After Transmigrating as the Abandoned Rich Wife O, I Turned the Scum A's Life into a Crematorium [Transmigration] - Chapter 8

The car glided past towering skyscrapers and surging crowds, finally coming to a halt in front of a Hui-style building exuding an ancient, scholarly charm.

Surrounded by male Beta bodyguards in black suits and white shirts, equipped with earpieces, Shen Siying and Gu Bei walked toward the living room, which was lit up as bright as day.

“Hold my arm,” Shen Siying said coldly, her eyes not even glancing at Gu Bei. “If you can’t say anything nice, just keep your mouth shut.”

Gu Bei shot her a sidelong glance, let out a curt “Oh,” and hooked her arm forcefully through Shen Siying’s. She even intentionally tugged the white fur stole draped over the Alpha’s shoulders slightly askew.

Feeling the other woman’s irritated gaze, Gu Bei smiled with satisfaction, revealing two playful little canine teeth and a shallow dimple.

After that, the two walked into the living room, a picture of domestic harmony on the outside but total discord on the inside. They underwent the routine “entry cleaning” performed by the grandmother’s maids.

While changing her shoes, Gu Bei surveyed the entire living room. Classical music was playing through the surround sound system; it was very atmospheric and pleasant to the ear. Having never seen such a luxury Chinese-style villa before transmigrating, her eyes darted around restlessly, terrified of missing a single detail.

During the walk, she let out occasional “Wows” and “Oohs” for no apparent reason—giving off major “Grandma Liu entering Prospect Garden” vibes.

If she had any other choice, Shen Siying would have let go immediately and announced to the world that she didn’t know this country bumpkin.

Shen Siying suddenly cut her a sharp look. “Is that level of exaggeration necessary? It’s not like it’s your first time here.”

Gu Bei was instantly reminded of her role. She quickly flashed a fake smile to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Grandmother’s birthday celebration was low-key; there was no imperial feast or a house full of distinguished guests. Just as Gu Bei’s bottom touched the edge of a rosewood sofa, she was yanked up by Shen Siying.

Shen Siying’s face went from a glare to a gentle smile in exactly one second. Gu Bei was caught between laughter and tears. She touched the tips of her fingers together and pulled them apart at the palms to form a hollow circle; she pushed this “crown” toward Shen Siying with a crooked grin.

This was Gu Bei’s way of mocking her; Shen Siying’s “Empress-level” face-changing skill was so superb that Gu Bei wanted to award her an Oscar for Best Actress.

“What are you doing?” Shen Siying mouthed silently.

Before Gu Bei could respond, the voice of a middle-aged woman rang out, calling, “Bei Bei!”

Judging by the tone, this was supposed to be a warm scene of maternal love. Without a second thought, Gu Bei rushed toward the woman, grabbed her hands, and responded: “Hey, Grandma!”

The middle-aged woman froze. The smile stiffened on her face, and she was speechless for a long while.

“Grandma?” Gu Bei didn’t let go, her almond eyes filled with innocent confusion.

“That is your mother,” Shen Siying’s voice drifted over, devoid of any emotion.

Gu Bei’s mind went blank. Who am I? Where am I? What did I do? I did nothing!

Heaven! Earth! Just let me be an extra! Or better yet, let me transmigrate into Xiao Ba!

Xiao Ba: “Dream on!”

Ten million “grass mud horses” galloped through Gu Bei’s heart, leaving forty million hoofprints of “What a disaster, what a mess.”

“Heaven, Earth…” Gu Bei wailed again in her mind. The only difference was that this time, Xiao Ba chanted along with her in a tone that suggested it enjoyed her suffering.

Gu Bei rolled her eyes mentally. Even as a supporting character, people were stealing her lines; her life was officially a tragedy.

“Mom,” she said, then pursed her lips in a smile and withdrew her hands.

The middle-aged woman said awkwardly, “Grandmother is still in her room. Why don’t you go see her?”

Shen Siying looked at this increasingly strange Gu Bei. “Don’t eat cake today. Eating too many sweets makes you stupid.”

Gu Bei’s parents had also been invited to the dinner, but Shen Siying hadn’t known, otherwise, she would have mentioned it. The original host didn’t usually call her mother “Mom,” preferring to call her by her full name—Su Lanzhi.

Consequently, Su Lanzhi was surprised, but mostly happy; she thought her daughter had finally grown up. She certainly didn’t know that her daughter was currently screaming in her head for Xiao Ba to appear and save her.

Grandmother was sitting on the edge of a Luohan couch with the family doctor kneeling at her feet. She had fallen and had a bump on her ankle, but after applying medicine, it wasn’t a major issue.

Gu Bei and Shen Siying reached the door and once again acted like a loving couple, arm in arm.

Grandmother smiled kindly. Her words were clipped and carried an air of authority befitting her status as a female entrepreneur: “A-Nan, Bei Bei, you’re here.”

“A-Nan?” Gu Bei muttered under her breath, only to be pinched by Shen Siying’s fingernails.

Xiao Ba: “Greet her.”

“Grandmother,” Gu Bei called out before Shen Siying could say anything, her face blooming into a wide smile. Shen Siying followed with a greeting of her own.

Grandmother beckoned to Gu Bei. “Good Bei Bei, come and sit.”

