After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 004

“Tang Cheng’s here! Come on, come on—share it with us!”

The man staggered closer, reeking of alcohol, a smirk tugging at his lips in a way that made him instantly detestable.

The male Alpha’s eyes held a probing gleam. Under the flickering lights, one could make out the trace of mockery lurking within.

“Everyone, look! Our Tang Cheng has finally bagged City A’s number one female Omega!”

Without warning, Tang Cheng swung her fist straight into Zhang He’s face.

She didn’t even bother with a word of warning—just lunged forward, slamming him to the ground, pinning his head down, and pounding at him without restraint. The surrounding young men and women instinctively backed away, careful not to let his blood splatter onto their expensive gowns.

She hadn’t realized how much she’d neglected training over the years—her strength was gone far too quickly. Blood welled along the knuckles of her hand, and in the next breath, the burly Alpha beneath her twisted free and pinned her to the floor, driving his knee hard into her waist and abdomen.

“Tang Cheng! Are you looking to die?”

They were both spoiled brats from wealthy families; neither knew the meaning of holding back. He grappled with her fiercely, and she fought back just as viciously.

Security rushed over and drove the crowd back, but none dared lay hands on either of them.

Seizing an opening, Tang Cheng slipped from his hold, hooked her arm around his neck, and slammed his gland hard into the crook of her elbow. Zhang He let out a hoarse, pained howl.

They stayed locked in a brutal tangle—neither looking any less pathetic than the other.

Zhang He’s punch cracked against Tang Cheng’s cheek; she returned one squarely to his nose.

Once blood was drawn, there was no ending it privately. The hotel manager immediately called the police. The next time they looked at each other, it was across a table at the station.

“Tang Cheng, just you wait. I won’t let this go.”

Zhang He spat the threat through split lips, fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The sight was revolting.

Tang Cheng said nothing, her silence almost childlike, her mind entirely occupied with how she would explain this to Lu Xinxue.

She hadn’t planned to throw a punch—only to make Zhang He shut his mouth. But between the bile from yesterday’s phone call and his loud, filthy talk in the hotel just now, her hand had moved before she could think of the consequences.

The first to arrive was Zhang He’s elder sister, Zhang Ping. Fresh from her office, her suit was crisp, every hair in place.

She immediately checked her brother over; once assured he was fine, she turned her sharp tongue on Tang Cheng.

“Tang Cheng, your mother died young and your father dumped you on the Lu family. You really think you can fly up into the branches and become a phoenix?”

“What belongs to the Lu family stays with the Lu family. Being an Alpha changes nothing.”

“Useless, through and through.”

“I hear Miss Lu’s already thinking of breaking off the engagement. Do you even have a leg to stand on anymore?”

The barbs slid past her—until that last sentence.

Her injured fingertips rubbed together slowly. Without another word, she turned her head away, refusing to engage.

“Tang Cheng, we’re not settling this. See you in court.”

Zhang Ping left with her brother in tow. With that, the day’s mess was mostly settled. Tang Cheng let out a long breath and asked if she could leave.

“Just sign here and you can go.”

The officer who spoke was a young female Alpha—probably new on the job. Her uniform was still perfectly pressed, her shoulder epaulet marked with a single four-pointed star.

Tang Cheng took the pen with her left hand and bent over to sign—only to freeze at the figure for the fine. She didn’t have that much money on her.

For the first time, she felt the sting of real financial strain. She could only curse that scummy Alpha in her heart all over again.

“I… don’t have enough cash on me. Could you maybe…”

She had never done this before. Sliding her watch—an expensive model—off her wrist, she offered it to the Alpha.

“You don’t have anyone who can come pay for you?” the woman asked, not taking it.

“Fang Jing!”

A voice called from behind—a deeper, steadier tone of a mature Beta, probably her mentor. His glance at Tang Cheng carried no goodwill; clearly he’d heard of her antics and wasn’t about to let a young officer’s sympathy be wasted.

Tang Cheng pressed her lips together, still holding the watch out. “Take it as collateral.”

“Just sign your name.”

She scrawled the characters shakily, her hand unsteady from disuse. It even made her worry if her precision with tools had suffered.

She got Fang Jing’s contact info and promised repeatedly she’d pay her back tomorrow.

The girl didn’t seem to care, though her gaze lingered with some pity on Tang Cheng’s battered body.

Yes—she’d started the fight, but Zhang He’s counterattack had left her far worse off. Alphas’ fights were always brutal; she’d only managed to break his nose, while she herself had bruised ribs, a swollen shoulder, an injured arm, and cuts on her face.

