The Scumbag’s Redemption: Kept by Her - Chapter 68

Milo could not understand Ling Jiao’s bold decision.

He didn’t understand it, but he respected it.

Beta thinking really might be worlds apart from Alpha thinking, Milo thought. Since Ling Jiao was so determined, as her friend, he had no choice but to support her wholeheartedly.

So, he opened his wallet generously or more accurately, very reluctantly and helped Ling Jiao put together an outfit. With a heavy expression, he declared that if she failed, they would share the debt and struggle through life together. He sincerely hoped she could successfully marry into the Shen family and pay off their debts once and for all.

Carrying her friend’s most sincere blessings, Ling Jiao stepped onto the uncertain path of becoming a “soft life” partner.

That evening, the estate was packed with elites. Laughter and clinking glasses filled the air. Handsome men and beautiful women mingled freely, many of them hoping to improve their fortunes or take their chances with fate. Madam Ling had lived alone for many years, with no known companion. But recently, she seemed to have changed her mind. Now that she was ready to open her heart, she was determined to do it openly and with dignity, not as someone’s secret affair hidden from the world.

Inside the hall, the butler kept an eye on the guests and managed the atmosphere. She scanned the room and frowned slightly.

“Where’s that Alpha who sang like a bird last time?” she asked suspiciously. “Wasn’t she quite eager back then? Why didn’t she come tonight?”

A clueless young attendant, trying to please her, clicked his tongue and said, “Probably too embarrassed by her shabby clothes. Maybe she didn’t dare show her face to Madam.”

“Besides, everyone here tonight is rich or powerful. Why would someone from a poor background even be allowed into our estate? She might still be struggling just to pay for the ride here.”

The butler gave him a sharp glance and said nothing more.

The young attendant gave an awkward laugh and fell silent.

Outside the hall, Ling Jiao finally arrived, a little out of breath. She handed over her invitation. After the guards let her in, she quickly headed toward the ballroom. Having grown up in the Ling estate, she knew exactly how to get there fast. She took a shortcut through a smaller path. Even from hundreds of meters away, she could see the cobblestone walkway lined with glowing fireflies. They fluttered gently in the night, occasionally landing on treetops and the petals of night-blooming flowers. The golden glow was warm and enchanting.

Ling Jiao gradually slowed down.

Inside the main hall, the extravagance reached new heights. Custom gemstone rings, commercial properties, rare paintings, antiques, and thousand-year-old ginseng were casually displayed on the tables, showing off a life of luxury and indulgence.

When Ling Jiao entered, no one noticed her.

She wore a finely tailored white shirt and sleek, well-fitted suit trousers. There were no obvious designer logos, but the outfit didn’t look cheap either.

If she hadn’t been so confident, she never would have dared to ask her friend to give up such a large portion of their retirement savings for this.

She found a quiet corner and sat down, waiting for Shen Yuwei to appear. While waiting, she couldn’t help but look around. It had been years since she returned to the Ling family estate. Everything felt different, and yet somehow the same.

The lucky bamboo that once stood proudly in the main hall was still there, its leaves green and full. The familiar arrangement of furniture hadn’t changed much. The only difference now was the presence of many guests, which added noise and liveliness to the space.

And now, she was one of those guests.

She wondered how her parents were doing after all these years. She hadn’t heard much about them while living away. Maybe the secrets of wealthy families were too tightly guarded. If she ever got the chance, she would definitely try to find out more.

A server approached her from across the room.

“Miss, someone who says they are your friend asked me to bring this to you,” the server said, handing her a glass of red wine. She looked Ling Jiao up and down with obvious judgment. She had heard this was the woman who made the butler take a second look, but she remained unimpressed.

A sickly girl like her thinks she can catch Madam’s eye?

Sensing the server’s unkind gaze, Ling Jiao remained calm and collected. She accepted the wine with perfect manners. Her poise and restraint showed that she was clearly someone raised with good values.

“Please thank him for me,” she said politely.

After the server left, Ling Jiao was about to set the glass down on the table. But before she could, someone took it from her hand.

She turned in surprise and saw Shen Yuwei, the hostess of the evening, standing before her.

Shen Yuwei rested her chin on one hand while gently swirling the wine with the other. Her fingers brushed the glass as she watched it spin.

Her relaxed posture was even more captivating than the vibrant red wine.

“Why aren’t you drinking it?” she asked.

Her slightly arched eyebrows curved with amusement. “Are you afraid someone poisoned it?”

Ling Jiao looked at her deeply, trying to understand what Shen Yuwei really meant. She wasn’t sure what kind of game Shen Yuwei was playing. After so many years, it was hard to read her. Still, in preparation for this long-awaited reunion, Ling Jiao had made her move in advance.

“The moment she brought it over, I knew it was from you,” she said.

Ling Jiao smiled softly and slowly glanced around the room.

“I just wasn’t sure if this was your way of sending a message. I didn’t know how you truly felt about me. Even a stray cat needs to be tempted with food before it will come.”

Shen Yuwei looked at the woman who once seemed so nervous and unsure of herself. Now, she appeared calm and confident, as if she was already in control of the situation.

It reminded Shen Yuwei of someone she used to know.

Someone who had been gone for many years. Someone who always handled complicated situations with ease and always seemed to get what she wanted without much effort.

Shen Yuwei remained composed. She took a quiet sip of wine, and her lipstick left a perfect print on the rim, as if by accident.

Then, with grace and elegance, she stood and walked toward the center of the hall.

Ling Jiao sat silently, watching her go.

She lowered her head and quietly picked up the wine glass that Shen Yuwei had just used. In her heart, she wondered if this was a deliberate move on Shen Yuwei’s part. Was she throwing out bait?

The once noisy ballroom fell into sudden silence.

The star of the evening had officially arrived.

