Transmigrated as the Domineering Scumbag Alpha Forced into Marriage by a Delicate Subordinate (GL) - Chapter 3

Late at night, the birthday banquet was coming to an end. Qin Jue hadn’t drunk much the entire time and was still able to maintain her sobriety like a proper person, but others were not so lucky, especially those who had seized the opportunity to beg for favors and were forced to drink heavily as if their liver and stomach belonged to someone else.

Guan Li politely and gracefully helped the drunken, unsteady guests into their cars one by one, giving the drivers a few unremarkable instructions. He presented himself as the master of the house, which made Qin Jue raise her eyebrows.

Had the Qin family members all grown accustomed to this? If Qin Jue remembered correctly, Guan Li was currently just Qin Yao’s boyfriend. Where did this assumed authority come from?

Qin Jue looked up at Mrs. Qin. Most of the guests had been sent off, and a hint of fatigue finally showed on her face, but when she saw Guan Li, her smile widened again.

“Xiao Guan, you worked hard today. You didn’t eat anything all evening. You must have something to eat when you get back to fill your stomach,” Mrs. Qin said with concern.

“Don’t worry, Auntie, I’m not a child anymore,” Guan Li smiled.

“You don’t have to come too early tomorrow. It’s just family,” Mrs. Qin continued to instruct.

Tomorrow was Qin Jue’s actual birthday. Today’s banquet was for networking and socializing; tomorrow’s small family gathering was the real celebration for her. Irrelevant outsiders were not allowed to disturb it. Guan Li smiled and lowered his eyes, then instantly resumed his poised and proper demeanor: “Rest assured, Auntie. If I’m late tomorrow, Yao Yao will be the first to punish me.”

Qin Yao finally spoke: “I didn’t force you to come. Stop talking nonsense and hurry back to rest.”

Guan Li smiled, waved, and walked out the door of the ballroom. His car had already been brought to the front by the driver. As the engine started, both Mrs. Qin and Qin Yao stood at the entrance to see him off. A puff of exhaust smoke dispersed as the car carrying Guan Li drove away.

Finally, everyone was gone. Mrs. Qin’s straight posture suddenly relaxed.

“You’re staying home tonight, aren’t you?” she asked.

Qin Jue usually lived alone. Her spirit was wild, and Mrs. Qin couldn’t control her. It was fortunate that the original owner was so rebellious; otherwise, Qin Jue really wouldn’t be confident about maintaining the persona flawlessly in front of a mother for long.

Staying only one night under Mrs. Qin’s nose seemed manageable.

The Qin family’s driver also pulled the car up. Qin Jue effortlessly stepped into the back seat and closed her eyes to rest. The System in her mind finally couldn’t help but speak: “Um… Host… you seem to have forgotten something.”

Qin Jue opened her eyes. Outside the car window, Tang Yun, dressed in a slightly oversized white shirt, was running out in a panic.

Oh, she forgot her canary.

The original owner brought Tang Yun out. Now, it seemed improper for Qin Jue to leave her at the hotel. She wanted Tang Yun to go back to the original owner’s apartment, but she didn’t know if Tang Yun knew the way herself. Her momentary hesitation allowed Mrs. Qin to see the figure lingering outside the car window.

“Who is this?” Mrs. Qin asked.

Qin Jue: “My secretary.”

Qin Yao: “Heh.”

In the small space of the car, Qin Yao’s cold laugh was heard clearly and distinctly. Qin Jue pretended not to understand, but she didn’t know if Mrs. Qin truly didn’t understand.

Mrs. Qin rolled down the window and asked: “Girl, how are you getting back? Is someone picking you up?”

Tang Yun’s lost gaze drifted to Qin Jue.

“She’s going back by herse…”

Qin Jue’s sentence was cut short as the alarm bells went off frantically in her mind. Right, the cursed original plot required her to bring the person home.

“She lives far away, and it’s too late to be safe. She’ll come back with me,” Qin Jue started to fabricate without changing her expression.

“Yes, it’s dangerous for an Omega to walk alone at night. Since she’s your secretary, let her make do in a guest room at home,” Mrs. Qin nodded in approval.

Just like that, Tang Yun inexplicably got into the car heading back to the Qin family’s old house. With the three members of the Qin family in the back, she, an outsider, could only sit in the front next to the driver. Tang Yun didn’t know what kind of luxury car this was. The seats were certainly leather, but she couldn’t tell what made it good. She tried her best to shrink herself into silence, feeling as embarrassed as if she were sitting on a red-hot iron.

Through the rearview mirror, she could clearly see the look in the eyes of the second Miss Qin as she examined her. She wasn’t a secretary; anyone with eyes could tell.

Qin Jue was also silent. The short banquet had been an eye-opener. The Qin family had few members, but the relationships were complicated. She wondered if she was being overly sensitive because her own family was such a mess, but Guan Li’s detached status and the attitude of her mother and sister toward him made Qin Jue feel very uncomfortable.

It was just like those uncles and elders who had appeared out of nowhere to dictate matters after her father’s sudden death—it made her sick.

“What’s your name?” Mrs. Qin broke the silence.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Were you at the party earlier?” Mrs. Qin asked.

“My name is Tang Yun, and I am… I am CEO Qin’s new hire,” Tang Yun answered cautiously.

As for the earlier banquet, she really couldn’t answer. She couldn’t very well say that Qin Jue pushed her onto a bed, which was why she was out of sight.

She wanted to save face and hoped Qin Jue would at least allow her some dignity in front of her elders.

“Oh, Xiao Tang. You just graduated this year, right? What was your major?” Mrs. Qin’s social circle was fixed, and she was very interested in seeing an unfamiliar, pretty young girl.

