After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Slave to My Beloved Wife - Chapter 38

“President Jiang, I know it sounds strange, so I looked into it directly,” Lu Renbing said. “Tong Yunyao is the adopted sister of Tong Qiu, but they aren’t related by blood. After Tong Qiu’s accident, her parents couldn’t handle the loss and ended up adopting Tong Yunyao, who was from an orphanage.”

He lowered his voice slightly. “Also, the police told us that Tong Yunyao is being very tight-lipped. She won’t talk. And beyond that… there’s nothing more we’ve been able to find.”

Everything that could be uncovered through conventional means had already been discovered. Lu Renbing didn’t leave out a single detail.

Jiang Nian—someone who had entered this world by transmigrating into a novel—had no way of knowing what really happened in the past. And even if she wanted to dig deeper, she didn’t know where to begin.

All she had was a growing suspicion about Jiang Fenyun—her best friend, the one she had trusted completely, shared everything with.

But what kind of truth could lead Jiang Fenyun to target Qiao Wenyu? And what roles did Tong Yunyao and Tong Qiu play in all of this?

“I understand. This is only a suspicion… but from now on, don’t mention anything about Tong Qiu’s case to anyone. Especially not to Jiang Fenyun,” Jiang Nian said, massaging her temple. “Fenyun is… at the very least, still my friend. Until I know the full truth, I want to keep watching her.”

Lu Renbing nodded. “Yes, President Jiang. I understand.”

“Alright. Go now—and bring me today’s schedule,” she said, waving her hand as she forced her focus back to work.

Jiang Nian worked nonstop until the end of the day. Except for grabbing a quick lunch, she hadn’t taken any breaks.

When it was time to clock out, Lu Renbing peeked into her office.

“President Jiang, aren’t you leaving yet?”

“I just want to finish reviewing this document. You go ahead,” Jiang Nian said without even looking up, fingers still flipping through papers and double-checking numbers.

Lu Renbing quietly shut the door behind him. But as soon as he turned around, he was surprised to see Qiao Wenyu standing right there, holding a lunchbox.

“Miss Qiao? Y-You’re here? Why didn’t you let anyone know?”

“The receptionist had already gone home, so I just came up myself,” Qiao Wenyu replied casually. “Is Xiao Nian still working overtime?”

“Yes, she’s still inside. Go on in. I’ve got to head home to take care of my kid,” he said, half-joking.

“Thanks.” Qiao Wenyu smiled and waved him off. She walked to the beautifully carved wooden door of the office and gently knocked.

Jiang Nian was fully focused. She didn’t hear the knock, nor did she notice the door open.

It wasn’t until someone blocked the light in front of her that she paused, still looking down.
“What is it, Secretary Lu?”

“Mm… Secretary Lu has clocked out. But Secretary Qiao has something to say,” Qiao Wenyu said with a soft laugh.

Jiang Nian quickly looked up—and froze when she saw who it was. It took her a second to register Qiao Wenyu’s presence, and by the time she did, her face had already turned bright red.

“S-Sister… what are you doing here?”

“I brought you dinner. I didn’t want you to go hungry.” Qiao Wenyu set the lunchbox on her desk. “It’s still hot—try it.”

“Oh… okay.” Jiang Nian accepted the lunchbox, still warm to the touch. When she opened the lid, a wave of delicious aroma filled the office.

Inside were neatly packed portions: black rice, two pieces of honey-glazed chicken, a slice of cod, and two sides of sautéed vegetables.

“That smells amazing.” Jiang Nian realized just how hungry she was—she hadn’t had dinner yet, intending to eat only after finishing work.

Qiao Wenyu sat on the sofa nearby, watching her with soft, affectionate eyes.
“Try it. I haven’t cooked in a while—I don’t know if it turned out well.”

Jiang Nian took a bite of the cod. At first, she was surprised, then she chewed again, more slowly.
“You… you made this? Sister, it’s really good. Delicious.”

“As long as you like it,” Qiao Wenyu replied with a smile, gently reminding her now and then to eat slowly and not choke.

Halfway through her meal, Jiang Nian slowed down. She set her chopsticks down and looked up.
“Sister… how did you know I was still at the office?”

