After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance - Chapter 29.2

Still, people had the right to make their own choices. She couldn’t change that. All she could do was stay true to hers.

She didn’t speak again. Instead, she turned her attention back to her screen, focusing on her work while others around her were restless and distracted.

One by one, people submitted their resignation forms.

It was only half an hour later that the lab finally returned to some kind of quiet.

Those who had decided to leave followed Xiao Bai to handle the necessary paperwork.

What remained were those who, despite the uncertain and grim outlook, still chose to stay in the lab.

Maybe it was for their dreams.
Maybe it was because they believed in each other.

Whatever the reason, as Shen Shuyi looked at them, a subtle ripple stirred in her usually calm and distant eyes.

Xiao Liu, on the other hand, was still angry over what Shen Shuyi had said earlier.

He had originally decided to completely back off, to stop concerning himself with her reckless choices.

No matter what absurd decision she made next, he wouldn’t get involved or try to help.

But even he hadn’t expected Shen Shuyi to go this far.

At a time like this, when the lab was under outside pressure and people were feeling uncertain, the top priority should have been to calm everyone down—to stabilize the situation.

Yet she did the exact opposite.

Not only did she not try to ease their worries, she encouraged them to resign?

What kind of logic was that?

Was she seriously going to throw the entire lab into chaos with both internal instability and external threats?

It was over. Everything was truly falling apart.

Now there was no money, and the people were leaving too. After all the hard work, all the effort… was it all going to end like this?

Xiao Liu was on the verge of a breakdown.

Meanwhile, at a private club.

Li Jinlei had just finished a full-body massage. His entire body felt relaxed and comfortable as he leaned back on the sofa, sipping a glass of red wine brought over by a server.

This kind of indulgent lifestyle… it was easy to get addicted to.

That was what Li Jinlei was thinking when his phone suddenly rang.

His expression instantly turned annoyed.

Who’s calling now? Don’t people know not to bother me during my downtime? What a buzzkill.

He was about to answer lazily and brush the caller off, but when he saw the name on the screen, he immediately straightened up.

He picked up the call. “Hey, bro. Didn’t expect you to call at this hour. Something wrong?”

A man’s voice came from the other end—steady, mature, the kind of tone that came from years of corporate experience.

“I heard you pulled the funding from the Andromeda Lab without any proper reason?”

So it’s about that, Li Jinlei thought, already prepared.

He chuckled and replied, “Oh, you heard about that? Nah, it’s nothing serious. I was just trying to scare them a little. I wasn’t planning to actually pull out.”

“You don’t know, bro—those people in the lab have really been getting out of line. Totally disrespectful. We’re their investors, and they treat us like we’re nobodies. One of their junior staff even had the nerve to yell at me. If I didn’t teach them a little lesson now, who knows how far they’d go in the future.”

There was a short silence on the other end, like the man was thinking over what he just heard.

After a moment, he finally spoke.

“Just be careful. Since you’ve already started this, make sure you finish it properly. The only reason I gave you this project to manage was because I thought it would be simple—no real issues. It was supposed to be a chance for you to gain some experience. Don’t mess it up. If you screw this up, I’ll be the one who gets dragged down too.”

“I get it, don’t worry,” Li Jinlei quickly replied. “Besides, bro, look at your status in the company. Aside from that mysterious boss who never shows up, who could even challenge your authority? You basically call the shots around here.”

The man on the line frowned slightly but didn’t argue with him.

“Alright, I just called to remind you. I’ve got other things to deal with. I’m hanging up now.”

“Got it, got it. Take care of yourself, bro.”

After the call ended, Li Jinlei slouched back on the sofa, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

He hadn’t expected word to reach his brother this quickly.

It was true—on his own, he didn’t have the qualifications to even get into the Raven Group, let alone manage such a high-stakes project.

But so, what?

He had a powerful brother.

This is the privilege of being born lucky, Li Jinlei thought smugly. No matter how arrogant that little lab assistant had been when she dared to stand up to him, sooner or later, she’d pay the price.

