After the Scummy Alpha Marked the Crazy Beautiful Heroine - Chapter 38.2

After they ate and headed to set, Chi Yang suddenly remarked in the dressing room:

“You know, Alpha with Alpha isn’t so bad. If it wasn’t for the side effects of the injections, I’d almost want to try it a few more times.”

Pei Jiuyao clutched her neck in shock. “What’s good about it?!”

“No marking, no worry about pheromone dissonance.”

Chi Yang leaned her cheek into her palm on the vanity, perfectly serious. “I never understood AA relationships before, but now… I kind of get it. Still, I can’t exactly pursue AA. I should probably find myself an Omega.”

Pei Jiuyao mirrored her pose with mock casualness. “Oh, find an Omega, huh? Then maybe I should—”

“Even if we take ten thousand steps back,” Chi Yang cut her off, “are you really sure you can’t re-differentiate into an Omega?”

Pei Jiuyao blinked. “Uh… maybe I could?”

Chi Yang snorted with laughter. “I was joking.”

“If you became an Omega, our pheromone match would be invalid. And I still need you to be my antidote.”

“Oh. Right.” Pei Jiuyao nodded in sudden understanding.

Chi Yang’s smile faded. She stood, ruffled Pei Jiuyao’s hair as she passed. “Silly little dog.”

Pei Jiuyao rubbed her head in mild frustration, looking back at her.

At the doorway, Chi Yang turned with a faint smile. “Why are you spacing out? Time for filming.”

The scene scheduled was the one they had rehearsed at home—Chisong confronting Jiang Wang, with Ji Leng added in. The focus was on Pei Jiuyao, Chi Yang, and Sheng Xia.

All three had solid acting chops. No need for much direction—almost every take was done in one shot.

By the time they wrapped, it was already eight at night.

As they walked out, Chi Yang held her palm out, letting it hang in the air.

“What is it?” Pei Jiuyao turned back, taking the hand that had fallen.

Chi Yang murmured softly, “It’s snowing.”

Pei Jiuyao lifted her head.

A moment later, cries of “It’s snowing!” rippled through the crowd.

Shimmering flecks of silver drifted down from above, but instead of snow, they turned into delicate scraps of paper—falling into one’s palm, dissolving as though seeping into the body.

Lin Leyi strolled over, slinging an arm around Chi Yang’s shoulders.

“Chi Yang, it’s snowing. Want to grab a drink outside?”

The booze-fiend was at it again. What on earth did snow have to do with drinking?

“Director Lin, Chi Yang’s susceptibility period is approaching. She can’t drink.”

Lin Leyi narrowed her eyes in amusement, tapping Pei Jiuyao’s shoulder.

“Her susceptibility period—don’t I remember that better than you?”

What did that mean? A provocation?

“Come on, you’ve been here all this time and never once shared a drink with me.”

She leaned heavily on Chi Yang’s shoulder with the air of someone already half-drunk, clinging shamelessly.

Chi Yang gave a soft laugh, smoothly pushing her away.

“Director Lin, I haven’t been feeling well lately. I’d rather head back early and rest.”

Pei Jiuyao immediately slipped an arm around Chi Yang, signaling they were about to leave.

But Chi Yang brushed her arm away too.

“Let Miss Pei drink in my place.”

What? Pei Jiuyao wanted nothing less. All she wanted was to curl up under a warm quilt with Chi Yang on a snowy night and stare into space together.

Director Lin! One must never drink with a love rival. Quick, refuse!

Lin Leyi squinted, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

“That works too.”

How does that work?!

Pei Jiuyao turned to Chi Yang, her face saying plainly: I don’t want to go.

Chi Yang only smiled, tidied the lapel of Pei Jiuyao’s coat, and brushed the snowflakes off her shoulder.

Leaning in close, she whispered:

“Get along well with Director Lin. She has plenty of resources.”

Then she straightened, her tone turning official:

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, you should consult Director Lin more.”

But to Pei Jiuyao, those words sounded loaded with hidden meaning.

Lowering her eyes, she inadvertently caught sight of the ring on Lin Leyi’s hand.

A sudden thought struck her. Maybe… this was an opportunity.

In the end, she nodded.

After sending Chi Yang back to the nanny van, Pei Jiuyao left with Lin Leyi, arriving at a private room pre-booked for the night. A few assistant directors and crew members were already there, along with some unfamiliar actors.

Lin Leyi pulled her down beside her, popped open a beer, and said:

“I heard your stomach’s weak. Have some beer.”

Without hesitation, she poured half a glass for Pei Jiuyao.

Flustered, Pei Jiuyao jumped to her feet to take the bottle.

“I can do it myself.”

“Don’t be so stiff.” Lin Leyi chuckled. “Work is work. Privately, I’m easy to get along with. And besides, I’ve known Chi Yang for many years.”

Pei Jiuyao clinked her glass against hers, smiling.

“Many years? Funny, Chi Yang’s never mentioned it.”

Taking a sip of white liquor, Lin Leyi said, “I met her when she was just a teenager. I practically watched her grow up.”

“Then she must see you as a respected older sister.”

“Older sister?” Lin Leyi gave a light laugh, her tone leisurely.

“She keeps work and personal matters very separate. To her, I’m only a director.”

So professional…

Pei Jiuyao swirled her glass, watching the amber sake catch the light—like the way Chi Yang’s eyes swayed when she looked at her.

Before she could puzzle over Lin Leyi’s meaning, the director suddenly slung an arm around her shoulder, her breath tinged with alcohol.

