Scum A with a Sweet Black Lotus O – Chapter 129
by Little Panda“I’m jealous, I need Zhizhi to coax me before I’ll feel better.”
The moment the System spoke, Fu Chaoyun said, “If you hadn’t shown up soon, I’d have almost forgotten I even had a ‘System’ as part of my setup.”
However.
The System paid no heed to her teasing.
【Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!】
The System’s diction was exceptionally firm.
Faced with this situation, Fu Chaoyun’s emotions, on the other hand, gradually calmed and stabilized.
“Why?” she asked.
Thanks to the script provided by the System, Fu Chaoyun was aware of every character and minor development in the original work.
Qin Shu was a character who appeared in the later stages of the plot, her entrance heralded by the words “a few years later.”
She was also the so-called “Official Alpha1.”
The novel 《Beauty in a Cage》 actually had a somewhat shifted focus.
The majority of the early plot detailed how the Scum Alpha tormented her caged bird2, with extremely detailed descriptions, right up until Pei Xuezhi successfully turned the tables3.
A few years after the Scum Alpha died, the Official Alpha leisurely appeared.
In terms of length, the content describing the Scum Alpha in the novel far outweighed that of the Official Alpha, who was merely mentioned in passing4.
From a literary perspective, this would be called going off-topic.
And the Official Alpha who appeared at the end—she was gentle, meticulous, patient… an existence entirely different from the original cruel and gloomy Scum Alpha, and it was precisely these traits of hers that warmed Pei Xuezhi, who had been tormented.
And this Official Alpha was none other than “Qin Shu.”
—She had appeared ahead of schedule.
Fu Chaoyun asked again, “Are you saying she shouldn’t have appeared at this point in time, or that this person doesn’t exist at all?”
If the System had merely been stunned and incredulous just moments ago, now it was utterly horrified!
The Alpha who had caused all this seemed completely oblivious and continued, “After all, the plot development up to this point has been completely unrelated to the original work, no, wait—”
“The moment you stuffed me into this body, you were destined to destroy the original ‘plot.’ Since everything original is completely without reference value, then…”
She paused.
Fu Chaoyun’s gaze5 deepened somewhat.
“I highly doubt the authenticity of the original script.”
A single sentence that revealed a profound secret6.
The System trembled, 【H-How could you suddenly think that?】
“It wasn’t sudden.”
Fu Chaoyun suddenly smiled, her features softening7, yet that emotion still didn’t allow the System to relax in the slightest.
“I’ve been speculating about it for a long time.”
It was just that back then, she still had to work hard to hide it from the System, and diligently search for various pieces of evidence to perfect her guesses.
Gradually, she discovered that this System was just a good-for-nothing; its threats were fierce, but in reality, it couldn’t do anything.
And so it continued until today—
There were some things Fu Chaoyun couldn’t be bothered to fuss over with the System, and besides, the most serious issue now was dealing with the “Qin Shu” right in front of her!
Combining her experiences from the previous two times…
“The Scum Alpha changed shells8 and came back again?” Fu Chaoyun asked.
The System was silent for a moment, 【Not clear.】
“Tsk~”
【Anyway, no matter what, the character “Qin Shu” should not be appearing at this point in time. There must be someone manipulating things behind the scenes!】
【You know, I can’t detect the Scum Alpha’s aura…】
Fu Chaoyun tsked again; might as well, she hadn’t placed her hopes on the System from the very beginning.
“Why can’t you find her?” Fu Chaoyun changed the subject. “According to you, she should be an outsider to this world, her soul incompatible, and instinctively rejected, right?”
The System understood that this time, Fu Chaoyun had seen through its outwardly strong but inwardly weak nature and was determined to get to the bottom of things9, so it could only reveal a little.
【She previously interacted using your body, so she was stained with some of your aura and also your fortune. I can’t track her.】
“That’s not right.”
Fu Chaoyun interrupted first.
“You said before that Pei Xuezhi is this world’s Daughter of Fortune. If one wants to obtain fortune from her, one must build a good relationship10 with her. Only if she actively bestows it can it be given. The so-called ‘leeching fortune’ you mentioned earlier was because I had a good relationship with Pei Xuezhi, and she occasionally leaked a tiny bit to me.”