Gu Bei scurried over to sit beside her, her large eyes blinking as she looked at Grandmother’s aged face.

“Good child, you’re finally willing to call me Grandmother. Every time you come, you call me ‘Chairwoman.’ It’s so distant.”

Gu Bei gave a wide, awkward grin and knocked her forehead with her hand, trying to land a blow on Xiao Ba.

Xiao Ba: “I hadn’t even told you what to call her yet, and you were just too quick with your mouth. Don’t blame me.”

Gu Bei knocked her head twice more with extra force.

Grandmother couldn’t sit still. “Good child, you mustn’t hit yourself!”

Gu Bei: “No, no, I just have a headache.”

Grandmother: “Quick, let Doctor Chen take a look.”

Gu Bei waved her hands. “No need, no need. I just had insomnia last night.”

Grandmother looked at Shen Siying, her gaze suddenly becoming much more stern. “A-Nan, you need to exercise some self-control. Don’t toss Bei Bei around so much in the future. Otherwise, I’ll move her into the old estate.”

Seeing that Grandmother wasn’t joking, Shen Siying immediately nodded respectfully. “Understood, Grandma,” she said gently.

Gu Bei watched the exchange between the old and the young, listening to their cryptic words, wanting nothing more than to escape this awkward small talk. Just as she was about to stand up, her hand was caught by Grandmother, who rubbed it in her palms.

“Bei Bei, you’ve lost weight. If A-Nan treats you poorly, you tell me. I’ll definitely give her a piece of my mind.”

Gu Bei nodded with a smile.

Of course I’ve lost weight. Eating nothing but greens all day—if I still got fat, I’d be a literal pig, Gu Bei thought.

She thought of her own grandmother before transmigrating—a white-haired, warm-hearted elderly woman. After her grandfather passed away, her grandmother was often alone, standing in the wind or sitting under a crape myrtle tree. Though she smiled, she was surrounded by loneliness.

Gu Bei’s nose prickled. Looking at Shen Siying’s grandmother with shimmering eyes, she said, “Grandmother, I’ll come to visit you more often from now on.”

Grandmother froze for a second, then her expression softened. “Good, good. I’ll have them make my specialty, Braised Eggplant, for you.”

Gu Bei: “Grandmother, can we change the dish?”

Grandmother thought for a moment: “Braised Baby Cabbage.”

Gu Bei forced a smile: “Great, that’s just great.”

Gu Bei finally realized that Shen Siying’s love for vegetarian food wasn’t random; it seemed the whole family had been herbivores in a past life.

Shen Siying’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, which was covered with a privacy filter. Her brows knit slightly before instantly smoothing over. She cleared her throat. “I’m going out to take a call.”

By the time Shen Siying returned, the dishes were being served. Including Gu Bei, there were five people at the table: her parents, Shen Siying, and Grandmother. Shen Siying sat to Gu Bei’s right. She didn’t eat immediately but picked up a piece of vibrant green vegetable with her chopsticks and gave it to Gu Bei.

Gu Bei’s face turned the same shade as the vegetable. She shifted her bowl and plate to the left, her spoon clattering against the dish. She didn’t want to accept Shen Siying’s hypocritical kindness.

Shen Siying was quick; she didn’t waste time and simply flicked her wrist to drop the vegetable into Gu Bei’s bowl. Gu Bei pouted, looking unhappy. Shen Siying stopped looking at her as if she had completed a chore.

The chef brought out a plate of Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, the aroma drifting over to Gu Bei’s nose. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she perked up with 120% focus.

Shen Siying saw what she was thinking and let out a dry cough.

Gu Bei didn’t care at all. Following her father’s lead, she snagged a rib dripping with thick sauce.

“Wow, this is so good!” Gu Bei couldn’t help herself; she almost wanted to swallow the bone.

Grandmother signaled the maid to push the ribs in front of Gu Bei. “If it’s good, eat more.”

Shen Siying coughed twice more, her brows furrowed.

Gu Bei felt mischievous. “A-Nan, is your throat uncomfortable?” She ignored Shen Siying’s wide-eyed stare. “Would you like some vegetable soup?”

The elders at the table were all amused by the name “A-Nan.” Shen Siying grabbed the lemon water beside her and gulped it down.

Gu Bei’s mother said, “Bei Bei, didn’t you used to never eat meat?”

Gu Bei was staring at the charcoal-grilled pork neck the chef was bringing out. “Really? Why would that be?”

When it came time to cut the cake, Gu Bei didn’t hold back and polished off two large slices. She licked her lips, looking incredibly cute.

Shen Siying looked at her gluttonous Omega with disdain. “Are you trying to get fat enough to die?”

“It’s just two slices of cake, it’s not that serious,” Gu Bei retorted habitually.

“Cream is full of trans fats. If you keep eating, your collarbones are going to be covered up,” Shen Siying persisted.

“Oh,” Gu Bei replied dismissively. She had never considered protruding collarbones as a standard for beauty.

After the pleasant meal ended, Gu Bei and Shen Siying bid farewell to the elders and returned to the villa. Throughout the drive, the car was quiet, except for the constant notification pings from Shen Siying’s phone. She gripped the phone and switched it to vibrate.