The thought brought an even more mocking smile to his face.

He could already imagine the lab trying to secure continued funding by sacrificing that employee—firing her just to show him some goodwill.

And under his influence, once she was kicked out of that lab, she’d never be able to find another job. Her career would be ruined, all because she dared to challenge him.

The more he thought about it, the more pleased he felt. The more powerful.

But that smug grin didn’t last long.

His phone rang again.

Because he was in a good mood, the sudden interruption didn’t annoy him this time.

He glanced at the screen—it was a number he hadn’t saved.

He hesitated for a second but eventually answered the call.

“Hello? Who is this? You’d better have a good reason for calling me, or I swear I’ll make you regret it.”

Despite his rude tone, the person on the other end remained impressively professional—calm, collected, and emotionless, like a machine.

“Mr. Li Jinlei, good afternoon. I’m the personal assistant to President Jian. She has requested your immediate presence in her office. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, please come as soon as possible.”

The voice was gentle but firm.

Li Jinlei’s first reaction was to think this was a prank call.

President Jian’s assistant?

He had been at Raven Group for nearly a year and had never even seen President Jian in person.

And now, out of nowhere, she suddenly wanted to meet him?

He nearly cursed out loud, but just before he did, he glanced again at the caller ID.

The number did look like an internal company line.

He swallowed the insult before it came out and quickly changed his tone, forcing a smile onto his face even though no one could see it.

“Oh, of course. I’ll head over right away. May I ask what this is about?”

The assistant’s voice didn’t change one bit. “You’ll find out when you get there.”

“…Right.”

The call ended immediately after, with no unnecessary words. Efficient, professional, and cold.

Li Jinlei quickly shook off his laziness and straightened up. Even though he didn’t know why the president suddenly wanted to see him, this would be his first time meeting her. It was crucial to make a good impression.

He knew his place.

As a project manager under Raven Group, he could throw his weight around when dealing with people in the Andromeda Lab.

But when it came to President Jian?

He had to play the part of the humble subordinate.

No, scratch that—in front of President Jian, he was nothing but a complete nobody.

Without delay, he rushed back to headquarters and made his way to the executive office.

On the way, his mind kept racing with possibilities. Why had she summoned him? What could this be about?

He imagined all kinds of scenarios, but the moment he opened the office door and saw Jian Ya sitting on the couch, his mind went completely blank.

A sense of dread began to rise from the pit of his stomach, climbing rapidly until it clouded his thoughts.

Without thinking, he blurted out, “President Jian, don’t believe a word she says! We have some personal issues—she’s just trying to slander me!”

The two Jian sisters, however, remained completely composed.

Jian Du leaned back in her chair, her hands folded neatly in front of her. Her dark eyes settled coldly on Li Jinlei as she parted her lips and asked, calmly and clearly:

“You just walked in. How do you already know what she said to me?”

Cold sweat began to bead in Li Jinlei’s palms.

He could feel his voice start to tremble.

The pressure coming from President Jian was far more intense than he’d expected.

What frightened him even more was the growing instinct deep inside him—this meeting was not going to end well.

As Jian Du stared him down, waiting for an answer, Li Jinlei’s eyes flicked left and right.

He was already scrambling to come up with a lie in his mind, something to cover up what he had just said—and a way to survive whatever this was.

“It’s like this—she and I have a bit of history. She’s always been trying to cause trouble for me. I just didn’t expect her to go running to you, President Jian, trying to bad-mouth me. But please, you can’t just take her word for everything,” Li Jinlei said quickly, already having pieced together most of what had just happened.

As long as he spoke well enough, President Jian wouldn’t just believe one side of the story.

But before he could say more, a soft, amused chuckle came from the sofa.

He looked over and saw Jian Ya smiling—but there was pity and mockery in her eyes.

Then he heard President Jian’s voice, calm but cutting:

“If someone from the Jian family wanted to take you down, do you think we’d need to ‘bad-mouth’ you first?”

