After Transmigrating as a Scumbag Alpha, I Marked the Crazy Hotshot – Chapter 31
by Little PandaCompany Meeting
Help?
Bai Xin slowly chewed over those two words in her mind. She turned sideways, making way for Cheng Jiqing to enter first.
“Are you sure you want to help?”
Cheng Jiqing didn’t understand; otherwise, why had she come up here? To play in the elevator?
She nodded. “Yeah. See if there’s anything I can lend a hand with, something that’s inconvenient for you. I’ll do it.”
She wasn’t a cold-blooded person; she couldn’t bring herself to completely ignore it, after all.
And so, following Bai Xin’s ‘guidance,’ she stood at the entrance to the bathroom and saw, resting quietly on the edge of the black-ink-colored ceramic sink, a small piece of fabric—
Snow-white, transparent like gauze.
“…”
Cheng Jiqing’s cheeks flushed hot. Her gaze shifted from the underwear to Bai Xin. “This… I can’t.”
Bai Xin stood beside her, one arm slightly raised near her lower abdomen, and arched an eyebrow. “You were the one who said if I needed strength, but it was inconvenient, you’d help.”
“…It was childish words spoken without taboo1, I was young and ignorant, my words were reckless.”
Bai Xin was amused by this, suppressing a laugh. “So I still have to wash it myself.”
“Don’t wash it either.” The tips of Cheng Jiqing’s ears were red. Ever since entering the bathroom area, images of marking Bai Xin in this narrow space that night had crowded into her mind.
So she took a small step back without leaving a trace.
“Throw it away.”
“?”
Bai Xin: “Little CEO Cheng won’t help, and now you want me to take a loss?”
Cheng Jiqing tried to negotiate, “If you throw it away, I’ll buy you a new one?”
A hint of a smile played in Bai Xin’s dark eyes, her tone not cold at all, slow and leisurely: “You’ll buy it for me?”
The sentence itself wasn’t problematic, but adding the words ‘underwear’ imbued it with a sensual and ambiguous meaning.
What kind of relationship involved buying such intimate items for someone?
Cheng Jiqing mentally clicked her tongue. Just as she wanted to take back her words, Bai Xin spoke as if anticipating it: “Alright, then I’ll wait for you to buy it for me…”
“…”
Cheng Jiqing’s ears felt a little numb. Perhaps because Bai Xin was injured and weak, she had been consistently friendly while talking to her today.
And very easy to negotiate with.
This point was quite commendable.
“But do you know what kind I wear?”
“…”
Cheng Jiqing paused. Good question.
Then her mind filled with only three data points: white, transparent, thin.
But clearly, with one of them an Alpha and the other an Omega, plus their history of having slept together, discussing this here was somewhat inappropriate.
Cheng Jiqing said, “I’ll give you money, you buy it yourself. Or send me a link, and I’ll pay?”
Actually, there’s another way, Bai Xin thought.
Bai Xin looked at Cheng Jiqing and said, “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Fine. Besides this, I can help with other things.”
“I need to take a shower.”
“…?”
I can’t possibly help you shower! Say something broadcastable!
Cheng Jiqing’s throat was dry. She cleared her throat. “Stop messing around. Let’s switch to a task we can actually complete, okay?”
“I need to take a shower. I can’t reach the zipper on my dress. Help me with that.”
“…Ah, oh.”
She had almost been scared to death by Bai Xin drawing out that sentence.
Bai Xin took two steps forward, her voice weak. “What were you thinking just now?”
Bai Xin’s face was pale, beads of sweat dotted her forehead and the tip of her nose, her bloodless lips slightly dry. Yet even in this state, she could still stun someone with her beauty.
Especially when those dimples appeared obediently, like spring emerging as ice and snow gradually melted.
A dangerously sweet allure that drew one in, yet fragile enough to evoke pity.
Cheng Jiqing bit the soft flesh of her lower lip and said calmly, “Nothing. But how are you going to wash with that hand…”
“Cheng Jiqing, if you keep dawdling like this, I really might cling to you to wash me.”
“Turn around.”
Cheng Jiqing reacted quickly this time; she always felt that anything Bai Xin said could potentially become reality.
