Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 6.2

Watching the two walk upstairs, the four looked at each other. The situation seemed different from what they had imagined—or rather… not quite as bad.

Slap!

Another crisp sound as Xiao Shuyuan’s palm hit the back of Xie Qingyu’s head again. “It’s all your fault!”

“Why is it my fault again?!”

Xie Qingyu held his head, feeling more aggrieved than ever in his life.

“Hmph!”

Xiao Shuyuan glared at the fuming but silent Xie Qingyu and left first.

Once she left, the others followed. After all, this was the main building. Without Xiao He’s word, no one could linger here. Only Chu Yuelan’s mood did not lighten much.

Xiao He and Jing Shen didn’t pay attention to the farce below. Opening the room prepared for Jing Shen, the things they had bought at the mall were already neatly arranged. The wardrobe and jewelry box were full, the vanity was stocked, and the soft bed was neatly made. Toiletries were placed in the en-suite bathroom.

“Let me know if anything is missing. Breakfast will be ready on the first floor at 6:30 tomorrow morning. After you eat, head to the door; a driver will be waiting. After school, go to the bottom of the teaching building; the same car from today will pick you up.”

Xiao He didn’t stay long in Jing Shen’s room and prepared to leave after speaking.

“Sister Xiao…” Jing Shen called out. She didn’t know how she could ever repay Xiao He for all she had done.

“What is it?” Xiao He waited patiently.

“Thank you.”

Aside from a dry thank you, Jing Shen didn’t know what else to say or do. Xiao He’s kindness made her feel a bit fearful.

“You’re welcome.”

Xiao He had lost count of how many times she’d heard Jing Shen say thank you. She accepted it helplessly. “It’s late. Get some sleep. Goodnight.”

“…Goodnight.”

After Xiao He left, looking at the closed door, Jing Shen stuttered out her response.

Standing in this strange room, her feet felt out of place on the pristine, soft white carpet. She slowly moved to sit on the edge of the bed. The top-tier soft fabric felt like feathers; lying on it felt like being surrounded by clouds.

Everything today felt like a dream, giving her an unreal illusion.

Jing Shen thought she might have insomnia, but after washing up and lying in bed, she fell asleep quickly. She was woken by her alarm the next morning. Blinking at her unfamiliar surroundings, it took her a while to return to reality.

After washing up and putting on her clothes, she went downstairs. A delicious breakfast was prepared on the dining table. A staff member asked if she had any dietary restrictions.

Jing Shen shook her head. “None at all.”

While eating breakfast, Jing Shen looked upstairs. Xiao He’s door was still tightly closed. “Ma’am, does President Xiao have any dietary restrictions?”

“Haha, quite a few.”

The woman gave a wry smile and pulled out an A4 sheet. It was filled with notes on Xiao He’s taste preferences; if any detail was wrong, she wouldn’t eat a bite.

Jing Shen wanted to memorize them, but it was a bit overwhelming. she silently gave the woman a thumbs-up.

“Actually, President Xiao is very good in other ways. She’s just a bit picky about food. I’m a professional, so remembering these is my duty.”

The woman was amused by Jing Shen. This job was only hard to adapt to at first; once memorized, it was easy. The key was that she only had to prepare three meals a day and nothing else to receive a handsome salary. Where else could one find such a job?

As they chatted, Jing Shen finished her breakfast. Xiao He hadn’t woken up yet. Jing Shen looked upstairs, gave a small wave, and whispered, “See you this afternoon.”

Xiao He usually woke up around eight or nine, but today she felt unwell. Perhaps yesterday’s activity was too much; she was aching all over, without even the strength to lift a finger.

Her brain was foggy. Xiao He vaguely felt she might have a fever. She gritted her teeth and pressed the bell by the bed.

Hearing the bell, the staff member on duty in the main building went upstairs. She found Xiao He’s lips pale, but her face had an unnatural flush. Not daring to delay, she notified the butler and called the family doctor.

It was Guan Shanyue again. After hearing Butler Lin’s description, she rushed over with her medical kit, not even having time to change her clothes.

“President Xiao, how do you feel? Can you hear me?”

Xiao He had recovered quite a bit. She opened heavy eyelids and gave her a speechless look. “I just have a high fever.”

Guan Shanyue: …Butler Lin made it sound like you were about to kick the bucket.

Seeing that Xiao He was conscious, Guan Shanyue was relieved. However, given Xiao He’s special condition, she had to be cautious.

