The Sickly Girl Becomes a Scum Alpha - Chapter 17

The timely arrival of the food saved Chu Ci. Although she knew Jian Sui probably hadn’t heard what was said, the mere thought of it was enough to make her want to sink into the floor.

She covertly gestured a “you wait” to Cao Xi, who responded with a fearless, mocking eyebrow raise.

“Is it hot in here? Chu Ci, why is your face so red?”

Zhao Rong looked at Chu Ci, who was keeping her head down, and then at Jian Sui and Cao Xi on either side of her, whose expressions were vastly different but both focused on Chu Ci. She sensed an odd tension she couldn’t decipher, as if something was happening that only she was unaware of.

“Uh… it is a bit warm,” Chu Ci said, forcing a nervous smile.

“Have some water…”

“Just take off your jacket!”

Jian Sui held out a glass of water, while Cao Xi reached out to yank off Chu Ci’s jacket. Both spoke and acted simultaneously, then froze.

The scene went silent. Chu Ci’s anxious hands were slightly trembling. To avoid further awkwardness, she quickly took the glass Jian Sui offered, only to realize that holding the cup meant she couldn’t take off her jacket.

Chu Ci: “…”

What is wrong with my brain?

The more flustered she got, the less she knew what to do. Cao Xi also realized in horror that she seemed to have stolen Jian Sui’s job. She grabbed Chu Ci’s jacket and tried to shove it into Jian Sui’s hands. “You take it off for her.”

Jian Sui’s reflexively caught the jacket: “…”

Chu Ci, who was dragged sideways into Jian Sui’s embrace: “…”

Cao Xi, the instigator: Did I mess up somewhere?

This was very wrong. Chu Ci couldn’t possibly let Jian Sui take off her jacket. She quickly snatched her clothes back. “I’ll do it myself.”

Zhao Rong across the table watched the three of them tangled together. She couldn’t understand why removing a jacket was so complicated. But before she could figure it out, she saw Chu Ci, holding the glass of water, lift her arm to take off her jacket…

“Watch out!”

“Splash!”

As expected, Chu Ci poured the entire cup of warm water all over herself.

Suddenly, everyone calmed down.

Chu Ci actually sighed in relief, standing up to escape the disastrous scene. “I need to change. Cao Xi, come with me.”

Remembering the previous attempt to flee, Cao Xi, whose backside had just lifted from the chair, instantly sat back down. “My leg is numb. Jian Sui, you go with her.”

Chu Ci glared at the suddenly traitorous Cao Xi. She wants me dead!

But Cao Xi clearly didn’t care about her fate. She even gave Chu Ci a knowing wink and a definite nod, though Chu Ci had no idea what she was trying to convey.

Jian Sui glanced at the winking Cao Xi, then quickly stood up and looked at the strangely anxious Chu Ci. “Let’s go.”

“But I don’t know where to change,” Chu Ci persisted, kicking Cao Xi’s chair. “Right, Cao Xi?”

“It’s upstairs. I have a regular private room here. Just tell them my name.”

Cao Xi felt fortunate that the cowardly Chu Ci had such a brave and resourceful friend as herself. Watch me help her out!

“Thanks a lot,” Chu Ci gritted her teeth. Seeing the smug look on Cao Xi’s face, she knew there was no relying on her and had no choice but to leave with Jian Sui.

Watching the two figures leave the room, Cao Xi smiled with satisfaction. A gift from the heavens! Chu darling, you’d better seize the opportunity!

Zhao Rong frowned, looking at Cao Xi’s bizarre expression. “What on earth are you two up to?”

Cao Xi snapped back to the present and diverted Zhao Rong’s attention. “Miss Zhao, where were we in our conversation?”

The private room door closed. In the hallway, the footsteps of the two women echoed. Chu Ci stared at the patterns on the tiles, then at the hidden lights, then at the wall—anywhere but at Jian Sui next to her.

“Should we go buy you some clothes first?”

Jian Sui noticed Chu Ci’s nervousness and spoke first.

“Yes, yes, the clothes are on…” Chu Ci nodded vaguely. Before she could remember which floor the clothing was on, they reached the elevator.

“You go up first. I’ll buy them for you. You can’t go out with your clothes all wet.”

Jian Sui pressed the up button and then quickly sized up Chu Ci, memorizing her measurements.

Not noticing Jian Sui’s gaze, Chu Ci thought she made a good point. She pulled out her card and handed it to Jian Sui. “The password is your birthday…”

As the words left her mouth, Chu Ci wished she could go back in time and smack herself. The original host had many cards, each with a different password. Being too lazy to remember them all, she only ever used the one with Jian Sui’s birthday as the password because she could recall it. Now, she had exposed herself right in front of the person! Why couldn’t she just have given the numbers directly? Then she could have claimed it was a coincidence!

This self-disclosure left her no room for defense. Chu Ci bit her lower lip, desperately trying to salvage the situation. “I’ll change the password as soon as I get back if you don’t like it!”

Jian Sui was originally going to refuse; she could afford to buy Chu Ci a change of clothes. But looking at the incredibly anxious Chu Ci, she reached out and took the card. “No need. It’s quite convenient.”

“Yes, yes!”

Chu Ci didn’t know what else to say. Fortunately, the elevator arrived, saving her life. She hurried inside.

