Transmigrated as the Imperial Princess's Scumbag Alpha Ex-Wife - Chapter 11

The Garbage Planet was divided into nine tiers, each representing a different level of social status.

The people were also divided into nine tiers.

Paradis, located at the heart of the star region, held a position akin to the most luxurious entertainment district in an ancient Earth city. Its name, derived from the French word for “paradise,” reflected its reputation as a place where money could buy anything.

Little Shan said, “Inferior music masks the sins there. That murky place will devour your soul.”

Zhu Yu chuckled. “Little Shan, you have the makings of a poet!”

Cat Colleague chimed in, “I heard the floor tiles are made of Star Mineral, the champagne towers are taller than mountains, expensive wine flows ankle-deep around the dancers’ feet, and money rains down from the sky…”

Zhu Yu scoffed. “That’s such an exaggeration!”

Little Shan insisted, “Just be careful not to get swallowed up. Many who go there never return.”

Cat raised a skeptical eyebrow. “They probably just smuggled themselves to the Federation, right? Who wouldn’t want a better life?”

Little Shan’s hands froze, her slightly chubby face darkening. “You want to go to the Federation too? Those Federation Citizens look down on us.”

Cat muttered, “Not really. I think Federation Citizens are nice. The wages are so high there. If I could read, I’d rather be a clerk there than stay here.”

Little Shan retorted coldly, “They’re just selling expired goods they don’t want anymore at inflated prices. A bunch of scammers! What’s so great about them? You’d better watch out—they might trick you into selling yourself.”

Seeing the two were about to argue, Zhu Yu quickly intervened, stuffing a cookie into each of their mouths to shut them up.

The three quietly munched on their cookies.

Zhu Yu beamed proudly. “Delicious, right? My family made them!”

My family! She unconsciously emphasized those words.

“Delicious!” her colleagues chimed in enthusiastically.

Bai Shuzhou, bored at home, occasionally baked small cookies with He Ming. They were packaged and sold under the Helan’s Diner brand at exorbitant prices, yet sales were surprisingly strong.

Their primary customer was the legendary Paradis, rumored to be a paradise. Wealthy and indifferent to cost, they bought these artisanal snacks to flaunt their exclusivity.

These are cookies made by the Imperial Princess herself! They’re practically giving them away!

Zhu Yu suspected Bai Shuzhou’s boredom was just an excuse. She was clearly supplementing their household income. The thought of the Princess, still recovering from her injuries, worrying about money made Zhu Yu want to cry.

I’m sorry. I’m a useless, terrible Alpha.

Bai Shuzhou often subtly inquired about Zhu Yu’s night shifts. Zhu Yu, of course, never told the truth. Over time, she began to detect a hint of concern beneath the woman’s stiff words.

“You care about me!”

The woman, ever taciturn, turned her cold, thin-browed gaze back to the book.

Zhu Yu leaned in to peek at the cover: One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of folk tales.

“Silence means consent!”

Bai Shuzhou finally deigned to lift her head, her voice icy. “Get lost.”

Clutching this uniquely dismissive “get lost” to her heart, Zhu Yu left, utterly satisfied.

Whenever Zhu Yu mentioned working at Paradis, people assumed she must be working hard, likely earning a hefty salary—the very name sounded weighty.

But Zhu Yu didn’t find the work particularly strenuous. Her colleagues were kind, and in this entertainment venue dominated by Federation Citizens, Imperials naturally gravitated toward each other.

Before each night shift, Zhu Yu would bury herself in a pile of furry colleagues, basking in their warm embraces.

At first, Zhu Yu was overwhelmed by this sudden popularity, but she soon realized it stemmed from her inability to undergo Beast Transformation. To her colleagues, she was something akin to a pet.

If humans could pet animals, why couldn’t animals pet humans?

Zhu Yu’s aura was as clear and pure as an untouched snowfield. Small creatures passing by would instinctively step on her, leaving their mark.

Unbeknownst to her, this affection also served as a subtle form of gang marking. Beneath the dim lights, undercurrents swirled, revealing the unspoken divide between Imperials and Federation Citizens.

Hugging her colleagues and changing into her work uniform marked the start of Zhu Yu’s night shift.

In this extravagant entertainment venue, she was no longer Zhu Yu, but rather—Smiling Angel Little Yu!

The nickname sent shivers down her spine.

But there was no arguing with the supervisor, who insisted that a catchy name would attract more customers.

Her job was simple: smile at guests, offer auspicious greetings that sounded impressive but were essentially variations of “May you prosper,” and sell drinks.

During the day, she slacked off and gossiped with her Cat Colleague at the nutrient solution factory. In her free time, she tinkered with tools, fixing things. She often thought “Wrench Angel” would be a more fitting title.

Greedy mortals, may the Wrench Angel bestow her blessings upon you…!

Physical salvation!

The supervisor’s voice snapped her out of her wild fantasies. “What are you daydreaming about? Go check the air conditioner in the Bieyun Room.”

Zhu Yu nodded, grabbed the magnetic card and toolbox the supervisor handed her, and headed upstairs.

