Transmigrated Into a Heartless Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 18

Zhou Zhou watched in amazement as Miss Song seemed to be tasting ice cream for the first time, just like her, delighting like a child who’d just been given candy.

Her face, usually coldly elegant with a touch of masculine charm, now wore an innocent smile, softening the edges of her brows and eyes.

Surrounded by the bustling market and light industrial district, with people coming and going, the hum of machinery from nearby factories blending with the vendors’ dialect-laden cries and customers’ passionate haggling—Zhou Zhou seemed to hear none of it. All she could sense was the frantic beating of her heart, reminding her of the scorching summer days in the orphanage, the ceaseless croaking of frogs from the nearby lotus pond, and the sudden “plop” when she got too close to the water.

Right now, it felt like a hundred tiny frogs had taken up residence in her chest.

Song Yi was wholly absorbed in savoring her first-ever—

When she opened her eyes and glanced at Zhou Zhou again, the latter had already averted her gaze. Song Yi noticed the untouched ice cream in Zhou Zhou’s hand.

“It’s going to melt,” Song Yi reminded her with a smile.

The taro ice cream was twice the size of the previous chocolate one, topped with a crispy layer that looked delicious. The melting pale-purple liquid dripped down, utterly tempting.

Zhou Zhou finally remembered to take a bite—just a small, restrained one, in Song Yi’s eyes. Compared to her, Song Yi might as well have been devouring hers.

Song Yi looked away, checking her watch. It was almost two in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day.

“Get in the car first,” Song Yi said, opening the passenger door for Zhou Zhou, who climbed in still clutching her ice cream.

Once in the driver’s seat, Song Yi instinctively glanced over. Zhou Zhou seemed lost in thought, her gaze unfocused, her entire demeanor oddly dazed.

Was she wondering if she’d just boarded a thief’s car, soon to be dragged into a den of crime?

Song Yi smirked slightly at her own imagination. She raised a hand, intending to tap Zhou Zhou lightly to remind her to fasten her seatbelt, but at the last moment, fearing she might startle her, redirected her movement. Instead, she leaned over and buckled Zhou Zhou in herself.

Still lost in her thoughts, Zhou Zhou only noticed the sudden dimming of light before her, enveloped by the faint scent of red wine—not overpowering, but enough to make her hold her breath instinctively.

A second later, the light returned. But that delicate, pleasant aroma lingered. Zhou Zhou swallowed hard and took a big bite of her ice cream. The long-coveted chocolate crisp suddenly tasted bland.

Song Yi focused on driving, her mood buoyant all the way back, pleased to have successfully persuaded Zhou Zhou to come with her.

Unconsciously, she had already come to regard Zhou Zhou’s fate as something deeply important.

…

By the time they returned to the villa district, it was past four in the afternoon. Song Yi drove into the property, bypassing the garage and parking in the courtyard.

The meticulously maintained lawn was a vibrant green. Near the wall, a designated parking spot was paved with pentagonal hollow-centered tiles, seamlessly integrated into the design.

On the other side of the yard stood a medium-sized fountain, seemingly ordinary at first glance.

Song Yi, wealthy in her original world, was unfazed by such luxuries, but to Zhou Zhou, they were entirely novel.

While retrieving Zhou Zhou’s luggage from the trunk, Song Yi noticed her walking toward the fountain and followed. Remembering the book’s setting, she explained, “It doesn’t look like much now, but at night, it’s completely different.”

“How so?” Zhou Zhou turned to her, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

“You’ll find out when it gets dark. No spoilers now—it’ll ruin the surprise,” Song Yi decided to keep her in suspense.

Zhou Zhou didn’t press further, simply nodding in agreement.

“Go ahead and pick a room you like upstairs,” Song Yi said gently, hoping this small gesture might ease Zhou Zhou’s fear of her and offer a little more security.

