After Becoming the Scummy Alpha in a Substitute Romance - Chapter 36

“I know,” Shen Shuyi replied quietly.

Jian Ya gave a small, awkward laugh. She had enjoyed the act earlier. It felt satisfying, even fun. But now, as she faced Shen Shuyi, she realized everything she had done had been seen. The thought of it made her feel a little embarrassed.

Shen Shuyi noticed a faint blush rising in Jian Ya’s ears. The words “thank you” stirred in her heart.

But in the end, she did not say them out loud.

“I’ll make you some sobering soup,” Shen Shuyi offered.

Even though Jian Ya had insisted she was not drunk, the alcohol was very real. It had entered her body, and even if her mind was clear, her body would still feel the effects.

“Alright,” Jian Ya agreed softly, not pretending to be fine.

In her previous life, during the early days of building her career, she had already become used to this kind of routine.

Drinking over business deals had become part of her everyday life.

She could handle a lot of alcohol. No matter how much she drank, she never lost control, never said anything she shouldn’t, and never let it interfere with her goals.

But the physical discomfort was always there.

Her stomach would twist and burn, and her temples would pound with a dull ache.

Tonight she had not drunk as much as she used to, but her body still felt uncomfortable.

Shen Shuyi asked her to rest on the couch while she went to prepare the soup.

But as soon as she stepped out into the hallway, she saw her mother walking toward her. Her expression was cold and full of tension, and her steps were sharp and heavy.

Shen Shuyi lowered her gaze slightly.

Inside the room, Jian Ya remained seated on the sofa.

She gently pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to ease the pressure and discomfort from the alcohol.

Now that she had left the dinner table, her guard dropped just a little. The physical effects of the alcohol became more noticeable.

She felt like sleeping.

But she knew she was still at the Shen family home, and there was no way she could actually fall asleep here.

So she leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes, pretending to rest. She was only waiting for Shen Shuyi to finish what she needed to do so they could leave.

Shen Shuyi had said she would go get the sobering soup.

But Jian Ya had been waiting for a while, and still, no one had returned.

She had never really fallen asleep. She had stayed alert the entire time, and now she felt something was wrong.

She stood up and walked toward the door, planning to go look for Shen Shuyi.

This house belonged to the Shen family, but to Jian Ya, it felt like the place where Shen Shuyi was most likely to be hurt.

She rubbed her forehead, opened the door, and stepped into the hallway.

Without the door to block the noise, the sound of a heated argument became clear.

“You don’t need to interfere in our business.”

It was Shen Shuyi’s voice. Jian Ya recognized it immediately.

Then came her mother’s voice, filled with anger and authority.
“You don’t want me involved? Are you planning to wait until your pheromone imbalance syndrome becomes untreatable, your glands are damaged, and you can never have children? Is that when you’ll finally tell me?”

Pheromone imbalance syndrome?
How did her mother find out?

They had gone to the hospital in secret. Jian Ya had made sure to ask someone to help keep it hidden from the family.

“You all pushed me into marrying Jian Ya, and I did. But what happens to my body—what does that have to do with any of you?” Shen Shuyi’s voice carried a quiet trace of sarcasm.

Even though she was facing her own mother.

Or perhaps, it was precisely because this was her birth mother that the whole thing felt even more ironic.

“And one more thing. From now on, don’t touch my things without my permission,” Shen Shuyi added firmly.

Shen’s mother was furious after hearing her daughter’s tone. She looked like she was about to explode.

“So now that you’ve grown some wings, you think you don’t need the family anymore, is that it? If I hadn’t gone through your bag today, when exactly were you planning to tell me about this pheromone problem?”

“And what kind of illness is this, really? Everyone knows that this condition can be treated by marking. In the past, only some fragile little girls got it after being emotionally disturbed. But you’re already married to Jian Ya and still managed to get sick? If people hear about this, where do you expect our families to save face?”

“Shen Shuyi, others might not know you, but I do. Can you stop acting so high and mighty? I know marrying Jian Ya wasn’t your choice at the start. But is she really beneath you? What makes you think you’re too good to mark her?”

One hurtful sentence after another came from her mother’s mouth.

At the door, Jian Ya had just opened it and was about to walk in. Hearing these words, her brows furrowed tightly.

If a stranger had said those things to her, with her temper, she would have made sure they regretted it for the rest of their life.

But this wasn’t a stranger. This was Shen Shuyi’s mother.

Her biological mother.

After Shen Shuyi’s father passed away, this was the closest person she had in the world.

Yet these were the words she chose to say to her own daughter. Words filled with blame, judgment, and shame.

Jian Ya could only imagine how painful it must be for Shen Shuyi to hear them.

Her breathing became a little heavier. She straightened up and took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down and think clearly.

Then she walked toward the two of them.

“Shuyi,” Jian Ya said, her voice firm as she stepped into view, cutting off Shen’s mother mid-sentence.

Shen’s mother turned, startled. Her harsh tone from earlier disappeared, and she forced a smile.

“Jian Ya, why are you up already? You drank so much earlier. Go rest a little.”

Jian Ya didn’t respond. Her eyes were focused completely on Shen Shuyi.

Right now, Shen Shuyi’s face was noticeably pale.

There was a quiet vulnerability in Shen Shuyi’s usually calm and distant eyes, something faint but real.

She had always been strong, like she was wrapped in a tough shell that protected her from the pain and pressure of the outside world.

