Transmigrated into a Classic Dog-Blood Drama as the Scummy Alpha - Chapter 44

The scenic area they were heading to wasn’t far from the city—about a 40-minute drive. Ever since divorcing Shen Xian, Lin Qinghan had been keeping herself tightly wound, either working non-stop or taking care of her daughter. With Shen Xian and Lin Zhixin occasionally showing up to ask for money, Lin Qinghan could barely remember the last time she’d had a chance to relax.

Now, the bus was getting closer to the outskirts. Greenery thickened on both sides of the road. Lin Qinghan leaned back in her seat, gazing out the window, while Shen Xian fiddled with her phone for a while until her eyes started feeling tired. She set it down and turned to look at Lin Qinghan instead. Lin Qinghan immediately noticed the stare and turned her head, catching Shen Xian watching her.

“What are you staring at?” she asked, nudging Shen Xian’s leg.

“Nothing,” Shen Xian replied, resting her head against the seat and winking. “Looking at you is easier on the eyes than my phone.”

The bluntness of her words caught Lin Qinghan off guard, and she didn’t know how to respond. Her ears flushed a light pink. “If your head hurts, then close your eyes and rest. Stop staring at me.”

Shen Xian chuckled. They were sitting close, and from this angle, she had a clear view of Lin Qinghan’s blushing ears. She leaned in a little closer with a playful smile. “But if I close my eyes, I won’t see anything fun. Hey, Qinghan, why are your ears turning red?”

Lin Qinghan glared at her. “Are you doing this on purpose? Acting clueless—so annoying.” She turned her face toward the window, giving Shen Xian the cold shoulder.

Shen Xian tried not to laugh and reached over to poke her back. “Okay, okay, I was wrong. Don’t ignore me. Don’t be so stingy. I’ll let you look at me to make it even.”

Lin Qinghan turned back around and gave Shen Xian a light shove. “Not everyone is as childish as you. And who even wants to look at you?”

Shen Xian grinned. “Fine, I’m childish. I was wrong. Happy now?”

Lin Qinghan glanced at her and gave a small, dismissive hum without replying.

Watching the exchange, Han Rui, who sat nearby, could barely hold back a laugh. If this wasn’t a relationship, she didn’t know what was.

About twenty minutes later, the buses arrived at the scenic area. Although labeled a “scenic area,” there was no general admission fee—only a separate charge if one wished to visit the temple inside.

People began getting off the bus. Shen Xian casually followed behind Lin Qinghan.

Han Rui suddenly remembered something. “Qinghan, how come you didn’t bring Tiantian?”

Lin Qinghan pursed her lips. “She’s at her grandma. She’s still too young. This mountain might seem low to us, but she’d probably get tired halfway through.”

Han Rui smirked, eyes darting between the two. “Makes sense. Though, you almost had me fooled.”

“Don’t start,” Lin Qinghan said with a laugh.

“Alright, I’ll stop interrupting your alone time. I should take a page out of Tiantian’s book and stay far away from you two,” Han Rui teased, walking off with a few other doctors.

Lin Qinghan shook her head, amused. Turning to Shen Xian, she said, “Let’s go. I think the last time I climbed Bai Mountain was years ago.”

“Years ago? You’re not even that old. Don’t talk like you’re ancient,” Shen Xian replied with a smile.

Lin Qinghan suddenly stopped and shot her a glare. “What’s that supposed to mean? You calling me old? Not as young and pretty as the girls you’ve recently hired?”

Realizing she’d said the wrong thing, Shen Xian immediately waved her hands. “No, no! You’re still young and beautiful. We’re the same age, remember? I’d be insulting myself too!”

Lin Qinghan rolled her eyes and walked toward the steps leading up the mountain. Shen Xian hurried after her.

The sun was already out, and they broke into a sweat not long after starting their hike. Shen Xian twisted open a bottle of water and handed it to Lin Qinghan. “Qinghan, have some water. Take a break.”

“Thanks,” Lin Qinghan said, taking the bottle.

“No need for thanks. We’re so close now—don’t be so formal.”

Her words made Lin Qinghan blush again. She quickly drank a few sips to cover the subtle flutter in her chest. “We’re not close,” she murmured.

“Huh?”

“I said, we’re not close,” she repeated, avoiding eye contact but unable to hide the upward curve of her lips.

Shen Xian laughed. “Seriously? I think we’re doing great. Feels pretty close to me.” She bumped Lin Qinghan’s arm with her own and grinned.

She was leaning in too close, tilting her head and staring too directly. Lin Qinghan pushed her away. “Back up a little. It’s too hot.”

