Reborn as the Heartless Alpha - Chapter 14

Zhou Zhou carefully cradled the phone in her hands, hesitating as she tried to return it to Song Yi.

Song Yi, noticing Zhou Zhou’s troubled expression, smiled gently. “I just happened to buy an extra one on a whim. If you don’t take it, it’ll just end up being given to someone else anyway. You might as well keep it, it’ll be easier to stay in touch if needed.”

Stay in touch?

The simple phrase, repeated once, sent a warm flutter through Zhou Zhou’s heart.

After this parting, Zhou Zhou wouldn’t dare disturb Miss Song again. Yet the way Miss Song spoke made it seem like she wouldn’t mind keeping in contact, still willing to help her.

But… Miss Song had already done so much for her. How could she possibly accept such an expensive-looking phone, with its sky-blue casing and shimmering finish?

Song Yi watched as Zhou Zhou held the phone out to her but didn’t take it. After a moment’s thought, she smiled and suggested, “How about this? When you have the means someday, you can give me one in return?”

Zhou Zhou’s eyes widened in surprise, but she still hesitated.

Who knew how long it would take for her to have that kind of money? Her immediate priority was earning enough for her university tuition this summer. She felt she had done well on her college entrance exams, but tuition and living expenses weren’t cheap. She needed to secure those funds first there was no way she could afford to buy Miss Song a phone anytime soon.

“No rush. I don’t need one right now. Consider the deadline indefinite.”

“Just take it. These days, it’s inconvenient to do anything without a phone.”

Zhou Zhou opened her mouth, but her refusal melted into heartfelt gratitude.

“Thank you, Miss Song,” she said, her voice and expression brimming with sincerity.

Song Yi’s mind wandered for a moment, and before she knew it, her hand had reached out to pat Zhou Zhou’s head.

Zhou Zhou didn’t pull away she froze completely. Half-kneeling in the passenger seat, the bright summer sunlight streamed through the car window, casting scattered reflections across Miss Song’s warm, smiling face.

Unaware of the intensity of Zhou Zhou’s gaze, Song Yi touched her own cheek and asked, puzzled, “Is there something on my face?”

“N-no…”

Snapping out of it, Zhou Zhou scrambled out of the car in a fluster, sprinting toward the school gates without looking back almost as if fleeing. Halfway there, she turned and waved at Song Yi in farewell before picking up speed.

It was class time, so the area around the school was quiet and nearly empty. The slender girl, clutching a metal box and the phone in her hand, ran urgently yet lightly, her long hair fluttering behind her like seaweed drifting in the deep sea, bathed in sunlight.

Song Yi’s gaze lingered on that retreating figure, half-worried Zhou Zhou might trip.

Fortunately, Zhou Zhou wasn’t as fragile as she appeared. She made it safely through the small side gate next to the school’s main entrance, which connected to the security office.

Only after withdrawing her gaze did Song Yi belatedly process Zhou Zhou’s sudden dash. She touched her face again.

Had she scared her?

Had her expression been that intimidating?

Seeking confirmation, Song Yi lifted her own phone, turning on the front camera to scrutinize her face.

She did look a bit stern when not smiling.

Her eyes were slightly narrow and sharp, carrying a hint of aggression. Yesterday, when she had first transmigrated into this body, the original scumbag Alpha had been wearing makeup softened eye makeup that rounded her eyes. Today, she hadn’t had time to apply anything except for a bold red lip tint, just to look more awake.

Even when applying makeup, she wouldn’t follow the original scumbag Alpha’s style. Emphasizing her naturally cool and sharp eye features to project an authoritative aura was more her habit.

In her previous world, that style had indeed been quite effective many subordinates saw her as a formidable boss and were genuinely intimidated by her.

But here, as Song Yi in the world of This Scumbag Alpha Always Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em, she was just a junior in college. There was no need to armor herself with such an imposing, unapproachable demeanor.

She didn’t want Zhou Zhou to be afraid of her.

Song Yi smiled at her reflection in the phone camera, a little stiff at first. She practiced a few more times.

