A Scummy Divorcee Alpha: Ex-Wife’s Top-Tier Soothing Agent - Chapter 19

“I didn’t quite hear that.” Zuo Yijia turned her head with a faint smile. “Would you mind saying that again?”

Du Wan immediately stopped her smirking, mimicking a zipping motion across her lips with her fingers.

Zuo Yijia withdrew her gaze with satisfaction and relit her electronic screen, immersing herself in its contents. Du Wan pursed her lips, abandoning the idea of teasing the fish again, and turned to admire the scenery outside the window.

The car soon reached its destination.

“Boss Zuo, you get off first.” Du Wan suddenly remembered something, fumbled through her bag for her sunglasses, and put them on, peeking anxiously in both directions. “I’ll get out five minutes later, just in case someone recognizes me.”

Standing by the car door, Zuo Yijia tilted her chin up toward the person inside, her expression haughty as if she held all the cards. “No need for such trouble.”

Du Wan was grabbed by the shoulder and pulled forcefully from the car. She turned to smooth the wrinkles on her shoulder and trotted after them.

Secretary Liang unlocked the door, and the elevator doors slid open. Zuo Yijia stepped inside.

Whoa, they really came prepared.

The elevator was hidden and required a dedicated key—clearly a feature the hotel provided for guests with “special needs,” which inevitably lent the situation a hint of ambiguity.

Du Wan took off her sunglasses and leaned close to the elevator mirror. For the sake of the role, she had to dye her hair black again. Her hair quality had suffered; it wouldn’t be easy to nurse it back to health.

As she smoothed her slightly frizzy ends, she felt a gaze on her. She looked up and met the mermaid’s eyes in the mirror. “Any advice, Boss Zuo?”

Zuo Yijia stood with her arms crossed, her face tense and her brow slightly furrowed—as deep and gloomy as ever.

The elevator doors opened from the opposite side. Caught off guard, Du Wan nearly stumbled but steadied herself and followed quickly.

The air conditioning was on in the room, making it as warm as spring. Du Wan couldn’t wait to strip off her coat, revealing the athletic tank top she wore underneath. She sat on the edge of the bed and patted the mattress. “Boss Zuo, hurry up. I have to head back for filming tonight.”

Zuo Yijia was currently enduring her own torment.

One milliliter of fluid could no longer fill the void of desire. Looking at the gland visible beneath Du Wan’s tongue, her throat itched and her saliva flowed. An uncontrollable impulse took root.

Why can’t I just taste it myself?

The moment the thought surfaced, Zuo Yijia felt a chill run down her spine.

Damned biological instincts—nearly luring her into doing something irrational. Zuo Yijia narrowed her eyes and shoved the needle in hard.

“Mmph—”

Du Wan snapped her mouth shut as the metallic taste of blood spread. Her tongue was bleeding. She complained through muddled speech: “Boss Zuo, that hurts!”

“My apologies.”

Zuo Yijia withdrew the syringe, though her face showed no hint of actual remorse.

Du Wan flopped backward onto the bed, an arm draped over her forehead. The familiar dizziness nearly drained her of all strength. The red rash on the inside of her arm refused to fade; she scratched it lazily, leaving pale red streaks behind.

The mermaid stood with her back to Du Wan. From this angle, her graceful waistline beneath the long dress was clearly visible.

Zuo Yijia injected all the fluid into an exquisite scent bottle, wearing it around her neck alongside a piece of aquamarine. She fiddled with it, sniffing it, her eyes glazed over and a strange smile playing on her lips.

Du Wan: “…”

I don’t understand it, but I am deeply shocked.

Du Wan sat up and gave her a gentle nudge. “Boss Zuo, are you alright?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Zuo Yijia returned to her ice-cold demeanor.

Too much fluid had been wasted before; this method she had devised ensured maximum utility, and the effect was decent.

Du Wan grabbed the scent bottle and sniffed it—no smell.

Truly strange. This fish can’t let go of the fluid, yet she hates the owner to her very core.

