After Transmigrating into a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Tool Person - Chapter 3

After lunch, Xia Qiqi went back to her room.

Half an hour later, Xie Yinian finished her second bowl of rice with great satisfaction and let out a contented burp.

She had to admit, the food at Xia Qiqi’s house was really good.

Sitting at the dining table, savoring the lingering taste, Xie Yinian suddenly felt that staying here wasn’t such a bad idea after all — free meals, free lodging, and no need to worry about money.

Then again, wasn’t she basically living off Xia Qiqi like some pampered kept woman?

No, to be accurate, they were in a partnership. Yes, “business partners” sounded much better.

Stretching lazily, Xie Yinian got up, moved her shoulders a little, and went back to her room. She closed the door, sat down at her desk, and continued drawing on her computer. Her skill was impressive — professional, even.

Meanwhile, in the study, Xia Qiqi sat quietly reading, completely absorbed in her book.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang — ding dong, ding dong — with an impatient rhythm that carried the press of someone’s irritation.

Xia Qiqi put her book aside, stood up, and went out. She stopped by the front door near the shoe cabinet and glanced at the security monitor. The image on the screen made her expression dim.

Standing outside was a well-dressed woman in her forties. Though middle-aged, she was clearly well-maintained — she could easily pass for someone in her thirties.

The woman frowned slightly as she pressed the doorbell again, muttering under her breath.

“Qiqi, are you there? Open the door for your mother. I know you’re inside.”

Xia Qiqi hesitated for a moment, then sighed and reached out to open the door.

The moment she saw her daughter, Madam Xia’s face lit up with an artificial smile. “My good girl, help Mom with her bag. I’ll go change my shoes.”

Xia Qiqi took the handbag from her. As Madam Xia stepped onto the carpet and bent down to take off her heels, she started in on her usual complaints.

“Qiqi, what’s with you lately? I’ve been calling you but you never pick up.”

“I’ve been busy with work,” Xia Qiqi replied flatly.

“No matter how busy you are, you can still answer your mother’s calls,” Madam Xia scolded, frowning. “Your father wanted to invite you home for dinner the other day. You haven’t spent time with him in ages.”

“Next time,” Xia Qiqi said evenly, following her into the living room with the bag in hand.

“Next time, next time—always next time! Do you even know when that will be?” Madam Xia shot her a glare. “You’ve really changed. The older you get, the more disobedient you become.”

Xia Qiqi pressed her lips together and set the bag down on the shelf.

Madam Xia sat herself on the sofa, poured a cup of tea, and continued as if on autopilot: “This time, I’ve found you a perfect match. He’s the Lin family’s eldest son—good family, good background. You’re not getting any younger, Qiqi.

Stop making me worry. Just marry him and put my mind at ease.”

Annoyance flickered across Xia Qiqi’s face. She interrupted, her tone cold. “Mom, that’s enough. I’m not going on any blind date.”

Madam Xia’s eyes narrowed. “Talking back now, are you? Whether you want to or not, you will go. That’s final.”

Xia Qiqi’s expression hardened. “What, are you going to tie me up and drag me there?”

Madam Xia gave an incredulous laugh. “Such insolence! Have you forgotten all the manners we taught you?”

“I’m not going,” Xia Qiqi said, her voice firm. “You might as well give up.”

Madam Xia’s mask slipped, revealing a sneer. “And what’s so bad about the Lin boy? He’s rich, powerful, and well-matched to our family. Your father already agreed. You’d better behave yourself.”

Her gaze was full of contempt. How had she given birth to such a defiant daughter?

Xia Qiqi looked at the woman quietly. This was her mother—yet she had always despised her own child. Sometimes Xia Qiqi even doubted she was really theirs. Once, she’d threatened to take a DNA test just to prove it. The results had confirmed she was their biological daughter. It turned out, some parents truly didn’t love their children.

When she was young, Madam Xia would always tell her, “Be a good girl, Qiqi. Do as you’re told.”

Her grades had to be perfect. One point less, and her father’s belt would come down.

That was her life—until high school, when she finally rebelled. For the first time, she defied her parents and chose her own path. She took the entrance exam for the university she wanted, pursued the career she loved, and eventually founded her own company, becoming its CEO.

Now, in her twenties, her parents still refused to let go, still trying to control her with guilt and “family duty.” To outsiders, she was labeled an unfilial daughter, a cold-hearted white-eyed wolf.

Xia Qiqi closed her eyes briefly and said in a calm but final tone,

“I’m married.”

So stop trying to arrange my life.

Madam Xia froze. “You’re what?” Her voice rose to a shrill pitch.

Her face twisted with fury. She suddenly hurled the teacup to the floor with a crash. “Say that again!”

“I said, I’m mar—”

Slap!

Before Xia Qiqi could finish, Madam Xia’s hand cracked across her face. Xia Qiqi’s head snapped to the side, and a red mark bloomed across her pale cheek. Her expression didn’t change, but her fists trembled slightly at her sides.

The loud smack startled Xie Yinian upstairs. She came out of her room to see what was going on.

From the staircase, she spotted the tense scene below — Xia Qiqi standing rigidly, a fresh slap mark visible on her face.

Xie Yinian blinked in shock. What the hell happened?

“Xia Qiqi, you—” she started, but Madam Xia’s head whipped around at the sound of her voice.

Seeing Xie Yinian on the stairs, Madam Xia let out a cold, derisive laugh. “So that’s how it is? You’ve grown some wings, huh? Keeping a pretty girl in your house now?”

Xie Yinian: “…”

Madam Xia’s fury only intensified at her daughter’s silence. “Cat got your tongue? Say something!”

Xia Qiqi remained silent, expression unreadable.

“Fine!” Madam Xia spat. “I’ll tell your father about this and we’ll see how he deals with you!”

She snatched her bag from the shelf and stormed out, slamming the door behind her so hard that the sound echoed through the house.

Xie Yinian descended the stairs and stopped beside Xia Qiqi, her voice soft with concern.

“President Xia, are you alright?”

Xia Qiqi didn’t answer. She simply turned and walked upstairs, closing her bedroom door behind her.

Xie Yinian stood there for a moment, thoughtful.

That woman, she looked quite a bit like Xia Qiqi.

Was that her mother?

Did they just have a fight?

And why did it have to get physical?