The venue’s rigid hierarchy resembled a pyramid. As a first-floor server, she normally wouldn’t be allowed to go upstairs. But by occasionally moonlighting as a “Second-Tier Mechanic,” her status instantly—

Elevated her to the second floor.

This was the extent of her perks: with the magnetic card, she could use the elevator.

Damn capitalists! They don’t even pay extra for repairs! I’m already giving them such a good deal for the price!

The second-floor corridor was quiet, a faint fragrance tinged with a chilly elegance that stood in stark contrast to the superficial bustle of the first floor.

Rumor had it that the patrons on this floor were all either incredibly wealthy or highly influential. When they were in high spirits, they would “set off fireworks,” showering bundles of money down below.

The sight of the lower classes scrambling to collect the cash was part of the wealthy patrons’ entertainment.

Unfortunately, Zhu Yu had never witnessed such a spectacle.

If she ever did, she’d make sure those rich bastards learned what it truly meant to be desperate!

She whistled softly as she approached the designated VIP room, expertly opening her toolbox.

The door to the adjacent room was ajar, and she could faintly hear a woman’s laughter. Zhu Yu glanced inside and saw Nangong Zheng entertaining the guests.

Nangong Zheng had striking red hair and, like Zhu Yu’s original body, was the type to flit about like a butterfly. His performance was exceptional, making him extremely popular, but Zhu Yu had never quite warmed to him and rarely interacted with him.

She had always felt a slight unease around such extroverted types, even though she now inhabited such a person’s body—perhaps some karmic retribution from a past life. She feared being treated like a toy, always feeling passive and vulnerable in their presence.

As a Federation Citizen, Nangong Zheng wore electronic cat ears to entertain the patrons.

Zhu Yu stood on the plush leather sofa, straining to reach the central air conditioner, when she finally realized what made this bar so unsettling.

Though ostensibly a smuggling operation, most of the time it was the Federation dumping goods on the Empire. Similarly, Federation Citizens were far more generous with tips for the Beastman servers, treating them with a condescending, amused attitude.

This discomfort peaked when Zhu Yu finished her inspection, grabbed her toolbox, and saw Nangong Zheng being force-fed alcohol.

The usually proud social butterfly was drenched and coughing, his electronic cat ears clutched in someone’s palm as they asked with morbid curiosity, “Does this hurt? What about… this?”

“Hey, can’t even finish this little drink? Are you disrespecting me?”

“Do you even know how expensive this liquor is? What you’ve spilled could buy your life! Drink it properly!”

“Seriously? Already passing out after just a few sips? How boring. The Beastmen are way more fun to play with.”

Zhu Yu silently clenched her toolbox, her knuckles turning white.

Although there were guests drinking on the first floor, they were scattered in open booths with no obstructions to the view, preventing them from getting too carried away. In the private rooms upstairs, however, these “civilized” patrons shed their pretense and revealed their true nature.

A low chuckle came from inside the room: “Too bad this one’s a Federation Citizen too.”

Another voice replied casually, “So what if he’s not a Federation Citizen? Keep drinking, don’t waste it. Shouldn’t you finish the wine you recommended, little beauty?”

Nangong Rou leaned against him, boneless, and hooked her finger under his chin. “Please, Captain, I’m dizzy. I really can’t drink any more…”

This scum is an officer?

A Federation officer? Smuggling? Zhu Yu frowned.

As Nangong climbed over him, she gently traced the Alpha’s scent gland beneath her palm. The man laughed, his demeanor softening slightly, though still lecherous. Noticing the flush on her face, he deliberately refilled her glass.

“Drink this, and I’ll spare you.”

In her current state, another drink would likely leave Nangong too drunk to even walk.

The Federation guests exchanged knowing glances, their expressions tinged with suggestive amusement.

Suddenly, the door was flung open.

A young woman stood there, clutching an iron wrench. Her slender shadow, stretched long by the corridor light, loomed distorted and imposing across the room.

The Federation guests froze, startled by her sudden entrance. When they recognized the cheap waitress uniform, their irritation flared. One slammed his fist on the table, bellowing, “Who do you think you are? What do you want?!”

Nangong glanced back, cursing inwardly at the girl’s recklessness. She raised her hand, waving dismissively to signal her to avoid antagonizing the guests.

Zhu Yu bit her lip. “I’m here to fix the air conditioner,” she said, “so our esteemed guests won’t get too hot.”

“Since Sister Nangong can’t handle any more, let me drink in her place.”

“I’ve heard Federation citizens have impressive drinking skills. I’ve always admired that. Want to have a contest with me?”

Clumsy, awkward, and brimming with youthful self-assurance.

Nangong: …

What do you mean I can’t handle any more?

Do you even hear how nonsensical those two sentences sound together? Did you get possessed by something at the end?!

For the first time, she truly looked at this fool who buttoned his shirt all the way up. His clean, almost incongruous aura stood out sharply against the surrounding atmosphere.

What a fool, Nangong thought, nearly laughing in exasperation. Trying to play the hero?

