The Villainous Scum Alpha Was Reborn (GL) - Chapter 9
Jiang Ying liked to sleep in. If she hadn’t messaged anyone before ten thirty in the morning, it usually meant there was no need to ask her out for lunch.
Wei Ke timed her outing accordingly. At first, she had thought about bringing Jiang Ying along to keep the mood light. But after spending nearly two full days together, she realized everyone had their own life to manage. Jiang Ying wasn’t her child, and she also needed time and space. So Wei Ke chose not to disturb her.
She scheduled lunch at a spicy Sichuan hotpot restaurant and arrived more than ten minutes early. Knowing she was the one asking for help, Wei Ke was considerate enough to order the soup base and ingredients based on Tian Wanwan’s preferences and waited patiently.
Tian Wanwan was known for two things. First, she loved spicy food and could handle it well. Second, she was incredibly punctual. Not just on time, but almost scarily precise. She would never show up a minute early or a minute late.
They had agreed to meet at eleven thirty. That meant she would walk through the door at exactly eleven thirty.
Jiang Ying had once joked that whoever married her would be in for a rough time, probably even needing a schedule just to show affection.
Wei Ke had laughed back then, but now, sitting and waiting, she understood just how unnerving that kind of punctuality could feel.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long. Just a few minutes after she finished placing the order, it was eleven thirty sharp. The beta woman with a name that sounded soft but a look that was anything but appeared in front of her.
Tian Wanwan had always kept her hair short. Now that Wei Ke thought about it, she realized Wanwan had always been persistent and loyal. Even her clothing style had not changed much over the years.
Every spring and autumn, whenever she saw her, Tian Wanwan was always wearing a leather jacket and motorcycle boots. The only thing that ever changed was the length of her pants, depending on the temperature.
Watching her walk in with a helmet tucked under her arm and a smile on her face, Wei Ke instinctively glanced out the window. Sure enough, there was a brightly colored motorcycle parked in the lot below.
“Long time no see, Wanwan,” Wei Ke said, standing up to greet her.
“We’re like sisters. No need to be so formal. Sit,” Tian Wanwan said as she pulled out a chair and sat down.
Wei Ke smiled.
After setting her helmet down, Tian Wanwan added, “And it hasn’t even been that long. You just helped throw my birthday party last week. Thanks for the gift, by the way. I really liked it.”
Wei Ke looked at the helmet by her side and licked her lips. She had almost forgotten that she had been the one who gave it to her.
The hotpot base started to boil just then, and a server came over to help with the meat slices.
Wei Ke and Tian Wanwan exchanged a look and got up to mix their dipping sauces. They started chatting as they walked together.
Wei Ke had ordered a mild broth since she couldn’t eat spicy food. Tian Wanwan was not oblivious. She could tell Wei Ke must have something serious to discuss. With the kind of relationship they had, it wasn’t necessary to go through so much trouble unless it was important. So she called the server again and added a few dishes Wei Ke liked.
“Just say it already. Look at you, being all careful. What’s going on? You need to borrow money or something?” Tian Wanwan asked directly, as always.
Wei Ke had been about to speak, but her words were interrupted. Her cheeks flushed slightly at the teasing.
She took a sip of mango juice and said, “Not money. I want to borrow a person.”
“My wife and my motorcycle are not available, you know that,” Tian Wanwan said with a smile, dimples showing.
Wei Ke laughed. “You have a wife?”
The smile on Tian Wanwan’s face froze. “No need to hit a sore spot. Just tell me who.”
“Xu Ran.”
“Oh, her? That’s easy,” Tian Wanwan raised an eyebrow. “But what do you need her for? Are you dealing with property?”
Wei Ke knew it was just a casual question, but she answered honestly. “Yes, there are some things I need to take care of.”
Tian Wanwan didn’t ask further. She called Xu Ran and also sent her Wei Ke’s contact information.
Their lunch went smoothly. After they finished eating, they parted ways at the restaurant.
Wei Ke did not leave right away. After Tian Wanwan left, she stayed seated for a little longer. She watched from the window as her friend put on her helmet and got on her bike. Then, slowly, she picked up her chopsticks and ate the piece of beef that had been sitting in her bowl the whole time.
The beef was cold, but the chili was still sharp. The moment it touched her tongue, it felt like her taste buds were being pierced by needles. Her eyes stung with tears after just one bite.
One piece of spicy beef, half a cup of mango juice, and she wasn’t even sure what she was trying to prove to herself.
After receiving the contact, Xu Ran quickly opened the profile and sent a friend request.
Wei Ke didn’t say much. She simply asked when Xu Ran would be available to meet. Xu Ran replied immediately, saying she was free anytime. Wei Ke sent her a location.
It was the fifth day of the month, the tenth day of the lunar calendar. That meant she had five days left before the system’s deadline.
Legal paperwork always took time, and Wei Ke had none to spare. She had to begin the process immediately and wait to see if the system would approve it as complete.
She had forgotten to ask the system earlier what the luck point was even for. After that, no matter how many times she tried to call it, there was no response. The next time it showed up, she would be sure to ask.
