After Being Used As A Substitute By A Scumbag Alpha - Chapter 21

Zhongli Tang could no longer clearly remember what Xu Sui’s voice sounded like, it felt like something from a lifetime ago, yet also as if it had never truly left.

Back in her first year of high school, she had been pushed from behind, falling and tumbling down a flight of stairs. It hurt immensely, and she might have been bleeding, but all she could do was brush the dust off her clothes and force herself to go to class. Such things happened often, she had grown used to falling.

Zhongli Tang could even hear the others whispering.

“Is she really an Alpha?”

“Hahaha, even my Omega sister doesn’t fall over just from being touched like that.”

“Exactly. I’ve never seen an Alpha weaker than Zhongli Tang.”

The malice of children is simple and devoid of personal gain, which often makes it cut deeper into the soul. Zhongli Tang frowned and said nothing. As she turned to leave, someone grabbed her arm.

“What else do you want to say?” she asked, feeling utterly weary.

“Are you okay?” Xu Sui didn’t retreat because of her harsh tone. Instead, she pointed at the wound on Zhongli Tang’s leg, her face full of worry. “Does it hurt? I have a band-aid, do you want it?”

Zhongli Tang merely gave her a cool glance, said nothing, and walked away.

Xu Sui was an Omega who had just transferred from the school next door. Even at a young age, her future beauty was evident. She was warm and outgoing, incredibly popular at school, and a friend to everyone.

This was what Zhongli Tang had observed. What she hadn’t expected was for Xu Sui to take the initiative to talk to her not just once, but for several weeks and even stand up for her. Gradually, they became close and eventually became friends.

Xu Sui would immediately step in to help whenever Zhongli Tang was in trouble, but Zhongli Tang knew she wasn’t the only one. Xu Sui had many, many friends, so Zhongli Tang didn’t dare to get too close, often refusing to even say hello in public.

Yet, she had to admit that Xu Sui’s presence brought a flicker of light to her bleak school life.

Later on, Xu Sui grew tired of being harassed by an Alpha at school. In desperation, she pulled Zhongli Tang over and told everyone that Zhongli Tang was her Alpha. The news that the two were dating shocked the entire school.

In the eyes of others, the relationship was a total mismatch, a beautiful Omega and a poorly developed Alpha. But Xu Sui didn’t care, and Zhongli Tang cared even less.

Afterward, Xu Sui found Zhongli Tang and explained that it had been an emergency, asking if she could play along just to ward off other Alphas.

Zhongli Tang agreed. Their relationship suddenly grew much closer. They passed notes in class, ate in the cafeteria after school, and occasionally skipped class to see movies, just like any normal couple.

Xu Sui would share her dreams, her eyes bright with anticipation: “In the future, I want to be someone who protects Omegas, so Alphas can’t bully us anymore!”

Moved by her words, Zhongli Tang unknowingly shared her own thoughts: “I… I might become a celebrity. I want everyone to see me.”

“Great! Then I’ll be seeing you on TV!”

With Xu Sui’s encouragement and support, Zhongli Tang tried out for and landed some good roles, receiving positive feedback. Their relationship remained strong and unaffected.

The skeptics, seeing their relationship seemingly “solidified,” began to intervene. The voices of opposition were numerous, teachers and parents alike. While annoyed, Zhongli Tang also became rebellious. She harbored a deep resentment toward others’ opinions, which only fueled her determination to be with Xu Sui.

A single point of affection grew into ten.

Zhongli Tang wanted to show everyone that no matter how much they opposed it, they couldn’t stop anything, they only strengthened her resolve.

The issue of the harassing Alpha was resolved, but Xu Sui never brought up breaking up, and neither did Zhongli Tang. Naturally, they truly became a couple.

At the beginning, she was very happy. Zhongli Tang even imagined a future for them, one that would surely be beautiful and bright.

However, as time went on, problems began to surface. The rift wasn’t just about Gamma in fact, the issues had existed long before. At the time, she had been so immersed in the sweetness of love that she hadn’t noticed a thing until it hit her with a heavy blow.

