After Being Bound to the Scummy Alpha System, I Became Famous Thanks to My Face Blindness - Chapter 58

Tang Ling was abruptly interrupted, feeling a bit embarrassed. She lowered her voice and said, “Tong-jie, just don’t worry about what I’m saying for now. Let me get it all out in one go—once I vent, I’ll feel better.”

Ah Tong scolded her harshly, exasperated: “You want me to just let you go on? You know you’re venting, right? I don’t know what happened between you and Tan Shiyi, but running over here and lashing out at Miss Pu—don’t you think that’s a little unbecoming?”

Tang Ling had no words to defend herself. If she had been proper and composed, would Pu Xiaoyu even still think she was a “Scummy Alpha”?

Ah Tong forcibly dragged her in front of Pu Xiaoyu. “Sorry, Miss Pu. Tang Ling got a little carried away—please don’t take it to heart. Tang Ling, apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?” Tang Ling remained unrepentant. “Did I say something wrong? Honestly, Miss Pu, I’ve already marked Tan Shiyi several times. I’ve done everything there is to do—there’s nothing left for you. Or is it that you just enjoy being the rebound?”

Ah Tong nearly blacked out in disbelief. Tang Ling had always been a bit of a troublemaker, but at least she’d never dared to provoke her in person like this.

Finally, Ah Tong could no longer restrain herself. “I thought you’d learned something in the training camp, but it seems you’re getting worse! Luckily, I came with you today—otherwise, who knows what would’ve happened! Forget today’s event. I’m going to explain the situation to the organizers, and you’re coming back with me to the Tang family. You’re almost officially an adult—you can’t keep running around doing whatever you want!”

Pu Xiaoyu, however, spoke up, her tone icy: “Since you’re already here, there’s no need to rush off. Tang Ling, I’m really curious—where did you find the courage to say all that to me? Do you think I’d just stand by while you take what belongs to me?”

Tang Ling knew she had successfully provoked Pu Xiaoyu. A teasing smirk tugged at her lips. “Who said Tan Shiyi belongs to you? Miss Pu, aren’t you a little too self-important?”

Pu Xiaoyu sneered. “Is that so? Let’s see who laughs last.”

With that, she turned and walked away, ignoring Tang Ling entirely.

Tang Ling continued to taunt from behind, giving a playful whistle.

Ah Tong was beside herself with anger, slapping Tang Ling on the back. “You really enjoy this, don’t you! Great, now you’ve pissed Miss Pu off—happy? I don’t understand how you think. A perfectly good event, and you have to ruin it!”

Tang Ling had no choice but to explain. “Tong-jie, she was picking on Shiyi.”

Ah Tong shot back. “She was picking on Shiyi, and that’s your excuse? Isn’t that childish? Listen to the nonsense you’re spouting—who’s really bullying whom here?”

Tang Ling knew that nothing she said would matter now. What truly counted was whether her “Scummy Alpha value” had changed. She summoned Xiao Nan.

“Xiao Nan, what’s my Scummy Alpha value now?”

“Well done, Host! Your Scummy A value has successfully increased by six points. You’re only eight points away from full awareness!”

Only six points? Tang Ling hadn’t expected Pu Xiaoyu to be so tolerant. She pondered, then asked, “And Tong-jie? She was so angry—didn’t that count toward my Scummy Alpha value?”

“Nope. From Ah Tong’s perspective, it’s not that you did something to Tan Shiyi that made her mad, but that your attitude toward Pu Xiaoyu was disrespectful, immature even. Or maybe.”

“Or maybe what?”

“Maybe, in Ah Tong’s eyes, you were always a Scummy Alpha. Today’s actions didn’t cross any boundaries she hadn’t already recognized.”

Tang Ling: “Then let’s just go with ‘immature.’”

She tried to placate her. “Tong-jie, don’t be mad. Please don’t tell my parents or Shiyi about today’s incident.”

Ah Tong rolled her eyes. “Now you’re scared? Weren’t you fearless a moment ago?”

Tang Ling kowtowed. “I know now. I regret my behavior. I’ll behave during the rest of the event—no repeating my old habits. Please don’t make me go home, okay?”

Ah Tong sighed. “Sometimes I really don’t understand what you young people are thinking. Pu Xiaoyu—so many valuable connections—and you have to ruin it all over some petty love drama.”

Soon, the event began.

The organizers had invited only three guests—one was Pu Xiaoyu, the other a rising variety-show star, Xiao Xin.

Beidou Star Training Program was still highly popular, and Tang Ling, as a surprise guest, received a wave of cheers as she appeared.

Guided by the host, the three guests signed the advocacy board in turn, then handed out “Love Certificates” to families adopting pets.

Each family could only choose one guest to receive the certificate and take a photo with. Tang Ling, as a last-minute replacement guest, faced the longest line—mostly young girls.

The girls were enthusiastic, congratulating Tang Ling on her first debut position and checking if her wounds had healed.

