After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 61.1

The moment the words left her mouth, the air fell into a heavy silence.

For a split second, all Chi Yang could hear was the incessant ringing in her ears.

As her mind slowly caught up to what she had just said, the mist in her eyes gradually cleared. She tugged at the corner of her lips in a self-mocking smile.

Judging from Pei Jiuyao’s expression, it seemed she hadn’t heard her.

That realization doused Chi Yang like a bucket of cold water.

How could she possibly think she’d returned to a year ago?

Her hands and feet went cold. She remained rigid in the darkness, her heart twitching painfully with every beat, her skin stinging as if pricked with needles. She even shivered involuntarily.

Thank goodness she didn’t hear it.

“Had a nightmare?” Pei Jiuyao noticed something off—Chi Yang’s dazed, unfocused look—but couldn’t pinpoint the reason. She assumed Chi Yang had just woken up, still muddled.

Chi Yang forced herself upright from the sofa. Her vision swayed, her legs were weak beneath her, and she had to cling to the armrest to keep from collapsing.

Only after a long time did the ringing in her ears fade.

She lifted her gaze, just in time to hear Pei Jiuyao repeat, “Chi Yang, did you have a nightmare?”

“Maybe.” Chi Yang gathered her scattered voice, raised a shaky hand, and rubbed her hair as sensation slowly returned to her body.

“Go back to bed,” Pei Jiuyao said, straightening up. “You’ll catch a chill out here.”

The dim surroundings sharpened little by little, like fine lines being drawn into focus. Chi Yang blinked up at Pei Jiuyao, momentarily unable to even place where she was—if not for Pei Jiuyao standing right in front of her.

Pei Jiuyao assumed she was still half-asleep.

She was about to leave Chi Yang to settle herself when Chi Yang suddenly reached out both arms, eyes bright with a fragile sort of expectation.

Pei Jiuyao froze.

Did she want a hug or was she asking to be helped up?

In truth, there was no difference. There was nothing Pei Jiuyao hadn’t done before—nothing she couldn’t do now.

The cameras had already stopped for the night.

But, should she?

Pei Jiuyao hesitated.

Chi Yang waited for a long time. Long enough for her arms to turn limp and sore, long enough for Pei Jiuyao’s face to blur before her eyes.

Finally, disappointment made her slowly lower her arms.

Pei Jiuyao bent down, took hold of Chi Yang’s arms, and pulled her to her feet. Chi Yang stumbled, practically dragged along for a few steps.

“Why can’t you even stand properly?” Pei Jiuyao murmured.

Chi Yang’s eyelids fluttered. Boneless, she leaned against Pei Jiuyao’s shoulder. “No strength. My legs went weak.”

Then she quietly added, “I didn’t do it on purpose. I really don’t have the strength.”

“You don’t need to tiptoe around me like this,” Pei Jiuyao said as she supported Chi Yang, guiding her toward the bedroom. “Even if you did do it on purpose, what could I possibly do about it?”

“You have plenty of ways to make me miserable.” Chi Yang allowed herself to be led inside, sat at the edge of the bed, and let out a hollow laugh. Then she fell completely still.

The room was bare—clearly untouched.

“You didn’t prepare the room beforehand?” Pei Jiuyao asked.

It was only then that Chi Yang sluggishly looked around. The bed didn’t even have sheets yet, let alone pillows or blankets. Her suitcase wasn’t inside. Her medicine was still in it.

“You can go,” Chi Yang murmured, feeling that she had crossed too many lines today—though her thoughts were still a blur. “You don’t have to bother with me.”

Don’t let her see me like this, Chi Yang thought.

But Pei Jiuyao didn’t leave. Looking at Chi Yang, who sat unmoving on the edge of the bed, not even lifting a finger, she couldn’t help asking, “Then when are you going to clean up?”

“In a bit. After I rest,” Chi Yang whispered.

Pei Jiuyao studied her for a moment, thinking, It’s not like she doesn’t know how to clean a room.

She had been perfectly fine earlier—she even cooked. She must just be groggy from waking up.

She’s an adult. She can take care of herself.

“I’m heading out,” Pei Jiuyao finally said. She stepped outside and gently closed the door.

