Transmigrated as a Scum Alpha Cannon Fodder, Sweetly Pampering the Heroine - Chapter 35

A wooden spiral staircase led from the Xu Family’s grand hall to the second floor. The stairs were carpeted in a deep brown rug, the same dark hue as the hall below, which Xu Jinman found oppressive the moment she saw it.

 

Xu Tao walked ahead, with her following behind.

 

It felt as if she were walking in his footsteps.

 

Each step on the wooden stairs produced a faint, distinctive creak.

 

They reached the second floor.

 

Just like in her original body’s room, the study was located on the south side.

 

Standing on the second floor, Xu Jinman gazed down the hallway. Though brightly lit, the scene felt profoundly dark and unsettling.

 

Xu Tao entered the study, while Xu Jinman remained at the doorway.

 

The door was half-open, revealing a spacious interior: dark bookshelves, a long desk, and a waxed hardwood floor that gleamed faintly…

 

Xu Jinman suddenly shivered, a coldness seeping from every pore. Her head throbbed as if she’d been punched, and her stomach churned violently.

 

“Manman?”

 

She heard Lu Yun calling from downstairs.

 

Unable to respond, Xu Jinman clapped a hand over her mouth and fled to her original body’s room. She rushed to the bathroom and began vomiting uncontrollably.

 

The sensation was unbearable, like a physical manifestation of trauma—her body’s reflexive rejection.

 

Xu Jinman knew these memories belonged to the original owner of her body.

 

Her heart pounded violently as something deep within her consciousness was being unearthed, bit by bit. A splitting headache gripped her. She clutched her head, collapsing to the floor, unable to even cry out.

 

The pain was unbearable, a suffocating pressure threatening to drive her mad. Suddenly, a fragment of memory flashed through her mind:

 

In a spacious room, a little girl huddled in the corner between a bookshelf and the wall, her arms shielding her head, her entire body trembling.

 

A tall, slightly overweight man approached her, a whip in his hand.

 

Red welts rose on the girl’s arms as she cried out, “Mommy!”

 

The whip cracked through the air, accompanied by the man’s venomous voice: “You disgraceful wretch! How could I have spawned such a disgusting creature like you?!”

 

After what seemed like an eternity, the man left, and the door creaked open again.

 

A woman entered and scooped up the little girl, her voice as withered as her appearance: “In this family, everyone suffers—I suffer too. Why can’t you suffer?”

 

The woman’s voice softened: “If you don’t want to suffer, you must endure, Manman. Endure with me… endure.”

 

“In this world, only Mommy cares for you, and you’re all I have. Promise me you’ll never leave me.”

 

 

“Manman!”

 

The woman’s voice seemed to echo from a distant time.

 

Xu Jinman turned her head to see Lu Yun’s anxious expression, and a chill ran through her like she had fallen into an icy abyss.

 

“You knew everything…” Xu Jinman struggled to believe that a mother could say such words to her young child.

 

The rims of Xu Jinman’s eyes reddened slightly. She couldn’t tell if this emotion belonged to the original owner of the body or to herself. “Why did she have to suffer? She was just a child! Why did she have to suffer?! And why did you make her endure it?”

 

Shouldn’t a mother have fought back at that time?

 

Even if everyone is selfish, protecting herself back then might have been understandable. But why, over all these years, did she make a child bear such a heavy burden?

 

“Manman, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly saying these things?” Lu Yun’s face paled as she grabbed Xu Jinman’s arm.

 

Xu Jinman shook off Lu Yun’s hand and staggered to her feet, her voice almost cold. “She was driven mad by you. Driven mad by all of you.”

 

Xu Jinman stumbled out of the room, her steps unsteady. Lu Yun lunged forward to grab her hand, as if fearing that if she didn’t hold on now, she would lose her daughter forever.

 

She didn’t manage to hold on.

 

Xu Jinman effortlessly pushed her back several steps, the physical disparity between Alpha and Omega painfully obvious.

 

Xu Jinman hadn’t intended to use force; the strength she exerted was purely for self-defense.

 

Then she heard Xu Tao’s furious roar from the study, followed by the crack of a whip striking the floor.

 

Suppressing the searing pain triggered by her trauma, she pulled her phone from her bag, pushed open the door, and snapped a photo of the scene inside: Xu Tao, his cheeks flushed crimson with drunkenness, stood glaring at her, whip in hand, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

 

“What do you think you’re doing, you beast!”

 

Xu Tao, staggering in his drunken stupor, lunged forward and raised his hand to strike…

 

But the slap never landed.

 

Xu Jinman stood her ground, her icy fingers clamped like a vise around Xu Tao’s wrist. She twisted his arm sharply behind him, and Xu Tao’s face contorted in pain as he groaned, “Ah—how dare you!”

 

Lu Yun froze, then collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by the Alpha’s pheromones.

