After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 51

As the glow of the fireworks gradually dimmed, the live broadcast officially came to an end.

Yet discussions about Gu Qingzhu and Ying Xu on StarNet grew increasingly heated, their popularity even overshadowing topics others had paid to promote.

Those who had been lurking in the livestream noticed that when the camera zoomed in on the two, Gu Qingzhu had actively leaned closer to Ying Xu, without any hesitation.

Although the cameraman quickly shifted focus to others, that particular clip was still isolated and widely circulated across various platforms.

Combined with the omega’s unusual behavior throughout the day, netizens couldn’t help but comment:

【So I was just part of the play all along】

【The CP I ship is real!】

【If you forgot to make it official, there’s still time to announce it now.】

Following the “the more absurd, the more true” rule of thumb, this trending comment quickly surpassed ten thousand likes and was even reposted to the subjects’ own profiles.

Inside the aircraft cabin, the lights had been turned off, leaving only a faint glow illuminating the woman’s face.

Gu Qingzhu jolted awake from her dream, her eyes immediately landing on Ying Xu beside her, who was watching the screen. Recognizing that face, Gu Qingzhu slowly steadied her breathing.

A thin blanket had been draped over her at some point, carrying a faint trace of the alpha’s scent.

Only then did Gu Qingzhu belatedly realize this wasn’t a dream.

She really was together with Ying Xu now.

Though no words of “like” or “love” had been spoken, though it hadn’t happened in some solemn or serious setting, just the thought of that phrase “I will never refuse you” made a soft smile unconsciously rise in Gu Qingzhu’s eyes.

Now that they were together, what came next?

Gu Qingzhu was woefully inexperienced when it came to romance.

In her relationship with Xu Ying, she had often been the passive one, waiting for the beta’s sporadic invitations.

Though those invitations were intermittent, and more often than not, Gu Qingzhu had to take the initiative to seek Xu Ying out, she had never seen anything wrong with that dynamic.

Whoever she loved, she would let them take the lead.

It wasn’t until Xu Ying’s death that Gu Qingzhu began to reflect.

Reflecting on whether things would have been different if she hadn’t starred in that award-winning film.

Reflecting on whether things would have been different if she hadn’t been in a relationship with Xu Ying.

Reflecting on whether the outcome might have changed if she had been more assertive, assertive enough that Xu Ying would have had to disclose every detail of her schedule.

But there were no “what ifs” in this world. Gu Qingzhu would never know the answer to those questions.

Thinking of Xu Ying again, Gu Qingzhu paused briefly. Before the bitterness could rise in her chest, she heard the soft tap of fingers against the screen, snapping her back to the present.

Even now, Gu Qingzhu wasn’t sure if she could truly put the matter of “Xu Ying” behind her. The only promise she could make to herself was that she would never mention Xu Ying in front of Ying Xu again.

Her ties with the Xu family should also be like that jade she had returned to Wei Siyan, once returned to its rightful owner, everything would end there.

Gu Qingzhu’s thoughts wandered aimlessly. How should she go about being in a relationship with Ying Xu?

Treating Ying Xu well and providing material comforts were just the basics. Beyond that, what did Ying Xu like? What did she like about Gu Qingzhu?

She suddenly realized that despite knowing Ying Xu for years, she still knew next to nothing about this alpha before her.

But it didn’t matter. She would take her time to learn everything now, ensuring she wouldn’t repeat the same meaningless mistakes.

Gu Qingzhu’s gaze softened as she slowly traced Ying Xu’s features in her mind. After a long moment, she tentatively leaned a little closer toward Ying Xu.

Omega’s gaze was palpable, and Ying Xu had noticed it but didn’t proactively interrupt.

But when some weight settled on her arm, and fluffy hair unconsciously nuzzled against her, continuing to feign indifference would have felt disingenuous.

“Do you want some water?” she finally spoke up. Gu Qingzhu obediently replied, “No, what are you looking at?”

After the last incident, Gu Qingzhu knew she couldn’t easily ignore others’ opinions, so she simply stopped looking and thinking about them.

Asking now wasn’t out of curiosity, she just wanted to talk to Ying Xu.

