I Heard I’m a Scummy Alpha? [Transmigration] - Chapter 44

After lunch, Zhou Xiao circled around Xiao Jiu several more times before finally, and reluctantly, sending Yan Zui back to the office.

Left alone at home, Qi Yunwei decided she should find something to occupy herself with.

Her AI project, Xiao Jiu, was already nearly complete. Any new functions could be added later as needed. It was time to move on to another venture.

Lately, with her constant run-ins with deranged Alphas, she had been thinking more and more about developing a holographic game—something she could then take to the government and gain their backing. The problem was, while she knew the key technical aspects of holographic game development, she couldn’t handle everything on her own. Story design, modeling, and other tasks would require outside help.

And funding, her own money was nowhere near enough.

Should she ask Yan Zui to invest?

Just as that thought crossed her mind, a message popped up from Xuan Mingzhu.

Xuan Mingzhu: You did very well today. I hope I can count on your support again tomorrow.

Qi Yunwei: As long as Xuan Baiquan isn’t involved, you’ll have my support.

Xuan Mingzhu: Don’t worry. That, I can guarantee.

Qi Yunwei: I hope you can stay this confident.

Xuan Mingzhu: [smile]

Qi Yunwei stared at their chat window, thinking to herself: After this morning’s setback, Xuan Baiquan had already started to spiral into darkness. A flurry of reckless punches can take down even the most seasoned fighter, and with a father who clearly played favorites, Xuan Mingzhu was dreaming if she thought keeping Baiquan in check would be simple.

Meanwhile, at the hotel, after finishing her exchange with Qi Yunwei, Xuan Mingzhu grew uneasy. She worried that Xuan Zeming might be swayed again by Baiquan and dragged into the project. Unable to rest easy, she picked up the phone and called him.

“Hello, Dad.”

“How did the meeting go today?” Xuan Zeming asked.

“With Qi Yunwei’s persuasion, Yan Zui compromised several times,” Mingzhu replied. “I already tried to talk sense into Baiquan. He’s still unhappy, but he’s agreed to back off.”

She sighed softly. “I don’t want to upset Baiquan either, but Qi Yunwei is too important. Yan Zui only listens to her. For some reason, she can’t stand Baiquan. Her only condition for helping me is that he stays away from the project.”

“As long as Baiquan doesn’t cause trouble, that’s fine,” Xuan Zeming said. “But don’t forget to look out for him while you’re busy with work.”

Mingzhu’s chest tightened. She was drowning in responsibilities—this project, the company, endless affairs—and yet her father cared only about his precious son.

“Don’t worry, Dad. Baiquan is my beloved little brother. Of course I’ll take care of him,” she answered lightly.

When she hung up, her face hardened. Tossing the phone onto the bed, her resentment toward Baiquan deepened.

Now it wasn’t just about forcing him out of the project. She wanted him gone—permanently. She never wanted to see him again.

There had been a time when she still felt some sibling affection for Baiquan. But her father’s blatant favoritism had eroded it completely. Whatever bond they once shared was gone.

Next door, Xuan Baiquan was hatching schemes of his own.

A sudden realization struck him: the last time, the only reason Xuan Zeming had seemed to side with Mingzhu about stripping him of his position was that he didn’t realize Baiquan had overheard. His father’s lifelong bias was real—he had always favored him, encouraged him to learn business.

Now that he had decided to pursue management, his father would surely support him. Mingzhu didn’t stand a chance.

Clutching his phone, Baiquan reveled in the thought of Mingzhu’s regret once he replaced her.

If she hadn’t targeted him first, he never would have woken up to the idea of fighting back.

In a way, he almost owed her thanks.

He dialed Xuan Zeming’s number.

Beep—Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy.

He hung up and waited a moment before trying again. This time, the call connected quickly.

“Baiquan, what is it?” Xuan Zeming sounded surprised to hear from him.

As a child, Baiquan had always been fiercely proud, never asking for help, unlike his sister, who clung to their parents for every little thing. That independence was part of why his father had always cherished him more.

