After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 100

Yu Yazhi remained silent, staring at her teacup in deep thought. If Sun Meiqing switched the children on purpose, did she really just abandon her biological child? Or did she arrange for the child to stay close to her? That child was a girl.

“What did the police say?”

Yu Zhengcheng walked over, his voice breaking her reverie.

Yu Yazhi snapped back to the present and replied honestly, “Sun Meiqing accused me of being the culprit. The police are investigating. Dad, do you believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Yu Zhengcheng hadn’t gone senile yet. “I already told you I’m giving you the inheritance. You have no motive to commit a crime.”

Yu Yazhi remained calm on the surface, but a wave of relief washed over her. Her father believed her. He was on her side. Knowing she wasn’t fighting this battle alone gave her a newfound sense of security.

Unaware of his daughter’s inner turmoil, Yu Zhengcheng continued, “Regarding Sun Chi, I’ve been recalling some details and had someone look into the old case files. There are indeed some suspicious points.”

Interest piqued, Yu Yazhi asked, “How so? What kind of suspicions?”

“According to witness statements, the debt collector, Hu Chang, never used violence against Sun Chi. Their creditor-debtor relationship wasn’t nearly that tense. Sun Chi’s motives for both suicide and murder were weak at best.”

“I saw Sun Chi come to Sun Meiqing for money personally,” Yu Yazhi noted. “Sun Meiqing had a motive.”

When money is involved, family ties often fray. Given Sun Chi’s parasitic nature, a sister married into a wealthy family was nothing less than a golden goose. Eliminating such a persistent liability gave Sun Meiqing a massive motive for murder.

As they chatted, the butler, Dong Hou, came to remind them: “Master, Misses, dinner is ready. Shall I set the table?”

Yu Zhengcheng nodded. “Set it. I’ve been drinking quite a bit lately, and my stomach is acting up.”

They moved to the dining table, where Yu Zhengcheng shifted the topic. “What has Ning Xuan been busy with lately?”

Ning Xuan, who had been eating quietly, jumped at the sudden mention of her name. “Ahem, nothing much just filming with the crew.”

“Be careful on set. These are sensitive times. Our family has had a run of bad luck lately.”

“Mm-hmm. I’ll be careful.”

“Once this business is settled, you two should discuss having a child.”

“Cough, cough!”

The topic changed so fast it gave Ning Xuan whiplash. She nearly choked on a piece of vegetable.

Yu Zhengcheng frowned at her reaction. “You don’t have a plan?”

Yu Yazhi interjected on her behalf. “We heard you. We’ll look into it.”

“Don’t give me such a perfunctory answer. I want to hear news of a pregnancy within six months. Otherwise, I’ll donate all the assets under my name to charity.”

“That’s wonderful,” Yu Yazhi replied with a sharp, ironic edge. “I’m proud that your social consciousness has reached such heights.”

Her biting sarcasm left Yu Zhengcheng momentarily speechless. “You child!”

“We’re finished eating.” Yu Yazhi set down her chopsticks, ready to leave.

Yu Zhengcheng softened instantly. “Wait, don’t go. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

He was terrified of being alone now. Earlier, when Meng Xi had come by, he hadn’t refused her company even though he didn’t want to look pathetic in front of a junior.

Dinner proceeded normally. Afterward, Yu Zhengcheng insisted they stay for dessert. They didn’t talk about much, but having two living souls in the house made him feel less pitiable. They lingered until nine o’clock before Yu Yazhi finally took her leave.

Yu Zhengcheng saw them to the car. “Be careful on the way back.”

“I know.”

Yu Yazhi opened the passenger door, but seeing her father watching them with such a longing, lonely expression, she felt a pang of pity. “Go back inside. I’ll come visit you when I have time.”

Yu Zhengcheng nodded. “Good.”

Ning Xuan started the engine, rolled down the window to say goodbye, and drove away.

As the darkness swallowed the landscape, the lights of the ancestral home went out one by one. Watching them fade in the rearview mirror, Yu Yazhi felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of unease.

That night, she was too restless to sleep. Her constant tossing and turning eventually woke Ning Xuan, who asked bleary-eyed, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

“No. Go back to sleep.”

Yu Yazhi reached for her phone, turned on the flashlight, and walked out of the bedroom. It was 1:00 AM. She sat on the stairs and called her father.

No answer.

She then called Dong Hou. This time, it went through. Her anxiety spiked when her father didn’t answer, and she said urgently, “Uncle Dong, go check my father’s room immediately. How is he feeling? When was his last physical?”

“The Master’s health has always been good,” Dong Hou replied. “But at his age, there are bound to be minor issues. If you’re worried, Miss, I’ll go check on him.”

Dong Hou went to knock on the bedroom door. No response. He pushed it open to find the bed empty. Just then, Yu Zhengcheng emerged from the study. He looked surprised to see the butler. “Why aren’t you asleep? Is something wrong?”

Dong Hou smiled. “It’s not me, sir. It’s the Young Mistress. She’s worried about you and asked me to check in.”

Yu Zhengcheng beamed. “That child, she’s worried about me.”

“The Young Mistress has always been filial and caring,” Dong Hou praised, handing over the phone. “Talk to her for a moment so she doesn’t worry.”

Yu Zhengcheng took the phone, but before he could speak, he was met with a scolding.

“It’s this late and you’re still awake? What are you doing?”

“Nothing much. I couldn’t sleep, so I was handling some files in the study.”

“The more you work, the less you’ll sleep. Go to bed right now.”

“I want to, but I can’t,” Yu Zhengcheng teased like a child, buoyed by his daughter’s clear concern. “It’s been several days. I can’t sleep, and my heart aches a little.”

