A Max-Level Film Queen Takes on the Scumbag Alpha Script [Transmigration] - Chapter 49

What Jiang Baihe presented to Grandmother Yan was indeed the white jade chessboard she had purchased earlier with Yan Shu.

According to traditional etiquette, people do not unwrap gifts the moment they receive them. Thus, the exquisitely packaged gift was taken by the housekeeper staying in the room. Grandmother Yan, with a slight smile on her lips, stood up from her chair and slowly walked toward the two of them.

“Good, good. It is good that you have come back.”

Hearing those words, Jiang Baihe felt a wave of relief in her heart. Shortly after, the elderly woman took her by the hand. Jiang Baihe was slightly surprised but stood obediently, waiting to see what Grandmother wanted to do.

The elder scrutinized her carefully for a few moments, then gave a subtle nod. “A good child,” she said kindly.

Then, Grandmother Yan looked toward Yan Shu, who was standing to the side in the room with a smile, watching the interaction, and feigned a complaint: “Xiao Shu, really, if I hadn’t mentioned it to you before, were you planning to keep her hidden away and never let me see her?”

Yan Shu took Grandmother Yan’s hand back, acting somewhat like a spoiled child. “It’s not too late to meet now.”

“You…”

Standing to the side, Jiang Baihe’s lips curled into a slight smile. She secretly observed the Yan Shu beside her, who had become much softer upon seeing her relative. Back home, she rarely saw Yan Shu like this; now, in front of her family, she didn’t hide the gentle heart beneath her icy exterior at all. This was a rare opportunity, and Jiang Baihe felt she needed to take a few extra looks.

The three of them chatted in the room, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. With Jiang Baihe’s sharp wit, coaxing an elder was quite an easy task. Combined with Yan Shu speaking up for her from time to time, the awkward silence she had feared never materialized. Under subtle guidance, the conversation naturally drifted toward the subject of chess.

Before coming, Jiang Baihe had brushed up on her skills, even playing several rounds against an AI on a chess app. So, when asked, she answered fluently and with great detail. Grandmother Yan was well-traveled and experienced; she could tell at a glance that Jiang Baihe wasn’t someone putting on airs or faking knowledge, but truly had talent.

For a moment, the joy of meeting a worthy opponent made Grandmother Yan immediately call for the housekeeper, insisting on setting up the board to play a round. However, the timing was unfortunate. The housekeeper stepped forward politely and reminded them: “Matriarch, dinner is ready.”

A look of regret flashed across Grandmother Yan’s face, but she quickly composed herself. She asked, “Is everyone here?”

“Yes. The Third Master arrived ten minutes ago. Also…” The housekeeper hesitated before saying, “Miss Yan Jue has also returned from abroad this year.”

The Third Master was Grandmother Yan’s youngest son—Yan Shu’s father. In the Yan family, everyone knew the relationship between Yan Shu and her father, Yan Xingyin, was poor. Not to mention, he had shown up today with Yan Jue—the one who had once tried to harm Yan Shu and was sent abroad as a result.

The decision to send Yan Jue away years ago had been made by Grandmother Yan, and in all the time since, she had never spoken of allowing them back. She had never liked Yan Shu’s father’s new wife and was equally dissatisfied with Yan Jue. Originally, she didn’t want to interfere in the affairs of the younger generation, but Yan Jue’s attempt to harm her precious granddaughter was an absolute taboo in her eyes.

Thus, upon hearing the housekeeper’s words, Grandmother Yan’s expression instantly turned cold. She turned a string of Buddhist beads on her wrist and said, as if lamenting: “When one gets old, no one is willing to listen to what one says anymore.”

The housekeeper wisely shut her mouth. Upon hearing the familiar name “Yan Jue,” Jiang Baihe instinctively looked up and met Yan Shu’s eyes. Earlier, when they had their frank confession, the two had speculated that the person backing Jiang Yu was most likely Yan Jue. Now that Yan Jue had returned from abroad without notice and had the audacity to flaunt herself in front of Yan Shu, that probability became one hundred percent.

Thinking about how they had caused Yan Shu a car accident and a mountain of trouble in the original book, Jiang Baihe couldn’t help but frown. Yan Shu, unaware of what Jiang Baihe was thinking, assumed she was worried. In a moment when no one was looking, she reached out and patted Jiang Baihe’s arm to soothe her. Jiang Baihe instinctively squeezed Yan Shu’s fingers in return, earning a faint glance from the other.

The small interaction between them was hidden and went unnoticed by the others in the room. This situation gave Jiang Baihe a strange feeling; she had to admit it was quite thrilling.

“Stop it,” Yan Shu whispered as she withdrew her hand. She turned to Jiang Baihe. “Let’s go eat. If someone tries to target you, just ignore them. Don’t worry.”