Bai Xin turned around.
A long black dress, its high-quality fabric draping smoothly. After pulling her long hair forward from her back, an expanse of fair nape was revealed. Cheng Jiqing pinched the back collar and pulled the zipper down.
It reached the position of the bra clasp below her shoulder blades.
Cheng Jiqing asked, “Is this okay?”
“A little lower.”
Cheng Jiqing’s gaze couldn’t ignore the white bra clasp. As the zipper moved completely below the clasp, her breathing unconsciously tightened. It reached below her spine.
Bai Xin said, “That’s fine.”
Only then did Cheng Jiqing feel relieved, as if shedding a heavy burden. She realized her palms were covered in a thin layer of sweat.
However, the moment she relaxed, Cheng Jiqing’s heart leaped again. “Little CEO Cheng, you should see a good deed through to the end, right?”
Cheng Jiqing’s gaze instantly fell on the bra clasp. Her throat moved. That made sense…
Anyway, just unhook it, and it’d be done.
A matter of one second.
Cheng Jiqing raised her hand again. As she got closer, heat once more suffused her fingertips; her fingertips were cooler than Bai Xin’s skin. The instant she grasped the clasp, the back of her fingers brushed against Bai Xin. She heard Bai Xin take a shallow breath.
Cheng Jiqing’s throat felt slightly itchy. After unhooking it, she quickly pulled her hand away.
She didn’t look at the expanse of jade-white, silk-smooth back revealed beneath the black dress.
A trace of color returned to the inner layer of Bai Xin’s pale lips, bitten lightly by her teeth when Cheng Jiqing had touched her just now.
She had been thinking earlier: if the dress zipper went all the way down, and Cheng Jiqing discovered she wasn’t wearing anything underneath, what would her reaction be?
She’d probably be quite frightened.
Bai Xin pressed her palm against her chest, preventing the dress from slipping down completely.
Then she turned to look at Cheng Jiqing, who was also looking at her.
An inexplicable atmosphere flowed between the two. Time seemed to slow down somewhat. It was Cheng Jiqing who spoke first, “Can you stand steadily?”
Bai Xin said, “I can sit.”
Cheng Jiqing nodded. “Alright. Be careful with that hand yourself. Getting it wet could easily lead to inflammation.”
“Okay.”
Bai Xin nodded, unusually compliant.
Bai Xin’s gaze left Cheng Jiqing. She walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Her back leaned against the slightly cool door, head tilted up slightly, looking at herself in the mirror.
Her tongue licked her pale, dry lips.
A faint hint of a smile appeared, then quickly vanished. Bai Xin looked at the piece of fabric on the sink, thought for a moment, and tossed it into the trash bin.
Anyway, Cheng Jiqing said she’d buy it.
Bai Xin started taking off her dress with one hand. It was somewhat difficult, and the wound hurt. It was also the season when one sweated easily, wrapped in several layers of gauze…
Just now, when Cheng Jiqing was in front of her, it hadn’t seemed to hurt this much.
She turned on the shower.
As the sound of water started, Bai Xin heard Cheng Jiqing ask from outside, “Bai Xin, are you hungry? Is there anything you want to eat?”
Bai Xin turned off the shower head and replied, “Are you cooking?”
Cheng Jiqing was outside. She had glanced at the fridge earlier; the ingredients inside were quite strange. Bai Xin living alone outside probably meant she often cooked for herself. Cooking hadn’t been a problem for Cheng Jiqing before, but after transmigrating, influenced by the original body’s owner, she had a bit of an aversion to fire.
She might not be able to do much.
But making some congee should be fine.
Cheng Jiqing said, “Making some pork rib congee or something should be okay.”
She stood a few steps from the door, sideways, and heard the reply from inside: “Pork rib congee then.”
Cheng Jiqing said okay. Her cooking skills weren’t exquisite, but they were passable. Before she became famous, she always cooked for herself. These were skills taught by the director at the orphanage.
Wash the pork ribs.
Prepare a little green onion and ginger.
Ready to blanch the ribs, Cheng Jiqing turned on the stove. As expected, the moment the flame leaped up, fear instinctively arose within her.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the resistance.
