After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance - Chapter 30

“No,” Shen Shuyi replied first to Jian Ya’s question.

Then, staring at the WeChat chat window, she tapped a few words on the screen. A line of text appeared in the input box—then she deleted it.

She typed again:

[What happened today, it was you—]

Deleted.

[Thank you for what you did in the lab.]

Deleted again.

Shen Shuyi repeated this process countless times. Meanwhile, on the other end, Jian Ya kept watching the constantly flashing “Typing…” but no message was ever sent. She was growing increasingly anxious.

Just as she was about to ask if something had happened to Shen Shuyi, a message finally came through.

“We have a meeting this afternoon. If you’re free, please come.”

In the end, Shen Shuyi chose not to ask about the Raven incident. Instead, she simply said that.

“Sure. What time?” Jian Ya replied almost instantly.

“Three o’clock in the afternoon.”

“Got it! I’ll be there before three!”

“Mm.”

Their conversation ended. Shen Shuyi lowered her gaze and turned off the screen.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone, her brows knit with a mixture of complexity and inner conflict. She recalled what Ni Ruoyun had told her before.

At the time, Ni Ruoyun had advised her not to keep Jian Ya close. If she did, how would she face Jian Ya—what kind of attitude could she adopt?

Back then, she hadn’t taken the warning seriously. In her view, no matter how Jian Ya bullied or tormented her, she was already prepared for it. She could endure it with calm indifference—or rather, she could simply ignore Jian Ya entirely.

But she had never considered that Jian Ya might be kind to her.

Never imagined that Jian Ya would be the one to better understand boundaries, and when she was dealing with such a difficult situation, it would be Jian Ya who stepped in to help—rather than seize the opportunity to kick her while she was down.

This caught her completely off guard. She didn’t know how to face Jian Ya now.

So much so, she didn’t even dare to ask whether the matter with Raven had been resolved thanks to Jian Ya.

She had always thought herself fearless, yet now she couldn’t even bring herself to say thank you to Jian Ya because she didn’t know, once everything was out in the open, how she was supposed to interact with her.

What brought her a small measure of relief, however, was that she never asked, and Jian Ya never brought it up either. It was as if some unspoken understanding existed between them.

As Shen Shuyi sank deeper into thought, beside her, Li Lu and the others, who had just finished processing what had happened, finally began to stir.

The righteous indignation and haughty attitude they’d shown when resigning had completely vanished.

Glancing down at the paper in their hands, they were driven almost by instinct, someone finally couldn’t help but speak up, trying to fight for their future.

“Professor Shen, I know this request might be a bit too much, but I hope you can understand our position. Faced with a situation like that, we couldn’t afford to gamble with our futures.”

A former member’s voice pulled Shen Shuyi out of her thoughts.

When she faced them, all traces of hesitation on her face disappeared. She appeared calm, composed, and rational. Her demeanor alone was enough to weaken the confidence of the member trying to plead for another chance.

Still, that person’s words opened the floodgates.

The others quickly realized something.

They hadn’t officially left the lab yet. Maybe there was still a chance.

One by one, they began trying their best to plead for themselves.

“Yes, Professor Shen, I acted on impulse earlier. When I saw everyone resigning, I followed without thinking. But now I’ve had time to reflect, and honestly, I still want the best for this lab. After all the time we’ve spent working side by side, and considering how far our project has come, I don’t want to walk away.”

“That’s right, Professor Shen. You once told us we were a team. Now that the pressure from outside has been lifted, as long as we stay united, I believe we can complete the project successfully.”

“Professor Shen, we’re all experienced members. We understand this project thoroughly. If you bring in new people, they might not be able to work as smoothly with the rest of the team.”

“Yes, Professor Shen, we know we were wrong. We acted rashly. Please give us another chance.”

Their voices overlapped, filling the lab with noise. It sounded more like a marketplace than a research space.

Even Xiao Liu, watching the scene unfold, had a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

Now that the funding had arrived, if Shen Shuyi was willing, they could pretend the resignations were just a misunderstanding, and everything could go back to the way it was. That would be ideal.

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but try to persuade her. “Shuyi, they’re right, let’s just treat this as a small misunderstanding, something that blew over…”

“Quiet,” Shen Shuyi said, her brows slightly furrowed.

Everyone, including Xiao Liu, fell silent immediately.

Her cool gaze swept across the group, the same people who had just vowed to leave, but were now desperate to stay. Her voice was cold, sharp, and unfeeling.

