After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 49.1

After greeting President Tong Qinghong, Pei Jiuyao drove alone to visit the Chi family elders. During her visit, she learned some things about their daughter, Chi Qing.

Eighteen years ago, Chi Qing was in a car accident that left her in a coma. She had remained in the hospital in Haishi ever since—until a few days ago, when she suddenly woke up and returned home.

What puzzled Pei Jiuyao was this: eighteen years ago, she was only five years old. There was no possible way they could have met.

And yet, the moment she saw Chi Qing, she felt an odd sense of familiarity.

She had crossed paths with the Qinghong Group before, even met Chi Qing’s mother. But the group’s president was already in her sixties—there was no way she could’ve seen Chi Qing through her.

When Pei Jiuyao arrived at the residential compound, someone came out to receive her and led her to Chi Qing’s apartment.

The old president’s hair was completely white, but his aura remained sharp and commanding. When he saw Pei Jiuyao, he clasped her hand warmly and exchanged pleasantries. The moment Chi Qing was mentioned, unrestrained joy surfaced in his expression.

When their conversation ended, Pei Jiuyao shared her own near-death experience of almost becoming a “vegetative” patient herself. Out of empathy, she asked if she could visit Miss Chi.

She went upstairs. When the door opened, a figure stood by the window, backlit by the shifting glow of daylight, her silhouette hazy and indistinct.

“Qingqing, a friend of Mother’s has come to see you.”

Introduced as a “friend,” Pei Jiuyao stood upright at the side, her heartbeat quickening.

The woman slowly turned around. In that instant, her face overlapped with the Chi Qing from the other world.

Pei Jiuyao clenched her fists.

Step by step, she walked closer until she was standing right before her. “Hello,” she said softly.

“Hello,” Chi Qing replied, her expression faint, detached.

“Do you… know me?” Pei Jiuyao asked quietly.

Chi Qing’s gaze swept over her from head to toe. Then she lifted her eyes and asked, “And you are?”

Pei Jiuyao drew in a sharp breath before answering, “Pei Jiuyao.”

Chi Qing tilted her head slightly, brows knitting. After a long moment, she said, “I’m sorry. I’ve been unconscious for a very long time, so I’ve forgotten many people. But judging by your age, we probably…”

Pei Jiuyao’s eyelids trembled. She looked away and gave a strained smile. “Sorry, I forgot about the age difference.”

Before Chi Qing could respond, she couldn’t help but ask again, “Do you… have a younger sister?”

“Sister?” Chi Qing paused in surprise.

“Chi Yang?” Pei Jiuyao pressed, then added, “And Lin Leyi—do you remember her?”

Chi Qing’s gaze grew vacant. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Please, rest well.” Pei Jiuyao tightened her fists again before slowly retreating out of the room.

On her way out, she asked President Chi, “I once met a girl named Chi Yang. She claimed to be… Chi Qing’s younger sister. President Chi, have you ever heard of her?”

“Chi Yang?” Elder Chi gave a low chuckle. “Our family has no such person.”

Her heart gave a violent jolt.

“My apologies.” Pei Jiuyao bowed slightly. “I’ll be going now.”

After leaving the Chi household, she stopped at a red light at an intersection. She stared at the bustling stream of pedestrians in front of her, her gaze gradually unfocusing.

The world before her seemed to dissolve into countless black-and-white lines, endlessly flowing.

Skyscrapers folded into blank sheets of paper, the sky dulled into a heavy gray, and the passing silhouettes warped—now tall, now short.

Pei Jiuyao stared blankly at the phantasmagoria, at a complete loss, stretching out her hand as though to catch hold of something. But the surreal visions slipped through her fingers like water.

Honk—

A long, blaring horn yanked her back to reality. She jolted all over. The red light had already turned green, and the pedestrians had vanished.

________________________________________

“Pei Jiuyao still hasn’t woken up?”

