After the Scum Alpha Picked Up Her Rival Omega - Chapter 22

She appeared before the camera with her martial arts belt tied in a chaotic mess, seemingly unbothered by the fact that fans might laugh at her.

Si Xia wanted to pull Ming Ruixue aside to tie it properly for her, but Ming Ruixue refused. “Just teach me here. The fans watching the stream might want to learn too.”

“…Fine.” Si Xia untied her own belt to demonstrate. “Sister, watch closely.”

Si Xia held the belt in her palm; her knuckles were beautiful, and the black belt contrasted sharply with her porcelain skin. With two quick loops and a gentle tug, the belt was securely fastened.

Dressed and ready, Si Xia looked up. “Did you catch that?”

With the belt tied, the Omega’s slender waist looked as if it could be encircled by a single hand.

Ming Ruixue wasn’t in the right headspace; her mind had wandered elsewhere. “Your waist is quite thin.”

The Alpha’s gaze was pinned directly to her waist, making Si Xia’s face heat up. “I told you to watch the tying method; where exactly are your eyes wandering?”

Ming Ruixue looked innocent. “My eyes are on your waist.”

Fine.

Si Xia knew better than to argue logic with her and didn’t bother pretending for the camera. “You try it first. If you can’t do it, I’ll teach you again.”

Her brain had learned it, but when Ming Ruixue tried to tie it herself, she ended up with a dead knot.

Si Xia: “…”

She now suspected the Alpha was crossing her on purpose.

In the middle of this romance show, the Omega was on the verge of getting annoyed. Ming Ruixue gave a placating laugh. “I’ll try again.”

Si Xia’s eyes darkened slightly. “Sister, let me just help you.”

The viewers watching the stream couldn’t care less about the method of tying a belt; they only cared about the physical interaction between the CP.

Since it would increase the show’s popularity, Ming Ruixue gladly accepted.

Si Xia stepped closer and looked down to untie the belt for her.

The uniform featured a V-neck design. When untied, it hung loosely and didn’t sit flush against the body. From her level perspective, Si Xia could see Ming Ruixue’s clean collarbones; the neckline had slipped to one side, fully revealing the hollows of her shoulders.

Si Xia’s gaze drifted lower, encountering the suggestive curves of Ming Ruixue disappearing into the lapel of the uniform.

Si Xia had a momentary meltdown. “You’re not wearing anything underneath?”

Ming Ruixue pulled the lapels together. “I am.”

With a firm pull of both hands, the belt was tied tight, making her chest look quite full.

Si Xia glanced at her and stated firmly, “You’re only wearing underwear?”

“Mhm.” Ming Ruixue felt it was fine; the belt was tight and wouldn’t fall off easily. “We’re about to exercise; wearing too much will be hot.”

Taekwondo is a relatively intense sport, and sparring inevitably involves tugging at clothes. Usually, everyone wears a safety shirt under their uniform.

Ming Ruixue seemed to lack this awareness entirely.

Si Xia wanted to tell her to go back and put something else on, but the instructor was already calling everyone to assemble in the hall.

Since it was a group activity and the instructor was present, Si Xia didn’t want Ming Ruixue to be late.

The six guests stood in a line. Si Xia, standing to Ming Ruixue’s right, whispered a reminder, “Sister, don’t make any large movements later.”

“Why?” Although Ming Ruixue hadn’t learned it and wasn’t in top form, she intended to do what was required.

Si Xia made an excuse for her: “Aren’t you feeling unwell? You won’t be able to handle it.”

Ming Ruixue hadn’t slept much all night, and her body felt weak. “I think I can push through.”

Si Xia: “…”

Forget it. She had originally wanted to give Ming Ruixue a “show of strength” in her own area of expertise. But given the current situation, she couldn’t really bring herself to do it—it would be bad if her rival accidentally “exposed” herself on camera.

However, her rival seemed completely oblivious. Si Xia began to wonder if Ming Ruixue was actually slow or just faking it.

Ming Ruixue also found it strange. Why was Si Xia, who was so cold to her this morning, suddenly so concerned about her health?

Combined with the initiative to help tie her belt, Ming Ruixue processed this for a moment. Could it be that Si Xia actually has feelings for me?

!!!

Ming Ruixue’s lips curled up slightly. It wasn’t entirely impossible.

The instructor on stage was explaining Taekwondo safety precautions. Ming Ruixue noticed that Ban Yun, on her left, was constantly clutching her stomach.

Ming Ruixue nudged her with her arm. “What’s wrong? Unwell?”

Ban Yun looked like she was struggling to breathe. “Help me untie this belt; I can’t catch my breath.”

The belt was tied too tight, looped twice and knotted. Ming Ruixue untied one loop for her. “Are you trying to strangle yourself?”

Ban Yun took a deep breath. “Ning Yu tied it for me. I couldn’t bear to untie it.”

