The Villainous Scum Alpha Was Reborn (GL) - Chapter 21

“Just… forget it. It’s not worth mentioning,” Jiang Ying said with a voice full of helplessness, as if merely thinking about that person gave her a headache.

Through a quick glance in the rearview mirror, Nan Ke looked at Jiang Ying and shook her head with a light smile. She didn’t press for details but silently remembered the surname Sheng. If someone could make Jiang Ying this troubled, they had to be significant. Nan Ke made a mental note to stay cautious. After all, she still had no idea who was trying to take Jiang Ying’s life.

An hour later, the car stopped in front of Liang Qingqing’s flower shop.

Jiang Ying stirred slightly but kept her eyes closed. Nan Ke didn’t disturb her and quietly got out of the car alone.

There were a fair number of customers inside the flower shop. It was just an ordinary day, so although Liang Qingqing was busy, she could still manage everything without leaving the counter.

When Nan Ke entered, a few customers were browsing flowers. Liang Qingqing stood among them, smiling and chatting. Nan Ke wasn’t in a rush. She leaned against the counter and waited patiently.

After the customers finished paying and left, Nan Ke called out to her with a smile. “Boss Liang, long time no see.”

Liang Qingqing had noticed Nan Ke the moment she walked in. But because she had gotten distracted earlier and accidentally misspoke while explaining flower meanings, she was feeling embarrassed. Her face had gone red, and she worried Nan Ke might have caught it. So she pretended not to notice her, giving herself a moment to regain composure.

Now, hearing Nan Ke say “long time no see,” her heartbeat, which had just returned to normal, suddenly sped up again. The smile she had tried to suppress appeared once more. There was no point pretending to be calm anymore. She turned around and looked at Nan Ke’s collar with deliberate casualness.

“We just saw each other last night. I even replied to your message this morning,” she said.

Nan Ke noticed her avoiding eye contact. She nodded without arguing, then took out a small velvet box from her pocket. The box had been warmed by her hand. She placed it on the counter and said, “I happened to see this and thought it would suit you. Take a look and see if you like it.”

“What is it?” Liang Qingqing still didn’t understand why Nan Ke had suddenly shown up. She walked over with curiosity, though she still avoided her gaze.

“A small accessory,” Nan Ke replied with a smile.

“Earrings?” The moment Liang Qingqing saw what was inside, she instinctively looked for a brand logo but couldn’t find one. Something about it made her uneasy. “I can’t accept this. It looks expensive.”

“Does it?” Nan Ke leaned in slightly, frowning. “I doubt it. There’s no label on it. Maybe the seller gave me the wrong price?”

Liang Qingqing laughed at her reaction. “Alright, but I still can’t just take something from you like that.”

“How can you say that? This is clearly a thank-you gift for the two bouquets you gave me,” Nan Ke said, her long hair slipping off her shoulder as she moved. Every gesture, every smile seemed effortlessly beautiful. She even copied Liang Qingqing’s tone slightly, and the way she said it made her sound charming and playful.

Liang Qingqing hesitated, then pushed the box back toward Nan Ke after thinking it over.

Nan Ke pursed her lips, stared at the box in front of her, and took a deep breath. Her smile looked a little forced when she looked back at Liang Qingqing. “Qingqing, we’re friends now, aren’t we?”

Hearing her name spoken that way made Liang Qingqing pause. It took her a few seconds to come back to her senses and nod. “Yes, we are.”

“Then take it. The seller already told me there are no refunds or exchanges. I don’t have pierced ears, so if you don’t accept it, it will just sit at home gathering dust.” As she spoke, Nan Ke tucked her hair behind her ear, showing her earlobe with no piercing.

For some reason, Liang Qingqing heard a faint trace of pleading in Nan Ke’s voice. She looked up in surprise and her gaze fell on Nan Ke’s soft-looking earlobe. Her eyes drifted lower, noticing the smooth line of her pale neck.

For a moment, Liang Qingqing thought she could hear herself swallow. Embarrassed, she smiled slightly and picked up the box that had been pushed back toward her. “Well… thank you then.”

“You’re welcome,” Nan Ke replied with a smile and called her name again, “Qingqing.”

Liang Qingqing felt her entire body stiffen just from hearing her say her name. Her smile became a little unnatural. “What is it?”

Nan Ke shook her head. “Nothing. It just feels more like we’re truly friends when I call you that.”

Liang Qingqing gave a small, awkward smile and didn’t know how to respond. She hesitated, wondering if she should also try calling Nan Ke by name. Just as she was struggling with the thought, she heard the glass door of the flower shop open.

She quickly turned to look and saw a customer walking in. She lowered her head with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I have a customer. Please wait a moment.” Then she instantly shifted back into her work mode and warmly welcomed the new arrival.

Nan Ke stood quietly, watching Liang Qingqing’s back with soft eyes. She thought about how she had closed the box and tucked it into the pocket of her apron. With a gentle laugh, Nan Ke walked to the flowers near the sink, picked out a pink rose, and paid 52 yuan through the QR code.

Hearing the payment notification, Liang Qingqing turned around, confused. She saw Nan Ke raise the pink rose in her hand, wave with a smile, and walk out of the shop.

