I Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha and Stole the Heroine from Her Tragic Romance - Chapter 20

Qi Xiyao stood by the window for who knew how long, until she finally heard the door open and footsteps approach behind her. Only then did she turn her head, as if waking from a daze.

Standing in front of her was a middle-aged couple.

The woman, around her forties, had a slightly hunched back. Her facial features still showed traces of beauty, but years of treatment had aged her far too early.

Qi Xiyao’s gaze dropped to her mother’s loosely hanging hospital gown. Her eyes stung with emotion, and she could no longer hold back the aching tightness in her chest.

“Yaoyao, you’re here?”

Her mother forced a smile, but it was a weak, trembling one, full of exhaustion. Every time she saw that expression, Qi Xiyao felt like needles were stabbing into her heart, each beat bringing pain.

Especially when she told her mother about joining the production. Her mother’s eyes filled with both worry and pride.

“Once you’re on set, be sure to get along with the others. If things get too difficult, let us know. We can figure out a way to send you some things…”

“It’s a modern drama. The conditions won’t be that bad,” Qi Xiyao quickly reassured her.

She had always been the kind to hide her troubles and only share the good. She never told her parents about being harassed by Yu Shang. Her parents rarely paid attention to online news and seemed to live in their own quiet world, untouched by outside chaos.

But she remembered clearly that things hadn’t always been like this.

Her family used to be filled with laughter. They were not rich, but they often went on little trips together. Life was peaceful and warm.

Everything changed when her mother was diagnosed. Her father, out of desperation, took on risky choices to keep the family afloat, and that decision sent everything into a downward spiral.

But the real breaking point was not the illness. It was the humiliation her mother suffered at the hands of debt collectors who showed up at their home.

That trauma never faded. Every time she remembered, her brain would ache with the force of it.

When her mother fell ill and could no longer care for herself, Qi Xiyao had never once helped her bathe. That role had always fallen to her father.

Qi Xiyao had never dared to look directly at her mother’s withered glands. Every time she did, the image of those Alphas dragging her mother away to abuse her would flash before her eyes.

Even though those men had all been brought to justice, the fear still lingered. Her heart would pound heavily, and she often woke from nightmares in the middle of the night, breathless and afraid.

And yet, even now, after all her treatments, her mother forced herself to appear strong. She tried to act gentle in front of her daughter, holding on to her energy just to chat with Qi Xiyao for a while before finally letting her leave.

On the way home, Qi Xiyao suddenly realized that her nails had been digging into her palm the entire time. She had pressed so hard that there were small traces of blood, and she had not even noticed. The sharp pain returned along with a heavy sense of helplessness and exhaustion.

**

Three days later, Director Quan sent the official news: Qi Xiyao had been chosen to play the second female lead in Dual Lives.

Filming would begin in one week. During that time, Yu Peirong gave her space and did not disturb her. She simply encouraged her to focus on the script and prepare well for the role.

Qi Xiyao was a hardworking actress. She never slacked off or cut corners. She always used her real voice in her performances, never relying on dubbing, no matter how small the role.

Director Quan might not have been among the top-tier directors, but she was a respected name among second-tier professionals. This drama had a strong cast, with a rising male and female lead known for both popularity and talent. The entire team had good looks and solid acting skills.

Before filming began, Yu Peirong arranged for someone to temporarily take over her duties — her cousin Zheng Xiuxue.

In the original novel, Zheng Xiuxue was mentioned only briefly. She was known to be Yu Peirong’s younger cousin and had once worked at the same company.

They had lived together for a time when they were children, so their relationship had once been close. Zheng Xiuxue had grown into a principled woman who hated injustice. She strongly disapproved of the original Yu Peirong’s actions and eventually cut ties after repeated failed attempts to talk sense into her. She even refused to attend her funeral.

But in the current timeline, things had not escalated to that point yet. And just before Qi Xiyao joined the production, Zheng Xiuxue had returned from studying abroad.

