Transmigrated into a Classic Dog-Blood Drama as the Scummy Alpha - Chapter 42

Shen Xian took another dose of medicine before bed, and by early the next morning, she had pretty much recovered. After her morning jog, she prepared breakfast ahead of time. When she saw Lin Qinghan getting up to wash up, she greeted her with a smile, “Morning, Qinghan.”

“Morning.” Lin Qinghan still looked a bit sleepy. She glanced at Shen Xian, then reached out to touch her forehead. “Mm, no more fever. Next time, don’t leave the windows wide open when you sleep, and don’t have the fan on all night either.”

“Okay, I was just in a bad mood before. It won’t happen again,” Shen Xian replied with a grin.

After breakfast, the two went to the car. Shen Xian let the exhaust run for a bit before they both got in. Lin Qinghan gave her a sidelong glance and asked, “So what are you going to do about that employee at your company?”

Shen Xian kept her eyes on the road. “Fired. She was still in her probationary period. We can’t keep someone with bad intentions around—who knows what bigger mess she could cause down the line.”

“Fair enough,” Lin Qinghan nodded in agreement.

When Shen Xian arrived at the company, several employees were already at their desks. What surprised her was that Yuan Zhenzhen was also there, acting like nothing had happened.

Standing at the office doorway, Shen Xian called out, “Yuan Zhenzhen, come to my office.”

Yuan Zhenzhen’s face fell slightly. She walked into the office and started to close the door, but Shen Xian stopped her. “No need to close it. I’ll keep this brief. Your probation ends here. This is your pay for the past few days. You don’t need to come back.”

Tears welled up in Yuan Zhenzhen’s eyes. She rushed to explain, “President Shen, what happened the other day was really just an accident. I didn’t expect my susceptibility period to come early.”

“An accident? You stayed past hours that day when you usually leave right on time. You expect me to believe that was a coincidence? Don’t waste time. Take the money, sign the form, and leave.”

Shen Xian turned away, no longer giving her any attention. When she saw that Yuan Zhenzhen was still standing there, she added coldly, “I’m trying to let you go with some dignity. Don’t make me call security.”

Face flushed red, Yuan Zhenzhen walked over, signed the termination form, grabbed the money from the desk, and left.

When Song Min saw Yuan Zhenzhen come out of Shen Xian’s office looking distraught, she immediately asked, “Zhenzhen, what’s wrong? You look awful.”

Yuan Zhenzhen shot her a glare as she started packing her desk. “Nothing. I quit.”

“What? Why all of a sudden?” Song Min asked worriedly.

Yuan Zhenzhen looked up coldly. “No reason. I just don’t want to work here anymore. Is that okay? Don’t get in my way.”

Song Min was stunned—she’d never seen this side of Yuan Zhenzhen. After a pause, she said, “I’m just asking because I care. What’s with the attitude?”

“Care? Please. You’re just waiting to see me make a fool of myself. Spare me the fake concern.” Yuan Zhenzhen’s hands grew more frantic and aggressive as she packed up.

Li Xing and Yan Qiang couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Yan Qiang said to Song Min, “Leave her be. Let her finish packing.” Song Min returned to her desk, still dazed. Wasn’t this the same coworker who shared lunch with her every day?

Fuming and bitter, Yuan Zhenzhen made quite a bit of noise while packing. About ten minutes later, she stormed out of the company with all her things.

Once Shen Xian had wrapped up her own work, she walked over to the employees’ area. She looked around at everyone, then said, “Everyone, pause what you’re doing for a moment. I have something to say. Yuan Zhenzhen has been let go due to some issues. I won’t go into details—for her sake. Our company will soon be expanding, and I hope everyone can stay focused on your work. Don’t get distracted by irrelevant things.

That’s all. Carry on.”

After Shen Xian left, Yan Qiang leaned toward Li Xing and whispered, “So she was fired for making a mistake. President Shen is usually so kind—Zhenzhen must have really crossed a line.”

“Yeah. The company’s growing, and we’re on a good path. But she brought it on herself. Her attitude after the fact didn’t help either.”

That afternoon, Zhao Jianye’s wound had almost fully healed. Once his stitches were out, he’d be able to go home. Shen Xian went to the hospital and helped escort him home, then went to pick up their daughter and Lin Qinghan.

Shen Tian hadn’t seen Shen Xian the day before. As soon as she spotted her at the kindergarten gate, she ran over asking to be picked up. Shen Xian scooped up her little one immediately, heart melting at her cuteness.

“Mommy, Tiantian was good yesterday. I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa~” Shen Tian snuggled against her mom’s shoulder.

“Good girl. You’re the best,” Shen Xian said, pinching her cheek. “Let’s go pick up Mama.”

Ever since buying a car, Shen Xian had been picking Lin Qinghan up every day. Her colleagues had long since gotten used to it.

When Han Rui spotted Shen Xian, she teased Lin Qinghan, “Hey, your Shen Xian’s here again?”

Lin Qinghan gave her a playful shove. “Cut it out. There’s nothing going on between us anymore.”

Han Rui saw the smile lingering on her friend’s lips and suppressed a laugh. “Nothing going on, and she still treats you this well? If there were something, we probably wouldn’t even be able to look straight at you two.”

“Enough nonsense. I’m heading over,” Lin Qinghan said with a wave.

“Go on, don’t keep your Shen Xian waiting,” Han Rui laughed.

When Shen Xian saw Lin Qinghan in such a good mood, she asked, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Let’s go. Tiantian’s waiting,” Lin Qinghan replied, heading toward the car.

Once they were inside, Lin Qinghan asked, “You really fired that employee?”

Shen Xian nodded. “Yeah. I gave her her wages and didn’t explain anything to the others. If this had been back then…” She trailed off.

