After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Slave to My Beloved Wife - Chapter 30

That night, after the missed dinner, Qiao Wenyu didn’t return home until very late.

Jiang Nian had waited in the living room until midnight before finally seeing her again. The two didn’t talk about anything outside of business—they only discussed the upcoming work trip.

The next morning, Qiao Wenyu attended the wrap party for her drama. By the afternoon, she had boarded a plane with Bai Ye for their business trip.

Jiang Nian was tied up with the project and had no time to see them off. She buried herself in work for the next few days.

It had been three days since Qiao Wenyu and Bai Ye had gone abroad. Every night, Jiang Nian called her over video—officially to check on the project’s progress, but in reality, she just wanted to confirm whether Qiao Wenyu was spending her off-hours with Bai Ye.

“Jiejie, today I followed up on the proposal and attended a trade show. It was a bit tiring, but I think it was really meaningful,” Jiang Nian chatted about her day, sharing the little moments and thoughts.

Qiao Wenyu listened quietly, but she often drifted off, her eyes lowered, lost in thought. Her expression was distant, and the warmth she once showed Jiang Nian seemed to have faded.

“Jiejie, are you listening?” Jiang Nian finally noticed something was off.

Snapping back to attention, Qiao Wenyu lifted her tired eyes. “Xiao Nian, I’m exhausted. Ah Ye needs me up early again tomorrow to follow up on the project. I’m going to rest now.”

Disappointed, Jiang Nian hung up, reluctant to end the call.

After putting down her phone, she leaned back in her chair and slowly spun around. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt.

Something wasn’t right. Qiao Wenyu was hiding something.

Wait—was she forgetting something?

Jiang Nian suddenly smacked her forehead. Her secretary had reminded her—Qiao Wenyu’s birthday was this weekend. If she had counted the days correctly… that meant it was tomorrow!

And during the video call, Qiao Wenyu had mentioned Bai Ye had plans for her early in the morning. Could it be… Bai Ye was planning to celebrate her birthday?

At that thought, Jiang Nian couldn’t sit still any longer. She immediately opened the airline website and searched for the next available flight.

After booking her ticket, she packed a few essentials, grabbed her keys, and rushed to the airport.

She had to be by Qiao Wenyu’s side before her birthday arrived. She wanted to celebrate it properly—with her.

On the plane, Jiang Nian kept thinking about how to give Qiao Wenyu a birthday she’d never forget.

After flying for over ten hours, Jiang Nian finally arrived.

The moment she stepped off the plane, it was pouring. She had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t packed an umbrella. The airport shops were located outside the terminal, so she had no choice but to dash through the rain to a nearby convenience store.

Holding the phone in one hand and an umbrella in the other, she dialed.
“Hello? Secretary Lu, help me check what hotel Wenyu and the team are staying at.”

Lu Renbing was at home when he received the call and was momentarily confused. “President Jiang? You need Miss Qiao’s hotel address? Let me check… It’s at…”

He rattled off the address.

“Also, help me figure out the fastest route from the airport to the hotel.”

Lu Renbing sat up in bed. “President Jiang, where are you right now?”

“I’m here,” Jiang Nian replied simply. “It’s Wenyu’s birthday—how could I just sit around? Please help me out.” She remembered the time difference—it must be the middle of the night back home. “Sorry to trouble you.”

With his assistance, Jiang Nian finally reached the hotel where Qiao Wenyu and the team were staying.

The rain was still coming down in sheets, beating against her umbrella. In her rush, half of her clothes were soaked through.

The temperature here was lower than back home, and combined with the rain, Jiang Nian couldn’t stop sneezing. Her nose was stuffed, her body cold and clammy.

Standing outside the hotel, she called Qiao Wenyu.

“Jiejie, where are you? I came to see you—I want to celebrate your birthday.”

“Xiao Nian? You’re here?” Qiao Wenyu was in the middle of dinner with Bai Ye, having just accepted a birthday gift from her.

Bai Ye, sitting across from her, heard the name Jiang Nian and visibly stiffened.

On the other end of the line, Jiang Nian’s voice was hoarse and heavy. “I’m at your hotel, Jiejie. I really want to see you.”

Qiao Wenyu hesitated. “But after dinner, I still have to stop by the studio to confirm some project details. I won’t be back early.”

“It’s okay,” Jiang Nian murmured. “I’ll wait for you.”

After the call ended, she sat down in the hotel lobby to wait.

Soaked and shivering, she settled quietly into a corner of the sofa. Guests passing by couldn’t help but glance at her.

Her head was starting to feel foggy. Though she had the means to book a room, she didn’t want to miss even a second—she wanted to be the first person to say happy birthday to Qiao Wenyu.

Amid the bustle of the hotel lobby, Jiang Nian sat like a little stray dog—wet, lonely, and waiting patiently for her “owner” to return.

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but finally, she saw Qiao Wenyu.

Qiao Wenyu had two gift bags in hand. When she entered the lobby and saw the disheveled figure curled up on the sofa, she rushed over.

“Xiao Nian, why are you sitting here? You should’ve called me for the room number. The front desk could have taken you up.”

“I don’t speak the language here… I… I was afraid I’d bother you.”
Jiang Nian looked up, her eyes misty from the cold.

A pang of guilt struck Qiao Wenyu’s heart. She reached out and gently pulled Jiang Nian to her feet.
“Come on, let’s get you upstairs for a hot shower. Aren’t you afraid of catching a fever from this cold?”

“Jiejie, happy birthday.”
Jiang Nian smiled, despite her damp clothes and flushed face.

Qiao Wenyu’s heart softened. She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions.
“Let’s go, you silly girl.”

