A Scummy Alpha and An Award-Winning Omega Actress Fell in Love After an Arranged Marriage - Chapter 35.1

Sheng Lan was actually quite looking forward to Lu Xueyin’s reaction to her arrangements and agreed on the spot.

The two of them went together to visit the patient.

As per the usual routine, once they entered the hospital ward area, they put on the pretense of intimacy.

Perhaps reminded by Sheng Lan, Lu Xueyin no longer bothered with polite formalities and directly linked arms with her.

Sheng Lan glanced at her but said nothing.

When interacting with Lu Xueyin, she knew exactly how to behave knowing when to push and when to hold back, advancing and retreating with ease.

Whenever she sensed Lu Xueyin retreating, she would press forward aggressively.

Once she had taken enough advantage, she would become well-behaved and reserved again.

This left Lu Xueyin constantly on edge, oscillating between nervousness and vigilance, only to gradually relax and trust once more.

And then fall right back into the trap.

Judging by this dynamic, Lu Xueyin’s personality was truly catlike.

Unsure if she had ever kept a cat before, Sheng Lan asked her.

Lu Xueyin shook her head. “No, never.”

Her family had been poor when she was younger, and by the time they could afford it, she was too busy.

She had always believed that bringing a small life into the home required companionship and care, it wasn’t just about providing food and water.

Even when she felt lonely at times, she never considered it.

Sheng Lan hinted meaningfully, “You should try raising one when you get the chance. If you really don’t have time, at least visit a cat cafe now and then.”

Unfortunately, Lu Xueyin didn’t catch her drift.

They had already entered the elevator, and her thoughts were entirely focused on the hospital room ahead.

Thanks to the recent Live Broadcast Variety Show, her mother had been able to see the two of them every day, which had greatly improved her mood and condition.

The cancer was already in its final stages, there was no saving her.

But a better state of mind could prolong her life a little longer.

And while she was still alive, it could also ease her suffering.

Lu Xueyin lowered her gaze, considering whether she should have an honest conversation with Sheng Lan about this.

She would agree to a divorce just not this year.

Their marriage benefited Sheng Lan as well, allowing her to avoid family pressure to marry. Lu Xueyin wouldn’t overstep or use this as leverage to threaten Sheng Lan’s career.

But just as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back.

For one, the timing and setting weren’t right.

And secondly, she didn’t know the exact deadline for the divorce. Saying it out loud felt like setting an expiration date for her mother something she couldn’t bear to think about.

So she decided to endure it, even if it meant Sheng Lan would resent her.

Neither of them had eaten lunch yet, and Lu Xueyin suggested ordering takeout.

Sheng Lan declined. “Let’s just have the Hospital Meal together. It’d be too cruel to feast in front of Mom while she’s stuck with bland food.”

Lu Xueyin instinctively frowned.

She certainly wouldn’t have indulged in a lavish meal with Sheng Lan anyway, but before she could say so, she heard Sheng Lan call out, “Mom.”

She wanted to point out that they hadn’t even reached the room yet there was no need to act.

But she swallowed the words just in time, or else today’s forced kiss would have been for nothing.

Before entering the room, Lu Xueyin took off her mask and checked her reflection on her phone screen to see if the swelling on her lips had gone down.

Sheng Lan couldn’t help but chuckle, earning a glare from Lu Xueyin.

They had bought flowers on the way pink carnations paired with bicolor baby’s breath, bright and soft in tone, exuding a resilient vitality.

As Sheng Lan arranged them in the vase, Lu Xueyin asked the caregiver to go buy lunch from the hospital cafeteria.

It was pricey, but the service was good, and the Hospital Meal wasn’t the usual tasteless fare.

There were dietary restrictions no heavy oils or spices but the natural flavors of the ingredients were emphasized.

If anything, it was better than the average female celebrity’s diet food.

At least they could have soup and lightly stir-fried meat.

Wei Wan, knowing the two would take turns visiting, had been resting early to conserve energy. Today, when she saw them, her eyes lit up.

She told them, “I’ve seen online debates about whether the two of you are real or fake. How could it possibly be fake? In your industry, I doubt there’s a couple more genuine than you two.”

After all, they were already married.

This time, Sheng Lan didn’t put on her Idol Image act and play the aloof mute. Watching a day or two of her livestreams would reveal her true nature, and if she overdid it, Wei Wan would accuse her of being distant.

She chuckled lazily, striking up a conversation with Wei Wan in her usual irritating tone.

“Where’d you see that? Places with a lot of discussions are usually the Scrolling Comments in livestreams, right?”

Wei Wan had indeed seen it in the Scrolling Comments.

Since Lu Xueyin had entered the acting industry, Wei Wan had followed along, picking up some industry jargon and common practices.

Platforms like Weibo and others were already under Comment Control, flooded with nothing but fan promotions from both sides.

From luring people in with “Fake Recommendations” to now blatantly saying, “Take a bite of this Artificial Sweetness,” clicking in would show barely any normal discussions.

Only the Scrolling Comments were lively, filled with real-time messages. No matter how much fans tried to control them, they couldn’t suppress all the casual viewers’ remarks, so there was still some fresh content to see.

Sheng Lan told her to rest her eyes. “Those Scrolling Comments are so dense, it’s exhausting just looking at them for you.”

Sheng Lan’s ability to command attention manifested in every situation. Even a casual chat with an elder at the hospital became her stage, leaving Wei Wan laughing nonstop.

