The Five Heartless Scumbag Alphas Turned Against Each Other Because Of Me - Chapter 120
Cheng Yuan stared at the name on the screen—Tan Hua—a name she couldn’t be more familiar with. Thinking back on everything Ning Xi had just tearfully poured out, and her own earlier thoughts, she nearly ground her teeth to dust.
She was this close to wanting to reach through the screen, yank Ning Xi out, and give her a good shake.
“What’s wrong with her, exactly?” she snapped.
“She’s pregnant, for one. She can’t afford to get worked up—it could harm the baby. On top of that, she’s kind and gentle. She’s not the type to throw you out of the house over something petty. Besides, you two know each other. Even if you’re not close friends, there’s still some kind of history between you. She’d never go too far.”
“If it had been anyone else,” Cheng Yuan continued through gritted teeth, “you wouldn’t be half as lucky as you are now that it’s her—Tan Hua—who turned out to be Aunt Ning’s real daughter.”
If the Ning family had been reunited with some complete stranger instead, there would’ve been conflict from day one. The psychological imbalance from switching places after living such drastically different lives for over twenty years—it would’ve torn the house apart. Arguing, resentment, division it would’ve been a mess.
And from the perspective of the Ning couple, this was a heartbreaking dilemma. One daughter was their biological child, lost and only just found. The other was someone they had raised since childhood, full of memories and deep emotional ties. No matter who they chose, it would feel like cutting away a part of themselves.
And if it really came down to choosing just one…
Cheng Yuan had a sinking feeling. Emotional bonds—especially ones built over decades—often outweighed blood ties. No one easily gives up someone they’ve poured so much love, time, and effort into raising.
But even if they didn’t cast Ning Xi aside, expecting things to go back to the way they were—like nothing had happened—was just wishful thinking.
Some cracks, once formed, can’t be fully repaired. The pain, the awkwardness, the emotional distance—it would linger, like a splinter lodged deep in the heart.
Honestly, Cheng Yuan believed Ning Xi should count her blessings.
She should be grateful that the long-lost Ning daughter wasn’t some random stranger named Zhang San or Zhao Si. Instead, it was someone like Tan Hua—someone with a pure heart and a gentle nature.
But as Ning Xi kept reading Cheng Yuan’s messages, her stomach started to twist.
Wait a second… Aren’t I supposed to be your childhood friend? Your bestie? Your ride-or-die?
Then why did it feel like every word Cheng Yuan typed was praising Tan Hua?
Was she imagining things?
No, she wasn’t.
That screen full of green text practically shouted it. It clearly showed Cheng Yuan’s thoughts—her bias, even affection—for Tan Hua. Even a fool could see it.
Ning Xi clenched her jaw.
“Yuan Yuan, what do you mean by this?” she demanded.
“Why are you defending Tan Hua in front of me? Have you stopped loving me? Have you… moved on to someone else?” Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“You heartless traitor! You two-timing, emotionally unreliable scoundrel!”
Cheng Yuan: “…Excuse me?”
She paused, then slowly replied, calm and composed:
“And who was it who went behind my back and started secretly dating her?”
“Who was it that claimed she was your girlfriend… and that she was pregnant with your child?”
“Hmm?”
A simple, casual “Mm.” from Cheng Yuan was all it took to make Ning Xi’s eye twitch. The sudden shift in tone knocked the wind out of her, and her confidence crumbled.
“It’s not like that! Let me explain!” she blurted.
Ning Xi scratched her head anxiously, scrambling to defend herself. “I only did all that to trick Aunt Guo, okay? You know how scared I am of her.” Worried Cheng Yuan wouldn’t believe her, she quickly added,
“I swear—Tan Hua and I only had a dirty little money-for-acting deal. No feelings involved. None. Zero.”
“In my heart, you’ll always be my one and only best friend, Yuan Yuan.”
Cheng Yuan stared at her reply and let out a cold laugh. “Is that so?”
“Of course it is!” Ning Xi gripped her phone, nodding furiously even though no one could see.
“Come on, I’d never lie to you about something like this. We’ve known each other for years! Don’t you know what kind of person I am?”
