Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 1

“So you’re saying… I wasn’t supposed to die yet?”

Behind the vast sandalwood desk, Xiao He leaned back in her chair, narrowing her eyes at the floating orb of light in front of her.

Just moments ago, she remembered clearly being in the middle of a video conference at home when her heart suddenly failed. She had lost all vital signs in the ambulance.

But when she opened her eyes, she was back in her own study. This floating orb, calling itself a “System,” informed her that her death was a clerical error. It refused to elaborate on anything else, forcing Xiao He to focus on the matter of her own life and death.

“Yes, it was a minor oversight in our department. But rest assured,” the orb flickered slightly, responding in a mechanical voice. “We have developed a compensation plan. This world has a 98% similarity to your previous one. Your identity remains virtually identical, and your physical compatibility is 99%. If you agree, you will live out the rest of your life here.”

Xiao He frowned, scanning the room. The decor was indeed slightly different from her original study. She looked down at her hands. “Am I a ghost inhabiting a corpse? What happened to the original owner of this body?”

“Her life ended exactly one second before you arrived,” the System replied, its voice tinged with urgency. “Please confirm: do you accept this compensation plan?”

“Do I have another choice?”

“Accept death. We will express our deepest condolences and conduct a thorough internal review regarding the error.”

Xiao He: “…”

There was no choice at all.

Xiao He wasn’t tired of living yet. She accepted the plan.

“Thank you for your cooperation. Please retrieve all world data from your mind. We apologize again for the error. We wish you a pleasant life in this world. Goodbye.”

As if eager to flee, the System vanished. Simultaneously, a massive influx of information surged into Xiao He’s brain.

…《Who Doesn’t Love Her?》

The veins in Xiao He’s temples throbbed. She seriously doubted the System’s competence. Along with the original owner’s memories, her head was now filled with the plot of a cringeworthy web novel!

Wait… was she “transmigrating” into a book?

Xiao He’s lifelong upbringing suppressed the urge to swear. She rubbed her brow, took a deep breath, and continued processing the data.

Even for someone as composed as Xiao He, it took a long time to digest.

To be precise, she was now inside a “Stock-Market” style novel called Who Doesn’t Love Her? set in an ABO world. Beyond male and female, people differentiated at sixteen into Alphas, Betas, or Omegas, governed by things called “Pheromones.”

The female lead, Jing Shen, was a poor but rare Omega admitted to the prestigious Heistan High School on a scholarship. There, she met a group of… “indescribable” Alphas, ending her lonely childhood only to begin a life of tragic hardship.

Coincidentally, Xiao He’s current identity was the most mysterious and wealthy powerhouse in the book. All those Alphas bullying the lead were closely tied to her—using her influence to commit outrages. They included her adopted daughter, her sponsored genius, her niece, and her nephew.

Xiao He realized she had arrived during the latter half of the original timeline. However, comparing the plot to her memories, she realized the “original” Xiao He had been completely oblivious to these events.

The original owner’s health had been just as bad as Xiao He’s previous self—if not worse. She hadn’t even manifested a secondary gender yet. Doctors predicted she didn’t have long to live.

Because of this, she had gathered several “heir candidates” to prepare for her passing. But she was so busy managing the family empire and trying to stay alive that she had no time to supervise them. Left to their own devices, these “bratty kids” had begun to act like young tyrants.

In the original story, the original owner died before she could finalize her arrangements, leading to total chaos.

Xiao He opened her eyes. Since I’ve taken this identity, I should finish her business. Managing a company was easy enough for her, but these brats were a significant problem.

In the novel, they committed “dog-blood” dramas and even broke the law, eventually running the family legacy into the ground. A dangerous glint appeared in Xiao He’s eyes. Perhaps she should deal with these “human cubs” first.

Xiao He was a woman of action. Seeing it was the weekend, she pressed a button on her desk. “Butler, call all the children to see me.”

