After Entering A Marriage of Convenience With My Omega Rival - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The thoughts in her heart were explicit; she couldn’t let Sheng Ruxi know.

Jian Jixing waited in front of Sheng Ruxi’s door for a good while.

She didn’t hear the sound of things being smashed, nor did anyone come to open the door. Only then did she feel at ease.

Back in her own room, Jian Jixing received a message from Zhou Yue, saying the flight to Shanmi wouldn’t take off until 6:00 PM.

Jian Jixing sent the arrival time to Wang Renqing, who was waiting to pick her up in the pastoral area, and told her team they were free to move around for now.

The group chat erupted in cheers, interspersed with photos of peach blossoms in bloom; everyone wanted to go see them.

They were all in high spirits and good physical condition—no one had reported altitude sickness yet.

The altitude of Xicheng was considered mild for the region, at just over 3,000 meters; most people were adapting well.

Even Sheng Ruxi seemed fine, as far as Jian Jixing had observed.

She even managed to keep herself meticulously groomed from head to toe. Jian Jixing had seen many actresses and encountered various fragrances, but none were quite like Sheng Ruxi’s.

After a long silence, Jian Jixing let out a slow breath.

Her gland was aching.

Sheng Ruxi wasn’t just a spoiled little fox; she was a vixen who had attained enlightenment.

She could lean against Jian Jixing with all the warmth and softness of a lover, performing intimate gestures, yet detach herself with cold ruthlessness in an instant.

She could stop even when their lips were about to touch, her mind and heart completely occupied by someone else.

She could act the part of a heavenly couple in Jian Jixing’s arms with total ease.

The physical reaction when they were close had almost made Jian Jixing believe, for a split second, that the other woman truly liked her.

But it was all an act.

Ever since the third year of junior high, when Sheng Ruxi had insisted on confessing to someone just to beat Jian Jixing to the punch, Jian Jixing had known that Sheng Ruxi hated losing to her.

She knew it was an act, yet her body had responded in earnest.

When she bit her ear, she had held herself back.

The thoughts in her heart were explicit; she didn’t need Sheng Ruxi to know them.

Bite her to death.

Do it with her; shut her mouth.

Twice a month was the rule. If she did it one more time, there was no telling how long this “Little Ancestor” would hold a grudge.

Just missing a message was enough for Sheng Ruxi to wish her “widowed.” If she actually bit her without consent, Jian Jixing couldn’t imagine how furious she would be.

Jian Jixing couldn’t afford to face the princess’s wrath.

She opened the first-aid kit in her room and took out two vials of suppressants.

She hadn’t touched these since she discovered she couldn’t have a normal rut. Now, Sheng Ruxi had actually driven her to use them.

Unfamiliar with the process, she plunged the needle in with a stoic expression. It stung.

Jian Jixing had just closed her eyes to try and catch some sleep when a call from Wang Renqing woke her up.

When she answered, she heard Gu Shengci’s annoying voice: “Hi? My dear best friend, are you sleeping? Get up! Your twenties are for hustling!”

Wind whistled in the background, and she could faintly hear Wang Renqing shouting at Gu Shengci.

Jian Jixing: “…”

My nemesis.

Although Gu Shengci sounded cheerful, Jian Jixing could hear her gasping—she was likely on oxygen.

The private pastoral area where Wang Renqing was located was at a much higher altitude. Gu Shengci must have gone there directly without acclimating.

Having finally secured a vacation, Jian Jixing’s tone was unfriendly: “Why are you calling me from Renqing’s phone?”

“…Maybe because you blocked me?” Gu Shengci coughed twice. “Listen.”

Jian Jixing: “I’m busy. Bye.” She knew nothing good came from Gu Shengci calling her.

“I beg you, friend! How was I supposed to know Jingjing would collapse? The TV station and Shanmi planned a semi-charity documentary. We came to acclimate three days ago. I’m still on oxygen, but Xiao Jing went straight into altitude sickness and pheromone disorder. She’s been sent back. We need someone top-tier to step in.”

Gu Shengci sighed; she really missed Jingjing right now.