“This is not a playground, and we are not playing pretend. The contracts were signed. The path you chose was your own.”

Her words were so cold, they sent a chill through everyone in the room.

When they met Shen Shuyi’s indifferent eyes, they already knew the answer.

They had made their choice. No matter what they said now, Shen Shuyi would not change her mind.

Even if they felt regret, they had no choice but to leave.

Once everyone had gone, Xiao Liu still wore an expression of regret. He looked at Shen Shuyi but didn’t know what to say.

She glanced at him and said calmly, “Mr. Liu, please remember your role. You are responsible for external relations, not for interfering in internal staffing. I will report your overstepping exactly as it occurred.”

Xiao Liu fell silent.

Outside the lab,

The group who had just left stood together, looking at one another. It was as if each person was waiting for someone else to speak first about what they would do next.

They were the ones who chose to leave, believing this lab had no future. So why did it now feel like they were nothing more than a pack of stray dogs?

“Team Leader Li, where should we go next?” one of the members who had been following Li Lu asked quietly.

But her casual use of the title “Team Leader Li” struck a sore spot in Li Lu’s heart.

Li Lu glared at her, then said, “So what if we left? The one who really lost something is her. Without us to build the system, no matter how detailed her experimental data is, what can she do with it? She still won’t be able to complete it.”

“As for us, as long as we’re capable enough, we won’t lack for projects. Other teams will want us.”

Hearing this, the others felt like Li Lu made a lot of sense.

“Exactly. I was the one handling the data integration. Now that I’ve left, it won’t be easy for them to find someone who can seamlessly pick up where I left off.”

Maybe they were just trying to comfort themselves. Maybe they truly believed it.

They kept talking.

Then someone suddenly asked, “Do you think, if they realize the project can’t go on without us, they’ll come looking for us again?”

“I wouldn’t go back, even if they did.”

“Same here. When they kicked us out, they didn’t show an ounce of respect. If they want me back later, they better be ready to offer something worthwhile. I’m not that easy to convince.”

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

The meeting started right on time. This was a full-team meeting, with every remaining project member expected to attend.

Because of the recent events, everyone showed up promptly.

Jian Ya also arrived just before three and entered the conference room.

The room had originally been the perfect size to fit the entire lab team. Normally, during group meetings, every seat would be taken. But with over a dozen members gone, the room now felt noticeably empty.

That feeling didn’t sit well with many people.

After all, the ones who had left were colleagues they had worked late nights with, shoulder to shoulder. Their sudden absence left a lingering sadness.

It was as if Shen Shuyi could see right through everyone’s thoughts. She began speaking.

“I know many of you may feel unsettled or sad about your colleagues leaving.”

Her words instantly drew everyone’s attention.

“I also know some of you might be wondering why, if they left due to funding issues, now that the funding is secured, we aren’t asking them to return.”

Several people nodded instinctively.

It was exactly what had been bothering them.

“Because our next phase is the most critical part of the experiment. To ensure that no one’s efforts go to waste, I must eliminate every possible threat to our results.”

“When the lab faced difficulties, they chose to walk away. That means I can’t guarantee they’ll stand with us when temptation or pressure arises again.”

“So, this incident was only a trigger, not the real reason.”

As Shen Shuyi finished speaking, realization dawned on everyone.

They had assumed the departure of those members was a major setback. But now they understood—it might have actually been a blessing in disguise.

When the lab members realized that everything had been part of Shen Shuyi’s plan, they finally let out a collective sigh of relief. Many of them exchanged knowing, relaxed smiles.

Now that everyone had calmed down, Shen Shuyi moved on to the main agenda.

She started by reviewing the progress of the experiment with everyone. As soon as the discussion shifted to technical details, everyone became highly focused and engaged.

The atmosphere in the conference room was calm and cooperative. Jian Ya sat quietly off to the side in a less noticeable seat, notebook in hand, silently jotting down everything being discussed. This was her first time attending a meeting for this project, and she kept a very low profile.

After nearly two hours, the discussion on the experimental progress came to an end.

As Shen Shuyi set down the documents in her hand, Jian Ya noticed that the relaxed atmosphere in the room had started to shift again.

“Next, we need to discuss the situation with the computer modeling team,” Shen Shuyi said.

The moment she brought it up, everyone’s expressions turned serious.

This was the most urgent problem they faced after Li Lu and her group left. Li Lu had been the team leader of the computer modeling group, and most of the members who left with her were also part of that team.

Now, more than half the group was gone, and their leader had resigned. It was a serious blow to the project.

