The Scumbag Alpha Movie Queen Pampers Her Wife - Chapter 9

Gu Muchu stood before the elevator, the blue light from the panel casting sharp shadows across her face. The Alpha stared at the flickering numbers, a shopping mall gift box dangling from her hand, and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

This whole thing feels so underhanded.

The paper bag’s handles were hooked over her knuckles, the heavy weight pulling down with her full weight. In her impulsive moment at the mall, she had only thought about what would suit Ji Yuran and instinctively paid for it.

Now, Gu Muchu hesitated, her heart uneasy. She had always been known for her composed and magnanimous demeanor, yet her most vulnerable thoughts were laid bare before Ji Yuran.

Given their current tumultuous relationship, she feared that giving the gift would only lead to further misunderstandings. Ji Yuran might assume she was demanding she dress according to her personal preferences.

In truth, Gu Muchu knew nothing about Ji Yuran, not even her body type. The only time she had truly observed her was when she first transmigrated, and even then, she had considered lingering glances intrusive, let alone attempting to measure her with her eyes.

Omegas typically had delicate frames, with slender yet resilient shoulders, clearly defined collarbones, and soft, full curves at the chest and waist. From afar, they resembled fragile blossoms, yet they could withstand the harshest winds. That’s why she had bought the smallest size.

Realizing what she had been thinking, Gu Muchu chuckled softly and lightly tapped her forehead. Such thoughts felt like a desecration of Ji Yuran.

In her eyes, the Little Lion was more like a younger sister.

With a ding, the elevator arrived, pulling Gu Muchu back from her thoughts. She stepped inside and swiped her access card.

The overhead fluorescent light cast shadows at her feet, and taking advantage of the cramped space, she picked up the gift box and ran her hand over it.

The qipao was packaged in a square, red box, embossed with the logo of a niche brand. The gilded floral patterns felt luxurious to the touch, and a subtle fragrance lingered on her fingertips. A cream-colored silk ribbon was tied neatly across the front.

This boutique stocked few mass-produced designs, specializing almost entirely in custom-made pieces.

Gu Muchu’s fingers traced the box’s edges before carefully reaching inside to retrieve the price tag resting on the qipao. The five-figure price tag crumpled in her palm as she exited the elevator and casually tossed it into a nearby trash can.

After entering the passcode, the door creaked open a crack. She faintly heard the sound of a cartoon playing from the living room. Before she could identify the show, the person inside seemed to notice the movement outside and pressed the remote control.

Gu Muchu entered the living room, her long dress carrying the summer’s heat and a faint trace of pheromones. She removed her cardigan and pulled off the black hair tie from her wrist to gather her hair, revealing the faint outline of a pheromone-blocking patch behind her neck.

Her delicate collarbones curved into rounded shoulders as she glanced at Ji Yuran, who was curled up on the sofa. The Omega’s gaze flickered to Gu Muchu for a moment before darting away, and she straightened up slightly.

The Omega’s casual, carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by cautiousness.

“Were you just watching cartoons?” Gu Muchu chuckled softly, amused by how Ji Yuran resembled a child caught sneaking TV time by their parents.

Ji Yuran tensed on the sofa, forcing out a single syllable: “No.”

She immediately lowered her head, pulling out a script from somewhere and pretending to skim through it. Having been assigned a minor role with limited screen time, she didn’t need to stay with the film crew.

Gu Muchu didn’t call out the clumsy lie. She suspected the young Omega was a person of rich inner life, but one who bristled defensively around her.

Deliberately placing the gift box on the coffee table near Ji Yuran, Gu Muchu walked toward the dining area, her voice fading as she moved away. “What did you have for lunch?”

“Ordered takeout,” Ji Yuran replied stiffly, her gaze drifting involuntarily to the gift box.

The box was beautifully wrapped, its expensive quality immediately apparent.

At the same moment, Gu Muchu glanced at the dining table. The takeout containers had already been cleared away, sparing her the trouble. She turned back, catching the young woman staring longingly at the gift box.

Hearing footsteps, Ji Yuran instinctively averted her gaze, her fingers fidgeting nervously on the script.

She looked like someone consumed by guilt after coveting something that didn’t belong to her.

She was wearing a loose, long white dress, her ink-black hair tickling her palm as she sank into the sofa, looking soft and docile.

Gu Muchu’s gaze paused momentarily before she naturally picked up the gift box and handed it to Ji Yuran.

“This is for you. Open it and see if you like it.”

As the Alpha approached, Ji Yuran caught that intoxicating gardenia scent again, which always felt somewhat invasive. Her exposed ankles curled slightly, and without even glancing at the box, she replied softly, “I don’t need it.”

