After Becoming a Scumbag Alpha, I Protect the Female Lead’s Love - Chapter 8

When Xi Zhou and Nan Zhiyi emerged from the study, little Nan Jing had already proactively turned off the TV and was preparing to head to her bedroom for sleep.

“Mommy!” Nan Jing was excited to see Nan Zhiyi, flying into her arms like a little cannonball. “Can we talk about the Twelve Olympians tonight?”

Nan Zhiyi set aside time every night to read to Nan Jing to cultivate the child’s interest in reading. Her choices weren’t fixed; often, she would switch stories just as a book reached a climax, leaving Nan Jing so curious that the child would take the initiative to finish the book herself. A few days ago, Nan Zhiyi had started on Greek mythology. The names of the Greek gods were a bit difficult for a four-year-old to remember and read alone, so Nan Jing would lie in Nan Zhiyi’s arms, acting cute and begging her mother to tell the stories.

Drowsiness hit Nan Zhiyi, and she couldn’t help but yawn. Looking at the coaxing Nan Jing, she didn’t have the heart to refuse. She leaned over, picking the child up with some effort. “Alright.”

Xi Zhou watched the intimate interaction between the mother and daughter from behind, feeling an indescribable envy.

“Nan Zhiyi, I know Greek mythology too.” Xi Zhou walked over to the pair. Her palms were slightly damp as she spoke nervously, “Why don’t you go rest, and I’ll tell her the story?”

As Nan Zhiyi’s gaze fell on her, scanning back and forth, Xi Zhou suddenly regretted her abrupt request.

Nan Zhiyi had only cleared up doubts about her identity; to the woman, she was still a stranger. Nan Zhiyi remained guarded, and Nan Jing was her most precious treasure. How could she feel at ease handing her child over to a stranger?

“Forget it—”

“That’s fine.”

Before Xi Zhou could finish, Nan Zhiyi spoke up and agreed to the request.

Nan Zhiyi was truly exhausted today. When Xi Zhou offered to read, she only briefly considered whether Xi Zhou’s knowledge level could handle a “curiosity baby” like Nan Jing. After all, a child’s mind is whimsical, and they often ask questions adults would never think of.

Nan Zhiyi figured that if Xi Zhou couldn’t answer a question, she would just look it up online, so she agreed.

“But we have to ask An-an if she’s okay with it,” Nan Zhiyi asked the child in her arms. “Auntie Xi wants to tell An-an a story today. Would An-an like to hear one from Auntie Xi?”

A child’s likes and dislikes come and go quickly. After spending time together yesterday, Nan Jing wasn’t very afraid of Xi Zhou anymore, but she couldn’t be said to like her yet either. Between Xi Zhou and Nan Zhiyi, Nan Jing naturally preferred her mother.

But Mommy seems very tired.

Xi Zhou saw Nan Jing’s hesitation and didn’t want to force the choice. “Should we forget it?”

Just as Xi Zhou said that, Nan Jing agreed. “Okay.”

Hearing that Xi Zhou was about to give up, Nan Jing looked a bit disappointed, pouting her little lips aggrievedly. “Does Auntie Xi not want to tell me a story anymore?”

“I’ll tell it, I’ll tell it.” Xi Zhou smiled broadly, nodding repeatedly.

“Thank you, Auntie Xi.” Nan Jing smiled sweetly at her.

Nan Zhiyi was relieved. Xi Zhou’s genuine liking for Nan Jing dispelled her previous worries.

Nan Zhiyi carried Nan Jing back to the room, tucked her into bed, and smoothed the corners of the quilt. Xi Zhou sat on the chair by the bed. Nan Zhiyi handed her a copy of Greek Mythology, opening it to the section on the Twelve Olympians.

“If An-an has any questions, please be patient with her. If you really can’t answer, An-an will write them down and tell me tomorrow,” Nan Zhiyi instructed.

Xi Zhou took the book, scanned the content, and rested it on her lap.

