26: Too Many Zeros

Nene leaned back in her chair, sighing in relief as the stream ended.

For the first time all day, she actually felt like herself again.

Just her, her chat, and a perfect kill streak.

She stretched her arms, then grabbed her phone, instinctively checking her banking app.

And then—

She froze.

Because the number staring back at her was… wrong.

Very, very wrong.

Nene squinted, double-checking.

Her balance had been comfortable before—enough from sponsorships, streaming revenue, and commission work to live decently.

But now?

Now there were too many zeros.

Like, ridiculous amounts of zeros.

Her stomach dropped.

Account Balance: $50,000,000.00

FIFTY. MILLION. DOLLARS.

Nene choked on air.

"What the—?!"

She sat up straight, eyes wide, pulse spiking.

Transaction History:

- Incoming Wire Transfer: $50,000,000.00

- Sender: Zhao Alexander

Nene stared.

Then she stared harder.

Then she slapped herself once to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.

Nope.

Still there.

Her husband—her ** overbearing, smug, annoying, territorial husband—had just dropped fifty million into her account like it was pocket change.

Her eye twitched.

She snatched her phone, furiously typing a message.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: EXCUSE ME. WHAT. THE. HELL.

Three seconds later—a reply.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: You checked your account. Good.

Nene gritted her teeth.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: EXPLAIN. RIGHT. NOW.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: It's your allowance.

Nene almost threw her phone.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: ALLOWANCE?! ARE YOU INSANE??

Nene: WHO JUST CASUALLY HANDS OVER 50 MILLION DOLLARS?!?!

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: I do.

Nene screamed into her hands.

She needed to breathe.

She needed to process.

She needed to march into his office and strangle him.

And, most of all—

She needed to figure out what the hell she was supposed to do with fifty million dollars.

Nene stared at her phone, fingers twitching.

Fifty. Million. Dollars.

That wasn't an allowance.

That was a bribe. A power move. A ridiculous flex of wealth that she absolutely DID NOT ASK FOR.

She inhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay calm.

Then, very slowly, she typed—

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: Take. It. Back.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: No.

Nene gritted her teeth.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: I don't need your money.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: You're my wife. It's yours.

Nene wanted to break something.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: I AM NOT A PURCHASE. TAKE IT BACK.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: Spend it. Save it. Burn it. I don't care. It's yours.

Nene screamed internally.

Because this wasn't a discussion.

This was him deciding things, like always.

She scowled, flipping through her banking app.

Fine. If he wanted to play this game—

She hit the TRANSFER BACK button.

Transaction Failed.

Nene paused.

She hit it again.

Transaction Failed.

Her eye twitched.

One more time. Faster. Angrier.

Transaction Failed. Daily Transfer Limits Exceeded.

Nene fingers flew across the keyboard.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: YOU SET A TRANSFER BLOCK, DIDN'T YOU?!

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: Obviously. You'd try to send it back otherwise.

[Text to Alexander:]

Nene: I HATE YOU.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: No, you don't.

Nene sat cross-legged on her bed, fingers flying across her phone screen as she executed the most ridiculous, petty, and absurd way to spend this money just to spite him.

She wasn't going to just hoard Alexander's ridiculous "allowance."

No.

She was going to spend it in the most inconvenient way possible.

And she knew exactly what to buy.

[Call with Club & Agency Owner: He Tian]

He Tian was a sharp businessman—a former model, an elite Beta, and the owner of one of the most exclusive male modeling agencies in the country.

He also ran a private club attached to the agency, one that catered to high-end clients who valued privacy, discretion, and beautiful company.

Nene had worked with him before—handling background music production for the club's events and campaigns.

Which meant?

She knew he had been considering selling.

And now?

Now was the perfect time to make her move.

Tian answered on the second ring.

"Nene?" he said, voice smooth but surprised. "Didn't expect a call from you."

Nene smirked. "Got a business proposition."

A pause. Then—"I'm listening."

She leaned back against her pillows. "You're still looking to sell, right?"

Tian hummed. "Depends on the buyer."

"How about me?"

A beat of silence.

Then—"You?" he repeated, amused. "Didn't know you were looking to expand."

Nene grinned. "I am now."

Tian chuckled. "You sure you can afford it?"

Nene pretended to sigh. "I don't know, Tian. Would thirty-five million be enough?"

Another pause.

Then—"You little—" He laughed, clearly intrigued. "That's a hell of an offer."

Nene smirked. "Take it or leave it."

Tian was silent for a moment, thinking.

Then—"I'll take it."

Deal.

A Few Minutes Later – Contract Signed

Nene grinned as the final e-signature went through.

Her new business was secured.

And now?

Now it was time for step two.

She casually texted Tian again.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: Oh btw, small update on my life. Got married yesterday when I turn eighteen.

The typing bubble popped up immediately.

Then, after a long pause—

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: You WHAT.

Nene smirked.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: Yep. Married now.

Another long pause.

Then, finally—

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: …To WHO.

Nene took a deep breath.

And then, just to make it worse, she sent a screenshot.

A single, beautifully damning image of the contract—

Signed under her full married name.

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: …

Tian: …

Tian: Nene.

Tian: Did you marry an Alpha.

Nene grinned.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: Why, is that a problem? :D

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: NENE.

Tian: DID YOU MARRY A HIGH-RANKING ALPHA?!

Nene laughed.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

Nene watched her phone vibrate violently as He Tian lost his mind in real-time.

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: NENE. ANSWER ME.

Tian: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU GOT MARRIED TO AN ALPHA?!

Tian: DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE??

Nene laughed, kicking her feet.

Tian was one of the few people who actually understood the reality of pack politics.

Which meant?

He was currently having a full-blown meltdown.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: Relax. It's not a big deal.

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: NOT A BIG DEAL?!

Tian: NENE. YOUR NAME ON THIS CONTRACT SAYS 'ZHAO.'

Tian: AS IN ZHAO ALEXANDER.

Nene smirked.

Ah. There it was.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: Oh? You've heard of him?

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: HE'S THE SECOND RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD, YOU MENACE. OF COURSE I'VE HEARD OF HIM.

Tian: ALSO—ALPHA. MAJOR ALPHA. YOU DIDN'T THINK TO MENTION THIS BEFORE BUYING MY BUSINESS??

Nene grinned.

Because this was exactly the reaction she wanted.

Tian wasn't stupid.

He understood what an Alpha husband with Alexander's level of control meant.

And now?

He was panicking.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: Listen, the business deal is separate. Don't stress.

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: SEPARATE? NENE, YOUR HUSBAND COULD LITERALLY SHUT DOWN MY ENTIRE INDUSTRY IF HE WANTED TO.

Nene paused.

…Okay, fair point.

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: He won't.

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: ARE YOU SURE?

Nene thought about it.

Then, very casually—

[Text to Tian:]

Nene: …Like 85% sure.

[Text from Tian:]

Tian: 85%?!

Tian: WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 15%?!

Nene grinned.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again.

This time—

Not Tian.

A new message. From Alexander.

[Text from Alexander:]

Alexander: You're making purchases.

Nene froze.

Her heart kicked up.

Because—crap.

She had been waiting for this moment.

And now?

It was time to see how much trouble she was actually in.