After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Refuse to Get Divorced - Chapter 22

Du Shiyu invited Zhu Qingran out for dinner.

It wasn’t a candlelit romantic evening; it was spicy hotpot.

Even though President Zhu’s eyes were rimmed with red and the tip of her nose was flushed from the spice, she persisted in blanching slices of spicy tender beef for her “pampered wife.”

Du Shiyu’s plate was piled high like a small mountain. Around the edges, Zhu Qingran had even symbolically placed a few green leaves as a garnish.

Zhu Qingran claimed she was helping her wife maintain a balanced diet. In reality, she was reacting to a barrage of messages sent by He Yimo earlier.

“Cousin, buy some more mature lingerie!”

“Cousin, why don’t you go learn photography?”

“Cousin, my manager’s son is going to an art crash course. Want to go? I’ll sign you up—guaranteed no middleman markup!”

“Cousin, how about we learn some folk singing?”

In the span of five minutes, her little cousin had sent a dozen messages, each one dripping with urgency. She was practically begging Zhu Qingran to get some “artistic culture.”

The suggestion of photography was particularly suspicious. Was the kid planning to stop being a middleman? Or was there some necessary link between photography and today’s events?

“Speak human,” Zhu Qingran replied while Du Shiyu was busy grabbing a napkin.

Her cousin must have been struggling to find the words, because she eventually sent a hideously photoshopped image: a beautiful sunflower and asparagus fern stuffed into a gaudy, “Wealth and Prosperity” style bright red flowerpot.

Over the image, she had captioned: SAVE ME! SAVE ME!

“Oh ho, this brat.”

Was she calling her tacky? Was she implying the little wife didn’t want to be near her because she lacked taste?

President Zhu refused to accept this. She had been a professional illustrator for five years; every hit project in the company was her handiwork. Back when she was “doing art,” those bright red flowerpots were still considered the height of fashion.

Wasn’t it just “being artistic”? Wasn’t it just acting like a refined, elegant partner for her wife? Those things were etched into Zhu Qingran’s very bones.

So, following the rules of composition, she arranged a “masterpiece” on her wife’s plate. Every time she added a piece of meat, she felt her wife’s gaze lingering on her. Oh, that must be the gaze of loving encouragement, she thought. Yes, it definitely is!

In high spirits, President Zhu finished cooking the meat and personally handed over the chopsticks.

“Shiyu, eat up. Arranged like this, the meat isn’t too hot, and it’s aesthetically pleasing. Enjoy your meal,” Zhu Qingran said, not forgetting to punctuate the sentence with a playful wink.

Seeing her blink, Du Shiyu quickly took a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Is it too spicy? I didn’t realize this spicy tallow base would be so pungent. Are your eyes okay?”

Her wife’s voice was so gentle and her movements so tender that Zhu Qingran’s heart melted instantly. To make it easier for her wife, she even leaned her face forward. She closed her eyes with a blissful expression, looking like a lazy kitten soaking up the sun—an expression that made Du Shiyu want to tease her.

Du Shiyu’s hand, which had been dabbing her eyes, suddenly pinched the tip of her nose.

“Little sister Ah Ran is being naughty. Your punishment is to eat these meat rolls.”

Her wife picked up a large bundle of cooked mutton with her chopsticks and dropped them into Zhu Qingran’s bowl. The neat “composition” Zhu Qingran had worked so hard on was instantly thrown into chaos.

But Zhu Qingran didn’t care at all. Her heart felt warm and fuzzy.

Her wife shared food with her.

The love she gave was being returned.

Love truly is a two-way street.

Looking at the meat rolls, she didn’t even want to eat them. She felt like calling a wax museum on the spot to have them preserved in wax so she could take them home as a memento.

In the past, every date was a performance for Zhu Qingran. She was acting for outsiders, but also for herself. She would think: Look at me, with such high status and power, yet I can still humble myself and be so “good” to my wife.

And back then, her wife seemed to have it so good—being cared for by President Zhu, to the point where she was practically being hand-fed. During those scenes, Zhu Qingran played the part of the perfect partner for the public and the harmonious couple for the family.

Only she knew the truth: back then, her wife was just there for dinner. That meal wouldn’t have been any different if she had eaten it with anyone else. They were polite—so polite they hardly felt like friends, let alone a couple.

But this time, Zhu Qingran was pouring her whole heart into it. That kindness was for her wife alone. And her wife was constantly responding to it. This feeling was a hundred times better than closing a massive business deal.

“Is the soup base too spicy? You don’t like it?” Seeing that Zhu Qingran hadn’t picked up her chopsticks, Du Shiyu moved to call the server to change the soup.

Zhu Qingran immediately began eating with gusto.

“The soup is delicious! It’s not spicy at all—it’s sweet!”

The “little sister Ah Ran” who insisted it was sweet ended up finishing the meal with tears and a runny nose. Thankfully, her wife stepped in with a sweet milk drink to soothe the burn.

Halfway through, Du Shiyu went to the restroom. Zhu Qingran continued boiling the meat when her wife’s phone started vibrating. Only then did she notice Du Shiyu had left it behind.

What a mysterious creature, Zhu Qingran thought. Going to the bathroom without a phone? That’s half the fun gone.

