A Vicious Scum Alpha in a Heartthrob Novel - Chapter 6

After the agreement was finalized, a blanket of silence fell over the room. It was hard to say exactly what had changed, yet it felt as if everything had.

Finally, Fu Jinghua was the first to rise and head for the door.

Xu Qingshui instinctively asked, “Where are you going?”

Fu Jinghua paused and turned back. After a moment’s thought, she decided to report her whereabouts. “I have work today. Make yourself at home.”

When Fu Jinghua wasn’t being prickly or arrogant, she actually seemed quite pleasant and normal. She wore a simple yet elegant dark green dress; her brows arched naturally without effort, her lips were a healthy red, and her skin was as fair as jade.

No wonder she was a “heartthrob.” She certainly had the capital for it.

Xu Qingshui nodded. “Alright.” It was just as well; she needed a good rest after the chaotic events of the past few days.

Fu Jinghua looked at her, mouth opening as if to say something, but she remained silent and turned to leave.

Xu Qingshui didn’t notice the hesitation. When she said she was going to rest, she meant it. She lowered her gaze, contemplating her plans for the day.

Xu Qingshui didn’t have many hobbies. If there was one thing that could truly stir her emotions, it was food—specifically, good food. Her idea of a perfect break was eating a delicious meal and finding a nice spot to bask in the sun and sleep.

She knew how to cook, but she often lost her appetite after finishing the preparation. She looked out the window at the world outside; the sky was a clear, brilliant blue, and the leaves swayed gently in the breeze. It was a perfect day to go out.

She picked out a brown trench coat, let her hair down, and headed out without even a bag, looking simple and casual.

Xu Qingshui found a restaurant near a university. She liked the “living breath” of students—young, beautiful, and full of vitality. She ate her meal quietly; occasionally, someone would come over to flirt or strike up a conversation, but she brushed them off with the excuse of not having her phone on her. Her method of payment was even the most traditional mobile pay.

After lunch, she took a stroll around the neighborhood. The food and scenery quickly eased the lingering discomfort of being a newcomer to this world. The trees here were lush and green, standing in rows like silent guardians of the bustling city. People chatted on benches under the trees, someone was photographing falling leaves, and others zipped by on motorcycles.

In short, everyone had their own business. Xu Qingshui thoroughly enjoyed this state of being unbothered while appreciating the beauty around her. She helped a young couple take a photo and watched a sanitation worker sweep up leaves. Occasionally, she would look at the sky and close her eyes to feel the wind.

It made her feel incredibly relaxed.

Around noon, when the sun was at its strongest, she left the area. She returned home and lay down on the tatami mat, eventually drifting off to sleep.

This time, however, she had a dream. In the dream, a person who looked exactly like her told her many things. For instance, she must follow the plot, or she would die. Furthermore, she must not change her character persona, or she would die.

The dream was filled with fragments of details she hadn’t noticed before, all designed to help her better play the role of the “scum Alpha.”

Xu Qingshui frowned. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t believe such things. But since transmigrating into a book was already a reality, there was a high probability that these warnings were true. She cherished her regained health more than anything. She didn’t have many specific desires; she simply appreciated beauty when she saw it and made choices accordingly. Whatever was out of sight was out of mind.

Thus, she didn’t mind performing “tasks,” as she could always find her own breathing room outside of them.

By the time she woke up, it was already afternoon. Checking her phone, she saw a message from a contact labeled: “Student Girl.”

Xu Qingshui: “…”

She clicked in and saw several messages:

[Sister, I saw you at the school gate today. Are you bored of me? Are you looking for a new target?]

[Sister, I almost have no money for food. Please don’t abandon me, okay?]

Xu Qingshui dug through her memories and identified this person. She was a university student the original owner had “sponsored” (kept). Aside from her, there were two others.

Xu Qingshui rubbed the space between her brows, recalling the dream from noon.

[Do not change the persona.]

It seemed resolving this would be tricky. She pulled at the corner of her mouth in resignation and replied: [I’m coming to see you.]

The reply came instantly: [Okay, Sister. I’m at the cafe below University Town.]

The girl was much younger than Xu Qingshui expected. She wasn’t dressed maturely; she wore a simple white dress and had eyes that looked innocent and harmless. She seemed somewhat constrained; Xu Qingshui noticed her fingers trembling as she held her coffee.

Xu Qingshui took a sip of her own coffee. Seeing the girl like this, she softened the speech she had prepared. “Are you really short on money? I recall the monthly allowance I give you should be enough.”

Though her tone wasn’t harsh, the girl trembled all over, her eyes quickly filling with tears. “Sister, my mother is very ill. The money isn’t enough.”

Xu Qingshui observed her. Recalling the information she had looked up earlier, there was no mention of this. She narrowed her eyes and asked, “When did she get sick? What is the illness? Where are the medical records? What medicine is she taking, and which hospital is she in?”

Simple questions. The girl could only answer the first two; as for the rest, she stammered for a long time without a word.

Xu Qingshui reached a conclusion, and her tone hardened. She suspected even the girl’s student status was fake. “I came here to end our relationship. I have a wife now; this isn’t right.”

