The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 30

Noticing Pu Ying’s guarded attitude toward her, Tan Ya withdrew her overly obvious gaze and spoke softly, “If.”

Su Mo looked over in confusion. “?”

Tan Ya lightly bit her lower lip, quickly constructing an image of fragility and helplessness for herself. “If I want revenge, what should I do? Sister, could you help me report it to the police? I’m all alone. I don’t understand anything, and I can’t do anything by myself.”

“I’m scared. I’m afraid he will take me and drag me back again. There’s no one to testify for me, the police definitely won’t believe me.”

Su Mo felt that Tan Ya wasn’t wrong, but the look Tan Ya had given her earlier felt a little off. And in the original story, this girl would eventually push this very identity of hers to utter ruin.

She hesitated, unsure whether she should wade into this mess.

Seeing that Su Mo didn’t respond, Tan Ya’s beast-like intuition kicked in. She sensed that Su Mo seemed to have erected a barrier toward her, as if she’d done something to upset her.

But they had only just met. Even the name “Su Mo” was something she’d learned earlier from a kinder little maid. That maid adored the big star Su Mo—thought she was rich, beautiful, doted on by her family, confident, backed by solid capital. Someone who could do whatever she wanted, even buy herself the title of Best Actress.

“Someone like that,” the maid had sighed, “probably never knows what worries are.”

That remark left a deep impression on Tan Ya. So, when the person who saved her introduced herself, Tan Ya almost lost control of her expression.

She looked at Su Mo cautiously yet greedily. This person really was just as the maid had described—beautiful. Proud, like a swan with full, immaculate plumage. Even her casual, indifferent gaze seemed to carry a lethal danger, irresistibly alluring, tempting others to draw closer, then willingly become her prey.

She felt herself on the verge of surrendering despite this being only their first meeting.

Su Mo sensed that something wasn’t quite right. But considering that Tan Ya had been only thirteen when she was imprisoned, and that five years of abuse would certainly have warped an underdeveloped mind—now, whatever anyone taught her, she would likely accept as “right.”

If she taught her something correct, wouldn’t that mean she could reshape this “protagonist”?

Su Mo’s eyes brightened slightly. If she succeeded, she could complete the mission and even exclude the Su family from it altogether?

With that thought, Su M’s expression softened, and her voice grew gentler.

“It’s normal for you to be afraid. Kids your age should be happily attending college.”

“Since you want revenge, I’ll help you report it and gather evidence.”

She spoke with righteous conviction. “Don’t be afraid. All darkness will have nowhere to hide under the light.”

Sensing Su Mo’s intentions, Tan Ya’s lips twitched slightly. Why did that sound strange? She was clearly talking about someone else, yet somehow it felt like she was describing herself.

She gave a light cough, shook the thoughts from her head, and said weakly, “Thank you, Sister Su. I’ve never met someone as good as you.”

Su Mo gave an awkward dry laugh. “Mm.”

Someone like her who transmigrated was probably pretty rare.

Pu Ying found Tan Ya increasingly unpleasant to look at. The more she watched her, the more something felt off like this girl was deliberately targeting Su Mo.

Pu Ying prided herself on her judgment of people. She’d only been wrong twice in her life, and both times were because of Su Mo. She didn’t believe there could be two Su Mos in this world, which meant there was definitely something wrong with Tan Ya.

Seeing how gentle Su Mo was being with Tan Ya made Pu Ying feel extremely uncomfortable. Everything about it felt like a scheme. She wanted to pull Su Mo away, but had no justification, so she could only watch helplessly.

It wasn’t until Su Mo mentioned gathering evidence that Pu Ying finally spoke up.

“Even though you don’t have work right now, you’ve been staying around the hospital. If someone takes photos, you’ll have to issue another statement to explain.”

“And although the Tan family isn’t an old-established clan, they’re still a fairly notable rising force from recent years. If you personally have our people step in, it’ll definitely draw outside scrutiny.”

The Su family itself was already being targeted. If Su Mo handled Tan Ya’s family affairs so publicly now, higher-ups would certainly take issue with it.

Su Mo might not feel it directly, but the pressure on the old master would increase dramatically.

Pu Ying didn’t actually want Su Mo involved at all. It was clearly a thankless task, and the other party was just a child. Even if Su Mo did a great deal for her, once she grew up, she might not even remember Su Mo’s kindness.

Su Mo understood what she meant. If she stepped in for Tan Ya now, rumors would start flying again, claiming she was keeping a child. And the child was still a minor. When the time came, the one being called in “for tea” might very well be her.

Su Mo sighed. Being a good person really wasn’t easy these days.

“You arrange people to handle it. Try not to involve us, do it quietly.”

“As for the public side.”

Su Mo stood up, rubbed Tan Ya’s head, and instructed gently, “Little one, I’m only your lifesaver. Other than that, I’ve done nothing for you.”

“No matter who asks, remember to say it that way. Understood?”

Tan Ya understood why Su Mo said this but she wasn’t willing to accept it. She had finally encountered someone who could pull her out of the darkness. Why should she let go?

She wouldn’t. Even if this light was borrowed from someone else, she would snatch it away and make it shine on her alone from now on.

So, she looked up, eyes filled with confusion, and asked, “Why, Sister? Why can Sister help me, but can’t say so?”

“Is it because my matters would hurt you, Sister?”