However, one glance at the screen left her in shock. The caller ID read: “Her ♡”

Those two characters felt like a thunderclap exploding right in front of her eyes. Her brain started buzzing! Why did her wife’s contact for “Her” look so ambiguous?

Zhu Qingran hadn’t intended to snoop, but her hands were a bit greasy. Her finger slipped, and she accidentally swiped the “Answer” button.

“My dear little Yu’er, what are you up to? Did you miss me? I miss you so much!”

It was a mature female voice, but the tone was incredibly intimate, sounding like someone very close to Du Shiyu. When the voice came through the speaker, Zhu Qingran nearly dropped the phone into the boiling hotpot.

Perhaps because the restaurant was noisy and no one was responding, the person on the other end realized something was off. Before Zhu Qingran could run the phone over to her wife, the voice spoke again.

“Is this Little Zhu? Hello there. We haven’t had the chance to meet yet. Do you have some time recently? Let’s meet up!”

She knows me?

Zhu Qingran’s spine went rigid the moment her name was called. She sat bolt upright, looking as serious as if she were attending a high-level board meeting.

“Hello. Do I know you? And is there something you need from me?” As she spoke, her mind was racing: Is this a love rival? Is it? It can’t be! Are rivals nowadays really this bold? Calling while the couple is having dinner?

What did she want to meet for? Was she going to try and intimidate the legal wife? If so, Zhu Qingran would make sure she retreated in total defeat. She meant what she said. To defend her marriage and her love, “Little Zhu” was ready for battle.

“Zhu Qingran, I married my daughter off to you. Is it really that hard for you, my son-in-law, to come see me? As a mother-in-law, I know my daughter is married, but I have to rely on tabloid photos to know what the person she married looks like. Don’t you think you’re being a bit disrespectful?”

Mother-in-law?

It’s the mother-in-law!

The moment that title flashed through her mind, Zhu Qingran almost slapped herself.

She had been with her pampered wife for so long, yet she hadn’t even visited her in-laws once. No wonder her wife’s heart had eventually turned cold and she chose to leave in the past; Zhu Qingran’s sheer rudeness and unreasonableness must have snuffed out every last spark of affection she had.

It had to be that!

This time, Zhu Qingran was determined to seize the opportunity and make a stellar impression on her mother-in-law. Thank goodness she hadn’t said anything more offensive just now, or her mother-in-law would be the first one to advocate for a divorce.

“Mom, it’s you! I’m so sorry. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to visit you in person. Are you free this week? Shiyu and I will come to see you!”

Zhu Qingran’s reflexes were lighting fast—she skipped the formal “Mother-in-law” and went straight to “Mom.” Her tongue was as sweet as honey, leaving the person on the other end of the line slightly stunned.

“I’m free this week. As it happens, your father-in-law is home too. You and Shiyu should just book your flights and come. Remember to take some time off work so we can all have a meal together.”

Since her mother-in-law had extended the invitation, Zhu Qingran was more than happy to accept. But before the trip, she had to arrange for various gift boxes to be sent ahead of time to set the stage.

“Mom, there’s no need to take time off. Shiyu and I can head over on Friday and come back on Sunday. That way, we can spend a few more days at home with you both. Also, could you send me your address?”

Zhu Qingran figured there was no need for a formal leave of absence just to visit family, especially with modern transportation being so efficient. However, when she finally received the address from her mother-in-law, she fell into a stunned silence.

The mother-in-law mentioned she was going to make arrangements for their arrival and then hung up. Zhu Qingran sat there motionless, remaining frozen even after her wife returned.

Du Shiyu, however, recognized the address at a single glance.

“My mom contacted you?” Her wife checked her phone to confirm. She knew her “imperial mother” had likely called while she was away on purpose. Those people were incredibly sharp and full of schemes; they probably even knew exactly how many slices of meat the two of them had eaten by now.

“She was trying to reach you, but I saw you weren’t back yet, and I accidentally swiped the screen and answered.” Zhu Qingran started to explain, but her wife stuffed a piece of shrimp paste into her mouth.

“She’s my mother, so isn’t she your mother-in-law too? We’re family; answering the phone is no big deal. Besides, I think my mom prefers talking to you anyway.” Her wife didn’t mind at all and actually seemed quite pleased.

This reaction only strengthened Zhu Qingran’s resolve: Happy mother-in-law, happy life.

That very night, a flurry of express deliveries was dispatched to that address. However, these weren’t your typical eight-piece gift sets; they were driven by Zhu Qingran’s personal “special interests.”

For example, she sent the IO Group’s emotional testers, rank-testing kits, and various merchandise—pajamas, mugs, and plushies—that she and Du Shiyu had endorsed. In short, everything Zhu Qingran used to flirt with her wife at home was now being delivered to the in-laws’ residence.

In the week leading up to the visit, Zhu Qingran lived a highly disciplined life. She even spent her free time practicing her facial expressions and sharpening her conversational skills.

She was determined to transform into the perfect “son-in-law” the moment she saw her mother-in-law. But if she subconsciously stared at her wife and ignored everyone else, well, that wasn’t her fault, right?

She swore—she really wasn’t trying to be disrespectful by not making eye contact with others. It was just that, in her eyes, her wife was the cutest! Her wife was the most beautiful! She simply couldn’t get enough of her!

As Zhu Qingran’s famous motto goes: Draw a circle with my wife as the center, and within a hundred-mile radius, no other living soul matters.