Cheng Yuan had only been teasing her. She hadn’t taken any of this too seriously. But even so, she couldn’t resist giving Ning Xi a reminder:
“Tan Hua isn’t a bad person. Try to get along with her.”
“Do your best not to fight with her.”
The moment Ning Xi read those lines, her chest tightened again.
Why is she complimenting Tan Hua again?!
She felt an irrational surge of jealousy. Before she could say anything, another message popped up:
“Besides, she’s carrying your child, isn’t she?”
“Emotionally and logically, you owe her a little kindness.”
…Fine. I surrender.
Ning Xi immediately wanted to find an excuse to exit the conversation and disappear. But just as she was about to reply, Cheng Yuan sent another message:
“I found out who was really behind everything. It wasn’t Tan Hua.”
“She knew what was going on. She just kept it to herself and quietly tried to protect me.”
…My savior?
Ning Xi stared at the message, completely overwhelmed.
How the hell did Tan Hua go from love rival to life-saving hero?
She suddenly had a very bad feeling—what if Cheng Yuan really did start siding with Tan Hua from now on?
That thought alone sent a wave of panic through her. She quickly put her phone down and stared intently at Tan Hua.
No. Everyone’s starting to like her. I can’t fall behind.
She’s technically my sister now, and we’re going to be living under the same roof.
I have home-field advantage.
As the person closest to Tan Hua in age—and now in blood—she should be the first to win her over and raise that affection meter.
So, forcing out the most exaggerated, awkward, and clearly fake smile of her life, Ning Xi softened her tone and asked sweetly,
“Tan Hua, dear sister, would you like something to drink?”
Tan Hua’s head snapped up, and she stared at Ning Xi, eyes wide. “…What?”
What on earth was that? That fake-sweet tone sent a chill down her spine. She shivered.
Her stare shifted from confusion to suspicion—
What do you want from me?
Ning Xi saw the look in her eyes and nearly choked on her own frustration. She gritted her teeth, but still managed to keep smiling.
“How about some hot tea?”
She turned and told the housekeeper to bring up a pot of Biluochun.
Tan Hua looked down at the steaming cup of green tea in front of her, then glanced back at Ning Xi. After a pause, she leaned toward Lu Huaixu and whispered,
“Is she… subtly calling me bitter?”
Lu Huaixu gave her a quick side glance.
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
“She probably isn’t dumb enough to insult someone’s daughter in front of their own mother.”
Tan Hua nodded in sudden realization—then quickly sensed something was off. She raised her head and stared straight at Lu Huaixu, her gaze sharp.
“Wait a minute. What do you mean by that? Are you saying… I’m dumb?”
The Omega’s intense stare was impossible to ignore. Lu Huaixu simply curved her lips into a faint smile and returned her focus to listening to Madam Ning, completely unfazed.
She would’ve liked to speak with Madam Ning alone, but with Guo Lanyi present, it wasn’t exactly convenient.
As she quietly listened, Lu Huaixu lifted her eyes and calmly glanced over at Guo Lanyi. The two of them had little interaction in the past. Lu Huaixu had only heard bits and pieces about her, and from what she’d gathered, they weren’t the type to mix well. She had never made an effort to get close to her before.
Now, thanks to the twisted and layered circumstances surrounding them all, she found herself getting more entangled with Guo Lanyi than she had ever expected.
And while Lu Huaixu was observing Guo Lanyi, the latter was also sizing her up.
Guo Lanyi didn’t have a particularly strong impression of Lu Huaixu. If she had to say anything, it was that the woman was clearly rich. Rich enough that every coin falling from the sky might belong to her.
That, and her shrewdness.
There were plenty of cunning people in high society. In fact, being too sweet or naïve made you easy prey—just one fresh-faced innocent, and the metaphorical hyenas would swarm in to tear them apart without mercy.
But Lu Huaixu’s intelligence wasn’t the same as simple scheming.
If anything, Guo Lanyi would describe her more as brilliant.
She was like the kind of person you met back in school—the one who never seemed to study seriously, yet always ranked first in the entire year. A natural genius.
It was the kind of innate advantage you’re born with, something others could never catch up to, no matter how hard they tried. Lu Huaixu possessed exactly that kind of effortless superiority.
