Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 6.1

Xiao He’s proposal was made after careful consideration. Everything mentioned in the original novel regarding Jing Shen had already come to pass, which suggested that these events might be unavoidable. However, if Jing Shen lived by her side, Xiao He could at least provide some protection when things happened and, at the very least, minimize the harm done to her.

Besides, she already had four children in the house; she didn’t mind one more in Jing Shen. Moreover, Jing Shen at least appeared to be far less of a headache than the others.

Jing Shen, upon hearing Xiao He’s proposal, almost doubted her own ears. It took a long while for her to realize that Xiao He was being serious.

“President Xiao, I know you have my best interests at heart, but this is truly too much trouble for you.”

“Refusing again?” Xiao He found she was almost becoming accustomed to being turned down by Jing Shen. “Jing Shen, I know you are strong and independent, but don’t forget that you are still just a child. There is no shame in accepting help. Furthermore, my primary reason for doing this is to help you evade the threats posed by those little rascals in my family.”

This statement was entirely sincere. In the original novel, for a girl as smart and resilient as Jing Shen, the vast majority of the hardships she encountered were caused by those four rascals.

Since those four could use her power to run amok and persecute Jing Shen, she could certainly take Jing Shen under her wing. She wanted to see who would dare cause trouble then.

Looking into Xiao He’s eyes, Jing Shen knew she was serious, and she was indeed at the end of her rope.

“Thank you, President Xiao.”

This signified that Jing Shen had accepted Xiao He’s help.

“You’ve met me three times and said ‘thank you’ three times. Do you have nothing else to say?” Xiao He looked at Jing Shen with a smile. The irony was that all three times were because people around her had hurt Jing Shen; she was only doing what was right.

Jing Shen didn’t know what to say and could only lower her head and smile under Xiao He’s gaze. It was precisely because the other party had been a massive help all three times.

“Alright, let’s head to the mall first to buy some daily necessities, then I’ll show you the house. From now on, the family driver will pick you up and drop you off at school.”

As Xiao He finished speaking, the driver started the car and headed to the mall.

“It’s not necessary to go to such trouble, President Xiao. I can take the bus myself.” Jing Shen didn’t want to be a burden; she could handle these things on her own.

“That’s a pity. There are no bus stops near my house, so just listen to me.” Seeing Jing Shen’s obedient manner, Xiao He couldn’t resist reaching out to ruffle her soft, fluffy hair. “Also, don’t call me President Xiao anymore; it sounds quite distant. My name is Xiao He. You can call me Auntie Xiao.”

Jing Shen finally learned Xiao He’s name, hearing it from her own lips. She whispered it to herself in her heart. Leaning into Xiao He’s warm palm, she looked up and gave an obedient smile. “Can I call you Sister Xiao?”

“No. If you do, Qingyu and Shuyuan might cause you trouble.”

Xiao He refused with a chuckle. She didn’t mind the title herself, but she feared that if Jing Shen called her that, she would be raising her own seniority, and Xie Qingyu, Xiao Shuyuan, and even Xiao Lincu would throw a fit.

Jing Shen realized this as well. “I’ll stick with calling you President Xiao.”

Calling her “Auntie Xiao” made Xiao He sound a bit old.

Xiao He pondered for a moment. “You can call me Sister Xiao in the future, just don’t let them hear it.”

Always “President Xiao, President Xiao” sounded distant and would make Jing Shen feel constrained living in her house. A closer form of address was better.

Granted permission, Jing Shen’s face immediately lit up. “Sister Xiao.”

“Mhm.”

Xiao He acknowledged her and asked Butler Lin to prepare the guest room next to her own. After they finished shopping, they would head straight there, and Jing Shen could move in tonight.

The malls Xiao He frequented were always high-end, and this time was no exception. Upon entering, the decor was sophisticated and luxurious. Jing Shen followed Xiao He, and it would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous—especially when she saw a mundane trash can with a five-figure price tag. She quietly tucked away the list she had just taken out.

“Sister Xiao, maybe we should go somewhere else.”

This place was, indeed, a bit… unsuitable for her…

“Pick whatever you like.”