After all, for a still-vulnerable Omega, sharing a roof with a powerful Alpha—especially one she barely knew—was an incredibly dangerous situation.

It was like a lion and a lamb. The lion couldn’t even be fully confident in restraining its own terrifying desires, let alone the defenseless little lamb.

For a moment, Song Yi snapped back to reality. Zhou Zhou agreeing to come back with her was no different from a lamb willingly walking into a lion’s den. Did that mean Zhou Zhou actually trusted her?

The thought sent a surge of exhilaration through Song Yi.

Nothing felt better than being trusted, she mused.

Carrying Zhou Zhou’s luggage, Song Yi gave a slight, gentlemanly bow—like a prince from a fairy tale paying homage to a princess who deserved nothing less than reverence. Zhou Zhou’s mind drifted, dazed. Miss Song was even more heart-stirring than any fairy-tale prince.

She was real, yet Zhou Zhou couldn’t shake the faint, surreal sense that… Miss Song didn’t belong to this world. Or perhaps, they weren’t meant to exist in the same one.

A shadow of melancholy flickered in Zhou Zhou’s eyes before she forced a small smile and followed Miss Song’s lead, stepping up the stairs toward the grand villa entrance—the luxurious place where she would soon be working.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice called from behind.

“Song Yi, what’s this…? Trying out a new flavor again?”

The tone was unmistakably teasing, laced with subtle sarcasm.

Zhou Zhou froze mid-step. Song Yi, already on the stairs, turned to look at the cold-faced beauty striding in through the courtyard gate.

If Song Yi’s own features leaned toward cool elegance, this woman was pure ice—sharp at the brows, the corners of her eyes, even the edges of her lips, as if coated in an unmelting frost.

“What? Even if you’ve moved on to new prey, surely you haven’t forgotten your childhood friend so quickly?” The woman smirked at Song Yi, though the downward tilt of her lips betrayed her displeasure.

Song Yi studied her, quickly sifting through the original Scumbag Alpha’s memories for an answer.

This woman was You Xuechu—born on the day of the first snow, as the book explained. True to her name, she carried the chill of winter in her presence, even when smiling.

You Xuechu and the original Scumbag Alpha had a complicated history. Their families were close friends, and this villa district was practically divided between the two households. They’d grown up together, childhood companions—both Alphas, so there should’ve been no room for ambiguous feelings.

But the original Scumbag Alpha earned her title for a reason—she’d been shameless enough to betray even her oldest friend.

You Xuechu was naturally aloof and cold by nature, never taking the initiative to make friends, and few dared to approach her. The original Scumbag Alpha was the boldest of them all. Even as a child, the first time she greeted You Xuechu, she dared to grab her hand and forcibly pull her into her game team, bringing her along to play with other friends. At first, You Xuechu resisted and refused, but the original Scumbag Alpha’s relentless persistence moved the lonely yet innocent You Xuechu. She came to regard the original Scumbag Alpha as her best friend. Even later, when she witnessed firsthand how the original Scumbag Alpha changed girlfriends faster than clothes—and even when the original Scumbag Alpha proposed taking their relationship to a more ambiguous level—You Xuechu didn’t refuse. After so many years of friendship, she thought she would be the exception. But the reality was cruel. She experienced the pain of abandonment firsthand.

A scumbag Alpha is a scumbag Alpha!

When they broke up, You Xuechu fought with Song Yi. Their strengths were evenly matched, leaving both battered and bruised, with neither gaining the upper hand.

After recovering from her injuries, You Xuechu watched helplessly as Song Yi continued to cycle through girlfriends. Beyond resentment, what filled her heart most was sympathy for the girls who were either deceived or willingly became Song Yi’s short-term girlfriends.

Every time she witnessed it, she would appear just like now—at least to make sure the girls understood Song Yi was a complete and utter Scumbag Alpha. If the girls still chose to stay with Song Yi, then there was nothing more she could do.

