I Heard I’m a Scummy Alpha? [Transmigration] - Chapter 73

“Other Alphas? Do you think my hand is some kind of sweat-wiping machine? Am I supposed to wipe the sweat of whoever I see?” Yan Zui asked unhappily.

Realizing what she had just blurted out, Qi Yunwei knew she’d been impulsive. She pressed her lips together and murmured, “I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.”

Yan Zui’s expression stayed cold. “I’m not mad. Just go on down.”

Seeing Qi Yunwei head down the mountain, she couldn’t help but follow, calling after her, “The load’s too heavy this time. Safety comes first—take it slow.”

Hearing her reminder, Qi Yunwei turned back and smiled. “Alright.”

Sweat glistened on her temple, and under the sunlight her smile shimmered like water. Yan Zui found herself briefly stunned.

【Oh my god, why does it suddenly feel like they’re radiating love? Director, just let Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui stay as permanent guests on Living With You!】

【I still remember just three hours ago when Qi Yunwei was snapping at Yan Zui with no nose or eyes for her. Who would’ve thought she’d eat her words this fast? Turns out no Alpha can resist the charm of our beautiful Omega goddess, Yan Zui.】

【At first she must have disliked Yan Zui for being a useless Omega. But after spending time together, she realized Yan Zui surpasses her in some ways. If the only thing she hated doesn’t hold true anymore, what reason is there not to fall for our Yan Zui?】

【Fall in love? Don’t exaggerate. It’s just natural fondness once prejudice is gone. This is a pastoral life show, not a dating program!】

Once Qi Yunwei had gone far enough down, Yan Zui returned to tidy up the pile of potatoes they had dug.

The cameraman still hadn’t followed Qi Yunwei.

Looking at the noticeably bigger heap of potatoes, Yan Zui suddenly raised her head and asked him, “Should these be buried back?”

Meeting those clear, piercing black eyes, the cameraman stammered nervously, “I—I don’t, don’t know.”

“Then help me ask the director. We obviously can’t carry all these down, but they can’t go to waste either.”

The cameraman quickly radioed the director. The reply came: staff would handle the transport, so Yan Zui didn’t need to worry.

With no shade on the mountaintop, Yan Zui’s cheeks turned red from the sun. She took off her sun jacket, draped it over her head, and sat by the potatoes, waiting for Qi Yunwei to return.

When Qi Yunwei came back and saw Yan Zui curled up in the blazing sun like a small figure under her jacket, she hurried over. “This time come down with me. Since we’ve finished digging, there’s no need to wait here. You can rest at the foot of the mountain.”

【This production team is heartless. They’ve turned our icy goddess Yan Zui into a pitiful farmhand. She’s been roasting under the sun all this time and hasn’t complained once. If it was me, I’d have gone down long ago—no way I’d obediently wait here.】

【And you pity her? Is she going to share her paycheck with you? There’s no easy job that pays well without hardship.】

【Ugh, as an Omega I can’t stand seeing another Omega suffer, and now I get attacked for that? This has nothing to do with her paycheck. I’d feel bad seeing anyone suffer. That’s called empathy, ever heard of it? Not everyone is as cold-blooded and argumentative as you.】

On her third trip down the mountain, Qi Yunwei packed over forty pounds of potatoes into her basket.

Yan Zui said, “I can carry a bit too. If you fall short, mine can make up the difference.”

After her repeated insistence, Qi Yunwei put five or six pounds into Yan Zui’s basket.

The two descended together. Yan Zui walked ahead, glanced back, and held out her hand. “I feel a little dizzy from the sun, I’m afraid I’ll stumble.”

Qi Yunwei froze slightly, then took her hand.

But in truth, Yan Zui was the one supporting her.

She worried Qi Yunwei wouldn’t be able to bear the forty-plus pounds alone, so through their joined hands, she quietly bore some of the weight.

Qi Yunwei couldn’t focus on the act anymore. It felt like her heart had been lowered into a warm spring, heat and gentleness enveloping her. The emotions she’d been bottling up threatened to spill from her eyes.

If not for the cameraman behind them, the last shred of reason holding her back, Qi Yunwei might have confessed to Yan Zui right then.

Luckily the camera could only capture their backs. When viewers saw Qi Yunwei stiffen slightly after taking Yan Zui’s hand, they teased her for being thin-skinned and unable to handle an Omega’s forwardness.

