A Scummy Alpha and An Award-Winning Omega Actress Fell in Love After an Arranged Marriage - Chapter 12

Sheng Lan could take a joke. “Teacher Lu, you’re quite humorous.”

Knowing Lu Xueyin had a bad reputation, Sheng Lan swallowed the follow-up line, “What are you implying?”

Joking to different degrees with different people was a fundamental principle for a top-tier Alpha.

Lu Xueyin remained silent.

After helping her put on the apron, Lu Xueyin told Sheng Lan to turn around. “Let me tie it for you.”

Tying the apron was the main event, no way would Sheng Lan turn around.

Not only did she refuse, but she also leaned against the countertop.

Lu Xueyin lifted her gaze to meet hers.

Sheng Lan glanced at her wristwatch and leisurely reminded Lu Xueyin, “Friendly reminder, one minute until the broadcast starts.”

This didn’t faze Lu Xueyin.

Because tying Sheng Lan’s apron wasn’t a program task.

Lu Xueyin could drop it and walk away in the last minute if she wanted.

Lu Xueyin asked, “Are you worried I’ll get torn apart by Ji Xinlan’s fans?”

Sheng Lan feigned surprise. “Am I that kind in your eyes?”

Lu Xueyin had been waiting for this.

As a professional actress, she timed every shot for the most flawless effect.

Since she’d decided to film and compete for screen time and buzz, she didn’t mind acting opposite Sheng Lan.

As they stood at an impasse, the two other guest pairs from upstairs arrived right on time.

Just as footsteps approached the main living room set, Lu Xueyin moved.

She wrapped her arms around Sheng Lan’s waist as if embracing her, tying the apron strings from this blind spot.

Sheng Lan was tall enough that Lu Xueyin’s hands had full access without needing to leave space at the back.

From the front, it looked like Lu Xueyin had thrown herself into Sheng Lan’s arms.

The little rose had a vengeful streak.

She pulled the strings tight, as if measuring Sheng Lan’s waist with zero room for error.

So when the livestream went live at exactly two o’clock, the Scrolling Comments originally filled with the names and nicknames of the participating guests instantly blanked out.

Like someone had wiped them clean with a cloth, leaving no trace behind.

Ten seconds later, Sheng Lan blinked at the camera sweeping in from the corner of the living room.

The screen exploded with exclamation marks and question marks.

[Starting off this intense right away?! This is a trial dating show, not a honeymoon phase! Aren’t you two moving too fast?!]

[I thought the edited clips of Lu Xueyin blushing around Sheng Lan were malicious cuts, but now you show me this???]

[@Lu Xueyin’s solo stans, you here? You here? You here?]

Soon, Sheng Lan’s fans quietly joined the chaos.

[I think our Dashan and Sister Lu are purely platonic. Who agrees?]

[??? You anti! Why’d you call her that name?! Get out!]

[Ahhhh little sister look at me look at me! Teach me how to flirt with an older sister!! If you can do it, so can I!!!]

The comments were all over the place, like a bunch of fake fans.

The most intense reactions came from Lu Xueyin’s antis.

[Your pure and innocent good sister / smirk]

[This proactive and still claiming past scandals were just slander?? Screen recorded.]

[LMAO let me tell you a joke, Lu Xueyin is so innocent.]

Her fans were mostly wealthy Alpha stans, well-trained not to engage in online fights.

They came in with real money, flooding the screen with starry skies to clear the comments. Meanwhile, other fans regrouped to cheer for their own idols, layering the Scrolling Comments until the words became illegible.

Unaware of the livestream’s uproar, Lu Xueyin had only tightened the strings around Sheng Lan’s waist for dramatic timing.

Not wearing the mic yet, Sheng Lan lightly provoked, “If you undo it, I’ll get angry.”

Lu Xueyin endured it, “Thank you, sister, for giving me the spotlight.”

Meng Qing called from outside, “Sheng Lan, are you cooking? Need any help?”

Sheng Lan directly closed the door.

Because of Sheng Lan’s remark at noon about being dragged into cooking, the four of them had returned to their rooms after discussing and were each playing on their phones.

Laziness was secondary; the main issue was that none of them knew many dishes and didn’t want to embarrass themselves.

Now shut out, they awkwardly and silently settled onto the sofa, not mentioning going in to help.

Director Cheng turned on the kitchen camera.

At the same time, the screen split to show each person.

Sheng Lan didn’t delay and started stir-frying.

Lu Xueyin wasn’t idle either. Seeing seaweed and eggs in the fridge, she used the small electric pot nearby to make seaweed egg drop soup.

Sheng Lan wanted to chat with her and, before doing so, very considerately turned on her mic. “Sister, you’re so good to me. You gave me the only apron. I’m so touched. Your white clothes got dirty, I’ll wash them for you.”

