After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 29.2

Ning Xuan: “…”

So Jin Se was an Alpha?

Seeing her dazed expression, Zhao Luoluo made a cheering gesture. “Alright, Xuan-jie, go on. Forget the invitation—you can just get in with your face. I can’t come with you; my sister’s about to give birth tonight. Huge moment—I need to be there. Text me when the party’s over. If I can’t make it, Sister Yun will come pick you up.”

Ning Xuan nodded, reassured. “Got it. Go on, then.”

She lifted her skirt and stepped onto the red carpet.

Zhao Luoluo climbed back into the car, but just as she was about to close the door, something occurred to her. She jumped back out and ran after her.

“Hey, Xuan-jie—remember, don’t drink. You know your alcohol tolerance.”

Ning Xuan caught her disdainful look and felt vaguely offended.

But since it was the truth, she let the jab slide.

“I know,” she said, waving her off.

Zhao Luoluo drove away, and Ning Xuan continued toward the entrance.

A doorman stepped forward just in time to open the door for her.

Her crystal heels sank lightly into the carpet, revealing the pale curve of her ankles and insteps—strikingly vivid against the crimson beneath her feet.

And so, Ning Xuan made her graceful entrance.

Inside the hotel lobby, reporters who had been interviewing Jin Se turned as one the moment they saw Ning Xuan. Like a rising tide, they swarmed toward her.

“Miss Ning, about your confrontation with Bai Meng on the show—do you have anything to say?”

“There are rumors of a secret relationship between you and Bai Meng. Given today’s events, was this a lovers’ quarrel?”

“Are you dating Xu Ke?”

“Does the heiress of Changyu Group know?”

“Is this an affair, or are you secretly divorced?”

The flashbulbs exploded like a storm.

Ning Xuan stood tall and elegant, stunningly beautiful under the lights.

Facing the cameras, she smiled softly—graceful, composed, perfectly poised.

“I have no personal relationship with Miss Bai,” she said calmly.

“As for Xu Ke, I simply admire her talent.”

“My wife and I get along very well.”

Her voice was steady, her tone neither hurried nor flustered.

All eyes were on her.

Jin Se, who had been the center of attention only moments ago, suddenly found herself overlooked. Yet, instead of irritation, she watched with amused curiosity, arms crossed, as though she was enjoying the show.

The reporters, relentless as ever, kept pressing forward like hounds who’d caught a scent.

Ning Xuan’s throat was going dry. Just as she was about to crumble, Jin Se’s voice came to the rescue.

“Alright, everyone,” she said lightly, “don’t scare my guest. Otherwise, you might not be invited next time—and that would be a shame, since I did prepare quite the spread for you tonight.”

The reporters, well aware of their relationship with the Jin Group, took the hint. Laughing politely, they dispersed.

Peace at last.

Ning Xuan finally got a good look at the woman in front of her—a doll-like face with striking mixed-race features.

The original Ning Xuan’s memories flickered to life: so this was Jin Se, the Alpha? She looked softer than expected.

Jin Se was dressed in a sleek black silk gown with a daring slit that revealed a flash of long, fair legs. Her cascading curls and red lips added a regal, sensual charm that drew every gaze in the room.

“Hi”

Ning Xuan raised a hand and greeted her with a practiced smile. “Long time no see.”

Jin Se stepped closer, bumping Ning Xuan lightly on the shoulder—her tone easy and familiar. “So? Pretty grand, huh? Rolled out the red carpet just for you.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Were they that close?

She mentally flipped through every memory she could find but came up empty. With no choice, she played along. “Not bad—maybe just a little over the top.”

Jin Se blinked, genuinely surprised. “What? Don’t tell me marriage actually mellowed you out. I remember you used to love being dramatic. Last time you came to my hotel, you practically begged me to start the red carpet from your front door.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Alright, maybe they were close.

She could only fake a laugh. “Kidding, of course.”

Jin Se pouted playfully, giving her a once-over before nodding as if in thought. Then she took Ning Xuan’s hand and led her inside.

As they walked, she kept talking, “We haven’t seen each other in forever. If it wasn’t for my party tonight, you probably still wouldn’t have called me. What, your wife keeping you on a short leash? Well, I can’t blame her—she is a bit of a powerhouse.”

