After Becoming the Live-in Scummy Alpha, I Pamper Her with Real Strength - Chapter 35

Back at the cottage, out of the six people present, only He Song and Qi Lian knew how to cook. The rest didn’t want to just sit around, so they cleaned the place inside and out, decorating it with balloons, string lights, and other romantic touches that amped up the atmosphere.

He Song was surprised to find that Qi Lian’s cooking skills were quite impressive. While her own dishes were mostly home-style comfort food, his creations looked much more high-end—steak drizzled with sauce, plated with cauliflower and carrot shavings arranged into a decorative crown.

“You’re pretty meticulous. Did you learn this somewhere?”

Qi Lian nodded. “I used to work at a steakhouse for a while.”

Bar owner, guitarist, motorcyclist, artist, chef…

[Live comments:]

【Qi Lian really can do it all!】

【A man of many talents never goes hungry.】

【Honestly, this pairing… kind of works.】

【Get a grip, y’all. Qi Lian is way too alpha for that ship.】【Stop, he’s clearly got his heart set on Bai Wei.】

【I don’t think Bai Wei even likes him that way. Who does she like? He Song? Ji Jingyan? She’s so vague, I can’t tell anymore.】

【It’s not like they’re officially dating—what, she can’t have doubts? If it’s not right, don’t force it.】

【Off-topic but hilarious: Yu Dongdong and Jian Lin have been lost for over an hour.】

【LOL, just came from their stream. Chaos.】【They’re probably going to miss this whole dinner.】

【Didn’t expect He Song to actually be good at cooking. She looks so skilled.】

【Wasn’t there a variety show where she said she couldn’t cook?】

【Who knows. But watching her cook now… kinda falling for her.】

“Dinner’s ready,” He Song announced as she set the food on the table. Sitting beside Mo Qingran, she whispered, “I figured you wouldn’t be able to eat too much if you knew too much, so I made you a small portion. I’ll make you a separate dessert later tonight.”

Mo Qingran nodded. Because of her work, she often got hungry late at night. He Song always made sure to prepare a little snack in advance and leave it in the fridge.

Across the table, Bai Wei watched them whispering and felt a twinge of discomfort. “What secret are you two sharing, He Song?”

Mo Qingran replied calmly, “It’s called a secret for a reason. Can’t tell anyone.”

Bai Wei’s smile froze. Feeling a bit aggrieved, she muttered, “I was just asking. Mo Ran looks kinda fierce.”

Mo Qingran, cold and unbothered, said, “Sorry. Habit.”

She wasn’t the least bit fazed by Bai Wei’s passive-aggressive tone.

Bai Wei glanced around to gauge the others’ reactions. Ji Jingyan looked like he was deep in thought. Xu Yiyi was busy serving food to Qi Lian and hadn’t heard a thing.

Frustrated, Bai Wei lowered her head and forced herself to eat.

“Wow, He Song, this is amazing!” Xu Yiyi exclaimed, eyes wide like a startled fawn.

Even Ji Jingyan gave a silent nod of approval. He was notoriously picky—too oily, too salty, or too sweet, and he wouldn’t touch it. But everything here was just right.

Bai Wei was skeptical. She distinctly remembered that Jiang Weiran (He Song) couldn’t cook. But judging from everyone’s reactions, this wasn’t just politeness. She picked up a piece of meat and took a bite.

The crispy, warm exterior wrapped around juicy chicken inside. He Song had asked in advance whether they could handle spicy food and had thoughtfully added chili powder and tomato sauce.

Bai Wei smiled. “He Song, this is really good. Do you usually cook at home too?”

He Song replied, “When I’m not filming and have time at home, I do. I actually enjoy cooking—it helps me relax.”

Bai Wei: Didn’t you once say you hated cooking? Hated the smell sticking to your clothes?

So your habits changed. Have you changed too?

She glanced at Mo Qingran, a subtle shift of emotion flickering in her eyes.

Xu Yiyi chimed in, “Hey, shouldn’t we wait? Dongdong and Jian Lin aren’t back yet.”

Qi Lian chuckled. “You’re already halfway through your rice and just now thought of that?”

Xu Yiyi blushed and ducked his head. “Well, He Song’s cooking is just too good. This sweet-and-sour pork is better than any restaurant’s.”

Qi Lian pretended to be offended and tapped his plate with a fork. “So my steak’s not good enough for you?”

Xu Yiyi grinned. “Yours is delicious too, Qi Lian. You’re amazing.”

Sitting next to them, Ji Jingyan couldn’t bear to watch. He let out a long sigh. One day of dating, and everyone else was either happily paired or getting there.

Even if it wasn’t full-blown romance like He Song and Mo Qingran, Qi Lian and Xu Yiyi were at least developing a close friendship.

And he and Bai Wei? A disaster. Probably already over.

He chewed his steak gloomily.

________________________________________

After dinner, Jian Lin and Yu Dongdong still hadn’t returned. The rest of the group gathered on the couch to watch TV.

Qi Lian had picked the channel—it was showing a new episode of Elegance in Bloom.

Xu Yiyi munched on chips and turned to He Song. “They’re really okay?”

He Song said, “The crew said it’s nothing serious. The forest park is big, but there aren’t any dangerous animals. They just got lost and insisted on finding their way back without help.”

Life was hard. Xu Yiyi sighed.

“Is that really necessary? They’re missing dinner.”

Ji Jingyan waved the crew-issued phone. “Apparently they’ve got tents. If it gets too late, they’ll camp out there.”

Xu Yiyi’s eyes widened. “Are we sure this is a romance show and not a survival one?”