Just one sentence—and it hit Li Jinlei like thunder crashing in his ears.

“Someone from the Jian family…”

Jian family… Jian Ya?!

In that moment, the name he had brushed off before suddenly hit him with its full weight, as if it had become solid and slammed into his mind.

Jian Ya was from the Jian family.

And as the realization hit, Li Jinlei began to tremble uncontrollably.

He wasn’t even thinking anymore about why she had been working in the lab like a regular employee, or why she never revealed her identity from the start.

He wasn’t wondering why, even though he’d felt he had power over her, she never once stepped forward to claim who she really was.

Right now, he understood only one thing:

He was done.

A crushing wave of fear and despair overwhelmed him, far beyond anything he could handle. His brain went blank.

He could see President Jian’s lips moving, but he couldn’t process a word she was saying.

He stood there, completely frozen.

Until someone came in from outside and, half-dragging, half-carrying him, took him out of the room.

After Li Jinlei was removed, Jian Ya lifted her gaze slightly and looked at Jian Du.

She wasn’t the least bit surprised that once Jian Du had confirmed the facts, she dealt with the issue so cleanly and decisively.

Just moments ago, Jian Du had only said two things to Li Jinlei:

First: All personnel involved in this incident would be dealt with, and they would investigate who had authorized or protected him.

Second: Raven Group would assign an independent team to investigate everything Li Jinlei had done during his time managing the lab. If any illegal activity was found, it would be handed over to the police, with no leniency.

With those two simple statements, Jian Ya knew—Li Jinlei’s life as he knew it was over.

He would pay for everything he had done.

After the matter was resolved, Jian Du’s gaze landed on Jian Ya.

Under that calm, sharp stare, Jian Ya suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Wait… did she notice something?

Just as Jian Ya was starting to feel nervous, Jian Du spoke.

“You’ve done well lately.”

“Huh?” Jian Ya raised an eyebrow, caught off guard.

Jian Du continued, “Even though the family hoped you’d start learning management so you could take over the Jian Group eventually… if you’re truly passionate about research, that’s fine too. At least it’s better than wasting time partying with that crowd you used to hang around with.”

Jian Ya was momentarily speechless—but she had to admit, she agreed with every word.

But then, Jian Du shifted the topic. “By the way, what’s going on between you and Shen Shuyi? You didn’t explain much over the phone.”

“Uh… it’s a personal matter between the two of us,” Jian Ya replied vaguely.

Jian Du studied her expression for a moment. Seeing that Jian Ya had no intention of elaborating, she continued bluntly, “Honestly, a divorce might be for the best. You’re too hot-tempered right now. Shen Shuyi’s a thoughtful, serious person. Being with you would only hold her back.”

Jian Ya: “…”

Okay, yes—everything you just said is true…

But did you really have to say it so directly… right to my face?

Jian Ya gave a helpless nod, silently accepting Jian Du’s blunt assessment of her.

“All right, go do your own thing. I still have work to take care of, so I won’t keep chatting with you,” Jian Du said as she wrapped up the matter at hand. Her tone made it clear she was ready to dismiss her.

But Jian Ya hadn’t forgotten there was still one important matter to address. “About the Andromeda Lab…”

“I’ll have someone handle it.”

“Okay.”

With that confirmation, Jian Ya didn’t ask any further questions. Even in this brief exchange, she had already learned one thing: Jian Du was the type of person who made sure things got done—and done well.

She checked the time. The half-day leave she had requested from Shen Shuyi was almost up.

It was time to return to the lab.

After saying goodbye to Jian Du, Jian Ya left and headed back to the Andromeda Lab.

On the other side, after Jian Ya left, Jian Du immediately handed off the lab-related matter to her executive assistant.

And as expected, the assistant knew her mindset perfectly.

The moment he received the task, he understood exactly what needed to be done.

