After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

◎Ebb and flow.◎

Jian Jixing took the phone inside the tent before answering. The screen showed Sheng Ruxi’s beautiful magnified features in the light, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

“Why are you only answering now?” she asked right away.

Jian Jixing raised an eyebrow and didn’t answer. Instead, she checked the chat and saw that Sheng Ruxi had sent two emojis before calling.

The first one was the one Jian Jixing had thought of earlier: a kiss emoji.

The second one was sent a minute after Jian Jixing hadn’t replied. The image showed: “Handcuff the bad woman!”

Jian Jixing was impressed by Sheng Ruxi’s emoji collection.

“Jian Jixing, speak.” Sheng Ruxi frowned, annoyed. What’s wrong with this person? She took the initiative to call, and she should be grateful, but instead, she’s ignoring her.

Jian Jixing switched back and asked nonchalantly, “So, you miss me that much?”

Sheng Ruxi’s expression turned to disgust in an instant. “If it weren’t for Mom telling me to care about you more, I wouldn’t bother calling.”

“In that case, I’ll hang up.”

“Wait! You still haven’t told me what you’re doing? You took so long to reply to me.” Sheng Ruxi leaned in a little closer. Her beautiful eyes were even clearer. When she blinked, Jian Jixing felt a little tickle on her neck, as if she had been touched by a feather.

In Sheng Ruxi’s mouth, “so long” was only about five minutes, all in all. Is that long?

She really was an impatient child.

Jian Jixing: “I just got here. Yan Ci told me to eat some lamb outside.”

Sheng Ruxi didn’t believe her at all. She yawned, a tear welling up in the corner of her eye. She moved her phone away and poked her finger at the screen.

Jian Jixing guessed she was poking her own face.

“Are you having a secret rendezvous with that free-spirited female goblin from the grasslands?”

Sheng Ruxi said this as a joke, but after she said it, Jian Jixing didn’t say a word.

Did she hit the nail on the head?!

Her sleepy energy suddenly perked up. Sheng Ruxi propped herself up with her arms. She probably put pressure on her arm on the edge of the bed because she let out a small “ah” and put her phone aside for a moment.

The places Jian Jixing had touched were still aching, and it wasn’t just in one spot. Sheng Ruxi felt it was so troublesome that she had to check which parts of her body were okay before making a video call, and find the right angle to lie down.

The angle was a little tricky. From the side, the faint red marks on Sheng Ruxi’s collarbone and soft spots were occasionally visible through her loose hair.

As she turned her head, the neckline of her loose, light dress had improperly revealed her “spring scenery.”

Jian Jixing was silent and decided to look away. With this long night ahead, it was best not to look at things that would get her heated.

Sheng Ruxi was the first to complain. “Jian Jixing, you’re really my nemesis. You left so many marks on me, and I had to wear the most covered-up dress this afternoon… I hate you.”

She had always been confident about her body. It was summer, the perfect time to show it off. She liked bright, eye-catching dresses with large cutouts that highlighted her figure.

This afternoon, she did the opposite, opting for a dark and elegant look, a long black dress that moved gracefully with every step.

One look at Jian Jixing’s expression, and she knew Jian Jixing had no idea about her work this afternoon. Sheng Ruxi was a little annoyed. The whole world’s eyes were on her, so why wasn’t Jian Jixing’s?

Jian Jixing felt she was in the wrong under Sheng Ruxi’s intense gaze. She couldn’t help but smile and said, “My dear lady, what do you want? Is it okay if I do everything you ask?”

What’s done is done. She couldn’t take back last night. When she left, she wanted to put some ointment on Sheng Ruxi, but would this young lady let her? She really saw her as a nemesis.

Sheng Ruxi looked at her suspiciously for two seconds. “Can you learn to be more tender and gentle?”

Jian Jixing: “You can check next month.”

“…” Sheng Ruxi looked at Jian Jixing speechlessly. She wasn’t happy whenever the topic of time came up.

But she didn’t say anything. Jian Jixing actually patiently stayed on the phone. Sheng Ruxi had a lot of questions she wanted to ask, but after thinking about it, she felt Jian Jixing wouldn’t give her an answer.

Jian Jixing suddenly asked, “Why do you always look like you’re constipated?”

“That’s so crude!” Sheng Ruxi scoffed and threw her phone on the bed.

She shouldn’t have cared about Jian Jixing’s feelings! Why would Jian Jixing be unhappy? She was always so unserious.

“Don’t throw it. You’ll break your phone, not mine.” Jian Jixing let out a suppressed laugh.

Annoyed by the mocking sound, Sheng Ruxi didn’t want to give up and said, “Why are you always like this to me? Wu Wu would never treat me this way.”

