After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 1

“The 27th Magnolia Awards Best Actress goes to—”

“Gu Qingzhu.”

The venue was ablaze with lights, a galaxy of stars gathered. This was the once-every-four-years Magnolia Awards ceremony, where the competition was fierce, with the rivalry between film queen Gu Qingzhu and television queen Song Fei being the most talked-about.

The two had been sworn enemies for years. As the host’s voice trailed off, the screen split in two, revealing Song Fei in the corner, her face ashen as she forced a gentle smile.

In stark contrast, Gu Qingzhu stood poised, not a trace of a smile on her face, as if the award meant nothing to her. The juxtaposition immediately sparked heated discussions among netizens watching the broadcast.

Once on stage, the host asked perfunctorily, “Qingzhu, do you have anything you’d like to say?”

Gu Qingzhu, known for her icy demeanor throughout her years of fame, had always given the same acceptance speech.

First, thank the crew, then the creative team, and finally, the fans.

As the audience mentally recited the predictable words along with her, the camera lingered on Gu Qingzhu, who paused for a few seconds.

Her features were cool and elegant, silver earrings catching the light. Renowned as an ice queen, this time her gaze into the camera was unusually tender.

“I’d also like to thank a friend of mine, Miss Xu,” Gu Qingzhu said, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. “Without you, I wouldn’t be standing here.”

The moment the words left her lips, the venue erupted.

The hashtag #GuQingzhuMissXu instantly exploded on social media, with the entire internet stunned, wondering if she had just come out publicly. Even the atmosphere in the venue shifted palpably.

Whispers rose and fell, but none of it disturbed the woman seated slightly left of center in the audience. Wrapped in a coat, her hair disheveled, she sat with her eyes lightly closed, breathing steadily.

…Clearly, she was fast asleep.

Ying Xu was jolted awake by the sound of mocking voices.

“Does she even realize what kind of occasion this is? Treating it like her own home, sleeping wherever she pleases, no manners at all.”

“Anyone would think she’s some big-shot celebrity with back-to-back schedules.”

“Rumors say she has a sugar daddy. True or not?”

“Photos have already leaked. How could it be fake…”

In her ear, a calm system voice spoke.

[Welcome to this world.]

[You need to accomplish three things: 1. Uncover the truth behind Xu Ying’s car accident. 2. Mark Gu Qingzhu. 3. Make Gu Qingzhu fall in love with you.]

Ying Xu opened her eyes, the system’s introduction still echoing faintly in her ears.

After outlining the tasks, the system gave a brief self-introduction.

It was a system designed to change destinies. As long as the protagonist’s regret value reached 100%, she could freely choose her own path.

Whether to stay in this world, fully embrace the role, and enjoy fame and fortune or move on to the next world, experiencing even greater heights, the choice was entirely Ying Xu’s.

In this world, Ying Xu’s goal was to win over the film queen Gu Qingzhu, who had just “publicly declared her love” on screen.

The story wasn’t long. The Gu and Xu families were deeply rooted in politics, their private ties extremely close. When Gu Qingzhu was fourteen, her family moved to Xingcheng, and she and Xu Ying became neighbors.

From childhood, Gu Qingzhu had suffered from pheromone rejection syndrome, making her highly averse to Alphas.

Exposure to an Alpha’s pheromones could cause anything from vomiting to fainting. Over time, she developed a deep aversion even to school.

At that time, Xu Ying had already presented as a Beta. Though she was only a few months older than Gu Qingzhu, she took on the role of an elder sister, caring for her with utmost devotion. It was inevitable that Gu Qingzhu would develop feelings for her, secretly hoping to present as a Beta as well so she could marry Xu Ying when they grew up.

Who could have guessed that at seventeen, Gu Qingzhu would present as an Omega?

An Omega who desperately needed the soothing pheromones of an Alpha.

Proud and unyielding by nature, Gu Qingzhu despised Alphas and loathed the idea of being an Omega easily controlled by others. The double blow drove her to avoid Xu Ying at every turn.

At the same time, her father was transferred for work, forcing the family to leave Xingcheng.

That unspoken crush was left with no resolution.

Until ten years later.

Gu Qingzhu skyrocketed to fame overnight with a breakout role, becoming a rising star in the entertainment industry. Xu Ying, meanwhile, devoted herself to biomedical research. Though their paths seemed to have diverged completely, a variety show brought them face to face once more.

A decade had passed, and Gu Qingzhu’s condition had worsened to the point of threatening her life.

Knowing her time might be limited, she longed to reconnect with Xu Ying, unwilling to leave any regrets between them.

It was at this moment that the original host entered Gu Qingzhu’s life as Xu Ying’s assistant.

Not only did she share a name strikingly similar to Xu Ying’s, but her appearance was nearly identical, right down to being a Beta.

At a glance, the only difference was the tear mole at the corner of her eye. During the period when Gu Qingzhu was reconnecting with Xu Ying, she mistook the original host for Xu Ying more than once.

For the first half of the story, the original host played little role.

