After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 20

August 6th?

August 6th? Wasn’t the Lu Corporation interview scheduled for that day? Tang Cheng checked her phone—August 5th.

Tomorrow.

She froze. So soon?

Tomorrow she would face the Lu Corporation interview, and she hadn’t prepared at all. Even with Lu Xinxue’s presence, it wasn’t possible she’d be rejected outright but she couldn’t walk in unprepared either.

The interview process was notoriously complex: first a written theory exam, then a practical mechanics test, and finally the formal interview.

Though she was confident in her hands-on skills, if she failed the theory test, how could she prove her worth?

Tang Cheng went online and spent some money.

[No Watermark] 38 Years of Lu Corporation Exam Must-Practice 3600 Questions. Your chance to succeed is here—grab it!

She paid.

Blocked.

Scammed.

The world had truly gone downhill.

She thought for a moment. Since it was Lu Xinxue’s company, surely, she had access to the exam materials?

Would that be unfair?

She had been helping with housework, asking for a little help in return could be considered payment.

She drafted a message to Lu Xinxue.

It would also give her an excuse to add her on WeChat. The last message she had sent was just a tentative emoji after returning.

Tang Cheng sat upright, fists clenched, carefully weighing her words.

Lu Corporation

Compared to other office towers, the sheer scale of Lu Corporation was staggering. It spanned foreign trade, technology, chips—nearly every field imaginable.

And now, the company’s largest recruitment of mechanics was about to begin. As the foundation upon which Lu Corporation was built, leadership placed immense importance on this hiring.

The interview process had already been redesigned three times. The CEO herself was overseeing its launch.

HR Director Lin Xin was exhausted. Normally, having a superior personally guide the process would be an honor. But Lu Xinxue was different—she rarely spoke.

Her moods had to be read from the temperature of her skin. Two days ago, she had seemed in rare good spirits. But after attending A City’s mid-year gala, she had grown inscrutable again—silent in meetings, listening but never judging.

Lin Xin nudged the Alpha beside her, who wore rimless glasses. “Why does President Lu sit here every day, doing nothing?”

“You’re clueless. Her fiancée is taking the interview. If something goes wrong, she has to be here.”

If Tang Cheng were present, she would have recognized this Alpha—the mysterious figure from the A City United Building.

Yu Xia’an, twenty-nine, a graduate of A University’s mechanics program, was serving as consultant and judge for the recruitment.

“Tang Cheng? I saw her résumé. I thought it was just some couple’s game. She’s really coming?”

Lin Xin nearly dropped her teacup, staring at Yu Xia’an in shock.

Yu Xia’an chuckled. “You don’t seem thrilled about your new colleague.”

“Are you insane? Tang Cheng—she’s like a living saint. What’s she doing here? If she’s assigned to our group, even the Little King of Hell will blow his top!”

Yu Xia’an shrugged. “That’s HR’s problem.”

Lin Xin muttered, “Honestly, President Lu should be with me instead.”

She glanced at her reflection in the glass wall. Not breathtaking, but attractive enough. Then she thought of Lu Xinxue’s icy face, clicked her tongue, and looked away.

Yu Xia’an smirked. “Keep dreaming.”

Lin Xin sighed. “Cold or not, she’s beautiful, rich, long-legged. If I had someone like her—”

“Enough fantasies. Are you ready for tomorrow?” Yu Xia’an cut her off.

Lin Xin reluctantly tore her gaze from Lu Xinxue, refilled her cup, and returned to her desk.

“Director Lin.”

She turned. Lu Xinxue stood at the conference room door, beckoning her inside.

“See that, Xia’an? Spring has come for me,” Lin Xin whispered smugly.

Yu Xia’an rolled her eyes, removing her glasses, watching Lin Xin enter the room. Lu Xinxue spoke to her quietly.

When Lin Xin emerged, her face was grim. “Do you know what she asked me?”

Yu Xia’an raised a brow, amusement flickering.

“She wants me to send her the written exam questions. Don’t you think it’s for her?”

Yu Xia’an wasn’t surprised. She said nothing, adjusting her glasses, tinkering with a deliberately miswired device. She had a dozen of them prepared for tomorrow’s practical test.

Lin Xin kept muttering. “Hey, you went to A University too. Did you know Tang Cheng?”

“Not really. I heard she dropped out. I was too busy excelling to notice her.”

“She really went to A University?”

“Could her degree be fake?”

Yu Xia’an’s hands froze. The public might have forgotten, but she hadn’t. Back at A University.

She had known of Tang Cheng, though she had never met her.

As for her relationship with Lu Xinxue, she had only heard rumors. Her knowledge of Tang Cheng was limited to the academy and the internet.

President Lu. Tang Cheng.

If Tang Cheng truly joined, it might be interesting.

Inside the conference room, Lu Xinxue remained unaware of Yu Xia’an’s gaze. On her phone, the name long blacklisted reappeared.