In other words, if anything happens, I have your back.

Hearing this, Jiang Baihe’s eyes curved into a smile, and she responded warmly, “Okay.”

Members of the Yan family, scattered all over the world, would specifically make time to return for the gathering on New Year’s Eve. At this moment, several tables in the hall were gradually being filled, but since the two leaders had not yet arrived, no one dared to pick up their chopsticks.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, the crowd chatted heatedly, maintaining a thin veil of kinship, yet their gazes kept drifting toward the entrance, wondering when the heads of the family would appear.

Jiang Baihe followed unhurriedly behind Yan Shu. The moment she stepped through the door, she sensed countless gazes being cast upon her. However, she was long accustomed to being the center of attention and felt no discomfort. She could maintain a normal expression in front of a sea of cameras on a red carpet, let alone a small family gathering.

Thus, Jiang Baihe walked forward with great composure, while also noticing that Grandmother Yan up ahead was not in a particularly good mood. Thinking that someone might be in trouble during the dinner, she heard Grandmother Yan, who had just sat down at the head of the table, speak to her warmly: “Baihe, come sit over here with Xiao Shu.”

The spot she pointed to was the first and second seats on the right, right next to Yan Shu, which was exactly what Jiang Baihe wanted. “Okay, thank you, Grandmother.”

“It seems a bit crowded.”

Grandmother Yan’s tone was light. She turned the thumb ring on her finger and gave a slight nod toward Yan Xingyin’s direction. “Xingyin, you and your family sit at the second table.”

The main table was large; adding Jiang Baihe wouldn’t actually make it crowded. However, Grandmother Yan was dissatisfied with the uninvited Yan Jue and used this opportunity to intentionally make things difficult for Yan Xingyin.

Yan Xingyin, who had already sat down, clenched his fists and frowned. “Mother, this is…”

“Are you refusing to listen to what I say?”

Grandmother Yan’s voice was calm, yet it radiated an indisputable authority that commanded the entire room. Jiang Baihe’s eyes narrowed slightly, and her fingers moved instinctively, subconsciously mimicking this state of “authority without anger.” In the script she had read recently, the female lead required this kind of intimidating aura after ascending the throne. With a perfect model to learn from right here, Jiang Baihe naturally wouldn’t miss the chance.

Yan Xingyin, who had wanted to argue, looked as if someone had choked him. His face turned dark with anger, but he didn’t dare speak back again. He took his wife and the indignant Yan Jue toward the second table.

Because three people were suddenly added to the second table, several others had to be reassigned to other tables. The others present watched this with varying expressions, but seeing the expressionless Matriarch at the head table, no one dared to say much.

The Yan family’s power was immense. Although Yan Shu had gradually taken over the management of the Sihai Group over the past few years, most people couldn’t break the habit of fearing Grandmother Yan. To them, Yan Shu was just a young newcomer who couldn’t yet compare to the authority Grandmother Yan had accumulated over decades. Many members of the Yan family relied on dividends from the Sihai Group; no one wanted to provoke the former or the current leader for no reason.

Since the two leaders couldn’t be provoked, the “soft persimmon” left to squeeze naturally became Jiang Baihe. Countless gazes swept over her again, but Jiang Baihe welcomed them all, even looking back at everyone with a pleasant smile. Although Yan Shu had told her to treat these people as transparent, she still wanted to identify everyone for convenience. After all, if the original plot could be changed by her actions, there was no guarantee a butterfly effect wouldn’t cause events that never happened in the book.

Finally, her gaze swept over Yan Xingyin’s family at the secondary table, lingering on Yan Jue for several seconds and earning an angry glare in return. Jiang Baihe didn’t care; she gave a light huff, wondering if something was wrong with Yan Xingyin’s brain—ignoring a high-quality daughter like Yan Shu just to cause trouble with Yan Jue.

After a long time without coming to a conclusion, Jiang Baihe pursed her lips and whispered to Yan Shu: “You’re still the best looking one.”

She had expected Yan Shu to ignore her, but to her surprise, Yan Shu replied calmly: “You don’t look bad yourself.”

Jiang Baihe: “…” She looked at Yan Shu with surprise. She wondered if Yan Shu had been possessed by another soul. Otherwise, why had she become so easy to talk to over the past two days, even flirting back occasionally?

Before she could ponder further, Yan Shu placed a morsel of food in her bowl. “Try this.” Before the delicious food even touched her tongue, Jiang Baihe already felt a wave of pleasure. This, she supposed, was the definition of “a feast for the eyes.”

The dinner ended, and Jiang Baihe returned to the room with Yan Shu. The Yan family didn’t have the tradition of staying up all night on New Year’s Eve, so after dinner, it was free time. Grandmother Yan, feeling for the two who had traveled all the way from City A, didn’t keep them long and urged them to go rest.