Xiao He took the list from Jing Shen’s hand and handed it to Secretary Li behind her. “Buy everything on this list and have it sent home first.”

“Understood, President Xiao.”

Secretary Li took the list and walked away even as Jing Shen tried to stop him with her eyes.

Jing Shen didn’t dare calculate how much that thin piece of paper would cost. She wondered if she would ever have the chance to pay it back in her lifetime.

“Alright, now you can pick out things you like.”

Xiao He deliberately slowed her pace to let Jing Shen browse properly, but it was clear that no matter how slow she walked, Jing Shen didn’t dare enter the stores.

Left with no choice, Xiao He had to pull Jing Shen into a clothing boutique.

The staff in the entire store served only them. Various new arrivals of the season were available for selection, and for items not in stock, there were photos to view. Once satisfied, they could be delivered as quickly as possible.

Since Jing Shen wouldn’t choose, Xiao He picked several suitable outfits for her to try on.

Usually wearing only the school-issued uniforms and her own clothes consisting of nothing but T-shirts and trousers, this was the first time Jing Shen had tried such a variety of styles. Every single piece was beautiful.

Xiao He sat on the central sofa, feeling a bit like she was playing a dress-up game.

A seventeen-year-old girl looks good in anything. Her slightly youthful face was like a budding flower—a kind of beauty that no amount of money could buy.

“Sister Xiao, does this work?”

Jing Shen changed into a pink gown. The 3D tailoring and beautiful silhouette perfectly highlighted her figure. Her slender waist could be held in one hand, and the hem of the skirt swayed lightly as she walked. It couldn’t be more beautiful.

“Very beautiful.”

Xiao He praised her sincerely and looked at the store manager. “Pack up everything she just tried on. Also, take your new seasonal coats and dresses in her size.”

Hearing this, the manager immediately complied, leading staff to wrap the clothes and ordering out-of-stock items to be delivered at once.

Jing Shen felt it was too much. “Sister Xiao, there’s no need to spend so much. I can’t possibly wear all these clothes.”

“It’s alright. A closet shouldn’t be empty.”

Xiao He stood up. A bodyguard remained to provide the home address so the clothes could be sent directly.

Jing Shen couldn’t sway her. “Then I’ll go change out of this.”

“No need, just wear it. It looks very nice.”

Stopping Jing Shen, Xiao He led her toward the next shop. If bringing Jing Shen to the mall was an impulse at first, she now found it quite interesting.

Jing Shen’s natural appearance was excellent. Even when dressed simply with a bare face, she was still a striking beauty. Dressed up like this, she was radiant, giving Xiao He an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.

They shopped until evening, getting everything from clothes, shoes, and bags to accessories and makeup. Once they were tired, they had dinner at the sky restaurant on the top floor of the mall.

Perhaps because she had seen too much that day, sitting in such a restaurant no longer caused a stir in Jing Shen’s heart. She only noticed Xiao He’s methodical movements as she ate and the melodious, nameless music.

After dinner, it was getting late, and it was finally time to head home.

Throughout the afternoon, the large bags being delivered to the house had caught the attention of the others. The only one too busy to notice was Xie Qingyu, who was still shouting at the top of his lungs while copying his lines.

“Uncle Lin, why did Auntie suddenly buy so many things? Is something happening?”

Xiao Shuyuan stopped the busy Butler Lin. Beside her, Chu Yuelan and Xiao Lincu also pricked up their ears.

“Yes, President Xiao called to say a guest will be moving in, so we were told to prepare in advance. These are all prepared by President Xiao for the new guest.”

Butler Lin was extremely busy and hurried away after speaking.

Xiao Shuyuan stood there and glanced at Chu Yuelan and Xiao Lincu. “Did you hear that? A new guest?”

“Mhm. And they are moving directly into the main building.”

Chu Yuelan watched the people coming and going. One had to know that the four of them lived in the side wing at the front. Guests usually stayed there. The main building had always been Xiao He’s private sanctuary; no one could enter or exit freely, let alone live there.

“That is President Xiao’s business.” Xiao Lincu didn’t care much about it. They were never in a position to interfere with Xiao He’s affairs anyway.

