After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 28.1

Mo Tian’s office sat atop the tallest building in Haishi — the top floor of Tianhe Technologies — a symbol of the Mo family’s unrivaled glory.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the open park, scattering across the glazed tiles like a cascade of gold dust sinking into ink.

Wen Li stood outside the main entrance of Tianhe, gazing up. The tower stretched endlessly toward the sky.

Her heels clacked against the white porcelain tiles, each step echoing like coins thrown into a bottomless well — the very sound of money burning.

Bones from cremation furnaces come out white; but bones burned in the furnace of capitalism turn black. Engraved with 6 a.m. rush hour and 10 p.m. emergency coffee, each unlucky soul props up the foundations of capital with their spine.

Wen Li was just one of countless such “unlucky souls.”

The Mo, Chi, and Bai families stood at the pinnacle of power and wealth in Haishi — locked in a long-standing three-way rivalry.

The Mo family dominated the tech industry. Mo Tian, the sole heiress of her generation, held almost all the company’s shares.

The Chi family focused on biomedicine. The Chi Yang branch, due to the early death of Yang’s mother, was not the old patriarch’s favorite. If not for Chi Qing’s years of strategic maneuvering, they likely wouldn’t have even reached the core of power.

By the time Wen Li arrived at Mo Tian’s office, Mo Tian was seated by the window, sipping tea.

She’d seen the big boss more in the past few days than she had in her entire ten years working at Tianji.

“President Mo, Miss Wen is here,” the secretary announced before closing the door behind her.

Mo Tian didn’t turn around.

“I remember you’ve been with Tianji for ten years.”

“Nine years and ten months,” Wen Li replied.

Mo Tian chuckled. “You remember precisely.”

“I received the offer on my birthday. That’s why it stuck.” Wen Li said.

Mo Tian still didn’t ask her to sit. Wen Li simply pulled a chair over and seated herself a short distance behind her.

Mo Tian, hearing the movement, didn’t turn. She raised her coffee and took a small sip.

Wen Li got straight to the point. “You called me here because of Pei Jiuyao, didn’t you?”

“You’ve always been smart. Yet you lost your head for someone like Pei Jiuyao.” Mo Tian said.

“To me, Pei Jiuyao is no different than Chu Si,” Wen Li paused, then added, “In fact, she’s far more capable. If you can tolerate Chu Si, why not her?”

That finally made Mo Tian turn around. She let out a cold laugh. “I can’t stand it when something I want doesn’t completely belong to me — not even a single hair.”

“Then maybe you should take that up with that something. Managing your own property works better than tormenting others.” Wen Li replied.

A flash of menace crossed Mo Tian’s eyes. “Is Pei Jiuyao with Chi Yang now?”

“President Mo, Chi Yang was never yours to begin with. She turned you down over a hundred times.”

“If someone like Pei Jiuyao can have her, why can’t I?” Mo Tian stood and stepped in front of Wen Li, casting her in shadow.

Wen Li looked up at her, expression still lazy, her mixed-race features calm and unmoved.

Mo Tian found no satisfaction in the reaction and stepped aside. The molten golden sunset spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling window, wrapping Wen Li in its glow.

“This is the tallest building in all of Haishi.”

“If I want something, I get it. Even if Chi Yang is proud and untouchable now — without Chi Qing, she’ll be mine sooner or later.”

Mo Tian placed a hand on Wen Li’s shoulder, gripping it slightly.

“If Pei Jiuyao doesn’t want to work, fine. Let her rest. And you can rest with her.”

She sat back down, sneering. “The penalty fees will go on your tab.”

Wen Li parted her lips as if to say something but eventually lowered her gaze and whispered, “Alright.”

A few seconds later, she stood, opened the door, and left.

Technically, those contracts Mo Tian signed on behalf of others were company violations at best — Pei Jiuyao hadn’t breached anything.

But it didn’t matter. Mo Tian was the ultimate capitalist.

The Mo family’s only heir — and once the next generation of their commercial empire launched — she would be the undisputed richest woman in Haishi.

She wasn’t wrong, either. If she couldn’t have something, she would steal it. If she couldn’t steal it, she would destroy it. That was the mentality of those who stood at the summit of power. Laws, to them, were just pieces of paper — or worse, tools to be manipulated.