Xu Sui appeared bright and lively, but in reality, she was deeply affected by her ordinary family background. Especially after learning that Zhongli Tang was one of the heirs to Gamma, she would often use sharp words to sting her, feeling that everyone looked down on her.

Zhongli Tang had to reassure her over and over, tirelessly explaining that the status wasn’t as great as she imagined. Xu Sui wouldn’t believe it, and within three days, the cycle would repeat.

The arguments grew more frequent, especially when Zhongli Tang was accepted into Capital University. Xu Sui, who had failed the entrance exams, demanded that a spot be arranged for her.

Zhongli Tang urged her to retake the exams and offered to help. Xu Sui was reluctant but eventually accepted. Fortunately, during that period, Zhongli Tang didn’t have many classes, but she still turned down many work invitations to focus entirely on supervising Xu Sui for six months.

Xu Sui’s grades had always been mediocre. In the end, she didn’t get into the top-tier Capital University and chose a bottom-tier school with a niche major.

The two were in a cold war for a long time. Later, Xu Sui called, begging for an internship opportunity, threatening to break up otherwise. Zhongli Tang’s agreement was more of a compromise than anything else. Xu Sui went to work at the Omega Protection Association, satisfied. After that, they would make up, then fight again.

Zhongli Tang was exhausted, like a tightly wound string that would snap at the slightest cut. Yet, the more exhausted she became, the less she wanted to let go.

When the Gamma incident broke out, Zhongli Tang was called upon in a crisis. She accepted the responsibility she had once disdained and avoided, stepping into a whole new world. At that time, Gamma was plagued by scandals, she had too much to handle and zero room for error.

“Don’t you understand?! Our positions are different now. What happened with Gamma is too big. I have to protect the rights of Omegas. If people find out I’m with you, everything I’ve done will be in vain.”

“But that was just a defective product!”

Zhongli Tang took it as a comment made in anger.

At that time, Xu Sui argued incessantly. To avoid her, she quietly fled abroad. Ironically, that opportunity to go abroad had been indirectly provided by Zhongli Tang herself.

In the blink of an eye, so much time had passed.

From Xu Sui’s perspective, Zhongli Tang wasn’t even surprised she made that decision. But as a lover and girlfriend, she had naturally hoped someone would stay by her side when she was most isolated and helpless.

“Hello? Are you still there?”

Xu Sui’s voice was cautious. Even as she asked, she knew Zhongli Tang was listening.

Zhongli Tang fell silent for a moment. She had originally thought that when she heard Xu Sui’s voice again, she could calmly say “long time no see.” Even if they met, their relationship would simply retreat to being friends, and then to being strangers.

“Is something wrong?”

Xu Sui hadn’t expected her to speak in such a cold tone. For a moment, she was dazed, and the smile on her face turned bitter. “Yes. Chen Ya asked a lawyer to call me. I want to know how you’re going to handle this matter.”

Zhongli Tang gave a muffled hum, a trace of indiscernible coldness flashing in her eyes. “Business is business.”

Xu Sui’s tone suddenly became urgent. “But he’s my friend, and he already knows he was wrong. Is it really a problem?!”

“Xu Sui,” Zhongli Tang said with absolute calm.

A bad premonition suddenly arose in Xu Sui’s heart.

Zhongli Tang stated the fact: “He is your friend, not mine.”

Xu Sui’s smile completely vanished. “Li Tang, do you really have to be this heartless? Your girl… friend didn’t even get hurt.”

“What, is there something wrong with me standing up for my girlfriend? Chen Ya better pray she’s okay, or it won’t be as simple as just canceling the partnership.”

As she spoke, Zhongli Tang played along with her words. Originally, it was just to provoke Xu Sui, but a sudden surge of restlessness rose within her. She wanted to go see Qin Wei. If she wasn’t by her side, Qin Wei might start overthinking. Seeing the messy news online wouldn’t be good for her recovery.

Her mind drifted, for the first time, she felt the phone call was too long.

Xu Sui bit her lip unwillingly. “Li Tang, just help me this once. The election for the Image Chairperson of the Omega Association is coming up. If I lose the support of the Chen family, it will be very difficult for me later. You know how much I’ve always wanted to achieve my dream. I’m only one step away now.”

