After My Fiancée Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha - Chapter 9

The night before, Lu Xinxue had dreamed of Tang Cheng—dreamed of their engagement.

The weather had been perfect, and at last, her wish was fulfilled.

But Tang Cheng never appeared. A living person vanished into thin air.

Lu Xinxue stood in the church in panic. It was, without doubt, the most out-of-control moment of her life. She had fought so hard for this engagement, only to face becoming the laughingstock of A City.

When she awoke, her room was thick with the scent of thyme. Her glands had slipped out of control once again.

As an Omega, since her differentiation at eighteen, she had only ever been marked twice—and both times by Tang Cheng. Once at the very beginning, when thyme and sweet basil had drawn close of their own accord. The second time was just before the engagement, when she had gone to the university to bring Tang Cheng home.

Her lover. The person she had lived alongside for twenty years. With a single glance, she could recognize her.

After the engagement, Lu Xinxue treated Tang Cheng with courtesy, carefully isolating herself from all of Tang Cheng’s pheromones.

Omegas were vulnerable to pheromones, their bodies compelled to crave an Alpha’s mark. She could not afford to lose her clarity of thought. Yet every suppressant available on the market was useless against her. When her heat arrived, she had no choice but to endure it.

Until a month ago, when sweet basil invaded her life once more. The deep craving in her glands was stirred awake, and she could no longer suppress her body’s instincts.

That was one reason she had come today.

Lu Xinxue looked at Tang Cheng, and time seemed to stop.

The control room was silent. Judging by Zhou Yidong’s sour expression, Lu Xinxue guessed Tang Cheng had succeeded.

Tang Cheng leaned back in her chair, relieved she had made it in time. She had laid a trap within a trap, a simple sleight of hand and at the final moment seized control of the opponent’s terminal, patching the vulnerability shut.

She told the general manager, “I planted a crow in his computer. It should be easy to spot.”

Wiping sweat from her brow, she felt her fingertips ache, the warning of cramps. She clasped her hands together to ease the discomfort. The last time she had done something this intense was back in school.

She didn’t linger. Picking up her equipment, she sidestepped Zhou Yidong, who muttered under his breath, “Impossible, impossible.”

Tang Cheng didn’t spare him a glance. She was ready to leave.

The mechanics parted instinctively, clearing a path for her. The colleague who had come with her stared blankly, unable to fathom how he had dared to speak down to her. The rest of the mechanics, once so noisy, fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

In the crowd, Tang Cheng caught sight of the female Alpha smiling.

She made a point to remember her face. There was something inexplicably strange about her.

Looking back toward the glass room, Tang Cheng saw it was empty—Lu Xinxue had already gone. The crisis was resolved, and only then did the first wave of outside mechanics arrive. The remaining inspections were left to them. Tang Cheng and her team returned home.

Leaving United Tower, dusk was falling. Tang Cheng felt a fleeting sense of unreality. This was the first virus she had decrypted since waking. If the attacker had added one more encryption key, she would never have handled it so smoothly.

It had been a landmine trap—once triggered, the only option was brute-force decryption.

Fortunately, Zhou Yidong had enough sense not to attempt it recklessly. At least he knew his limits.

After a moment’s thought, Tang Cheng sent Lu Xinxue a message, letting her know she had left.

Her wages for the day arrived quickly. She had saved a fair amount over the past month. Seeing Lu Xinxue today felt like reason enough to reward herself with a good meal.

Driving, she already knew her destination.

Back in their university days, she and Lu Xinxue rarely saw each other. When they did, it was usually at a restaurant near A University’s gates—a place serving A City’s homestyle dishes, perfectly suited to Tang Cheng’s tastes.

Tang Cheng disliked spicy food. Lu Xinxue adored it. Yet in that restaurant, their opposite preferences found balance.

This time, Tang Cheng finally had the right to order. But as the aroma of food filled the air, she found she had little appetite.

When Lu Xinxue had been there, they could talk about professional matters while also caring for each other’s lives. They missed nothing—from the first diaper change in childhood to every milestone thereafter. Yet Tang Cheng had missed six entire years of Lu Xinxue’s life.

The rich flavors in her mouth turned bitter.

A shadow sat down across from her.

“Mind if I join?”

The familiar scent of thyme drowned out the food’s fragrance. Tang Cheng’s heart clenched. She looked up, and a tear slipped from her eye, falling straight into her bowl.

Lu Xinxue hadn’t expected such a reaction. They stared at each other for a long time.

Tang Cheng hastily set down her bowl, rubbed her eyes, checking to see if any more humiliating tears remained. She shook her head. “I just ordered.”

Lu Xinxue lowered her gaze, glanced at the plain dishes, then looked back at Tang Cheng.

Tang Cheng instantly understood. “Boss, add one order of Tengyun Huiyu.”

Tengyun Huiyu—stir-fried snake, fiery and bold.

Lu Xinxue looked satisfied.

It had been nearly a month since they last met. Lu Xinxue’s presence was unchanged—no longer tormented by heat, her complexion restored, her demeanor calm and composed. In her tailored suit, she radiated elegance.

Tang Cheng felt nervous, shy like a lovestruck girl, so different from the composure she had shown in the control room that afternoon.

Lu Xinxue asked, “Why did you step in?”

Tang Cheng answered simply, “Because what concerns Axin concerns me.”

