Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 3
“What’s the situation? Has she stabilized yet?”
“We can’t get near her at all. This student’s pheromones are highly aggressive; we can only wait for her to calm down on her own.”
The school doctor standing nearby spoke with a look of distress. This was the first time she had encountered such a case, and even the suppressants had proven ineffective.
Logically, Betas are unable to perceive pheromones, but special cases like Lincu exist. Her pheromones not only harmed Alphas and Omegas but also caused intense agony to any Beta who approached. It was a form of extraordinary “talent,” but in an era of peace, it was more of a curse than a blessing, especially given the severe side effects.
“How is the other student? Is she injured?”
“No, but she was quite shaken. She’s resting in the room next door.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
Xiao He withdrew her gaze from Lincu. If the original novel was accurate, the girl next door should be the Omega female lead, Jing Shen.
The secretary knocked and opened the door. Xiao He looked inside the pure white ward to see a single bed occupied by a frail-looking girl. Her face was as pale as paper, but her eyes were dark and bright. When she looked up at the sound of the door, her expression held more curiosity than nervousness.
The teacher who followed them in pulled out a chair for Xiao He and introduced them.
“President Xiao, this student is Jing Shen, also a senior. Jing Shen, this is Xiao Lincu’s guardian, President Xiao.”
While Xiao He observed Jing Shen, Jing Shen was also sizing her up. Though she remained calm on the surface, her heart was racing.
She had heard the name “President Xiao” many times. She was Chu Yuelan’s sponsor, the elder of the school’s notorious troublemakers Xiao Shuyuan and Xie Qingyu, and now, the guardian of Xiao Lincu. Her industries seemed to be everywhere in City A, but information about the woman herself was scarce. This was the first time Jing Shen had seen the legendary CEO in person.
If one looked closely, Xie Qingyu and Xiao Shuyuan carried a hint of her shadow. With just that small fraction, the two were already dazzling figures in a crowd. Yet, compared to the woman before her, they paled into insignificance.
Xiao He sat down amidst her entourage, her posture casual, yet her presence forced everyone in the room to be on their best behavior.
“Jing Shen, rest assured, I will give you a proper explanation and compensation for this incident.”
In the original novel, Jing Shen had suffered this loss in silence. But now that Xiao He was here, she wouldn’t let that happen. She simply couldn’t bring herself to bully a lonely, helpless young girl.
“Thank you, President Xiao,” Jing Shen replied, lowering her head obediently.
“You are the victim; I am only doing what is right. Don’t thank me.”
Thinking of the tragic backstory written for Jing Shen in the novel, Xiao He reached out and patted the girl’s frail shoulder before turning to leave. This child really hasn’t had it easy.
Jing Shen watched Xiao He walk away, followed by the large crowd. The ward, which had been bustling for a moment, returned to silence.
Outside, Xiao He’s group stood before Lincu’s ward. They faced a difficult problem: Lincu needed to be transferred to a major hospital, but no one could get close enough to put her in an isolation suit because no Alpha present was stronger than her.
“Should I try?” Xiao He suggested. She remembered that pheromones had no effect on her.
“No,” Secretary Li immediately intervened. “President Xiao, Miss Lincu is currently in a state of indiscriminate aggression. You cannot take that risk.”
Even if pheromones couldn’t hurt her, if Lincu suddenly turned violent, Xiao He’s frail body might give out right then and there.
“Could I try?”
While everyone was at a loss, a voice came from the side. Jing Shen approached, wearing an oversized hospital gown. Her face was still pale, but she didn’t shrink back. She looked at Xiao He and explained, “My pheromones have a certain soothing effect on Xiao Lincu. Let me try.”
The onlookers were surprised. An Omega with soothing abilities was a rare breed. If she was telling the truth, she was indeed the best candidate.
Xiao He already knew this from the book, but she was still worried. If this soothing was foolproof, why had today’s incident happened in the first place?
“It’s dangerous.”
“I know. Let me try.”
Jing Shen gave a faint smile, took the isolation suit from the school doctor, and walked toward Lincu’s room.
After closing the first door, she pushed open the second. An overwhelming scent of rust—sharp and aggressive—hit her. Simultaneously, a fresh fragrance of camellia began to emanate from Jing Shen. Instead of being drowned out by the rust, it began to invisibly soothe the agitated pheromones in the air.
On the bed, Lincu’s brow was furrowed in pain. Sensing someone’s approach, she reacted instantly. As Jing Shen reached out to put the suit on her, Lincu grabbed her wrist.
The crowd outside held their breath. Jing Shen stopped moving, but the scent of camellia in the air grew stronger, gradually masking the smell of rust.
After a long moment, Lincu slowly opened her eyes. Her mind seemed to clear, and she released Jing Shen’s wrist.
Jing Shen breathed a sigh of relief and carefully helped her into the suit.
“Thank you.” Lincu’s voice was hoarse, but she was conscious.
“You’re welcome.”
Jing Shen finished adjusting the clothes. Her gaze drifted over Lincu’s shoulder, looking through the glass door at the figure standing there. She hadn’t helped for Lincu’s sake.
Once everything was ready, medical professionals arrived to transfer Lincu.
Xiao He stood by the door. As it opened, the scent of camellia wafted out. Even though she couldn’t feel the “soothing” effect, she still found the fragrance delightful.
