The Scumbag Who Bowed for Money (GL , ABO) - Chapter 16
“I feel much better after throwing up. I just came to get Director Le,” Xie Yuanwei explained.
She reminded herself that she was an Alpha and could not overstep boundaries, not even slightly. She stood near the restroom door, constantly checking to make sure no one else was approaching.
Her face was tense, and she let out a couple of quiet coughs. “Miss Bai, Director Le and I are engaged.”
Le Shi saw that she was still unwell and quickly walked out to meet her, speaking in a low voice, “Did I get you sick?”
Xie Yuanwei gently squeezed Le Shi’s hand and forced a smile, looking a little pitiful. “No, it’s just my stomach acting up.”
Le Shi frowned and clicked her tongue softly. “Didn’t we agree that if you couldn’t handle alcohol, you shouldn’t drink it? Let’s just go back to the hotel.”
Xie Yuanwei lifted her head with an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, Miss Bai. I’ve caused trouble.”
Bai Zhiqu crossed her arms and gave a short laugh. “Didn’t you used to say you could drink anyone under the table? I know more about you than you think.”
She didn’t leave anyone a chance to interrupt. “What’s an engagement anyway? You haven’t registered it. One word and it means nothing.”
Le Shi turned to look at her. Her expression was calm, her tone polite.
“Miss Bai, it’s true my assistant is unwell. I’m very sorry about tonight. How about we continue the tour tomorrow?”
Bai Zhiqu and Le Shi were the same age, but their energies were completely different. When alone with Xie Yuanwei, Le Shi sometimes showed a bit of temper, but in public, her demeanor was always composed.
Xie Yuanwei sneaked a glance at her. When she was caught, she quickly looked down.
“Forget it. No cure for people blinded by love. Take care, Director Le. I’ll find someone to send you back.”
Le Shi didn’t respond.
“Thank you!” Xie Yuanwei quickly added.
The two of them walked in silence the whole way back. It wasn’t until Le Shi opened the hotel room door and invited Xie Yuanwei inside that she finally exhaled in relief.
“My god, what’s wrong with Bai Zhiqu…” Xie Yuanwei collapsed onto the couch, half lying down, her eyes half-closed. “She nearly scared me to death.”
Hearing Bai Zhiqu talk about giving Le Shi the entire Le Group felt just as shocking as anything. In the original story, the other heroine fought her for Le Shi’s affection. And that heroine had more money, more power, and was incredibly beautiful. Nowadays, with medical technology advancing so quickly, even an Omega in heat could manage with inhibitors.
Le Shi nudged her foot lightly and looked at her with narrowed eyes. “She was close with a few of your exes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she hates your guts.”
She removed her bracelet and earrings, placing them on the table as she leaned back against it. She adjusted the room lighting, making it a little brighter.
“Bai Zhiqu is the type to love fiercely and hate harder. Her last partner cheated, and she made sure they couldn’t find work again. They were practically broken afterward. You’re exactly the type she despises.”
“Our engagement was always going to be hard to keep under wraps. Gossip always finds a way. She probably heard and wants to drive a wedge between us.”
Xie Yuanwei stared up at the ceiling light, covering her eyes with one hand, overwhelmed. What a mess she had landed in.
“I promise… I’ll turn over a new leaf. I’ll never put Director Le in a difficult position again.”
She looked at Le Shi with determination. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
“It’s getting late. Do you want to get some sleep?”
Le Shi shook her head. She had been feeling unwell earlier, but after everything that happened, she was wide awake.
“I’m not tired.” She had taken off all her accessories and casually praised Xie Yuanwei, “You reacted fast. Really quick. Kind of like you were brewed in tea.”
Xie Yuanwei let out a soft laugh. Her voice was quiet as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Director Le gives great compliments. Say more.”
She knew how hollow her own words sounded. It wasn’t just that she had reacted quickly. She was genuinely feeling awful.
Le Shi seemed to notice something. Her expression changed as she stepped forward and asked seriously, “Your stomach really hurts?”
Xie Yuanwei’s lips were pale. She licked them and tried to reassure her.
“It’s fine. I’ll be okay soon. I just drank a little too much too fast.”
But Le Shi didn’t look convinced.
Xie Yuanwei tried to joke, “This trip has been a perfect match. If it’s not you sick, it’s me falling apart.”
“Shut up.”
Le Shi’s tone dropped. “If you’re not feeling well, say so. I’ll go buy you medicine.”
Xie Yuanwei sat up immediately and grabbed her hand, sucking in a breath.
“Actually, Director Le, while you’re at the pharmacy, could you pick up more of your cold medicine too? I saved the name in my phone. The hospital didn’t give enough. Just a two-day supply. And honestly, you don’t look much better.”
By the end of her sentence, she completely overturned her request. Pulling Le Shi close, she gave her a pitiful look and blinked.
“Actually, never mind. I can’t let my sponsor run errands for me. It’s an old condition. It’ll pass.”
Back when she was working, Xie Yuanwei often skipped meals and ate irregularly. One meal a day was normal. By night, when hunger hit, she was too tired to cook. Eventually, she would just ignore it. Over time, it destroyed her stomach. Somehow, the illness had followed her into this new life too.
In the original story, the protagonist was perfectly healthy. Not even a cold.
Le Shi couldn’t leave, not with Xie Yuanwei holding her back like that. The Alpha’s grip was strong, clearly set on stopping her.
