I Heard I’m a Scummy Alpha? [Transmigration] - Chapter 41

The next morning, Yan Zui woke to find herself alone in bed. The bathroom was silent—Qi Yunwei was nowhere to be seen.

Yan Zui sat up, her long lashes drooping lazily, partially veiling her deep, clear blue-black eyes.

She realized she must have drifted off without noticing after lingering in thought the night before.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Qi Yunwei appeared, her dark eyes bright, a smile lighting up her face. “Get up and have breakfast! There’s a big battle waiting this morning.”

Yan Zui couldn’t help but smile at her infectious cheer. “Mm, right away.”

After breakfast, the two of them got into the car and headed to the company.

On the way, Zhou Xiao said, “I wonder what Qin Lifeng is up to now. Hopefully this time he’ll get the lesson he deserves.”

Qi Yunwei replied calmly, “He left last night.”

Zhou Xiao frowned. “Why? Just because he’s an Alpha, does that mean injuring someone counts for nothing?”

Yan Zui glanced out the window at the trees flashing past. “Also because he hit his own subordinate. That guy earns money off him—he wouldn’t dare report it.”

Zhou Xiao opened his mouth but didn’t argue.

What could he say? For centuries, power has been in the hands of Alphas. The world just works that way.

“Still, the boss lady is the best,” Zhou Xiao sighed.

Yan Zui looked at Qi Yunwei. “What’s so good about her?”

Zhou Xiao began to list. “First, she has a great temper. Not arrogant, and she can be friends even with someone like me, a Beta.”

“Second, she’s beautiful—tall, well-proportioned. Not comparable to you, Yan Zui, but already a rare face among Alphas.”

Qi Yunwei chuckled. “Thanks for the compliment.”

Yan Zui, however, focused on the “well-proportioned” remark. Thinking back to seeing Qi Yunwei in a silk camisole sleepwear last night, she couldn’t deny it—the woman did have a great figure.

Zhou Xiao smiled sheepishly. “And finally, the part I admire most: the boss lady really, really likes you. Every time I’m around you two, I feel like the annoying third wheel.”

Yan Zui’s heart skipped a beat. Qi Yunwei liked her? And really, really liked her?

She looked at Qi Yunwei.

Qi Yunwei smiled and nodded, “Yes. Yes. My feelings for Yan Zui are as clear as the sun and moon.”

Yan Zui turned her face away, expressionless.

Qi Yunwei liked her? Hmph.

But Zhou Xiao’s mention of Qin Lifeng reminded Yan Zui of Feng Yue. During their dinner last night, Qi Yunwei had been certain she knew the cause of Feng Yue’s wife’s death.

Qi Yunwei seemed to know so much about everything—from Xuan Mingzhu and Xuan Baiquan’s characters to events involving Feng Yue she had never met. The mysteries surrounding her only deepened.

Soon, they arrived at Yan Corporation’s headquarters. Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui walked in side by side, with Zhou Xiao right behind Yan Zui, eyes constantly scanning for potential threats, ready to act the instant someone made a move.

Usually, Yan Zui would take the elevator straight from the underground parking to the top floor. Today, she had the car parked at the front by reception, walking in through the main entrance.

At first sight of Yan Zui, the receptionist thought she was mistaken. But as Yan Zui approached, she blushed and exclaimed excitedly, “Good morning, President Yan!”

Yan Zui didn’t stop, nodding lightly in her direction. “Good morning.”

Afterward, the receptionist noticed Qi Yunwei beside her.

Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui walked shoulder to shoulder, leaning close to whisper and laugh, and Yan Zui found her presence entirely pleasant.

As the three approached the elevator, the receptionist quickly snapped a photo of their backs and posted it in the company chat group.

Receptionist: [Photo] This is what it means to be inseparable.

Manager Zhang: I’m numb already.

Secretary Shen: As long as President Yan doesn’t mind Qi Yunwei missing her morning routine, I’m happy for them [tears]

Clerk Xiao Li: You’re amazing.

Sales Wenwen: You’re amazing.

Shortly after arriving at the office, Xuan Mingzhu and Xuan Baiquan appeared, bringing contracts and a lawyer.

Inside the Yan Corporation headquarters, Xuan Mingzhu’s phone buzzed. Seeing a screenshot of the company group chat leaked by an insider, she smiled subtly, reassured of Qi Yunwei’s importance to Yan Zui.

The more Qi Yunwei mattered to Yan Zui, the more she could influence her.

