Not A Stupid Beauty [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Inside the lavish private room, laughter and chatter flowed easily among the others. Only Shi Yu sat stiffly in her seat, unable to relax.

Before seeing Jiang Qiuyan again, she never could have imagined that the alpha who once spent a night with her would turn out to be Pei Shuyu’s fiancée.

What kind of absurd coincidence was this?

Pei Shuyu noticed her downcast look and thought she simply wasn’t used to such occasions. She leaned closer and whispered, “Later, I’ll find an excuse to sneak us out.”

Shi Yu glanced at her, then quickly lowered her gaze, lips pressed into silence.

It was an accident, yes—but in this situation, she really didn’t know how to face Pei Shuyu.

Just then, Pei Shuyu’s phone buzzed. Casting a quick look at the adults, who were all happily absorbed in conversation, she tugged Shi Yu by the hand and slipped out of the room.

“If you don’t want to go back, why don’t you head down to the mall for a walk?”

Shi Yu nodded at once. If she didn’t run now, then when?

Pei Shuyu’s phone rang again and again, her expression growing urgent. Shi Yu left her to it, turning to head straight for the elevators.

But after only a few steps, she spotted a familiar figure.

Jiang Qiuyan. What was she doing out here?

Shi Yu wanted no part of a run-in. She darted left and right until she slipped into a restroom, hiding there for a long while before carefully peeking out.

“Looking for someone?”

The voice jolted her like an electric shock, every fine hair on her body standing on end.

Jiang Qiuyan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her phoenix eyes cool and unreadable—yet the weight of her gaze carried the oppressive stillness of a storm about to break.

Shi Yu stiffly turned her head away, pressing her face against the wall and her own arm.

“No one. Just didn’t expect to run into you here. What a coincidence.”

“Not a coincidence. I came to find you.”

Shi Yu’s heart lurched. Her forced smile vanished. Came to find her? To warn her?

She didn’t need to be told. If Shi Huaixin or Pei Yiyi ever learned she’d once been with Pei Shuyu’s fiancée, she’d be disposed of without hesitation.

“You don’t have to worry. I won’t tell a soul.”

For the first time, emotion flickered in Jiang Qiuyan’s eyes.

“Really, I swear!” Shi Yu added hastily, voice pitched high to prove her sincerity.

But Jiang Qiuyan began to walk toward her, each sharp click of her heel echoing directly in Shi Yu’s chest. Her breath caught in fear.

“Actually, I’ve long forgotten. I can’t even recall what happened that night.”

The alpha stopped in front of her, lips curving with a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. When Shi Yu tilted her head up, a hand suddenly covered her eyes.

“These eyes of yours… they reveal too much.”

Like a frightened rabbit, Shi Yu trembled, red-eyed and pitiful. It made one almost reluctant to tease her further—yet her words were never pleasant to hear.

Jiang Qiuyan leaned closer, until Shi Yu was half leaning into her embrace.

“Eat and run—who taught you that?”

“Eh?” Shi Yu blinked, utterly lost.

Jiang Qiuyan dropped her hand and met her eyes directly. “Take responsibility for me.”

“Re… responsibility?”

Shi Yu was completely stunned. Usually it was the omega demanding an alpha take responsibility. Since when did alphas demand it the other way around?

Before she could respond, raised voices broke out nearby—Pei Shuyu’s among them.

Shi Yu instinctively put distance between herself and Jiang Qiuyan.

“I can’t take responsibility for you. You’re… my sister’s fiancée.”

Jiang Qiuyan fell silent. The fact was undeniable. Yet looking at the timid little kitten in front of her, she found herself, for once, wanting to explain.

She gripped Shi Yu’s shoulders and turned her toward the sound of the quarrel.

“Look closely.”

Pei Shuyu stood with her back to them, shoulders trembling. Facing her was a beta, slightly taller, eyes swollen red.

“…Forget it. Let’s leave it at that,” Pei Shuyu whispered, her voice shaking with grief.

The beta lunged forward, clutching her tightly, crying, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have fought with you.”

Pei Shuyu didn’t push her away. Instead, she buried her face in the beta’s embrace, sobbing softly.

Shi Yu understood.

“You see? Your sister’s heart has long belonged elsewhere.”

Shi Yu didn’t look back. Her fingers twisted together as she asked in a small voice, “And what about you?”

She knew Pei Shuyu was in love with someone else, yet still engaged. That could only mean Jiang Qiuyan must feel something too. And if she did—wasn’t it painful, watching the person she liked in another’s arms?

Jiang Qiuyan opened her mouth to admit as much, but when she caught sight of the little kitten with her head lowered, so dejected, a mischievous impulse stirred instead.

“Does what I think even matter?”

Shi Yu turned her face up to her, mind racing for once.

“So you just want me as Pei Shuyu’s substitute?”

Jiang Qiuyan: “…”

She’d had a bad feeling the moment those clever eyes started to whirl, and sure enough—

Her hand fell onto Shi Yu’s head, ruffling it roughly. A helpless smile tugged at her lips. If only she could pry open this little head and see what strange thoughts it held.

