A Scumbag Alpha Gets the Simp’s Script - Chapter 25.1

“You, you, you—weren’t you the one who could talk the most? Whether it was that first dinner at the Yu family home or when you went to solicit investment later, I saw you were quite eloquent. Why are you stammering in front of me, unable to get a single word out?”

“You…”

Pei Daowan’s brows shot up, her gaze a bit fierce as she grabbed Yu Jinzhao by the collar. “What ‘you’? What kind of Alpha is so hesitant? Speak!”

“How did you know I went to solicit investment? Did you see me?”

Pei Daowan: “…”

She felt as if her emotions had been thrown to a dog. Yu Jinzhao deserved to be ignored sometimes; she really deserved it, acting like a block of wood.

Was the solicitation of investment even the point?!

Pei Daowan was truly gritting her teeth now. “I’m giving you one last chance. Don’t rush to answer. Think it over carefully and ask me again.”

Yu Jinzhao’s lips moved slightly. She was a bit scared, feeling the same thrill as a student caught by a teacher to answer a question. Her throat felt tight and itchy; she wanted to flee but didn’t dare, given Pei Daowan’s imposing aura.

The two remained in a standoff until Yu Jinzhao finally couldn’t hold it anymore.

“Um, I wanted to ask, that is… do you feel a bit better tonight?”

Pei Daowan’s gaze turned razor-sharp in an instant, as if she wanted to eat her alive. Her eyes were deep and void of light, devoid of any emotion.

In that second, Pei Daowan suddenly deflated. She felt a sense of resigned defeat. What on earth was she expecting? Yu Jinzhao’s silver tongue only worked on the outside; in front of her, she couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

It was truly like playing a lute to a cow!

“Fine, there’s nothing to say.” Her tone was stiff, as if she were sulking. Even someone as dense as Yu Jinzhao realized something was wrong.

She finally didn’t ask a stupid question like “Why are you angry?” but instead gave a sincere explanation.

“Sometimes I really don’t do it on purpose. I just truly don’t know what the best thing to say is. You’re different from those people in the business world; I don’t need to use formal pleasantries to maintain a relationship with you. I feel that saying certain things out loud would seem a bit sappy or even hypocritical, so I don’t say them. I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

“Yu Jinzhao!”

“Present!”

“From now on, I ask and you answer. If I don’t ask, don’t speak.”

“Okay.”

“Have you really never been in a relationship?”

When Pei Daowan said this, her expression was complex—not quite suspicious, and not exactly curious, but more of a helpless sigh.

“I really haven’t.”

Upon receiving this answer, Pei Daowan’s expression relaxed slightly. She felt there was no need to ask the remaining questions. Yu Jinzhao was brilliant most of the time, but that didn’t conflict with her being a total blockhead.

“Alright, go to sleep.”

Having gotten the answer she wanted, Pei Daowan didn’t want to talk to Yu Jinzhao further. Some people were just wooden, and they deserved to be kept in suspense.

After a moment’s hesitation, Pei Daowan felt she shouldn’t keep wasting time with Yu Jinzhao like this; she had work to do. She turned back and added: “Come with me to see some people tomorrow. Remember to bring your ID.”

Yu Jinzhao looked piteous, her eyes filled with a trace of resentment, looking exactly like a young girl betrayed by a heartless woman—and that heartless woman was Pei Daowan.

Caught by that gaze, Pei Daowan felt her heart tremble. She instinctively softened, her voice turning gentle.

“I’m much better now, thanks to you. Remember tomorrow’s task. Go to bed early.”

In a sudden burst of boldness, Yu Jinzhao pressed her cheek into Pei Daowan’s palm, snuggling into it as if she were nestling there.

It was so close that Yu Jinzhao could feel the warmth and texture of Pei Daowan’s palm. In the next second, an unexpected sensation followed.

Pei Daowan gave her cheek a light pinch and a scrape before withdrawing her hand, laughing softly. “Nice texture. Keep it up.”

Filled with the joy of being teased, Yu Jinzhao couldn’t help but think: The other cheek didn’t get a pinch.

But Pei Daowan didn’t give her the chance. She knew that dealing with someone like Yu Jinzhao required a slow, steady approach—like a gentle stream—rather than a “strong medicine” that would scare her off.

This time, Pei Daowan didn’t hesitate; she closed her door to go to sleep. Yu Jinzhao also returned to her room with a smile.