“I know that, but this is very strange. Is the Xiao family about to have a new master? Does Auntie have someone she likes?”

Xiao Shuyuan didn’t want to speculate in that direction, but there seemed to be no other possible explanation.

This statement caused a brief silence among them. Xiao Lincu’s brow slowly furrowed. It couldn’t be that Guan Shanyue, could it?

The more curious they were, the more they had to find out. The group sat together in a rare moment of peace, waiting for Xiao He’s return.

Xie Qingyu, having finally finished his hundreds of copies, drank water from a bucket, his voice hoarse. Seeing the three sitting together, he joined in. “What’s the situation?”

Xiao Shuyuan gave him a brief summary. Hearing this, Xie Qingyu, who was on his last breath a moment ago, immediately perked up and waited intently.

The black luxury car drove into the estate, and everyone’s heart leaped. The mystery was about to be revealed.

The driver opened the door. Xiao He stepped out first, then waited by the car for a moment.

“She really brought someone back!” Xie Qingyu croaked in a low voice, then widened his eyes to see the person stepping out from the other side.

The pink gown was lively yet elegant. A slender, graceful figure stood beside Xiao He, obediently taking her arm.

“Quite pretty, but a bit young, isn’t she?”

Xie Qingyu blinked. “Wait, why does she look familiar?”

Of course she looked familiar. Aside from him, the faces of the other three darkened as they recognized Jing Shen. Chu Yuelan’s expression, in particular, was as black as soot.

“Holy crap!! Jing Shen!”

Xie Qingyu finally reacted, shouting out in shock. His hoarse, croaking voice was quite loud.

Jing Shen turned her head and saw the four of them staring from the side wing.

Nervously clutching Xiao He’s arm, Jing Shen felt an unpleasant atmosphere, as if she shouldn’t be here.

Xiao He gave Jing Shen’s hand a reassuring pat and looked at the four statues. “Come over here. I have something to tell you.”

With that, Xiao He led Jing Shen toward the main building.

Even if they were unwilling, the four had to face reality, though their steps were slower than the last.

Xie Qingyu, especially, felt like digging a hole to bury himself.

“It’s over, it’s over! How did Jing Shen get mixed up with Auntie? If she whispers in Auntie’s ear, I’ll die even more horribly! No, I should pack my bags and run. But where can I go?! Outside these gates, what path is there for me except my mom’s ‘bamboo-strip and fried-meat’ beatings!”

“Stop mumbling, you’re annoying!”

Xiao Shuyuan slapped the back of the panicked Xie Qingyu’s head. Her face was also very grim. She had paid special attention to Jing Shen at school, but that wasn’t the point. The point was, if Jing Shen truly became Xiao He’s person, would Xiao He still need heirs like them?

Chu Yuelan and Xiao Lincu remained silent. No one knew what state their minds were in. Xiao Lincu even felt that someone like Guan Shanyue would be better than the current situation.

Once the four shuffled into the main building, Xiao He sat in the master seat with Jing Shen standing beside her.

Taking a sip of tea, Xiao He looked up to find faces heavier than those at a funeral.

“What are you all doing? Are you here to weep at my wake?”

“No, Auntie. Just say what you have to say. We can take it.”

Xie Qingyu shook his head and closed his eyes, prepared for the final sentence.

“Mhm. Starting today, Jing Shen will also be living here. I hope you can get along harmoniously.”

Having said her piece, Xiao He stood up to take Jing Shen upstairs to see her room, but the remaining four clearly hadn’t reacted.

“That’s it?”

Xie Qingyu was quick to ask.

“What else? You have the nerve to speak? You are the culprit. If I ever find out you’ve bullied someone again, you’ll copy the laws two hundred times.”

Xiao He frowned at Xie Qingyu’s chirping voice and warned him again.

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare… but…”

Xie Qingyu wanted to say more but was forced to swallow his words under Xiao He’s gaze.

Seeing that no one had objections, Xiao He led Jing Shen upstairs. “Think of this as your own home. If you have any problems, you can tell Butler Lin or tell me directly.”

“Thank you, President Xiao.”