After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 30

Tang Cheng: “Really?”

Lu Xinxue: “It affects me.”

Her fingers, once relaxed, curled inward, pressing against her soft palms. Her heart felt hollow, as though something had been carved out.

Tang Cheng whispered, “I’m sorry.”

She said no more, only sipped her water before asking, “You truly have nothing to say to me?”

Tang Cheng: “No.”

Lu Xinxue left.

Tang Cheng sat alone on the sofa, staring up at the chandelier. A faint shimmer of tears flickered in her eyes. How did I become like this?

The next day.

Tang Cheng rose early or rather, she hadn’t slept at all. She prepared breakfast and lunch for Lu Xinxue, timing it carefully so it would be ready when she woke. She told her she was leaving first; Lu Xinxue agreed, and Tang Cheng drove off, deliberately reducing their time together.

When Lu Xinxue came downstairs and saw the lunchbox, her eyes flickered with something complicated, awkward.

She picked up her phone and sent a message: No need to wake early to cook. The company has a cafeteria.

At the office, Tang Cheng went straight to the mechanics lab, resuming the unfinished work from yesterday. She kept her back to the room, almost ensuring no one would disturb her.

Her days blurred into repetition. At noon, she refused Yu Xia’an’s invitation, spending nearly the entire day in the lab except for brief breaks.

Near closing time, Lu Xinxue had a dinner engagement. Tang Cheng stayed behind to work overtime. Yu Xia’an remained as well, watching her closely.

“There are three machines left. Once I finish, I’ll have mastered them all.”

It seemed the extra training had worked. In three days, Tang Cheng had grasped the most advanced equipment of the past six years. The intense focus let her forget, for a while, her unhappiness with Lu Xinxue.

Yu Xia’an smiled with satisfaction. “Good. In a few days, there’s a project. We’ll do it together.”

She didn’t mention yesterday. Tang Cheng exhaled in relief.

When she left the company, night had fallen. She had no desire to go home, so she drove aimlessly, ending up near Star City. Once ablaze with lights, the towers now stood silent. Yet the streets around them remained noisy, chaotic, teeming with shadows.

Tang Cheng parked and wandered into a small tavern.

Noise surrounded her—music, smoke, dice clattering across tables. The alley was filled with Star City’s discarded souls, people abandoned by circumstance.

She didn’t drink. After a while, she left.

On the road, she spotted Lu Xinxue’s car at a red light. Sun Qiang was at the wheel.

Tang Cheng lowered her window. “Uncle Sun.”

He looked surprised. “Axin asked me to pick her up. She’s been drinking. She probably hasn’t told you yet.”

Tang Cheng replied quickly, “I’ll go. If anything happens, I’ll contact you.”

A few days ago, she wouldn’t have had this chance. But since Lu Xinxue had once called her drunk, Sun Qiang trusted her enough to hand over the hotel address.

She drove off, chest heavy but heart aching with longing. She hadn’t seen her all day. Despite the weight pressing down, she wanted to bring her home.

At the hotel entrance, Tang Cheng spotted Lu Xinxue waiting with someone beside her.

A blonde, blue-eyed Alpha. Jenny.

Lu Xinxue hadn’t expected Tang Cheng to come.

Tang Cheng stepped forward, taking Lu Xinxue’s coat from Jenny’s hands, draping it over her arm.

Jenny spoke first. “Long time no see, Miss Tang.”

Tang Cheng shook her hand firmly. “Thank you.”

Jenny smiled. “It’s nothing. Miss Lu is an important partner of mine.”

Their words were polite, but beneath them lay tension. Lu Xinxue tugged Tang Cheng’s sleeve, signaling her to leave.

Jenny waved. “Until next time.”

Lu Xinxue replied, “I look forward to it.”

Tang Cheng opened the car door for her.

As they drove, Tang Cheng asked casually, “Same collaboration as last time?”

“No. Just coincidence today.”

Tang Cheng nodded, steering calmly.

Lu Xinxue broke the silence. “Tang Cheng, when will you move back?”

The car jolted to a stop.

Tang Cheng turned slightly. “You’re asking me to leave?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Did I not do enough?”