Sheng Ruxi picked up her phone and saw that Jian Jixing’s expression had softened a lot, turning into her usual ambiguous, unreadable look.

Jian Jixing said, “What do you like about Chu Wu? Should I change?”

Sheng Ruxi frowned. “Don’t think you can use this method to stop me and Wu Wu from having our perfect ending.”

Jian Jixing was impressed by her train of thought.

“Alright, go to sleep. It’s about time.” Jian Jixing glanced at the time on her phone. Just chatting like this, it was already almost 10:00 p.m. It was time for this young lady to get her beauty sleep. She should have had enough fun.

Sheng Ruxi turned off the screen, then turned it back on, seeing Jian Jixing’s speechless and helpless expression, and she smiled.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to hang up. It was that Jian Jixing didn’t want to hang up.

“I’m not sleepy yet. I want to see that female goblin from the grasslands of yours,” Sheng Ruxi said thoughtfully. “Go outside and show me.”

“There are people from the industry outside. Aren’t you afraid of being recognized?”

“Oh, so Jian Jixing, you’re not as pure as you pretend to be? No wonder you left so quickly. It turns out you’re really seeing a little mistress behind my back,” Sheng Ruxi was getting into character. Her tone was so lifelike, as if she were a betrayed wife. “Use your rear camera. I won’t make a sound.”

Jian Jixing: “Checking in?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Sheng Ruxi smiled without warmth. “Let me see your taste.”

Jian Jixing laughed.

This little princess was so interesting.

**

“She’s married?” Xie Ruizhang finally came to her senses, picked up her drink, and chugged it down. It was spicy going down. She blinked and added, “No way?”

Gu Chengyi was chewing on her steak. “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.” Although she knew the truth about Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi, she had to respect their wishes and couldn’t say a word.

Xie Ruizhang frowned. Everything in front of her had lost its appeal. She had come specifically because she knew Jian Jixing was coming back today.

But Jian Jixing hadn’t said more than a few words to her. The only long sentence she said was that her wife was checking in.

…How is that possible?

Everyone knew that Jian Jixing had a first love from her youth, and she was still waiting for her. Not long ago, she even appeared in Professor Chu’s live science broadcast, her timing frighteningly punctual. Meanwhile, Sheng Ruxi, who had been competing with her, didn’t appear.

How could she be married? Even if Sheng Ruxi got married, Jian Jixing wouldn’t.

Thinking this, Xie Ruizhang felt a lot better. She had a sudden realization and said to Gu Chengyi, “So Director Jian is that open-minded? She’s already calling Professor Chu her wife?”

You’re asking for it.

Gu Chengyi rolled her eyes at Xie Ruizhang. She couldn’t help but ask, “How did you manage to film such a good TV show with that intelligence?”

Xie Ruizhang didn’t understand why Gu Chengyi was suddenly making a personal attack on her. She hadn’t provoked her, right?

She couldn’t stay here. Mostly because without Jian Jixing, Xie Ruizhang felt bored. She was hesitating whether to go over and find her when suddenly, the tent curtain was lifted, and Jian Jixing came out again, holding her phone.

Xie Ruizhang: ?

Jian Jixing walked out with her phone, the camera switched to the front. Sheng Ruxi’s side only showed her forehead and eyebrows to prevent anyone from recognizing her.

Sheng Ruxi’s finger reached out and poked the screen, then rotated in a circle.

She was signaling Jian Jixing to get closer and turn around.

Jian Jixing did as she was told. Midway, Gu Chengyi knew it must be Sheng Ruxi on the other end, so she waved generously. The camera swept over and caught Xie Ruizhang next to Gu Chengyi.

“Wait a minute.” In the headphones, Sheng Ruxi’s voice sounded. “Xie Ruizhang?”

Jian Jixing raised an eyebrow, a bit curious. “You know her?”

“Don’t you?”

Jian Jixing: “Am I supposed to?”

Sheng Ruxi’s anger had no outlet. She was so angry she laughed. “You’re so interesting.”

Back when Xie Ruizhang received the nomination for Best Documentary Drama, there was a reporter interviewing her backstage. Sheng Ruxi happened to be there and overheard.

The reporter asked Xie Ruizhang what her most honest thoughts were after receiving the nomination.

Xie Ruizhang said she was thinking of Jian Jixing.

“Director Jian’s previous humanitarian documentaries were amazing. She’s actually my mentor. I really, really want to thank her. I like her so, so much.”

She said it with such sincerity that her eyes were red. Anyone who didn’t know would have thought Jian Jixing was dead.

Sheng Ruxi tried her best to hold back her laughter because it was genuinely funny, but she couldn’t let anyone see, so she deliberately put on a cold face.