In the morning, Yu Jinzhao woke up thirty minutes early. Since Pei Daowan always left thirty minutes before her, only by waking up early could she “accidentally” run into her.

Sure enough, when Yu Jinzhao went downstairs, Pei Daowan was about to eat breakfast. She greeted her naturally: “Morning, Pei Daowan.”

Pei Daowan gave a faint nod. Her expression looked lukewarm, showing little reaction to Yu Jinzhao’s appearance, yet she had prepared an extra portion of breakfast.

Yu Jinzhao took it all in and felt a secret delight. Pei Daowan does care about me a little. Hehe, maybe she’s just cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

Yu Jinzhao naturally sat down beside her. Although there was still a gap, she had broken the “safe social distance”; any large movement would result in them touching.

Pei Daowan couldn’t help but roll her eyes, unable to stand her “petty triumph” look. She set down her breakfast with a bit more force than necessary, making Yu Jinzhao behave instantly.

“Hehe…” Yu Jinzhao smiled sheepishly and took the breakfast. “Thank you.”

Pei Daowan glanced at her. Thinking of the tasks for the day, her smile faded slightly. “Eat up. We’re leaving once you’re done.”

An hour later, the two appeared at one of the Yu family’s branch offices. Yu Jinzhao watched through the glass door as Pei Daowan spoke with a middle-aged man—the same one who had repeatedly looked back at them during the dinner at the ancestral home.

Yu Jinzhao didn’t know the nature of their relationship, but they seemed familiar; the man occasionally showed a doting expression towards a junior.

When she pushed the door open, Yu Jinzhao felt the man’s gaze linger on her for a long time—a meaningful, scrutinizing look. She had researched him after the banquet: his name was Chen Jia, a long-time veteran of the Yu family.

But how does Pei Daowan know him?

Chen Jia took a contract from his bag, placed it in front of Yu Jinzhao, and handed her a pen. “Sign this.”

Yu Jinzhao glanced at the title. It seemed to be a fund transfer. She didn’t read the contents, simply flipping to the last page and signing her name.

Chen Jia breathed a silent sigh of relief. Although Xiao Wan had told him Yu Jinzhao was different now, he hadn’t expected her to sign so obediently.

Pei Daowan seemed to know his concerns. “It’s fine, Uncle Chen. Don’t worry, Yu Xincheng won’t find out.”

He didn’t know how Xiao Wan had persuaded Yu Jinzhao, but he ultimately chose to trust her. After all, their goals were aligned.

After leaving the branch office, Yu Jinzhao’s mood was low. She had a rough idea of what Pei Daowan was using her identity for. That blatant utilization made her feel unpleasant; the ambiguous scenes of previous days felt like a sharp contrast to this reality.

No wonder she suddenly became close to me, she thought bitterly. She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she turned around and exposed everything. But she shook her head. Knowing she was being used, why was she still thinking about “what-ifs”?

Pei Daowan naturally sensed Yu Jinzhao’s low spirits. she knew why, but she didn’t want to explain. Their relationship had been laid out clearly from the start.

Throughout the day, Pei Daowan took her to see several more people, signing no fewer than seven or eight contracts—all related to funds, loans, and the like.

Yu Jinzhao thought with grim humor that the original owner’s name was quite useful; anyone else wouldn’t have been able to secure so many loans. But her gaze darkened: What does Pei Daowan need all this money for?!

When they returned that evening, they were both silent. Yu Jinzhao was thinking about the day’s events, while Pei Daowan simply didn’t want to talk.

The silence lasted until breakfast the next morning. Pei Daowan looked at Yu Jinzhao’s slightly furrowed brow and felt a tingling sensation in her heart—a bit itchy, even a bit stinging. It made it hard for her to face Yu Jinzhao.

Eventually, guilt got the better of her, and she broke the silence. “When do you plan to start that girl group survival show you mentioned?”

Returning to business, Yu Jinzhao put away her personal thoughts and tried to look natural, even indifferent. She kept her head down as she ate, her voice muffled: “I don’t know.”

Sensing the resistance, Pei Daowan’s eyes grew deep. Last night, she had the System tell Yu Jinzhao she had a way to help, but the girl didn’t seem to want to speak up.

“Do you not plan on doing it anymore?”

