After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 36.2

Qiao Lu’s eyes glittered with challenge.

Pei Jiuyao suddenly recalled the day she brought milk tea to the crew—Qiao Lu had been there too.

Maybe she’d been there all along.

Stepping closer, Pei Jiuyao lowered her voice. “The rumor going around the crew lately—was that you?”

“What rumor?” Qiao Lu’s tone turned sly. “You don’t mean the one about Chi Yang being an Omega…”

Pei Jiuyao’s expression shifted instantly, her eyes like twin blades.

“Relax. I only heard it from someone else.” Qiao Lu covered her mouth theatrically, voice dropping. “Haven’t you ever suspected Sheng Xia?”

“Sheng Xia?” Pei Jiuyao took a step back. “She’s nothing like you.”

“What’s with the species discrimination?” Qiao Lu’s voice sharpened. “Don’t forget—Sheng Xia’s the one who injured Chi Yang.”

At that, Pei Jiuyao’s grip on the plastic bag twitched violently.

She was right—it had been Sheng Xia who’d hurt Chi Yang.

Had her guard been too low just because Sheng Xia was an Omega? Had she assumed harmlessness where none existed? Personality couldn’t be judged by gender alone.

And Sheng Xia was a good actress, after all.

Pei Jiuyao shot Qiao Lu a cold look, then brushed past her toward the set.

“What’s in the bag?” Qiao Lu called after her.

“My susceptibility period’s coming up. Inhibitors.” Pei Jiuyao turned back, face impassive. “Anything else?”

Qiao Lu snorted. “With a sugar mommy, you still need inhibitors?”

“It’s because she’s a sugar mommy, not a girlfriend,” Pei Jiuyao replied coolly.

When Pei Jiuyao arrived at the set, Chi Yang was resting. She went in, closed the door, and set the plastic bag on the table in front of her.

“You just walked in here with a plastic bag?” Chi Yang asked, surprised.

“There was a suitcase, but it drew too much attention,” Pei Jiuyao said, settling on the sofa. “This is less conspicuous.”

Chi Yang nodded and began taking out the vial and syringe.

“Does it have a time limit?” Pei Jiuyao asked.

“Chi Qing said about three days.”

Chi Yang filled the syringe and injected it into the back of her neck with practiced ease, not even needing to touch her gland. Clearly, she’d used a lot of medication during her pheromone instability period.

The thought made Pei Jiuyao uncomfortable. She turned her head away.

“Will it harm your body? You already…”

Chi Yang gave a soft laugh. “It goes against biology, so of course there’s some side effect—but there’s no other way.”

“Once in a while, it’s fine.”

Knock, knock, knock.

Pei Jiuyao was about to speak when someone called from outside, “Miss Chi, are you in?”

She stopped Chi Yang from answering, went to the door, and opened it just a crack. “Sheng Xia.”

“Miss Pei!” Sheng Xia smiled brightly, eyes curving. “Is Miss Chi here? I wanted to run lines with her.”

“She’s changing,” Pei Jiuyao said, keeping the door only slightly ajar.

Sheng Xia paused, then spoke softly. “About accidentally bumping into Miss Chi before—I really didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”

Haven’t you ever suspected Sheng Xia? Don’t forget—she’s the one who injured Chi Yang.

“It’s fine. Just be careful next time.” Leaning against the doorframe, Pei Jiuyao asked, “Anything else, Miss Sheng?”

“N-no, that’s all.” Sheng Xia’s pupils tightened. “I won’t disturb you, then.”

After she left, Pei Jiuyao locked the door and returned to the sofa.

Chi Yang was pressing gauze to her neck. “Are you in a bad mood lately?”

“No,” Pei Jiuyao looked up. “Why?”

“It’s just… since last night, you’ve felt a little off.” Chi Yang said.

She had been marked once before joining the crew. The submission period had weakened after that first mark, but Chi Yang could still pick up on subtle changes in her emotions.

Pei Jiuyao forced a small smile. “Probably just the script getting to me.”

“You used to get along pretty well with Sheng Xia—never even called her ‘Miss’ Why so hostile today?”

“She’s just a colleague. We’re not that close.” Pei Jiuyao said.

After a pause, she added, “Unlike Miss Chi, who’s kind to everyone. You talk normally and still say I’m being harsh.”

Chi Yang lowered her gaze at her. “Are you nearing your susceptibility period? …No, wait—you just finished. Then, is it my pheromones affecting you? But we sleep with wristbands on, don’t we?”

Pei Jiuyao didn’t think she had done anything out of line.

Last night, she had been a little upset when Chi Yang defended Lin Leyi, but the feeling passed quickly.

“No,” Pei Jiuyao looked up and smiled, “You’re overthinking it, Xiao Li.”

“Are you… getting close to your heat?”

“No.” Chi Yang bit lightly at her lower lip, her lashes trembling as she lowered her gaze.

After a pause, she removed the gauze, tidied away the items, and rose from the chair.

She walked over to Pei Jiuyao.

One knee came to rest beside Pei Jiuyao’s leg, and she swung herself astride her lap.

Her arms draped over the back of the sofa, head nestled into the curve of Pei Jiuyao’s neck.

Pei Jiuyao froze for a beat, then held her gently by the waist. Her voice softened. “What’s wrong?”

“…A little uncomfortable.” Chi Yang murmured into her hair, brushing the tip of her nose against Pei Jiuyao’s ear.

Pei Jiuyao’s arms tightened. She realized Chi Yang’s body was cold.

“Is it because of the medicine?”

