After the Scumbag Alpha Heard her Inner Thoughts - Chapter 45

“Now can you tell me?”
Su Wanqing tilted her head at Chu Muqing, her big, sparkling eyes full of mischievous triumph.

In the business world, showing emotions was a fatal weakness.
The more cunning and experienced players would seize on even the tiniest slip.

In three years of climbing and fighting her way through the corporate jungle, Chu Muqing had perfected a calm, unshakeable mask — the kind where even a mountain collapsing in front of her wouldn’t change her expression.

And yet, every time she faced Su Wanqing, it all crumbled.

Looking at those bright, expectant eyes, the sweet curve of her smile —
Chu Muqing felt her defenses melt away again.

She sighed helplessly.

Turning, she hung her jacket neatly on the rack.
“Come here, I’ll tell you.”

Su Wanqing quickly changed her shoes and trotted after her, then snuggled into Chu Muqing’s arms, rubbing her head gently against Chu Muqing’s chin.

Chu Muqing wrapped her arms around her naturally, her voice soft and steady, almost like telling her a bedtime story:

“Actually, the Chu family’s problems started over ten years ago,” she said.
“The old man knew it too. That’s why he was so determined to find a high-ranking, capable Alpha — not because he looked down on Omegas.”

“It was because he understood:
If he couldn’t find someone strong enough, the Chu family would be beyond saving.”

“Three years ago, the Chu family still looked glamorous on the outside.
But inside, it was already rotten.”

“I was only barely holding it together with my own methods.”

“Most people didn’t know.
Only two of the company’s elders — the ones who had helped the old man build everything from scratch — saw through it.
They didn’t trust me. They wanted out early.”

“I didn’t stop them.”

“Gu Heng found out about this and thought he saw an opportunity.
I simply gave him the push he needed — setting a trap and handing him the Qingyan project.”

“Then while I was abroad, I spent six months making money.
I had Lu Qinghe approach him, offering to invest in his company — but only promising him a measly ten percent of the returns.”

“So now, with Hengyang Group’s overseas partnership projects —
I get ninety percent of the profits.
Gu Heng gets ten percent.”

“But apart from those projects, Hengyang has almost no other income.”

“In other words — Gu Heng is working for me now.”

“And he’s doing it willingly.”

Su Wanqing: “…”

No wonder.
No wonder Chu Muqing hadn’t rushed to reveal her identity.

She was playing the long game.

“Isn’t Gu Heng furious?” Su Wanqing couldn’t help asking.

“Of course,” Chu Muqing said with a smile.
“Work hard — and you’re just helping me make money.
Slack off — and you lose even your own tiny cut.”

Right now, Gu Heng was like a piece of tofu that had fallen into the ashes —
picking it up was dirty, leaving it there was a waste.
A lose-lose situation.

“No wonder you’ve been so relaxed lately,” Su Wanqing said, clicking her tongue.
“You’re acting like a total hands-off boss.”

“Gu Heng’s personality is extreme, yes.
But he’s still capable.
He’s decisive when handling problems.
I’m not worried.”

Su Wanqing couldn’t help but shake her head in amusement.

Chu Muqing had changed a lot.
The Chu Muqing from before would’ve made sure Gu Heng suffered until he wished he were dead —
all to maintain her fierce reputation.

“And when do you plan to reveal everything?”

Keeping things hidden like this wasn’t bad…
but it still felt a little strange.

“Soon,” Chu Muqing said simply.

If Gu Heng had stayed obedient, she wouldn’t have rushed.
But clearly, he couldn’t even be bothered to pretend anymore after just a few days.

There was no point waiting.

“Cheng Zhuo said we should go for a follow-up check next weekend,” Chu Muqing said.
“Do you have time?”

Su Wanqing thought about it.
There was still some time before autumn’s busy season started.
Even after returning to work, her workload would be light for a while.

“I do.
Let’s go Saturday.
I can also visit Sister Lu.”

Her mind started to wander as she thought about it.

I heard that during pregnancy, hormonal changes can make a person look worse…
But Sister Lu is still so beautiful!

It’s been so long since I last saw her.

I really miss her a little.

She’s how many months along now?
Maybe I should buy something cute for the baby?

Su Wanqing’s thoughts floated off into space, her imagination running wild.

Meanwhile, Chu Muqing’s face grew darker and darker.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.

Su Wanqing suddenly felt a chill.

Huh?
Was the air conditioner set too low?

Frowning, she checked the thermostat in the corner.

The temperature was normal.

She turned back — and saw Chu Muqing’s expression.

Su Wanqing: “…”

What… just happened?

Chu Muqing rested her hand lightly on Su Wanqing’s shoulder, pulling her gently into her arms.
Her fingers softly kneaded her shoulder as she spoke slowly, deliberately:

“What do you usually call me?”