“This is your specialty. You love this kind of cultural and landscape stuff.”

The person Gu Shengci mentioned, Cen Jing, was a famous documentary director at the station who had collaborated with Jian Jixing before.

“And?”

Gu Shengci: “Aren’t you stranded in Xicheng? At 2:00 PM, the county magistrate of Shanmi is attending an event there. After it’s over, he can take you and the team directly to Shanmi by helicopter. Just capture some documentary footage.”

Jian Jixing laughed. “Don’t you know I’m on vacation?”

“I’m on my knees.” Gu Shengci said through the pain. “I gave you intel on Princess Sheng, didn’t I? Help me this once. If I find someone else, the station chief will kick me. It’s a paid vacation! Paid, my friend! We have everything else ready; we just need someone to take charge.”

Mentioning that just reminded Jian Jixing of Sheng Ruxi saying she’d rather be widowed.

Jian Jixing found her incredibly annoying, but she suppressed it and said, “Send me the time, location, and workflow.”

Before Gu Shengci could launch a “kiss” magic attack over the phone, Jian Jixing hung up.

She really was born to work; even on a hard-won vacation, she couldn’t stay idle.

She had originally planned to hide away in the mountains, only coming out when Yan Yaojin forced her to take Sheng Ruxi home.

Sheng Ruxi.

Just the name made Jian Jixing’s temples throb.

She couldn’t think about her. The moment she did, she wanted to bite her.

Soon, Gu Shengci sent over the job details. The task was light, summarized in four words: [Record the Magistrate’s Work.]

After tidying up, Jian Jixing prepared to head out.

…

At noon, Tuanzi came to pick up Sheng Ruxi.

When she saw two empty boxes of “suppressant coffee” on Sheng Ruxi’s side table, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Sister Xi! Why are you drinking those again—”

Hadn’t the doctor said it would be best for her to quit that habit entirely?

Sheng Ruxi: “I felt a bit hot, so I wanted something cold.”

She obviously wouldn’t say it was because of Jian Jixing.

Tuanzi shivered; the temperature outside was barely 10°C—it could hardly be called “hot.”

But she didn’t dare say more.

“Sister Xi is in such good spirits today; you didn’t even sleep in,” Tuanzi said in wonder. This wasn’t Sheng Ruxi’s style at all. Usually, if she had an afternoon event, she would sleep until the very last second before makeup.

Today was different. Not only did she wake up early, she was already dressed.

Sheng Ruxi nodded absentmindedly.

Sleep in? How could she sleep? After Jian Jixing left, it took her a long time to calm down, and eventually, she had to change her clothes.

Otherwise, things felt… sticky. It was very uncomfortable.

It was all Jian Jixing’s fault!

Because of the Alpha’s proximity, her body had automatically prepared itself to receive.

Like water that had reached its boiling point, she had overflowed her container.

Jian Jixing’s coat was still on the sofa. Tuanzi, being sharp, reached for it as they prepared to leave: “Sister Xi, I’ll send all the clothes to the dry cleaners today.”

“Not that one,” Sheng Ruxi pointed at Jian Jixing’s coat.

It couldn’t be washed.

If it were washed, the scent of Jian Jixing’s agarwood pheromones would be gone.

“…Okay.” Tuanzi immediately complied, grabbing the bags to leave with Sheng Ruxi.

Jian Jixing arrived early, familiarized herself with the venue, and coordinated the workflow with the new team.

Xicheng had launched several “Peach Blossom Special Lines,” and the magistrates of various counties were there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

As Gu Shengci had suspected, they just needed a leader on-site. With Cen Jing gone, Jian Jixing felt no pressure stepping in. She was 100% professional once she took a job. After checking the three camera angles, she walked over to the photographers.

These were roving photographers who would need to capture detailed interactions on stage.

There were many staff members coming and going. Jian Jixing was dressed low-key in all black, wearing a mask and a baseball cap. The photographers didn’t recognize her and continued chatting while adjusting their angles.