Shi Yu flinched but didn’t pull away. The dry warmth of that hand resting on her crown carried an oddly comforting gentleness.

A soft whimper came from Pei Shuyu’s direction. Shi Yu turned instinctively, but Jiang Qiuyan tugged her back.

“Not for children’s eyes.”

Shi Yu thought drily, We’ve already done things far less innocent than that. What could possibly be too indecent now? But she swallowed the words, knowing they’d only invite mockery.

She snuck a glance at Jiang Qiuyan—then looked away before she was caught.

But Jiang Qiuyan noticed. Of course she did. She only pretended not to, watching the little kitten’s furtive peeks with amusement.

A dangerous thought slid through her mind. Cute… again?

Once, she could blame it on pheromones. But now, all it took was the girl’s presence to lighten her mood. That was wrong.

After that night, she had asked Lu Tong if it had been her who arranged for an omega to ease her heat. Lu Tong had denied it—the little omega had barged in on her own.

Her investigation revealed the truth: the kitten was nothing but a pitiful child.

So Jiang Qiuyan waited, expecting Shi Yu to come knocking again. But a month passed in silence.

In the end, it was Jiang Qiuyan herself who couldn’t stay still.

This entire family meeting had been orchestrated by her—an excuse to see the kitten. In exchange, she’d promised Pei Shuyu help with her beta.

And yet… the kitten remained ungrateful.

Footsteps and voices approached.

“Where have those two gone? They’ve been gone too long.”

“Don’t worry, in-laws. Perhaps they just wanted a quiet place to talk.”

It was Pei Yiyi and Jiang Qiuyan’s mother, Bai Lingshuang.

Shi Yu stiffened, immediately retreating a step away.

“They’re looking for you. You should go back.”

Jiang Qiuyan frowned at her attempt to put distance between them. She bent low, whispering in her ear, “No plans to take responsibility for me? Running off after eating your fill isn’t what a good girl does.”

Shi Yu struggled for a retort, finally stammering, “Y-you were the one who… who ate me.”

“Perfect. Then I’ll take responsibility for you,” Jiang Qiuyan replied smoothly.

And with that, she realized: Shi Yu hadn’t approached her on purpose. She wasn’t some schemer—just a frightened kitten who had stumbled into her arms by accident.

That made it all the harder.

Shi Yu’s thoughts, meanwhile, were cold and practical.

Jiang Qiuyan was bound to Pei Shuyu by engagement, whether Shuyu wanted it or not. To involve herself would only make her the other woman.

And even if Jiang Qiuyan liked her now, it was only because she couldn’t have Pei Shuyu. When that interest faded, what would become of her?

Rather than rely on fragile whims, better to take control of her own fate.

If she could escape Haishi, she could finally be free of Shi Huaixin’s reach.

The voices grew nearer. Panicked, Shi Yu shoved Jiang Qiuyan aside and bolted in the other direction.

Her fragile-looking frame hid surprising strength. Jiang Qiuyan hit the wall with a heavy thud. Rubbing the ache in her chest, she couldn’t help but laugh.

For someone so delicate, she certainly had some fire.

She thought to give chase, but her mother’s voice rang out behind her.

“Yan Yan, what are you doing here?”

Jiang Qiuyan turned, schooling her expression. “Just getting some air.”

Bai Lingshuang beckoned her over.

“Leaving Miss Pei behind to hide by yourself—isn’t that a little rude? If you don’t like these occasions, you should end them early, not sneak away.”

Jiang Qiuyan nodded obediently.

But her thoughts were far away, following the fleeing kitten.

She’d get her back. One way or another, she would never let her return to the Pei household.

—

Shi Yu burst out of the hotel and ran until her lungs burned. She didn’t dare call a cab at the entrance—Shi Huaixin’s men might be watching.

Her heart hammered wildly, adrenaline making her dizzy.

She checked train tickets. To get as far from Haishi as possible, she’d have to take the cheapest green-line train.

With only cash on hand, she’d need to buy in person.

Flagging down a taxi, she told the driver to take her to the station.

This was her only chance. If Shi Huaixin dragged her back, she couldn’t even imagine what awaited her.

She could not—must not—be caught.

Her nerves twisted her stomach in knots all the way. By the time she reached the station and made for the ticket hall, two burly men stepped into her path.

Shi Yu knew them instantly. They were the ones who had dragged her to the Pei family after her mother’s death.

“Be good and come with us.”

Resistance was futile. But here, with so many people around, if she screamed—someone might help.

“Mmph—!”

Her cry was cut short, her mouth smothered.

Lifted bodily between them, she was shoved into a car. No matter how she struggled, it was useless.

The vehicle turned back toward the hotel. With each block they closed, her heart sank deeper.

When they hauled her out again, the sky was thick with storm clouds—yet a shaft of sunlight broke through. Shi Yu lifted her face to it, wondering bleakly, Will I ever see another sunrise?

They dragged her upstairs to a different floor. When the door swung open, ice filled her veins.

Inside sat not Shi Huaixin, but the alpha who had once tried to force himself on her.

His gaze lit up with a greedy gleam.

“Come in, little niece,” he said smoothly. “Your father will be here soon.”

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