The Scumbag Alpha is Courting Death Again - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Apple Golden Pineapple: How Could You Ever Lack Me…

Ming Xi was at a loss, clutching the crumpled tissue. She pulled one out and tentatively offered it to Xia Jinzhao: “Do you want one?”

The woman had her back to her. Her thin inner clothes revealed a slender, mountain-like spine. Having gone through such a violent tremor, she looked so fragile as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Cough, cough, cough—” Xia Jinzhao’s face was flushed. Seeing that she couldn’t hold the milk steady, Ming Xi quickly took it. The awkward tension between the two from the previous days was quietly resolved by this episode.

“You… no one is fighting you for it. Can’t you just drink slower?” She complained softly after the other person calmed down.

Xia Jinzhao remained silent, clutching the front of her clothes to steady herself. Her silence made the car even more awkward. Ming Xi’s caring hand didn’t know whether to retreat or reach forward.

After a few days of no contact, their relationship seemed to have regressed to the polite distance of their first meeting, or even worse. Although not explicitly stated, Ming Xi felt a knot of anger bundled up in the other person’s heart, ready to explode.

She tied the knot on the convenience store’s plastic bag, turned to look out the window, and awkwardly said: “I’ve been quite busy with work these past two days. I couldn’t visit you at the hospital.”

Her tone was self-justifying, intentionally or unintentionally trying to draw a clear line, which further ignited Xia Jinzhao’s anger. She threw the tissue into the trash can, sneering: “Too busy to even send a message.”

“Busy serving your big clients.”

“Stop being sarcastic. You were probably enjoying yourself at the hospital…” If Xia Jinzhao merely crooked her finger, countless people would rush to serve her. Did she really need Ming Xi?

“I’m being sarcastic?” Xia Jinzhao curled her lips, mockingly: “Do those ‘old friends’ know you’re talking bad about them behind their backs?”

“Speaking of duplicity, some people are even worse than me.”

“It’s just work complaints. Which employee hasn’t complained about their clients? If you don’t like it, go report me to them!”

Ming Xi didn’t know where she found the courage to snap at Xia Jinzhao. The accumulated bitterness was swelling in her throat, and she felt a surge of wronged sourness that even she felt was melodramatic. Whenever Xia Jinzhao was sick, she used to be by her side. She also wanted to see the heavily injured person, but there were reporters everywhere. The slightest mistake would only cause more trouble for the other person.

The expensive private ward—her one-month salary might not even cover half a day’s cost. What face did she have to run up to the person like a dog? She didn’t mean anything bad about dogs, but sometimes, like when Song Yu escorted Xia Jinzhao to the hospital, Ming Xi stood behind, feeling ashamed of her own inferiority.

She rarely cared about something to the extent that she couldn’t digest it until the next day.

“Ming Xi.” Xia Jinzhao frowned.

“Xia Jinzhao!” Ming Xi glared back. “Are you the only one who can call people by their names? As soon as you’re discharged, you give me the cold shoulder. When did I ever provoke you? Being unreasonable has its limits. Who can balance both work and visiting the sick?”

Her emotions gushed out like a flood with a broken gate. She sniffled, abandoning her pride and recklessly enumerating her grievances.

“You only bother me when you have nothing else to do. You and Song Yu were flirting at the hospital and didn’t think of me for eight lifetimes. I refuse to believe that you lack me by your side—”

“I do.”

The words hung in the air, and both fell silent.

The escalating argument came to an abrupt halt. The impulsive confession couldn’t stop in time, leaving a deafening aftershock like the buzzing of a bell.

Xia Jinzhao moved her mouth, wanting to say something more. Eventually, she curled her palm, grasping the crumpled food wrapping paper, and turned away, no longer looking at her.

Ming Xi was flustered by the sudden answer. Fearing that her inner nervousness would show, she recovered and insisted on adding a mocking retort. In reality, she was more like a deserter who had lost his momentum, forced to pretend to be calm to maintain the upper hand.

“As if I’m the only one you need.” She muttered, rolling down the car window. She pressed her face against the cold wind rushing into the car to cool her flushed face.

