Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 14

Upstairs, Xiao He hadn’t noticed the commotion below. She was currently being hugged tightly by Jing Shen, whose body had become so hot she was trembling. Xiao He felt that if they waited much longer, the poor girl might actually burn her brain out.

She didn’t know much about pheromones in this world—after all, the original owner had never differentiated—so Xiao He fell back on her own common sense. Worried that something was seriously wrong with Jing Shen, she started to dial Guan Shanyue’s number.

Before the call could connect, Jing Shen snatched the phone from her hand and hit end. She wrapped her arms around Xiao He’s waist, nestling into her embrace, her voice as soft and fluid as water. “Sister Xiao, don’t call Dr. Guan over.”

“But you’re…”

Xiao He tried to argue, but Jing Shen gripped the hem of her shirt tightly, her eyes filled with nervous pleading.

Even if Xiao He lacked specific world knowledge, she could tell that Jing Shen didn’t want to see any Alphas right now. Helplessly, she relented, though she didn’t let Jing Shen keep hugging her—it felt a bit too strange. “Go take a shower; maybe that will make you feel better.”

Pushed gently away, Jing Shen felt a sense of loss as her source of coolness vanished. However, she knew that Xiao He’s indulgence up to this point was already rare and precious. She shouldn’t push her luck, so she didn’t step forward again.

Though taking a shower while having a “fever” sounded a bit questionable…

But since Xiao He said it, she would do it.

“Okay. I’ll go back now.”

“Mhm. Go on.”

Xiao He opened the door for her. Their rooms were adjacent; she had just watched Jing Shen enter her own room when Butler Lin came rushing up from downstairs.

“What is it?”

“President Xiao, Miss Linchu stubbornly refuses to come inside. Please, go take a look.”

The rain was coming down hard. Butler Lin’s own clothes were damp despite his umbrella. If Xiao Lincu kept soaking in this, who knew what would happen to her health?

“How many laps does she have left?”

Xiao He knew that among the group, Linchu was the most stubborn and unyielding. She rubbed her brow, knowing the girl wouldn’t return until she finished.

“She should have four laps left,” Butler Lin replied.

“Get me an umbrella. I’m going down.”

Punishment was one thing, but Xiao He didn’t intend to actually ignore the girl’s wellbeing.

Downstairs, Butler Lin held the umbrella for her at first, but Xiao He took the handle herself, and the butler followed behind with another umbrella.

Standing at the starting point, Xiao He watched Xiao Linchu running through the torrential downpour. The wind and rain lashed at her, looking as though they might knock her over at any moment, but she endured every gust.

As she drew closer, Linchu spotted Xiao He’s figure. The woman stood before her in the heavy rain, her clothes billowing in the wind and her long hair dampened by the mist. The splashing rain had already soaked the bottom of Xiao He’s trousers, and her pale face looked almost transparent in the cold air.

Complex emotions swirled within Linchu, but she didn’t want to bow her head. As she ran past, she looked at Butler Lin. “Take the President back!”

She didn’t stop. As they crossed paths, Linchu didn’t dare look back. Fortunately, the pitch-black night hid her reddened eyes. Her vision was blurred; a drop of warm “rain” seemed to roll down her face, but the warmth vanished instantly.

Butler Lin looked at the two of them and felt miserable. If he had known, he wouldn’t have told Xiao He. At least if only Miss Linchu was out here, she had a strong constitution and could handle it. Now, with the two of them in the rain—given Xiao He’s health—how could she possibly withstand this storm?

“President Xiao, perhaps we should head back? We can wait for Miss Linchu inside. Or, if you just tell her to go back, she will definitely listen.”

“I’m not here to force her back.”

Xiao He didn’t move. She had been that age once and understood the awkward, sensitive mind of a teenager. Forcing her back now wouldn’t be as effective as letting her vent her emotions in the rain. She might get sick, but that was better than letting resentment fester in her heart.