Shen Yuwei appeared in a long black gown. Draped over her shoulders was a finely stitched shawl trimmed with soft mink. Her makeup was light, understated, and elegant. Among the many guests dressed in luxurious fashion, she was without a doubt the most striking and radiant figure in the room.

The entire hall grew still, as if stunned by the presence of this graceful and beautiful widow.

Ling Jiao looked up and saw Shen Yuwei standing under the crystal chandelier, glowing as if lit from within. It was a breathtaking sight that made it impossible to look away.

She froze for a moment.

Then she heard Shen Yuwei speak in a calm, steady voice.

“I am deeply grateful for everyone’s sincerity tonight,” she said. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she let out a few light coughs.

She looked pale and delicate, like a fragile willow swaying in the breeze. The sight stirred a sense of compassion in those who watched her.

“But,” she continued, her voice now carrying a slight rasp, “a husband in this household will eventually have to help manage the family. I know many of you have outstanding reputations and are more than capable of handling business matters. That much I do not doubt.”

She paused, her tone becoming softer.

“However, in times of peace and quiet, what matters most is true affection. What I value the most is someone who can bring me joy. So I ask you, do you have any talents or qualities that might win my heart?”

As soon as she finished speaking, several people eagerly stepped forward to answer.

One tall and handsome Alpha with fair skin and red lips boldly said, “Sister, I am the perfect puppy boyfriend. I can be both sweet and spicy, whatever you need.”

Another strong Alpha spoke loudly and with pride. “My family is well-off, and I have brothers in the police department. If we join together, we would be a powerful match, truly meant to be.”

“I am hardworking and honest. I promise that for three generations, we will not return to our ancestral home. The children can carry your family name forever.”

“I have dated several women. Not a single one ever spoke badly about me after we broke up.”

“I am good-looking. I am rich.”

Somehow, a few Omegas had also slipped into the crowd. One of them held a small speaker and shouted, “Alpha and Omega relationships are outdated. Omega and Omega love deserves a chance too.”

Ling Jiao stood silently.

She looked at the young Omega who had spoken. The person had a delicate, well-proportioned face and a sweet, gentle voice. Strangely, a wave of discomfort rose in Ling Jiao’s heart.

After all these years, Shen Yuwei had remained alone. What if her preferences had changed? What if she now liked soft and sweet Omegas like that one?

That voice was so soft it made Ling Jiao’s ears tingle.

Shen Yuwei listened to all the declarations with a polite and appropriate smile. But after a moment, a faint trace of disappointment seemed to pass through her eyes.

She murmured softly, so quietly that few could hear her.

“Is this all there is?”

Everyone in the room paused. Then they followed her gaze toward a corner of the hall, puzzled.

In that corner, Ling Jiao blinked. Seeing so many eyes turning toward her, she stood up calmly. Her expression remained composed. She gently dusted off her sleeves, then began walking toward the center of the hall, smiling slightly as she went.

“Isn’t that the broke one?” someone whispered. An Alpha recognized her, and quiet muttering began to spread.

Ling Jiao gave a small, apologetic smile and bent slightly forward.

“Excuse me. May I ask Madam for a favor?”

Shen Yuwei raised an eyebrow. She placed her hands gracefully at her waist and asked, “What is it?”

“Could you please turn off the lights?” Ling Jiao said.

Shen Yuwei glanced at the butler. He immediately understood and called for the lights to be turned off. As the room went dark, he remained by Shen Yuwei’s side, curious to see what Ling Jiao would do next.

The entire hall was suddenly swallowed by darkness, like thick ink spilling into the air. A cool breeze drifted in from outside, carrying the freshness of the night. With the light gone, time seemed to slow. The sense of sight was nearly gone, and the sounds outside became more vivid—the calls of insects, the fluttering of birds, the gentle flow of spring water nearby.

Then, the very next moment, something began to change.

Tiny lights appeared above them, one by one. Slowly, they multiplied, filling the air like fireflies dancing freely in the dark. They spread outward like ripples, their glow soft and warm. It was not the harsh light of electricity, but something gentler, full of life.

The hall, once quiet and still, was now filled with a different kind of brightness. It was tender and vibrant, carrying the warmth of something living. It melted the cold, heavy stillness in the air and turned it into something sweet, like rich, fragrant juice.

A soft, sweet fragrance rose into the air, drifting gently through the nose.

The quiet was broken by the sounds of gasps and hushed murmurs spreading through the hall.

Ling Jiao snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, the lights came on.

The fireflies vanished without a trace.

All around her, people were whispering to one another. They had been completely stunned by Ling Jiao’s bold and unrestrained gesture. Some of them even looked a little regretful, as if thinking, why didn’t I come up with something so simple and clever?

Romance, after all, is something that comes naturally.

Ling Jiao began walking forward step by step.

Those in the center instinctively stepped back, clearing a path just wide enough for two people to walk through. At the end of that path stood Shen Yuwei, her expression calm and composed. She watched in silence as Ling Jiao walked down the long aisle and stopped right in front of her.

Ling Jiao gave a gentle smile, the corners of her eyes curving upward with a hint of sincerity and reverence.

“Just like they said, I come from nothing,” she began, her voice soft yet steady. “I have no powerful family, no influential connections, and nothing else of value to offer you. What I can give you…”

She looked directly into Shen Yuwei’s eyes.

“…is my heart.”

She said quietly, “I liked you from the very first moment I saw you.”

“And if love could have a time limit, then I hope mine will last for ten thousand years.”

Then, as if by magic, a peony appeared in her hand. She gently took Shen Yuwei’s left hand in her own.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me for being forward. But please, I beg you, accept this flower.”

“The language of the peony is this: Out of the millions of people in the world, I love only you.”

“Just like my heart.”

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