Reborn as a Scummy Alpha, I Became Every Heroine's Obsession - Chapter 38

[System: Host, Liu Huaijing is too skilled. If you continue staying close to her, something very inappropriate might actually happen.]

Hearing the system’s warning, Gu Qiqi didn’t hesitate. She turned and ran as fast as she could.

A smile slowly appeared at the corners of Liu Huaijing’s lips.

Xiao Bai, hiding behind the door, first saw her boss leave with a cold expression, without a word or pause. Moments later, she saw Gu Qiqi run out like the wind.

Left behind, Xiao Bai could only turn around and politely greet Liu Huaijing, who remained seated on the sofa.

“Miss Liu, please get some rest. President Feng wanted to discuss something with Miss Gu. I hope you won’t misunderstand.”

Liu Huaijing nodded calmly.

Xiao Bai gently closed the door behind her.

But once everyone had disappeared from view, the faint smile on Liu Huaijing’s lips vanished completely.

She turned the green jade bracelet on her wrist and stared blankly at the door.

She had calculated everything carefully.

But seeing Gu Qiqi run away from her brought a wave of frustration she couldn’t ignore.

She knew that if she wanted a place in Gu Qiqi’s heart, she had to push out the one already there.

And Liu Huaijing had already identified that person. It was Feng Jiying.

Liu Huaijing came from a complicated background. She was the illegitimate daughter of the Liu family patriarch, born from one of his many affairs and abandoned in the border districts.

She should have lived her life in obscurity, far from the center of power in Central City.

However, the Liu patriarch’s excessive lifestyle had damaged his fertility. Alphas and omega children became rare, with most offspring being betas.

Because of that, she was brought back to Central City. But as a child born in the border district and an illegitimate daughter, she was treated worse than the servants of the Liu family.

She endured humiliation and watched all her hopes fall apart.

In Central City, she realized she could rely on no one but herself.

So she swallowed her pride and endured every insult.

At first, she didn’t want to fight for anything. But life in the Liu family taught her a painful truth.

If you don’t fight for what you want, others will take everything from you.

Over time, through patience and clever strategies, she built a black market empire from the shadows.

She planned to drain the Liu family from within and rise as the new head of the family.

But in Central City, being an omega meant she had no legal right to inherit. She needed a partner. A clean, obedient, strong alpha with high mental strength.

Someone who would serve as her shield and support.

When Gu Qiqi underwent gender differentiation and arrived in Central City, Liu Huaijing had already gotten her full profile.

The person originally matched with Gu Qiqi through the forced pairing system wasn’t her. It was another omega from the Liu family.

But Liu Huaijing acted first. She chose Gu Qiqi.

If Gu Qiqi turned out to be arrogant and foolish, she would have gotten rid of her without hesitation.

But if Gu Qiqi was kind-hearted and different from the usual Central City alphas, Liu Huaijing would do everything she could to win her over and make her useful.

That was her plan.

But life rarely goes according to plan.

Liu Huaijing never expected Gu Qiqi to discover her secret identity as the king of the black market.

And yet, Gu Qiqi didn’t use that knowledge to threaten or demand anything.

Instead, she began avoiding Liu Huaijing completely, as if trying to cut all ties.

Liu Huaijing couldn’t understand why.

But this only deepened her interest in Gu Qiqi.

Being around someone so unpredictable must make life far more interesting.

The jade bracelet on her wrist grew warm from constant rubbing.

Liu Huaijing narrowed her eyes, still staring stubbornly at the door.

She was waiting. Waiting for Gu Qiqi to come back.

The human heart was the hardest thing to predict.

Something stirred in her chest. Emotions rushed forward like waves at sunset, each one stronger than the last.

Possessiveness was rising.

The thought of having Gu Qiqi all to herself grew stronger by the second.

No matter what it took, she was determined to have her.

Gu Qiqi belonged to her. And she would make sure of it.

Feng Jiying couldn’t believe how ridiculous she was acting. Her behavior was nothing short of childish.

Even a child in kindergarten wouldn’t react like this just because they saw an omega and alpha getting close.

She realized that Gu Qiqi was walking behind her. But out of spite, she refused to slow down and kept walking quickly, her long strides full of frustration.