“Alright, alright. Whatever you say,” Shen Xian replied with a smile. She’d recently discovered that Lin Qinghan had a shy side, and teasing her was surprisingly fun.

“Let’s keep moving. You’re clearly not tired if you’ve got that much energy to talk,” Lin Qinghan muttered.

“Of course I’m not tired—with you here, how could I be?” Shen Xian said, following close behind, still tossing out compliments like confetti. It surprised even herself. Who would’ve thought a big-shot CEO like her would enjoy teasing someone this much? In her past life, all she did was work. She really had missed out on a lot of joy.

“Act normal, will you?” Lin Qinghan swatted her lightly.

“Yes, ma’am. Qinghan, since we’re already here, let’s take a selfie together. We’ve never taken one, just the two of us. It’s always been with Tiantian.”

“What’s the point? So childish.” Though she said that, Lin Qinghan stopped walking.

Shen Xian immediately pulled out her phone and switched to selfie mode. She wrapped one arm around Lin Qinghan’s shoulder and used the other to hold the phone, setting a timer. Lin Qinghan looked deadpan at the camera.

“Qinghan, come on, give me a smile,” Shen Xian coaxed.

Click. The camera captured a photo of the two of them smiling together. Shen Xian snapped a few more, finally satisfied.

She picked three of the best shots and posted them to her Moments feed. Soon, the likes started rolling in.

Meanwhile, back at home, Fang Jinglan was watching over Tiantian and happened to see Shen Xian’s post. She gave it a like with a chuckle.

Tiantian, noticing her grandma smiling so brightly, scrambled up onto the couch. “Grandma, what are you looking at? Tiantian wants to see too!”

Fang Jinglan handed her the phone. “Here you go. See if you know who this is.”

Tiantian blinked at the screen, then pointed with a chubby finger. “It’s Mommy and Mama!”

But something didn’t add up. Weren’t they supposed to be at work? They looked way too happy for that. Her little brain buzzed with confusion.

“Mama and Mommy said they were working. But… it looks like they’re having fun? Next time, Tiantian wants to go to work too.”

Fang Jinglan almost laughed out loud. “Sure, next time you’ll go with them, alright?” she said, pulling Tiantian into her arms.

Tiantian nodded, her little voice piping up, “Mm-hmm! Tiantian wants to be with Mommy and Mama!”

—

Back at the mountain, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan’s playful interactions hadn’t escaped Lu Jianbai’s notice. He and Zhao Qing were walking a short distance behind them. Though he kept his pace relaxed, his eyes rarely left the pair ahead. Watching them laugh and banter, standing so close, his fists clenched red with frustration, startling Zhao Qing.

“Dr. Lu, are you alright?” she asked with concern.

“I’m fine. Let’s keep going,” he replied, quickly wiping the expression from his face.

By the time Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan reached the summit, they’d already emptied two bottles of water. The heat had taken its toll on everyone, and many had run out of drinks. Fortunately, there was a small vendor at the top, though everything was overpriced. Shen Xian tossed their empty bottles into a trash bag tied to a railing and went to buy two more.

As she was doing so, Lu Jianbai told Zhao Qing he had something to take care of and walked quickly toward Lin Qinghan.

“Qinghan,” he said, “I really want to apologize for everything before. I won’t bother you again, I promise. I just need a moment to speak with you alone. Please?”

Lin Qinghan glanced at him but didn’t move. “If you have something to say, you can say it here. I don’t think we’re close enough to warrant a private conversation.”

“There are too many people around. I don’t want to affect your reputation.”

“Then don’t say anything at all,” a voice called from a distance—Shen Xian had returned.

Lu Jianbai’s fists tightened again, though he kept his face neutral. “I just want to talk to Qinghan as a friend. What, you don’t trust her? Think something’s going on between us?”

Shen Xian snorted. “No, I don’t trust you. Even hearing you talk makes me feel like I’m being smothered in lard. Stop clinging to Qinghan.”

“Afraid to let her talk to me alone?” Lu Jianbai asked, forcing calm.

“Did you not understand me? Say what you want right here. Quit with the nonsense,” Shen Xian said, face turning cold.

Seeing Shen Xian unfazed, Lu Jianbai turned to Lin Qinghan again. “Qinghan, does Shen Xian really watch you that closely? She won’t even let us talk?”

Lin Qinghan was done with him. “Yes, she’s super clingy. Can’t be apart from me for even a minute,” she said, linking her arm with Shen Xian’s.

Shen Xian nodded. “That’s right. I’m very clingy.”

Lu Jianbai’s face flushed red. Nothing was going the way he expected.