Chi Yang continued to sit there in a daze. Only after a long time did her consciousness slowly claw its way back into her body. She forced herself up and dragged her suitcase inside.

Pei Jiuyao heard the door open and close, followed by the sound of luggage being pulled.

Everyone else lived upstairs. Down here, it was only their two rooms—so it had to be Chi Yang.

Hearing her start to unpack, Pei Jiuyao should have felt relieved enough to sleep. But lying in bed, her mind kept replaying Chi Yang’s condition.

And that inexplicable “baby” Chi Yang had blurted out followed by that lost, terrified expression.

It tugged painfully at her chest.

Tonight’s Chi Yang felt like a hollow shell dropped suddenly into this world—wrapped in unfamiliar surroundings, with no strength to deal with anything, yet unable to simply do nothing.

So, she’d forced herself to break through the chains around her soul, poked her head out, and pretended to smile as she said, “I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t fine.

Not even close.

After tossing and turning several times, Pei Jiuyao finally gave up on sleeping. She got up and opened her door.

The downstairs doors were frosted glass—you couldn’t see inside, but the light seeped through.

Chi Yang’s light was still on.

Pei Jiuyao walked over and knocked. “It’s me.”

Inside, something rattled—bottles clinking. Before Chi Yang could respond, Pei Jiuyao pushed the door open.

Chi Yang was holding a small white pill bottle. At the sight of Pei Jiuyao coming straight in, her wrist twitched in surprise.

Closing the door behind her, Pei Jiuyao asked, “What are you taking? Are you sick?”

“No.” Chi Yang twisted the cap shut. “Vitamins.”

Pei Jiuyao stepped forward and took the bottle from her hand. It was an ordinary cream-colored opaque bottle with a vitamin label. But when she opened it, it held a mix of different pills.

Chi Yang lifted her eyes. “There’s lutein in there too. Ye Ci was afraid I’d forget to take them, so she put everything together.”

She added softly, “I’ve been staring at the computer a lot recently.”

Pei Jiuyao looked at her. Chi Yang immediately dropped her gaze, fingers tangling tightly together.

“You’d probably look good in glasses,” Pei Jiuyao said.

Chi Yang froze for a beat, then lifted her head slowly, clutching her knuckles. Her breath caught.

“Really? You like?”

Pei Jiuyao cut her off. “Don’t strain your eyes. Take care of them.”

She added, “And don’t put these together next time. You’re mixing them up.”

After tightening the cap, Pei Jiuyao handed the medicine bottle to Chi Yang. Chi Yang quickly took it, curling her fingers around it.

Staring at Pei Jiuyao’s hand, Chi Yang muttered, “Are you worrying about me?”

It was impossible to tell what Chi Yang was thinking. Pei Jiuyao didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “Why aren’t you asleep yet? You have to get up early tomorrow.”

“I’m going to sleep now.” To prove it, Chi Yang kicked off her shoes and scooted farther onto the bed, leaning against the headboard.

But the bed was still completely bare—not even a sheet. Pei Jiuyao suspected that once she left, Chi Yang would just lie down like this.

Ever since they met up again, Chi Yang had been oddly dazed, slow to react, needing reminders for every little thing.

Or, was she acting pitiful on purpose, trying to make Pei Jiuyao feel bad for her?

Whether it was an act or not, Pei Jiuyao couldn’t just leave her like this.

If Chi Yang really slept on a bare mattress all night, she’d probably end up sick by morning.

I’m only doing this for the schedule, Pei Jiuyao told herself.

She opened the closet, took out a set of sheets, and said, “Get up.”

Chi Yang blinked, gripping the bottle. She looked like she hadn’t processed the words.

“To change the bedding,” Pei Jiuyao clarified.

Only then did Chi Yang climb off the bed. Standing to the side, she said softly, “I’ll help.”

Then she realized—Pei Jiuyao was the one helping her. Her lashes lowered, and she bit her lip.

Pei Jiuyao ignored that and spread the bedsheet herself, tucking in the corners before fetching the quilt and pillows.

Chi Yang stood nearby with nothing to do, patting the edges of the sheet in a symbolic show of assistance.

