A Scumbag Alpha Reforms: Pampering Her Wife Without Limits - Chapter 4

Once they left the Imperial One Hotel and got into the car, Shi Le finally asked Xu Fangqing, “Those two people back there—do you know them?”

She had sensed that there was some kind of complicated history between the three of them. But how could Xu Fangqing, a college junior, know Ning Lingzhou, the CEO of the Ning Group?

Speaking of Ning Lingzhou, Shi Le had only seen her once at her brother’s engagement party. She remembered the woman wearing an “Atlantis Frozen Ocean” blue gown; she was tall and had an extraordinary aura. Her appearance had drawn admiring glances from every Omega present, while the Alphas and Betas looked on with envy.

Undoubtedly, as a top-tier Alpha in Xinghai City, Ning Lingzhou not only possessed peerless beauty and a perfect figure but also came from a family that was second to none. She certainly had the capital to be admired and envied. It was no wonder that Shi Le, who also came from a good family, had such a deep impression of her.

Recalling the way Ning Lingzhou had looked at Xu Fangqing just now, Shi Le felt their relationship was anything but simple.

Xu Fangqing was still feverish, sleepy, and exhausted. She leaned against the back seat, eyes closed, and said wearily, “I know her.”

Seeing her reluctance to talk, Shi Le didn’t press further. Ever since the Xu family ran into trouble, Xu Fangqing had become secretive. She often went out alone, sometimes returning to their rented apartment very late, and sometimes not returning at all. When asked, Xu Fangqing would never give a straight answer.

Seeing her friend carry everything on her own shoulders, Shi Le felt a pang of sympathy. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you. But if there’s anything I can help with, don’t be a stranger.”

“Lele, thank you. You coming to pick me up tonight was already a huge help.”

Xu Fangqing was telling the truth. Aside from her family, Shi Le was the only one she trusted. If Shi Le hadn’t come tonight, she didn’t know what she would have done.

Shi Le noticed her breathing was a bit heavy and reached out to feel her forehead. “What’s going on? How did you end up with a fever?”

“It’s nothing,” Xu Fangqing said with a gentle smile. “I took some medicine. I should be fine after a night’s sleep.”

Ning Lingzhou followed Xu Fangqing all the way home, only leaving once she saw her safely enter the apartment complex.

Xu Fangqing had a dream. In the dream, she was pinned to the bed by Ning Lingzhou, unable to struggle, and Ning Lingzhou had her way with her. Ning Lingzhou even called over several friends to “play” together; Xu Fangqing was held down, struggling in despair while they laughed hysterically, their faces twisting into something terrifying.

Xu Fangqing snapped awake, gasping for air. The feeling of suffocating despair left her with a lingering fear. Fortunately… fortunately, it was just a dream.

She got up to pour a glass of warm water. Only then did she realize she was soaked in sweat. She touched her forehead; the fever had broken.

Shi Le was woken by the noise. She rubbed her eyes as she opened her door and saw Xu Fangqing standing in the living room. “Qingqing, why aren’t you sleeping in the middle of the night?”

“I was a bit thirsty, just getting some water.” And thinking about a few things.

Shi Le yawned. “Go back to sleep once you’re done. Your cold isn’t gone yet, don’t make it worse.”

“Okay.”

Her skin felt sticky, so Xu Fangqing took a quick hot shower. Back in bed, she checked her phone; it was already 5:00 AM. After much deliberation, she sent a message to Ning Lingzhou.

Ning Lingzhou had hardly slept all night.

Right after seeing Xu Fangqing back to her complex, she received a call from home saying her grandfather was in critical condition and being resuscitated in the ICU.

As the only Alpha of the Ning family, the original “Scumbag A” was naturally the apple of the grandfather’s eye. She was also the one who listened to him most. The reason she had married Xu Fangqing in the first place was to fulfill her grandfather’s wish to see her settled.

When she arrived at the hospital, Ning Lingzhou’s father, Ning Changcheng, her mother, Liu Junru, and her eldest Omega brother, Ning Lingxi, were already there. Ning Lingzhou went over to greet them.

Seeing her alone, Liu Junru looked at the empty space behind her, and her face darkened. “Where is your wife?”

Ning Lingzhou made up a quick excuse. “Qingqing is unwell. I didn’t tell her about Grandpa.”

Liu Junru had looked down on Xu Fangqing’s background from the start, feeling she wasn’t good enough for Ning Lingzhou. She had opposed the marriage initially, but couldn’t bend Ning Lingzhou’s stubborn temper. Even after they got their marriage license, Liu Junru had refused to hold a grand banquet. Fortunately, neither family wanted a spectacle; they just had a dinner with their closest relatives, and that was that.

