Scum A with a Sweet Black Lotus O – Chapter 44
by Little PandaShe thought, Pei Xuezhi must like her.
The next morning.
【How are you feeling now?】
Fu Chaoyun leaned against the headboard, the blanket covering below her waist. She was still wearing the wine-red nightgown that Pei Xuezhi had picked out for her last night, the color making her skin appear snow-white.
When she heard the System’s words, Fu Chaoyun kept her eyes slightly closed, very composed… at least appearing completely composed as she replied.
“I’m awake.”
This wasn’t what the System wanted to hear. 【What about other thoughts?】
It wanted to see its host suffer social death, but unfortunately, Fu Chaoyun’s face showed no signs of mortification. Hearing the System’s words, she didn’t reply but instead pulled out her phone and started fiddling with it.
After waiting a while without response, the System peered over to look – Fu Chaoyun was watching a replay of the livestream, specifically the moment when her drunk self kissed Pei Xuezhi’s cheek.
The System was stunned!
【Y-y-you—】
Fu Chaoyun calmly saved a screenshot and asked the System, “By the way, did you record the song Pei Xuezhi sang for me yesterday?”
【…】
You’re not embarrassed at all, are you?
“Tch~”
Fu Chaoyun wasn’t satisfied, but she was already used to the System’s uselessness. She picked up another phone provided by the show’s production team and started browsing through the contact list.
The System hurriedly stopped her. 【W-w-what are you doing!?】
“Calling Zhizhi, of course,” Fu Chaoyun said matter-of-factly. “The audio in the livestream isn’t very clear, and since you didn’t record it, I’ll just have Zhizhi sing it for me again.”
【…】
This proved that once Fu Chaoyun abandoned all shame, she was – invincible!
As Fu Chaoyun went to dial, the System held firm. Finally, she looked at the System and asked again in a very calm tone.
“Do you have it?”
The System gritted its teeth: 【…Yes!!】
Realizing it couldn’t handle this shameless host, it had no choice but to send the recording to Fu Chaoyun’s phone.
Fu Chaoyun opened it, and immediately Pei Xuezhi’s cool voice came through, seeming to carry an extra touch of tenderness while singing.
“The happy pond has been planted…”
Fu Chaoyun’s eyes narrowed slightly, displaying a posture of contentedly listening.
The System was still anxious and added, 【Just listen to it privately, but definitely don’t set it as your phone ringtone… and that screenshot you just saved absolutely cannot become your phone wallpaper!】
“Afraid Zhizhi won’t be happy?” Fu Chaoyun’s attitude remained unconcerned.
【I’m worried Pei Xuezhi will think you were pretending to be drunk last night, not just randomly acting out, but came with a plan! (bear/bare wordplay)】
“…”
Fu Chaoyun did take this advice to heart, though she clicked her tongue in annoyance. In the end, she only set Pei Xuezhi’s singing as her daily wake-up alarm.
Afterwards, while getting up and preparing for the day, she opened her wardrobe, her fingertips sliding across various luxury brands, finally stopping at a fiery red dress.
Her fingers turned, selecting it.
“This one. Zhizhi likes red.”
System: 【…】
She’s so flirtatious!
[Cold expression.jpg]
When Fu Chaoyun removed the clothing covering the camera, the livestream audience had been waiting for a long time!
【She’s here!】
【Is Fu Chaoyun awake yet? I want to see her die from embarrassment!】
【Red dress!】 【She clearly remembers yesterday’s events!!!】
【D*mn, is it because we’re seeing her up close? Why does Fu Chaoyun’s beauty seem to have leveled up again today?】
【She’s a spirit who drains people’s energy, and Pei Xuezhi is the one she’s drained!】
【Pei Xuezhi is beautiful today too prpr (sound of kissing)】
【Time for some dual cultivation! More more! (suggestive comments censored)】
【Too bad it’s almost 10 AM on Monday, everyone in the villa has left for work or school, Pei Xuezhi isn’t here either, we won’t get to see Fu Chaoyun cringe into the wall…】
【Disappointed.jpg】
When Fu Chaoyun went downstairs, only Fu Li and Qi Changfeng remained in the villa, both sitting in the living room.
