The Sickly Girl Becomes a Scum Alpha - Chapter 48

While touring the cafeteria, the group decided to have lunch on-site.

As the others prepared to order from the menu, Jian Sui sought out one of the chefs to borrow a stove.

Cao Xi was nearly dumbfounded. She nudged Chu Ci, who was still discussing business with the Principal, and whispered, “Jian Sui is actually cooking for you.”

Chu Ci looked up; Jian Sui had indeed already put on an apron.

Cao Xi was a mix of envy and indignation. She leaned toward Chu Ci and hissed through gritted teeth, “Jian Sui is so good to you, don’t you dare be ungrateful. That Bai Qingqing isn’t a good person; why are you involving yourself with her? Heavens, I actually feel sorry for Jian Sui, okay? She saw the two of you like that with her own eyes, and now she’s still making lunch for you. Tsk, if I were Jian Sui, I’d lace your food with arsenic—it’s the only way I’d settle the score!”

Chu Ci: “…”

Whether Jian Sui wanted to poison her was unknown, but Cao Xi certainly looked like she was considering it.

Chu Ci stood up and walked toward Jian Sui. Although she felt Jian Sui didn’t love her and showed no signs of anger over the “incident,” they were a married couple in the eyes of everyone else. Even if others didn’t know about the misunderstanding with Bai Qingqing, Jian Sui was personally cooking for her in public. If Chu Ci didn’t show some appreciation, people would interpret Jian Sui’s care as a sign of being submissive or “lowly.”

Chu Ci was a natural focal point wherever she went. Her movement naturally drew everyone’s gaze until she came to a halt beside Jian Sui.

“Is there anything I can help with?” Chu Ci rolled up her sleeves. She had a clear self-awareness regarding her status as a “kitchen hazard,” so she limited her ambitions to being a simple prep assistant.

Jian Sui glanced at her and handed her a bunch of greens. “Wash these.”

“Okay.”

Responding obediently, Chu Ci stood before the sink with the basket and began washing the leaves one by one with extreme care.

Jian Sui watched her and knew she had picked the right task. At this speed, Chu Ci would finish washing just as the main cooking was done; then, the greens could be blanched in broth and served immediately.

The two grew busy at the stove, and the others fell silent, watching them with varying expressions. The school officials looked bewildered and dazed, as if watching a fantasy movie, temporarily losing the ability to speak.

Cao Xi looked on with a sense of relief, thinking to herself that Chu darling had finally seen the light and returned to the right path.

Bai Qingqing’s expression was far more complex. While she appeared calm on the surface, her hand under the table was tightly clutching her hem. Would Chu Ci actually step into a place like a kitchen for Jian Sui?

Among the students coming for lunch, many recognized Chu Ci. Her name was a permanent fixture on the trending charts—she wasn’t a celebrity, but she was more famous than one. Coupled with the recent “visual attacks” from her public appearances, almost anyone who used a smartphone had seen her.

Seeing her in person, they felt she was even more beautiful than her photos. More importantly, most students here came from wealthy or influential families, and among them, the Chu family was the pinnacle. Chu Ci was essentially the future leader of Jiangcheng’s elite; seeing her in reality felt like a dream coming true.

The photographer finally saw something worth capturing for promotional purposes. He raised his camera, clicking away rapidly, then decided it wasn’t enough and set up a tripod to start recording.

While Chu Ci was still washing vegetables, Jian Sui had prepped all the ingredients. She heated the oil; she wanted to prepare a fragrant, spicy dish for Chu Ci as a rare treat, which required a high-heat flash-fry.

Once the oil was hot enough, Jian Sui tossed in the spices. In an instant, the oil sizzled loudly, and a burst of aroma filled the air.

Chu Ci didn’t notice the aroma; she was startled by the sudden explosive crackle of the oil. Without thinking, she instinctively held up a large vegetable leaf to shield Jian Sui.

Jian Sui looked at the dripping leaf held in front of her and felt a warmth in her heart. Although Chu Ci lacked common sense and didn’t realize the sound was a normal part of cooking, her immediate reaction to protect Jian Sui despite her own fear was genuine.

She reached out, grasped Chu Ci’s wrist, and lowered her hand. “It’s okay, that’s just the normal splashing of the oil.”

Chu Ci finally dared to open her eyes. She saw that Jian Sui had already added the sliced meat, and the oil wasn’t as violent as before. She breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she had just done something quite silly. Her face flushed red as she sheepishly withdrew her hand.

Lunch went smoothly, and the inspection was essentially complete. The school had provided a lounge for a nap; after signing the tripartite confirmation in the afternoon, the visit would conclude.

In the lounge, Chu Ci and Jian Sui shared a room, while Cao Xi and Bai Qingqing were on either side. Chu Ci felt she had exerted enough energy for the day, but she found she couldn’t fall asleep on the unfamiliar bed. She decided to lie on the sofa instead. Just as she was about to doze off, Jian Sui’s phone rang.

Jian Sui, sitting on the opposite sofa, checked her phone. “It’s Tang Ze.”

Chu Ci sat up, guessing it was about Zhao Zhu, and waited for the result. Fortunately, Tang Ze brought good news.

