After Being Used As A Substitute By A Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 11

“What kind of reward is this? Let’s have something substantial,” Zhongli Tang said, pinching the soft flesh on her cheek.

“No, this is enough,” Qin Wei replied, hugging her waist and looking up at her.

Zhongli Tang looked at her own reflection in the girl’s eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “You want me to accompany you that much? If only you could shrink, turn into a little rabbit, so I could put you in my pocket and take you to work, keeping you with me every day.”

“No, why would I become a rabbit?” Qin Wei rejected the idea immediately.

Zhongli Tang shifted her grip to pinch Qin Wei’s chin, her strength suddenly tightening. “Why? You don’t want to be a little rabbit, or you don’t want to go out with me?”

“Rabbits can’t smell Sister’s pheromones, and they can’t let Sister mark them.”

Hearing her muffled voice, Zhongli Tang’s heart skipped a beat, her voice turning a few degrees colder: “Do you like being marked that much?”

“Yes.”

A complex look flickered in Zhongli Tang’s eyes. Qin Wei had no idea she was merely a substitute, all her current dependence stemmed from an Omega’s devotion to a beloved Alpha. But what if she knew the truth?

“Stop writing. Come out and eat first.”

Qin Wei didn’t understand why Zhongli Tang had suddenly turned cold, but she nodded anyway.

Breakfast consisted of a vegetable salad, toasted bread, and even a pot of corn and pork rib soup. The salad was light and refreshing, the toast was thoughtfully spread with butter and cheese, crispy with a milky aroma and the soup was sweet and delicate, not greasy at all. This wasn’t a meal that could be whipped up in a few minutes.

“You got up this early?”

“Mm. I had to work on my draft anyway, so I got up early and made breakfast while I was at it. Eat more, Sister,” Qin Wei said casually.

In Zhongli Tang’s memory, whenever she stayed the night, a meticulous and delicious breakfast inevitably awaited her the next morning. However, she had always taken it for granted.

The Zhong family’s concept of family had always been shallow, revolving almost entirely around interests, they never spoke of feelings. If feelings were involved, one had to be even more cautious. Zhongli Tang had suffered from this more than once, yet in this atmosphere, she unexpectedly felt a long-lost sense of domestic warmth.

“It tastes very good. Did you study cooking specifically?” Zhongli Tang asked, drinking the soup to hide her expression.

Qin Wei looked up. Though she didn’t understand why she was being asked, she answered: “No. When I started my undergraduate degree, I didn’t have much money. Once I got a scholarship, I moved out to rent a place. To save money, I bought very basic ingredients, but I’m quite picky, so I had to find ways to make them taste better. I just got used to cooking like this.”

As Zhongli Tang listened, a mental image unconsciously formed, a youthful Qin Wei, just starting university, juggling classes and going home to cook every day. Given the experiences listed in her profile, this wasn’t surprising.

She asked casually, “Never thought about finding a ‘friend’ to date?”

At Capital University, you could throw a stone and hit a second generation rich kid or a child of a high-ranking official. Even a Beta there wasn’t to be underestimated, and with Qin Wei’s looks, it went without saying.

Qin Wei froze, her soup spoon hovering in mid-air. That period had been when her allergies were at their worst. She hadn’t dared stay in the dorms much. After getting her scholarship and renting a remote house, things improved slightly, but once she entered the lab, it became unavoidable. At her lowest point, she had even considered changing majors.

“It’s not like there wasn’t anyone…”

“What?” Zhongli Tang hadn’t expected to actually uncover something. It was a miracle that someone as “obedient” as Qin Wei hadn’t been tricked away earlier.

“It was a senior from a different major. She looked after me a lot, sometimes bringing me fruit or saving seats in the library. But she didn’t go to grad school, she’s already graduated.” Qin Wei shook her head. She only remembered that the senior’s pheromones smelled like strong liquor, every time she smelled them, she felt dizzy and unwell.

“Never thought about being with her?” Zhongli Tang kept her voice as calm as possible to avoid startling her.

Qin Wei paused, the corners of her eyes curving slightly as she spoke with total sincerity: “Of course not. All my luck was used up just to meet you, Sister. Having you is enough.”

She wasn’t lying at all.

A sweet lover, admiring eyes, a pleasant confession, it fulfilled almost all of Zhongli Tang’s imaginations of a “home,” even if the person involved was a substitute. Yet, she didn’t understand how Qin Wei could trust and love someone so unreservedly, as if the gap in their status and the contract between them didn’t matter at all in her eyes.

“I’ll let you pass this time,” Zhongli Tang stopped overthinking, letting out a cold snort as the corners of her lips unconsciously ticked upward.

By the time they finished breakfast, it was getting late. Qin Wei put the bite guard on Zhongli Tang. She was a fast learner, having been shown once, she was already proficient by the second time.

This time, Zhongli Tang wore a silver bite guard, secured behind her head with white leather straps. With her curly hair pinned up high, her aura felt even more powerful, radiating a noble, high-class elegance that was unforgettable.

“Let’s go. I’ll drop you at school.”

Qin Wei hesitated.

“What are you thinking about? You just said you wanted me to spend more time with you.”

Zhongli Tang hooked her arm around Qin Wei’s shoulder and led her out the door.