“It’s a bit of a long story.” Qiao Wenyu leaned back into the couch with a slight sigh. “A little silly puppy ran off this morning. I recovered and went home, but I didn’t have anything to do… so I cooked. Then someone at your office mentioned you might be working late.”

“Huh?” Jiang Nian blinked, confused. “You mean…?”

“One of the department heads I worked with on our last project. He said you’ve been skipping meals again.” Qiao Wenyu rested her cheek on her palm, releasing a soft trace of pheromones. The scent of roses lingered in the air—subtly blended with a hint of red wine.

“Xiao Nian… why did you run off this morning?”

After eating most of her meal, Jiang Nian—her ears flushed red—tried to change the subject.
“Sister, let’s go home… it’s getting late.”

But Qiao Wenyu stepped in front of her, leaning forward with both hands resting on the armrests of Jiang Nian’s chair. Her breath brushed right past Jiang Nian’s ear.
“Silly little puppy… we’re already officially together, and yet you’re still blushing this much?”

Jiang Nian’s throat tightened. Her eyes darted around, trying to avoid Qiao Wenyu’s gaze. But in the end, she couldn’t resist. She reached out and pulled Qiao Wenyu firmly into her arms.

“Sister, how am I supposed to concentrate on working overtime like this?”

“You’ve been busy all day. Shouldn’t you be resting instead?” Qiao Wenyu murmured as she settled comfortably on Jiang Nian’s lap, wrapping her arms gently around her shoulders.

Jiang Nian pouted, clearly feeling wronged.
“How am I supposed to rest with you sitting here like this?”

The night was still young.

The light in the top-floor office of the company remained on well past closing time.

As the soft light flickered gently across the walls, darkness outside grew deeper.

Later, Jiang Nian sat miserably beside the couch, crouching like a scolded puppy. She looked at Qiao Wenyu, who was lying limp and relaxed on the sofa.

“…I’m sorry, Sister.”

Qiao Wenyu turned over lazily, her eyes tinged with a faint red glow at the corners.
“What are you sorry for, silly puppy? You’re a grown woman. Why are you still crying so easily?”

You dummy… I was the one who made the first move.

Jiang Nian hung her head. “Didn’t Sister say I wasn’t very good at it just now…”

“Pfft—so that’s what’s bothering you?” Qiao Wenyu couldn’t help but laugh. “Just practice more, and you’ll get better.”

Once the two had caught their breath, Jiang Nian held Qiao Wenyu’s hand and led her out of the company building.

The night streets were quiet and almost empty. Jiang Nian drove slowly, taking Qiao Wenyu on a relaxed night drive through the city.

“Sister… this feels so nice,” Jiang Nian said, a smile curving softly at the corners of her lips.

Qiao Wenyu gazed out the window, the exhaustion from earlier fading from her features. Slowly, she began to speak—explaining why she had once kept her distance from Xiao Nian.

“What? Why? Uncle Yan didn’t let you like me? But we’re already married. How could he still control that?” Jiang Nian frowned, confused.

Qiao Wenyu’s brows furrowed slightly, a trace of displeasure in her eyes.
“He thinks I’m too much like him. He sees me as a threat… a monster. He’s afraid I’ll take everything from him. So he doesn’t allow me to live a smooth life or find happiness. The reason he gave me to you… was because he heard rumors that you—Xiao Nian—were flirtatious, not the settling type. He was certain I’d be miserable with you.”

“I see…” Jiang Nian went quiet for a moment, then cautiously asked,
“Sister, have you ever thought about… breaking free from your father?”

“I have. He’s made too many enemies—so many people want to see him fall.” Qiao Wenyu gave a bitter smile. She turned to look at Jiang Nian.
“Xiao Nian… do you feel like I’m different from what you imagined?”

“I like you however you are,” Jiang Nian answered without hesitation.

The two of them talked the whole way.

And as they talked, Jiang Nian felt like she understood Qiao Wenyu more than ever.

Before, she had thought Qiao Wenyu was fragile—soft, delicate. But now she realized that what she’d seen was restraint. Strength in disguise. Qiao Wenyu was smart, composed, and sharp. Careful and guarded.

