A Scummy Alpha and An Award-Winning Omega Actress Fell in Love After an Arranged Marriage - Chapter 31.1

“Sharing a bed” would come later. For now, it was time to eat.

Sheng Lan opened the food container and arranged the dishes on the table, addressing the fans, “Same as usual, we’ll do the eating broadcast first. We had a long day outdoors today, so later it’ll just be sleeping. Bear with us and take a look.”

Scrolling comments rapidly flooded the phone screen.

[Wait, what? Did I hear that right? Did Sheng Lan just say “bear with us”?]

[Is this something we’re allowed to watch for free? I’m tearing up.]

[If I get to see you two sleep (verb), I don’t need anything else.]

[It’d be even better if you weren’t the one sleeping on the floor while she takes the bed /smile.]

Sheng Lan glanced sideways for a moment, feeling the reactions were decent.

The acting after returning to the main house wrapped up the day’s “can’t ride a horse” script.

Lu Xueyin was genuinely angry, and she genuinely messed up, giving the audience a satisfying conclusion.

At the same time, their true fans shared an unspoken understanding with them. Comment control quickly took over, preventing any real distress.

Clueless onlookers joined in for fun, laughing it off. Amid the chaotic comments, the most common remark was, “You call this Artificial Sweetness?”

Overall, Sheng Lan could muddle through this eating broadcast with Lu Xueyin without going all out.

Lu Xueyin brought over a tablet and placed it in a spot where they could easily see the scrolling comments by tilting their heads.

Sheng Lan served her a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup.

After all, they’d shared takeout for several days. While other preferences were uncertain, Sheng Lan was absolutely sure Lu Xueyin loved soup.

Still acting angry, Lu Xueyin refused the soup Sheng Lan served and poured herself another bowl.

Sheng Lan took the bowl directly from her hands and swapped it with her own. “Thanks, sis.”

[Damn, now that’s what I call forceful seizure!]

[?? Sis, don’t misuse words like that.]

[What the heck is “forceful seizure”? I’m definitely clipping this part.]

Sheng Lan ignored the comments and told Lu Xueyin to rest after eating.

“It’s still early. Sleep for a few hours, and we’ll do the tasks later.”

Lu Xueyin wasn’t in great shape physically. Teaching horseback riding in the morning and washing the horses in the afternoon were both strenuous activities.

Today, she’d also acted in two scenes in a row. Even if she was playing a role close to her usual persona, it took a mental toll.

Now, Sheng Lan was returning the favor. Since Lu Xueyin had sacrificed some popularity for her safety, she could do the same.

Lu Xueyin checked the time. “We don’t have to perform anything for sleeping, right? Just wash up and sleep. Even TV shows and movies fade to black for this.”

A live broadcast would definitely need a black screen.

Sheng Lan hinted, “Wouldn’t that be a bit too perfunctory?”

Simply washing up and sleeping would feel like a slap in the face to the fans.

Lu Xueyin pressed her lips together and said they could interact with the fans a little.

The fans immediately turned cheeky.

[Interact how? Want us to suggest scenarios?]

[Suggest scenarios? What scenarios? /Innocent gaze from a 1.8m-tall child.jpg]

[What are you waiting for? Start suggesting!]

Sheng Lan pinched Lu Xueyin’s chin, making her look directly at her. “Stop reading the comments. They’re all people who deserve to be banned. Let’s not send them off.”

For some inexplicable reason, she suddenly didn’t want the audience to see Lu Xueyin blushing.

But Lu Xueyin blushed because of her action.

Sheng Lan: “…”

Lu Xueyin couldn’t cater to Sheng Lan’s subtle mood. Aware that her energy was nearly spent, she didn’t push herself.

Worried about stomach pain, she only ate until half-full before going to remove her makeup.

She’d use the makeup removal time to digest, then take a shower.

Sheng Lan didn’t stay in her own room. Staying here meant interacting with the audience, so the audio equipment had to be turned on. Everyone would be able to hear the sound of water, and Lu Xueyin wasn’t accustomed to that.

Both of them had removed their makeup and showered before meeting again in their pajamas.

Under the camera’s gaze, they were dressed modestly.

Lu Xueyin still wore her long-sleeved, full-length loungewear in a soft lotus pink. Her curly hair was loosely tied up, giving off a gentle and graceful vibe.

Sheng Lan’s outfit wasn’t much different, a square-necked, long nightgown made of cotton, loose and without much drape, so it didn’t accentuate her curves. The pure white color, paired with her pinkish-brown curly hair, made her look much younger.

Without makeup, her bare face gave off an initial impression of cuteness, making it easy to forget she was actually an Alpha.

And not just any Alpha, one with a mischievous personality who thrived on provocation.

She hadn’t brought her own pillow from her room, and she didn’t pay much attention to the bedding on the floor either. As she passed by, she deliberately stepped on the oversized peach-pink heart printed on the pillow.

Lu Xueyin: “…”

Great. Her intuition told her Sheng Lan really was planning to climb into her bed tonight, not just joking about it.

A headache was already forming.

When Sheng Lan glanced at her, Lu Xueyin’s lips tingled as if they’d been scorched, carrying the phantom sensation of being kissed and nibbled.

She averted her gaze and leaned against the headboard, finally relaxing now that she didn’t have to perform for the camera.

After all, once the screen went dark, Sheng Lan would give the fans the content they wanted.

She picked up her phone and texted Sheng Lan.

