After Becoming a Scumbag Alpha, I Protect the Female Lead’s Love - Chapter 15

In her dream, she was still a child, but the setting wasn’t the orphanage where she grew up—it was the Xi family study.

A teenage Xi Jiajun sat on the sofa with her younger self, seriously reading Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales, specifically “The Little Match Girl.” A young Xi Jiahua sat cross-legged on the rug, incessantly twisting a Rubik’s Cube. Although Xi Zhou sat beside Jiajun listening to the story, she wasn’t still for a second; with a lollipop in her mouth, she used her hands and feet, swaying her head to “command” Jiahua’s movements.

What a vivid dream.

Midnight moonlight filtered through the thin curtains. Xi Zhou stood up, squinting, and reached for the cigarettes on her nightstand.

A flame flickered to life, lighting the cigarette. With the smoke between her lips, she walked over and drew the curtains tight.

This dream was likely a memory belonging to the original owner.

Xi Zhou sat down casually on the floor, leaning her back lazily against the wall. The original owner’s family was very happy. The Xi parents were gentle and generous, and the two older siblings, Xi Jiajun and Xi Jiahua, had grown up to be modest and polite under their upbringing. Though the original Xi Zhou was unruly, she wasn’t someone who couldn’t distinguish good from evil; she had never truly harmed anyone before.

It’s strange. Why would someone with a timid and conflict-averse personality like the original owner do something so harmful to Nan Zhiyi?

The original book claimed Xi Zhou did it under Li Qingyu’s instigation, but to the current Xi Zhou, that didn’t add up. No matter how much of a “simp” someone was, how could a child raised in such a healthy environment suddenly commit a violent act against another person?

However, the System had mentioned that the novel didn’t represent the true timeline—it was merely a microcosm. Thinking of this, Xi Zhou stubbed out the cigarette and stopped dwelling on the original plot.

She had been here for several days but hadn’t found any potential threats surrounding Nan Zhiyi. The task of “saving” her wasn’t as simple as she had imagined. She had thought about using the novel as a guide, but this review made her realize the book was full of plot holes.

The next morning, when Nan Zhiyi came downstairs yawning, a lavish breakfast was already on the table.

“Good morning,” Nan Zhiyi greeted as she sat down.

“Morning.” Xi Zhou smiled and scooped a bowl of porridge from the pot for her.

Nan Zhiyi took the bowl, leaned over, and took an exaggerated sniff. “Smells so good!”

Xi Zhou was amused by the gesture. “A bit dramatic, aren’t we?”

Nan Zhiyi took a spoonful. “This is the sincere expression of my appreciation for you.”

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Their banter ended as Nan Jing came downstairs after washing up. “Good morning, Mommy! Good morning, Auntie Xi!”

“Morning,” they replied in unison.

Xi Zhou served Nan Jing a bowl as well. “Eat up.”

“Thank you, Auntie Xi.”

“No problem.” Xi Zhou reached out and patted Nan Jing’s head. The child seemed used to it now, eating her breakfast without batting an eye. Nan Zhiyi watched in surprise.

To prove she was a “big girl,” Nan Jing had recently protested fiercely when Liao Dong tried to pat her head, even reporting Liao Dong to Nan Zhiyi afterward. After some communication, Nan Jing had only reluctantly allowed Nan Zhiyi to do it.

Because Nan Zhiyi told her: “I want you to be a child in my eyes forever.”

After breakfast, Xi Zhou put the dishes in the dishwasher, put on her coat, and grabbed her keys to drop them off.

Nan Zhiyi saw her preparing to leave and asked, “Are you going somewhere?”

“Dropping you at work and An-an at school,” Xi Zhou said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I don’t have a job right now anyway. This is the least I can do.”

Nan Jing had no objections as long as she wasn’t late, but Nan Zhiyi sometimes needed her car for work. If Xi Zhou dropped her off, she wouldn’t have it.

“If you drop me off, how will I get back after work?” Nan Zhiyi said helplessly. “Didn’t we agree not to be so polite? Why are you back to this today?”

Nan Zhiyi thought Xi Zhou was trying to “repay” her for the money. In reality, Xi Zhou wanted to stay close to her to figure out what dangers were lurking. But she couldn’t say that.

