After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 36.1

In the following days, forget romantic candlelit dinners—Pei Jiuyao didn’t even get small talk at night. The moment they got back, Chi Yang would start giving her acting lessons.

Ever since Pei Jiuyao was scolded by Lin Leyi, Chi Yang had taken it upon herself to be both her acting coach and her cultural studies tutor.

Several times, Pei Jiuyao had been on the verge of asking about Lin Leyi and Chi Yang’s relationship, but each time she forced herself to swallow the words.

Better not to ask.

If she didn’t ask, she could still pretend Chi Yang’s care was genuine.

If she did…

She feared it would turn into Chi Yang flaunting her ex in front of her.

That would feel even worse.

She’d been itching to take off that ring, but could never find a way.

Lin Leyi loved to drink, and Pei Jiuyao had even considered getting her drunk and then quietly slipping it off.

But after weighing her own tolerance, she had to give up on the idea.

Fortunately, her recent scenes were mostly with Bai Nian. The kid was exhausting—draining her energy and patience in equal measure. But because Bai Nian was there, Lin Leyi’s attitude during coaching had unexpectedly softened.

With no spare energy left, Pei Jiuyao didn’t dwell on other matters.

After filming one day, Jiang Tian brought over her phone.

Instead of leaving for her studio, Chi Yang had gone straight to a law firm to compile evidence and put out a PR statement, once again pushing Pei Jiuyao’s trending tag to the top.

Some “curious” netizens even dug up the Mo family’s hotel scandals, diverting the heat and ultimately dragging out news about Mo Tian abusing artists under her management.

Although the posts were quickly deleted, the story had already spread like wildfire.

With major influencers and hired commenters jumping in, the evidence chain was airtight. Rumors that capital was using artists as scapegoats exploded—too big to suppress.

Seizing the momentum, Zheng Qiuhua released the trailer for their previous drama and clarified in a post that Pei Jiuyao’s joining the crew was an “emergency rescue.”

The trailer’s comment section still had anti-fans posting: 【At least PJY’s acting is genuinely awful.】

But under each one, passersby replied: 【The Empress’s acting may be bad, but her face makes up for everything.】

Public opinion on Pei Jiuyao had turned sharply in her favor. Her once-dormant fanbase was now rioting online, demanding that Tianji Entertainment give her a proper explanation.

Some even dragged up the Chu Si incident, claiming it too had been orchestrated by Mo Tian.

Pei Jiuyao’s fans themselves dove into the fray, listing “a hundred reasons” why Chu Si had never liked any Alpha, exposing Mo Tian’s past public pursuit of Chi Yang, and finally concluding:

Chu Si was also just a scapegoat for Mo Tian.

After reading all this, Pei Jiuyao massaged her brow in silence.

Her fans really didn’t need to be that charitable.

With Tianhe Technologies’ stock prices tumbling, Pei Jiuyao knew Chi Qing had to be behind the scenes.

Otherwise, there was no way public opinion could be steered this fast, catching Mo Tian so off guard that it took her ages to respond with PR.

The more she learned about this world, the more Pei Jiuyao realized how different it was from her own.

Old family feuds ran deep, capital reigned unchecked, and both the political and legal systems were entirely different.

There were even mercenaries. Murder and robbery might be rare, but this was no peaceful society.

That night, Pei Jiuyao sat in bed going over the script with Chi Yang. Halfway through, she got so drowsy she leaned her head onto Chi Yang’s shoulder.

“I’m so tired,” Pei Jiuyao murmured, looping an arm around her waist and rubbing her cheek against her shoulder. “Let’s go to sleep, Xiao Li.”

“If Lin Leyi scolds you again next time, I’m not speaking up for you,” Chi Yang said, poking her in the head.

“Hmph. Lin Leyi this, Lin Leyi that… every day it’s Lin Leyi,” Pei Jiuyao grumbled, her voice muzzy with fatigue. “Bai Nian wore me out all morning—had to be both her sister and her mom.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?” Chi Yang sighed.

She guided Pei Jiuyao’s head down onto the pillow. Just then, her phone rang.

Chi Yang picked it up, frowning slightly at the caller ID: Chi Qing.

“President Chi,” she answered coolly.

The voice on the other end was even calmer than hers.

“Seen the news?”

“I have. Thank you,” Chi Yang replied.

A quiet hum. “Pei Jiuyao may not be sincere with you. Don’t get too deep.”

“No need for President Chi to worry about my love life,” Chi Yang said.

Pei Jiuyao, half-asleep, cracked one eye open when she heard the voice. Wrapping her arms around Chi Yang’s waist, she mumbled, “Xiao Li… who is it?”

“Chi Qing,” Chi Yang murmured.

Pei Jiuyao’s eyes snapped open. She quickly gestured for her to zip her lips.

Chi Qing asked, “Are you planning to go public with her?”

Chi Yang gripped Pei Jiuyao’s fingers and warned under her breath, “Don’t move,” before replying, “Not for now.”

“And you’re not worried about being seen, sleeping with her every night?” Chi Qing muttered.

Pei Jiuyao slipped her hand free and rested it on Chi Yang’s narrow waist.

Feeling her body tense, she mouthed softly, What’s wrong?

“Nothing.” Chi Yang pressed Pei Jiuyao’s head back down and asked into the phone, “Have you been having me watched?”

“Watched? Hardly. Just a few of my people keeping an eye out,” Chi Qing replied evenly. “The crew’s full of eyes, and you just crossed Mo Tian. You should be glad I stationed them.”

“Maybe keep an eye on yourself instead.” Chi Yang lowered her gaze, her words sharp but her tone gentler. “Mo Tian can’t touch me for now—her target will be you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Chi Qing said coldly. “But I’ve been hearing someone’s been spreading rumors on set—that you’re actually an Omega, using your Alpha identity to cheat your way into resources.”

