After Transmigrating into a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Tool Person - Chapter 28

Xie Yinian put the marinated meat into the freezer and walked out of the kitchen.

Doudou, tired from playing, had fallen sound asleep on Xia Qiqi’s lap. When Xie Yinian came over and saw the little dog sprawled across Xia Qiqi’s legs, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy and jealousy.

She sat down, picked up her phone from the sofa, and began scrolling through it.

Xia Qiqi, eyes fixed on the TV, noticed Xie Yinian typing away on her phone and asked casually, “What are you looking at?”

Xie Yinian had been debating whether to accept Jiang Tong’s invitation to dinner. Xia Qiqi’s sudden question interrupted her train of thought.

“Sister Jiang invited me out for dinner,” Xie Yinian replied while still tapping out her reply.

“Are you going?” Xia Qiqi asked nonchalantly.

“Probably. It’s been a while since we last met—might as well catch up,” said Xie Yinian.

At that, a mix of emotions stirred in Xia Qiqi’s chest.

She frowned slightly, irritated by her own reaction. So, what if she goes out to eat with Jiang Tong? What does it have to do with me?

She absently stroked Doudou’s furry head, but the more she thought about it, the more restless she felt. Eventually, she pushed the dog’s head away and stood up abruptly.

Startled awake for no reason, Doudou stayed half-lying on the sofa, its little head drooping toward the floor in confusion: “?”

Still chatting with Jiang Tong, Xie Yinian looked up briefly. “Where are you going?”

“Sleep!” Xia Qiqi snapped, before heading into the guest room and shutting the door behind her.

Xie Yinian blinked, puzzled by her sudden mood swing. She looked at Doudou, who was still hanging halfway off the sofa, and couldn’t help but chuckle. Pulling the dog’s paw gently, she helped it back onto the couch.

Doudou stuck out its tongue and playfully pretended to bite her, but didn’t actually sink its teeth in—just a bit of roughhousing.

The next day.

Jiang Tong sat waiting at a restaurant table, glancing at the time. Her guest should be arriving soon.

Xie Yinian pedaled her bike to the restaurant, which was a bit far from home. She parked outside and looked up at the sign. The place was nicely decorated—classy but not pretentious.

Pushing open the glass door, she was greeted by a cool rush of air from the air conditioner. The contrast to the sweltering heat outside was refreshing.

At the sound of the door, Jiang Tong looked up and waved with a smile. “Over here.”

Spotting her, Xie Yinian smiled and walked over to sit across from her.

“Did you wait long?”

Jiang Tong shook her head, smiling. “Not at all. What would you like to eat?” She pushed the menu toward her and called over a waiter.

Xie Yinian glanced down and picked a few dishes. “These should be fine.”

The waiter noted them down, then turned to Jiang Tong for her order.

After Jiang Tong listed a few more dishes, the waiter left.

“Would you like some tea?” Jiang Tong offered.

Xie Yinian nodded. Jiang Tong poured her a cup and passed it over.

“Thanks,” said Xie Yinian, accepting it and taking a small sip. Jiang Tong smiled warmly, watching her.

At another corner of the restaurant, Xia Qiqi sat quietly, her gaze fixed in one direction—their direction. She had witnessed every little interaction between Xie Yinian and Jiang Tong.

“Miss? Miss?”

The waiter’s voice pulled her back to reality. She turned and looked up.

“What would you like to order?” The waiter looked slightly awkward. He had called to her several times but gotten no response.

Xia Qiqi lowered her eyes to the menu, ordered a few dishes at random, and handed the menu back. The waiter nodded, jotted them down, and left.

Picking up her glass, Xia Qiqi took a sip of water, her expression unreadable.

She had been irritated ever since hearing that Xie Yinian was going to have dinner with Jiang Tong. She’d spent half the night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. When she saw Xie Yinian leave the house that morning, she couldn’t help herself—she followed her here.

Across the room, Jiang Tong was pouring hot water to rinse Xie Yinian’s bowl and chopsticks. Xie Yinian smiled and thanked her.

Jiang Tong returned the smile, gentle and polite. “You’re welcome.”

A waiter came over to refill Xia Qiqi’s tea, but she didn’t seem to notice—her eyes were locked on the two women at the other table, her hand gripping the teacup tightly.

The waiter stole a glance at her. This beautiful woman hadn’t touched a single bite of food. Her expression was full of something close to heartbreak—like a wife catching her husband in the act.

The waiter hesitated, then asked softly, “Miss, do you know those two people?”

Xia Qiqi lifted her cup and took another sip, her tone calm. “No.”

The waiter looked puzzled. If she doesn’t know them, why is she staring so intently?

Sensing she didn’t want to talk, he quietly walked away.

At the other table, laughter flowed easily between Xie Yinian and Jiang Tong.