They walked slowly down to where the program team had set up a scale. Yan Zui released her hand to unload her basket, only to realize Qi Yunwei was still holding on.

“Qi Yunwei,” Yan Zui called her name.

Meeting her gaze, the feelings Qi Yunwei had fought to suppress surged again. She quickly averted her eyes. “What is it?”

Yan Zui lifted their joined hands and gave them a small shake. “You can let go now.”

“Oh.” Qi Yunwei belatedly loosened her grip.

Yan Zui cast her a puzzled glance, but Qi Yunwei had already turned away, crouching to unload her basket for weighing. Nothing seemed amiss.

“Forty-one pounds,” the staff announced.

The previous two trips had been twenty-two and thirty-four pounds. Together, ninety-seven.

“Still three short,” the staff said regretfully. “To reach a hundred, you’ll need another trip.”

“No need. I still have some,” Yan Zui said.

She handed over her basket. After weighing: “Five pounds. Total: one hundred and two. Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the mini-kitchen.”

Yan Zui turned to look at Qi Yunwei. Their eyes met, and both broke into smiles.

【It feels so good to reach the goal through your own effort.】

【Yan Zui looks gorgeous when she smiles. Don’t stay cold all the time—smile more often.】

【Notice how she only ever smiles because of Qi Yunwei? At first Qi Yunwei’s mouth was sharp, but once she saw Yan Zui’s strength inside, her whole attitude flipped 108 degrees. Now she’s like a little sun, always shining at Yan Zui—melting even the iciest heart.】

【Yan Zui must never have had someone like Qi Yunwei by her side, that’s why she grew so cold.】

【Even if it’s just friendship, their dynamic is still so sweet.】

【They only filmed the first two days. Don’t fantasize—after this they’ll just be strangers.】

【Buzzkill. You always have to spoil the mood.】

The program deducted one hundred yuan to unlock the kitchen. In the end, Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui earned two yuan.

Qi Yunwei handed one coin to Yan Zui. “Half each.”

With this small distraction, she managed to pull herself out of her tangled emotions and finally talk to Yan Zui normally again.

When they returned to the courtyard, Qiao Haiyue and Peng Xueyu were sitting idly in the shade. Seeing Yan Zui’s messy state, Qiao Haiyue rushed over. “Are you alright? Why are your clothes dirty, and your hands covered in soil?”

Without waiting for an answer, she immediately rounded on Qi Yunwei, eyes flashing. “Is this how you take care of Yan Zui?”

Her gaze then fell on the coin in their hands. Frowning, she said, “After all that time, this is all you brought back? Just one yuan?”

Peng Xueyu came over, noting the dirt stains and strap marks all over Qi Yunwei’s back, and tried to mediate. “Haiyue, don’t get worked up. Let’s hear what they did first.”

Viewers who hadn’t watched their livestream naturally sided with Qiao Haiyue.

【Good question, Qiao. Did they just wander off and get themselves dirty, thinking that counts as work?】

【This is how Qi Yunwei ‘took care’ of Yan Zui? What kind of friend is Peng Xueyu inviting?】

【Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t know. Qi Yunwei carried loads down the mountain three times, each trip heavier than the last. Jumping to blame her without the facts—is this the kind of fan etiquette Qiao Haiyue teaches?】

The staff hurried forward to explain: “Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui completed the task of carrying one hundred pounds of potatoes down the mountain, unlocking the mini-kitchen. There are now plenty of ingredients and utensils available.

Please start preparing lunch.”

Another crew member opened the kitchen door wide, showing they were free to enter.

Qiao Haiyue:“…”

Qiao Haiyue, who had just scolded Qi Yunwei, suddenly found herself slapped in the face. With the livestream running, she absolutely couldn’t let viewers think she was in the wrong.

Her expression darkened. “Yan Zui’s covered in dirt. Don’t tell me you actually made her help you carry those hundred pounds down?”

“She did help,” Qi Yunwei admitted without hesitation.

Qiao Haiyue wasn’t stupid. She knew better than to let it look like she had personal grudges with Qi Yunwei. So she framed it as concern, saying gently to Yan Zui, “Don’t be afraid. If you’ve been wronged, tell me—I’ll make sure you get justice.”