Gu Qiqi was feeling awkward too. She had acted on impulse and ran out, only to subconsciously follow Feng Jiying.

She should have taken a different route to avoid both Feng Jiying and Liu Huaijing.

With her head down, she walked quietly, trying to push down the shame bubbling inside her.

Why did being seen with Liu Huaijing by Feng Jiying make her feel so guilty? It felt like she had just been caught cheating in a relationship.

She needed an excuse, and fast.

But Feng Jiying’s expression at the door had been far too intense. It was exaggerated.

Her eyes were red, like she had just witnessed something deeply upsetting.

But their relationship shouldn’t have been that close. It was just a business deal, a simple exchange of money and benefits.

Gu Qiqi took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.

With both hands behind her back, she kicked at small stones on the path.

She thought maybe this would distract her.

She didn’t see that Feng Jiying had stopped walking and had turned to face her, staring silently.

Without warning, Gu Qiqi walked straight into her.

They were about the same height. Feng Jiying was a bit slimmer, but her heels made them eye level.

Their foreheads collided with a loud thud. Their lips brushed slightly, warm and soft. Even their teeth knocked together.

Gu Qiqi quickly stepped back, covering her forehead and licking her sore lip. The pain made her wince.

She was shocked. How could an omega’s head and lips be that hard?

Feng Jiying pressed her lips together tightly. A thin line of blood slid from the corner of her mouth, making the serious moment seem oddly humorous.

Her metal-rimmed glasses hid her emotions well.

“Why didn’t you stay and enjoy your soft little omega?” Feng Jiying said coldly. “What are you following me for?”

Her tone was biting, sarcastic, and hard to read.

Gu Qiqi rubbed her aching forehead and wiped the blood from her lip with her thumb.

“I…” she began.

Feng Jiying turned her head away.

“I don’t want to hear your lies,” she said sharply.

Gu Qiqi reached out as if to stop her.

“No, wait. I’m not lying. I just wanted to ask about the one million credits you transferred me. The money is frozen and requires a password. I came to ask you what it is.”

She raised her voice before Feng Jiying could cut her off again, shouting it loud and clear.

“Feng Jiying, did you hear me? Did you understand what I said? Stop saying those strange things.”

She cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted again, hoping the message got through.

Feng Jiying froze.

Her fingertips curled slightly.

She lowered her head and suddenly laughed quietly.

Gu Qiqi shivered.

“No way. Feng Jiying, are you really pretending to be crazy just to avoid giving me the one million you promised?” she asked. “You already transferred it in front of everyone at the 330 Military Academy. That money is mine now. You can’t take it back.”

“It’s yours. Of course it’s yours,” Feng Jiying replied, a calm smile returning to her lips.

“I’ve never gone back on my word.”

She adjusted her glasses and walked two steps toward Gu Qiqi.

“I just overestimated you. Seems like your empty little head is only full of money.”

She raised her hand and gently tousled Gu Qiqi’s messy hair. She twisted the longest strand around her finger, slowly wrapping and unwrapping it, like something lovers might do.

Gu Qiqi blinked in confusion, stunned by the sudden change.

Meanwhile, Xiao Bai quietly drove the car over, then stepped out and used her terminal to call a ride.

She had witnessed everything from a distance and now crouched behind the back of the car, sighing to herself.

The boss’s feelings for Miss Gu were clearly getting deeper. She was even starting to make excuses for her and giving her an emotional way out.

If this were a kind of love sickness, it was only getting worse.

Xiao Bai bent low, sneaking off down a small path, disappearing quickly into the distance.

As a thoughtful and perfect secretary, it was only right for Xiao Bai to leave the private space to the president and the woman she constantly thought about — Miss Gu.

Gu Qiqi grabbed Feng Jiying’s hand, her voice filled with frustration.
“What’s the point of saying all this? Just tell me the password.”

Deep inside, Gu Qiqi found it strange. Why did seeing Feng Jiying sulking make her feel a bit pleased?

“Come closer,” Feng Jiying commanded. “If you want the password, then behave and do as I say.”

Gu Qiqi inhaled sharply.

So she wanted a kiss? Then just say so. It wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed before.

One kiss for a million credits. That was a great deal.