Then, on the night Gu Qingzhu won Best Actress, Xu Ying and the original host were returning from an overseas conference when their car skidded on the rain-slicked road and crashed.

The driver and Xu Ying died on impact only the original host, seated in the back, survived.

In every previous trip, the original host had always sat in the front passenger seat.

Around the same time, Gu Qingzhu received an insurance policy, an accident plan Xu Ying had personally purchased for the original host seven years prior.

If Xu Ying died in an accident, the original host would receive a payout of ten million.

Gu Qingzhu launched an investigation and discovered that the original host had frequently borrowed large sums of money from friends and family. Even more damning, her social media accounts were filled with vitriolic posts cursing Xu Ying hatred etched into every word, dating back seven years.

Most crucially, she wasn’t a Beta.

She was an Alpha, disguised as a Beta.

Years of suffering had left Gu Qingzhu with a volatile temperament and an intense hatred for Alphas.

With the evidence laid bare before her, her first instinct was to make “Ying Xu pay the price.”

Xu Ying was already dead so the price Ying Xu would pay had to be worse than death.

Gu Qingzhu wanted her to know that death was the easiest way out.

When they met again, Gu Qingzhu flung a stack of documents in the original host’s face. Throughout the outburst, the original host remained silent, allowing her to vent. Just as Gu Qingzhu was about to order further retaliation, she caught a whiff of Alpha pheromones in the air.

The scent came from Ying Xu.

For the first time in her life, Gu Qingzhu didn’t recoil at an Alpha’s pheromones.

It was only after that day that she learned the truth her compatibility with Ying Xu’s pheromones was a perfect 100%.

In short, as long as Xu Ying agreed to use pheromones to soothe her, Gu Qingzhu’s condition would ease. And if they engaged in more intimate behavior, a complete cure wasn’t out of the question.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden burst of cheers around her.

On stage, the awards ceremony had concluded. The winning actors had taken their group photos and were now leaving one by one through the VIP exit.

Xu Ying lifted her gaze and saw Gu Qingzhu ascending the steps slowly.

The eyes of thousands in the venue converged like beams of light, focused solely on Gu Qingzhu.

The woman chatted with a familiar actor beside her, her profile bathed in the glow, making her delicate features appear even more aloof.

At some point in the conversation, Gu Qingzhu’s smile grew noticeably more genuine. Just as her lips parted to speak again, her peripheral vision caught sight of Xu Ying in the audience.

The Alpha was staring at her, dazed and unblinking.

Gu Qingzhu had encountered this familiar gaze many times over the years, and each time, it had filled her with utter disgust.

But today, rather than the usual reflexive irritation, her attention was drawn more to the woman’s slightly pale complexion.

The night before, after their argument, Gu Qingzhu had kicked Xu Ying out. Unexpectedly, it had started raining in the early hours, Xu Ying had been drenched for as long as the downpour lasted.

Gu Qingzhu only learned of this after waking up.

She had wanted to ask about it, but Xu Ying had already left the mansion for a film shoot, and the matter was quickly forgotten.

Now, seeing her again, Gu Qingzhu couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Is she sick?

The thought flitted inexplicably through her mind, only to be swiftly suppressed.

Xu Ying’s well-being was Xu Ying’s business, what did it have to do with her?

Lost in thought for just a few seconds, Gu Qingzhu snapped back to attention at a reporter’s question, averting her gaze.

The image of Xu Ying’s pallid lips lingered in her mind as she flashed a practiced, picture-perfect smile, one that couldn’t quite mask the obvious indifference beneath.

The awards ceremony had ended. The artists seated near Xu Ying were gradually ushered away, yet no one came to dismiss her.

Under the barrage of sidelong glances from departing guests, Xu Ying finally realized that the awards show was merely the prelude to the night’s main event: a charity gala hosted by the Sheng family.

Over the next few minutes, wherever Xu Ying looked, the system provided introductions.

Most of the attendees were business elites. Even if they didn’t recognize Xu Ying, seeing her seated there unbothered prompted them to smile and strike up conversations.

Xu Ying wasn’t foolish, she guessed this was due to Gu Qingzhu’s prior arrangements.

With the system’s assistance, she engaged in light banter, effortlessly winning the favor of those around her and exchanging contact details.

But a first meeting could only yield so much.

Just as Xu Ying considered leaving, her phone buzzed.

She glanced down, the sender was an unsaved number, with only one message:

[I’m waiting for you outside the venue.]

Gu Qingzhu?

After confirming with the system, Xu Ying received an affirmative answer.

She scrolled up, there were no prior messages between them, clearly wiped clean intentionally.

Earlier, during her free time, Xu Ying had combed through the original host’s messaging apps.

Normally, such apps could reveal much about a person’s life, but the original host’s contacts were sparse. While she had friends mostly co-stars her frequent conversations were limited to her manager and assistant, both of whom treated her with marked indifference.

The system’s voice sounded somewhat distorted at this moment: 【Host, aren’t you going to find the female lead?】

Ying Xu replied: 【Isn’t that what I’m about to do now?】

As soon as Ying Xu stood up, a server guided her toward a special passageway.

