A Scumbag Alpha Gets the Simp’s Script - Chapter 12

Pei Daowan looked at Yu Jinzhao with a hint of surprise, only to see the girl’s face flushed crimson as she shook her head in a somewhat neurotic fashion.

What is going on?

Sensing Pei Daowan’s gaze, Yu Jinzhao wished she could vanish into the floor. It was true that she liked women, yes.

But she had never entertained such thoughts before. Why was she acting like a total weirdo, looking at someone’s lips and wondering if they’d be good to kiss?

“It’s nothing, nothing! I’m fine. Keep driving. There was just… a mosquito.”

Pei Daowan felt a bit helpless. Such an excuse was far too perfunctory, but she didn’t press further.

“What happened to her just now?” She suddenly asked the System in her mind. The System went into full battle-alert mode. This was a nightmare!

Why was its Host either ignoring its existence for days on end or suddenly asking such explosive questions?

“Uh… Yu Jinzhao was thinking… she was thinking that a person as beautiful as you… who would be lucky enough to end up with you in the future…”

The System didn’t dare tell the truth. It had worked so hard to build up Yu Jinzhao’s upright and noble image; how could the girl be so disappointing? To lose her mind just by looking at a pair of lips—how embarrassing!

Grumbling aside, Yu Jinzhao was the one it had picked. It had to smooth things over even if it meant stretching the truth.

Pei Daowan didn’t challenge the System’s words. Instead, she let out a light, teasing laugh. “A mosquito in this season, how rare.”

Damn it! Yu Jinzhao actually heard a trace of inexplicable doting and indulgence in her tone.

Aaaah!

What am I thinking? Have I been away from women for too long! How did I become like this!

She didn’t even want to explain anymore. Abandoning all hope, she buried her face in her hands and stammered: “Just drive carefully. Watch the road.”

“I always drive carefully. But you—did you catch the mosquito?”

Pei Daowan had intended to let her off the hook, but seeing Yu Jinzhao turn into a literal ostrich was too amusing. It revealed a touch of cuteness that made her want to tease the girl a little more.

“I got it, I got it! It was a huge one. Don’t worry, since it bit me, it won’t bite you.”

“Let’s hope so.”

For the rest of the trip, Yu Jinzhao didn’t dare look at Pei Daowan, staying tucked into her seat like a timid bird.

In the past, Pei Daowan always left early and returned late, or didn’t come back at all. Every time she returned, Yu Jinzhao would greet her.

This time, the moment they arrived at the door, Yu Jinzhao bolted toward her bedroom as if she were escaping a crime scene, even forgetting to change her shoes.

Soon after, Pei Daowan heard the sound of water splashing against a face. It wasn’t that she was eavesdropping; it was just that Yu Jinzhao was being so loud she could hear it clearly from downstairs.

She really is quite cute.

This kid—who would have thought she’d be so thin-skinned!

Splashing water on her face, Yu Jinzhao looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was bright red, radiating an embarrassment and shyness that was impossible to hide.

She cursed her own lack of composure. What was wrong with her?

She liked women, sure, but she had never had such a massive reaction before. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind, giving her a fright.

Could it be… that I actually like Pei Daowan?

At that thought, Yu Jinzhao actually began to calm down. Putting aside how long she had known her or how shallow such a crush might be, she didn’t even know if Pei Daowan liked men or women.

Deep down, she was too insecure. Faced with a blurry and unknown future, she had pinned all her hope and emotions on Pei Daowan. Therefore, every movement the woman made could pull at her very soul.

Yes, that must be it. Otherwise, how else could I explain my behavior?

Yu Jinzhao let out a soft sigh. She couldn’t go on like this. While helping Pei Daowan was her only hope of returning, as an independent person, she couldn’t allow herself to be completely swept away by her.

She had seen plenty over the years. Though she hadn’t faced many massive storms, as an adult, if she couldn’t even control her own emotions, how could she expect to find her way home?

The heat in her face slowly receded, and her mind cleared.

What she needed to do now was gain Pei Daowan’s trust step-by-step, then let her use the status of the Yu family Alpha to do whatever she wanted. Once the wish was fulfilled, she could go back.

The next morning, when Yu Jinzhao went downstairs, the new butler had already prepared breakfast. Pei Daowan was sitting at the table, her casual posture nonetheless radiating a calm authority—as if she were waiting for someone to eat.

Yu Jinzhao’s heart gave another little jump. The thoughts she had suppressed last night seemed to be stir-crazy again.

Damn it!

Where is my willpower? My self-control?

Did the dog eat it?

Pei Daowan looked at her and spoke flatly: “I’ve been waiting for ages. Why are you just standing there? Come and eat.”

Something seemed to pop up inside Yu Jinzhao, something she couldn’t suppress no matter how hard she tried. The tips of her ears turned a light pink.

The psychological walls she had spent all night building were instantly demolished.

“Coming.”

Her steps were almost a shuffle. From the moment Pei Daowan called her, her body reacted more honestly than her brain.

By the time she regained her senses, she was already at the table. She was seated to the side of Pei Daowan—far enough to see her expressions clearly, but not uncomfortably close.

While Yu Jinzhao’s mind was in turmoil, Pei Daowan was much more composed. “You’re going to the company soon. Do you have a plan?”

The question sounded a bit like a parent asking a child on the night before school starts: “School starts tomorrow. What are your plans for the new semester?”

After a moment of silence, Yu Jinzhao decided to be honest. Since she and Pei Daowan were on the same side, she needed to earn her trust.

“I want to familiarize myself with the company’s operations first, then cultivate a group of my own people.”

