After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Refuse to Get Divorced - Chapter 21.2

Yimo felt like she could barely keep a straight face. “Sister, you just need to go to the counter, give them a number, and pay the bill.”

“Is Shiyu in the OB-GYN department?” Qingran asked bluntly.

Three days of ‘sleep’ and she’s already pregnant? Is this speed comparable to the speed of light? That was the only thought in Qingran’s brain, so she let it out.

“Huh? Uh, yeah! Sure! We’re in the surgical wing. The ‘little nephews’ were being rowdy in her belly and ‘rammed’ their way into someone’s face. We’re getting them some meds and checking for a concussion. So, can President Zhu pay now?” Yimo’s face was flat. If Qingran asked one more stupid question, Yimo was going to run downstairs and throw her salary card at her cousin’s face.

“Okay, okay! I’m paying right now!” Qingran didn’t argue and agreed instantly.

The phone was handed back to Huang Doudou, whose voice came through shaky and stuttering. “M-Momo, I just saw President Zhu’s hands shaking. Her legs are shaking too. Is that really the CEO?”

Normally, Yimo wouldn’t believe it either. But this was the reality—this was her cousin, a flesh-and-blood human being finally being injected with genuine emotion.

“Is that so? Probably just the vibration from my loud voice,” Yimo explained sagely. “It’s called ‘one thing overcoming another’!”

“Ohhh, I see! I think I just learned something!” Doudou muttered, seemingly enlightened. But before Yimo could hang up, Doudou’s suspicion returned. “Wait, Momo, are you sure a baby can cause a concussion from inside the womb?

Did you get into trouble again and have the CEO come clean up your mess?”

“Doudou, how can you not trust me? Do I look like a troublemaker?” Yimo was guilty, but she couldn’t admit it. This wasn’t “trouble”—it was “damage control.”

“I don’t know what happened, but if you aren’t back at the event venue within thirty minutes, I think your wallet and your paycheck will be in trouble,” Doudou said seriously, checking the time.

Yimo jolted as if struck by lightning. “I forgot! Aaaah! Dearest Doudou, keep the brand sponsors calm! I’m coming back! I’m the one holding the product at the finale, right? I’ll hold that product while I sleep if I have to! As long as the pay is right, I’ll pose as a wax statue!”

The little star had to go make that money. She threw out “darlings” and “sorrys” left and right before rushing back to see Fang Ziyan one last time.

“Darling Teacher Fang, I have to go to work. Your bills are paid, and someone will deliver supplements later—you MUST accept them. I won’t walk you out, but I’ll visit your house next time!”

She shouted a hasty “Goodbye, darling!” to Ziyan before chirping “darling” into her phone again. The word seemed to be nothing more than a casual verbal tic for her.

However, the person who had just been called “darling” lingered on the word for a long time. Fang Ziyan watched Yimo’s back—the way she waited until she saw Qingran approaching before finally disappearing.

When Yimo ran into Zhu Qingran, she gave her a big hug, called her “darling,” and vanished.

After breaking free from her cousin’s embrace, President Zhu charged straight for Du Shiyu.

“Wife! Did the baby kick you? Is the baby okay? Why are we getting meds in the surgical wing for a concussion?”

CEO Zhu was the perfect example of “Brilliant in the boardroom, an idiot for three years after ‘sleeping.'” Her IQ had plummeted from 180 to 80 in a heartbeat.

Seeing her making such a fool of herself, Shiyu couldn’t help but reach out and feel Qingran’s forehead. Just days ago, this woman had used “lowering her temperature through exercise” as an excuse to drag Shiyu through every room in the house. If she tried to pull the “fever” card again, Shiyu was going to pack her bags and head to her mother’s.

My waist and legs are still sore.

Just as Qingran looked ready to carry Shiyu out of the hospital in a princess-carry, the forgotten victim, Fang Ziyan, finally cleared her throat.

“CEO Zhu, is your brain fried from work? I am the injured one. I am the one in surgery. Your child is likely still ‘under construction.’ And shouldn’t you be worried about whether Teacher Du’s stomach was hurt by the impact?”

