After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 55

[What gift is it?]

[If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.]

[Oh, alright then.]

Truth be told, she feared the “surprise” might turn into a shock.

Ning Xuan’s heart resisted, her rational mind urging her to keep her distance from Yu Yazhi.

What should she do?

Yu Yazhi sent another message: [What’s wrong, do you have plans tonight?]

Ning Xuan thought for a moment. She decided it was better to explain things face-to-face: [No, nothing. I’ll come tonight.]

Yu Yazhi replied: [Good. I’ll be waiting.]

Then, once again, she sent that familiar sticker: [Here, a flower for you jg]

Ning Xuan: “…”

Sigh. What does this sticker even mean?

As night fell, Ning Xuan bid farewell to Zhao Luoluo and her sister, then took the car to the Yu family villa.

In the Villa Kitchen

Aunt Wu was cooking. Seeing Ning Xuan arrive, she came out with a spatula to greet her. “Miss Ning, you’re here! Long time no see, you’re still as beautiful as ever. Oh, by the way, Miss said you should go straight upstairs to her room.”

Ning Xuan changed her shoes at the entryway and nodded. “Alright, Aunt Wu.”

She went upstairs, just as Yu Yazhi opened her door.

Tonight, Yu Yazhi wore a vintage red gown, her figure perfectly accentuated, breathtakingly stunning.

Her makeup was flawless: crimson lips, long hair cascading with a few strands draped over her left shoulder. Black tassel earrings dangled from her pale earlobes, paired with a black velvet shawl—she looked every bit the elegant heiress.

Ning Xuan’s heart skipped. This beauty attack is too much. I can’t handle it!

But reason whispered: Stay clear-headed, Ning Xuan. Beauty can be dangerous.

Yu Yazhi, unaware of her inner struggle, smiled radiantly. “You’re here. Tonight, you’re in for a treat.”

A treat? Oh no.

The next moment, Yu Yazhi pulled her into the room.

Ning Xuan’s heart leapt, her voice nervous. “W-wait, let go. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Yu Yazhi laughed softly. “Relax. I just prepared a surprise for you.”

And there it was—on the balcony, seven pots of epiphyllum lined up, their delicate buds on the verge of blooming.

“Epiphyllum?”

She was genuinely surprised, legs carrying her forward involuntarily. “So many? When did you start growing these?”

Yu Yazhi’s heart soared at her smile. Pure joy, simply because her beloved was happy.

She gazed at her tenderly. “Back at Dali Martial Arts Hall, you said you liked epiphyllum. I can’t raise the cat you wanted, but I can raise the flowers you love.”

Ning Xuan’s delight and gratitude slowly faded, replaced by heaviness. If you can’t give someone what they truly want, you should be clear from the start.

She had come tonight to make things clear, she didn’t want to take things further.

But in this setting, saying it outright would be cruel. She didn’t want to hurt Yu Yazhi.

“Um.”

She forced a smile. “So, this is the surprise you mentioned?”

Yu Yazhi nodded, smiling. “Yes. Do you like it?”

“Yes. I do. Thank you.”

Ning Xuan carefully chose her words, trying to be gentle. “But, Yazhi, you don’t have to—”

Do all this for me.

Before she could finish, Yu Yazhi pointed at one of the flowers. “Look, isn’t that one about to bloom?”

So perceptive.

She had already sensed Ning Xuan’s thoughts, deliberately interrupting to avoid hearing rejection.

Ning Xuan knew Yu Yazhi was clever. Not wanting to embarrass her face-to-face, she decided she’d explain later over WeChat. They could maintain the façade of a loving couple, but she wasn’t ready for it to become real.

With that thought, her mind steadied. She smiled. “Yes, it looks like it’s about to bloom.”

But in truth, even after dinner, the flower never opened.

Human plans can’t outmatch nature’s.

Ning Xuan excused herself, saying she had things to do, and left early.

At the door, Yu Yazhi said softly: “You’re troubled.”

Ning Xuan paused, forcing a laugh. “Haha, not really. Just, maybe a new film soon. Feeling a bit pressured.”

“That film—”

Yu Yazhi wanted to reassure her it was already hers, but held back, not wanting to add pressure.

She could feel she was already weighing on Ning Xuan.

At the car, Ning Xuan opened the back door.

Luo Yuanyuan, having eaten dinner with Aunt Wu, was already waiting in the driver’s seat.

“President Yu, Sister Xuan.”

She greeted respectfully, signaling she was ready to drive.

Ning Xuan nodded, then said goodbye to Yu Yazhi. “Goodbye, Yazhi. Thank you for the epiphyllum. It really was a surprise.”

Yu Yazhi smiled. “As long as you like it.”

She waved as the car pulled away from the villa.

On the way back to her apartment, Ning Xuan sent a message:

[Yazhi, you’re wonderful, but my heart is a mess. Right now, I’m not suited for romance. I hope you understand.]

She tried to be as gentle as possible, but still felt like a heartless player.

Sigh. I really don’t want to be a jerk.

WeChat remained silent.

No reply came.

Had she hurt her after all?

Yu Yazhi returned to her room.

She had braced herself, so she wasn’t deeply hurt—just lost.

She had never been in love before and didn’t know how to handle it.

Maybe she should ask someone?

But who?