Liang Qingqing was speechless.

Jiang Ying had been resting with her eyes closed. As soon as she opened them, she saw Nan Ke getting into the car holding a rose. Her expression turned sour. “Put away that stupid face. You look like someone who just fell in love.”

Nan Ke laid the rose across the dashboard. Hearing Jiang Ying’s words, she opened the vanity mirror and looked at herself carefully. Her tone was playful. “Really? Is it that obvious?”

Jiang Ying didn’t answer.

This was the first time Nan Ke had seen Jiang Ying look like this, and she was instantly amused. As she started the car and stole a final glance toward the flower shop, her heart was a mix of genuine fondness and playful teasing.

As expected, Jiang Ying’s expression darkened visibly.

As they drove away, Jiang Ying adjusted her seat and warned her, “Listen, girl. If you’re falling in love, I’ll support you. If you want to put love ahead of friendship, I can understand that too. But if you keep rubbing your sweet little romance in my face, I swear I will not be nice about it.”

“So, what’s your point?” Nan Ke asked.

Jiang Ying glared at her fiercely. “So please take your shadow sister’s mental health seriously and help me find a partner as soon as possible.”

Nan Ke let out a short laugh and thought to herself, Well, that’s not going to be easy.

The car turned at the intersection and, following Jiang Ying’s earlier instructions, headed straight toward a commercial building in the new part of town.

After Jiang Ying said she wanted to make it up to Nan Ke with a limited-edition handbag, she had actually asked her regular sales assistant to keep an eye out for it. She had received the news just that afternoon and didn’t hesitate to send Nan Ke the address.

But all she said was that they needed to pick something up from the counter. She never mentioned what it was.

Nan Ke parked the car and even entered the elevator without realizing that Jiang Ying had prepared a surprise for her. She just assumed that something in Jiang Ying’s house needed to be replaced.

Jiang Ying did not mention anything either. After getting out of the car, she kept holding her phone, probably texting the sales assistant. Nan Ke did not think much of it. She walked ahead and pointed out any obstacles, reminding her to watch her step. But the moment they entered the store, she caught a glimpse of Jiang Ying recording her through a full-length mirror on the side.

“What are you doing?” Nan Ke frowned and raised her hand to block the camera.

Jiang Ying quickly dodged and smiled. “Your shadow sister ordered a limited-edition handbag for you. I wanted to record your reaction. Please cooperate a little, Comrade Nan Ke. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

Nan Ke finally understood and stopped trying to grab the phone. She turned and followed the familiar sales assistant into the store.

Though she didn’t show it, her heart was full of emotions. On one hand, she was touched by Jiang Ying, who always claimed to be a minimalist. On the other hand, she could not help but wonder what this minimalism really meant, because Jiang Ying always spent generously on the people around her.

Still, while thinking about all this, Nan Ke’s eyes remained busy. She glanced around the displays, casually scanning for bags that might suit Liang Qingqing. Based on the canvas tote she saw Qingqing using last time, she guessed she probably preferred something with a large capacity.

Following closely behind, Jiang Ying noticed that Nan Ke seemed distracted. She lost interest in recording and put her phone away.

Nan Ke continued looking around, but all she saw were small handbags. She was beginning to feel disappointed when her eyes suddenly lit up. On the far right, slightly above eye level, she spotted a bag that looked perfect for Jiang Ying.

Jiang Ying had no idea what Nan Ke was thinking. She was about to tell her to hurry up when Nan Ke spoke to the sales assistant in front.

“Could you please wrap up that bag as well?”

“What for?” Jiang Ying looked up, puzzled. Was she picking something for Liang Qingqing again?

After confirming with the assistant which bag she meant, Nan Ke turned to Jiang Ying and said, “It’s nothing really. I just thought it suited you, so I’m buying it for you. I understand your minimalist style, but the bottom of your current bag is already worn out. It’s time to get a new one.”

Jiang Ying gave a short laugh. “At least you still have some conscience.”

After they both left the store with a bag in hand, Nan Ke threw her arm around Jiang Ying’s shoulders and gave her a firm pat.

“Yingzi, having a friend like you in this lifetime is truly a blessing.”

“As long as you know that,” Jiang Ying replied, curling her lips and glancing at her phone again.

Nan Ke noticed the red notification dot on the screen and, thinking about Jiang Ying’s behavior all afternoon, finally sensed that something was off. She peeked at the screen and asked curiously, “What’s going on with you today? You’ve been checking your phone constantly. Are you in an online relationship again?”

“I swear, I, Jiang Ying, will never be in an online relationship again,” she snapped, then lowered her phone and said honestly, “Sheng Xing is back.”

Nan Ke looked confused. “Sheng Xing? Who is that?”

Jiang Ying rubbed her forehead and said with a blank expression, “Sheng Xing. Xing Xing. That junior from high school who used to follow me everywhere.”

Nan Ke paused for a moment, then exclaimed, “She came back?”

Jiang Ying nodded. Nan Ke laughed. “So what? It’s not like she can eat you alive. It’s been years. What, does she still have feelings for you and wants to chase you again?”