“But the Scum Alpha, before I transmigrated, she had only just begun to interact with Pei Xuezhi. Pei Xuezhi’s impression of her wasn’t good. So by what method did she obtain fortune?”
“Or perhaps—”
Fu Chaoyun’s eyes narrowed slightly, their amber color gradually turning cold, leaking a hint of danger. “You’re lying to me? Or maybe, all your claims about fortune were wrong from the start?”
【No!!】
Seeing itself being questioned, the System also grew anxious, 【Fortune can only be actively given. Once bestowed, any attempt to usurp it through other means will not succeed.】
It clenched its teeth.
【The reason the Scum Alpha cannot be captured by me is because she has formed other, deeper connections with Pei Xuezhi through alternative means. I cannot overstep my bounds to bring her back.】
Other deeper connections that even the System couldn’t sever…
Fu Chaoyun showed a pensive expression. “So this isn’t Pei Xuezhi’s first life. She’s actually been reborn?”
The System glitched11 for a moment in Fu Chaoyun’s consciousness.
It felt guilty.
Fu Chaoyun’s expression relaxed12. “As expected.”
This would explain why the current Scum Alpha harbored such deep hostility towards her, while simultaneously being unable to forget Pei Xuezhi.
It wasn’t just because she had snatched away the other’s body; more importantly, in the previous life, the other party had strived so hard only to achieve such an ending, whereas her own arrival had led to a completely different outcome.
In comparison, it was natural to feel resentment and dissatisfaction.
Then, combining this with what the System said, the original plot it provided was from Pei Xuezhi’s previous life, before her rebirth.
Of course, the script wasn’t necessarily correct.
The Scum Alpha from the previous life died early. Logically speaking, she shouldn’t have known about the existence of Qin Shu, the Official Alpha who only appeared years later. Yet now, she had somehow managed to bring this person out…
This point alone was enough to prove that there was a lot of fishy business13 in the previous life’s script provided by the System.
“So—”
Fu Chaoyun’s fingertip tapped lightly. “The Scum Alpha from the previous life obtained fortune from Pei Xuezhi through some means, and also evaded your monitoring?”
The System gritted its teeth, 【Yes.】
“Then why the rebirth?”
Fu Chaoyun asked again.
“Pei Xuezhi’s final counter-kill and encounter with the Official Alpha…” Speaking up to this point, Fu Chaoyun couldn’t help but pause, “Tsk~”
Placing her own wife together with another person always inevitably stirred up displeasure in her heart—even if this part of the story wouldn’t happen now, and was even a sham, never having existed from beginning to end.
“In the life trajectory you provided, although Pei Xuezhi suffered torment, she ultimately underwent a phoenix nirvana14, which could be considered a satisfying, feel-good story15 ending. So where was the need to restart?”
【It was the Scum Alpha,】 the System replied.
【She obtained Pei Xuezhi’s fortune through special means and wanted to try again—she herself paid a great price for doing so.】
【However, the bargaining chips she held were not as many as Pei Xuezhi’s; at least, she couldn’t reset the world. So, the reborn Pei Xuezhi still retained her memories, and I also took this opportunity to pull your soul back.】
“A very reasonable explanation, logically self-consistent16,” Fu Chaoyun praised.
“But—”
She paused.
“I’m afraid it’s not just that.”
【I simultaneously planted some false memories in Pei Xuezhi’s head, the same scripts I gave you. She has a copy too.】
【So that she wouldn’t be deceived by the Scum Alpha.】
The System said in a loud voice.
【I did this for your sake too! What if Pei Xuezhi sides with the Scum Alpha and they gang up to deal with you…】
“Shut up!”
Fu Chaoyun’s loud shout immediately silenced the System.
She closed her eyes.
So, the various events in the “original work” were indeed all false.
If the Scum Alpha was truly so unbearable and had tormented Pei Xuezhi in every possible way, then why was she now repeatedly trying to get close?
Undaunted by repeated setbacks.
All of the Scum Alpha’s methods and targeting were directed at her; towards Pei Xuezhi, she could be considered gentle—at least, the other party had never laid a hand on Pei Xuezhi to harm her.
This was completely inconsistent with the memories from the script.