Without hesitation, Gu Qiqi leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Feng Jiying’s waist, and gave her a loud kiss. The crisp sound echoed clearly by the riverside.

Feng Jiying froze.

“There,” Gu Qiqi said. “Happy now, President Feng?”

Feng Jiying had only intended to have Gu Qiqi come close so she could sense how much of Liu Huaijing’s scent still lingered on her. She hadn’t expected the kiss at all.

She removed her metal-framed glasses. Her long almond eyes locked onto Gu Qiqi with intensity.

Gu Qiqi frowned.
“What are you staring at me for?”

Feng Jiying asked calmly, “If you had a choice, would you pick me or Liu Huaijing?”

Her voice, as always, was cold and emotionless.

But the question came directly from her lips.

Gu Qiqi let out a bitter laugh and spoke with sarcasm.
“Why are you making things difficult for me? You already know I never had a choice. The Federation transferred me from the border district to Central City and forced me into a match with the three of you. Did anyone ever ask for my opinion? Was any of it up to me?”

She continued, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
“Did you forget, President Feng? At the beginning, you couldn’t wait to avoid me. And now you ask me to choose between you and Liu Huaijing? Isn’t that a little ridiculous?”

System:
Host, stop talking. This is too heartbreaking. It’s the fate of cannon fodder, powerless to change their destiny.

Gu Qiqi pressed on, her tone rising.
“And you were the one who wanted to end the match in the first place. Why are you being so dramatic now? What exactly do you want to see? Me, someone from the border district with no background, groveling at your feet and begging you not to end things?”

“Do you think I should offer up my pride, hand it over to you, and let you trample it just because of where I was born?”

She was shaking with anger, and her grip on Feng Jiying’s waist tightened.

Even though the storyline had shifted because of Zhao Ritian’s inappropriate incident with the twisted principal, this entire arc would not have happened if Feng Jiying hadn’t mentioned breaking the bond.

Feng Jiying stayed silent.

The pain in her waist was real, but it wasn’t nearly as painful as the ache in her chest.

With every word Gu Qiqi said, her heart clenched.

And in that moment, Feng Jiying still didn’t realize that what she felt was called heartache.

“I didn’t do it,” she finally whispered.

Gu Qiqi blinked.
“What?”

“I did say I wanted to break our forced match, but I was just angry. I never filed a request with the Federation. It was the Feng family elder who acted on his own. That night, we slept peacefully. When I woke up the next morning, you were gone. When I finally found you again, you were already at the Civil Affairs Bureau. And Wen Rui and Liu Huaijing were by your side.”

Gu Qiqi stood in stunned silence.
“You were just… angry?”

So a single moment of anger changed the whole storyline?

System:
No, Host. The real shift came from the inappropriate event with Zhao Ritian. Feng Jiying’s words just happened to trigger the new outcome.

Gu Qiqi laughed bitterly.
“You people from Central City love to talk about how low omega status is and how hard you’ve had it. But one careless sentence from you was enough to cost me everything. So please, stop trying to gain sympathy.”

“I swear I’ve done everything I could to avoid hurting any of you. You, Liu Huaijing, Wen Rui… I’ve stayed away from all of you. But fate keeps tying me back to your lives. This isn’t what I wanted. If I had a choice, I’d rather never have met any of you.”

Feng Jiying reached out and gently held her hand.
“I’m sorry.”

Her voice was soft and calm, like a feather falling quietly on Gu Qiqi’s anxious heart.

It shouldn’t have been enough to ease her emotions, but somehow it did.

“I lost my parents when I was very young,” Feng Jiying said. “As the only heir of the Feng Corporation, I was supposed to take over. But when I turned eighteen, I differentiated into an omega. Under the laws of the Federation, omegas have no inheritance rights.”

“The rest of the Feng family had no legitimate claim, but I refused to let my parents’ legacy fall into their hands. For years, I’ve been holding on alone.”

“I’ve seen too many alphas come at me with bad intentions. They used every trick to get close, not because of me, but because of the Feng family behind me. I’ve had to be on guard constantly. Even the elders of the Feng family are no different. Mistreating you was never my intention.”

Gu Qiqi was caught off guard.

This was the first time Feng Jiying had ever opened up to her so sincerely, revealing her past and struggles.

