A Scumbag Alpha Reforms: Pampering Her Wife Without Limits - Chapter 5

— I’m not divorcing.

No, that sounds too domineering.

Ning Lingzhou deleted it and started over.

— Why do you want a divorce?

Because the original owner was a total scumbag, obviously! Why else?

Delete, start over.

— What if I say no?

That sounds like a threat. No good. Delete.

After endless deleting and revising, Ning Lingzhou was wide awake. Finally, she sent a reply to Xu Fangqing.

— Grandpa is in the ICU being resuscitated. He hasn’t woken up yet. Let’s talk about the divorce another day.

When Xu Fangqing woke up and saw the message about Grandpa, she felt a momentary pang of emotion. She could feel that in the Ning family, only Grandpa Ning truly liked her and treated her like family—asking about her preferences and ensuring things were done according to her wishes.

Such a kind old man… she wondered if he had pulled through yet.

Xu Fangqing wanted to send a message to ask about his condition, but after typing and deleting several times, she ultimately didn’t send it.

“Qingqing, why are you so distracted?” Shi Le noticed she had been lost in thought since waking up. Xu Fangqing was reacting a beat late to everything she said.

“It’s nothing. A friend’s grandfather is in the ICU. I’m just a bit worried about how he’s doing.”

“If you want to know, just call and ask. Thinking about it like this won’t give you answers.”

“Mm.” Xu Fangqing gave a gentle smile, clutching her phone tightly, but she still couldn’t bring herself to dial that number.

Just as she was spacing out, her phone suddenly rang, giving her a start. Seeing the caller ID, she remembered Ning Lingzhou mentioning her mother had called last night. She quickly answered: “Mom, was there something you needed last night?”

“It wasn’t anything urgent,” Zhao Hui stammered on the other end. “It’s just… just your father’s company…”

“What happened to Dad’s company? Is it short on funds again?”

Although Xu Dong’an’s company wasn’t huge, it had always run well. Previously, someone had reported him for bribery, and he was detained for investigation for a while. The company’s situation plummeted, nearly reaching bankruptcy. It was Ning Lingzhou who stepped in to save Xu Dong’an and the company.

With Ning Lingzhou’s help, the company began to expand. Perhaps because his daughter had married into the Ning family, Xu Dong’an felt more confident; however, the expansion was so aggressive that capital began to run thin. If the cash flow broke now, the company would collapse like a building with its foundation pulled out.

Xu Dong’an had spent his whole life in the jewelry business. If he went bankrupt, it would destroy his faith and his pillar of support. It was hard to imagine how dejected he would become. Xu Fangqing couldn’t bear to see her father’s life’s work go down the drain.

“Mom, tell Dad not to worry yet. Give me some time, I’ll find a way.” Xu Fangqing’s mind raced, thinking of how she could raise a large sum of money. When she had first become popular, she had turned down several game endorsements. Now that she thought about it, those fees would add up to a significant amount.

She called her agent, Xin Duo. Because she had been too “lofty” in the past—refusing this role or that endorsement—the company hadn’t been able to do much with her and had sidelined her for a while.

Seeing her call of her own accord, Xin Duo’s voice couldn’t hide her excitement: “My dear, you’ve finally seen the light? You’re actually willing to call me?”

“Sister Duo, any endorsements I can get right now… help me take them all.”

“What’s going on?” Xin Duo was surprised. Based on Xu Fangqing’s personality, this didn’t sound like her. There was only one thing that could make her compromise. “Is your father’s company short on money?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

Xu Fangqing stated a figure.

“That much?” Xin Duo was shocked. “Your family isn’t going bankrupt, is it?”

Without that money, they really would. Xu Fangqing didn’t like discussing family matters with others, so she kept it vague: “We’ve run into some difficulties.”

Xin Duo knew from the first time she met her that Xu Fangqing wasn’t a girl driven by greed or aggressive ambition. If she was willing to take endorsements she previously looked down upon, the family must be in real trouble. Knowing Xu Fangqing didn’t want to talk about it, Xin Duo knew asking would be useless.

“Alright, wait for my news.”

Soon, Xin Duo called back saying an online game wanted her as a spokesperson, but she had to go for the photoshoot tomorrow. Xu Fangqing checked her schedule, saw she was free, and agreed.

