Transmigrated into a Classic Dog-Blood Drama as the Scummy Alpha - Chapter 16
Lin Qinghan worked at a private hospital, and her job was always exhausting. But with Shen Xian around, she no longer had to prepare breakfast or take their child to school, which saved her a great deal of trouble.
Even so, she kept reminding herself that Shen Xian’s presence at home was only temporary. Once she dealt with the family matters at hand, Shen Xian would naturally leave. Getting used to having her around would be dangerous.
She shoved these tangled thoughts out of her mind, hopped on her electric scooter, and sped off.
Meanwhile, Shen Xian took their daughter to kindergarten. “Tiantian, Mommy will come pick you up after school, okay?”
“Okay! Tiantian will be good and wait for Mommy. Bye-bye, Mommy!” Shen Tian waved goodbye before skipping into the school.
Watching her daughter disappear through the gates, Shen Xian thought it was time to get herself a car. She enrolled in a local driving school for 3,000 yuan. She had already known how to drive in her previous life, so passing the tests would be no problem as long as she stayed focused. After registering and scheduling the exam in the afternoon, she returned to Fang Jinglan’s place.
It was Fang Jinglan who answered the door. When she saw Shen Xian, she asked, “How’s it going? Are you getting along okay over there?”
Shen Xian nodded. She was staying at Lin’s place mostly to prevent Lin Zhixin from coming around asking for money again—but for some reason, her mother looked… happy about it?
“It’s fine. I found a job, nothing too hectic. I help out with picking up and dropping off Tiantian.” Shen Xian explained.
“Do you have enough money?” Fang Jinglan asked. “If not, I can give you some. Don’t be in a situation where the kid wants something and you don’t have the cash to get it.”
She genuinely worried about her daughter. Back then, she was afraid Shen Xian would ask for money for no reason. Now that Shen Xian wasn’t asking for anything, she was a little worried again—was her daughter planning something?
“No need, Mom. I really have enough,” Shen Xian replied.
Once inside, she gave the whole place a deep clean—not for money, but simply because she wanted to help her mother out however she could. Afterward, she wiped down the kitchen and, seeing the pantry running low, ordered rice, flour, oil, and some fruit through a grocery app. The original Shen Xian had owed her parents far too much. All she could do now was try to make up for it, little by little.
When the deliveryman knocked on the door, Fang Jinglan was confused. “This can’t be right. I didn’t order anything—did you get the wrong address?”
She wasn’t familiar with those fancy new apps. She usually just rode her electric scooter all the way to the supermarket and hauled things back herself.
Hearing the commotion, Shen Xian came out of the room and said to the delivery guy, “I ordered those. Just leave them here. Thanks for your hard work.”
“No problem,” the deliveryman smiled. “Your daughter’s so filial, ma’am.”
Filial?
The original Shen Xian had nearly driven her parents to ruin. Hearing that word made her feel deeply guilty.
“I saw we were running low on a few things, so I bought some,” Shen Xian told her mother. “There’s fruit for you and Dad too. Let me put away the rice and oil.”
With that, she got busy unpacking the groceries, while Fang Jinglan stood there stunned.
The Shen Xian of the past wouldn’t even go out for steamed buns without asking for a hundred yuan first. And now she was buying things for the household? Not to mention, she’d been behaving herself for days.
Overjoyed, Fang Jinglan rushed back to her room and started a video call with her younger sister, Fang Jingping.
“Jingping, I have to tell you—Shen Xian has really changed these past few days. Not only hasn’t she asked me for money, she’s been doing housework and even bought things for the house. I really think she’s turned over a new leaf!”
“That’s great news, Second Sister,” Fang Jingping replied. “But don’t get your hopes up too soon. Just be careful. If she asks for money again, don’t give it to her.”
Fang Jinglan knew her sister meant well. Shen Xian had lied so much in the past that no one could trust her anymore—not even her own relatives. And who could blame them? She’d borrowed money from everyone, even her siblings. Still, as her mother, Fang Jinglan couldn’t help but feel a little sad. She had never given up on her daughter. If no one else was willing to believe in her, then she would do it—just one last time. And if Shen Xian let her down again… then she would truly give up.
Meanwhile, Shen Xian was busy putting away the groceries, unaware of her mother’s inner turmoil. After tidying everything, she washed some fruit and made a fruit platter for her father. Shen Wenkang’s hand trembled constantly now. He was no longer the sharp, capable man he used to be.
Shen Xian placed the platter in front of him. “Dad, eat some fruit—it’s good for you.”
Because of a recent stroke, Shen Wenkang could barely speak, his words slurred and broken. Seeing the number “60” above his head—the favorability meter—made Shen Xian’s heart ache even more. Despite everything the original Shen Xian had done, her father had never once held it against her.
