The Sickly Girl Becomes a Scum Alpha - Chapter 21

“They’re newlyweds, after all.”

“They’re young people.”

“…”

Just as Chu Ci wanted to sink into the floor, the surrounding chatter only intensified the flames, their overly kind and understanding comments giving her a massive headache.

“Jian Sui, I…”

Just as she was about to explain, Chu Ci’s confused brain realized her posture was inappropriate. She quickly tried to pull her hands back, forgetting that her body was leaning, supported only by her hands on the railing. Her mind blanked, and the moment she let go, her body uncontrollably tilted forward, pressing right onto Jian Sui.

Chu Ci: …What am I thinking!!

She feigned composure, patting Jian Sui’s back like a perfectly normal greeting hug. Chu Ci felt this gesture was incredibly stupid, but all she wanted now was self-deception.

Leaning in Chu Ci’s arms, Jian Sui, who was being gently patted, felt the tension she had felt earlier suddenly melt away. Chu Ci letting go of her hand in front of Bai Qingqing had truly bothered her, making her feel undesirable. But now, in the presence of all the guests, Chu Ci hugged her without hesitation, as if making a statement, proving her identity to everyone.

This gesture of reassurance was so obvious that Jian Sui’s previous coolness melted away. As expected, Chu Ci noticed every change in my mood and cared about it.

Perhaps letting go of my hand in front of Bai Qingqing was just a coincidence, and I was overthinking it.

While in Chu Ci’s arms, Jian Sui looked down at Bai Qingqing, who was also looking up at them from the corner. Bai Qingqing smiled slightly at her.

Seeing such a friendly attitude, Jian Sui confirmed once again that she had been paranoid. Chu Ci and Bai Qingqing were probably just casual friends, like Chu Ci and Cao Xi.

“I’m fine now.”

Feeling slightly guilty for having suspected Chu Ci, Jian Sui took the initiative to hold Chu Ci’s hand. “Shall we go up now?”

Chu Ci, who was still frantically trying to think of an excuse, was nearly slow to react when Jian Sui dismissed the incident so lightly. It took her two steps up the stairs before her mind caught up. She cautiously looked at Jian Sui’s face. “You’re truly not angry?”

Jian Sui had kindly helped her steady herself, and yet Chu Ci had clumsily pinned and hugged her in front of everyone, taking advantage of her and humiliating her. How good-tempered must Jian Sui be to endure this?

However, those words confirmed Jian Sui’s own thoughts. Chu Ci noticed my reaction and is apologizing and trying to reassure me.

“I’m truly not angry.”

Jian Sui answered Chu Ci firmly, even reflecting on herself. Was my expression really that bad? It made Chu Ci check with me so many times.

Seeing the sincerity in Jian Sui’s eyes, Chu Ci sighed in relief, internally praising Jian Sui for the ten thousandth time. She truly is the heroine. To handle something like this with such calm composure and tolerance…

Chu Ci: She’s a genuinely good person!

Thinking this, Chu Ci couldn’t help but look at Jian Sui several times, her smile looking slightly goofy.

Jian Sui could feel Chu Ci’s gaze. She subtly pursed her lips and straightened her back. Maybe this makes me look a little better?

The two, lost in their disparate but harmonious thoughts, held hands and walked up to the second floor.

Most of the people here were actual power holders, like Chu Xiong, although very few matched his standing. Most of them implicitly revolved around Chu Xiong.

Chu Ci and Jian Sui’s appearance immediately drew attention.

Chu Xiong called them over. Chu Ci looked at the identity information popping up over everyone’s heads and introduced Jian Sui to them one by one, which greatly impressed many people.

They knew how arrogant Chu Ci used to be. She’d come and go as she pleased at these banquets, ignoring all elders, claiming she had face blindness and didn’t know anyone. Yet, now she hadn’t gotten a single name wrong.

“Marriage really changed this child. She’s grown up and matured.”

Someone complimented Chu Xiong. Chu Ci smiled reservedly.

It was almost time, and everyone stood up to head downstairs. Chu Ci and Jian Sui walked at the back.

Chu Ci looked at the middle-aged man in front of them, who had the name Bai Keng floating over his head, and fell into thought.

This Bai Keng was Bai Qingqing’s father and the first person Bai Qingqing eliminated. If Bai Keng was alive and well now, did it mean that the current Bai Qingqing hadn’t become the murderous villain yet? Like Cao Xi, all the wickedness hadn’t begun.

It was possible. Bai Qingqing barely appeared in the earlier chapters of the novel; her life story was only briefly mentioned in her ending, with no specific timeline given.

Chu Ci breathed a small sigh of relief. Recalling Bai Qingqing saying she had just returned from abroad, it seemed everything was yet to begin.

Thinking this, Chu Ci walked downstairs. Old Mr. Li was already standing in the center of the crowd, preparing to cut the cake.

“Before that, I have an announcement to make.”

Li Sinan raised his hand for silence. A team of people in business suits, looking like professionals, stood beside him, holding a document. After nodding, one of them began to read.

The Will.

This was unexpected by everyone, yet completely logical.

Li Sinan had a colorful romantic history, but that was when he was young. Later in life, he focused on the fashion industry. He never married. Although he was an Omega, he wasn’t bound by traditional thinking. He had no family of his own, no children, and lived a meaningful life regardless.

The lawyer’s reading was simple: Li Sinan wanted to declare the beneficiaries of his estate after his death.

