From Trashy A to the Heiress’s Little Son-in-Law After the Idol Competition (GL, ABO) - Chapter 62

A bolt of lightning seemed to strike Xiao Yanjin’s mind.

Arriving at the hospital, she saw the anxious Cheng Xiaozhi and the other worried group members.

Ji Yunuo stood in the farthest corner, her expression cold as frost, silently glancing at Xiao Yanjin.

“What happened to Yuanning-jie?” Xiao Yanjin asked, her voice trembling.

Shi Zhengyi explained, “After we finished recording the variety show, we were all drinking water backstage. Suddenly, Yuanning’s voice started acting up—she couldn’t make a sound at all.”

Jiang Nan added, “Yuanning-jie is our main vocalist! Without her voice, how can she sing?”

Cheng Xiaozhi snorted, “We’re supposed to hold our disbandment concert in two months. Who would’ve thought something like this would happen? It’s definitely those rival groups scheming against us. Our group is the most popular limited-time group, skyrocketing to fame out of nowhere. The other girl group companies must be green with envy! I refuse to believe they wouldn’t pull something like this to sabotage us.”

Ji Yunuo’s voice, steady as a sedative, gradually calmed them down. “Don’t panic yet. Let’s hear what the doctor says first.”

A short while later, the doctor emerged.

Jiang Nan rushed forward. “Doctor, how is she?”

The doctor replied, “The patient has been poisoned by evergreen, which has damaged her vocal cords.”

Shi Zhengyi gasped in shock. “So it wasn’t Yuanning’s fault—someone poisoned her!”

Xiao Yanjin remained silent. All she could think was that Lan Yuanning had devoted her entire life to singing, only to fall victim to such malice. What kind of person would torment such a gentle girl like this?

The incident spread like wildfire. The variety show remained unfinished, and the internet was flooded with news about Lan Yuanning.

It was a heavy blow to the group.

Two days later, news of Shen Ya’s relationship exploded onto the scene.

A Weibo post revealed paparazzi photos of Shen Ya holding hands with a man before passionately kissing him in an alley.

2the ABO suffered three consecutive setbacks. Fans fled in droves, concert tickets were refunded one after another, and the internet was filled with scorn and ridicule.

The agency summoned all six members—except for Lan Yuanning, who was recuperating at home—to the company’s conference room.

Chairman Han angrily slammed a stack of contract termination forms onto the table and roared, “What the hell is wrong with you all?! Lan Yuanning losing her voice is one thing, but Xiao Yanjin, Shen Ya—can’t you control your personal lives?!”

Xiao Yanjin said nothing. Since the rumors about her were false, she had nothing to say.

Shen Ya, however, stood up and bowed her head. “I’m sorry!”

Chairman Han pressed on aggressively, “What, do you love dating that much? That boyfriend of yours is downright ugly—how could you even look at him? Shen Ya, Shen Ya, you were once in the running for visual top alongside Ji Yunuo and He Rou! How could you settle for a man like that?”

Even the fans said it was like a flower stuck in a pile of cow dung.

Shen Ya didn’t respond, only choking back a sob as two teardrops fell onto the table.

Seeing this, Ji Yunuo suddenly grabbed her hand.

Shen Ya froze, then was abruptly pulled back into her seat.

“Chairman Han,” Ji Yunuo stood up, her voice firm. “As the leader, I take responsibility for what’s happened. But I can say with certainty that the rumors about Xiao Yanjin and Shen Ya online are absolutely false.”

Chairman Han narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

Ji Yunnuo nodded and said, “Give me three days. I’ll definitely get Xiao Yanjin and Shen Ya to clarify things.”

After all, Ji Yunnuo was the eldest daughter of the Ji family, so he couldn’t bring himself to mock her. He merely snorted, “Our company’s PR might be useless, but once you clarify things, we can at least buy some marketing accounts to clean up the mess. Best case scenario, nothing comes of this!”

After Chairman Han left, Shi Zhengyi asked, “I believe Xiao Yanjin’s rumors are fake, but what about Shen Ya’s?”

Shen Ya was still crying and didn’t respond.

Ji Yunnuo said calmly, “You all go out first. I need to talk to Shen Ya alone.”

Xiao Yanjin glanced at the two of them. Ji Yunnuo had one arm around Shen Ya while using the other to wipe her tears with a tissue, comforting her gently—the very picture of a caring older sister.

Both Shen Ya and Ji Yunnuo, like Lan Yuanning, had strong “older sister” vibes, though their styles differed. Shen Ya and Ji Yunnuo were more similar, with equally commanding auras.

But now, it was clear that Shen Ya was just a young girl, while Ji Yunnuo was someone suited to stand on her own as a leader.

“Don’t cry. I’ll handle whatever comes your way,” Ji Yunnuo said softly as she wiped the tears from Shen Ya’s face.

Shen Ya nodded. She wasn’t particularly close to Ji Yunnuo—there had always been tension between them since the last center position dispute, especially after Xiao Yanjin had emphasized choosing Ji Yunnuo over her for the dance collaboration. It had left her resentful.

