After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 38
The living room light had been left on for her.
Tang Cheng went upstairs. At the turn of the staircase, she met a pair of clear, cold eyes.
The air still carried faint traces of tobacco mixed with thyme’s sharp spice. With the house’s constant-temperature circulation system, such scents should not have lingered.
Tang Cheng stepped forward to support Lu Xinxue. Her heat cycle was still eight or nine days away, and she had only recently undergone a reverse marking. It shouldn’t be troubling her so soon.
Tang Cheng asked softly, “Are you uncomfortable?”
Lu Xinxue: “Did it go smoothly?”
Tang Cheng: “Smoothly.”
“That’s good.”
The subject ended there. Lu Xinxue asked no more, turning toward her room. When she noticed Tang Cheng hadn’t followed, she glanced back in silent inquiry.
Tang Cheng said, “I didn’t eat enough. Will you join me for a little?”
Lu Xinxue’s gaze flickered, finally settling on Tang Cheng’s stomach. With a sigh, she followed her back downstairs.
Opening the fridge, Tang Cheng remarked, “Let’s buy some groceries tomorrow after work. The fridge is empty.”
“Alright.”
Lu Xinxue sat at the table, resting her head on one hand, her eyes drifting often toward Tang Cheng.
“Want some?”
“No. I’m not hungry.”
Tang Cheng bent to take ingredients from the drawer, set water to boil, and dropped noodles into the pot.
“How did your business talk go today?” she asked casually, cracking an egg against the counter.
She meant Tang Qinggu, though she didn’t name her. Lu Xinxue answered directly: “It went fine. But our business is settled at the table. Beyond that, I can’t control it and won’t.”
Soon, Tang Cheng returned from the kitchen with two bowls, handing one to Lu Xinxue. “It smells too good. I thought you’d be tempted. If you can’t finish, I’ll eat it.”
“Boasting about your own cooking.”
Lu Xinxue muttered, but still accepted the chopsticks. Tang Cheng dug in. “The other day I asked Xie Chensong why she studied mechanics. She said because she liked it. I think that’s true for me too. That’s why I’ve kept developing new things all these years.”
It sounded like idle chatter, but her words carried weight.
“You know, I started with nothing. Even if I had to go back, I could still live by my own hands. Look, shiny noodles. Aren’t they good?”
Tang Cheng lifted a golden strand, sauce glistening. Lu Xinxue chewed, then looked up briefly. “Eat.”
Tang Cheng knew she understood the hidden meaning: she didn’t need protection, didn’t need Lu Xinxue to slow her pace. Whatever came, she could face it. In a way, they were the same—patient enough to start over, brave enough to push forward.
She didn’t want Lu Xinxue to hesitate for her sake. She wanted to prove she could keep up.
“By the way, Xinxue, my sister is ambitious. Doing business with her is like bargaining with a tiger. Be careful.”
“You too.”
Lu Xinxue knew everything. Tonight, all her worries stemmed from Tang Qinggu.
Her eyes shone, hiding words unspoken, yet offering comfort again and again.
In the end, Lu Xinxue finished her bowl. Tang Cheng cleaned up, then curled on the sofa to wait.
Lu Xinxue admired Tang Qinggu’s ruthlessness, her years of endurance. But that was irrelevant. Her only concern was whether Tang Cheng could emerge unscathed. And she had proven herself stronger than expected.
After washing her hands, Lu Xinxue came from the kitchen. When her damp fingers rested on Tang Cheng’s shoulder, she allowed the closeness.
Tang Cheng leaned her head against Lu Xinxue’s shoulder, savoring the quiet moment.
“Are you tired?” she whispered.
“Not too.”
“Don’t look back. I’m not afraid.”
She felt Lu Xinxue stiffen, her breath caught, held, then released. The reply was too faint, Tang Cheng couldn’t tell if she had answered.
The Next Day
Tang Cheng left early. Yu Xia’an had told her yesterday they needed to repair the machine from the last meeting.
At the company, she was surprised to see Xie Chensong clocking in on time. Before work officially began, all five members of Group Five were already present—like surgeons awaiting a birth.
Yu Xia’an connected the power.
Everyone held their breath.
Click.