“…Chu Muqing?”

Su Wanqing blinked, a little confused.
Wasn’t that obvious?

Chu Muqing didn’t rush.
She continued to ask patiently,
“And what’s our relationship?”

“We’re… lovers?”

Su Wanqing answered cautiously, still unsure why Chu Muqing was questioning her like this.

“Then, what should you be calling me?” Chu Muqing asked again, her tone casual but firm.

Only then did Su Wanqing realize —
she had never really used any affectionate nickname for her before.

Feeling slightly guilty, Su Wanqing hesitated for a second.
“Call you… ‘Wife’?”

She tilted her chin up slightly, the word “wife” rolling off her lips with a soft upward lilt, almost as if testing Chu Muqing’s reaction.

But after she said it —
Chu Muqing didn’t look particularly thrilled.
Her reaction was pretty neutral.

Maybe calling her “darling” would sound too random?
Maybe “baby” — ?

Su Wanqing glanced at Chu Muqing’s cool, striking features.

Yeah… definitely not “baby.”

Suddenly, an idea popped into her head.
“Then I’ll call you ‘9821’!” Su Wanqing declared playfully.

Chu Muqing raised her eyebrows, clearly confused.

“9821,” Su Wanqing ordered with a mischievous grin,
“Go pour me a glass of water!”

Chu Muqing narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Something about this scene felt… off.

It was like — there should’ve been a railing between them.
Preferably iron bars.

Chu Muqing chuckled darkly, reaching out to grab the ticklish spot on Su Wanqing’s waist.

“Training me, are you?”

“Huh?”

Su Wanqing, who was extremely ticklish, tried to block her, but Chu Muqing was quicker —
if she defended her left side, Chu Muqing poked the right.

“Ahahaha—!”
Su Wanqing burst into uncontrollable laughter,
“Stop! Stop tickling!”

“It tickles!”

“Jiejie—!”
Su Wanqing quickly changed tactics and cried out:
“Call you ‘Jiejie!’”

At that word, Chu Muqing’s hand froze midair.

The sheer happiness on her face couldn’t be hidden.

So that was it…

Su Wanqing had finally figured it out.
Back at those two parties, whenever she called Lu Qinghe “Jiejie”, Chu Muqing’s expression had always looked… indescribable.

She had been jealous —
but because Lu Qinghe was also an Omega, she hadn’t been able to openly show it.

Now, everything made sense.

Hearing Su Wanqing call her that, Chu Muqing’s eyes brightened instantly —
even better than hearing her inner thoughts.

The real voice was even sweeter.

“Say it again,” Chu Muqing said, bracing her hand against the sofa and gazing at her intently.

The two of them had been playfully wrestling.
Now Su Wanqing lay stretched out on the sofa, her body slightly arched in an uncomfortable position.
But with Chu Muqing’s burning gaze locked on her, she didn’t dare move.

Su Wanqing swallowed nervously.

“Jie… Jiejie,” she whispered.

“So nice to hear,” Chu Muqing praised warmly.

Something about that compliment felt… seriously suspicious.

Her hand tightened slightly against the sofa.

Then, Chu Muqing wrapped one arm around Su Wanqing’s waist and leaned in closer.
“So obedient,” she murmured,
“What kind of reward does my little wife want?”

“I…”
Su Wanqing’s mind was racing.
She quickly thought:
No reward needed, thank you very much!

But Chu Muqing had already decided otherwise.

“No way,” she said firmly.

Her fingers brushed gently along Su Wanqing’s shoulder, smoothing down her hair.
Then she caught a small lock, twirling it playfully around her finger.

Su Wanqing could practically hear her own heartbeat pounding wildly in her chest.

Thump, thump, thump—

Chu Muqing pressed her ear lightly against Su Wanqing’s chest, smiling wickedly.

“Wife, your heart’s beating so fast~”

“Chu Muqing!”
Su Wanqing squirmed, half laughing, half protesting.
“That tickles—!”

Her hair spilled down over her shoulders, brushing lightly against her collarbone — feather-soft and teasing.

“You said it wrong again~” Chu Muqing lifted her head slightly, helpfully reminding her.

“Jie…”
Su Wanqing had just started to say it again — Jiejie — when Chu Muqing leaned in and kissed her, sealing the second half of the word against her lips.

They had kissed so many times now that Su Wanqing was no longer as stiff and awkward as at the beginning, where she just stood frozen and didn’t respond.

She mimicked Chu Muqing’s rhythm, learning to kiss her back gently.

Soft sounds of lips and tongue entwining filled the warm, intimate space, thickening the already heated atmosphere around them.

Su Wanqing’s arms instinctively wrapped around Chu Muqing’s neck, deepening the kiss.

Unnoticed, the scent of Su Wanqing’s ephemeral flower pheromones began to twine and envelop them both.