Tang Cheng had successfully added her on WeChat.

The file was sent quickly.

Tang Cheng: Thank you, Axin. I’ll study hard, okay?

That final “okay” lingered on the screen. Lu Xinxue stared at it for a long time, but didn’t reply. She had already deleted all their previous chats—they only irritated her.

She barely slept that night, rising early to monitor progress.

It wasn’t her responsibility. The top-floor office was already stacked with work. But Lu Xinxue insisted on staying, overseeing every detail, ensuring tomorrow’s interview would be flawless. Flawless enough to bring Tang Cheng into Lu Corporation.

She believed in Tang Cheng’s strength. Tang Cheng didn’t need shortcuts, so Lu Xinxue could only watch the process unfold, ensuring every step was flawless. Anything more would mean she didn’t trust her.

If Grandmother was here, she would say she was wasting her life.

But what life did she have left? Six years ago, it had already been shattered.

Tang Cheng insisted on wading into these waters. Allowing her into Lu Corporation was the greatest concession Lu Xinxue could make.

Tang Cheng could hate her, but she must never leave her.

She could not allow Tang Cheng to collapse in front of her again—under no circumstances.

She feared history repeating itself. The moment she saw Tang Cheng lying on the floor, she had nearly broken apart. Her numb hands had only checked for warmth, for life. Tang Cheng was alive, but Lu Xinxue had felt that helplessness once more.

She couldn’t risk it. She had no more chips to lose. Six years had already been taken from them.

How many chances remained for the future?

Her heart, not as strong as she pretended, could no longer bear Tang Cheng disappearing without a word.

That stubbornness, that defiance, it reminded her of herself at twenty. Tang Cheng was still Tang Cheng, but she was no longer the same Lu Xinxue. She couldn’t tell if that was good or bad.

Tang Cheng wanted to build machines, to do research. Lu Xinxue would give her time, give her energy. But beyond that—into the future, she would never let Tang Cheng interfere again.

Sometimes Lu Xinxue wondered: if Tang Cheng was truly her caged canary, wouldn’t that be easier?

But if she became a fragile flower, would Lu Xinxue still love her?

Leaving the conference room, she happened to run into Yu Xia’an.

“President Lu.”

“Mm.”

Lu Xinxue nodded, ready to leave, but Yu Xia’an called after her. “President Lu, will you attend tomorrow’s interviews?”

It was a simple question. When had the CEO of Lu Corporation ever not personally oversee new hires?

Lu Xinxue paused, gave no reply. Yu Xia’an smiled. “Alright, I understand. Safe travels.”

Had she agreed? Lu Xinxue thought back. It seemed she had. She couldn’t go back on her word. Tomorrow, she would attend. Mechanics were the company’s cutting edge, she should be there.

She convinced herself.

In her top-floor office, she tidied the stacks of documents, setting them aside.

She left work on time.

At the door, her assistant rushed forward with a file overdue by two days. “President Lu, this still needs your signature.”

Lu Xinxue glanced at her. “Tomorrow.”

The contract with Jenny was enough to saturate A City’s import market. Invitations poured in. Lu Corporation would choose carefully.

But Lu Xinxue wasn’t in a hurry. For once, she allowed herself a break.

She left work punctually.

At home, she opened the door to find Tang Cheng bent over the coffee table, rimless glasses perched on her nose, carefully studying the latest chip on the market.

Tang Cheng was utterly focused, her eyes holding nothing else. Lu Xinxue loved watching her like this—doing nothing herself, just gazing at her, feeling at peace.

The sunset streamed through warm windows, gilding her loose hair, softening her delicate face. Her slender arms were bare, her sleeveless vest revealing almost everything.

Lu Xinxue cleared her throat. Tang Cheng turned, startled, then delighted.

The shift from shock to joy was instant. Lu Xinxue sighed. She had scolded her that morning, yet here she was, unchanged. Only Tang Cheng would accept her mercurial self.

“Prepare well for tomorrow,” Lu Xinxue said softly, suppressing the happiness swelling in her chest. She went upstairs. She didn’t know why she had come home early. Even if she avoided her, she still wanted to see her—just once, ahead of time.

“Axin, what should we eat tonight?”

“Order takeout.”

“I’ll cook. What do you want?”

“Anything.”

Lu Xinxue returned to her room, removing her jacket. The space was warm, cozy. She glanced at the balcony—the ashtray had been emptied. Tang Cheng had been here. The wardrobe was neatly arranged.

Lu Xinxue’s lips curved faintly. At least she has some sense.

She actually wanted sour-spicy lotus shoots. But the season was ending, the taste no longer good. Tang Cheng wasn’t a mind reader—how could she know?

She reached for her nightclothes, preparing to bathe. She opened a drawer.

Her pupils contracted.

Her underwear.

Tang Cheng!

She was far too diligent.