Almost instantly, the girl’s eyes turned mocking. She clearly didn’t believe the explanation. “Is it because you haven’t slept with me yet, so you regret the marriage? I’ll let you sleep with me, okay?”

She said this loudly, and the gazes of the people around them quickly shifted to Xu Qingshui.

“What a piece of work. She looks decent, but she’s out here deceiving young girls.”

“Pah, scumbag.”

Hearing the crowd taking her side, the girl suddenly burst into tears, the droplets falling like pearls. “We’ve been together so long, yet you suddenly get married. What does my heart mean to you?!”

She spoke with such heartbreak that it seemed as if Xu Qingshui had truly wronged her, when in fact, Xu Qingshui was simply ending a financial arrangement.

Xu Qingshui frowned. She realized this girl was likely a professional. Such acting—it was a waste not to be an actress. To deal with this kind of person, one had to fight fire with fire.

Xu Qingshui tried to squeeze out some tears, but lacking the talent for it, she gave up. Instead, she said, “Back then, I acted as the ‘Sugar Mommy’ to support you. To make you feel comfortable spending the money, I was willing to play the villain. You never asked about the clues, though. Do you care about my money, or me?”

Someone nearby let out a sharp intake of breath. The girl’s tears froze mid-drop, clearly not expecting this line of attack.

Xu Qingshui pressed on: “But rich women aren’t fools. My money is tied up, and I’m hundreds of thousands in debt. Now that I have no money, I still don’t want to drag you down, which is why I said we should break up. If you truly care about me, then wait for me. We’ll be together again once I’ve paid off the debt.”

The surrounding chatter erupted. No one expected such a dramatic reversal. The looks directed at the girl became much more subtle. The girl was completely stunned. Hearing the scales of public opinion tip against her, she fled the cafe. She couldn’t beat this person.

Xu Qingshui covered her face. The scene was genuinely embarrassing. She feigned chasing after the girl and ran out as well. Once outside, the girl had already vanished.

Xu Qingshui didn’t care. Instead, she let out a low chuckle. Truly interesting.

However, she couldn’t laugh for long. It suddenly felt as if ten thousand needles were stabbing into her brain—an unbearable pain. She guessed the cause. It was the “persona” issue.

Walking aimlessly, Xu Qingshui decided she really did need to “keep” a little lover, but this time she would choose carefully.

She took action quickly. Through her connections, she found a genuinely impoverished student named Bai Shi. She found her while she was working a part-time job. After inviting her out, Xu Qingshui said:

“I think you’re quite good-looking. Interested in being my lover?”

Bai Shi moved to slap her, but Xu Qingshui’s reflexes were fast, and she caught the girl’s wrist. Internally, she decided: She’s the one.

“Don’t be in such a hurry to refuse. You can view this ‘sponsorship’ as an investment. I’ll give you an ample monthly allowance, and you must pay it all back within a year of finding a job.”

Bai Shi looked at the woman before her warily. The woman was exceptionally beautiful, tall, with eyes like water yet carrying a sense of detachment. She was clearly a wealthy person. Bai Shi bit her lip. despite recognizing the class divide, a surge of stubborn pride rose within her. “Why do you want to help me? Is it because you pity me? I don’t need your pity.”

Xu Qingshui looked puzzled. “Why would you think that? Your grades are excellent, and you can endure hardship. I think that even without my help, you would still succeed—it’s just a matter of time.”

Bai Shi froze. Her voice turned strangely raspy. “You really think so?”

Xu Qingshui laughed, her tone teasing. “Why else would I do it?”

It was a tone that lacked “polite” respect, yet it made Bai Shi feel a strange sense of equality. She asked once more, “Why choose me?”

Xu Qingshui noticed the slight twist of self-loathing and struggle in Bai Shi’s heart. “Because you’re outstanding. I’ve looked at many people, but overall, you have the most potential. That’s all.” After a pause, she asked, “Any other questions? If not, sign the contract.”

Bai Shi’s gaze softened. She picked up the contract and read it carefully. She glanced at Xu Qingshui in surprise; the contract was professional, with no clauses that disadvantaged her. Except for the title: 《Sponsorship Agreement》.

Bai Shi didn’t understand how rich people thought, but there was no doubt this contract was beneficial to her. She picked up the pen and signed her name. “I will earn a lot, a lot of money to prove you weren’t wrong about me.”

Almost the moment Bai Shi signed, Xu Qingshui’s headache vanished. She couldn’t help but smile. Xu Qingshui’s appearance was undeniably superior, and her usual way of handling external challenges was graceful, rarely making others feel awkward.

She raised an eyebrow. “Then I shall wait and see.”

Bai Shi’s heart seemed to skip a beat.

Having settled the matter, Xu Qingshui was in a good mood. She walked out of the private room, grabbed her trench coat, and decided to go to a bar for a drink. Life is short; one must enjoy it while one can.

Meanwhile, Fu Jinghua received several photos on her phone. They were of Xu Qingshui meeting a girl in a cafe. In the photos, Xu Qingshui’s eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears.

A text message followed:

[This is the little lover she’s keeping.]

Fu Jinghua stared at Xu Qingshui’s face in the photo. Her gaze turned icy as she silently mouthed two words:

“Liar.”