After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 20.2

Ying Xu didn’t know what kind of surprise they had planned. She was somewhat looking forward to it, but not overly so.

Before turning off the light, she took one last glance at the ointment.

The blue packaging stood out vividly. Ying Xu reached up to touch the corner of her eye and finally understood the reason for the changes in the mansion.

Had Gu Qingzhu grown to despise her to this extent? Even the same color had to be ruthlessly discarded.

But the more Gu Qingzhu hated it, the more Ying Xu wanted her to see it.

Preferably, for the rest of her life.

Every time she opened her eyes, she would see blue.

The next day, when she received a bouquet of ninety-nine roses on set,

Ying Xu suddenly regretted not refusing Cheng Jun’s “surprise” the night before.

This time, the bouquet still contained a card, the woman’s handwriting bold and unrestrained.

“My heart is a bird of the wilderness.”①

“Ying Xu!”

Just as Ying Xu instinctively tried to hide the card, Sheng Qiuyu spotted her and waved. Her gaze drifted to the flowers for a brief moment before settling back on Ying Xu’s face. “Are those for me?”

Ying Xu took a deep breath and looked at the omega.

Though she had to wear costumes during filming, Sheng Qiuyu had her own unique take on daily outfits. Cute, lively, and adorned with intricate lace, the elaborate dresses she wore only served to complement her.

The bow swayed with her movements, making her look especially like an exquisitely crafted doll in a shop window.

“Give it to me, Miss Ying.” Liu Sui remained close, following Sheng Qiuyu, her tone somewhat distant. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen you. Xiaoyu has missed you a lot lately.”

As the words trailed off, Sheng Qiuyu finally pursed her lips, exuding a particularly haughty air. “You said that! I didn’t say anything!”

Ying Xu nodded. Whether she missed her or not was irrelevant after all, lengthy chat logs held far more weight than mere snippets of conversation.

She handed the flowers to Liu Sui, and the Beta tactfully left the two alone.

“Was the capital fun?”

Sheng Qiuyu abruptly initiated the topic. Ying Xu paused. “It was nice.”

“Just as Miss Sheng described… spring-like all year round.”

“Next time, I’ll take you to my home,” Sheng Qiuyu said. “It’s not as crowded as the Xu family’s, but it’s peaceful. Everyone there likes me, and if you come with me, they’ll like you too.”

Ying Xu had never mentioned the “Xu family” to Sheng Qiuyu. The affairs of Xu Ying and Gu Qingzhu were, after all, secrets. Yet clearly, during this time, the Omega had pieced together the whole story through her own means.

Suddenly, Ying Xu understood why Sheng Qiuyu’s words had been unusually abundant lately.

She responded gently to each of Sheng Qiuyu’s remarks until, finally, Sheng Qiuyu bit her lip and cautiously asked, “Ying Xu.”

“Hmm?”

“Would you… after filming this drama, come back to the Sheng family with me?”

Stunned for a few seconds, Ying Xu let out a helpless laugh.

What was this? A secret elopement behind Gu Qingzhu’s back?

Her gaze toward Sheng Qiuyu was tinged with rare exasperation.

If she gave her heart away so easily, wouldn’t Sheng Qiuyu just end up deceived by some other Alpha in the future?

“That day is still far off,” Ying Xu gently declined. “We’ll talk about it later, Miss Sheng.”

Because of this tactful refusal, Sheng Qiuyu’s mood remained subdued for the rest of the day, a stark contrast to her bright and cheerful demeanor that morning.

Even so, she still struck up conversations whenever Ying Xu glanced her way, though her tone carried an unmistakable sadness.

Ying Xu couldn’t help but soften, but her sympathy was for Sheng Qiuyu herself, not the proposal she had made.

At least for now, there was no way Ying Xu would “hide” with Sheng Qiuyu in the Sheng family’s estate in the capital.

By the time the day’s filming wrapped up, she found herself once again under the scrutiny of those clear, deer-like eyes.

Ying Xu exhaled deeply, finally relenting. “Miss Sheng, I”

“You don’t have to say it. I already know.” Sheng Qiuyu slumped dejectedly, her long white trench coat from the set nearly brushing the ground. “What I said was stupid. Liu Sui told me so too, but I”

Mid-sentence, she abruptly stopped.

At some point, Ying Xu, who had been walking ahead, had halted and turned to look at her.

“I can’t change how others think, but to me, what you said was wonderful,” Ying Xu murmured. “It made me happy. Thank you.”

Sheng Qiuyu stared at her, eyes stinging. She wanted to ask if it made her happy, then why refuse?