It felt like they weren’t close enough for this kind of emotional honesty.

Feng Jiying continued, “I’m only telling you this to clear up the misunderstanding between us. Nothing more. I don’t want anyone’s pity.”

Gu Qiqi suddenly realized her hand was still gripping Feng Jiying’s waist, and tightly at that.

She quickly let go and took two steps back, lowering her head.
“I’m sorry.”

Before her rebirth, the version of herself controlled by the game system had led to a tragic ending. It was a result of all three women’s actions.

But now, she had thrown all her anger at Feng Jiying alone.

Feng Jiying looked at her.
“You’re the first alpha I’ve met who only thinks about money and nothing else.”

“I have more wealth than I could ever use, yet you only care about the smallest portion of it. That’s why I began to see you differently over time.”

Gu Qiqi gave her a blank look.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment? It really doesn’t sound like one.”

Just then, Xiao Bai sent a message to Feng Jiying’s terminal.

Xiao Bai:
President, I already called a ride back to the company. I disabled the car’s surveillance systems. Good luck!

Feng Jiying:
…

Gu Qiqi noticed the pause.
“What’s wrong? Is something urgent?”

Feng Jiying quickly moved her hands behind her back.
“No, it’s nothing.”

Gu Qiqi scratched her head.

If she could reach an understanding with Feng Jiying, that would be ideal.

After all, Feng Jiying was Zhao Zhongtian’s omega. Making enemies with the main cast would only cause trouble for her.

But the idea of Feng Jiying being with someone like Zhao Zhongtian left an odd discomfort in her heart.

“Now that everything is out in the open,” she said, “there’s no need for us to keep fighting. I’m already in a bonded match with Liu Huaijing. That can’t be changed. People have to move forward.”

“So, President Feng, would you say that now we’re… friends?”

Feng Jiying paused.
“Friends?”

Gu Qiqi nodded.
“That’s right. We’ve learned each other’s secrets. We’ve resolved our misunderstanding. At the very least, we can treat each other peacefully and stop trying to make each other’s lives harder.”

Feng Jiying frowned slightly. For some reason, she wanted to say no.

The word “friend” felt unfamiliar.

Because in her entire life, she had never truly had one.

Feng Jiying was silent for a moment before she finally answered, “I suppose we are.”

Gu Qiqi gave a bright, knowing smile.
“Since we’re good friends now, and our forced match is over, do you think you could give me an A on my evaluation?”

Only if all three omegas gave her an A on the evaluation would she be safe from being expelled from Central City.

After all, the useless system had warned her that if she were kicked out, her consciousness would be erased, and all her efforts would be in vain.

Feng Jiying’s fingers twitched slightly.

But her mind was still caught on the word “friend.”

Could friends mark each other temporarily? Could friends kiss each other until their lips bled? Could friends pin each other down on the sofa and do those strange, irresistible things?

Suddenly, Feng Jiying let out a soft, cold laugh.
“You’re overthinking it. I don’t like friends who are too greedy.”

Gu Qiqi was speechless.

Just then, a faint meowing sound interrupted their thoughts.

A small, frail calico kitten appeared at Feng Jiying’s feet.

Trembling, it used the last of its strength to nuzzle its tiny body and face against Feng Jiying’s stiff pant leg. Then, acting spoiled, it lay down on her shoes and exposed its belly.

“Meow… meow…”

Feng Jiying froze. She was severely allergic to cat fur and would break out in a strong allergic reaction.

But Gu Qiqi’s eyes lit up.
“Wow, a calico kitten! It’s so skinny. Could it have been abandoned by its mother?”

She looked delighted.
“Can kittens actually sense who the richest person is? It went straight for the wealthiest woman in Central City and picked her as its new owner.”

Gu Qiqi scooped up the calico kitten.
“It’s so tiny. Does it still need milk? Can it even survive?”

Feng Jiying looked at her.
“You want to raise it?”

Gu Qiqi held the kitten close to her chest and blinked.
“What else can I do? There’s no sign of a mother cat around, and it’s filthy and starving. It probably hasn’t eaten in days. If we don’t take care of it, it’ll die.”

Feng Jiying lowered her eyes.
“Do you know how to take care of a cat?”

Gu Qiqi fell silent.