[Lu Xueyin]: Don’t go too far tonight. I want to sleep.

[Shan Feng]: I know. After all, if you get mad, I’ll have to coax you back /heart

Lu Xueyin wanted to say there was no need for that.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing and deleting several times before giving up.

Maybe what Sheng Lan meant by “coaxing” was tonight’s content, so she might as well let her do her thing.

Without makeup, Lu Xueyin’s exhaustion was impossible to hide. The livestream camera had no filters, and her lips were only a faint pink.

From a distance and under the lighting, certain angles made them look almost bloodlessly pale.

Even the fans who had been teasing earlier urged her to rest soon. Some who had followed multiple episodes of Trial Love reassured them in the Scrolling Comments that the punishment for failing the mission was no big deal.

Just drinking bitter melon juice or celery juice something like that.

And they had to drink it in a “linked arms” style.

Lu Xueyin disliked both.

Just as she was about to ask Sheng Lan if she had any better ideas, Sheng Lan turned off the camera without hesitation.

Acting as if she owned the place, she sat right beside Lu Xueyin, on the edge of the bed.

At such close proximity, they still communicated via text.

[Shan Feng]: During dinner, what kind of interaction were you talking about?

Lu Xueyin clearly intended to treat this chat as a pre-sleep bonus for the fans, so it wouldn’t count as her slacking off.

So while Sheng Lan typed, she spoke aloud, answering quite honestly: “I was planning to invite you to watch a reality show together.”

When Sheng Lan frowned, Lu Xueyin added, enunciating each word: “The one where your persona completely collapsed.”

Sheng Lan: “Oh, you care about me so much.”

Lu Xueyin pretended not to understand.

While showering, she had realized she wouldn’t be able to keep up with Sheng Lan’s banter during the viewing, and her actions might even violate the rules, forcing a last-minute change. So she had given up on the idea.

While waiting, she had considered Sheng Lan’s suggestion of resting for a few hours before resuming the livestream.

But after seeing Sheng Lan, she changed her mind.

Lu Xueyin decided to toss the problem to Sheng Lan. After all, Sheng Lan was full of energy and had already hooked the audience.

She was determined to maintain her angry demeanor, so she said to Sheng Lan, “But I realized watching the reality show might get our livestream blacked out by Director Cheng, so I chose Plan B.”

“Plan B is: I’m angry right now, and you have to coax me.”

Good.

She’s learning to make demands.

Sheng Lan moved closer to her, and Lu Xueyin patted the bed.

Sheng Lan took the cue and sat down.

With the camera off, they needed more verbal cues to let the audience hear what they were doing.

Lu Xueyin wanted Sheng Lan to sit at the foot of the bed. When Sheng Lan did, she could see the pink bedding on the floor with just a glance downward.

She roughly understood Lu Xueyin’s intention.

“Are you going to kick me off the bed?”

Lu Xueyin didn’t respond, letting her actions speak for themselves.

She gave Sheng Lan a light kick.

Her heart was soft, so even her kicking motion was gentle.

She wanted Sheng Lan to cooperate even just standing and bouncing on the bedding would be enough to mislead the fans.

Sheng Lan could easily fake a sound, letting out a casual “Ah,” and it would suffice.

But Sheng Lan didn’t play by the rules.

She grabbed Lu Xueyin’s ankle instead.

Lu Xueyin was naturally slender, with a petite frame and delicate ankles.

There was a small puncture mark from a recent injection, already scabbed over, leaving a tiny red dot.

She was uneasy.

Sheng Lan held her loosely, but Lu Xueyin kept trying to pull back, only to be stopped by the grip at Sheng Lan’s thumb and forefinger, unable to escape.

Gritting her teeth, Lu Xueyin yanked her leg back with force.

Sheng Lan deliberately let herself be pulled forward by the motion, tumbling slightly toward the center of the bed.

But her grip didn’t loosen it tightened instead.

Lu Xueyin couldn’t help but speak up, “Let go.”

Sheng Lan rubbed her thumb lightly over Lu Xueyin’s fair, warm skin, prompting Lu Xueyin to hug her legs closer, trying even harder to pull her foot back. She didn’t realize how inappropriate this posture was in front of an Alpha.

Sheng Lan teased her on purpose, “Which part should I let go of?”

Lu Xueyin stayed silent.

Keeping her legs bent, she leaned toward Sheng Lan, attempting to pry her hand away.

Beautiful even without makeup, the absence of her usual mature styling made her seem more fragile, evoking a sense of protectiveness.

In private, Lu Xueyin also had a slightly tsundere side, making her pouting expressions all the more endearing.

Sheng Lan hadn’t planned to tease her tonight, so she said, “I thought of a way to coax you.”

Lu Xueyin didn’t want to hear any new ridiculous ideas. “Just let go now, and we’ll call it even.”

Sheng Lan continued, unfazed, “Sister, how about I give you a massage?”

Lu Xueyin froze.

She met Sheng Lan’s gaze, and Sheng Lan stared back.

Her eyes were clear and earnest, without a trace of mockery or malice.

Lu Xueyin wasn’t sure whether to trust her.

Sheng Lan softened her voice, soothingly. “You’ve had a long day. It’s my fault for not telling you earlier. Consider this my apology.”

Lu Xueyin wanted to type on her phone.

Sheng Lan had been clearing out spam messages and group chats daily lately, deleting most of her contacts. With no unsavory content to worry about, she could lend her phone to Lu Xueyin temporarily.

Support