I Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha and Stole the Heroine from Her Tragic Romance - Chapter 73

Before Qi Xiyao officially joined the film crew, it was Yu Peirong’s twenty-sixth birthday.

In her previous life, almost every birthday after she grew up was spent on set. Even though people around her would celebrate, it never truly felt special.

This time, her birthday was organized entirely by her secretary, who promised it would be a surprise.

Since Yu Peirong started working here, she had left a very good impression on the company staff. So this time, the celebration was held directly within the company.

The largest meeting room was decorated with lights and banners. That evening, once everyone finished their work, not a single employee rushed home. Instead, they sat and waited.

Even a few artists who were free made time to come back.

Most of them felt grateful toward Yu Peirong. Before she joined Yishui Entertainment, operations were primarily led by Yu Shang. His management style was chaotic and heavily favored Alphas, often neglecting Omegas.

But under Yu Peirong, everyone, regardless of gender, had an equal opportunity to grow. As long as they had the talent, the company’s resources would support them.

Everything was moving toward healthy competition. Agents no longer sought to exploit artists. No one was forced to attend social events or serve drinks just to get roles. Yu Peirong personally took care of many matters. As for those who relied solely on underhanded tricks, they simply faded out when their contracts expired.

On the night of the birthday party, many employees came over to toast with her. Yu Peirong didn’t want to spoil anyone’s mood, so she accepted glass after glass.

Thankfully, her alcohol tolerance was decent. She was not invincible, but she held her own and stayed composed until the party ended. She clinked glasses with everyone before leaving.

When she returned to her office, she found Qi Xiyao already there.

Qi Xiyao was sitting quietly and reading a book.

Ever since her pregnancy had been confirmed, her temperament had become noticeably more gentle and calm. Under the soft overhead lighting, she looked peaceful and radiant, as though a golden glow shimmered across her delicate features.

She heard the sound of the door and looked up. Her eyes softened as they met Yu Peirong’s.

“Finished, Miss Busy?” she asked sweetly.

Qi Xiyao had never really liked parties. She had some emotional scars from past events, and Yu Peirong understood that well. At first, she told her not to come at all. But after some thought, Qi Xiyao decided it was important for her, as the birthday girl’s wife, to at least show her face.

She had become more confident lately and carried herself with a quiet maturity. Still, when she was around Yu Peirong, she loved calling her “Sister Rong” in that soft, teasing voice.

The moment Yu Peirong heard that tone, she knew Qi Xiyao must have something prepared or wanted to share a surprise.

Qi Xiyao joked with a smile.

“I wonder if I could steal a bit of your time?”

Yu Peirong pretended to hesitate, which made Qi Xiyao pout slightly in mock frustration, clearly unhappy with the pause.

The next second, Yu Peirong stepped forward and gently took her hand.

She held Qi Xiyao’s soft palm tightly, pressing it into her own and giving it a gentle pat.

“If it’s for you, then all my time is yours.”

“You smooth talker.”

**

Qi Xiyao took Yu Peirong to a chocolate factory.

This place was a little different from typical factories. There was a special room set up just for people to experience making chocolate themselves. As soon as they entered, a rich, sweet scent filled the air. The room was surrounded by flowers and balloons, clearly decorated in advance for a birthday celebration.

In the center stood a clean table, neatly arranged with tools for making chocolate and cake.

Yu Peirong turned and looked at Qi Xiyao in surprise. As expected, she saw that familiar mischievous smile in her eyes, as if she had predicted this exact reaction.

Qi Xiyao took a few steps forward and leaned close to her. Her warm breath brushed Yu Peirong’s neck, making her feel a slight tickle.

“Matcha liqueur chocolates,” Qi Xiyao reminded her softly. “You don’t remember?”

Yu Peirong was stunned for a moment, then the memory returned.

Not long after she arrived in this world, she had been trying to maintain her assigned character image. She could not get too close to Qi Xiyao, but also could not offend her, since she was the story’s protagonist. During one conversation, Qi Xiyao had nervously offered her a piece of chocolate. It had a luxurious-looking milk filling and came in elegant packaging.

Yu Peirong had never heard of that brand before, but it clearly was expensive. At that time, Qi Xiyao had no resources and was definitely not wealthy. Yet she was willing to spend that kind of money on chocolate for her.

Yu Peirong actually loved chocolate. But the system had warned her that if she broke character too often, she could face serious consequences. So she politely declined the gift.

She had even made a picky remark, saying she did not like that flavor very much.

If it had been anyone else, they would have felt hurt or embarrassed after being rejected like that. Even if they did not express it, they would quietly keep their distance and never offer anything again.

But Qi Xiyao was different.

She remembered all of Yu Peirong’s preferences without complaint. She did not think Yu Peirong was being unreasonable. Instead, she asked what kind of chocolate she liked.