Inside the passage, the heating was intense, the warmth making her thoughts more active, bringing more information to mind.

During the second week of “following” Gu Qingzhu, the original host had signed a ten-year indentured contract with a notoriously exploitative agency in the industry, thus beginning a life full of controversy.

The original host was dull and inarticulate, looked down upon by all her collaborators. Whether in variety shows or acting, the most foolish clown roles were always reserved for her, as if she had become the real-life embodiment of a “joke,” her reputation deteriorating by the day.

The accusations pinned on the original host were numerous and absurd, having multiple sugar daddies, being domineering and stealing scenes, engaging in promiscuous relationships… Whenever something went wrong on set, the blame would inevitably fall on her.

Yet neither the original host’s agency nor the original host herself ever responded to this frenzy. The original host was more like a lump of mud, allowing herself to be kneaded and reshaped without resistance.

Standing outside the venue, gusts of cold wind sent a biting chill through Ying Xu.

The night was as dark as ink, snowflakes drifting outside the venue.

Inside the car, the assistant stole a glance upward.

In the rearview mirror, Gu Qingzhu unlocked her phone for the third time, her brows tightly furrowed, her expression on the screen extremely displeased.

This was a rare sight in the past.

Unless absolutely necessary, Gu Qingzhu hardly ever used electronic devices, let alone checked them three times in a row.

Seeing Gu Qingzhu teetering on the edge of losing her composure, the assistant cautiously spoke up: “Qingzhu, Shan Qiaoyun asked you to message her back after the awards ceremony.”

Shan Qiaoyun was Gu Qingzhu’s agent. The two had worked together for years and had a relatively harmonious relationship.

Without even looking at the message, Gu Qingzhu could already guess what it was about nothing more than matters related to “Miss Xu.”

“I’ll talk to her in person when I have time.”

As her words trailed off, Gu Qingzhu’s gaze returned to the screen.

The assistant, having worked with Gu Qingzhu for two years, knew very well that this was Gu Qingzhu’s way of ending the conversation, full stop.

She would have liked to leave it at that, but Shan Qiaoyun was pressing hard, emphasizing that Gu Qingzhu “must reply.” Wracking her brain, the assistant could only bring up another topic: “Speaking of which, Qingzhu, did you know Ying Xu wants to join the cast of ‘Redemption’?”

In the rearview mirror, Gu Qingzhu looked up: “Since when?”

“Redemption” was a niche film, a vanity project by a company shareholder to indulge his daughter. Gu Qingzhu’s participation was merely to repay a favor, and her role was minor.

“Just today,” the assistant said carefully. “Ying Xu personally approached Shan Qiaoyun. When Shan asked for her reason, she said… she wanted to take care of you on set.”

Take care.

Gu Qingzhu found it deeply ironic.

How could she possibly need Ying Xu’s care?

In Gu Qingzhu’s eyes, this was just Ying Xu’s most basic ploy to get closer to her.

“No need. Tell Shan Qiaoyun to cut ties with Ying Xu.” After a moment’s thought, Gu Qingzhu felt this wasn’t enough. “And have her contact Ying Xu’s agent. Isn’t there an extreme reality show looking for her as a guest? Send her there.”

“Qingzhu!”

The assistant’s voice was hoarse with disbelief. The extreme show Gu Qingzhu mentioned was infamous for being life-threatening. Despite its high notoriety for its shock value, no agent with a shred of conscience in the industry would dare send their artist to risk their life.

Gu Qingzhu never felt the need to justify her decisions to anyone.

Noticing her assistant’s hesitant expression, she frowned slightly and was about to speak when the car door suddenly swung open from the outside.

The soft click froze both occupants inside.

Snow and wind swirled into the car as Gu Qingzhu lifted her gaze. Ying Xu stood silently outside, draped in a black overcoat.

It was a rare face pale skin, striking features, and a pair of mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes that, with just a glance, could intoxicate like a potent liquor, drawing one in unconsciously.

After a brief moment of surprise, Gu Qingzhu regained her composure.

She wasn’t sure how much Ying Xu had overheard, but it didn’t matter to her.

So, what if she had heard? Ying Xu would never dare defy her.

The irritation of waiting surged, drowning out any trace of uncertainty.

Finally, Gu Qingzhu spoke, “Why did it take you so long?”

Ying Xu wondered was it really that long?

Ten minutes of idle chatter, five minutes on the road. By her count, she had only kept Gu Qingzhu waiting for fifteen minutes.

Compared to the endless hours the original host had waited for Gu Qingzhu, fifteen minutes was but a drop in the ocean.

The assistant discreetly stepped out of the car, leaving the two alone. The backseat was cramped and stifling. Gu Qingzhu’s expression remained indifferent, but when Ying Xu stayed silent, she spoke again, her tone dripping with impatient arrogance.

“Did you not hear me?” Gu Qingzhu said coldly. “I said I was waiting for you.”