Though they hadn’t known each other long, the ice between them had gradually thawed. The Omega’s attitude was no longer as rigid, resembling a casual refusal of a friend’s invitation—neither cold nor overly warm.

“It’s a qipao. I saw it at the exhibition and thought it would suit you perfectly.” Gu Muchu crouched down, tilted her head back, and pressed the gift box into Ji Yuran’s arms, her brows lifting in a gentle smile. “Please? Just give me the honor of letting you try it on?”

The Alpha softened her voice, the lingering lilt at the end of her words stirring a restless longing. Ji Yuran looked up, her gaze tracing the contours of Gu Muchu’s face.

Gu Muchu had subtle, inner-folded eyelids that fanned out from the corners of her eyes, giving her watery eyes a deep, affectionate quality.

This earnest yet dignified tone of entreaty made Ji Yuran feel inexplicably shy.

She crossed her arms, her long, curled hair cascading naturally to conceal her reddening earlobes. Puffing out her cheeks almost unconsciously, she accepted the gift box and murmured, “Fine, you’re impossible to resist.”

When Gu Muchu said it was a gift for her, Ji Yuran’s heart fluttered with joy. Who doesn’t love a surprise in their daily life?

The beautiful dress wouldn’t be wasted on her.

“Go ahead and try it on,” Gu Muchu said, straightening her legs after sitting for a while. She stood up and sat down a short distance away from Ji Yuran.

The sofa cushion sank beside her, and the Omega, startled like a rabbit, quickly covered her skirt and sat up straight. Clutching the gift box, she hurried out of the living room.

Only after Ji Yuran’s figure disappeared did Gu Muchu look away. Just then, her phone vibrated in her bag. She pulled it out, swiped to unlock it, and saw that her friend request had been accepted.

Wang Hanmo: Who is this?

As a director, Wang Hanmo was renowned in the industry, primarily shooting literary dramas. While these dramas weren’t as commercially lucrative as more mainstream series, they often won prestigious awards.

If Gu Muchu hadn’t chosen the big screen, she and Wang Hanmo might have become close collaborators. He currently had a promising script, and Ji Yuran’s image seemed quite fitting for the role.

After carefully considering her words, Gu Muchu quickly typed and sent her reply:

First Light of Dusk: Gu Muchu.

Given the Original Self’s deeply ingrained reputation for being sharp-tongued, Gu Muchu dispensed with unnecessary pleasantries and cut straight to the point.

Has the female lead for “Famous Throughout the Forbidden City” been cast?

When Wang Hanmo saw Gu Muchu add him as a friend, he initially thought she had changed her mind. But in the entertainment industry, where everyone is a shrewd operator, he quickly realized this was likely a ploy to get someone into the cast.

Many directors resent such tactics, but as long as the funding is secured, they often tolerate it. Gu Muchu’s family background was too powerful for him to risk offending.

Wang Hanmo quickly replied:

Not yet confirmed. Does Miss Gu have someone to recommend?

The question was indirect, but it immediately shifted Gu Muchu’s role from actress to investor.

Gu Muchu was well-versed in these unspoken rules. Her finger hovered over the screen as she considered her response.

I have a junior sister from my sect. Her acting skills and temperament are perfect for the role. Please give her a chance.

After typing this, she considered adding a friendly emoji, but decided against it to maintain her image.

Wang Hanmo was flattered that Gu Muchu would lower herself to make such a request, but the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became.

Just an audition? No guarantee of the role? This doesn’t sound like she’s planning to invest at all!

Cautious, he didn’t reject her outright. Instead, he asked for the candidate’s name.

After sending Ji Yuran’s name, Gu Muchu suddenly felt uneasy, a gut feeling telling her this was likely a lost cause.

She had showered Ji Yuran with extravagant praise, even using the lofty title of “fellow disciple” to distance herself, her words dripping with admiration.

In the industry, Ji Yuran might as well have been a ghost. So many aspiring actors floundered in obscurity, barely registering on anyone’s radar.

The other end remained silent for an agonizingly long time. Gu Muchu gripped her phone, feeling the vibration against her fingertip, and quickly unlocked it.

Wang Hanmo’s tone was ambiguous, his hesitant words betraying the outcome. Gu Muchu cut to the chase with a brisk, “No problem.”

She had resources of her own; promoting Ji Yuran wouldn’t be a major undertaking. The real issue stemmed from her recent argument with Gu Yiqiong, whose threat to “cut off your path” was no idle boast.

While Gu Muchu could still navigate these waters, exposing Ji Yuran to Gu Yiqiong’s volatile wrath would undoubtedly make things difficult for the young actress.

Wang Hanmo’s reluctance was understandable. If Ji Yuran auditioned and was rejected, it would be a slap in Gu Muchu’s face. Better to refuse outright with a plausible excuse.