 

Xu Tao was an S-Rank Alpha, his pheromones capable of easily subjugating Omegas and lower-ranked Alphas.

 

Xu Jinman stood unharmed, glancing down at Lu Yun on the floor before sneering at Xu Tao. “Have you forgotten? I’m a failed differentiation, a useless waste. I’m immune to pheromones.”

 

She used her strength to shove Xu Tao aside and turned to stride quickly downstairs.

 

In the courtyard, her phone was ringing incessantly, but she had no interest in checking who it was.

 

Xu Jinman wondered if Xu Tao would vent his anger on Lu Yun now that she was gone. Should she do something else?

 

The next moment, Lu Yun’s hand clamped tightly around her wrist from behind. Xu Jinman turned to meet Lu Yun’s tearful gaze.

 

“Manman, what’s wrong with you?!” Lu Yun’s body still trembled from the lingering effects of the Alpha pheromones, and her voice shook as well.

 

This time, Xu Jinman didn’t push her away.

 

But as the cold, twisted words Lu Yun had spoken to the original Xu Jinman flashed through her mind, a chill ran down her spine.

 

In that moment of hesitation, Xu Jinman’s palm went empty.

 

Lu Yun had snatched her phone.

 

“What are you doing?” Xu Jinman demanded.

 

“Manman, no! You can’t do this… What’s wrong with you? You promised me you’d endure…”

 

What an absurd scene.

 

Xu Jinman nearly burst out laughing.

 

She fiercely rubbed her throbbing temples.

 

What kind of mother would stand by and watch her child be abused, not only refusing to intervene but even teaching her to endure? This twisted upbringing had gradually warped the original Xu Jinman into a monster.

 

Xu Jinman’s voice turned icy. “Give it to me.”

 

As soon as the words left her lips, Lu Yun smashed the phone into the fish pond in the courtyard, right before her eyes.

 

“I’m doing this for your own good! I’m begging you, Mom’s begging you—please stop this! What do you even want?!”

 

The two most terrifying phrases in the world are “for your own good” and “Mom’s begging you.” They leave you no room to argue, no way to refuse.

 

Xu Jinman glanced at the dark, murky pond and said coldly, “Abusers can never be forgiven. Those who forgive them are accomplices.”

 

No matter what hardships Lu Yun had endured, Xu Jinman couldn’t understand. Her sympathy for Lu Yun had hardened into something cold and brittle.

 

If Lu Yun was also a victim of abuse, Xu Jinman understood even less. Why would she protect Xu Tao? Why would she force the original Xu Jinman, a mere child, to endure it all, just for the sake of the Xu Family’s wealth?

 

Was it worth it?

 

The original Xu Jinman had been only four years old at the time.

 

Madness.

 

Xu Jinman left the Xu Family, her head spinning. Zhou Pei’s car was waiting by the roadside, as prearranged.

 

“Miss, Miss Shen called earlier and asked you to call her back,” Zhou Pei said, pausing before adding, “It seemed quite urgent.”

 

Xu Jinman slowly regained her composure and reached for her phone, only to remember Lu Yun had thrown it into the pool earlier.

 

She borrowed Zhou Pei’s phone and called Shen Shu.

 

Her nerves still felt taut and painful. She took a small breath and waited for the call to connect.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Zhou Pei said you were looking for me?” Xu Jinman asked, struggling to keep her breathing steady. Hearing Shen Shu’s calm, water-like voice, her anxiety began to ease.

 

“Are you still at the Xu Family?” Shen Shu asked.

 

“Just left,” Xu Jinman replied.

 

Shen Shu paused. “Could you come over?”

 

“What’s wrong?” Xu Jinman straightened up slightly, detecting an unusual emotion in Shen Shu’s voice.

 

“Nothing. Just come.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Shen Shu sat on the edge of her bed, clutching her phone. The heavy worry in her heart eased slightly. The words she had heard earlier—”Today is Mom’s birthday. Dad hit me, and Mom was there too…”

 

The words written on the backs of the photos were too much for her sensitive nature.

 

She couldn’t understand how Lu Yun could be so kind to Xu Jinman yet tolerate Xu Tao’s actions.

 

She didn’t even dare touch the photos, fearing she might brush against the wounds of the people in them. The bruises and red scabs pricked her heart like countless tiny needles.

 

Is this the real reason behind Xu Jinman’s dissociative identity disorder?

 

Looking at the photos, she saw Xu Jinman as a toddler, perhaps in kindergarten. Back then, she could barely hold the Polaroid camera steady, capturing only her own arm in some shots, the images often blurry.

 

As she grew older, she began to look directly into the lens. Her eyes shifted from cold indifference to a forced smile, and finally to madness.

 

These photos were like a visual record of Xu Jinman’s life, documenting her gradual transformation step by step.

