A Scumbag Alpha Gets the Simp’s Script - Chapter 10

At the dining table, everyone was full of smiles and chatter. On the surface, at least, no faults could be found—especially with Yu Jinzhao, whose conduct was perfectly poised and decorous. This took Yu Xincheng somewhat by surprise.

He knew his daughter better than anyone. She had plenty of ruthlessness but lacked depth and tact. Seeing her navigate the room with such effortless grace today, devoid of her usual overbearing arrogance, was a marked change.

After a few rounds of drinks, Yu Xincheng symbolically tapped his cane. Instantly, the lively banquet fell silent, as if a switch had been flipped. Everyone closed their mouths in unison.

“Zhao’er, this marriage leave of yours has lasted over half a month. I expect many rules have been forgotten by now. When do you plan to return to the company?”

Yu Jinzhao found it slightly amusing. She knew this was coming—delayed, but inevitable. After all, her attitude toward Yu Xincheng lately hadn’t exactly been reverent.

“I’ll follow your arrangements. I’ll return whenever you say.”

Yu Xincheng let out a cold snort, which served as a tacit acceptance of her answer.

Yu Jinzhao smiled but said nothing more, maintaining her facade of an obedient, well-behaved daughter. No one noticed her peripheral vision lingering on a person in the corner.

She had no impression of that individual, and even when she’d asked the System, the answer was “Unknown.” Yet, she had noticed that person’s gaze sweeping over Pei Daowan several times, triggering a faint sense of vigilance in her.

The meal was tasteless to her. Yu Jinzhao had to summon all the energy she used to use for business dinners to face the crowd. While she was the only Alpha of the Yu family on paper, she knew countless eyes were secretly coveting her position.

Add to that the recent friction between her and Yu Xincheng, and the people present—all of them “human foxes”—didn’t miss the chance to lay verbal traps for her in their subtle barbs.

Whenever someone tried to steer the conversation toward Pei Daowan, Yu Jinzhao stepped in and deflected it wordlessly.

By the end of the meal, Yu Jinzhao had a rough idea of the landscape. She was the sole heir, but the predators were numerous. Specifically, the two nephews sitting beside Yu Xincheng were trying far too hard to humiliate her.

Yu Jinzhao shook her head inwardly. With that little self-control, let alone Yu Xincheng looking down on them, even she didn’t think much of them. However, there were a few people she needed to watch—especially the one in the corner.

Pei Daowan appeared to be sheltered by Yu Jinzhao, staying out of the verbal crossfire, but she had been quietly observing Yu Jinzhao’s demeanor, her speech patterns, and her facial expressions.

It was more natural than she had expected. There was no sign of embarrassment or discomfort; it seemed this Yu Jinzhao was no stranger to such occasions.

Pei Daowan began to ponder. While the Alpha’s current behavior wasn’t bad, she certainly didn’t seem like someone who could be easily manipulated. The System had judged her to be a “good person,” but that didn’t necessarily mean she would be “obedient.”

At this thought, a deep, pensive light flickered in Pei Daowan’s eyes. She caught sight of Yu Jinzhao in the crowd, engaging in a battle of wits and using just a few sentences to shut down someone’s trap.

The Alpha was actually quite striking—bright, exquisite, with a touch of unique sharpness. Now that she had retracted her usual gentle and peaceful aura, she seemed “fully powered,” radiating a different kind of charm.

Pei Daowan instinctively tapped her fingertip against her palm—a habit when she was thinking.

Yu Jinzhao felt no real pressure. She had dealt with these kinds of verbal gymnastics and traps long ago; compared to her past experiences, this was child’s play.

Yu Xincheng had allowed those people to “discipline” her, which meant their actions were authorized. Even if they coveted her position, they still had to watch Yu Xincheng’s face.

After all, you have to look at the master before you hit the dog. At that thought, Yu Jinzhao’s expression turned odd. What kind of metaphor is that? Am I the dog?!

Consequently, Pei Daowan saw the only moment Yu Jinzhao lost her composure that night. She looked like a fool who had just realized she’d been tricked—a momentary daze of “delayed reaction.”

It reminded Pei Daowan of a Golden Retriever she’d once seen on the street. The dog was being teased by its owner and, upon realizing the owner’s intent, displayed a comical sense of “giving up on itself.”