Yu Jinzhao felt a sudden surge of irritation. You don’t seem to care what I do; you only care if my identity is useful. But catching Pei Daowan’s calm, waveless eyes, she cooled down. Pei Daowan didn’t care about her; what was the point of saying those things?

“We’ll see.” Her tone was perfunctory, and she didn’t even lift her head.

Pei Daowan acted as if she didn’t notice. “I know a director named Li Jin. You can invite her. She has extensive experience with variety shows and has her own crew. If she directs it personally, the celebrity effect will be much higher.”

The System had told her this last night. At the time, Yu Jinzhao hadn’t felt much—she knew she was being used, and she’d told herself she didn’t care as long as she cooperated.

But seeing her this morning, the grievance surfaced belatedly. Why? She was human, too. She had feelings. Even if it was for the sake of going home, at least her feelings for Pei Daowan were sincere. She didn’t want to talk to her today. If not for the mission, she would have left already.

“Yu Jinzhao!” Pei Daowan’s voice carried a bit of pressure.

Yu Jinzhao wanted to say something, but upon meeting Pei Daowan’s gaze, her voice shattered like glass. It felt as if someone were gripping her throat; she couldn’t even squeeze out a breath.

Pei Daowan’s face also went cold. She told herself over and over: I’m just using her. I don’t need to care about her feelings. After everything was over, the girl would leave anyway. But looking at Yu Jinzhao’s deflated posture, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh.

“I’m sorry about yesterday…”

Pei Daowan wasn’t used to saying such things. Her tone was stiff and mechanical, sounding awkward, as if someone were forcing her to speak.

Yu Jinzhao’s expression shifted for a moment. She felt annoyed with herself—why was she sulking with Pei Daowan? They shouldn’t have a deeper connection anyway. She just needed to be a sharp tool in her hand.

Still without looking up, she said: “Thank you. I understand.”

Yu Jinzhao had spoken, but Pei Daowan wasn’t as happy as she’d imagined. A dull feeling lingered in her heart. She felt Yu Jinzhao’s state would affect their future plans.

“Yu Jinzhao! You said you would help me.”

For some reason, she recalled those words. The determined look in Yu Jinzhao’s eyes when she said them haunted her.

“Yes, I said that. I haven’t stopped helping. What do you want to do?”

Pei Daowan bit her lip, ignoring her internal discomfort. “Go see Li Jin. Invite her to participate in the production of this show.”

“Fine. When?”

“Whenever you have time.”

“I have time anytime.”

Pei Daowan frowned. “Don’t you have work?”

“Your matters come first.”

Hearing this made Pei Daowan feel a sting, yet Yu Jinzhao’s indifferent attitude left her at a loss. As they spoke, Yu Jinzhao finished her breakfast and tidied her plate. Without a word to Pei Daowan, she walked straight out the door.

Yu Jinzhao was feeling conflicted, avoiding Pei Daowan and not mentioning the matter with Li Jin. As long as Yu Jinzhao didn’t wake up those thirty minutes early, it was actually quite hard for them to meet.

One morning, just as Yu Jinzhao finished breakfast and was about to leave, Pei Daowan unexpectedly returned. She clearly hadn’t expected to run into her at this time.

Their gazes met unexpectedly. Yu Jinzhao looked away first, acting nonchalant. “Morning.”

Pei Daowan felt a surge of anger, stung by that attitude. But she had no reason to be angry, so she had to bottle it up. She blocked the doorway, preventing Yu Jinzhao from leaving.

“Is something wrong?” Yu Jinzhao asked.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“When are you going to see Li Jin?”

“Whenever you say.”

“…”

Yu Jinzhao made a move to leave, but Pei Daowan stopped her. Yu Jinzhao didn’t push her away but stood there stubbornly.

“Can we talk?”

She was like a cat with its tail stepped on—sharp and prickly. “Talk about what? There’s nothing to talk about. Just notify me once you’ve made a decision.”

Pei Daowan frowned. She was still angry. Truthfully, Li Jin didn’t like the Yu family; she had only agreed to a meeting because of Pei Daowan’s influence. She’d thought Yu Jinzhao would be a bit happier.

Pei Daowan weighed her words: “What do I have to do for you to stop being angry?”

That almost made Yu Jinzhao laugh in frustration. What did she mean, what did she have to do? It made it sound like she was the one being unreasonable.

