The Scumbag’s Redemption: Kept by Her (GL) - Chapter 13
Ling Jiao fell silent.
Was this what passed for a righteous and graceful young Alpha? Talking badly about her right in front of her like she didn’t even exist?
She had never met Guan Qing before, but judging by her current behavior, she must be Shen Yuwei’s fiancée. Otherwise, how could she show up so confidently, speaking as if she were extremely close to Shen Yuwei?
Those people who praised her for being refined and elegant must have been blind.
Ling Jiao stared at her and suddenly felt that the suit Guan Qing was wearing looked familiar. It seemed like she had seen it just a moment ago.
Then it clicked.
Her eyes lit up.
That was the same Alpha who had been acting all gentlemanly, supporting another person wearing a formal evening gown.
Before Ling Jiao could say anything, Shen Yuwei was already looking at Guan Qing in front of her.
Something felt off. She was acting differently than usual.
Normally, Guan Qing despised people who gossiped, whether they were Alphas or Omegas. No matter what others were like, she never spoke badly about anyone. If someone had values too different from hers, she simply stayed away from them.
But now, she was gripping her fiancée’s shoulders with both hands, clearly upset. Her expression had lost its usual calm and grace. In her agitation, she forgot to control her strength, and her fingers dug into Shen Yuwei’s shoulders. Shen Yuwei frowned slightly, her lips tightly pressed together, clearly in pain.
Seeing this, Ling Jiao stepped forward and pulled Guan Qing away forcefully, tossing her to the side. A cold light flickered in her eyes, and her tone was sharp and impatient.
“Can’t you see Yuwei is uncomfortable?”
Guan Qing staggered but barely managed to keep her balance. Just as she was about to lash out, she froze at Ling Jiao’s question and quickly turned to look at Shen Yuwei.
The delicate Omega was gently rubbing her shoulder in silence. Her thin frame looked like it could be swept away by a passing breeze.
Guan Qing spoke quickly, trying to explain.
“I was just too worried about you.”
“I’m sorry, Vivi.”
Shen Yuwei lowered her eyes and said softly, “I wasn’t getting close to Ling Jiao. She just happened to pass by. You believed what Wang Ruo said.”
Her words were not a question. They were a statement.
Guan Qing, usually so articulate, now struggled to respond.
“I didn’t believe her. I just care about you too much.”
“I was afraid you would be fooled by someone with bad intentions.”
Ling Jiao’s eyebrows shot up.
“Excuse me? Who exactly are you calling someone with bad intentions?”
Guan Qing seemed to find her target and glared at Ling Jiao.
“If it weren’t for you, would Wang Ruo have made things difficult for Vivi just now?”
“You are an Alpha, standing out in the open with someone else’s fiancée, not keeping your distance, acting far too familiar. Do you have no sense of propriety or decency?”
Ling Jiao laughed and shot back without hesitation.
“That’s rich coming from you. Just now you were tenderly fixing another woman’s dress and her brooch. She linked arms with you and I didn’t see you pulling away. Compared to me, shouldn’t you be the one keeping your distance?”
She turned to Shen Yuwei and said with mock innocence, “I saw her with her arm around another woman’s waist.”
Guan Qing’s expression instantly changed.
“She nearly fell. I was only helping her steady herself.”
Ling Jiao immediately responded.
“I was only speaking to Yuwei from a distance, and you assumed we were having an affair. Meanwhile, you were touching and embracing someone else and still trying to act pure and innocent. Who knows how many people you’ve used that excuse with. Who was lying next to you last night?”
Guan Qing was so furious that she nearly lost the calm she had cultivated for twenty years.
“You are speaking nonsense. Utterly shameless lies.”
Ling Jiao’s lips curved slightly, and her eyes narrowed with a hint of disdain.
“If what happened between you and that woman was innocent, then why did you believe what someone else said the moment you arrived?”
Because your reputation is awful. It’s full of scandal.
Guan Qing’s face twisted with frustration. She looked uncomfortable as she lowered her head and spoke to Shen Yuwei in a soft voice.
“Vivi, I’m sorry. I misunderstood.”
The pain in Shen Yuwei’s shoulder and neck had faded slightly. She shook her head and asked quietly.