Fu Li didn’t dare say anything, while Qi Changfeng smiled as soon as he saw her.
Fu Chaoyun raised an eyebrow, taking the initiative, “Did I interrupt something between you two?”
“Don’t say such things~!” Qi Changfeng jumped up immediately, “You’re a proper Alpha, what right do you have to damage another Alpha’s reputation?! And here I thought we were bros, I even helped you deal with what’s-their-name yesterday…”
Though Fu Chaoyun had been drunk last night and completely blacked out, the System, hoping to see her embarrassed, had eagerly stuffed all of last night’s events into her head, so she remembered everything clearly.
Actually, Qi Changfeng and Fu Li were sitting quite far apart. Hearing Qi Changfeng’s defense, Fu Chaoyun sincerely apologized.
“Since we’re bros, I’ll forgive you.”
“…”
Grateful for Qi Changfeng’s help from last night, Fu Chaoyun finally accepted the title of “bro”. She asked, “You’re not going out today?”
Qi Changfeng spread his hands, “No classes.”
Fu Chaoyun nodded. Perhaps because her expression was too composed, Qi Changfeng became confused.
“Bro, were you really drunk last night or just pretending?!”
【Here it comes, the moment of death!】
Fu Chaoyun glanced at him with a faint smile, “Take a guess~”
Qi Changfeng: “…”
【Xiaoqi, you’re not trying hard enough!】
【Disappointed~】
These two words were giving Qi Changfeng PTSD. After some mental speculation, he leaned more towards the latter.
“But you were really impressive yesterday. That newcomer who was getting close to Zhi… I mean, Xiaopei earlier couldn’t handle it at all and started calling her Miss Pei instead.”
Mentioning this, Qi Changfeng thought about his own situation and felt somewhat melancholic. He pondered for a moment and summarized:
“That strategy was good, but too bad you’ve already used it once. Everyone will be on guard if you try it again…”
It was all his fault – yesterday, trying to save face in front of a new love rival, he kept drinking and completely exposed his true alcohol tolerance. If he tried this trick again, Xia Shiyi would immediately expose him.
Qi Changfeng wanted to beat his chest in frustration.
This was the gap! How else could you explain that in the same love rival competition, overnight, Fu Chaoyun and Pei Xuezhi’s relationship developed rapidly while he and Ni Jiaojiao only grew more distant?
Fu Chaoyun didn’t specifically explain, letting the misunderstanding stand. After a while, when Qi Changfeng had finished venting, he added:
“Oh right, let me tell you something – that new person drove here themselves. This morning when you weren’t awake, that Qin person was being very attentive, trying to take advantage of the situation. But your bro here interfered, and in the end, had Jian Yi take Pei Xuezhi to the station.”
Thinking Fu Chaoyun might care about this, he mentioned it, then sought praise, “How’s that for being thoughtful?” Fu Chaoyun paused.
“Good bro,” she finally accepted Qi Changfeng’s title. “And thanks to Brother Yi too.”
“Hey! We’re bros, no need for formalities~”
Fu Chaoyun thought about Qi Changfeng’s protection last night, thinking that while this person might be a bit foolish sometimes, he had a good heart and had been consistently helping her advance her relationship.
“If you’re free today, why not bring Sister Jiaojiao some lunch?” Fu Chaoyun suggested.
Qi Changfeng also had a car – a sapphire blue supercar, quite flashy. He said he borrowed it from a local friend.
Regardless of whose car it was, being able to make such generous and wealthy friends was enough proof that Qi Changfeng’s family was quite well-off too.
“Huh? Wouldn’t that disturb her work? Oh my, how could I…”
The usually straightforward Alpha male suddenly became like an Omega, acting all coy and hesitant.
Fu Chaoyun couldn’t bear to watch, rolling her eyes, “I heard models have quite a bit of free time when they don’t have scheduled shoots…”
“I’m going!”