When Chi Yang walked in, Chi Qing exchanged a glance with Secretary Lin, signaling her to bring over a chair.

Chi Yang sat down without fuss, propping her arm on the desk as she gazed out the window with a soft sigh. “No. She hasn’t.”

As expected.

If Pei Jiuyao was awake, Chi Yang would never have been allowed through this office door. Only when her heart was heavy, with nowhere else to go, would she wander over to Chi Qing. After all, in her world, Chi Qing was her only family.

Chi Qing had borne the role of elder sister for eighteen years, raising Chi Yang since she was eight. Chi Yang never knew that her “sister” had died long ago—that she was now utterly alone.

Even without blood ties, Chi Qing had long since treated her as a true younger sister. If it hadn’t been absolutely necessary, she would never have wanted Chi Yang to know the truth.

But perhaps because she had been too strict during those early years, their sisterly bond wasn’t exactly harmonious.

Chi Yang pulled her gaze back from the window. Seeing Chi Qing watching her, she smirked. “You really know how to sit still.”

“I bought a comfortable chair,” Chi Qing replied lightly, lowering her head.

The word comfortable made Chi Yang’s ears suddenly burn red. Who knew what thoughts flashed through her mind? She sneaked a glance at Chi Qing—seeing that Chi Qing wasn’t even looking at her, she let out a breath of relief and rubbed her ears with both hands.

Chi Qing paid no attention to her fidgeting. Her voice was cool. “Lately, Chi Ran has been in contact with Mo Tian. I don’t know what they’re plotting.”

“Maybe she wants to fight for the inheritance?”

Chi Qing tapped the end of her pen against a stack of documents, her expression thoughtful. “For all her faults, Chi Ran should know what kind of person Mo Tian is. Why would she send her own daughter there?”

“Unless Mo Tian has something they want?”

Chi Qing twirled the pen between her fingers but said nothing.

Chi Yang suddenly thought of Pei Jiuyao. She looked up. “I’m thinking of having Pei Jiuyao terminate her contract and sign with my studio.”

“It’s not trendy to run ‘wifey-wifey’ companies anymore,” Chi Qing said with sudden interest. “Careful you two don’t crash and burn.”

“We’re serious,” Chi Yang shot her a glare.

Chi Qing sneered. “Don’t put too much faith in her. For all you know, she’s just using you.”

“I trust her.” Chi Yang clearly didn’t want Chi Qing speaking ill of Pei Jiuyao. “Besides, we’re officially together now. Once she terminates her contract, I plan to make our relationship public.”

Chi Qing paused, visibly taken aback. After a long silence, she asked, “You’re not afraid you’ll drag her down?”

Chi Yang’s hand trembled slightly. She lifted her cup, took a sip of water, then clasped it tightly in both hands.

After a moment, she said, “Isn’t that what you’re here for? I don’t want to get involved in those things.”

Chi Qing said nothing, flipping through her files in silence.

Chi Yang looked up, dissatisfied. “Why are you always so discouraging? Do you really feel so miserable seeing me happy?”

“Not exactly,” Chi Qing replied.

Who says “not exactly” at a time like this?

Chi Yang grew annoyed.

Chi Qing poked at the bone of her wrist, clearly unwilling to drop the subject.

“Suppose I walk away—leave the company to you,” Chi Qing said at last, lowering her gaze. “You still won’t inherit Minghe. The company will be left like this, wolves in front, tigers behind. Everyone close to you will be dragged down with you…”

At first, Chi Yang thought she was talking about her.

But listening further, she realized—wasn’t this exactly Chi Qing’s situation when she first returned to the country?

Venomous enemies on all sides, dangers lurking everywhere. One wrong step, and now their standing in the family wasn’t even as secure as Chi Leya’s.

“You regret it, don’t you?” Chi Yang suddenly cut her off.

Chi Qing froze. “What?”

Chi Yang asked, “Do you regret breaking up with Lin Leyi back then because of the company?”

