The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 18

She cleared her throat lightly and said coldly, “Alright, then talk.”

Jiang Xi glanced at Su Mo, flustered and unsure what to do. But Su Mo only shrugged, keeping up her usual “I have no idea what you’re talking about” façade.

Pu Ying coughed heavily, pulling both of their gazes toward herself before finally laying out her thoughts.

Since the enemy targeted Su Mo, it obviously wouldn’t end with just one attempt. Jiang Xi managed to hold out this time—but what about the next?

And what if, next time, her parents were used as leverage?

Jiang Xi would never abandon her parents for Su Mo. She would have no choice but to submit.

Pu Ying spoke while studying Jiang Xi’s face. Jiang Xi opened her mouth to protest but found she couldn’t say a word. Her head dropped, lips pressed together, fingers nervously twisting around each other.

Su Mo understood exactly what Pu Ying meant—she truly was doing this for her sake. Under the current circumstances, Jiang Xi voluntarily stepping away would be a blessing for both sides.

But Jiang Xi was not the one at fault. In a situation like this, no one could guarantee what they would choose.

Su Mo rubbed her brow. “This isn’t her fault.”

“I know,” Pu Ying replied.

“But her weakness has now been clearly exposed. She’s no longer suitable to stay by your side.”

“Pu Ying.”

Su Mo straightened, expression calm. “Everyone has weaknesses. It’s unavoidable. No one is flawless.”

“I know you want to protect me, but that isn’t reason enough to force Jiang Xi away.”

Pu Ying let out a derisive laugh. “So, you’re blaming me for being meddlesome and cold-hearted?”

Su Mo choked. “Of course not.”

Pu Ying slammed her coffee cup down. Liquid splashed onto the table, making her pale, strong fingers look even sharper in contrast.

“I think you’re just being too much of a saint.”

Her hands were slender and clean, but the faint lines of tense veins gave them a striking sense of power—hands that made people feel secure.

“If.”

But when she saw Jiang Xi’s pitiful expression, she shut her mouth mid-sentence. She flicked her chin toward her. “You go out first. I need to speak with her alone.”

Jiang Xi looked at Su Mo. Seeing Su Mo’s expression unchanged, she could only get up and leave.

The moment Jiang Xi stepped out, Pu Ying’s face dropped. “I couldn’t say this in front of her just now, but if she really betrays you someday, do you understand how serious that would be?”

“Your reputation in the industry is already terrible. If someone close to you turns on you for outside pressure, you know exactly what that will mean.”

Su Mo crossed her legs, voice calm. “This is all speculation. You can’t make baseless accusations. And Pu Ying—we can’t condemn everyone just because of a worst-case scenario.”

“She came to us voluntarily and reported everything. If we immediately fire her without hesitation, wouldn’t that be falling straight into the enemy’s trap?”

Pu Ying insisted, “Which is why I’m saying we move her to a peripheral position. Keep her away from you for now. Wait until people’s attention shifts away from her.”

“This is all for your safety—and the Su family’s.”

Anyone daring to lay hands on Su Mo obviously wasn’t afraid of the Su family. Yes, there were businesspeople who didn’t fear them, but not many.

But the truth was—the Su family held no real military power. The Zerg attack that happened during Su Mo’s filming was anything but normal. Higher authorities gave no explanations. Old Master Su didn’t dare pressure them, forced only to swallow his fury and accept perfunctory answers.

This was why he had insisted Su Mo return home. Outsiders were already trampling them. His precious granddaughter got lucky this time because of her own ability—but what about next time?

If something worse happened while he was miles away, how could he possibly protect her?

The more he thought about it, the more restless and irritable he became. He couldn’t stay still at home at all. He had no choice but to summon Su Mo back, where he could keep her within sight, if only to feel at ease.

Hearing this, Su Mo’s expression sank. Since she had taken over the original host’s life, she had to solve the original host’s problems. She couldn’t let the Su family walk toward the same doomed ending.

Sensing her shift in thought, the system’s tone changed from the usual silly voice to a cold, mechanical one:

【Warning: Host thought pattern indicates intent to disrupt plot progression. As this is the first offense, the system will issue a warning.】

【Do not attempt to sabotage the storyline. Do not attempt tasks that do not belong to you. Host, correct your mindset.】

Su Mo’s gaze turned icy.

【So, you’re telling me I really have to walk toward a “go to prison” ending?】

System, alert and rigid:

【At that point, you may leave. I will safely extract you from this world.】

Su Mo:

【So what you mean is—I can act recklessly, but I won’t be the one paying the price?】

The system hesitated before replying:

【If the degree of disruption is too severe, or if the plot outcome becomes even more malicious, there will be penalties the host must bear.】

Su Mo’s voice rose.

【That’s not what you said in the beginning.】

At first, it only told her that completing the tasks would earn rewards. It never mentioned there would be punishments if she went “too far.”

This system was scamming her!