“Let go!” Zuo Yijia’s gaze drifted slowly upward. Her eyes were deep, like ancient, unmelting ice, yet the flush rising on her cheeks canceled out the coldness, instantly diminishing her authority.

Du Wan’s head was swimming. It felt as if a feather had brushed against her heart—it was itchy, her hands were itchy, and she suddenly wanted to cause trouble.

She grabbed the slender silver chain and yanked hard.

Zuo Yijia’s eyes widened slightly as her body toppled over. Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and the metal hairpin, like a star hidden in silver light, flew out with a clink, landing right by Du Wan’s hand.

Framed by her silver hair and snowy skin, the flush on the mermaid’s cheeks was even more striking. She barked out furiously, “Du Wan, you’re looking for death!”

Du Wan had heard those words so many times she was practically immune. The mermaid was just scaring her; she wouldn’t actually do anything.

“Every time Boss Zuo sticks me with a needle, I get a splitting headache. It’s miserable.” Du Wan lay on her stomach beside her, eyes hazy, resting her chin on her hands as she tried to negotiate. “Professional tasks should be left to professionals. When you come tomorrow, bring a doctor, okay?”

Okay? Who is she acting cute with?

Zuo Yijia said coldly, “You are in no position to make demands.”

“Voluntary treatment still requires human rights. And—” A meaningful smile appeared on Du Wan’s face, her eyes darting around. “Two single women in a room together is really… unsafe.”

Zuo Yijia was silent for a long while before replying solemnly, “How is it unsafe? Sometimes you should look for the reason within yourself. Do you have wicked thoughts? If you have wicked thoughts, even ten people standing in front of you couldn’t stop your imagination from running wild.”

“You’ve got it wrong.” Du Wan rested her chin in her hands, feigning innocence. “I’m afraid you have wicked thoughts about me.”

“Nonsense! Stop being so full of yourself!” Zuo Yijia turned ashen with rage. “The fact that I haven’t killed you doesn’t mean I have lingering feelings. It’s only because you still have utility value. Killing for a moment’s satisfaction would be a loss—it’s not worth the risk!”

“I have plenty of ways more effective than killing. Do you dare try them!?”

Zuo Yijia’s hands loosely circled Du Wan’s neck. Beneath the smooth skin, an artery throbbed eagerly, pumping hot, red blood. She seemed to hear the resonance of a life vibrating, and her movements suddenly became hesitant.

“Then let’s try it.” Du Wan straightened her neck, actively tilting into the woman’s palm. “Boss Zuo used to hate me to the bone. After everything, do you still hate me that much?”

“That’s right.” Zuo Yijia gritted her teeth, her bloodshot eyes lifting. “From me, you’ll never hear any other answer.”

Fine, fine. Stubborn all the way through.

Du Wan closed her eyes, betting the mermaid wouldn’t be able to follow through.

The hands on her neck slowly tightened. Du Wan’s face turned from red to purple, showing signs of oxygen deprivation. Uh oh. At this rate, am I really going to die here?

Just then, the hands gripping her neck released. Zuo Yijia clutched her own nape, her entire body curling up in pain. Her eyes were squeezed shut, sweat beaded on her forehead, and she murmured in agony: “Help me… help me…”

The sound of fabric tearing rang out. A massive mermaid tail burst through her trousers. Shimmering scales scraped against the fabric, all standing up in the opposite direction, oozing a faint bloody hue.

It was the first time Du Wan had seen such a scene, and her headache vanished from the shock. Ignoring the pain in her neck, she knelt frantically on the bed, leaning close to the mermaid, her voice raspy: “Speak clearly! What is it? Help you with what?”

“In the bag…” Zuo Yijia moved her hand. The gland at her nape was swollen and red—so swollen the skin was semi-transparent, as if honey could flow out. A massive wave of cloying sweetness hit Du Wan, making her slip for a moment.

Du Wan quickly grabbed the bag, dumped everything out, and found the metal box containing the suppressors.

She opened the box, her hands shaking as she picked up the needle. She swallowed nervously, her throat burning. She asked in a hoarse voice: “Help, how do I do this? Do I just jab it in?”