“Upon the passing of Mr. Li Sinan, all assets under his name shall be inherited by Xuanwu, his little turtle.”

As soon as this was announced, the hall erupted. Many of Li Sinan’s distant relatives’ faces turned pale. They had been sucking up to him so diligently because they knew he had no descendants, and his wealth would surely be theirs. Who could have imagined that a turtle would snatch it away?!

However, most of the other guests were merely amused, eager to watch the drama unfold. With this announcement, the Li family was likely in for a storm.

“Are you out of your mind?”

Someone shouted from the crowd.

Everyone looked around but couldn’t find who it was.

Li Sinan seemed to know who it was and looked directly toward the area, speaking as if to those people: “I am more sober than anyone. I am soberly aware that the only being in this world who loves me without reservation or motive is Xuanwu. I have loved too many people in my life, and been loved by too many. But in the end, those relationships either faded or turned into hatred, becoming unrecognizable. I have completely lost faith in the human heart. You all pretend to be devoted heirs in front of me, but don’t think I don’t know your schemes behind my back. I know there’s more than one or two of you who wish me dead sooner?”

No one had ever so openly broadcast their family shame, but Li Sinan didn’t care.

“I am clearly telling you here: You will receive nothing from me!”

Some people stormed out in anger, but Li Sinan signaled the orchestra to strike up music. He looked happier than ever. As the cheerful music played, even more people left.

“Come! Let’s cut the cake!”

Watching the people leave, Li Sinan waved his hands, elated and almost manic.

The whole hall fell silent, except for Chu Ci, whose mind was miles away.

Writing a will is a good idea. If she was about to die or leave after completing her mission, no matter what progress she had made, she needed to write a will and leave everything to Jian Sui to prevent anyone from interfering.

A plate of cake was handed to Chu Ci. She took it, thanked the server, and started eating it with her fork. As she ate, she wondered, Should I go ask Li Sinan about the procedure for writing a will later? And if he knows a reliable lawyer?

But she didn’t notice that she was the only one in the room, besides Li Sinan, who was happily eating cake.

In the face of anything related to death, people were always solemn and respectful.

Jian Sui watched Chu Ci, who was eating the cake seriously. She seemed completely unaffected by the drama, her eyes sparkling because the cake was delicious. She was like a sole point of light in a sea of gray emotions.

Li Sinan also looked over. He was genuinely happy that someone was sharing his joy, even if it was this person with no fashion sense or artistic taste.

“Since death is inevitable, why don’t we all raise a glass and celebrate for me?”

Li Sinan raised his wine glass.

Chu Ci swallowed the cake in her mouth and raised her glass of juice. After a moment of hesitation, the others also raised their glasses.

The dance was held as usual. After dancing the opening number, Li Sinan found a seat on the side.

Chu Ci’s eyes lit up. This was her chance to ask about the will process and if he had any lawyer recommendations.

But she couldn’t let Jian Sui hear this.

Just as she was thinking that there was no one around she could safely entrust Jian Sui to, she saw Zhao Rong sneakily entering from a corner.

At the same time, Zhao Rong saw them, too, looking startled.

The three met up, and Chu Ci learned what had happened.

Old Mr. Li’s 60th birthday was clearly a major event in the fashion world. The media presence at the entrance, comparable to any major fashion gala, proved it. It had been trending on social media since morning, and countless people were desperate to get inside.

Zhao Rong hadn’t come for fame. She was here to rub shoulders with the fashion industry bigwigs. Her company was already on the rise thanks to the Chu family’s influence, and she needed to seize this opportunity to reach the next level. Furthermore, her company was currently entangled in a major lawsuit, so expanding her network was essential.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to secure an invitation. She used family connections to come as the dance partner of a cousin, managing to sneak in during the dancing segment. Now that she was finally inside, she saw Chu Ci and Jian Sui already here.

“If I had known you were already here, why would I have gone through all that trouble?”

Zhao Rong was somewhat surprised. She assumed that with Jian Sui’s personality, she would never ask Chu Ci for help, no matter what. But she hadn’t expected Jian Sui to sacrifice her pride for the sake of the company!

Jian Sui felt a little embarrassed to admit it. Even though she had been here all evening, she had stuck with Chu Ci the whole time. She had greeted the high-ranking elders, but she hadn’t managed to network with anyone else.

Chu Ci had fewer reservations. She was happy to find someone to keep Jian Sui company and immediately excused herself.

“You two catch up. I’m going to talk to Old Mr. Li for a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Jian Sui nodded. Zhao Rong looked at Chu Ci’s retreating figure, wanting to say something, but only managed to stop herself from speaking. She then grabbed Jian Sui.

“That’s Li Sinan! Wouldn’t it be better to have Chu Ci take us over and introduce us? Maybe a word from him is all it takes for all our company’s problems to be solved, and we can completely take off?”

“I believe we can do it ourselves, right? We managed perfectly fine before Chu Ci and the Chu family came into the picture, didn’t we?”

Jian Sui had considered asking, but she could only go to Li Sinan again and again with invitations that would surely be rejected, or even beg to meet him. But it couldn’t be here, under the Chu family name. No matter her relationship with Chu Ci, the Chu family was the Chu family, and she was her own person.

Zhao Rong understood Jian Sui’s meaning. Although she was frustrated, this was the Jian Sui she knew—principled, ethical, and determined. That was why she had backed her from the beginning, wasn’t it?

“Fine, I’ll listen to you.”