Jin Se chattered on nonstop, leaving Ning Xuan with no chance to respond, and far too many questions to even know which one to answer first.

Suddenly, a tall, slender woman in a rose-red suit stepped in front of them.

Ning Xuan wasn’t short for a female Alpha, but this woman was still half a head taller—easily around 1.8 meters.

Meanwhile, Jin Se, who was even shorter than Ning Xuan, looked absolutely tiny standing between the two of them.

Still, petite as she was, Jin Se didn’t lack spirit. Chin tilted up, she practically looked down her nose as she said, “Manager Cheng, what do you want from me?”

As she spoke, the hand that had been holding Ning Xuan’s wrist slid down to her waist—tightening possessively.

Ning Xuan had a bad feeling. What’s this supposed to mean? Using me to provoke someone?

The air between the two was complicated.

Internally, Ning Xuan was dying of secondhand embarrassment.

She wanted to bolt.

Manager Cheng acted as if she hadn’t noticed their overly intimate posture. Her expression remained cool, her tone polite but distant: “Miss, the banquet has begun. You’re expected to go on stage and give your speech.”

With that, she turned and left.

To Ning Xuan, her attitude seemed perfectly reasonable.

But Jin Se’s grip suddenly tightened again. She raised her voice at the retreating figure: “Cheng Tang, stop right there! Did I say the banquet could start? I told you to stop!”

Ning Xuan: “…”

So, is it starting or not?

“Ow!”

Pain shot through her arm.

She turned and saw the little princess biting her lip as she dug her fingers into Ning Xuan’s arm like she was kneading a stress ball.

Seriously? You’re mad, but you take it out on me?

Probably fuming over Cheng Tang’s coldness, the young lady huffed, released Ning Xuan, lifted her skirt slightly, and marched off after her.

Ning Xuan sighed, lowering her gaze to the fresh red marks on her pale skin. Didn’t Zhao Luoluo say everyone here got along fine? What kind of nonsense is this?

She rubbed her arm, already imagining the bruise that would form.

With nothing better to do, she glanced around. The banquet hall was packed with guests, none of whom she recognized. It wasn’t a business event, so there was no need to network. Most likely, Jin Se had just invited her along for company.

But thinking of Jin Se brought her back to that earlier scene. There’s definitely something between Jin Se and Cheng Tang.

The way Jin Se had looked at Cheng Tang, and the way she suddenly grabbed her—it was obvious she’d been using Ning Xuan to test Cheng Tang’s reaction.

Cheng Tang.

The name rang a bell.

Where had she heard it before?

She thought and thought.

“Ning Xuan? What are you doing here?”

A familiar voice spoke up behind her.

She didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Yu Yazhi.

And just like that, the realization struck her. Crap—Cheng Tang is the talent Yu Yazhi said she wanted to poach during that dinner at the old house!

“What are you standing there for?”

Yu Yazhi’s tone was cool, with a hint of disdain.

Facing away, Ning Xuan let out a silent, bitter laugh. Great. Of course it’s her. Talk about enemies meeting at the worst possible time.

No doubt Yu Yazhi was here for Cheng Tang.

Wow, really? She’s even come all the way to the woman’s doorstep to recruit her?

When Yu Yazhi first entered, she’d recognized Ning Xuan immediately—just from the back. Her eyes had lit up, though she quickly schooled her expression.

But recalling the day’s headlines, a heavy pressure returned to her chest.

She’d intended to pretend not to know her, but in an event like this, that would have been awkward.

Just as she was about to speak again,

“Ah, yes, yes, I’ll be right there!”

Ning Xuan quickly lifted her phone to her ear, pretending to take a call while her eyes darted around for an escape route.

She had no desire to face Yu Yazhi; seeing her always triggered the same instinctive reaction—like a student trying to dodge their homeroom teacher.

Of course, Yu Yazhi saw right through it. Tch. What a terrible actress.

She decided not to bother with her. Let her run if she wanted.

Just as Ning Xuan thought she was about to slip away unnoticed, a bright spotlight landed squarely on her.

“Ning Xuan, over here!”

Jin Se stood on the stage, beckoning with a grin. She’d wanted Ning Xuan to come up and say a few words, but when her gaze shifted, she froze for a second, then exclaimed, “Oh! Your wife’s here too!”