Yu Peirong had casually said she liked matcha liqueur chocolates.

That flavor was extremely rare. Usually, matcha and liqueur were sold separately, and it was almost unheard of to see them combined. But now, Qi Xiyao had carefully remembered the formula, booked the space in advance, and prepared to make the chocolates by hand.

All of this came from a simple offhand comment Yu Peirong had once made.

That one little joke, Qi Xiyao had remembered all this time.

Once Yu Peirong recalled the moment, Qi Xiyao let out a soft laugh of relief and tied on an apron. She got to work making the chocolate.

She had already learned from the factory’s chocolatier beforehand. The equipment was ready, so it was not difficult. It only required time and patience.

Qi Xiyao carefully mixed the matcha powder and liqueur filling together. The flavors combined into a fragrant blend that was both fresh and rich.

She had always been good with her hands. Even now, despite living a relatively comfortable life aside from filming, her early experiences doing things on her own had given her plenty of skills.

While she was making the chocolates, Qi Xiyao insisted on doing everything herself. She didn’t let Yu Peirong help at all. Watching her from the side, Yu Peirong felt her heart pounding, her eyes filled with a deep, gentle affection.

She had always known that Qi Xiyao was serious about her, but she never expected a moment like this to come.

Though the weather had cooled, Qi Xiyao was so focused on her task that a light layer of sweat appeared on the bridge of her nose. Under the soft lights, it shimmered like crystal.

After carefully packaging the chocolates and placing them into the machine for final processing, Qi Xiyao estimated it would take about thirty more minutes before they were ready. Outside, the garden was lush and green, and she decided they could take a walk while they waited. She removed her gloves and reached for Yu Peirong’s hand.

Yu Peirong was feeling slightly tired from all the wine earlier, but the cool outdoor breeze helped clear her head. She took a deep breath, refreshed.

This had been one of the most fulfilling birthdays she had ever experienced.

Qi Xiyao had arranged every detail with care, leaving no gaps in the schedule. She had even planned exactly what they would do while waiting for the chocolate to be ready.

She remembered something Yu Peirong had once mentioned offhand. In her old world, people in ancient times would release sky lanterns and make wishes. It symbolized peace and good fortune for the coming year.

There were no sky lanterns in this world, so Qi Xiyao looked up tutorials and made one herself. She had it set up ahead of time, waiting for Yu Peirong to release it.

She also prepared a small piece of paper and a pen, so Yu Peirong could write down a wish just like she used to. Legend said that once the lantern floated into the sky, the wish would come true.

Yu Peirong was genuinely surprised. She never expected Qi Xiyao to prepare something like this. Rubbing her hands together to warm them, she carefully wrote her wish one word at a time, then placed the paper into the small box at the center of the lantern. She let go and watched it rise gently into the sky.

The bright city lights seemed to fade away in that moment. The chocolate factory, now quiet and still, was filled with the sweet scent of sugar and warmth, like invisible ribbons of happiness curling through the air.

After walking for a while in the back garden, the wind began to pick up. They returned indoors where it was much cozier.

It took a little walk to get back, but by the time they reached the room, the chocolates were ready. Qi Xiyao held the tray as if it were a priceless treasure and gently placed it into Yu Peirong’s hands.

“Try one now, okay?”

Her voice was full of nervous anticipation. She looked up at Yu Peirong, studying every detail of her expression. When Yu Peirong took the first bite, Qi Xiyao’s eyes sparkled. A faint blush rose to her cheeks from excitement.

“This is one of the rare times I get to make something for you,” Qi Xiyao said softly. Her voice trembled slightly, her gaze shimmering with tenderness. “You’ve done so much for me, and I never knew how to repay you.”

It was rare to find a true soulmate in life. But Yu Peirong was not just someone who understood her. She had pulled her out of the darkness, guided her through confusion, and helped her avoid so many missteps.

If it hadn’t been for Yu Peirong, she might never have achieved what she had. She might not even have made it to this moment in one piece.

She had never said any of this out loud, but in her heart, she cherished every small gesture from Yu Peirong.

She had spent a long time planning this chocolate-making experience. She had considered many other ideas but ultimately rejected them all.

She was always worried that Yu Peirong didn’t have enough time. If she took too long, even if Yu Peirong stayed with her, she might feel tired.

That was why she had planned everything so carefully. And now, seeing the joy on Yu Peirong’s face, she felt it had all been worth it.

“You’ve already done more than enough,” Yu Peirong said gently.

With just one glance, she could already read her thoughts. Her reply came in the form of a chocolate-sweet kiss, gently pressed to the corner of Qi Xiyao’s lips. It was tender, lingering, and full of meaning.

“Honestly, tonight,” she whispered, “all I wanted was to spend it with you.”

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