Transmigrated as the Heroine’s Perfect Alpha - Chapter 12

 

When Xie Ling was led by the waiter to the private room, her friends had already arrived. There were only four people eating, but due to a certain habit, they had booked the largest table.

 

This was the first time Xie Ling had met the original owner’s friends since taking over the nest. Although she possessed their basic information and had photos of them on her phone, she still felt a bit nervous.

 

How should she describe that feeling of unease? It was like a person with social anxiety suddenly meeting an internet friend in real life.

 

It started with excitement, but soon the feeling changed, becoming a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and trepidation.

 

Xie Ling stood at the doorway of the private room, glanced inside, adjusted her expression, and walked toward the friends sitting in the lounge area.

 

Ren Xuan was the first to spot Xie Ling. She nudged Qian Lu and Tang Wenwen, who were busy playing mobile games.

 

The three of them looked up simultaneously. Just as Xie Ling reached the sofa, she was met with three pairs of sparkling eyes, feeling instantly awkward.

 

The sensation of being face to face was vastly different from just chatting on the phone!

 

Qian Lu tossed her phone aside, cursed under her breath, and stood up to drape an arm over Xie Ling’s shoulder. “What happened to your leg? You have only been gone for the New Year, how did you become a cripple?”

 

“It is the New Year, please say something nice!” Tang Wenwen, who had a chubby face, demonstrated how to roll her eyes on the spot.

 

Ren Xuan, standing to the side, looked at the two bickering girls with a gentle smile. “It is a new year with new beginnings. How about we have our first fight of the year right here? The place is spacious enough. Let us finish the fight before we eat.”

 

Tang Wenwen scoffed and pouted. “Forget it. As a weak Omega with no strength, I cannot beat her.”

 

Qian Lu narrowed her eyes. “Really? I wonder which weak little scoundrel smashed my car a few days ago.”

 

“Oh? Did such a thing happen?” Xie Ling, who had not had a chance to speak until now, felt her gossip instincts flare up. All social anxiety and awkwardness vanished instantly.

 

The two involved parties snorted at each other, neither speaking.

 

Ren Xuan had to step in to explain. “That night was your birthday. We did not make it, and that is what happened that evening.”

 

“Ah, what exactly happened?” Xie Ling thought for a moment but could not recall anything. At that time, she had only been focused on how to avoid Ji Xue. She had not had the time to check her phone, and when she did, her mind was filled with the system, electric shocks, and those messy, chaotic rules.

 

Ren Xuan said, “It was not a big deal. One of Qian Lu’s admirers got drunk and dirtied Wenwen’s car. Wenwen was so angry that she smashed Qian Lu’s car.”

 

Xie Ling looked at the cute, round-faced Tang Wenwen in shock. “You smashed the car just because it was dirty? That seems excessive, does it not?”

 

Tang Wenwen pouted aggrievedly. “She used spray paint to write on my new car, saying I was seducing her Alpha! She called me a cheap Omega!”

 

“……”

 

Qian Lu was clearly in the wrong, but she did not give up. “I did not know she would do something like that! Using me as a shield is something you tacitly accepted anyway. Besides, I apologized to you and washed your car, did I not?”

 

Xie Ling: “……”

 

Well, they truly were the original owner’s friends.

 

Ren Xuan stepped between them and gave them an expressionless look. “Just tell me, can we still have this meal tonight or not?”

 

Upon hearing this, Qian Lu and Tang Wenwen glared at each other, then bowed their heads, looked back up, forced a smile, and shook hands quickly. “Let us eat,” they said in unison.

 

Ren Xuan turned to open the door and notify the waiter to start serving the dishes.

 

Xie Ling was stunned, thinking they were indeed a very interesting bunch. It seemed that when she was in a bad mood in the future, she could ask them out. She would not need to say or do anything; just being a spectator would be enough to make her laugh.

 

Qian Lu pulled out a chair, and Tang Wenwen helped Xie Ling sit down. Ren Xuan shook her head at this sight and sat at the head of the table.

 

The rule among the four sisters was that whoever paid for the meal sat at the head of the table.

 

Xie Ling looked at the two who were always at odds with each other, unable to laugh or cry, sighing that it was the right decision to come tonight.

 

A bottle of red wine of unknown vintage was opened. Because of her injured leg, Xie Ling did not have a taste, leaving it all to Qian Lu and Tang Wenwen, who were only superficially harmonious.