Seeing Qi Changfeng immediately perk up and head for the door, Fu Chaoyun nodded in satisfaction. As he was about to leave, she called out to his retreating figure:
“I heard Qin Zhenyan’s company is in that area too?”
“I think so.”
“If you see him, thank him for me about last night.”
After all, without certain people, how could her relationship with Zhizhi have progressed so quickly? Oh, and thanks to the show’s production team for arranging this situation too.
Qi Changfeng: “…”
So she’s still using him as a tool!
However, regardless of the reason, considering how his good bro had just given him relationship advice, Qi Changfeng thumped his muscular chest with a loud bang.
“No problem, leave it to me!”
Qi Changfeng was highly efficient, coming and going like the wind. Suddenly, only Fu Chaoyun and Fu Li remained in the villa.
Although Fu Li had once “passionately” pursued Fu Chaoyun, now he became nervous whenever he saw her. Unless he took the initiative, Fu Chaoyun would never look his way.
But at this moment, Fu Chaoyun’s penetrating gaze was indeed fixed on him…
Fu Li didn’t dare joke around like Qi Changfeng. He shrank his neck, his voice weak, “Sister Yunyun, is there something?”
【Oh ho~】
【Even his way of addressing her has changed. Looks like Fu Li really doesn’t dare bother Fu Chaoyun anymore, he’s learned his lesson.】
【Normal, after watching last night everyone knows the Chaoyun Muxue ship is locked in, and I swallowed the key.】
【If he goes after Qin Zhenyan instead, I declare I’ll switch from hating to supporting him!】
【I must say, that dog Qi ran away really fast…】
“Would you like to pursue Qin Zhenyan?” Fu Chaoyun asked bluntly.
Fu Li froze.
“If you’re interested in Qin Zhenyan, I think… I might be able to help a little?”
【No problem! The pursuer of a love rival is a friend!】
Fu Li was still somewhat intimidated by Fu Chaoyun, but thinking about how he hadn’t caused trouble for a while, and remembering how she managed to develop a relationship with the cold-natured Pei Xuezhi so quickly, greed ultimately overcame fear.
He raised his head to meet Fu Chaoyun’s eyes, licking his slightly dry lips, “I want to.”
【Ohhhhh~ Position switch!】
【Even Fu Li can be utilized? Amazing, my Yun!】
【I’ve been camping in the villa’s livestream since early morning expecting to see Fu Chaoyun die from embarrassment after sobering up, not to watch her dominating everything!】
【Got to say, this is quite satisfying.】
【Beyond satisfying!】
【Right now, a certain Mr. Qin working diligently in his company doesn’t know that two daggers are ready to strike his back…】
Fu Chaoyun was very satisfied. After arranging everything, she went home for a visit.
Her stepfather Gu Huaiyi smiled at her, making Fu Chaoyun feel like he might present engagement gifts to the Pei family any second. [LP: For those who might get confused, he is the body’s father but the soul considers him to be a stepfather]
Even Madam Fu’s usual aloofness had softened somewhat, probably thinking that with both daughters settling down, they would finally stop disturbing her couple time with Gu Huaiyi!
The news of her two-shot knockout and drunken antics last night must have been quite sensational, as Fu Lingfeng, who should have been busy at the company at this hour, came home for lunch.
Beside her sat her sister-in-law Wen Wan, helping to pick dishes for Fu Lingfeng.
These people didn’t speak, just stared at Fu Chaoyun.
Fu Chaoyun didn’t care at first – after all, she’d already abandoned all shame, and shameless people are invincible!
But being stared at constantly became annoying, so Fu Chaoyun glared back, “What are you looking at? No need to maintain dignity in front of your wife!”
Madam Fu gave her a rare look of approval, while Fu Chaoyun specifically glanced at her sister Fu Lingfeng.
Unfortunately, the latter seemed to still not get it.
【I’ve learned something new.】
【All day long, Fu Chaoyun has perfectly demonstrated what it means to say – as long as I’m not embarrassed, others will be!】
【Don’t rush, she hasn’t faced Pei Xuezhi yet. When that happens, she won’t be able to keep it together, her true nature will be exposed.】
【I still really want to know what happened in the bathroom yesterday!!!】
After eating with her family, Fu Chaoyun went to Rong University, intending to continue auditing classes, but was informed that Pei Xuezhi had no afternoon classes.