However, when wealth reaches a certain level, even brilliance has its limits—at least, when it came to someone like Guo Lanyi. She had enough money of her own now. As long as she didn’t go gambling or throw it all into scams, she could burn through cash and still not run out. Money was no longer a concern.
As long as she stayed a little cautious, she wouldn’t fall into Lu Huaixu’s traps.
The Lu family was an old, established powerhouse with deep roots. And Lu Huaixu—despite having access to that background—had risen to power and wealth entirely through her own efforts. She didn’t rely on her family’s resources.
That fact alone spoke volumes about her capability.
And that was exactly why Guo Lanyi wouldn’t dare treat her as carelessly as she did with others.
Even the smallest mosquito leg is still meat—Guo Lanyi wasn’t the type to foolishly hand over her wealth to someone else without a fight.
As the two Alphas subtly tested each other, Madam Ning calmly observed the room, quietly taking in the subtle shifts in atmosphere. Her emotions were complicated.
Her own biological daughter… was truly full of surprises.
Judging by the looks of things, both Guo Lanyi and Lu Huaixu had no intention of leaving anytime soon. After a moment’s thought, Madam Ning got up and excused herself, heading to the study to make a phone call.
As soon as she left, Ning Xi and Tan Hua were left sitting across from each other, exchanging awkward glances. Ning Xi, sensing an opportunity, wanted to sneak away too.
She was still terrified of Guo Lanyi. Shifting nervously in her seat, she braved Lu Huaixu’s pressure and leaned toward Tan Hua.
“Hua Hua, would you come to the bathroom with me?”
Tan Hua: “?” (literally: the subway grandpa meme staring at his phone)
“You can’t go alone?” Tan Hua asked, baffled.
Ning Xi nodded immediately. “I’m scared to go by myself.”
Tan Hua: “…”
This is the house you’ve lived in for over twenty years—what on earth are you afraid of? Ghosts?
But Ning Xi didn’t argue. All she could think was: What if I go alone and Guo Lanyi follows me? That would be a full-blown nightmare.
To be safe, she had to drag Tan Hua along with her. Embarrassment could be tolerated—her life, not so much.
Ning Xi was persistent. Tan Hua, exasperated but helpless, gave in and stood up. She said a quick word to Lu Huaixu, then followed Ning Xi out of the room.
With the two Omegas gone, Guo Lanyi raised an eyebrow slightly and finally spoke.
“Long time no see, President Lu.”
Lu Huaixu’s expression remained calm. “It has been a while. I hope things have been well for you lately, President Guo?”
“Quite well,” Guo Lanyi replied casually. She rested her head on the other hand, reclining lazily on the single-seater sofa, then asked with a relaxed but probing tone:
“Forgive me for being blunt, but—what exactly is your relationship with their daughter?”
“We’re in a relationship,” Lu Huaixu replied flatly. She lifted her eyes slightly and repeated with emphasis,
“I’m her girlfriend.”
Well, that’s unexpected.
Guo Lanyi’s gaze sharpened, her interest clearly piqued. After a long pause, she let out a low, amused chuckle.
“You must know about the history between me and her family, right?”
Lu Huaixu’s expression remained unchanged. “I do. So?”
“So…” Guo Lanyi laughed softly. “So, she’s mine.”
She was completely unapologetic. But Lu Huaixu didn’t get angry. On the contrary, she seemed almost entertained. Shifting into a more comfortable posture, she crossed her legs and met Guo Lanyi’s gaze.
“You want her?”
“Mm-hmm.” Guo Lanyi nodded without hesitation.
“Alright.” Lu Huaixu didn’t dismiss her, nor did she mock her ambition. Instead, she spoke slowly, with layered meaning:
“If you want her, then go ahead—just make sure you beat out Sheng Yiheng, Zheng Jinyu, Wen Chuan, and Tang Yanrou first. Then you can come fight me.”
Guo Lanyi blinked, stunned. “…What?”
Why are there so many people?!
Auntie Guo: Wait—why do I need to defeat them first? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just take you down directly? Sure, you have a lot of rivals… but we only have one: you.
President Lu: …