Satisfied, Xuan Mingzhu put her phone away.

Xuan Baiquan, noticing his sister checking her phone, wore a self-satisfied smile but found it odd. Their relationship had changed; he couldn’t ask her directly.

He pouted briefly, remembering Yan Zui’s morning message telling him to “do his best,” and felt instantly motivated.

I will do my best! After all, he was the official project manager of the Zhi Niao AI project.

In the meeting room, just like the past few days, each side of the table was occupied by members of the respective corporations.

Qi Yunwei carefully moved her chair to sit next to Yan Zui, side by side.

Two lawyers from Yan Corporation’s legal department sat nearby to review the contract. The opposing side mirrored this setup.

As Qi Yunwei arranged the chair, Xuan Mingzhu silently approved—being close would make it easier to persuade Yan Zui later.

Xuan Baiquan, however, was nearly furious.

This shameless, useless woman clung to Yan Zui—he wanted nothing more than to throw Qi Yunwei out.

He glared coldly at her. Qi Yunwei noticed and smiled triumphantly, then pretended to kiss Yan Zui’s hand.

In reality, she didn’t touch it at all. But from Xuan Baiquan’s angle, it looked like her lips fully pressed against Yan Zui’s hand.

His knuckles whitened as he gripped the chair armrest.

Xuan Mingzhu, amused at her brother’s impatience, patted his shoulder and whispered, “Don’t worry about temporary gains or losses. As long as she ends up yours in the end, that’s what matters.”

After thinking it over, she added silently in her heart: maybe it’s not yours—it’s mine.

Xuan Mingzhu wore a confident smile as she handed copies of the drafted contract to Secretary Shen, who placed one in front of each of Qi Yunwei, Yan Zui, and the two lawyers.

Then she placed the copy of the contract prepared by the Yan Corporation in front of the four of them.

Qi Yunwei glanced over it briefly and, looking up, noticed Xuan Baiquan on the other side of the table, his brows furrowed tightly as he read the contract.

Qi Yunwei gave a pointed remark: “Ah, professional matters are best left to professionals. The most frustrating thing is when some people pretend to know what they don’t. Don’t you think that’s true, Manager Xuan?”

Xuan Baiquan, already annoyed with Qi Yunwei, ignored her, which only prompted her to pick at him even more.

He finally looked up, his expression cold: “I don’t know if others can understand this, but I can. If Miss Qi finds the contract boring, perhaps you’d better step outside for a walk.”

Qi Yunwei immediately bristled, grabbing Yan Zui’s hand in frustration: “Wife, look at Xuan Baiquan—he has no respect for me at all!”

Yan Zui lifted her eyes to glance at Xuan Baiquan. He felt a pang of nervous anticipation, but all he saw in her deep, blue-black eyes was icy indifference.

Then Yan Zui leaned slightly toward Qi Yunwei and said: “Don’t mind him. After the meeting, I’ll take you to the mall and buy you whatever you want.”

Qi Yunwei finally quieted down. Yan Zui returned her focus to the contract, and Xuan Baiquan felt a surge of jealousy.

What was Yan Zui thinking? Flirting intimately with him over the phone, yet in person he became “just another person,” watching her show affection with Qi Yunwei.

For the rest of the meeting, Xuan Baiquan couldn’t focus on the contract at all. The notes he had meticulously prepared the night before were useless.

An hour later, everyone had gone through the contract and discussion began.

They first addressed minor clauses, which the lawyers cleared quickly. Yan Zui highlighted several key points and handed them to Secretary Shen for Xuan Mingzhu: “President Xuan, I think these clauses aren’t quite appropriate.”

Xuan Mingzhu looked over them and smiled: “What a coincidence, President Yan. I also think the clauses your side proposed are unsuitable.”

Then came the main debate between the two. Xuan Mingzhu spoke eloquently, while Yan Zui, seemingly taciturn, was actually sharp and quick-minded, instantly spotting loopholes. Realizing she couldn’t persuade Yan Zui and was instead at risk of being persuaded herself, Xuan Mingzhu gritted her teeth and stood up: “I’ll go to the restroom.”

Once Xuan Mingzhu left, Qi Yunwei also stood: “I’ll step out for a bit. The air in here is too stifling.”

Only Xuan Baiquan, Yan Zui, and the accompanying lawyers and Secretary Shen remained in the room.

Xuan Baiquan wanted to speak to Yan Zui, but in reality, they had barely interacted. Facing her in real life, he felt a strange, awkward distance.

