Transmigrated as an Alpha, the Fox Spirit Lives on Pheromone - Chapter 30

“Are you done talking? Dinner’s ready.”

Qin Shuiyue’s voice came from downstairs.

Qin Nian exhaled in relief as if she had just been granted a reprieve, quickly pulling Bai Muqin toward the door. She turned back to Qin Yizhi and said, “Sis and I are going down first. Uncle, come down as soon as you’re done.”

Every time the topic of her late aunt came up, Qin Nian felt a pang in her heart. She would always remember how her aunt had once promised to marry her when she grew up.

Though Qin Nian now understood that her aunt had only agreed to her childish whims to make her happy, she had clung to that promise as a child, eagerly awaiting the future.

Even now, Qin Nian couldn’t quite define her feelings for her aunt. She only occasionally dreamed of her aunt coming to her in a wedding dress.

Old Master Qin was already seated at the dining table. Bai Muqin and Qin Nian waited for Qin Yizhi to take his seat before sitting down.

Little Fox Jiang obediently curled up on Bai Muqin’s lap, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.

The Qin family didn’t strictly enforce the rule of silence during meals, but a few casual words were exchanged before eating began.

Just as Qin Yizhi was about to bring up the company’s recent affairs, Old Master Qin waved his hand, signaling him to hold off.

Old Master Qin turned to Bai Muqin with a lecturing tone. “Before marriage, you can have your fun, but don’t go overboard.”

“Muqin hasn’t done anything improper, Dad. Don’t believe those tabloids,” Qin Yizhi interjected hastily in her defense.

“Don’t interrupt!” Old Master Qin snapped, visibly annoyed.

Everyone fell silent, not daring to speak out of turn.

Little Fox Jiang nuzzled deeper into Bai Muqin’s arms, clearly startled by the sudden sharp tone.

Old Master Qin continued, “You all must have guessed what I’d say when I called Muqin back. A few days ago, Jiang Minshan visited me with his second daughter, Jiang Lin. She is Muqin’s fiancée—the one I personally selected years ago. To ensure the Jiang family was worthy of ours, we’ve supported them all these years, and they’ve finally established themselves. Though it was only a verbal promise back then, it still stands. Jiang Minshan and Jiang Lin have invited us to the Jiang family’s appreciation banquet next month, where Jiang Lin will be formally introduced, and our families’ alliance will be publicly announced.”

“I’ve agreed,” Old Master Qin rapped his knuckles on the table sternly. “However, Muqin, I don’t want to see any more of those scandalous headlines before the banquet. We’re not entertainers—we don’t need people gossiping about us.”

Even with her diminished mental capacity, Little Fox Jiang understood that this woman named Jiang Lin had replaced her as the Jiang family’s second daughter. She had no idea when she’d regain her human form and could only fret helplessly, afraid her owner might be taken away. Anxiously, she curled tighter on Bai Muqin’s lap.

Bai Muqin gently stroked the disheartened Little Fox Jiang, her expression tender. Her tone was calm, betraying no emotion. “The previous incident was purely accidental, Grandfather. There’s no need to worry.”

“I’ll attend the banquet. But I’d like to know—wasn’t the Second Miss Jiang I was engaged to named Jiang Li? Why has she changed her name to Jiang Lin?”

From the moment she learned that the Second Miss Jiang was called Jiang Lin instead of Jiang Li, Bai Muqin had been absolutely certain that Jiang Li hadn’t lied. What puzzled her was—who exactly was this Jiang Lin?

Old Master Qin was slightly taken aback, then smiled helplessly, “Isn’t changing names quite common in the business world? If Mu’er is concerned, I can have her provide a medical report. An S-class Alpha is too rare to fake.”

To his surprise, Bai Muqin pondered for a moment before replying, “Alright, then I’ll trouble Grandfather to request a medical report from the Jiang family.”

She paused before adding, “I also want a paternity test between Uncle Jiang and Jiang Li. S-class Alphas are indeed rare, but where there’s a hefty reward, there will always be reckless men. Moreover, after being away for so many years, is she still the same Jiang Li from before? I want to verify it myself to feel at ease.”

Old Master Qin simply took it as her being cautious. After some thought, he found his granddaughter’s concerns reasonable and nodded in agreement. This matter couldn’t afford the slightest mistake.

Bai Muqin had anticipated Old Master Qin’s approval. Her grandfather was famously meticulous, and by handling this through him, it wouldn’t raise the Jiang family’s suspicions. If they tried any tricks, it would only invite her grandfather’s distrust.

Little Fox Jiang had held back until they left the old mansion before starting to whimper, seemingly voicing her displeasure to Bai Muqin.

“Master, why didn’t you refuse?”

“Don’t you want me anymore?”

“You said you believed I’m Jiang Li, so why are you going to meet that woman named Jiang Li?”

But to Bai Muqin’s ears, these words were nothing more than fox-like “awoos” and “whimpers.” She could tell Jiang Li was upset and tried to soothe her, “Be good, we’ll talk when we get home.”

For once, Little Fox Jiang rebelled, squirming in Bai Muqin’s arms. Seizing the moment Bai Muqin loosened her grip, she leaped into Qin Nian’s embrace.

