Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 16

So ambiguous, yet known to no one.

Despite possessing a face that was cold, elegant, and aloof, Ming Tanqing had the eyes of a lover.

The corners of her eyes hooked upward in a beautiful arc, and her light grey-blue pupils were transparent and crystal clear. When making eye contact with her, it was easy for the person opposite to fall into a misunderstanding: “Am I someone special to her?”

Liang Ruojing was feeling exactly that at this moment.

Her brain was in a chaotic mess; she hurriedly averted her gaze and tried to hypnotize herself.

It’s an illusion, all an illusion. Just a coincidental glance.

Ren Wanying was still excited, leaning over to whisper to Liang Ruojing: “It’s actually her! What am I going to do during the audition later? I’m going to die of excitement!”

Liang Ruojing instinctively looked up, only to unexpectedly collide once more with those pale grey-blue eyes.

Ming Tanqing didn’t seem to have looked away.

So, she was looking at her?!

Liang Ruojing’s scalp tingled. She unconsciously sat up a bit straighter and silently increased the distance between herself and the Omega beside her.

Number 2 went in, and the door to the audition room closed.

Only then did Liang Ruojing breathe a sigh of relief.

However, the gland at the back of her neck had already been activated by the familiar Omega pheromones, pulsing with restlessness.

Inside the audition room.

Having just finished interviewing one person, there were a few minutes of quiet discussion filling the room during the interval.

Lin Xiuzhu noticed her friend’s gaze and leaned in curiously: “Who are you looking at? So focused.”

She turned her head and saw an Alpha and Omega pair sitting in the chairs directly facing the door. Their posture was familiar, and they were wearing clothes of a similar color palette; they appeared to have a very good relationship.

She recognized the Omega—it was Ren Wanying, the youngest daughter of the Ren family and a specialist in leading roles for urban sweet dramas.

As for the Alpha beside her… Lin Xiuzhu recalled for a few seconds and suddenly remembered.

“On New Year’s Day, was she the one arguing with someone on the rooftop? She even released pheromones. What was her name again…”

Lin Xiuzhu began flipping through the roster; she had forgotten the Alpha’s name.

Before she could find it, the person beside her accurately supplied the name.

“Her name is Liang Ruojing,” Ming Tanqing spoke calmly.

On New Year’s Eve, Ming Tanqing had gone upstairs to find Lin Xiuzhu and had heard almost the entire event, knowing the truth of the matter.

She had a cold temperament and usually avoided meddling in the private feuds of outsiders.

But this matter involved Lin Xiuzhu after all, and moreover, Liang Ruojing and her… didn’t seem to be “outsiders” anymore.

Therefore, Ming Tanqing decided to defend her little fan a bit.

“Liang Ruojing has a pretty good temper. I was there that day; it was another Alpha who provoked her first. You were on the phone at the time, so you might not have noticed.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xiuzhu looked at Ming Tanqing as if she had seen a ghost.

She and Ming Tanqing had grown up together. Ming Tanqing had been quiet and taciturn since childhood—when had she ever heard her defend someone else like this!

Ming Tanqing, however, seemed not to notice Lin Xiuzhu’s gaze and continued: “Besides, she apologized afterward and didn’t affect me. Don’t hold a prejudice against her.”

In the first half of the sentence, Lin Xiuzhu could interpret it as “stating facts.”

But in the second half, especially that last sentence, the protective intent was too strong!

Recalling a few days ago at Ke Qing’s birthday banquet, Ming Tanqing had helped Liang Ruojing out of a predicament.

And today as well—instead of resting at home, Ming Tanqing had proactively offered to help her with the auditions because… what was it? Right, “The script is well-written, I’m interested.”

Lin Xiuzhu’s thoughts drifted, and she couldn’t help but ask: “Tanqing, when did you get to know her? I thought you just couldn’t stand Ke Qing’s arrogance.”

“That was part of it,” Ming Tanqing lowered her head.

And the other part? She didn’t say it, but she knew it in her heart.

A bit of injustice addressed, a bit of appreciation, and a bit of the influence of pheromones formed Ming Tanqing’s complex perception of Liang Ruojing.

In the end, they were merely travelers on a chance encounter.

Ming Tanqing thought of what she had just seen, and her mood became somewhat irritable.

The CP of Liang Ruojing and Ren Wanying was burning hot on the internet, and she hadn’t expected their offline relationship to be so good as well.

It wasn’t just acting for the cameras; Liang Ruojing’s WeChat Moments also had many photos with Ren Wanying.

Thinking of this, a hint of irritation colored Ming Tanqing’s cold features.