There was quite a bit of traffic. Zhongli Tang hadn’t called her manager or assistant. Usually, when she went out, she was surrounded by a crowd, and Qin Wei would often be ignored, naturally sitting in the back row. During busy workdays, she was usually left to find her own way back.

Zhongli Tang cracked the car window slightly, enough to let in fresh air without allowing the media to take photos. The wind brushed the stray hairs on her forehead. Her deep-set eyes held a sharp, rebellious edge; one look was enough to tell she was an Alpha with a very strong presence.

“Weiwei, why do you keep staring at me?”

Qin Wei caught Zhongli Tang’s teasing sidelong glance and turned her gaze away. “I’m not.”

She was simply envious.

Zhongli Tang chuckled softly, taking it for an Omega’s shyness.

The car didn’t stop inside the campus but at a nearby intersection, a five minute walk away. There were few people around, no one would notice Qin Wei stepping out of a car that was completely at odds with her status.

Zhongli Tang kissed Qin Wei’s brow and said airily, “I’ll come stay with you when I’m free.”

It sounded a bit perfunctory.

But Qin Wei, as obedient as if she could be molded into any shape, simply nodded.

“I’ll have Mei Xiaowen send some things over. Study hard at school and don’t worry about other things, understood?”

“Okay.”

Qin Wei had no choice but to agree. As she turned to leave, the love and dependence in her eyes vanished instantly.

By the time she reached the lab, almost everyone had arrived. Qin Wei changed into her clothes, a white lab coat and goggles. Her face was cold, devoid of expression, making it impossible to guess her true emotions.

“Senior, you’re late today.” Bai Ling thoughtfully pulled out a chair for her.

“Yes, I was delayed on the road,” Qin Wei offered a casual excuse.

Bai Ling didn’t believe her. Anyone in this lab could be late, but not Qin Wei. However, she restrained herself and smiled, “Senior, while you were out, Professor Qin asked you to go see him once you’ve finished the work on your hands.”

Qin Wei hummed in acknowledgment.

She was currently responsible for more than one research project, which required a significant amount of time and energy. It wasn’t until the afternoon that she could catch her breath and head to Professor Qin’s office during a break.

“Professor Qin.”

Professor Qin was an Alpha in his late sixties who had contributed immense value to the medical field. He put on his thick reading glasses before he could see clearly who had entered. He nodded and said, “Take a seat first.”

His tone was flat, but for him, this was extremely cordial. For anyone else, even getting an audience with him was difficult.

Professor Qin then pulled a document from his drawer. “This is a competition for students jointly organized by various enterprises and schools. The deadline was supposed to have passed, but I heard a student gave up their spot, so the school has an extra opening. I believe it’s most suitable for you.”

“That doesn’t seem right. It wouldn’t be fair to the other students,” Qin Wei blinked, not taking the document.

“I’ve already asked around.”

Professor Qin shook his head. Originally, school leadership had hinted at pushing a student onto him, one who reportedly took frequent leaves. He had refused, but after being offered many “invisible” benefits, he had no choice but to accept. He had treated this Omega as a mere mascot, assuming she was the daughter of some official or some Alpha’s pet. For a long time, he hadn’t given her the time of day. Only later did he discover Qin Wei’s talent and slowly began to teach her in earnest.

In their time together, he found it strange. Qin Wei had zero connections and was often financially strapped, relying almost entirely on herself. However, he only cared about experiments and didn’t pry into his students’ private lives.

“Their projects aren’t suited for this competition. This one tests individual ability, and your topic on modifying Omega pheromones is the most appropriate. With the boost from this competition, you can take this research direction even further.”

Qin Wei listened quietly before speaking slowly. “Actually, I’ve already been in contact with people from the Su Group. They are interested in purchasing the research and increasing investment, but I haven’t agreed yet.”

“The Su Group?” Professor Qin was genuinely surprised. “Their strategy in this field has always been partnered with Gamma. Why would they suddenly start this?”

Qin Wei shook her head, she didn’t concern herself with such things.

“Regardless, it’s a good thing. If the terms are right, sign it.”

“Don’t worry, Professor. I understand,” Qin Wei said with a neutral expression.

Professor Qin smiled with satisfaction. In his youth, he had been arrogant, believing the conditions offered by companies were too poor for his research. But many projects were cut short due to a lack of funding or institutional support, eventually vanishing from record. He had taken many detours before he understood.

In this regard, Qin Wei was different from him: she was brilliant, clear-headed, and very pragmatic.

“However, I’ve looked at the competition; it won’t interfere. You can use it as a chance to get in touch with other enterprises.”

Qin Wei thought for a moment and agreed.

Leaving the office, her phone suddenly vibrated several times. it was Mei Xiaowen, who had sent several links.

When she clicked on them, she saw Zhongli Tang. The background was a large “Welcome Freshmen” banner at the Capital University School of Finance. The Zhongli Tang from a few years ago wasn’t as sharp as she was now, she was like an unsharpened blade, dazzlingly beautiful. Even against a simple background, her radiance couldn’t be hidden.

Qin Wei admitted she was good-looking. But that was all she was.

A message from Zhongli Tang followed immediately: [I’m going on a business trip for the next two days. I’ll bring you a gift when I get back.]

Qin Wei replied with a deadpan “Got it,” adding a smiley face emoji at the end.