But now, this leader had repeatedly stood up for her, and she couldn’t help but feel her goodwill toward Ji Yunnuo growing.

“I’m sorry… for causing you trouble,” Shen Ya said apologetically.

Ji Yunnuo rested Shen Ya’s head against her shoulder and reassured her, “It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t cry. We’ll help you clear your name.” From the look on Shen Ya’s face earlier, Ji Yunnuo already knew—her dating scandal was anything but simple.

Shen Ya and Lan Yuanning were different. The former was tough on the outside but soft inside, while the latter was gentle on the outside but strong within. In comparison, most people would assume Lan Yuanning was the type easily taken advantage of by scumbags, but in reality, Shen Ya was the one more susceptible to manipulation.

Shen Ya then haltingly explained the situation.

It turned out the guy was her ex-boyfriend, and they had broken up before she joined the survival show. After learning she had debuted and assuming she had made a fortune, he had immediately started harassing her.

Shen Ya had thought he would eventually give up, so she hadn’t told anyone about it.

But instead, his behavior escalated. He repeatedly harassed her family and even had intimate photos of them kissing on his phone.

Because of this leverage, Shen Ya didn’t dare vent on social media or report him to the police. She had given him money multiple times and was often dragged to hotels by him. The last time, she had resisted fiercely, but after he threatened her, she could only numbly let him lead her by the hand. Then, in an alleyway, he had forced a kiss on her—just as the paparazzi had captured.

After listening, Ji Yunnuo calmly analyzed, “The kissing photos are already online. Since he has intimate photos of you, and they’re not much different, why not speak up?”

Shen Ya’s eyes darted around uneasily before she finally mumbled, “It’s not just kissing photos…”

Ji Yunnuo understood what she meant and sighed.

…

When Xiao Yanjin returned to the dorm, the first thing she did was check on Lan Yuanning, who was resting.

Lan Yuanning sat blankly on the sofa in a white dress, lost in thought.

Xiao Yanjin pursed her lips. “Yuanning-jie.”

Lan Yuanning seemed to tremble slightly before turning around and smiling at her.

She had a beautiful smile, and even now, despite the faint melancholy in her eyes, there was a radiant glow about her.

“Are your vocal cords okay?” Xiao Yanjin sat beside her.

Lan Yuanning didn’t speak, instead using sign language to gesture, as if reassuring her that everything was fine.

Xiao Yanjin couldn’t help but feel her eyes well up. Lan Yuanning’s voice was so lovely, and singing was her livelihood—what would she do now that her vocal cords were damaged?

Sensing her distress, Lan Yuanning took out her phone and typed a message on WeChat:

The doctor said my vocal cords might recover, but we don’t know when yet. But it’s okay, Ah Jin, don’t worry too much about me (smiley face).

Lan Yuanning was famously gentle-hearted during the idol training camp. Even though Xiao Yanjin had once been infatuated with Ji Yunuo, believing her to be the kindest person in the world, she still thought Lan Yuanning was incredibly tender-hearted.

“Food’s here!” Jiang Nan had specially bought dinner for Lan Yuanning.

“Yuanning-jie, I got you your favorite Longjiang braised pork rice!” Jiang Nan set the food on the table before noticing Xiao Yanjin. “Ah Jin, I didn’t know you were here—I didn’t get you anything.”

Lan Yuanning smiled and typed on her phone: It’s fine, I can share half with Ah Jin.

Xiao Yanjin shook her head. “Thank you, Yuanning-jie, but I’m not very hungry.”

Just then, Ji Yunuo and Shen Ya returned.

Ji Yunuo glanced at Xiao Yanjin. Though their eyes met only briefly, it felt like gazing into the boundless expanse of the night sky, as if searching for something deeper.

Ji Yunuo pressed her lips together. “Where are Shi Zhengyi and He Rou? Call them over—I want to hold a meeting.”

During the meeting, Xiao Yanjin told them about Chu Luo’s accusations and how she had framed someone else.

Shi Zhengyi fumed. “Damn it, I knew someone like you would never get someone pregnant! So it really was Chu Luo stirring up trouble!”

He Rou crossed her arms and scoffed. “Chu Luo’s no saint either. During the competition, she even asked for my contact info, saying my legs were really long.”

Shi Zhengyi felt a pang of jealousy. “Did you give it to her?”

He Rou looked like she wanted to slap Chu Luo. “Of course not! That slick-talking scumbag Alpha—I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. Our Ah Jin and Jiang Nan are way purer.”

Ji Yunuo watched her with a smile, unsure whether to laugh or feel smug that the “pure” Xiao Yanjin was already her precious darling.

Xiao Yanjin asked, “Then what about Yuanning-jie’s water?”

Ji Yunuo replied, “After we got off stage, we drank some water, and Yuanning was the one affected. Someone must have tampered with it before we went on. I checked the surveillance—a person in all-black gear slipped in some evergreen leaves. We’ve already reported it to the police and hope for a resolution.”

