After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 29.1

Yu Yazhi opened her laptop and searched Ning Xuan’s name.

The moment she clicked on the search results, nearly every headline was about Ning Xuan’s performance on that day’s show:

[Ning Xuan Speaks Up for a Contestant, Publicly Questions the Fairness of the Judges’ Scores!]

[On “Shining Future,” Ning Xuan Tears into Bai Meng to Defend Xu Ke!]

[Entertainment’s Most Beautiful Alpha, Ning Xuan, Fiercely Confronts Bai Meng on Set. Justice or Publicity Stunt?]

One headline after another flashed before her eyes.

Yu Yazhi clicked on one at random. Alongside the article was a video clip.

In the video, Ning Xuan sat among the panel of mentors, her expression solemn as she questioned Bai Meng with composed, unflinching clarity. Every word carried both admiration for contestant Xu Ke and an insistence on fairness.

“Today’s stage represents the contestants’ hard work over this period. I don’t want their effort and sweat to be dismissed because of personal bias or other reasons. I believe the production team invited us as mentors to give fair and professional evaluations.”

Her eyes were clear and steady, her voice powerful and resonant.

Yu Yazhi watched quietly and thought: Hmph. She really isn’t afraid of offending people.

Still, offending Bai Meng wasn’t exactly a big deal.

The corners of Yu Yazhi’s lips curved slightly. Ning Xuan’s sharp attitude toward Bai Meng actually pleased her, it made Ning Xuan look far more agreeable than usual.

She didn’t bother to finish the rest of the video.

Why?

Because she found herself distracted by Ning Xuan’s makeup on the show.

At home, Ning Xuan usually went barefaced: naturally elegant and striking. But for the stage, her makeup leaned toward an idol-group style, designed for maximum visual impact.

Under the stage lights, her exposed skin glowed with a soft, delicate radiance.

Her naturally shaped brows gave her face a quiet, unspoken beauty.

Her sunflower-like lashes fluttered lightly—so clear, so luminous, every blink sweetly captivating.

Yu Yazhi hadn’t expected that when this woman was “on the clock,” she could be that dazzling—almost intimidating.

She studied her for a while, then moved to close the tab.

When a new trending tag suddenly popped up.

#NingXuanxXuKe: The CP’s Too Sweet to Handle!

Yu Yazhi frowned. She didn’t even know who Xu Ke was, but the suggestive tag piqued her curiosity, and she clicked.

The link led to a fan-made edit—clearly the work of a die-hard CP shipper. A minute-and-a-half montage of every interaction Ning Xuan and Xu Ke had ever shared on the show.

The clips alone were harmless enough—but paired with dreamy filters and that annoyingly romantic background music.

The screen practically overflowed with pink bubbles.

Yu Yazhi’s hand tightened unconsciously around the mouse, her face darkening by the second.

That little girl’s adoring gaze at Ning Xuan—so sticky, so soft.

It made Yu Yazhi’s chest feel oddly tight. Stifling, even.

She paused the video and pushed the laptop away in irritation.

So she’s changed her taste now? Likes that kind of kid?

With an annoyed snort, Yu Yazhi grabbed her phone and opened WeChat, intending to send Ning Xuan a warning—not to stir up any nonsense that could affect her.

But when she tapped into their chat, she saw that the last message still read: “No need to see me off.”

Her mood soured further. She tossed the phone onto the desk.

Just then, Meng Xi came in—only to hear the sharp thud of something hitting the table.

She paused at the doorway, frowned slightly, and said evenly, “President Yu, I brought you a sandwich and some coffee.”

Yu Yazhi lifted her eyes, her voice cool: “Assistant Meng, next time you come in, remember to knock.”

Meng Xi: “…”

A flicker of surprise—and something like disappointment—crossed her eyes, but her face remained composed. “Understood.”

“Come in.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Meng Xi walked in, set the food down on the desk, and, by chance, glanced at the laptop screen.

On it, Ning Xuan was smiling radiantly—so bright, so beautiful.

Beside her was that same young girl, her face pure and innocent.

Xu Ke?

Meng Xi noted the name silently, masking any reaction as she looked back to Yu Yazhi. Lowering her gaze, she asked gently, “President Yu, what’s made you this upset?”

