The Scummy Alpha Is Deliberately Marked by the Femme Fatale - Chapter 2

By the time Ge Fu arrived, her older brother was sprawled drunkenly across the sofa, dead to the world. Li Cen sat at the hot pot table, expressionless, dipping ingredients into the bubbling broth. Little Jimmy, their dog, trotted over with a slipper in his mouth and rubbed against Ge Fu’s leg.

Ge Fu bent down, gave Jimmy a light scratch on the head, murmured a “thanks,” and walked into the living room.

Inside, Ge Fu found Li Qingze slumped on one side, clutching a teddy bear in one arm and a wine glass in the other, muttering incoherently.

“Sorry, Xiao Cen. He must be bothering you.”

“It’s nothing. Just take my brother away before he starts another scene.”

As soon as she spoke, Ge Fu hauled her brother upright. With flushed cheeks, he squinted at Ge Fu, pinched his face, and slurred, “Wow… this male model is so handsome. Totally my type. Love it. I’ll book you for the whole night.”

Then, puckering his soft, pink lips, he fished a bank card from his pocket and stuffed it into Ge Fu’s jacket. Li Cen noticed that Ge Fu’s expression instantly darkened—like someone who’d just been kicked into a foul-smelling ditch for no reason.

Ge Fu pinched Li Qingze’s cheek lightly, trying to rouse him a little. But her brother only pouted faintly, buried his face against Ge Fu’s chest, and looped his arms around Ge Fu’s neck.

Good luck, bro. Your little sister can only watch you get dragged away now.

That night, Li Cen drifted off into a hazy sleep. The next morning, she was jolted awake by a call from her manager, He-jie. Her head was heavy, her voice hoarse. She licked her dry lips, still half-asleep.

Before she could gather her thoughts, she was rushing to the company. The moment she arrived, He-jie informed her that she’d already accepted a job for her—a “romance variety show.” In truth, it was a dating program disguised as a couple’s variety show, meant to create sparks between participants.

Li Cen blinked at her in disbelief. “Wait, what? I’m already legally married—why would I join a dating show?”

“You’re so naïve. This is to smooth things over between you and your rival’s fans. A little interaction, a little chemistry, and the nasty comments will die down on their own. Who knows, maybe you two will actually end up together.”

Li Cen laughed dryly. “You think too highly of me. That Omega? No one would like someone like her. Always stone-faced, keeps everyone a thousand miles away. Just thinking about her expression—ugh, chills. I still prefer flirtatious, sultry older-sister types. That frosty kind really isn’t my style.”

“In my mind, Omegas are supposed to be soft and sweet. She’s like a block of ice—who can handle that? Swallowing it would choke me to death. Now, that rising young starlet? She’s adorable. Too bad she’s just a silly little bunny.”

Outside the door, Yan Qi had been about to knock, script in hand. Her raised fist froze in mid-air. Without a word, she turned and walked away.

Inside, Li Cen went on, unfazed. “Still, I have to admit—she’s capable. More suited to be my boss than my partner.”

“Wow, you’re such a sweet talker. I bet she’d be over the moon to hear you call her such a principled Alpha.”

“I’ve praised her this much already. Can’t I skip this?”

In response, He-jie rapped her on the head, pushed up her glasses, and shoved the contract toward her. “You’re going. No discussion.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Li Cen closed her eyes wearily, scratching her messy hair. “Fine, fine.”

She didn’t want to make things difficult for He-jie. From the moment she’d taken Li Cen on, He-jie had stayed by her side. While other managers gossiped or spread rumors online, He-jie simply did her job.

The afternoon sun was blinding. With her long, crimson hair tied in a high ponytail, Li Cen’s bangs were split in a slightly messy 3:7 part, stray wisps dancing in the breeze.

She pushed up her sunglasses, her aurora-gray eyes lowering in a half-smile as she bid the driver goodbye. He-jie stood beside her, chattering nonstop.

Impatient, Li Cen unbuttoned the top of her shirt, revealing the pale curve of her collarbone. A choker glinted at her neck as she scanned her surroundings warily.

Inside the venue, staff bustled about. Her deep red hair drew attention the moment she entered.

Scanning the room, she saw no guests had arrived yet, so she chose a quiet corner to sit. Crossing one leg over the other, she lowered her head and flipped through the script.

There were only six participants: herself; top star Yan Qi; rising starlet Fu Ting; “Third Princess” Song Tan; lead singer Jiang Shiyi; and girl group main dancer Lu Qian.

Li Cen knew none of them personally. In this messy industry, it was best to keep her distance.

Her gaze lingered on Fu Ting’s page—soft pink hair tied with green ribbons, half-up fishtail braids cascading down, like a rose blooming in a summer garden. With her delicate, youthful features, she looked like a peach-flavored pudding—sweet enough to catch anyone’s eye.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before a pale, slender hand waved in front of her face. Li Cen looked up.

The person from the photo stood before her in the flesh. Snapping the script shut, she flushed faintly at the ears, unsure if the girl had seen the photo tucked inside.