Upon further inquiry, she learned that it was because Pei Xuezhi was too outstanding. Though only a second-year student, her professor particularly liked and valued her, taking her along with graduate and doctoral students to conduct research off-campus.
Fu Chaoyun asked for the address, preparing to head there instead.
“Miss Fu?”
Someone called out to her.
Fu Chaoyun turned back to see a somewhat timid face. While she was still searching through her memories, the person introduced herself, “I’m Pei Xuezhi’s roommate… former roommate, Ying Yao.”
The connection clicked, though this face differed slightly from the memories of the previous scumbag Alpha.
Fu Chaoyun nodded slightly, “Something wrong?”
“I need to talk to you.”
Fu Chaoyun had seen many such situations both before and after transmigrating, and handled it expertly, “Sorry, I’m in a hurry…”
“It’s about Pei Xuezhi! About Pei Xuezhi!!” Ying Yao said urgently.
Due to her extreme agitation and recent gauntness and gloominess, her once pretty face looked frightening with bulging eyes.
Fu Chaoyun wasn’t scared, though. She stared at her face for two seconds, noting only that her pupils were pitch black, unable to discern any emotion beyond agitation.
“Alright.”
“Follow me.”
Ying Yao led Fu Chaoyun to a secluded corner. When the cameraman tried to follow, Fu Chaoyun turned back.
“This might involve privacy, please turn off the cameras for now.”
With other guests, the production team might have insisted, but Fu Chaoyun was the Entertainment Department Director, the crown princess!
The cameraman made an OK gesture and turned to film the university scenery instead.
The two walked to a deserted spot under some trees.
Fu Chaoyun stood firm and said, “You may speak.”
“Pei Xuezhi is lying!!”
Ying Yao suddenly burst out, looking deranged, “She’s not at all as cold and detached as she appears, she violently attacks people!”
“Look at this! I’m missing hair here, Pei Xuezhi pulled it out, and it still hasn’t grown back, it will never grow back!”
“It was all Pei Xuezhi’s doing, that vicious Omega!”
Fu Chaoyun had noticed this person’s unstable emotions earlier, but even when she suddenly erupted, Fu Chaoyun remained unfazed.
When Ying Yao grabbed her hair to show the bald patch, Fu Chaoyun glanced at it – there really was a missing patch, making her look somewhat like a mangy dog.
【Host, don’t believe her nonsense!】
Though the System wasn’t particularly fond of Fu Chaoyun, it was Pei Xuezhi’s devoted fan. Hearing this former roommate slander Pei Xuezhi, it immediately jumped to her defense.
Fu Chaoyun ignored it, continuing to watch Ying Yao’s performance leisurely, but when the other person looked up, she stepped back two paces, displaying an expression of surprise and shock.
“How… how could this happen?”
Seeing her reaction, Ying Yao seemed to let out a great sigh of relief, “I’m telling you all this because I don’t want you to keep being deceived by her!”
“Pei Xuezhi is too good at pretending, acting cold and aloof in the show, but actually… yesterday when you were drunk, wasn’t her eagerness to please obvious enough?”
Fu Chaoyun obediently nodded, as if convinced, “Thank you for telling me this, or I would have really fallen for it. But what about your injuries?”
Ying Yao’s gaze flickered, “It doesn’t matter, it’s all in the past.”
“How can that be! You warned me about this, I almost fell into her trap, you’re my great benefactor, so why don’t I give you…”
Money?
For a rich second-generation like Fu Chaoyun, money was the least of concerns.
Greed flashed in Ying Yao’s eyes.
“Let me report this to the police for you!”
“No!!” Ying Yao shrilly refused.
Along with her reaction, Fu Chaoyun’s previously “completely believing” expression gradually changed. Her brows furrowed, and her tone turned harsh.
“You won’t report to the police after being attacked like this? Could it be that you’re lying to me! No response? Then I’ll have to report you for spreading rumors!”