It wasn’t work hours yet, and as usual, she expected that Yu Yazhi might confide a little, as she sometimes did when in a bad mood.

But Yu Yazhi shut the tab, smoothed out her expression, and picked up a file she’d already reviewed that morning. Her tone was cold.

“Nothing. Who made this report? Take it back and have them redo it. It gives me a headache.”

To an outsider, it looked like a normal work issue.

But Meng Xi could see clearly—Yu Yazhi was lying. Her mood had been thrown off by Ning Xuan. Normally, Yu Yazhi was calm and composed, never mixing personal emotions with work. Yet now, she was taking her frustration out on others—because of that woman.

Anger simmered in Meng Xi’s chest.

And jealousy.

Clutching the report tightly, she left the office. When she reached her desk, she slammed it down hard enough to make her colleagues jump.

The team had been whispering about Ning Xuan just moments earlier—but seeing the storm cloud over Meng Xi’s head, they instantly fell silent.

Not a word more.

Later that afternoon, After lunch, Ning Xuan and Zhao Luoluo hurried straight to a magazine shoot.

The magazine, Radiance, was a high-end fashion and lifestyle publication covering fashion, beauty, entertainment, and art—hugely popular among white-collar readers and often hailed as the “Bible of Style.”

It had a solid reputation in the industry.

Every issue featured the hottest celebrity of the moment.

In short—appearing on Radiance was the ultimate proof of fame.

Ning Xuan understood what this meant and couldn’t help feeling a little excited. Without realizing it, her popularity had already surpassed the original owner’s by a large margin.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Ning. I’m Chen Yue, the project lead from Radiance. Please, come with me.”

As soon as she got out of the car, a staff member came up to greet her and led her to the dressing room.

First wardrobe, then makeup.

It took nearly an hour before she was ushered into the studio.

The place was spacious, bustling with people, chatter, and noise.

As she entered, someone accidentally stepped on the hem of her long gown, nearly tripping her.

Fortunately, the photographer caught her in time.

He was a male Alpha—tall, broad-shouldered, with rugged features and bronze-toned skin radiating strength.

Without a word, he pulled her directly under the spotlight.

His movements were rough.

Ning Xuan winced from the grip on her arm. “You—you’re hurting me.”

“You’re late.”

His dark eyes burned with irritation.

Chen Yue hurried to smooth things over. “Ms. Ning, our photographer, Mr. Shang, has a bit of a temper—please don’t take it personally.”

Ning Xuan steadied herself and smiled politely. “It’s fine.”

Before coming, she’d looked into Radiance and learned about its exclusive photographer, Shang Ye—only twenty-four, a prodigy with a reputation that sometimes outshone the stars he photographed.

Thanks to his talent for capturing and magnifying beauty, countless celebrities fought to work with him.

Genius often comes with temperament.

And Ning Xuan was patient—so patient that even after three full hours of shooting, with only three usable photos, she didn’t complain once.

Anyone else would’ve blown up by now.

But she smiled through it till the very end.

Even so, during photo selection, Shang Ye frowned in dissatisfaction. He went off to pick another gown himself, handed it to her, and without warning—splashed a cup of water right in her face.

Ning Xuan: “…”

It happened so fast she didn’t even have time to dodge.

Shocked and furious, she gasped, “What, what are you doing?”

Shang Ye raised his camera and said curtly, “Keep shooting.”

Then, gripping her wrist, he pushed her down onto the sofa.

Ning Xuan: “…”

The sky had already grown dark.

Once the lights in the studio went out, the room was plunged into dimness.

At some point, everyone around had left.

The world was so quiet it was almost eerie.

“Shang Ye, you—what exactly are you doing?”

Ning Xuan’s voice trembled slightly. A hint of fear flickered in her eyes. She’d heard stories—some photographers took advantage of shoots to touch and harass people. Surely this Shang Ye wouldn’t. Damn it, if he dared, she’d clench her fist, lift her foot, and kick him right where it hurt most.

Snap!

A blinding light flashed across the room.

The beam hit her directly in the eyes, so harsh it made her tear up instinctively.

Click

“Ning Xuan, look at me!”

Shang Ye’s voice was cold, carrying the crisp edge of command.

