The Alpha’s Hidden Marriage, Public Obsession - Chapter 48

Jiang Xue couldn’t fathom where Lin Yulan got the audacity nor had she ever imagined an Alpha could be so thick-skinned, so utterly incapable of comprehending basic human decency.

But right now, she didn’t want to lay eyes on this scoundrel. Even a single glance would ignite murderous rage within her. Jiang Xue simply averted her gaze, pretending the woman didn’t exist, and instead grabbed Xia Yin’s hand, pulling her toward the mall.

“Let’s go eat over there. We can talk while we eat!”

Xia Yin didn’t understand why Jiang Xue’s attitude had suddenly shifted so strangely, but the moment she felt Jiang Xue’s hand gripping hers, all her confusion evaporated.

She smiled softly and replied, “Okay.”

From inside her car, Lin Yulan watched the scene unfold from a distance, grinding her molars in frustration. If Xia Yin had been the one to reach for Jiang Xue’s hand, she would’ve stormed out of the car right then and there, righteous fury fueling her as she slapped Xia Yin without hesitation.

But this was Jiang Xue’s own doing. No matter how much it infuriated her, no matter how much it twisted her insides, she could only swallow the bitterness down.

“Miss Lin, Madam and that Alpha they’ve already walked quite far. Should we, follow them?”

Jiang Xue and Xia Yin had disappeared into the bustling commercial street, swallowed by the dense evening crowd. Lin Yulan wasted no time, she shoved the car door open and went after them.

But the street was packed. After circling the area, Lin Yulan still couldn’t spot them.

She thought about calling Jiang Xue to ask where she was, only to remember with a sharp pang of irritation that Jiang Xue had blocked her number two weeks ago.

Lin Yulan raked a hand through her hair, muttering a curse under her breath. Finding someone in this chaos was like searching for a needle in a haystack. But she refused to leave. With Jiang Xue being this forward, who knew if that ex of hers would cross any lines?

She called her assistant, instructing them to monitor the main exit, the one closest to the university. If Jiang Xue planned to walk back, she’d have to pass through there.

Once the arrangements were made, Lin Yulan continued her slow, deliberate search through the crowd.

Half an hour later, still no sign of Jiang Xue.

Had they gone to a hotel?!

Desperate times called for desperate measures. This commercial street belonged to the Lin Group. Lin Yulan dialed Ming Zelan.

“Hey, Mom. Busy? Doesn’t matter, you’re helping me with something.”

Ming Zelan had just received a call from her secretary at the company, reporting that Lin Yulan had abandoned a crucial meeting with Zhao Corporation’s project lead, leaving the task to her assistant. Now, she was fuming in a partner’s reception room. “Where the hell are you gallivanting off to now? Xiao Zhao told me you ditched the Zhao Group’s representative and shoved the responsibility onto her! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!”

Lin Yulan hurriedly explained, “Mom, you shouldn’t have made me go tonight. Do you know who Zhao Group sent as their representative? Qu Mengxin!”

“WHAT?!”

“Asa is the stage name she gave herself.”

Lin Yulan’s tone suddenly shifted. “Let’s not talk about her for now. Mom, I need your help right now your daughter’s happiness for the rest of her life is in your hands!”

Ming Zelan was utterly confused, but the moment she heard Lin Yulan’s words, she knew this troublemaker must have done something shady again. Furious, she snapped, “What do you mean your happiness is in my hands? Did you mess around with someone again? Didn’t you learn your lesson last time? Do I really have to break your legs to make you behave?!”

“Mom, what are you even thinking? I wouldn’t dare mess around with anyone!” Lin Yulan said anxiously. “I’m at XXX Commercial Street right now. Hurry up and get someone to help me find out where Jiang Xue is!”

Ming Zelan was baffled, only realizing belatedly what Lin Yulan was up to. “You want me to send people to look for Xiaoxue? Don’t you have a phone? Or a mouth? Can’t you just call and ask her where she is yourself?!”

Lin Yulan was too embarrassed to tell Ming Zelan that Jiang Xue had already blocked her two weeks ago, in fact. Not just on WeChat, but her phone number too, even text messages. Right now, she and Jiang Xue were practically strangers no, worse than strangers. Even Lin Yujin had Jiang Xue’s contact info!

But at this point, if she didn’t tell the truth, Ming Zelan definitely wouldn’t help her. And if she waited any longer, it might be too late the rice could already be cooked.

Lin Yulan stammered, “Mom, Xiaoxue, blocked me.”

Ming Zelan: “…”

“Mom, hurry up and get someone to check where Xiaoxue is right now. She’s out with an Alpha! If something happens because we’re too late, are you going to compensate me for my wife?!”

Ming Zelan: “……” Stay calm, stay calm. Getting angry won’t help anyone.