After much thought, Xu Fangqing still went to the hospital. She wanted to see Grandpa, but she wasn’t sure of the situation. After hesitating, she sent Ning Lingzhou a message asking for an update.

Ning Lingzhou, looking at the newly awakened Grandpa, replied: “Grandpa is awake. He wants to see you.”

“Grandpa wants to see me?” Xu Fangqing felt a mix of doubt and guilt for not coming sooner.

“Yes. He just asked where you were. I told him you were unwell and resting at home, and that you’d come see him in a bit.”

Seeing how well Ning Lingzhou could lie, she suddenly wondered if she was being tricked again.

“Lingzhou.” Hearing Grandpa call her, Ning Lingzhou quickly typed: “Grandpa is calling me, I have to go. If you have time, come see him.”

Putting her phone away, Ning Lingzhou sat by the bed and tucked in the corner of his blanket. “I was just messaging Qingqing. She’s very concerned about you and will be here in a while.”

“Good,” Grandpa patted the back of her hand, looking relieved. “Your father said you stayed here all night watching over me. Good child, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing,” Ning Lingzhou looked at Ning Lingxi standing nearby. “Brother also stayed here all night. He’s worked hard, too. Brother, you should go home and rest. I’ll stay here and wait for Qingqing.”

“Lingxi has also worked hard. Go back and rest; Lingzhou and your father will be enough here.”

Having stayed up all night only to be ignored, Ning Lingxi’s expression turned sour. He secretly clenched his fists, then relaxed them, nodding respectfully. “Alright, Grandpa. I’ll head back now.”

Xu Fangqing, carrying a bouquet of flowers and a fruit basket, arrived at the hospital. As she passed through the lobby, she ran into the frustrated Ning Lingxi. Since they were family in name, she had to maintain appearances.

“Brother.” Xu Fangqing stopped to greet him.

Ning Lingxi looked at her. This younger sister’s wife was also an Omega from a very ordinary background, yet Grandpa loved her even more than his own grandson. It was only because she was Ning Lingzhou’s wife; the old man’s favoritism made Lingxi feel like he was less than an outsider.

Thinking of Grandpa’s coldness toward him, the stifled resentment in Lingxi’s gut surged upward. He looked at Xu Fangqing, a cold smirk playing on his lips, and reached out to flip the fruit basket from her hands. Oranges and apples scattered across the floor instantly.

“Sorry, my hand slipped.” Ning Lingxi patted his hands, stepped on an orange to crush it, and walked away without looking back.

Xu Fangqing stood there, feeling embarrassed as people around her stared. She thought Ning Lingxi was truly bizarre—his temper was even stranger than Ning Lingzhou’s.

Soon, someone came to clean up, and Xu Fangqing headed toward Grandpa’s ward with her flowers. Before opening the door, she heard Grandpa say to Ning Lingzhou: “Qingqing is a good child. You must cherish her and not let her down.”

Xu Fangqing’s hand paused on the door. She heard Ning Lingzhou’s voice, sounding cheerful: “Grandpa, I know. Don’t worry, I won’t let her down.”

She makes it sound so real.

Thinking of the “scoundrel” things she did last night, Xu Fangqing’s eyelashes trembled. she exhaled and pushed the door open.

“Qingqing is here?” At Grandpa’s call, Ning Lingzhou turned and saw her.

She was wearing a pure white dress today, her pale gold hair draped softly behind her, framing her delicate face. Seeing her complexion looked okay, Ning Lingzhou felt a bit relieved.

Noticing the flowers, Ning Lingzhou rose to take them and set them on the nightstand. She then turned back and took Xu Fangqing’s hand, her smile natural and tender: “Grandpa was just mentioning you. Now that you’re here, come talk to him for a bit.”

Xu Fangqing was stunned by her natural intimacy. In terms of acting, she felt Ning Lingzhou’s skills were perhaps even better than her own—she acted as if nothing was wrong. It was as if last night was just a nightmare that had nothing to do with Ning Lingzhou.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing her dazed, Ning Lingzhou raised a hand to touch her forehead. “Are you still feverish?”

That single sentence snapped Xu Fangqing back to reality. She turned her face away uncomfortably, her tone stiff: “No.”

“Grandpa is waiting for you,” Ning Lingzhou reminded her, gently rubbing the back of Xu Fangqing’s hand with her thumb in a slightly pleading gesture.