She didn’t walk towards the living room; it was too close to the bathroom, and she could hear the sounds of Bai Xin showering.
It wasn’t that she was lecherous, but could you really listen to the showering sounds of a woman you’d had relations with, with a pure heart and few desires2?
She couldn’t.
To maintain at least a shred of humanity, she stood waiting in the kitchen, deliberately turning on the range hood.
She scrolled through messages on her phone, casually checking some recently followed news.
That ‘Yixin Agency’ had signed several more artists, and its parent company, Yixin Media, had invested in a drama that recently made an actor popular; the momentum was good.
Suddenly, she saw a trending topic3.
Director Tong Yanxi Confirms New Work Will Collaborate with Yixin#
Tong Yanxi4 was the author and director of that book 《Shang An》5. Cheng Jiqing clicked on Tong Yanxi’s Weibo and saw the latest post.
‘Haven’t finished writing yet, don’t rush me. If you rush me again, I’ll draw lollipops6 for you guys.’
Cheng Jiqing smiled. Seeing there really was a repost lottery, she casually clicked it.
Just then, the ribs came to a boil. Cheng Jiqing turned off the heat, skimmed off the scum, and added the soaked rice, green onion, and ginger to simmer.
She was about to continue browsing when her phone vibrated. The screen displayed the three characters Qin Yufu.
Cheng Jiqing answered, “Miss Qin?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Bai Xin, wearing a silk pajama set, walked towards her from the living room. Deep blue silk, the inner part a V-neck long dress reaching her calves, with a silk robe over it.
Bai Xin stopped at the kitchen doorway, likely lacking strength, leaning lightly against the doorframe.
Her hands fumbled with the belt; her left hand couldn’t exert much force, so her movements were slow… but her eyes were fixed on Cheng Jiqing.
Cheng Jiqing was pulled back to reality by the voice on the phone. “…Ah, go ahead.”
She averted her gaze. For some reason, meeting Bai Xin’s eyes just now while hearing Qin Yufu’s voice made her feel a tiny bit guilty.
It was quite baffling.
After listening to what Qin Yufu said, Cheng Jiqing replied, “I understand. I’ll head over then.”
As she spoke, her peripheral vision sensed Bai Xin still tying her belt.
“Mm, bye.”
Cheng Jiqing hung up the phone and turned back, her gaze colliding with Bai Xin’s. She paused. Last time, Bai Xin had misunderstood that she and Qin Yufu were getting married.
She wondered if she should mention that she was meeting Qin Yufu a second time only because she had promised her last time.
Cheng Jiqing said casually, “Qin Yufu just called me.”
“Mm.”
Bai Xin didn’t have much of a reaction. Seeing this, Cheng Jiqing felt relieved she hadn’t said more just now; otherwise, it would have seemed like she was reporting her movements. Weird.
Her gaze kept avoiding the area below Bai Xin’s neck. Although Bai Xin had just tied the belt, perhaps due to her injured hand, it wasn’t tied very tightly, hanging loosely…
While not revealing, the curves were still there—snowy white and soft—enough to make one’s heart flutter and face flush.
Cheng Jiqing gestured towards the pot with her chin. “Simmer on low heat for another half hour, and it should be about done. Letting it sit for a bit will make it taste better.”
Bai Xin replied with the same single word as before: “Mm.”
Cheng Jiqing looked left and right. “I vacuumed the floor a bit. Is there anything else you need done?”
Bai Xin quietly shook her head.
“Then I’ll leave first?”
“To meet your Miss Qin?”
“…No.”
Bai Xin straightened up from the doorframe, her expression showing some fatigue and forbearance, whether from pain or something else. She said, “It’s fine, just asking casually. There’s nothing else. You can go back.”
Cheng Jiqing started walking towards the entryway with her phone, then paused. “Last time, I promised Qin Yufu I’d help her resolve the issue with Old Madam Qin, so it’s not specifically to meet her.”
Given Bai Xin’s current physical state, worrying that she might get together with Qin Yufu was reasonable.
She felt it necessary to explain clearly.
After speaking, she walked to the entryway and bent down to change into her high heels.
“Cheng Jiqing.”
“Hm?”
