The Scummy Alpha Is Deliberately Marked by the Femme Fatale - Chapter 10

Yan Qi picked up the tie on the table, glanced up at her, and then abruptly leaned in to fasten it around Li Cen’s neck.

She noticed a tear mole under Yan Qi’s left eye, and another beauty mark on the right side of her nose bridge—tiny details that lent a hint of softness to her otherwise calm expression.

Li Cen didn’t know whether those moles were real or just makeup. She simply assumed the makeup artist had drawn them on.

Before departure, the cast still had to gather downstairs for a group photo before starting the day’s trip.

Li Cen was the first to walk over to the van and open the door for Yan Qi. They exchanged a quick look, instantly understanding each other.

[This is so shippable! Li Cen opened the door for Yan Qi!]

[What’s so great about that? It’s just basic manners. Weirdos.]

[If you’re not here to ship couples on a dating show, what are you even doing here? Eating melon seeds?]

[LOL, watching the fans fight is hilarious.]

…

Li Cen and Yan Qi sat in the back while the staff member drove. The whole ride was quiet.

“What do you usually do in your free time, Li Cen?”

Even the staff in the passenger seat couldn’t stand the silence anymore. Li Cen lazily lifted her eyes and replied, “Sleep.”

[Correct! What else would you do if not sleep? Just like us overworked uni students.]

[Don’t you ever go out? So relaxing… Can someone throw a few million at me so I can sleep all day too?]

“What about you, Yan Qi?”

Without even lifting her eyelids, Yan Qi answered bluntly: “Read extensively.”

[What kind of books does Qiqi read?]

[Even with filming, she still has time to read—good student vibes.]

[Unlike Li Cen, who only knows how to sleep, lol.]

[Hey, stop putting one down to lift the other. Can’t she rest in her free time?]

[Yan Qi sure has a lot of brainless stans…]

[“Read extensively,” my ass. I’ve never seen her crack open a book. Anyone can bluff—it’s just talk, strong-jie.]

“What are you two planning to do at the aquarium?” the staff asked.

Li Cen rolled her eyes and blurted, “Whatever I feel like.”

[LMAO, she doesn’t even pretend to care about the show.]

[Probably doesn’t want to hang out with Yan Qi at all. Can’t even fake it.]

[Where are all the #CenQi shippers now? Dead silent.]

Li Cen went back to scrolling through her phone, bored. Yan Qi glanced over but didn’t comment, instead turning toward the camera with a faint smile for the livestream viewers.

[She’s probably texting her “daughter” again—so much sense of security.]

[Honestly, Li Cen only has two things in her brain: sleeping and Fu Ting.]

[Funny how the haters aren’t so loud now.]

Yolo: Senior, what are you doing?

Tsuki: Watching a livestream.

Yolo: Which livestream? I wanna watch too.

Tsuki: The dating show you’re on.

Li Cen’s fingers trembled. A faint smile tugged at her lips, her brow relaxing as her mood lightened—only for panic to hit her an instant later.

[Inner Monologue]

Senior’s watching my dating show. Crap. If she sees me paired up with Yan Qi, will she think she’s my girlfriend? No, no, no! I have to explain this right now.

She focused entirely on her phone, oblivious to how the fluster in her eyes was caught perfectly by Yan Qi.

The viewers noticed too.

[Who’s she texting so frantically?]

[Bet 100 it’s Fu Ting.]

[And people called her a scummy Alpha? Look at her reporting in like an obedient wife.]

Yolo: Senior, don’t misunderstand. Yan Qi and I are just in a contract marriage. We’re not dating.

Yolo: Senior, please don’t ignore me. I’m not lying.

Yolo: Senior, reply to me… (puppy-cry.jpg)

[She’s typing like her keyboard’s on fire.]

[Maybe her “daughter” is ignoring her on purpose.]

[The person above is just making things up. Fu Ting hasn’t even checked her phone since getting in the car, so I doubt Li Cen is talking to her. ]

Yan Qi caught a glimpse and couldn’t help pressing her lips together in a quiet laugh.

[An Alpha whining to an Omega—what a sight.]

[You don’t know? Li Cen’s brother-in-law is a crybaby Alpha too. He literally cried his way into her brother’s arms.]

[Tears—an Alpha’s best dowry.]

[Every time she cries, I get a little thrill. Ahhhh, why can’t she just show up and pick me up for no reason? ]

[This is hilarious! The person above really needs to start using their brain when it comes to love. ]

Tsuki: You’re this old and still cry so much?

Yolo: I’m not crying. My eyes are just dry.

Tsuki: Mm. Take care of yourself. I’ll be back soon.

Yolo: Then… will you go walk Little Jimmy with me?

Tsuki: Of course.