Ming Ruixue: “…There’s no cure for ‘romance brain’.”

“But that trick of yours really worked. As soon as I ‘learned’ from you, Ning Yu took the initiative to tie it for me.” Ban Yun patted Ming Ruixue’s shoulder. “I’ll have to keep learning from you in the future.”

Ming Ruixue was confused. “What trick? I don’t follow.”

Ban Yun smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m learning from you how to pursue my wife; I won’t compete with you for the spotlight in front of the camera.”

Someone who understands the game.

“Deal,” Ming Ruixue agreed readily. As long as she wasn’t fighting for screentime, it was all good. Anyway, she had never pursued anyone and didn’t even understand romance herself; she was just going by instinct on camera.

If Ban Yun wanted to learn, let her. If she failed, she couldn’t blame Ming Ruixue.

The two Alphas were whispering back and forth until the instructor couldn’t stand it anymore.

“You two, come out and do a demonstration.”

Ming Ruixue and Ban Yun, both called out, let out an “Ah?” “Demonstrate what?”

It was like being called on in class when you hadn’t been paying attention—they stood up without knowing what to say.

Fu Anzhi reminded them, “The coach wants you to demonstrate a shoulder throw.”

Ming Ruixue, who had never learned Taekwondo: “…”

Ban Yun, a Taekwondo black belt: “Can do.”

Ban Yun rolled up her sleeves and got ready. “Come on. Do I throw you, or do you throw me?”

Ming Ruixue signaled her with a look. “I don’t know how.”

Ban Yun understood. “Then I’ll throw you.”

Ming Ruixue frowned at Ban Yun. “I think our newly established friendship is about to end.”

Ban Yun was already impatient. “Ready?”

The ‘Banlangen’ is playing for real.

To avoid losing face on camera, Ming Ruixue had no choice but to cast a pleading look at Si Xia, whispering, “Teacher Si Xia, save me.”

A shoulder throw requires grabbing the opponent’s collar; if not careful, the neckline could easily gap, which wasn’t safe.

Si Xia helplessly raised her hand. “Coach, I’ll do the demonstration with Ban Yun.”

At the critical moment, Teacher Si Xia stepped in to save the day.

Don’t tell me she isn’t interested in me.

Ming Ruixue glanced at Ban Yun. “This is a romance show, not a fighting match. You’d better learn a thing or two.”

Ban Yun was genuinely dazed. “…You can do that?”

Ban Yun tried to copy her by casting a pleading look at Ning Yu. “Xiao Yu, save me.”

Ning Yu curled her lip. “Stop faking. Aren’t you a black belt?”

Ban Yun: “…” Why on earth did I bother learning Taekwondo?

As the two were about to demonstrate, the instructor, following the director’s instructions, called a halt. “Now, each CP pair will coordinate and demonstrate together. The pair with the best performance will receive a popularity-boost reward from the production team.”

Wow.

Free popularity offered by the crew; the guests immediately began to gear up.

Especially the two pairs whose popularity was far lower than Ming Ruixue and Si Xia’s—they looked like they were going to put in every ounce of effort.

Si Xia ignored them. “Sister, do you know how to do a shoulder throw?”

Ming Ruixue looked troubled. “I’ve never learned. I’m afraid of hurting you.”

“Fine,” Si Xia said, resigned. “I’ll throw you then. I’ll be gentle.”

For the setup of the shoulder throw, Ming Ruixue stood with her feet apart. Si Xia leaned in, her palms tightly clutching Ming Ruixue’s collar to prevent any exposure.

Because the Alpha was taller, Si Xia asked her to crouch slightly. Fortunately, Ming Ruixue was light, so the shoulder throw was effortless; the move was completed with ease.

Ming Ruixue felt herself float through the air. When she landed on the mat, there was none of the expected pain—it was a soft landing.

When Ming Ruixue opened her eyes, she saw Si Xia kneeling down, thoughtfully adjusting her messy collar.

This was far too obvious.

Si Xia couldn’t really have feelings for me, could she? When did this start? Why didn’t I realize it?

Ming Ruixue was overwhelmed by the favor. “Si Xia, I thought you would throw me down hard.”

She had originally intended to, but since the scene had already reached this point, Si Xia decided to provide a bit of fanservice. “I can’t bear to see Sister get hurt.”

Ming Ruixue: “!”

She really couldn’t bear it.

The Rival CP had a sweet, romantic shoulder throw.

Meanwhile, the Arranged Marriage CP threw each other over and over again. Ban Yun hit the ground with a “thud” and called out in pain, “Xiao Yu, can’t you learn from Si Xia for a bit?”

Ning Yu, unsatisfied, grabbed Ban Yun’s collar to correct her form. “You didn’t fall well that time. Do it again!”

Ming Ruixue cast a sympathetic look at Ban Yun as she flew through the air once more. “…”

Who’s to blame for this?