Reserved by nature, she had few friends outside of work. Only Shang Li came to mind.

[What are you doing?]

She sent a message.

No reply for a long time.

So, she called. “Hey, Shang Li, still busy this late?”

Shang Li was driving, her search for Zhong Qiu in Nanping not going smoothly.

After half a month in Nanping Hospital, Zhong Qiu had been transferred to Nanshan Sanatorium.

Now Shang Li was heading there.

Hearing this, Yu Yazhi said: “I know someone in Nanshan. He has influence there. If you need help, contact him.”

She sent over Li Yan’s phone number.

Shang Li thanked her, then asked: “What did you want from me?”

But Yu Yazhi, distracted by Zhong Qiu’s situation, no longer felt like talking about her own.

She and Shang Li weren’t close enough to confide in each other.

“Nothing much. You go on with your work.”

“I’m driving right now, but I’m not busy.”

Shang Li, sharp as ever, immediately sensed that her troubles were tied to Ning Xuan. She recalled Ding Jie’s outrageous advice and rephrased it: “Even if you don’t say it, I know things aren’t going smoothly between you and Ning Xuan.

Honestly, Ning Xuan is soft-hearted. If you confess and act pitiful, she’ll give in. Worst case, release your pheromones, there’s nothing a night together can’t fix.”

Yu Yazhi, hearing such brazen words, hung up at once.

How foolish. Why did I ever seek advice from a failure in love?

There was no one to turn to.

She washed up, returned to bed, and stared at her chat window with Ning Xuan. She typed: [Mm. Good night.]

She would give her time.

Haste makes waste.

Patience is key.

Feeling reconciled with herself, she set the phone aside and tried to sleep.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

Her mind kept circling back—She actually rejected me. How could she? What’s wrong with me?

Frustration gnawed at her.

She tossed and turned until two in the morning, restless and agitated.

Forget it.

Maybe some red wine would help.

She switched on the light, got out of bed, opened the wine cabinet, and poured herself a glass.

One glass, then another.

Her cheeks flushed, her eyes grew hazy, and her composure unraveled. Unable to restrain herself, she typed: [I like you. I really like you. Tell me what I did wrong—I’ll change, I promise, just give me a chance.]

No.

Too desperate.

She deleted it and tried again: [Your heart is in chaos—do you think mine isn’t? My heart is full of you. How can you stir me up and then just walk away.]

No.

Still too needy.

She deleted again, retyped: [That night at Dali Martial Arts Hall, I held your hand, and you didn’t refuse. Ning Xuan, why not reconsider? Epiphyllum is so beautiful, we could watch them bloom together.]

No.

No.

All wrong.

She deleted once more—but before she finished, her finger slipped and hit send.

[That night at Dali Martial Arts Hall, I held your hand, and you didn’t refuse. Ning Xuan, why not reconsider.]

The message went out.

She didn’t notice, too busy drowning her mood in more wine.

The Next Morning, Ning Xuan woke early, her body clock trained at Dali Martial Arts Hall.

She checked her phone, seven o’clock sharp. Wait—

There was a message on WeChat.

She opened it and saw Yu Yazhi’s text.

Sent at 2:38 a.m.

She couldn’t sleep? Because of me?

A pang of guilt struck Ning Xuan, mixed with worry. Yu Yazhi was so proud, yet she had written this. How should she reply? If she rejected her outright, would Yu Yazhi turn bitter and lash out?

At the same time, Yu Yazhi woke with a splitting headache.

She clutched her hair, opened her eyes, and reached for her phone, then memories of last night flooded back. I drank. I sent her all those pitiful messages.

Heavens!

Ruined!

Her image was shattered!

She bolted upright, heart pounding, frantically searching for her phone, praying: It was a dream. Please let it be a dream. I’m Yu Yazhi, how could I ever do something so humiliating? It must be a dream!

She opened WeChat.

There they were—the needy, pleading messages she had sent.

She read them over, muttering to herself. They weren’t too bad. Barely salvageable. Her dignity was dented, but not destroyed.

Sigh. Alcohol ruins everything.

She ruffled her hair in frustration, kicking her legs childishly on the bed.

Just then, her phone buzzed. Ning Xuan had replied: [Then I’ll think about it.]

Five words. Enough to ignite hope. She said she’d consider it. Shang Li had been right, Ning Xuan was soft-hearted. If she confessed a few more times, Ning Xuan would surely accept her.

Her mood soared.

She leapt out of bed, showered, dressed, and went downstairs.

Her steps were light, her eyes smiling.

Aunt Wu set breakfast on the table and noticed her radiant energy. She smiled too. “Good morning, Miss. You look so happy, did something good happen?”

That reminded Yu Yazhi to guard her image.

She quickly composed herself, returning to her usual calm. “Nothing much. The weather’s nice today.”

“Boom!”

Thunder cracked outside.

Dark clouds had gathered, rain pouring down in sheets.

Summer rain, dense and fierce.

Yu Yazhi barely had time to feel embarrassed. She rushed upstairs to check on her epiphyllum, covering them with tarps.

In just minutes, she was drenched like a drowned rat.

She showered again, changed clothes, and came back down.

Breakfast was ready.

She sat, eating without tasting, eyes fixed on her phone.

It had been half an hour since Ning Xuan said she’d “consider.”

Had she decided yet?