After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Alpha, I Marked the Crazy Hotshot – Chapter 76

Her Orange

The hospital building at dusk was bathed in cold, white light, the scent of disinfectant lingering persistently.

Large swathes of white dominated the area; the entire space felt cold, only imbued with a touch of human warmth by the heating.

When Bai Xin and Tang Jia arrived, those who needed to leave had already left. Tang Jia had driven, speeding all the way. Just as they were about to enter, her assistant called.

A call had already come through on the way, but Tang Jia, focused on driving, hadn’t been in the mood to answer.

“Don’t worry, how much more money do you need?”

Seeing her take the call, Bai Xin went into the hospital room first.

Inside, the fresh, crisp fragrance of orange peel diluted the somber atmosphere of the hospital.

Tong Yanxi was half-lying, half-sitting on the hospital bed, while Cheng Jiqing was beside her, peeling an orange.

Tong Yanxi said, “Oh, even the great beauty Bai has been alerted. What a sin.”

Still able to joke, it really wasn’t serious.

Bai Xin exchanged a glance with Cheng Jiqing. The latter said, “Come here.”

It wasn’t a commanding tone, but Tong Yanxi was still astonished that Bai Xin immediately and obediently walked over, going straight to Cheng Jiqing’s side, her eyes lowered, looking like a little wife.

Tong Yanxi: “…”

What a sight¹, truly an eye-opener.

Bai Xin was only wearing a thin sweater. Cheng Jiqing glanced at her and asked, “Where’s your coat?”

She had left it in Tang Jia’s office before the check-up. Later, when she heard the news, she and Tang Jia came over directly. She hadn’t thought about it at all and only realized it was cold after coming downstairs.

Bai Xin looked at Cheng Jiqing’s not-so-pleased expression. “I was in a hurry to see you, so I left it in Tang Jia’s office.”

As those two words left her mouth, Tong Yanxi’s expression faltered.

Cheng Jiqing pursed her lips. Hearing that, she couldn’t bring herself to scold too harshly. “Aren’t you cold? With your constitution, what can you withstand? There’s still a chair over there.”

Bai Xin shook her head and just stood behind her, her hand resting softly on Cheng Jiqing’s shoulder. “You just peel yours.”

Tong Yanxi: “…You two are really too much…”

Before she could finish, the door to the ward opened from the outside, and Tang Jia’s figure came into her view.

Cheng Jiqing glanced back and interjected, “Speak properly, why resort to scolding?”

A slight smile touched Bai Xin’s lips. She looked at no one, her gaze fixed on Cheng Jiqing’s hands as she peeled the orange.

The orange was large. Slender, well-defined fingers held it, not quite encompassing it, fair and sensual. Bai Xin slowly chimed in, “Mhm, exactly.”

Tong Yanxi: “…”

She ignored the lovey-dovey couple for a moment, her gaze resting indifferently on the newcomer. “Why are you here?”

“Doctor Tang was also in a hurry to get here, forgot to change clothes?” Cheng Jiqing chuckled.

Tang Jia: “…”

Tong Yanxi’s fingers, resting on the quilt, moved imperceptibly. The person wore a white coat, revealing a black turtleneck sweater underneath. Her posture was erect, and her short black hair made her skin seem even more luminous… Few people could wear glasses with such a sensual allure.

As always, it hit her XP².

But the person was a player³. No matter how much it hit, it was useless.

She averted her gaze, her expression still very indifferent, as if thoroughly disgusted.

Tang Jia coughed lightly, her fingers adjusting her silver-rimmed glasses. “Just came to see how things are. What did the doctor say? Have all the tests been done?”

Tong Yanxi replied, “This is a proper hospital, you know.”

Tang Jia: “I didn’t say it wasn’t. Do you have to be so confrontational?”

Her tone was calm, but a hint of helplessness could be detected if one listened closely.

“I just like being confrontational. You only just realized?”

“…”

The atmosphere was strange, yet there was something else in it. Cheng Jiqing had just finished removing the pith from the orange. “Doctor Tang, if you’re not busy, you can stay here for a while. I’m hungry, going out to get something to eat.”

Her shoulder moved slightly, and the person behind her cooperated readily. “I’m hungry too.”

Cheng Jiqing stood up, about to hand the orange to Tong Yanxi on the bed. Before it reached her hand, another hand shot out from behind, intercepted it, and snatched it away.

Cheng Jiqing turned back in surprise. Bai Xin said, “Let’s go.”

Tong Yanxi’s hand hung in mid-air: “…?”

Bai Xin’s voice was as cool and detached as usual, not finding anything wrong. “To each their own.”

The unspoken meaning was: the orange her family peeled was, of course, hers. If someone else wanted one, they should peel it themselves.