Lu Xueyin wasn’t in a hurry to jump into the conversation. After the meal, she tidied up the food containers, washed some fruit, and sat quietly nearby, listening.

By around two o’clock, when the doctors returned to work, Wei Wan asked Lu Xueyin to go to the doctor’s office.

Just like last time, it was clearly an excuse to send her away so Wei Wan could chat privately with Sheng Lan.

This time, Lu Xueyin didn’t linger outside the door to eavesdrop she left without a second thought.

But inside the room, Sheng Lan didn’t reciprocate that trust. She started asking Wei Wan about Lu Xueyin’s school days.

After getting married, Sheng Lan had learned the basics about Lu Xueyin’s background.

Back when their families had frequent interactions, the Lu family had been fairly well-off, running a small restaurant.

It was the neighboring mahjong parlor that caught fire at night, spreading to their place.

It happened just before the New Year, and the restaurant had booked many tables for New Year’s Eve dinners.

They were busy day and night, prepping ingredients in the kitchen even after closing.

That year, Lu Xueyin was still in elementary school. Since someone had to take care of her at home, Wei Wan wasn’t at the restaurant that night, so mother and daughter escaped unharmed.

But the rest of their family perished in that fire.

After such a devastating loss, having witnessed the fickleness of human relationships, Wei Wan knew connections couldn’t withstand strain. In those years, she’d rather suffer herself, taking on multiple jobs, than ask anyone for help.

Lu Xueyin had once attended extracurricular classes, learning dance and piano, but those stopped after the tragedy.

With life so hectic, just raising the child and putting her through college was an achievement. Wei Wan knew very little about Lu Xueyin’s school life.

Sheng Lan said, “I think I remember her transferring schools at some point?”

Wei Wan paused before recalling yes, she had transferred in middle school.

Transferring wasn’t as easy as TV or novels made it seem. There were piles of paperwork, and Wei Wan hadn’t had time to deal with it, putting it off day after day.

It wasn’t until the homeroom teacher called, saying Lu Xueyin hadn’t been to school for a week, that Wei Wan realized how serious it was. In the end, she’d asked the Sheng family for help.

Hesitantly, she added, “At the time, she said she wanted to focus on studying. A few classmates were pursuing her, and it was affecting her.”

Middle school so young.

Lu Xueyin never came home with injuries or stayed out late, so Wei Wan hadn’t considered anything worse.

Sheng Lan didn’t press further.

But the topic left Wei Wan visibly unsettled, her spirits suddenly dimmed.

Middle-aged and plagued by illness, her complexion had been worn sallow and haggard by years of suffering, yet the elegant bone structure remained, a testament to her youthful beauty.

Lu Xueyin resembled her mother. Both shared the same peach-blossom eyes, full of tender emotion.

The difference was that Wei Wan’s gaze brimmed with melancholy, while Lu Xueyin’s held frozen, sensitive thoughts.

Wei Wan asked Sheng Lan why she suddenly brought this up.

Sheng Lan said they had filmed an advertisement together today, featuring a school-themed scene, which piqued her interest.

To lighten the mood, she chuckled, “I just thought she looked oddly good in a school uniform.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the hospital door swung open.

Turning around, she was met with Lu Xueyin’s indescribable expression.

Sheng Lan detected a faint trace of disdain.

She raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you looked in a mirror?”

Lu Xueyin couldn’t be bothered to respond.

The rehabilitation center cost hundreds of thousands each month, and she still wanted to move to a new place work couldn’t stop.

After Trial Love wrapped up, she coincidentally had a movie release coming up. As the lead actress, she needed to participate in promotions, which would keep her busy for a while.

According to her work schedule at the start of the year, the film was set for a National Day release.

She also needed to pick her next script and join another production.

Next year’s Lunar New Year fell in mid-February. If all went smoothly, she’d wrap up filming just in time to return home.

By that calculation, she and Sheng Lan would only have this one month of close contact, and even less time to spend with her mother.

That afternoon, Wei Wan had repeatedly urged them to go attend to their own affairs, but Lu Xueyin hadn’t rushed to leave. Only when Wei Wan grew tired and wanted to rest did she finally depart with Sheng Lan.

They had arrived together in the same car, but before leaving, Lu Xueyin mentioned waiting for Jiang Ling to pick her up.

Sheng Lan insisted she get in. “I need to stop by my place to grab something anyway. It’s on the way.”

Only then did Lu Xueyin agree.

With the reflexive caution of “once bitten, twice shy,” she opened the passenger door.

Hearing Sheng Lan laugh, she paused, then calmly got in and fastened her seatbelt.

No matter how many times she saw it, Sheng Lan found her awkwardness endearing.

She had meant to ask if Lu Xueyin had plans for the evening, but seeing the exhaustion she couldn’t hide as she leaned back into the seat, Sheng Lan swallowed the question.

Fine, I’ll ask another time.

Thanks to Sheng Lan’s quiet demeanor and smooth driving, Lu Xueyin dozed off in the car.

When they reached the garage, Sheng Lan didn’t wake her.

She reached for a blanket from the backseat and draped it over her.

Lu Xueyin’s wariness seemed more like a deliberate act.

Because the warmth of her pheromones didn’t lie, and neither did her unconscious reactions in sleep.

Even in Sheng Lan’s car, she slept deeply.

Sheng Lan put on her earphones and unlocked her phone.

Seizing the moment, she messaged Yu Cheng, sending over photos of the eight delicate, fair-faced young women.

[Shan Feng]: Go on, which one is it?

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