After Transmigrating as a Scum Alpha, I Pampered the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 8

This “Big Bad Wolf” with her ill intentions was now beaming with a sweet, disarming smile.

First, she checked the ward to see if anything was missing, then said: “Auntie, I took the liberty of hiring a caregiver for you. You won’t blame me, will you?”

Zhai You blinked, looking at Zhu Rong with pure sincerity.

“I didn’t want to make decisions for you, but the main thing is that your daughter got sick from looking after you. It’s really interfering with her upcoming work, so I felt I had to step in.”

Zhu Rong’s eyes flickered: “Work?”

“That’s right.” Zhai You’s tone was light and breezy as she spun her tale. “Your daughter decided to sign under me and become one of my artists. She’s going to be my money tree in the future!”

Though confused, Jiang Bailu realized that this story would dispel her mother’s worries.

She kept quiet, watching Zhai You lie through her teeth with a straight face.

“An artist?” Zhu Rong looked at Jiang Bailu, bewildered.

She remembered her daughter loved performing as a child. Whenever there was a popular show on TV, Jiang Bailu would imitate the characters and act for her. It was a hobby since childhood and a dream she had never spoken of.

As her mother, how could Zhu Rong not know?

Well, she had peeked at Jiang Bailu’s diary.

She believed about seventy to eighty percent of Zhai You’s words. But then, thinking that a caregiver would cost a lot—money that could be better spent—Zhu Rong shook her head: “Auntie appreciates the kindness, but let’s forget about the caregiver. As long as you take good care of my daughter, I’ll be happy.”

Zhu Rong’s eyes dimmed, her hand resting on the quilt clenching slightly.

She didn’t know how much longer she could stay by her daughter’s side.

But as long as her daughter was happy, she could rest easy even if she passed away.

“Auntie, don’t say that.” Zhai You smiled. “How could I mistreat your daughter? Don’t worry, your health will improve, and then you can take care of her yourself.”

Zhai You really liked Jiang Bailu’s mother.

She was truly good to Jiang Bailu.

Perhaps there was a bit of “loving the house and its crow” (loving someone and everything associated with them) involved.

In short, Zhai You continued her serious fabrication: “I’ve already arranged a drama for Jiang Bailu. Once she performs, she’ll get her acting fee, and then we’ll have the money for your treatment. You will get better.”

Zhu Rong wasn’t some naive youngster who had never been tricked; she didn’t believe Zhai You could be this good for no reason.

To make it logical, Zhai You continued playing her role as the “Skinflint”: “I’ll say this upfront—I can’t do all this for nothing, right? So, your daughter has to give me half of the money she earns.”

In that instant, Zhu Rong really felt she was a skinflint.

Demanding half just like that, while Jiang Bailu had to do all the hard work.

Jiang Bailu, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke: “Mom, half isn’t too much. If it weren’t for her… I wouldn’t have gotten a role. Getting a chance to act is very difficult.”

She only said this to put Zhu Rong at ease.

In reality, Jiang Bailu had already signed with a company and officially debuted, she just wasn’t famous yet.

It wasn’t that the company hadn’t arranged resources for her; they thought her image was great and gave her good opportunities.

But no matter how good they were, they were no match for Zhai You’s malice.

Whether big or small, Zhai You snatched them all, denying Jiang Bailu any chance to show her face to the public. As a result, she hadn’t filmed a single scene since her debut.

The company had repeatedly urged her to submit to Zhai You; otherwise, they would demand she pay the contract termination fee.

Jiang Bailu’s heart, which had been momentarily moved, sank again upon remembering this.

How could I think Zhai You is good?

Zhu Rong sighed: “You’ve been sensible since you were little; Mama won’t stop you.”

Moreover, since Jiang Bailu was doing this to pay for her medical bills, what right did she have to interfere?

Selfishly, Zhu Rong wanted to live a few more years.

At least until she saw her daughter find a suitable partner—someone to take her place in accompanying her—only then could Zhu Rong be at peace.

Zhu Rong’s eyes stung, and her voice grew raspy.

“Please take care of my daughter.”

With that, the “Big Bad Wolf” turned into a “Cunning Fox.” Zhai You narrowed her eyes, truly looking the part of a charming fox.

One could only say that the heavens had blessed her with an extraordinary appearance.

Zhu Rong went from being wary to thinking Zhai You was a good person, albeit a bit of a skinflint.

“Back to the caregiver.”

Zhai You intended to settle everything: “Bailu definitely won’t have time while filming, but if she’s worried about you, she won’t act well. So we must hire a caregiver. You understand, right, Auntie?”

Zhu Rong nodded, then asked: “How much does a caregiver cost per month?”

Zhai You: “I’m not sure about that.” She really didn’t know.

She had been poor in her previous life and had no knowledge of such things; she had only vaguely heard of an amount.

It was quite expensive.

She couldn’t tell the truth.

But she also couldn’t just say, “Anyway, I’m not short on money, I’ve already hired one.”

In Zhu Rong’s mind, this was all the hard-earned money her daughter would make in the future; every cent should be saved. But some things couldn’t be saved, so Zhai You had to hide the truth.