“If it would hurt you, then don’t do it. It’s okay. It’s already been so many years. I’ll just change my name, leave, and go live somewhere no one knows me.”

“As for getting revenge for myself.”

Tan Ya gave a resilient yet desolate smile. “That’s because I’m useless. If I’d been stronger, smarter back then, none of this would have happened.”

“This all happened because I’m useless. It’s what I deserve. Sister, don’t waste your energy on me, or even get hurt because of me. Otherwise, I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.”

Listening to this, Su Mo felt a bit of sympathy but also an inexplicable sense that something was off.

Su Mo: “…”

It was just.

These words sounded perfectly normal, yet somehow, they made her deeply uncomfortable.

Had she really been acting for too long, to the point that she’d forgotten how to tell what was acting and what wasn’t?

Pu Ying, who had seen countless performances but had never seen anyone dare to perform such bizarre acting right in front of her:

“……”

Why did it suddenly sound as if the other party was the one being wronged?

Su Mo shook her head, withdrew her hand, and said, “Getting hurt isn’t really the issue. Although the Tan family is a newly risen force, your parents are very capable, and the business has been developing well.”

“Your uncle may not be particularly capable, but he does an acceptable job of maintaining the status quo. It’s not easy for the Tan Group to have held its current position.”

“If you want to take it a step further, you’ll have to work hard yourself. Otherwise, even if I help you take back control of Tan Group, without real ability you’ll only be sidelined. In the end, Tan Group would still fall into someone else’s hands.”

Tan Ya instinctively reached out, wanting to grab Su Mo’s hand but the moment she moved, Pu Ying noticed. Tan Ya forcibly suppressed her desire to touch Su Mo, instead lifting her hand to stroke the ends of her ear-length short hair.

In the past, she hadn’t been able to cut her hair, and rarely washed it. Though it grew long, it was tangled and messy. Her clothes were filthy too, she’d looked like a beggar.

After coming to the hospital, for the sake of treatment, the doctors had simply cut it into a short, ear-length style.

For Tan Ya, who had always relied on long hair to cover her face and feel safe, this was extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, after these past few days, she had slowly begun to get used to it.

“I understand. I’ll study hard,” Tan Ya said earnestly. “I’ll make sure to manage the Tan Group properly after you help me take it back, and I’ll strive to live up to you, Sister.”

Her tone and gaze were pure and naive, like a child who trusted the good person helping her without reserve. It made even Pu Ying start to wonder if she had misjudged her.

Su Mo nodded. “In that case, stay here and rest properly. Leave only after you’ve fully recovered.”

Seeing that Su Mo seemed ready to leave, Tan Ya quickly grabbed the corner of her clothes and said pitifully, “I have nowhere to go, Sister.”

“Can I stay by your side for a while? I’m scared being alone.”

Su Mo stiffened and cast a pleading look toward Pu Ying. She really couldn’t handle this kind of child.

Seeing Su Mo dig a hole for herself and then be unable to climb out of it, Pu Ying let out a long sigh. When would this habit of hers, constantly making trouble for herself ever change?

“I’ll make the arrangements.”

Still, she was used to cleaning up after Su Mo like this. In a way, it wasn’t so bad, it proved that Su Mo still needed her.

“Sister.”

Tan Ya had long since noticed the wariness and distance in Pu Ying’s eyes. She knew the woman didn’t like her and truth be told, Tan Ya didn’t like her either. Compared to cold, aloof Pu Ying, she much preferred Su Mo, who looked far easier to deceive.

So, the moment she heard that Pu Ying would be taking charge of her, Tan Ya immediately panicked. She looked at Su Mo with pitiful, fearful eyes, terrified of being abandoned, hoping Su Mo would soften and let her stay.

But she’d misjudged one thing.

Su Mo was indeed soft-hearted—otherwise she wouldn’t have fallen so easily for Qiu Fu’s watery, pitiful eyes. But that didn’t mean she pitied everyone she met.

Especially not someone who might hurt her in the future.

Su Mo smiled faintly and patted Tan Ya’s head, her voice calm and firm. “Don’t be afraid. Sister Pu Ying will take good care of you. She’s very reliable, you can try relying on her more.”

“As the future heir of the Tan Group, you need to learn to put away your fear and not let others see through you so easily. Otherwise, you’ll always be led by the nose, never able to make your own judgments.”

She gently pried Tan Ya’s hand away, her smile still warm. “Work hard. Don’t be afraid. I’ll always support you at least in spirit.”

With that, she released her and looked at Pu Ying, signaling that it was fine to proceed.

Pu Ying watched Su Mo’s blatant empty promises and hesitated to speak. She felt that the current Su Mo was very different from the one she’d known before.

Tan Ya, whose hand had been pulled away and then released, subconsciously clenched her fingers in empty air.

Tan Ya: “……”

Although Su Mo had rejected her on the surface.

Inside, Tan Ya felt a twisted surge of delight.

How wonderful. Sister had touched her head. Held her hand. She must have her reasons, her difficulties.

Someone this gentle.

She really wanted to tie her up and hide her in a safe, locked away from the world.

If only Sister’s eyes could see no one but her, how perfect would that be?

Just as Su Mo was about to leave, a sudden chill ran down her back. She shuddered.

Why did she suddenly feel like a cold sweat had broken out?

And why did it feel as though something was watching her?