“But I do like you. Quite a lot, actually.”

“I haven’t liked an actor this much in years. You’ve got limitless potential—just need the right guidance. Follow me, and I’ll teach you.”

—Some Alphas only ever liked Alphas.

Pei Jiuyao’s hand trembled, spilling a bit of wine.

“I appreciate the compliment, Director Lin. But Chi Yang and I… our relationship is very stable.”

“What are you thinking?” Lin Leyi frowned. “I simply admire your talent. As an actor, you’re exceptional. As a lover… well, only Chi Yang would be into your type.”

Pei Jiuyao steadied her wrist, exhaling in relief.

“Thank you for the praise, Director.”

“But honestly,” Lin Leyi continued, “Chi Yang’s heart was never in acting. No matter how talented, it’s useless—she’ll eventually return to being her family’s little CEO. You’re different. I can see the light in your eyes.”

Light in my eyes? What a cliché.

Pei Jiuyao chuckled softly, took a sip of her drink, and said,

“Is that so.”

As the night went on, most people grew tipsy. Pei Jiuyao used her weak stomach as an excuse to dodge a few rounds, staying mostly clear-headed.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the glaring silver band on Lin Leyi’s finger.

And then an idea sparked.

Feigning clumsiness, she rose for the restroom and “accidentally” tipped her glass, spilling liquor onto Lin Leyi’s hand.

Flustered, she snatched up tissues, fussing nervously.

“Director Lin, I’m so sorry—I’m a little drunk.”

Lin Leyi frowned, lifting her hand lazily.

Pei Jiuyao wiped the table too.

Then her gaze landed on the ring. Her eyes darkened, teeth gritted—she swiftly slipped it off.

“Jewelry shouldn’t touch alcohol. Let me clean it for you.”

“Hey—” Lin Leyi barely reacted before the ring was already off. She didn’t bother to protest, simply resting her fingers on the table.

After wiping it dry, Pei Jiuyao asked,

“Shall I put it back on for you?”

Lin Leyi extended her hand without fuss.

As Pei Jiuyao slid it on, she caught the engraving inside:

chiy

Chiyi.

But where was the ang?

What’s chiyi supposed to mean? A lover’s name? An ex? Or… Chi Yi?

So ambiguous.

Why not Chi Leyi?

How long she sat brooding, she didn’t know. Until, chilled to the bone, she shivered and made to rise—when footsteps approached from behind. Someone sat down next to her.

She turned, startled.

“Director Lin?”

Lin Leyi lit a cigarette.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing. Just tipsy—needed some air.” Pei Jiuyao touched her frozen earlobe. “Chi Yang doesn’t like the smell of smoke.”

Lin Leyi paused, then stubbed the cigarette out.

She stood, tossed it away, then sat back down.

“Is there something you’ve been wanting to ask me?”

Pei Jiuyao hesitated, then asked,

“Why do you only ever cast Alphas as your leads?”

“Plenty have asked me that.” Lin Leyi smiled faintly.

“My answer is the same: everyone has their own muse. Mine just happens to be Alphas.”

“And if I were the one asking?” Pei Jiuyao pressed.

Lin Leyi sighed, her gaze drifting as though lost in memory.

“No… not Alphas. My muse was a person.”

The nearness of truth made Pei Jiuyao’s heart race.

“Was it Chi Yang?”

“So you took off my ring for this.”

Caught, Pei Jiuyao tugged at her earlobe, embarrassed.

“Sorry, I—”

Too obvious. Way too obvious.

But Lin Leyi slipped off the ring herself, staring at the letters for a long time before saying softly:

“It was Chi Qing.”

“Chi Qing? You and her—”

Pei Jiuyao inexplicably felt a rush of relief, quickly replaced by shock. Those two? How could they have crossed paths?

“We met back in university,” Lin Leyi said, her drunken eyes carrying rare fondness.

“Her family was in trouble, she returned home and transferred to my school. I wanted to chase her immediately—to see what heart lay beneath that ice, to melt it for me alone.”

“Everyone warned me off. She was the Chi family’s eldest daughter—way out of my league. But I thought—no, I’d be the one to play her. To make her weep for me, need me, beg me for love.”

“I did get her. But only briefly. She fluttered through my life like a butterfly, then flew away. In the end, I was the one left crying, unable to let go, sneaking beneath her window at night just to see her.”

Her hand twitched toward her pocket for another cigarette—then pulled out empty.

“Chi Qing didn’t like the smell of smoke either.”

Pei Jiuyao was quiet a long while before asking,

“Did she ever say why she had to break up?”

“She said she never loved me. That she approached me for a mission. And pretending to be affectionate when she felt nothing—she said it was worse than death.”

Lin Leyi gave a low, bitter laugh.

“In the end, the butterfly had never even lingered. She gave me nothing. It was all in my head.”

Only one phrase pounded in Pei Jiuyao’s mind: for a mission.

On the way back, she asked 7023,

“So your last host was Chi Qing.”

Uncharacteristically, 7023 fell silent for a long while. It didn’t deny it as Lin Leyi and Wen Li had, only said:

【That’s classified.】

When she returned, Chi Yang was already asleep. A warm nightlight glowed faintly in the room, left on for her.

After washing up, Pei Jiuyao crept into bed, turning out the light.

In the dark, only their breathing filled the silence.

She was almost drifting off when Chi Yang’s voice suddenly came from behind:

“Did you get all the answers you wanted?”