Li Cen grinned foolishly at her screen, excitement practically spilling from her eyes. Yan Qi glanced over, then quickly turned her gaze back to her own phone.

[She looks like a happy husky.]

[Wait, if Fu Ting hasn’t touched her phone since getting in the car… then who’s Li Cen texting?]

[Could it have been Yan Qi? I saw her pick up her phone a few times, like she was replying to messages. ]

[Why bother texting when she could just say it out loud?]

[I get it now—they probably had a fight, then Li Cen went to comfort Yan Qi, but Yan Qi wasn’t having it. Now Li Cen’s been pleading for forgiveness nonstop. My guess is Yan Qi finally texted to say she forgave her, and that’s why Li Cen smiled.

[The person above nailed it! #IfCenandQiaren’ttogether,I’llnevergiveup!]

[This is hilarious—these CP fans looked completely lifeless just a moment ago, and now it’s like they’ve been resurrected after absorbing some mystical energy.]

Yan Qi suddenly tugged at Li Cen’s tie.

Li Cen jerked her head up, wide-eyed, scooting back in alarm.

“What… are you doing?”

“Your tie’s crooked.”

Li Cen looked down. At some point, her tie had loosened, hanging limp against her chest.

Turning to Yan Qi, she warned solemnly, “You can just tell me. I’ll fix it myself.”

Yan Qi thought she meant it—but instead, Li Cen yanked the tie off completely, shoved it at her, and pouted. “Here. Tie it for me.”

[What? I thought she was going to tie it herself—so what happened?]

[Since she tried to stuff in such a big bunch, it ended up forming a wavy pattern.]

[Isn’t this basically some kind of playful act? On the surface, it’s like: Here, I’ll tie it for you; but in private, it’s more like: I’m crying, please tie my tie for me.]

[Somehow, she’s gotten roped into their little game.]

Yan Qi stared at her, meeting Li Cen’s heated gaze, and realized she was serious. She sighed, shifted closer, and began fixing the tie.

Just as she finished, the driver suddenly swerved. Yan Qi grabbed the tie for balance, and Li Cen toppled toward her—pinning her against the seat.

Their lips met.

Li Cen’s mind went blank. Yan Qi flusteredly pushed at her chest, then turned her face away, burying it in her palm.

[Forget “pulling the ribbon.” That was firing a confetti cannon.]

[Shoutout to the driver for feeding us like this.]

[By the way, why did the driver suddenly swerve like that? It scared me half to death—it didn’t feel staged at all.]

Li Cen pushed herself up and gently helped Yan Qi sit straight, but her thoughts lingered on the kiss—soft lips, quick breaths, and the faint sound of the other’s heartbeat pulling her in.

Then she looked out the window… and froze.

“I’ll get out first. You wait here.”

She stepped out, glaring at the man blocking their car.

[What’s going on? That’s not an actor.]

[Can you move the camera in closer? He’s scared we’ll see too much.]

[Damn, are they trying to stir up trouble for Li Cen?]

[Stop arguing—it’s not the end of the world.]

[LOL, the person above is killing me.]

The man—dressed in a heavy black suit—lifted his head, revealing sharp violet eyes.

“Well, well. Li Cen really came on a dating show? That Yan Qi doesn’t look half as good as your Senior.”

“None of your damn business. Blocking my car—want me to fight you?”

He snuffed out his cigarette, smirking. “Relax. Your dear brother just doesn’t want his precious sister stolen away. I’m just here to see what’s so special about Yan Qi.”

“Get lost.”

He leaned closer, slipped a hotel keycard between his fingers, and held it out. “So cold. Here—room key. Don’t forget tonight.”

Li Cen snatched it, kicked him in the shin, and rolled her eyes. “Go away. You’re blocking my filming.”

(Oh my god, what are they talking about? I can’t see a thing with this sunlight.)

(Looks like they’re getting along pretty well, though.)

(That guy looks like the second young master of the Song Group, doesn’t he?)

(No way—how could he be the second young master?)

(The second young master is known for both his good character and top grades; there’s no way he’d be hanging around with Li Cen.)

(This is hilarious—Li Cen’s brother also has good character and top grades, yet he still went to a bar with her and got caught by her brother-in-law.)

(I don’t think so—the second young master and Li Cen don’t seem to have any connection at all.)

As he walked off, Li Cen glanced at the keycard, shoved it into her pocket, and got back into the van.

Silence fell. Her phone chimed.

TiAmo (Song Ci, second young master of Song Group): Tonight. Don’t forget.

Yolo: Bold. Not afraid your husband will drag you home?

TiAmo: Doesn’t matter. He doesn’t like me anyway—doesn’t even know I’m keeping someone outside.