“I’m not angry with you. I’m just angry at myself—angry that I was too emotional.”

“Yu Jinzhao…” Pei Daowan steadied herself and said what she’d been thinking for days. “I’m willing to apologize. I hope you can forgive me…”

What an arrogant request—only Pei Daowan could say it so righteously. Yu Jinzhao looked at her with a half-smile.

She wasn’t as gentle as she appeared. She’d had a rebellious phase that had been suppressed by her strict upbringing, but it still surfaced occasionally. Right now, she felt that rebellious spirit returning. Her expression grew a bit flippant.

“You want my forgiveness? Sure. But you have to show some sincerity.”

Pei Daowan was at a loss—not because of the request, but because she didn’t know what kind of gesture counted as “sincere.”

“What do you want?”

“If I have to tell you, it isn’t sincerity. You have to think of it yourself.”

Pei Daowan bit her lip. This was truly difficult for her. she had zero experience in giving gifts or trying to please others. In her blurry memories, her mothers would buy her toys or take her out, but Yu Jinzhao didn’t look like someone who liked toys. She had no idea what Yu Jinzhao liked!

“Can you give me a day? I need to prepare.”

“Fine. I’m looking forward to it, Elder Sister~”

Yu Jinzhao said those last words with a trace of flirtatious intimacy, making Pei Daowan’s ears heat up. She had never seen Yu Jinzhao like this; it made her heart race. This version of her felt more vivid than the steady, mature one, even if it was born of anger.

Having temporarily resolved the issue, Pei Daowan lowered her arm from the doorway and let her pass. Just as Yu Jinzhao was about to round the corner, she looked back with a smile.

“I’m curious. What would have happened if I hadn’t stopped just now and insisted on leaving?”

Pei Daowan was expressionless. “I would have deducted all your points.” And I would never trust your words again.

“I see. Then I’m glad I stopped. Sister, hurry up and think of how to compensate me.”

Left alone, Pei Daowan realized she’d been led along by Yu Jinzhao. Her original intention was just to have the girl move past the incident…

“Sister! Sister! Are you listening to me?”

Pei Daowan snapped back to reality, feeling a bit guilty. “Sorry, I was dazed. Please continue.”

Liu Qingyi looked at her suspiciously. Something is wrong. In just a short time, she had dazed off several times while listening to a report. “Sister! You look like you’ve been possessed. Your soul is gone.”

Pei Daowan was pensive, her tone perfunctory. “Is that so…”

“Yes! Exactly! The workaholic is suddenly distracted.”

Pei Daowan hesitated, her fingers pressing into the desk. “Qingyi… do you know how to apologize to someone?”

Liu Qingyi’s eyes went wide. She finally realized what was off. The old Pei Daowan was beautiful, but she was a distant, otherworldly figure. Lately, that distance had faded. Was it because she escaped those leeches in the Pei family? Surely it couldn’t be because of the marriage to Yu Jinzhao.

“That depends on who the apology is for.”

“If it’s parents, just say it directly. If it’s a lover, usually just acting cute works. If it’s a best friend, you can even give them a scolding. For ordinary friends, you need to be careful—maybe buy them something they like and apologize formally.”

This was well outside Pei Daowan’s area of expertise. She looked like a student taking notes.

Liu Qingyi was puzzled. She’d known her for years, and the woman did nothing but work. Who did she need to apologize to?

After Liu Qingyi left, Pei Daowan called the System. “What does Yu Jinzhao like?”

The System was overwhelmed. Why are both of them asking about each other’s likes?

“According to the data, Yu Jinzhao has broad interests: cycling, badminton, painting, calligraphy, reading, music, skiing…”

Pei Daowan’s frown deepened. All of those felt distant to her. They truly were from two different worlds. On the surface, she was the eldest daughter of the Pei family, but in reality, her childhood was less enriched than that of an average person. Since her mothers passed, she’d never attended a single “extracurricular class.”

Back then, she had only one goal: to study desperately so she could escape the Pei family’s control. She and Yu Jinzhao were truly two different kinds of people.

“Enough. I know now.”

She checked the time. Three hours until the end of the workday. She had no idea what to give her; with Yu Jinzhao’s current wealth, she seemed to lack nothing.

Pei Daowan finished her work early and left on time. When she arrived home, Yu Jinzhao wasn’t back yet, which was a relief; she didn’t have to face her immediately.