Tang Ling responded politely to each, taking photos with them. Some didn’t want official full-body shots and asked for selfies, which she happily accommodated.

Ah Tong, seeing Tang Ling no longer causing trouble, finally relaxed.

Soon, some of the girls uploaded their photos with Tang Ling to Weibo, and the posts went viral.

Girls back in the training camp saw them as well.

“Wait, Tang Ling didn’t come to the training today—she’s at a charity event?”

“Tang Ling looks so sharp today, and her figure is amazing!”

“Was security okay this time? She didn’t get hurt again, right?”

“Ahhh, I want to adopt a puppy too! Is it too late to call Tang Ling now?”

“Wow, Miss Pu and Miss Xiao are here too! The gap between me and Tang Ling is real.”

Tan Shiyi scrolled through Weibo, her expression darkening.

Tang Ling had attended the event without telling her in advance. If she had known, she would’ve definitely stopped Tang Ling from going.

Being alone with Pu Xiaoyu was too dangerous. After all, Pu Xiaoyu clearly held hostility toward Tang Ling. There was no telling what she might say to her—or what she might do.

Uneasy, Tan Shiyi scrolled through her phone over and over. In the photos, Tang Ling and Pu Xiaoyu stood far apart, with Xiao Xin positioned between them. By all logic, there shouldn’t have been much interaction between the two.

And yet, she couldn’t calm down. She wished Tang Ling would just come back right now.

By the time it neared ten o’clock, the other girls had all finished training and gone back to their dorms. Tan Shiyi, however, remained in the practice room, sitting by the window.

This building was close to the training camp’s main gate—close enough for her to see when Tang Ling returned.

She thought she was the only one left in the building, until a soft knock sounded at the door.

“You’re still here?” Tan Shiyi stood up in surprise.

Cheng Qingyan pointed outside. “Talk for a bit?”

Although they were now on the same team, Tan Shiyi still felt a faint sense of unease in private conversations with Cheng Qingyan. She reminded herself there was no reason to feel guilty, and nodded. “Alright.”

The two of them walked side by side through the small garden downstairs.

Cheng Qingyan spoke slowly. “She probably won’t be that unlucky. No one gets attacked twice.”

Tan Shiyi blinked, then realized Cheng Qingyan had misunderstood—she thought Tan Shiyi was worried about Tang Ling’s safety.

Tan Shiyi looked away. “I wasn’t thinking about her.”

Cheng Qingyan exposed her bluntly. “After you saw Tang Ling’s event photos, you were completely distracted—you messed up several moves.”

Tan Shiyi’s face warmed slightly. “You pay way too much attention to other people.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Cheng Qingyan said seriously. “I just find it strange—you two clearly like each other. So why keep hurting each other?”

Tan Shiyi’s tone turned cool. “I don’t like her anymore.”

Cheng Qingyan shook her head. “Your eyes say otherwise.”

Tan Shiyi: “…”

She still wasn’t used to Cheng Qingyan’s blunt, straightforward nature. Taking a slow breath, she said, “If you’re that curious, go ask her yourself. Don’t ask me—I’m not here to clear your doubts.”

“I did ask her,” Cheng Qingyan said softly. “She told me she did something that hurt you—and that you’d never take her back.”

She paused, then added gently, “But I think you still care about her. It’d be a shame if you let that slip away.”

Tan Shiyi didn’t want to admit the flicker of doubt in her heart. So instead, she said stiffly, “Isn’t that exactly what you wanted? Makes it easier for you to confess, doesn’t it?”

Cheng Qingyan shook her head and replied plainly, “It’s because I like her that I want her to be with the person she truly loves.”

Tan Shiyi couldn’t help but wonder what kind of environment could raise someone as earnest and principled as Cheng Qingyan. And yet, she found herself unable to resist that sincerity.

The truth about Tang Ling’s background had weighed on her for so long it felt suffocating. After a long silence, she finally sighed and looked into the distance. “Fine. I admit it—I am worried about her. She might run into trouble soon, but I don’t know how to help her.”

Cheng Qingyan didn’t press further. “No matter what happens, I’ll stay by her side as a friend. What about you?”

What about me? Tan Shiyi asked herself.

The heavy gloom of the past few days had already proven she still cared about Tang Ling. But she wasn’t ready—not ready to open her heart again.

Because their relationship wasn’t as simple as Cheng Qingyan imagined. Tan Shiyi didn’t dare give Tang Ling her full trust. She couldn’t bear for her sincerity to be met once more with mockery or betrayal.

Then Cheng Qingyan suddenly broke her train of thought. “She’s back.”

In the distance, Tang Ling had just gotten out of Ah Tong’s car, which was parked outside the training compound. She walked in alone.

Cheng Qingyan looked at Tan Shiyi. “You’ve been worrying about her this whole time. Are you sure you don’t want to go ask how she’s doing?”