Cheng Jiqing looked up, halfway into her shoe. She heard Bai Xin say, “I feel a bit unwell.”
She took a few steps closer to Cheng Jiqing. With each step, the belt loosened by a few centimeters. “Can you soothe me a bit, please?”
Cheng Jiqing stepped out of her high heels and onto the disposable slippers, nodding.
They were still over a meter apart, but walking towards Bai Xin this time felt more nerve-wracking than ever before. It was hard to say why, perhaps because Bai Xin was watching her intently.
She stood before Bai Xin, opened her arms, and then leaned down slightly to embrace her.
The room was utterly silent, with only occasional faint noises. The aroma of pork rib congee filled the air. The temperature in the room remained a constant 25° Celsius (77° Fahrenheit).
Bai Xin’s right hand slipped around Cheng Jiqing’s waist, holding onto her lower back.
She clearly felt the lean muscles in Cheng Jiqing’s waist tense slightly when she hugged tighter.
Bai Xin pulled them closer.
She took a breath, finally feeling her spirit relax.
Cheng Jiqing made no extra movements, even controlling her breathing to the limit. She could feel her heart pounding, feel every rise and fall of Bai Xin’s breath…
Time passed bit by bit.
In the last few minutes, Bai Xin could no longer stand steadily. Cheng Jiqing supported her, letting Bai Xin’s full weight rest on her.
About ten minutes passed.
Bai Xin gently pushed Cheng Jiqing away. “That’s enough.”
Actually, she wanted more.
But it was enough for today.
What wasn’t enough could be made up for later.
Cheng Jiqing said, “Then take care of yourself. I’ll see if I have time to come over again tomorrow around noon.”
Her tone was questioning.
Bai Xin asked, “Why not in the morning?”
“Tomorrow morning, Cheng Jing asked me to go to the company. I don’t know when it will end, probably around noon,” Cheng Jiqing said.
“You’re going to Cheng Corporation tomorrow morning?”
“Mm.”
Bai Xin seemed to think of something and slowly nodded.
As Cheng Jiqing was leaving, she reminded her again to watch the pot and be careful with her hand.
The moment the door closed, Cheng Jiqing let out a long sigh facing the stuffy hallway. Ah, the pressure from a C-cup… it really put a lot of pressure on her.
Bai Xin was comfortable now, but she felt stuck, unable to move forward or back.
Bai Xin stood in the entryway for a few seconds. She felt a bit better, but another kind of regret surfaced from the bottom of her heart—if only Cheng Jiqing hadn’t left.
After all, she didn’t know if she would feel unwell again tonight.
She walked to the kitchen, looking at the bubbling pork rib congee, a curve appearing on her lips.
Unconsciously.
But soon, Bai Xin composed her expression again. She walked to the living room and picked up her phone.
The other end picked up quickly.
“I need you to help me check the Qin family’s recent movements, and also anything about Qin Yufu.”
“Why are you still paying attention to her now?”
“It’s useful. Just help me check.”
“Fine.” There was the sound of pages turning on the other end. The woman’s voice was very steady. “There are several projects needing decisions; remember to take a look. Don’t just be a behind-the-scenes boss and really think you can stay invisible and ignore everything.”
“Got it, I’ll look in a bit.”
After hanging up, Bai Xin glanced at the congee, then took out her laptop to check the contracts in her email.
About ten minutes later.
Shu: 【Nothing unusual for now.】
Bai Xin narrowed her eyes. Not finding anything didn’t necessarily mean nothing was unusual. Cheng Jiqing didn’t understand Old Madam Qin’s methods, but she knew them very well.
Having failed the first time, the old woman wouldn’t just do nothing.
It was even less likely she’d pin all her hopes on Qin Yufu.
In her eyes, Cheng Jiqing meeting Qin Yufu was one thing, but Old Madam Qin targeting Cheng Jiqing was another matter entirely.
Bai Xin: 【Keep checking.】
Shu: 【OK.】
By the time Bai Xin received the next message, she was ladling the pork rib congee Cheng Jiqing had cooked into a bowl.
The steaming hot congee was fragrant and rich. She looked, somewhat displeased, at the message interrupting her meal.
Hearing the content of the WeChat message, the calmness on her face completely vanished.
