After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance - Chapter 32

Shen Shuyi had been hesitating. She didn’t want Jian Ya to get too involved with her family matters.

Some things only become more complicated the deeper you get involved.

But just as she was hesitating, her mother’s voice came through the phone, slightly impatient.
“Is that Jian Ya? Let me talk to her—I have something to say.”

Shen Shuyi’s grip on the phone tightened.

She bit her lower lip lightly. She knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid this any longer.

Hearing her mother’s urging voice, her fingertips began to tremble slightly.
“…Okay,” she finally replied.

She handed the phone to Jian Ya, her eyes lowered. Her face had gone pale.

She was nervous, so much so that she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears.

She didn’t know what would happen when Jian Ya and her mother spoke directly.

She was afraid Jian Ya might reveal the truth about their current situation—something her mother would never accept.

She was also afraid that her mother might try to pressure Jian Ya, maybe use her to manipulate Shen Shuyi or expose the Shen family’s hidden agenda. If that happened, if Jian Ya saw the kind of control and expectations they had…

Would it hurt her?

Would it drive her away?

She didn’t know. All she could feel was the pounding in her head and the tightness in her chest.

But Jian Ya took the phone with a calm smile. Her voice was warm and cheerful, even carrying a hint of sweetness.

“Mom, I’m really sorry. We should’ve come back to visit you. Not only did we miss the visit, but we even made you call us first. That was thoughtless of us.”

Her tone was sincere and polite.

On the other end, Shen Shuyi’s mother seemed surprised. Her previously harsh tone softened right away. She even smiled and said,
“It’s okay, really. I know you young people are always busy. Whether or not you visit doesn’t matter. I just heard some unpleasant things from others, saying you two weren’t doing well. I know how stubborn Shuyi can be—she never listens. If she does anything wrong, just tell me, and I’ll help you straighten her out. But please, don’t talk about divorce so easily. That’s something you should think through carefully.”

As Jian Ya listened, her eyes darkened slightly.

Shen Shuyi is ‘stubborn’?

Maybe to the Shen family, she was. Anyone who didn’t do exactly what they wanted was seen as disobedient.

“Mom, please don’t say that,” Jian Ya said softly. “She’s really wonderful. Honestly, she’s the one who’s always been patient with me.”

That one sentence made Jian Ya’s position clear; she was on Shen Shuyi’s side.

“Alright, alright, I understand. You’ve always treated her well,” Shen’s mother said quickly. “How about this—whenever you both have time, come back to the Shen family home. You know how rumors can be. If they keep spreading, it won’t be good for either family. Don’t you think?”

“Of course,” Jian Ya replied right away. “Work is really busy for us right now, but how about this Saturday? We can take a day to come visit. Does that work for you?”

“That’s perfect! Xiao Ya, you’re always so thoughtful,” Shen’s mother said with a laugh. Even from the other end of the phone, her cheerful voice reached Shen Shuyi’s ears.

Shen Shuyi’s fingers curled slightly. Hearing the two of them talk so naturally, without any of the tension or disaster she had feared, finally brought some color back to her face.

After a few more polite exchanges, the call ended. Jian Ya looked at Shen Shuyi’s pale face with concern.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

“I’m fine,” Shen Shuyi answered quietly.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “On Saturday, I’ll go back alone—”

“I’ll go with you.”

They spoke at the same time.

Shen Shuyi frowned a little and looked at Jian Ya, confused.

Jian Ya gave a small, wry smile. “The news about our divorce probably made its way to the Shen family already. I’ve tried my best to keep things quiet, but…”

After all, this was the Shen family. Even though they weren’t as powerful as before, they still had a strong foundation. Right now, they were focused on rebuilding and saw their connection to the Jian family as their best chance. Naturally, they were watching Shen Shuyi closely.

The fact that they had managed to keep the truth hidden for this long was already impressive.

Shen Shuyi understood all of this. She also knew that if the Shen family had heard about the divorce, she would be facing a lot of pressure once she went back.

Jian Ya continued, “If you go back alone, they’ll definitely give you a hard time. But if I’m with you, they might back off. At the very least, they’ll be more cautious.”

Shen Shuyi looked at her. Seeing the honest, warm smile in Jian Ya’s eyes, her heart felt even more tangled.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Jian Ya’s smile grew even brighter. Her eyes curved into soft arcs, full of warmth.

After making the decision, neither of them said much else. Jian Ya went to refill her water and returned to the lab, while Shen Shuyi stayed in the break room, quietly lost in thought.

Everything Jian Ya had done today had completely surprised her.

Jian Ya clearly knew how the Shen family viewed her. Going back with Shen Shuyi was the same as walking straight into their trap, giving them the chance to use her.

They were already divorced. Jian Ya had no reason to help her anymore.

So then, why was she doing this?

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