After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 25
With a click, Tang Cheng pulled herself back, bracing against the car, waiting for Lu Xinxue to get out on her own.
“Why are you wearing clothes?”
“Who doesn’t wear clothes?”
Tang Cheng frowned.
“At night, you don’t.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t!”
The memory of what she had done a few nights ago silenced Tang Cheng. She quickly took Lu Xinxue’s hand and led her toward the house.
Tang Cheng shook her head—better to restrain herself.
Once inside, Lu Xinxue seemed to switch off, suddenly collapsing forward. Tang Cheng caught her, pulling her into her arms.
Their bodies pressed together, summer heat between them, yet it wasn’t suffocating.
Is she asleep?
Tang Cheng bent down, hooked her arm under Lu Xinxue’s legs, and carried her.
Sleeping, Lu Xinxue was quiet, her defenses gone, resting peacefully.
Tang Cheng dampened a towel and crouched by the bed, gently wiping her down.
At night, Lu Xinxue shed her thorns, looking far more docile than in the day. Tang Cheng brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her cheek brushing against Lu Xinxue’s face, her heart softening.
When she finished, she tucked her in and went downstairs.
Tang Cheng sat on the sofa in the dark, staring blankly, her mind restless.
Upstairs, the moment Tang Cheng closed the door, Lu Xinxue’s eyes opened, clear and sharp.
She remembered everything. Why had Tang Cheng asked her that? Pulling out her phone, she quickly checked Tang Cheng’s spending record. Cake?
Three in the afternoon, she had been nearby then. Tang Cheng must have seen her with Jenny, and misunderstood.
She was clearly upset, yet said nothing.
Lu Xinxue thought of going downstairs to check on her, but when she opened the door, she saw the lights were off. Was she asleep?
The next morning.
It was the weekend, but Lu Xinxue still rose early for work. She left just as Tang Cheng stirred from the sofa.
Neither spoke of the drunken night. Their silence was like that of distant roommates, only nodding in passing.
Tang Cheng carried secrets. Unless Lu Xinxue asked, she would never speak. Both knew this.
Tang Cheng hoped she wouldn’t ask. She wasn’t sure she could explain without making things worse.
Lu Xinxue had important business today. She informed Tang Cheng briefly, then left.
The house fell quiet again. Tang Cheng tossed aside her things.
Lu Corporation had posted its recruitment notice. Tomorrow she would start work. Her direct contact: Yu Xia’an.
It seemed fate tied them together. They had crossed paths at the academy, and now they would work side by side.
Her new material research might gain Yu Xia’an’s support. With her experience, collaboration would be twice as effective.
Tang Cheng was pleased until she noticed a message.
Bo Long: Star City is crawling with plainclothes officers. Might be related to what you’re investigating.
Police? Fang Jing had mentioned this last night. Action already?
Tang Cheng contacted Bo Long. They arranged to meet at the noodle shop from before.
Driving over, Tang Cheng thought through the chain of events.
She was searching for the one manipulating her life. Clues pointed to Star City. Zhang He had set traps to siphon cash but what was her connection to the one behind it all?
How had she known about Lu Xinxue’s heat, pushing Tang Cheng to mark her? Was it her twisted mind, or deliberate manipulation from above?
Most critical was the general manager, Yuan Tai. What was his link to the Gu family? Why was he watching her so closely?
Meeting Bo Long, Tang Cheng asked directly: “Why are you here?”
“Zhang He was reported for loan fraud. It’s huge—spread across all of Star City,” Bo Long explained.
“No one noticed before?”
“Everyone knew. But this time, Zhang He crossed the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Tang Cheng’s gaze sharpened. Bo Long sat on the steps, cigarette dangling from his lips, one hand ruffling his bleached hair. He flicked the butt to the ground, crushing the ember underfoot.
“No idea. But the power behind it is strong.”
Even Bo Long didn’t know. But Tang Cheng had her suspicions.
“Why tell me this?”
“Because you’re generous.”
“Not just that.”
“Star City’s locked down. I can’t stay long. I’m leaving A City tomorrow. Thought I’d borrow some money.”
It sounded reasonable. Tang Cheng studied his eyes, finding no deceit.
She thought for a moment. “Fine. Come with me. We’ll find the general manager.”
Bo Long nodded. “Deal.”
His livelihood was tied to Star City. As a hired thug, he was among the first targets of the crackdown. Clever of him to think of this.
Tang Cheng wasn’t naïve. This was information she needed.
Plainclothes officers filled the place. The pressure was palpable as she stepped inside.
Deeper in, most people seemed unaware, dice rattling in their hands.
Tang Cheng moved forward and spotted a familiar figure. Fang Jing.
