Acting as the Powerful Background Character in a Scummy Alpha Novel - Chapter 9

Inside the room, Xiao He glanced at Guan Shanyue. “Dr. Guan, haven’t you become a bit talkative lately?”

“Aren’t we well-acquainted by now?”

Guan Shanyue smiled nonchalantly. She could certainly keep up the gentle, sophisticated act she used when she first met Xiao He, but it was exhausting. Besides, she had noticed that Xiao He wasn’t particularly interested in that archetype, so there was no longer a need to pretend.

Looking at the “real” Guan Shanyue, Xiao He knew her initial instinct that something was “off” hadn’t been wrong. However, she found this version of the doctor more pleasant; they could interact much more casually now.

Guan Shanyue stayed until the IV was finished. Checking the time, she saw it was already past 3:00 AM. She yawned and stood up. “Alright, you rest. I should head back. Make sure you take my words to heart; your body and your life belong to you. Don’t be negligent.”

“Have Butler Lin prepare a guest room for you. It’s too late to drive,” Xiao He offered, not being truly heartless.

“Next time. I’ll head straight back to the hospital. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”

Guan Shanyue smiled, picking up the bag containing her damp clothes. “I’ll bring your clothes back next time I visit, President Xiao. I promise to have them washed clean.”

“Keep them.”

Xiao He could never bring herself to wear clothes someone else had used. Since she hadn’t worn that outfit yet anyway, giving it to Guan Shanyue didn’t matter.

“How generous, President Xiao. I’ll be going then.”

Not wanting to refuse a gift, Guan Shanyue saw that Xiao He’s eyelids were heavy and didn’t linger. She left immediately.

Exiting Xiao He’s room, she gently closed the door. Guan Shanyue glanced at the clothes she was wearing and left in a high spirit—unaware that the door to the room next to Xiao He’s had been ajar the whole time.

Unable to sleep, Jing Shen had watched the clock move tick by tick until her eyes were sore and her body felt stiff. Finally, she heard the door next door open.

Standing up and moving to the crack in her door, she saw Dr. Guan leaving with a bag of clothes in her hand. It was only then that she realized the doctor had long since changed her outfit—back when Jing Shen was brewing ginger soup and the two of them were alone together.

Are they really in the kind of relationship I think they are?

Her heart felt stifled. Jing Shen listened to the rain outside and didn’t sleep a wink for the rest of the night.

Xiao He rarely slept so soundly. It was a dreamless night, and she naturally woke up a bit late the next morning.

Pulling back the curtains, sunlight flooded in. After a night of torrential rain, the sky was a deep, clear blue, as if all the gloom had been washed away. The lush greenery in the courtyard exuded a heavy sense of vitality, putting Xiao He in a good mood.

She dressed in casual loungewear and went downstairs for breakfast. While eating, she saw Butler Lin lead the four candidates inside.

The four had only learned this morning that Xiao He had nearly had an accident the previous night. They wanted to see her immediately, but Butler Lin had stopped them because she hadn’t woken up yet.

Looking at the perfectly normal-looking Xiao He, though each had their own hidden thoughts, they all felt a slight sense of relief. Regardless of their individual schemes, they still held a shred of genuine concern for her.

Xiao He took in their expressions. She didn’t care much for the details; she simply wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “Is there a reason you’re all standing at attention in front of me so early in the morning?”

“No, Auntie. Are you really okay?”

Xie Qingyu was the type to never learn from his mistakes; no matter how many times he was scolded, he was always the quickest to speak up.

“I won’t be dying just yet,” Xiao He took a sip of water. “Sit down and eat.”

It was a rare occasion for them to eat with Xiao He. Everyone was a bit stiff; no one spoke, and they ate in silence.

Jing Shen didn’t come downstairs until now. Having not slept all night, she had only managed a short nap toward dawn, which resulted in a nightmare. Now, she felt light-headed and groggy. Seeing the five of them at the table, she froze for a moment before processing the situation.

“Jing Shen, why do you look so pale? Are you unwell?” Chu Yuelan asked with concern. She had never seen Jing Shen look so haggard.

Xiao He looked over as well. Jing Shen hurriedly lowered her head to avoid Xiao He’s gaze. “No, I just didn’t sleep well yesterday.”

Xiao He assumed Jing Shen had been frightened by the events of the previous night. “Since you’re not feeling well, take a good rest today. We’ll skip the lessons.”

“I’m fine…”

Before Jing Shen could finish, the talkative Xie Qingyu interrupted, “What lessons?”

This was the question the other three wanted to ask as well. Xiao He didn’t hide it. “Tutors. Why?”

“Auntie, you’re being biased! How can you give Jing Shen private lessons on the side?” Xiao Shuyuan complained. She felt her previous suspicions were correct: Xiao He might truly be grooming Jing Shen as a fifth heir.