 

Ren Xuan kept introducing the new signature dishes to Xie Ling. Her expression and voice were gentle, giving people a refreshing feeling that was quite comfortable.

 

Xie Ling was eighty percent full. As she set down her chopsticks, Qian Lu finally fixed her gaze, which had been tracking the other, onto the empty plate in front of Xie Ling.

 

“Is there something on my face?” Xie Ling felt guilty under the stare.

 

Tang Wenwen was also surprised. “Not bad, Ling’er. You have quite the appetite.”

 

Xie Ling realized what was happening and scratched her head in embarrassment. “It is okay. They say you grow during your twenty-third year, maybe I am still growing.”

 

“Hahaha.” Qian Lu burst into loud laughter. “You really are the thickest-skinned one.”

 

Ren Xuan smiled and retorted, “That is good. It is better than some Alpha who eats like a little chick, yet cannot even hold a child.”

 

Qian Lu’s laughter came to an abrupt halt, and Tang Wenwen started laughing again.

 

Xie Ling’s mouth twitched, realizing that the name of their group chat was indeed a realistic one.

 

Seeing that Xie Ling was finished eating, Ren Xuan waved at the doorway.

 

The waiter waiting outside received the instruction and immediately opened the door to serve dessert.

 

Qian Lu glanced at the square cake on the plate and pushed it. The exquisite matcha cake slid across the table to the other side.

 

Tang Wenwen skillfully reached out to catch it and picked up a fork to start eating. After the first bite, she remembered a question she had not asked yet and looked at Xie Ling. “Ling’er, what happened to your leg?”

 

“It is nothing. I just fell and scraped the skin.” Xie Ling looked at the beautifully shaped little square cake, resisting the urge to pick up a fork.

 

Ren Xuan nodded. “That is good to hear. If you have a wound, be careful for the next few days and avoid alcohol.”

 

“I know.” Xie Ling replied, clasping her hands together, her expression serious. “Seriously, what do you all think of me as a person?”

 

“What do you mean?” Qian Lu downed the wine in her glass and glanced at Xie Ling sideways.

 

Tang Wenwen continued eating the cake and replied in her spare time, “You are quite good.”

 

Ren Xuan nodded along. “You really are quite good.”

 

Qian Lu slanted a look at Tang Wenwen, who was eating cake, her cheeks slightly flushed, perhaps due to the alcohol. She leaned back against the chair, posture somewhat lazy, and thought for a moment before saying, “You are great to your friends, you are loyal, and you are kind. You really are good. If I have to say what is bad about you, it is your taste in people. Regardless, I do not think much of Lin Man.”

 

“If you put it that way, I second that.” Tang Wenwen put down her fork and gestured toward Qian Lu.

 

Ren Xuan looked down at the strawberry garnish on her plate and said in a low voice, “Add me to that.”

 

“……”

 

Asking for an evaluation had been an impulse for Xie Ling. On the way here, she had been reflecting on her own behavior; the inner conflict made her feel uncomfortable, so she wanted to hear what others thought of her. She had not expected the original Xie Ling to have such a high rating in her friends’ eyes.

 

But upon reflection, in this world, apart from targeting Ji Xue and opposing Lin Man, Xie Ling had not really done anything bad.

 

Xie Ling remained silent, recalling the email she had sent, and her mood turned heavy again.

 

“What happened?” Ren Xuan frowned as she looked at the seat opposite her. Her bright eyes were like a clear pool, reflecting only Xie Ling.

 

Xie Ling shook her head. “Nothing, I just did something very bad against my own conscience.”

 

Qian Lu wanted to ask what it was, but she was interrupted by Tang Wenwen and Ren Xuan at the same time.

 

“Ling’er…”

 

“That…”

 

Qian Lu looked at them and changed her words. “That is nothing. As long as it does not involve life or death, it is all a small matter.”

 

Xie Ling smiled helplessly, thinking to herself that it was because Qian Lu was easygoing.

 

Ren Xuan, sitting directly opposite her, had been looking at her quite directly since earlier, with a hesitant expression on her face. Xie Ling hurriedly lowered her head, acting as if she had seen nothing.

 

Ren Xuan lowered her eyes, steeling herself to speak, but Qian Lu’s phone rang.

 

The quiet room was suddenly filled with the ringing tone, and the four silent people turned to look at the phone on the table.

