Transmigrated as a Scummy Alpha: The Wife-Chasing Crematorium - Chapter 9

Once everyone was inside, the driver started the engine and pulled away slowly. The quiet hum of the car was punctuated by intermittent conversation.

Zhou Jing, turned slightly in the front passenger seat, spoke up first. “Thank you for the promotion, President Shen. I look forward to a successful partnership with Teacher Pei. Rest assured, I will devote all my efforts to working for you.”

For a person to speak with such conviction, Shen Luoxi must have offered Zhou Jing significant benefits. Pei Yu had heard that Zhou Jing was currently in financial straits—quite a serious deficit, in fact—so this arrangement likely fulfilled a mutual need. Shen Luoxi was indeed a clever strategist.

Pei Yu also offered her thanks. “Thank you, President Shen.”

“You’re welcome,” Shen Luoxi replied.

With a new manager came a new atmosphere. Zhou Jing pulled several scripts from her bag and handed them to Pei Yu in the back. “These are a few promising scripts I’ve come across recently. Have a look; if any catch your eye, I’ll negotiate with the producers. Also, President Shen mentioned that she will invest in every TV series or film you do from now on, so we don’t need to worry about any interference during production.”

Pei Yu listened, feeling as though she were hearing something out of a fairy tale. Investing in every single project? While the cost was negligible to the Shen family, the key was the level of attention. The old Shen Luoxi never possessed that kind of focus.

Shen Luoxi didn’t need to guess to know that Pei Yu was doubting her. She spoke up before the suspicion could settle. “You don’t need to think the worst of me right now. As I told you last night, I am fully committing myself to work. I can’t change what I did in the past, and you have every right to hate me for it. But my current actions are partly out of penance and partly for my own sake, so don’t overthink it.”

While these words weren’t entirely what Shen Luoxi felt deep down, they served the same purpose on the surface. As long as Pei Yu understood it that way, it was enough.

Pei Yu didn’t respond, clearly remaining unconvinced. Shen Luoxi didn’t push her.

On the way to the anniversary celebration, Pei Yu focused on the scripts Zhou Jing had provided. Two or three were genuinely impressive and offered challenges different from her previous roles. If possible, she wanted to try the role of the single mother.

“I think this one is quite good.” Pei Yu pulled out her final choice and handed it to Zhou Jing.

Zhou Jing took the script and scanned the title. Her eyes widened instinctively. “This role is certainly a challenge, but you’re still young. Are you sure playing a single mother is the right move for your image?”

The female lead of this drama was an Omega single mother whose wife had died in a car accident, leaving behind a spouse of less than two years and a daughter not yet a year old. The story followed the protagonist’s grueling work to support her child. When her daughter turned five, she met another “healing-type” female lead. Over time, feelings blossomed, and after surviving various hardships, the two overcame all obstacles to find happiness together.

The plot leaned toward a warm, family-oriented domestic drama with rich content. However, the role had originally been intended for an actress in her thirties. Pei Yu was only in her twenties; playing this character would be a stark contrast to her previous roles—a major breakthrough. But because of that contrast, if her acting fell short, she would be easily criticized by the audience.

“I think I can do it,” Pei Yu said firmly.

She had starred in many romance, idol, and historical dramas over the years. Though they were all hits and earned her prestigious awards, she wanted to achieve a breakthrough while she was still young. Otherwise, by the time she reached her thirties or forties, the only roles left for her might be mothers and mothers-in-law.

Zhou Jing gripped the script, thinking deeply. “I’ll consider it further, and you should too.”

“Alright.” Pei Yu wasn’t in a hurry to make a final decision.

Hearing them discuss so earnestly, Shen Luoxi couldn’t help but interject. “May I see the script?”

“Of course.” Zhou Jing handed the script to Shen Luoxi.

Shen Luoxi looked at the title on the first page: As Such.

In the original novel, Pei Yu’s acting was top-tier; she was a triple-crown winner at a young age. Every drama or movie she touched broke records. Consequently, Shen Luoxi wasn’t worried about Pei Yu’s ability to perform. She wanted to read it because this drama wasn’t the one Pei Yu had starred in within the novel in fact, they were entirely unrelated.