Back in the border district, she could barely feed herself, let alone care for a pet.

Feng Jiying said plainly,
“You’ve never raised a kitten before. It’s already so weak. If you take it, it’s just going to die anyway.”

Gu Qiqi frowned with frustration.
“Then what should I do? It’s so pitiful.”

The little calico mewed again as if it could understand the conversation, its soft cries filled with misery.

The kitten was barely the size of a hand, but its dark eyes were full of life.

Gu Qiqi’s eyes looked just as bright and innocent as the kitten’s.

Feng Jiying sighed.
“I’ll raise it.”

Gu Qiqi grinned.
“Didn’t expect you to have such a soft heart, President Feng.”

The little kitten meowed again as if it agreed.

Both the woman and the cat seemed to know how to act spoiled.

Feng Jiying reached out and took the kitten.

Her allergy reacted instantly, and small red rashes began forming on her arm.

“I’ll raise it,” Feng Jiying said, “but you have to earn the money to buy it food, litter, and treats. You need to take on half the responsibility.”

Gu Qiqi nodded eagerly.
“No problem. Leave it to me.”

“President Feng, why don’t we give her a name?”

Feng Jiying said,
“Call her Xiao Qi.”

“Huh? Same name as me? Isn’t that kind of strange?”

“You picked her up, so she’s your fur baby. What else would we call her?”

The two of them walked toward the car, chatting as they went.

“You’re so unreasonable,” Gu Qiqi said.
“We both found her. You’re at least her half-mom. Why not call her Xiao Ying?”

Feng Jiying chuckled.
“This is just like an alpha. No sense of responsibility. You’re good at picking things up, but you don’t want to raise them?”

“Hey, hey, don’t start turning this into a gender war.”

A tall alpha, a delicate omega, and a helpless kitten.

The three of them walking together looked surprisingly natural. Like a warm, peaceful little family.

But what they didn’t know was that someone in black, hiding behind a nearby tree, had captured everything on camera.

The photos were immediately sent to the Grand Elder.

Inside the villa.

The Grand Elder stood in front of the tall window with his hands behind his back, gazing out.

His secretary knocked gently before entering.

“Grand Elder, it’s confirmed. The person protected by the Federation’s special directive is Gu Qiqi. Her mental strength level has been rated 3S+ ever since her gender differentiation.”

The Grand Elder didn’t turn around. His voice was calm as he asked,
“Her surname is Gu. Have you found any link between her and the original Gu family?”

“I’ve looked into it thoroughly,” the secretary replied.
“It’s true. When the Gu family was destroyed, there was an infant about one month old. Her body was never found. Also, a female beta servant escaped from the Gu estate.”

The Grand Elder nodded slowly.
“So the Gu family’s main bloodline might still have remnants alive in interstellar society.”

The secretary added,
“I searched every orphanage in the border districts and found records. That servant fled Central City with the baby. They would have had no choice but to find shelter in an orphanage. I located the orphanage where Gu Qiqi was raised. A female beta still lives there, and Gu Qiqi calls her older sister. But…”

The Grand Elder turned and sat down.
“But what?”

“That beta seems to be under protection. It looks like someone from the black market is involved. Our people can’t move against her easily.”

“The black market?” the Grand Elder muttered.
“So Gu Qiqi is connected to the black market.”

He toyed with a string of Buddhist prayer beads, turning them slowly.
“She reached 3S+ mental strength right after differentiation and was brought from the border to Central City under a federal protection order. The president becomes more baffling by the day.”

The secretary bowed slightly and said,
“After the Gu family’s destruction, the Federation’s president always felt guilty. Although the elder expelled all the surviving branches to the border districts, the president has secretly supported them for years. Many of the Gu family’s omega and alpha descendants tried to return to Central City, but we blocked them.”

“But that Gu Qingyun… somehow, he managed to get into the 330 Military Academy.”

“I don’t care what methods they used,” the Grand Elder replied, “they’re not capable of making real waves. The branches of the Gu family are no threat.”

“Our priority now is to confirm whether Gu Qiqi is truly a surviving heir of the Gu family’s main bloodline.”