Baiquan was silent for a moment before letting out a soft, trembling sigh, his voice tinged with a faint sob. “Dad, it’s nothing. I just missed you.”

Xuan Zeming’s heart clenched instantly. “If you’re unhappy in Guangnan City, come back right away. I miss you too.”

“I don’t want to leave yet,” Baiquan sniffled. “I really like this project. It’s made me realize business can be fun. But for some reason, someone from the Yan Corporation hates me and insists I leave. Even my sister is telling me to give up.”

The guilt in Xuan Zeming’s heart spiked.

“It’s fine, Dad. I just needed to tell you how I feel,” Baiquan murmured. “I’ve already graduated. It’s time I found a job, but I don’t know what to do. People say art majors have it hard. Dad, could you give me some advice?”

Hearing that Baiquan had developed an interest in business, Xuan Zeming’s mind lit up with an idea for making it up to him. “Baiquan, how about coming to work at the company with me?”

“Me? Really?” Baiquan gasped, then quickly shook his head. “No, Dad. I can’t. I couldn’t even handle being a project manager. Everyone thinks I’m useless. How could I possibly help you? I’ll think about other jobs instead.”

“Take care of yourself and don’t overwork. I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said hurriedly before hanging up.

His face was perfectly calm—no tears, no redness in his eyes. The choked sobs had been nothing but an act.

He lay back on the bed, arms behind his head, staring blankly at the white ceiling.

Buzz… buzz…

His phone vibrated beside him. Slowly, he rolled over, picked it up, and saw the caller ID: Dad.

A smile tugged at his lips.

After more than twenty years as father and son, he knew Xuan Zeming’s temperament inside out.

Put one weak sibling against one strong, and his father would always side with the weaker.

By not complaining just now, he had shown maturity—enduring grievances for the sake of the company.

Then, by feigning insecurity and refusing his father’s “compensation,” he had tugged at his father’s guilt even more.

During the short silence after the call ended, Zeming’s imagination must have run wild.

Baiquan picked up the phone. “Dad? Why are you calling me back?” he asked in feigned surprise.

Xuan Zeming’s voice carried a smile. “I’ve thought it over. For now, you should remain as project manager. As for that Qi Yunwei, don’t worry about her—she’s just a clown making a scene. The contract terms can be renegotiated. I trust Yan Zui isn’t so blinded by emotion.”

“Dad, you” Baiquan’s voice broke again, brimming with false emotion.

“Don’t tell your sister about this for now. Tomorrow, take a taxi by yourself and go straight to the meeting, understood?”

If he mentioned it, who knew how many times Xuan Mingzhu would call to persuade him otherwise. For the moment, Xuan Zemíng didn’t want to speak with her.

“But what if she gets angry?” Xuan Baiquan asked hesitantly.

“She’s your sister. Like me, she loves you. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Loves me like you do? Xuan Baiquan sneered inwardly. “Mm, I understand.”

“That’s all. I’m hanging up now,” said Xuan Zemíng.

“I love you, Dad!” Baiquan blurted out quickly before cutting the call.

That afternoon, when Yan Zui got off work and came home, Zhou Xiao once again lingered around long enough to enjoy another dinner cooked by Xiao Jiu.

After Zhou Xiao left, Qi Yunwei handed Yan Zui her phone, showing her the chat history with Baiquan from earlier that day. “He finally launched a counterattack. Mingzhu’s going to be furious tomorrow.”

Yan Zui took the phone. At around three in the afternoon, Baiquan had taken the initiative to message “Xiao Jiu,” clearly seeking encouragement and support.

Xuan Baiquan: Xiao Jiu, if I say that from now on I’ll fully support your decisions, would you be willing to let me return as project manager? [nervous.jpg]

Heaven in Water: If it were possible, I’d be more than happy.

Heaven in Water: But the reality is that Qi Yunwei and Mingzhu are working together. You and I are both isolated right now.

Xuan Baiquan: No—we’re not isolated! I can help you!

Xuan Baiquan: Just now my dad already agreed. The position of project manager belongs to me, no one else!