She sat with him for a while, then knocked on her mother’s door. “Mom, I’m heading out now. Tiantian’s almost done with school. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“Go on, go get the kid. What big thing could happen to us here? Go handle your stuff.” Fang Jinglan smiled.
Shen Xian’s eyes prickled with tears. The original Shen Xian had such wonderful parents, yet never appreciated them. This kind of love was something she’d yearned for in her past life but never had.
“Okay, I’ll visit again soon. We live so close now.” She gave her mother a smile before leaving.
When Fang Jinglan returned to the living room and saw the fresh-cut fruit platter, her heart warmed.
At the kindergarten gates, Shen Xian stood waiting like all the other parents. A few were chatting about a new zoo in the suburbs that had just opened. “The kids love it,” one said. Shen Xian mentally took note—whatever fun other kids were getting, Tiantian should get too.
Soon, the gates opened and the children burst out like little cannonballs, each charging into their parent’s arms. Tiantian was no exception—she dashed into Shen Xian’s arms, laughing with joy.
“Mommy, today the teacher taught us how to fold a bunny out of a handkerchief! I’ll make one for you at home!” she chirped in her sweet little voice.
“Wow, Tiantian is amazing! Mommy loves Tiantian the most!” Shen Xian lifted her up and playfully bounced her in her arms.
After a few minutes of giggles, Lin Qinghan arrived. From a distance, she had seen Shen Xian playing with Tiantian, both of them laughing so happily. Despite herself, Lin Qinghan’s lips curved into a soft smile.
“Enough playing. Let’s go home.” She took Tiantian from Shen Xian’s arms.
Tiantian hugged her tightly, thrilled that both her mama and mommy were with her. It made her so, so happy.
As always, Shen Xian climbed onto the back seat of the electric scooter and lightly held Lin Qinghan’s waist. With a twist of the handle, they zoomed off.
That evening, the three of them watched cartoons together.
“Tiantian, do you want to go see some animals this weekend?” Shen Xian gently rubbed her little pigtail as she asked.
“Really?!” Tiantian practically jumped with excitement.
Many of her classmates had already been to the petting zoo, and they often talked about how cute the animals were. Tiantian had wanted to go too, but her mama was always so busy, and her mommy… well, she’d barely seen her before. She’d never told anyone she wanted to go. But now—her mommy was inviting her!
Eyes sparkling, she pounced into Shen Xian’s arms. “Can we really?”
“Of course,” Shen Xian replied with a smile. “I was already planning to take you.”
Tiantian turned to Lin Qinghan. “Mama, will you come too?”
Lin Qinghan worked six days a week at the private hospital, with only Sundays off. Still, if her daughter wanted to go, of course she’d go with her. “Okay, but we’ll have to go on Sunday. I still have work on Saturday.”
Overjoyed, Tiantian hugged Shen Xian tightly. She could tell that her mama and mommy weren’t quite like other parents. And this would be her first time going on an outing with both of them. It was impossible not to be excited.
“Yay! Mama and Mommy are taking Tiantian out! Tiantian’s so happy~!” she sang sweetly.
Watching her daughter’s joy, Lin Qinghan felt a pang of guilt. Between work and parenting, she was always exhausted. She had never even had the chance to think about outings like this. Now she realized—
Tiantian was more mature than other kids her age because she’d had to endure more than they had. And the person beside them—Shen Xian—had missed almost every moment of her daughter’s life.
Shen Xian noticed something was off. Lin Qinghan was staring at her with a strange expression. She didn’t look pleased. Shen Xian’s heart tightened—but at least the favorability number hadn’t gone down. She sighed in relief.
Just then, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Jiang Xi, she answered immediately.
“President Jiang, did you need something?”
“Hi, Sister Shen! My sister wants to meet you. Are you free tomorrow?”
“Anytime is fine. Just let me know the time and place—I’ll be there.”
“Great! I’ll message you later. Bye-bye, Sister Shen!”
“Bye.”
Shen Xian hung up only to see Tiantian looking up at her with red-rimmed eyes.
In Tiantian’s memory, there had been times when her mommy had turned mean right after taking a phone call—usually when asking her mama for money. She didn’t want that to happen again. Clutching Shen
Xian’s arm, she asked softly, “Mommy, can you not go? Don’t play with bad people… Tiantian’s scared.”
Remembering all the horrible things the original Shen Xian had done, Shen Xian understood the misunderstanding. She quickly explained, “No, sweetie, it’s not a bad person—it’s just Mommy’s boss. Don’t worry, Mommy won’t play with bad people.”
She picked Tiantian up and hugged her tight, gently reassuring her.
Only then did Tiantian’s tiny heart finally settle.