Qingran froze. A moment of realization hit her.

“Oh, right! Wife, does your stomach hurt? Did those little brats bully you? I’m writing the Zhu family rules the moment we get home tonight—those kids are going to learn some discipline!”

Qingran still only had eyes for Shiyu. Fang Ziyan was officially a ghost.

“I guess I’ve been forgotten. Farewell.” Ziyan cupped her hands in a mock-respectful gesture to leave, and only then did Qingran notice her face.

“Oh! It’s Teacher Fang! Teacher Fang, your face.”

Qingran knew someone was hurt, but she hadn’t expected Ziyan to be punched in the eye. The purplish bruise wasn’t shallow; while it didn’t hit any vitals, it was certainly a look.

If the victim had been Qingran, she wouldn’t have let the culprit leave without getting justice. But the suspect, He Yimo, had just walked out of here like she owned the place. Qingran should have known that being asked to pay the bill meant trouble.

“Teacher Fang, since you’re injured like this, take a medical leave. I’ll have He Yimo go to your house and take care of your daily needs until you’re fully recovered.”

Qingran’s expression shifted from “worried husband” to serious CEO. she pulled out her phone to call Yimo back. It would be easy; Qingran had been a more constant presence in Yimo’s life than most of her own relatives.

Fang Ziyan had seen everything—including how Yimo had tried to protect Shiyu earlier by keeping a distance between them. She knew how close the two cousins were. If Qingran asked, Yimo would do it.

But Ziyan didn’t want to be a burden. “CEO Zhu, don’t be so tense. I startled Miss He, so she hit me out of self-defense. She really is a model of the modern woman—very independent and strong!”

Ziyan’s praise was genuine, not flattery. It sounded like a mix of sincere admiration for Yimo and an assurance to Qingran that her “kid” was a good one.

“Well, Momo was still in the wrong. You have every right to demand an apology,” Qingran insisted, but Ziyan shook her head.

“It’s no big deal, I just gave her a scare. It’s just a bruise; I’ll be fine in two days. Back when I was trekking through deserts and climbing cliffs for photos with broken limbs, I wasn’t this delicate. You’re here to take Teacher Du home, so I’ll take my leave. Happy life to you both!”

Ziyan raised her diagnostic report above her head, using it to shield the bruise from view. She hunched over slightly as she walked toward the exit. Suddenly, she stopped and looked back at Qingran.

“CEO Zhu, is everyone in your family this enthusiastic? For example, do they usually like to call people they just met ‘darling’?”

Qingran hadn’t quite pieced together the context of that question yet. But Du Shiyu, having witnessed the whole ordeal, suddenly felt a wave of melancholy on Ziyan’s behalf.

Unfortunately, it was Qingran who answered:

“Are you talking about Momo? Because she’s in the industry, she has to build her own network. She’s always friendly and in the habit of calling everyone ‘darling.’ It’s intimate without being greasy; it helps close the distance with people.

Did she call you ‘darling,’ Teacher Fang? If it felt inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, I’ll make sure she watches her mouth next time.”

“No. I was just asking. Teacher Du, thank you for taking me to see a star today. It was quite an adventure. Goodbye.”

As Fang Ziyan finally disappeared around the corner, Du Shiyu stood still. She felt like she had done something good, yet somehow, she felt like she had made a mistake.

Du Shiyu couldn’t quite put into words how she was feeling.

“Shiyu? Are you still thinking about Momo and Teacher Fang? Was Momo’s behavior too violent? Did she scare you?”

Zhu Qingran held Shiyu’s hand and leaned in to look at her, trying to read the hidden thoughts behind her eyes. There was an undeniable caution in Qingran’s voice; her gaze was a mix of worry and nervous tension.

She didn’t know exactly what had transpired before she arrived. However, the fact that three elegant ladies had managed to end up in the hospital suggested some impressive “combat power” was involved. When Qingran had heard from Huang Doudou that Yimo was at the hospital, she had sped through traffic to get there.