“Even though not hiring one would save a lot, if you need something, you can’t keep troubling the nurses to help.”

Zhu Rong had raised a daughter with Jiang Bailu’s personality.

This meant she was also a soft-hearted person.

The thought of making the busy nurses take time to care for her made Zhu Rong feel uneasy.

When my health improves, I must go out and earn more money to lighten Bailu’s burden.

Leaving the ward, Zhai You prepared to take Jiang Bailu home.

Jiang Bailu’s steps faltered slightly as she stepped out the door. She looked up, revealing her exquisite, clean face.

She looked at Zhai You.

“The things you just said…” Jiang Bailu spoke tentatively. She wanted to figure out Zhai You’s thoughts, but she simply couldn’t, so she was forced to be more direct.

If there’s a problem, ask.

Otherwise, keeping it inside would only make her more uneasy.

Noticing Jiang Bailu’s trembling, Zhai You’s expression became helpless.

Am I really that scary?

Standing in the clean hospital corridor, Zhai You looked particularly striking.

Her vibrant red hair was completely out of place here.

“What I just said was half-true,” Zhai You said, choosing her words carefully.

Her next words were also only half-true.

“I have to introduce you to my parents. If you don’t have a job, they might not look too kindly upon you… For the things I want to do next, I need to find something for you to do.”

“I’ve already asked my manager to arrange a role for you; they’re currently negotiating.”

Jiang Bailu stared at Zhai You without moving.

She should have been acting cold, yet her heart was beating restlessly.

“Whatever you do is within your rights.” Jiang Bailu placed her hand over her chest, clutching her clothes helplessly, her eyes misty.

Yes, after signing that contract, Jiang Bailu had fallen into a passive position; whatever Zhai You did was “justified.”

She didn’t need to speak so cautiously.

Perhaps Zhai You hadn’t noticed it herself, but when she spoke, her expression and the look in her eyes showed she was trying to figure out how to say it so Jiang Bailu would accept.

Zhai You looked up at the snow-white ceiling.

Dammit, how can Jiang Bailu make that face?

She looked so moved it was practically an invitation for Zhai You to go up and hug her.

The problem was, if Zhai You actually dared to make a move, she was certain all she’d get was Jiang Bailu coldly moving away.

Sigh, I’m suddenly feeling a bit discouraged.

Just as Zhai You was trying to find a way to offer some subtle comfort, the short, cute girl suddenly came running over.

She was panting, looking like she had been searching up and down for ages.

Finally finding Zhai You, she also saw Jiang Bailu standing beside her. The cute girl recognized her instantly.

“You must be Jiang Bailu!”

Jiang Bailu felt the girl’s hostility and pursed her lips.

She was prepared to stay silent, but Zhai You tugged at her wrist.

Zhai You shot her a look, reminding Jiang Bailu of the terms of the contract.

During the contract period, if anyone pursues Zhai You, Jiang Bailu has to help block them.

She had thought it was ridiculous at the time, but now she realized that Zhai “The Skinflint” was indeed a master of calculation. Jiang Bailu lowered her eyes, then raised them again, a look of vigilance appearing on her pale face: “Who are you?”

Taking this as a challenge, the cute girl put her hands on her hips aggressively and answered: “Shen Yunyi!”

Zhai You didn’t think that sounded right: “Are you sure that’s your name?”

“…Qiao Yan.” Shen Yunyi was the name of the “cool older sister” type from the booth, and also the enemy Qiao Yan had in mind.

She had originally wanted to use Jiang Bailu to make them fight.

Qiao Yan pouted.

She had heard of Jiang Bailu’s name long ago.

In the circle of rich second-generations, everyone knew Zhai You was generous and rarely made things difficult for people. Consequently, anyone with ulterior motives couldn’t help but want to cling to her.

But Zhai You was uniquely obsessed with Jiang Bailu.

Qiao Yan was very unwilling; she never thought her own appearance was lacking in any way.

But seeing Jiang Bailu, that bit of unwillingness vanished, and a thought popped into her head.

No wonder they say Alphas and Omegas belong together.

The atmosphere between Zhai You and Jiang Bailu was too harmonious; even Qiao Yan felt a sense of shame seeing Jiang Bailu.

“Damn it, this Beta will never admit defeat!”

The moment she said that, Qiao Yan had already lost.

But she truly acted as if she wouldn’t give up, staring at Jiang Bailu with wide eyes.

Qiao Yan’s eyes were already large, and with circle lenses, her “soft girl” image was even more vivid.

Jiang Bailu simply looked back with her harmless, deer-like eyes, yet there was an inexplicable sharpness in her gaze, breaking her soft image.

Seeing this, Zhai You only felt it was “damnably harmonious.”

She is a future Best Actress, after all.

This thought popped into Zhai You’s head, and her eyes filled with even more affection as she looked at Jiang Bailu.

Zhai You didn’t want to lose either.

Even if the Righteous Lead appears in the future, she doesn’t want to lose.

Jiang Bailu can only be hers.

Jiang Bailu’s acting skills were excellent; pretending to be Zhai You’s “Main Wife,” her aura was not lacking at all as she pressured Qiao Yan into silence: “Are you going to keep pestering Zhai You?”