A flurry of messages arrived, like the other party’s desperate attempts to reassure her.

Wang Hanmo: Miss Gu is a shrewd woman. I’ve seen the young lady’s work, and she’s undeniably talented. But let’s be honest, the entertainment industry is all about money. With enough funding, even a complete novice can be molded into a star. No matter how brilliant the performance, if the budget falls short, the lead lacks star power, and there’s no buzz, nobody will watch. Sentimentality is the least valuable commodity—it’s just a gimmick to grab attention. You understand, right?

Wang Hanmo: Miss Gu, we need to make a living too. I’m truly sorry.

Wang Hanmo: But if there’s another opportunity, I’d be delighted to collaborate.

Wang Hanmo: ……

Gu Muchu couldn’t be bothered to read the rest of the lengthy message. Each word pierced her heart like a dagger. She had always believed her reputation and family background would shield her from such setbacks.

A rare sense of frustration washed over Gu Muchu. She exhaled deeply and sank onto the sofa, lost in thought.

Just as her spirits were sinking, a click echoed as the master bedroom door unlocked. Leaning her elbow on her knee, she couldn’t help but look up, meeting Ji Yuran’s gaze as the Omega peeked his head through the doorway.

The anger simmering from Wang Hanmo’s rejection instantly dissipated, the knot in her chest unraveling. Gu Muchu softened her voice and beckoned the Omega over. “Let me see.”

Just moments ago in the master bedroom, Ji Yuran had eagerly torn open the packaging, only to be stunned by the perfectly folded qipao inside. The ochre-red fabric was even more vibrant than autumn’s fiery maple leaves, resembling the crimson tiles of palace walls. When paired with her slender, porcelain-white legs, she looked like glistening frost piled up in winter.

Anxious and self-conscious, she carefully dressed, even adjusting the brooch repeatedly in front of the dressing mirror before finally emerging from the master bedroom.

This “try-on” felt different from the way Alphas usually fussed over delicate dolls in shop windows. It felt more like a silent admiration and affirmation of her worth.

Ji Yuran easily caught the flash of awe in Gu Muchu’s eyes, making her so flustered she didn’t know where to put her hands. She wasn’t a timid person; on the contrary, she possessed an innate pride. Yet every sharp edge of her personality seemed to blunt against Gu Muchu, not by being ground down, but by being effortlessly enveloped in soft, warm cotton. Now, Gu Muchu allowed her to retain her pride, choosing instead to embrace her in a different way.

Around Gu Muchu, Ji Yuran found herself incapable of holding onto any anger.

When Gu Muchu saw Ji Yuran in the qipao, her eyes lit up, and her heart skipped a beat.

Ji Yuran’s striking beauty allowed her to carry off any highly saturated color, especially when she glanced sideways, exuding the untouchable aura of a high-mountain flower. No wonder the Original Self had loathed her wearing such vibrant hues; a single glance could ignite an Alpha’s predatory desire for conquest.

Gu Muchu stared blankly, suddenly realizing she had lost her composure. She cleared her throat, stood up, and silently approached the Omega.

Ji Yuran’s peach blossom eyes widened slightly, her delicate gardenia scent mingling with an indescribable pheromone, swirling around her in wisps.

A moment later, a gentle pressure settled on her shoulder.

The Alpha’s palm, warm through the thin fabric, gripped Ji Yuran’s delicate shoulder, momentarily paralyzing her reaction.

Shorter than Gu Muchu, Ji Yuran’s hair barely reached the bridge of her nose. The Alpha’s voice, soft as spring water murmuring near her forehead, sent shivers down her spine.

“Ji Yuran, have more confidence.”

Gu Muchu’s warm breath brushed across Ji Yuran’s face, her gaze burning across the Omega’s features like a dangerous flame, leaving a crimson flush in its wake.

Ji Yuran’s long lashes trembled like fluttering butterfly wings. The only sound she could hear was the dull thud of her heart against her ribs. Even the slightest gesture from the Alpha could send tidal waves crashing through her senses.

She found it absurd—she hadn’t been like this before…

“Look up at me.”

If the Alpha’s tone had been more forceful, Ji Yuran would have met her gaze without hesitation, instantly transforming the intimate atmosphere into one of tense confrontation.

But it was precisely this suffocating tenderness that made her want to shrink away.

Ji Yuran wasn’t afraid of others disliking her; she was terrified of them being too kind.

Despite her unease, Ji Yuran obediently tilted her chin upward.

Their gazes met, a silent, sticky tension flowing between them.

Ji Yuran could clearly see two tiny figures reflected in Gu Muchu’s eyes.

It was as if Gu Muchu were looking at herself, yet also peering through Ji Yuran, searching for something deeper within her soul.