After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Slave to My Beloved Wife - Chapter 53

Bai Ye stepped out of the airport, dragging her suitcase behind her. Her assistant followed closely.

“President Bai, isn’t that your cousin over there?” the assistant asked, spotting a young woman near the terminal exit. She wore a mask, but her striking features were unmistakable.

At the mention, Bai Ye removed her glasses. She was mildly farsighted and didn’t need them to see things from a distance. After a moment of focus, she confirmed—it was Jiang Xianxian.

Why is she here?

While Bai Ye had been abroad, the only news from home was that Jiang Fenyun had been hospitalized. She hadn’t been told much beyond that. Her return to China now was because of a call from Jiang Nian a few days ago—her voice on the phone had sounded troubled.

Bai Ye had once made a promise to Jiang Nian: As long as Qiao Wenyu is safe, I’ll always help you when you need me.

In the crowd, Jiang Xianxian kept her face partially hidden behind a mask. She wasn’t an A-list celebrity, but her name still held some weight.

When the foot traffic cleared, she raised her eyes—and saw Bai Ye walking toward her.

Bai Ye stopped a few steps away, calmly putting her glasses back on. “What are you doing here?”

“Cousin…” Jiang Xianxian’s eyes turned red the moment she saw her. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Bai Ye, sobbing uncontrollably.

Caught off guard, Bai Ye stood stiffly. Her hands hovered in midair, unsure whether to hug back or push her away.

Sniffling, Jiang Xianxian choked out, “The doctor told me… they said… said my sister… she won’t wake up. She’ll be stuck like that forever. If they pull the plug… she’ll… she’ll die immediately…”

Bai Ye’s expression darkened. “What did you say? What happened to Fenyun?”

“Dad didn’t dare tell anyone the truth. He just said she was unconscious… But the truth is…” Jiang Xianxian could barely breathe through her sobs. “Qiao Wenyu and Jiang Nian started investigating what happened that night. They don’t know—they don’t know it was my sister who took the bullet for Jiang Nian! Without her, I don’t even know how to face our family…”

“The Jiang family’s affairs are not my place to interfere in. But I am heartbroken about Fenyun,” Bai Ye said quietly, eyes lowered.

Jiang Xianxian grabbed the front of Bai Ye’s coat, her voice trembling. “Then why are you back to see her? Why are you still going to see Jiang Nian? She has no idea my sister never wanted to hurt her. She always did what she thought was best for her. She never knew!”

“That’s between me and her. I have business to discuss,” Bai Ye replied and moved to walk past her—but Jiang Xianxian blocked her path again.

“Then take me with you, Cousin. I want to explain everything. I want her to know the truth, or else Jiang Nian will go on living thinking my sister wronged her, when she never did.”

Bai Ye sighed, clearly worn out from her cousin’s persistence. Eventually, they arrived at the restaurant where Bai Ye was scheduled to meet Jiang Nian. Jiang Xianxian followed closely behind.

At the door, the server recognized Bai Ye immediately and stepped forward to lead her in.
“President Bai, President Jiang is already waiting for you in the private dining room.”

It only took a few minutes to cross the lobby to the private room. The server stopped outside.
“This is it, President Bai.”

“Thank you. I’ll go in myself,” Bai Ye said politely.

The server smiled and walked away.

When Bai Ye turned around, she realized her cousin had disappeared.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

Jiang Xianxian stormed in, emotional and on the verge of tears, standing directly in front of Jiang Nian.

It had been over a week since the incident, yet Jiang Nian still looked worn and hollow. Her face was pale and thin, her expression clouded with a quiet sadness. There was nothing left of the spirited, sharp executive she once was.

Jiang Nian had been staring out the window when she heard the door open. She turned slightly—then saw who it was.

The moment she recognized Jiang Xianxian, her face darkened. She turned away without a word.

“Thank you, I’ll go in on my own,” Bai Ye said politely.

The server smiled and walked away.

When Bai Ye turned around, her cousin was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, Jiang Xianxian burst through the private room door, her emotions on edge as she confronted Jiang Nian directly.

