Oops, I’m the Scumbag Ex in Her Storyline - Chapter 40

It’s common knowledge that perfume is highly volatile. Even without opening the cap, after being enclosed in a small box for a while, its scent inevitably seeps out. The whole box, along with the raffia paper inside used for cushioning, had already absorbed a faint fragrance of bergamot.

Light, sweet, lingering—and impossible to ignore.

Liu Danxing assumed that receiving a gift like this would enrage Bei Lanlan to the point of smashing the perfume bottle on the spot. But surprisingly, she didn’t. Instead, she calmly packed it up and held the box in her arms, ready to carry it into the lab.

With a thud, Liu Danxing blocked the doorway with her arm and warned, “Don’t even think about bringing biochemical weapons into my lab.”

Bei Lanlan raised an eyebrow but complied, placing the box in the nearby janitor’s closet. Her name was written on it—no cleaner would dare take it.

Back in the lab, she washed her hands three times just as Liu Danxing requested, then returned to her previous spot, ready to replace the consumables in the experimental equipment.

While she worked, Liu Danxing simply watched.

After about three minutes, she finally couldn’t hold back. “You’re really not angry?”

Bei Lanlan had just removed the old filter. Still crouched on the floor, she turned her head, blinked, and gave Liu Danxing a small smile. “Not really.”

Liu Danxing stared at her, not quite convinced—those two words held more weight than they let on.

But from another perspective, if someone were eyeing her girlfriend, even brazenly flaunting it right at her doorstep, she would probably be ready to kill.

Sigh. Why bother thinking about this? In the end, it was Bei Lanlan’s problem to deal with.

Shrugging, she went back to her own workstation.

________________________________________

That evening, Bei Lanlan brought the perfume box home. Xin Yan didn’t pick her up today—something came up at work, so she’d already had dinner at the office.

By the time Xin Yan returned, Bei Lanlan was fast asleep. She asked the housekeeper if anything had happened. The housekeeper had seen the box, and under normal circumstances, would’ve reported it. But things had changed significantly between Xin Yan and Bei Lanlan lately. In the past, Xin Yan never concerned herself with the details of Bei Lanlan’s life—unless she was trying to escape or had done something Xin

Yan despised, she wouldn’t bother listening.

Now, Xin Yan paid attention to every detail of her life and, more importantly, had begun to respect her. She hated anything that even hinted at invading Bei Lanlan’s privacy—perhaps even more than Bei Lanlan did.

The housekeeper, having been scolded a few times for not understanding the line between concern and intrusion, thought long and hard. Since it didn’t seem like a big deal, he decided to say nothing.

And so, the box lay quietly in Bei Lanlan’s room for two whole days—completely unknown to Xin Yan.

________________________________________

That night, Xin Yan dressed in an olive-green sweater and white casual trousers, throwing on a down jacket with a fur-trimmed collar before heading out for dinner with Bei Lanlan.

The outfit made her look noticeably younger—and that was intentional. Tonight’s dinner wasn’t just the two of them. They were meeting an elder—someone with the surname Hu, who had been friends with Xin

Yan’s father years ago. They hadn’t kept in touch much over the years. Though there had been some business cooperation between their companies, this was the first time they were meeting privately.

There were plenty of partners Xin Yan’s company worked with. Honestly, if Bei Lanlan hadn’t reminded her, she wouldn’t have remembered who he was. He’d attended that dinner banquet the other night, and in just a few casual words, Bei Lanlan had rekindled a friendship that spanned generations.

Xin Yan hadn’t originally intended to arrange this dinner so soon, but Bei Lanlan insisted—it was urgent. Uncle Hu was about to get married. His fourth wife was ten years older than him, a long-widowed woman who had inherited a substantial estate from her late husband. She also had a son working in the provincial department.

And what did that mean? It meant Uncle Hu was on the brink of striking gold again. His fourth spring was about to bloom—who knew what doors it might open for him next? Whatever the future held, building goodwill now could prove useful later.

Xin Yan was there to reminisce and—if the opportunity arose—milk some benefit from the relationship. Bei Lanlan, on the other hand, was hoping to meet the new fiancée: a sharp-witted woman named Madam

Huang. Though she had no career of her own, she had been investing in emerging industries for years. At nearly sixty, her instincts were razor sharp, and Bei Lanlan wanted her as a future buyer.