“Your intuition was right. The Qin family hid it deep this time.”
“These past two days, the Qin family found a distant Omega relative who is about to enter their heat. This person is currently staying near the Qin family villa… Coincidentally, Qin Yufu is supposed to have dinner with Cheng Jiqing there tomorrow night.”
Bai Xin sneered. As expected.
Bring an Omega in heat over, trigger Cheng Jiqing’s rut7. Everyone knew how much Cheng Jiqing liked Qin Yufu; what else could happen in that room then?
Calling to heaven and earth would yield no response8.
Old Madam Qin definitely had plans for Qin Yufu too. In short, she wanted to force the situation, make what’s done unable to be undone9.
Then they could just blame it on coincidence; after all, the Omega in heat was just staying near the villa and was a relative.
Not a single piece of evidence could be pinned on them.
So dirty.
Did that Fu Rongjun from the Cheng family, the one who just returned, know about Old Madam Qin doing this?
The air conditioning was set low; the surface of the congee had cooled slightly. She chewed on a piece of pork rib, wondering whether to tell Cheng Jiqing now, or— She put down her chopsticks. Cheng Jiqing had said she was going to Cheng Corporation tomorrow morning.
Bai Xin sent a WeChat message to her assistant Lily at Bai Corporation.
【Regarding the project meeting with the Cheng family tomorrow, I will go personally.】
With her injured hand, she hadn’t originally planned to go back so soon.
Cheng Jiqing wandered around a department store. As she was about to leave, she passed by a lingerie store. Hesitating for two seconds between going in and walking away, she ultimately chose to enter.
The dazzling array of underwear overwhelmed her.
Seeing bras of various sizes, she suddenly thought, Bai Xin’s hand is injured, so how will she fasten her bra tomorrow?
But with her hand injured, Bai Xin probably wouldn’t be going out.
Cheng Jiqing wasn’t really focused as she looked around. Perhaps because she had come with a purpose, with every style she passed, she unconsciously pictured Bai Xin wearing it.
Especially the light-colored, thin ones.
And even more exaggerated pasties.
Thus, after only two minutes, she abandoned the idea of buying underwear for Bai Xin, her ears flushing red as she walked out somewhat unnaturally.
It wasn’t that she was extremely shy.
It was the picturing it that made her feel her thoughts were dangerous, and also a bit shameful.
In the end, she still felt it was better to let Bai Xin buy it herself. Even a year’s worth was fine; she’d pay.
Because of this shopping trip, Cheng Jiqing dreamed all night.
She dreamed she threw a five million card in front of Bai Xin, telling her in a stylishly cool and swaggering10 way, “Woman, take this and buy your little undies.”
Bai Xin pinched the card and came to hug her. “No, I don’t want your card, I want you to help me wash…”
“Wash what?”
Bai Xin’s peach-blossom eyes were hazy, stunningly beautiful. Bai Xin shyly said something.
The scene changed, and she was standing in front of a faucet—washing pork ribs.
The next day, past eight AM, Cheng Jiqing was woken up by a call from Cheng Jing.
Her head felt a bit dizzy; she felt like she had been abused in her dream all night.
She had washed pork ribs for a whole night, and lit the fire for the pork ribs for a whole night…
“…”
F%cking ridiculous.
Cheng Jiqing couldn’t help but curse.
Cheng Jiqing dozed off for a while in Cheng Jing’s car. Cheng Jing, beside her, put down the documents she was holding and saw how sleepy she was. “Didn’t sleep well last night?”
Cheng Jiqing: “Mm…”
“You didn’t eat breakfast either. Go eat something at the company cafeteria first in a bit.”
Cheng Jiqing agreed. She was indeed both sleepy and hungry.
Soon, the car stopped beneath a towering skyscraper. She looked up slightly; the sky was exceptionally clear. She hadn’t felt it in the car, but stepping out, she was hit by a wave of heat.
Cheng Jing had to go upstairs first to make arrangements. She had originally offered to eat breakfast with her but was politely declined by Cheng Jiqing. In the end, Yu Lan accompanied her.
Cheng Jiqing rarely came to the company, so many people didn’t recognize her.
Breakfast was quiet.