Chu Muqing’s control over her own pheromones was strong —
but this time, she chose to let them slip free.

Alpha pheromones surged out, seeping into every pore through the heat of their skin.

Su Wanqing could feel her body temperature rising rapidly, and before she knew it, the desire sparked by the kiss wasn’t enough anymore.

Chu Muqing, being more attuned, felt the changes even faster.

Just as she was about to take things further, she abruptly remembered Cheng Zhuo’s warnings —
Not yet.

She forcefully suppressed her instincts, withdrew her pheromones, and leaned back, bracing herself against the sofa.

Feeling the weight lift from her, Su Wanqing quickly turned her face away, pressing into the other side of the couch to hide her fluster.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Chu Muqing said, standing up and heading straight for the bathroom.

The living room returned to quiet.

Su Wanqing, her heart still hammering wildly, sat up slowly.
She patted her flushed cheeks lightly and let out a soft, embarrassed sigh.

What was I doing?!

She glanced down at her chest — the top two buttons of her blouse had come undone during their tussle, revealing her pale collarbone and a stretch of fair skin.

She hastily tugged the fabric closed.

She needed a cold shower too.

The house had more than one bathroom.
After straightening the mess they had left on the sofa, Su Wanqing grabbed a change of clothes and slipped into the guest bathroom.

She showered slowly.

It always took her forever to get started, but once under the water, she didn’t want to leave — savoring the feeling of the warm water washing over her.

When she finally emerged, wrapped in a towel and breathing in the fresh scent of shampoo, she wandered around the living room —
but Chu Muqing was nowhere to be seen.

Curious, Su Wanqing peeked toward the study —
silent there too.

Puzzled, she returned to her bedroom to find her hairdryer.

In summer, it wasn’t necessary to blow her hair completely dry — she casually blew it to a half-dry state, then curled up on the bed with her tablet.

A new message had come in from Ji Yu — a draft of the next day’s work assignments.

It was already June.
There was just a month left before the season changed, and they needed to start planning their autumn collection.

Ji Yu had sketched a few rough designs and sent them over for Su Wanqing’s review.

With the constant shifts in public taste, their brand needed to refresh its style every season.

First, they would lock in a basic concept, and later, refine it together.

Su Wanqing flipped through the designs —
to be blunt, they were nothing special.

Their summer line had exploded in popularity thanks to Qiao Shiyi’s influence.
But if they wanted a successful autumn launch, they would have to produce something truly new and appealing — otherwise, customers wouldn’t bite.

[None of these will work.]

Ji Yu’s reply came almost instantly — she practically hammered the screen with her frustration:
[Fine! If you’re so good, you do it!]

[I’m not much better right now, honestly,] Su Wanqing typed back.

Lately, her mind had been wandering too much.
She hadn’t shifted properly into work mode yet, and inspiration was sorely lacking.

[I’ll come to the company tomorrow.
First, let’s wrap up the summer line, then we can go out and research together.]

[As you command, Boss.]

After finishing her messages, Su Wanqing looked up —
and saw Chu Muqing standing quietly by the doorway.

Startled, she called out,
“Hey, what’s up?”

Chu Muqing shook her head.
Her gaze fell on the tablet in Su Wanqing’s arms.

“Are you watching something?” she asked.

Soap operas really weren’t her thing — they bored her to death.

“No,” Su Wanqing shook her head quickly.
“I have to work tomorrow.
I’m just sketching a few drafts to get my hand warmed up.”

“…Can I join you?” Chu Muqing asked.

Su Wanqing hesitated.

The two of them sitting together like this —
it felt suspiciously like some “sticky sweet” mission in a dating simulator, and she knew from experience that such things never ended peacefully.

She eyed Chu Muqing warily.

“You have to promise you’ll just watch. No disturbing me.”

Chu Muqing spread her hands innocently.
“I wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble even if I wanted to.”

“Alright then,” Su Wanqing said.

They moved to the area near the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
A thick, cozy carpet had already been laid out there, surrounded by oversized pillows, with a small table in the center.

Only a small space about one and a half meters wide was left open — just big enough for two people to sprawl side by side.

Su Wanqing climbed onto the carpet first, setting up her tablet on a small stand.

Chu Muqing followed behind, watching her lock herself in like a little fortress.

“Remember,” Su Wanqing said sternly,
“No talking.”

“Got it,” Chu Muqing said with a chuckle.

Before starting, Su Wanqing glanced back at Chu Muqing one last time.

She was lounging comfortably on the beanbag, not looking impatient or restless at all.

Relieved, Su Wanqing turned her attention back to her work.

When she got focused, she was incredibly serious.

Behind her, Chu Muqing quietly lifted her phone and secretly snapped a picture of Su Wanqing’s focused profile, sealing this precious moment away.

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