The Villainous Scum Alpha Was Reborn (GL) - Chapter 20.1

Ever since Chen Ning heard Liang Qingqing confess her feelings, she had been preparing to meet the mysterious alpha behind it all.

For two days straight, she did nothing else except nag Liang Qingqing nonstop.

“Take me with you, please?”
“Let me meet her?”
“I can help judge if she’s good enough.”

As the agreed time drew near, Liang Qingqing finally gave in to Chen Ning’s relentless pestering and started a group chat on WeChat.

While typing, she sent a warning.
“I’m just saying this now, if she’s not comfortable meeting, you can’t blame me.”

“Of course not,” Chen Ning replied with a grin and a nod. Though in her mind, she was thinking, how could she possibly refuse? Most polite people wouldn’t say no to a request like this.

In fact, when Nan Ke saw the message, she didn’t even consider turning it down. It wasn’t about being polite. She just felt it was reasonable. There were two of them on one side, and Liang Qingqing was technically the host. It made sense she might want to bring a friend. Given they weren’t exactly close yet, being cautious was fair. Nan Ke simply replied with an “OK” emoji.

Jiang Ying looked at her phone and pouted.

“Her friend really knows how to show up at the worst time. Ruined my moment.”

Nan Ke gave a soft laugh.
“Relax. If you really want to come, I’ll count you in.”

Jiang Ying cheered and walked ahead.
“That’s why I love hanging out with you.”

That evening, Liang Qingqing chose an old, well-known Korean barbecue spot. Coincidentally, it was the same place Nan Ke and Jiang Ying loved to visit.

Strangely enough, despite all of them being regulars at the same restaurant, they had never run into each other before. Call it fate or coincidence, there was definitely something meaningful in that missed timing.

After sitting down, Jiang Ying watched Nan Ke hand the menu to Liang Qingqing without hesitation. She smiled helplessly but also took the initiative to order two bottles of the restaurant’s signature rice wine out of loyalty and sisterhood.

Sitting next to Liang Qingqing, Chen Ning was immediately struck by how attractive Nan Ke and Jiang Ying were. Having recently gone through a breakup, she might have taken the opportunity to get to know someone new—if Jiang Ying’s eyes didn’t remind her so much of Zhou Tengteng’s.

Unfortunately, Zhou Tengteng had left too deep a scar. Whenever Chen Ning saw even the slightest resemblance, she was instantly pulled back into reality. No more getting carried away.

Memories were one thing. Heartache was another. But she knew where to draw the line.

Seeing Chen Ning calm down, Liang Qingqing finally felt at ease. Truthfully, Jiang Ying only looked a little like Zhou Tengteng. Maybe just the eye shape. That was it.

She had been worried Chen Ning might fall for someone only to find out later that person already had a partner. That would have been a mess.

Jiang Ying had given her the impression of being a charming flirt from the start. The way she confidently picked out flowers and even bought a bouquet of baby’s breath had screamed, “I know how to win over girls.”

A heartbreaker like that was better admired from a distance.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ying, now pouring rice wine for the two pretty omegas across the table, had no idea what the others were thinking. If she had, she probably would have coughed up bl00d from frustration.

Nan Ke couldn’t handle spicy food, so she quietly took the tongs and focused on grilling the marinated meat on oil paper. She was fully committed to the role of grill master.

Once she picked up the tongs, she never set them down. Jiang Ying watched her with wide eyes, silently concluding that Nan Ke must be falling for someone.

How else could she explain this unusual dedication?

Both Liang Qingqing and Chen Ning noticed Nan Ke’s constant care. She hadn’t touched much food herself and was placing all the grilled meat into their bowls with serving chopsticks.

They exchanged a glance and acted quickly.

Liang Qingqing picked up her chopsticks and, without hesitation, placed a juicy slice of grilled meat into Nan Ke’s bowl.

Chen Ning followed up with a playful question.
“Nan Ke, you’re so thoughtful. Did your girlfriend teach you how to take care of people like this?”

Nan Ke had just been about to give Liang Qingqing a piece of meat when she heard Chen Ning’s question. Without thinking, she replied honestly.
“I’ve never had a girlfriend.”

That sentence made all three of them freeze.

But the reason for their surprise was different for each of them.

Liang Qingqing thought, “What? No girlfriend? Then maybe… wife?”