Jing Shen was the last to walk out. Her face was now as white as paper, and she looked unsteady on her feet.
Xiao He stepped forward to say something, but before she could, the girl in front of her suddenly fainted.
Startled, Xiao He caught her. Even through the thin clothing, she could feel the girl’s skin and bones; she was as light as a feather. Releasing a large amount of pheromones was no easy task; it was a miracle Jing Shen had held on this long.
Xiao He stayed until Jing Shen was back in bed and hooked up to a nutrient IV before leaving.
On the way back to the company, Xiao He reflected on the plot. It seemed a large part of it—especially regarding Jing Shen—was unavoidable.
“Xiao Li, look into Jing Shen’s situation.” She couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, especially after the girl had helped so much today.
“Yes, Boss.”
When Jing Shen woke up, she was alone. She sat up slowly, looking at the empty chair. She realized she didn’t even know President Xiao’s full name, and there might not be a next time.
As she was lost in thought, a knock at the door brought her back. Chu Yuelan had arrived with a lunch box.
“Why are you here?”
“I heard about what happened today. Are you hurt?” Chu Yuelan set up the small bed table and looked at Jing Shen’s pale face with concern.
“No, Xiao Lincu didn’t hurt me. She’s been sent to the hospital. I hope she’ll be okay.”
Jing Shen looked at Chu Yuelan. She wanted to ask about President Xiao, but felt it would be too abrupt. She changed the subject. “What kind of porridge is that? It smells good.”
“You can’t eat anything heavy right now, so I brought millet porridge,” Chu Yuelan said, handing her a spoon. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was shocked to hear President Xiao came here today. I thought it was a major emergency.”
Since Chu Yuelan brought it up, Jing Shen followed the lead. “Yes, it was my first time meeting her. She looks much younger than I imagined.”
“Actually, President Xiao is only about ten years older than us.” Chu Yuelan wasn’t sure of her exact age, as few people were.
Ten years? Jing Shen noted that down in her heart while drinking the porridge.
“By the way, did you know Xie Qingyu got punished? I just saw him washing dishes in the cafeteria kitchen with two of the President’s bodyguards watching over him. The whole school is much quieter now that she’s visited.”
“He deserves it,” Jing Shen nodded. Keeping him under control was a service to humanity.
After Jing Shen finished, Chu Yuelan packed up. “Jing Shen, it’s almost the weekend. I’ll tell the golf course you won’t be coming. You should rest.”
“It’s fine.” Mentioning the golf course reminded Jing Shen of something. “By the way, you left in such a hurry last weekend. Was something wrong with President Xiao?”
“Last weekend?” Chu Yuelan recalled. “Oh, nothing. It was strange—she never usually bothers with such trivialities, but that day she called us all back just to ask some minor questions and check our grades. Maybe she heard how arrogant Xie Qingyu has been lately and wanted to warn us.”
In fact, because of that incident, the “psychotic” Xie Qingyu insisted that Chu Yuelan had snitched on him and used it as an excuse to cause her trouble.
“President Xiao seems to care about you all quite a bit.” Jing Shen found it hard to imagine how a woman like that raised so many children.
“President Xiao…” Chu Yuelan suddenly paused. “Jing Shen, why is our conversation today all about President Xiao?”
“Is it?” Jing Shen smiled casually. “Just a coincidence. Everything that happened today involves her.”
Soon, Jing Shen’s files were on Xiao He’s desk.
Consistent with the novel, Jing Shen was an orphan who unexpectedly differentiated into an Omega at sixteen and was admitted to Heistan on a scholarship.
In this world, Alphas and Omegas are rare because they exceed Betas in both average intelligence and physical ability. Powerful families do everything they can to ensure their heirs differentiate as one of the two.
While Jing Shen had free tuition and housing, she relied on part-time work for daily expenses. Fortunately, Heistan wasn’t a “devil-style” school; classes were only Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, giving her time to work. Combined with her intelligence and scholarships, her life wasn’t too desperate.
“Such a good kid… we should sponsor her. Xiao Li, when you handle the compensation, ask if she’s willing to accept a personal sponsorship from me.”
Xiao He was now fully convinced of the novel’s details. Having seen Jing Shen’s kindness and strength with her own eyes, she didn’t mind helping more.
Secretary Li smiled. “President Xiao, who would refuse that? Only a fool.”
“Please thank President Xiao for her kindness, but tell her to save the opportunity for someone else.”
Jing Shen refused both the compensation and the sponsorship.
Secretary Li was stunned. “Jing Shen, think carefully. You wouldn’t have to work so hard anymore.”
“I have thought about it. I already receive so much help. I can support myself and live well. There are many others who don’t even have the chance to go to school. I hope President Xiao gives these opportunities to those who need them more.”
When Secretary Li returned dejectedly, Xiao He barely looked up. “She really refused?”
“Yes. President Xiao, I’m ashamed. My own moral awareness isn’t even as high as a high school student’s.” He felt that if it were him, he could never have said no.
“That’s only human nature,” Xiao He said, flipping through her documents. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with his mindset.
“And Jing Shen?”
Secretary Li expected Xiao He to praise the girl’s spirit, but she only looked at the returned agreement and shook her head.
“She’s a fool.”
Using help to achieve one’s goals is not a shameful thing.
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