How Could a Scumbag Alpha Possibly Love His Wife? - Chapter 116

Although it was a private cocktail party, a great deal of effort had clearly gone into planning it. The host had an extensive network of connections. Even the band they invited was internationally famous.

From the moment Cheng Wan stepped into the hotel lobby, her eyes hardly had a chance to rest. She had lived in this city for more than twenty years, and although her adoptive parents had taken her to many social gatherings, this was the first time she had attended such an upscale event.

It felt just like a scene from a glamorous television drama.

Bai Juntang walked beside Cheng Wan as they moved through the crowd. Many people glanced their way, and quite a few even started whispering to each other. But they were too far away for Cheng Wan to hear anything clearly.

Noticing how those people were looking at her and whispering behind their hands, Cheng Wan couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Was there something on her face?

Or maybe her outfit wasn’t appropriate?

Had she done something wrong that made everyone stare at her?

Cheng Wan’s expression changed slightly. Since childhood, she had always tried to stay unnoticed, which made her naturally timid and afraid of trouble. Now, being the center of attention all of a sudden made her feel especially nervous.

Sensing her discomfort, Bai Juntang gently reached out and held her hand, pulling her closer in a comforting gesture.

Cheng Wan looked up at Bai Juntang in confusion. She noticed that even more people around them were starting to whisper.

“You know what?” Bai Juntang leaned closer and spoke softly into her ear. “They’re probably all wondering how I managed to bring someone so beautiful to this party.”

Cheng Wan widened her eyes in surprise.

Bai Juntang smiled and continued, “By tomorrow, word about us will spread through the whole circle. Everyone will be saying we’re a perfect match.”

Cheng Wan blushed deeply. She felt so awkward that she didn’t even know where to put her hands.

“Don’t say things like that…” she muttered, her ears burning red. “What if someone hears you?”

“So what if they do?” Bai Juntang held her hand firmly and smiled. “Honestly, I kind of want the whole world to know.”

Just as Cheng Wan was about to pull her hand away in embarrassment, she caught a glimpse of someone walking toward them.

“You’re so late. Was there traffic on the way?” Bai Weilan approached, wearing a wine-red evening gown. She took one look at the two of them, then said with a sigh, “You two are dressed up so nicely, people might think you’re getting engaged tonight.”

“If we could, I wouldn’t mind turning this into our engagement party,” Bai Juntang replied confidently.

“Stop being ridiculous,” Bai Weilan frowned. She glanced at Cheng Wan. It had been several months since they last met, and Cheng Wan had clearly lost weight. Her dress looked too loose on her. She must have gone through some tough times.

Bai Weilan’s expression softened a little. She spoke gently, “You’re finally here. It’s snowing outside. Aren’t you cold, wearing so little?”

Cheng Wan was a little confused by her sudden concern. She answered quietly, “I came inside right after getting out of the car. It’s not that cold.”

“Still, you shouldn’t wear something so thin. What’s that little bit of fabric supposed to do?” Bai Weilan looked at their light outfits, then gave Bai Juntang a glare. “This was your idea, wasn’t it? Coming to a party dressed like this. Are you here for business or to put on a performance? Since you like attention so much, why don’t you perform at the company’s year-end event? A song and dance show would be festive.”

Bai Juntang braced herself through the scolding and interrupted, “Mom, we’re really cold. Can we not stand at the door like this?”

“So you do know what cold feels like? Looks like you’re not completely frozen. Come inside,” Bai Weilan said, frowning.

After she walked ahead, Bai Juntang let out a quiet sigh of relief. She turned to Cheng Wan, who still seemed uneasy, and gently squeezed her hand. “Let’s go. It’s warmer inside. My mom was right. I was so focused on looking good that I forgot to think about whether you’d be comfortable.”

“It’s fine…” Cheng Wan tightened the plush shawl around her shoulders, feeling a little awkward. “I’m really not that cold.”

“Even so, that’s not good enough.” Bai Juntang led her further into the room. “If I don’t take care of you, my mom will never let me hear the end of it.”

After they passed through the second set of doors, the warmth finally became noticeable. The room was even more crowded than outside, and there was a large stage up front.

A promotional video was playing on a big screen. The hall was full of people, and the atmosphere was lively. Bai Juntang had only just entered when several people came up to greet her.

Bai Weilan waited for them from a distance. Once Bai Juntang had finished with the greetings, she followed her mother into a nearby lounge.

Each banquet hall seemed to have several resting areas of different sizes. This one was spacious and fully equipped, with a large sofa where guests could relax.

Bai Weilan’s secretary was already inside. When she saw the three of them enter, she came forward and greeted them politely, “Chairwoman Bai, President Bai, Miss Cheng.”

“See if you can find some warm clothes for the two of them,” Bai Weilan said in a calm tone. “It’s freezing outside, and they’re dressed like that. Look for thermal tops or something similar. If you can’t find anything better, long underwear will do.”

“Mom,” Bai Juntang said helplessly, standing beside Cheng Wan. “Do I really look like someone who wears thermal underwear?”

“Fine. If you don’t want to wear it, don’t. But if you catch a cold, don’t expect me to feel sorry for you.” Bai Weilan then turned to Cheng Wan, her voice much gentler. “But Cheng Wan should wear more. Your dress is loose enough. You can layer up, and no one will notice.”