“Useless thing.” Unable to stand her cowardice, Zuo Yijia grabbed Du Wan’s hand and pulled it toward her nape. “Jab it right here! It won’t kill anyone!”

Their hot, damp hands overlapped. Du Wan dazed for a second.

“Boss Zuo, how do you dare come out during your heat period?” With trembling hands, she pinched the skin over the gland and slid the needle in.

“I run an entire group; I can’t just let things slide!” Zuo Yijia lifted her head, her slender collarbones nearly piercing her skin. She gritted her teeth, the veins on her neck bulging from the pain, yet she didn’t forget to mock: “It seems you skipped your biology classes.”

Du Wan: “…”

Still able to talk back. She won’t die.

“Hurry up and push the medicine in!”

“Ah, right!” Du Wan squeezed her eyes shut, steeled her heart, and pushed all the liquid into the gland.

Du Wan let out a sigh of relief. The syringe fell to the floor. She realized she was drenched in sweat, her damp clothes clinging to her back. She looked even more pathetic than the mermaid.

Zuo Yijia clutched her nape, waiting for the surge to pass. For a while, the only sound in the room was their ragged breathing.

Zuo Yijia suddenly spoke: “You have indeed saved me many times.”

“I have never liked owing anyone.” Zuo Yijia sat up on the bed.

Du Wan handed over her coat. Her throat hurt too much to speak, so she simply gestured for the mermaid to wrap it around her legs to avoid exposure.

Zuo Yijia didn’t take it, continuing: “From today on, we are even. Once everything is settled, I will let you go.”

Du Wan: “…”

This mermaid really is like a scummy woman who gets up and turns cold right after rolling in the hay.

Zuo Yijia seemed to sense the internal commentary. She shot a sharp look over, and Du Wan immediately raised her hands in surrender.

“That…” Zuo Yijia pointed at the marks on Du Wan’s neck, her eyes flickering. “I’ll have that treated for you.”

“Boss Zuo, try to control your temper in the future,” Du Wan rasped out, then beat her to the door and jumped out.

Behind the door, Zuo Yijia’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

You can’t do this job without some mental resilience.

Still have to leave, Du Wan nodded to herself. Have to leave.

The two entered the elevator one after the other. Du Wan had underestimated today’s bad luck—or rather, being with the mermaid was a guarantee of misfortune.

Just as she pressed the “close” button, the elevator car suddenly lurched and swayed like a giant pendulum. They both gripped the side railings tightly. The overhead lights flickered a few times and then went out with a pop.

Zuo Yijia immediately felt along the elevator wall, trying to find the emergency button. But a fish’s night vision is terrible; she lost her direction in the dark and crashed right into Du Wan.

“Get away! We’re even now! You don’t have to pretend to suck up to me anymore!” Zuo Yijia tried to push her away.

Du Wan could feel that the mermaid was in a terrible state. With her heat approaching, a single tube of suppressor couldn’t solve anything. The woman was currently all bluster and no substance, acting hostile and prickly just to appear strong.

For some reason, Du Wan felt a surge of a different emotion.

” I can’t do that, Boss Zuo.”

Du Wan pressed the emergency button. A faint red light came on, dreamy and hazy.

Du Wan knelt beside the mermaid, turning her shoulders to face her. Her throat throbbed with pain, so she spoke slowly, each word clear: “I cannot just stand by and watch a living person suffer and pant in front of me while doing nothing.”

“No matter who that person is.”

What did that mean?

Du Wan knows she’s a ‘sinner’—is she trying to pay off her debts by doing good deeds?

Can her words be trusted?

No, why should I believe her? Whatever happens to her has nothing to do with me? Why do I care?

Zuo Yijia lifted her eyes. Even though she couldn’t see anything in the dark, she could sense the extraordinary warmth beneath those palms.

So, I’m not the special one.

While Zuo Yijia felt a sense of relief, a strange emotion welled up in her heart.

“I won’t owe you.” Zuo Yijia’s voice trembled but remained cold. “If you insist on doing this, I will pay you extra compensation.”

Du Wan was stunned for a moment, finding it both helpless and hilarious.