Shen Luoxi could only guess that the plot was shifting alongside her own changes. She no longer needed to memorize the book’s original timeline; she needed to understand the new developments to be prepared for anything. She read the character sketches and relationship maps on the third page before diving into the detailed plot. She became so absorbed that she didn’t even notice they had arrived at the school.

The car stopped in front of the auditorium. A red carpet was laid out on the stairs, surrounded by swarms of reporters, students, and fans who had sneaked in. Looking out, it was a dense sea of people.

Zhou Jing unbuckled her seatbelt in the front. “Let’s go. President Shen isn’t attending the ceremony; she’ll leave with the car.”

Shen Luoxi had mentioned this during their meeting the day before. Pei Yu had assumed she was joking, but she was increasingly becoming a woman of her word. “Alright, I understand.”

Pei Yu gathered her dress, preparing to exit. Shen Luoxi was still so engrossed in the script that she didn’t even notice Pei Yu leaving, simply flipping to the next page.

When Zhou Jing stepped out of the car, the reporters raised their cameras, ready to snap away. However, seeing an unfamiliar face, they lowered them in disappointment, peering toward the back of the car instead.

“When is Pei Yu getting here? If she doesn’t show up soon, my heart is going to break. My Goddess Pei!” a paparazzi wailed in the crowd.

Another paparazzi nearby sighed in agreement. “Yeah, if Goddess Pei doesn’t come, I’m going to get lovesick.”

Amidst their chatter, Zhou Jing opened the rear door, and Pei Yu stepped out, holding her skirt.

Instantly, the air was shattered by explosive screams. The sound of camera shutters echoed throughout the auditorium entrance, and countless flashes rained down on Pei Yu’s exquisite face.

Even Zhou Jing struggled to withstand the blinding light, but Pei Yu acted as if it were nothing. She climbed the steps one by one, facing the flashes with a radiant smile.

The two paparazzi finally reacted, hoisting their cameras and screaming along with the fans. “Pei Yu! Ahhh! My goddess!”

“Pei Yu! Holy crap, it’s really Pei Yu!”

“Wife! I love you!”

As Pei Yu walked forward, the screams grew louder in waves. No matter how focused Shen Luoxi was on the script, she couldn’t ignore the deafening noise outside. Startled, she looked out the window, but the car couldn’t linger. By the time she looked, the assistant had closed the door, leaving only a tiny crack that allowed her to catch a glimpse of Pei Yu’s retreating back.

The shouting continued. Every lens was trained on that one woman.

In that moment, Shen Luoxi truly felt the reality of being a beloved superstar. The screams, the shutters, and the flashes were all real. Pei Yu was, at this very second, the brightest star in the world. This was the glory Pei Yu deserved in the novel.

The school security directed the car away, and the driver slowly pulled out, carrying Shen Luoxi away from the auditorium. Shen Luoxi watched the figure recede into the distance before finally looking away.

To avoid delaying the next arriving artists, Pei Yu was quickly ushered into the auditorium under the protection of Zhou Jing and her assistant. Inside, many actors, teachers, and students had already arrived. They had heard the commotion outside but couldn’t tell who it was for until Pei Yu entered.

Realization dawned, and they swarmed toward her. Some students didn’t dare approach and instead hid to the side to take photos.

“Pei Yu, long time no see.” A male classmate from her year greeted her.

Pei Yu saw him but had no intention of being friendly. This man was now in the industry as well, though he had only played minor roles his best being a second lead whose spotlight was completely eclipsed by the main cast. Back in school, he had pursued Pei Yu and told everyone he would confess to her on Valentine’s Day, essentially trying to pressure her into a relationship.

On Valentine’s Day, he did confess, but Pei Yu rejected him outright, stating she had no interest in dating. Feeling humiliated, he bribed several media outlets to claim Pei Yu had toyed with his emotions, labeling her a “slut.” The news had caused quite a stir at the time, and even now, he carried the title of Pei Yu’s “rumored boyfriend,” using the notoriety to land a few leading roles.

Seeing her delay her response, he took another step forward with a thin smile. “What, now that you’re famous, you don’t recognize your old classmates? Everyone is watching, Miss Pei. Don’t go ruining your reputation again.”

As people gathered and cameras clicked, Pei Yu suppressed her anger and forced a polite smile. “Long time no see.”

Support Transmigrated as a Scummy Alpha: The Wife-Chasing Crematorium