Jiang Nian’s hand was ice cold, but the moment it was held in Qiao Wenyu’s, her heart felt warm. As if Qiao Wenyu’s palm radiated heat, warming her from the inside out.

Once they got into the room, Qiao Wenyu grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Jiang Nian’s soaked body, carefully drying her off with quiet patience.

She then poured a glass of hot water. “Drink this. It’ll help.”

“I’m fine, Jiejie. I just wanted to be with you for your birthday.” Jiang Nian gulped down the entire glass, then tugged on Qiao Wenyu’s sleeve again. “Jiejie…”

Maybe it was the fever, but Jiang Nian seemed even clingier than usual—like a little pendant, trying to stay attached to Qiao Wenyu at all times.

“You little dummy. Did the fever fry your brain?” Qiao Wenyu reached out and felt her forehead. Her palm recoiled slightly at the heat. “You’re burning up! How can you celebrate with me like this when you’re clearly sick?”

Surprisingly, Jiang Nian seemed almost happy to learn she had a fever.
Now that she was unwell, Qiao Wenyu wouldn’t go out again with Bai Ye.
Being able to monopolize Qiao Wenyu—even under these circumstances—didn’t feel like a bad deal at all.

“No showers for you if you’ve got a fever. Get in bed and rest. I’ll go buy you some medicine,” Qiao Wenyu said, pointing toward the bed.

But Jiang Nian suddenly threw her arms around Qiao Wenyu. Feverish and disoriented, she clung tightly to her waist, rubbing her face against Qiao Wenyu’s side like a child.
“Don’t go… Jiejie, please don’t go…”

Qiao Wenyu was momentarily frozen in place.
“I’m just going downstairs to grab some medicine. I’ll be back very soon.”

“Really? Bai Ye won’t be down there, will she…?” Jiang Nian’s voice was thick and nasal, and her pitiful tone made her sound even more fragile.

“She won’t. Even if she’s there, nothing will happen between us,” Qiao Wenyu said gently, pinching Jiang Nian’s earlobe.
“Xiao Nian, trust me, okay?”

Slowly, Jiang Nian nodded.

Qiao Wenyu headed out to get the medicine.
The pharmacy was right next to the hotel, and within five minutes, she was back with a bag of medicine in hand.

Even though Jiang Nian was clearly sick, her eyes never left Qiao Wenyu. Her feverish gaze stayed fixed on her, intense and unrelenting.

After brewing the medicine, Qiao Wenyu handed it over.
“Drink up, Xiao Nian.”

“I want you to feed me,” Jiang Nian said, opening her mouth with a soft “ah—”.

Qiao Wenyu sighed, as if coaxing a child.
“Xiao Nian, if I feed you, it’ll taste worse. Be good—close your eyes and drink it all in one go. I’ll get you some candy after.”

“Alright then…” Jiang Nian took the glass, held her nose, and downed the entire cup of bitter medicine.

“Try to get some sleep now, Xiao Nian. You’ll get worse if you don’t rest.”

“No… I want to stay with you.”

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then…” Jiang Nian climbed into bed and patted the empty space beside her.
“Jiejie, sleep with me tonight.”

“I…”

Jiang Nian’s mind was hazy from the fever, and she couldn’t think straight. Despite being sick, her strength hadn’t waned.

She suddenly sat up and pulled Qiao Wenyu into her arms with surprising force, clinging to her like an octopus.

The two of them tumbled back onto the bed together.

Jiang Nian’s eyes were rimmed red from the fever and the medication. Her phoenix-shaped eyes glistened with tears, and her breath came fast and shallow as she stared at Qiao Wenyu, her gaze tender and full of longing.

“I’ll lie with you. Just close your eyes and sleep,” Qiao Wenyu said, her voice soft, a bit flustered under the weight of Jiang Nian’s gaze.

But Jiang Nian had grown bold. Her eyes dropped to Qiao Wenyu’s flushed lips, and she whispered, “Jiejie, can you kiss me?”

“Xiao Nian, your fever’s making you delirious.”

“Can I?” Jiang Nian pressed again, persistent.

“No,” Qiao Wenyu refused firmly. She knew if she hesitated for even a second, she might fall too deep to pull herself back.

Jiang Nian’s eyes dimmed with disappointment. She said nothing more.

Just as Qiao Wenyu thought Jiang Nian had fallen asleep, she suddenly felt warmth brush against her cheek—soft, cold lips trailing a cautious kiss, like a dragonfly skimming water.

It was Jiang Nian.

After that first gentle kiss, she couldn’t stop herself. Her red wine–scented pheromones began to fill the room, saturating the air.

“Xiao Nian…” Qiao Wenyu whispered, pinned beneath her on the pillow.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, their breaths intertwining. Jiang Nian’s fever made her touch even warmer, and every breath she took made Qiao Wenyu’s cheeks flush deeper.

The heat of their exhales tingled against their skin, overwhelming their senses.

With their eyes locked, it became harder to resist.

Jiang Nian could no longer hold back—and truthfully, neither could Qiao Wenyu.

Jiang Nian reached up, cupping Qiao Wenyu’s chin, her fingers gently tracing the outline of her lips.

“Jiejie,” she asked softly, “can I kiss you here?”

Before Qiao Wenyu could answer—whether yes or no—Jiang Nian leaned down and captured her lips, soft and rosy like a blooming rose.

At first, it was a cautious touch. But soon, it deepened into something more—soulful, lingering.

So sweet.
That was all Jiang Nian could think.

When the kiss finally ended, Jiang Nian leaned against Qiao Wenyu’s shoulder, breathing heavily, her voice hoarse.

“I like you.”

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