 

Shen Shu suddenly wondered: If Xu Jinman saw these photos now, would it traumatize her? Would the words on the backs of the photos break her heart beyond repair?

 

She hesitated, unsure whether to tell Xu Jinman about these things.

 

There was also a letter in the box, which Shen Shu didn’t open. The photos alone were already suffocating.

 

She carefully placed each photograph into the box, each one inscribed on the back. In her childhood photos, some of the inscriptions were even written in pinyin.

 

Shen Shu’s hands trembled slightly.

 

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.

 

Xu Jinman asked as soon as the door opened, “What’s wrong?”

 

Shen Shu paused, taken aback by Xu Jinman’s concerned expression. The words caught in her throat, and she could only fabricate a lie: “Nothing. Cai Ying said she was coming over, but she canceled.”

 

Xu Jinman unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, nodded, and stood silently in the doorway for a moment.

 

“Come in,” Shen Shu said.

 

Xu Jinman slipped into the white rabbit slippers and settled onto the sofa.

 

As Shen Shu handed her a glass of warm water, their hands accidentally brushed. Despite the late August weather, Xu Jinman’s hand felt as cold as ice.

 

“Was your day okay?” Shen Shu asked.

 

Xu Jinman seemed distracted, taking a moment to respond. “Fine… I’m just a little tired. Can I sleep in the guest room tonight?”

 

Shen Shu studied her pale face. “Are you feeling unwell?”

 

Xu Jinman looked up and forced a smile. “Just a terrible headache.”

 

Xu Jinman quickly retreated to the guest room, not even bothering to shower before collapsing onto the bed.

 

Xu Jinman felt like her temples were about to explode. Even after lying down, she couldn’t fall asleep. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally gave up and left the guest room.

 

I need to do something to distract myself.

 

She grabbed a bottle of wine from the refrigerator, took a pack of cigarettes from under Shen Shu’s coffee table, and went out to the living room balcony, closing the glass sliding door behind her.

 

The balcony held a solid wood bench about a meter long. From the eighth-floor apartment, she could see the distant skyscrapers. After a while, in the quiet of the night, Xu Jinman heard the soft sound of a door opening and a faint light spilling into the room.

 

She didn’t turn around, but simply stubbed out her cigarette.

 

Shen Shu opened the balcony door and, in the dim light, glanced at the two cigarette butts in the ashtray and the half-empty bottle of wine.

 

She sat down beside Xu Jinman, her breath carrying a faint scent of smoke and alcohol. Gazing at the lights of the outside world beyond the railing, she asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

 

Xu Jinman was silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, “Going back today brought back some memories… unpleasant ones. They’re making me feel really uneasy.”

 

Shen Shu paused. “Is it about that person?”

 

“Mm-hmm.”

 

Shen Shu immediately thought of those photos.

 

Her fingers tightened slightly.

 

Xu Jinman’s desire to communicate was shallow, largely because she didn’t know how to express herself. She understood that these emotions mostly belonged to the original owner of the body, but she couldn’t deny their influence on her.

 

Her mood was poor, and she didn’t want to burden Shen Shu.

 

“Go to sleep,” Xu Jinman said.

 

After a moment’s thought, Shen Shu stood up. Her hand touched the cold sliding door, and she paused, tilting her head to look at the woman sitting on the low chair.

 

“Xu Jinman, perhaps… you need to lean on someone?”

 

Xu Jinman’s fingertips froze. She looked up. The living room and balcony were dark, with only a sliver of light spilling from Shen Shu’s bedroom. She couldn’t quite make out Shen Shu’s expression.

 

As Shen Shu gently slid the door open, Xu Jinman reached out and grasped her wrist. At the same time, she stood up and pulled Shen Shu into a weak embrace.

 

She wrapped her arms around Shen Shu, without any sexual intent.

 

Just a hug.

 

In this unfamiliar world, all she needed in that moment was a hug that would allow her to relax, even if only for a little while.

 

Xu Jinman woke up on the sofa in the morning, covered by Shen Shu’s blue-gray blanket.

 

A porcelain bowl and the soft clinking of dishes came from the table. Xu Jinman rubbed her groggy head, still foggy from the alcohol, and sat up to look. Shen Shu was pouring milk into a glass and glanced her way, perhaps having heard her stir.

 

“Awake? Go wash up and have breakfast.”

 

Xu Jinman stared at her for a few seconds, her body still seeming to feel the warmth of their embrace from the night before.

 

When she emerged from the bathroom, breakfast was already laid out on the table: eggs, milk, and bread. Xu Jinman sat down, took a sip of milk, and picked up a slice of bread. A jar of sea salt butter was slid toward her.

 

Xu Jinman glanced over to see Shen Shu opening a jar of blueberry jam and spreading it on her own bread.

