The Villainous Scum Alpha Was Reborn (GL) - Chapter 10

The next day, when Wei Ke’s mint green C20 pulled into the temporary parking spot in front of the flower shop, she seriously began to question her sanity. The woman had made a casual comment just yesterday afternoon, and here she was today, obediently showing up to pick up the flowers.

Looking through the window at the steady stream of people going in and out of the shop, Wei Ke let out a long sigh. But the frustration inside her didn’t ease at all.

“What am I even fussing about? It’s not like I’m not paying for it,” she muttered, trying to talk herself into feeling better. She grabbed a wet wipe, looked into the mirror above, and wiped off the lipstick she had just put on not long ago.

She really must be out of her mind. Driving all this way just to pick up a bouquet of gladiolus was already over the top. But what made it worse was that she even put on makeup just for this.

Unbelievable.

It was just a bouquet of flowers. Was it really worth going through all this trouble?

Green cars weren’t rare on the road, but a matcha green C20 was hard to find even in all of G City. After sending off a customer, Liang Qingqing turned around and noticed that same car was still parked outside.

What was strange was that the car had been sitting there for quite a while, and yet no one had gotten out. She couldn’t help but feel curious. After thinking about it for a moment and confirming to herself that she hadn’t remembered wrong, she walked behind the counter and grabbed her phone. Among the two contacts she had added on the afternoon of the third, she paused for a moment, then selected the one with the nickname that started with the letter K and opened the chat.

Message:
Are you here? I think I saw your car outside. Or did I mistake someone else for you?

Attached photo: A picture taken from behind the counter showing the glass door of the flower shop. Outside, Wei Ke’s car was clearly visible.

Wei Ke saw the message and didn’t respond right away. She stared at the screen, speechless.

Now that she had been directly called out, staying in the car any longer would only make things more awkward.

Reply:
It’s me. I’m coming in now.

As soon as the message was sent, the driver’s side door opened. Wei Ke stepped out, wearing a beige V-neck knitted sweater and loose light brown trousers.

Her long wavy hair reached her chest, and under the sunlight, it shimmered with a warm golden-brown glow. Her fair collarbone peeked out slightly from under her hair. She looked stunning. Even Liang Qingqing, watching from behind the glass door, was caught off guard and couldn’t look away for a second.

Because of the reflection on the glass, Wei Ke didn’t see Liang Qingqing’s expression. As she walked in, she only noticed that the shop owner had turned her head away. For some reason, she got the feeling that Liang Qingqing looked a bit embarrassed and had been avoiding eye contact since she stepped through the door.

Wei Ke felt a little disappointed. She had spent quite some time picking out her outfit and thought the polite shop owner might say something nice about her appearance. But clearly, that was just wishful thinking.

Liang Qingqing kept her head down, organizing some notebooks on the counter. Even after reading Wei Ke’s reply, she didn’t look up. Instead, she pointed toward the top shelf of the display across from her.

“Your flowers are over there. I’m a bit busy right now, so please grab them yourself.”

Wei Ke watched her scribble away with a pen, nodded, and walked over to pick up the bouquet.

“Take care,” Liang Qingqing said quietly. She had quickly glanced at Wei Ke as she reached for the flowers, then looked away again just as fast.

Wei Ke paused. “I haven’t paid yet,” she said, already holding up her phone to scan the payment code.

Without looking up, Liang Qingqing replied, “They’re a gift. Think of it as an apology for making you come here twice.”

“That’s not really necessary. It was just bad timing on my part, not your fault.” Wei Ke didn’t quite understand. Just yesterday, Liang Qingqing was complimenting her, and now she was handing out free flowers? If she did business like this all the time, how could the shop possibly survive?

Liang Qingqing waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. If you really feel bad, just come back and buy flowers more often.”

Wei Ke thought about it, then nodded. “Alright then. Thank you. I’ll be heading out now?”

“Okay. Take care.” Liang Qingqing’s pen moved even faster than before.

Wei Ke figured she really must be busy and didn’t want to take up more of her time. She opened the door and left.

By the time she got home with the gladiolus bouquet, the sun was already setting. The warm orange light poured through the balcony and into the living room, casting a soft glow on her and the flowers in her arms.

It was the kind of moment Jiang Ying would call absolutely picture-perfect.

Wei Ke saw sunsets like this almost every day, sometimes even more breathtaking ones. She was used to it by now. After stepping inside, she looked around carefully. From the entryway to the kitchen, from the guest bathroom to the balcony, every area had fresh flowers that had been professionally arranged. Even the sunflowers she had randomly placed still stood upright and lively.

In a place filled with flowers already, she truly had no idea where to put this new bouquet.

She stood in front of the sofa and thought for a while, then decided to place the soft-colored gladiolus on the coffee table.

After putting the bouquet down, she flopped onto the sofa, picked up the remote, and turned on the television. She was still deciding what to watch when her phone rang again.

It was a call from Jiang Ying.

Wei Ke glanced at the time, frowned slightly, and answered the call.

“You at home? I’m on my way over. Let’s go out for drinks tonight,” said Jiang Ying. She had been missing for two days, and now she sounded full of energy, like she had just downed an energy drink. Even through the phone, Wei Ke could feel her high spirits.

Clearly, those two days hadn’t tired her out at all. In fact, she seemed to have recharged completely.

Wei Ke opened a trending variety show and started watching. She glanced at her phone, said just two words, then hung up.

Inside the elevator, Jiang Ying clicked her tongue and slipped her phone into her pocket. She muttered something to herself as she stepped out, changed into house slippers, and pressed her hand to the smart lock.

Hearing the lock turn, Wei Ke didn’t even look back. She just raised three fingers toward the entryway.