In the eyes of everyone else, Yan Shu and Jiang Baihe were married, so naturally, they would share a room and a bed. But for the two people involved, this was a big problem. Jiang Baihe stared at the only large bed in the room, her heart beginning to stir at the thought of sleeping with Yan Shu. This time, there was no drunkenness or taking advantage of a situation; they were both sober.

An Alpha and an unmarked Omega sleeping in the same bed… it seemed wrong if nothing happened. Of course, Jiang Baihe only thought this privately. On the surface, she remained serious. “How about I sleep on the sofa tonight?”

Yan Shu: “…”

“It’s not that you can’t sleep on the sofa,” Yan Shu said flatly. “But I don’t want to wake up the next morning and find an ice sculpture on the couch.”

“Hiss.” Hearing Yan Shu’s words, Jiang Baihe couldn’t help herself. She leaned in close and whispered, “Yan Yan, I feel like…”

Before she could finish, there was movement at the door—heavy footsteps, likely a man’s. When they came in, they had left the door open, intending to go see Grandmother again later. They didn’t know who was about to walk in or if they had heard the conversation.

Jiang Baihe’s eyes went cold. She gave Yan Shu a light push, then stepped forward, pinning her against the nearby table. She circled Yan Shu with her arms and leaned down. From the doorway, one would only see her back. This sudden move startled Yan Shu; thinking Jiang Baihe was playing around because of the “ice sculpture” comment, she instinctively pushed back.

Before she could exert any force, she heard Jiang Baihe whisper in her ear: “Shh—someone’s there.”

Yan Shu’s reaction was quick. Her pushing hands immediately wrapped around Jiang Baihe’s back. At a glance, it looked as if the two were embracing and kissing. With her view blocked by Jiang Baihe’s body, Yan Shu couldn’t see the door and used her eyes to question her. Jiang Baihe, not knowing who it was, simply gave a tiny shake of her head.

The feeling of a beauty in her arms made Jiang Baihe feel wonderful, but since she wasn’t sure if the person outside had left, she maintained the posture. Due to their position, her gaze easily swept over the back of Yan Shu’s neck, where she saw a small patch near the gland. It was flesh-colored and hard to see unless one looked closely. Jiang Baihe noticed it seemed to be a bit crooked.

“Your gland patch is crooked,” Jiang Baihe whispered. “Did you put it on yourself? Why didn’t you ask for help?”

Yan Shu gave a soft “Mm” and turned her head slightly in embarrassment. “…I’ll ask you next time.” The gland was a very sensitive area; Yan Shu felt awkward asking for help and usually did it by feel, hence the occasional misalignment.

They stayed in that position for over a minute until the sound of footsteps faded away. Only then did Jiang Baihe reluctantly let go. She walked to the door and checked; the hallway was empty. She then closed the door.

“I don’t know who it was, but I reacted quickly. In their eyes, we were probably flirting?”

“…Mm.” Thinking of the somewhat excessive move, Jiang Baihe rubbed her nose guiltily. “With so many ears around, we should remember to lock the door next time.”

The sudden incident broke the awkward tension between them. Without further discussion, after washing up, they both naturally climbed into the same bed. Before sleeping, Yan Shu took Jiang Baihe to see Grandmother Yan once more to receive a very thick red envelope given by the elder. They obediently placed the red envelopes under their pillows, then sat by the window.

A servant had mentioned earlier that there would be official fireworks at midnight. So, they sat in the room, chatting while waiting. When the midnight bell rang, the sky outside ignited with fireworks—red, yellow, and gold bursting across the sky. Yan Shu stared at the spectacular display for a while, then smiled at Jiang Baihe.

“Happy New Year, Baihe.”

Jiang Baihe’s eyes moved. She took Yan Shu’s hand and responded with a warm smile: “Happy New Year, Yan Yan.”

May every year be like today, and every day be like this.

Jiang Baihe woke up to find the spot beside her empty. She stretched on the soft bed and reached for her phone. Upon turning on the screen, a flood of New Year’s greetings from everyone she had met this year appeared.

Song Jia: Happy New Year, Baihe! May the new year be booming! Become an overnight sensation! [Red Envelope 666]

Xiao Xu: Happy New Year, Sister Baihe!!

Lin Yiqiu: Happy New Year! Looking forward to our variety show collaboration.

Jiang Baihe skimmed through them and sent thoughtful replies to a few. She then sent several large red envelopes into the filming group chat before heading to wash up. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the sun peeked through the heavy clouds, casting warm light over the land.