“She won’t, but her mom and her brother might.” Jiang Ying opened a WeChat message. The screen was filled with texts from Sheng Xing.

“She has the last name Sheng?” Nan Ke suddenly understood. “Wait, is she related to the Sheng family you mentioned?”

Jiang Ying nodded firmly. “Yes. I only just found out. Her mother is the second largest shareholder in the company, and her brother is the Alpha who is about to join us.”

Nan Ke stared at her, stunned. “You two really have some kind of fate.”

Just then, Jiang Ying’s phone buzzed again. Nan Ke peeked at the screen and saw it was still the same contact. She laughed and said, “Didn’t you say you wanted to find someone? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity?”

“Please, an Alpha-Alpha relationship is completely impossible. Even if I stay single forever, I still wouldn’t get together with her.” Jiang Ying closed the app, clearly irritated.

Nan Ke gave a small sigh and started digging through her memories of Sheng Xing.

She remembered that back when they started their senior year, the school had resumed early for military training for the freshmen.

One afternoon, she and Jiang Ying were walking across the sports field when a girl in an ill-fitting uniform ran over and stopped them.

Being confessed to was nothing new, but at the time they had not yet differentiated and were entirely focused on studying. They had no time or energy for young love.

So when the cute and fair junior confessed, Jiang Ying just smiled, patted her on the head, turned her down gently, and told her to focus on her studies.

But that junior girl seemed to take it as a challenge. Rather than giving up, she became more persistent. After school officially started, she frequently appeared in Jiang Ying’s path, delivering handmade gifts and notes. Soon, everyone in school knew about it.

Jiang Ying had to visit the office twice and even had her parents called in once.

Thankfully, she was about to graduate. After the college entrance exam, she left. But at the graduation party, the junior still insisted on showing up, and the situation became so awkward that Jiang Ying was teased endlessly.

The worst part was that, in university, after another confession, Jiang Ying realized she had developed a psychological barrier. For a long time, she could not handle people expressing romantic interest in her.

Because of this experience, she started to worry about becoming a burden to someone else. She ended up focusing solely on her studies and missed the best years for dating.

Later, when she was finally ready for love, she found no one was around anymore.

Nan Ke had been influenced too. Over the years, she also remained single, just like Jiang Ying.

Looking back, Sheng Xing was definitely a unique presence in their lives.

It had been more than six years since graduation. The memories had faded. If Jiang Ying had not brought her up, Nan Ke might have forgotten her completely.

Thinking of how troubled Jiang Ying had been at the time, Nan Ke sobered and asked carefully, “So now that you’ve seen her again…”

Jiang Ying waved her hand and said, “What used to bother me doesn’t seem like much now. Honestly, when I think about how someone once chased me with that kind of passion, it’s actually a bit flattering.”

“But what?” Nan Ke asked, noticing that her tone didn’t match her expression.

Jiang Ying replied, “But we’re both Alphas. I don’t believe I’m so great that she would be willing to make that kind of sacrifice.”

Nan Ke nodded in agreement. It was indeed a tricky situation. While there was no rule saying two Alphas could not be together, their pheromones naturally clashed. For them to be a couple, they would either have to settle for a platonic relationship or remove their glands, both of which were painful for an Alpha.

“And I really can’t deal with how she bombards me with messages. Look at this. I only accepted her friend request this afternoon, and she’s already sent so many texts. It’s a good thing she didn’t get my contact information over the past six years. I can’t imagine what that would have been like.”

Nan Ke stayed silent, remembering Jiang Ying’s mental state in their previous life.

At that time, Nan Ke was dealing with a heat-related incident that led to Bai Ruoya’s miscarriage and the collapse of her relationship with the Yu family. She had been drowning herself in alcohol, shutting herself indoors. As for Jiang Ying, she only vaguely remembered a phone call where she said she felt down and bothered.

The timing and emotions were very similar to now.

And with Sheng Xing’s family involved, could she have been one of the reasons behind Jiang Ying’s death?

“How did she get your WeChat ID?” Nan Ke asked, her suspicion growing.

Why would someone who had disappeared for six years suddenly reappear? Could this be the start of something dangerous?

If so, what was Sheng Xing’s real goal? Was she seeking revenge for being rejected, or had she never let go and now wanted to pursue Jiang Ying again?

Jiang Ying claimed she was fine, but her mood was clearly off. Her expression didn’t seem normal either. She stared at the decorations hanging over the railing and said, “I don’t know. Her message said she was from a game, so I assumed she was a former teammate and accepted. She introduced herself, and I recognized her mother’s face in her profile picture. That’s when I remembered my parents asking me to work at the company.”

Nan Ke followed her gaze and saw a large clown figure standing on a balloon. Its mouth was stretched wide, and its bright red lips looked unnaturally large.

“So, you’re really going to work at the company?” Nan Ke asked.

Jiang Ying nodded. “I just have a bad feeling about the Sheng family. I’m afraid they’re going to cause trouble.”

Nan Ke looked at the elevator light blinking and clicked her tongue. “Maybe you should meet her in person. Ask her directly what she really wants.”