Pei Xuezhi was also influenced by these false memories. If Pei Xuezhi were to learn the truth…
When she opened her closed eyes, they were still profound.
“What exactly happened in the last life?” Fu Chaoyun’s voice suddenly turned cold.
It won’t happen.
She said to herself in her heart, also answering the System’s previous question.
The System, having fabricated the script itself, was now like an author asked to list trigger warnings17 for their story, actively explaining, 【I swear, in the last life, Pei Xuezhi had absolutely no such feelings for ‘Fu Chaoyun’… oh, oh, I mean the Scum Alpha. It was all the Scum Alpha’s one-sided wishful thinking.】
After all, Pei Xuezhi would only like “Fu Chaoyun,” the one who lacked so many things, who could no longer be considered “Fu Chaoyun”… right?
So, she was also excluded from the scope of affection.
【It really wasn’t as serious as I wrote. There was no drugging and rpe, no marital rpe, no digging out glands…】
The System’s voice was weak, then it rose again in the next second.
【However, the Scum Alpha’s original personality is indeed paranoid and stubborn. I really didn’t slander18 her on this point! You should have been able to sense it from your few interactions with her.】
Fu Chaoyun remained silent.
Indeed.
More than just paranoid?
It could already be called extreme.
But if there was a reason for it…
Fu Chaoyun said in a deep voice, “Continue.”
【Of course, most of the time she wasn’t bad to Pei Xuezhi, but this kind of behavior couldn’t move Pei Xuezhi. Moreover, when her paranoid streak acted up, she would also do some uncontrollable things, pushing people further away instead.】
【Pei Xuezhi really didn’t have her in her heart!】
【On this point alone, I guarantee you and Pei Xuezhi are absolutely 1V119 and pure for each other20!】
For this last statement, the System was just short of raising its fingers21 to swear.
Fu Chaoyun slowly exhaled a breath. “Continue talking.”
【…】
In short, at this moment, the deeply sinful22 System was pressed by Fu Chaoyun into revealing many things about the “previous life.”
After this smoothing over23, the Scum Alpha from the previous life didn’t seem so scummy anymore, and could even be considered to have been whitewashed24.
Aside from occupying Fu Chaoyun’s body, wasn’t the initial mistaken soul swap also orchestrated by the System?
That was what led to everything today.
Good heavens!
The main culprit was actually right here!
After figuring everything out, the System, feeling chilled25 by Fu Chaoyun’s current gaze, directly shrank back a bit, 【Th-then are you two preparing to shake hands and make peace now?】
Please, please, that can’t happen!
These two people… no, the souls of these two people could absolutely never reconcile with each other!
Fu Chaoyun chuckled lightly and also gave the System the answer it most anticipated, “How could that be possible.”
The System breathed a sigh of relief.
Even though it was very displeased that this evil-doing System would ultimately achieve its goal, there was indeed no way to control this situation now.
Regardless of whether the Scum Alpha was wronged or not, or how many bad things the System did behind the scenes, as long as the other party still coveted Pei Xuezhi.
There was absolutely no way for the two of them to resolve their differences; it was even a fight to the death!
Fu Chaoyun’s eyes were bright and fierce as fire.
【Go for it!】
【I will definitely support you!!】
The System thought for a moment more, then cheered them on26.
【Chaoyun Muxue is real】
It had learned quite a few things from managing the Weibo Super Topic during this time!
Fu Chaoyun: “…”
Fu Chaoyun ignored the System. This time, the System’s appearance had resolved some of her confusion, but it had also brought more problems.
How to deal with the Scum Alpha—she couldn’t really call her that anymore—whatever, she was used to the term… how to deal with that one, she still needed to think about it.
Think carefully, think very carefully.
While Fu Chaoyun was pondering, the System on its end let out a long sigh of relief.
This confrontation seemingly ended in its complete defeat; Fu Chaoyun had even tricked it into revealing matters like rebirth, the previous life, and rewriting the script.
However.
It was a case of cutting off the tail to survive28.
It threw out some relatively unimportant truths while concealing more core, crucial details.
It thanked its long-standing useless image for successfully saving it at this moment.
Fu Chaoyun’s attention was ultimately diverted by the information about the Scum Alpha, but in reality, it was because the System had used Pei Xuezhi to grasp her crucial weakness.