Still, he forced himself to ask a question about the contract, only for Yan Zui to respond coldly: “Manager Xuan, I can discuss this with your sister myself.”

Xuan Baiquan’s heated heart sank instantly. His neck slumped, as if it had lost all support.

“Sister, sister, it’s always sisters—just because she’s the president of Xuanqian Group, and I’m nothing.”

He lowered his head, eyes flickering with a dark light.

Meanwhile, Xuan Mingzhu had taken a risk, meeting Qi Yunwei in the restroom.

Xuan Mingzhu had barely entered when Qi Yunwei appeared.

“Miss Qi, you have quite the insight,” Xuan Mingzhu complimented.

Qi Yunwei grinned proudly: “Of course—how else could I have won over my wife?”

A sharp glint of admiration passed through Xuan Mingzhu’s eyes. “Miss Qi, as you saw, President Yan was almost impossible to sway on the contract terms. I was close to losing the argument.”

Qi Yunwei beamed. “My wife is just amazing~”

Xuan Mingzhu froze, slightly embarrassed after the compliment.

She composed herself, smiling: “Miss Qi, President Yan is indeed clever, but clever people like to shoulder everything themselves. If the contract was signed strictly according to her demands, sure, you’d earn a fortune—but she’d lose all her personal time.”

Qi Yunwei seemed to realize this, frowning thoughtfully: “Right, we can’t let Yan Zui lose time with me.”

Xuan Mingzhu coaxed gently: “If I manage the project, President Yan can earn money without sacrificing her personal time—two birds with one stone.”

Qi Yunwei frowned. “No.”

Xuan Mingzhu hurriedly asked: “Why not? Didn’t we agree before?”

Qi Yunwei said firmly: “Xuan Baiquan as the project manager is unacceptable. I dislike him. Replace him, don’t let him be involved—he might have ulterior motives and try to get close to my wife.”

Xuan Mingzhu relaxed. “You can trust me. If you help me, I guarantee Xuan Baiquan won’t participate in tomorrow’s meeting.”

After they finished discussing, they returned to the meeting.

During the lawyers’ presentations, Qi Yunwei leaned close to Yan Zui and whispered for some time before pulling back.

Out of the corner of his eye, Xuan Baiquan noticed Yan Zui glance at him afterward.

Why was she looking at him? Had Qi Yunwei said something disparaging?

He clenched the pen in his hand.

Yan Zui, without hesitation, said: “President Xuan, I could consider making concessions, but I have one condition.”

Xuan Mingzhu asked: “What condition?”

Yan Zui replied: “I need your side to replace the project manager with someone experienced. I value this project and don’t want it treated as a joke.”

Xuan Baiquan turned pale, lips trembling with anger, and glared at Qi Yunwei.

Everyone present knew that such a demand clearly came not from Yan Zui herself but from Qi Yunwei, who had just whispered in her ear.

But Xuan Baiquan was considered insignificant by others, so even though it was obvious Qi Yunwei was being jealous, no one spoke up for him.

Xuan Mingzhu seemed surprised as well. “President Yan, my brother lacks experience, but he works hard.”

“President Xuan, this is my only condition. Otherwise, there’s no need to continue negotiating,” Yan Zui interrupted firmly.

Xuan Mingzhu glanced at Xuan Baiquan awkwardly: “Fine, but we’ll need to discuss it.”

Their so-called discussion was essentially forcing Xuan Zeming to replace Xuan Baiquan, using Yan Zui’s words as leverage.

For Xuan Mingzhu, it achieved both contract compliance and removed a potential threat—two birds with one stone.

“Baiquan, come with me for a moment,” Xuan Mingzhu called. Xuan Baiquan remained seated.

Xuan Mingzhu patted his shoulder. “Baiquan, don’t be stubborn.”

This time, Xuan Baiquan finally got up, his expression dark and stormy.

The two stepped out of the meeting room and found a more private place to talk.

Xuan Mingzhu looked at his face and carefully said: “Baiquan, don’t worry. Your project manager was assigned by Dad. If you want to withdraw, Dad’s approval is required.”

Xuan Baiquan’s eyes brightened, hope rising in his chest.

Since childhood, Xuan Zeming had spoiled him—perhaps even more than his sister. If he expressed interest in art, Xuan Zeming let his sister learn business to take over the family affairs on his behalf. If he wanted to participate in a project, he was directly made project manager.

Dad would never agree to take away my position!