________________________________________

After the meal, He Song stayed in the kitchen to wash dishes while Mo Qingran carried several bags of food waste out.

The community’s waste disposal station was about ten minutes away on foot. He Song had wanted to accompany her, but Mo Qingran waved her off.

Qi Lian, wiping down the table, watched their interaction and couldn’t help teasing, “It’s just ten minutes, He Song. You can’t handle her being out of sight that long? Mo Qingran’s your roommate now—you’ve got

24-hour access. If you keep this up, it might backfire.”

He Song blushed, clearly flustered.

As Mo Qingran brushed past Qi Lian, she murmured under her breath, “It won’t backfire. I like being clingy.”

Qi Lian froze in place, so startled it made his teeth ache. Since Mo Qingran had spoken so softly, no one else—not even He Song or the viewers—caught what she said.

All they saw was Qi Lian suddenly drop the dishcloth, cross his arms, and start rubbing them while muttering, “Goosebumps… goosebumps…”

The night breeze was cool. Wearing low-heeled white crystal shoes, Mo Qingran headed toward the garbage station. But she suddenly halted in her tracks.

She had a sharp intuition—someone was following her.

“Come out!” she shouted, turning around.

At the end of the dim alley, yellowish streetlights reflected off the damp pavement. It had rained during dinner, and a misty drizzle still lingered in the air.

A small figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

It was Bai Wei.

Mo Qingran barely raised her eyes. Upon seeing who it was, she turned back indifferently and kept walking.

Bai Wei didn’t say anything, just silently followed close behind. There were no cameras here. It was unclear what her intentions were.

It wasn’t until Mo Qingran tossed the trash and was preparing to head back that Bai Wei finally spoke.

“Mo-jie, are you—”

Mo Qingran immediately cut her off, her expression unreadable. “Who are you calling? Mo-jie? Do me a favor and call me Miss Mo, will you?”

“But that nickname is kind of cute,” Bai Wei replied with a bright smile. Her almond-shaped eyes shimmered with charm, like she was born to be adored.

But Mo Qingran was completely unmoved. “We’re not close. Don’t call me that—it makes me uncomfortable.”

Bai Wei pouted and dropped the smile, her voice turning more direct. “Miss Mo, I just wanted to ask… do you like Jiang Weiran?”

Mo Qingran’s brows furrowed. The hostility in Bai Wei’s tone, though thinly veiled, was obvious. She stepped around her, clearly uninterested in engaging.

“You—” Bai Wei hadn’t expected Mo Qingran to brush her off so easily. Frustrated, she grabbed for Mo Qingran’s wrist—but the latter swiftly dodged her grasp.

“Aren’t you even curious about my relationship with Jiang Weiran?” Bai Wei demanded.

Mo Qingran paused, as if considering it.

A gleam of triumph flickered across Bai Wei’s face. Got you, she thought. Who wouldn’t be curious if the person they liked had a past with someone else?

But in the next second, Mo Qingran simply resumed walking, as calm and indifferent as ever.

Bai Wei almost choked on her rage.

Fuming, she blurted out, “Jiang Weiran was my first love! We were college classmates—we dated for three years!”

Mo Qingran stopped and turned to look at her.

“She loved me very much, so—”

“Used to,” Mo Qingran interrupted again. “She used to love you very much.”

Tense usage matters.

“It’s not ‘used to,’” Bai Wei said, her voice rising. “She still loves me! If you don’t believe me, go ask her!”

She pointed just below her collarbone. “She tattooed a white rose here. My pheromone scent is white rose.”

A few moths fluttered near the streetlight, casting flickering shadows between them. The tension thickened.

Mo Qingran narrowed her gaze. “Why are you telling me all this?”

She took a few steps forward. Her entire demeanor changed—what had been casual and aloof now turned sharp and intense. Bai Wei flinched under her sudden pressure.

“Let me guess,” Mo Qingran said coldly. “You cornered me like this… because you’re afraid? Because He Song turned you down in the kitchen the other day, and now you’re panicking?”

“Bai Wei, I don’t know why you suddenly returned to join Someday and came after He Song. But since you chose to break up with her, don’t come crawling back pretending to be close.”

Bai Wei stiffened, face contorting with disbelief. “How do you know about that? Did He Song tell you?!”

Mo Qingran shrugged and raised a finger to her lips. “What do you think? There are no secrets between us.”

“As for that white rose,” she added, “I’ll confirm it with my own eyes.”

With that, she turned and walked off, leaving Bai Wei frozen in the cold night air, stunned and alone.

________________________________________

That night, Mo Qingran—an Omega—moved into He Song’s room without hesitation.

He Song was elated but couldn’t help feeling conflicted. She leaned in close to Mo Qingran’s ear and whispered, “Is this really okay? An Alpha and an Omega sharing a room… doesn’t that sound a little inappropriate?”

Mo Qingran rolled her eyes and immediately ordered her to carry the suitcase sent over by Fang Yuan inside.

“Please. I’m the Omega here, and I’m not worried. What’s your excuse, Alpha? Afraid I’ll eat you alive?”

“Didn’t you say we needed a temporary mark? Sharing a room just makes it easier.”

“By the way,” He Song added sheepishly, “When you went to take out the trash earlier, I think I saw Bai Wei… follow you out. Did she say anything?”

Mo Qingran’s gaze darkened. “Say what?”

“Oh, you know. Just crazy talk. If she didn’t, that’s fine. I think there’s something wrong with her language processing unit—can’t seem to understand human speech. Anyway, you—”

Before she could finish, Mo Qingran dragged He Song into the room with uncharacteristic force. “You still have time to gossip about Bai Wei? Clothes off!”

He Song: …???