A Scumbag Alpha Reforms: Pampering Her Wife Without Limits - Chapter 3

In the original novel, there was a malicious female supporting character named Zhou Xin. She was the Scumbag Alpha’s childhood friend and her number one admirer. She had been infatuated with the Scumbag Alpha for years, but the Alpha had never been interested in her.

Zhou Xin was a mindless antagonist. She blamed the root of the Alpha’s indifference entirely on the heroine, Xu Fangqing. Driven by jealousy, she acted out in various ways and secretly committed numerous wicked deeds. It was actually her doing that caused the ex-girlfriend’s car accident, which ultimately led to the heroine’s miscarriage.

Thinking of the suffering Xu Fangqing had endured because of this woman, Ning Lingzhou felt a surge of loathing as she looked at the gaudily dressed woman before her.

Before she could kick her out, Zhou Xin pushed past her into the room, shouting: “Xu Fangqing, get out here!”

She had a loud voice, and being drunk, her high heels clattered discordantly on the floor. The noise made Ning Lingzhou’s head throb.

“Keep it down. Don’t wake her,” Ning Lingzhou hissed, grabbing Zhou Xin and pushing her back toward the door.

“She actually dared to hit you! I’m going to teach her a lesson today! Lingzhou, get out of my way!” Zhou Xin flailed her arms, trying to force her way in, her voice loud enough for the whole floor to hear.

Losing her patience, Ning Lingzhou shoved her out the door. “That’s enough, Zhou Xin. What happens between the two of us is none of your business. You’re an outsider.”

If she wasn’t afraid of disturbing Xu Fangqing, Ning Lingzhou would have roared at her. Her voice was low but her expression was icy—a clear sign she was furious.

Having grown up with her, Zhou Xin knew her temper. Once she was truly angry, no one could talk sense into her. Pushed to the ground, Zhou Xin suddenly felt wronged. Her lip trembled, her eyes welled with tears, and she pointed into the room accusingly: “Ning Lingzhou! You’re actually angry at me for that woman? How long has it been? Now I’m the ‘outsider’ and she’s the ‘insider’?”

Ning Lingzhou didn’t bother arguing. She let Lin Zhi in and slammed the door shut.

Outside, Zhou Xin stared at the closed door, a mix of anger and grievance. She scrambled up and began pounding on the door, crying and screaming insults at Xu Fangqing like a bitter, resentful woman. It was a maddening ruckus.

Unable to take it anymore, Ning Lingzhou called the hotel manager. A few moments later, security arrived and dragged Zhou Xin away. Silence finally returned.

Ning Lingzhou rubbed her temples, her headache intensifying. Seeing that Lin Zhi had finished the examination, she walked over and asked, “How is she?”

“Fortunately, the suppressant was administered in time,” Lin Zhi said while packing her bag. “Her body is mostly fine, though she has a fever. I’ll bring some fever reducers in a moment. Let her sleep after taking them, and she should be alright by tomorrow.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Hearing her say “thank you,” Lin Zhi paused mid-motion, giving her a strange look. She had been the Ning family’s doctor for three years and had never heard Ning Lingzhou say thank you to anyone. The Alpha was always aloof, only giving orders without a care for others’ feelings. Lin Zhi wondered if she had misheard, but she didn’t dwell on it—as long as she got paid, it didn’t matter.

Looking at the frail Omega on the bed, Lin Zhi hesitated before speaking subtly: “Between a couple, there should be mutual respect. Try to avoid such dangerous situations in the future.”

The doctor clearly knew what had happened. Ning Lingzhou felt a flush of shame. She wanted to scream that she hadn’t done it and that she couldn’t bear to see the heroine suffer, but her “Overbearing CEO” persona made her turn her face away in silence.

She knitted her brows, her lips pressed into a thin line. This cold, arrogant look was exactly how the “real” Ning Lingzhou was supposed to act.

Lin Zhi noticed the wound on her forehead. “Do you want me to bandage that?” She reached for some gauze.

“It’s just a scratch. Don’t worry about it,” Ning Lingzhou said. Lin Zhi didn’t insist and left the room.

The fever reducers were delivered shortly after.

Ning Lingzhou looked at the sleeping Xu Fangqing and faced a dilemma. How was she supposed to give her the medicine? And her dress was soaked; if she didn’t change out of it, her fever would likely get worse.

After much deliberation, Ning Lingzhou decided to help her change.

“Xu Fangqing,” Ning Lingzhou patted her shoulder and shook her gently. “Wake up.”

“I’m going to change your clothes.”

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as consent.”

“I’m starting now.”

After preparing herself mentally, she propped Xu Fangqing up. The dress was so torn that it was easier to just rip the rest of it off than to try and pull it over her head. Ning Lingzhou grabbed the fabric at the waist and tore it. In an instant, Xu Fangqing was exposed.

Ning Lingzhou’s gaze darted away, her heart racing for no reason.

At that exact moment, Xu Fangqing slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Ning Lingzhou holding a scrap of her dress while she was nearly naked, she slapped Ning Lingzhou across the face in a fit of rage: “Get out! Get away from me!”

Ning Lingzhou: “…”

I just wanted to help you change.

While Ning Lingzhou clutched her stinging cheek, Xu Fangqing grabbed the duvet and scrambled to the corner of the bed like a wounded animal—helpless, terrified, and pitiable.

Rubbing her face, Ning Lingzhou sat on the edge of the bed and explained patiently, “I gave you a suppressant earlier. You fainted. Lin Zhi checked you and said you’re fine, just a bit feverish. I only wanted to help you into clean clothes. I didn’t mean anything else.”