“Maybe,” Chi Yang’s voice was muffled. “Let me stay like this for a bit.”

Pei Jiuyao reached for the overcoat draped over the sofa and wrapped it around Chi Yang, pulling her fully into her arms.

Her brow furrowed. “Are you sure that medicine is safe?”

Chi Yang’s lips were pale, her voice sticky-soft. “It’s fine… just hold me for a while.”

Pei Jiuyao lowered her head, cupping her palms over Chi Yang’s ears and cheeks.

“I’m right here with you,” she whispered.

Chi Yang’s lashes brushed against her neck. She tilted her head, pressing a kiss to the point of Pei Jiuyao’s jaw.

Time trickled by. Warmth slowly seeped back into her skin. Chi Yang’s muffled voice came again. “Did you hear something… on set?”

“No.”

“If anything comes up, tell me.”

“I know.”

Pei Jiuyao hesitated, then quietly called her name. “Chi Yang…”

Nestled in her arms, Chi Yang lifted her head slightly.

“…Do you like me?” Pei Jiuyao asked.

Chi Yang’s lashes swept against her chin. The coat wrapped around her was rumpled, like cresting waves.

“I…”

She stayed silent for a long time, and Pei Jiuyao didn’t press.

Until a voice called from outside the door—Ye Ci’s. “Jie, it’s time for your scene.”

Chi Yang’s lips parted, as if to speak, but Pei Jiuyao cut her off.

Rubbing her thumb gently at Chi Yang’s temple, she said, “Come on. Time to work.”

With an arm around her waist, she rose, lifting her up with the coat still snug around her. She pressed a kiss to Chi Yang’s closed eyes.

“I’ll be with you.”

Chi Yang gazed at her for a long moment, a thin mist gathering in her eyes, before she finally nodded.

After they left the room, Pei Jiuyao took back her coat and sat alone on set, propping her chin in one hand, lost in thought.

“7023, do you think Chi Yang actually likes me?”

A sharp static crackle from 7023:

【Host, whether she likes you or not has nothing to do with you.】

“You’re right,” Pei Jiuyao sighed. “Then do you think Sheng Xia is a good person?”

【Whether Sheng Xia is a good person or not also has nothing to do with me.】

Pei Jiuyao pouted. “Useless.”

【You’re leaving in the end anyway. Best to treat this whole place as nothing but a fleeting dream.】

“Have you ever seen anyone choose to stay in another world after their mission is over?”

【Yes, but most of them had no attachment to their original world. You’re different.】

“True…” Pei Jiuyao leaned on her other hand. “And honestly, debating whether the heroine likes me is a paradox in itself.”

“…But even if it’s just a dream, it should at least be a good one.”

【Hopeless.】 7023 muttered. 【You’re going to regret this.】

“You’re probably right. “Time will sort everything out. There’s no need to worry about tomorrow’s troubles today.”

【That’s not what I meant.】

“Even if I took a million steps back—what if Chi Yang could come back with me?”

【Never seen it happen. The closest was when a host pushed the romance so far that, when they left, the heroine realized the betrayal and flew into a rage.】

“…And then?”

【After a brutal breakup, the heroine killed her with one strike.】

Pei Jiuyao: “…”

“This is a high-risk job,” Pei Jiuyao murmured, clutching her chest.

Her gaze drifted toward Chi Yang, who was filming nearby.

One scene had already been retaken three times. When they went to check the monitor, Lin Leyi, for once, lost her patience.

“Are you off today?” she asked sharply.

Still, because it was Chi Yang, she softened a bit, adding, “Are you sick?”

A few actors nearby chuckled. “Probably close to her heat, right?”

For Alphas, they called it a susceptibility period.

The phrase “heat” carried a different implication—especially given the recent rumors circulating in the crew.

Lin Leyi’s tone sharpened. “Cut the gossip on my set.”

Pei Jiuyao walked over, recognizing the actress speaking—it was Song Qi, the same one who had been gossiping about “Chi Yang and Lin Leyi” in the hallway that night.

A few days ago, when she delivered milk tea, Pei Jiuyao had deliberately added her on social media. She knew Song Qi was a Beta, which meant there was no way she could smell Chi Yang’s pheromones.

If she dared to bring this up in Lin Leyi’s crew, it was obvious someone was backing her.

Song Qi stepped forward. “Director Lin, the whole set’s been buzzing—Chi Yang’s actually an Omega. Don’t we deserve an explanation?”

Pei Jiuyao moved closer, standing just behind Chi Yang.

“No matter what she is, she’s still the female lead,” Lin Leyi said coldly. “I only cast based on acting.”

“Director Lin, during auditions you only let Alphas try out for the role. Now you’ve cast an Omega—is that fair?” Song Qi’s voice rose. “If it was truly about acting, maybe another Omega or Beta would’ve been chosen instead of her. You can’t just—because of your relationship—”

“Shut up!” Lin Leyi stood, fury flashing. “Do you think anyone in the industry could play ‘Ji Leng’ better than her? That anyone else’s acting could even compare? Are you insulting her or me?”

Pei Jiuyao’s fingers clenched, then loosened, reaching to give Chi Yang’s fingertips a light squeeze.

Chi Yang turned back with a faint smile, signaling her not to act rashly.

Lin Leyi, clearly beyond patience, pointed at Song Qi. “And besides—you’re a Beta. How can you be so certain she’s an Omega? You’re just—”

“Because she sleeps with Pei Jiuyao,” Song Qi interrupted.

Pei Jiuyao’s hand, still holding Chi Yang’s fingers in the crowd, went still—then slowly withdrew.