After Becoming a Scummy Alpha, I Was Spoiled by a Sweet Omega - Chapter 84

The entire crew was on high alert for the afternoon’s explosion scene. Over the years, news of actors being injured during such stunts had been frequent and tragic. The costs were always too high, and a sense of dread hung over the set.

But as the saying goes, the more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.

The weather was sweltering. Just as Ning Xuan and Xin Lie entered the set, the explosives detonated prematurely.

Flames shot into the sky.

Emergency responders rushed into the inferno, shouting over the roar: “Xin Lie! Ning Xuan!”

The smoke inside was so thick that visibility was near zero. Xin Lie’s physical conditioning as an Alpha proved vital; the moment the danger erupted, her reflexes kicked in. She lunged to shield her younger co-star just as bricks and beams began to rain down from above.

She used all her strength to shove Ning Xuan out of the way, but in doing so, her own shoulder was gouged by a jagged piece of masonry. Pain instantly seized her nerves, and the coppery scent of blood filled the air.

“Sister Xin, are you okay?”

Ning Xuan had been sent stumbling by the shove. Her forehead unfortunately slammed into a wall; the impact was hard enough to split the skin, and blood began to seep out. Dizziness washed over her.

Biting her lip, she shakily climbed to her feet to help Xin Lie. “Are you alright?”

Xin Lie gritted her teeth against the pain, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. “I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.”

They supported each other while searching for an exit. Fortunately, they encountered rescuers quickly and were successfully evacuated.

The sirens of ambulances soon wailed in the distance, but the press arrived almost as fast. Reporters were quick to broadcast the breaking news: [Accident on the set of “The Nightingale and the Rose”! Xin Lie and Ning Xuan seriously injured in explosion!]

The accompanying photos showed the two being helped out by paramedics, covered in blood and soot, their faces so begrimed they were barely recognizable.

The comment sections were immediately flooded with concern and prayers:

“I’m crying for my Ning-bao! My heart is breaking! AHHHH!”

“What happened? How could there be an accident? The crew needs to explain themselves!”

“How bad are the injuries? It looks like so much blood!”

“God, I’m willing to trade my ex-boyfriend’s life for Ning-bao’s safety!”

“Upstairs, you are not alone!”

The news trended instantly: #XinLieNingXuanInjured.

Some bloggers jumped on the traffic, spreading rumors: [Just left the hospital. I’ve gathered the details. Because Xin Lie shielded Ning Xuan during the accident, Ning-bao only has superficial wounds. Xin Lie, however, has back burns and a deep shoulder laceration. Is this legendary friendship or legendary love? I’m confused. Either way, I wish them both a safe recovery.]

This post triggered a massive wave of speculation:

“Is it true? Did Xin Lie really risk her life to protect Ning-bao?”

“My sister works at the hospital, and it’s true. Xin Lie is hurt much worse. Ning Xuan has been vocal about thanking her for the protection.”

“Wow, Xin Lie is a hero.”

“Could it be that AO is for reproduction, but AA is true love?”

“Check out these behind-the-scenes clips. The interaction between Ning Xuan and Xin Lie is so sweet.”

Someone even posted a candid photo of the moment Ning Xuan had covered Xin Lie’s mouth on set.

“Where did this come from? Why haven’t I seen this?”

“Bought it from a crew member. I was going to keep it for my private collection, but it’s just too precious not to share!”

And just like that, the “Xin-Ning” CP (Couple) banner was raised high.

The parties involved hadn’t had time to check their phones yet.

After having the wound on her forehead treated and waiting for the dizziness to pass, Ning Xuan went to Xin Lie’s ward to express her gratitude once more.

Xin Lie, lying on the bed with an IV drip, spoke up as soon as she heard her. “If you really want to thank me, convince your Sister Jin Min to come and stay with me.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

She began to suspect that Xin Lie had saved her specifically to play the “bitter injury” card for sympathy.

Speak of the devil, Jin Min arrived. She hadn’t had any scenes that afternoon and had been reading scripts in her hotel room. Upon hearing the news, she rushed over, arriving just in time to hear Xin Lie’s request.

“It seems you aren’t hurt that badly if you still have the energy for these little schemes,” Jin Min said sarcastically. She sighed, her tongue as sharp as ever. “What a pity. Only the good die young; pests like you live forever.”

Ning Xuan quickly intervened on Xin Lie’s behalf. “Sister Jin Min, Sister Xin didn’t mean it like that. She just likes you and wants you here. When people are hurt or sick, they’re at their most vulnerable. They only want the person closest to them. And that’s you.”

The words hit home. Jin Min huffed but walked over to the bed, inspecting Xin Lie’s injuries. Despite her words, she couldn’t hide the worry in her eyes.

Xin Lie leaned into the “pitiful” act, her voice dripping with sweetness. “It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt at all. Now that you’re here, the pain is gone. You’re my painkiller more effective than any medicine.”

Oh god, help me, Ning Xuan thought. The cheese is too much.

She told Jin Min to take good care of Xin Lie and prepared to leave. Just as she reached the door, she heard Xin Lie say:

“I’m just glad I wasn’t filming that scene with you. If you got hurt, I’d be devastated. If it were us, I’d never let you get a scratch. I’d shield you with my life; no matter what happened, I’d never push you away.”

Ning Xuan, who had been pushed away and slammed into a wall: “…”

Is this the difference between me and Jin Min?

“Sister Xin, I haven’t left yet,” she joked. “Saying that makes my gratitude feel a bit wasted.”

Xin Lie’s act of saving her had been pure instinct, and she didn’t actually need Ning Xuan’s gratitude. She waved her hand dismissively. “Then hurry up and leave. If you stop bothering us, I’ll be even more grateful than you are.”

