After Entering A Marriage of Convenience With My Omega Rival - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Tsk, a closet romantic.

The moment Jian Jixing appeared, everyone was struck dumb.

In the earpieces, the other staff members, who had been non-stop coordinating and directing, fell instantly silent.

Sheng Ruxi stared at Jian Jixing, motionless.

Even though Jian Jixing’s outfit, hair, and makeup were simple, her ethereal aura was undeniable; whatever she wore looked like it belonged on a runway.

Her eyes were bright when she smiled, breaking through her stoic black attire to radiate a unique, unrestrained brilliance that captured all the light.

Jian Jixing walked slowly under Sheng Ruxi’s gaze, and everyone on stage instinctively made way for the space beside the actress.

Only one thought remained in everyone’s minds—besides a beauty like Sheng Ruxi, who else could possibly stand beside this legendary director?

Jian Jixing knew Sheng Ruxi was furious. If eyes could kill, she’d already be dead.

She came to a halt beside Sheng Ruxi, her smiling gaze seemingly brushing past Sheng Ruxi’s earlobe with an ambiguous meaning.

That was the spot she had bitten that morning. It was now covered by an antique pearl hoop earring, perfectly concealing the mark.

Sheng Ruxi clearly felt her gaze. Her breathing tightened, but she was trapped by the cameras and couldn’t glare back.

Jian Jixing had to admit that, in front of Sheng Ruxi, she had a bit of a mean streak.

Sheng Ruxi was fuming internally, yet Jian Jixing smiled as if basking in spring air.

“I didn’t expect Best Actress Sheng to praise me,” Jian Jixing said. “You have good taste, joining a project like this.”

Of all the comfortable gigs to take, you chose this one? You certainly know how to pick ’em.

Though she tilted her head closer while speaking, Jian Jixing’s arm stayed pressed against her side, never crossing a line.

Before the lens, Sheng Ruxi looked straight ahead, using only her peripheral vision to look at Jian Jixing, a sarcastic curve at the corner of her lips.

Good. Very good.

It turned out seeing Jian Jixing last night wasn’t entirely due to their parents; the woman actually had work here.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Jian Jixing knew they’d run into each other at the afternoon event, so how could she so naturally agree to “never see each other again” this morning?

Sheng Ruxi’s state had been poor last night, and she had only managed to stabilize herself today with two cups of “suppressant coffee.” The moment Jian Jixing appeared, it was all ruined.

She was incredibly irritable.

A thin layer of annoyance rose in Sheng Ruxi’s heart, but her smile remained flawless: “I just didn’t expect to run into Director Jian here.”

If I’d known it was you, I naturally wouldn’t have praised you.

The staff on-site were well-versed in the “Little Ancestor’s” subtext; their faces went pale. Conversely, Jian Jixing didn’t seem to care at all, her smile gentle: “Miss Sheng, stop looking only at the audience. It’s time for the ribbon-cutting.”

Her eyes lingered once more on the area behind Sheng Ruxi’s ear.

The earrings were a good choice; they completely covered the bite mark she had left, ensuring nothing would be revealed to the cameras.

Sheng Ruxi: “…” She was extremely sensitive to Jian Jixing’s gaze. How could she not know what the woman was looking at!

When Sheng Ruxi cut the ribbon, the scissors made a sharp, decisive snip. Only in that instant did she allow her personal emotions to leak through.

One wondered who she was imagining that poor silk ribbon to be.

As soon as Sheng Ruxi set the scissors down, Jian Jixing, having finished her task, immediately headed backstage.

Tuanzi rushed up to help Sheng Ruxi with her skirt, whispering, “Sister Xi, let’s go change. We have to board the helicopter soon.”

Sheng Ruxi acted as if she hadn’t heard, but as soon as the cameras stopped following her, she followed Jian Jixing.

The steps were a bit slippery, and her figure swayed slightly.

As if sensing Sheng Ruxi behind her, Jian Jixing had already stopped and casually reached out an arm for Sheng Ruxi to steady herself.

