Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 106

When Exerting Force, It’s Hard

Before turning off her phone on the plane, Liang Ruojing glanced at WeChat.

Sister Tanqing: Location Shared, Sister Tanqing: 602

Couldn’t she have just sent a message to tell me?

She just had to write it in the palm of her hand.

It felt as though the Omega’s touch still lingered on her palm. Looking at the two short messages, Liang Ruojing’s mind began to wander.

Sister Tanqing is a bit wicked.

She grumbled inwardly; her heart tickled by Ming Tanqing’s little schemes. Just as she was about to send a teasing message back, a “ding” sounded, and another message popped up on the screen.

Sister Tanqing: I was afraid you didn’t realize it, since some people are quite silly.

The boomerang hit her right between the eyes. Liang Ruojing stared at that word “silly,” and her heroic face was gradually covered in a crimson flush. She felt like she was being roasted alive.

Sure enough, Sister Tanqing had seen right through her.

She’s so wicked!

Until the plane landed, Liang Ruojing couldn’t think of a witty comeback.

Upon landing in Beijing, her life became busy again. Her schedule from morning to night was packed with various itineraries. Like an elementary school student looking forward to a spring outing, Liang Ruojing estimated an end date and circled it in thick red ink on her calendar, counting down the days until their meeting second by second.

The collaborative makeup artist, seeing her radiant appearance, teased, “What’s that date for? A date with a girlfriend?”

Liang Ruojing reflexively retorted, “No, it’s a set visit.”

Back at home, after showering and lying in bed, Liang Ruojing felt something was off. Strictly speaking, this was a date. Moreover, she was going to meet Tanqing’s colleagues; as a friend, she couldn’t afford to lose face for her.

The next day, after participating in a brand event and during the social gathering, the manager talked grandly. It went in one ear and out the other. Her mind was entirely filled with the fact that she was going on a date with Sister Tanqing.

As the date drew closer, her previous excitement and joy were gradually replaced by anxiety and trepidation. The day before the set visit, she finished work early and dragged Tang Yuecen along, agonizing from 8:00 PM until 11:00 PM.

Which one should I wear? Too serious gives off pressure. Too low-key isn’t respectful enough.

Tang Yuecen was tortured until her head felt twice its size. She blacklisted her on WeChat immediately, leaving a cold “Go find someone else!”

Sigh.

But who else could Liang Ruojing turn to?

She switched to her secondary Weibo account and posted a sentimental caption. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that her “gibberish” friend (with the random-character username) was actually online.

This person was an original fan of the “CP” (couple pairing) between her and Sister Tanqing. Needless to say, their taste was excellent. After nearly five months of “revolutionary friendship,” Liang Ruojing believed her relationship with “Gibberish” was fairly good.

Just a small favor.

She sent over the request, and to her surprise, Gibberish replied instantly.

Sure, send them over.

What a great person!

Liang Ruojing quickly sent over the two outfits she had coordinated.

One set is steady, one set is lively.

In truth, both were long trench coats with inner layers, except one was paired with a tight-fitting white shirt and the other with a grey hoodie.

Who are you meeting? A friend or someone you like?

The benefit of chatting with a stranger was that one didn’t need to hide too much.

Liang Ruojing was decisive: Someone I like.

Gibberish was silent for a few minutes.

The shirt set.

Liang Ruojing asked humbly: Why?

Ming Tanqing curled her lips at the screen. In her mind, she easily sketched the Alpha’s young and energetic physique; the natural conflict between purity and steadiness possessed an inherent impact.

Besides that,… there was something else.

Gibberish: Sexy. Gibberish: Remember to pair it with a tie.

Liang Ruojing’s eyes lit up. She had originally just been unable to sleep and wanted someone to talk to, but she hadn’t expected to actually get such good advice.

Anything else?

Gibberish: After taking off the coat, roll up the shirt sleeves.

Incredible!

How did she know that Liang Ruojing had been frequenting the gym lately? In that moment, Gibberish’s status in Liang Ruojing’s heart rose level by level.

She knows too much. She understands too well. She’s too nice a person.

Liang Ruojing’s words tumbled out as she spilled all her plans for tomorrow, even detailing what flowers she was going to buy on the way. Gibberish was even more patient than she expected. She listened quietly, occasionally sending a few messages to soothe her anxiety.

