The Scumbag Who Bowed for Money - Chapter 25

Xie Yuanwei sat curled beneath the office desk, her legs pulled close to her chest. If she moved her eyes even slightly, she would see Le Shi’s legs. She quickly rubbed her face, buried her head between her knees, and silently listened to the conversation happening above her.

It was obvious that Le Shi truly disliked her uncle. Even Xie Yuanwei, just by listening, could hear the hatred in her tone.

“Uncle, you’re here,” Le Shi said calmly.

She leaned back in her chair, appearing completely relaxed, as though there were no one hiding beneath her desk. She gave her uncle no chance to speak.

“I’ve already arranged for someone from the Bai family to meet with you. Bai Zhiqu. You should know who she is.”

The man’s eyes lit up. He was about to say something, but Le Shi interrupted him.

She let out a long sigh and sounded extremely tired. “I have another meeting in five minutes. My assistant will take you to her. Is that alright?”

“Alright.” The man was no fool. He understood that Le Shi was politely asking him to leave. But he had already gotten what he came for, so he did not care.

Xie Yuanwei listened as the footsteps faded. Just as she was about to crawl out from under the desk, something pressed gently against her shoulder.

Startled, she looked up. “President Le?”

Le Shi’s high heel rested on her shoulder. She was not applying much pressure, but it was enough to keep Xie Yuanwei still and quiet.

“This is the first time I’ve ever hidden someone in my office,” Le Shi said with a smirk. She tapped her fingers lightly against her lips. There was mischief in her eyes. “Are you scared?”

Xie Yuanwei held onto Le Shi’s ankle and smiled briefly. “Of course not. I’m just worried you won’t admit I was ever here.”

Le Shi let out a short laugh and said nothing more. She moved her foot and pulled out the chair so Xie Yuanwei could come out.

“I was planning to have you accompany Bai Zhiqu today,” she said casually. “But plans have changed.”

“You wanted me to go with Bai Zhiqu?” Xie Yuanwei straightened her back, but her movement paused as soon as she heard that. “What do you mean?”

Le Shi turned to face her. Her expression was proud and indifferent.

“My uncle is an alpha.”

She laughed lightly. “His pheromones are incredibly seductive. Otherwise, how do you think he managed to seduce both my parents?”

Xie Yuanwei blinked. “Aren’t you worried that Bai Zhiqu might get hurt?”

Le Shi raised an eyebrow. “I explained everything to her and arranged for someone to protect her. My collaboration with the Bai family benefits both sides. If she helps me get the shares from my parents, it means our families will be tied closer together. Why would I refuse that?”

She sounded completely confident and pleased with herself. Even from behind, Xie Yuanwei could sense her good mood. She took a deep breath. A quiet thought formed in her heart.

“Then why me?” she asked gently.

Le Shi seemed to consider it for a moment, then turned around to speak more directly.

“Because you have been reverse marked by me. You will not be affected by other pheromones. And don’t worry, I will make sure Bai Zhiqu is safe.”

Reverse marked. Again that word came up.

Suddenly, Xie Yuanwei felt as if she could not breathe. Everything started to feel overwhelming. From the moment she met Yan Yu, her world had begun to collapse like a tragic story.

Before coming to this world, she had been alone. She had a few distant friends. They were not close, but they invited her to hang out occasionally. Still, she had always felt like an outsider. After arriving in this world, she became someone else, a fake Xie Yuanwei, with memories that felt dry and unfamiliar. Even the original’s closest friends could immediately sense that something was off.

She could not even pretend well. One look and her disguise crumbled. She was not good at staying calm and detached. When she saw Yan Yu grieving over her lost friend, she felt sadness too.

When Le Shi appeared in her life, Xie Yuanwei had truly believed she had found a place to belong.

“Going home,” Xie Yuanwei whispered, “was just a lie.”

All of it had been a setup to trigger her susceptibility. The reverse marking had been part of the plan from the start. Le Shi had gambled that Xie Yuanwei would not mark her, and the rest of her plan fell into place.

Xie Yuanwei’s breath became shaky. She could not speak.

“What did you just say?” Le Shi noticed her lips moving but could not make out the words.

Xie Yuanwei’s thoughts were scattered. She looked up slowly and replied, “I can go with Bai Zhiqu instead. I can take a suppressant.”

Le Shi’s eyes darkened. “You know suppressants are bad for your health. This is not something to take lightly.”

“But it is the safest way,” Xie Yuanwei answered in a low voice. “If I go with your uncle, it won’t lead anywhere. I still carry the title of Miss Xie.”

She drew a breath and continued, “This way, the Bai family gets an appropriate explanation. Of course, you are the sponsor, so it is your call.”

“What do you mean ‘you are the sponsor, so it’s your call’?” Le Shi laughed quietly, but her smile was no longer warm. “Why are you so eager to go see Bai Zhiqu?”

She licked her lips and took a step closer. “Fine. If you want to go, then go. I will have someone bring the suppressant.”