This fish is really… fine, if you’re giving it, I’m taking it. Consider it mental damage pay for all these days.

Returning to her usual carefree self, she sat down next to the mermaid with a grin. “Fine, I’ll take the money. Otherwise, Boss Zuo’s conscience won’t be at peace.”

The hotel where the film crew was staying wasn’t peaceful tonight either.

An Alpha staying in the hotel suddenly entered rut, affecting the guests on the same floor and causing a major public safety crisis. The hotel management called the police, and everyone was evacuated to the empty lot outside to wait in line for an investigation.

Several Alphas had already been taken away. Lou Xuehan gave a contemptuous smile. “These people have zero self-control yet they dare to come out. They should just stay home for the rest of their lives.”

A cold wind blew past. Lou Xuehan, in a thin knit sweater, rubbed her arms. She suddenly felt she had missed something. She peeked toward the end of the line. “Where did Du Wan go again?”

The little assistant was speechless. “Xuehan, are you paying a bit too much attention to her?”

“Am I? I don’t think so.” Lou Xuehan paused, then continued peeking on her tiptoes. “You tell me then, have you seen her?”

Assistant: “I haven’t seen her since we finished filming.”

“Exactly.” Lou Xuehan narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “She’s definitely up to something shady!”

Assistant: “Forget it, let’s not get involved. Careful not to bring trouble on ourselves.”

“As if I’m afraid of her!” Lou Xuehan poked the assistant’s head. “On set, I give her some leeway just so we can film. Outside the set, who’s going to give her any face!?”

After finishing her check, Lou Xuehan made a point to find Du Wan’s room number before returning to her own room.

To her surprise, Du Wan’s door was slightly ajar, and it seemed no one was inside. Lou Xuehan crept toward it, hunched over, wanting to peek inside. Just as her hand touched the handle, Chai Tingyan walked out. Seeing Lou Xuehan, she became immediately vigilant. “You’re like a ghost that won’t leave—what are you doing here again!?”

Lou Xuehan crossed her arms, feigning composure. “You think I wanted to come? I just noticed Du Wan didn’t go down for the check and was worried about her.”

Chai Tingyan turned and closed the door, thinking she had misheard. “You… worried about Du Wan?”

Lou Xuehan snapped, “Can’t I care about a fellow actor?”

Chai Tingyan was about to say more.

“Fine, fine! Blame me for being a busybody!” Lou Xuehan waved her off and pulled out her phone like a magic trick. “Hello? Hello—”

Lou Xuehan broke into a smile, her voice becoming sweet. “Darling, how do you have time to call me today? Eh, I’m not busy. Wait a second…”

While talking, she swayed her hips and walked away.

Chai Tingyan: “…” How bizarre.

“This is driving me crazy. Why isn’t she picking up!?”

Chai Tingyan hung up, feeling frantic. She had already turned the room upside down; no one was there! She guessed Du Wan was with Zuo Yijia, but she still wasn’t at ease, afraid Du Wan would suffer at the hands of that mermaid.

And what is their relationship, anyway?

It didn’t sound like that kind of “shady” relationship, and Du Wan hadn’t revealed anything later. Chai Tingyan was dying of curiosity, but she didn’t dare ask.

The more you know, the less safe you are.

The buzzing sound of a saw stopped, and the top panel of the elevator shaft was ripped open. The bright daylight was a bit blinding. Du Wan lifted her head, shielding her eyes with a hand. Rescue workers were lowering a ladder.

“Boss Zuo, can you still walk?” Du Wan looked at the mermaid on the floor, clearly stating her prices: “Carrying you on my back is 50,000. Carrying you in my arms is 100,000. Letting you step on my back to get up is 150,000. Which one do you choose?”

Zuo Yijia glared at her fiercely.

“Why are you glaring at me? This was your suggestion, wasn’t it?” Du Wan rasped out a laugh. “Boss Zuo’s life is precious, and you aren’t short on cash. I’ll give you a ‘friendship’ price: 200,000 for the full set. Deal?”

“Fine.” The word was practically squeezed through the mermaid’s teeth.