Because of Xiao He’s health, the main building was equipped with comprehensive medical equipment. Guan Shanyue drew some of Xiao He’s blood for testing and took her temperature—it was over 39 degrees.

She didn’t dare administer medicine haphazardly. Xiao He had as many drug allergies as she had food preferences, so they had to wait for the blood test results.

While waiting, Guan Shanyue sat by Xiao He’s bed and wiped her face with a towel. “President Xiao, how do you feel now? Is it painful?”

“Not really. My body feels light.”

Xiao He closed her eyes. Aside from the beginning, she didn’t feel much now.

Guan Shanyue chuckled. “You’re about to burn your brain out, you know?”

“Hmph.”

Xiao He didn’t bother responding. She felt groggy, as if sinking into cotton.

When she woke again, Guan Shanyue had started an IV. Cool medicine dripped into her body, warmed by her burning skin.

“Woke up fast. I need to talk to you,” Guan Shanyue sat by her, her expression no longer as light as before. “Is your mind clear?”

“Mhm.”

Xiao He was all too familiar with that look from doctors; it usually meant bad news.

“Good. I just did a thorough check. Your body is a bit strange. Have you felt weak lately? Muscle aches? Do your joints click often? Do you feel random stabbing pains in your organs or bones?”

Guan Shanyue asked with a frown.

“Bingo. Give me the verdict.”

Though Xiao He felt she had always been weak, it had been worse lately. It was often hard to get up once she sat down. She spent her time at the company just looking at files in her office, leaving everything else to others.

Guan Shanyue’s heart sank. “Let me put it this way: I’ve never seen anything like your case. Tests show your body seems to be growing rapidly. This is completely illogical. We can’t tell if this growth will stop or how it will affect you. Do you understand?”

“If we assume the worst-case scenario, what’s the outcome?”

Xiao He was seeing this for the first time too. Her weak body in her previous life was due to underdeveloped organs; was she going to die from overdeveloped organs in this life?

“The worst-case is death. You must know that the human body needs to maintain a balance. If any aspect becomes excessively weak or strong, it breaks that balance, and then…”

Guan Shanyue’s meaning was clear. Xiao He didn’t have much time left, and the most dangerous part was that they had never encountered this before.

“You might as well tell me directly: how much time do I have?”

Perhaps because she had experienced it once already, Xiao He felt she had some experience with death. She could ask this calmly without losing her head.

“It’s hard to estimate, but you should soon notice changes in your body. Pain will appear randomly, you will become weaker, and you might lose consciousness at any time. So, from now on, you must never be alone. Do you understand?”

Guan Shanyue paused. “Actually, go to the hospital for a full systemic check. What if my diagnosis is wrong?”

“Then you’re a quack.”

Xiao He smiled, watching the medicine drip. “Fine, I’ll find time to check.”

“I’d give anything to be a quack.”

Whenever she faced this, Guan Shanyue hoped for a misdiagnosis. But she had consulted several authorities in the field, and the conclusion was the same. Unless the machines failed, there was no chance of error.

“By the way, how is Xiaocu?”

Not wanting to discuss her health anymore, Xiao He changed the subject.

“I told her I came here for you and asked her to help me put on an act. We chat occasionally. She seems normal, like anyone else. I haven’t dared try anything that might trigger her. You know, your daughter is a rare super-aggressive Alpha; my small frame could easily break.”

Speaking of Xiao Lincu, Guan Shanyue could only say there was no progress. The illnesses in the Xiao family were harder to treat one after another.

“What if an Enabler Omega was by her side—one who could even soothe her when she loses control?” Xiao He thought of Jing Shen. She remembered that in the novel, Jing Shen was the one who healed Xiao Lincu.

“You mean her classmate? That could work. In times of war, many powerful Alphas relied on their Omega partners to maintain pheromone stability and avoid losing their minds to become killing machines. It still applies. Oh, but this depends on mutual consent. You can’t force them together; that would be painful for both and could lead to a worse situation.”

Guan Shanyue was the one who treated Xiao Lincu that time, so she knew about Jing Shen. It was lucky for Xiao Lincu to meet such a rare Enabler Omega.

“I am never one to force others. Everyone has their own fate.”

Xiao He could easily determine Xiao Lincu’s heart; the rest depended on Jing Shen’s willingness. She would let nature take its course.

After talking for a bit, Xiao He felt tired. she closed her eyes and slept, not even knowing when Guan Shanyue left.

After the IV, Xiao He still felt weak. she spent the day in her room, barely moving and without an appetite.

When Jing Shen returned from school, the large house was silent and empty. In the main building especially, she felt for the first time how lonely it was for one person to live in such a large place.