System, indignant:

【Initially, we did not detect that the host would develop a desire to actively sabotage the plot.】

【Had you followed your earlier attitude—avoiding interference and peacefully reaching the predetermined ending—then naturally, no restrictions or penalties would have triggered.】

Su Mo took a long breath.

What a great system.

She’d been played—and couldn’t even defend herself. She was genuinely aggrieved.

Pu Ying watched Su Mo’s expression sink further, assuming she was finally taking things seriously—finally thinking about the Su family and her own future. She softened slightly and said,

“The old master manages the Su family all alone. It’s not easy. You should try to be a little more sensible. He can’t spend his whole life cleaning up your messes.”

Su Mo snapped back to herself and let out a slow breath. “I know. We’ll do everything the way you suggested.”

“Everything will still demand your effort. Qiu Fu can’t manage without me at the moment; I need to use pheromones to counteract the effects of the drugs in her system. I’m not sure exactly what she’s been given, but it’s been active for two months. Judging by her current state, it could take up to three months for her to fully recover.”

“It’s the Trefoil Suppressant.”

The moment Su Mo spoke, Pu Ying immediately guessed what it was.

But although she had guessed it, her expression darkened.

That drug.

Her hand, resting on her knee, tightened into a fist.

Su Mo blinked in surprise. “You know it?”

“Then do you know the antidote? Do we need to take her to a hospital? Or is it something we have to get on the black market?”

Pu Ying lowered her gaze, her voice icy. “There is no antidote.”

Su Mo: “?”

Su Mo let out an awkward laugh and waved her hands. “Impossible. There’s no way something like that doesn’t have a cure. It’s the interstellar era—how could they not have a solution for something this simple?”

Pu Ying: “Do you know why it’s called ‘Trefoil’?”

Looking at Pu Ying’s pale face, Su Mo had a bad feeling. “Why?”

“Because it targets Omegas specifically. It forces their heat cycle to arrive early, and.”

Pu Ying bit hard on her lower lip. “If an Omega keeps relying on inhibitors to suppress it, after three months, the drug will destroy her glands and her body. She’ll become infertile. A cripple.”

“There is a three-month buffer period. But the only thing that can truly neutralize the drug is the Alpha who first transferred pheromones to the Omega after she was dosed. Only if the two of them fully—completely—bond, and the Alpha fully marks the Omega, can the drug’s effects be erased.”

So, what they were doing now was pointless.

Su Mo froze. “…”

So, in trying to save someone, she had actually dragged herself straight into the line of fire?

“There’s really no other way?” she asked.

Pu Ying shook her head. “Not with our current medical technology.”

She looked at Su Mo’s troubled expression, her eyes complicated. “Now that you know the truth, what will you do?”

“Will you sacrifice yourself to save her or let her become a cripple?”

Su Mo scratched the back of her head and leaned against the sofa, blank-faced, clearly lost in thought.

“It’s already been over two months,” Pu Ying reminded softly. “If you don’t save her soon, she won’t recover.”

Seeing Su Mo still unmoved, something strange flickered in Pu Ying’s eyes. She spoke with a trace of hesitant hope she didn’t notice herself. “You’re the future heir of Su Group. You’ll have countless choices—better Omegas, stronger people. Many Omegas would throw themselves at you. If you don’t want to do this, I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“She knows better than anyone that she’s the only one who stands to lose in all this. Whether you save her or not, her future was already predetermined.”

Su Mo closed her eyes, hands folded over her stomach, thumbs moving in slow circles.

She was far too calm—so calm Pu Ying couldn’t read her at all.

And not being able to read someone, for a manager, was a dangerous warning sign.

“I’ll tell her everything,” Su Mo finally said. “As for the decision, if it really comes down to just the marking.”

Su Mo wasn’t a saint. In that moment, she had to admit it—she did like Qiu Fu’s face. The woman had that cool, ethereal beauty, like a fairy drifting on water.

She had been attracted from the first glance. But she had never acted on it. She wasn’t part of this book’s world—this story needed to reach its end, and she would eventually have to leave.

She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t keep anyone.

But when Qiu Fu, desperate to survive, had kissed her without hesitation, that spark of attraction had surged up again, and Su Mo had been unable to push her away.

She took a slow breath and opened her eyes—just in time to see Pu Ying shoot to her feet in shock.

Su Mo tilted her head, puzzled by her reaction.

Pu Ying could no longer suppress her anger. Barely keeping her voice steady, she asked, “You’re going to give yourself to her just to undo the drug’s effects?”

Su Mo: “I wouldn’t say give myself.”

“If it’s not ‘giving,’ then what is it? What do you think you are—an antidote? An inhibitor? Or—”

A terrifying possibility flashed through Pu Ying’s mind. Her breath hitched.

“You’ve fallen for her?”

Su Mo hesitated, then shook her head. “Not love. Not that far.”

“So.” Pu Ying’s voice trembled. “You like her?”

Su Mo said nothing.

But she didn’t deny it.

Pu Ying turned away sharply. For a split second, her chest tightened—painfully.