She blinked rapidly, realizing he was taking photos. Summoning her professional instinct, she cooperated as best she could, gazing toward the camera—but under the glaring light, tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Click, click.

Shang Ye pressed the shutter rapidly.

It ended as abruptly as it began.

The entire process lasted no more than four or five minutes.

Then the lights came back on.

The world brightened again.

Crew members began returning to the set.

Zhao Luoluo quickly came over, draping a blanket over her shoulders.

Wrapped in the blanket, Ning Xuan sat on the sofa for a moment, calming her breathing. When she’d finally steadied herself, she said quietly, “Luoluo, bring me some water.”

“Miss Ning, here.”

It was Chen Yue, the project lead from earlier. Thoughtfully, she even twisted open the bottle cap.

Ning Xuan took the water but didn’t drink it. Instead, she stood up and strode toward Shang Ye, who was adjusting his camera.

She was determined to give him a taste of his own medicine.

A sharp gasp rippled through the room.

“Ah!”

Water splashed in a full arc—drenching Shang Ye’s head completely.

He reacted instinctively, twisting away to protect his camera at the critical moment.

The water ran down his face and neck, soaking into his clothes.

He looked utterly bedraggled.

But Ning Xuan still didn’t feel her anger ease. “Mr. Shang,” she said sharply, “I can understand that geniuses tend to be arrogant—but I cannot understand why you think being talented gives you the right to disrespect people like this!”

Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails bit into her palms.

For the first time since she’d transmigrated into this world, she was truly scared—more than when facing Yu Yazhi.

But thanks to this man, her courage had finally caught up with her fury.

Shang Ye, dripping wet, held his camera close and looked at her in silence. He didn’t explain—he looked as bewildered as she was angry, clearly at a loss over what to do next.

Chen Yue quickly stepped forward with a nervous laugh. “I’m so sorry, Miss Ning. Please don’t be upset—Shang the photographer didn’t mean any harm. He’s just, like this. He’s driven away quite a few people before. Please, don’t take it personally.”

Ning Xuan didn’t respond. She was still fuming.

She held out her hand. “Give me the camera.”

If she was going to be pushed through such an ordeal, she wanted to see what exactly had come of it.

Shang Ye obediently handed the camera over.

The photos were, admittedly, stunning.

A beautiful woman reclined on a sofa in a dimly lit room, wearing a striking red dress. Her pose was languid and alluring, her bright eyes gazing straight into the lens—calm yet luminous, tears glistening as they trailed down her cheeks.

Her long, damp hair clung to the curve of her collarbone, revealing flashes of pale skin—part temptation, part mystery.

He had captured not just a person, but a story.

A story that felt, a little indecent.

Still, she had to admit—the cover shot was eye-catching.

The man really was talented.

But that didn’t mean she had to like him.

“Mr. Shang, even if your work is good, that doesn’t excuse your behavior!”

With that, she raised the camera—pretending she was about to smash it.

“Wait!”

Shang Ye’s face drained of color. “Don’t! Don’t break it—I was wrong!”

Ning Xuan: “…”

She had only meant to scare him. Seeing him panic and apologize so quickly, she felt a flicker of satisfaction and handed the camera back.

“Now you know what it feels like to be afraid?” she said coolly.

Damn it. He’d scared the life out of her just now.

For a moment, she’d genuinely thought she was about to be harassed.

Ever since arriving in this unfamiliar world, she hadn’t truly adapted. Deep down, she still lacked a sense of safety.

“Xuan-jie, are you okay?”

Zhao Luoluo finally snapped out of her daze and rushed to her side.

Ning Xuan shook her head and walked straight out.

She went to the dressing room to change.

Chen Yue followed, perhaps feeling awkward after the earlier tension, and began showering her with compliments. “Miss Ning, you worked so hard today. I really think you were amazing—one of the most professional and cooperative actresses I’ve ever met!”

As she spoke, she even gave her a big thumbs-up.

Ning Xuan was still simmering inside, but she didn’t take it out on anyone else. She smiled faintly. “It’s fine. Just part of the job.”

“You’re so humble—and truly have a great temperament. Gentle but strong. Honestly, you’re the first person to ever put that photographer in his place!”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Ning Xuan gave a wry smile. She hadn’t wanted to “put him in his place” at all. She’d simply been frightened.

