The Scummy Alpha Transmigrated into a Tragedy Novel and Went Viral! - Chapter 17

Turning the photo over in her hand, Cheng Jingling carefully compared it to the buildings around her. The picture showed a two-story countryside courtyard house — white-gray walls, simple yet elegant. Stepping out of the assembly point gate, she walked straight ahead, counting roughly a thousand meters in her head before stopping. Ji Yufu had gone the opposite way, and the other couples had also split up to search separately to save time.

On her way, Ji Yufu ran into Xiao Chengyi, who enthusiastically waved her over and suggested they look for the house together — “more people, more power,” he said. Ji Yufu found his reasoning sound and didn’t refuse.

Cheng Jingling, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. She happened to bump into Jiang Yiyu. The instant their eyes met, they both turned away in perfect unspoken agreement, pretending not to see each other. Cheng Jingling took the right side of the road, Jiang Yiyu the left — like two strangers passing in silence.

Time ticked by as Cheng Jingling searched for any gray-white building that resembled the one in the photo. Her anxiety mounted with every minute. Spotting a house at the end of the road with high front steps, she hurried over and climbed them, hoping to get a better view. Unfortunately, her odd behavior drew the attention of the homeowner.

“What are you doing there, sneaking around like that?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Cheng Jingling quickly turned to explain.

“Hello, Grandpa! I just wanted to use your steps to look for this house. I didn’t mean any harm.” She showed him the photo. The old man squinted at it, and once he recognized it, his wary look softened instantly.

“What do you need that house for?”

“I’m a tourist,” she said. “That’s where I’m supposed to stay tonight, but I’m not sure how to get there. Could you please tell me the way?”

The old man’s face broke into a kind smile. As a resident of a popular internet-famous village, he’d long grown used to visitors like her. Ever since the nearby flower farm opened, tourists had been flocking here, and many villagers had turned their homes into guesthouses.

“You’re going the wrong way, young lady,” he said, gesturing east. “Go back about four hundred meters. On your left, there’s a small road — turn in there and walk another three hundred meters or so. You’ll see it.”

Cheng Jingling’s face lit up with relief. “Thank you, Grandpa! Really, thank you so much!”

“Don’t mention it!” The old man chuckled, wrinkles deepening as he watched the cheerful girl run off. “What a sweet, pretty little thing,” he murmured.

Following his directions, Cheng Jingling soon found House No. 1 — a lovely little villa. Just from the outside, it looked perfect. Fifteen minutes had already passed. She was about to push the door open when two people suddenly jumped out, startling her.

“Stop! Who goes there?”

“To open this door, you must first present your token!”

Hearing their overly dramatic lines, Cheng Jingling immediately realized they were show staff. “My token is this rose,” she said, holding it up.

But the two guards shook their heads. “Ah, not so fast! There are two of us, and you’ve got only one rose. That means you can only open half the door. Think carefully — what will you do?”

So that’s why the production crew gave them two roses earlier. Cheng Jingling quickly pulled out her phone and video-called Ji Yufu. The moment the call connected, Ji Yufu appeared on screen, standing by the roadside with a rose in her hand — like a girl waiting for her beloved.

“I found it!”

“You found it?”

They spoke in unison.

“Really?”

“Really!”

Silence followed as both waited for the other to speak first. With only twelve minutes left on the clock, Cheng Jingling couldn’t afford to be polite anymore. “House No. 1’s in the east! It takes two roses to open the door. You head back to the starting point — I’ll grab our luggage and meet you there!”

“Alright,” Ji Yufu replied without hesitation.

“Anything else you want to say?” Cheng Jingling asked.

Ji Yufu paused for a moment, lips curving faintly. “See you soon.”

“Okay!”

As soon as the call ended, Ji Yufu took off running, light on her feet, the rose still clutched in her hand — she looked for all the world like a woman running toward her lover. Meanwhile, Cheng Jingling told the two “gatekeepers” to stay put, promising she’d return soon, then sprinted back to the starting point. She grabbed both of their suitcases, and just as she stepped out, Ji Yufu arrived.

Her cheeks were flushed pink, her hair slightly messy. Seeing each other in such a disheveled state made both of them laugh. Together, they hurried toward House No. 1. Cheng Jingling, stronger of the two, took the heavier luggage, leaving Ji Yufu the lighter bags. After a quick, breathless walk, they finally arrived. Handing over both roses, they received the key to the courtyard gate.

Cheng Jingling unlocked the iron gate and then the front door. The interior was done in a bright, European style — clean, airy, and full of warmth.

“How is it?” Cheng Jingling asked, worried Ji Yufu might not like it.

“It’s nice,” Ji Yufu said simply.

Task one complete. Cheng Jingling collapsed onto the sofa to rest, patting the space beside her in invitation. Ji Yufu sat down next to her. The sound of Cheng Jingling’s slightly uneven breathing made Ji Yufu’s cheeks warm for reasons she couldn’t quite name.

“Don’t move,” Ji Yufu said softly, tilting Cheng Jingling’s chin up. With her other hand, she gently wiped the sweat from Cheng Jingling’s forehead, brushing away a few damp strands of hair stuck to her cheek. Cheng Jingling stared up at her — at that exquisite face so close, so focused — and forgot to breathe.

How can someone be this beautiful? Like a fairy.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?” Ji Yufu asked, a little self-conscious under her gaze, thinking her makeup might have smudged.

“N-no,” Cheng Jingling stammered, shaking her head. Then, suddenly flustered, she blurted, “Actually— yes! There is!”