Tell me, what if she doesn’t notice? I don’t think she won’t.

Gibberish: If she likes you too, she will notice.

Even though she knew these were just polite words, Liang Ruojing’s heart felt sweet as honey. She chatted for a few more minutes until she finally remembered a long-standing doubt.

Why did you help me? Back then, no one was shipping Liang Ruojing and Ming Tanqing. Seeing you work hard, I just helped out in passing.

This person is quite “tsundere.”

“Helping out in passing” referred to signing in for five consecutive months and writing short essays to maintain activity.

Not forgetting her identity as a minor moderator for the “Ming-Ri Ruojing” super-topic, Liang Ruojing asked again: Did you end up shipping them later too? They’re very sweet, right?

Ming Tanqing’s expression was momentarily dazed. Across the screen, she could almost imagine the Alpha’s current smug expression.

Gibberish: Mm. Gibberish: A very good match.

It was getting late, and Liang Ruojing fell asleep while chatting. When she opened her eyes again, it was 7:00 AM, and three alarms woke her up simultaneously.

Scratching her messy hair, she reflexively picked up her phone. The screen was still on last night’s Weibo chat interface. Seeing the “very good match” sent by the veteran fan, Liang Ruojing’s chin almost tilted all the way to the sky.

Exquisite taste. Absolutely exquisite taste.

Thus, wearing the clothes Gibberish helped her coordinate, Liang Ruojing excitedly headed to the airport, looking forward immensely to meeting Ming Tanqing a few hours later.

When she landed in Huafeng, it was nearly 10:00 AM. Looking at the familiar street scenes passing by the car window, Liang Ruojing’s heart, which had calmed slightly, began to pound wildly again. Because the end of the journey was worth the wait, the flowers and trees along the way seemed exceptionally beautiful.

At a quarter past ten, Liang Ruojing finally arrived at the Huafeng Film and Television Base. Guided by a staff member, she reached the set where Ming Tanqing was filming.

She arrived at a perfect time; Ming Tanqing was currently in the middle of a scene.

She was dressed in a plain blue-and-white hospital gown. She was very thin, and the clothes hung loosely on her body, yet her back was held perfectly straight. What should have been a haggard look instead appeared somewhat ambiguous and lingering due to her excessively thick eyelashes.

Perhaps because Liang Ruojing had her own “filter,” when she saw the Omega looking so devoid of life, she felt nothing but heartache.

This was a suspense film about a serial killer hunting young people between the ages of 20 and 25. The character Ming Tanqing played was a young entrepreneur who was suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness just as her career was soaring. Under extreme resentment, her psychology became twisted, and she secretly helped the killer.

The scene Liang Ruojing was watching was already in the latter half of the movie. The entrepreneur’s actions had been discovered by the police, and she was about to face legal consequences. Before the police arrived to notify her, she had just finished a round of chemotherapy and was staring blankly at the falling leaves outside the window.

“Cut! This one’s a wrap—”

Wan Tingran’s voice, full of passion and appreciation, liberated Liang Ruojing from the dead and oppressive atmosphere.

She stood where she was, watching that slender figure at the end of her sight turn around. Her eyelids lifted, and her gaze crashed directly into Liang Ruojing’s.

Ming Tanqing began to smile, her eyes curving into crescents; seeing her seemed to make her very happy.

She really wore it.

It suited her even better than Ming Tanqing had imagined last night.

Slim waist and long legs, her flaxen hair draped over her shoulders, her features deep and her nose bridge straight. Her arms hung down, holding a bouquet of white roses she considered “low-key and appropriate.” Without looking at those eyes, the person indeed exuded a heart-fluttering, steady aura.

Ming Tanqing had seen plenty of elegant people, but only upon meeting those expressive, innocent puppy eyes was she certain that this person was the one and only Liang Ruojing in the world.

Ming Tanqing broke through the crowd and walked toward her. With every step, she moved further away from the despondent entrepreneur in the movie and closer to the arrogant and noble Sister Tanqing in Liang Ruojing’s memory.

A minute later, the Omega stood before her, pursing her lips into a smile: “Ruojing, you’re here.”

Liang Ruojing looked down into Ming Tanqing’s eyes and gave a low response: “Mm.”

She handed over the small bouquet of roses she had prepared: “Sister Tanqing, thank you for your hard work filming.”

