Xi was suspicious. She carefully examined Xia Jinzhao’s face, catching a hint of subtle emotion, and suddenly understood. Pretending to be strong and waiting for the cold to heal itself, but actually afraid the medicine is too bitter, right? You really are stubborn.

Seeing the rare childish side of the other person, Ming Xi felt playful and advised earnestly: “Good medicine tastes bitter. If you dislike it, should I ask Wu Ma to put some rock sugar in it?”

Sure enough, Xia Jinzhao clenched the armrest of the sofa, giving Ming Xi a cold glance, avoiding the main issue: “I’m tired. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

By tomorrow, the day will be long over! Ming Xi felt like a grandmother chasing her granddaughter to feed her. A sense of mission descended upon her. Just as she was about to start nagging, she met Xia Jinzhao’s icy gaze, and the words in her mouth took a turn.

“Where will I sleep tonight?”

“The usual arrangement.”

“Oh, okay.”

So, what exactly is the “usual arrangement”?