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

—I’m not divorcing you.

Too domineering. No.

Ning Lingzhou deleted it and started over.

—Why do you want a divorce?

Obviously because the scumbag Alpha was too much of a scumbag. What else could it be?

Delete. Rewrite.

—What if I say I won’t agree to a divorce?

That sounded like a threat. No. Delete.

After deleting and rewriting over and over, Ning Lingzhou completely lost any desire to sleep. In the end, she sent Xu Fangqing a reply.

—Grandpa is being treated in the ICU and still hasn’t woken up. Let’s talk about the divorce another day.

When Xu Fangqing woke up in the morning and saw the message saying Grandpa was undergoing emergency treatment, she felt a momentary pang in her heart.

She could tell that in the Ning family, Grandpa Ning was the only one who genuinely liked her and treated her as family, asking about her preferences and having people do things according to her wishes.

She wondered whether such a kind old man had managed to make it through this crisis.

Xu Fangqing wanted to send Ning Lingzhou a message asking about Grandpa’s condition, but after typing and deleting it several times, she ultimately sent nothing.

“Qingqing, why are you so distracted?”

Ever since Xu Fangqing had gotten up that morning, Shi Le could tell she had something on her mind. Whenever Shi Le spoke to her, it took her half a beat longer than usual to react.

“It’s nothing. A friend’s grandfather is being treated in the ICU. I don’t know how he’s doing right now, so I’m a little worried.”

“If you want to know, just call and ask. Sitting here worrying won’t give you an answer.”

“Mm.”

Xu Fangqing smiled gently, gripping her phone tightly, but still couldn’t bring herself to dial that number.

Just as she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang, startling her.

When she saw the caller ID, she finally remembered that Ning Lingzhou had told her last night that her mother had called. Xu Fangqing hurriedly answered. “Mom, did you need something when you called last night?”

“It’s nothing urgent,” Zhao Hui said somewhat hesitantly from the other end. “It’s just… it’s about your father’s company…”

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

Although Xu Dong’an’s company wasn’t very large, it had always operated smoothly.

Previously, someone reported Xu Dong’an for bribery and corruption, and he was taken away for investigation for a period of time. The company’s situation rapidly deteriorated and was on the verge of bankruptcy. It was Ning Lingzhou who stepped in, got Xu Dong’an released, and saved their company.

With Ning Lingzhou’s help, Xu Dong’an’s company began expanding.

Perhaps because Xu Fangqing marrying Ning Lingzhou had given Xu Dong’an more confidence, the expansion happened too quickly, causing the company to run short of funds. At a time like this, if their cash flow broke, the company would collapse all at once like a building whose foundation had been pulled away.

Xu Dong’an had spent his entire life in the jewelry business. If the company went bankrupt, it would destroy his faith and the pillar supporting him emotionally. It was difficult to imagine how dejected and devastated he would become.

Xu Fangqing couldn’t bear to see her father’s lifetime of hard work go to waste.

“Mom, tell Dad not to panic yet. Give me a little time. I’ll think of something.”

Xu Fangqing’s mind raced as she tried to figure out how she could raise such a large sum of money.

Back when she had suddenly become popular, she had turned down several game endorsement deals. Thinking about it now, the fees from those endorsements combined would have been a considerable amount.

Xu Fangqing called her manager.

Previously, she had been too aloof and selective, refusing this role and that endorsement. The company had no way to deal with her and had simply shelved her for a while.

Now that Xu Fangqing was actually taking the initiative to call her, Xin Duo couldn’t hide the delight in her voice. “Darling, you finally came around? You’re finally willing to call me?”

“Sister Xin Duo, take every endorsement I can get right now.”

“What happened?”

Xin Duo was somewhat surprised. Knowing Xu Fangqing’s personality, this wasn’t something she would normally say.

There was only one thing that could make her compromise.

“Your father’s company is short on money?” Xin Duo guessed.

“Mm.”

“How much?”

Xu Fangqing gave her the amount.

“That much?”

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

Without this money, her family really would go bankrupt.

Xu Fangqing didn’t like discussing family matters with other people and answered vaguely, “We ran into some difficulties.”

The first time Xin Duo met Xu Fangqing, she had known that she wasn’t a girl driven by ambition or eager to climb upward.

She had looked down on those endorsement deals before, yet now she was willing to accept them. Her family must truly have encountered serious difficulties. Since Xu Fangqing didn’t want to talk about it, Xin Duo knew asking further would be useless.

“All right. Wait for my news.”

Xin Duo called back very quickly, saying an online game wanted Xu Fangqing as its spokesperson, but they required her to go in for a photo shoot the next day.

Xu Fangqing thought about it and realized she had nothing scheduled for tomorrow, so she agreed.

After thinking it over again and again, Xu Fangqing still went to the hospital.

She wanted to see Grandpa, but she didn’t know what his condition was at the moment. After hesitating for a long time, she sent Ning Lingzhou a message asking about him.