Just then, Jiang Tong stood up to go to the restroom. Her high heels wobbled on the floor, and she nearly lost her balance.

Xie Yinian immediately jumped up to steady her. “Careful!”

She held Jiang Tong by the arm, lowering her head slightly. “Are you okay?”

Jiang Tong shook her head softly. “I’m fine,” she said.

From Xia Qiqi’s angle, the two of them looked as if they were leaning close together, whispering secrets no one else could hear. Her chest tightened. She grabbed her bag and turned away without a glance, walking out of the restaurant.

“Hey, miss! You haven’t paid yet!” the cashier called out in alarm. Judging by Xia Qiqi’s clean, stylish clothes, she didn’t seem like someone who would dine and dash.

Xia Qiqi stopped at the counter, paid quickly, and pushed through the door into the street.

“Oh? I think I just saw your friend,” Jiang Tong said.

“Where?” Xie Yinian turned her head immediately.

“There,” Jiang Tong pointed. “She looks like she’s crying.”

The words made Xie Yinian shoot up from her seat. “Sister Jiang, I’ll go check on her. I’m sorry—I can’t stay for dinner.”

Jiang Tong shook her head with a gentle smile. “Go on, before she gets too far.”

Xie Yinian nodded and rushed out.

Watching her back disappear into the rain, Jiang Tong smiled faintly. She really has grown up—steadier now, calmer than that hot-headed kid she used to be.

She seems so anxious about that friend of hers, could it be her girlfriend?

Outside, Xia Qiqi stood beneath the darkening sky. A second later, the clouds broke open, and rain poured down—just like her mood, tears mingling with the storm.

The moment she’d seen Xie Yinian holding someone else in her arms, her emotions had unraveled completely. She ran, unwilling to let anyone see her break.

She’d never felt like this before—never known what it was to feel happiness just from someone’s presence, to think of them constantly after parting, to have her heartbeat stumble when they drew near, or to feel an inexplicable pang of jealousy when they smiled at someone else.

So this is what it means to like someone.

Rain washed over her face, blurring the line between raindrops and tears.

Then, through the downpour, Xie Yinian appeared, running toward her with an umbrella. “The rain’s coming down hard. Come on, let’s find somewhere to stay dry.”

Xia Qiqi pressed her lips together and said nothing.

Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, Xie Yinian reached out to wipe her tears away. “Why are you crying? Did someone upset you?” she asked gently.

Who else could it be, if not you?

Xia Qiqi slapped her hand away. “I don’t need you to wipe them.”

Xie Yinian frowned up at the sky. The rain was getting heavier, and one side of Xia Qiqi’s clothes was already soaked through. “Come on, you’ll catch a cold if you stay out here.”

But Xia Qiqi didn’t move, didn’t speak—just stood there, stubborn and silent.

Not knowing what she was angry about, Xie Yinian reached for her hand. “Let’s go.”

“Let go of me!” Xia Qiqi jerked her arm free, raising her voice.

Xie Yinian’s face darkened. “Do you have to be like this?”

Xia Qiqi still said nothing, arms crossed, pretending not to see her.

“Fine.” Xie Yinian dropped the umbrella onto the ground and turned away. “Suit yourself.”

Watching her walk off without looking back, Xia Qiqi’s throat tightened. When the figure finally disappeared from sight, she crouched down and hugged her knees, sobbing.

“Idiot,” she choked.

After a while, she wiped her face with the back of her hand, then bent to pick up the umbrella from the wet pavement.

Sniffling, she muttered, “If she doesn’t want it, then I’ll take it. Let her get drenched all she wants.”

The thought of Xie Yinian walking home soaked to the bone brought a small, spiteful satisfaction. Just as she was about to leave, a slender, pale hand appeared before her.

Xie Yinian snatched the umbrella from her grasp, her tone cold. “This is my umbrella.”

Xia Qiqi frowned. “You gave it up, so now it’s mine.”

Xie Yinian gave a disbelieving laugh. “When did I ever say that? By that logic, if I dropped my ID card and you picked it up, that would make it yours too?”

Xia Qiqi pursed her lips, tugging at the umbrella. “Give it to me.”

Xie Yinian held it back, stepping away. “No.”

“Give it!”

“Not a chance!”

The two of them pulled and pushed at the umbrella, like bickering schoolchildren, neither willing to concede.

Frustrated, Xia Qiqi stood on tiptoe, reaching up to snatch it from Xie Yinian’s hands—just as Xie Yinian lowered her head.

Their lips met by accident.

Xie Yinian froze, stunned by the sudden softness against her mouth.

Xia Qiqi’s mind went blank too, but a moment later, she came back to her senses. Seeing the shock in Xie Yinian’s eyes, she closed hers and leaned in, brushing her lips gently against hers, tracing their shape with trembling tenderness.