“Heart pain is no small matter! Have you seen a doctor?”

“Not yet. It’s likely just stress.”

“Even with stress, you need a healthy body to endure it. Do you think you’re still a young man? Go get a checkup immediately.”

“Hahaha. It’s fine. I’m just pulling your leg.”

Receiving his daughter’s care swept away the gloom of the past few days. For the first time, he truly felt how thoughtful she was, and he felt a pang of regret for neglecting her in the past.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Have Uncle Dong drive you to the hosp—”

“Yazhi.”

“What? If you have something to say, just say it.” She had a feeling he was about to say something “sentimental” that she wasn’t prepared to hear.

Sure enough, Yu Zhengcheng turned emotional. “You are a good child. Truly. You have been wonderful since you were small. Even in the places I neglected, you grew up so well. You are my pride.”

He wondered how he had been lucky enough to have such a daughter. “Yazhi, you are the best successor, and the one I’ve always wanted most.”

That belated recognition she had finally heard it.

Yu Yazhi cried. She cried for no apparent reason. Unable to listen any longer, she hung up the phone.

Ning Xuan stepped out of the bedroom and saw her wiping away tears at the top of the stairs. She rushed over. “What happened? Is it Yu Jiayan?”

She assumed something had happened to the brother.

Yu Yazhi shook her head. “No, no.” Her tears fell uncontrollably.

“Then what is it? Don’t cry.”

Yu Yazhi wiped her eyes, laughing through her sobs. “My father recognized me. He said I am his best, his most satisfactory successor.”

She had thought she no longer cared, but hearing him say it made her weep with joy and relief.

Ning Xuan understood that deep down, Yazhi was still that little girl seeking her father’s approval. “Well, of course! At least he hasn’t completely lost his wits. You’re so amazing, of course he had to recognize you.”

” I’ve waited so long.” Yu Yazhi hugged her tightly, fresh tears falling. “He finally said it. Is this a dream? Am I dreaming?”

Ning Xuan patted her back gently. “It’s not a dream, Yazhi. You deserve this.”

After a while, Yu Yazhi composed herself. Realizing she had lost her cool, she felt a bit embarrassed. “I, I got a bit carried away.”

Ning Xuan wiped away her tears with a tender smile. “There’s nothing wrong with being carried away. I like seeing you like this. You were always so rational and calm before; it made you feel almost unreal. Truly.”

In her improved mood, Yu Yazhi couldn’t help but tease her. “You’re saying I was ‘unreal’ before? And yet you still liked me? Were you lying to me then?”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Well, she’d put her foot in it.

Yazhi wouldn’t let even a single slip of the tongue slide; she was always ready to catch a loophole.

“I didn’t mean it like that. How could I? I love you exactly as you are.”

“And how long will you love me?”

“I’ll love you for as long as you love me.”

“Then you’re stuck. I’m going to love you for a lifetime and the next one, too.”

The two shared a few more tender moments before finally heading back to the bedroom to rest. It was a night of deep, peaceful sleep.

Yu Yazhi even had a dream. In it, she was a little girl again, and her father and mother were taking her to the park. There was a towering hydrangea tree. She wanted to pick a flower but couldn’t reach, so he hoisted her high onto his shoulders.

Perched on his neck, she reached for the blooms, but they were still just out of grasp. She tugged at his hair, commanding, “Higher, Daddy! Higher! Stand on your tiptoes!”

He did as he was told. She finally plucked a flower and tucked it behind his ear. He thanked her and praised her: “Our little Zhi is the best.” Then, he took the hydrangea and gave it to her mother.

They really did have happy times once.

But the dream was short. When she woke, she felt a lingering reluctance to leave it, trying to drift back into that beautiful memory.

Day broke. Yu Yazhi was still savoring the remnants of the dream when a piercing ringtone shattered the quiet. She reached for her phone and saw it was Dong Hou, why was he calling this early?

Still smiling, she answered the call. But before she could even speak, Dong Hou’s voice came through, thick with panic and terror.

“Miss, something’s happened! Something’s happened to the Master!”

The world suddenly went silent. Yu Yazhi suffered a momentary bout of deafness, her mouth moving instinctively. “What did you say? Uncle Dong, what are you saying?”

“The Master, the Master.” Dong Hou choked back a sob before breaking down into a devastating wail. “The Master is gone.”

Clatter.

The phone slipped from her hand and hit the floor. Yu Yazhi felt dizzy, her vision swimming as darkness crept in.

Ning Xuan stirred from her sleep and opened her eyes to a terrifying sight: Yu Yazhi, deathly pale and trembling violently, suddenly pitched forward and fell right off the bed.

Shocked into full alertness, Ning Xuan leapt out of bed and pulled her up. She tapped Yazhi’s cheeks and pressed firmly on her philtrum. “What happened? Yu Yazhi, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!”

Yu Yazhi slowly regained consciousness. She looked at Ning Xuan, and before she could even try to speak, the tears came. Her body continued to shudder, and her hands were icy to the touch.

Ning Xuan gripped her hands tight, kissing her knuckles as she whispered soothingly, “I’m here. Yu Yazhi, it’s Ning Xuan. I’m right here.”

It took a long time for Yu Yazhi to find her voice. The world felt as though it had ground to a halt. When sensation finally returned to her limbs, only three minutes had passed.

“My dad, my dad.”

She lost her voice again. Uncle Dong said her father was gone.

How could he be gone? They had just spoken on the phone last night. She was afraid to say the words out loud, afraid that if she spoke them, her father really would be gone forever.