The Scumbag Alpha Movie Queen Pampers Her Wife - Chapter 8

The crystal chandelier hanging in the hall was dimmed by the gloomy weather, casting a somber pall over the room. A sound-absorbing plush carpet covered the floor. At the center stood a pure black genuine leather sofa, where a well-maintained woman sat, her eyes radiating a cold, decisive ruthlessness. With her arms crossed, she caught the approaching figures in her peripheral vision and spoke in a frosty tone:

“So you remember to come home?”

Following the principle of “less said, less mistakes,” Gu Muchu casually hummed in acknowledgment and sank into the cool sofa opposite the woman.

A servant placed a freshly brewed cup of black tea on the coffee table beside her. Gu Muchu stared at the rising steam, feeling the air around them as taut as a drawn bow, thick with tension and the acrid scent of gunpowder.

Gu Yiqiong and her Original Self had been utterly incompatible. Even Lu Panwei’s attempts at mediation couldn’t soften the ingrained pride of these two Alpha women. Neither was willing to yield an inch, causing their relationship to deteriorate further.

Gu Muchu’s return brought no joy to Gu Yiqiong. The woman’s deep-set eyes, framed by drooping eyelids, made her thoughts impossible to decipher.

“Always out gallivanting, as if you’ve forgotten you’re a member of the Gu Family,” Gu Yiqiong exhaled slowly, her gaze sweeping over Gu Muchu from head to toe before she spoke heavily.

Sometimes Gu Muchu felt that Gu Yiqiong treated her only daughter not as family, but as a subordinate.

Unafraid of the woman’s piercing gaze, Gu Yiqiong secretly sighed in relief when she realized the other hadn’t detected anything amiss.

She didn’t need to feign any pretense; in the book, both Gu Yiqiong and the Original Self were equally detestable.

“Lower your voice…” Lu Panwei, seated beside Gu Yiqiong, gently tugged at her sleeve and clicked her tongue softly. “The child has finally come home. Why are you being so harsh?”

Gu Yiqiong glared at her, pressed her lips together, and ultimately refrained from retorting. Even at home, she never deliberately tempered her domineering nature. “I brought you back today for the same old lecture.”

“You’re thirty now. It’s time to settle down. Parading around as an actress all day—what kind of life is that?!”

By the end, Gu Yiqiong’s voice had risen sharply, her words ringing with chest-deep resonance.

Gu Muchu, who had initially planned to let the words pass through one ear and out the other, lifted her gaze, stung by the insult. She scoffed, repeating, “An actress?”

Anyone whose passion was belittled would be offended. Gu Muchu abandoned her polite demeanor, a cold smile curling her lips as her gaze drifted pointedly toward Lu Panwei.

Before marrying into the Gu Family, Lu Panwei had been a stage actress. The heavy stage makeup couldn’t conceal her exquisite features, captivating Gu Yiqiong the moment she saw her perform. After nearly half a year of courtship, Lu Panwei finally accepted her proposal.

Gu Yiqiong’s dismissive attitude, calling actors mere entertainers who pleased the masses, was a blatant slap in the face to Lu Panwei.

Lu Panwei’s expression immediately darkened, her gentle demeanor receding slightly, replaced by a cold, distant air.

Gu Muchu, who prided herself on being a qingyi actress who had earned her place in the entertainment industry through sheer talent, had endured a grueling early career. She had persevered through hardship, waiting for the clouds to part and reveal the moon. She was no mere entertainer selling smiles.

She had her own dignity.

Gu Muchu’s gaze swept across Lu Panwei, and Gu Yiqiong immediately noticed. The suppressed anger within her erupted. Her chest heaved violently as her voice rose sharply: “Do you think your mother is the same as you? What is her status? And what is yours?!”

Gu Yiqiong, born into a prestigious family, maintained her composure even in anger, her behavior remaining refined.

After her words hung in the air, the hall fell silent for a moment. Gu Muchu rested her hands on her knees, her long lashes lifting as she calmly assessed the Alpha across from her. In that single glance, she exuded an aura no less commanding than Gu Yiqiong’s.