Each had their own agenda, and together they played Uncle Hu like a fiddle. The nearly fifty-year-old man was practically spinning with joy.

People grow more sentimental with age, prone to nostalgia and irrational decisions. Every young person watching an older one stumble thinks, That’ll never be me. But we all know how that ends.

Before dinner, Xin Yan did some digging and found out that back in the day, Uncle Hu was quite the character—he rose from nothing, made his fortune by cozying up to powerful people, and eventually launched a company of his own. In just a year, he saw a tenfold profit, becoming a local rising star. That’s how he met Xin Yan’s father.

Following the rule of tailoring herself to the situation, Xin Yan had deliberately chosen soft, modest clothing that older folks tend to like. She knew powerful people dislike those who challenge them—why else would so many older men marry docile young wives?

She’d thought through everything—except one key detail: this Uncle Hu hadn’t married a docile young woman. He’d married someone even more formidable than himself.

At the restaurant—an open-air Chinese diner with no private rooms, chosen by Uncle Hu himself for its lively atmosphere—Uncle Hu, formerly a fearsome businessman, broke down crying at the table.

“When your parents passed, I was abroad—I didn’t even make it to the funeral! I rushed back the moment I heard, but ran into a once-in-a-century tornado. Why, why did I have to go on that business trip then?!”

Xin Yan: “…”

Bei Lanlan: “…”

Other patrons in the restaurant had all turned to watch. The excitement Xin Yan had hoped for was gone; now, everyone else was enjoying her drama.

Uncle Hu sobbed on, pounding the table in remorse. “By the time I got back, even the seventh-day memorial had passed. I wanted to see you, but your mom’s family had already taken you. I thought, they’re family, they’ll take good care of you. Who knew… who knew…”

His voice dropped lower and lower until he suddenly slapped his thigh, wailing, “It’s all my fault! I ruined your life!”

Xin Yan sat stiffly, numb, as a waiter rushed over to escort him out to sober up. Thank goodness he complied. Otherwise, Xin Yan really wouldn’t have known what to do.

Since he had a staff member with him, she stayed seated. Everyone was still watching, and Xin Yan couldn’t even manage a facial expression anymore.

She noticed Bei Lanlan looking at her and rubbed her temples in frustration. “Don’t listen to him. He wasn’t even that close to my dad. I only remember him visiting once or twice a year.”

Bei Lanlan didn’t look away. “What about your mom’s family?”

Xin Yan paused, then slowly answered, “It’s nothing dramatic. My uncle was a gambling addict—lost all his money and came to us for help. My mom refused, cut ties with him. Years passed with no contact. But after my parents died, he was my closest relative, so the lawyer and the trust company let him take me. I didn’t know any better back then. It didn’t take long before I realized who he really was. After that, I came back.”

She spoke lightly, but didn’t mention how she managed to leave, or what happened to that uncle later. Without any adults to guide her, how had she survived? Why had the company accepted her as a leader?

Bei Lanlan remembered something Song Xizi had asked: Did she know what Xin Yan’s shadows were? Was this one of them?

Xin Yan leaned on the seat, exhaling slowly as she looked at the untouched dishes on the table.

This was exactly why she hated social dinners—because you never knew what kind of emotional mess you would be seated next to.

Fifteen minutes later, Uncle Hu returned, a bit more sober. He sat down, calmer now, and immediately apologized, clearly trying to salvage his image.

“I really was your dad’s friend—he was my big brother. We even swore brotherhood. I know, I know, I’ve sworn brotherhood with a lot of people… but he was the only one I ever truly acknowledged.”

Xin Yan gave a dry laugh. Not convinced.

Uncle Hu sighed. “Back then, I was too busy. I didn’t have a warm home life like your dad. We hardly saw each other. It’s normal you don’t remember me.”

I remember, Xin Yan thought. I just don’t believe your story.

He sighed again. “When I heard what happened, I wanted to visit you. But by then, you were already well-established in the company, and I felt ashamed. I didn’t dare face you—until Lanlan reached out. By the way, what’s your relationship now? Are you two getting married?”

Xin Yan was startled. “Why do you ask that?”

Uncle Hu blinked. “Ah, that’s what everyone’s saying.”