Lu Xueyin told her to shut up. “Hurry up, I’m hungry.”

Before shutting up, Sheng Lan said to Lu Xueyin, “Come closer, or say it louder one more time. Your voice is too soft; the live audience won’t hear and will think you’re teasing me.”

Lu Xueyin: ??

She simply ignored Sheng Lan.

It was a 24-hour Live Broadcast Variety Show, so a slightly slower pace was fine.

Sheng Lan didn’t care whether the others outside were hungry. She cooked one dish at a time. Since Lu Xueyin was hungry, she served her first.

Lu Xueyin didn’t want to eat alone.

Sheng Lan hesitated. “Then should we eat first before going out?”

Lu Xueyin pursed her lips.

She was worried about the next month of filming her style would definitely be led astray by Sheng Lan.

So she subtly hinted, “On the first day, we can be a little friendlier.”

Sheng Lan twisted her meaning. “Got it. Starting tomorrow, we’ll eat alone.”

With that, Sheng Lan quickly finished cooking.

She didn’t want to share dishes with others outside, so today’s meal was rice topped with stir-fry, a calorie overload for celebrities.

After plating, each person got a small bowl. Those who didn’t mind could swap bites.

Lu Xueyin served the rice and went out with her.

Choosing to stand on Sheng Lan’s side, she only brought out five sets of utensils.

Seeing the number, Ji Xinlan felt awkward and somewhat annoyed.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

Sheng Lan wiped her hands with a tissue and said coolly, “Director Cheng said meals aren’t provided this month. If you’re hungry, cook for yourselves.”

Most people, for the sake of face and a good start, would reluctantly cook for everyone.

Sheng Lan pointed to the kitchen. “The kitchen’s big. You can use other appliances to make another meal.”

Then she looked at everyone present, glorifying the chore of dishwashing. “Private space, just the two of you. One washes, the other dries, the birthplace of beautiful romance. Who wants it?”

Tang Yingyue instantly raised her hand. “Me! I’ll wash the dishes!”

Under the collective gaze, Yan Bing nodded. “I’ll go with Yingyue.”

Ji Xinlan forcefully brought the topic back to herself.

No groups had been assigned yet, but it was tacitly assumed Meng Qing was with her.

She looked at Meng Qing. “Can you cook?”

Meng Qing: “Do I look like a domestic Alpha to you?”

Sheng Lan learned from this and turned to Lu Xueyin. “Sister, do I look like a domestic Alpha to you?”

Lu Xueyin’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly.

I really wanted to tell Sheng Lan, “With all this drama you’re creating, if anyone’s going to break character, it’s definitely you.”

Yet I had to admit one thing lively people naturally become the center of attention.

She nodded, “It does seem like it.”

Then she decided to mess with Sheng Lan further, “Hope you keep it up. Looking forward to working with you for the next month.”

As long as she didn’t have to cook.

Sheng Lan’s gaze lingered briefly on her red lips before she lowered her eyes and took a sip of soup.

Beside them, Ji Xinlan knew that being too bratty or princess-like wouldn’t play well on camera. Seeing that no one was paying her any attention, she headed into the kitchen.

Wherever people were, the live cameras would follow.

She had originally planned to tie on the apron Sheng Lan had used her agent would screenshot it for publicity.

But Sheng Lan had already thrown the apron into the trash, and it was now smeared with leftover grease from the pan.

Ji Xinlan: “…”

She was going to call Sheng Lan out!

“You threw away the apron—how am I supposed to cook now?”

Sheng Lan ignored her as if she were air and instead ladled a bowl of soup for Lu Xueyin. “Try your own handiwork.”

Lu Xueyin refused.

Drinking soup would make her lipstick fade, and faded lipstick would remind her of certain marks.

Sheng Lan assumed she was avoiding oil to control her weight, so she got up and brought her a straw.

They hadn’t even drawn their role cards yet, and her behavior was already too obvious.

Sheng Lan also didn’t understand subtle hints.

So, Lu Xueyin made it clearer, “We haven’t drawn cards yet. Maybe we won’t be in the same group.”

How awkward would it be if their earlier interactions didn’t align later?

Sheng Lan: “No problem. No matter who I’m paired with, I can still chase you. I read the rules carefully, it only says ‘trial romance,’ not that cheating isn’t allowed.”

Lu Xueyin was stunned by her words. Refusing the straw, she took a sip of soup to hide her expression.

A faint lipstick mark was left on the porcelain-white rim of the bowl.

Sheng Lan’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding.

It was the same shade as the carefully selected, easily smudged lipstick she had picked out.

She hoped Lu Xueyin hadn’t done it on purpose.

Otherwise, she’d be knocking on Lu Xueyin’s door tonight.

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