Was the illusion of love truly so alluring?

“You can do whatever you want. Of course, you can refuse too. That’s your freedom.”

Sheng Qiuyue’s voice grew increasingly urgent as she spoke, until finally, she nearly shouted, “Fine, do whatever you want!! I don’t care anymore!!!”

The Sheng family’s car drove off into the distance, leaving Xu Ying standing alone on the spot, her gaze still fixed on the receding vehicle.

Only when it completely disappeared beyond the horizon did Xu Ying unlock her phone screen.

The words “I’m sorry” were typed out. Xu Ying knew Sheng Qiuyue didn’t like it when she apologized.

But some things still needed to be said.

Just as she was about to hit send, another message appeared on the screen, climbing up faster than hers.

“Forget what I said.”

Xu Ying stared at the screen, then deleted the three words in the text box.

The winter evening wind was biting. Only after truly experiencing the warmth of the main city that Sheng Qiuyue had spoken of did Xu Ying understand just how stark the contrast was and how hard it was to accept.

As Xu Ying turned to leave the set, lost in thought, a car suddenly pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing Assistant Lu in the passenger seat, her expression more urgent than ever before: “Xu Ying, have you seen the trending topics? Has any media reached out to you?”

Xu Ying froze for a few seconds before abruptly lowering her gaze, her fingers swiping across the screen. In the entertainment news section, the topic “#GuQingzhuRomance” dominated the top spot.

Clicking into it, the screen was flooded with photos of Xu Ying and Gu Qingzhu.

Not just from the set of Redemption, but also candid shots taken by passersby during their outings long before. In one of them, Gu Qingzhu was even holding hands with the Alpha beside her.

The owner of that number hadn’t contacted Shan Qiaoyun. Instead, they had directly posted these photos on an anonymous entertainment forum. In just half an hour, the scandal exploded. Instantly, all of Xu Ying’s past information was dug up and plastered online.

Soon, Xu Ying’s phone began vibrating incessantly with calls, screen after screen of obscenities from unknown numbers across the globe.

“Bang”

With a loud crash, the teacups on the coffee table shattered across the floor.

The office was pristine, bathed in the glow of twilight, yet filled with nothing but meaningless gloom.

When Assistant Lu pushed open the door and heard the noise, she initially thought Gu Qingzhu had had another episode,

But when she cautiously looked up, the Omega was simply sitting by the window, her eyes following a bird soaring through the clouds.

At the desk, Shan Qiaoyun, her face twisted in fury, pointed at the real-time updates scrolling across the screen, exclaiming in disbelief, “Weren’t those photos already bought? Why were they leaked?!”

Xiang Ling seemed to have rushed over in the middle of work, still wearing her lab coat, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation. “They broke the deal. Why are you asking me?”

“Yes! Yes!” Xiang Ling shouted even louder than Shan Qiaoyun. “I was the one who sold those photos, but that was years ago! Someone liked Xu Ying and bought a few pictures, what’s the big deal? Why are you yelling? Don’t make me call my lawyer Xu Ying!”

Her tone shifted from anger to surprise so abruptly that Shan Qiaoyun pressed her fingers to her temples.

She turned to the newcomer, recalling the threats from days prior, and struggled to rein in her emotions. “Xu Ying.”

Xu Ying hadn’t heard their argument. Seeing Xiang Ling here was just as much of a shock to her.

Had Gu Qingzhu relapsed because of this?

Her gaze instinctively sought out the Omega. Though exhaustion lingered in the woman’s eyes, her expression was uncharacteristically calm.

“Enough with the nonsense.”

On the way here, Xu Ying had considered several possibilities.

When a “romance” is exposed, there are typically three ways to handle it: admit it, deny it, or remain silent.

With the photos serving as undeniable evidence, denial would only backfire.

But Gu Qingzhu would never publicly announce a relationship with Ying Xu that much was set in stone.

The only option seemed to be no response at all, letting netizens speculate. Sooner or later, newer scandals would overshadow this one and if they didn’t, they could always be manufactured.

If this had happened earlier, even just the second day after her transmigration Ying Xu would have assumed that Assistant Lu had brought her here because the team wanted her to “cooperate” with the third option.

But Shan Qiaoyun’s earlier threats still echoed in her ears.

Ying Xu knew this matter wouldn’t be brushed aside so easily.

As Ying Xu took her seat, Assistant Lu instinctively moved to pour water, but Xiang Ling was quicker, acting with exaggerated kindness.