“Yes.”

Her bluntness cut deep. Tang Cheng lowered her eyes. “I’ll move out in a few days.”

Her voice lost its strength, scraping raw in her throat.

Lu Xinxue sat upright, then added, “Your state is poor. It affects me. Don’t force a smile to please me. As I said, we signed a contract. You’re my suppressant. Beyond that, our relationship cannot go further.”

She was referring to Tang Cheng showing up uninvited.

Tang Cheng whispered, “Alright.”

“You’re twenty-six. Learn to prioritize. Put your energy into the lab, not petty rivalries.”

She was referring to Jenny.

Tang Cheng: “Alright.”

Lu Xinxue: “Jenny and I are just friends. Nothing more.”

Tang Cheng: “Alright.”

At home, Tang Cheng collapsed on the sofa. Exhausted from sleepless nights and endless work, she hugged a pillow and drifted into uneasy sleep.

Lu Xinxue stayed in her study for a long time. When she finally came down, the lights were still on.

Tang Cheng was curled in the corner, wrapped tightly, pitiful.

Lu Xinxue sighed, sat beside her, and took her hand. Her fingers were rough, calloused from days in the lab.

Jenny’s words echoed in her mind.

In clumsy Chinese, Jenny had asked: “Little President Lu, are you truly as in sync as you claim? To me, it looks like you’re climbing a cliff, while she only prepares a safety net.”

“We’re adults. Falling means shattering. Who wants a useless safety net?”

“Precaution is fine. But if that net drags at your feet, weighing you down, what then, Little President Lu? What would you choose?”

Never before had Jenny’s broken Chinese sounded so sharp.

Tang Cheng was her safety net. Her only protection from the fall. But love had long turned into guilt. Protection had become a shackle. Should she let go?

Tang Cheng, I’ll give you the choice. Will you take it?

Lu Xinxue released her hand, turned off the light, and went upstairs.

She didn’t look back.

Morning came. Cicadas sang.

Tang Cheng woke with a cramp in her neck, her shoulders numb. She had sat upright all night, her lower back tingling with dull pain.

Stretching to ease her stiff muscles, she noticed something in her palm—a piece of candy wrapped in colorful foil, gleaming beautifully in the morning light.

She placed it on the table without eating it, then went to wash up.

After rinsing away her fatigue, she gathered herself. Before Lu Xinxue appeared, Tang Cheng had already driven off to the company.

The villa quickly returned to silence. When Lu Xinxue came downstairs, her eyes fell on the candy left on the table. The rainbow wrapper shone under the sunlight streaming through the window. She turned, noticing the green plant Tang Cheng had brought—its leaves yellowing at the edges. The two pots of jade succulents leaned against each other, looking slightly better.

Her brows furrowed. Irritation flickered in her chest. She picked up her phone.

She summoned Yu Xia’an to her office.

By the time Lu Xinxue arrived at the company, Yu Xia’an was already waiting at the door. At the sight of her, Yu Xia’an’s expression tightened.

“Good morning, President Lu.”

Seeing her reminded Yu Xia’an of the one at home. Lu Xinxue suppressed her anger, nodded, and entered.

Her office occupied the top floor, spacious and bright, furnished with sofas, tea sets, and a coffee machine.

Time was short. She asked directly: “What has she been doing all day?”

Yu Xia’an was sharp. Tang Cheng’s stubbornness was much like that failed experiment, she wouldn’t tell Lu Xinxue. But living together, her sulky face at the office surely mirrored her mood at home.

“She’s been in the lab, repairing equipment, learning the new machines. She lost a match to Xie Chensong the other day. Maybe that upset her.”

“Lost?” Lu Xinxue frowned. “Why were they competing?”

“Chensong just joined. They hadn’t interacted before. It was like a test.”

Lu Xinxue listened, then asked, “Anything else?”

Yu Xia’an shook her head. Lu Xinxue dismissed her.

It was pointless. Tang Cheng wouldn’t talk. No one could pry it out.

Lost a match?

By Tang Cheng’s ability, she shouldn’t have. Xie Chensong was a prodigy, but inexperienced, not yet steady. And Tang Cheng wasn’t one to sulk over defeat. So why was she so troubled?