The secretary paused, thoughtful.
“When the interstellar war broke out, all four great families sent their best alphas and omegas to the front lines. That’s how the young miss’s parents died. But the truth no one knows is that the president feared the Gu family’s power. After the Gu family dealt a major blow to the enemy, the president sent the other three families to wipe them out, trapping them on the battlefield. Then, to cover it up, he had the entire main Gu bloodline executed.”

A cold smile crept onto the Grand Elder’s face.
“Feng Jiying is getting close to Gu Qiqi. If Gu Qiqi someday discovers the truth of her identity, would she hold a grudge against Feng Jiying? Would she want revenge for the death of her parents?”

“You truly are a master strategist,” the secretary said with admiration.
“Feng Jiying’s parents didn’t agree to the extermination plan, but you tricked them into the war zone. Once there, whether or not they raised a hand against the Gu family, they became part of the operation and took the blame. And here is the latest surveillance report. Feng Jiying is still entangled with Gu Qiqi.”

The Grand Elder waved his hand.
“Good. If we can tie Gu Qiqi’s background to the fallen Gu family, then whether or not she’s truly the survivor, she will become the enemy.”

“From now on, do not restrict her contact with Feng Jiying. Let them grow even closer.”

“One day, someone will take care of Feng Jiying for me.”

The secretary clapped immediately, flattering with enthusiasm.
“Grand Elder, what a brilliant plan. Truly admirable. We’re all in awe of your wisdom.”

The Grand Elder gently rolled the prayer beads in his hand, his face relaxed with a confident, satisfied smile.

He had been planning this for over twenty years. He would not let his strategy fail.

Feng Jiying would never win against him.

The Feng Corporation would be his—sooner or later.

That night, at the Feng family villa.

“President,” Xiao Bai said nervously, “please, let me do it instead. Your skin is breaking out in hives already. If it gets worse, your throat could swell up. It could be life-threatening.”

Feng Jiying gently placed the kitten, Xiao Qi, into the basin and began bathing her with warm water.

“No need. Just bring me two allergy pills.”

Xiao Bai didn’t want to agree but had no choice.

Was this really necessary? Did it have to go this far?

Their powerful, elegant president was bathing a filthy little kitten, breaking out in an allergic reaction, and still smiling as if she were perfectly content. How could this possibly make sense?

In Xiao Bai’s heart, the president’s safety always came first.

She consulted the private doctor and brought Feng Jiying the least reactive allergy medication available.

At that moment, Feng Jiying was covered in suds, gently rubbing the soft foam into the kitten’s fur.

Xiao Qi purred contentedly, pressing her tiny head into the warmth of Feng Jiying’s palm.

“Meow~”

The sweet, high-pitched mewl was enough to melt even Xiao Bai’s heart.

After swallowing two allergy pills, Feng Jiying said calmly,
“Change the water to a clean, warm basin. Rinse her thoroughly. Then ask the doctor to bring some vaccines and ointment for kittens.”

Xiao Bai obeyed, though she silently braced herself for the doctor’s fury at being woken up in the middle of the night for a cat.

She soothed the doctor’s anger with constant apologies and compliments.
“Doctor, someone of your skill is highly sought after in interstellar society, and yet you’ve come to help… a kitten. Truly a blessing for the little one.”

After sending the doctor away, Xiao Bai placed the medicine beside Feng Jiying and watched her gently dry Xiao Qi with a soft, super-absorbent towel.

“President, is it really worth it to go this far? Miss Gu isn’t even here to see this.”

Feng Jiying had never looked so gentle.

“Why should she see it? Whether she sees it or not has nothing to do with whether I do it.”

Xiao Bai sighed.
“Alright then.”

Such obvious denial. Clearly, the president just wanted Miss Gu to return to the villa and see all of this.

“President, would you like me to bring you a protective mask? Your face is covered in cat fur. If you keep going, you’re really going to suffocate.”

Feng Jiying paused.
“Fine.”

After Xiao Bai left, Feng Jiying stroked Xiao Qi’s tiny body.

“Don’t learn from your awful mommy. She’s not obedient at all. Says she likes you, but still hasn’t come back to visit.”

Of course, Xiao Qi didn’t understand. She kept drinking her milk until her belly was round and full. Then she rolled around playfully, showing her belly, purring loudly.

“Meow meow meow meow.”