The Scumbag Who Bowed for Money - Chapter 24

[Almost got caught, hiding under the desk… it was nerve-racking.]

Xie Yuanwei’s eyes were full of innocence. When she looked at people like this, it made her seem even more harmless and approachable.

She held the little clay dog next to her face as if it were joining her in acting cute.

Le Shi reached out and touched the side of Xie Yuanwei’s face. With her back to the light, she asked, “Were you always this good at coaxing people before?”

“But I was the one who made the mistake.”

Hearing Le Shi’s soft voice, Xie Yuanwei let out a quiet laugh. She leaned her head into the Omega’s palm and said gently, “I don’t think you did anything wrong. And I’ve never tried to comfort anyone else. I just want you to be happy.”

The curtain swayed slightly in the cold air seeping through the gap. The rustling leaves outside blurred the outlines of the two people embracing.

The next day, they arrived at the company together. When Xie Yuanwei woke up, she found herself even more attached to Le Shi. Just because the Omega said she didn’t feel like eating eggs that morning, the Alpha nearly started crying.

Le Shi had no choice but to take the egg to work and eat it there. They had agreed to enter the building separately, one after the other, but as soon as they got out of the car, Xie Yuanwei couldn’t take it. She choked up and slumped over the steering wheel in frustration.

Le Shi had to open the car door again and let her come along. It was only one day of being seen together—no big deal.

“Good morning, President Le!”

People greeted Le Shi as she entered, then cast curious glances at Xie Yuanwei. The Alpha looked visibly displeased. Inside the elevator, she became acutely aware of the different pheromones in the air. Though faint, Alphas in her state were extremely sensitive.

She could only tolerate the scent of the Omega who had marked her.

Le Shi could feel her mood shift and sighed softly. The two of them had already consulted Dr. Li about it. This couldn’t go on. But the doctor told them that administering the suppressant the next day would be harmful to the body.

The day before, Xie Yuanwei had nearly cried her eyes swollen just because Le Shi had spoken to her a little sternly. After considering it, Le Shi decided to let it go. After all, the symptoms would only last three days at most.

“Xiao Qiao, let your team lead know that I need Xie Yuanwei with me today.”

The person she called lit up and quickly agreed.

Xie Yuanwei could sense how happy that person became, and it made her uncomfortable. Why did Le Shi need her?

Her annoyance grew so obvious that Le Shi turned to look at her as soon as they stepped off the elevator. “What’s wrong? Why do you look so upset?”

“It’s nothing,” Xie Yuanwei replied quietly.

Le Shi chuckled and deliberately slowed her pace. “I don’t believe that.”

The Alpha said nothing, but her breathing quickened. Le Shi just wanted to tease her a little, but seeing Xie Yuanwei on the verge of tears, she sped up her steps. As soon as she opened the office door, she was pulled into a tight hug.

Xie Yuanwei leaned her head against Le Shi’s shoulder and fumbled to lock the door. Her voice held a touch of grievance. “You did that on purpose.”

Le Shi was getting used to Xie Yuanwei’s sudden hugs and clinginess. Last night, the Alpha had hugged her tightly in her sleep, and no matter how she tried to move, she couldn’t escape. Eventually, she gave up and just lay there.

By now, she could easily operate her phone behind Xie Yuanwei’s back. She gave a soft laugh and asked, “So why were you upset earlier?”

Xie Yuanwei pressed her lips together, sniffled, and finally admitted, “You were talking to someone else.”

Le Shi fell silent.

“I’m not saying you can’t talk to other people. I just didn’t like it. That person looked way too happy.”

Her eyes were slightly red, and she looked incredibly pitiful. She stood up straight and met Le Shi’s gaze. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Le Shi finally understood just how sensitive Alphas could be. She smiled gently to reassure her.

Later that morning, she had arranged to meet with Bai Zhiqu and asked her to speak with her uncle.

Before they had even spoken much, Bai Zhiqu arrived. Xie Yuanwei pouted and sank onto the couch, her eyes fixed on the door.

She was clearly not pleased.

Her intense stare landed directly on Bai Zhiqu as she walked in. Miss Bai immediately saw Le Shi sitting there with the air of a jealous lover. She scoffed and turned to Le Shi. “So you two are inseparable now? Not even keeping work and personal life separate?”