After the wedding, Ning Lingzhou and Xu Fangqing lived elsewhere, and they rarely saw each other. But Liu Junru hadn’t expected that even with Grandpa critically ill, Xu Fangqing wouldn’t even show her face.

Ning Lingzhou had always respected her grandfather, yet she was still protecting Xu Fangqing now. The thought of this “daughter-in-law” who had no respect for her elders made Liu Junru even angrier.

“Unwell? Is she so sick she can’t even get out of bed? Grandpa is being rescued in the ICU, and she doesn’t even come to take a look? Call her. Tell her to get here immediately.”

Liu Junru always maintained her poise; even when angry, her voice wasn’t loud, but her tone was cold and commanding, leaving no room for negotiation.

Ning Lingzhou had a headache. Fortunately, the “Scumbag A” wasn’t a “mommy’s girl” and didn’t follow Liu Junru’s orders blindly. She changed the subject: “How is Grandpa?”

Ning Lingxi replied, “Still in resuscitation. The situation is unknown.”

Liu Junru persisted. “Lingzhou, I told you to call Xu Fangqing. Do it now.”

“She can’t help even if she comes. Dad, Mom, you should go back and rest. Brother and I will stay here. We’ll notify you if anything happens. There’s no point in everyone staying here and wearing themselves out.”

Liu Junru looked at the time—it was 1:00 AM. She was exhausted too. She rubbed her temples and looked at Ning Changcheng, who put an arm around her shoulder. “Go back and rest first. I’ll stay here until Dad wakes up.”

Liu Junru looked at them, yawned, and said tiredly, “Fine. I’ll come back at dawn to relieve you. Remember to tell Xu Fangqing to come.”

Ning Lingzhou nodded perfunctorily.

The father and two siblings waited outside the ward until 3:00 AM before the doctor finally came out.

“Doctor, how is he?” Ning Changcheng rushed forward. Ning Lingzhou and Ning Lingxi followed.

The doctor removed his mask. “Whether the patient is out of danger depends on whether he can wake up after dawn.”

That one sentence kept their hearts hanging. Ning Changcheng looked worried, and the night seemed to have added more white to his hair.

Ning Lingzhou comforted him. “Dad, don’t worry, Grandpa will be fine. You go back and rest too. I’ll notify you as soon as he wakes up.”

With Ning Lingzhou there, Ning Changcheng felt reassured.

After seeing her father off, Ning Lingzhou went back to the ward and opened her laptop to handle company business. Irene hadn’t taught her how to “conquer” Xu Fangqing, but she provided a lot of help with corporate affairs. For every document Ning Lingzhou opened, Irene gave corresponding prompts. It wasn’t difficult to handle.

Ning Lingxi, standing behind her, mocked, “Grandpa hasn’t even woken up, and Mom and Dad aren’t here. Why bother putting on such a performance?”

In this world’s ABO setting, secondary gender takes precedence over biological sex. Even though Ning Lingxi was a man, because he was an Omega, the Ning family didn’t train him as a successor. He had always felt it was unfair and harbored hostility toward his Alpha younger sister. He could endure it in front of their elders, but now that they were alone, he couldn’t resist stinging her with a few words.

Ning Lingzhou knew he was a pitiable person and didn’t take it to heart. “If you have nothing to do, brother, you can lie down on the sofa and rest. I’ll watch over Grandpa.”

“Heh, ‘let me sleep’?” Ning Lingxi sneered and sat on the sofa. “So when Grandpa wakes up, he’ll see you working tirelessly while I’m over here sleeping, so he can be completely disappointed in me, right?”

Ning Lingzhou forgot that her brother was a sensitive person; he could twist a casual comment into something malicious. She couldn’t be bothered to explain. She just wanted to finish her work and get some rest.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Ning Lingxi felt ignored and annoyed. “I caught you, so you have nothing to say, right?”

“If you aren’t going to sleep, then keep an eye on Grandpa. I’m going to take a nap.” Ning Lingzhou rubbed her eyes, pulled over a thin blanket, and closed her eyes against the sofa.

Seeing her actually fall asleep, Ning Lingxi muttered, “Hypocrite.”

“Keep it quiet.” Ning Lingzhou’s brow twitched slightly. Even in sleep, her handsome face carried an innate authority. Ning Lingxi opened his mouth to say something more, but ultimately stayed silent.

A while later, a phone vibration woke her. Ning Lingzhou rubbed her eyes irritably, ready to snap at whoever it was, but when she saw it was a message from Xu Fangqing, she was instantly wide awake.

Xu Fangqing said: “Let’s go get a divorce tomorrow.”