After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 88

“Qu Ran is dead.”

Those four words struck like a sharpened blade, slicing through her nerves. Something exploded in her mind. A splitting, unbearable headache seized her.

“Ahhh!”

She couldn’t control the pained cry as she clutched her head with both hands. Large tears cascaded down her face. Her frail body, like a sapling swaying in a gale, suddenly snapped and collapsed.

Shang Li hadn’t expected this reaction; luckily, she caught her just in time. “Zhong Qiu! What’s wrong? Where does it hurt? I’m here, I’m right here. Don’t be afraid, Zhong Qiu.”

She gripped Zhong Qiu’s hands tightly to stop her from harming herself. Zhong Qiu shoved at her, her bloodshot eyes looking as if they were weeping tears of crimson.

She glared at Shang Li with pure resentment, screaming in a total breakdown, “Why did you wake me up? Why? I am Qu Ran! Qu Ran isn’t dead, I am Qu Ran!”

She collapsed into Shang Li’s arms, her face a mask of despair and tragic beauty.

Hearing the commotion, everyone outside came running in. Yu Jiayan was the first to burst through the door. Seeing “Qu Ran” weeping so piteously, he instinctively assumed Shang Li had hurt her. He balled his fists and lunged forward.

“Damn it! Shang Li, what did you do? What did you do to her?”

Halfway through his charge, Ding Jie grabbed him from behind. “Calm down! Yu Jiayan!”

“Dammit! Let go! You’re all in this together! Someone help me!” Yu Jiayan shouted for reinforcements. “Quick! Over here! Pull her off me!”

His bodyguards immediately moved to intervene, but Ding Jie shouted to Shang Li’s students, “What are you standing there for? Stop them!”

In an instant, the two groups who had been sharing meat and wine just moments ago erupted into a chaotic brawl. Ding Jie held onto Yu Jiayan with a death grip, dragging him backward to pull him out of the room. Unable to break free, Yu Jiayan actually leaned down and bit her hand.

Stunned by the bite, Ding Jie was forced to let go. Freed from his constraints, Yu Jiayan immediately rushed to the “rescue.” “Qu Ran, don’t be afraid, I’m coming.”

A split second later, his foot caught on something and he went down hard. Ding Jie had tripped him. As he tried to scramble up, she pinned his hands behind his back.

“Ding Jie, you bitch! She’s crying! Don’t you see? She’s crying!” Qu Ran never cried. Yu Jiayan’s heart was breaking. “Dammit, Shang Li, if you dare bully her, I’ll kill your whole family! Let her go!”

Ding Jie, looking at him like he was a rabid dog, snapped back, “Shut up! Master Shang would never hurt her!”

Inside, Shang Li carried Zhong Qiu to the bed and set her down. Zhong Qiu sat there, tears still flowing. When she saw Shang Li kneeling before her, calling out, “Zhong Qiu? It’s you, isn’t it? Zhong Qiu, come back.”

Slap!

Zhong Qiu struck her across the face, two words escaping her lips: “Get out!”

Shang Li didn’t leave. Instead, she stared at her unblinkingly, and then, certain of what she saw, she smiled. “Zhong Qiu, you’re finally back!”

Zhong Qiu grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. Her hand then landed on a notebook. It was Qu Ran’s. This time, she didn’t throw it. She opened it and saw Qu Ran’s diary entries:

I’ve woken up. It’s spring. Everything is green, and the world is quiet. I like it here. I like it very much. Zhong Qiu, I hope you like it too.

I bought some sheep. I want to be a shepherd girl. The sheep are so good; they circle around me, sniffing my scent and nibbling at my skirt. So cute. Zhong Qiu, do you like lambs?

I don’t feel like saying much today. The spring light is beautiful. Zhong Qiu, I hope you’re looking at it too.

The sky after the rain is so bright; everything is lovely. Oh, and there’s a cute little idiot here, too. Zhong Qiu, if I don’t have time to say goodbye, I hope you’ll thank him for me.

Shang Li is here. A very good person. I hope you two get married. Zhong Qiu, don’t miss out on the last person in this world who loves you.