She was in disguise, blending into the crowd, chips in hand, playing her role convincingly.
“Where’s Zhang He?” Tang Cheng grabbed Bo Long’s arm, whispering.
He smirked. “Add more money?”
Tang Cheng nodded. Satisfied, he stepped ahead. “Follow me.”
She kept close as they passed through the front hall, slipping smoothly into the back room.
There weren’t many people left here.
“Zhang He has been staying around lately, but I don’t know which room exactly.”
Tang Cheng couldn’t see the end of the corridor. She would have to check room by room.
Bo Long followed closely. “Weren’t you looking for the general manager? Why bother with Zhang He?”
Through the glass panels, Tang Cheng saw nothing useful. “To settle some things.”
“About Lu Xinxue?”
Tang Cheng snapped her head around, glaring at him.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Bo Long muttered, avoiding her eyes. “Last time you beat him up, wasn’t it because of her?”
Tang Cheng stayed silent. Gossip.
“Just a word of advice, don’t end up losing both money and love.”
He mumbled something under his breath. Tang Cheng didn’t catch it. She was about to ask when footsteps approached. She pulled Bo Long into a room, watching through the glass door.
That person was—
Lu Xinxue.
Beside her was a female Alpha Tang Cheng had never seen before—tall, poised, her expression unreadable. They spoke briefly, then walked toward the elevator. Only when the doors closed completely did Tang Cheng and Bo Long step out.
“What did you just say?”
“I said, don’t end up losing both money and love.” Bo Long had seen it too. “I may be greedy, but I know when to cut my losses.”
Tang Cheng sneered, shaking off his sleeve. “You wouldn’t understand.”
He said nothing more. Tang Cheng thought: he was just a man clawing for survival, desperate to earn money. Was that really wrong?
It was only advice. But no one else was Tang Cheng. No one else knew how much Lu Xinxue meant to her.
A few rooms remained.
“My point is, your life is just beginning. Don’t stop at Lu Xinxue.”
After a long silence, Bo Long explained again.
He was acting strangely today. Normally, their dealings were purely transactional. No past, no personal matters. Why now?
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly this, don’t go any further.”
“How much did she pay you?”
Bo Long: “…”
She should have known. Bo Long had approached her for business. He was a man of the casino. No matter how generous she was, he was still her opponent.
“Leave,” Tang Cheng said coldly, stepping back. “I’ll give you what I promised.”
She dismissed him. She could pay him to work for her, but others could pay more. He gave her a complicated look before turning away.
Only when his figure disappeared down the hall did Tang Cheng continue forward.
She didn’t know when Fang Jing would act. If they caught Zhang He first, she might lose her chance to question her.
After a few more steps, she glanced into a room and saw her face.
Zhang He.
Without hesitation, she shoved the door open.
Inside, Zhang He clutched a bottle of liquor. Under the dim light, she looked ruined. Her once-bright red hair hung limp, none of the energy she had seen days ago.
“So, it’s you.”
Her voice was hoarse, her eyes full of hatred.
The shadows made her more terrifying. Red veins streaked her eyes. She gripped the bottle as if ready to smash it over Tang Cheng’s head.
Tang Cheng’s voice was cold. “Did you ever think this day would come when you set your trap?”
“Men die for wealth, birds for food.”
“So, you exploited your family’s chip designs to forge tokens, used He Si’s cheating skills to fleece gamblers, recycled fake chips, and drained them of their last drop of blood?”
“This is business. A game of profit.”
“If you mean dirty money, I don’t want it.”
“Dirty? If they weren’t greedy, would they come to me for loans, dreaming of overnight riches? And when it fails, they blame me for giving them the chance?”
Zhang He laughed bitterly, tossing the empty bottle to the floor. Her defeat was clear.
“I just didn’t expect you to be the one to expose He Si’s game. And I didn’t expect her to back you up.”
“How did you know about Lu Xinxue’s heat?”
“You two really are devoted.”
“Answer me.”
“That’s why you came, isn’t it?” Zhang He slumped against the leather sofa, disappointed. “It’s simple. Send Omegas to trigger her. That day, I sent three or four to block her in the restroom.”
She spoke with unnerving calm. “So, did you succeed?”
Tang Cheng clenched her left hand, forcing herself not to strike.
“And the mid-year gala? Omegas were everywhere.”
“The gala? Tang Qinggu already went after her. Why would I bother with you?” She sneered. “Seems you’re not the only ones being targeted.”
“Shut up!”
So, it wasn’t her? Then who else? That night, Lu Xinxue had clearly been drugged into heat. If not Zhang He, then it had to be the one pulling strings behind her.
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