Suddenly, a mocking laugh rang out. Gu Muchu’s lips curved into a smile, but the amusement didn’t reach her eyes. Feigning ignorance, she asked, “Then tell me, what is my status?”

Before Gu Yiqiong could answer, Gu Muchu slowly rose to her feet, her gaze shifting from level to condescending, shattering Gu Yiqiong’s carefully maintained composure. “Even if I’m a disappointment, I’m still a member of the Gu Family.”

“You too,” Gu Muchu replied, the unspoken implication clear: we are the same kind of person.

Gu Muchu and Ji Yuran shared many qualities. If Ji Yuran was like a winter snow-laden branch, standing tall with an unyielding spirit, Gu Muchu was more like a rose, its thorns concealed beneath a seemingly delicate exterior, patiently biding its time.

A gentle temperament did not mean she could be easily manipulated.

“I’m doing this for your own good,” Gu Yiqiong said, sensing her advantage slipping. She lowered her gaze and leaned back in her chair.

“Young Master Shen from the Shen Family is quite suitable. I’ll arrange a visit in a few days for you to meet him. Once you’ve seen him, we’ll finalize the marriage arrangements,” she said slowly, her composure regained.

She knew exactly how to exploit Gu Muchu’s weakness: the instinct to return to safety, like a weary bird seeking its nest. Even a child’s defiance was merely a fleeting impulse.

These words brought back memories of the original plot from the novel.

To escape an arranged marriage, the original Gu Muchu had used Ji Yuran as a shield. When Gu Yiqiong, a woman with an insatiable need for control, discovered this, she relentlessly targeted Ji Yuran. The original Gu Muchu, unable to protect herself, had turned a blind eye, allowing Ji Yuran to suffer the consequences.

The Omega’s radiant face flashed through Gu Muchu’s mind. Under the immense pressure, Gu Muchu’s heart softened for a rare moment. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, she concealed her secret marriage and softened her tone slightly.

“If I’d known you were going to rehash this old nonsense, I wouldn’t have bothered coming,” Gu Muchu said, her composed smile returning as she bent to pick up her saddlebag from the sofa. She paused, adding, “As for Young Master Shen, if you’re so fond of him, Mother, why don’t you marry him yourself and keep him as your pet?”

She rarely used such sharp words, but Gu Yiqiong’s behavior had crossed the line.

The soft jab struck Gu Yiqiong’s spine. Seeing her daughter about to leave, she finally snapped, rising to her feet and shouting, “If you don’t come back, I’ll cut off all your resources!”

“Enough! Stop arguing! You’re always stirring up trouble, making it impossible to even have a peaceful meal…” Lu Panwei tried to mediate, but Gu Yiqiong brushed her aside, turning her anger on her instead.

“It’s all your fault for spoiling her!” Gu Yiqiong believed in her strict upbringing methods; if not for Lu Panwei’s indulgence, Gu Muchu would never have developed her current rebellious nature.

The elegant Lu Panwei’s expression darkened. “If you lack the ability to manage her, why take it out on me?” she retorted with a sneer.

Gu Yiqiong choked, unable to find a retort, and stormed upstairs.

The untouched cup of red tea on the table had cooled, its once clear liquid now murky with sediment. Lu Panwei’s gaze dimmed as she ordered the servants to clear the table.

The refreshing, crisp air washed away Gu Muchu’s turmoil as she stepped outside, finally claiming a moment to breathe.

A true ruthless businesswoman, her thin ice-silk cardigan clung to her back, the wind seeping through and chilling her to the bone. Her heart pounded uncontrollably.

I almost lost my ground just now.

Gu Muchu exhaled in relief, pulled out her keys, and descended the steps. Soft footsteps approached from behind.

“Muchu,” Lu Panwei called out, her eyes shimmering with gentle warmth, radiating maternal tenderness. “Don’t take Aunt Gu’s words to heart.”