Ning Xuan: “…”

Another one with a total love-brain!

She returned to her own ward next door. Just as she sat down, Director He Sheng arrived with several crew members. They had visited Xin Lie first, only to be kicked out immediately.

“I’m fine, and I’m busy right now,” Xin Lie had told them. “I don’t have time for your apologies. Besides, you don’t need to apologize. If this helps me win the girl, it’s a blessing in disguise. I’ll actually owe you one.”

The crew members nearly burst into tears. They had never met such an easy-going victim. It was their oversight that caused the accident, and they had been scared to death of the consequences.

He Sheng found himself looking at Xin Lie in a new light. To be so magnanimous and open-minded after such an ordeal, her character was truly beyond reproach.

Leaving her room, the group moved to Ning Xuan’s ward to check on her injuries.

When Ning Xuan saw them enter, she offered a smile and gestured for them to sit. “I’m fine, really. It’s just a minor injury.”

He Sheng remained solemn. “Even minor injuries must be taken seriously. The police are already investigating, though the preliminary finding is that it was an accident. My team is handling the insurance claims, and we will cover all medical expenses.”

“Mm.” Ning Xuan nodded. Noticing how pale and tense the others looked, she offered a gentle, considerate smile. “You all must have been frightened out of your wits. I’m truly okay. We’ll just have to be more careful next time. No one wanted this to happen.”

They chatted for a while until Yu Yazhi called. Seizing the opportunity, Ning Xuan sent the crew back to their work. He Sheng granted Ning Xuan five days of leave before leading the group away.

Ning Xuan picked up the phone, but after only a few words, they switched to a WeChat video call. Yu Yazhi didn’t just want to hear she was okay; she needed to see it for herself.

Ning Xuan adjusted the camera to show the wound on her forehead. Looking at the white gauze faintly stained with red, Yu Yazhi pressed her again and again: “Is it really just a scrape?”

Ning Xuan nodded repeatedly. “Really. I wouldn’t lie to you. My head just hit the wall. It’s a superficial wound, nothing serious.”

Just then, Luo Yuanyuan arrived with the payment receipts and the diagnostic results. Ning Xuan took them, snapped a photo, and sent them over. [See for yourself.]

After reviewing the documents, Yu Yazhi finally calmed down. “Thank God. Truly. From now on, you aren’t allowed to film any more dangerous scenes like explosions.”

Knowing Yu Yazhi was currently like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, Ning Xuan didn’t argue. Instead, she changed the subject. “When are you coming back? I miss you.”

Injured and confined to a hospital bed, Ning Xuan felt her usual defenses slipping. She was at her most vulnerable, and she wanted Yu Yazhi. Desperately.

Yu Yazhi’s response was immediate. “I just booked a flight. I’m heading to the airport now.”

Hearing this, Ning Xuan felt she was being a bit too high-maintenance. “Actually, I’m really fine. Yuanyuan is taking great care of me. You don’t have to make a special trip.”

She didn’t want to interfere with Yu Yazhi’s work. “Is your business finished? If not, stay and finish it. I’ll be okay.”

Not wanting Ning Xuan to feel pressured, Yu Yazhi told a white lie. “Mm, I finished early. I just happened to hear some things about Zhong Qiu and wanted to poke around a bit more.”

Zhong Qiu had spent years growing saffron here. Though she was a loner who rarely socialized, she had left some traces behind. Yu Yazhi had intended to use the remainder of her trip to investigate, but then Ning Xuan’s accident happened.

Neither work nor Zhong Qiu could compare to Ning Xuan. She had cast them both aside without a second thought.

“Just wait for me. You’ll see me tonight.”

“It’s really not necessary.”

“It is for me.” Yu Yazhi’s gaze was intense, her voice deepening with conviction. “Ning Xuan, I love you. Do you really not realize how important you are to me?”

It was the first time she had expressed her love with such raw intensity.

Ning Xuan froze, her face flushing a deep crimson. “Just stay safe on the road.” She hurriedly hung up.

Did she like Yu Yazhi? Undoubtedly. But her feelings lacked the searing intensity of Yu Yazhi’s. This realization made her afraid to let the conversation go further, fearing that if Yu Yazhi discovered the discrepancy, it would hurt her.

Yu Yazhi wasn’t thinking about any of that. After hanging up, she threw a few clothes into a bag and drove to the airport. Driving would be too slow; a plane was faster.

Before boarding, a thought struck her. She sent a text to Shang Li: [Investigate the name ‘Qu Ran.’ This person actually existed.]

Her mind replayed a conversation she had overheard between two veteran employees at the saffron base:

“I wonder when Miss Zhong is coming back. We really can’t do without her here.”

“Yeah, why did she leave so suddenly? She loved the saffron; she wouldn’t just abandon it.”

“Maybe it was for someone important?”

“You think? Miss Zhong was here for so many years and I never saw her talk to anyone. I don’t think she had any friends.”

“How can you say that? I saw someone. Someone came looking for her once.”

“What? Really? Who? When? How come I didn’t know?”

“I think it was during my shift change. I only saw her once, maybe a year ago. A thin girl wearing a mask. She was asking me all about Miss Zhong.”

“Asking what?”

“What she does every day, what she does for fun, if she has friends, she even asked if Miss Zhong was dating anyone. It felt like a girlfriend checking up on her.”

“What did you tell her?”

“The truth, of course. That Miss Zhong is a good girl, keeps to herself, and doesn’t mess around.”

“The girl must have been happy to hear that.”

“Actually, no. She cried. Right there on the spot. Her eyes were full of tears. I guess she was moved.”

They had laughed and moved on to another topic, and Yu Yazhi hadn’t been able to glean much more when she approached them. But she was inexplicably certain: the personality Zhong Qiu had split into was definitely connected to that girl.