After the interview was released, Xie Ruizhang’s words were discussed by netizens for a long time. They all said Xie Ruizhang liked Jian Jixing, and Xie Ruizhang never refuted it.

When the interview photos were released, the audience found it even funnier. Wasn’t Sheng Ruxi in the background?

One with slightly red eyes in the front, and one with a cold face watching in the back. Their liking and disliking were extremely obvious.

Later, Zhou Mei brought this up to Sheng Ruxi for a long time, saying that it was one thing for her to dislike Jian Jixing, but in front of the camera, she should at least restrain herself.

How was she not restraining herself? Her cold face was better than her bursting out laughing. It wouldn’t be right for her to laugh while Xie Ruizhang was crying, would it?

Sheng Ruxi had thought Xie Ruizhang’s affection was unrequited, and she never expected to see Xie Ruizhang here.

She could understand it during working hours, but this was clearly not working hours.

And she was sitting next to Gu Chengyi… an arm’s length away from Jian Jixing. Good, very good. She’s playing hard to get very well.

“Not as interesting as you, treating me like a bedtime toy,” Jian Jixing chuckled, not paying attention to Xie Ruizhang at all. She walked around in a half-circle and took Sheng Ruxi back into the tent.

“How do you know her?”

Hearing her ask this, Sheng Ruxi knew that Jian Jixing was completely unaware of the highly discussed topic back then.

She didn’t know how bad her face looked, which proved that she didn’t care if she disliked her or not.

It was boring when a person didn’t have a rival. Even their past rivalry would lose its meaning. Sheng Ruxi rolled over on the bed, trying to get rid of this strange thought.

“Director Jian! Is this a good time?”

Before Sheng Ruxi could say anything, Xie Ruizhang suddenly appeared at the tent. She half-lifted the curtain, her face a little red from the alcohol.

The video call hadn’t ended yet, but the person on the other end was silent. Jian Jixing saw that Xie Ruizhang was a little drunk and had already come in, so she simply put her phone down.

“Is something wrong?”

“Director… Director Jian, I want to recommend myself to you,” Xie Ruizhang was usually a confident person who called the shots in her team, but in front of Jian Jixing, she seemed a little flustered.

It wasn’t out of fear, but a natural reaction to Jian Jixing. It was hard for her to stay calm in front of Jian Jixing.

Jian Jixing: “I don’t have any plans to co-direct a new film with another director right now.”

“I’m not talking about that! I’m talking about another kind of relationship.” Xie Ruizhang took two deep breaths to calm her nerves.

Jian Jixing reached for her phone, wanting to see if Sheng Ruxi had hung up. She had a feeling that what Xie Ruizhang was about to say was not going to be good.

But at that moment, Xie Ruizhang called out to her again. “Director Jian, do you like Alphas?”

“What?” The topic shifted a little too quickly. Jian Jixing’s hand stopped. “I don’t like you.”

Xie Ruizhang was taken aback, but she didn’t give up. Her gaze also fell on Jian Jixing’s hands. They were a beautiful pair of hands, long and strong.

Xie Ruizhang had learned a lot about what Jian Jixing liked in the past. She knew Jian Jixing liked rock climbing. Her arm strength was very strong. More than once, under Jian Jixing’s rock climbing videos, there were many bold comments from her fans.

Xie Ruizhang had guessed Jian Jixing would be so direct, but she still didn’t give up. “I know you like Alphas. You just don’t like me. But, can’t I try hard to make you like me?”

Jian Jixing stated her position. “Did I not make it clear? I’m a married person.”

She felt that if Sheng Ruxi was still listening, she would have to leave her with something that carried her scent so that she could use her pheromones when necessary.

Other Alphas could use their own pheromones to suppress the other person when they heard such offensive words, but she couldn’t.

“I know you’re with Professor Chu, but isn’t Professor Chu not here?” If Xie Ruizhang hadn’t figured this out, she wouldn’t have come to Jian Jixing directly.

If Jian Jixing really hated her, she could have just used her pheromones to get rid of her, but Jian Jixing didn’t.

This meant she had a chance.

She smiled. “Director Jian, I like you. Why don’t you try with me first? With Alphas, it might hurt if you’re not used to it. You can try with me first…”

“I know you’re very strong. I’ve seen some of your rock climbing and on-set videos. You must work out a lot. It’s okay. You don’t have to be gentle with me.”

Jian Jixing was shocked and even took half a step back. What does she mean? She wasn’t even concerned about Xie Ruizhang coming over. She was more concerned about—Sheng Ruxi. Why was she silent in the headphones?

Xie Ruizhang’s words were a mess, a reflection of the bad atmosphere in the industry, where people thought there was nothing wrong with keeping options open, as long as it was a mutual agreement.