The officers present were all Alphas, their eyes filled with disdain. They had never taken Betas seriously, especially those from backwater planets like this “Garbage Planet.”

They sized up the naive youth, their laughter turning cruel.

Such a pathetic challenge was merely a post-dinner amusement.

Accompanied by a jaunty whistle, case after case of liquor was brought into the private room.

Nangong anxiously tried to intervene, feigning drunkenness several times to get an officer to escort her away, which would naturally end the gathering. But Zhu Yu stubbornly blocked her path like a mother hen protecting her chicks, refusing to yield an inch.

Zhu Yu could hold her liquor remarkably well. After downing several bottles of strong liquor, her expression remained unchanged, as if she were drinking water. This ignited the Alphas’ competitive spirit, and they took turns challenging her to drinking contests, watching in amazement.

As the revelry reached its peak, the crystal panel connecting the second floor to the first floor opened. The drunken Alphas waved their hands grandly, sending a shower of banknotes fluttering down like crimson snow.

Amidst the clamor of the crowd, the girl in the VIP booth drained the last drop of her drink, casually tossing the bottle aside with a clatter.

The once-aggressive Alphas were now staggering, barely kept upright by their attendants.

Zhu Yu wiped the glistening liquor from the corner of her lips with the back of her hand, waving politely at the defeated Alphas. “No more? Not opening another bottle?”

The Alphas practically fled in disarray.

Her nonchalant demeanor made it hard to believe that such a slender frame could hold so much strong liquor. Even her carefree smile seemed to carry the lingering aroma of fine wine.

Nangong had to admit the girl was surprisingly captivating. The alcohol only seemed to swirl in her misty eyes, leaving her complexion untouched. In fact, the drink had transformed her usually pale face, giving it a porcelain-like glow.

Who turns paler when they drink? What kind of constitution is that?

Frowning, Nangong tentatively poked the smiling girl slumped on the sofa. The girl collapsed dramatically at the slightest touch.

“Hey…?!?” Nangong exclaimed.

She flipped the girl over, checking her pulse and eyes. Zhu Yu lay curled up, utterly defenseless, murmuring softly, “Oops, forgot about my stomach condition.”

How could you forget that?

Nangong scoffed, half amused, half exasperated. “You don’t think I’ll thank you for this, do you?”

The girl’s lips began to pale, but she said politely, “You’re welcome.”

Nangong: “Are you drunk?”

Zhu Yu: “No, I’m fine. I don’t get drunk easily. My body will break down these reagents quickly. It’s just an overload; I need a little time.”

She tilted her head, her clear black-and-white eyes sparkling. “Will these extra drinks count toward my sales quota?”

Nangong, who had just begun to feel a flicker of complex emotions, thought: I should just let you drink yourself to death.

When the manager heard that Zhu Yu was feeling unwell from drinking, he immediately urged her to go home and rest, calling it an “early vacation.”

Nangong tossed her hair. “You’re just afraid she’ll die here and it’ll be considered a workplace injury, aren’t you?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! It’s just a stomachache. What else would she do here if she didn’t go home to rest? Paradis isn’t a charity; we’re not responsible for your medical care!”

Under Nangong’s sardonic gaze, the manager gritted his teeth, pulled out several large bills, and slapped them into Zhu Yu’s hand. “Here’s a little something from me personally. Now go home!”

With everyone watching, Zhu Yu quickly sat up, counted the bills one by one, and raised her eyebrows. “Thank you, boss.”

She stood up and walked out, her steps steady and slow.

Nangong couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She dragged Zhu Yu into the crimson car and forced her to give a destination.

The self-driving system activated. Nangong opened the vanity mirror, wiped off her lipstick, and her eyes cleared, showing no trace of intoxication.

It was late at night. Nangong spotted the small courtyard from afar, narrowed her eyes, and scrutinized Zhu Yu from head to toe before finally carrying her out of the car.

Inside the house, a dim night light glowed through the security bars, its pale reflection flickering faintly on the mirror.

For as long as the car had been parked, the mirror’s owner had been watching.

The young woman leaned against the red-dressed beauty, one arm draped over her shoulder. They were pressed so close their hair had become tangled.

Nangong muttered, “You bastard, you’re crushing my hair! Thirty thousand for every strand that falls out.”

The mention of money startled Zhu Yu. Her eyes glazed over as she hurried home, as if a ghost were chasing her.

Her hand trembled as she fumbled with the key, pressing her cheek against the cold iron door. Her muffled voice called out, “I’m back…”

Sound travels well through solids. The vibrations rippled through the silent night, reaching the woman’s ears as:

Honey, I’m back from my escapades—

Back from my escapades, and I brought a woman with me!

Inside the iron door, vines twisted wildly, like ink spreading into countless strands of black hair, viciously blocking the lock.

It wouldn’t open.

Seeing the young woman standing there, dazed and frozen, Nangong sensed something was wrong. She strode over on her long legs, flashed a grin of white teeth, and said:

“Aww, looks like your family doesn’t want you anymore.”

“Wanna come with me instead?”