Jiang Ying thought, “Already sharing this? Are they going to think my Nan Ke isn’t charming enough?”

Chen Ning thought, “No girlfriend? Maybe she likes male omegas?”

Nan Ke blinked and looked down at the slice of spicy meat, then calmly picked up her glass of rice wine and took a sip, trying to ease the awkwardness.

To be honest, when she saw the stunned look on Liang Qingqing’s face, she felt a little panicked. Had she said something wrong?

Chen Ning nudged Liang Qingqing under the table and spoke first, smiling.
“No, it’s not weird. Just surprising. You’re attractive and kind. It’s hard to believe no one’s snatched you up yet.”

Jiang Ying didn’t look as relaxed. She glanced warily at the two women across the table and forced a smile.

“Exactly. She has so many admirers, but she’s super picky. Her standards are sky high.”

Liang Qingqing’s heart, which had felt a sharp sting, slowly relaxed. Her smile softened, but her mind was now caught on something else.

Nan Ke was clearly an excellent alpha in both appearance and background. High standards made perfect sense. But compared to that, how did she measure up?

Chen Ning, having just dealt with a messy breakup, easily picked up on the subtle tones in Jiang Ying’s words. She straightened up and patted Liang Qingqing’s shoulder with confidence.

“Exactly. Qingqing’s the same. Love has always been about timing and connection. Sometimes, when it’s right, it just happens. And when it’s not, no matter how perfect someone is, it just doesn’t work.”

“True,” Jiang Ying agreed, raising her glass and clinking it with Chen Ning’s. She waved the waiter over and ordered two more bottles of rice wine.

Nan Ke and Liang Qingqing exchanged a glance, then each picked up a slice of grilled meat. Despite the spice spreading through their mouths, they lifted their glasses and tapped them together gently.

By the end of dinner, all four had a soft blush on their cheeks. As they stepped out of the restaurant, a light drizzle was falling from the sky.

The autumn wind was cool, brushing their cheeks and leaving the tips of their noses slightly red.

Jiang Ying walked to the curb and opened the rear door of a black Bentley. With a gentleman’s gesture, she smiled and said,
“Drinking and driving is a no-go. Give us alphas a chance to show off a little, will you?”

Although Chen Ning did not feel any particular affection for Jiang Ying, she would not refuse the chance to be friends.

She glanced at the Bentley’s interior, thanked Liang Qingqing as she was pulled inside, and got into the car.

Jiang Ying immediately gave Nan Ke a meaningful look, as if to say, “Hurry up and get in. Opportunities are for those who are prepared. You have to grab them when you can.”

Nan Ke said nothing, but her expression showed speechless disbelief. For someone as clever as Jiang Ying to still be single really did feel like a cosmic injustice.

Jiang Ying opened the door and got into the front passenger seat, while Nan Ke slipped into the back seat where Liang Qingqing had left a space for her.

The driver that night seemed either distracted or in a foul mood. His driving was rough, with sudden stops and sharp turns that jolted the passengers around. Nan Ke, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Liang Qingqing, was shaken so much that she instinctively wanted to reach out and hold her for balance. But every time she was about to, she forced herself to stop. She held back so hard that even in the cool night air, sweat began to form on her forehead.

When Chen Ning and Liang Qingqing got out of the car, Nan Ke finally could not hold back anymore and asked, trying to stay calm, “Did Uncle Chen have some drinks tonight too?”

Uncle Chen glanced awkwardly into the rearview mirror, looking at both Nan Ke and Jiang Ying in the front seat, then continued driving without a word.

Jiang Ying turned slightly toward the back and sighed softly. “That tone of yours makes it feel like all my careful planning was wasted. Nan Ke, this is not how you win someone over.”

Nan Ke looked at her with clear irritation. “If you’re so good at it, go flirt with someone straight out of the womb.”

Jiang Ying, hit where it hurt, fell silent. She scoffed, leaned back in her seat, and looked out the window, sulking as she waited to be comforted.

But Nan Ke, who saw right through her mood, ignored her all the way until they reached the residential complex gate.

The two of them went home with their own thoughts occupying their minds.

The rain was starting to fall more heavily from the sky.

As Nan Ke walked toward the gate, the facial recognition unlocked the entrance just as the security booth staff reached out and handed her a transparent umbrella.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, taking the umbrella and walking home across the wet pavement.