She did not want to keep stumbling through all of this blindly, like a puppet on a string. It looked like freedom, but in reality, everything was still tightly controlled.
After they met, Wei Ke quickly saw that Xu Ran was very professional. She never asked anything unnecessary. After hearing what Wei Ke needed, she got to work immediately.
That afternoon, with Xu Ran’s help, Wei Ke submitted her name change application just before the government office closed for the day.
Standing on the sidewalk afterward, she felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest. The autumn wind brushed past her face, crisp and refreshing.
However, name changes needed time to be reviewed and approved. Until that went through, she could not start the asset transfer process. For now, this was all Xu Ran could do.
With nothing else to discuss, Wei Ke watched her drive away. Feeling idle, she stayed in the car and scrolled through her phone.
Jiang Ying still had not replied to the message from half an hour ago. It seemed she really was busy.
It was still early. Lunch had not finished digesting yet, and dinner was not even a consideration. Wei Ke thought for a while, then leaned back in her chair and opened her social media feed.
She was not someone who regularly browsed her feed. The last time she had opened it was when she was waiting for Jiang Ying to finish her shower at her place.
This time, the first thing that appeared was another business update from Liang Qingqing. The photo showed a freshly wrapped bouquet that looked like gladiolus.
Wei Ke did not know much about flowers. Recognizing that the flower in the photo was gladiolus had taken some effort, mostly because Liang Qingqing had wrapped it in such an elegant and refined way.
Back when she and Jiang Ying finished their college entrance exams, Jiang Ying’s mother had given her a bouquet of gladiolus. Aunt Su had always been thoughtful. After giving one to her own daughter, she handed a second bouquet to Wei Ke as well.
Although seven or eight years had passed, she still remembered what Aunt Su said to her that day. “Gladiolus is a flower that brings good luck. It symbolizes progress and growth. I hope you get into your dream school.”
Wei Ke looked at the soft, elegant photo for a long moment and suddenly wanted to go buy a bouquet for herself. She could really use some good luck right now.
When her car pulled up in front of Liang Qingqing’s flower shop, someone was just coming out holding a bouquet of gladiolus. Wei Ke was surprised by how popular they seemed to be. Before she even got inside, another customer came out holding the same flowers.
She had to admit that Liang Qingqing had been telling the truth. Her business really was doing well.
There were more than five flower shops along this street, stretching from east to west. With competition like that, her steady stream of customers spoke volumes. It showed that people could recognize quality when they saw it. Liang Qingqing’s floral wrapping skills and bouquet design were clearly exceptional.
When Wei Ke walked in, Liang Qingqing was drinking a glass of water. From the way she leaned tiredly on the table, and judging by the customers who had just left, it seemed she had finally gotten a moment to rest after a busy afternoon.
“I’m not late today, am I?” Wei Ke asked, standing at the counter and looking toward the shelf and the worktable inside. It sounded like a question, but her tone made it feel more like she was proudly stating that she had remembered to come earlier this time.
“Not at all. What kind of flowers are you looking for?” Liang Qingqing smiled after finishing her water. When she looked at Wei Ke standing at the counter, she noticed that her expression was different from the last two times she visited. This time, there was a soft smile on her face. It was faint, but it clearly showed that her mood was better than before.
Wei Ke turned slightly and looked up at the top shelf where two wrapped bouquets were sitting. She pointed and said, “Gladiolus.”
Liang Qingqing froze for a brief second. When she spoke again, her tone carried a touch of apology. “That’s really unfortunate. They’re already sold out.”
Wei Ke turned to look at her. “Aren’t there still two left?”
“Those were pre-ordered. The customers already paid and will be picking them up soon,” Liang Qingqing explained.
Wei Ke paused for a moment.
“Would you like to look at something else?” Liang Qingqing asked gently. Without realizing it, she had started using a more formal tone. They said the more someone visited, the more familiar things became. This was already the third time Wei Ke had come to her shop, yet she still had not managed to get the flowers she wanted. Liang Qingqing genuinely felt bad about it.
Fresh flowers were replaced in Wei Ke’s home every five days, and she had someone in charge of that. She was not trying to buy flowers as a gift either. Her sudden interest had come from seeing Liang Qingqing’s social media post and being reminded of a memory. Now, being asked to pick a different kind of flower, she honestly felt no desire to choose anything else.
After thinking it over, she said, “If they’re sold out, then forget it. I’ll check another shop.”
As she turned to leave, Liang Qingqing quickly stepped out from behind the counter and followed her. “If you really want gladiolus, I can save a bouquet for you tomorrow. They are hard to pair with other flowers and can look tacky if not arranged carefully. That’s why a lot of shops don’t carry them. But if you really like them, I’ll make sure to save one for you.”
Her words were just as direct and confident as that night they first met.
Wei Ke let out a soft laugh. She did not know why, but a small sense of rebellion rose in her heart. She wanted to say no, but her body stopped her from leaving.
Seeing that she had not walked away, Liang Qingqing let out a breath of relief. “It’s settled then. I’ll hold one for you.”
“Thank you,” Wei Ke said.