The rest of the chat was mostly meaningless small talk tinged with ambiguity. Yan Zui returned the phone. “I’ve already had someone start looking for evidence about Xuan Xin’s mother in secret. Since the Xuan family has already descended into chaos, we might as well stir things up further.”

“As for Qin Feili and Feng Yue’s grudge, none of the private investigators I know are willing to take the case. Feng Yue can only investigate on his own. Since he’s close to Qin Feili, getting hold of some of Qin’s personal belongings shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“You’ve worked hard today. Let me give you a massage.” Qi Yunwei gently pressed Yan Zui down onto the sofa and began kneading her shoulders. At first Yan Zui felt awkward, her shoulders tensing, but realizing Yunwei was being completely proper and that the massage was genuinely easing her soreness, she gradually relaxed.

With her eyes closed, Yan Zui listened to Yunwei say, “Besides Xuan Xin’s mother, I’m afraid we’ll also need to investigate Qi Fanghuai. She was just a researcher at Yan Corporation—how did she suddenly resign and become a big boss starting her own company? There has to be some crucial detail we’re missing.”

For instance, the startup capital—Qi family certainly couldn’t have funded Fanghuai’s venture.

Yan Zui turned her head. “Didn’t Qi Fangyue say he applied for a patent?”

Yunwei reached over to smooth Yan Zui’s slightly messy curls. “Could it be that he sold the patent and made money off it?”

“Qi Fanghuai is troublesome and disgusting. If it wasn’t for his interest in you, I wouldn’t even want to hear his name.”

Yan Zui’s lashes fluttered.

She was investigating Fanghuai purely for her sake.

Didn’t that mean she was important to Yunwei?

Suddenly Yan Zui felt warm, especially at the spot on her shoulder where Yunwei’s hand rested.

She pressed her hand over Yunwei’s, murmuring softly, “That’s enough. I’ll go change for the gym.”

Yunwei, not sensing anything amiss, took her hand instead and gently pulled her to her feet. “I’ll come too. Let’s go together.”

The moment she said it, Yunwei realized the wording was ambiguous and quickly corrected herself. “I mean, let’s exercise together, not change together.”

“No, not just exercise—go to the gym.”

Yan Zui looked at her curiously. “What’s wrong with saying ‘exercise’?”

Yunwei froze. “Nothing’s wrong with it. It’s me who’s wrong.”

If she explained further, she’d have to give Yan Zui a crash course in smutty novels, so she hurriedly pushed her toward the bedroom. “Go on, change first. I’ll change after you.”

The next day, in the Yan Corporation headquarters conference room.

Beside Xuan Mingzhu stood a middle-aged man with glasses. Mingzhu gestured for him to introduce himself.

The man pushed up his glasses, his gaze sharp as he began, “President Yan, Miss Qi, Secretary Shen, esteemed lawyers. I’m the newest hire at Xuanqian Group”

But before he could finish introducing himself, the conference room door swung open. Xuan Baiquan entered with a sunny smile. “Apologies for keeping you waiting, everyone—I’m late.”

Mingzhu turned, stunned by the familiar voice. “Baiquan? What are you doing here?”

Baiquan walked straight to the man’s side. “Assistant Xu, excuse me.”

Xu glanced uneasily at Mingzhu. Mingzhu quickly stood up, saying to Baiquan, “Don’t make trouble. We’re in the middle of a meeting. Assistant Xu has already taken over as project manager—he’s supposed to sit here.”

Baiquan replied, “Sis, your news came too late. Dad has already reinstated me as project manager. So, Assistant Xu”

Still smiling, he patted Xu’s shoulder. “You’ll remain Assistant Xu.”

“Apologies. I’ll step aside immediately.” Xu’s glasses slipped askew as he awkwardly vacated the seat.

Mingzhu pressed her lips together, forcing down her fury as she watched Baiquan take the spot beside her.

What on earth was Xuan Zemíng thinking? Not only had he reinstated Baiquan as project manager, he’d even hidden it from her. Was she really his daughter at all?