Zhou Zhenhui, sitting in the passenger seat, was suffering from the bickering between the two young lovers in the back, wishing she could slap herself a few minutes ago. Why did you have to open your mouth? You just had to bring up the most sensitive topic!

Her phone rang. It was a message from Xia Jinzhao.

Cold CEO: “It’s cold. Close the window.”

Zhou Zhenhui was confused. She glanced at the back seat and saw Ming Xi facing the open window, pondering life. She awkwardly signaled the driver to close the window.

The sky had darkened. The lights of the converging traffic stretched endlessly. The cold wind felt like a knife slicing her face. Ming Xi rested her hand on the window sill. Suddenly, the back of her neck was pinched. A warm fingertip pressed against the sensitive area, causing a scratch that almost made her jump out of her seat.

Looking back, Xia Jinzhao had moved closer at some point, pulling her toward her side. The window in front of her closed. If she hadn’t been careful, her fingers might have been pinched.

Zhou Zhenhui peeked back, secretly praising Xia Jinzhao for being so aware.

“I won’t thank you,” Ming Xi straightened her back, quickly increasing the distance between them. She knew it. If it weren’t for the person in front of her cunningly instructing her, Zhou Zhenhui wouldn’t have closed the window on her own. It was all a trick to coax her! Wanting to apologize but unable to speak up, saving face until the death!

The presence of her scent gland suddenly intensified, hot and feverish after being touched. Although she had completely adapted to the anomaly of this body, she still resisted using things like scent blocker patches. So, in her daily life, she simply ignored these abnormalities. Thus, she naturally didn’t understand how rude and inappropriate Xia Jinzhao’s action just was.

Realizing that she had accidentally touched Ming Xi’s scent gland, Xia Jinzhao pulled her hand back as if burned, saying without a change of expression: “Suit yourself.”

“Did you realize you were wrong, which is why your attitude is so nice?” The other person’s reaction was unexpected. Ming Xi pouted, speaking frankly in a muffled voice.

“What did I do wrong?” Xia Jinzhao retorted.

Ming Xi was stumped. Thinking back, she realized that she was the one who had started the trouble since getting in the car. Perhaps it was a special time for her these two days. Her hormones were messed up, making her irritable and prone to anger. In contrast, Xia Jinzhao’s calm demeanor was indeed… a striking contrast.

“Alright, alright, I spoke improperly. Is that enough?” Seeing no one offering her a way out, Ming Xi smoothly backed down herself.

“I can understand you being jealous of Song Yu.” Xia Jinzhao rubbed her fingers. Her smooth, pale skin was coated with a warm hue under the light. She leaned back, glancing at Ming Xi with deep meaning. “But I hope some people will also restrain themselves when making demands of others.”

What? Did she hear that right? Xia Jinzhao thought she was jealous, deliberately throwing a tantrum to be coaxed.

What a joke!

Ming Xi was furious out of embarrassment: “Don’t talk nonsense. How could I possibly be jealous of you?”

Xia Jinzhao didn’t say anything more. Instead, she looked past her shoulder, out the window, her gaze focused and serious. Ming Xi couldn’t help but follow her gaze, realizing that the car was just passing the commercial building in the city center. A massive billboard was erected on the high-rise building, dominated by the woman’s cold and noble face. She lowered her eyes, raised her hand to prop up her chin, inadvertently revealing a huge diamond ring that blinded everyone’s eyes.

“Look,” she raised her chin.

“It’s the diamond you endorse. What’s so great about it?” Ming Xi was confused.

Only then did Xia Jinzhao retract her gaze, her normally calm eyes carrying a hint of a sting.

“Your mouth is harder than that.”

Ming Xi: …

Zhou Zhenhui nervously dropped the two off at home, reminded Xia Jinzhao of her announcements for the next morning, and drove away from the residential area.

Since Ming Xi’s kitchen explosion fiasco, the original Huayang Qingyuan was certainly uninhabitable. Even with rush construction, it would take at least six months to move back in. Therefore, they were currently in a new apartment that the assistant had scouted and renovated a few days ago. Located in a bustling part of the city center, there was frequent traffic, unlike the quiet of Huayang Qingyuan. However, the popularity and lighting were sufficient, and a trip outside on the Line 5 subway led directly to the commercial building.

