I Heard I’m a Scummy Alpha? [Transmigration] - Chapter 67

Qi Yunwei and the two of them walked in. The seven people already seated in the conference room stood up immediately — and then nearly popped their eyes out when they saw Yan Zui beside Qi Yunwei.

Is that face real? Are there Omegas that beautiful in the world?

Yan Zui was used to that kind of stare and didn’t feel awkward. She glanced over the employees Qi Yunwei had brought and couldn’t spot anyone who looked particularly impressive.

Capable people usually carry themselves with a certain arrogance. Not a single one of these people looked haughty — they all seemed ordinary. Yan Zui couldn’t tell who Qi Yunwei had meant by “the big shot.”

Seeing only one seat at the head of the table, Qi Yunwei invited Yan Zui to sit. She pulled up two more chairs and sat beside Yan Zui, with Liu Xie sitting next to her.

Once they were seated, Qi Yunwei introduced them to the eager staff below. “This is my wife. From now on, call her ‘boss lady.’”

The employees’ impression of Qi Yunwei just rose another notch. Talented and wealthy already, and her wife was so beautiful — they considered her the ultimate winner in life.

“Hello, madam!” everyone greeted in unison.

Yan Zui nodded slightly.

Qi Yunwei smiled at Yan Zui and continued, introducing Liu Xie. “This is the musical genius, composer Liu Xie. If he joins our company, our works will only get better.”

“Hello, Mr. Liu!” The staff, catching Qi Yunwei’s cue, turned especially warm toward Liu Xie.

Liu Xie was a little embarrassed, but he liked Yunmengze’s atmosphere. Although he didn’t yet know exactly what the company did, he was already inclined to join.

After the introductions, they had a lively lunch together. Qi Yunwei shared a few words about her vision for the future. By the time they finished eating, everyone was energized — the excitement was even a little surprising to Yan Zui.

Back in Qi Yunwei’s office, she and Liu Xie began to talk shop.

“Holographic games?”

“Train the brain?”

“And also improve physical fitness?”

Every time Qi Yunwei explained something, Liu Xie was full of exclamations. Eventually his face flushed with excitement; he stood, stepped in front of Qi Yunwei, took her hand and said earnestly, “President Qi, I trust you — please let me join your company.”

Yan Zui’s gaze dropped to their clasped hands; she frowned slightly.

Qi Yunwei hadn’t expected Liu Xie to be so passionate. She smiled, “Welcome, Mr. Liu. I heard you have another year before graduation; remote composing work would be perfectly fine.”

But when Liu Xie heard the word “school,” his face clouded. “Boss, I’ll be honest. Besides worrying about my parents, there’s another reason I came back this time. In my dorm there’s someone who always looks down on me — he thinks my skin color is ‘yellow’ and that sharing a room with someone of my complexion insults them. I kept my head down and ignored him, but recently he accused me to a teacher of stealing. The others in the dorm were in cahoots with him; nobody spoke up for me. The teacher searched my locker and found a watch that belonged to that guy — and refused to listen to my explanation, forcing me to apologize to him.”

Liu Xie’s expression darkened. “Even after we reported it and the police proved by evidence that I didn’t have the opportunity to commit the theft — that I was being framed — in such a discriminatory environment I can’t study. My inspiration dried up. For almost a year I haven’t been able to write a single piece I’m satisfied with.”

Qi Yunwei frowned deeply as she listened.

No wonder in the novel Liu Xie chose to take his own life after he returned — because even the music he lived for had abandoned him.

Liu Xie continued, “Compared to a degree, I care more about my work. Just now, when I saw President Yan downstairs, my inspiration suddenly came back, so I want to stay and work. I don’t want to go back to school.”

Qi Yunwei: “…”

You just grabbed my hand and said my wife gave you inspiration — is that really appropriate?

When Liu Xie finished pouring his heart out and caught sight of Qi Yunwei’s expression, he realized what he’d said and hurried to clarify. “President Qi, I only meant that Yan Zui’s beauty sparked my inspiration. In the elevator just now, when you interacted with Yan Zui, she looked even lovelier and my ideas multiplied. What I want to see is Yan Zui as she is when she’s in love with you.”

Yan Zui: “….” What nonsense was he spouting? Since when had she been in love with Qi Yunwei?

She met Qi Yunwei’s amused gaze; her ears, hidden under black hair, warmed.