She hadn’t even eaten the candy.

Her thoughts unsettled, Lu Xinxue skimmed through contracts distractedly, then handed them to her secretary.

Downstairs, Yu Xia’an waited for the elevator and ran into Lin Xin rushing up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Something came up. I need to see President Lu.”

Yu Xia’an recalled Lu Xinxue’s mood. “She’s upset. Be careful.”

Lin Xin, usually quick to banter, nodded seriously and hurried upstairs.

Yu Xia’an returned lightly to her office.

As expected, Tang Cheng was still in the lab. Xie Chensong, late again, hadn’t taken her eyes off Tang Cheng since entering.

Passing by, Yuan Jie teased, “Still want to beat her?”

The faulty chip had been sent back. Yuan Jie had wanted to try repairing it, but Yu Xia’an stopped him, sending it all to Group Two.

Yu Xia’an called, “Meeting.”

She knocked on Tang Cheng’s door just as she finished studying her last piece of equipment.

Group Five assembled.

Yu Xia’an stood before the whiteboard, two members on each side. Tang Cheng sat with Yu Fan, opposite Yuan Jie and Xie Chensong. Tang Cheng deliberately chose a seat diagonal to Chensong, avoiding direct eye contact.

Yu Xia’an noticed her subtle move and began.

The meeting covered the project she had mentioned yesterday.

It was a small domestic robot Lu Xinxue had invested in months ago, capable of handling daily life, integrating with home appliances, offering emotional support and Q&A. Some programs already had Lu Corporation’s models, so testing wasn’t needed. Their group was tasked with designing the robot’s exterior.

Appearance design required considering chips, mechanics, and material weight—a complex job.

Xie Chensong: “I can draft the sketch today.”

Yuan Jie: “Once the sketch is ready, I’ll divide the materials tomorrow.”

Yu Fan: “If Group Three finishes the chip, I can run checks.”

Tang Cheng glanced around at the quiet room, then spoke softly: “I can do anything.”

Yu Xia’an smiled, satisfied. “Then you’ll review with me.”

Tang Cheng nodded, glancing at Yu Xia’an, then at Xie Chensong.

When the meeting ended, Yu Xia’an patted her shoulder. “Work with me for now. A distracted mind can’t make a mechanic.”

Tang Cheng lowered her head. “Sorry. I need to adjust.”

For her, many things required independent thought. Her body often processed faster than her mind. Yesterday, she couldn’t do it, so she studied harder. She couldn’t reach so she stretched further. One day, she would grasp the rope falling from above.

She wasn’t a miracle worker. She couldn’t absorb everything instantly. But she had the courage to clean up her mess and stand again. Just like when she first returned to face Lu Xinxue—she would prove herself.

Yu Xia’an teased, “Still brooding over losing to Chensong?”

Tang Cheng blurted, “No! That’s not why.”

Her lips pressed tight. “It’s not that.”

“Then what?”

Tang Cheng stayed silent. She didn’t want Yu Xia’an to know.

“Fine. But correct yourself quickly. And remember, if you don’t speak, no one knows. Even if they guess, they might be wrong. Especially those who care about you. You know, care breeds chaos.”

She winked and returned to her desk.

Tang Cheng stared after her, replaying the words. Care breeds chaos. Who?

Who could summon Yu Xia’an so easily? Who cared? Lu Xinxue.

Frustration gnawed at her. She was angry at herself for being weak.

You affect me.

You’re twenty-six. Learn to prioritize. Put your energy into the lab.

Those words felt like abandonment. Proof that Lu Xinxue no longer trusted her. Coupled with the nightmares of recent days, the weight was crushing.

She wanted to swallow her emotions alone, to avoid burdening Lu Xinxue. But it backfired.

Should she go see her? For a moment, she considered it, then dismissed the thought.

Better to fix herself first. Fewer meetings these days would be best. And soon, she would have to move out of Lu Xinxue’s house. The thought made her head ache. She needed a way to stay.

Then came the challenge:

“Tang Cheng, let’s compete again!”