While she waited, she began processing company files.

Butler Lin was confused. The Xiao Estate was massive, and CEO Xiao was a private woman who lived alone in the main building. The four young masters and ladies lived in the front wing, attending school during the week and rarely returning on weekends. Aside from the day they moved in, they hadn’t shared a meal with her in months. Why the sudden summons?

Nevertheless, the butler hurried to find them.

At a suburban golf course, Jing Shen was in a black-and-white uniform, organizing clubs. She worked here as a caddy on weekends for the high pay.

Chu Yuelan, wearing the same uniform, stood beside her. “Jing Shen, are you coming back next week?”

Jing Shen nodded hesitantly. “What about you?”

“If you come, I come,” Chu Yuelan said with a gentle smile.

Jing Shen looked away, uncomfortable. “We’re seniors now. You don’t have to accompany me. Your studies are more important—don’t you want to get into A-University?”

“It’s not just for you. I want to save some money. CEO Xiao sponsors my tuition, but I feel guilty. I want to stand on my own feet.”

It was the truth. Jing Shen knew that this high-paying job was only possible because Chu Yuelan had introduced her, and that CEO Xiao owned this very golf course.

Suddenly, noisy voices approached.

“It’s just because the wind was too strong today! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have lost!” grumbled Xie Qingyu.

“Blame the sky, blame the earth, just don’t blame your own trash skills. Can’t handle a loss?” mocked Xiao Shuyuan.

Jing Shen froze, looking at Chu Yuelan in panic.

Chu Yuelan’s expression cooled. These two were notorious “Second Generation” hedonists. Xie Qingyu was the CEO’s nephew, and Xiao Shuyuan was the niece. Both frequently bullied Jing Shen at school.

“Hide in the locker. I’ll handle it,” Chu Yuelan whispered.

Jing Shen hid, listening from behind the vents.

“Chu Yuelan? What are you doing here?” Xie Qingyu snapped.

Xiao Shuyuan crossed her arms. “Is the 100,000 yuan monthly allowance Aunt gives you not enough? You look pathetic in that uniform. Are you trying to embarrass Aunt?”

Since Xiao He had brought them into the estate, they were the “official” candidates. While the others were blood relatives or the adopted daughter, no one understood why Chu Yuelan—just one of a thousand sponsored students—was treated as an equal with the same allowance.

Inside the locker, Jing Shen’s heart sank. If Chu Yuelan gets 100,000 a month… why is she working this job with me?

“I’m earning an honest living. I don’t see how that’s embarrassing,” Chu Yuelan said calmly.

“You dare talk back?” Xie Qingyu, already annoyed, swung his golf club into the locker next to Chu Yuelan with a deafening CRANG!

Xiao Shuyuan watched coldly, making no move to stop him.

Chu Yuelan’s fists tightened, eyeing the locker where Jing Shen was hiding. Just as violence seemed inevitable, her phone rang. It was the Estate.

“Miss Yuelan, CEO Xiao requires you and the other three to return immediately. Where are you?”

Chu Yuelan’s heart raced. Had something happened to CEO Xiao’s health? “Is the CEO okay? I’m at the golf course.”

Hearing this, Xie Qingyu and Xiao Shuyuan also received calls. The sudden, unprecedented summons filled them all with a sense of dread.

“Why would Aunt call us back now?” Xie Qingyu threw his club down.

“We’ll find out when we get there,” Xiao Shuyuan said, her bravado flickering.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the main building. One person was already waiting.

Dressed in black, her pale face framed by long dark hair, Xiao Lincu (the adopted daughter) stood there with eyes like a predator in the dark. Just looking at her made the others skin crawl. She radiated a cold, gloomy aura.

Once they were all present, Butler Lin led them to the study.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” came the voice from inside.

Xiao He looked up, rubbing her neck. She watched as the four distinct teenagers filed in—each one matching the descriptions in her new memories perfectly.