Cheng Wan nodded quietly.

To be honest, this was the first time she had seen Bai Weilan since she ran away from home. The situation was more than a little awkward.

Bai Weilan probably sensed her nervousness too. She slowly walked over and stood right in front of her.

“About what happened before, I don’t think I’ve ever properly apologized to you,” Bai Weilan said as she looked at Cheng Wan, her voice serious. “Whether it was about that one hundred million yuan or your divorce from Juntang, those things were all, to some extent, connected to me. I haven’t truly fulfilled the role of a mother, and I’ve never been a good one. I will try to learn and improve from now on. I just hope you can forgive my ignorance.”

“You… you don’t have to say that…” Cheng Wan replied, caught off guard.

“I may be Bai Juntang’s mother, but I’m still just an ordinary person. And when people make mistakes, they should apologize,” Bai Weilan said with a gentle smile. “You won’t even give me the chance to say I’m sorry?”

Cheng Wan was stunned by her words. She looked at Bai Juntang, suspecting that this might have been arranged in advance.

But Bai Juntang simply blinked at her and shrugged, silently telling her she hadn’t planned this either.

“I really am sorry,” Bai Weilan said softly, stepping closer and gently placing a hand on Cheng Wan’s shoulder. Her tone became even more gentle. “These past few months must have been difficult for you. If possible… I hope you can come back with Juntang. After giving birth, Omegas need a long recovery period. I’m worried you might not be able to take care of yourself alone.”

Cheng Wan shook her head. “I’m fine. It honestly hasn’t been that hard. I still prefer living on my own.”

After she said this, Bai Weilan sighed quietly. But she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she smiled slightly and said, “Alright, I won’t force you. But you’re still Sui Sui’s mother. Before anything is finalized between you and Juntang, you should come home more often to see her. Don’t wait until she grows up and can’t even remember what her other mom looks like.”

Just hearing Sui Sui’s name made Cheng Wan’s heart ache. She could leave the Bai family, and she could stop loving Bai Juntang, but she could never let go of Sui Sui.

Maybe it was instinct. Whenever Cheng Wan saw her daughter, she couldn’t help but focus all her attention on her. She didn’t even dare blink, as if afraid Sui Sui would disappear from her sight in that instant.

Cheng Wan hadn’t always liked children. In fact, she used to think noisy, fussy babies were hard to raise, and she never understood why people loved them so much.

That was, until she had Sui Sui.

That fair, adorable little girl felt like a piece of her heart. How could Cheng Wan not love her?

“Alright,” Cheng Wan nodded at Bai Weilan and said softly, “I’ll come visit her often.”

Bai Weilan seemed pleased with her response. She glanced at Bai Juntang and gave her a meaningful look before walking out of the room.

Secretary Xiao Wei brought in a new set of warm thermal wear. Bai Juntang took it and said to Cheng Wan, “Since you’re already here, why not put this on?”

Looking at the black thermal clothing, Cheng Wan suddenly realized she actually did feel a little cold.

Only one set of warm clothes had been prepared, and it was for Cheng Wan. Bai Juntang had to leave wearing what she came in. Luckily, after a couple of drinks, the warmth would return. Besides, the party was full of women in skimpy dresses, baring their long, fair legs, making it feel like the seasons had gotten mixed up.

Apart from performances, the party also included a small private auction. Though it was a business event, the lively atmosphere made it feel like a grand celebration. Throughout the evening, people constantly came up to toast Bai Juntang. Each time, they would also glance at Cheng Wan beside her and engage her in small talk.

At first, Cheng Wan could keep up with the conversations, but as the night wore on, exhaustion clearly showed in her expression.

“If you’re tired, go rest for a while,” Bai Juntang said, gently touching her warm cheek. Cheng Wan had drunk quite a bit, and her flushed face looked especially cute.

Bai Juntang resisted the urge to kiss her. Although she was happy to have brought Cheng Wan along, seeing her so tired filled her with guilt.

Cheng Wan wasn’t drunk. The champagne was sweet, but it had started to go to her head.

“I’m a little tired,” she admitted quietly, looking down. “I don’t really want to move. Can I sit on the couch and wait for you?”

“Alright. Do you want me to take you there?” Bai Juntang asked, reaching out to support her, but Cheng Wan gently pushed her away.

“No need.” Bai Juntang saw a couch not far away where a few people had just gotten up. Without looking back, Cheng Wan walked toward it.

Bai Juntang frowned slightly, feeling a little unhappy that Cheng Wan didn’t turn around. But before she could dwell on it, someone else came over to greet her. She responded half-heartedly, her eyes following Cheng Wan out of the corner of her eye until she saw her settle down on the couch. Only then did she continue chatting with others.

The party was noisy and chaotic, with people gathered in groups everywhere. Cheng Wan didn’t know any of them, and once she sat down, boredom quickly set in.

Maybe if she left now, Bai Juntang wouldn’t even notice.

Cheng Wan looked down at her long evening gown. Underneath the elegant dress, she was wearing the thermal clothing Bai Weilan had given her. It was so thick that her hands and feet were starting to feel hot.

It was really warm…

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