Gu Muchu turned, her gaze meeting Lu Panwei’s. The woman’s brows arched like distant mountains, tinged with a faint blue-black. But after years caught between them, even her well-maintained facade couldn’t entirely conceal the weariness etched on her face.

In the novel, Lu Panwei was an unlikable character. The Original Self had forced her own misfortunes onto others, and this woman had silently condoned it, aiding the oppressor.

Yet standing before her now, Gu Muchu couldn’t bring herself to be rude.

“I apologize for my impulsiveness today,” she said, her expression calm, betraying no emotion.

Lu Panwei froze for a moment, then a smile bloomed across her face. Perhaps after years of estrangement, it was rare to see Gu Muchu greet her with such warmth. She stepped down from the stairs, clutching a card in her hand, and tried to press it into Gu Muchu’s palm. “Our Muchu has grown up so much.”

“Your Aunt Gu can be so stubborn, but she misses you too! The family isn’t short on money, honestly…” Lu Panwei muttered earnestly, her words sincere.

Gu Muchu glanced quickly at the card and forced a smile. “I understand, Mom. I should get going now.”

Having maintained appearances, she didn’t take the card and instead offered a hasty farewell.

Lu Panwei’s hand hung awkwardly in the air as she watched the car drive away from the estate before finally lowering her gaze.

The scenery outside the window receded in a blur. Silver needles glinted sharply between the branches, leaving a lingering sense of oppression. Gu Muchu rolled down the window and took a deep breath.

She banished the lingering thoughts from her mind and glanced at her phone to check the time. Knowing she wouldn’t make it home for lunch, she decided to grab a quick meal on the go.

Anxious about Ji Yuran, Gu Muchu seized the opportunity while the dishes were being served to open their chat window. The conversation still lingered at their last exchange.

She tapped her knuckles rhythmically on the table, deleting and rewriting until she finally typed:

First Light of Dusk: Have you eaten?

Almost immediately after sending it, she regretted her impulsiveness. Ji Yuran wasn’t helpless; perhaps she was even enjoying the peace and quiet of Gu Muchu’s absence.

Fortunately, there was no reply.

But her relief was short-lived.

The power button on her phone’s side flickered on and off, casting intermittent light across Gu Muchu’s cheek, revealing the Alpha’s inner turmoil. When no new message appeared after a long wait, she hesitated, then sent Ji Yuran a 200 yuan red envelope.

First Light of Dusk: If you don’t feel like cooking, use this to buy something.

Ji Yuran’s continued silence made Gu Muchu wonder if the internet at home had gone down. Leaning back against the private room’s sofa, she suppressed the urge to call.

What is she doing right now?

People only dwell on such trivial thoughts when they have nothing else to occupy their minds. By the time all the dishes had been served, Gu Muchu had to put her phone away and focus on eating.

By the end of the meal, Ji Yuran hadn’t sent a single message, nor had she accepted the red envelope. Gu Muchu sighed, a heavy weight pressing on her chest, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

Gu Muchu wasn’t one to be coy, but Ji Yuran’s obvious disinterest made her reluctant to force the issue and risk further rejection.

As the oppressive atmosphere of the Gu Family closed in around her again, Gu Muchu decided to visit a nearby shopping mall to clear her head.

The mall’s entrance blasted cold air from the air conditioning, the pristine, off-white tiles reflecting faces like mirrors. The lighting on the display cases created an irresistible urge to shop.

Most people were gathered on the fourth floor for lunch at this hour, so Gu Muchu strolled through the first floor with her saddlebag, her eyes scanning the dazzling array of merchandise until they settled on a mannequin in a shop window.

She stopped, gazing through the clear glass at the qipao.

The exquisite, elegant lace collar paired with a snow-white cropped jacket barely revealed the cinched waist. Beneath, a deep ochre qipao with subtle patterns flowed to an asymmetrical hem, its figure-hugging silhouette striking.

The deliberately dimmed lighting in the window lent the qipao a rich, antique charm.

Gu Muchu immediately thought of Ji Yuran.