“Tang Ze has spoken with the General, and the Black Beast organization has responded. In exchange for next quarter’s jade trade, they’ve agreed to release her. The extradition paperwork is being processed now. If all goes well, she should be back in Jiangcheng tonight.”

Tang Ze’s efficiency was truly beyond reproach. Chu Ci sighed in relief. “Thank Tang Ze for me. It’s lucky we have you; otherwise, this would have been a nightmare for me to handle.”

Hearing this, Jian Sui’s hand paused while setting down the phone, then returned to normal.

The afternoon signing took place in the Principal’s office, a space so luxurious it rivaled a small palace. Once the signing was complete, the school officials visibly relaxed, their smiles becoming more sincere.

Chu Ci’s gaze fell upon the photographs lining the office wall. She saw the figures of the original host, Cao Xi, Bai Qingqing, and others.

The Principal noticed her gaze and stepped forward to introduce them. “These are our outstanding graduates from over the years…”

“Pfft!”

Hearing this, Cao Xi couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing. The atmosphere turned awkward, but Cao Xi didn’t care. She pointed at the photos and laughed boldly. “Outstanding graduates? More like a commemorative wall of past financial donors. Some of the people up there didn’t even graduate.”

The Principal offered a sheepish smile, unsure how to respond.

“It seems some people have self-awareness and know they have nothing to do with being ‘outstanding,’ but there’s no need to drag others down with them.” Bai Qingqing stood up and capped her pen.

These two rarely spoke to each other, but when they did, they immediately clashed. Chu Ci also stood up, interrupting the confrontation. “Let’s end it here for today. We’ll be heading back.”

The Principal felt as if the dawn of victory was finally waving at him.

While the others exchanged final pleasantries, Jian Sui’s gaze remained on the wall. She saw a seventeen-year-old Chu Ci. Her eyes were bright and arrogant, looking at the lens with a condescending, mocking tilt of the head. Compared to now, she was more green then, but she was healthy, uninhibited, and possessed the wild brashness of youth.

For a moment, Jian Sui was dazed. She looked back at the Chu Ci currently speaking with the Principal. The current Chu Ci was peaceful, composed, reserved, and humble—they seemed like two completely different people.

Cao Xi also noticed Jian Sui’s gaze. Thinking she’d help Chu Ci’s case, she leaned in. “How about it? Isn’t the Chu darling of that time a bit stunning?”

Stunning? Indeed. That sense of youth was palpable. But to Jian Sui, it seemed the current Chu Ci was more stunning.

Seeing Jian Sui’s silence, Cao Xi continued, “Back when we were in school, Chu darling was incredibly popular. She had a huge number of pursuers—Alphas, Betas, and Omegas alike. But she never once had a ‘puppy love’ romance. She has zero talent for that sort of thing; she was interested in everything except romance. Even in university, she had time for skydiving, surfing, and racing, but never for dating. I used to mock her for being a ‘eternal single dog.’ But I didn’t expect that right after graduation, she’d meet you and everything would change. She got married so fast she overtook me on the curve! Come to think of it, Jian Sui, you’re Chu darling’s first love!”

First love?

The word seemed to touch a cord in Jian Sui’s heart. She then looked at the photo of Bai Qingqing.

Everyone had changed quite a bit. The current Bai Qingqing wore a mask of gentle refinement that seemed impossible to remove; knowing her, one knew it was a facade, yet it was hard to imagine what the real her was like.

But the Bai Qingqing on the wall, not yet seventeen, was different. Amidst the bright, youthful photos, she was a mismatch—her eyes were gloomy and misanthropic, looking at the camera with hatred. At an age that should have been full of life, she looked suffocating.

Cao Xi also looked at Bai Qingqing and her face turned to one of disdain. “Bai Qingqing has been detestable since she was a kid. She never associated with anyone—lonely, gloomy, like a resentful ghost. Back then, if she looked at me too long, I’d have nightmares for half the night. She always acted like I owed her eight million. I didn’t hold that against her, but I never understood how Chu darling could be friends with her. She clearly felt… toward Chu darling…”

Realizing she was talking too fast, Cao Xi cut herself off. Meeting Jian Sui’s gaze, she immediately tried to bolster Chu Ci’s “survival rating.” She whispered to Jian Sui emphatically, “Look… I guarantee on my character, Chu darling absolutely has no improper relationship with her. Really. What happened earlier was likely just a misunderstanding. Maybe it’s just Bai Qingqing’s unrequited obsession, and Chu darling is currently physically weak… wait, that’s not it. Anyway, Chu Ci is so weak right now, it’s possible she just couldn’t resist, right?”

Jian Sui’s gaze fell on Cao Xi. Couldn’t resist?

Reminded by Cao Xi, the scene Jian Sui had tried so hard to suppress flashed before her eyes again: Chu Ci leaning against the tree, their hands interlaced around an iron box, Bai Qingqing’s other hand on Chu Ci’s face, and Chu Ci looking down with an unreadable expression, motionless. She had clearly indulged the behavior. Where was the “unable to resist”?

The emotions in her eyes sank inch by inch. Her hard-won self-restraint began to crack.

Cao Xi, seeing that her attempt at peacemaking had backfired, realized she had caused trouble and quietly backed away. While reflecting on which part of her speech went wrong, she looked at Chu Ci with pity. Chu darling, take care of yourself. I did my best.