After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 30

Ning Xuan: “…”

She froze like a block of wood, her whole body going rigid.

Of all times for Jin Se to show up—she had to pick this exact moment?

What rotten luck.

With how loud that was, Yu Yazhi must have heard.

Forcing a smile, Ning Xuan turned around awkwardly. “Yazhi, what a coincidence. You’re here too.”

Yu Yazhi glanced at her phone, voice cool and meaningful. “Ning Xuan, next time you answer a call, please make sure the receiver is facing up.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

She was momentarily speechless.

Yu Yazhi stood very close, her beautiful face just inches away.

Ning Xuan could even smell her perfume—like roses blooming at dawn, soft and intoxicating.

Instantly, scenes from that spring dream started replaying in her head.

Ning Xuan quickly shoved the thought down, taking an instinctive step back. She forced a grin. “Haha, Yazhi, you look gorgeous tonight.”

Yu Yazhi was wearing an off-shoulder black evening gown. The irregular cut revealed her fair, slender legs, and her makeup leaned toward the cool and sultry. Her long, black hair was styled in an elegant updo, tied with a dark green lace ribbon embroidered with tiny diamonds that glittered in the light.

With her striking presence, she was stunning—elegant yet untouchable.

And as the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face.

Hearing Ning Xuan’s flattery, Yu Yazhi, who’d been ready with a few sarcastic remarks, couldn’t bring herself to say them.

Just then, Jin Se came down from the stage, walking toward them. “Oh? Still chatting? Ning Xuan, aren’t you going to go up and say a few words?”

The old Ning Xuan would never have passed up a chance to be in the spotlight.

But now, she backed off politely. “No, no. It’s your cocktail party. I don’t have much to say.”

Then she changed the subject with a smile. “By the way, Jin Se, you invited my wife and didn’t tell me? We could’ve come together.”

This Jin Se really is clueless. Didn’t she realize Yu Yazhi was sniffing around her hotel’s talent pool? And she still went and invited her!

If she hadn’t, they wouldn’t be in this awkward situation now.

Jin Se knew perfectly well what kind of person Ning Xuan was—and she knew the two weren’t as close as they looked. She couldn’t be bothered to expose the pretense, simply folded her arms and said lazily, “Miss Yu wasn’t invited by me.”

She wasn’t that familiar with Yu Yazhi anyway.

Among the second-generation elites, Yu Yazhi stood out as the model child—the one parents always compared their kids to. Meanwhile, Jin Se was the typical spoiled princess, rebellious and carefree. They were fundamentally different, the kind of people who’d never get along.

Especially now that Jin Se had inherited the family business and taken over Jinrong Hotel, the media loved comparing the two of them.

Naturally, she didn’t like Yu Yazhi much. The only reason she was smiling at all was because Yu Yazhi happened to be Ning Xuan’s wife.

Yu Yazhi, for her part, could feel Jin Se’s hostility.

She assumed Jin Se must’ve found out she’d tried to recruit Cheng Tang away.

Well, it wasn’t exactly something that could be hidden.

But her conscience was clear—Jin Se had pushed Cheng Tang away herself.

And as if summoned by the thought, Cheng Tang appeared.

“Miss, I’m the one who invited President Yu,” Cheng Tang said as she approached, offering a polite handshake. “President Yu, welcome.”

Yu Yazhi smiled gracefully. “The pleasure is mine.”

The two women exchanged pleasantries—poised, accomplished, and both stunning to look at. They made a striking pair.

Jin Se’s stomach turned sour. Really, Cheng Tang? You’re going to switch sides right in front of me?

The longer she thought about it, the angrier she got. If not for the formal setting, she would’ve lost her temper right there.

Cheng Tang had been with Jin Se for a long time.

And to be blunt, she’d watched Jin Se grow up—almost like a guardian.

She owed the Jin family deeply and had always tried to help Jin Se become a capable heir. Inviting Yu Yazhi tonight wasn’t about betrayal at all.

“Miss,” Cheng Tang explained gently, “I just thought President Yu’s recent work in managing the SY International Hotel was worth learning from. Since there was an opportunity tonight, I invited her over so you could exchange ideas.”

“Is that so? Well, I’m not interested in exchanging ideas. I make my own decisions for my hotel.”

Jin Se, the pampered princess, lifted her chin haughtily. Despite Cheng Tang’s tact, she still felt belittled.

Always the same. Praising her older sister before, now praising someone else—everyone was apparently better than her.

Jin Se glared at Cheng Tang, sulking in silence.

Watching the scene, Ning Xuan couldn’t help doubting Cheng Tang’s explanation. Is Jin Se really that naïve? Yu Yazhi’s here poaching people, and Cheng Tang might’ve already switched camps.

