Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 10

“Jing Shen, you aren’t someone who craves power. Why stay here?”

Xiao Lincu couldn’t understand why Jing Shen had refused her offer. Similarly, Jing Shen couldn’t follow Lincu’s train of thought. “Does everyone stay here only for power?”

Faced with the counter-question, Lincu stared at her for a long time. “Don’t tell me you’re staying for Xiao He. You don’t know her; she is not the kind of person you think she is.”

Jing Shen nearly felt as if her hidden feelings had been exposed. Forcing down her internal anxiety, she looked at Lincu with feigned composure. “What kind of person do you think I believe President Xiao to be?”

“A savior. Powerful, benevolent, an approachable elder. You think she’s someone to rely on, someone who makes you feel safe, don’t you?”

Lincu gripped Jing Shen’s arm. “Don’t be a fool. You’d better not cling to such unrealistic fantasies. Leave this place while the situation is still reversible.”

Lincu’s description was incredibly precise, yet not entirely accurate. Jing Shen breathed a subtle sigh of relief and shook off her hand. “I can judge for myself what kind of person President Xiao is. But don’t forget, she is at least your adoptive mother. You shouldn’t disparage her like that.”

Lincu was left speechless. She could only watch as Jing Shen walked away from the music room.

Jing Shen’s heart was in turmoil because of Lincu’s words. What she cared about most was the claim that “Xiao He is dying.” Lincu wouldn’t make up something like that, so…

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Now, she only wanted to see Xiao He as quickly as possible.

Xiao He had returned to her study after breakfast to handle some business. She opened an email sent by her secretary.

Ever since the anomaly was discovered in Lincu’s body at the hospital, Xiao He had ordered a secret investigation into the girl’s background. However, because so much time had passed, progress was slow. Crucially, all the adoption procedures had been handled by Xiao He’s mother; before that point, Lincu’s information was a total blank.

Xiao He’s mother had always been in poor health and had passed away long ago. To investigate further, Xiao He would have to return to the old family estate to look for clues, and the Xiao estate wasn’t a place just anyone could rummage through. She would have to go personally.

She called her secretary to arrange the schedule. Just as she hung up, there was a knock at the door.

Xiao He pressed the button on her desk, and the door opened automatically. She looked at Jing Shen standing there. “Do you need something?”

“Sister Xiao…” Jing Shen looked at her. On the surface, Xiao He looked no different from a healthy person, making it hard to find a way to verify Lincu’s claims. She hesitated as she entered. “Is your health… alright?”

“It’s fine. I must have frightened you last night, right?” Xiao He thought the girl was still worried about the collapse. She stood up and gave Jing Shen’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “That was just an accident. Don’t worry about me; focus on your lessons.”

Jing Shen looked up at her and finally nodded. “Then I’ll head down first.”

Before the words could leave Xiao He’s mouth, a sharp, piercing pain erupted from her ribs. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead almost instantly. She grabbed the edge of the desk for support, her body doubling over.

“Sister Xiao!”

Startled, Jing Shen rushed to support her, but Xiao He gripped her wrist to stop her from moving her.

Xiao He was in too much pain to speak. She could only curl up as much as possible, her breathing shallow and light to avoid triggering more intense agony.

Fortunately, the pain didn’t last long. It subsided after a few minutes, finally allowing her to take a breath.

Jing Shen held Xiao He’s hand and helped her sit back in the chair. Her heart was filled with worry as she looked at Xiao He’s deathly pale face. “Sister Xiao, what is happening?”

“It’s nothing. Just a stitch in my side, I suppose.”

Xiao He made up a random excuse. She released Jing Shen’s wrist, noticing the finger marks she had left on the girl’s skin. She felt a pang of guilt. “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t.” Jing Shen didn’t care about herself. She looked at Xiao He, knowing the woman was lying, but also knowing she wouldn’t tell the truth.

“Alright, go to class. I’m fine now.”

Xiao He urged her to leave. That sudden burst of pain had drained nearly all her strength. She closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the chair, wanting only to rest.

Jing Shen had no choice but to leave. Looking at the closed study door, she realized that if she only stayed under Xiao He’s protection, she would never have the right to truly get close to her.

She had never felt so powerless, but she knew now was not the time for depression. Growing up as quickly as possible was the only thing she could do.

When she went downstairs, the second lesson had begun. Jing Shen ignored the inquisitive looks from the others and sat in her seat, focusing entirely on the material.

After the second lesson, it was time for lunch. Since classes were held in the main building, they ate there as well. Xiao He had a video conference and didn’t join them; she had her meal sent to the study.