People hurried back and forth around the hospital. The sounds of noise, urgency, and crying were constant, making it impossible to think peacefully.

Of course, she knew.

But listening to it, Zhongli Tang only found it grating, even absurd. Wasn’t Qin Wei also an Omega? Didn’t she deserve protection? In this world, if even she didn’t help her, Qin Wei would have to swallow her grievances. Her reputation, her data, all her hard work would go down the drain without a ripple.

Xu Sui thought Zhongli Tang was softening and acted as if she were making a difficult decision, saying through gritted teeth, “How about I personally go and apologize to her?”

“No,” Zhongli Tang said without hesitation.

“There’s no need to reject it so quickly… Are you that afraid of her finding out about us?”

Before making this call, Xu Sui had been confident, even secretly pleased. See? The big star everyone loves, the President of Gamma, still can’t let me go. She even found one substitute after another, even the pheromones have to be the same. But now, she began to doubt herself.

Perhaps things weren’t as she had imagined.

“I’m telling you, you’d better not look for her. Otherwise, it won’t be settled this easily.”

Xu Sui took a few deep breaths, her attitude immediately becoming distant. “Then I won’t disturb you and your girlfriend, President Zhong.”

She put extra emphasis on those last two words.

If this were back when they were together, as soon as Xu Sui used that tone, Zhongli Tang would have had to buy many gifts and arrange for her to get an even higher position.

In truth, many details had become blurred, but that sense of wretchedness and resentment remained unforgettable to this day.

The call ended. The turmoil Xu Sui caused made Zhongli Tang’s heart throb uncontrollably. Clenching her phone, she rarely felt this way. Her pheromones, affected, were becoming irritable, and her head throbbed painfully. But she was outside, she couldn’t afford a single mistake.

Zhongli Tang habitually endured it, maintaining a calm exterior. When she remembered Qin Wei and turned back, she found that the other woman hadn’t listened and stayed obediently in the car.

Qin Wei was squatting by a small stall at the hospital entrance, her expression quite pitiful, like a small animal that had been abandoned.

Even the little “Xiao Wei” at home didn’t look as pathetic when it got into trouble.

Zhongli Tang’s first reaction was to wonder if Qin Wei had heard the phone conversation, but she dismissed the thought the next second.

The moment Qin Wei saw her, her pale eyes instantly lit up. Her face was still a bit pale, and she wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but when she smiled, her whole being seemed to bloom. With the light behind her, the wind lifting the hair on her back, she was stunning, it was impossible to look away.

Zhongli Tang couldn’t either. Her gaze flickered, and her mood unconsciously improved.

It was strange, even without the soothing effect of an Omega’s pheromones, the power of the ocean within her body, which usually swallowed everything, calmed down instantly, as if the clouds had parted.

Seeing that she hadn’t come over, Qin Wei jogged to her side, her breath a bit short. She first cautiously tugged at Zhongli Tang’s sleeve. Seeing that she didn’t seem angry, she grew bold enough to hug her waist, looking up slightly. She whispered an explanation: “Sister, I didn’t hear what you said. It was too stuffy in the car, I just wanted some air. Don’t be angry, okay…?”

Lush trees by the roadside cast a patch of shade. The temperature was neither cold nor hot, everything seemed just right. Passersby didn’t realize the person they were walking past was Zhongli Tang, so they only cast envious and curious glances. The Alpha was proud and powerful, and the Omega was full of reliance, they looked like a very loving AO couple.

Zhongli Tang’s eyelashes trembled slightly, she felt a sense of unreality. How could someone like me?

Qin Wei’s hug was warm. Zhongli Tang’s body instinctively wanted to return it. She raised her hand, but it hung in mid-air for a long time until it felt stiff and aching. Finally, she gently patted her back.

“I’m not angry.”

She just found it strange. The catalyst for Qin Wei being with her had never been pure, whether it was for power, status, or money. Even she was with her because of pheromones. Yet, during this time, Qin Wei had actually come to like her this much.

This was something Zhongli Tang had never expected. But alongside the surprise, a hidden sliver of joy rose in her heart. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by such abundant love?

