After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 003

When Tang Cheng unlocked the door to her apartment, she froze in the doorway for a good while.

The framed paintings on the walls had been replaced by tacky, unfamiliar posters. Takeout containers were piled high on the table. The sofa was buried under a mountain of gaudy, colorful clothes. Who knew when anyone had last slept here? Even the few potted plants had shriveled, their leaves yellow from neglect.

She walked deeper inside, toward her equipment room. Thankfully, it seemed relatively untouched.

When she flicked the switch, the bulb didn’t turn on—it had burned out.

Whoever had been living here clearly didn’t know the first thing about mechanics, but certainly knew how to indulge themselves in vice.

The first thing Tang Cheng did was replace the bulb in her equipment room, flooding the space with light.

Dust covered her most beloved instruments. She pulled open a drawer; inside lay a thick stack of notebooks, perfectly intact.

Relief loosened her chest. As long as her hands still worked, she’d never starve.

She carefully dusted off her tools, then flipped through the notes she’d made back in her academy days.

On the very first page was a chibi drawing of herself and Lu Xinxue. The first few pages were filled with her childish handwriting, but here and there she found elegant, flowing cursive that wasn’t hers—it belonged to Lu Xinxue.

Back in their school days, Lu Xinxue had always been her brightest guiding star. Whether entering the academy alone or enduring those years trapped in a cage, she had clung to one obsession: coming back to find her.

A loud, aggressive pounding rattled the front door, accompanied by several sets of heavy footsteps.

Trouble.

Tang Cheng set down the notebook and quietly closed the equipment room door.

Her eyes were calm—so different from the tearful, red-nosed girl she became in Lu Xinxue’s home.

From the other side came a coarse shout: “Tang Cheng! Open up, I know you’re in there!”

She opened the door just enough to stand in the doorway, keeping her distance from the yellow-haired man outside. Behind him loomed several burly men.

“Pay up, Tang Cheng,” the yellow-haired man said, staring her down.

That look—predator to prey—was one she knew too well.

“How much do I owe you?” she asked evenly.

The question threw him for a moment. This cool, composed Tang Cheng wasn’t what he’d expected.

The Tang Cheng in his memory was hysterical, powerless, lashing out in arrogance.

Not sure what game she was playing, he pulled a photocopied contract from his pocket and handed it over.

Then it struck him what else was different: gone was the heavy makeup and gaudy outfits. In a crisp shirt and tailored slacks, she actually looked a bit like a polished professional. But to him, that was just a veneer—pretty on the outside, rotten underneath—same as him.

One million.

Seeing her expression change, he asked, “So, how long are you gonna make me wait this time?”

Now she understood. No wonder the contract note said “ATM.” No wonder Lu Xinxue had complained about cleaning up her messes. The original Tang Cheng had probably done this many times—borrowing money without shame, confident Lu Xinxue would bail her out. But this time, Lu Xinxue had decided not to.

Tang Cheng handed back the photocopy. “I’ll pay it back.”

She checked her bank balance, and her stomach sank.

The yellow-haired man clearly thought she was stalling. “What, even Lu Xinxue won’t help you now?”

She didn’t answer. She had two cards: one was a Tang family credit card, frozen two years ago; the other was her personal savings account for living expenses and scholarship deposits. The balance: 13.26 yuan—barely enough for a meal, let alone a million.

Just then, her phone lit up with a call from “Zhang He.” She didn’t recognize the name, probably one of the original Tang Cheng’s drinking buddies. After a moment’s thought, she decided to see if he could help.

She gestured to the yellow-haired man to wait while she answered. He leaned casually against the doorframe, clearly curious to see what trick she’d try next.

“You finally picked up!” a boisterous voice shouted over a noisy background, at least seven or eight people laughing and talking.

She didn’t like the rowdy energy. “Hello, Zhang He.”

“The rumor’s true, right? Lu Xinxue’s in heat?”

A chill shot through her. Rage welled in her chest. So her guess had been right—this was a setup. The men on the other end laughed even harder.

“What, you still didn’t get her? Six years engaged and you’re useless. How’d you even hold back?”

Their taunting only deepened her fury.

Another voice chimed in, “We’ve got a drinking party tomorrow. You’d better buy us a round.”

More laughter.

Tang Cheng made a snap decision. “Lend me a million.”

“…Tang Cheng, you’ve sunk so low you’re asking me for money? Wouldn’t it be faster to hit up Lu Xinxue?”

“Transfer it to my account.”

Before he could say more, she hung up.