Xin Yan: “…”

Bei Lanlan chuckled, stepping in, “Thanks for everyone’s concern, but we’re not quite there yet.”

Xin Yan turned her head, giving her a strange look.

Not yet? Did that mean… they might be someday?

Uncle Hu didn’t overthink it. He laughed, “I get it, I get it. You young people have your own ways. A-Yan, when you do get married, I’ll give you the biggest red envelope in the room—no one will top mine.”

Xin Yan stared at him in silence. She had a strong urge to pull out a marriage certificate.

But no—first, the certificate was at home; second, she still had her pride.

________________________________________

By the time dinner ended, it was already ten. Back in the car, Xin Yan finally relaxed. She rubbed her cheeks, stiff from forced smiles, then turned to Bei Lanlan. “How much of what he said do you think was true?”

People say all kinds of things at the dinner table. But whether they’re sincere or not… who can really tell?

Bei Lanlan looked out the window. The driver had already dropped Uncle Hu off. After a few moments of silence, she turned back to Xin Yan.

“I don’t know,” she said softly.

Xin Yan straightened in her seat.

Bei Lanlan continued, “Other people’s hearts are too complicated. I can only tell whether mine is being honest.”

Xin Yan asked, “Then… how much of what you say is true?”

“Sometimes it’s real, sometimes not so much,” Bei Lanlan said with a smile.

Xin Yan blinked, then couldn’t help but laugh as well.

That was honest, in a way. Even if Bei Lanlan hadn’t gone through her darker phase, Xin Yan would never have thought of her as some naïve little girl. She had her own personality—and people with strong personalities were rarely completely honest.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her left ear, Xin Yan said softly, “I hope you’ll always tell me the truth, at least when it comes to me.”

Bei Lanlan tilted her head. “You’ll know,” she said.

Xin Yan paused. It felt like there was something more behind those words. But Bei Lanlan had already turned her head away. After a moment of thought, Xin Yan gave up trying to figure it out.

She closed her eyes and pretended to nap.

________________________________________

The next day, An Zhiyuan deliberately checked in with Xin Yan to ask how things had gone last night.

There hadn’t been any real “progress.” Their working relationship was still intact—no closer, no further apart. The only noticeable change was to her ears, after enduring the wailing of a middle-aged man all evening. Her ears had suffered ten thousand points of emotional damage.

Upon hearing this, An Zhiyuan couldn’t hide his disappointment.

Though, secretly, he also felt a bit smug—See? I skipped just one dinner, and that was the end of it.

His position was more secure than ever. Pleased, Assistant An consoled her:

“Our cooperation with Chairman Hu is minimal anyway—different industries altogether. And besides, he hasn’t raised prices in ten years. Honestly, I was worried that after dinner he might suddenly decide to bring that up again.”

Xin Yan’s pen froze mid-stroke.

Well, in that light… maybe Uncle Hu hadn’t been entirely full of it.

Once the small talk ended, Assistant An moved on to business.

“Last month, the International Eco-Economics Association sent you an invitation to attend this year’s World Conference on Economy and Environmental Protection. Do you remember?”

Xin Yan looked up at him, blank.

An Zhiyuan sighed.

“Last month. The second. Right after the board meeting. You agreed to attend in person and even asked me to draft your speech.”

Now that he mentioned it, Xin Yan vaguely remembered. To be fair, An Zhiyuan brought up so many things every day. It was already impressive she remembered anything directly tied to the company. As for this conference—which was basically just for appearances—how could she be expected to care?

It wasn’t until she became a true “CEO” that Xin Yan realized: attending international forums and giving talks at prestigious universities were standard practices. If you had money, invitations poured in—after all, everyone wanted a piece of your wallet.

An Zhiyuan had tried to convince her countless times how beneficial such events could be. Eventually, even the most stubborn person would give in to that kind of persistent brainwashing.

Xin Yan pushed aside the files on her desk.

“Where is it being held this year?”

That made Assistant An perk up a little.

“Italy. Florence. The birthplace of Pinocchio.”

International conferences were a bit like opening mystery boxes—you never knew where the organizers would choose to host it. An Zhiyuan still remembered the thunderstorm in Brasília, where he genuinely

thought he might not make it out alive.