Finally, this “Feast at Hongmen” drew to a close. Yu Xincheng mercifully gave his concluding remarks, which were filled with warnings.

Yu Jinzhao drifted off a bit. While her eyes appeared to be on Yu Xincheng, they were actually resting on a magnolia branch in the corner.

The magnolia must have been picked a while ago; the edges of the petals were turning yellow and dry, and the leaves were limp—nothing like the splendor they had on the tree.

Few people pick magnolias for flower arrangements because they last so briefly. This Yu Xincheng was truly a “destroyer of beautiful things.”

The moment she stepped out of the Yu ancestral home, Yu Jinzhao’s shoulders relaxed involuntarily. She could handle such occasions, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed them.

Exhaling a long breath of stagnant air, Yu Jinzhao looked up at the moon. The night sky was clear, but there were no stars and no moon to be seen.

“Do you often attend these kinds of events?”

Unexpectedly, Pei Daowan spoke. She rarely took the initiative to talk to Yu Jinzhao. For a moment, Yu Jinzhao was quite flattered.

“Not exactly… I dealt with them for a period of time because of work.”

Yu Jinzhao didn’t elaborate. She seemed to have little interest in the topic and airily redirected the conversation.

“Did you get enough to eat tonight?”

To Pei Daowan’s surprise, Yu Jinzhao asked such an inconsequential question. she had expected her to say something else; previously, Pei Daowan had noticed her hesitation several times, clearly wanting to ask something but never following through.

“I’m full…”

Though she didn’t understand the intent, Pei Daowan wasn’t one to probe. She wasn’t a talkative person by nature.

Yu Jinzhao’s mouth suddenly puckered into a bit of a pout, her tone mournful: “I’m not full at all.”

True. Spending the whole time in a battle of wits, how could she have the appetite to eat? In contrast, Pei Daowan, protected by Yu Jinzhao’s presence, had been in a decent mood and ate two more bites than usual.

“Shall we go get something else to eat?”

At these words, Yu Jinzhao’s features finally smoothed out, revealing her first genuine smile of the night. “Really? That would be great!”

Like a child!

For some reason, this thought popped into Pei Daowan’s head. She grew curious: how old was Yu Jinzhao?

“She is 25, the same age as the ‘original’ Yu Jinzhao.” The System immediately jumped at the chance to be useful, answering like a fawning assistant.

“Twenty-five…”

So nice. So young.

If one counted her previous lifespan, Pei Daowan was more than ten years older than her. Youth is truly wonderful.

For the first time, Pei Daowan felt lucky to have been reborn. Reborn at her prime, before she was completely controlled by the Yu family and before they could destroy too much of her.

“What do you want to eat?”

Yu Jinzhao’s eyes sparkled. Without hesitation, she declared firmly: “Barbecue!”

It wasn’t just a craving; she truly hadn’t had barbecue in a long time. Especially when her work back home had hit a snag, she hadn’t been in the mood to indulge.

Now that a massive weight had been temporarily lifted, her appetite was triggered. She really wanted barbecue.

“Let’s go.”

Pei Daowan had no objections. She opened the driver’s side door before Yu Jinzhao could, signaling that she would drive since Yu Jinzhao had been drinking.

Yu Jinzhao didn’t hesitate, sliding into the passenger seat and looking at her with a hidden, expectant gaze.

Meeting that gaze, Pei Daowan felt a slight tremor in her heart—a flicker of pity. Compared to her, this girl really was just a “big kid,” caught up in this unprovoked disaster because of her.

Clearing her throat, she spoke: “I happen to know a barbecue place with good flavor. Shall I take you there?”

“Yes!”

Yu Jinzhao’s brow lit up with joy, but then she seemed to remember something and hesitated. “Will it… take up too much of your time?”

She hadn’t spent much time with Pei Daowan, but she knew the woman was very busy, leaving early and returning late every day. Though she didn’t know what she was busy with, compared to her, she felt like an idle drifter.

“It won’t.”

Pei Daowan said nothing more and didn’t explain. With the roar of the engine, the car started up.

Author’s Note:

In the previous life, Pei Daowan died at 37.

In this life, Yu Jinzhao is 25 and Pei Daowan is 28.