 

She opened her jar, scooped out a spoonful, and spread it on her bread. “Delicious,” she said with a faint smile.

 

“You’ll have to reimburse me for that,” Shen Shu replied.

 

Xu Jinman froze. Shen Shu rarely joked with her. She nodded, the gloom from the previous day having largely dissipated.

 

“Alright,” she said with a smile. “I’ll reimburse you.”

 

Xu Jinman was getting ready to leave for work. As she stood at the door, she hesitated, sensing that Shen Shu wanted to say something.

 

But in the end, Shen Shu remained silent.

 

Xu Jinman first replaced her phone and SIM card. She then found Chen Bo on WeChat. Though Chen Bo was a scumbag, he was well-connected and knew all sorts of shady characters.

 

She asked Chen Bo to recommend a few private investigators, and Xu Jinman chose one who seemed particularly shady.

 

She needed to find Wang Zheng.

 

Since Chen Bo’s recommendations weren’t necessarily reliable, she couldn’t send anyone directly to investigate Qucheng. Instead, she wanted this person to find Wang Zheng.

 

She was now almost certain that the original owner of her body had investigated Qucheng because she knew it held Xu Tao’s secrets—perhaps even the entire Xu Family’s secrets.

 

It was the Xu Family’s Achilles’ heel.

 

Around 6 PM.

 

After Xu Jinman got into the car, Zhou Pei asked where she wanted to go.

 

Compared to the luxurious penthouse suite at the hotel, she actually preferred staying with Shen Shu. Not for any ulterior motives, but simply because it felt less lonely and less empty.

 

But Shen Shu would undoubtedly misinterpret her intentions and might feel uncomfortable.

 

“Let’s go back to the hotel,” Xu Jinman said.

 

Shen Shu leaned back on the sofa, her phone buzzing with lively chatter in the crew’s group chat. Just as she was about to close the app, a notification popped up, tagging her:

 

@Shen Shu You’ve been photographed.

 

[Photo]

 

Even from the thumbnail, Shen Shu could tell it was taken at Meilai Jewelry. Her back was to the camera as she bent over, examining items in a display case.

 

Xu Li and Chen Baimo hadn’t arrived yet at that time.

 

Ren Xiaoqi: Wow, Sister Shu, did your boyfriend or girlfriend buy that for you?

 

The group chat suddenly fell silent.

 

Everyone seemed to be waiting for Shen Shu’s response.

 

The implication was clear: how could she afford such expensive jewelry without a sugar daddy or mommy?

 

Shen Shu: My wife.

 

A flurry of question marks immediately flooded the chat.

 

Someone commented: Xiaoqi, that’s enough! You’ve practically forced Shen Shu into marriage!

 

Ren Xiaoqi: Hahaha, just kidding!

 

Ignoring the banter, Shen Shu turned off the living room lights, making the room feel suddenly empty. She grabbed her pajamas from the closet, her gaze drifting to a newly hung dress on the rack.

 

It was the dark green dress Xu Jinman had bought yesterday.

 

The color is almost the same as the one she wore to the banquet that day, Shen Shu thought, surprised that they could actually have moments of unspoken understanding.

 

After all, the nightgown she had bought for Xu Jinman was also the same color as the dress Xu Jinman had worn to the banquet.

 

Shen Shu felt a dull ache in her chest. When Xu Jinman went home last night, was she thinking about those photos?

 

If so, what is she doing alone right now?

 

In the penthouse suite, the television played commercials in the living room. Xu Jinman lay on the sofa in her bathrobe, her phone on the table lighting up and going dark repeatedly.

 

In her hand, she held the copy of Tipping the Velvet that she had borrowed from Shen Shu that morning.

 

When her eyes grew tired, Xu Jinman finally put down the book and slowly picked up her phone to glance at it.

 

She immediately skipped over calls from Lu Yun and Xu Tao—she had no desire to contact them, at least for the time being. Next were messages from Song Ronghui.

 

Yesterday, she hadn’t manipulated the Song Family’s warehouse, and it was clear that Song Ronghui’s mood had returned to normal compared to the previous night.

 

Song Ronghui: I’m sorry, Jinman. I was really anxious the past few days and misunderstood you.

 

Song Ronghui: Have you been feeling down lately? Let’s grab a meal when you’re free.

 

Though her tone was calm and relaxed, the underlying probing was unmistakable.

 

Xu Jinman still didn’t reply.

 

It was only 8:20 AM, not yet the appointed time.

 

The Song Family likely hadn’t completely lowered their guard. The broker handling the situation wouldn’t reveal too much about her, so they were probably still debating whether she was the mastermind behind it all.

 

Xu Jinman’s suspicions proved correct.

 

8:30 AM, the Song Family villa.

 

“The broker neither confirmed nor denied it, but I ran into Xu Li earlier today. From her reaction, I’m almost certain Xu Jinman is the one targeting us,” Song Weiwei said as she poured a cup of tea.