Wen Li had no choice but to accept it.

She picked through Mo Tian’s words and sent the gist to Pei Jiuyao.

At that moment, Pei Jiuyao was in the middle of moving.

No hesitation, no second thoughts — on her second day back in Haishi, Pei Jiuyao tossed all her belongings into Chi Yang’s apartment.

Chi Yang sat on the couch sipping coffee, watching as Pei Jiuyao stuffed half the walk-in closet with her clothes, and dumped plushies and a brand-new guitar all over the living room.

The once monochrome apartment was quickly overtaken — half Chi Yang, half Pei Jiuyao.

Her originally grayscale living room was suddenly filled with a riot of colorful stuffed animals.

Chi Yang frowned deeply to show her displeasure, but Pei Jiuyao paid it no mind, tidying up like she owned the place.

Eventually, Chi Yang relocated to the armchair by the floor-to-ceiling windows, as far away as possible from the sea of plush toys.

When Pei Jiuyao came over, Chi Yang shot her a look full of disdain.

Pei Jiuyao picked up a giant pink bunny with floral-patterned ears.

Chi Yang flinched, clutching her coffee. “What are you doing?”

“Why are you sitting so far from your good friend?” Pei Jiuyao grinned and waved the bunny’s arm at her.

“My good friend?” Chi Yang asked.

Pei Jiuyao cradled the bunny in one arm, miming a gun with the other. She blew on the imaginary muzzle and said seriously, “Zootopia.”

Chi Yang gave her a deadpan look. “What’s that?”

“You haven’t seen it?” Pei Jiuyao asked.

Chi Yang shook her head.

Oh, right. Maybe Zootopia didn’t exist in this world. Pei Jiuyao said.

Pei Jiuyao shoved the bunny into Chi Yang’s arms and sat across from her. “It’s a love story between a fox and a bunny.”

“A fox falling for a bunny?” Chi Yang raised a brow, then seemed to realize something. “To have a litter of rabbits and eat them?”

“That’s so gruesome…” Pei Jiuyao squeezed the bunny’s head like she could erase its grim fate.

“Technically, they would be reproductively isolated,” she added.

Chi Yang replied seriously, “Then you and I are reproductively isolated too.”

“Huh? Why?”

Pei Jiuyao had never heard of Alpha and Omega being—well—

“Because you’re a little dog,” Chi Yang replied.

Pei Jiuyao locked eyes with her for a moment before Chi Yang couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hmph. You’re the sly fox, always tricking me.” Pei Jiuyao said.

“You’re the one who tricks people…” Chi Yang started, then paused. Her face froze.

“…Sorry.”

Pei Jiuyao reached over and ruffled her hair. “It’s okay. I said I would prove it to you — I don’t mind taking my time.”

Chi Yang turned solemn. “I said I will get to know you again. I won’t joke about the past anymore.”

Pei Jiuyao nodded with a smile.

While she made dinner, Chi Yang, as usual, lounged on the couch searching for a movie.

Because of her illness and the ongoing lawsuit with Chu Si, the filming schedule for Shan Hai had been pushed back a few days.

“By the way, once I join the crew, next month’s heat cycle — keep your schedule clear. Don’t take on any work,” Chi Yang said as she fiddled with the remote.

“If Mo Tian gives you trouble, I’ll talk to her.” Chi Yang said.

Pei Jiuyao looked up. “She gave me time off.”

“Time off?” Chi Yang asked.

Pei Jiuyao explained, “That last drama I took on — it was Wen-jie who negotiated it for me. She turned down several variety shows Mo Tian had lined up. I guess Mo Tian wanted to teach me a lesson.”

“But don’t worry. Like it or not, I’m still one of Tianji’s top stars. If I go too long without any public schedule, the fans will start making noise.”

She added calmly, “Once the pressure from public opinion builds, even she won’t dare do anything to me.”

“You don’t know Mo Tian,” Chi Yang said as she tapped her chin thoughtfully with the remote. “If she really wants to blacklist you, she won’t care about public opinion at all.”

After a pause, she added, “You might as well just pay the termination fee and sign with my studio.”

A spark of delight flashed through Pei Jiuyao’s eyes. “Really?”

Signing with Chi Yang’s studio would be the ideal outcome.