The air fell silent for a few seconds. Chi Qing clearly hadn’t expected her to blurt out that name so directly in front of her.

“I never really loved her.”

“Never loved her?” Chi Yang repeated, her face expressionless.

“Not much,” Chi Qing replied.

“But she was the only woman you ever brought home.”

“That’s because I never had anyone else,” Chi Qing frowned. “Don’t change the subject. We’re talking about you right now.”

“Well, isn’t this about you too—and the company?” Chi Yang propped her chin on one hand, her tone careless. “Why would I bother thinking about it? All it does is upset me for nothing.”

“Because you need to grow up,” Chi Qing lifted her gaze, her voice suddenly sharp. “No one will stay by your side forever to shield you from the world. Some things you have to face on your own. Everything I’m telling you is something you should think through and deal with yourself—before it comes crashing down and you scramble to dump it all on someone else.”

Chi Yang’s eyes flushed red in an instant. “Why is it that, in your eyes, I’ll always be that clueless child? I built my studio step by step with my own hands, I’ve fought my way through all these years, and yet with you I’m always made to feel like some useless fool who knows nothing!”

“Because what you’re facing is far bigger than you realize,” Chi Qing sighed softly. “You never should’ve fallen for Pei Jiuyao. But that’s not your fault.”

Chi Yang stood up, bristling with resistance, and took a few steps toward the door.

She should have known—coming here meant being prepared to listen to Chi Qing’s lectures. And yet, no matter how many years had passed, Chi Qing’s lectures never changed; it was always the same lines.

She reached the doorway, hand closing around the knob, but then slowly let go and turned back. “Don’t you want to know why Chi Ran keeps running to Mo Tian?”

Chi Qing cautioned, “Mo Tian is cunning, ruthless—she doesn’t even fear killing. Don’t mess with her.”

“I’m not messing with her.” Chi Yang braced both hands against the desk and met Chi Qing’s eyes. “But what if I stir up trouble over Pei Jiuyao’s termination, make a big noise, and drag Tianji into a lawsuit? Wouldn’t that leave her with no energy to bother with us?”

“That… could work.”

Chi Yang’s lips curved, her whole expression saying, Go on, praise me.

Chi Qing finally lifted her head and let out a low laugh. “Not bad.”
________________________________________

Meanwhile, Mo Tian stared at the assistant’s message about the news: ‘Pei Jiuyao abused and overworked by Tianji, collapsed and unconscious.’

Her grip tightened as she slammed the phone face-down on the desk.

________________________________________

At home, Ming Hui had already set the table.

Even though she herself was still recuperating, she seemed convinced that her “baby,” who hadn’t eaten properly for a month, needed a serious tonic. So, despite the doctor’s reminders to prepare light food, she served up a spread of rich, heavy dishes.

The sight made Pei Jiuyao recall how every year when she came home for New Year, she would beg Ming Hui for lighter meals since she was about to join a new production and needed to watch her figure. Yet the table was always loaded with high-calorie dishes, and she inevitably gained several pounds each visit.

Sometimes she wondered if Ming Hui simply didn’t know how to cook plain porridge or simple greens.

Carrying out a dish, Ming Hui beamed when she saw her daughter. “Go wash your hands and eat.”

Pei Jiuyao couldn’t help thinking—what exactly had she done these past few days at home?

Aside from lying down, it seemed all she did was eat. And aside from cooking, Ming Hui seemed to do nothing but sit and stare blankly.

After washing up, Jiuyao rubbed her temples and studied her mother thoughtfully. What does she do when I’m not home?

Hadn’t she once said over the phone that she was learning oil painting?

She sat down, about to ask, when Ming Hui gently set some food in her bowl and said with a smile, “Mom has an oil painting class later. You stay home. If you need anything, just call.”

Jiuyao nodded, but her hand holding the chopsticks suddenly froze.

Strange.