She stood here simply to wait for her. If Linchu were truly alone in the vast rain, she might overthink; the feeling of being abandoned by the whole world is never a good one.

Butler Lin couldn’t convince either of them. He could only have someone bring over a heavy coat to drape over Xiao He’s shoulders.

When Linchu ran past again and saw Xiao He still standing there, she shouted, “What exactly are you doing?! Do you want to die?!”

It sounded like a sharp, forceful reprimand, but even the rain couldn’t mask the tremor in her voice.

“Waiting for you to finish,” Xiao He replied. Linchu said nothing more, wiped her face, and picked up her pace.

When the twentieth lap was finally completed, Linchu stood before Xiao He, completely soaked to the bone. She looked at Xiao He under the umbrella and was about to speak when she saw Xiao He turn and walk away. Since she was already soaked, there was no point in sharing the umbrella now.

Butler Lin reached his limit with these two. He tried to offer his umbrella to Linchu, but before he could get it over her head, she had already hurried away to catch up with Xiao He.

The two huddled under one umbrella. They were of similar height. Linchu looked at Xiao He, waiting for her to speak, but Xiao He only tilted the umbrella further toward her side.

The rain drummed against the surface, drowning out almost all sound. Xiao He continued walking forward as if she hadn’t noticed Linchu’s gaze.

They walked until they reached the door of the side wing, where Xiao Shuyuan and the other two were standing, not daring to breathe as they watched Xiao He.

“The three of you still owe five laps. You’ll make them up when the weather clears. Go get some rest.”

As soon as she finished, Xiao He’s footing faltered. Butler Lin hurried forward to support her, and the two walked toward the main building through the curtain of rain.

The moment Xiao He left, the others became restless.

Xiao Shuyuan glanced at Xiao Linchu, who was standing there in a daze, and snorted coldly. “How calculating. Just looking for sympathy.”

Linchu didn’t listen to her. However, Xie Qingyu suddenly had a bright idea. “If I go out and run a lap right now, will Auntie come and bring me back too?”

No sooner said than done. Xie Qingyu threw his towel aside and dashed out into the rain.

Linchu finally looked up. She wanted to know the answer to that question too.

Butler Lin had just accompanied Xiao He back to the main building when he received a call from security saying Master Xie had gone “insane” and run into the rain.

He had a massive headache. Though he was afraid of disturbing Xiao He, he had to report it.

Under Butler Lin’s worried gaze, Xiao He didn’t even bother to open her eyes. “Have the bodyguards throw him back.”

And so, less than five minutes after he ran out, Xie Qingyu was caught by bodyguards, restrained, and carried back to be dumped in the side wing.

Looking at the “drowned rat” lying on the floor, Xiao Shuyuan almost couldn’t hold back her laughter. She poked him with her toe. A soul-weary Xie Qingyu didn’t even bother to react.

“Alright, he’s dead. Everyone can go home now.”

“Divine Doctor” Xiao Shuyuan gave her diagnosis on the spot and headed upstairs.

Chu Yuelan looked at Xie Qingyu, then at Xiao Linchu, her mind calculating as she also left.

Xie Qingyu’s fragile heart was deeply wounded. He looked at Linchu, the only one still standing nearby. They were both soaked, but one was standing while the other was lying down. He looked at the difference between them and gritted his teeth. “Why haven’t you left yet?! Are you watching my joke?!”

Dazed, Linchu was snapped back to reality by his shout. She gave him a cold, downward glance, didn’t bother to respond, and went upstairs.

“WHAT KIND OF LIFE IS THIS?!”

Seeing everyone gone, Xie Qingyu lay on the floor and wailed loudly, much to the annoyance of everyone else.

Less than a minute later, a pillow flew out of Xiao Shuyuan’s room upstairs, hitting him square in the face. “Cover up and then cry! Don’t ruin my sleep!”

Xie Qingyu: “…” I’m going to fight all of you!