Her head throbbed.

Running a hand through her hair, she decided to ease the tension. “Haha, right, right—exchanging ideas and growing together. We’re all friends here.”

As she said that, she instinctively patted Yu Yazhi’s hand—a small gesture meant to soothe her, since the lady’s temper was nothing to trifle with.

Yu Yazhi frowned slightly at the casual, almost petting motion, but kept her composure in public.

Cheng Tang, seeing Jin Se’s mood sour, simply gestured toward the stage to remind her it was time to give her speech.

Jin Se pursed her lips and went up reluctantly.

Once the two left, Yu Yazhi pulled her arm free.

Ning Xuan: “…”

Oh, so now we’re dropping the act?

But the next second, Yu Yazhi adjusted her posture, and her elegant, slender arm slipped smoothly through Ning Xuan’s again—graceful and practiced, as though nothing had happened.

Ning Xuan: “…”

Right, the performance continues.

She glanced sideways at Yu Yazhi, who stood poised beside her, chin lifted high, a charming smile on her lips.

Her updo was soft and voluminous, with a few loose strands framing her face, adding a trace of allure to her refined beauty.

Under the shifting lights, she looked breathtaking—almost unreal.

Ning Xuan found herself staring. No wonder people online say it’s a national loss that Yu Yazhi didn’t enter showbiz.

Wait—no! Red lips bring disaster, beauty ruins focus!

Ning Xuan pressed a hand to her racing heart and quickly looked away.

At the center of the venue, gold decorations gleamed everywhere.

Guests in glittering gowns and sharp suits mingled elegantly, wealth and prestige on full display.

Even the waitstaff was impeccably dressed in tailcoats and bowties, carrying trays with perfect poise.

At the buffet area, an array of colorful drinks—red, amber, gold, and blue—sparkled like jewels under the lights.

Flowers and delicate pastries surrounded the wine, filling the air with fragrance—floral, fruity, and sweet.

The sight made Ning Xuan’s stomach growl. She realized she hadn’t eaten dinner yet.

She was starving.

Her eyes lingered on the tiny, exquisite cakes for a moment before she forced herself to look away. No. Absolutely not. A celebrity cannot eat dessert at night. Not allowed.

Yu Yazhi was speaking with a major figure in the hospitality industry when she noticed, out of the corner of her eye, Ning Xuan zoning out beside her.

A waiter passed by just then.

Yu Yazhi picked up a glass of fruit wine, expression unreadable, and handed it to her. “Here. The alcohol content’s low.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Honestly, she was a little touched.

She quickly accepted it with both hands and smiled in thanks.

Meanwhile, Meng Xi—who had gone to the restroom earlier—entered the venue a few minutes late.

The moment she stepped inside, her eyes scanned the room, immediately locking onto Yu Yazhi.

And what she saw made her blood boil—Yu Yazhi and Ning Xuan standing close, smiling at each other as they spoke with others.

That sight was unbearable.

Her gaze fixed on their interlocked arms, eyes burning with fury.

Ning Xuan! Why is she everywhere I go?

Grinding her teeth, Meng Xi strode forward—fuming.

Suddenly, a strong grip landed on her shoulder.

“Well, if it isn’t Assistant Meng. What a coincidence—you’re here too?”

That annoyingly smug, troublemaking tone could only belong to one person—Yu Jiayan.

Meng Xi suppressed the irritation rising in her chest, pried his hand off, and forced a polite smile. “Vice President Yu. You’re here as well.”

“Mm, I am.”

Yu Jiayan’s grin was playful, his tone dripping with mockery. “An event this important? How could I possibly miss it?”

Following Meng Xi’s gaze, he spotted Ning Xuan and Yu Yazhi’s figures across the room. He clicked his tongue. Tsk, tsk, that Yu Yazhi is ruthless—coming all the way to poach Cheng Tang at someone else’s event.

Completely forgetting that he himself had come for the same purpose.

Yu Jiayan had been scheming for days to lure Cheng Tang over.

He patted the pocket over his chest, feeling smug. I even brought a check—real money, right here. If Yu Yazhi thinks she can compete with me, she’s dreaming.

In Yu Jiayan’s world, there was nothing money couldn’t solve.

Otherwise, why on earth would Ning Xuan fall for someone with Yu Yazhi’s awful temper?

Meng Xi wasn’t in the mood to spar with him. She said evenly, “Since this is such an important occasion, I won’t take up your time.”

She turned to leave, already planning to warn Yu Yazhi that Yu Jiayan’s presence tonight could only mean trouble.

But just as she lifted her foot, his cold voice rang out behind her.

“Assistant Meng, stop right there!”