Le Shi’s expression was slightly awkward, but she didn’t explain. She gestured for Bai Zhiqu to sit and asked Xie Yuanwei to make tea.

“Why does Xie Yuanwei look so strange today?” Bai Zhiqu narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Did you two break up or something?”

Le Shi, sitting beside her, looked over and laughed. “We didn’t.”

Bai Zhiqu thought about it. “Right, she did extract her pheromones for you last time, after all.”

Le Shi calmly recalled that moment. Her expression didn’t change. “You helped that day too.”

“Are you here to question me?” Bai Zhiqu asked playfully, studying Xie Yuanwei with interest. She raised a finger and wagged it. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I figured it out myself. Your girlfriend didn’t say anything. She only told me you were sick and asked me to take care of you.”

Le Shi responded with a simple “Mm,” not pushing further.

But it was Bai Zhiqu who couldn’t resist. She clicked her tongue. “Aren’t you even curious?”

Xie Yuanwei brought over the tea and placed it in front of Bai Zhiqu, then sat obediently nearby.

Le Shi took a sip. “Curious about what?”

“Curious how I knew Xie Yuanwei used her pheromones to help treat you.”

Le Shi hadn’t intended to pry, but since Bai Zhiqu brought it up, she played along. The Omega asked casually, “And how did Miss Bai figure that out?”

Bai Zhiqu leaned back with satisfaction. “I have a friend who once extracted her pheromones for a female Alpha.”

Xie Yuanwei: “…”

She was offended.

Le Shi relaxed into a more comfortable position and followed up, “Then who was it?”

Bai Zhiqu turned her gaze to Xie Yuanwei and spoke gently. “Actually, Miss Xie should know this person too. Her name is Yan Yu.”

Xie Yuanwei froze in surprise.

“Pheromone-based medication has certain differences,” Bai Zhiqu explained while sipping her tea. “You start to notice the signs after a while. That friend of mine passed away in a car accident. Of course, I’m not blaming Miss Yan—I’m just explaining what happened.”

Le Shi was about to say something, but Bai Zhiqu clenched her jaw and continued bitterly, “Yan Yu was supposed to pick her up that day, but she had something else to take care of. That’s why my friend ended up driving herself and got into the accident.”

“It may have been fate, but I’m still not okay with it.”

Xie Yuanwei and Le Shi exchanged glances, but neither said anything. There wasn’t much else to say. This was an emotional mess.

After venting, Bai Zhiqu seemed to be in a better mood. She put down her teacup and finally got to the point. “So, what do you need me to do?”

Le Shi briefly explained the situation. When she finished, Bai Zhiqu went quiet. After a pause, she asked, “Your uncle… could he be—”

“He is,” Le Shi replied directly. She made no effort to hide the truth. The scandals involving her parents had already started to spread.

Bai Zhiqu let out a low exclamation and finally understood. She gave a mocking chuckle. “No wonder you had me fly over last night. Alright, I want to see how capable this man really is. I’ll head back to the hotel for now—I’m exhausted.”

Le Shi stood up to see her off and asked an assistant to escort Bai Zhiqu back to her hotel.

“Should I go work now?” Xie Yuanwei asked nervously, then added her own opinion. “I don’t really want to.”

Le Shi was in a good mood and indulged her. The two of them stayed in the office together the entire day. Of course, they had to keep a low profile. If word got out that an Alpha and Omega were alone together behind closed doors, the rumors would spread fast.

Xie Yuanwei spent the whole morning curled up quietly in Le Shi’s office. Around lunchtime, she finally loosened up a bit and wandered over to Le Shi’s desk.

“What do you want for dinner?”

Le Shi paused her typing and replied, “Fish.”

Xie Yuanwei nodded. “Alright, I’ll buy some after work.”

“When’s your uncle supposed to come?”

“No idea. Hopefully never.”

The two of them were chatting casually when the office door was suddenly pushed open, and a man’s voice rang out.

“Shi!”

Le Shi looked up and instinctively took a couple of steps back. Her eyes flicked from the approaching man to the Alpha crouched under her desk, and her breath became uneven.

Xie Yuanwei was sitting on the floor, head down, not daring to move or look up.

This was way too intense.

Xie Yuanwei, internally: Who can relate to this level of chaos?

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