For one, it would bring her closer to Chi Yang. More importantly, Chi Yang’s studio would undoubtedly have access to excellent scripts.

Pei Jiuyao couldn’t keep doing variety shows forever — it would wear down her acting career. Eventually, she had to transition into proper film and television roles.

Mo Tian was a pure businesswoman — she didn’t care about artistic integrity or reputation, only profits.

If Pei Jiuyao stayed at Tianji, she would be treated as nothing more than a money-making tool. And now that she had offended the boss, there was no chance she would get any quality projects.

“Of course,” Chi Yang said casually. “I can even cover the termination fee for you.”

Every time money came up, Chi Yang’s inner CEO would surface — domineering, powerful, and irresistibly charming.

“If you’re willing to sign me, that’s more than enough,” Pei Jiuyao said, eyes sparkling. “As for the termination fee, I’ll earn that myself.”

Chi Yang gave her a skeptical look. “Can you really make that much?”

Pei Jiuyao smiled faintly. “If I can’t even earn my own penalty fee, then I’m not worth signing.”

“Fair point.” Chi Yang nodded coolly.

“But isn’t your case with Chu Si going to court soon? Are you going?” Pei Jiuyao asked.

She expected Chi Yang would be too lazy to bother with such a messy affair — maybe just sit at home and wait for the result, phone in hand, coldly saying, “Noted.”

Or perhaps she would send someone to beat Chu Si to a pulp, then tell her bodyguards, “Clean it up.”

To her surprise, Chi Yang looked up with interest. “Why wouldn’t I go watch the show? It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do.”

“But you’re still recovering,” Pei Jiuyao said, worried that seeing Chu Si might trigger her.

Chi Yang scoffed. “I’m feeling fantastic.”

…There it was again. That haughty pride.

Pei Jiuyao gave up trying to argue and simply said, “Then I’ll go with you.”

Chi Yang shot her a glare. “You’re supposed to go with me anyway.”

Then she reached out and tousled Pei Jiuyao’s hair until it was a mess, mimicking her usual style.

“Be a good puppy, Miss Pei.” Chi Yang said.

________________________________________

But on the day of the hearing, something unexpected happened.

Pei Jiuyao got a call from Wen Li, asking her to go to Xingchong Entertainment to record an album.

The deal had been negotiated the day after the variety show wrapped — Wen Li had handled it.

One of the show’s regular guests, a major pop star, had been impressed by Pei Jiuyao’s musical style. He wanted to use the song she performed on the show as the lead single of a collaborative album.

Coincidentally, the artist was also a shareholder in Xingchong Entertainment — the same company where Sheng Xia was signed.

After hanging up, Pei Jiuyao hesitated.

“It’s the same day as the court hearing… Feels a little too coincidental.”

Chi Yang handed her a set of car keys. “Xingchong’s under the Bai Group — direct competitors of Mo Tian. She probably didn’t have a hand in this.”

“It’s just a scheduling conflict. Xu You is a top-tier artist — getting to collaborate with her is the kind of chance others would kill for. Go.”

Pei Jiuyao drove to Xingchong and was led to the recording studio by Xu You’s assistant.

After a round of polite greetings, the two quickly got down to business discussing arrangements for Pei Jiuyao’s lead track.

When artists start talking about their specialty, they tend to go all in — passionate and unstoppable.

Before long, Pei Jiuyao had completely forgotten about the court case and was deep into the session with Xu You.

________________________________________

Meanwhile, at the courthouse.

An Alpha injecting an Omega with a heat-inducing hormone without consent was a serious violation of the Omega Protection Act. And because the victim was a member of the Chi family, today’s hearing had drawn prominent figures from Omega rights organizations. Many stood outside the courthouse giving stern, formal interviews.

Shen Xinyi drove around the crowd, while Chi Qing sat in the back with Chi Yang. They saw the defense attorney being interviewed as they passed.

Media strategy was an essential part of any legal battle — and Chi Qing wasn’t about to miss the opportunity.

“You didn’t have to come, you know,” Chi Qing said.

Chi Yang pulled a cap and mask over her head, wrapping herself in a long, dark coat.

Chi Qing shot her a look. “You’re coming in with me dressed like that? Everyone will still know it’s you.”

“I’ll just deny it,” Chi Yang replied coolly — the textbook celebrity response.

The three of them entered the courthouse.