Over a week had passed since the incident, but Jiang Nian still looked unwell. Her face was pale, her expression subdued—there was a quiet depression in her demeanor that made her look like a shadow of her once confident and sharp self.

She had been staring out the window when she heard someone enter. She turned, saw who it was, and immediately looked away.

That face—it looked so much like Jiang Fenyun’s.

Jiang Xianxian strode forward, yanked off her mask, and raised her voice sharply. “Why are you still avoiding me? My sister ended up like that because of you, and now you’re investigating her like she’s a criminal? If she knew you never really saw her as a friend, wouldn’t she regret ever taking that bullet for you?”

Jiang Nian didn’t respond. Her expression remained calm as she looked past Jiang Xianxian and addressed Bai Ye behind her. “You’re here.”

Bai Ye was visibly startled by how drained Jiang Nian looked. “You…”

Seeing Jiang Nian up close triggered Jiang Xianxian again. Her nose stung as tears welled in her eyes. “Did you know? The only person in this world who ever treated me like real family was my sister. She told me not to interfere with the company, so I didn’t. She told me to appear at your side, to make Qiao Wenyu give up on her—I did that too. She told me to seduce you, and I even went along with that. It sounds terrible, doesn’t it?”

“Stop it, Xianxian,” Bai Ye said, tugging gently at her sleeve.

“Let her speak,” Jiang Nian replied. “President Bai.”

“I’m saying—I don’t think my sister deserved any of this!” Jiang Xianxian shouted, breathing hard. “She always tried to help you. She never wanted to hurt you. And now she’s lying there, like that, and you’re still digging up dirt on her—why? Why can’t you let it go?”

Jiang Nian’s lips trembled. She slowly stood up, her voice cold and flat. “I’m sorry, but I will keep investigating. Things aren’t as simple as you think.”

“You…” Jiang Xianxian looked at her like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was like Jiang Nian’s heart was made of stone.

Jiang Nian gave a bitter, almost hollow laugh. Her voice drifted like a sigh. “I know she didn’t mean to hurt me. But she did hurt Wenyu. Maybe this is the balance fate chose.”

“Don’t give me that,” Jiang Xianxian snapped. “You have no heart. After everything my sister did for you, all you have to say is ‘we’re even’? And you say you love Qiao Wenyu? But you’ve never once been able to truly protect her.”

Her words pierced straight through Jiang Nian like blades.
Friendship. Love. In Jiang Xianxian’s eyes, Jiang Nian didn’t deserve either.

“You don’t have a heart. You don’t even understand what love is!”

Those words hit a nerve. Jiang Nian’s fists clenched tightly, her long eyelashes quivering as she remained silent.

“Enough!” Bai Ye could no longer stay quiet. She knew Jiang Xianxian had always been like this—emotional, impulsive. Back when Jiang Fenyun was around, at least someone could control her. But now… there was no one left.

Jiang Xianxian glared, her sorrow practically spilling out of her eyes, but all she had left were her words. Without her sister, she couldn’t do anything anymore.

“Escort her out,” Bai Ye said quietly to her assistant.

The assistant stepped forward and politely motioned for Jiang Xianxian to leave.

“No need. I can walk out on my own,” Jiang Xianxian scoffed, turning on her heel and storming out without looking back.

The room fell into silence.

Bai Ye sat down across from Jiang Nian and spoke gently, “Fenyun always kept her in check. With her gone like this… it’s been hard on Xianxian.”

“I understand,” Jiang Nian said softly. Because I can’t accept it either.

Bai Ye looked at her seriously. “So? Tell me—what is it you need from me? You said this was about Wenyu’s safety. That’s why I dropped everything and came back so quickly.”

Jiang Nian lowered her eyes for a moment, her mind weighed down. But then she sat up straight, looked directly at Bai Ye, and with a calm, expressionless face, said:

“Bai Ye… I want to give Wenyu back to you.”

Bai Ye stared in disbelief, as if she hadn’t heard correctly.