“Which department do you plan to start with?”

“That’s actually what I’m debating right now. I’m thinking of either the Marketing department or going straight into management, but I’m not sure which would be better.”

“Tell me your reasons.”

“For many years, the Yu family has focused on traditional industries. But since the reforms, emerging industries have been developing rapidly. Although the Yu family is massive, we can’t ignore the growth of these new sectors.”

“I want to carve out a new track for the Yu family.”

“Since you want to carve out a new track, why stay under the Yu family’s wing? Why not become completely independent?”

When she asked this, Pei Daowan swept away her previous gentle demeanor. Her expression grew sharp.

Yu Jinzhao didn’t feel pressured, just a bit bashful and embarrassed to admit: “Because I don’t know anyone here, and I have no startup capital. Relying on the Yu family is my only way out.”

Hearing this, Pei Daowan actually laughed out loud. This Yu Jinzhao was honest to the point of being adorable.

At the sound of the laugh, the bashfulness on Yu Jinzhao’s face deepened. She knew there was no mockery in that laughter, but it still made her heart race. She felt a bit like she was being “looked down upon.”

“Relying on the Yu family is the best choice because—”

“Mm, I know. If I were you, I would do the same. I believe you.”

For the first time, Pei Daowan interrupted Yu Jinzhao’s explanation, speaking with firm certainty.

Yu Jinzhao took a deep breath. “What I said before still stands. If there ever comes a day when you feel this marriage is unnecessary, you can ask for a divorce at any time. In the meantime, you are free to do whatever you want. I will do my best to help you fulfill your wish.”

This time, Pei Daowan didn’t offer the cynical sneer she had the first time she heard those words. Instead, she propped one hand against her cheek and tilted her head, watching Yu Jinzhao.

“Why are you doing this? Why help me?”

“Because… because I was a total scoundrel before. But don’t worry, I won’t let those things happen again.”

Yu Jinzhao didn’t explicitly name the “things,” but they both knew: the forced marriage, the imprisonment, the drugging…

After she spoke, an unusual silence hung in the air. Both felt too awkward to continue.

Finally, Pei Daowan broke the silence. “Is this your way of compensating me?”

“No!”

Yu Jinzhao’s answer was categorical, without a hint of hesitation.

“It’s not compensation. It’s what I should do. Harm is harm; nothing can erase the damage that was done. I have my own goals too, so this isn’t compensation—it’s a win-win.”

“And you? What do you want to get out of it?”

“You’ve seen it. Although I am the only Alpha of the Yu family, I have to follow Yu Xincheng’s orders in everything. I want to break away from the Yu family.”

Yu Jinzhao didn’t say she had transmigrated, nor did she say she was here to “save” Pei Daowan—words that would sound arrogant and ignorant. Even if she said them, Pei Daowan wouldn’t believe her, and she herself felt like she was living in a dream.

But she hadn’t lied to her. It was indeed a win-win. Pei Daowan wanted revenge, and she wanted to go back. They had a common goal.

“Yu Jinzhao!”

Pei Daowan suddenly called her name.

Yu Jinzhao looked up. In an instant, their eyes met, and neither looked away.

“This is the first time I’ve chosen to trust you. I hope it won’t be the last.”

“It won’t be. Trust me.”

Pei Daowan suddenly stood up. She gazed at Yu Jinzhao with a look of immense authority—a gaze filled with the scrutiny and pride of a superior.

It felt as though Yu Jinzhao was completely exposed under that gaze, leaving her feeling scrutinized. She felt a bit uncomfortable but didn’t look away.

Meeting Pei Daowan’s eyes, she saw a depth and darkness within them, like a bottomless black hole that threatened to swallow her whole in the next second. She couldn’t help but shiver.

It was the feeling of being watched by a predator. Yu Jinzhao could never forget that feeling. Back when she had just graduated and was starting out, many people in her industry looked down on her because of her youth.

One of the top experts in the field had scrutinized her with that exact same look. It felt as though her throat was being gripped—suffocating, yet impossible to escape.

Suddenly, all the pressure evaporated. Pei Daowan returned to her usual gentle-as-water appearance, acting as if she hadn’t noticed anything.

“The food is getting cold. Eat up.”

After Yu Jinzhao sat down somewhat mechanically, she realized her back was covered in a cold sweat.

Whether it was a hallucination or narcissism, all the ambiguous, romantic feelings she’d felt these past few days were shattered. How could she have forgotten who the person in front of her was?

Gentle and kind was just a facade. This was the woman who would eventually exterminate the entire Yu family. Although nothing had happened yet, that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen in the future.

To be the protagonist of a novel, she had to have serious skills.

Yu Jinzhao shook her head, blocking out her ill-timed thoughts.

She had to admit, how old was Pei Daowan? She shouldn’t be thirty yet—maybe twenty-seven or eight?

She was only two or three years older than Yu Jinzhao, yet she possessed such a powerful aura. It seemed Yu Jinzhao’s own cultivation was still lacking.

Neither Pei Daowan nor the System knew what Yu Jinzhao was thinking. If the System did, it would have marveled: The person sitting in front of you is a “regressor” living a second life. It’s only natural your “cultivation” isn’t high enough.

Pei Daowan had intentionally given Yu Jinzhao a show of authority. Since she had decided to trust her, she couldn’t allow herself to appear like a pushover. If anyone betrayed her, she wouldn’t let them off easily.

However, Yu Jinzhao’s performance was decent. She wasn’t as panicked as imagined. Though she was clearly nervous, she could still look her straight in the eye without being servile. Not bad.