Whether she believed it or not, Ning Lingzhou felt she would suffocate if she didn’t explain.

Xu Fangqing watched her with suspicious, trembling eyes but remained silent.

“This is fever medicine.” Ning Lingzhou stood up and placed the pills and a glass of water on the nightstand. “I’ve poured warm water for you.”

She walked to the wardrobe and opened it. “There are some… of my dresses in here. You can pick one to wear for now.”

She then moved the heroine’s phone to the nightstand. “Your mom called earlier. She didn’t say what it was about, but you should call her back tomorrow when you feel better. Also, I’m leaving the room card here. You can rest assured—unless you open the door yourself, no one else will come in.”

Thinking for a moment, Ning Lingzhou went to the bathroom, brought out the hairdryer, and plugged it in near the bed. “Dry your hair before you sleep.”

That seemed to be everything.

“Then… I’ll head out.” Seeing that Xu Fangqing was still wary, Ning Lingzhou turned toward the door.

Before leaving, she saw Xu Fangqing’s gaze flicker toward the phone, clearly wanting to make a call immediately. She reminded her again: “You have a fever. Take the medicine first.”

With a soft click, the door closed.

Xu Fangqing’s tensed nerves finally relaxed. She looked at the medicine and the warm water. She didn’t believe for a second that Ning Lingzhou was being genuinely kind.

She picked up her phone to call her mother, but hesitated. She couldn’t let her family know what happened tonight. She couldn’t let them worry. After some thought, she called her best friend, Shi Le.

Aside from her family, she hadn’t told anyone about her marriage to Ning Lingzhou. Shi Le still didn’t know, and Xu Fangqing didn’t plan on telling her yet.

While waiting for Shi Le to arrive, she forced herself to get up and found a pale blue dress in the wardrobe to change into. Seeing the hairdryer, she managed to dry her hair a bit. By the time she was done, her head felt even heavier. She felt sluggish and found it difficult even to sit up.

The medicine was right there. Her fingers touched the glass; the water was still warm. Between the aftermath of the “heat” and the fever, her throat was parched. Calculating the time, Shi Le would be here soon. Even if Ning Lingzhou had some scheme, it could be stopped in time.

Xu Fangqing took the pills with the warm water and leaned against the headboard to rest. A moment later, Shi Le called saying she was downstairs at the Imperial One Hotel.

Xu Fangqing opened the door. Seeing no one around, she steadied her nerves and headed for the elevator. She took Ning Lingzhou’s private elevator all the way to the first floor. When the doors opened, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Shi Le’s call came through. “I’m down. I’m arriving at the lobby now—I see you!”

Hanging up, Xu Fangqing waved. “Lele!”

“Xu Fangqing!”

Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the side. Before Xu Fangqing could see who it was, the person lunged at her. If she hadn’t reacted quickly, she would have been tackled to the ground.

Xu Fangqing dodged Zhou Xin’s lunge, nearly falling in the process, but luckily Shi Le arrived in time to catch her.

“Who the hell are you?” Shi Le shielded Xu Fangqing, frowning at the woman whose makeup was smeared with tears. Her hair was a mess, black mascara ran down her face, and she reeked of alcohol. She looked like a lunatic.

Xu Fangqing recognized her as Zhou Xin, Ning Lingzhou’s friend. Her heart skipped a beat, fearing the drunk woman might say something she shouldn’t. She immediately grabbed Shi Le’s hand: “Lele, let’s go.”

Shi Le had no intention of dealing with a madwoman. Seeing Xu Fangqing looked pale, she turned to leave.

But Zhou Xin wouldn’t let them go. She lunged again, grabbing Xu Fangqing’s arm. “Xu Fangqing, stop right there! Today… today I’m definitely going to teach you a lesson!”

“Hey, where did this psycho come from?” Shi Le shoved her hand away in disgust. “Follow us again and see what happens!”

“Xu Fangqing, don’t leave! You… you aren’t allowed to leave!” Zhou Xin staggered forward again, but someone caught her arm. She turned and saw Ning Lingzhou appearing out of nowhere. Stunned, a smile broke across her face: “Lingzhou, why are you here?”

Xu Fangqing and Shi Le both turned to look at Ning Lingzhou.

There was a band-aid on her forehead, and her face was somewhat pale. Her bare face looked even colder and more elegant. Her brows were furrowed as she stared intently at Zhou Xin. She spoke to the bodyguards behind her: “Send Miss Zhou home.”

Her voice was cold and pleasant, yet brooked no argument.

“No, I’m not leaving!” Zhou Xin threw off the hands trying to lead her away. She grabbed Ning Lingzhou’s arm and pointed at Xu Fangqing, sobbing: “She’s already bullying you, and you’re still protecting her?”

Xu Fangqing and Ning Lingzhou’s eyes met. Xu Fangqing’s expression grew colder. Clearly, it was Ning Lingzhou who was the bully.

She tugged Shi Le’s arm. “Lele, let’s go.”

Her pale blue dress swayed as she walked; she looked like a wave of moving seawater, drawing eyes and flowing straight into people’s hearts.

Ning Lingzhou watched Xu Fangqing’s retreating back until she was out of sight. Then, she turned to Zhou Xin and grabbed her arm. She leaned in, looking down at her, and imitated the Overbearing CEO’s signature cold threat:

“Zhou Xin, remember this: No one touches what is mine.”