Lu Xinxue lifted her eyes, clearly surprised by the reply.

She said, “Tomorrow’s banquet is important. Grandmother will be there, and members of the Tang family as well.” A reminder—because if Tang Cheng embarrassed herself, it would reflect on Lu Xinxue too.

Among the Tang family’s recognized children, Tang Cheng was the second. She had an elder sister abroad, two younger brothers, and a younger sister.

Her eldest sister had lived overseas since Tang Cheng was little. Six years ago, she returned to take over the Tang family business. Tomorrow would likely be their first meeting. The third brother was already working—steady, reserved, not talkative. The fourth brother was spoiled, arrogant, and unpleasant. The youngest sister was a pampered princess, and since differentiating as an Omega last year, even more so.

Tomorrow’s gathering would surely bring conflict.

Lu Xinxue saw Tang Cheng’s hesitation. “You are still my fiancée. There is no reason for you to be bullied.”

Tang Cheng touched the corner of her eye again, confirming no more tears betrayed her. She nodded. “Alright. I’ll do my best.”

Today, Lu Xinxue’s attitude toward her was smoother, less sharp than a month ago. Yet it was still the polite distance of strangers—cordial, but restrained.

Lu Xinxue nodded, saying nothing more.

The final dish arrived quickly. The scarlet chili peppers stung Tang Cheng’s eyes as the fragrance filled the air.

Tang Cheng took the initiative to bring up the afternoon’s incident.

“The virus was one of those landmine types that’s been popular these past two years. Do you have any leads on who’s behind it?”

Lu Xinxue replied, “We’ll talk once we find the person.”

Tang Cheng frowned. “Are they really this inefficient?”

“He came prepared,” Lu Xinxue said calmly. “Naturally, he had an escape plan.”

Tang Cheng nodded. The matter was resolved perfectly. She asked, “How did you know I was here?” She had wanted to ask why Lu Xinxue had come to find her, but knowing her temperament, silence would have been the only answer.

So, she rephrased.

“Coincidence. I came here to eat,” Lu Xinxue said, reaching with her chopsticks for the fattest piece of snake meat. Then she added, “And to remind you about tomorrow.”

Tang Cheng understood her intent immediately. It was the same as at the hospital—a test. The words she had spoken then had mattered, at least in part. As long as Lu Xinxue didn’t push her away, there was still a chance.

Tang Cheng wished the meal could last longer, but Lu Xinxue only tasted a little before setting her chopsticks down.

“You eat much less than before,” Tang Cheng remarked.

Lu Xinxue: “…”

Lu Xinxue’s silence was sharp.

Realizing her words might have been inappropriate, Tang Cheng forced an innocent smile, trying to cover it up.

“You finish slowly. I’ll be leaving,” Lu Xinxue said, picking up her bag without giving Tang Cheng time to react.

Such a chance was too good to waste. Tang Cheng reached out and caught her wrist. The summer heat pressed down, and where palm met skin, both felt the burn.

Tang Cheng let go quickly, hesitated, then said, “Um, could you add me back on WeChat?”

Lu Xinxue’s eyes narrowed. “You can still send messages.”

She met Tang Cheng’s sly, half-smiling gaze and realized she’d been tricked.

It was one thing to know Tang Cheng’s messages were being read. It was another to hear her admit it aloud.

Lu Xinxue left without another glance.

The friend request was sent. No reply yet.

Tang Cheng felt as though she had returned to her university days. In her mind, Lu Xinxue hadn’t left at all, she had only stepped out for air, and would soon return to sit across from her, listening with a smile to her endless chatter.

Her mood was light. Even the drive home felt filled with pleasant scenery.

On the way, another large payment arrived from the company followed immediately by a dismissal notice from HR. Severance pay?

It was expected. Zhou Yidong would never allow her to re-enter the field. The easiest way was to squeeze out small companies like hers. After all, she was the Lu Corporation president’s fiancée, infamous as a reckless Alpha. Dealing with her meant giving face to the Zhou family. Everyone knew which side to choose.

She couldn’t blame them. Tang Cheng shook her head. If fault lay anywhere, it was with her own carelessness.

It suited her plans anyway. After a brief reply, she confirmed her interview with Lu Corporation was scheduled in a few days. That gave her time to review her skills.

The neighborhood was unusually quiet that evening. Even the noisy children in the elevator had their mouths firmly covered by parents. The silence felt strange to Tang Cheng.

She soon discovered why.

Her home had been broken into.

The security door had been pried open with sharp tools, forced violently. The furniture she had carefully arranged lay scattered across the floor. The apartment was a wreck—worse than when she had first moved in.

Tang Cheng’s heart sank. She rushed past the debris straight to her workshop. As expected, her mechanical arm lay smashed on the ground, pieces scattered. She hadn’t sealed it yet, so the parts were exposed.

Shock was her first reaction. How could a simple trip outside end like this?

Her composure was unnervingly steady. She bent down, picked up the arm. Only two or three pieces were broken. It could be repaired. The blueprint was etched into her mind—no need to worry.

But when she pulled open the drawer, her notebook was gone.

Her calm shattered.

She dropped her equipment and began tearing through the workshop, searching for it.

She cleared away every scrap of debris, but the notebook was nowhere to be found.

At last, fury surged from her chest, raw and uncontainable.