Not only did he need to resume full funding for the Andromeda Lab immediately, but any additional support they requested would also need to be prioritized and fulfilled as quickly as possible.

With that in mind, he quickly searched through the contact list and found the name of the liaison for the lab—Xiao Liu. Without delay, he placed the call.

Back at the lab.

The space, usually quiet and focused, was now buzzing with noise and activity.

Those who had decided to leave no longer cared about following the lab’s usual protocols. As soon as they filled out their resignation forms, they walked straight to Shen Shuyi with them in hand.

True to her word, Shen Shuyi honored her promise—anyone who wanted to resign and submitted the paperwork today would be allowed to leave.

She signed each document swiftly and decisively.

When she finished signing the final resignation, she put down her pen and said, “Your final salaries will be calculated within the month and transferred to your accounts.”

“Of course, we trust Professor Shen to keep her word,” someone offered politely as a parting gesture.

Meanwhile, Xiao Liu stood to the side, practically pulling his hair out with frustration. But there was nothing he could do.

In this lab, Shen Shuyi had full authority to approve resignations. He had no power to interfere.

Still, watching the team slowly fall apart before his eyes, seeing the lab pushed closer and closer to collapse—it was almost unbearable.

He felt utterly helpless, on the verge of breaking down.

Xiao Liu was just about to say something more, hoping to talk some of the staff into staying, when his phone suddenly rang.

He picked it up. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Oh—it’s someone from Raven Group? I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize the number!”

The person on the other end began speaking, and as they continued, Xiao Liu’s expression slowly changed. At first, he looked confused, then shocked, and finally, as if he had seen a ghost.

By the time the caller finished, Xiao Liu still couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

He asked cautiously, “Wait… did you just say not only will you resume all our previous funding, but you’ll also provide additional support?”

“Yes,” the voice replied calmly. “Someone from our company caused a delay in your lab’s progress due to personal issues. That individual has already been dealt with. As an apology, we’re prepared to fully support your lab—whatever you need, let us know. Raven Group will do everything we can to meet your requests.”

Even after the confirmation, Xiao Liu was still stunned.

Just a moment ago, it had felt like the sky was falling.

Now, everything had turned around. Not only was the sky still standing—it felt like he was flying.

“I—we’ll need to discuss what we need with the team first. Can I get back to you after that?” Xiao Liu asked carefully.

“Of course. This is my direct number. Call me anytime once you’ve decided.”

“Thank you. Really, thank you.” Xiao Liu was completely overwhelmed by how quickly things had changed.

When he hung up, he stood frozen for a moment, wearing a dazed smile.

Then he turned to Shen Shuyi and said, almost in disbelief, “Professor Shen… our lab’s back.”

His reaction was so intense that everyone—inside the lab, just outside, and even those who had already signed their resignations—turned to look at him.

Then they heard him announce, “Raven Group has resumed our funding. And not just that—they’ve increased it. They’re going to fully cover all of our project costs until it’s completed. We’re no longer at risk. We can finish what we started.”

His words hit like thunder.

Everyone froze.

Those who had just decided to leave—Li Lu and her group—stood there, stunned. Their eyes were wide with disbelief.

What just happened?

Didn’t Raven Group already pull their funding?

Wasn’t that the reason they resigned—to avoid wasting time on a project that seemed doomed?

And now… the funding was back?

If this was true, then their decision to resign suddenly felt like a bad joke.

On the other side of the room, Shen Shuyi lowered her gaze. She looked down at her phone and opened WeChat.

There, two new messages from Jian Ya waited.

[Reporting in, Professor Shen—Jian Ya’s leave is over, ready to return to work.]
[I didn’t hold up any progress in the lab, right? Feeling nervous.jpg]

Shen Shuyi stared at the screen, her fingers lightly brushing the glass.

She didn’t reply right away.

Her eyes held a flicker of emotion—something complicated, a mix of hesitation and thoughtfulness.

After a moment, she quietly let out a breath, then picked up her phone.