 

Old Master Song frowned, picking up Song Weiwei’s teacup from the table. “Xu Jinman? Isn’t she just a spoiled heiress? How could she pull off something like this?”

 

Song Weiwei shook her head. “I don’t know.” She glanced at Song Ronghui, who had been silently staring at her phone, and asked, “Ronghui, have you been causing trouble again?”

 

Song Ronghui startled, then looked up with a forced smile. “No, of course not! I wouldn’t dare. Xu Jinman doesn’t have the brains for this. Are you sure the Xu Family isn’t behind it?”

 

Old Master Song: “Impossible. If Xu Tao were involved, he’d go for our jugular—cutting off our funding entirely, not these petty maneuvers.”

 

Moreover, Xu Tao had no reason to do this.

 

Song Ronghui still couldn’t explain it.

 

In truth, her heart was already pounding. Based on her understanding of Xu Jinman, the woman was absolutely clueless about such matters. But now Xu Jinman had Shen Shu by her side…

 

And Xu Jinman hadn’t replied to her messages in days.

 

Song Weiwei suggested, “Just to be cautious, should we liquidate our heavily leveraged positions? What if…”

 

This discussion sparked fierce defiance in Song Ronghui’s heart. Xu Jinman, that useless wretch, had once been inferior even to her. Yet now they were actually fearing her meddling?

 

“How could Xu Jinman possibly know about our heavily leveraged positions?” Song Ronghui demanded.

 

This was highly confidential information, known only to the family and their fund managers.

 

As she spoke, Song Ronghui didn’t even realize the lack of conviction in her voice. Deep down, she wasn’t so certain.

 

Her mood had been fluctuating wildly these past few days, filled with unease and dread.

 

“She shouldn’t have known about those smaller positions either, yet she still targeted them, didn’t she?” Song Weiwei pointed out. “Ronghui, we must remain vigilant in the business world.”

 

Old Master Song nodded. “Vigilance is essential.”

 

He paused, glanced at the time—8:35 AM.

 

“But a sudden, large-scale liquidation would be too obvious. There was no movement yesterday…”

 

Suddenly, Song Weiwei’s phone buzzed.

 

Tension gripped the room.

 

Old Master Song set his teacup down on the table, waiting for Song Weiwei’s news.

 

Song Weiwei listened intently, then abruptly stood up. “What did you say?!”

 

“What is it?” Song Ronghui felt a chill run down her spine.

 

Moments later, Song Weiwei’s face turned ashen. “Someone’s shorting the market, driving our positions to liquidation. Who have we offended recently?”

 

“These positions represent the bulk of the Song Family’s capital. How could they know our exact positions… Who is doing this?!”

 

As Xu Jinman shut down her computer, she received a call from Zhou Pei. “Miss, Song Ronghui’s car is heading toward Rongcheng.”

 

“Follow her. Once she’s inside, you can go home and rest.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Song Ronghui arrived at the Rongcheng Special Management Office after 9 PM.

 

The guard’s expression was grim. As a distant relative of the Song Family, he wouldn’t risk helping her if she hadn’t assisted him in the past.

 

“The authorities have been cracking down lately. You only have half an hour. Understand?”

 

Song Ronghui knew she had been visiting more frequently lately. She nodded and repeatedly assured Yin Xue that she wouldn’t come again this month.

 

This wasn’t just a placating remark; her intuition felt deeply uneasy.

 

Yin Xue immediately sensed something was wrong with Song Ronghui the moment she entered the room. Even as she held her close, Song Ronghui’s thoughts seemed to drift elsewhere.

 

“What’s wrong?” Yin Xue asked, frowning.

 

Song Ronghui wrapped her arms around Yin Xue’s waist, lowering her gaze. “My intuition feels off. Something’s happened at home… I think Xu Jinman might know.”

 

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand. What happened at home, and what does Xu Jinman have to do with it?” Yin Xue asked.

 

Song Ronghui briefly explained the situation. “I think Xu Jinman is behind it.”

 

Yin Xue fell silent for a moment.

 

“Based on what you know about her, do you think she already knows?” Song Ronghui asked.

 

“It’s highly likely.”

 

Although Xu Jinman’s personality had changed and she now felt like a stranger, Yin Xue was certain of one thing.

 

“You think so too?” Song Ronghui asked.

 

“You all really think Xu Jinman is a useless fool who understands nothing, don’t you?” Yin Xue said. “You’re wrong. Xu Jinman is an incredibly intelligent woman, her IQ surpasses all of yours. I’d wager that if she truly wanted to take someone down, she would succeed. That’s why I kept asking you if this plan was absolutely airtight.”

 

“Above me?” Song Ronghui’s displeasure was palpable.