“They don’t have any real evidence.”

Chi Yang caught Pei Jiuyao’s hand sneaking under her clothes and scolded in a low voice, “Stop it.”

“…Oh.” Pei Jiuyao withdrew her hand reluctantly, only to hug her waist through the fabric instead.

“You know what Lin Leyi’s like—single-minded. If she found out you were an Omega, it wouldn’t matter if you were Chi Yang or anyone else. She wouldn’t hire you,” Chi Qing continued with a cold laugh.

“Don’t talk about Director Lin like that,” Chi Yang said, displeased.

She absently ruffled Pei Jiuyao’s hair as she spoke.

Pei Jiuyao’s arms tightened around her waist, her gaze lifting.

Her expression was cool, as if it was the most ordinary conversation in the world.

But she’d just defended Lin Leyi—in front of Chi Qing—right in Pei Jiuyao’s presence.

Heh. No feelings, yet she still treated everyone equally.

Pei Jiuyao gave her waist a little squeeze, not even sure why she felt so annoyed.

Was her possessiveness toward her “target” getting out of hand?

It wasn’t like she had any right to care—not even if Chi Yang had a girlfriend, let alone an ex.

With a small huff, she let go and rolled over.

On the other end of the line, Chi Qing paused before saying, “She’s just that kind of person. Don’t trust her too much.”

“In your eyes, no one’s worth trusting. Not even me,” Chi Yang stated.

Seeing Pei Jiuyao’s back, Chi Yang asked softly, “You sleepy?”

No reply.

She reached over and switched off the bedside lamp.

“Just in case, I’ve arranged for someone to deliver a suppressant to you,” Chi Qing’s voice came through the darkness. “It can temporarily shift you into Alpha form. Pick it up tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Chi Yang hung up.

She lay down behind Pei Jiuyao and patted her shoulder.

“Pei Jiuyao, asleep?”

A muffled, “Yeah.”

“What’s wrong?” Chi Yang prodded her shoulder. “Upset?”

Pei Jiuyao said, “No, just tired.”

“Tomorrow, Chi Qing will send me an injection. Can you pick it up for me?”

Pei Jiuyao didn’t reply. Chi Yang simply curled closer against her back, her fingertips lightly scratching along her shoulder blades.

And then, silence.

Pei Jiuyao had already been feeling drowsy. After the lights went out, with that warm presence pressed against her from behind, she drifted off without realizing it.

Some time later, the word “injection” suddenly flashed across her mind. She jolted awake and asked in a low voice, “What kind of injection?”

Softly, Chi Yang replied, “Chi Qing said there are rumors going around that I’m an Omega. She sent me a drug that can temporarily differentiate me into an Alpha. She’s worried Director Lin might…”

“But it’s fine,” Chi Yang added, though it was unclear if she was reassuring herself or Pei Jiuyao. “Director Lin isn’t the type to believe every rumor she hears.”

Pei Jiuyao glanced at her phone; the blue-white glow lit up the room. It was already three in the morning.

“You’re still awake?” she asked, surprised.

“Mm, not that sleepy.”

Pei Jiuyao turned over and pulled Chi Yang into her arms.

“Don’t worry. Director Lin likes you because you’re Chi Yang—not because you’re an Alpha.”

Chi Yang nestled closer, resting her head on Pei Jiuyao’s shoulder, and murmured, “You don’t understand.”

Pei Jiuyao really didn’t. Was the gender divide in the ABO world really that rigid? Would someone truly stop being “themselves” just because they went from Alpha to Omega?

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll get it for you,” Pei Jiuyao said.

She patted Chi Yang’s back, but soon realized the woman in her arms had already fallen asleep, her quiet breathing melting into the stillness.

________________________________________

The next morning, Chi Yang was already gone when Pei Jiuyao woke.

Jiang Tian was outside and called, “Do you want to get up for breakfast?”

Pei Jiuyao hummed in response, rolled around under the covers, adjusted her wristband’s sensitivity, and caught the lingering scent of strawberries on the sheets.

When she came out, Jiang Tian’s eyes were practically sparkling. “Jie, Miss Chi is really good to you! When I came over, she even told me to keep quiet so I wouldn’t wake you. And breakfast—Ye Ci-jie brought it over! So sweet!”

“I always thought Miss Chi had that cold, untouchable persona, so I never dared get too close. Didn’t expect she’s actually so easy to talk to!” Jiang Tian stated.

Pei Jiuyao laughed and gave Jiang Tian’s head a light pat.

After showering and eating, she changed clothes and went to pick up the injection for Chi Yang.

On her way back, she ran into Qiao Lu.

Since her scenes came later, Qiao Lu had been lazing around the crew for days, freeloading on food and drink. She could’ve easily arrived a few days later, yet insisted on staying here and suffering through it.

They exchanged the bare minimum of greetings before, as expected, Qiao Lu stepped right into Pei Jiuyao’s path.

“What do you want now?”

Pei Jiuyao had never had much fondness for her.

“No need to be so fierce, rival,” Qiao Lu said with a smirk, arms folded, leaning casually to one side. “We still have scenes together later, remember? Wife.”

The last word dripped with deliberate emphasis.

Pei Jiuyao remembered that Qiao Lu’s character was “Chisong’s” human partner and raised an eyebrow. “So I was right—you have a crush on me.”

Qiao Lu gave a short laugh. “Why would I? Aren’t you already rolling around with your sugar mommy so much you’ve lost all sense of the world?”

“Where do you even learn such filthy lines?” Pei Jiuyao frowned, only then realizing the ‘sugar mommy’ she referred to was Chi Yang.

Her gaze cooled. “You knew about me and Chi Yang from the start.”