How strange, she thought. She used to find it unbearably noisy, yet now she wished Ying Xu would say more.

The comments were relatively harmonious. Ying Xu asked, “Do you want to see? They’re discussing us.”

“What are they saying?” Gu Qingzhu asked.

Ying Xu tilted the screen toward her. Gu Qingzhu slightly lifted her head, the faint glow illuminating her face. When she stared intently at something, she looked even more like a cat.

Ying Xu subtly averted her gaze, helping Gu Qingzhu scroll through the screen, though her thoughts weren’t on the matter at hand.

Until Gu Qingzhu spoke: “Ying Xu and”

She uttered three words before swallowing the rest. Only then did Ying Xu notice a new comment had popped up: [Isn’t Ying Xu and Sheng Qiuyu a thing?]

Ying Xu:

Gu Qingzhu stopped looking, pushing the screen down with her hand, but she didn’t pull her head back. In the near-stalemate, she finally called out, “Ying Xu.”

Ying Xu said, “Sheng Qiuyu and I”

“What did Sheng Qiuyu ask of you?”

Ying Xu froze.

“I guessed she’d come to beg you. This really is her last chance,” Gu Qingzhu mused before continuing, “I’ll have the pressure on the Sheng family paused, but Qinghong’s existence alone is a threat. I won’t let it go.”

Qinghong was the foundation of the Sheng family’s standing. Crippling it would make life difficult for them.

But no matter how hard, it was still far better than losing everything and being completely cast out of the social elite circle.

This was all within Ying Xu’s expectations, something she had planned to discuss with Gu Qingzhu in a few days.

But she hadn’t expected Omega to bring it up now. It also reminded her that Gu Qingzhu’s temperament wasn’t as calm as it had seemed recently.

She was still vindictive only now, her targets weren’t Ying Xu, but everything that had once oppressed her and Ying Xu.

Why? The three words surfaced in Ying Xu’s mind, and the next second, she answered herself.

Because Gu Qingzhu had accepted, even grown fond of her. Hours ago, Gu Qingzhu had demanded proof of their romantic relationship.

And she hadn’t refused.

Ying Xu gazed at that face. Seeing no response, Gu Qingzhu seemed slightly agitated, her fingers unconsciously rubbing together.

” if you really care so much about her thoughts,” she carefully began again, “Qinghong can also ”

“No,” Ying Xu interrupted. “I don’t care about Miss Sheng’s thoughts. I just think Qingzhu doesn’t need to be so concerned about this.”

She didn’t even need to care so much about her just like before.

“Why?”

Sheng Qiuyu had indeed been good to Ying Xu.

That kindness might have been genuine at the time, free from ulterior motives. But times had changed. As long as the debt remained unpaid, Sheng Qiuyu could always bring it up again, using emotions to manipulate Ying Xu.

Gu Qingzhu knew that given an alpha’s nature, even if it was difficult, they wouldn’t refuse.

Ying Xu realized she had spoken out of turn.

Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted?

Gu Qingzhu liked her, loved her, making it effortless for her to complete her soft mission.

Before everything ended, she would use Gu Qingzhu, just as openly as the omega had once persecuted “Ying Xu.”

After a long pause, she finally said softly, “I just feel Qingzhu doesn’t have to forgive someone she doesn’t want to forgive, just for my sake.”

In the past, Gu Qingzhu had always heard others urging her to be tolerant and kind, but Ying Xu was always different.

It was okay not to forgive.

Amidst the unconsciously quickened heartbeat, Gu Qingzhu smiled.

Ying Xu lowered her eyes, about to take a short nap, when the omega suddenly reached out and covered her wrist.

Warm skin pressed against hers. Ying Xu instinctively moved to withdraw her hand, but instead, Gu Qingzhu caught her palm. The next second, their fingers intertwined.

Only then did Gu Qingzhu seem satisfied, narrowing her eyes. A faint glimmer reflected off her flushed earlobes.

Ying Xu averted her gaze and didn’t let go until Gu Qingzhu had fallen back asleep.