“No, no,” Xi Zhou denied. ” I just wanted to find something to do. Now that you mention it, I didn’t think it through.”

Since she put it that way, Nan Zhiyi didn’t want to refuse too harshly. She checked her watch. “Maybe next time; my car needs servicing soon anyway. It’s late, we should head out.”

“Okay.” Xi Zhou stood at the door to see them off.

“Bye-bye!” Nan Jing waved her small hand.

“Bye.” Xi Zhou waved back, mimicking Nan Zhiyi’s posture.

“Remember to pick up An-an this afternoon!” Nan Zhiyi called out as she hurried away with the child.

“Got it.” Watching Nan Zhiyi’s flustered departure, Xi Zhou couldn’t help but chuckle.

With them gone, Xi Zhou spent the morning writing code in her room, skipping lunch. In the afternoon, a strange number called. She stretched and answered.

“Hello, Zhou.” It was Li Qingyu. “Let’s meet.”

“Oh? How did the Great Miss Li suddenly remember me?” Since she was bored at home, Xi Zhou figured playing along wouldn’t hurt. “Where to?”

Li Qingyu suppressed her temper and gave the address of a café.

“Fine. You just sit tight and wait then,” Xi Zhou said in a deliberately annoying tone.

After hanging up, she took her time changing and driving over. The place wasn’t far, but she drove at the minimum speed limit. Before getting out, she even spent time smoothing the wrinkles on her sleeves. Only when she ran out of things to stall with did she lock the car.

Upon entering, she didn’t rush to find Li Qingyu. She stood at the door looking around.

She had no idea what Li Qingyu actually looked like.

It was a sunny day, and Li Qingyu was sitting by a floor-to-ceiling window. She spotted Xi Zhou immediately. Seeing her target looking around aimlessly without coming over, she finally called out, “Xi Zhou!”

Xi Zhou sneered inwardly. Sweetly calling me ‘Zhou’ when she wants something, but barking my full name when she’s annoyed.

As she walked over, Li Qingyu was slightly startled by the scowl on Xi Zhou’s face. When Xi Zhou wasn’t smiling, she was intimidating—especially with those slightly downturned eyes. It felt like being watched by a hunting wolf. Usually, Xi Zhou was all smiles and eager to please; this cold, icy version was a rare sight for Li Qingyu.

Xi Zhou sat down and glanced at the table. Li Qingyu’s coffee was half-finished, and her cake was gone, leaving only crumbs. She had clearly been waiting a while.

“So, what is it?” Xi Zhou asked.

“Zhou, let’s be together.” Li Qingyu’s voice was full of expectation, but her eyes remained cold. “I’ve thought about it. You are the only one who can stay with me for a lifetime.”

Xi Zhou’s face remained impassive, but she was disgusted. This woman was truly shameless.

“I’m married,” Xi Zhou said, using Nan Zhiyi as a shield.

“Zhou, don’t say that out of spite,” Li Qingyu cooed. “You and Nan Zhiyi are just a contract. Do you really want to be with her?”

“Why not? She’s beautiful, capable, and has a good family background. I’m lucky to even be with her.”

“I know you’re angry about the marriage. It’s true I encouraged you to marry her, but I was thinking of you! You have no income and can’t support yourself. If Nan Zhiyi weren’t the ‘sucker’ in this deal, what would you do?” Despite the repeated rebuffs, Li Qingyu held back her usual spoiled temper.

From her words, Xi Zhou realized Li Qingyu knew the inside details of the marriage contract.

Xi Zhou kept her cold expression and snorted. “Your ‘encouragement’? You think you’re that charming? My marriage is between me and Nan Zhiyi. Who do you think you are?”

This time, she wasn’t being sarcastic; she was being blunt. Li Qingyu couldn’t take it anymore. “Xi Zhou, you—”

“Me what? I won’t dig into why you suddenly want to ‘be with me.’ Whatever scheme you’re running, I’ll play along for now. But if you dare point your little schemes at Nan Zhiyi, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“And if I do?” Li Qingyu’s temper flared. “What is Nan Zhiyi anyway? An Omega with a child of unknown origin? You’re actually protecting a woman that loose—”

Before she could finish, Xi Zhou grabbed her glass and splashed the water directly onto Li Qingyu’s face.