She still hadn’t thought things through enough.
What a coincidence.
Fu Chaoyun thought the same.
From their earlier conversation, she had also discovered quite a few loopholes—
For example, by what “special” means did the Scum Alpha usurp the fortune from Pei Xuezhi that was supposedly so hard to obtain?
Since it was mentioned earlier that it could be gifted, did this fortune truly belong to Pei Xuezhi from the beginning?
Was it really the Scum Alpha who initiated the world reset?
This world, had it really only been restarted once?
What was the meaning behind the System’s sudden appearance and existence?
…There were too, too many inconsistencies with the current logical explanations, but the most pressing matter was to deal with the Scum Alpha’s existence and the threat she posed to her and Pei Xuezhi.
As for the remaining issues, they could all be settled one by one in the future.
When Pei Xuezhi came down, this was the sight that greeted her.
The Alpha was supporting her cheek with one hand, her gaze unfocused, seemingly lost in thought.
As she approached, the Alpha seemed to hear her footsteps and suddenly turned her head. The moment those amber, distant eyes landed on her, they gained warmth, as if the entire world had lit up.
What’s wrong?
Pei Xuezhi thought.
Today, she was clearly dressed in formal attire, her aura awe-inspiring, even her coldly beautiful face becoming a mere backdrop, yet in that instant, her demeanor unconsciously softened.
“Zhizhi.”
The Alpha called out, her gaze exceptionally mournful.
Pei Xuezhi was reborn, her memories are false.
What kind of expression and demeanor would she have if she knew everything the Scum Alpha had done?
Love makes people blind.
At this moment, even the usually cheerful Fu Chaoyun couldn’t help but overthink. Immediately after, this emotion was directly expressed in her demeanor.
The Alpha spoke, seemingly displeased, seemingly acting coquettishly, “I’m jealous.”
Pei Xuezhi: ?
After saying it, she even nodded as if it were a serious matter, “Mm, that’s right, I’m jealous.”
System: !!!
Is this something you can just say?!
“What’s wrong?” Although Pei Xuezhi didn’t understand what had happened, she moved a little closer and asked in a low voice.
Fu Chaoyun looked up and smiled faintly.
She changed her posture to propping her head with one hand, her long hair flowing down through the gaps between her fingers, weaving into her unique, ravishing elegance. Her red lips were seductive and fiery, and her sparkling eyes instantly held the rippling affection of spring water.
Just like that, she looked at Pei Xuezhi.
As if waiting for an embrace.
“Isn’t Zhizhi going to come over and coax me?”
The author has something to say:
Happy National Day29! It’s been a while since I wrote a thick and long chapter.
Rest assured, I’ll write the plot at 8x speed, and then write the romance at 0.5x speed _(:з”∠)_
Footnotes
- 正牌攻 | zhèngpái gōng | Lit. “official/legitimate brand top/seme.” In ABO dynamics, this would translate to the “official/true Alpha” partner, as opposed to a temporary or “scum” one. “Gong” (攻) is the term for the “top” or “attacker” in BL/GL (Boys’ Love/Girls’ Love) fiction.
- 笼中雀 | lóng zhōng què | Lit. “sparrow in a cage”; Fig. a trapped or confined beauty, someone cherished but controlled.
- 反杀 | fǎnshā | Lit. “counter-kill.” A term originating from gaming, meaning to turn the tables on an attacker and defeat them instead. Often used metaphorically for a comeback or successful counter-attack in a dire situation.
- 一笔带过 | yī bǐ dài guò | Lit. “to mention in passing with one stroke of the pen”; Fig. to skate over, to gloss over, to mention briefly without going into detail.
- 眸色 | móusè | Lit. “eye color,” often used to describe the look or expression in someone’s eyes.
- 一语道破天机 | yī yǔ dàopò tiānjī | Lit. “one sentence pierces heavenly secrets”; Fig. to hit the nail on the head with a single remark, to reveal a profound truth or secret in a few words.
- 眉眼晕染开 | méiyǎn yùnrǎn kāi | Lit. “eyebrows and eyes blur/smudge open.” Describes a softening of the features around the eyes, often indicating a smile or a gentle expression, like colors blending in a watercolor painting.