“I graduate in June next year. I studied computer science,” Tang Yun replied vaguely.

“Oh? Computer science? I thought secretaries all studied liberal arts, like me, Chinese Language and Literature…”

Tang Yun secretly glanced at Qin Jue through the rearview mirror. Qin Jue had been closing her eyes to rest, looking tired since getting in the car. She hadn’t opened her eyes even while speaking, showing no reaction.

But in fact, Qin Jue was extremely nervous, sweating on her back.

When she was young and foolish, she ate, drank, and had fun with friends, but she never touched anything she shouldn’t. The Qin family’s discipline was quite strict. When her father was still alive, no matter how glorious she was outside, she was always well-behaved when facing her parents at home. Although the Mrs. Qin in front of her was gentle and simple, she still didn’t dare to openly deceive her. So, who could tell her what to do when she brought her canary home and was about to be exposed!

The loophole in Tang Yun’s last sentence was huge. What did “graduating in June this year” mean? So she was an undergraduate serving as a CEO’s secretary at a company as large as Qin Jue’s? That internship experience must be incredible.

Fortunately, Mrs. Qin got married right after graduation and never worked a formal job, so she didn’t understand; otherwise, she would have rolled her eyes like Qin Yao beside her.

“Yao Yao also studies computer science. Your field seems very specialized. Hers is cybersecurity; what is your concentration?” Mrs. Qin’s social circle was fixed, and she was quite eager to meet a different, pretty young girl.

“Mom, stop asking. It’s not easy for her to answer,” Qin Yao intervened, and Tang Yun lowered her head even further.

In the eyes of the second Miss Qin, people like her probably didn’t deserve to attend college, right?

As they talked, the Qin family’s old house finally came into view.

Aunt Song, who had managed the housework in the old house for many years, rushed out to greet them as soon as the car drove into the courtyard. She shook out a trench coat and draped it over Mrs. Qin. Mrs. Qin patted Aunt Song’s hand, and the two walked into the old house one after the other.

“This is our home. Don’t you dare get it dirty; Aunt Song will have a hard time cleaning,” Qin Yao said as she passed Qin Jue.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t mess around at home,” Qin Jue smiled.

Qin Yao snorted coldly and deliberately walked ahead of Qin Jue into the house. Qin Yao’s attitude toward Qin Jue carried a subtle antagonism, as if they weren’t sisters by blood but rivals.

The night wind was desolate and chilling, and only upon entering the house did she feel a little warmth. Aunt Song greeted Tang Yun, the first-time guest, with warmth and concern, personally leading her to the guest room. Tang Yun was visibly reserved and didn’t come out again after closing the door.

Qin Jue took a hot shower and lay down in bed. This was the room where the original owner grew up. The walls were covered with avant-garde paintings with bold colors and distinct styles. Qin Jue glanced at them and confirmed that this was art she didn’t understand.

Just a few hours ago, she was in her office planning how to secure more profit for herself at the negotiating table. Now, she had transformed into a lone soul in another world. All sorts of characters appeared throughout the evening. Although the so-called System had patted its chest and assured her this was a “welfare book,” Qin Jue keenly sensed the undercurrents swirling beneath the glitz and glamour.

But she didn’t care. She wasn’t truly the daughter of this Qin family. Her mission was only to play the villain and torment the female lead. When the Qin family’s house of cards collapsed, she would simply withdraw and return to the place where she and her father had poured their hearts and souls.

The night deepened, and sleepiness began to set in. A familiar scene was built up in her hazy consciousness.

Qin Jue pushed open the door, stepping into the soft light. Her birthday presents were on the coffee table in the living room. Her father sat on the sofa reading a newspaper, but Qin Jue knew he was secretly observing his daughter’s reaction to the gifts. Because of this, Qin Jue deliberately controlled herself not to show a surprised expression, making herself look cool.

Her little sister scampered down the stairs, making a series of wet footprints on the floor, like a small cannonball, and leaped into Qin Jue’s arms. No high schooler could comfortably interact with a five-year-old. Qin Jue skillfully intercepted the “cannonball” and settled her on the sofa next to her, then continued to unwrap her gifts like a cool girl.

A set of car keys!

“So generous this year?” Qin Jue looked up in surprise.

“Yes, you’re eighteen. You’re not a child anymore,” her mother smiled.

“Alright, we’ll go look at your car later. Now, go wash your hands and eat.” she urged.

Qin Jue reluctantly rubbed the keys to her sports car twice, then went to wash her hands. The large mirror above the sink seemed covered in a layer of mist, a blurry white expanse. Something deep in Qin Jue’s heart suddenly twitched violently, and a question arose without warning.

She was eighteen this year?

That didn’t seem right.

Qin Jue slowly raised her hand. The mist on the mirror wiped clean instantly, clearly reflecting her face—a mature face of a twenty-seven-year-old.

Qin Jue sharply turned her head. The warm, soft light fragmented into pieces, and the furniture in the living room rapidly faded. All the warm, comforting atmosphere vanished in an instant. She walked into the empty living room, pulled out the only chair by the dining table, and sat down.

Qin Jue opened her eyes, staring at the darkness before her. Her entire being felt as if she had died and come back to life, with only her heavy, painful heartbeat loudly declaring that she was still alive. Qin Jue took a few seconds to realize she wasn’t in her own cold, empty house; she had just had another dream.

Ding—

The System notification sound shattered the remnants of the illusion: “Host, a reminder: according to the setting, you quarreled with your sister and got increasingly angry, and tonight you should rebelliously go into the protagonist’s room to sleep with her.”