“Keep your mouth clean and watch your behavior,” Xi Zhou threatened. “Don’t let me catch you doing anything behind our backs. Next time it won’t be water; it’ll be the dirty secrets you’re hiding.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

Xi Zhou stood up and looked down at her. Her Alpha pheromones leaked out unconsciously—a domineering, forceful pressure that made Li Qingyu shiver with primal fear.

Xi Zhou had discovered videos of Li Qingyu’s “group activities” on the original owner’s computer today. How dare she call Nan Zhiyi “loose”? If she touched Nan Zhiyi, Xi Zhou would ruin her.

After Xi Zhou left, Li Qingyu didn’t clean herself up; she just covered her face and wept silently.

Xi Zhou got into her car, looking for a place to eat. When she unlocked her phone, a message from Meng Wenxin popped up.

Meng Wenxin: Did you tell Xi Jiahua I’m being discharged today?

Xi Zhou: No. Did my sister go to the hospital?

Meng Wenxin: Mhm. She insisted on driving me home.

Xi Zhou: Can I help with anything?

Meng Wenxin: No, I can handle it.

Xi Zhou: Okay.

She decided to let them settle it themselves. One was persistent, and the other, while refusing in words, was silently accepting the kindness. It was clear they still loved each other, but their deeper issues required direct communication.

Xi Zhou wandered the streets, found a noodle shop, and ate. Then, seeing the time, she went to the kindergarten to pick up Nan Jing.

For some reason, Nan Jing was incredibly clingy today. When Nan Zhiyi returned, she found it bizarre. Nan Jing insisted on Xi Zhou being there while she did homework, and she demanded Xi Zhou tell the bedtime story. Afterward, her small hand gripped Xi Zhou’s sleeve, refusing to let go.

“Auntie Xi, can you do me a favor?” Nan Jing looked up piteously.

Xi Zhou knelt to her eye level. “What is it, little one?”

Nan Jing fidgeted with her fingers. “The kindergarten is having a parent-child sports day on Friday. Can you come with me?”

The child was sensible; she knew Nan Zhiyi was busy and didn’t want her to have to work overtime later to make up for taking leave.

Xi Zhou didn’t agree immediately. “I have to talk to your Mommy first, okay? If she says yes, I’ll go.”

Nan Jing was disappointed but obediently closed her eyes. “Okay. Goodnight, Auntie Xi.”

“Goodnight.”

Xi Zhou quietly closed the door. Nan Zhiyi was still in the living room watching TV. Xi Zhou went to the kitchen and heated a glass of milk for her.

Both mother and daughter had a habit of drinking milk at night. Lately, Nan Zhiyi had been lazy, heating milk for the child but drinking hers cold. Xi Zhou had noticed and took over the task.

“Here.”

“Thanks.” Nan Zhiyi looked away from her idol drama and pulled up a photo on her phone, setting it before Xi Zhou. “What’s this about?”

The photo showed Xi Zhou and Li Qingyu at the café that afternoon.

“Li Qingyu asked to meet. She said she wanted to be with me, I said no, then I splashed water on her.” Xi Zhou’s eyes curved with a sly, fox-like smile. “Is there no photo of me splashing her?”

Nan Zhiyi couldn’t help but laugh. “No photo, but there is a video.”

She scrolled further back—there was indeed a video of the splash. Xi Zhou realized Nan Zhiyi was still testing her.

“I’m glad you asked me directly.”

“Oh?” Nan Zhiyi raised an eyebrow.

“We should be honest with each other. I said our fates are linked; I want you to do well more than anyone. if you start suspecting me, all my actions become meaningless,” Xi Zhou said, relaxing on the sofa. “Don’t worry, if you ask, I’ll tell the truth.”

“Dong-dong sent me this. She happened to be at that café. She was recording and voice-messaging me to condemn your ‘change of heart’ when she saw you splash the water.”

“Ah. I thought that person in the back looked familiar.” Xi Zhou nodded. “By the way, An-an has a sports day on Friday. She wants me to go.”

“I know about the sports day; the teacher messaged. I might not be able to get away. Since An-an wants you there, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Okay. I’ll tell her tomorrow.”