“Stay away from me and have some dignity. I don’t like Alphas.” Jian Jixing’s face darkened. Her hands were behind her back. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to control herself and would punch Xie Ruizhang.

Xie Ruizhang laughed. “Director Jian, what are you talking about? If you don’t like Alphas, do you like Omegas? But you hate even Sheng Ruxi. What Omega could you possibly like in this lifetime?”

Jian Jixing didn’t retreat. She lunged forward, instantly arriving next to Xie Ruizhang. Just like she had with Yan Huai Xi, she grabbed the back of Xie Ruizhang’s neck.

With her other hand, she held Xie Ruizhang’s shoulder. Jian Jixing was not gentle. She lifted Xie Ruizhang with one hand and threw her out.

Xie Ruizhang struggled, and a little confused, she turned her head and said, “You hate even Sheng Ruxi. How can you not like me? Director Jian, Director Jian, Director Jian—”

Her hand flailed around and accidentally touched Jian Jixing’s ear. The earpiece came loose and fell onto the rug.

Jian Jixing expressionlessly threw her onto the ground. Everyone outside was so scared they stood up.

But Jian Jixing had already pulled the tent flaps shut.

When she bent down to pick up her fallen earpiece, she was too fast and felt a little nauseous. Grabbing someone’s scent gland was always effective against Alphas, but the pheromones that rushed out in that instant were all over her.

Unlike with Yan Huai Xi, the pheromones of an adult Alpha didn’t just make her feel nauseous; they also caused a sharp sting that made her frown.

Thinking that Sheng Ruxi had heard everything, Jian Jixing fell onto the futon on her back, feeling half-dead. How long would this little princess be angry? How could she explain this?

She frowned and let out a long breath before picking up her phone.

The screen lit up. She saw that Sheng Ruxi had already hung up.

It was a little noisy outside. Jian Jixing threw her phone aside, trying to adjust to the discomfort in her body. She felt a little dizzy, like she had altitude sickness. After a while, she let out a self-mocking laugh.

She was overthinking all this, and Sheng Ruxi didn’t care at all.

She had been thinking that if Sheng Ruxi got upset, she would tease her—what if they just made their relationship public to a small circle in the industry?

Then Sheng Ruxi would definitely say to her haughtily, “Jian Jixing, you wish! Do you love me too much?”

Jian Jixing realized that her thoughts at night were a little too fantastical. She really shouldn’t have gone out and had those drinks and that lamb chop.

She took a shower, and the stinging pain on her body turned into a burning sensation, but she didn’t have any inhibitors. Jian Jixing rummaged through her suitcase and found the jacket Sheng Ruxi had worn.

She had just brought it back from home and had it with her.

It had a faint scent of Sheng Ruxi’s pheromones. It was very late, but Jian Jixing didn’t use a blanket. She put the jacket over her face. Everything was dark.

Her breathing was getting tight, like a constricted throat. The jacket wasn’t on too tight, but she still had the illusion of suffocating.

She suddenly thought.

If Sheng Ruxi were here, how would she laugh at her?

Some inappropriate images finally entered her mind.

Jian Jixing let out a silent laugh. The breath she had wanted to calm down was now like the ebb and flow of the tide, uncontrollably making her drenched.

Her mind was full of repetitive thoughts. Her hands were still properly placed at her sides, without any loss of control. Only her fingertips were abnormally pale.

Then the phone rang.

The first time, she didn’t hear it clearly. It wasn’t until it had rung for three seconds that she realized someone was actually calling her.

Jian Jixing didn’t even take the jacket off her face. She didn’t have the strength. At this time, not many people could call her.

She pressed “answer.” Jian Jixing held her phone up high. “Who is this? Hello, please hang up.”

The other side didn’t say anything.

So it probably wasn’t Sheng Ruxi. If it were Sheng Ruxi, she would have gone ballistic after hearing her say “you” so formally.

Jian Jixing didn’t realize she had smiled again. She was about to hang up when the other side spoke.

“Your mouth will be the death of you sooner or later,” Sheng Ruxi mumbled. “It’s me.”

Jian Jixing immediately pulled the jacket off her face and saw the note on the screen.

Now it was her turn to be silent.

Just one call, one voice, and all the images in her mind were now playing out in front of her as if they were real, with different poses.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? It’s not my fault if you die from the pain.” Sheng Ruxi made a small noise on the other end. Her voice showed no sign of sleepiness. After a while, she said, “You think I care about you? I’m hanging up.”

Jian Jixing said, “Then you hang up first.”

Sheng Ruxi didn’t hang up. Jian Jixing could hear that her breathing had gotten a little more rapid.

But after two more seconds, she said, “Video call me, and I’ll tell you what to do to feel better.”