After Transmigrating into a Scummy Alpha, I Became a Tool Person - Chapter 41

Xie Yinian froze mid-motion, chopsticks in hand. Could it be her?

“Put it in already! Why are you just standing there?” Lu Anran urged.

Xie Yinian shook her head, dismissing the thought. Impossible.

She added the hot pot base to the pot and stirred it as she asked, “Why do you suddenly have so much free time to come find me today?”

“Just bored, so I came to see you,” Lu Anran replied, lighting a mosquito coil.

“By the way, you just moved out. How did President Xia take it?” Lu Anran asked.

Xie Yinian shook her head. “I don’t know. I just packed my things and left.”

Lu Anran patted her shoulder. “Good move. It’s better to face reality early. When a scumbag girl runs off, there’s no need to hang around hoping. No point clinging to a dead tree.”

Xie Yinian: “….”

“Miss, your room’s ready. Here’s your keycard.”

Xia Ruoxi had booked a nearby hotel. At the reception, the front-desk clerk handed her the keycard. Pale-faced, Xia Ruoxi accepted it and stepped into the elevator.

Beep.

The hotel room door opened, and she stepped inside.

A cough escaped her as she removed her mask and poured herself a glass of water. She drank slowly, then stood by the window, staring despondently at Xie Yinian’s apartment across the street.

Just now, Lu Anran had stayed in her room, even taken a shower, and was about to eat there—were they practically living together now?

And the mark on her neck.

Xia Ruoxi’s eyes stung. So, this was her new flame?

After lingering by the window for a long while, she finally turned away and stepped into the bathroom for a shower.

Post-shower, she lay in bed. It was cold at night. The hotel was poorly maintained, and the heater didn’t work. Cold air swept in, and even under the blanket, Xia Ruoxi shivered before drifting off into sleep.

The next morning, her illness had worsened.

Cough, cough. She sat up, went to the bathroom, washed up, took a few pills with water, and then headed out for breakfast.

After breakfast, she bought some things and made her way to Xie Yinian’s apartment. She lingered outside for a long moment before summoning the courage to knock.

Knock, knock.

“Coming.” Xie Yinian paused mid-writing, stood, and went to the door. She was casually dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, her hair tied up messily, with dark circles under her eyes—evidence of poor rest.

Outside stood Xia Ruoxi, wearing a beige coat and a red plaid scarf around her neck. Her black hair fell smoothly behind her, and though her face was masked, her familiar fox-like eyes were unmistakable.

Xia Ruoxi hesitated, then finally said hoarsely, “Long time no see.”

Xie Yinian glanced at her, tightened her grip on the pen, and asked sharply, “What are you doing here?”

“I, I’m sorry,” Xia Ruoxi slowly lowered her head.

“What’s the point of saying sorry now?” Xie Yinian said coldly.

“It was my fault back then. Can you forgive me?” Xia Ruoxi pleaded.

“Why should I forgive you?” Xie Yinian shot back.

Xia Ruoxi’s eyes reddened. Sniffling, she repeated, “I’m sorry.”

Xie Yinian’s hand clenched the pen until it snapped into two pieces. She fought back tears, pursed her lips, and studied Xia Ruoxi quietly. Half a month apart, and she looked so much thinner.

Cough, cough. Xia Ruoxi suddenly coughed, and Xie Yinian frowned.

“It’s just a little cold. Nothing serious,” Xia Ruoxi smiled weakly.

“I got this for you.” She held out a gift box, something she had spent a long time selecting to please Xie Yinian.

Xie Yinian looked down at the gift and refused. “I don’t want it. I’m busy right now. I don’t have time to chat. Go home.”

Xia Ruoxi’s eyes dimmed.

Taking a deep breath, Xie Yinian turned and closed the door.

Rejected, Xia Ruoxi returned to the hotel, curling up on the bed to watch the news.

Her phone pinged.

She picked it up and swiped.

An Lin: How did it go? Did you see her?

Xia Ruoxi: I saw her, but she kicked me out again.

An Lin: Keep trying! I’m cheering for you!

Xia Ruoxi: Thanks.

She glanced at the gift Xie Yinian hadn’t accepted and sighed heavily.

After closing the door, Xie Yinian leaned against it for a moment before peeking outside. The hallway was empty. She felt a hollow ache in her chest.

“What are you looking at?” Lu Anran asked behind her.

Xie Yinian shook her head.

Lu Anran had stayed over last night.

“I’ll head off first,” Lu Anran said. “Next time we’ll hang out again. It’s been a while since we ate and played games together.”

Before, Xie Yinian had been married, so she had avoided visiting to prevent misunderstandings. Now that Xie Yinian was single, there was no need to worry. Their relationship was still purely friendship—nothing more.

Her phone pinged. Lu Anran looked down at it and opened a voice message.

“Sweetheart, want my personal autograph?”

Lu Anran smiled sweetly at the message.

Xie Yinian, sensing something off, suddenly caught a whiff of romantic tension and asked, “Are you dating?”

Lu Anran twisted her hair nervously. “Not really, just a friend. Then one day I realized she’s my idol. It’s unbelievable.”

“My idol?” Xie Yinian asked, puzzled.

“Yes, the artist I admire—the sculptor. She’s amazing.”

“Lately, she’s always teasing me. Our relationship feels a bit ambiguous,” Lu Anran blushed. An Lin was really good at flirting, always leaving her flustered.

Xie Yinian had no idea what they were talking about, but seeing Lu Anran blush all the way to her ears, shy like a little bride, made her feel like she’d just sucked on a lemon—pure, unfiltered sourness.