Had a nightmare. Dreamed of a girl crying. Was that girl you? I’m sorry. I used to think you were a coward. To be honest, I still do. But I want to say: no matter what you’ve been through, Zhong Qiu, please love this world more actively.

Don’t run away. Always move forward.

I read “The Little Prince.” He eventually went back to his star to find his rose. So, Zhong Qiu, wake up quickly and go find your rose, too. I’m going to start wandering now, just like the Little Prince.

The diary stopped abruptly on the last page, as if Qu Ran’s writing had been cut short. Just like her existence. Short-lived as it was, every page was filled with care for Zhong Qiu. She had used her own way to encourage and heal her.

Zhong Qiu clutched the notebook to her chest, her tears falling in torrents. She sobbed until she was nearly faint. “It’s not like that, it shouldn’t be like this. Qu Ran, Qu Ran, come back.”

How could she be like her sister Qu Ran? Even as a split personality, she had spent her final moments loving her. I am the one who caused her death!

Unaware of the full story, Shang Li was frantic with worry. She patted Zhong Qiu’s shoulder awkwardly, trying to coax her: “Zhong Qiu, stop crying. Tell me where it hurts, okay? Let’s go see a doctor, alright?” She pulled out her phone to call a hospital.

Outside, Yu Jiayan was still struggling. “Ding Jie, let me go! I just want to see her. She’s crying! Can’t you hear her? Your ‘great master’ made her cry!”

Ding Jie made a “pause” gesture. “Be quiet! I’ll go check on her, okay?” She walked into the house.

Inside, she saw Zhong Qiu curled up on the bed, clutching the notebook for dear life, tears still streaming down her face. Her hair was a mess, her eyes hollow, as if her soul had been hollowed out.

Ding Jie was startled. “Master Shang, what’s wrong with Miss Qu?”

Shang Li had just finished explaining the situation to a doctor and booking an appointment. She turned to Ding Jie. “Go pack. We’re leaving. Zhong Qiu needs a doctor.”

Ding Jie couldn’t wait to leave. Ignoring Zhong Qiu’s crying, she ran out shouting, “We’re leaving! Pack it up! Master Shang is taking her wife home!”

The students were energized by the news and began packing immediately. No one was left to hold Yu Jiayan. Once free, he sprinted into the house. “Qu Ran! Ranran!”

Zhong Qiu, knowing he was the “cute little idiot” Qu Ran had written about, looked at him through tear-filled eyes as if he were her last hope. “Take me away. Please, take me away from here.”

Yu Jiayan didn’t realize the woman before him had switched personalities. Hearing the tearful plea of his beloved, he agreed instantly. “Okay, okay, don’t cry, Ranran. I’m here. We’re leaving right now.”

He reached for her hand to help her off the bed.

Shang Li wasn’t about to let him take her. She shoved him aside and barked, “She isn’t Qu Ran! She’s Zhong Qiu now!”

Yu Jiayan wasn’t listening. He balled his fists, ready to fight her again, even though he knew he stood no chance. Shang Li was in a volatile state. Every one of Zhong Qiu’s sobs tore at her heart, leaving her with zero patience to reason with Yu Jiayan.

The fact that Zhong Qiu actually wanted to leave with him only served as a further provocation.

“Agh!”

Yu Jiayan felt his leg go numb with pain. The next moment, his hair was seized, and his head was slammed against the wall.

Again and again.

Blood began to flow. His body trembled with pain and his head spun; by the time she let go, he collapsed onto the floor, semi-conscious and utterly drained of strength.

“Qu Ran, I’m sorry. I’m useless. I couldn’t protect you Ranran.”

He murmured from the floor, his face a mask of blood.

Shang Li didn’t even look at him. She scooped Zhong Qiu up from the bed and strode out. Zhong Qiu was far too light; she felt weightless. Shang Li carried her with a swift, steady pace.

“Master Shang.”

The students, luggage in hand, filled the courtyard.

“Let’s go!”