The property management of her neighborhood was thoughtful. Whenever it rained and residents returned without umbrellas, they would offer one immediately. They even placed umbrella stands inside the elevators and later collected them after the rain stopped. It was little details like this that made it hard for her to give up on this apartment.

When Nan Ke got home, the rain had grown heavy enough that it drummed loudly against the windows.

After a rainy night like this, the temperature would surely drop again. She stood by the window for a moment, thinking of how Liang Qingqing had placed her hand on her knee during the car’s sudden stop, and smiled to herself.

Strangely, that spot on her knee still felt faintly warm.

Nan Ke laughed quietly at her own thoughts for a while, then turned and picked up her phone. She sent Jiang Ying a thank-you sticker with a heart and then opened Liang Qingqing’s WeChat.

She had always thought Liang Qingqing’s Moments were just for work, filled with bouquets she had arranged. She assumed it was a business account for clients. But clearly, she had overthought it. Liang Qingqing simply did not post much about her personal life.

Nan Ke typed a message, then hesitated. She erased it word by word, then tapped into Liang Qingqing’s profile and opened her Moments.

The first post was just fifteen minutes old.

There was no caption, only a photo of a succulent plant wet from the rain. The picture was beautiful. The pink “Peach Beauty” succulent looked round and lovely with drops of water clinging to it.

Nan Ke was not one to keep plants, but back in school, she had learned about some varieties thanks to classmates who loved them. Maybe it was because of her current mood, but the little plant looked especially cute. As she kept looking at it, she couldn’t help but think of Liang Qingqing’s smiling profile. Without realizing it, she smiled and tapped the like button.

When Liang Qingqing got home, she went straight to the balcony to check on her plants. Seeing that they were all in good shape, she went to shower. When she finally lay in bed and checked her phone, she saw that Nan Ke had liked her post. A soft, indescribable warmth filled her chest.

She smiled, turned on her side, hugged her dog-shaped pillow, and hid her face with the blanket as she giggled quietly.

Nan Ke had always been someone different in her heart. While lying under the covers, she remembered how the car suddenly braked and she almost fell into Nan Ke’s arms. Her cheeks flushed pink once again.

She giggled like a child one moment and tried to act serious the next. Her emotions tugged her in both directions. Eventually, when she realized how ridiculous she was being, she thought to herself that she must have had too much to drink tonight. Otherwise, why would her face keep burning over and over again?

Compared to Liang Qingqing’s flustered emotions, Nan Ke was much calmer. She stayed in her study for another two hours before coming out to take a shower and rest.

However, while some enjoyed happiness, others were not so lucky.

Bai Ruoya, who had always stood opposite to Nan Ke, was having a terrible night. She lay tossing and turning in her hospital bed, overwhelmed with anxiety and frustration.

Ever since Wei Huan had told her they were over and left, her tears had not stopped. They fell like broken beads, one after another, until her eyes were sore and aching. By the time night fell, her tears had finally dried up, but the swelling remained obvious.

Now that the rain outside had begun to pour, her already red eyes began to moisten again.

Bad weather always seemed to make sadness feel even heavier.

Bai Ruoya pressed the back of her hand against her eyelids and breathed slowly, thinking about her situation and everything she still seemed to have.

After graduation, she found a job that matched her major, but the company was small. Last year, due to poor management, the company nearly collapsed from a broken financial chain. It had since been acquired by Wei Huan. Because of him, she had been promoted to a position that paid well and required little effort.

That job was still very important to her. She could not afford to lose it. She knew that Wei Huan was not the type to mix business with personal matters and would not fire her just because they broke up. Still, she felt uneasy.

The higher-ups at the company, aware of her relationship with Wei Huan, had treated her with special care. Now that she was no longer his girlfriend, she had no protection. Even if Wei Huan would not harm her, she could not be sure others would not take advantage of the situation.

And the apartment she lived in was also bought by Wei Huan. Though she had lived there long enough for the neighbors and property staff to see her as the owner, it still was not hers. Now that the relationship was over, she would eventually have to move out.

Lan Zifan’s one-bedroom apartment was nice enough, but compared to the spacious four-bedroom unit, it was a massive downgrade.

She had been pampered since childhood. With her current salary, she could never maintain the lifestyle she had with Wei Huan. That was simply impossible.