She would rather suffer through the pain herself than risk worsening Le Shi’s condition.
Xie Yuanwei finally let go when she saw Le Shi pick up the phone and call the front desk. She let out a small laugh.
“Go shower, Director Le. Tonight we are—”
“You’re staying here,” Le Shi said flatly.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Xie Yuanwei replied like an obedient puppy, lying stiffly on the sofa.
Seeing this, Le Shi finally relaxed and went into the bathroom.
The moment Xie Yuanwei heard the door lock click, she curled up, silently gasping for air as the pain hit her hard. Her stomach spasmed. Dizziness washed over her.
She took several deep breaths and lay there on the couch with one arm over her eyes, trying to ride it out.
Le Shi showered quickly and walked straight to her side afterward.
“Are you okay?” Her voice was tight with concern.
Xie Yuanwei rubbed her face and slowly pushed herself upright.
“I’m fine. Just make sure you dry your hair.”
Her hair was a mess, her eyes barely open. Everything looked blurry. She sat on the couch for another minute or two before standing up.
“I’ll grab my pajamas. I’ll be fast.”
Le Shi could hear how weak her voice had gotten. Still, she simply curled her fingers and lightly played with the hem of her clothes.
She didn’t watch Xie Yuanwei leave. She only heard the door close behind her. Biting her lip, she stood still for a moment but said nothing. Then she quietly picked up the hair dryer and began to dry her hair.
If she doesn’t want help, then so be it.
Xie Yuanwei, meanwhile, had no idea what Le Shi was thinking. She felt a little better now. Grabbing her pajamas, she returned to Le Shi’s room and headed straight for the bathroom.
Le Shi glanced toward the bathroom door for a few seconds, then looked away. She packed up the hair dryer without hesitation, climbed into bed, and once again buried her head under the covers.
As soon as Xie Yuanwei stepped out of the bathroom, she saw the blanket on the bed puffed up like a little hill, completely covering Le Shi from view.
She quietly admired her own recovery. Just a little while ago, she had been in real pain, and now she felt fine. Still, she couldn’t help feeling a bit concerned. Le Shi hadn’t taken her medicine yet. Was she asleep already? If she woke her, would she get annoyed?
Even so, Xie Yuanwei prepared the medicine, brought it to the nightstand, and gently placed it there. She reached out and tugged the blanket, but just as expected, it didn’t move at all.
She could already smell the change in Le Shi’s pheromones. The usual sweet peach scent now carried a sharper, spicier note. Clearly, she was upset.
Xie Yuanwei still thought it was kind of adorable.
“Director Le,” she called softly, but there was no reply. She tried again with a different tone. “Le Shi?”
“Little Director Le?”
“Xiao Shi?”
That last one finally worked. The blanket loosened a bit, and Xie Yuanwei quickly took the chance to pull it down. She then slid the cup of medicine into place by Le Shi’s side, wedging it gently so it wouldn’t spill.
Le Shi didn’t react right away. Her hand was still half-raised, frozen in the motion of trying to grab the blanket.
Because of all the movement, her pajamas had shifted, and the top two buttons had come undone. She hadn’t worn a bra after her shower. Now, the soft curve of her chest and her pale skin were partly exposed.
“You…” Le Shi quickly snapped out of it. She pulled her collar shut with one hand and pushed Xie Yuanwei’s face away with the other. Her voice was a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
“Stop staring.”
Xie Yuanwei replied quietly, “Okay.”
She closed her eyes, trying to erase the image from her mind. But still, she thought to herself, how could someone have such fair skin and a body that perfect?
For a moment, the only sound was the soft rustle of fabric as Le Shi adjusted her clothes.
She cleared her throat and asked, “What are you doing?”
Xie Yuanwei turned her head toward her and held up the cup of medicine. “Drink this. You need it to get better.”
“Did you take your medicine?” Le Shi accepted the cup, then looked toward the desk. “There’s some stomach pills there. Make sure you take one.”
Xie Yuanwei nodded quickly, keeping quiet. She knew she didn’t need to say anything more.
But Le Shi wasn’t easily fooled. She tapped Xie Yuanwei’s arm and said, “Go take one now. I want to see you swallow it.”
“I’m not in a rush,” Xie Yuanwei tried to dodge the order. “You drink yours first. You haven’t looked well all day.”
Le Shi paused, then calmly placed her own cup back on the nightstand.
She didn’t explain, but it clearly worked. Xie Yuanwei’s reaction changed immediately. Her expression gave away every emotion she felt.
“You’re making me feel guilty. Like I’ve let my sponsor down,” she said.
“Fine. I’ll take it.”
She got up, walked over to the desk, picked up a pill, and swallowed it without even drinking water.
Le Shi noticed out of the corner of her eye and finally drank her own medicine.
“Let’s sleep,” she said as she lay back. “You can leave a bit of light on if you want. If not, you can turn it off.”
Xie Yuanwei didn’t mind either way. She dimmed the lights, got into bed, and asked in a quiet voice, “You don’t leave the light on at home.”
Le Shi kept her eyes closed. “I don’t feel very safe in hotels.”
She turned onto her side. Just as she opened her eyes, she found herself face to face with Xie Yuanwei. After a few seconds of silence, Le Shi quickly turned her back and said,
“Turn the lights off.”
“…Alright,” Xie Yuanwei replied.