Ning Lingzhou looked at Grandpa, who had just woken up, and replied to Xu Fangqing, “Grandpa’s awake. He wants to see you.”

“Grandpa wants to see me?”

Xu Fangqing was a little doubtful, yet also felt guilty that she hadn’t come sooner.

“Mm. He just asked where you were. I told him you weren’t feeling well and were resting at home, and that you’d come see him in a little while.”

Seeing how effortlessly Ning Lingzhou could make things up, Xu Fangqing suddenly couldn’t tell whether she was deceiving her again.

“Lingzhou.”

Hearing Grandpa call for her, Ning Lingzhou quickly said, “Grandpa’s calling me. I have to go. If you have time, come see him.”

Putting away her phone, Ning Lingzhou walked over and sat beside Grandpa, tucking the corner of his blanket in for him. “I was just messaging Qingqing. She’s very worried about you and will come see you in a little while.”

“Good.” Grandpa patted the back of her hand and said with relief, “Your dad told me you stayed here with me all night. Good child. You’ve worked hard.”

“It wasn’t hard.” Ning Lingzhou looked toward Ning Lingxi standing nearby. “Big Brother also stayed here with Grandpa all night. Big Brother worked hard too. You should go home and rest first. I’ll stay here and wait for Qingqing to come.”

“Lingxi worked hard too. Go home and rest first. Lingzhou and your father can stay here with me.”

After keeping watch over Grandpa all night only to be overlooked, Ning Lingxi’s expression became somewhat ugly. He secretly clenched his fists, then relaxed them again before respectfully nodding. “All right, Grandpa. I’ll head home first.”

Holding a bouquet of flowers and carrying a fruit basket, Xu Fangqing entered the hospital. As she passed through the lobby, she happened to run into Ning Lingxi, who was walking out with a stomach full of pent-up anger.

At the very least, they were nominally family, so they still had to keep up appearances.

“Big Brother.”

Xu Fangqing stopped and greeted him.

Ning Lingxi glanced at her. This younger sister-in-law of his was also an Omega, came from an ordinary family, yet Grandpa liked her very much—more than he liked his own biological grandson.

It was only because she was Ning Lingzhou’s wife. The old man’s affection for Ning Lingzhou extended to her as well, yet somehow it made Ning Lingxi feel as though he was worth even less than an outsider.

Thinking about Grandpa’s coldness toward him, the resentment he had been suppressing suddenly surged upward.

He looked at Xu Fangqing, the corner of his mouth pulling into a cold smile. Then he raised his hand and knocked the fruit basket out of hers, sending oranges and apples scattering across the floor.

“Sorry. My hand slipped.”

Ning Lingxi dusted off his hands, lifted his foot, crushed an orange beneath it, and walked away without looking back.

Xu Fangqing stood where she was while the people around her stared, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

She also thought Ning Lingxi was truly inexplicable. His temper was even stranger than Ning Lingzhou’s.

Someone soon came over to clean up, and Xu Fangqing continued toward Grandpa’s hospital room with the bouquet in her arms.

Before she opened the door, she heard Grandpa saying to Ning Lingzhou, “Qingqing is a good child. You need to cherish her properly and never let her down.”

Xu Fangqing’s hand paused on the door. Then she heard Ning Lingzhou answer with a smile in her voice, “Grandpa, I know. Don’t worry. I won’t let her down.”

She made it sound so convincing.

Remembering the despicable things Ning Lingzhou had done last night, Xu Fangqing’s eyelashes trembled. She let out a breath and opened the door.

“Qingqing’s here?”

At Grandpa’s call, Ning Lingzhou turned around and saw Xu Fangqing.

Today, she was wearing a pure white long dress, her pale-golden hair falling obediently down her back and revealing her delicate, petite face.

Seeing that her complexion looked all right and she seemed to be in good spirits, Ning Lingzhou relaxed a little.

Noticing the bouquet in her arms, she got up, walked over, took the flowers from her, and placed them on Grandpa’s bedside table. Then she came back, took Xu Fangqing’s hand, and smiled with natural tenderness. “Grandpa was just talking about you. And now you’re here. Come sit with him and chat for a while.”

Xu Fangqing stared at how naturally affectionate she was and froze for a moment. Compared to herself as an actress, she felt that Ning Lingzhou’s acting skills might actually be even better. She behaved as though nothing at all had happened.

As if everything from last night had merely been one of Xu Fangqing’s nightmares and had nothing whatsoever to do with Ning Lingzhou.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing her freeze, Ning Lingzhou raised a hand to touch her forehead and asked with concern, “Do you still have a fever?”

That single sentence pulled Xu Fangqing back to reality. She awkwardly turned her face away and replied somewhat stiffly, “No.”

“Grandpa’s waiting for you.”