As Shang Li’s voice fell, she cut through the crowd. The others followed suit, hoisting their bags and trailing behind her. The group formed two lines, looking like villagers from a period drama fleeing a disaster. Their cars were parked at the village entrance; Shang Li intended to carry Zhong Qiu all the way there and drive back to the city.

Zhong Qiu had already cried herself into a faint. She was cradled in Shang Li’s arms, appearing almost lifeless. The moonlight illuminated her pallid face, which still bore the tracks of her tears. Her skirt fluttered in the wind, occasionally snagging and tearing on stray branches.

Hearing the sound of fabric ripping, Shang Li realized she was walking too fast and failing to avoid the brush, causing Zhong Qiu further injury.

“I’m sorry, Zhong Qiu. I hurt you.”

She whispered an apology and, from then on, used her own body to shield her from the branches. Zhong Qiu remained oblivious to it all, her eyes closed as if in a deep sleep.

Shang Li was terrified that when she woke up, she would be Qu Ran again.

“Zhong Qiu, talk to me, please?”

“I’ve missed you so much. Zhong Qiu, I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I’ll protect you.”

“Qu Ran wanted you to wake up, too. She’s a good person, as good as you are. You’re just too kind.”

Even the personality she had split into was pure, harmless, and selfless. It was clear that Zhong Qiu was virtuous to her very core. Was it because she was too virtuous that she chose to hurt herself instead?

“Zhong Qiu, I know you’ve suffered a lot, but please don’t hurt yourself anymore.”

“I’m here. I’ve always been here. Let me help you through this, okay?”

“Zhong Qiu, I love you. Please, just look at me.”

She spoke incessantly. She was desperate to talk to Zhong Qiu. This was a confession that had been delayed for far too long. She had to keep speaking; she was afraid that if she stopped, Zhong Qiu would vanish again.

Listening to the soulful confession, Zhong Qiu finally made a sound. But it was a laugh, a laugh filled with irony and desolation. “What do you know? Shang Li, you know nothing. How dare you chase after me! Why did you come? Because of love? Ha. I don’t need your love. Shang Li, your love will destroy me!”

Shang Li’s pace faltered. She looked down to see a cold face and eyes full of resentment, that same attitude of rejection, even loathing. Her heart felt as though it were dripping blood.

“Why?”

The calm she had fought so hard to maintain began to crumble piece by piece. “Why? Zhong Qiu, tell me why.”

Zhong Qiu said, “Put me down.”

Shang Li complied. As Zhong Qiu’s feet hit the ground, she glanced at the vast, dark night in the distance and whispered, “Follow me.”

Shang Li followed her into the dense woods. Overgrown branches reached out like hands, trying to bar their path. Zhong Qiu’s cheeks and arms were scratched, but she seemed immune to the pain, continuing forward without pause.

Shang Li turned on her phone’s flashlight and, unable to bear seeing her get hurt, quickened her pace to walk ahead and brush the branches aside.

The night was clear, the moon bright but the stars sparse. An unknown bird let out a series of harsh, grating cries. A more faint-hearted person would have likely been reduced to tears by the atmosphere.

They walked for an unknown length of time until Shang Li saw a sea of flowers swaying in the wind. In the center of the blossoms, a small grave was faintly visible. As they drew closer, the grave flashed clearly into view.

It wasn’t large, looking like a small mound of earth with a stone tablet standing before it. The tablet was engraved with a line of small characters: [Here lies an angel. She lived a long and wonderful life.]

It was all a lie.

Zhong Qiu knelt down, lightly caressing the tombstone. She slowly raised her head, looking at Shang Li with tearful eyes, and murmured, “The real Qu Ran is here. It was I who killed her.”

Shang Li listened in silence, her face tense, saying nothing. In truth, an inexplicable sense of unease surged in her heart. All along, she had assumed Zhong Qiu had been the victim, unable to escape the shadows of her past. Perhaps she had been wrong.

Zhong Qiu might have split her personality out of guilt and a need for atonement, hoping to compensate her or even give her life back to her. If that was the case, what had Zhong Qiu done? And what had Qu Ran experienced?