No matter how others mistreated her, they could never truly break through that shell.

But this time, the person hurting her was her own mother.

The one who should have loved her the most. The one who should have been her greatest source of support. Yet now, her words were sharp and cutting, leaving wounds instead of comfort.

Jian Ya’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Shuyi, her eyes full of quiet concern and heartache.

Shen’s mother looked at Jian Ya, her thoughts still lingering on what she had just learned.

In her opinion, this situation was already unacceptable. Shen Shuyi had gone too far. And if even she, as her mother, felt that way, then Jian Ya, as her legal spouse, must feel even more humiliated. After all this time, she still hadn’t marked Shen Shuyi. If others found out, wouldn’t that be a complete embarrassment?

Thinking of this, her expression shifted. She turned to Jian Ya and said, “Jian Ya, about the marking… I was just thinking—”

“It’s my fault,” Jian Ya said calmly, interrupting her.

Shen’s mother stopped, stunned, and looked at her in surprise.

Shen Shuyi also turned to Jian Ya, her eyes filled with confusion.

Jian Ya gave a small smile, looking a bit awkward. Her voice was soft and hesitant.

“Actually… it’s because of me. I’m allergic to omega pheromones. That’s why I’ve never been able to mark anyone.”

Shen’s mother’s surprise deepened, turning into a more complicated expression.

Then it shifted into concern. “Oh? Is it treatable?”

“We’re not sure yet,” Jian Ya replied casually. “I’ve known about this for a while. I know it’s unfair to Shuyi, and I’ve always felt guilty about it.”

She paused for a moment, then added gently, “If you think we’re not a good match, and that I’m holding her back, I would understand if… if you wanted us to divorce.”

“No, no, of course not. That’s not what I meant at all,” Shen’s mother quickly said, suddenly panicked.

After her husband passed away, she had lived like an outsider in the Shen family.

No one truly cared about her. Everyone seemed to think they could walk all over her.

It wasn’t until the Shen family’s influence began to decline and they were forced to rely on other families for support that Shen Shuyi, as the most promising omega of her generation, finally began to receive attention.

After Shen Shuyi married Jian Ya, her own status in the family rose as well. Even those who used to look down on her stopped treating her poorly.

That’s why, more than anyone, she feared the idea of Shen Shuyi and Jian Ya separating.

A divorce would mean everything she had gained might disappear again.

Shen’s mother hurried to explain, “Jian Ya, listen to me. This condition you have—yes, it can be serious, but it can also be minor. Medical technology is so advanced now, it can be treated. You’re both still young, there’s no rush to have children. Talking about divorce over something like this… that’s really not rational.”

Listening to her, Jian Ya could feel her chest tightening from the sudden shift in attitude. If she felt that way, she could only imagine how much worse it was for Shen Shuyi.

To be treated like a tool by someone who was supposed to be your closest family—this kind of pain could only be fully understood by the one experiencing it.

Right now, Jian Ya felt that staying in the Shen family’s house was making it harder and harder to breathe.

Or rather, even continuing to play along with this act felt unbearable.

She looked at Shen Shuyi and spoke softly, “It’s getting late. Shall we go?”

Shen’s mother froze for a second. “You’re leaving already? Aren’t you staying the night?”

This time, Shen Shuyi was the one who answered.

She had long since felt suffocated in this environment. The moment Jian Ya suggested leaving, she didn’t want to stay a minute longer.

“There’s no need. We have something to take care of and need to go soon,” Shen Shuyi said calmly.

With both of them insisting, Shen’s mother couldn’t say much more.

She just gave Shen Shuyi a look full of displeasure as she watched Jian Ya gently take her hand and lead her toward the door.

As they walked out, various members of the Shen family kept asking them why they were leaving so soon. Jian Ya brushed them off with the excuse of work, avoiding any further questions.

The two of them finally stepped out of the Shen household and got into the car. Only then did they feel like they were back in their own space, free to breathe again.

Shen Shuyi’s eyes were filled with exhaustion.

But even so, she didn’t forget to turn to Jian Ya and say, “I’m sorry.”

Jian Ya’s head was beginning to feel heavy. She had clearly underestimated the delayed effects of the alcohol she drank earlier.

Still, when she heard Shen Shuyi’s apology, she forced a small smile and replied, “It’s alright.”

Shen Shuyi didn’t start the car right away. Her hands rested on the steering wheel as she looked at Jian Ya sitting in the passenger seat. With her eyes lowered, she spoke softly.

“You didn’t need to throw yourself under the bus like that… not for me.”

For an alpha, being allergic to omega pheromones and unable to mark someone was considered deeply humiliating.

It was shameful.

Even those who actually suffered from the condition would go to great lengths to hide it.

Yet Jian Ya, as an alpha, had openly taken the blame just to protect her. Shen Shuyi couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

“It’s alright. I don’t see it as humiliating,” Jian Ya murmured, her voice soft and fading.

Her eyes were already struggling to stay open. In the safety of the car, her body had fully relaxed, and her consciousness was starting to slip.

“I never planned to mark anyone anyway.”

Her voice was faint, almost unintelligible, but the words still reached Shen Shuyi clearly.

I never planned to mark anyone anyway…

Shen Shuyi’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the steering wheel. Her eyes darkened slightly.

What did she mean by that?

Was she overthinking it?

Maybe… she was.

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