She sighed, then lifted her bright eyes. “No matter what, these three incidents concern our group’s reputation and future. We can’t let schemers ruin us. Starting tomorrow, we’ll split up. Xiao Yanjin, you handle your situation—you already have a clear target, so take care of it yourself.”

“He Rou, Shi Zhengyi, you two are strong fighters. Accompany Shen Ya in dealing with that scumbag—try to get his phone and delete all the videos and pictures. Jiang Nan, you stay home and take care of Yuanning.”

Xiao Yanjin asked, “What about you?”

Ji Yunuo’s profile was dimly lit by the faint glow as she said, “I’m going to find the poisoner.”

The rooftop wind was bitterly cold, even in summer, making people instinctively draw their clothes tighter.

Xiao Yanjin arrived on the rooftop and saw the slender yet somewhat lonely figure standing ahead.

“Sis,” Xiao Yanjin called out, “Shen Ya said you came up here for some air?”

Ji Yunuo suddenly stepped forward and embraced her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t comfort you in time during that last scandal. Are you okay now?”

Held tightly in her arms, Xiao Yanjin inhaled deeply, savoring the faint, cool fragrance that clung to her. “Sis, do you really think anything could faze me? From the blind date till now, I’ve been criticized almost every day. Have you ever seen me show even a hint of gloom?”

Ji Yunuo couldn’t help but laugh. Truthfully, she regretted the things she had said to Xiao Yanjin during their blind date.

Her cheeks flushed, and her voice softened as she murmured, “Then… about what I said to you during the blind date… you didn’t take it to heart, did you?”

Xiao Yanjin pretended to sulk and huffed, “I, Xiao Yanjin, am the pettiest person in the world. I don’t care what others say, but when it comes from you, it hurts.”

Ji Yunuo knew she was teasing but still panicked and covered her mouth. “Don’t be sad!”

Xiao Yanjin breathed in the scent on her hand, her mind drifting, thoughts wandering to past moments.

“Then… shouldn’t you make it up to me?”

Ji Yunuo let out a puzzled hum before being led by the hand, stealthily, into Xiao Yanjin’s room.

Ji Yunuo knew exactly what she wanted, her face burning red as she asked, “Won’t Shi Zhengyi and Jiang Nan hear us?”

Xiao Yanjin grinned mischievously. “We’ll just have to be careful.”

Ji Yunuo’s ears turned crimson as Xiao Yanjin pulled her onto the bed with a firm grip.

“Sis, the doctor said we should do this more often—it’ll improve our pheromone compatibility…” Xiao Yanjin gazed at her beautiful face, murmuring softly, “I don’t want to be apart from you. I want to stay with you forever, never separating.”

Ji Yunuo glanced at her, thinking this annoying Alpha was becoming more and more endearing.

But…

She was still such a fake.

“Sis, last time I brought up conditions, you ignored me,” Xiao Yanjin chuckled. “This time, you can’t run away.”

Ji Yunuo really wanted to scold her.

But moments later, Shi Zhengyi actually knocked on the door!!

Xiao Yanjin jumped in fright, hurriedly pulling the blanket over them.

“What do you want?!” she snapped.

Shi Zhengyi stifled a laugh, her tone dripping with playful mischief. “I went looking for the captain and couldn’t find her. Thought she might be in your room?”

Xiao Yanjin: “No, no, no! I’m trying to sleep!”

Shi Zhengyi’s laughter was full of wicked amusement. “Aw, come on! I just watched a horror movie and got so scared. I wanna sleep with you, Jin!”

Xiao Yanjin glanced at Ji Yunuo, who wore a thoughtful expression.

Flustered, Xiao Yanjin explained, “I’ve never slept with anyone else before.”

Ji Yunuo glared at her before suddenly biting down on her neck.

The pheromone interference made Xiao Yanjin hypersensitive, and the Omega’s bite drew an involuntary moan from her.

Shi Zhengyi heard it and covered her mouth, giggling.

“Get out, get out! If you want to sleep with someone, go find Jiang Nan!”

Shi Zhengyi was clever enough to guess what Ji Yunuo was doing in Xiao Yanjin’s room, so he played a prank before finally walking away.

Xiao Yanjin had already told Ji Yunuo that Shi Zhengyi knew about their relationship. While Ji Yunuo wasn’t particularly flustered, Xiao Yanjin was terrified that Shi Zhengyi might barge in and see Ji Yunuo undressed—even though the door was locked.

Xiao Yanjin let out a sigh of relief and grumbled, “Shi Zhengyi is such a troublemaker.”

Ji Yunuo chuckled. “Shall we continue?”

Xiao Yanjin pouted pitifully. “Sister, you should say ‘let’s start over.'”

It wasn’t until midnight that Ji Yunuo, holding Xiao Yanjin in her arms, gazed at her sleeping face and gently stroked her cheek with a pang of heartache.

With so much online criticism, how could Xiao Yanjin not be affected? She was just putting on a brave front. The more Ji Yunuo thought about it, the more it pained her. It seemed she would have to come up with more ways to deal with Wei Qin in the future.

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