“If Ling Jiao hadn’t stepped in just now, if you saw Wang Ruo bullying me, would you have spoken up for me?”
Guan Qing nodded firmly.
“Of course. You are my Vivi. You are the person I love the most. If I don’t stand up for you, then who would I stand up for?”
Anyone could say pretty words.
But the one who actually stood up for Shen Yuwei was Ling Jiao. She was an Alpha with a terrible reputation, someone everyone looked down on, yet no one dared to confront.
Ling Jiao let out a cold laugh, saying nothing in response.
She had clearly seen it just now. Guan Qing had been standing not far behind Wang Ruo, alongside Shen Zhiwen and Shen Xiaoxiao, whom she had met previously.
While Wang Ruo was openly slinging mud at Shen Yuwei, Guan Qing didn’t take any action. No wonder the original book described how easily Wang Ruo had managed to win Guan Qing over. Maybe her feelings for Shen Yuwei were never that deep to begin with.
Now that she had entered the world of the book, she definitely wasn’t going to let Shen Yuwei fall into the same fate. Which meant only one thing. She had to make Shen Yuwei see that Guan Qing was completely unworthy of her trust or affection.
With that thought, Ling Jiao said coolly, “Are you done talking? If you are, please leave. You’re disturbing my enjoyment of the koi and the moonlight.”
Guan Qing looked at Shen Yuwei and said, “Come with me to the front.”
She didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone with Ling Jiao, that shameless troublemaker. Shen Yuwei liked her so much, she would surely listen and follow.
But of course, her plan failed.
There was no way Shen Yuwei would willingly walk into the mess in the front hall. Tonight’s banquet at the Shen residence had drawn many elites and socialites. If she showed up there, she would inevitably be met with scrutinizing and scornful eyes.
Shen Yuwei shook her head. “You go. I want to stay here for a while.”
Guan Qing had come tonight with important matters to handle. She was busy networking with other prominent guests. Ever since it was revealed that Shen Yuwei was not the biological daughter of the Shen family, those who had once envied her for having such a beautiful Omega fiancée had turned against her. Even the family business had taken a hit.
She had to act quickly to preserve those relationships.
With that in mind, she cast a sideways glance at Ling Jiao and said coldly, “This is the Shen residence. If you try anything inappropriate with Yuwei, the Shen family won’t let you off easily. Neither will I.”
Ling Jiao responded with a face that said, “Yes yes yes, now hurry up and leave.”
And just like that, she successfully drove Guan Qing away.
Feeling quite pleased, Ling Jiao grabbed a handful of fish food and tossed it into the pond. Handful after handful, she scattered it across the water. When she finished, she dusted off her hands and smiled.
“I get the feeling Guan Qing is very busy with her business. She didn’t even come find you first after arriving at the Shen residence.”
Shen Yuwei’s expression dimmed slightly.
Ling Jiao rubbed her chin and gave a short laugh, speaking in the tone of someone older and wiser.
“She really doesn’t seem like someone you can rely on for life. My advice, Miss Shen, is to start looking for someone better.”
Shen Yuwei cast her a sidelong glance, her lips curling with self-mockery.
“I’m engaged. And you’re telling me to find someone else?”
“Even if I weren’t, with my current status, who would want to marry a flower vase who brings no benefit to their family?”
Ling Jiao felt her chest tighten and blurted out, “It’s not like you have to get married.”
“At worst… I could support you myself.”
Shen Yuwei looked straight at her and gave a soft laugh.
“Support me? And what would give you the right to do that?”
See? People never stand up well to testing. Especially someone like Ling Jiao, who always says things before thinking them through. But it’s those impulsive words that are often the most sincere.
Her words sounded good. Wanting to be friends, to stand up for her. But in the end, it was all just a pretense. A way to win her over. A way to claim her.
Every so-called gift from fate already has its price secretly marked.
Just as Shen Yuwei was about to look away, she heard Ling Jiao drop a verbal bomb.
“I’m willing to swear by the moon. Today, I vow to become sworn sisters with you. From now on, your problems are my problems.”
“If you don’t believe me, we can seal it with a bl00d oath.”
Shen Yuwei was speechless.