The circuit broke. No warning. Everyone froze. Group Five had never faced this before.
Yu Xia’an checked the wiring, perfect. Then.
“Yesterday Yuan Jie and I inspected it. No problems.”
Yu Fan complained, reaching to touch the machine. Yu Xia’an slapped his hand away. “Get the tester.”
If it was short-circuited, electricity could gather on the metal surface. Touching it would be dangerous.
The tester showed no current.
Yu Xia’an began dismantling the machine.
“Impossible. I did a full inspection yesterday. No short circuit.” Yuan Jie leaned closer.
“Not a short. A broken connection,” Yu Fan suggested.
“No. It’s the program,” Xie Chensong countered. She had designed the circuit draft, considering multiple materials. It couldn’t fail on the first run.
“Stop arguing.”
Yu Xia’an removed the casing. Inside, the circuits spiraled neatly, the chip spotless, everything looked brand new.
“Yuan Jie.”
“Wiring’s fine. Contact’s fine. Needs a computer.”
Yu Xia’an nodded.
Yu Fan fetched the nearest laptop, connected the program.
Everyone held their breath.
The programs were gone.
“They were fine yesterday!” Yu Fan exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.
Yu Xia’an said nothing. She closed the laptop, handed it to Yuan Jie. “Redo it. I’m stepping out.”
Yuan Jie took it, conflicted, glancing at her as if wanting to speak.
“It’s fine. Just focus.”
Yu Xia’an reassured him, calm as ever. But as she left the office, she called Tang Cheng to join her.
Everyone else understood. Tang Cheng alone was confused.
Catching up to her, she asked, “What’s going on?”
“Group Five is the most confidential unit in the department. Aside from us and senior leadership, no one enters the lab.”
Yu Xia’an explained, her usual humor gone. This was serious. She needed to report directly to Lu Xinxue.
“All core research within the group has its own alarms. Someone entered the office, but didn’t touch the core systems.”
Tang Cheng immediately recalled when Lin Xin and Lu Xinxue had come to the office days earlier to ask about suspicious personnel. “It’s like what Sister Lin mentioned last time.”
“Not sure. But we still need to report this to President Lu.”
They quickly made their way to the office. Lu Xinxue was about to begin a meeting. Dressed in formal attire, she looked up as they entered, her gaze sliding past Yu Xia’an to rest on Tang Cheng behind her.
After hearing the report, Lu Xinxue’s expression hardened. “I’ll take this seriously. For now, check if there are any other issues.”
Yu Xia’an nodded. It was only a small machine, nothing critical. Yu Fan could reassemble it by noon. There were other experimental devices in the office, so Yu Xia’an went to inspect them for possible damage.
Tang Cheng was left behind.
“Why establish a separate Fifth Group, with its own protective measures?” she asked. The entire Lu Corporation’s mechanical division was focused on innovation, yet one group had been singled out. Was it purely because of strength?
Lu Xinxue paused, then replied, “They handle the most advanced technology. I thought it necessary, so I approved it.”
“Can they all be trusted?”
Tang Cheng hesitated before asking. Yu Xia’an had been secretive, never allowing her into the lab. She hadn’t seen anyone else enter either. Yuan Jie had once worked for Gu Corporation, though the other two showed no obvious signs of suspicion.
Lu Xinxue chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. They’re all people I personally selected.”
It seemed Tang Cheng hadn’t truly integrated into the group yet, still wary of everyone. Lu Xinxue wondered how she had managed back in the academy. By her understanding, Tang Cheng was tactful, adaptable—yet she had grown up with few friends. That thought gave her pause.
“President Lu, the meeting is ready.”
The secretary entered, breaking her train of thought. Rising, Lu Xinxue reassured Tang Cheng: “Relax. Not just anyone can enter Lu Corporation.”
With Tang Cheng settled, she left for the meeting.
When Tang Cheng returned to the office, it was silent. Yu Xia’an sat playing a game on her phone. Xie Chensong was absent. Yuan Jie and Yu Fan were in the lab redesigning.
“Any other problems?” Tang Cheng asked.
“No. Just that one. An accident.”
“And Xie Chensong?”
Yu Xia’an didn’t look up. “She was just.” She raised her head, realizing the woman was gone. “Out, probably.”