The staff following behind didn’t know whether to step forward or stay back—surely they wouldn’t tear into each other and start another fight here?

Sheng Ruxi’s hand stayed on Jian Jixing’s arm. Her tone was dissatisfied: “Who told you to walk off without waiting for me?”

Jian Jixing: “You wouldn’t even give me a single look. How would I dare to stand out in front of you?”

Sheng Ruxi scoffed, finding the person before her truly ridiculous.

Once she was safely down the stairs, she let go, leaning in close to Jian Jixing. With gritted teeth that only the two of them could hear, she hissed: “I didn’t realize Director Jian was so clingy. What was with that act this morning then?”

Jian Jixing carried a woody scent that made her feel at ease, and Sheng Ruxi couldn’t help but want to inhale more of it. Since Jian Jixing was willing to help her down the stairs, if her attitude softened just a little more, Sheng Ruxi might—

Tuanzi followed behind them, warning curious onlookers not to take photos while keeping a respectful distance herself.

When two “Great Buddhas” fight, innocent bystanders get hurt. It was better to watch from afar.

Jian Jixing neither denied nor confirmed it. She simply turned her face away slightly: “Watch your image, Best Actress Sheng. I am a married woman.”

“…”

Stunned into silence, Sheng Ruxi immediately dropped any thought of asking Jian Jixing for a temporary mark.

Truly asking for trouble.

Whatever.

As the director of the Shanmi promotional film, Jian Jixing would definitely be on the helicopter with the Travel Experience Ambassador.

When the time came, she would use just a little bit of pheromones. She didn’t believe Jian Jixing wouldn’t take the bait.

Jian Jixing saw Sheng Ruxi’s hesitation as a helpless refusal to speak to her.

She shrugged, unbothered, and turned to leave.

Sheng Ruxi turned and left with equal pride.

In the eyes of others, the two had parted on bad terms once again. No one dared to say a word or look too closely.

Tuanzi caught up with Sheng Ruxi, only to hear the Little Ancestor’s cold voice: “Get me a cup of coffee.”

Tuanzi asked cautiously: “Coffee?”

Sheng Ruxi: “Suppressant.”

Tuanzi gasped. She wanted to say something, but seeing Sheng Ruxi’s troubled eyes, she swallowed her words.

Today, the Little Ancestor was much more irritable than usual, and her suppressant use far exceeded her normal limits.

—Is this really going to be okay?

…

Jian Jixing finished recording the necessary footage and made her exit. She specifically requested a separate helicopter to distance herself from Sheng Ruxi and flew toward Shanmi ahead of schedule.

High in the sky, Jian Jixing wore noise-canceling headphones. Her subordinates didn’t dare make a sound.

Ever since Jian Jixing left the stage, the photos of the “discordant” ribbon-cutting had spread everywhere.

Naturally, everyone assumed Director Jian was in a bad mood.

The altitude was rising steadily. Jian Jixing’s goggles were pitch black, hiding whatever emotions were in her eyes.

Gradually, people began to chat.

At some point, someone mentioned Sheng Ruxi, and the atmosphere froze. Seeing no reaction from Jian Jixing and assuming she couldn’t hear, they continued the conversation.

“Best Actress Sheng must be confused. Why would she take this job? Coming out to Xicheng… it’s not going to be easy work.”

The team had followed Jian Jixing for years and knew she became a different person when filming. The results were glorious, but the process was always painful.

“If she’d known Director Jian was the one behind the lens, she probably wouldn’t have come. These two are clearly enemies, yet they always end up together…”

It was true.

In fact, Jian Jixing wanted to ask the same thing. Was God playing with her?

“Director Jian is probably annoyed too. Look, she wouldn’t even share a helicopter with her; she left early on purpose.”

Not exactly, Jian Jixing thought. I just didn’t want that ancestor to throw another tantrum the moment she saw me.

A cooling-off period was for the best.