Only now did Jiang Nian begin to grasp just how painful Qiao Wenyu’s life had been—losing loved ones, being crushed by her own father, and constantly pushed away by the world.

Knowing all this didn’t scare Jiang Nian. It only made her more determined—to protect Qiao Wenyu, and to treasure her with everything she had.

Qiao Wenyu also told Jiang Nian about those past rumors and the incident with Tong Yunyao. The reason those crises were minimized was because she had already taken precautions in advance.

After listening, Jiang Nian found Qiao Wenyu even more captivating.

“Jiejie (older sister)… if you ever need anything in the future, feel free to use me. I want to protect your happiness for a lifetime.”

They talked through the night, drawing even closer to one another.

Days passed steadily and routinely.

Jiang Nian’s project continued to face interference from the Yan family, while Qiao Wenyu, thanks to Jiang Fenyun’s connections, landed the opportunity to release a solo single.

To expedite the release, Qiao Wenyu ended up being away from home even more often than Jiang Nian.

Being apart for a day or two was tolerable, but going several days without a proper conversation made Jiang Nian restless. She began showing up at Qiao Wenyu’s practice room, refusing to leave until she had a meal with her.

As her visits became more frequent, Jiang Nian became the most eye-catching presence in the studio. Many trainee idols eyed her eagerly, hoping to cling to her for a shortcut to fame.

One day, just as Qiao Wenyu sat down to eat, she noticed a few omegas at the table behind them sneakily glancing their way.

With her chopsticks between her teeth, Qiao Wenyu asked, “Xiao Nian, don’t you think we’re being a bit too obvious?”

“Are we? We’re wives, after all. Even if people find out, it doesn’t matter,” Jiang Nian said nonchalantly. In fact, she even wanted the whole world to know they were in love.

“No, not now. If we’re too open, my father will cause you trouble,” Qiao Wenyu disagreed.

Jiang Nian had no choice. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Jiejie.”

“Xiao Nian, I’m sorry to make you feel wronged.”

“Hmm… not really. It’s kind of like hiding a beauty in a golden house. Feels a bit thrilling.”

Though they didn’t mind whether their relationship was public, far too many people had their eyes on Jiang Nian. She didn’t think much of it, but Qiao Wenyu couldn’t help feeling jealous.

So, after some discussion, they decided to visit each other’s companies and have dinner together afterward. That finally calmed Jiang Nian down.

In the office, the rhythmic clatter of keyboard keys echoed through the room, a faint trace of cigarette smoke lingering in the air. The smell came from a half-smoked cigarette resting on the ashtray, its ash piled up and falling into the tray.

Jiang Nian held the file in her hands, unable to figure out the source of the sudden issues. She was still waiting for Jiang Fenyun’s people to deliver additional documents. To ease her anxiety, she lit a cigarette.

But unfamiliar with smoking, she took just one puff before setting it aside in the glass groove, letting the ashes fall and extinguish themselves.

It wasn’t until the end of the workday that someone finally opened her office door.

“Miss Jiang, please come in,” said Lu Renbing as he opened the door and gestured politely to guide Jiang Xianxian inside.

Hearing the name, Jiang Nian looked up and her brows furrowed slightly when she saw who it was.

“You?”

“Jiang-jiejie, it’s been so long! I missed you so much,” Jiang Xianxian said as she rushed toward Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian quickly shot a glance at her secretary.

Understanding immediately, Lu Renbing raised a hand and blocked Jiang Xianxian’s approach.

“What are you doing? I’m not an outsider,” Jiang Xianxian complained to the secretary.

Lu Renbing gave an awkward smile. “President Jiang doesn’t like being disturbed while she’s working.”

“Oh really? Then I guess I shouldn’t hand over this very important document—wouldn’t want to bother your boss,” Jiang Xianxian said with a smirk, waving the file in her hand before pretending to turn and leave.

Jiang Nian, catching sight of the document, quickly stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Xianxian’s wrist. “Give it to me!”

Just at that moment, Qiao Wenyu walked in—only to see Jiang Nian and Jiang Xianxian in a tug-of-war.

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