“You’re taking care of me again.” Chi Yang walked over to stand beside her. “I’m supposed to be the one pleasing you. I should be taking care of you.”

Pei Jiuyao turned her head.

She really couldn’t stand Chi Yang looking so pitiful and unfocused—whether she was faking it or not.

“This is a reward,” Pei Jiuyao said, wanting her to relax.

Chi Yang was confused. “A reward for what?”

“For not getting angry at Su Yin today. You handled it well. So, this is your reward.”

Because of Su Yin?

Chi Yang felt a sudden drop in her heart. Pei Jiuyao was only rewarding her because she hadn’t made a fuss with Su Yin.

Could it be that Pei Jiuyao actually liked that clingy Omega type? But she had been trying her best to act sweet too. And she was definitely prettier than Su Yin—much prettier. Pei Jiuyao should like her more.

Su Yin was obviously annoying and didn’t even know how to keep proper distance from an Alpha.

The jealousy burned.

Chi Yang curled her fingers and looked up with a small smile. “I’ll do even better next time.”

“Mm.” Pei Jiuyao patted her head. “Good girl.”

Then she turned and left, closing the door behind her.

The next day, the group set off for another city.

During luggage check-in, Su Yin’s suitcase was massively overweight, costing several hundred extra. Trip expenses were covered by the show, and the other women only took out a coat or two—barely exceeding the limit. Su Yin stood alone, flustered, helpless in front of her suitcase.

The pampered princess clearly had never dealt with overweight luggage in her life—she probably didn’t even know what “check-in” meant.

The rest of the group had long built immunity to her antics. Even Fang Qimeng, who loved taking jabs at people, offered, “Why don’t we just skip the fancy meal after landing?”

The others were even more easygoing—either too lazy to bother with Su Yin or simply giving her face because of Pei Jiuyao.

When Ding Yinghan reached for her wallet, Chi Yang stopped her.

After a night’s sleep, Chi Yang’s condition was much better. Wrapped in a thick black coat with both hands tucked in her pockets, she looked composed and cold.

With a polite, faint smile, she told the staff, “Only Su Yin is overweight. We can’t expect everyone to pay for her, right?”

The staff replied, “You’re a group. The budget is fixed.”

When dealing with work, Chi Yang was back to her old self—sharp, steady, and masterful at negotiating.

“We are a group. And groups follow majority rule.” She smiled and glanced at Su Yin. “Why don’t you just leave some things behind?”

Su Yin finally realized Chi Yang was deliberately targeting her.

This award-winning actress actually liked Pei Jiuyao.

But she didn’t intend to lose. Pei Jiuyao clearly had no interest in Chi Yang—otherwise she wouldn’t have stood up for Su Yin yesterday.

Besides, not everyone could stomach an AA relationship. Two Alphas’ pheromones clashing, the inability to mark each other, it would be excruciating. Without true love, no one could endure it.

She deliberately leaned closer to Pei Jiuyao and said, “Chi Yang, we’re a group. Everyone agreed. Why are you making things difficult for me? Is it because you don’t like me?”

Su Yin was far too blunt in front of the camera, and everyone sucked in a sharp breath, looking toward Chi Yang.

Sure enough, Chi Yang’s brows tightened in displeasure.

The two immediately locked gazes, tension crackling between them—Chi Yang’s aura fierce, while Su Yin remained bratty and defiant.

But Chi Yang wasn’t angry because of what Su Yin said.

She was angry because Su Yin was standing far too close to Pei Jiuyao—practically pressed against her.

And Pei Jiuyao didn’t step away.

It was just CP promotion—did they really have to commit this hard?

But it wasn’t Pei Jiuyao’s fault. She was always professional. Obviously, this was Su Yin’s doing—this troublesome little princess.

Jealousy clouded Chi Yang’s judgment. Her eyes darkened as she gritted out, “Of course I like you. But you can’t expect everyone to sacrifice their meal because of you.”

Then she threw the issue back to the group. “Everyone seems pretty eager for that dinner.”

Su Yin faltered and instinctively looked to Pei Jiuyao for support.

Pei Jiuyao calmly pushed Su Yin’s hand off her arm and looked at Chi Yang. “Then you tell me—what should we do?”