She asked Butler Lin and learned Xiao He was upstairs. Jing Shen wanted to greet her first, but decided to change out of the clothes she’d worn all day.

After changing into a soft gauze dress, she knocked on Xiao He’s door but heard no response for a long time.

“Sister Xiao, are you there?”

Just as Jing Shen thought Xiao He wasn’t there, a faint response came from inside.

Granted entry, she pushed the door open. This was her first time in Xiao He’s room.

Xiao He’s room was large, the bedroom arranged like a study. Huge bookshelves were filled with various books, and an office desk sat near the balcony. It was clear Xiao He often worked in her room.

The large bed in the center was occupied. Jing Shen approached and found Xiao He still lying there.

This was unusual. Jing Shen looked at the listless Xiao He with concern and knelt by her bed. “Sister Xiao, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I found I had a fever this morning, so I’m resting.”

Xiao He’s voice was faint. After lying all day, she was a bit restless, so she tried to push herself up, but it was difficult.

Jing Shen saw her intent and stepped forward to help her up, propping up the pillows so she could lean back.

Under Jing Shen’s worried gaze, Xiao He gave a forced smile. “I really am getting old; I can’t even handle a minor illness.”

Jing Shen felt it wasn’t as simple as Xiao He said. She didn’t know what to do, but seeing Xiao He’s pale lips, she realized she might be dehydrated.

“Sister Xiao, I’ll get you some water.”

“Mhm. Go ahead.”

Xiao He was indeed thirsty but hadn’t called anyone because she didn’t want to move.

Jing Shen couldn’t even find a water glass in the room, so she went to the kitchen. When she returned with warm water, she pushed the door open just as Xiao He was standing by the bed changing clothes.

Nearly dropping the glass, Jing Shen scrambled out and closed the door, a blush spreading across her face instantly.

Was she being too reckless?

Xiao He heard the commotion. She was actually done, just buttoning up. Seeing that Jing Shen didn’t come back in, she walked over and opened the door.

“What, did I scare you?”

Taking the warm glass from Jing Shen, Xiao He smiled and ruffled her soft hair. Since doing it last time, she found it quite fun; the texture was excellent.

Jing Shen followed her in, her blush still present, not daring to look around. “I didn’t knock.”

“It’s fine, it’s no big deal.” Xiao He waved it off and sat down to drink. The silk pajamas were soft, softening her usual distant aura.

Jing Shen sat across from her, staring blankly as Xiao He’s lips returned to a pale pink after drinking.

“Jing Shen, I heard you quit your job at the golf course?”

After changing and drinking water, Xiao He felt revived. She leaned back comfortably and chatted.

Xiao He’s voice broke Jing Shen’s trance. Realizing her gaze was too intrusive, she looked at her toes. Her heart was pounding and her face was burning, but she tried to act calm. “Mhm. After you mentioned it last time, I told the manager.”

Since the golf course was hers, it wasn’t strange that she knew.

“In that case, your weekends and afternoons after school are free,” Xiao He set down the glass and laced her fingers. “I was thinking of hiring tutors to help you study other courses. This will give you more possibilities for university or work and broaden your horizons. What do you think?”

Jing Shen was tempted by the proposal, but it meant she would owe Xiao He even more.

Xiao He saw her hesitation and knew she was overthinking the details. She decided for her. “Then it’s settled. We’ll start tomorrow. Tell me if there are any directions you’re interested in; I’ll prioritize them for your tutors.”

“I’ll listen to you, Sister Xiao.”

Xiao He had considered everything for her; Jing Shen felt it would be wrong to be coy. But asked to think about what she liked, she had no clue.

“That makes it difficult. I hope you learn something with practical value; it will benefit you in the future.”

Jing Shen was different from the second-generation kids around Xiao He. They could choose flashy interests to decorate their status, talking about ideals and the meaning of life when they had money and time, with families to back them up. Jing Shen needed to consider practical significance.

Jing Shen knew Xiao He was looking out for her. A thought suddenly occurred to her. “Sister Xiao, what can I learn so I can help you in the future?”

Xiao He was stunned for a moment. Then, she seemed to realize something. “Then learn company management. But if you find you really don’t like it, you can tell me; we can change at any time, okay?”

Jing Shen nodded. As long as it allowed her to help Xiao He in the future, she would surely like it.

Looking at the obedient and thoughtful Jing Shen, Xiao He felt the joy of raising a child for the first time. She should have raised such a good child long ago; looking at those four… best not to mention them.