As she walked downstairs, a familiar servant led her to the dining room. “Miss Yan Shu went with the Matriarch to receive guests. You can come here for breakfast first.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Baihe sat and waited for her hot breakfast while becoming a “like-demon” on social media, frantically liking everyone’s posts. People were either posting pictures of feasts or scenery from their holiday. Jiang Baihe was eating a feast too, but she couldn’t post photos to avoid exposing her married status and causing a stir, so she just posted a simple “Happy New Year.”

Halfway through her meal, a shadow fell across the table. Someone pulled out a chair and sat beside her. Jiang Baihe looked up and said happily, “Oh? Yan Yan, are you finished?”

“Mm.” Yan Shu poured herself a glass of hot soy milk. “I went with Grandmother to meet some visiting guests.”

Jiang Baihe clicked her tongue, thinking that Yan Shu had no rest even during the New Year. But that was how it was—one must fulfill the duties of one’s position. It was also a symbol of her status.

Yan Shu sipped her drink and pondered before asking, “The weather is very cold. Some people are discussing going to a nearby hot spring villa tonight. Do you want to go?”

Jiang Baihe’s eyes lit up. “There are hot springs nearby?”

“Mm,” Yan Shu nodded. “It belongs to Sihai, run by our own people, so no need to worry about privacy.”

Jiang Baihe thought about it. “I’ve never been to a hot spring. If you’re free, we can go together? Besides,” she smiled, “I want to see the city you grew up in.”

Yan Shu’s heart skipped a beat, as if she hadn’t expected Jiang Baihe to have such a thought. She looked at Jiang Baihe and saw a sincere seriousness in her bright eyes. A part of her heart softened. “Okay,” she finally whispered.

The trip to the hot spring villa was set for that night. In the afternoon, Jiang Baihe spent her time playing chess with Grandmother, while Yan Shu sat beside them, drinking tea and reading.

“Your chess skills are quite good.” Grandmother Yan toyed with a jade piece as she looked at the fierce battle on the board.

“You flatter me, Grandmother.” Jiang Baihe smiled and shook her head while rearranging the board. The set they were using was the white jade one Jiang Baihe had gifted her. Grandmother Yan had loved it from the moment she unwrapped it.

“Isn’t this a draw?” Yan Shu leaned over curiously. It was rare to hear such praise from Grandmother Yan. How did Jiang Baihe manage to impress her so much?

“Baihe is letting me win.” The experienced Grandmother Yan could tell the draws were intentional. She waved her hand at Jiang Baihe. “Alright, go rest. It’s hard for young people to stay with an old woman for so long. Xiao Shu, take her around. You have activities tonight? It’s Baihe’s first time in City G, take good care of her.”

“Yes, Grandmother.” Yan Shu put down her book and led Jiang Baihe away.

Jiang Baihe followed Yan Shu, rubbing her temples. Playing chess was mentally exhausting, especially against an experienced player like Grandmother Yan. After two hours, her brain felt heavy.

“Back to the room? Or somewhere else?” Jiang Baihe asked, catching up to Yan Shu.

Yan Shu paused, remembering Jiang Baihe’s words about wanting to see the city she grew up in. But they might not have enough time before the hot springs. “How about… I take you somewhere?”

“Sure, let’s go.”

Yan Shu laughed. “You aren’t going to ask where I’m taking you?”

“As long as it’s you,” Jiang Baihe blinked. “I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.”

Yan Shu led Jiang Baihe into a room that was clearly cleaned regularly, as there was very little dust. Jiang Baihe froze as she stepped inside. The walls were covered in academic certificates and awards. The shelves and desk held many photo frames. The wardrobe contained clothes ranging from toddler to adult sizes, and the bookshelf held textbooks from primary and middle school.

Jiang Baihe picked up a frame and asked in surprise, “Is this you?” The photo showed a girl of about three or four, looking very cute and standing beside a woman. Other frames showed the same girl as she grew up, but the woman eventually disappeared, replaced by a younger Grandmother Yan.

“Yes, that’s me. This is the room Grandmother kept for me; everything in here is mine.” Yan Shu touched a frame with a nostalgic expression. “The person beside me is my mother.”

“You look a lot like her.” Jiang Baihe looked at the woman in the photo; she had a gentle, kind smile. But she had died of depression because of Yan Xingyin’s infidelity. Jiang Baihe sighed, thinking of Yan Shu’s childhood. “Don’t be sad. She would want you to be happy.”

“I know. I moved on long ago.” Yan Shu nodded.

To change the subject, Jiang Baihe asked, “What made you decide to bring me here?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see my past?”

Jiang Baihe was touched and felt a wave of indescribable emotion. Finally, she took Yan Shu’s hand. “Then you’ll have to tell me all about it. Not just your past—I hope to be a part of your future as well.”