For someone like him, a million was nothing. She was betting he’d send it just to save face. In that crowd of rich heirs—who flattered each other yet looked down on one another—being openly brushed off by her would be a perfect excuse for the others to egg him on until he gave in.

Sure enough, less than five minutes later, the transfer came through, followed by a barrage of messages.

She blocked him, saved the yellow-haired man’s contact, and sent the repayment.

That problem solved, but another loomed—tomorrow, she’d have to see Zhang He.

Looking around her trashed apartment, she sighed. With only double-digit savings, she couldn’t afford housekeeping, so she started cleaning herself.

She spent the entire afternoon restoring the place to how it had been before she left.

That night, lying on freshly changed sheets, she tried to let Lu Xinxue know she’d be out tomorrow. It was an old habit—ever since being kidnapped as a child, Lu Xinxue had panicked if she couldn’t find her.

She boiled some noodles with the last of the pantry staples, and while eating, posted an ad online: graduate of A University, offering equipment repair services. With luck, she’d land a job the next day.

Earning money meant she could eat—and eventually face Lu Xinxue with her head held high.

Her WeChat had long been blocked, but she tried sending a sticker anyway. No reply. The glaring red exclamation mark deflated her.

She hovered over the call button, debating whether Lu Xinxue would be asleep or at work, worried that disturbing her would only make her more impatient.

Her finger slipped—before she realized it, the call was going through.

The ringing made her heart pound, just like the long nights they used to talk back at the academy.

Finally, just before the line would have cut off: “What is it?”

She hadn’t expected her to answer. Sitting up straight, she stammered, “I—I’m going out tomorrow night.”

“…”

The silence pressed on her. She swallowed. “With Zhang He.” The quiet deepened. “I handled today’s trouble. I borrowed money from him, so I’ll be meeting him.”

“That’s your business.”

Lu Xinxue’s voice was cool, armor-clad as always. No one could glimpse the softness inside.

Tang Cheng didn’t know what else to say. Words of concern died in her throat. After all, most of what Lu Xinxue had suffered was because of her—she had no right to offer comfort.

A woman’s sweet, teasing voice drifted through the phone: “A-Xin, let’s go.”

Lu Xinxue’s tone turned icy. “Who you keep company with is none of my concern. Just don’t come bothering me again—or you know the consequences.”

No trace of kindness. She hung up before Tang Cheng could even get a word out.

On the other side, Lu Xinxue’s friend raised a brow. “What’s with the long face?”

“Just tired,” she replied.

…

Lu Xinxue didn’t need her anymore—emotionally or physically.

Was the one who’d called her “A-Xin” her Alpha?

Tang Cheng lay in bed, expression blank, yet tears slipped silently from the corners of her eyes.

She didn’t blame anyone. She’d been careless, allowed herself to be caught in a rare, vulnerable moment—just like her unwanted secondary gender.

Everyone resented her for becoming an Alpha, said she didn’t deserve it. No one had ever asked if she wanted it. She hadn’t. She hadn’t wanted to vanish on their engagement day, hadn’t wanted to lose six years with Lu Xinxue.

Zhang He’s messages kept flooding in. Tang Cheng clenched her fists silently.

—

The next day, she accepted several part-time interview offers and scheduled one for tomorrow.

She spent the daylight hours cleaning her instruments, reviewing her notes, and preparing. By evening, she put on one of Lu Xinxue’s outfits and headed to Zhang He’s gathering.

When she pulled up, the valet froze for a moment before recognizing her, greeting her warmly, and escorting her inside.

She hardly needed to look for him—someone always recognized her.

The venue was full of beautifully dressed guests in luxurious attire. Her plain shirt and slacks made her stand out like a sore thumb.

Her hair was loosely curled chestnut, falling over her shoulders. Her high-set brows needed no makeup, lending her a cold, aristocratic air. Without cosmetics, the faint detachment in her eyes was almost identical to Lu Xinxue’s.

An Omega came up to hook her arm, but she pulled away, leaving the other looking awkward.

“What’s this? Being so distant with your sister tonight?”

“Take me to Zhang He,” Tang Cheng said flatly.

The Omega chuckled. “Alright. He’s inside.”

The music inside was even louder, pulsing with energy. Before leaving, she’d confirmed Zhang He’s appearance to avoid mistakes.

He was easy to spot—standing on top of a table, surrounded by a cheering crowd, his flamboyant red hair catching the light. A bottle in hand, he pointed at an Omega below, ordering his friends to pour liquor down her throat.

Then he looked up, spotted Tang Cheng, and grinned. Waving at her, he jumped down from the table and strode toward her.