She stopped in front of Xie Yuanwei and gave her a mocking look. “Since I am the sponsor, I do have that right. Go on then. Go be with Bai Zhiqu.”

Xie Yuanwei was speechless. She could tell that Le Shi was angry, but she did not know why.

All she could do was accept it. If Le Shi wanted to use her, then so be it. She did not mind. She just could not believe that Le Shi would continue using her forever.

That kind of thinking was nothing more than a fantasy.

“Alright,” Xie Yuanwei said in a hoarse voice. She fell silent after that.

Le Shi looked at her and gave a bitter laugh. She turned her face away, trying to calm herself.

“What is going on with you? Did I say something that upset you?”

“No.”

“Is it about Bai Zhiqu? Are you angry because I didn’t ask you to go with her?”

Xie Yuanwei answered firmly, “Why do you keep bringing her up? What does she have to do with anything? Whether I go or not is up to you, President Le. I don’t have any interest in her.”

“Why should I care who you’re interested in?” Le Shi’s voice rose in frustration. She stared directly at Xie Yuanwei. “Once our engagement ends, do whatever you want. But while we are still engaged, please control yourself.”

Her words cut deep. Even though Xie Yuanwei knew she was referring to the original version of her, it still hurt. She had thought Le Shi had started to believe in her.

The moment she said it, Le Shi realized she had gone too far. She opened her mouth to explain, but Xie Yuanwei had already raised her head.

Her eyes were red again. She had cried many times these past few days. But this time, Le Shi could tell it had nothing to do with the nesting period.

Xie Yuanwei’s voice was calm. “I understand. I promise you.”

Le Shi quickly responded, “That’s not what I meant.”

Xie Yuanwei smiled faintly and lowered her tone. “I understand. Please don’t be angry.”

There had never been a moment when Le Shi hated hearing that sentence more.

It was the first thing she truly regretted saying that day.

Xie Yuanwei looked at her with quiet resolve. “Please believe me. I have no feelings for Bai Zhiqu. None at all. I know I haven’t earned your full trust yet, but I promise you. As long as we are still engaged, I will respect our agreement completely.”

“Xie Yuanwei.”

“I have one more question.”

Xie Yuanwei’s voice was calm, so calm it made the air between them tense. The Omega lowered her eyes and said nothing.

The Alpha already knew the answer to what she was about to ask.

“When you agreed to the engagement with me, was it because you were trying to treat your illness?”

Le Shi gave a quiet response. “Yes. And you agreed because you wanted something out of it too. You knew exactly how I felt about you.”

She frowned slightly. “Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?”

“Because I’ve been thinking,” Xie Yuanwei replied gently. “Your parents are upset about our marriage. My parents used this relationship to try to get close to you. But now, I already understand what you needed from me.”

“I don’t have much of a relationship with my family. I’m not particularly capable either. The fact that you let me stay and even gave me a relatively easy job is already more than enough.”

Le Shi blinked. She looked at Xie Yuanwei in disbelief. “What are you trying to say?”

“Do you want to end our engagement?”

Xie Yuanwei paused for a few seconds. Her voice was low and tired. “But I’ll still honor our agreement. That hasn’t changed.”

Le Shi turned her head slightly. “I don’t agree.”

Xie Yuanwei wasn’t surprised. She didn’t understand why Le Shi refused, but she didn’t expect her to accept the idea anyway. She had only brought it up; she didn’t think Le Shi would actually consider it.

Le Shi acted like she indulged Xie Yuanwei’s moods, occasionally losing her temper, but in truth, she was calculated and understood people far too well.

They stood in silence, neither of them knowing how things had come to this. Just thirty minutes ago, everything had felt different.

“Do you need a suppressant?” Le Shi finally spoke, breaking the tension. She had managed to calm her voice. “I can have someone send one over, and I’ll make some soup tonight to help you recover.”

But Xie Yuanwei shook her head. The affection she used to show Le Shi was gone from her eyes.

“I think my susceptibility period is already over.”

Le Shi blinked, realizing that the citrusy scent in the air had nearly faded.

“I see,” she murmured softly.

She sat down in her office chair and asked, “Do you want to take the day off to rest?”

Xie Yuanwei shook her head. “No need. I’ll go back to work.”

Le Shi didn’t say anything more. She just reminded her to speak up if she felt unwell.

Xie Yuanwei nodded. “Alright, then I’ll head out.”

There was no hesitation or reluctance as the Alpha turned and left. Le Shi sat alone in her office, watching her walk away. The door swayed gently behind her.

For a brief moment, Le Shi wondered what she had done wrong. What had she said that pushed things to this point?

Bai Zhiqu had told her that it was better to talk things through. She had followed that advice. But now, Xie Yuanwei seemed colder than ever.

Was fate really something they couldn’t escape?

Everything was supposed to be different now.

Le Shi lowered her head in defeat.

She had ruined it again.

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