“What are your thoughts on this matter?” Shen Shuyi asked.

Her question made everyone fall silent as they began to think carefully.

Shen Shuyi had always allowed the team to speak freely, so no one felt too much pressure when offering suggestions.

After a brief pause, Jiang Shuqi spoke up cautiously.

“I think the problems we’re facing fall into two main areas. First, we’ve lost a number of people, which will obviously affect our team’s efficiency. Professor Shen, I’m not sure if you’re considering bringing in some new talent to help. Second, and more importantly, we really need a new team leader. Every task that’s assigned needs someone to organize and guide the team. Without that leadership, it’s easy for things to fall apart. We won’t be able to move forward effectively if we’re disorganized.”

As she finished speaking, many people nodded in agreement. Her points were well made and reflected what most of them had been thinking.

These were exactly the issues they needed to address.

Shen Shuyi nodded. “Recruiting new members will take some time, so let’s start by selecting a new team leader. What are your suggestions?”

As soon as she said this, almost every member of the computer modeling group turned to look at Jian Ya.

Jian Ya, who was still focused on organizing her meeting notes, suddenly found herself the center of attention.

She froze for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Shen Shuyi also noticed the sudden shift in focus. Her gaze was calm and steady, making it hard to guess what she was thinking.

“Professor Shen, I personally recommend Jian Ya as our new team leader,” someone said.

“I agree. Jian Ya has excellent skills in computer science, and more importantly, she has a very clear way of thinking. Every time we get a new task, she can quickly identify the key points and help the rest of us adjust. If she becomes the team leader, our progress will definitely speed up.”

“I trust Jian Ya too.”

“Same here. I think Jian Ya is the right choice.”

The response was surprisingly unified. A few members even looked at Jian Ya with admiration, completely forgetting that she was still relatively new to the project.

Everyone was enthusiastic.

Ironically, the only one who seemed overwhelmed was Jian Ya herself. As she listened to everyone’s nominations, a wave of pressure hit her all at once, making her scalp tingle.

Faced with everyone’s trust, Jian Ya was, of course, deeply moved. But being touched was one thing—this was truly not something she could accept.

Just as Shen Shuyi had said, the next phase of the experiment would be critical to the entire project. If she were appointed as the team leader, she would gain access to the most core and sensitive part of the work.

With just the slightest personal agenda, she could ruin everything they had built so far.

This role could not be given to anyone who wasn’t trusted absolutely.

Jian Ya fully understood the weight of this responsibility. She also knew where she stood in Shen Shuyi’s eyes—there was no way Shen Shuyi would hand such an important position over to her.

But now, with everyone nominating her, it put Shen Shuyi in a very awkward position.

Jian Ya pressed her lips together slightly, then opened her mouth and said, “I don’t think I’m the right person for this…”

Before she could finish, she heard Shen Shuyi’s calm voice cut in.

“Jian Ya, since everyone trusts you, I hope you can live up to that trust. Will you take on the role of team leader?”

Jian Ya froze.

She looked into Shen Shuyi’s eyes—those beautiful eyes were calm and steady. There wasn’t even the slightest trace of reluctance when she spoke.

She truly wanted Jian Ya to take on the role.

Jian Ya understood the message clearly. She was at a loss for words, and any thought of refusal got stuck in her throat.

After a moment of silence, she finally nodded. “Alright.”

Visibly, Shen Shuyi seemed to relax just a little, as if a weight had been lifted.

And just like that, without much suspense, Jian Ya was officially named the new team leader.

With the most urgent issue resolved, they went on to discuss the next stages of the project timeline. After wrapping up the meeting, everyone returned to their respective tasks.

Back in the lab, the team members congratulated Jian Ya on her promotion. Their warm excitement made her feel a bit shy. She didn’t think she had done much to deserve this level of trust, and she certainly hadn’t expected it.

When someone brought up the question of whether they should add new team members, Jian Ya immediately declined.

“I don’t think we need to worry about that for now,” she said firmly. “Our current team is already complete. The low efficiency we experienced before wasn’t because we lacked people, but because the work distribution was disorganized. As long as we delegate tasks properly from now on, everyone here is more than capable of completing the job together.”

Previously, under Li Lu’s leadership, the team’s thinking had been rigid and chaotic. Li Lu had only become team leader because of her experience in the field.

Now that Jian Ya was in charge, she had no intention of letting that same inefficiency continue.

So, she took swift and decisive action, restructuring the team’s workflow and rebuilding the framework.

