After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Refuse to Get Divorced - Chapter 5

“Everyone, this is our workflow plan for the month. The key priorities right now are the launch of the new product and the promotional endorsement. Per President Zhu’s earlier directive, we previously selected Miss He Yimo as the brand ambassador.”

Secretary Liang Jing of Group B nearly bit her own tongue several times while presenting the monthly outlook.

It wasn’t that she had a death wish—it’s just that almost everything their boss previously arranged was tied to He Yimo.

And that very same He Yimo was the little-sweetheart homewrecker currently sitting in their office!

When Zhu Qingran saw the giant celebrity photo projected on the screen, her heart felt utterly desolate.

Had the original owner of this body been using her brain to rinse hotpot broth?

How could she hand out benefits like this to outsiders?

But no matter. It wasn’t too late to stop the bleeding.

As the saying goes: Don’t let good water flow into another’s fields.

No outsider was going to profit from her!

Her money—her precious, precious money—should only be spent on her little wife. No one else had the right or the qualifications.

If there must be an endorsement, obviously it should be her and her little wife.

What a perfect couple they made. What a perfect promo narrative.

Ever since we started using the Premier Couple Emotion Tuner, every day feels like a honeymoon!

Flawless!

Zhu Qingran applauded herself inwardly—clap, clap, clap—and simply made a final decision.

“I think Miss He Yimo is already at an age where she should really consider finding a partner, so this endorsement for the Tuner, I suppose I’ll reluctantly take the role myself. As for my wife, I’ll go ask her personally. Trust in your President Zhu—armed with my brilliance and Alpha charm, if I kneel for three days and nights, I’ll get her to agree. It won’t delay the shoot.”

She circled the endorsement slot on the screen with her laser pointer. The entire room immediately scrambled to revise.

Even though several executives were shaking so hard they could barely hold their pens, living was still better than angering the boss.

“P- President Zhu, here are the expenses from last month for your scandal control and Miss He Yimo’s new film marketing. We’ve already consolidated everything.”

Director Xiao from Finance stood up, hands trembling, and began presenting the prepared slides.

She was very convinced that the boss’s romantic preferences had completely shifted. She almost couldn’t keep up.

Judging from President Zhu’s reaction just now, the little cousin was done for.

But finances still had to be reported—she couldn’t pay out of her own pocket!

“Xiao Xiao, was it?” Zhu Qingran lifted her eyes, narrowing her pretty brows at the slide.

That look—under normal circumstances—was always the harbinger of a storm.

Every morning meeting ended with someone getting shredded alive. Today should’ve been no exception.

Xiao Xiao never imagined that one day she would be the target.

Wasn’t President Zhu the one who loved reading these financial reports?

Wasn’t she the one who loved watching her cousin spend her money?

But today, today she was acting completely out of character.

Not only did she stop liking spending money on her cousin—she was apparently madly in love with that wife from the cold palace?

Even the apocalypse couldn’t compare to a tyrant boss suddenly becoming wife-whipped.

Would the next words be:

“Xiao Xiao, I’ve remembered your name. By the way, the position of Finance Director is open starting today”?

Even with shaking legs, Xiao Xiao mustered her courage.

“President Zhu, yes—that’s me.”

“Xiao Xiao, your report is very professional, but the colors are too plain. If you only show me numbers, my heart bleeds, you understand?” Zhu Qingran tapped the table with her laser pointer.

The moment she tapped, everyone instantly looked up in terror.

The atmosphere was like a classroom full of students caught napping by the teacher.

Zhu Qingran couldn’t hold back a laugh. Suddenly, she wanted to go watch her little wife teach class.

“All right, all right. You’ve all been working very hard. I’m pleased. Please make adjustments based on the points I mentioned. Good work, everyone. Meeting dismissed.”

She grabbed the coat draped over her chair, swung it over her shoulders, and strode out of the office.

At the doorway, she even mimicked her staff and bowed back into the room.

“Thank you all for your hard work. Let’s make sure IO reaches new heights!”

Zhu Qingran bowed to the employees.

More than once.

And she didn’t explode during a morning meeting?

She stayed calm the entire time?

What had changed this fire-tempered tyrant CEO?

What gave her courtesy, restraint, and grace?

Her little wife. Obviously!!!

The company group chat exploded in celebration. Some people even made “Little Wife Koi Blessing” stickers.

As for the mysterious “little wife,” although people heard rumors about her from time to time, very few had actually seen her face.

Even the secretaries and assistants had only glimpsed her from afar. Deliveries were always done through the mailbox.

So, the stickers everyone made were just the words “President Zhu’s Little Wife” slapped onto a cute emoji template.

It wasn’t that her status was unworthy—she simply wasn’t valued.

From the beginning until now, President Zhu never cared about her. The media cared even less.

They were more interested in the boss’s latest exploits around the galaxy.

Even Zhu Qingran’s complicated entanglement with her sweet little cousin got more attention than this “neither-high-nor-low” wife.

When the new sticker popped up on her wristcomm, the little sweetheart waiting outside the office window—He Yimo—couldn’t help laughing.

“Oh please, you ignorant mortals. Wait until you actually see the little wife—you’ll learn what the words ‘heavenly beauty’ mean. Zhu Qingran’s taste is impeccable. If she doesn’t pluck a star from the sky, she’d rather stay single forever!”

Her voice was indeed sweet—just not as twee as when she played cute on purpose.