Online discussions about their relationship were rampant. With Gu Qingzhu semi-retired from the industry, all the attention fell solely on Ying Xu. The numbers in her bank account grew daily, her schedule packed, leaving her little time to stay at the mansion.

She no longer initiated contact with Gu Qingzhu, but the omega, now deep in the throes of love, became clingy, often asking about Ying Xu’s recent activities and subtly expressing how much she missed her.

Once they met, those words materialized, into entwined hands or a kiss on the cheek.

Most of the time, Ying Xu brushed it off, avoiding any further intimacy with Gu Qingzhu.

Whenever this happened, a flicker of surprise would cross Gu Qingzhu’s eyes. Within minutes, she would ask Ying Xu what she wanted. A few hours later, brand representatives would arrive with clothes, refilling Ying Xu’s already overflowing wardrobe.

The walk-in closet, naturally, had also been prepared by Gu Qingzhu.

In the beginning, the omega had been particularly obsessed with dressing her up. Afterward, she wouldn’t do anything else, just quietly watch Ying Xu before calling for another dress, as if playing with a doll.

Only after everyone had left would Gu Qingzhu finally look at Ying Xu. After a long pause, she suddenly laughed. “So this is what playing house feels like.”

Ying Xu, exhausted after work, had been dragged straight into changing clothes. Hearing the words “playing house,” she froze for a moment before smiling. “Fun?”

Gu Qingzhu curled her lips but didn’t respond.

Things observed but never personally experienced always left a thorn in one’s heart. Even years later, when finally obtained, they could feel meaningless.

She didn’t want to pass these negative emotions to Ying Xu, smoothly changing the subject. “The shoot wrapped up early today.”

Ying Xu smiled. “The director was very professional.”

Lately, she had taken on many endorsements, most of which were brands that had previously collaborated with Gu Qingzhu. This time was no exception.

A shoot scheduled for a full day had ended by noon. The rest of the day, Ying Xu spent finalizing details for another event with Cheng Jun, a charity gala hosted by the Cheng family.

At the gala, items donated by guests or paintings by children from welfare homes would be auctioned.

The schedules didn’t clash, which was another good thing, and Ying Xu didn’t refuse.

Not long after hanging up the call, Ying Xu unexpectedly received a message from Cheng Yuedu.

The day after the banquet, the Cheng family would establish a charity foundation to support orphaned children. Among the list of artists invited to the press conference, Ying Xu was ranked first.

The timing of these two events was too tight. To someone unaware of the truth, it might seem like the Cheng family was simply charitable, squeezing two good deeds into two days.

But in Ying Xu’s eyes, it looked more like two people at odds with each other organizing these events separately, vying for public attention to benefit the family.

Ying Xu didn’t respond directly, only saying she needed to consider it.

It was a polite refusal. Cheng Yuedu didn’t press further but instead brought up The Fall.

It was only then that Ying Xu learned Cheng Yuedu had also invested in the series, though the stake was so small it had gone unnoticed by the public.

“Is that so?”

Across from her, Gu Qingzhu’s grip on her knife and fork tightened after hearing her reply.

Ying Xu didn’t understand why the omega was suddenly upset, and Gu Qingzhu had no intention of explaining. After a long silence, she muttered unhappily, “Recently, a production team contacted me. The script is good, I”

Ying Xu looked at her in surprise.

Gu Qingzhu’s sudden appearance on the variety show had been seen by many as a signal of her return, prompting numerous collaboration offers. But without exception, all had been declined.

Ying Xu thought she still needed rest and hadn’t expected her to bring up joining a production on her own.

“Should I refuse?” Gu Qingzhu’s words suddenly took a turn. “If I join the production, I won’t be able to accompany you.”

Ying Xu smiled.

“Is it Qingzhu accompanying me, or me accompanying Qingzhu?”

Gu Qingzhu, of course, knew it was the latter.

But she also genuinely didn’t want to be too far from Ying Xu.

Here, she knew Ying Xu would always come back to see her, and that brought her immense peace of mind.

But what about after leaving this place? Would Ying Xu still see her every day like now?

Gu Qingzhu hesitated.

At times, she even wanted to put all of Ying Xu’s work on hold, keeping the alpha by her side, going nowhere just like before.