Then she let out a sudden, almost mocking laugh. She shot to her feet and grabbed Jiang Nian by the collar, her voice trembling with anger.

“Do you even know what you’re saying?!”

“I know,” Jiang Nian said calmly. But her tightly clenched hands—fingers intertwined and pale—betrayed the turmoil inside her.

Bai Ye scoffed. Her laugh was short, sharp, and bitter. Then she regained her cool, lifting her chin as she questioned:
“Then what did all your big promises mean back then? What was all that stubbornness in front of me, clinging to Wenyu like you’d never let go? And what about Wenyu, who still loves you so much—what does she mean to you now?”

Three simple questions—and Jiang Nian couldn’t answer even one.

“You’ve got nothing to say?” Bai Ye’s gaze turned cold. “Did you hit your head, Jiang Nian? You sound like a child throwing a tantrum.”

Jiang Nian opened her mouth. Her voice was low and hoarse.
“The company’s about to take a loss. I have no leverage to guarantee the project. Even if I could pull it through, I still can’t bring down the Yan family. Bai Ye, I’m going to ask Wenyu for a divorce soon. Take her with you. I don’t want her stuck under her family’s control anymore. She’s amazing. She deserves better opportunities. Not to be chained to me.”

Bai Ye seemed about to respond, but Jiang Nian didn’t give her the chance.

“Bai Ye, you’re the only one I trust. You can give Wenyu the life she deserves. You can pull her out of this mess. And me… I can’t even fix my own problems. How could I possibly deserve to love her?” Her voice cracked, trembling with a swelling sorrow she struggled to contain.

It was the first time Bai Ye had ever seen Jiang Nian look so defeated—like a stray dog with its head lowered, utterly heartbroken.

“I was so foolish to think I could give Wenyu happiness,” Jiang Nian whispered, fighting through the pain that was ripping her apart. “Consider this my plea—please, I just want her to be happy. That’s all I care about now.”

Just then, the door to the private room burst open.

Qiao Wenyu stood there, her face a mix of anger and grief—but her eyes still glowed with unwavering affection.

“Xiao Nian… is that what you really think of me?”
Her words were soft, but each syllable carried the weight of her whole being.

Jiang Nian froze. Her body went rigid, her mind blank. She had tried so hard to avoid Qiao Wenyu lately—kept her distance, even changed her schedule to avoid being seen. She never thought Wenyu would catch her like this.

Bai Ye, still seated, crossed her arms silently and simply watched the scene unfold.

“Jiang Nian,” Qiao Wenyu said, her gaze piercing, “do you really think I don’t know what my father is up to?”

Jiang Nian was speechless.

Bai Ye sighed and stood, smoothing out her clothes as she headed for the door.

“Xiao Yu, this is between you two. I’ll leave it to you,” she said, then left without another word.

Now the room was quiet—only Jiang Nian and Qiao Wenyu remained, staring at each other.

“…Jiejie,” Jiang Nian finally broke the silence, lowering her head to avoid Qiao Wenyu’s eyes. “You heard everything?”

“Yes.”

“All of it?”

“All of it.”

Jiang Nian gave a helpless smile, looking at her gently.
“Then… does this count as an amicable breakup?”

“What did you just say?” Qiao Wenyu’s brows knit together, the softness in her face vanishing in an instant.

Jiang Nian didn’t dare look at her again. She was afraid that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to let go. She stood up quickly and walked toward the door.

“Jiejie, I’ll take care of the divorce paperwork soon. Let’s… not contact each other anymore.”

But Qiao Wenyu grabbed her arm, eyes shimmering with tears as she looked firmly at her.
“Xiao Nian, I heard everything. Are you still going to pretend?”

“I don’t love you.” Jiang Nian forced the words out, cruel and sharp.

Qiao Wenyu shook her head, clearly not believing it. “You’re lying. You just told Bai Ye everything you did was for me.”

“That’s enough, Jiejie,” Jiang Nian said, her voice tight as she blinked away the tears. She hardened her tone, burying her true feelings.
“Just think… I’m leaving you because I don’t believe you love me. Is that reason enough for you?”

Support