Ji Yufu’s expression tightened slightly. “What?”

“Astonishing beauty!”

Ji Yufu was completely thrown off by the sudden, cheesy compliment. It took her several seconds to recover.

“Oh.” The pure-hearted movie queen didn’t quite know how to respond.

Once they’d rested enough, the two slowly made their way back to the starting point. But before they even reached the door, they heard raised voices coming from inside.

“I don’t care! You didn’t clearly state the game rules, which caused me to fail the housing task. That’s your mistake, not mine, and I refuse to accept any punishment!”

Cheng Jingling and Ji Yufu joined the other couples who had already completed their missions and watched quietly from the side.

Hosts Zhong Junhong and Cai Keke were both at their wits’ end with Jiang Yiyu’s tantrum. They didn’t want to break the show’s rules, but they also couldn’t afford to offend the son of one of their investors.

In the end, they compromised: as long as he could find a substitute for the missing tulip, he could proceed.

So, Jiang Yiyu simply picked a random flower by the roadside, presented it as a stand-in, and arrogantly demanded to be let in—successfully securing a room in the end.

Once every couple had completed their tasks, the crew distributed lunch. Considering the long trip, the commotion caused by Jiang Yiyu, and everyone’s exhaustion, the director decided to postpone the next game segment until the afternoon and extend lunch break by an extra hour.

After eating, Cheng Jingling and Ji Yufu returned to House No. 1 to rest.

They strolled back together, followed dutifully by the cameraman recording every step. When they reached the doorway, Cheng Jingling once again slipped into her “domineering CEO” mode, extending her hand gallantly.

“Beautiful lady, would you like to tour this house with me?”

Ji Yufu smiled and placed her hand in hers.

“It would be my pleasure.”

The first floor was simply decorated: a living room in the center, a kitchen on the left, and a storage room on the right filled with various tools. Behind the living room was a small bathroom, and further beyond, a little backyard with a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and even a fish pond. The setting was idyllic.

The second floor was even simpler—an open balcony-lounge, one master bedroom, and a spacious bathroom.

Inside the bedroom stood only a single double bed, which made Cheng Jingling silently break out in a cold sweat.

From the balcony, the view of the backyard was even better. Hand in hand, they stepped out to enjoy the warm sunlight and gentle breeze, letting the quiet countryside soothe their minds.

“Are you going to nap?” Cheng Jingling asked softly. “You’ll feel more refreshed later if you rest a bit.”

“You go ahead,” Ji Yufu released her hand, smiling faintly. “I’ll stay here and bask in the sun.”

“Alright then. Call me if you need anything.”

As Cheng Jingling went back to the bedroom, Ji Yufu remained on the balcony, gazing at the serene landscape. She stretched out her hand, feeling the wind slip through her fingers—a light, unrestrained sensation that filled her chest.

The autumn sun wasn’t as warm as in summer, yet its gentle heat seeped into her bones, warming even the cold corners of her heart. For a fleeting moment, she felt truly content.

But the vibration of her phone shattered that brief peace. Seeing the caller ID, the warmth drained from her face, replaced by a chill of loneliness and dread. After a long hesitation, she finally answered.

“Yufu! You finally picked up!” a woman’s shrill voice exclaimed through the receiver. Ji Yufu’s heart sank instantly.

“How did you get my number?” she asked coldly, already walking downstairs toward a spot out of the camera’s sight.

“Oh come on, I’m your mother! How could I not have your number? Your father and I have been worried sick—why don’t you ever answer?”

The woman’s sharp, high-pitched voice grated in her ear, its false concern making Ji Yufu’s skin crawl.

“Let’s get one thing straight—you’re not my mother. I wasn’t born to you. If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, I’m hanging up.”

“Hey, hey, don’t hang up! Yufu, when are you coming home? It’s been so long since you’ve visited!”

Ji Yufu sneered at the mention of that so-called “home.”

“You want money, don’t you?”

Exposed, the woman gave an awkward laugh.

“You know how much it costs to keep a household running. Your dad’s salary barely covers anything—we have to rely on you!”

“I don’t have any money,” Ji Yufu said flatly.

“What do you mean you don’t have money? You’re a big-time movie queen! You make millions a year! How can you say that? Have you grown wings and decided you don’t need your parents anymore?” the woman screeched on the other end, her voice full of self-righteous fury.

Ji Yufu was used to it.

“I have to pay a huge breach-of-contract penalty—three times the amount, maybe ten. I barely have enough for myself. In fact, if possible, I should be asking you for a loan. Aunt Wang, you’ve probably been saving quite a bit for your son, right? Could you lend me some?”

Her tone was icy.

“Are you insane? Where would I get money? I’ve worked myself to the bone taking care of you people! Don’t come to me—ask your father! I’ll give you a few days. You’d better send the money, or you’ll regret it!”

Wang Lili cursed as she hung up.

Ji Yufu let out a mirthless laugh—cold and sharp. When she turned around, she nearly jumped.

“What are you doing here?”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Cheng Jingling quickly explained. “I just heard voices and came to check. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.”

Ji Yufu’s face darkened—she hated anyone prying into her private matters.

“Mm.”

“Are you short on money?” Cheng Jingling asked carefully.

“No.” Ji Yufu’s voice was clipped, and she walked straight back into the house without another glance.

Cheng Jingling watched her retreating back, lost in thought. After a moment, she took out her phone and called the top contact on her list.

“Mom, I need a favor.”