“Ying Xu,” Shan Qiaoyun asked, “what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Ying Xu held the cup, gently swirling it, watching the liquid ripple. Softly, she replied, “Qingzhu’s thoughts are my thoughts.”

Shan Qiaoyun paused. She had spoken with Ying Xu before though only briefly and had sensed the woman’s resistance toward Gu Qingzhu. How had her attitude shifted so drastically in just a few days?

But this attitude actually made her plan easier to execute.

Shan Qiaoyun’s smile remained unshaken. “It’s good that you feel that way. Since you’ve said so, I’ll be frank. Qingzhu can neither admit nor deny the relationship. Her contract has strict clauses regarding public image, and we can’t just ignore this matter”

No admission, no denial, not even silence,

Listening to this, Ying Xu found it absurd.

Then what was left?

“After discussion, Qinghong has come up with two solutions,” Shan Qiaoyun said. “First, in half an hour, Qinghong will hold a press conference in the name of your agency, Feiyun Entertainment. You will announce your retirement from the entertainment industry and publicly apologize to Qingzhu, stating that all the photos were staged by you, that the person in the car wasn’t her, and the hand-holding photo was digitally altered.”

“You exposed these photos because you tried to blackmail Qingzhu, and when she ignored you, you retaliated out of spite”

Her voice was gentle, unhurried, yet every word felt like a needle, pricking the air with tension.

“Madness,” Xiang Ling muttered. “You want her to get thrown straight into prison? Do you think Gu Qingzhu’s fans will spare Ying Xu just because she says she won’t press charges?”

“The details can still be adjusted, but the general approach remains,” Shan Qiaoyun said, watching Ying Xu. “Miss Ying, what do you think?”

For a moment, even Gu Qingzhu’s lashes lifted slightly, her dark eyes fixed on Ying Xu.

But the Alpha didn’t react as anyone expected no panic, no shock, no protest. She simply sat in silence, the cup in her hands turning endlessly.

After a long pause, her voice finally broke the quiet.

“And the second option?”

“The second option?” Shan Qiaoyun’s lips curled into a faintly mocking smile. “This one doesn’t require a press conference or such a drastic exit from the industry.”

“You need to start a live stream and broadcast for half an hour. Similarly, you must tell them that Qingzhu is innocent. As for the photos, you can explain them however you like, as long as it doesn’t harm Qingzhu’s reputation.”

Gu Qingzhu slowly closed her eyes and finally spoke.

“Ying Xu, you just said that my thoughts are your thoughts.”

She said calmly, “Choose the first option. You can admit that the person in the car was me I won’t deny it. You just need to clarify one thing: we are not in a romantic relationship.”

“Qingzhu” Shan Qiaoyun’s tone was full of disapproval.

“Leave the entertainment industry.” Gu Qingzhu’s eyes were filled with confusion as she spoke to herself, “This was never where you belonged.”

Assistant Lu handed over a document a share transfer agreement.

Five percent of Feiyun’s shares, worth millions on the market, or a check for fifteen million.

Ying Xu thought, what a touching scene.

Fifteen million to buy an “apology” from a suspected murderer.

“Think it’s too little?” Seeing Ying Xu remain silent, Gu Qingzhu extended her hand toward Assistant Lu. “Name your price.”

At this moment, her tone had returned to indifference, that fleeting hesitation seeming like nothing more than an illusion to others.

“Before I answer, I have a question for Qingzhu.”

Assistant Lu abruptly withdrew the pen and paper she was about to hand over, and Gu Qingzhu’s hand froze mid-air.

Just like the hand Ying Xu had once extended to her.

“What?”

Gu Qingzhu didn’t reprimand Assistant Lu but turned her face toward the Alpha. Those eyes still reflected only her own image.

Ying Xu asked softly, “Why must you clarify that we’re not lovers?”

A moment of stunned silence.

Gu Qingzhu avoided her gaze, hesitating before replying, “My only lover is Xu Ying.”

“If you’re hoping I’ll give you an identity, Ying Xu.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Is that so?”

Out of the corner of her eye, the woman stood up after only a brief silence. “I understand, Qingzhu.”

“I’ll choose the second option.”

“I’ll apologize and take full responsibility for the photos. Qingzhu doesn’t need to respond or acknowledge anything. This was always my one-sided wish you bear no responsibility for it.”

By the end, the Alpha even curved her eyes into the most sincere smile, like a fruit stripped bare to its core, laying all her genuine feelings on the table for others to judge.

“If an apology can put this matter to rest, I’m willing.”

“My heart, the bird of the wilderness, has found its sky in your eyes.”