“Have you been waiting long?” Zhongli Tang asked.

Qin Wei shook her head.

Zhongli Tang knew she was saying the opposite of what she felt. “Let’s go.”

As they passed the small stall, Zhongli Tang deliberately stopped and bought everything Qin Wei had been looking at, mostly things only children would like.

Qin Wei was somewhat surprised; she didn’t understand why Zhongli Tang was doing this.

“Didn’t you look like you wanted them?”

Qin Wei parted her lips. In truth, she was just bored because she had forgotten to charge her phone last night. But she quickly reacted, took the items, and obediently said, “Thank you, Sister.”

It wasn’t until they returned home that Qin Wei had time to charge her phone. In just one night, she had received many messages: some concerned about her situation, and some friend requests accompanied by insults. She had received many similar messages over the past few days, but she mostly ignored them.

Qin Wei picked a few familiar classmates to reply to, telling them she had been discharged from the hospital.

Bai Ling sent a message almost immediately: Why are you discharged? Senior, do you need me to come help?

Qin Wei declined, adding a polite “thank you” at the end.

Bai Ling didn’t press for a reason, but after a while, another message came.

[Senior, do you know some very powerful people?]

[Why do you ask?]

[I saw that the post on the school forum is gone. There are a lot of clarification posts now. The other day, a few people took Qin Cinan and the others involved away, and they haven’t come back since.]

Speaking of which, Bai Ling wasn’t stupid. With just the power of a few students, they wouldn’t have been handled so thoroughly, they might have even bitten back.

“What are you looking at?” Zhongli Tang frowned. She hadn’t seen Qin Wei glued to her phone like this before, appearing to be messaging someone.

Qin Wei hesitated for a few seconds before deciding to answer truthfully: “My classmate told me the forum post is gone, and it seems Qin Cinan isn’t at school anymore.”

Zhongli Tang noticed she used the word “classmate” instead of “friend,” and her expression softened a bit. “It’s nothing. I’m backing you up, aren’t I?”

Bullying Qin Wei was, in a way, a slap to her own face.

Qin Wei blinked. This was different from what she had expected. In her mind, Zhongli Tang shouldn’t have helped her.

“What is it?” A flash of confusion crossed Zhongli Tang’s eyes. Qin Wei didn’t look happy, she looked more surprised, as if she truly hadn’t expected her to help.

A thought flickered through Zhongli Tang’s mind, she wanted to think it was false, but her intuition told her that Qin Wei really had thought that. Her expression involuntarily cooled.

“Thank you, Sister,” Qin Wei said sincerely, looking up at her.

The afternoon sun was warm, and a breeze through the unclosed balcony window ruffled the cream-colored curtains. There was some clattering outside; “Hui Rongrong” had grown quite bold over the past few days, scurrying all over the house and probably breaking several things.

For a moment, Zhongli Tang felt as if she were seeing the Qin Wei from the banquet three years ago. Her fingertips trembled slightly, but her body reacted faster than her brain.

She leaned down and kissed Qin Wei’s forehead, devoid of lust.

Qin Wei’s reaction was somewhat stiff, she didn’t respond. Zhongli Tang took it as shyness, and the gloom hidden between her eyebrows vanished.

The atmosphere was tender and ambiguous. The pheromones of both women gradually drifted through the air. The once treacherous ocean was now calm, with a small piece of ebony floating on the surface, drifting with the tide.

“Sister must be hungry. I… I’ll go make some soup first.”

Once she was out of Zhongli Tang’s sight, Qin Wei lowered her eyes, her face devoid of any emotion. Her lipstick was smeared from the kiss; one could imagine how intense it had just been. She casually wiped it away, looking cool and detached.

She replied to Bai Ling: You’re overthinking it.

[Okay, then I’ll wait for you to come back to school! Oh, by the way, you were in the hospital so I couldn’t tell you, the landlord is back from abroad. But she says she wants to rent it out as soon as possible, and other people have their eyes on it…]

Qin Wei frowned. That amount of money wasn’t an issue for her, but more importantly, she didn’t want anything outside of her plan to happen.

[Tell her I’ll rent it. If that doesn’t work, we’ll sign the contract early.]