Cheng Jiqing found it amusing, and her heart stirred slightly at this gesture and statement. She could only say, a little embarrassed, “That makes sense.”

Tong Yanxi pointed towards the door. “Hurry up and go, go, go, go.”

Cheng Jiqing and Bai Xin left. Tang Jia walked over and, without a word, took a new orange from the fruit basket.

Tang Jia’s low voice sounded in the room, “So, what did the doctor say?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“…”

It was almost seven o’clock, and the sky was already dark.

Cheng Jiqing and Bai Xin left the hospital and drove towards Nanyang District.

They lived in both places, but they only went to Nanyang about once a week to cook a meal⁴.

“Why do I get the feeling those two still have a chance?” Cheng Jiqing was driving.

Bai Xin popped an orange segment into her mouth. It wasn’t sour. She said, “Anyway, Tang Jia hasn’t forgotten.”

“Did she ever tell you why they divorced?”

“Probably because of a woman.” Bai Xin rarely talked about such things, usually disliking it, but she was willing to speak in front of Cheng Jiqing. “Tong Yanxi has an ex. Last time, Tang Jia even saw them going to the obstetrics and gynecology department together.”

Hearing this partial information, Cheng Jiqing said, “Tong Yanxi cheated with her ex?” That can’t be right. Tong Yanxi clearly isn’t that kind of person.

Bai Xin said, “She’s not that kind of person. But they just got married as a sort of partnership in the beginning because both their families were rushing them… something like that.”

But Tang Jia had developed feelings.

“Tong Yanxi was the one who initiated the divorce. As for the specific reason at the time, I don’t know.” After speaking, Bai Xin looked at the person beside her, who was showing a rare, intense curiosity. “You want to know? I’ll ask.”

“No, no, no, let’s not meddle in their affairs.”

“Oh.” Bai Xin: “So, do you want to know?”

“Just, when you ask, don’t be too obvious, okay?” Cheng Jiqing said seriously.

Hearing this, Bai Xin bit into the orange segment and let out a low laugh.

Cheng Jiqing also laughed as she said it, then added, “Just kidding. If they’re not willing, then don’t ask.”

“Open your mouth.”

There happened to be no cars ahead. Cheng Jiqing turned her head and opened her mouth. A cool orange segment was placed inside; the juice was sweet and sour. She raised an eyebrow. “Not bad, very juicy.”

Hearing this, Bai Xin turned her gaze to the side for a while, watching Cheng Jiqing’s slow chewing under the pale yellow light. She averted her eyes, thinking about that night she had tied Cheng Jiqing up…

She felt a moist reaction from her second gland.

Bai Xin lowered her head and put another segment into her mouth, slightly quenching her thirst.

The car was about to reach Nanyang District when Bai Xin’s phone suddenly rang.

Bai Xin’s expression turned cold. “Bai Zhaoliang.”

After answering the call, Bai Xin said, “Bai Zhaoliang is here.”

“Should I go with you?”

“I don’t want them to bother you. You can wait for me,” Bai Xin said.

Cheng Jiqing continued driving further in. “I’ll drive in first, then we’ll see.”

The Bai family’s company had gone bankrupt, and Bai Zhaoliang was heavily in debt. For Bai Xin, it was a form of revenge exacted. They no longer needed to hide their relationship in front of Bai Zhaoliang.

But she knew Bai Xin was doing it for her own good. When the car reached downstairs, she could already roughly see where Bai Zhaoliang’s car was; she had seen it before.

After thinking for a moment: “Then you go.”

Anyway, she could see them at a glance.

“Mhm.”

“Hey, wait.” Cheng Jiqing grabbed her slender white wrist. “Put on my coat.”

Bai Xin responded in a low voice, “Oh.”

Although it was just one word, her tone was submissive.

Bai Xin got out of the car.

The streetlights cast a ghastly white glow.

Yesterday’s snow hadn’t completely melted, piled up on both sides of the road. The ground was wet and glistening; the light hitting it only amplified the feeling of coldness.

The trees had only a small half of their leaves left, trembling precariously, as if wondering when they would fall, when these days would end.

“Xiao Xin.”

Bai Zhaoliang got out of the car. At the same time, another car door opened.

Zhou Ping had also come.

“Did you come back by yourself? You didn’t drive? Why aren’t you wearing more on such a cold day?”

Bai Xin’s gaze was indifferent, her expression colder than the weather. “Just say what you came for.”

Actually, she could guess even if he didn’t say.

She liked her current lifestyle—hidden, behind the scenes. It gave her a sense of security, and she had adapted to this life over the years. That’s why she was now working for XM, scouted by Zhou Yushu. Some of the employees who had left the Bai company had also gone to XM.