She silently set herself a new goal: start training again—immediately.

By nightfall, the rain had begun. The moment she stepped out of the station, thunder rumbled overhead, and the downpour drenched her in seconds.

She brushed wet bangs from her eyes, clearing her vision—only for the rain on her to vanish under the shelter of a black umbrella.

She turned to see a middle-aged, broad-shouldered Beta. She recognized him instantly—the Lu family driver who had once ferried her and Lu Xinxue everywhere.

“Miss Tang,” he said, “the young lady asked me to pick you up.”

Tang Cheng nodded, a flicker of hope stirring. If she could see Lu Xinxue tonight, she could explain—tell her this wasn’t an act of reckless temper.

But the car was empty.

The words lodged in her throat. Lu Xinxue hadn’t even come.

“My car—”

“Xiao Zhao will return it to your home tomorrow.”

He kept his speech minimal. He was just following orders.

Tang Cheng couldn’t resent him. She didn’t care what anyone else thought, didn’t care about taunts or provocation—except from Lu Xinxue.

“Uncle Sun, is A-Xin still at the office?”

Last night she’d still been in heat—was she even well enough to be working?

The driver hesitated. “The young lady only told me to take you home.”

He wouldn’t share a single detail about her whereabouts. Even the people around her guarded her against Tang Cheng now. A faint helplessness rose in her—just how terrible had that “other Tang Cheng” been in the past six years?

Her stomach growled.

“I’ll take you to get something to eat,” Sun Qiang offered.

She didn’t refuse; she needed the food.

He brought her to a nearby noodle shop and ordered two steaming bowls.

After a pause, he asked, “Do you have plans for tomorrow?”

Drying her hair with a towel, she replied lightly, “I took two part-time jobs for equipment repair. I have interviews tomorrow.”

He blinked—clearly not the answer he’d expected.

When the noodles came, she slid one bowl toward him and began eating the other.

It felt good—to actually exist in the real world again after the blank sensory void of the mental space.

She caught him staring into space. “Did A-Xin ask you to give me a message?”

“No. You just… seem different today.”

Her hand paused on the bowl. “Do I? I’ve always been the same.”

He fell silent. Sun Qiang had watched her and Lu Xinxue grow up—from inseparable to living worlds apart.

“The company’s hiring mechanics.”

She glanced up, knowing instantly this wasn’t from Lu Xinxue’s mouth. A thanks rose to her lips but stuck there.

He pushed her bowl back. “I’ve already eaten.”

In the end, she finished both.

Back home, it felt like the academy days—separated from Lu Xinxue, with Sun Qiang as their occasional go-between.

In the workshop, she gripped her tools, relying on muscle memory. Back then she’d been at the forefront of mechanical engineering, capable of crafting everything from high-grade military arms to microchip devices, always finding the most efficient solution.

On the table sat a small robotic arm she’d last assembled. She searched for the notes from that project, but as the evening deepened, her eyelids grew heavy before she could trace her old thought process.

Tomorrow’s job was at a small equipment company, mostly on-site repair work. The other task was an urgent fix for a faulty measuring instrument at an optician’s.

Mechanics were rare in this era—AI had taken over much of the work, and training one required enormous resources. It was about building muscle memory to restore original circuit patterns, consuming expensive materials daily, and above all, creativity. Six years ago, Tang Cheng had all of that.

After her shower, she texted Lu Xinxue: I have part-time work tomorrow, might not be able to reply.

Not that she’d get a reply.

First, she’d survive—then she’d find a way to see her.

Checking the Lu Corporation website, she noted the recruitment date—a month away. She had a month to get back to her peak.

She rolled over and opened the ad Lu Xinxue had fronted as the company’s image ambassador. The cool, elegant voice, the refined smile—it sparked a surge of determination.

She would stand by her side again.

But Zhang Ping’s words nagged at her. Termination of the engagement? Lu Xinxue hadn’t mentioned it once.

Break off the engagement?

She was an Omega—she’d need an Alpha during certain times. If not Tang Cheng… then who? That woman from the call yesterday?

Her breath came tight. The wound in her abdomen throbbed dully.

Finally resting, she could feel the pain in full. Tomorrow, after work, she’d have to stop by a hospital.

She pulled off her clothes—there was still a faint trace of Lu Xinxue’s scent clinging to them. The spicy bite of thyme had faded, leaving only a gentle sweetness that eased her pain, just a little.