“Zeus’s father was named Cronus. Cronus feared that his children would take away his power to rule the world…”

Xi Zhou didn’t read the text verbatim. To make it easier for Nan Jing to understand, she avoided the poetic language of the book. Relying on her own understanding, she summarized the relationships and the chaos the gods caused in the simplest way possible.

Worried that Xi Zhou might struggle with the little one, Nan Zhiyi didn’t go to sleep immediately. She stood quietly by the door, listening. Xi Zhou’s voice wasn’t bright and crisp like a typical woman’s; instead, it was deep and mellow, like a cello. Her pace was steady, and her tone remained in a comfortable range. Nan Zhiyi found that listening to Xi Zhou tell a story was a pleasure in itself.

Regarding Nan Jing’s questions, Xi Zhou showed a level of patience that exceeded Nan Zhiyi’s expectations. Nan Jing asked questions incessantly, and Xi Zhou explained every single one, only continuing the story once Nan Jing was satisfied.

Seeing that the two were getting along well, Nan Zhiyi turned and lazily headed back to her room to sleep.

Xi Zhou had read many books and possessed a great memory and a vast store of knowledge. Her storytelling, filled with interesting side-references, made for an enthralling night for Nan Jing. Finally, Xi Zhou noticed it was 10:15 PM and insisted on turning off the lights.

“Thank you, Auntie Xi,” Nan Jing said sweetly from the bed.

Xi Zhou couldn’t help but pat Nan Jing’s small head. Nan Jing didn’t resist at all, obediently letting her. “You’re welcome.”

“Goodnight, Auntie Xi.”

“Goodnight to you, too.”

Xi Zhou moved quietly as she stepped out of Nan Jing’s bedroom.

Returning to her own room, she looked around, observing the layout. There wasn’t much: a wardrobe, two nightstands, and a desk with a flashily designed desktop computer. In this ABO world, the house was also equipped with an air circulation system.

The room had an ensuite bathroom. Xi Zhou turned on the air circulation, slipped into the bathroom, closed the toilet lid, and sat down to light a cigarette.

She didn’t want to fill Nan Zhiyi’s guest bedroom with the smell of smoke.

Perhaps because she had slept too long in the afternoon, Xi Zhou wasn’t sleepy at all. She sat on the toilet and smoked two in a row to satisfy her craving, then washed her hands at the sink.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. A familiar face stared back.

Xi Zhou took a closer look at her current face and body. The original owner looked exactly like her; even tiny details were strikingly similar, such as the position of a mole on her collarbone. The only difference was likely the calluses on her hands. She was left-handed; although she could use both hands, her right-hand calluses weren’t as thick as the original owner’s.

Looking at her reflection, Xi Zhou couldn’t help but sigh.

She opened the wardrobe, and the colorful, oddly styled clothes made her knit her brows. Although she was a woman, her personality was that of a quintessential STEM “straight man”—she was the type who wouldn’t spend a single extra second on her appearance if she could help it. Her original wardrobe had been a collection of “vibrant blacks,” mostly black, white, gray, and brown in basic cuts.

The original owner’s fashion sense was far too “avant-garde” for her.

Xi Zhou dug out a plain black long-sleeved loungewear set and went to shower.

By the time she finished showering and drying her hair, it was nearly 11:00 PM. Her phone was full of missed calls. She guessed they were all from the original owner’s fair-weather friends inviting her to bars. Looking at the constant stream of notifications, she lost all desire to play with her phone.

She sprawled out on the bed, staring at the plain white ceiling and began counting sheep.

When she reached the 1,001st sheep, drowsiness finally hit. Within moments, she was asleep.

“Xi Zhou, you’re a murderer, rotten to the core!”

A man with a distorted face roared at her. Xi Zhou’s lips parted unconsciously, trying desperately to defend herself.

That day, the wind on the rooftop was fierce, shredding her last shred of sanity.

Thud—

After hitting the ground, the world went silent.

“I’m not!”

Xi Zhou jerked awake from the dream, bolting upright in bed. Cold sweat soaked her back, her pajamas clinging to her skin. Her hair was stuck to her neck. She uncomfortably pulled the fabric away and reached up to tidy her messy hair.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.