Tang Cheng’s instincts stirred. On her first day, she remembered Xie Chensong had also disappeared at noon.
“Relax. It’s fine.” Yu Xia’an offered comfort, though her fingers never stopped moving across the game screen.
“You.” Tang Cheng began, but swallowed her words. Just then, the door opened, Xie Chensong returned.
“See? She’s back.” Yu Xia’an’s screen flashed a victory banner. She cheered softly before starting another round.
Tang Cheng didn’t press further. She returned to her desk, while Xie Chensong focused on completing the mechanical arm.
An accident? Tang Cheng wasn’t convinced. Yu Xia’an had lost all urgency since leaving Lu Xinxue’s office. What had happened there?
The office remained unnaturally quiet all day, broken only by Yu Xia’an’s occasional cheers at her game.
Near closing time, the machine was fully assembled. The group gathered to test the robot carefully.
Assembly—perfect.
Programming—perfect.
Response—perfect.
“Not bad. Everything’s flawless.” Yu Xia’an smirked, clearly pleased. “Tomorrow we’ll celebrate with dinner. Anyone unavailable?”
No one spoke. The plan was set. Tang Cheng didn’t refuse. The situation was strange—one guarded against her, one vanished mysteriously, and one had ties to Gu Corporation. She intended to find out what they were hiding.
That evening, Tang Cheng left on time again, meeting Lu Xinxue as planned. Carrying her mechanical bag, she headed out.
Yu Xia’an called after her. “Leaving early again?”
“I have plans.”
“You’ve changed. Not so eager anymore.” She feigned disappointment.
“I’m going to the supermarket with Xinxue.”
“Fine. Don’t let me stop you.” Yu Xia’an turned away, ignoring her.
In the parking garage, Lu Xinxue was already waiting by her car.
They drove to the largest nearby supermarket.
“How was today?” Lu Xinxue asked.
“Alright. But I still feel uneasy. Like they’re hiding something.”
“If you’re worried, investigate yourself. It’s fine.”
Her reassurance eased Tang Cheng’s chest. “Yu Xia’an said tomorrow we’ll celebrate with dinner.”
“Good. I have a meeting tomorrow, then a business trip in two days.”
“Where?”
“G City. A small deal. I’ll be back in two days. After that, we’ll visit the old house and see Grandma.”
Tang Cheng nodded. “In a few days?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“Your heat cycle’s close. Bring suppression patches.”
“Alright.”
At the supermarket, they swiped their cards to enter.
The last time they had shopped together was at sixteen or seventeen, before differentiation. Back then, whenever Tang Cheng visited Lu Xinxue’s home, they would go to the supermarket to buy food and supplies, enjoying their private space. Later, life grew busier, and even meeting became precious, let alone shopping together.
Tang Cheng handled the groceries. She knew the household best.
She picked out Lu Xinxue’s favorite foods, then the usual seasonings. When she finished, Lu Xinxue returned with an armful of snacks.
She dropped them into the cart. A glance showed they were all Tang Cheng’s favorites.
“Xin, are you raising me like a child?”
“I thought you still liked them.”
Tang Cheng had stopped eating snacks long ago. At the academy, working with machinery, her hands were always covered in oil or the metallic tang of tools. Gradually, she lost the taste for them.
“I do like them.”
She didn’t refuse, just walked on. Together they chose more items. It didn’t look like much, but they ended up with two full bags.
Back home, they cooked. By the time they ate, it was nearly eight.
Ordinary days repeated in quiet cycles. Tang Cheng lay on the bed, waiting for Lu Xinxue to finish her shower, overwhelmed again by the surreal feeling.
She had truly returned to Lu Xinxue’s side. It had been less than two months, yet so much had happened, pushing her toward maturity. From single-minded focus to navigating suspicion and human entanglements. Was this growth?
Perhaps. But it seemed Lu Xinxue had silently allowed it all. Entering Lu Corporation, reuniting with Yu Xia’an, encountering Tang Qinggu, and today’s incident—Lu Xinxue never explained the reasons. Like a spy in a covert thriller, she was guarding against others or perhaps against the sudden, mysterious reappearance of Tang Cheng herself.
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