More importantly, she truly loved him. Otherwise, she would not have cried so long after hearing him say they were over.

No matter how she looked at it, she could not afford to let go.

She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling light. Her thick lashes were still wet with tears. Under the glow, they shimmered like tiny crystals, making her look even more delicate and pitiful.

Unfortunately, there was no audience to witness her sorrow. Looking like this brought her no comfort and did nothing to help her.

After much thought, Bai Ruoya sent Lan Zifan a text from her personal phone.
“Wei Huan will always be the person I love the most. Lan Zifan, I cannot accept you. From now on, let’s stop being friends. I wish you happiness.”

Lan Zifan received the message while she was drying her hair in front of the bathroom mirror. Her phone was resting on the shelf below the mirror, playing a movie. When she saw the heart-labeled contact appear in the notification bar, she frowned, turned off the hair dryer, and opened the message.

She had expected this day ever since the first time she and Bai Ruoya kissed with abandon. She thought it would come quickly, yet Bai Ruoya had stayed by her side through a winter and a summer, then another winter and summer. And now, finally, it arrived in the middle of autumn.

Lan Zifan wiped the corner of her eye, closed the message screen, and quietly stepped out of the bathroom.

After sending the message, Bai Ruoya deleted Lan Zifan from her WeChat contacts. She also erased all their photos from her phone and made sure there was no trace of them left. Once everything was gone, she sat up in bed, her eyes filled with tears, and tried to call Wei Huan.

As she expected, she had been blocked. She looked for his WeChat account and tried to send a message, but a red exclamation mark popped up on the screen. It told her the message had been rejected, and at the same time reminded her that it was not just the message that was being turned away.

Bai Ruoya looked up, holding back tears, got out of bed, and changed out of her hospital gown. She wrapped herself in a scarf that used to belong to Wei Huan, left her hospital room, and ordered a ride to his company.

She had thought about going to the Wei family’s house first, but then realized she could not let his parents know what she had done. If they found out, they would never speak on her behalf. Any parent would protect their own child. In fact, they might even become another barrier between her and Wei Huan. But she also remembered his younger sister, who truly was a unique person.

Bai Ruoya gave a bitter smile and began analyzing Wei Huan’s character again.

After being together for years, she knew how he operated. He was someone who only shared good news and kept his pain to himself. Even though their relationship had just ended, he definitely would not have told his family. But something so serious was bound to affect his mood. He was likely still at the office, working overtime. If she acted fast, she might catch him. And this rain, in some strange way, felt like heaven’s way of helping her.

When she arrived at the building where Wei Huan worked, the rain had reached its heaviest point.

Standing in the downpour, she looked up at the lit windows above. She pulled out her phone and called his assistant, Wen Hai. The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered. She could guess it was under Wei Huan’s orders. Wen Hai did not dare pick up.

After the call disconnected, she lowered her head and sent him a few text messages. Even if he could not take the call, he would at least read those messages.

She sent three messages in a row. Then she lifted her head, staring up at the lighted floor, standing completely still.

The rain poured down her body, soaking her clothes through to the skin. The temperature was not what it had been a few weeks ago. The weather had grown colder. A cold wind blew, and her body trembled from the chill.

When Wei Huan finally walked out into the rain with Wen Hai holding an umbrella beside him, Bai Ruoya was already on the verge of collapsing.

She had just suffered a miscarriage and had not even finished her recovery period. Standing in the rain like this was far too much for her.

“Bai Ruoya, why are you doing this to yourself?” Wei Huan’s voice was cold, but the fact that she came down in person already showed she still had some soft spot in her heart.

Bai Ruoya opened her eyes when she saw Wei Huan and forced a small smile. Her voice was low as she said, “I’m sorry, Wei Huan. I was wrong. Let me explain everything to you.”

But as soon as she said those words, her body gave out and she collapsed.

They had been together for nearly six years. No matter what had happened, Wei Huan could not just stand by and watch her fall. His instincts kicked in, and he stepped forward to catch her, holding her steady in his arms.

Bai Ruoya felt that familiar embrace and slowly closed her eyes. Her body was heavy, but everything was going just as she had planned. The corners of her lips lifted slightly in a satisfied smile.

She knew it. Wei Huan still cared. As long as he still cared, she still had a chance. Nothing was completely over yet.