The other end of the phone fell completely silent. Lin Yulan felt that if Ming Zelan were standing in front of her right now, she’d probably kick her straight back home this useless troublemaker.

Lin Yulan urged, “Hey, Mom, are you listening? Did you hear what I said? Hurry up and get someone to find out where Xiaoxue and that Alpha are! I lost track of her and can’t find her now. I have every reason to suspect that Alpha is trying to steal her from me!”

Suspect someone else of stealing her?

You have the nerve to suspect someone else?

Why don’t you take a good look at yourself and wonder why she’s out with another Alpha in the first place?!

Ming Zelan genuinely questioned whether Jiang Xue had poor eyesight, how else could she have fallen for such a worthless, infuriating creature who made people want to beat her to death!

“Mom, say something! Don’t ignore me. Xiaoxue is the daughter-in-law you picked out. If she ends up ‘cooking the rice’ with another Alpha, would you really be okay with that?”

Ming Zelan thought for a moment and said, “If you’re not serious about her, then let Xiaoxue pursue her own happiness. Don’t hold her back!”

The moment Lin Yulan heard this, she exploded. “Mom, are you even my real mother? Not only are you not on my side, but you’re saying things like this?!”

“I don’t talk like that, so what do you want me to say? You’re the one who wronged her you got her but didn’t cherish her. Since that’s the case, what’s wrong with me telling you to let her go?” Ming Zelan grew angrier as she spoke. “If I’d known you’d turn out like this, your father and I should’ve just started over with a new account and kicked you as far away as possible!”

Of course, Ming Zelan’s words were just empty threats. If her health allowed, she wouldn’t just have a “new account”, she might even have managed a “mini account.”

Lin Yulan, after all, was the one asking for a favor and didn’t dare raise her voice too much. “Mom, didn’t I already admit I was wrong? Didn’t the ancients say, ‘To know one’s faults and correct them is the greatest virtue’? I’m in the process of changing, so you can’t just deny me the chance to make amends, can you?!”

Finding a relatively empty spot, Lin Yulan leaned against the wall but kept her eyes peeled, afraid she might miss someone. “Mom, hurry up. I’ve already lost track of her for over half an hour. If you delay any longer and Xiaoxue runs off with someone else, I’ll tell everyone you’re not my real mom that you’re actually my stepmom who secretly encouraged my wife to leave me!”

Ming Zelan: “…” I must have committed some terrible sin in my past life to be cursed with such a debt-collecting daughter!

“Why are you stalking Xiaoxue in the first place? It’s normal for her to have friends of the opposite sex! What, are you allowed to have them but she isn’t?!”

“No!”

Lin Yulan decided to lay out her reasoning. “If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t object. But that woman is Xiaoxue’s ex-girlfriend! And when I went to the school to find Xiaoxue, she even threatened me. She’s clearly the obsessive type. If Xiaoxue is left alone with her, something bad will definitely happen!”

Ming Zelan had to admit there was some logic to that. Though unless Jiang Xue initiated it, the other party probably wouldn’t resort to force this wasn’t the dark ages. If that Alpha dared try anything, she’d be locked up for life.

“Fine, I get it. Just wait. Truly, I must’ve sinned in my past life to end up with such a troublesome child!” Ming Zelan seemed to remember something else and, after instructing her secretary, asked, “Now that this Omega is back, how do you plan to handle it? Don’t tell me you still have illusions about her. She chose this exact moment to return and is being favored by the Zhao family, you can’t be naive enough to not see what she’s after.”

Lin Yulan understood perfectly.

Qu Mengxin kept insisting she’d returned at this time “for her,” but if that were truly the case, she wouldn’t have picked such a calculated moment. They were all adults; some things didn’t need to be spelled out.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I know what to do.”

After hanging up, it took less than ten minutes for Ming Zelan to send Jiang Xue and Xia Yin’s exact location via WeChat.

In the surveillance footage, the Omega was waiting outside a public restroom. The two had probably eaten too much earlier, and now Jiang Xue was likely accompanying the female Alpha to the bathroom. They were just across the street from where Lin Yulan stood, a mere few dozen meters away.

Jiang Xue was bored from waiting and had been playing with her phone, completely unaware that someone was approaching her.

It wasn’t until she noticed a shadow at her feet that she finally realized someone was standing in front of her. Assuming it was Xia Yin, she didn’t immediately look up and even teased, “Did Teacher Xia fall into the toilet?”

But the shadow remained silent.

Still scrolling on her phone, Jiang Xue belatedly sensed something was off, if it were Xia Yin, she wouldn’t have ignored her remark.

She jerked her head up and met Lin Yulan’s piercing gaze fixed directly on her.

“It’s you!” Jiang Xue stared at Lin Yulan in disbelief. “How did you know I was here?”

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