The 270-degree panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of half the city. Looking out from the old Huayang Qingyuan, one could only see dense greenery. The view here was excellent.

“Satisfied?” a question came from behind.

“Satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied!” Ming Xi nodded repeatedly. She turned and saw the woman standing at the edge of the platform, looking at her in a good mood.

Shoot! She was so busy admiring the golden cage that she forgot she and Xia Jinzhao were still in the middle of a fight.

“It was renovated so quickly. Is there any formaldehyde?” Ming Xi put away her smile, kicking the floor tiles with a serious expression.

“Natural stone.”

“Oh, the countertop is not stain-resistant, is it? It will be exhausting to clean.”

“You don’t need to worry about the housekeeper’s work.”

“Metal support? Have you considered the pain of static electricity in winter?”

“There’s a humidifier, and also,” Xia Jinzhao paused, “I don’t wear polyester fiber.”

After a few rounds, Ming Xi was utterly defeated. She held her breath, her face looking ugly, and shuffled into the bedroom with uncoordinated steps. If she breathed the same air as Xia Jinzhao any longer, she would definitely suffocate!

Watching her retreating back, Xia Jinzhao leaned her lower back against the island counter, her thumb slowly tracing the surface. To avoid paparazzi following and secretly taking pictures, she rarely stayed in one residence for a long time, but only here. When discussing the details with her assistant, she was particularly mindful of the furnishings. Seeing the empty corners gradually filled up, it was like being poked in the heart. An unprecedented sense of stability enveloped her.

Before she could relive the scene, Ming Xi suddenly rushed out, pointing at the bedroom and stammering: “It’s such a big house, why is there only one bedroom!”

The remaining rooms were either converted into storage rooms, a study, or an e-sports room. Why didn’t I notice Xia Jinzhao liked playing games before? This is illogical!

“Xiao Zhou used to live here for easier pick-ups and drop-offs,” Xia Jinzhao explained.

“That’s a good excuse, but I’m absolutely not sleeping in the same bed as you!” Ming Xi argued vehemently.

“Then don’t sleep.”

“Why not? This is abuse! I’m going to tell Grandma!” To appeal to Xia Jinzhao’s remaining conscience, she deliberately pinched the shallow, healing wound on her cheek. Look, this is the undeserved disaster I suffered because of you!

Xia Jinzhao indeed stepped forward to examine it carefully. Her gaze seemed to casually sweep over the peak of Ming Xi’s lips, and then quickly moved away. “Go ahead and report me to Grandma…”

The woman paced slowly, gradually backing her toward the edge of the table until the person was cornered, with no way to escape. Then, she raised her eyes, looking directly into Ming Xi’s eyes.

“Your cheek is indeed thick enough.”

“A ‘Grandma’ this and a ‘Grandma’ that. Where was that demeanor when you wanted a divorce earlier?”

“Don’t worry, it’s only a matter of time!” Ming Xi retorted angrily.

Xia Jinzhao had originally intended to tease her, but the other party’s attitude was surprisingly decisive and blunt. That sentence just now undoubtedly unearthed the instability that had been lurking in her heart for many days, exposing it to the light.

She placed her hand on Ming Xi’s chin, her thumb lingering for a long time, her eyes dark. “You’ve been married to me for so long, eating my food, living in my house, and sleeping with me—”

“I haven’t slept with you!” Ming Xi raised her hand to swear, proving her innocence.

Xia Jinzhao froze for a moment, then chuckled: “Right, you haven’t slept with me.”

“Since you’re so eager to distance yourself from me, in order not to tarnish Miss Ming’s reputation, you’ll have to make do in the bathtub from now on.”

With that, she smiled a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, taking a step back. Before leaving, she naturally turned Ming Xi’s head, kindly reminding her.

“Ming Xi, you are a smart person.”

“The money you get from divorcing me is limited. As long as you maintain the current status, you can be financially secure for life.”

“Don’t make it difficult for both of us.”

She knew Ming Xi was a materialistic person, and money was her favorite thing. Even if she didn’t like her as a person, there were other ways to keep her. Conveniently, she was not short of money.