Ten minutes later, Cheng Jiqing went upstairs with Yu Lan. The 23rd floor was the core work area; some key cooperation meetings and dealings took place on this level.
The CEO’s office was also here.
Cheng Jing had something urgent to handle and went to a meeting room. She sent someone out to tell her to wander around freely or wait in her office.
She also sent her the office password.
Cheng Jiqing didn’t go in. She hadn’t been here before; exploring was quite nice.
The overall decoration of Cheng Corporation was very bright and grandly arranged. You could see the employees’ enthusiasm was high.
If nothing else, Cheng Jing seemed to be a pretty good manager.
Telling Yu Lan to find a place to sit, Cheng Jiqing walked around here and there, looking around. She hadn’t experienced the workplace before, so coming here felt quite novel.
It wasn’t until she felt more gazes directed at her that she prepared to turn back and find a place to sit.
She wasn’t unfamiliar with this feeling of being watched, nor did she feel angry or offended. As a star or an actor, attracting others’ attention was actually a natural advantage.
To some extent, it was a shortcut.
Of course, ability was ultimately the key factor determining success or failure.
Cheng Jiqing hadn’t taken many steps back when she suddenly stopped. The glass door not far ahead opened, and a group of people walked in. Leading them—Bai Xin.
It was the first time she had seen Bai Xin dressed professionally. A white shirt, black skirt, stunningly cold and beautiful, beyond comparison.
Bai Xin also spotted Cheng Jiqing at first glance.
Similarly dressed somewhat formally: shirt, black trousers, a black-and-blue patterned silk scarf at the collar, slim waist, straight legs. Especially when those fox-like eyes looked over, it stirred one’s heart.
Their eyes met, then quickly looked away.
Cheng Jiqing lowered her head to send Bai Xin a message.
She’s starting work already? Is her hand okay? And, most importantly, according to Tang Jia, one contact per day should basically stabilize Bai Xin’s symptoms.
Bai Xin just got injured and is weak, so she had planned to go over after finishing here anyway.
This woman is so bold11, isn’t she afraid it might act up in Cheng Jing’s company?
【Is your physical condition okay?】
Cheng Jiqing chose the quickest question.
She looked up again towards Bai Xin’s location but didn’t see her. Glancing around, she couldn’t find her figure either.
Just as she was about to ask again.
Her phone vibrated.
Bai Xin: 【So, can you come to the restroom for a moment?】
The author has something to say:
Because a name was changed, and she appears infrequently, I was afraid you might forget: Shu is the friend who sent Bai Xin messages earlier and gave her the watch.
Chengcheng: She’s so brave.
Bai-jiejie: Coming?
Footnotes
- 童言无忌 | tóng yán wú jì | Lit. “children’s words have no taboo”; Meaning that things said by children shouldn’t be taken seriously or cause offense.
- 清心寡欲 | qīng xīn guǎ yù | Lit. “clear heart, few desires”; Meaning to be free from worldly desires, ascetic, or chaste.
- 热搜 | rèsōu | Lit. “hot search”; Refers to trending topics on social media or search engines.
- 童言希 | Tóng Yánxī
- 《上岸》 | Shàng Àn | Lit. “Go Ashore” or “Land”; Title of a work.
- 抽棒棒糖 | chōu bàngbàngtáng | Lit. “draw lollipops”; Likely a playful, nonsensical threat or inside joke used by the author.
- 躁动期 | zàodòngqī | Lit. “agitation period”.
- 喊天不应叫地不灵 | hǎn tiān bù yìng jiào dì bù líng | Lit. “shout to heaven it doesn’t answer, call to earth it isn’t efficacious”; Idiom meaning to be in a desperate situation with no help available.
- 生米煮成熟饭 | shēng mǐ zhǔ chéng shú fàn | Lit. “the raw rice has been cooked into cooked rice”; Idiom meaning what’s done cannot be undone, often referring to forcing a relationship or situation.
- 款拽炫酷 | kuǎn zhuài xuàn kù | Internet slang combining elements meaning stylish, swaggering, flashy, and cool.
- 虎 | hǔ | Lit. “tiger”; Slang meaning fierce, bold, daring, sometimes reckless or foolhardy.
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