A group of high school girls passed by, whispering among themselves when they noticed her awkward attempts at smiling.

“That older sister is so pretty.”

“Are you gonna go talk to her?”

“I’d like to, but what if she already has a girlfriend?”

“You won’t know unless you try…”

Song Yi paid no attention to their chatter. Checking the time, she sent Zhou Zhou a message:

[Back at the dorm yet?]

Zhou Zhou was probably busy with something else and didn’t reply immediately. Since arriving in this world, Song Yi had found herself with an unusual amount of free time. With nothing urgent to do, she stayed put, waiting in the car.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the window.

Thinking it might be Zhou Zhou, Song Yi glanced sideways only to see a girl in a blue-and-white high school uniform.

Song Yi blinked, rolling down the window. “Is parking not allowed here?”

She had double-checked the parking lines earlier. Was long-term parking prohibited?

As her thoughts raced, the girl outside bent down, cheeks flushed, and asked, “Older sister, do you have a girlfriend?”

Song Yi immediately realized this was a pickup attempt.

“I do,” she replied bluntly, shattering the girl’s hopes. “Still in high school, right? Focus on your studies.”

With that, she rolled the window back up and checked her phone again, still no reply from Zhou Zhou.

“But I don’t wanna work hard anymore,” the girl muttered under her breath outside the car, tugging at her backpack straps dejectedly before trudging off to school to complain to her friends about the failed attempt.

Zhou Zhou had barely stepped onto campus when the security guard stopped her, insisting she contact her homeroom teacher to escort her in.

She waited in the security booth for over ten minutes, peeking outside occasionally. Miss Song’s car was still parked in the same spot, why?

When Homeroom Teacher Lin arrived, she explained Zhou Zhou’s situation to the guard and successfully brought her inside.

“Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Lin,” Zhou Zhou said politely.

Teacher Lin sighed.

Her gaze fell on the metal box and the sleek phone in Zhou Zhou’s arms, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “Zhou Zhou, it’s good you came back today. I was actually planning to reach out, but I didn’t have your contact info.”

“Is something wrong?” Zhou Zhou tensed up. Even as a well-liked honor student, she still felt nervous whenever a teacher wanted to talk.

“The school requires graduates to clear out their dorm rooms. Today’s the deadline they need the space for the advanced summer prep classes for the high school entrance exam.”

Zhou Zhou had gone through the same process before and was familiar with the drill.

“Have you found a place to stay yet?”

“Not yet,” Zhou Zhou whispered softly, her mind inexplicably flashing back to the image of Miss Song smiling at her.

Teacher Lin hesitated, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Zhou Zhou knew her teacher was worried about her and quickly reassured her, “I can look for a short-term part-time job that provides accommodation. I’ll need to earn money for university tuition and living expenses anyway.”

Teacher Lin looked at her with affection. “I’ll keep an eye out for social assistance programs for you, and I’ll also help you with your college application choices. Just make sure to set aside a few days for it, don’t focus solely on work.”

“Okay, thank you, Teacher.”

Teacher Lin received a phone call and had to attend to some administrative tasks. She reminded Zhou Zhou to send her phone number over and gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder before leaving.

Zhou Zhou returned to her dorm alone to pack her belongings. She didn’t have much, most of her high school books had already been given away, with many underclassmen eager to get their hands on her notes.

The only things left to pack were clothes, shoes, and other daily necessities. Everything fit into one large travel bag, including the phone and scent patches Miss Song had given her.

Carrying the worn-out travel bag, she stepped out of the dorm just as the school bell rang.

She watched as the underclassmen sprinted from the classroom building toward the cafeteria like they were running a hundred-meter dash. A nostalgic smile crossed her face. She waited until the crowd thinned before heading toward the school gate.

Once outside, Zhou Zhou felt completely lost, swallowed up in the sea of high school students in their blue-and-white uniforms.

Someone bumped into her shoulder in their haste, while another kind soul steadied her.

“Thank you.”

Zhou Zhou looked up at the person who had helped her, and her eyes instantly lit up.

“Miss Song?”

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