 

Yin Xue curled her lips into a smile, cupping Song Ronghui’s smooth cheeks. “Don’t let her carefree attitude fool you into thinking she’s clueless or worthless. Just because she acts like a scumbag every day doesn’t mean she’s truly a waste of space.”

 

Song Ronghui’s expression darkened. She tilted Yin Xue’s chin upward, forcing her to meet her gaze directly. “If she’s better than me, why are you still here?”

 

Yin Xue pulled her hand away. “Are you taking out your frustration on me just because you’re upset?”

 

Seeing Yin Xue turn away, Song Ronghui paused, then irritably lit a cigarette, smoked half of it, and stubbed it out. She stood up, yanked Yin Xue into her arms, and leaned down to kiss her.

 

Yin Xue slapped her across the face.

 

“Are you fucking crazy?!” Yin Xue spat.

 

Song Ronghui licked the metallic tang of bl00d from her lip. “Yes, I fucking am! I’ve done so many insane things for you! And what about you?! You only give a damn about Xu Jinman!”

 

Bang!

 

The sudden clang of the iron gate swinging open drowned out her furious shout.

 

The guard who had let Song Ronghui in earlier stood trembling at the entrance, his head bowed low. Before him stood a woman in a high-ranking uniform.

 

Song Ronghui now believed this was Xu Jinman’s doing. There was no such thing as coincidence in this world.

 

The woman coldly surveyed the two prisoners in the cell, then instructed the guards behind her, “Keep a close watch on the inmates. Take the outsider away.”

 

Before Song Ronghui was escorted out, Yin Xue called out to her.

 

“Song Ronghui!”

 

Song Ronghui turned back and gave Yin Xue a deep, lingering look. “Now you can focus solely on her.”

 

After all, Song Ronghui no longer held any value to Yin Xue.

 

The news of the Rongcheng Special Management Office guard privately allowing someone to enter the facility for a clandestine meeting was splashed across the city’s newspapers the very next day.

 

It didn’t take long for someone to uncover the identity of the visitor: Song Ronghui, the Song Family’s heiress.

 

When Song Ronghui was returned to the Song Family, Old Master Song flew into a rage.

 

“They’ve almost completely outmaneuvered you! And you still refuse to tell me what you’ve been doing outside!”

 

Song Ronghui knelt on the floor. “I haven’t done anything. I don’t know who’s trying to harm me or why they’re targeting the Song Family…”

 

Slap!

 

Song Ronghui was knocked to the ground. Old Master Song roared, “You still won’t admit it?! Get out of my sight! The Song Family has no place for such a disgrace!”

 

Song Weiwei gently patted Old Master Song’s back, watching Song Ronghui’s retreating figure. “Huihui! Come back!”

 

“Dad, don’t get so worked up over her.”

 

Old Master Song: “Have all her cards frozen immediately! And tell everyone in Beicheng: if anyone dares to extend her credit, the Song Family won’t pay a single cent!”

 

“Dad… but…”

 

“Look at the state she’s in now! To stoop to such shameless behavior for that woman… she’s completely disgraced the Song Family!”

 

Song Ronghui stormed out of the Song Family mansion at the peak of the afternoon heat. Her high heels felt like they were about to burst into flames on the scorching stone pavement.

 

After a groggy nap at the hotel, she booked a private room at a bar that night, summoned several Omega princesses, and partied until dawn.

 

When she tried to settle the bill, the waiter informed her that her cards had been frozen.

 

Song Ronghui recognized this as one of her father’s old tricks, but this time he’d gone even further, forbidding them from extending her credit or letting her run a tab.

 

In the end, Chen Bo paid the bill.

 

“Ronghui, I’ve heard some rumors. Did you really provoke Xu Jinman?” Chen Bo asked.

 

Song Ronghui sneered. “What do you think?”

 

Chen Bo shrugged. He’d also been on the receiving end of Xu Jinman’s wrath. “The Xu Family has deep pockets and powerful connections. We can’t compete with them. Why bother?”

 

Song Ronghui didn’t want to hear any of it. She retreated to the hotel, owned by Han Fu’s family, and slept for two days straight. Normally, she could stay there for free.

 

But things were different now. She had become the laughingstock of Beicheng, and even Chen Bo had heard the news. Everyone in their social circle must know by now—

 

Song Ronghui had offended Xu Jinman, which meant she had offended the entire Xu Family.

 

Han Fu told her, “After today, I can’t help you anymore. My mom won’t let me get involved. She said we can’t risk antagonizing the Xu Family for your sake.”

 

Song Ronghui didn’t want to put him in a difficult position.

 

She rose hesitantly and asked, “Any news about Yin Xue?”

 

Han Fu, lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, sighed. “You’re still thinking about Xue Xue? You really do love her, don’t you? You’ve ruined yourself for her. But why did you two ever think you could target Xu Jinman? Didn’t you know what kind of person she is?”