Jian Sui stood where she was, watching the elevator doors slowly close, revealing the ascending floor numbers. She lowered her head to look at the card in her hand, unable to suppress the curve of her lips.

So, she uses my birthday as her password, and she was so scared that I would find out. Such a secretive, cautious affection. How can I let her change it?

Caressing the edge of the card, Jian Sui felt a bank card had never felt so warm before.

As Jian Sui took another elevator down to buy Chu Ci clothes, Chu Ci arrived upstairs. The waiting service attendant at the elevator doors greeted her politely. “Hello, Miss. How may I help you?”

“Where is Cao Xi’s room?” Chu Ci took a deep breath to return to normal.

“Please follow me.”

The attendant here must have known her identity as soon as she pressed the floor button. They didn’t delay, immediately leading her to the room. Someone must have already communicated with Cao Xi.

Chu Ci didn’t need to worry about any of that. The door opened, and after politely thanking the attendant, she stepped inside.

But the moment she turned on the light, she regretted it.

She stared, dumbfounded, at the scene before her: dim, suggestive mood lighting, a soft and strangely shaped bed, light, flowing sheer curtains, and all sorts of items that looked very similar to the ones in that gift box…

Cao Xi!!

Flushing from head to toe, Chu Ci thought the room at Platinum Club before was her limit. Comparing that to this, she realized the previous room had been perfectly normal!

She couldn’t stay here for another second. Chu Ci needed to run. Otherwise, when Jian Sui arrived, she would literally have to find a hole to crawl into!

What is going on?!

Fumbling with the door, Chu Ci realized there was no doorknob on the inside.

How do I open this door?!

She tried knocking, but no one answered outside. Chu Ci couldn’t even find a keyhole. She panicked.

What kind of anti-human design is this?

She pulled out her phone, intending to call Cao Xi, only to find the signal icon showed a cross.

Instantly, all the strange urban legends Chu Ci had ever read about rushed into her mind: Cunning conspiracies, sinister human hearts, supernatural events!

Curling up, hiding in the corner, Chu Ci was terrified of herself. She stared cautiously at her surroundings in the dim ambient light. The more she looked, the more frightened she became, but she didn’t dare make a sound. She bit her lower lip, her eyes watering, her eye sockets red.

Jian Sui found a ready-to-wear store and bought a simple white dress in Chu Ci’s size. She didn’t know if Chu Ci would like it, but it would certainly look good on her.

Imagining Chu Ci wearing it, Jian Sui’s steps were light as she went upstairs.

Reporting Cao Xi’s name, the same attendant handed Jian Sui the room card but didn’t follow her. Clearly, Cao Xi had instructed them to only give her the room number and let Jian Sui go alone.

Jian Sui held the clothes in one hand and the room card in the other. Her heart couldn’t help but speed up. Is it really happening so soon?

But I’m not ready yet. If I refuse, will Chu Ci be heartbroken?

The more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat. Looking at the nearby door, Jian Sui’s hand holding the room card trembled slightly. Should I run away? Let Cao Xi deliver the clothes.

But if I don’t show up, Chu Ci will be disappointed, won’t she?

Thinking of Chu Ci’s soft, clean eyes dropping in disappointment, Jian Sui couldn’t bring herself to leave.

Moreover, if Chu Ci was actually… trying to put on a show, wouldn’t letting Cao Xi take over…

Although Cao Xi and Chu Ci were both Alphas and long-time friends, just the possibility made Jian Sui uncomfortable. She absolutely couldn’t accept giving up this opportunity herself.

The room card slowly moved toward the door. Jian Sui pinched her palm. It’s okay. Just pretend I don’t know anything, didn’t hear their conversation, and don’t know what kind of scene is behind that door…

Hmm, does that make me sound like I’m getting a bargain and still complaining?

While condemning herself on a moral level, Jian Sui did not stop pressing the room card against the door.

Ding!

The door quietly cracked open.

Taking a deep breath, Jian Sui decided maybe she should close her eyes after all.

Mentally prepared, Jian Sui pushed the door open and walked in, announcing her arrival to Chu Ci.

“Chu Ci…”

“Thud!”

Before Jian Sui could close her eyes, she heard a muffled sound. She instantly opened them and looked. Chu Ci, huddled under a table, was covering her head and looking at her with tear-filled eyes.

“What’s wrong?” This was completely unexpected. Jian Sui quickly walked over and knelt down, trying to pull Chu Ci out.

Seeing Jian Sui, Chu Ci forgot everything else. She was terrified. She crawled out from under the table and tightly hugged Jian Sui, completely throwing the kneeling Jian Sui off balance. The two of them collapsed onto the soft carpet.

“Waaaaah… I thought I was going to die here. The door wouldn’t open…”

Chu Ci cried into Jian Sui’s shoulder. When have I ever suffered such a grievance!

Jian Sui, completely embraced, tentatively patted Chu Ci’s back. She turned her head slightly to look at the nearby Chu Ci. She looked incredibly weak and pale, likely from extreme fright. Her raven-black eyelashes fluttered with tears, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her nose was flushed. Tear streaks glistened on her face. Her normally beautiful lips were chewed up, swollen, and moist, giving her a pathetic yet subtly alluring look. She was like fragile, broken porcelain, which only intensified the urge to possess her.

Jian Sui felt that her internal moral high ground was becoming seriously shaky.