Meng Xi: “…”

If her irritation upon seeing Ning Xuan earlier had been a five out of ten, facing Yu Jiayan now pushed it straight to the limit.

She lowered her head, afraid that even a glance would betray the disgust in her eyes.

“What can I do for you, Vice President Yu?”

“Take a guess.”

“I can’t.”

“Can’t guess, or don’t want to guess? Playing dumb with me, are you, Assistant Meng?”

Yu Jiayan arched a brow, brushed a hand through his hair with practiced vanity, then leaned closer and murmured, “You know, Assistant Meng, I actually admire you. Following Yu Yazhi around is a waste of your talent.

How about this—come work for me. I’ll get you a position at headquarters, with double—no, triple—your current salary.”

He patted her shoulder, flashing a roguish grin. “Well? Think about it?”

Meng Xi turned him down without hesitation. “Vice President Yu, I appreciate your generosity. But whether I work under President Yu or under you, I’m still serving the Yu Corporation. Since it’s all for the same company, there’s no need to draw such fine distinctions, is there?”

Yu Jiayan wasn’t surprised by her answer. He didn’t even look offended.

After all, he’d only asked out of boredom. Even if she had agreed, he probably wouldn’t dare take her in.

What if she turned out to be Yu Yazhi’s double agent? That would be a huge loss.

He wasn’t stupid.

“Excellent, Assistant Meng. I’ll make sure all employees at Yu Corporation learn from your dedication. Splendid!”

He even clapped mockingly, as if applauding her loyalty.

Meng Xi had no patience left for his theatrics. She smiled tightly. “Then I’ll let you get back to your business, Vice President Yu.”

But before she could go, he stopped her again. “Hold it.”

She forced another polite smile. “Was there something else, Vice President Yu?”

Yu Jiayan picked up a glass of wine from a waiter’s tray, swirling it lazily. “Next time, don’t call me Vice President Yu. Call me President Yu.”

He despised that title “Vice.”

“Yu Yazhi is just a small-time general manager at SY International Hotel. I’m the rightful heir of the Yu Corporation. Remember who outranks whom, got it?”

His tone was arrogant and careless. With that, he swaggered off—but not before giving her shoulder another firm pat as he passed, as if to make a point.

Meng Xi clenched her fists in fury.

If looks could kill, Yu Jiayan would have been reduced to ashes on the spot.

That idiot.

She pulled out a handkerchief and scrubbed at the spot where he’d touched her.

If it wasn’t such a formal event, she would’ve torn off her jacket and thrown it away then and there.

“Fifteen years of storms and triumphs—thank you all for walking this road with Jinrong. As for the future, I, Jin Se”

On stage, Jin Se was giving her heartfelt speech.

Off stage, Ning Xuan found herself imagining a day in the near future, when Yu Yazhi might be the one standing high on that stage, radiantly confident, smiling with dazzling pride.

After Jin Se’s speech, the banquet officially began.

Gentle violin music floated through the hall, weaving between the glitter of crystal glasses and murmured toasts.

As Yu Yazhi’s wife, Ning Xuan was pulled along to socialize.

In public, the two had to act like the perfect loving couple—arms linked tightly like conjoined dolls.

Yu Yazhi, ever the sharp strategist, could instantly tell who among the crowd was a business mogul and who was a government official.

Using Jin Se’s banquet as her networking ground, she went from group to group, toasting and chatting effortlessly.

Ning Xuan, however, suffered quietly beside her.

She didn’t understand a word of their business talk—stocks, property rights, capital flow, none of it made sense.

Yet she had to listen, smile, and occasionally chime in with a polite compliment.

After a few rounds, her face felt frozen from smiling too much.

And worse—she was starving.

That little tray of cakes on the nearby table caught her eye again.

Pale pink frosting shaped like cherry blossoms, topped with a single glossy red cherry.

She wanted it.

Desperately.

Ning Xuan’s mouth watered. It was as if the cake itself was whispering to her, “Eat me come on, who doesn’t love a little cake?”

Her self-control crumbled. Just one. One won’t hurt, right?

Before she realized it, her hand was already reaching out.

But just as her fingers brushed the air above that lovely dessert, Yu Yazhi grabbed her wrist, frowning. “Ning Xuan, don’t embarrass me. Didn’t you eat dinner?”

At events like this, the pastries were purely decorative. No one actually touched them.

Ning Xuan: “…”

Truth was, she really hadn’t eaten dinner.

Ugh!

After an entire evening of forced smiles, was even a tiny cake too much to ask?

Feeling utterly wronged, she looked up at Yu Yazhi with wide, glistening eyes—childlike, plaintive, and unaware of how soft she looked.

“Yazhi, I’m starving. I didn’t have dinner.”