________________________________________

Xin Yan still hesitated. She twirled her pen, then suddenly had a thought.

“Don’t we already have an Environmental Ambassador? Why not send them in my place?”

An Zhiyuan gave her a pitying look.

“They’re filming a closed-off variety show. Won’t be free until next Wednesday.”

Xin Yan: “……”

Fine. Looks like she had no choice.

Since the flight would be long, An Zhiyuan arranged a private jet in advance. Only then did Xin Yan discover she even had a private jet.

She turned to An Zhiyuan, curious:

“Do I have a private cruise ship too?”

He blinked.

“You have a yacht.”

Xin Yan clicked her tongue.

“Yachts are too small—can only fit a few hundred people, and you can’t bring much on board. I want a proper cruise ship, one that can hold thousands.”

Her eyes lit up.

“We’ll host the company’s annual gala on it!”

An Zhiyuan: “……”

Do you have any idea how much one of those costs?

You really are the queen of burning money.

________________________________________

On the day of departure, Bei Lanlan came to see Xin Yan off at the airport.

She seemed a little reluctant, holding Xin Yan’s hand and giving it a small shake.

“I wish I could go with you.”

Xin Yan gently squeezed her hand in return.

“Once winter break starts, I’ll take you wherever I go.”

Bei Lanlan smiled softly.

“Promise?”

“Promise,” Xin Yan said, smiling too.

An Zhiyuan: “……”

Yeah, time for him to leave. No point being the third wheel.

Once he was gone, Xin Yan relaxed a bit more.

“So, what are your plans while I’m away these five days?” she asked Bei Lanlan.

Lanlan thought for a moment.

“Work, classes, the lab… Outside of that, I won’t have much time.”

Xin Yan frowned, worried.

“You should skip the lab. That grad student doesn’t teach you anything—just makes you do her grunt work.”

Bei Lanlan defended her.

“It’s not that bad. Sometimes she lets me use the equipment.”

Xin Yan shook her head.

“That tiny bit of access, and she’s got you wrapped around her finger. She treats you like that and you still defend her.”

Lanlan lowered her head, looking a bit dejected.

Seeing this, Xin Yan quickly changed the subject.

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about her. I’ll bring you a gift when I get back. What do you want?”

Lanlan looked up again, her smile returning.

“Anything’s fine, as long as it’s from you.”

So easy to please.

And the more she acted like that, the more Xin Yan wanted to give her the world. Determined to find something truly special for Bei Lanlan, Xin Yan finally boarded the plane.

Just before takeoff, she reminded her:

“Take Xiao Zhang with you whenever you go out—he’s better than a bodyguard.”

“I’ll call you at 10 p.m. Don’t worry—it’ll be afternoon here.”

“Don’t go to unfamiliar places. It’s really not safe these days.”

“Just… be good, alright? I’ll be back soon.”

Whatever she said, Bei Lanlan nodded and agreed, patient as ever. But her repeated warnings about “not going where you shouldn’t” made Lanlan a little suspicious.

Did she… know something?

Truthfully, Xin Yan didn’t know a thing. It was just a gut feeling. Despite how obedient Lanlan seemed, she couldn’t shake the worry that something would go wrong the moment she left.

In the end, Bei Lanlan gently pushed her forward.

“Five days from now, I’ll be right here waiting.”

Xin Yan nodded, finally saying no more.

Convinced everything would be fine, she lay down and began adjusting to the time zone. She drifted off quickly, completely unaware that from beginning to end, Bei Lanlan had only nodded.

Her one true promise… was just that final sentence:

“I’ll be here to pick you up in five days.”

________________________________________

Outside the airport, their driver Xiao Zhang was already waiting. As soon as she got into the car, he was about to turn toward the tree-lined road back home when he heard Bei Lanlan speak from the backseat:

“Don’t go home just yet.”

It was nearly noon. Xiao Zhang assumed she wanted to grab lunch first. He buckled up and asked as usual,

“Where would you like to go?”

In the rearview mirror, Bei Lanlan looked up and smiled faintly.

“Yunshan Convalescent Home.”

She paused, then tilted her head and looked at him through the mirror.

“You’ve been there already, haven’t you? I don’t need to give you directions, right?”

Xiao Zhang: “……”

Oh no…

Boss Xin… why didn’t you take me to Florence…?