 

Qian Lu scanned the group, answered without a care, and switched to speakerphone.

 

A soft, alluring voice drifted from the speaker. “President Qian, did we not agree? Why have you not come to pick me up yet? Have you taken a fancy to a new little girl, and you do not want to talk to me anymore?”

 

Ren Xuan and Xie Ling looked at Tang Wenwen at the same time, only to see the latter slam the table, snort coldly, and walk out.

 

Qian Lu looked toward the empty chair opposite, did not say a word, and hung up the phone.

 

This plot had been in the original text, though the time and place were slightly different. However, the development of the plot had hardly changed. Xie Ling, possessing a certain omniscient perspective, felt that she should respect the emotional arc of this minor character. She took the script, pouted, and began reciting her lines. “If you like her, just say it. Why be so awkward? Wenwen has many suitors. Be careful, or someone else will take advantage of the situation, and you will have nowhere to cry.”

 

Ren Xuan also laughed. “That is right. Why do you not go chase her?”

 

After all, in their group of four, the fact that Qian Lu and Tang Wenwen liked each other was an open secret.

 

Qian Lu groaned and wiped her face with her hand. She had always thought she was hiding it well.

 

In the next second, the chair legs screeched across the floor. A gust of wind passed by Xie Ling, the door opened, and Qian Lu chased after her.

 

The large room now only held the two of them. Xie Ling glanced at Ren Xuan and thought for a moment. “You should also find someone suitable and fall in love.”

 

Ren Xuan just smiled and said nothing.

 

Xie Ling knew that a clever person like Ren Xuan would understand. One hint was enough; saying too much would be boring.

 

The two stood up one after another and exited the room. Ren Xuan walked by Xie Ling’s side, making it easy to reach out and support her when going down the stairs.

 

However, just as they reached the stairwell, Xie Ling was stopped by a familiar exclamation.

 

“Ji Xue?” Xie Ling looked sideways.

 

Ren Xuan looked back as well. “Do you have a friend here?”

 

Xie Ling pondered for a moment and asked the waiter guarding the door. “Are the guests inside called Ji Xue and Lin Man?”

 

The waiter froze for a moment. No answer was needed; Xie Ling and Ren Xuan already knew the truth.

 

Xie Ling let out a breath and hesitantly lifted her foot to continue walking.

 

Ren Xuan reached out and grabbed her. “It does not sound good. Should we go in and take a look?”

 

“That is not necessary.” Xie Ling thought about what she had just done to Ji Xue and felt ashamed to see her.

 

But this hesitation did not look right in Ren Xuan’s eyes. Xie Ling insisted on leaving, but the empathetic Ren Xuan could not just let it go. She gave the waiter nearby a look. “Please help me take her downstairs. I have a friend eating inside, so I will go in and say hello.”

 

Then, before anyone else could react, Ren Xuan turned around and pushed open the door to the room.

 

Xie Ling stood at the corner watching, signaling that she was fine, so the guard waiter hurried to chase after them and apologize repeatedly.

 

Lin Man looked at Ren Xuan, who had pushed the door open, and waved her hand at the waiter generously. “It is fine. We are friends.”

 

Ren Xuan glanced at Ji Xue, who was sitting opposite Lin Man. Her tone turned cold. “I was just saying, I heard your voice from far away. You are a CEO after all; please pay attention to your image when you are out. If the young lady is not willing, do not force her. If someone with bad intentions hears this, who knows how they will spin this against you and the Lin family.”

 

Ji Xue looked nervous. Her hands were clasped together, her chest heaving, and the sight of her biting her lower lip made it hard not to imagine what had just happened.

 

Lin Man had been feeling extremely restless after being rejected by Ji Xue time and again. Hearing the implications in Ren Xuan’s words, her face turned dark. “Ren Xuan, that sounds a bit harsh.”

 

“Lin Man, I am only reminding you out of the kindness of my heart.” Ren Xuan smiled, looking gentle, but the aura around her was anything but.

 

Lin Man looked at Ji Xue and was about to say something, but Xie Ling, limping, walked in from outside the door. She grabbed Ren Xuan’s wrist and said expressionlessly, “President Lin knows what she is doing. Why are you worrying blindly? In all of Hai City, only President Lin has fruit-flavored pheromones. She surely would not be stupid enough to use them to coerce someone. Let us go.”