Ning Lingzhou reminded her, lightly stroking the back of Xu Fangqing’s hand a few times with her thumb in a faintly ingratiating gesture.

As an actress, Xu Fangqing naturally knew how to put on a performance.

She didn’t want to fall out with Ning Lingzhou in front of Grandpa, so she released her hand, walked over to the bedside, and sat down. “Grandpa, how are you feeling now?”

“I can breathe just fine.” Grandpa smiled. “These old bones of mine act up every now and then. Did I scare you?”

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

“What is there to apologize for? Lingzhou was right not to tell you. Even if you knew, all you could do was worry along with everyone else. There was nothing you could have done.”

“Grandpa, you’re so kind.”

Xu Fangqing didn’t know why, but suddenly her nose stung slightly.

“Whether I’m kind or not, I only have a few years left to live. You and Lingzhou still have a long life ahead of you. You need to support each other from now on. Lingzhou, come here.”

“Grandpa, what is it?”

“Qingqing was your choice. Don’t forget what you just promised me. Treat her well and never let her down.”

Ning Lingzhou looked at Xu Fangqing’s back and promised, “I’ll keep it in mind at all times.”

A rapid clatter of high heels sounded outside the door. Liu Junru pushed it open and hurried inside. “Dad, Changcheng told me you woke up. I made you some lean pork congee. Are you hungry? Do you want some now?”

She placed the food container she was carrying on the bedside table and was just about to open it when Grandpa pursed his lips and waved a hand.

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

Liu Junru smiled awkwardly. “I got confused. I was only thinking that your grandfather would be hungry when he woke up.”

“Junru, it was thoughtful of you.”

As Grandpa spoke, his voice gradually weakened, and he no longer seemed as energetic as before.

Ning Lingzhou stood beside him and said, “Grandpa, get some proper rest. We’ll leave for now and come see you again later.”

Grandpa nodded and tiredly closed his eyes.

After they left the hospital room, Liu Junru shoved the food container into Xu Fangqing’s hands, grabbed Ning Lingzhou’s arm, and lifted the hair away from her temple, revealing the wound on her forehead.

It was a small cut that had already scabbed over, but the surrounding area was still red and swollen, making it look painful.

“Looks like Zhou Xin was right.” Liu Junru turned toward Xu Fangqing, her voice cold and tinged with anger. “Xu Fangqing, you’ve certainly gotten bold. You actually dared lay a hand on Lingzhou?”

As she spoke, she raised her hand. Just as the slap was about to land on Xu Fangqing’s face, Ning Lingzhou caught her wrist.

“Mom, what are you doing?”

She had stayed up all night and was already exhausted both physically and mentally. Her brows were furrowed, making her expression look even colder.

Liu Junru was used to seeing her cold and curt with other people, but rarely saw her looking this angry at her own mother. That only made her angrier. “What? As her elder, am I not even allowed to discipline Xu Fangqing?”

“My wife is mine to handle.” Ning Lingzhou wrapped an arm around Xu Fangqing’s shoulders and pulled her protectively into her embrace. “No one else gets to discipline her. Not even Mom and Dad. Not even Grandpa.”

Her expression was icy, determination written clearly in her eyes and brows.

It was as though the woman in her arms was someone she would protect even at the cost of her own life.

Xu Fangqing looked at her, unable to tell for a moment whether she was acting or being sincere, her emotions becoming complicated.

“You!”

Liu Junru stared at her in disbelief. “Ning Lingzhou, have you lost your mind? You’re actually saying something like that because of this woman?”

She had even said Grandpa wasn’t allowed to discipline Xu Fangqing. Could Xu Fangqing possibly be more important to her than the grandfather she respected most?

Liu Junru couldn’t tolerate it.

She had originally thought Ning Lingzhou had ignored everyone’s objections and married Xu Fangqing only to fulfill Grandpa’s wish. Once she grew tired of her, naturally, they would divorce.

She could tolerate Ning Lingzhou marrying an Omega whose family background was far beneath theirs, but she would not allow Ning Lingzhou to genuinely fall in love with her.

She would never let what happened five years ago happen to Ning Lingzhou again.

“Mom, I’m tired. I want to go back and rest. I’m leaving first.”

Ning Lingzhou stuffed the food container in Xu Fangqing’s hands back into Liu Junru’s arms, then took Xu Fangqing away with her.

Liu Junru stared at their departing backs, then looked down at the food container in her hands and stamped her foot in fury.

If they hadn’t been in a hospital, she would have smashed the container right then and there.

She was absolutely furious!

After they left the hospital, the moment Xu Fangqing was sure Liu Junru could no longer see them, she immediately pulled herself out of Ning Lingzhou’s embrace and put some distance between them.

Ning Lingzhou followed after her and apologized. “Don’t take what my mom said just now to heart. I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I promise.”

“Ning Lingzhou,” Xu Fangqing looked at her, “do you really think I’ll still believe anything you say?”