Scummy Alpha CEO Keeps Courting Death [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 1

Buzz buzz—

The phone vibrated softly on the desk.

Lu Xibie, who had been staring blankly at the computer screen, turned her gaze and answered the call.

“Xibie.”

“Auntie.” Lu Xibie took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and leaned back in her chair.

“Busy with work lately?”

“Not really.” Her fingers unconsciously traced the frame of her glasses.

“I heard from Rou Rou that you’ve lost weight. Haven’t been eating properly, have you?” Her aunt’s concerned voice came through.

“No, Auntie. Same as always. I’ve seen Rou Rou less than I’ve seen you lately. She probably just thinks I’ve lost weight because it’s been a while.”

“Eat well and take care of yourself.”

“Got it. Don’t worry.” Lu Xibie deliberately lifted her tone at the end.

“By the way, the donation you made to the hospital has been received. You kids, I’ve told you so many times…”

“Auntie—” Lu Xibie dragged out the word to interrupt her.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say it. Every time I bring it up, you get upset. Just take care of your own life, okay?”

“Okay. You take care too.”

From the other end came faint voices calling for the director.

“You’d better get back to work, Auntie. I should get going too.”

After the call ended, the world fell into an even deeper silence. The computer screen shifted to a rotating Rubik’s Cube screensaver.

The sky gradually darkened, and the flickering cube lit up Lu Xibie’s face.

Pale, cold, and her eyes reflected a hint of melancholy.

“…Eat.” After a long pause, Lu Xibie slowly stood up like a statue and turned on the vintage desk lamp.

She opened the fridge. The stench of rotting food assaulted her nose.

She pulled out her phone and opened the grocery app. Her last purchase was a week ago.

She tossed the spoiled food into the trash, tied the bag, and headed out to eat.

The clay pot chicken steamed hotly. Lu Xibie scooped some broth onto her rice.

Not as tasty as before, she thought after finishing.

After paying and leaving the restaurant, the streets were filled with voices—children begging for toys, couples deciding what to eat, vendors blasting sales pitches from speakers.

The noise washed over her, amplifying her sense of isolation.

Raindrops slid down her cheeks. She looked up. A light drizzle fell from the dusky sky.

She started walking home but was stopped by someone tugging her arm.

She turned to see a deeply wrinkled face. “Want to buy a book? Just two left. I’ll give you a discount in this weather.”

It had been a while since she read. Seeing the hunched figure, she didn’t hesitate. “Alright. How much?”

“Twenty.”

“Okay.” She handed over the money.

The old man pulled the books from inside his coat. Lu Xibie wanted to say something but stayed silent. She accepted the warm books. “Thank you.”

After parting, she tucked the books inside her coat and returned home.

Opening the door, warm yellow light lit up most of the room. She never turned off that lamp when going out at dusk.

The room was cluttered and chaotic. She closed the door and walked to the balcony.

“Nuannuan?” she called.

No response. No movement.

She froze, staring at the still scene.

After a long moment, she flipped the switch.

She crouched, resting her head on her folded arms, staring into the cage. Her teeth bit her lip until it bled. “I’m sorry.”

“Nuannuan, I’m sorry.”

Nuannuan was a black-and-white fancy mouse. She once had a companion named Wenwen.

Wenwen had been taken away six months ago.

Fancy mice are social creatures. She knew that.

She had noticed Nuannuan’s recent withdrawal, signs of depression. She should’ve spent more time with her.

The food bowl was full. The water bottle barely touched.

See? She couldn’t even take care of Nuannuan.

In a daze, her mind drifted back to that day.

She couldn’t remember why she argued with Xi Yibai.

Just the image of her pressing the voice message button, the look in her eyes, and the cruel words she herself had said.

“Xi Yibai, do you have no shame?”

That’s what she said, maybe worse.

She knew Xi Yibai was leaving. Why would she ask her to stay?

Her legs had gone numb from crouching. She slowly leaned back and sat on the floor.

The cold ground sobered her slightly. She used the wall to stand.

She found a wooden box in the mess and gently placed Nuannuan inside.

She stared at the box for a long time before noticing unfamiliar blood on her hand. Her right ear throbbed.

She must’ve scratched it too hard unconsciously.

She wiped her hand and pressed tissues to her ear.

Does it hurt?

Maybe a little.

Why do people like her even exist?

Plop—

The book tucked in her coat fell to the floor.

She rubbed her aching head and picked it up.

“The Evolution Path of Omega” and “Alternate Dimension”

She stacked Omega on top and set them aside.

Buzz buzz—

“Auntie: Our Xibie should sleep early every day [Image]”

She opened the message. It was a peony flower with “Love You” written on it.

She replied: “Okay Auntie, you sleep early too [cute.jpg]”

After turning off her phone, she thought for a moment, then took a pill and swallowed it with water.

She picked up The Evolution Path of Omega and opened the first page.

Auntie said books can save lost souls.

“Lu Xibie?”

She frowned. Why did the Alpha in the book have her name?

She kept reading. The plot was shocking.

What upset her most was the Alpha named Lu Xibie.

A born villain, bossing around servants, abusing her bonded Omega.

“How could she be so cruel?”

“How could she treat her like that?”

…

“Why does someone like that even live?!”

“She deserves to die!!!”

She was so angry she couldn’t finish reading. The more she saw her name, the more agitated she became. She tore the book apart.

Afterward, she searched the title online. It was labeled one of the year’s most notorious “scumbag Alpha” novels.

Truly despicable.

She didn’t care about the ending. That kind of Alpha deserved death. She closed her laptop and looked out the window—it was already a new day.

Her emotions had swung wildly because of the book.

She wasn’t much better than that Alpha.

Would Nuannuan have had a better life with someone else?

After all, she was always the one abandoned.

Her heart ached from staying up. She tucked the wooden box into her coat and grabbed a small gardening shovel.

Nuannuan was buried under a tree, surrounded by flowers and plants—her neighbors.

“Next life, go to someone who’ll treat you well, who’ll take care of you.”

She looked at the small mound.

“I’m sorry for this life.”

She placed the shovel beside the grave. Maybe she’d find Nuannuan again through it.

As she walked away, she thought—

She would never keep pets again.

Beep beep—

A screeching car horn. She turned. Blinding light. A crash that pierced her ears.

Pain.

Everywhere.

Was she dying?

Maybe it was better this way. No more… no more…

Auntie Rong Qianqin’s face flashed before her eyes. She struggled to pull out her phone and, with the last bit of consciousness, formatted it.

Support Scummy Alpha CEO Keeps Courting Death [Transmigration into a Book]