- 换壳子 | huàn kézi | Lit. “to change shells,” like a hermit crab. Fig. to change one’s body, appearance, or identity while the inner essence (soul) might remain the same or be transferred.
- 打破砂锅问到底 | dǎpò shāguō wèn dàodǐ | Lit. “break the casserole to ask to the bottom”; Fig. to insist on getting to the very bottom of a matter, to be extremely inquisitive.
- 打好关系 | dǎ hǎo guānxì | To establish good relations, to get on good terms with someone. Guanxi (关系) itself is a core cultural concept of social networks and influential relationships.
- 卡壳 | kǎké | Lit. “to get stuck” (like a cartridge in a gun or a film in a projector); Fig. to freeze up, to be at a loss for words, to falter.
- 眉目舒展 | méimù shūzhǎn | Lit. “eyebrows and eyes smooth out and spread”; Fig. one’s expression relaxes, often indicating relief or understanding.
- 猫腻 | māonì | Trickery, foul play, something fishy, underhanded dealings. Lit. “cat’s greasiness.”
- 凤凰涅槃 | fènghuáng nièpán | Phoenix nirvana. The rebirth of a phoenix from ashes, symbolizing resurrection, renewal, and overcoming great adversity to achieve a new, more glorious state.
- 爽文 | shuǎngwén | Lit. “cool text/novel.” A genre of webnovels characterized by a protagonist who often easily overcomes obstacles, gains power, and achieves satisfying victories, providing a “cool” or gratifying reading experience for the audience. Often involves wish fulfillment or power fantasies.
- 逻辑闭环 | luójí bìhuán | Closed logical loop. A situation where an argument or explanation is internally consistent and self-contained, with no apparent contradictions within its own framework.
- 排雷 | páiléi | Lit. “to clear mines.” In internet/fandom slang, it means to list trigger warnings, content warnings, or things that might be disliked by readers/viewers before they engage with a work.
- 黑她 | hēi tā | Lit. “to blacken her.” Internet slang meaning to defame, slander, or speak ill of someone, to tarnish their reputation.
- 1V1 | yī V yī | One-versus-one, or one-on-one. In relationship contexts in webnovels, it signifies a monogamous relationship between the main couple.
- 双洁 | shuāngjié | Lit. “double purity/chastity.” A term popular in romance webnovels, indicating that both main characters are virgins before meeting each other and/or remain exclusively faithful to each other throughout the story. It emphasizes mutual fidelity and often a “clean” romantic history for the main couple.
- 竖起手指 | shù qǐ shǒuzhǐ | To raise/hold up fingers, often as part of making a vow or swearing an oath (e.g., three fingers).
- 罪孽深重 | zuìnièshēnzhòng | Lit. “sins and evil karma are deep and heavy”; Fig. to be laden with sins, to be deeply sinful.
- 圆 | yuán | Round; to make round. Fig. to make a story consistent, to smooth over inconsistencies, to explain away.
- 洗白 | xǐbái | Lit. “to wash white.” Internet slang for whitewashing, clearing someone’s name or reputation, often undeservedly or by downplaying their negative actions.
- 瞧得凉凉的 | qiáo de liángliáng de | Lit. “looked at until one feels cold/chilly.” Implies a gaze that is intimidating or causes unease.
- 摇旗呐喊 | yáoqínàhǎn | Lit. “wave flags and shout battle cries”; Fig. to cheer on, to root for, to lend one’s support vociferously.
- kswl | N/A | Internet slang, abbreviation for “嗑死我了” (kē sǐ wǒ le). “Ke” (嗑) comes from “磕CP” (kē CP), which means to “ship” a couple (to strongly desire them to be in a romantic relationship). “Si wo le” (死我了) means “I’m dying” (hyperbolically). So, “kswl” means “I’m dying from shipping this so hard,” expressing intense enjoyment or excitement about a romantic pairing.
- 断尾求生 | duànwěiqiúshēng | Lit. “to cut off one’s tail to seek survival” (like a lizard). Fig. to sacrifice a part to save the whole, to make a necessary sacrifice to escape a dangerous situation.
- 国庆快乐 | Guóqìng kuàilè | Happy National Day! Refers to the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, celebrated on October 1st.
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