Even though she already knew, Ming Tanqing still performed a perfect display of surprise, taking the roses with one hand and cradling them against her chest. These flowers—the Alpha had agonized over three versions last night.

“Thank you, I like them very much.”

That’s great, she likes them.

Liang Ruojing was delighted. Just as she was about to engage in small talk, her wrist was grabbed by Ming Tanqing: “Come, I’ll take you to say hello.”

Under Ming Tanqing’s introduction, Liang Ruojing met the director and actors on set one by one.

When Wan Tingran saw her, her eyes lit up, and she initiated conversation: “You just acted in Director Wen’s film, right? She mentioned you to me a while ago, saying you’ve made great progress.”

Liang Ruojing was a bit shy: “Director Wen is too kind.”

Because of the set visit, the filming progress slowed down slightly. Wan Tingran didn’t mind at all and chatted with Liang Ruojing for a while. Several actors sat in the resting tent set up beside the set. In just ten minutes, Liang Ruojing received countless gazes.

Grievance Hunter was currently a hit, and she had played the lead in Wen Qingjia’s film; she could be said to have both popularity and prestige. Many people looked at her with envy they couldn’t hide.

Only one person’s gaze remained on Ming Tanqing for most of the time. More specifically, on the white roses in her hand.

Liang Ruojing still remembered this person. It could be said that she remembered anyone who showed an unusual closeness to Sister Tanqing. At the end of January this year, when Under the Green Mountain wrapped up, this person was also at Ming Tanqing’s wrap-up party, acting spoiled toward the Omega as soon as she arrived. It was also from her mouth that the Liang Ruojing of that time learned Ming Tanqing had another residence.

She had asked someone about her that very night.

The Alpha’s name was Zheng Jin, 25 years old, a gifted actor who debuted halfway through her career. She had received much care from Ming Tanqing in her early days and was in the same company.

Liang Ruojing had originally been afraid that white roses were too flashy. Sister Tanqing was so smart she would see through her thoughts at a glance.

But now?

Liang Ruojing felt they weren’t direct enough; she should have sent red roses. Let them look!

Ming Tanqing turned her head to look at Liang Ruojing’s inexplicably hardened profile. Noticing she was looking at Zheng Jin, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh through her nose.

How can she be so jealous?

After a simple exchange of pleasantries, the set returned to its busy state. Liang Ruojing had nothing to do for the next few days, so she wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She stayed on set, observing Ming Tanqing’s filming from a distance.

The same place, the same perspective—memories easily drifted back to this spring. Back then, she and Ming-jie were colleagues by day and slept together by night.

Ah, I miss it.

At lunchtime, the group went to a nearby restaurant. Liang Ruojing treated them and naturally sat next to Ming Tanqing.

Upon entering the room, Liang Ruojing took off her coat, wearing only the well-tailored white shirt underneath. Following Gibberish’s instructions, she wore a tie, leaving the top two buttons undone. The blue striped tie rested on her collarbone, giving off a vibe of casual elegance.

Ming Tanqing rested her face in her hand and looked at her. Her gaze moved to the Alpha’s exposed forearm where the sleeves were rolled up, and her eyes curved with pleasure.

She does exactly what she’s told. So obedient.

Compared to their first meeting, the lines of the Alpha’s forearms were more defined—fair but not weak. When she exerted force, the veins bulged slightly, looking healthy and powerful.

Since it was specifically for her to see… she couldn’t very well pretend not to notice.

Liang Ruojing was helping the Omega pour warm water. Just as she lifted her elbow, she suddenly felt a cool, soft sensation on her forearm. Her hand shook, nearly spilling the water.

Turning slightly, she realized Ming Tanqing was looking at her forearm. In the eyes of outsiders, perhaps it was just a helpful Omega helping her straighten a stray sleeve.

But only Liang Ruojing heard Ming Tanqing ask in her cool, beautiful voice, full of curiosity: “Have you been practicing again?”

Stay composed! Stay composed!

She couldn’t stay composed. Liang Ruojing nodded heavily: “Mm.”

Wow. Ming-jie actually noticed.

Liang Ruojing was overjoyed.

Then, at the dining table with over a dozen people, Ming Tanqing, using her elbow as cover, actually gave it a squeeze!

She continued to ask in a voice only the two of them could hear, her eyes fixed on her: “When you exert force, is it hard?”