As an actress, putting on a show was easy for Xu Fangqing. She didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Grandpa, so she let go of her hand and sat by the bed. “Grandpa, how are you feeling now?”

“Breathing is fine,” Grandpa laughed. “Just an old body acting up. Did I scare you?”

“Lingzhou didn’t tell me last night; I only found out this morning. Grandpa, I’m sorry I’m only coming to see you now.”

“What’s there to be sorry for? Lingzhou was right not to tell you. You would have just worried and been unable to do anything.”

“Grandpa, you’re so kind.” For some reason, Xu Fangqing’s nose felt a bit stingy.

“Whether I’m kind or not, I only have a few years left. You and Lingzhou have a long life ahead; you must support each other in the future. Lingzhou, come here.”

“Yes, Grandpa?”

“Qingqing was your choice. Don’t forget what you just promised me. Treat her well, and do not let her down.”

Ning Lingzhou looked at Xu Fangqing’s back and promised: “I will keep it in my heart at all times.”

Suddenly, the hurried sound of high heels approached. Liu Junru pushed the door open. “Dad, Changcheng said you were awake. I made some lean meat porridge for you. Are you hungry? Do you want some now?”

She set the food container on the nightstand and was about to open it when Grandpa frowned and waved it away.

“Mom,” Ning Lingzhou reminded her, “The doctor said Grandpa can’t eat anything for the time being.”

Liu Junru smiled awkwardly. “I’m so muddled, I only thought about Grandpa being hungry when he woke up.”

“Junru, I appreciate the thought,” Grandpa said, his voice trailing off as his energy began to fade again.

Ning Lingzhou whispered, “Grandpa, get some rest. We’ll head out now and come back later.” Grandpa nodded and closed his eyes tiredly.

Once outside the ward, Liu Junru shoved the food container into Xu Fangqing’s hands. She grabbed Ning Lingzhou’s arm and brushed the hair back from her forehead, seeing the wound. The small cut had scabbed over, but it was still red and swollen, looking quite painful.

“It seems Zhou Xin was right,” Liu Junru turned to Xu Fangqing, her voice cold and full of anger. “Xu Fangqing, you certainly have a lot of nerve, actually daring to lay a hand on Lingzhou?”

She raised her hand, and just as the slap was about to land on Xu Fangqing’s face, Ning Lingzhou caught her wrist. “Mom, what are you doing?”

Having stayed up all night, she was physically and mentally drained. Her brow was furrowed, her expression turning colder.

Liu Junru was used to her being cold to others, but she rarely saw this angry side directed at herself. Her temper flared. “What? As an elder, I can’t even discipline Xu Fangqing?”

“She is my wife, I will handle her myself,” Ning Lingzhou said, putting an arm around Xu Fangqing’s shoulder and pulling her protectively into her embrace. “No one else—not even you or Dad, not even Grandpa—can discipline her.”

Her expression was frigid, her eyes filled with resolve. It was as if the woman in her arms was someone she would risk her life to protect.

Xu Fangqing looked at her, unsure for a moment if she was acting or if it was real. Her heart was a mess of conflicting emotions.

“You!” Liu Junru looked at her in disbelief. “Ning Lingzhou, are you crazy? You’re saying this because of this woman?”

To say that even Grandpa couldn’t discipline her… did Xu Fangqing matter more to her than the grandfather she respected most? Liu Junru couldn’t stand it. She had thought Ning Lingzhou only married her to please Grandpa and would divorce her once she was bored. She could tolerate the marriage, but she would not allow Ning Lingzhou to actually give her heart to this girl.

She would not let Ning Lingzhou repeat the mistakes of five years ago.

“Mom, I’m tired. I want to go back and rest. We’re leaving.” Ning Lingzhou shoved the food container back into Liu Junru’s arms and led Xu Fangqing away.

Liu Junru watched them go, clutching the container, stomping her feet in rage. If they hadn’t been in a hospital, she would have smashed it on the spot.

Once they were clear of the hospital, Xu Fangqing immediately broke free from Ning Lingzhou’s embrace and put some distance between them.

Ning Lingzhou walked over to apologize. “Don’t mind what my mother said. I won’t let anyone hurt you again, I promise.”

“Ning Lingzhou,” Xu Fangqing looked at her. “Do you honestly think I still believe a word you say?”