Jian Jixing reached out and tilted one camera up slightly. “Here. Adjust the focal length like this; it’ll be perfect.”

Several positions had been marked on the stage beforehand to help photographers find their angles.

“A new colleague? Thanks, thanks! That was a master touch.” Mia turned to thank her, realizing she had to look up slightly.

What an aura. Are the newcomers really this cool?

Jian Jixing shook her head to signal it was nothing, then pointed at the black silhouette stand in the center. “Who is that for?”

“It’s for the ‘Peach Blossom Line Travel Experience Ambassador.’ To get the best effect, they haven’t revealed who it is yet. Very mysterious,” Mia said with a smile. “We’ve been guessing for ages. This ambassador role seems like a plum job, but if they really have to experience these mountain areas, a pampered person won’t last.”

Another photographer smiled regretfully. “Isn’t that the truth? Best Actress Sheng came to Xicheng last night. We were all wondering if she was the one signed as the ambassador. If only it were her… the thought of filming my goddess for half a month would make even being an overworked cameraman feel easy.”

Coming here meant hardship; why would Sheng Ruxi ever agree to it? Jian Jixing smiled slightly and said, “It won’t be her.”

“That’s why we have to find the right angles—to make the person look beautiful,” Mia lamented. “If it were Sheng Ruxi, any shot would look amazing.”

Jian Jixing: “You like her that much?”

Mia laughed. “Who doesn’t like Sheng Ruxi? Which department are you from?”

Jian Jixing pulled down her mask and smiled faintly. “Pleasure to meet you.”

By the time Jian Jixing had walked far away, Mia was still frozen in place, slapping her own cheeks.

If there’s one person in this world who doesn’t like Sheng Ruxi, it must be Director Jian…

At 1:30 PM, the event officially began. After some long introductions and meetings with leaders, it was finally time to reveal the Travel Experience Ambassador.

Jian Jixing was at the main control console at the side-rear of the stage, skillfully directing Camera One to focus.

That was the “C-position”—the center of attention.

Once the star appeared and joined the magistrates in the ribbon-cutting for the Peach Blossom Line helicopter, she would officially board the craft for a trial run.

Jian Jixing was the director for the Xicheng-to-Shanmi route and was overseeing the whole event today. She was also supposed to go on stage for a group photo after the ceremony, but she had no interest in it.

She was only here to help and to fly the team to the destination afterward.

Amidst the cheers, she looked up. When she saw the familiar, exquisite face on the screen, she froze for a moment.

Sheng Ruxi.

She walked out, surrounded by people like a moon among stars, yet she fit in perfectly, as if she were born for this.

Sheng Ruxi couldn’t see her, of course, but Jian Jixing’s gaze never left her.

Today, Sheng Ruxi wore earrings with massive deep-sea pearls surrounded by emerald diamonds, yet her face didn’t let the extravagant jewelry steal the show for a second.

Everyone was watching her, including Jian Jixing behind the monitor.

The area around Jian Jixing was silent.

No one expected the mysterious ambassador to be Sheng Ruxi.

On stage, the event reached its climax as all cameras prepared for the ribbon-cutting.

—I never want to see you again!

Jian Jixing remembered what Sheng Ruxi had said to her that morning. A staff member reminded her: “Director Jian, it’s time for you to prepare to go on stage.”

As the lead director for the day and the person filling in for Cen Jing, the magistrate had also invited her up.

The audio from the stage came through clearly in her headset.

“Will the directors be coming up in a moment?”

“Yes, you’ll also get to meet the director in charge of the Shanmi section ahead of time. She’s an excellent young talent; she’s been watching our rehearsals on-site all afternoon.”

“That impressive? Then she must be a very talented director.” Sheng Ruxi’s smile was sincere, her gentle voice reaching Jian Jixing’s ears. “I look forward to meeting her.”

She looked beautiful and poised. Her words were perfect, and the scene was flawless.

Of course, all of this was based on the fact that Sheng Ruxi didn’t know it was her.

Suddenly, Jian Jixing changed her mind.

She took off her hat, casually ran a hand back through her hair, and walked toward the stage.