Lin Qinghan waited a few seconds, puzzled. “Back then what?”

“Oh, nothing. Back then I wouldn’t have even paid her,” Shen Xian lied. What she’d really wanted to say was that in her previous life, anyone who dared pull a stunt like that would’ve been blacklisted completely.

Lin Qinghan nodded. “Well, it’s over and nothing bad happened. It’s fine to give her the wages.”

“Yeah.” Shen Xian let out a quiet sigh of relief.

At home, when Lin Qinghan was helping Tiantian change clothes, the little girl spotted her cow-print pajama set in the wardrobe and clung to Lin Qinghan’s arm. “Mama, Tiantian wants to wear that one! Can Mama wear it too?”

Lin Qinghan looked at what she was pointing to—the matching set Shen Xian had once bought for her. Back then, she and Shen Xian weren’t really speaking.

She rubbed her daughter’s little topknot and smiled. “Sure. Want Mommy to wear it too?”

“Yes! Tiantian wants both Mama and Mommy!” she chirped in her tiny voice.

“Alright then. Let Mama help you change first. Then you go ask Mommy to change too, okay?” Lin Qinghan pinched her daughter’s cheek playfully. No way she was wearing that alone—it would be too embarrassing. Besides, Shen Xian had looked pretty cute in it last time.

“Okay! Mommy has to wear it too!” Tiantian nodded seriously and scrunched her little nose.

After dressing Tiantian, she ran off in her tiny steps calling out, “Mommy, wear the same pajamas as Tiantian~”

Shen Xian was in the middle of changing when the little one came running over and latched onto her thigh. “Mommy, look! Tiantian’s all dressed. You wear the cow pajamas too!”

Shen Xian looked down at the little girl clinging to her, complete with the cow-ears hat wobbling adorably. There was no way she could say no.

She patted her round little cheek and smiled. “Alright, whatever Tiantian says goes. Mommy will change right now.”

She pulled her own cow-print pajamas from the wardrobe. When she came out, Tiantian gave her a very satisfied nod—like a tiny CEO approving a job well done.

Shen Xian laughed. “Is President Shen satisfied?”

“Mm-hmm! Satisfied!” Tiantian beamed and tugged her toward the living room.

Shen Xian followed her lead, humoring the child. When they reached the living room, she realized Lin Qinghan was also wearing the same set.

“You actually look really cute in that, Qinghan,” Shen Xian said with a teasing smile.

Lin Qinghan gave her a glare. “It’s all Tiantian’s fault. Who else would wear something this childish with you?”

Shen Xian scooped Tiantian up with one arm and grabbed Lin Qinghan’s with the other. “Let’s take a picture of the three of us, okay?”

“No way. You two can take one yourselves.” Lin Qinghan tried to escape.

But Shen Xian was faster—she stuffed Tiantian into Lin Qinghan’s arms and quickly switched her phone to selfie mode. With a few clicks, their playful scene was captured in her phone.

She reviewed the photos and teased, “So cute. I’m setting this as my wallpaper.”

“Delete them, Shen Xian! How old are you? This is so childish,” Lin Qinghan complained, handing Tiantian down and lunging for the phone.

Shen Xian, a few centimeters taller, easily kept the phone out of reach. Meanwhile, Tiantian couldn’t stay still watching the commotion. She ran up and hugged Shen Xian’s leg, “Mommy, Tiantian wants to play too!”

Shen Xian picked her up like a human shield. In the end, Lin Qinghan never managed to delete the pictures.

That night, as she lay in bed, Shen Xian picked one photo where Lin Qinghan was holding Tiantian and smiling at her, while she smiled at the camera. It was perfect—so she set it as her lock screen.

—

On Saturday, while eating in the hospital cafeteria, Lin Qinghan heard that the hospital was organizing a hiking trip on Sunday. It was an annual team-building event, and staff could bring their families. Many would bring partners and kids.

“Qinghan, are you going?” Han Rui asked.

Lin Qinghan had always skipped these outings, especially since she was raising her child alone. It was part of why people whispered that she acted aloof.

She thought for a moment—it had been ages since she joined any group activity. Tiantian could stay with her mother, but as for Shen Xian… she wasn’t sure if she’d have time.

“I’m not sure yet. If I go, I’ll probably ask Shen Xian to come with me. Otherwise, it’d be awkward if I ran into Dr. Lu,” she admitted. She’d already told Han Rui about what happened between her and Lu Jianbai, and Han Rui hadn’t had a favorable opinion of him since.

“Yeah, bring your Shen Xian. That way Lu Jianbai won’t even get the chance to come near you,” Han Rui said with a mischievous smile.

“I told you, there’s nothing going on between us. Don’t make things up,” Lin Qinghan replied helplessly.

“Oh, please. You know exactly what’s going on.”

—

In the hospital logistics office, Lu Jianbai was talking to Director Feng. “Director Feng, I’d like to sponsor the drinks and snacks for tomorrow’s outing. My family just launched a new brand, and this will be a good way to get feedback. You can still process the payment through hospital accounts, but I’ll transfer the money back to you later.”

Director Feng pushed his glasses up awkwardly. “That’s a bit much, don’t you think? Feels like we’d be taking advantage.”

“I’ve been at this hospital for years. If you consider me a friend, let’s just do it this way. It’s not a loss for me—and if everyone enjoys it, that’s free publicity for our new brand,” Lu Jianbai said persuasively.

Director Feng was no stranger to pocketing perks, and he’d made plenty of money as the logistics director. Now that Lu Jianbai was handing this to him on a silver platter, how could he refuse?

“Alright, Jianbai. You’re a real one. If you ever need help, just say the word.”

“Of course.” After a few more pleasantries, Lu Jianbai turned and left the office. But as soon as he stepped outside, the expression on his face darkened—completely different from the smiling man just moments before.