While speaking, she took out her phone and started pressing buttons.
Now it was Ying Yao’s turn to panic, “Don’t call the police, don’t call the police, it’s true, I’m not lying or spreading rumors, it’s all true!!”
Fu Chaoyun showed suspicion, “You won’t let me call the police, and these claims alone can’t prove anything. Do you have any other evidence?”
Ying Yao nodded, “I have photos.”
Fu Chaoyun’s gaze sharpened, “Can I see them? I want to verify.”
Obviously, Ying Yao was still somewhat guarded, but with Fu Chaoyun threatening to report her for spreading rumors, their positions had unconsciously reversed, and she finally handed over her phone.
“They’re all in the photo album.”
Fu Chaoyun scrolled through and indeed found several photos of Ying Yao looking quite badly beaten, dated from over two months ago.
While looking, she kept making exclamations, occasionally saying “Oh my god” and “How terrible”… seemingly gradually taking Ying Yao’s side.
She appeared like an indecisive fence-sitter, easily swayed and losing all judgment after hearing a few words. This matched Ying Yao’s impression of Fu Chaoyun – while livestream viewers were seeing Fu Chaoyun for the first time, as Pei Xuezhi’s former classmate at Rong University, Ying Yao knew much more about Fu Chaoyun.
Prejudices couldn’t be eliminated instantly.
She thought she could manipulate Fu Chaoyun, not knowing that the person before her had already been replaced by someone else entirely.
“Is there more?” Fu Chaoyun asked.
“No.”
“Does anyone else know about this?”
“No, just our former roommates, but they’ve all been warned by Pei Xuezhi and don’t dare speak up.”
“Then… with so many photos, did you upload backups online?”
Ying Yao froze.
Fu Chaoyun’s gaze was on the photos, but catching this moment of hesitation, she suddenly looked up with a smile, “So that’s a no?”
“What are you doing?!”
Ying Yao had an ominous feeling!
Fu Chaoyun’s fingers tapped the screen a few times, too quick for Ying Yao to stop her, then tossed the phone back. When Ying Yao frantically checked it, she found all her evidence photos were gone.
Trembling with anger, she said, “How- how dare you delete them all, you’re doing evil, helping a villain…”
Ying Yao’s reaction confirmed to Fu Chaoyun that she probably hadn’t kept backups, though to be safe, she’d have someone tech-savvy check later.
“So what?”
Fu Chaoyun stood there, all previous indecisiveness gone, her expression bold and irreverent, “Between a random former roommate and my Zhizhi, I’ll naturally side with my Zhizhi.”
“Pei Xuezhi is born evil! She’s done nothing but horrible things!!”
Ying Yao screamed these words, her gaze fierce and venomous like a curse, but Fu Chaoyun seemed to ignore it, even smiling slightly.
“Perfect then.” She brushed her hair – the hair Pei Xuezhi had washed and dried yesterday, seemingly still carrying a trace of her fragrance.
In complete contrast to Ying Yao, Fu Chaoyun said cheerfully, “I’m not a good person either, we’re a perfect match~”
Ying Yao was completely stunned by Fu Chaoyun’s response.
Before leaving, Fu Chaoyun looked back at her once more, her warm amber eyes in the sunlight somehow appearing even darker and more profound than Ying Yao’s earlier manic outbreak.
“Oh right, I’ve deleted the photos, so don’t let me hear you ‘spreading rumors’ about Zhizhi anywhere else, otherwise…”
She smiled, “After all, my surname is Fu.”
In the 38°C heat, Ying Yao stood in the sunlight, hugging herself, yet feeling chills throughout her body.
Fu Chaoyun returned, and the camera turned back to her face.
Fu Chaoyun greeted the audience, explaining, “That was Zhizhi’s former roommate. She happened to be watching our livestream and wanted to tell me about some of Zhizhi’s habits and preferences. Unfortunately, I already knew them all, and some of what she said seemed incorrect.”
“Alright, that’s settled. Let’s go find Zhizhi at the address now.”
