Why Did the Top Alpha Suddenly Stop Acting Out? - Chapter 6
On the way back from the photoshoot, the snow had already stopped.
Waiting at a crosswalk for the traffic light, Ye Shuyi took out her tablet, opened a document, and handed it to Yi Qian.
Yi Qian accepted the tablet, appearing to read the document with great focus, but instead asked, “Why did she come today?”
Ye Shuyi glanced at her. At first, she didn’t realize who Yi Qian was referring to, but seeing the other’s displeased expression, she suddenly understood.
Suppressing the urge to smile, she deliberately replied, “Who? The stunning Song beauty?”
Yi Qian’s fingers, which had been tapping the edge of the tablet, paused, then curled slightly. Without looking up, she nodded.
Ye Shuyi looked ahead. “How did you even notice her?”
Yi Qian raised her head and smiled sarcastically. “What else? She’s just too damn eye-catching with her beauty.”
“Song is indeed beautiful, no less than the current top celebrities,” Ye Shuyi remarked casually.
The corners of Yi Qian’s mouth slowly drooped. Before her smile completely vanished, she lowered her head to the tablet, pretending indifference as she asked again, “So why did she come?”
Ye Shuyi glanced at the now-green traffic light, started the car, and said, “She came to deliver some documents to me.”
“Oh.” Yi Qian skimmed the file in her hands absentmindedly, continuing in that same sarcastic tone, “Then why did she leave first? Why not wait to go home with you?”
“I told her to leave because I had to take you home,” Ye Shuyi said, turning the steering wheel. “I’ll go meet her later.”
At the first half of the sentence, Yi Qian’s lips twitched upward uncontrollably. But before her smile could fully form, she heard the second half, and her mouth instantly fell again. Her fingers tapped the edge of the tablet restlessly.
“What are you two going to do?” she asked.
Ye Shuyi glanced at her and changed the subject. “What do you think of this settlement agreement?”
What Yi Qian was reading was the settlement proposal sent by the blond man’s side.
In truth, as soon as Ye Shuyi had returned home the night before, she had tried contacting the blond man from the bar. At the time, he had been adamant about refusing to settle, even threatening fiercely, he swore he would sue Yi Qian, publicly denounce her online, and expose her fans to the kind of person they were idolizing.
After that, he hung up without giving Ye Shuyi a chance to respond.
She had planned to visit him in person this morning to persuade him to settle. But then Yi Qian had thrown a tantrum, forcing her to prioritize dealing with the actress first, she couldn’t risk Yi Qian offending the film production team again.
As for the blond man, she had asked Song Kechi to handle negotiations. The two calls she received this morning were both from Song, updating her on the progress.
To her surprise, Song told her things were going smoothly.
Song Kechi: “He said he’s willing to consider settling, but he has some conditions. If Yi Qian agrees, he’ll drop the case.”
“He admitted he was rude to you last night. His father scolded him after seeing his injuries, and he spent the night reflecting. He realized he was the one at fault. He even said, in a way, Yi Qian was pretty decent to you standing up for her new manager on the first day. He respects people with guts and loyalty, so he’s willing to apologize first.”
“But his condition is that Yi Qian must also apologize to him publicly.”
Ye Shuyi fell silent for a moment before saying, “A’Song, how did he suddenly. You didn’t bring Uncle into this, did you?”
Song Kechi let out a light laugh. “What, if I used my father to resolve this, you wouldn’t accept the outcome?”
“No,” Ye Shuyi paused, frowning slightly. “I just don’t want to trouble Uncle too much.”
“You think it’s trouble for him? He’d be delighted.” Song Kechi sighed as if deeply troubled. “That old man likes you more than his own daughter.”
“But speaking of which, I find it strange too, he actually changed his mind on his own.”
Ye Shuyi didn’t know what kind of person the other party was, but in any case, as long as they were willing to settle, that was enough.
Yi Qian hadn’t looked at the settlement agreement’s contents from start to finish, as she’d already known them since last night. She raised her head to look at Ye Shuyi. “If you agree to let me go with you, I’ll post an apology on Weibo right away.”
Ye Shuyi kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead, her tone relaxed. “And if I don’t agree?”
“Then… I’ll just drive to the same place as you when the time comes.” Yi Qian looked at her, the screen of the tablet in her hands now dark, reflecting her seemingly playful yet genuinely serious expression.
Ye Shuyi glanced at her through the rearview mirror and smiled. “Tell me, between the city walls and your face, which one has better defensive capabilities?”
Yi Qian curled her lips into a smile, tapping her cheek lazily. “Why don’t you test it yourself? Then… compare and see?”
The car fell silent, the only sound the howling winter wind outside.
Yi Qian tapped her fingers idly against her knee, tilting her head to look at the white world outside the window, as if entirely unconcerned about waiting for Ye Shuyi’s response.
When the car reached the next intersection, Ye Shuyi turned onto a road opposite the direction of Yi Qian’s home, heading toward the city center.
Yi Qian watched the suddenly changing scenery outside the window, her lips curling into a smile. True to her word, she immediately took out her phone to prepare the Weibo post.
“Wait for him to post his apology video first. You can post yours half an hour later,” Ye Shuyi said.
“I’ll listen to you.” Yi Qian smiled, changing the subject. “So, what are you going to see her for?”
The conversation circled back anyway.
Ye Shuyi replied, “To treat her to a meal.”
Yi Qian: “Because of what happened with me?”
Ye Shuyi didn’t answer, tacitly confirming it.
“Then isn’t this perfect?” Yi Qian said lazily. “Let me be the one to treat her consider it my way of thanking her properly for her help.”
With Yi Qian agreeing to the settlement terms, the blond man quickly uploaded his apology video, instantly causing an uproar online as the topic’s views skyrocketed.