 

Xu Jinman was ruthless and heartless. Anyone who crossed her would be crushed.

 

What was the point of dwelling on it now? Song Ronghui lowered her head dejectedly and asked, “Don’t you think she’s changed?”

 

Han Fu shrugged indifferently. “So what if she’s changed? Everyone changes. It’s not like she’s been possessed. Even if she’s a completely different person now, what does it matter to you? Focus on yourself—eat, drink, and live your life. You’re wasting yourself worrying about things you can’t control. What’s the point?”

 

“Haven’t you learned anything from Chen Bo’s slap at the hospital and Yin Xue’s prison sentence? You still dare to target Shen Shu? And to make matters worse, you schemed against Xu Jinman too! Song Ronghui, you’re fucking reckless.”

 

Song Ronghui said nothing.

 

Her phone was flooded with messages severing ties due to her notorious reputation, interspersed with financial news headlines: “Song Family Stocks Plunge.”

 

Song Ronghui closed her eyes. It had finally come to this.

 

She finally understood why Xu Jinman had waited so long to make her move. This was a slow, deliberate squeeze, pushing her inch by inch toward the abyss.

 

Xu Jinman’s office.

 

Zhou Pei entered with documents, waiting for each signature before speaking. “Miss, you have a meeting with President Qin of Meilai Jewelry in an hour.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Song Ronghui is still waiting.”

 

Xu Jinman’s eyelids flickered slightly. “Oh? How long has she been waiting?”

 

“An hour already.”

 

Xu Jinman remained silent, lowering her gaze back to the documents. Zhou Pei understood the message.

 

An hour later, Xu Jinman rose and walked toward the conference room, passing right in front of Song Ronghui. Song Ronghui wanted to call out her name, to follow her, but Zhou Pei blocked her path. “I’m sorry, Miss Song. President Xu has instructed you to wait.”

 

Zhou Pei had a perpetually cold expression, rarely smiling. Combined with her martial arts training, she intimidated most of the office staff.

 

Although Song Ronghui was an Alpha, she had no intention of causing a scene. Zhou Pei easily stopped her.

 

An hour later, Zhou Pei said, “Miss Song, President Xu and President Qin have gone to lunch. Would you like to continue waiting or return later?”

 

Song Ronghui gritted her teeth. “Isn’t she just trying to get revenge? I’ve come this far—what’s there to be afraid of? I’ll wait.”

 

“Very well,” Zhou Pei replied. “If you need tea or snacks, please inform the front desk.”

 

It wasn’t until after 2 PM that Xu Jinman finally agreed to see Song Ronghui.

 

In the office, Song Ronghui stared at Xu Jinman. “How did you manage this? Where did you get the Song Family’s heavily leveraged shares…?”

 

“Did I hear you right? You came here to ask me questions?” Xu Jinman leaned back in her leather chair, her tone indifferent.

 

Song Ronghui pressed her lips together, paused, and then said with difficulty, “I orchestrated everything at the banquet. I came to apologize. Can you spare us?”

 

“Hold on.” Xu Jinman tapped her phone and dialed Shen Shu’s number.

 

After the call connected, Xu Jinman said, “Go ahead. Explain the whole story clearly.”

 

Song Ronghui recounted the entire incident simply and clearly, admitting that she had acted alone and that her actions were motivated by her feelings for Yin Xue.

 

“I love her, but Yin Xue’s heart belongs only to you. That’s why I targeted you.”

 

Xu Jinman knew the truth behind those words, so they no longer mattered.

 

“You owe more than just me an apology,” Xu Jinman said.

 

“I already apologized to Miss Shen earlier,” Song Ronghui replied.

 

“No, there’s one more,” Xu Jinman insisted. “Do you know what happened to the Omega who was in bed that day?”

 

Xu Jinman rose, her aura radiating authority, and stepped closer to Song Ronghui. “She nearly died, you know? In your eyes, it was just a means to get to me, but you almost took a life. If that life had been lost, you would have carried that burden for the rest of your days—and Shen Shu and I would have shared it.”

 

Her concern wasn’t just for Shen Shu and herself; she genuinely felt the absurdity of the situation.

 

Sometimes she thought everyone in this world had gone mad.

 

After a long silence, Song Ronghui said, “I will apologize to her.”

 

Xu Jinman gestured for her to leave, but Song Ronghui persisted. “Xu Jinman, for the sake of your years of friendship with Yin Xue, can you please spare her?”

 

“She’s already in prison. I won’t do anything more.”

 

Yin Xue had been transferred to a stricter facility, where conditions would only worsen. She needed to learn her own lesson.

 

After Song Ronghui left, Xu Jinman sank back into her leather chair.

 

“Shen Shu?”

 

“Mm, I heard you,” Shen Shu said. “So you weren’t really planning to do anything to the Song Family.”