“I’ll give you one chance to take back all that nonsense you just said.”

Jiang Ying looked over and saw Wei Ke’s hand, with only the middle finger still up. She silently pulled a face at her.

“No drinks? What are you doing, watching some silly show at home?”

Wei Ke shot her a glare. “You should stay away from alcohol. One day someone’s going to spike your drink, and you’ll be done for. No one will believe you.”

“Someone spike my drink? That would be the last mistake they ever make,” Jiang Ying scoffed, walking straight to the kitchen like she owned the place and poured herself a glass of water.

Wei Ke heard her response and rolled her eyes. She exited the variety show and switched to an old movie instead.

After finishing her water, Jiang Ying walked over and sat down next to Wei Ke. She pointed dramatically at the bouquet on the table.

“What’s this? Who are you giving flowers to?”

“Why does it have to be me giving them to someone?” Wei Ke shifted to the side. “Why can’t someone have given them to me?”

“Fair point. But I haven’t noticed anyone around you with that kind of interest,” Jiang Ying said. She leaned over, pulled the flowers toward her, and searched carefully. There was no card.

“Who gave them to you? Gladiolus? Not bad. They’ve got taste.” Jiang Ying gave her a teasing smile and winked.

Wei Ke glanced at her and couldn’t be bothered to respond. “I bought it myself. Didn’t your mom say this flower brings good luck? I feel like I really need some luck right now, so I bought a bouquet to keep around. Do you have a problem with that?”

Jiang Ying shrugged. “Not if you put it that way.” She stood up and placed the flowers back where they were.

There were only so many classic films worth watching. After a while, they all felt the same. Just a few minutes in, Jiang Ying grabbed the remote and turned off the television.

“Let’s go out for a walk. I know you’re feeling down. If you don’t want to drink, then you decide what we do. I’ll go with you. Things were hectic at home these past couple of days, and I didn’t have time to check on you. I want to say I’m sorry.”

“I’m not that petty. Don’t try to make it sound like I am,” Wei Ke said as she pulled her hand out of Jiang Ying’s grip. “Let’s skip the drinks. Jiang Ying, I really think a bit less nightlife would be healthier for you. You always say your cycles are irregular, right? With how messed up your sleep schedule is, no wonder they are. For your own health, let’s stay in tonight. Be good.”

Jiang Ying had no comeback.

“What do you want to eat for dinner then?” she asked after a pause, clearly giving up without a fight.

Wei Ke replied with a question. “What do you want?”

Jiang Ying acted like she was thinking hard, then asked with a hopeful smile, “How about Not Drunk Tavern on Donghai West Road?”

Wei Ke gave her a sharp look. “Can you not eat a meal without alcohol?”

“Then why are you so against me drinking all of a sudden? Is it because of the time you passed out? But you were the one who passed out, not me,” Jiang Ying said, confused. “It’s fine if my parents give me a lecture at home, but now you’re doing it too?”

“Do you really want to know?” Wei Ke asked.

Jiang Ying nodded.

“I had a dream. In the dream, you drank yourself to death on New Year’s Eve.”

Jiang Ying replied without hesitation. “No way.” Being sentenced to death just because of a dream was ridiculous.

“With the way you drink and stay up all night, I think it’s possible,” Wei Ke said honestly. She did not want to believe it either, but she could not bear the thought of watching Jiang Ying die again.

Jiang Ying thought for a moment, then asked, “Did they do an autopsy in your dream? Did a professional confirm the cause of death?”

“What?” Wei Ke was speechless for a few seconds. Then she snapped. “Jiang Ying.”

Jiang Ying shouted back. “Wei Ke, let me make one thing clear. I, Jiang Ying, enjoy drinking, but that doesn’t mean I’m an alcoholic. I always drink the least out of everyone, and I’m the one who calls the cabs and makes sure everyone gets home. Don’t curse me like that. Don’t accuse me of things that aren’t true. I’m not going to die from drinking, not in this lifetime.”

Wei Ke stared at her for a long moment before angrily saying, “Jiang Ying, what do you mean you drink the least? You better explain that.”

It had always been Jiang Ying who organized the hangouts, led the toasts, drank the most, and was the first to say she could not hold her liquor. How could she now claim she drank the least and handled everything afterward?

Jiang Ying realized she had said too much. She awkwardly lowered her head and looked around, trying to avoid Wei Ke’s eyes. When she realized there was no escape, she turned and tried to run. But Wei Ke grabbed her by the collar from behind, almost choking her.

“If you don’t explain everything, don’t even think about leaving this apartment,” Wei Ke said coldly, her voice close to Jiang Ying’s ear.

Jiang Ying went quiet.

Three minutes later, Wei Ke had not even started questioning her, and Jiang Ying had already confessed everything.

It turned out that this so-called party girl had always been faking it.

Wei Ke slapped her on the shoulder. “So, you were watering down your drinks with soda the whole time? You had all these tricks and didn’t say a word? You were putting on a whole show just for fun, right? We’ve known each other for so many years, and I never knew you had such a flair for drama. Have you ever considered seeing a doctor?”

Jiang Ying looked embarrassed and stayed silent.

Wei Ke felt her anger growing, but at the same time, she also felt a strange sense of relief. In her previous life, she had been so focused on exposing Bai Ruoya that she barely stayed in touch with Jiang Ying in the last two months before she died. When she got the news that Jiang Ying had passed, she had been out of town chasing leads so, she never really knew what had happened.

Now that she had learned this little secret, she felt reassured. At least it showed Jiang Ying most likely did not die from health problems, but from something else. That made Wei Ke feels much more at ease.

Natural disasters are hard to avoid, but when it comes to human threats, at least you can fight back.