Dangling her sky-high heels off the ledge, she glanced toward the meeting room from time to time.

The thud of Martin boots against the floor cut through the air, and the figure approaching was undeniably striking.

He Yimo hopped off the windowsill, instantly switching from calm to coquettish as she threw herself toward Zhu Qingran.

“Cousin.”

The moment the high-pitched, cutesy voice of the little “sweet girl” rang out, Zhu Qingran got goosebumps all over.

“Why hasn’t she left yet?”

Zhu Qingran muttered this as a soul-level question, while the little sweet girl teared up and sniffled.

“Cousin, do you not love Mo Mo anymore? How could you take away her endorsement, cousin.”

Zhu Qingran had to admit—the little sweet girl had quite a presence. Her figure was decent, and she swayed with every step.

But after seeing her beloved wife’s figure, all others were irrelevant.

For example, the little sweet girl’s curves—was that an anterior pelvic tilt? Was it overdone?

No matter how she looked, it didn’t hold a candle to her wife.

“Well, Miss He Yimo, I formally notify you: since you have been single for so long without a partner, you do not meet the requirements for endorsing our product. Therefore, I wish you an early end to your single life!”

Zhu Qingran smiled faintly, forcing a dignified expression.

She had made herself clear—any single “big sister” on the other side should stop trying to interfere with someone else’s family and go get herself a partner instead.

In her heart, Zhu Qingran gave herself a small nod of approval.

She might not be able to provide a home for every single heart out there, but she didn’t mind encouraging people to settle down.

She was serious about increasing the interstellar success rate of relationships.

“President Zhu.”

Liang Jing, clutching the schedule, caught up and awkwardly glanced at the fuming He Yimo.

“President Zhu, tomorrow evening you have a charity gala with a prominent business figure. Would you like to bring a female companion? We can arrange—”

“That will obviously be my wife! I already have a companion, Secretary Liang. What kind of nonsense is that? Which other girls do you think I’d bring?”

Zhu Qingran’s tone lifted at the end, and Liang Jing immediately apologized.

“Sorry, President Zhu. I was only thinking about how to select outfits for you and Madam, since we haven’t previously managed Madam’s wardrobe arrangements. I—”

Before Liang Jing could finish, Zhu Qingran held up her hand to cut her off.

“Don’t worry. I’ll check right now. Ready the car—I’m going to Finance University.”

She adjusted her collar and slipped on her coat.

Leading the way, Zhu Qingran had Liang Jing follow immediately.

Assistant Zhou Ranran was still in shock over He Yimo being abandoned by President Zhu, frozen in place, until He Yimo shoved her aside.

“Cousin, are you really abandoning me? I feel so miserable, boohoo. I’ll never look for you again!”

He Yimo pretended to cry, but the smile on her face was almost bursting through the rooftop.

After Zhu Qingran walked away, she laughed so hard her stomach hurt.

“Ah, finally, I’ve fallen out of favor! Zhu Qingran, you cowardly lover-chaser, you ruined my chance at love. Look at the neighbor Zhou Ziyue—their kids are already holding hands in kindergarten! Both strong Alphas, and you’re such a wimp!”

After venting, He Yimo put on sunglasses, wearing the wounded little-pathetic-girl act, and left the IO Tower.

A few minutes later, the superstar He Yimo was photographed drowning her sorrows in alcohol, smiling bitterly.

Then the news cycle erupted again:

“Rumor: CEO Zhu Qingran returns to family life; actress He Yimo suffers heartbreak and drinks to cope.”

“CEO rushes to appointment, IO’s future heir on the way.”

“Zhu Qingran personally picks up her wife; strong Alpha family joy imminent.”

The media frenzy was so over-the-top, even Zhu Qingran, driving onto campus, couldn’t help laughing.

“I’ve only just started chasing my wife, and these reporters are already trying to name our kids for me. And that little sweet girl’s bitter smile? Why do I feel like she’s secretly enjoying herself?”

Trying to stay low-profile, Zhu Qingran parked in a corner.

Unfortunately, her long legs and height made discretion impossible.

A young girl glanced at her, and a bold young man even asked for her contact info.

Although Zhu Qingran wasn’t a celebrity, were these kids really not paying attention to the news?

She nearly wanted to roar: Hey, I’m trending right now! Look closely—I’m a married woman!

Not wanting to trouble her wife or appear cold and indifferent, Zhu Qingran smiled politely while refusing.

Finally spotting her wife’s office door, she almost leapt in shouting, “Wife, save me!”

But instead, she saw a pair of lovers walking toward her—hand in hand, laughing and talking comfortably.

One of them was her wife, Du Shiyu.

Author’s Note:

Mini Scene:

President Zhu saw her wife holding hands with someone else and broke down crying on the spot!

Little cousin He Yimo calmly quipped: “Why don’t you cry with me? What else can you do? Are you going to fight? Is a CEO someone who fights?”

Zhu Qingran: “Give her five million, and leave my wife alone.”

Du Shiyu: “Uh, I’m not even with her. What are you giving her money for? Zhu Qingran, are you hiding a secret stash from me?”

Zhu Qingran fell to her knees: “Wife, I swear all this money is your cousin’s dowry!”

He Yimo: “What is this nonsense? Who am I marrying?”

Zhu Qingran: “Cousin, stop struggling. You like that female teacher—I know!”

Zhu Qingran tried to signal with her eyes.

Fang Ziyan: “Huh? Sitting at home, and a wife falls from the sky?”