Fortunately, everyone was fine. All was well.

And yet, Shiyu’s expression was complex. Qingran couldn’t tell if the mood was directed at Yimo’s outburst or at her own late arrival. She felt as though her every nerve was being pulled by Shiyu’s actions; even the slightest, most subtle flicker in her gaze made Qingran incredibly anxious.

Is this what it feels like to be hopelessly in love? To be utterly consumed by someone?

“I’m not thinking about that, I wasn’t scared, and I don’t blame you,” Shiyu said, sounding like a curious child. “I just find it miraculous. Momo looks like such a refined, adorable little goddess—how did she manage to take down Teacher Fang with one punch? Teacher Fang has actually had training!”

Shiyu’s question was genuine curiosity, but deep down, what she really wanted to ask was: Are you that capable too? What kind of past and what kind of life forced you both to become so secretly strong and brave?

“Is that so? I actually thought Teacher Fang was the ‘tough on the outside, soft on the inside’ type,” Qingran replied. Her confidence was impossible to ignore—the same confidence she radiated in the boardroom. But now, shifted to the context of a physical arena, she seemed just as certain she could crush any opponent.

“Momo and I have broken more than a few bones in our time. But it wasn’t from shooting photos in harsh environments like Teacher Fang. We just.”

As she spoke, Qingran unbuttoned her cuff and rolled up her sleeve. With a single movement, a mark that looked like a birthmark appeared before Shiyu’s eyes.

“Isn’t this.” A birthmark?

Shiyu realized immediately it wasn’t, or else Qingran wouldn’t be showing it to her. It wasn’t a birthmark; it was the scar from a reconstructive surgery.

“It snapped back then. The bone actually pierced through, so it left a very deep scar. I figured since it couldn’t be fully erased, I’d just keep it—as a reminder to myself.”

Qingran spoke casually, as if it were of no consequence. But the words “snapped,” “pierced through,” and “couldn’t be erased” echoed in Shiyu’s ears like an alarm. No matter who those words were applied to, the experience must have been a pain that seared into the bone and blood.

How could Qingran say it so lightly? There was only one answer: she was used to it. To her, it was a small thing, and so she no longer cared. Even when you are used to pain, it still hurts—it just no longer distracts you or breaks your heart the way it once did.

In that moment, Du Shiyu felt as though she didn’t know the person standing before her—the person she shared a bed with—at all.

“Zhu Qingran.”

The “Little Wife” summoned the courage to call her name again. She wanted to get to know her all over again.

“Huh? I’m here, wifey.” CEO Zhu still insisted on the sugary-sweet title. In front of Shiyu, she was like a child who had just been promised a piece of candy. No matter how bad things had been, as long as Shiyu was calling her name, everything was beautiful.

“Did it hurt?” Shiyu’s hand reached out, gently stroking the scar on Qingran’s arm. She felt a wave of guilt for once thinking this was just some “CEO vanity tattoo.” She didn’t know how Qingran had acted back then, but seeing how much she had moved on now only made Shiyu’s heart ache more.

She felt a deep, genuine pang of pity.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. It was just a trifle. Back then, I was juggling Finance and Programming during the day, and at night I’d drag Momo along to learn self-defense and grappling. We were prepared to get hurt and bleed. No one can protect us forever; only when you’re strong enough do you stop worrying so much. So, I got stronger, and it stopped hurting.”

Qingran took Shiyu’s hand and guided it down as she pulled her sleeve back into place. She insisted she was fine, but Shiyu remained solemn.

“Wife, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll book a VIP specialist appointment at the OB-GYN immediately to prepare for our babies!”

With a grand gesture, CEO Zhu reached for her card. She had received her “allowance” from Shiyu that morning, so she finally had a chance to swipe her card in front of her wife. Spending money on her wife, it felt glorious!

“Conception takes time! It takes about thirty days to see results, not three!” The emotional atmosphere Shiyu had built was shattered in an instant by Qingran’s antics. She felt like grabbing Qingran by the ear and stripping her of all her “CEO dignity” right there.