“Little girl,” You Xuechu softened her gaze slightly as it landed on Zhou Zhou. “Life is long, and there are many ways to solve problems. You don’t have to take the most degrading path.”

Zhou Zhou blinked in confusion.

Song Yi, the target of the thinly veiled sarcasm, understood You Xuechu’s intentions all too well. She pinched the bridge of her nose and said, “It’s not what you think. Zhou Zhou is just the housekeeper I hired for the villa.”

You Xuechu snorted in disbelief. She truly didn’t buy it. Even if it were true, she thought, it was just another one of Song Yi’s tactics to lure in unsuspecting prey. No matter how noble the method, the underlying motive was ugly—and thus, it could never be clean.

“Last time—no, the time before that, and the time before that—you used the same routine with that waitress you brought home from the restaurant. Did you really think I’d believe you?” You Xuechu’s gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s.

Song Yi thought back, and images flashed through her mind. Indeed, there had been such a scene, just as You Xuechu described.

But how could the words and actions of the original Scumbag Alpha be lumped together with her own, Song Yi’s?

The most frustrating part was that she had no way to distance herself from the original Scumbag Alpha’s behavior. She could only endure it silently.

Putting herself in You Xuechu’s shoes, she wouldn’t believe it either.

The helplessness of having a voice yet being unable to defend herself plunged Song Yi into an abyss, falling endlessly, deeper and deeper…

“I believe her!” Zhou Zhou, who had been silent for so long, suddenly spoke up.

“I believe Miss Song!”

Her voice, soft yet resolute, was like a lifeline that hooked onto Song Yi’s waist as she fell, pulling her back to the edge of the cliff. Song Yi, her face pale with anxiety and helplessness, looked down at Zhou Zhou.

“Though I don’t fully understand the specifics of what you’re saying, I can tell there must be some misunderstanding between you and Miss Song. Miss Song is a very good person. She hasn’t asked anything of me, and I’m well aware there’s nothing about me that would make Miss Song go to such lengths to pursue.”

Upon hearing this, You Xuechu was utterly stunned, frozen like an ice sculpture for a long moment. She had encountered girls who spoke up for Song Yi before, but none had ever defended her as sincerely as this girl named Zhou Zhou before her.

Her cold eyes revealed a look of pity. “Sympathizing with scum is the beginning of misfortune, little sister. Think carefully. If you’re lacking work or money, I can offer you the same benefits Song Yi provides. Consider coming with me instead.”

Song Yi’s pale complexion had already improved somewhat. When she heard You Xuechu offering Zhou Zhou the same job opportunity and benefits, an impulse surged within her—she wanted to immediately accept on Zhou Zhou’s behalf. Though You Xuechu was often cold, she was undoubtedly upright, reliable, and compassionate. Before Zhou Zhou’s parents and fiancée appeared, You Xuechu would make an excellent protector—perhaps even better than herself.

This impulse was quickly replaced by a secret unease, like a seed planted at some unknown time attempting to sprout.

What was Zhou Zhou thinking? Was she seriously considering You Xuechu’s proposal?

She wanted Zhou Zhou to accept You Xuechu’s offer yet also hoped Zhou Zhou would refuse.

Song Yi’s heart was in turmoil. When had she become so conflicted?

Meanwhile, You Xuechu stood with her arms crossed, in no hurry for Zhou Zhou’s answer. She admired Zhou Zhou’s attitude of carefully considering before making decisions. Moreover, the fact that Zhou Zhou didn’t immediately reject her this time suggested there was hope she might see the light.

Song Yi watched Zhou Zhou intently from the side, not daring to blink as if she might miss something.

Zhou Zhou slightly raised her eyes and parted her lips, but before she could speak, Song Yi swiftly reached out and grasped her wrist.

Zhou Zhou glanced down at her wrist held by Miss Song, then looked up with even more determination. “Thank you for your kindness, miss, but I’ve already promised Miss Song.”