Sheng Ruxi was only taking a trial run of the line today. There were other directors and camera crews there; Jian Jixing wasn’t needed for today’s shoot.

“But I saw staff in the internal group saying Best Actress Sheng smells amazing! Her pheromones seem to be woody—like agarwood. I really didn’t expect that.”

“Whoa, really? When is her fragrance line coming out? I thought she’d have something more intense and flamboyant…”

Jian Jixing opened her eyes and looked at the two colleagues. Even through the goggles, they immediately felt the oppressive gaze and fell silent.

Only when Jian Jixing looked away did the pressure vanish.

The two let out a breath of relief, seeing the same thought in each other’s eyes—Director Jian really can’t stand Sheng Ruxi. What a tragedy.

No one noticed the corners of Jian Jixing’s lips twitching upward.

How could that be Sheng Ruxi’s pheromones?

Only when her pheromones were fading did they smell of agarwood.

Sheng Ruxi had worn her coat; that was why the scent lingered on her.

Tsk, a closet romantic.

If she could just stop being so stubborn, Jian Jixing wouldn’t mind getting along peacefully.

An hour and a half later, the helicopter landed at the Shanmi helipad. From here, it was another two-hour drive to Wang Renqing’s high-mountain pasture. They needed to move immediately to arrive before dark.

The cars were waiting. Jian Jixing was the last one off the craft. Just as she removed her goggles, her phone rang.

Whatever was said on the other end caused the casualness on Jian Jixing’s face to vanish instantly.

She pulled back the foot she was about to step forward with.

“Return immediately,” Jian Jixing said to the pilot. “Take me back to Xicheng. Now.”

The others: “???”

What about us, Director???

…

In a VIP ward at Xicheng Hospital, Sheng Ruxi had regained consciousness.

The room was empty. She didn’t ring the bell, instead staring silently at the ceiling.

She had fainted thirty minutes ago.

It happened half an hour after the flight took off. The altitude had been rising, and Sheng Ruxi had been listening to a staff member. As they went higher, her consciousness drifted.

Her mind was filled with the sensation of Jian Jixing’s fingertips when the woman had helped her earlier.

She usually only thought about Jian Jixing with such high frequency right before her heat.

…How could signs of heat be appearing now?

Before she could figure it out, she had blacked out.

She had felt off before the event even started. Irritability, flushed cheeks—after seeing Jian Jixing in the morning, it had worsened, so she had downed another large cup of suppressant coffee.

Sheng Ruxi had planned to give Jian Jixing a piece of her mind once they met on the helicopter, blaming her for teasing her in the morning and causing this discomfort.

But Jian Jixing hadn’t come.

Her absence made Sheng Ruxi more irritable than if she had shown up. Does she really hate me that much? Everyone else came, but she didn’t!

Sheng Ruxi had even brought Jian Jixing’s coat, intending to return it. It carried the Alpha’s scent; she found that when she was near it, her inner turmoil was somewhat soothed.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Sheng Ruxi had just gotten off a depressing call with Yan Fuzheng and didn’t want to talk to anyone. She decided to pretend to be asleep.

Until a familiar, slightly cool aura arrived at her bedside.

“What happened?”

Sheng Ruxi’s breath hitched. Jian Jixing actually leaned down, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek.

Jian Jixing’s hand was very cold.

Tuanzi whispered, “She should wake up soon. It’s nothing serious, but the doctor needs to speak to her Alpha to give the full details. I’m so sorry to make you rush back…”

Jian Jixing didn’t speak. Sheng Ruxi didn’t know whether to open her eyes or keep them closed; she just hoped Tuanzi wouldn’t leave.

But Tuanzi, lacking any sense of the situation, left. She was alone with Jian Jixing.

And right then, her phone rang.

“…Fufu?”

Hearing Jian Jixing read out that name, Sheng Ruxi remembered the “explicit” content she had just been chatting about with Yan Fuzheng. Her heart skipped a beat.