“Sis, Ah Li’s actually throwing a tantrum. Seems she really cares that you have a fiancée,” Qin Nian teased, only to flinch when Little Fox Jiang bared her teeth at her.

“I didn’t do anything to you, don’t glare at me,” Qin Nian muttered, not daring to provoke her further—after all, Ah Li was a fox spirit.

Bai Muqin sighed. “I’ll drive. You hold her for now.”

In the car, Qin Nian sat in the passenger seat with Little Fox Jiang in her lap. The little fox spent the entire ride with her back turned to Bai Muqin, sulking quietly.

Unaware of the real issue, Qin Nian tried to console her. “Ah Li, you know, these business marriages are usually just for show. Even if they get married later, they won’t interfere with each other’s lives. And right now, it’s just a verbal promise. That Jiang Li—she’s been gone for years, and the Jiang family’s been so secretive about her. Who knows what they’re hiding?”

She noticed Little Fox Jiang’s ears perking up, a sign she was listening intently.

Seizing the chance, Qin Nian mischievously teased her, adopting a tone one might use to scare a child, “Sis is already stressed about this. If you keep ignoring her and making her angry, she might stop liking you.”

The little fox’s ears twitched even higher at that. Slowly, she turned around on Qin Nian’s lap, finally facing Bai Muqin, who was driving. Her pitiful expression resembled that of a child waiting to be scolded after misbehaving.

Seeing her words had an effect, Qin Nian turned to Bai Muqin for more details. “Sis, what do you think of that Jiang Li? I remember you two got along well as kids. Why hasn’t she come to see you even after being back for so long?”

Bai Muqin glanced slightly at Jiang Li and said coldly, “Perhaps she has a guilty conscience.”

“Guilty conscience?” Qin Nian felt that Bai Muqin must have known some inside information, which was why she had asked for both the experience report and a DNA test. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, “Sis, do you know something? Is the Jiang family really hiding something from us?”

Before Bai Muqin could answer, Qin Nian’s well-read mind jumped to a conclusion: “Sis, don’t say anything yet—let me guess! Is this a case of the real and fake heiress? Did the real heiress Jiang Li, who was originally engaged to you, actually die in that car accident over a decade ago? And the Jiang family lied to us, saying Jiang Li went abroad to study, just to keep receiving support from our family? Now, after all these years, they’ve finally found a qualified S-rank Alpha who fits the bill, so this Jiang Li dares do not approach you out of guilt, afraid of being exposed. Am I right?”

Bai Muqin looked slightly surprised. Qin Nian’s speculation aligned with her own, though with some differences—the general direction was correct. The only thing was, Bai Muqin had reached this conclusion because she trusted Ah Li. But how had Qin Nian figured it out? Clearly, reading too many novels had given her a uniquely bizarre way of thinking.

Qin Nian stared excitedly at Bai Muqin, hoping to glean some clues from her expression. If her guess turned out to be right, maybe her sister would finally believe her “Scumbag Alpha” theory—especially since Ah Li was a fox spirit. There was a high chance she had traveled through time!

Bai Muqin turned the steering wheel, overtaking another car before speaking. “My thoughts are the same as yours, but there’s one point in your guess that’s wrong, Jiang Li is very likely still alive.”

“Alive? Then where is she? That doesn’t make sense!” Qin Nian racked her brain for similar novel plots but couldn’t find one that matched.

“She’s in your arms right now,” Bai Muqin said abruptly.

Qin Nian looked down at the little fox in her arms, taking a long moment to process Bai Muqin’s words.

Only when Little Fox Jiang met her gaze—as if saying, “Ha, bet you didn’t expect this! This fox is the Second Miss Jiang!”—did it click.

“Holy moly, this plot is mind-bending. I’m starting to wonder if I’m a character in a novel too. How can such a coincidence exist in the world?”

“Hey, author, are you there? Can you pair me up with a gentle, kind, and adorable older Alpha?”

“Why on earth did you end up in a place like Hidden Flower Alley?”

“Oh my god, I get it now. Did the original body disappear? Are you actually—”

Bai Muqin coughed lightly, and Qin Nian immediately shut her mouth, adding, “I get it. That secret can’t be spoken. No wonder Ah Li is a fox spirit—now everything makes sense.”

After her rapid-fire deductions, Qin Nian felt exhilarated, even considering whether she should write a novel based on Ah Li’s story.

Once the car stopped, Little Fox Jiang abandoned Qin Nian without hesitation, leaping into Bai Muqin’s arms instead.

Qin Nian muttered under her breath, “Ungrateful little fox.” Then, as if struck by a thought, she added, “Sis, paternity tests can be tampered with, right? We should be careful.”

Bai Muqin walked ahead, cradling Little Fox Jiang in her arms, and turned back with a smile, “Of course, I’ll obtain their DNA through other means for testing. Naturally, Ah Li’s will be tested as well. If we want to expose the Jiang family at the banquet, Ah Li’s paternity test is absolutely essential.”

Qin Nian jogged to walk side by side with Bai Muqin and praised, “Double insurance! It’s bound to be foolproof.”

Bai Muqin said, “Suddenly, I feel this won’t go so smoothly.”

Qin Nian asked, “Why?”

Bai Muqin replied, “Because you’ve jinxed it too hard.”