The surprise faded, replaced by curiosity and mild confusion. On the first day of filming, Fu Ting approached her to chat and exchange contact info. Li Cen couldn’t help wondering if this would spark rumors.

“Cen-jie, can I have your contact info?”

The soft, syrupy voice sent a shiver down her spine. Meeting Fu Ting’s bright, dewy eyes, she shot to her feet, pressing a fist lightly against her lips as if in thought.

Fu Ting leaned in on tiptoe, speaking in a whisper as though afraid others might overhear. Li Cen’s ear tingled, turning a faint pink.

“If I add you on WeChat, Yan Qi-jie won’t mind, right? I just need it because the script has scenes between us.”

At the mention of Yan Qi, Li Cen nearly refused—but then reminded herself they weren’t actually a couple. She talked herself into agreeing.

In the end, impulse won over reason, and she exchanged contacts with Fu Ting.

“Mind? We’re just chatting.”

She smiled warmly, reaching out to ruffle Fu Ting’s hair. Their laughter and chatter didn’t escape the notice of Yan Qi, sitting not far away.

Her assistant, Ze An, bent down to ask if she wanted to intervene. Yan Qi only glanced at Li Cen, said nothing, and kept reading her script in the corner.

Watching them, Yan Qi felt a flicker of regret for letting Li Cen join the show—but another thought soon replaced it.

Never mind. She’ll understand eventually.

When the director called everyone for a group photo, Li Cen and Fu Ting went together.

The show was being livestreamed. Before the official broadcast, the director wanted the guests to gather, banter, and answer audience questions to build hype—without telling them the cameras were already rolling.

Li Cen moved a chair and gestured for Fu Ting to sit. Fu Ting covered her mouth shyly, cheeks flushed. “Thank you, Cen-jie.”

【?? Director, what’s this? Is Li Cen already flirting on set?】

【Pure little sister, don’t let the fox seduce you!】

【Come on, this is just basic manners—she probably thought it was rude to sit first.】

【…Actually, that does make sense.】

Sitting beside Fu Ting, Li Cen smirked, pulled off her sunglasses with one hand, and hooked them onto her collar. Her eyes glittered like broken starlight, locked entirely on Fu Ting.

【Was that… hot?】

【Yes! That careless swagger with the smirk—】

【If she wasn’t such a player, I’d be done for.】

【Calm down, people! The main CP hasn’t even shown up yet.】

As the other guests took their seats, Yan Qi shrugged off her suit jacket and strode onto the stage in black stilettos with red soles.

Noticing an empty seat next to her, Li Cen guessed it was for Yan Qi. She stood, pulled out the chair for her. They exchanged a brief glance before Yan Qi turned away, sitting in silence.

【Polite… but not overly so?】

【She only pulled out chairs for Yan Qi and Fu Ting—other guests, please accept my condolences.】

The MC introduced the live format and explained the warm-up Q&A.

Li Cen snuck a sideways glance at Yan Qi. The professional smile she wore made Li Cen’s skin prickle. She wasn’t sure if it was discomfort from Yan Qi’s smile or simply the cold blast of the AC.

Just then, Fu Ting tugged her sleeve. Li Cen’s gaze shifted instantly.

“Cen-jie, isn’t it a little cold?”

That settled it—it was the AC. Wearing a floral dress, Fu Ting had it worse. The stage’s camera angles weren’t kind to women in skirts either. Yan Qi’s gown had a high slit that would flash her thigh from certain angles.

“Director, where did you buy this AC? Feels like Harbin in winter!”

Raising her hand, she called out while swaying dramatically.

“I’ll be right back—keep rolling without me.”

The room fell awkwardly silent.

【Wow, what a diva.】

【Why is she the only one complaining?】

【We praised her manners earlier—taking it back.】

Minutes later, she returned with several blankets, handing them to each guest. When she passed one to Yan Qi, her hand brushed Yan Qi’s—cold to the touch. Reflexively, she clasped it briefly.

【See? She’s just using this to hit on my girl.】

【Classic player move—sweet at first, then gone the next day.】

Snapping out of it, she quickly let go, murmured an apology. Yan Qi didn’t respond, only draped the blanket over her lap with a faint smile.

The Q&A began.

Audience: “Li Cen, why not go home and inherit your family fortune?”

“Because I don’t want to. Waking up in an empty apartment, eating, playing, sleeping—over and over. It’s boring.”

【Wow, must be nice.】

【Not you using boredom as a flex.】

Audience: “Yan Qi, what’s your biggest regret?”

Yan Qi’s smile faded, brows knitting.

Li Cen, watching, thought, Probably that night she took me back to the hotel. Must’ve regretted it ever since.

But Yan Qi’s answer was different.

“Not coming back to the country sooner to see her. I regret that the most.”

【Is she talking about the one?】

【Her true love is her unattainable white moonlight—Li Cen is just an accident.】

Li Cen frowned. From Yan Qi’s profile, she knew she’d lived abroad, meeting domestic acquaintances only online. So… an online friend she’d never met?

Audience: “Fu Ting, do you have someone you like?”