Yu Peirong persuaded her, with a bit of coaxing, to come back to the company. She then personally taught her some day-to-day management tasks. To her surprise, Zheng Xiuxue turned out to be sharp and efficient, learning quickly. Satisfied, Yu Peirong handed over the temporary responsibilities with confidence.

Yu Shang, meanwhile, had secretly hoped that once Yu Peirong left to accompany Qi Xiyao to the set, he could step back into his former leadership role. But instead, he watched helplessly as the company’s authority was handed over to a twenty-year-old newcomer. His frustration boiled over, yet he had nowhere to vent.

Out of spite, Yu Shang called in sick the day Yu Peirong left and did not show up at the company. Instead, he started sending Qi Xiyao a ridiculous number of messages.

While sitting in the car beside Qi Xiyao, Yu Peirong heard the constant buzz of notifications coming from her phone. She looked over and caught a glimpse of the name on the screen: Yu Shang.

He was relentless.

Sometimes he asked pointless questions like whether she had eaten or where she was now. Other times, he tried to threaten her by mixing insults with false concern, saying she had spent so much time with his sister that she had forgotten who she really was.

Yu Peirong had not slept well the night before. She was exhausted, and the nonstop buzzing from the phone had pushed her patience to the edge. Frustrated, she grabbed Qi Xiyao’s phone and sent a voice message directly.

“So what is it now? Are you done writing copy and still not satisfied with being demoted? Want to try starting as the department janitor next?”

Yu Shang immediately went silent, shrinking like a scolded child with his head down.

That night, Yu Peirong and Qi Xiyao arrived at the hotel arranged by the production team. However, when they went to the front desk to check in, they were informed that only one room was available. It had a single king-size bed. If they wanted a double room with two beds, they would have to wait until the next day or even the day after.

Yu Peirong, who had spent many years traveling for work, did not mind sharing a room with another woman. But in this world, the primary gender distinction was not male or female. It was based on the ABO system. The natural attraction between Alphas and Omegas made her feel a bit on edge. Still, changing hotels at that hour would be too inconvenient.

“There was a last-minute issue, so the double rooms are fully booked,” the front desk clerk explained. “We will do our best to rearrange something in the next day or two. We are really sorry for the inconvenience.”

The receptionist was a young woman who seemed new to the job. She had probably never handled this kind of situation before and looked nervously at the two beautiful women in front of her. Yu Peirong’s expression was unreadable and lacked any warmth. This made the girl instinctively turn to Qi Xiyao, who looked more approachable and understanding.

It was already late, and searching for another hotel now might take hours. Qi Xiyao looked up at the dark sky outside. She gave a calm and gentle reply.

“I’m fine with it.”

Since Qi Xiyao had accepted the arrangement, Yu Peirong could not object either.

Still, she could tell Qi Xiyao’s mood was not particularly bright. The two of them stood silently in the elevator as it rose slowly. Only after they stepped into the room and were greeted by a pleasant fragrance in the air did Qi Xiyao show a small smile.

“This hotel’s scent is so unique. It smells like golden osmanthus.”

“It is,” Yu Peirong replied casually. “The temperature-controlled waterbed is also pretty good.”

The hotel room was beautifully designed. The bed was not the usual rectangular shape but a round one with thin, sheer curtains surrounding it like something out of a classical painting. The scented candles were delicately carved into the shapes of dragons and phoenixes. A soft hourglass trickled quietly, and the lighting in the room was dim and dreamy like starlight.

While chatting casually, Yu Peirong walked to the bed out of habit and lifted the blanket.

The moment she glanced inside, a wave of heat rushed to her ears, and her body tensed. Her sensitive glands reacted immediately.

Just as Qi Xiyao finished hanging her clothes and began walking over, Yu Peirong moved quickly. With a sharp motion, she pulled the blanket back down and covered everything again.

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