Staying there would only mean hearing ever more extravagant descriptions from Liu Xie. Yan Zui said, “You two continue talking. I’m going back to the company.”

“I’ll see you off,” Qi Yunwei blurted.

Then to Liu Xie he added, “I’d be happy for you to stay. We have offices on the fourth and fifth floors — pick one. After I escort Yan Zui back, we’ll continue.”

Qi Yunwei hurried after her and caught the elevator just as the doors were closing. She stepped in and stood by Yan Zui. “Liu Xie doesn’t know the truth. Don’t be angry.”

Yan Zui kept a cold face but didn’t answer. She was only a little shy; she wasn’t actually angry.

“What truth?” she asked as they reached the first floor and walked.

Qi Yunwei: “Liu Xie doesn’t know you and I are in a fake marriage.”

Yan Zui stopped in the lobby. Her ice-blue, dark eyes glanced at Qi Yunwei once, then she turned and kept walking.

Qi Yunwei sensed something odd: Yan Zui had not been this angry a moment ago, yet when she told the truth she had suddenly become upset.

The receptionist covered her mouth, thrilled to watch Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui leave the company. She thought she’d made the right call skipping lunch — she’d just witnessed a juicy piece of gossip.

One thing didn’t add up though. If the mistress had come to provoke the boss’s wife, how had the situation flipped so that the boss’s wife looked angry and the boss looked like she was placating her?

On the way to Yan Corporation’s headquarters, Yan Zui said nothing. Qi Yunwei knew which remark had upset her but couldn’t understand why she was angry.

After all, they were legally married for now; she was still her fake wife while she tried to make the relationship real.

When Qi Yunwei walked Yan Zui to the ground floor, she took her wrist. “I was clumsy with my words — don’t be mad.”

Yan Zui’s dark blue eyes looked at her. “Fake marriage?”

“Really! We even got the certificate. How is it fake?” Qi Yunwei replied immediately, fighting for survival.

Yan Zui: “Go back.”

Qi Yunwei: “I’ll walk you to the office; it’s not out of my way.”

Yan Zui: “No need.” She turned and left.

Qi Yunwei could tell Yan Zui hadn’t cooled off yet. On the way back she still couldn’t figure out why Yan Zui was upset.

The employees returned to work in earnest — some teamed up with Wu Baizhi to develop a more feature-rich clock-in app, others brainstormed ideas to add to company policy. Everyone had their own tasks. With a rare moment of quiet in the office, Qi Yunwei opened WeChat and looked for Huang Momo, hoping she might know what was wrong.

Qi Yunwei had added Huang Momo’s WeChat after their last meal together; they hadn’t exchanged a single message since — at most they’d like each other’s posts on social media.

Qi Yunwei: Momo, I accidentally made Yan Zui mad just now. I don’t know why. You’re her best friend — can you tell me?

Huang Momo: No way — you managed to make Zuizui angry. Since you helped me see through that jerk, I’ll help you this once.

Qi Yunwei: Thanks.

Qi Yunwei sent Huang Momo the exact line she’d said to Yan Zui.

Qi Yunwei: I’m pretty sure Yan Zui is angry because of this. Do you know why?

Huang Momo: Let me analyze!

Huang Momo was puzzled too — what was there to be angry about?

She thought it over and still couldn’t make sense of it. She forwarded the chat to Yan Zui herself to ask.

Huang Momo: [image] Dear, why exactly are you mad? Weren’t you two already in a fake marriage?

Yan Zui: Momo, I don’t want to divorce her.

Huang Momo: !

Huang Momo: You really like her?

Yan Zui: Maybe.

Yan Zui: When she said “fake marriage,” I pictured her reminding me she would leave me one day — and I couldn’t accept that thought at all.

Huang Momo: Oh no, oh no, Zuizui you’re done for!

Huang Momo: I thought you’d never fall for an Alpha. Turns out you’re the one who’s head over heels — and to think you picked someone who teases you! And you’re hooked.

Huang Momo: People call me the love brain, but you— ahhhh! [freaking out]

Yan Zui: Don’t tell her yet. I noticed something off in her these past two days.

Huang Momo: Is she cheating? [angry]

Yan Zui: No — she seems to be chasing me. [smile]

Huang Momo, thoroughly dazzled: She shouldn’t have asked!