With nothing more to say, she gestured toward the dressing room. “I’ll go change.”

“Of course,” Chen Yue replied with a polite smile.

While waiting outside, Chen Yue struck up small talk with Zhao Luoluo.

When Ning Xuan emerged, freshly changed, she simply nodded goodbye and headed for the elevator.

Chen Yue escorted them all the way to the car.

Once seated in the backseat, Ning Xuan closed her eyes. Her body relaxed at last, exhaustion seeping through every bone. Being an artist isn’t easy, she thought tiredly. Being a female artist is even harder.

Zhao Luoluo slid into the driver’s seat. She checked the time—it was already past seven. With a look of sympathy, she said, “You worked so hard today, Xuan-jie.” Then she grabbed a paper bag from the passenger seat and tossed it into the back. “Your battle dress is ready. Time to change.”

She’d guessed the shoot would run long, so she’d come prepared.

Ning Xuan peeked inside the bag, puzzled. “What’s this?”

“An evening gown, of course,” Zhao Luoluo said matter-of-factly, fastening her seatbelt and starting the car. “Seven o’clock. The banquet at the Jinrong Hotel. Did you forget?”

Ning Xuan rubbed her temple. Right—Zhao Luoluo had mentioned it over breakfast.

It had been such a long, draining day that she’d practically gone numb.

Jinrong Hotel?

The name sounded familiar. She mouthed it silently, trying to recall where she’d heard it before—but she was too tired to think anymore.

Still, curiosity stirred faintly. “So, why exactly are we going there?”

Zhao Luoluo clicked her tongue, glancing at the rearview mirror. “You really are tired. The Jinrong Hotel’s current head—Miss Jin Se—personally invited you, okay?”

“Didn’t you and she used to get along really well? I left the invitation at your place—didn’t you bring it?”

Ning Xuan quickly shook her head. “Didn’t see it. Didn’t bring it.”

Jin Se?

The name didn’t ring a bell.

Probably just one of the original Ning Xuan’s less important acquaintances.

Wait, a friend of the original Ning Xuan?

Her temples started to throb again. Somehow, she doubted this “friend” would be easy to deal with.

She didn’t want to go, but she had no choice.

More friends meant more connections. Whether this one turned out good or bad, she still had to take a look.

Inside the car, Ning Xuan changed into the gown Zhao Luoluo had prepared for her.

A lily-white dress with an off-shoulder neckline embroidered with clusters of delicate snow-colored flowers. The hem was also circled with the same embroidery, mirroring the design above—it gave her the look of a flower fairy descended to earth.

She’d just finished a magazine shoot, so her makeup was still intact. Without needing to touch it up, she pulled out a pearly mermaid-toned lipstick and dabbed it on her lips.

Instantly, her aura returned—fatigue swept away.

She could’ve walked straight onto another red carpet.

Because they were running late, Zhao Luoluo used navigation to find a shortcut.

Still, with rush hour traffic, they arrived twenty minutes behind schedule.

“Xuan-jie,” Zhao Luoluo called out, “that’s the hotel up ahead.”

Ning Xuan lifted her gaze. The bright gold characters Jinrong Hotel gleamed in the night sky like a beacon.

Below it, a long, vivid red carpet stretched out endlessly.

Ning Xuan: “…”

So it really was a red-carpet event.

While she was still processing that, the car rolled smoothly to a stop at the hotel entrance.

Zhao Luoluo had already made arrangements in advance. A young male attendant, recognizing Ning Xuan’s car, hurried over to welcome her.

But Ning Xuan, remembering Zhao Luoluo’s previous betrayal-by-gossip, looked instantly wary. “Wait—let me ask first. The people at this event, I don’t have any grudges with them, right?”

Then, afraid Zhao Luoluo might misunderstand, she added, “And that Jin Se—we really are just friends, right?”

The original Ning Xuan had used her looks to attract quite a few people, and Ning Xuan herself wasn’t sure what kind of trouble that might bring.

Zhao Luoluo chuckled, then replied seriously, “Relax, Xuan-jie. You’re really just friends. Trust me. You’re not Jin Se’s type—she doesn’t go for your kind. And besides, AA relationships never end well anyway.”