At first, some members were a little uneasy. They wondered if such drastic changes were really necessary.

But soon, they began to see the results. The program’s architecture had been overhauled, yet none of their past work had been lost. In fact, the project’s overall progress was moving noticeably faster than before.

The computer modeling team had lost half its members, yet it was now showing more than twice the strength it had before.

Everyone knew exactly whose contribution made that possible. When they looked at Jian Ya, their eyes carried even more admiration.

Some even secretly wondered why Jian Ya hadn’t been leading the team from the start. If she had taken charge earlier, perhaps the project would already be nearing its final form by now.

This productive atmosphere continued for many days.

Ever since Li Lu and her group had left, the remaining lab members had gone from initial anxiety and uncertainty to fully regaining their motivation.

Everyone followed the workflow step by step and quickly adapted to life without Li Lu. In fact, they had grown to prefer it.

The lab’s overall atmosphere had improved significantly, and the team’s efficiency had soared.

As for Li Lu, after leaving the lab, she wasn’t nearly as composed as she had pretended to be.

She understood the value of the experiment better than anyone. In truth, she had never intended to leave. Her resignation had been nothing more than a threat to Shen Shuyi—an ultimatum. It was her way of saying, “Either me, or Jian Ya.”

She had assumed that, given her importance to the project, Shen Shuyi would weigh the options carefully.

But to her shock, Shen Shuyi had actually taken her at her word and accepted her resignation.

Li Lu panicked.

She wanted to take it back, but in that moment, it had been too late. Now, all she could do was wait.

She was sure the team would fall apart without her. Once Shen Shuyi realized the chaos and setbacks, she would come back to ask Li Lu to return and take charge again.

But now, that hope was nothing more than a dream.

After Jian Ya was chosen as the new team leader and boldly began pushing the project forward, her communication with Shen Shuyi became much more frequent.

The two of them often discussed a single experimental problem for long periods of time.

Shen Shuyi’s bold ideas in science and her unique approaches to practical application always gave Jian Ya new inspiration. On the other hand, Jian Ya’s deep understanding of computer systems and her ability to integrate those insights with experimental results often gave Shen Shuyi new breakthroughs.

Their conversations brought about a kind of high-level intellectual resonance. There was mutual appreciation and a rare sense of connection between them.

They were so immersed in their discussions that they often lost track of time. More than once, they had talked late into the night, only to realize much later that the entire lab had emptied out, leaving just the two of them.

Tonight was another one of those nights.

When their discussion finally came to a pause, Jian Ya checked the time and immediately felt a little embarrassed.

She had always been like this—when she found someone she could truly connect with, she would talk without noticing how time passed. But keeping Shen Shuyi up this late made her feel a bit guilty.

“It’s getting late. Let me walk you home,” Jian Ya offered.

Only then did Shen Shuyi glance at the time and realize how late it had become.

She hadn’t expected that they had talked for so long.

“Okay,” she agreed.

The two of them stayed behind to double-check the lab equipment one last time. After making sure everything was in order, they left together.

At first, Shen Shuyi wanted to continue their earlier conversation on the way home. But after walking just a few steps, she realized Jian Ya wasn’t beside her.

She turned around and saw Jian Ya following a few paces behind, keeping a quiet distance. She wasn’t walking next to her, but she was clearly staying close enough to keep her safe.

This had been their pattern for a while now. Neither of them spoke about it, but they both followed it every time.

For some reason, Shen Shuyi suddenly felt a wave of frustration.

She didn’t ask Jian Ya to come closer. Like always, they walked in silence, keeping their distance, and arrived home safely.

In her apartment, Shen Shuyi turned on the lights and glanced out the window. Across the street, Jian Ya was still standing there, waiting for her to get inside before leaving.

Shen Shuyi looked at her quietly, a bit of confusion in her eyes.

Over the past few days, she had started to see Jian Ya in a completely new light. She was confident, capable, and full of energy. But looking at her now, Shen Shuyi couldn’t reconcile this version of Jian Ya with the one she remembered from the past.

It was clearly the same face—so why did she feel like such a different person?

Shen Shuyi felt unsettled, filled with questions she couldn’t answer.

After Jian Ya finally walked away, Shen Shuyi sat down alone on the couch. Her thoughts kept circling back, comparing the Jian Ya from before with the one now. The memories kept overlapping and clashing in her mind.

Eventually, she picked up her phone and typed into the search bar:

“Can someone’s personality completely change because of a deep and unforgettable relationship?”

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