But reason always reminded her that this was wrong, bad, and detrimental to Ying Xu.

In the end, Gu Qingzhu didn’t ask whether Ying Xu would visit her on set.

It didn’t matter if she didn’t.

She could go see Ying Xu herself, just like last time.

Gu Qingzhu’s expression shifted again, as if she had managed to console herself.

Ying Xu was a little puzzled but didn’t press further.

After dinner, Gu Qingzhu went to freshen up, while Ying Xu received a call from Luo Zhu.

The woman sent over several scripts, asking for her opinion.

The scripts were mediocre, and Ying Xu was about to brush it off with a few vague words when the doorbell rang.

Without much thought, she assumed it was Assistant Lu after all, aside from the beta, no one else would visit unannounced.

But when the door opened, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

A woman wearing gloves stood there, holding a birdcage in which a small white bird perched on a vertical rod, fast asleep.

“I’m Xiao Yu’s assistant,” the woman said bluntly. “Ms. Sheng has been busy with her studies abroad and only found time today to have me deliver this to you. She said it was the promised gift.”

Months had passed since the variety show ended, and Sheng Qiuyu’s gift still hadn’t arrived. Ying Xu had assumed she’d forgotten and hadn’t followed up.

Hearing the word “study abroad” and gazing at the bird for a moment longer, Xu Ying fell silent for a while before finally speaking: “Send it back to the Sheng family.”

The woman complied effortlessly: “Miss Sheng said if you don’t want it, we’d have to release it into the wild.”

Xu Ying parted her lips as if to argue, but the other woman didn’t hesitate any longer. She set the cage down and dashed out.

Xu Ying: “…”

The commotion was loud enough to startle the bird awake. Instinctively, it widened its eyes and looked at Xu Ying.

Xu Ying stared back and asked, “Can you talk, Xiao Yu?”

No response.

“Call me ‘sister.'”

The little bird’s beak opened slightly, and it instinctively curled into a tighter ball, as if even more frightened.

Xu Ying recalled the videos Sheng Qiuyu had sent, the bird had been exceptionally clever, even capable of sweet-talking.

Had Sheng Qiuyu been too busy, rarely speaking to it, so it forgot how?

But perhaps it was better if it couldn’t speak.

Fewer words, fewer mistakes. The mute never err.

Xu Ying said expressionlessly, “From today on, your name is Xiao Zhu.”

The bird didn’t understand, but its fear intensified.

Xu Ying felt a headache coming on, assuming it was afraid of people. She was about to find a black cloth to cover the light and leave it alone for a while. But just two minutes after stepping away, when she came downstairs, she saw Gu Qingzhu standing in front of the cage, playfully teasing the bird.

Snow-white feathers brushed against the omega’s palm. Hearing footsteps, Gu Qingzhu turned her head, and at the same time, the little bird poked its head through the gap between her thumb and forefinger. Both pairs of eyes locked onto Xu Ying.

Xu Ying paused mid-step, glancing from the bird to Gu Qingzhu.

Weren’t you afraid of people?

She approached the cage. It was clear the bird was hesitant, yet it still nestled against Gu Qingzhu’s palm.

“Did Xiao Lu bring it?” Gu Qingzhu stroked its downy feathers rhythmically, her fondness evident. “It’s adorable. What’s its name?”

She asked casually. Just as Xu Ying was about to answer, the bird flapped its wings and chirped first: “Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu!”

Gu Qingzhu looked at Xu Ying.

Amid the chirping, the alpha reached out and gently pressed the bird’s raised head down, almost sheepishly explaining to Gu Qingzhu, “Its name isn’t Xiao Yu.”

Gu Qingzhu let out a cold laugh, as if agreeing. “Indeed, how could a bird know its own name? Who taught it to say those things?”

She was about to add another grievance against Sheng Qiuyu to her list, even her gaze at the bird tinged with displeasure.

Until Xu Ying said, “It’s called Xiao Zhu now.”

“I named it.”

Gu Qingzhu fell abruptly silent.

After a long pause, she murmured to the bird, “You’re ugly, but the name is kind of cute.”

“I’ll keep you, then.”