【I saw her look quite fierce just now, didn’t expect she was also a CP fan?】
【Red and fiery, hazy and confused…】
【Chaoyun Muxue ship yyds!】
【Charge ahead, go meet Zhizhi!】
Fu Chaoyun’s expression was so natural that no one in the livestream doubted her words.
In the car. 【Host, actually…】
The System wanted to explain things for Pei Xuezhi. Although Fu Chaoyun had just appeared completely biased towards Pei Xuezhi, what if she was acting? What if she actually cared?
It didn’t want them together, but it didn’t want any problems on Pei Xuezhi’s side either!
“No need to explain.” Fu Chaoyun cut off the System’s devoted dog [simp] behavior. The rearview mirror reflected her amber eyes, their gaze extremely deep.
Fu Chaoyun’s fingers rested on the steering wheel. She had specifically checked the photos’ timestamps.
“If I remember correctly, the time she was beaten and photographed was the same night I transmigrated and met Pei Xuezhi at the club. That rich young master who delivered Zhizhi to my bed couldn’t have done so much, so the one who drugged her must have been this former roommate.”
“No wonder nothing from the original plot happened even though I had you watch for so long – turns out Zhizhi handled it herself. Impressive.”
The System carefully analyzed Fu Chaoyun’s expression, confirming she was genuinely praising, without any sarcastic undertones.
“People like that deserve to be beaten!”
In her opinion, the beating was too light!
The System was shocked, not just by Fu Chaoyun’s deductive ability, but also because—
【If you knew everything, why did you act like that just now?】
She had acted just like a foolish ruler who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.
“Don’t you think it’s more infuriating this way?” Fu Chaoyun felt no guilt whatsoever. “The point is not to let her die with clarity, but to leave her with a perpetual knot of anger in her chest.”
System: 【…】
What a skilled torturer of an Alpha.
【What if she ignores your threat at the end?】
“Don’t worry, I messaged Zhao Yujun before getting in the car. She knows about this and will handle everything. I told her to clean it up thoroughly, so it won’t affect Zhizhi.”
The System let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah, I miss Zhizhi so much~”
【…】
While Pei Xuezhi’s situation was resolved, it seemed an even bigger crisis now faced the System…
Meanwhile.
Pei Xuezhi, who was with her professor, received a message from a classmate saying Fu Chaoyun had come looking for her at school, and after finding she wasn’t there, asked for directions and was now heading their way.
Pei Xuezhi was used to Fu Chaoyun’s clingy behavior, but right now, her gaze was fixed on the message below—
[Your former roommate Ying Yao found her, Fu Chaoyun went with her, they talked in a corner for quite a while, but I don’t know what about.]
“Xiaoxue?” her professor called.
“It’s nothing.” Pei Xuezhi put away her phone, expression neutral. “Please continue, Professor.”
However, this excellent student seemed somewhat distracted for the rest of the session.
Her professor noticed everything. Lately, he’d sensed his student had become even more intelligent, grasping deeper knowledge without his explanation, but apart from academics, some of her other behaviors worried him.
He’d initially thought her joining the show to make more friends was good, and things had indeed improved these past two weeks, but today everything seemed to suddenly revert.
Even worse than before.
As they say, a beloved student is half a child, and the old man worried, his heart aching for his student.
After some time passed, suddenly, a student beside him nudged him and gestured forward.
The old man’s eyes lit up, and he made a gesture, quietly leading the group of graduate and doctoral students away, looking almost like thieves.
Fu Chaoyun spotted Pei Xuezhi from afar – their group was quite eye-catching in the museum, and Pei Xuezhi was the most striking among them!
She walked forward two steps, smiling upon seeing Pei Xuezhi, and raised her hand in greeting.
“What a coincidence~”
Pei Xuezhi paused, looking up.
With that single glance, Fu Chaoyun was almost certain that, regardless of everything else, the current Pei Xuezhi must have some feelings for her.
Taking care of her last night – bathing her, drying her hair, singing, and not even pushing her away during that sneak kiss on the cheek…
—It was just too obvious, this super tsundere yet unexpectedly gentle Miss Pei Xuezhi~
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