“Come on then.” Du Wan patted her shoulder.

Zuo Yijia was in a bad state, swaying as she stood up, barely able to maintain her human form. Du Wan’s shoulders weren’t broad, but they were steady. Zuo Yijia stepped on them firmly without the slightest wobble.

“Boss Zuo, be careful,” Du Wan said with a grimace. “If you fall, who’s going to pay me?”

Zuo Yijia said nothing, using all her strength to climb out. The moment her feet touched the ground, she transformed back into her mermaid tail. Combined with her unique silver hair and blue eyes, she caused a stir of gasps in the crowd.

Du Wan followed close behind. She accompanied Zuo Yijia into the ambulance. The paramedics, assuming she was a family member, kept her on board. Secretary Liang was a step behind and was blocked from the ambulance, so he could only follow in his car.

Du Wan had put her sunglasses back on at some point. She glanced out the window and murmured, “Surely no one recognized me.”

She then said to the mermaid on the stretcher, “Boss Zuo, remember to settle the ‘escort fee’ for this hospital trip too.”

Zuo Yijia: “…”

On the verge of fainting, she was so angry she almost jumped up. Pity her limbs were weak and she couldn’t move, let alone find the strength to tell Du Wan to shut up.

Reaping the fruits of her own actions; Zuo Yijia can’t blame anyone else.

Xie Yewei was also having a bad day.

That Alpha’s sudden rut shouldn’t have affected his floor, but hearing that several directors and producers were eating in the third-floor tea restaurant, he wanted to head down and try his luck at impressing a director.

Who knew he’d run into this mess the moment he stepped out of the elevator? Fortunately, his symptoms were mild. He’d be fine after a night of observation in the emergency center.

Xie Yewei pulled out his phone, took a picture of his left hand with the IV, and posted it to social media. The post caused an immediate stir in his fan groups. Watching the likes roll in, he happily scrolled through the comments, replying to a few familiar IDs. While acting pathetic, he subtly encouraged them to spend money, and as expected, the fans readily agreed.

In high spirits, Xie Yewei was scrolling when he heard a commotion at the door. He heard a voice that sounded exceptionally familiar.

Du Wan had finished a bottle of medicine, and her throat felt much better. She yanked on the doctor’s sleeve and asked, “Doctor, is she that serious? Does she need the ICU?”

“Not serious?” The doctor, assuming she was the patient’s Alpha partner, said sternly, “You Alphas… you never know how to care for your partners. Do you know how many tubes of suppressors she injected into herself during this heat?”

“…” Du Wan was stunned. “How would I know?”

The doctor pointed at her, looking pained.

Secretary Liang hurried to explain: “They aren’t…”

“You people are playing games with lives!”

Du Wan: “…”

“My…” Zuo Yijia lifted her head weakly, her fingertip curling inward.

Secretary Liang leaned in: “What do you need?”

Zuo Yijia: “Phone…”

Secretary Liang was aghast: “President Zuo, you can’t. The ICU doesn’t allow electronic devices. I’ll take care of all the work for you, don’t worry—”

Zuo Yijia made a ‘stop’ gesture. She let out a long breath, closed her eyes, and said slowly: “Give Du Wan 500,000 and get her to leave.”

Secretary Liang: “…”

It’s over. The Boss has finally fallen. She’s starting to throw money around without any principle.

“Boss Zuo, I’m so moved I’m almost crying.” Du Wan shoved Secretary Liang aside and grabbed the mermaid’s hand. “Next time, make sure to call me again. I’ll do it no matter how much the pay is.”

Zuo Yijia snapped: “Get out…”

“Alright, that’s enough. Stop agitating the patient.” The doctor couldn’t take it anymore and shooed them away irritably. “Move aside, we’re taking her in now.”

Click—

In the corner, Xie Yewei carefully snapped a photo. Though he didn’t know who was lying there, he could recognize the one standing even if she were turned to ash.

Du Wan, just you wait!

Xie Yewei saved the photo and let out a chuckle.

Dare to offend me? I’ll make sure you pay for it.