And the reason Bai Zhaoliang had brought Zhou Ping was undoubtedly to ask her to plead with Zhou Yushu on their behalf.

Because two-thirds of the money the Bai family owed was related to Zhou Yushu.

Even if their statuses were disparate later, with her being the boss of XM, it wouldn’t help, because legally, this debt was solely connected to Zhou Yushu.

Bai Zhaoliang couldn’t evade it even if he wanted to.

As expected.

“Xin Xin, the family truly has no way out… Dad wants to beg you to speak to President Zhou, ask for a little more time. We’ve sold everything we can, only the main family villa is left.” Bai Zhaoliang stepped forward, intending to take Bai Xin’s hand in a placating gesture.

Bai Xin’s eyes turned cold, and she dodged his hand. “Last time, you also asked me to plead with Cheng Jiqing. Now you’re asking me to plead with Zhou Yushu. Do I have that much face? After all, for all these years, I was just a wage earner⁵ at Bai Corporation, earning a fixed salary of ten thousand a month.”

“Are you still a member of the Bai family or not? Why don’t you mention that the Bai family raised you for so many years? Your dad comes over to speak to you nicely, and how can you…”

“Shut up! What did I bring you here for?!” Bai Zhaoliang interrupted Zhou Ping.

He had tried all the connections he could. But Zhou Yushu’s response to everyone was the same—act according to the contract; if you can’t pay, we’ll go through legal procedures.

When he tried to bring up their past cooperation on Y2, Zhou Yushu was even more ruthless.

‘What does the Bai family even count for?’

She even had someone remind him—don’t think you can hide by fleeing the country; I can have you caught before you even reach the airport.

There was no room for sentiment, and all escape routes were blocked.

They were being forced to repay the money.

Bai Xin was the last connection he could think of now.

Zhou Ping was stopped by Bai Zhaoliang, her eyes still glaring at Bai Xin. She took a deep breath, managing to suppress her anger with difficulty.

Bai Xin, however, smiled. A drop of water from some unknown tree was blown onto her cheek. She gently wiped it away with her fingertip and said in a chilling voice, “To think I can still hear such a foolish question?”

Zhou Ping’s expression changed. She had agreed to come and show weakness, but she was reluctant from the start. Coupled with the mess from the Bai Corporation’s collapse, she was filled with anger.

Bai Xin continued, “You only remember I’m surnamed Bai when you need to use me? Raised me for many years? What? Getting older year by year, and your skin gets thicker year by year too? Oh, no, that’s not right. You’ve always been shamelessly consistent for the past ten years.”

“You damn scoundrel⁶! How dare you speak to me like that!” Zhou Ping said, about to rush forward.

Bai Zhaoliang stopped her, his face also extremely unsightly. “You’ve had your say. I know I mistreated you in the past, but you and the Bai family are one. If the family isn’t doing well, do you think you’ll have an easy time out there? You’ve latched onto XM, but only family can be your support!”

“Support? Do you even hear how ridiculous that sounds?” Bai Xin laughed. She remembered how Bai Zhaoliang had abandoned her mother, as if seeing the wooden beam that crushed her mother, as if seeing Bai Zhaoliang pull his hand away from her mother’s, leaving her in the fire…

“I told you not to come! Does she look like she’ll help at all?! You’re still counting on her! This little b#tch⁷ wishes we were dead! We never should have agreed to bring her back in the first place! She’s just a scourge⁸! Nothing good has happened to the family since she was brought back!” Zhou Ping’s anger today was directly ignited by Bai Xin’s earlier words and couldn’t be contained.

Bai Xin sneered, her voice deceptively gentle, “Everything you said is right. After all, the Bai family still has a debt of 3 billion. The longer you live, the more you suffer. Dying early is a good thing.”

Bai Zhaoliang was shocked. He never expected to hear such outrageously rebellious words from Bai Xin’s mouth and was stunned speechless for a moment.

Bai Xin didn’t stop. She looked at Zhou Ping. “Besides, your daughter is still in prison. Last I heard, she got beaten up by her cellmates. Recently, she’s been working hard at the sewing machine, trying to earn good behavior points…”

“You! Say that again, and I’ll tear your mouth apart! You vile creature⁹!”

Zhou Ping was furious, her eyes practically splitting with rage. She was just about to raise her hand.

“My, my, whose mouth stinks so badly this late at night?”

A clear, gentle voice suddenly diffused the tense atmosphere.

Cheng Jiqing walked slowly towards the group.

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The author has something to say:

Chengcheng eating an orange: So juicy.

Bai-jie: Who?

Chengcheng: ?

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