During the noon break, Jing Shen found a quiet spot to summarize the morning’s notes. She was halfway through when Chu Yuelan sat down beside her.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

Jing Shen stopped writing and stretched her shoulders. “It’s quiet here. Why aren’t you resting?”

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but I haven’t found the chance. Do you have a moment?”

Chu Yuelan looked somewhat dejected. Jing Shen realized she had been neglecting her friend lately and felt a bit guilty. She closed her notebook and nodded. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

“When did you and Xiao Lincu become so close?”

“We aren’t that close. My pheromones just happen to help her, so we’ve had some interactions because of that.”

“Just that?”

“What else would it be?” Jing Shen laughed. She thought Chu Yuelan was being serious about something important. “Is there anything else?”

Chu Yuelan was certain Jing Shen wouldn’t lie to her, but she still didn’t know what Lincu was up to. Still, she felt a bit more at ease.

“Nothing else. I just thought you were abandoning me for a new friend,” Chu Yuelan joked.

“Of course not. Actually, I wanted to ask you something,” Jing Shen said. She wanted to know if what Lincu said was true. Since she couldn’t get the truth from Xiao He, perhaps Chu Yuelan, as a fellow heir candidate, knew something. “President Xiao is so young. Why did she start picking heirs so early?”

“Because of her health. There was an accident before where she almost couldn’t be resuscitated. To be safe, she decided to start training heirs.” Chu Yuelan’s heart grew heavy again as she watched Jing Shen’s curiosity about Xiao He.

“Do you know what illness she has?” Jing Shen pressed, missing Chu Yuelan’s expression.

“How could I know? Honestly, her making me a candidate is just for show. Between the blood relatives like Xiao Shuyuan and Xie Qingyu, and her legal daughter Xiao Lincu, how could it ever be my turn?”

This was the first time Chu Yuelan had mentioned this to Jing Shen. Her tone carried a trace of resentment. No one knew how excited she had been when she was first brought into the estate, nor did they know how much she had suffered under the neglect of Xiao He and the hostility of the others.

Jing Shen finally sensed the bitterness, feeling a complex sense of unease. But since Chu Yuelan was her friend, she tried to comfort her. “Don’t be so pessimistic. Since President Xiao named the four of you as heirs, she will surely be fair.”

Chu Yuelan let out a cold laugh. “You trust her that much? She is a brilliant businesswoman; she excels at weighing pros and cons. We are just pawns used to balance different parties. Until the final moment, everything looks calm. But when she truly settles the score, anyone can be discarded at her whim.”

Jing Shen looked at her in disbelief. She finally realized where that sense of “strangeness” was coming from.

“But President Xiao isn’t that kind of person.”

“Jing Shen, you’re too naive. In a merchant’s eyes, every bit of kindness has a price tag. Before you become her newest pawn, you should distance yourself from her.”

Hearing Jing Shen defend Xiao He even now, Chu Yuelan’s jealousy boiled over. Her words became harsher. Seeing Jing Shen’s hurt expression, she forced herself to remain firm. She told herself she was doing this for Jing Shen’s own good, helping her see the reality.

Jing Shen looked at Chu Yuelan, suddenly feeling like she was looking at a stranger. “But President Xiao gave you a better life. Becoming a candidate was your own choice, wasn’t it?”

“How could I have known any better back then when she controlled all the information? Was it really a ‘choice’ if the game was rigged?” Chu Yuelan tried to continue her persuasion.

Jing Shen frowned. She thought for a moment and said, “If you don’t want to be a ‘pawn’ or an heir, you can tell President Xiao you want to quit. Give up the competition. I may not know her well, but I know she would let you leave, wouldn’t she?”

Chu Yuelan’s face turned ugly for a second. If she were really forced to give it up now, how could she be willing?

She quickly changed the subject. “Jing Shen, why are you always taking her side?”

“Because I don’t believe President Xiao is the kind of person you describe.”

Jing Shen didn’t deny it. At the very least, the Xiao He she saw was not cold and heartless.

“You’re too idealistic. You’ll understand one day.”

Chu Yuelan couldn’t convince her. Fuming, she stood up and left to avoid saying anything else regrettable.

After she left, Jing Shen looked toward Xiao He’s room. Today, she had heard two negative views of Xiao He. On the surface, everyone respected her, yet Lincu and Chu Yuelan harbored such deep resentment. Did Xiao He know? If she knew, she would be heartbroken, wouldn’t she?