At the same time, Yi Qian received a message on her phone:
[Reliable Dad: So, my precious daughter, did Daddy handle this well?]
Yi Qian sent back a cute bear hug and a heart emoji.
[Reliable Dad: But your old man still has to remind you, no matter what happens next time, you can’t act so impulsively.]
Yi Qian replied with an adorable salute sticker.
[Reliable Dad: Come back and visit your dad more often. I’m practically an empty-nester now.]
Yi Qian glanced at the person beside her, focused on driving, then held down the voice message button: “Alright, I’ll definitely visit more often. Wouldn’t want you left all alone in that big empty house.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Ye Shuyi pulled the car over to the side of the road. Staring at Yi Qian in the rearview mirror, the corners of her lips curled slightly as she spoke in a slow, measured tone, “Do you need to go now? I can take you there immediately.”
Yi Qian spun her phone around in her hand once, raising an eyebrow as her voice softened slightly, “So thoughtful?”
Ye Shuyi averted her gaze, hands already moving to turn the steering wheel for a U-turn, when the person in the passenger seat grabbed her wrist.
Yi Qian’s expression turned more serious, her face caught between a smile and something colder as she spoke with icy detachment, “I don’t need your thoughtfulness right now.”
The words hung in the air like a silent thunderclap between them soundless yet deafening.
Outside the car window, snowflakes drifted down one after another, landing on the windshield until the view blurred into obscurity.
Yi Qian released her grip and turned away to gaze out the window, the swirling snow filling her pupils.
Ye Shuyi started the car again and continued along the original route.
Exactly thirty minutes later, they arrived at their destination. Yi Qian finished posting on Weibo before finally stepping out of the car.
At the entrance of the mall, Yi Qian tugged at Ye Shuyi’s sleeve and said, “Wait, there’s one more person.”
Ye Shuyi looked at her, eyes questioning.
“The more, the merrier,” Yi Qian said matter-of-factly. “You don’t mind, do you, Manager Ye?”
“Qianqian~”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a sweet voice called out from behind them.
Despite the noise of the bar that night and their brief exchange, Ye Shuyi immediately recognized the voice as belonging to the girl from the bar.
The newcomer promptly looped her arm through Yi Qian’s, who then brushed snowflakes from the girl’s hair their closeness unmistakable.
Just as Ye Shuyi was about to speak, the girl bounced over to her first, beaming as she extended a hand. “Hello, Miss Ye! I’m Fang Xin. I know you’re Qianqian’s new manager now. This woman can be such a handful, please stick by her side and don’t let her fight alone in the entertainment industry, okay? Wuwu.”
Fang Xin theatrically leaned toward Ye Shuyi’s shoulder like a wilting flower, but before she could make contact, someone yanked her back by the arm.
Yi Qian fixed her with a “friendly” stare that clearly said, Cut the act. You’re terrible at this.
Ye Shuyi’s gaze flickered between the two before she finally said, “Let’s go in.”
Avoiding the crowded main entrance, the trio took the VIP elevator to a restaurant on the third floor, where a server guided them to a private room.
The moment they entered, Fang Xin swiftly claimed the empty seat beside Song Kechi, flashing an innocent smile. “Hi, pretty lady! Can I sit here? What’s your name? I’m Fang Xin, remember me, okay?”
-_-!
Song Kechi maintained a polite smile. “I believe this is our first meeting?”
“Yep!” Fang Xin pouted pitifully. “That’s why I want to sit next to you! If I sit over there, I’ll be too distracted by how pretty you are to eat properly. Let me stay here, please?”
Song Kechi exchanged a glance with Ye Shuyi, who had just entered behind them, receiving a slight nod in response.
“My name is Song Kechi,” she said with a faint smile. “You can sit here if you don’t mind the awkwardness.”
Fang Xin instantly beamed with a radiant smile. “How could it be awkward? It’s my honor to sit next to such a beautiful lady. My name is Fang Xin, please remember me, Sister Song.”
She then winked at Yi Qian, who had just entered the private room last, and the latter subtly gave her a thumbs-up from the shadows.
Yi Qian took the empty seat beside Ye Shuyi, glancing over the array of exquisitely presented dishes on the table. With a playful smirk, she looked at Song Kechi and remarked, “These are all my favorite dishes. Did you research my preferences just to order these for me, Miss Song?”
Song Kechi met her gaze calmly, a faint smile lingering on her lips. “It’s good that you like them.” With that, she picked up a chopstickful of cilantro and placed it in Yi Qian’s bowl. “If you enjoy it, have more.”
Fang Xin happily munched on a fried meatball, but when she looked up and caught Yi Qian’s desperate glance for help, her expression soured. Though the leafy greens hadn’t landed in her own bowl, it felt like they’d somehow invaded her mouth the once-delicious meatball suddenly lost its appeal. Her face twisted in distaste, mirroring Yi Qian’s own grimace.
Perhaps because they’d grown up sharing countless meals, Fang Xin and Yi Qian had nearly identical tastes. Take cilantro, for example both knew exactly how much the other despised it and avoided it entirely.
All Fang Xin could do was return Yi Qian’s look with one of helplessness, silently conveying, You’re on your own.
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, she grabbed her phone and rapidly fired off messages to Yi Qian.
Having dated for four years, Song Kechi was well aware of Yi Qian’s dietary preferences including her aversion to cilantro, which happened to be Song’s favorite. She had initially intended to swap bowls with her, but when she noticed the exchanged glances and the flurry of message notifications between Yi Qian and Fang Xin, her outstretched hand paused midair. Instead of reaching for the bowl, she picked up her chopsticks, pretending not to see.
Just as she was about to serve herself, however, she felt a gentle tug on the hem of her clothes.