 

Xu Jinman had said earlier that she knew all the Song Family’s cards. The family had indeed been suffering these past two days, but Xu Jinman hadn’t yet touched their core assets.

 

She had shown them mercy after all.

 

Xu Jinman curled her lip, picked up her water glass, and said, “It’s not worth making the entire Song Family pay for Song Ronghui’s sins. She doesn’t deserve that.”

 

“Mm, you handled it well,” Shen Shu replied.

 

The water glass paused at Xu Jinman’s lips. She smiled and asked, “How rare. Miss Shen is actually complimenting me unprompted.”

 

“Haven’t I ever complimented you before?”

 

“Not unprompted.”

 

“……”

 

The air suddenly grew still. Xu Jinman set down her glass, thinking of something to say.

 

Then Shen Shu’s clear voice cut through the silence: “Should I hang up now?”

 

“Sure, go ahead,” Xu Jinman replied.

 

Xu Jinman glanced at the call history for a few seconds, turned off her phone, and then returned to the project in her hand.

 

The money she had poured into shorting the Song Family these past two days had all come from earlier investment returns. She wouldn’t be able to recoup her losses anytime soon and needed to find new avenues for profit.

 

After work, Xu Jinman let Zhou Pei go home and drove her white Bentley back herself.

 

She paused in the underground garage, considering whether to eat at the hotel tonight or find a restaurant outside.

 

Just as she was thinking, her WeChat buzzed.

 

She opened it to find a new group chat created by Cai Ying, with Shen Shu also in the group.

 

Xu Jinman: ?

 

Cai Ying: @Shen Shu Shu Shu, my family’s housekeeper went to Belgium and brought back some chocolates. I’m bringing some for you and Xu Jinman.

 

Cai Ying: When are you two heading home?

 

Cai Ying: If it’s too late, I’ll come by tomorrow.

 

Xu Jinman switched to a private chat with Shen Shu.

 

Xu Jinman: Should I come over now? What do you think?

 

After a few seconds, Shen Shu replied: Come on over.

 

Xu Jinman: Okay.

 

As she started the car, Xu Jinman saw Shen Shu’s reply to Cai Ying in the group chat: @Cai Ying Come on over.

 

Without hesitation, Xu Jinman drove straight out of the underground garage and headed to Shen Shu’s house.

 

When she arrived, Cai Ying sent a message saying she had a last-minute dinner engagement and would be late.

 

Shen Shu: What time? If it’s too late, don’t bother coming.

 

Cai Ying: Why not?

 

Cai Ying: Oh, you’re worried I’ll interrupt your… you know. I get it.

 

Cai Ying: Fine, I won’t come over after 9 PM.

 

Shen Shu: …

 

Shen Shu: Just let me know when you’re on your way. Be careful on the road.

 

Xu Jinman, sitting on the sofa, chuckled. “See? I didn’t corrupt her. She’s even more knowledgeable than me.”

 

Shen Shu walked to the kitchen, took two tomatoes, potatoes, and beef from the refrigerator, and said, “No one’s as knowledgeable as you.”

 

Xu Jinman got up and joined her, taking the tomatoes to wash.

 

“Then tell me, what do I know?”

 

Shen Shu glanced at her but refused to take the bait.

 

After quickly preparing two dishes and a soup, they ate. Shen Shu was washing the dishes when Cai Ying rang the doorbell.

 

Two boxes of chocolate.

 

“I tried them—they’re delicious,” Cai Ying said, peeling one and holding it to Shen Shu’s lips. The bittersweet flavor melted in her mouth.

 

Xu Jinman watched them, clicking her tongue softly. “None for me, huh?”

 

Cai Ying burst into laughter. “You may not have a bestie, but you have a wife. If your wife won’t feed you, there’s nothing I can do.”

 

Shen Shu and Xu Jinman exchanged a meaningful glance.

 

Xu Jinman smiled and stood up. “Alright, I’ll go take a shower first.”

 

After showering, Xu Jinman found Cai Ying already in the guest room, attending an online class. Occasionally, she could hear Cai Ying answering the teacher’s questions aloud.

 

While Cai Ying’s academic skills weren’t exceptional, her time abroad had given her excellent spoken English.

 

The bedroom door was ajar, and Shen Shu sat on the edge of the bed, folding the two freshly laundered garments she had just brought in.

 

Xu Jinman placed Shen Shu’s copy of Tipping the Velvet on the bed. “Here, you can read it now.”

 

“You’re finished with it?”

 

“No, you go ahead. If you don’t read for two days, you’ll lose track of the plot.”

 

“That won’t happen. You should read it first.”

 

Xu Jinman looked at Shen Shu with a teasing smile. “Or… we could read it together?”

 

Shen Shu paused for a moment before replying, “Okay.”

 

Xu Jinman stared at her, speechless.