“Thirty days, huh? Then I’m still twenty-seven days short. I’ll work harder!” Qingran chuckled, leaning into Shiyu’s ear.

Qingran laughed, and Shiyu’s face flushed red, right to the tips of her ears. Shiyu had beautiful features, even the shape of her ears was perfect. Thinking back to the scenes of their intimacy, Qingran realized she could never get tired of looking at her.

As she reached out to trace the curve of Shiyu’s ear, she noticed she wasn’t wearing her Premier Couple Emotion Tuner. Lately, Qingran’s own regulator only reacted when they were close to each other. If they both wore the paired set, perhaps they could sense each other’s feelings even more directly.

“Shiyu, you should wear.”

“Wear.” Shiyu didn’t finish the sentence. She followed Qingran’s gaze and knew exactly what she was asking. “After we finished the endorsement shoot, I got my set. I just forgot to put it on. It’s right here.”

The “Little Wife” took her own set of regulators out of her bag.

Unlike Zhu Qingran’s emerald drops, Du Shiyu’s set consisted of a pair of pearl earrings. The style appeared classic and understated, but the pearls were intricately engraved with the patterns of mint leaves—a subtle, clever touch.

Zhu Qingran had actually received this set before the advertisement shoot. However, after catching the scent of her wife’s cool mint pheromones, she had decided to send them back for further customization. Thus, this unique version was born.

Shiyu was clearly pleasantly surprised.

She had long believed that in Zhu Qingran’s world, she was only entitled to the same treatment as anyone else. To Qingran, she thought, even if the position of “Madam. Zhu” weren’t hers, whoever held that title would simply receive the standard-issue luxury treatment. Perhaps Qingran didn’t lack a wife so much as she simply lacked a candidate to fill the role.

But now, it seemed Qingran was beginning to bestow upon Shiyu marks that were hers and hers alone.

There was the exclusive tenderness, the burgeoning affection, and now, this pair of earrings that felt like a pledge of love.

“Put them on for me.” Shiyu gathered her long hair and draped it over her shoulder, waiting for her lover to personally adorn her.

Her porcelain neck was long and fair, and strands of hair—carrying the faint mint scent from her glands—brushed against Qingran’s hand. Qingran took out the first earring and, with great solemnity, fastened it for her.

The moment the second one was taken out, Qingran clearly felt Shiyu’s body stiffen. It was only for a split second, but in that instant, Shiyu saw the pattern on the other earring: it was a tea leaf.

Qingran placed the “Green Tea” pearl earring on Shiyu’s left earlobe.

“I’m sorry for making an executive decision,” Qingran whispered, her lips close to Shiyu’s ear. “I wanted to hang myself forever at the spot closest to your heart because you are already right here in mine.”

Qingran tilted her head to show Shiyu the earring on her own left ear. In the sunlight, Shiyu saw that the emerald pendant was engraved with the pattern of a sunflower.

So, she had been blooming all along in Zhu Qingran’s most vulnerable and softest place—swaying gracefully, inseparable as a shadow.

Author’s Note:

[Little Theater]

CEO Zhu signed up for a music class taught by a disabled instructor. After half a month of practice, she finally mastered a lullaby.

During the New Year family talent show, CEO Zhu’s two toddlers were babbling and learning how to address people, making everyone roar with laughter.

Discarding her usual dignified persona, CEO Zhu wore her pajamas, a baby tucked under each arm. Bottles and diapers were flying everywhere, yet she managed to perform a rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” using her feet on the instruments.

The applause was thunderous.

That night, the big star He Yimo posted an update: “Shocking! The domineering CEO has suddenly turned into a stay-at-home ‘Nanny Boss.’ DM me for the bonus video!”

The little cousin made a fortune from the video sales and bought a mountain of tiny clothes for her nieces. However, the top comment under her post went viral and exploded on the hot search list!

Her Inkstone (Fang Ziyan): “So, how many are we having? I can keep both my feet busy at the same time too!”