“Then all of you take them. I’ll have Butler Lin arrange it. It’s just a matter of hiring a few more tutors.”

Finished with her meal, Xiao He set down her glass and stood up. She left them with those words and headed upstairs.

As soon as Xiao He disappeared into the study, the table erupted.

Xie Qingyu looked at Xiao Shuyuan with a distorted face. “Is something wrong with you? You’re actually fighting for more schoolwork? Whoever wants to take them can take them, but count me out!”

“Then go tell Auntie yourself. Why are you getting angry at me?” Xiao Shuyuan rolled her eyes at him, then turned to the newly seated Jing Shen. “Jing Shen, aren’t your grades excellent? What do you need tutoring for?”

Suddenly being the center of attention, Jing Shen knew she couldn’t hide it once the tutors arrived anyway. Besides, it wasn’t a secret. She spoke up plainly.

“Isn’t that stuff you only learn in university? Why learn it now?”

When Xie Qingyu asked this, the others fell silent. Xiao Shuyuan placed a steamed bun on his plate. “Just eat and stop talking.”

Xiao Lincu and Chu Yuelan watched Jing Shen in silence. Jing Shen looked back at them, puzzled. Why was everyone reacting so strongly?

After breakfast, Jing Shen was still expected to attend her lessons, but the location had been moved to a vacated tea room. It had been set up to look like a classroom, complete with five desks.

Since hiring new tutors would take time, Xiao He decided to let them all attend together for now. It was a good chance to gauge their individual potential.

Just as Jing Shen sat down, the other four arrived. Xie Qingyu looked miserable, but his protests were clearly ignored.

Xiao Lincu sat in the seat next to Jing Shen. “I have something to say to you after class.”

Jing Shen gave her a confused look. Before she could respond, Xiao Shuyuan sat on her other side, so she had to wait until the end of the lesson.

Fortunately, Xiao Lincu and the others had taken similar courses before, so they had no trouble keeping up with the curriculum. As for Xie Qingyu, he had never kept up to begin with, so it didn’t change much for him.

When the first class ended, there was a half-hour break. Xiao Lincu stood up and glanced at Jing Shen, who followed her out.

Chu Yuelan watched them leave. Just as she was about to follow, Xiao Shuyuan turned around and blocked her path.

“You don’t seriously think she’d choose you with Xiao Lincu around, do you?”

Xiao Shuyuan’s words were like a knife plunged directly into Chu Yuelan’s heart. Her gentle mask shattered instantly, and she glared at Xiao Shuyuan with cold eyes. “What does it have to do with you?”

“Because I’m the only one who can help you. Think carefully before you speak to me like that again.” Seeing Chu Yuelan lose her composure made Xiao Shuyuan feel much better. If Xie Qingyu weren’t so unreliable, she really wouldn’t have chosen Chu Yuelan as an ally.

On the other side, Xiao Lincu took Jing Shen to an empty music room at the end of the corridor. She closed the door and spoke seriously. “Jing Shen, I don’t want you getting caught up in this.”

Jing Shen had thought she was just suffering from lack of sleep, but now she was certain these people were the problem.

“You’re all being so bizarre today. Actually, you’ve been bizarre since yesterday.”

The lack of sleep was giving her a headache. Combined with the fact that she hadn’t managed to say a single word to Xiao He because of them—and the lingering bad mood from the night before—Jing Shen’s temper was fraying. Her tone was sharp.

“Jing Shen,” Xiao Lincu’s voice grew heavier. “You don’t know anything. I don’t want you to become a sacrificial lamb here without even knowing why.”

“Since you know I don’t know anything, can you please speak clearly? What am I supposed to know?”

It was getting more absurd by the second. Jing Shen sat on the piano stool with her arms crossed; she hated playing riddles.

Standing before her, Xiao Lincu took a deep breath. “You want to know? Fine, I’ll tell you. The reason the four of us are here is because Xiao He is dying. The Xiao family, the Xie family, and everyone eyeing the Xiao Group are watching this place like hawks. You showing up at this turning point and accepting heir training… do you realize what that implies?”

“What did you say about President Xiao?!”

The only thing in Jing Shen’s mind was the phrase “Xiao He is dying.” How was that possible?

“You don’t believe me? Xiao He has been weak since birth. She fell seriously ill at sixteen right before differentiation and has remained undifferentiated ever since. This makes her body incredibly fragile. Two years ago, her health began to deteriorate rapidly; doctors predicted she wouldn’t last three more years. That’s why she brought Xiao Shuyuan and the others here for training. With doctors going in and out of the house constantly lately, don’t you understand yet?”

Xiao Lincu pulled a card from her pocket. “Move out of the Xiao estate. I will take care of your expenses from now on. You don’t have to worry.”

Jing Shen looked at Xiao Lincu. “Are you insane?”

With that, Jing Shen stood up to leave. As she passed Xiao Lincu, the other girl grabbed her arm.