Not toward Liang Ruojing, but toward herself.

Human emotions can be faked, but the reaction of pheromones cannot.

It was currently dissatisfied. Even without a mark, the compatibility between the two was too high; the pheromones had long ago memorized the Alpha’s scent and had even developed a sense of possessiveness.

Ming Tanqing took a sip of water and thought silently: Dr. Fang was right. The influence of pheromones is actually this significant.

The auditions proceeded normally, and the people in the waiting room gradually decreased.

Tang Yuecen was anxious and couldn’t sit still. Fearing she would affect Liang Ruojing’s state of mind, she specifically walked to the back to pace in place.

There were many around her who were just as anxious.

In a group audition, the later one goes, the more disadvantaged they usually are.

Tang Yuecen checked her watch again and looked up, pinpointing Liang Ruojing sitting quietly among the crowd, pondering the script.

In the anxious and restless audition room, Liang Ruojing was so calm she seemed to be in another world.

This child had always had a steady personality; she could keep her composure.

Tang Yuecen smiled with relief.

Like a gentle breeze blowing through, the pressure in her heart lessened slightly.

Liang Ruojing had studied diligently; most of the lines were already memorized. Just as she was reviewing a scene, a few very deliberate coughs suddenly came from beside her.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Liang Ruojing looked up and saw Bai Zheng standing not far away, glaring at her.

Qin Wei’s warning had worked; Bai Zheng didn’t come over to provoke her again.

“Number 23!” the staff member called out.

Bai Zheng responded and walked inside with her head held high.

A few minutes later, the audition ended.

The door opened again, and Bai Zheng walked out with a beaming smile, the joy on her face exceptionally eye-catching.

She carried herself with a high-profile attitude, as if the role was already in her pocket, drawing hostile looks from many people.

“Number 24!”

Liang Ruojing stood up to sign in at the door.

Bai Zheng didn’t leave; she waited specifically for her.

“Teacher Liang—” she dragged out her words mockingly, “Looking forward to our next meeting.”

Liang Ruojing curled her lips slightly, ignored her, and walked straight into the audition room.

As soon as Liang Ruojing entered the room, Ming Tanqing smelled a faint, cool scent. The freshness of mint mixed with the heat of alcohol swept over her, wrapping around her in an intimate posture.

Ming Tanqing felt a bit annoyed. She glanced left and right at the reactions of the people around her; everyone looked normal, having not smelled the young Alpha’s pheromones at all.

In contrast, the culprit looked completely innocent, making it seem as though she, the Omega, was being too sensitive.

Liang Ruojing was nervous; Ming Tanqing recognized her state at first sniff.

What was even more annoying was that her own pheromones were also out of control, emitting an elegant lily fragrance that spontaneously brushed against the Alpha’s gland.

With the room full of staff members present, their pheromones were slowly blending together.

This was a secret belonging only to high-compatibility AOs.

So ambiguous, yet known to no one.

As for Liang Ruojing, she only felt the back of her neck relax, and her tense nerves received a moment of relief.

Lin Xiuzhu was also observing the young actress before her.

She had to admit that Liang Ruojing’s physical conditions were indeed excellent.

But… what kind of performance could she deliver in terms of acting?

A staff member handed over the script.

The scenes for the audition were pre-selected; they were performing Han Jiahe’s debut scene.

A high-spirited graduate from a political science and law university, carrying a steadfast commitment to justice as she enters a prosecutorial institution.

This scene had a light, upbeat, and positive atmosphere.

It was a rare bright spot in the entire drama.

“Han Jiahe! Reporting for duty!”

Liang Ruojing grinned, her light brown pupils flashing with brilliance.

She smiled radiantly, yet between her brows, there was a pride and reserve unique to a top student.

With just this one look, that proud and green Han Jiahe who had just graduated instantly came to life.

Ming Tanqing gazed at the Alpha in front of her.

After Liang Ruojing’s name appeared in her life, Ming Tanqing had proactively searched for quite a bit of information about her.

The deepest impression was from the Magnolia Awards ceremony two years ago. When the host announced the name of the Best Actress, Liang Ruojing had stood up and stepped onto the awards stage with pleasant surprise.

At that time, she was flamboyant, unrestrained, vivid, and beautiful.

At this moment, the smile belonging to “Han Jiahe” miraculously overlapped with the Liang Ruojing of two years ago.

Ming Tanqing couldn’t help but smile slightly.

The result of today’s audition was already out.

The role of Han Jiahe belonged to Liang Ruojing.

The debut scene ended, and a brief silence fell over the audition room. The air conditioner on the ceiling whirred as it sent out warm air, yet it blew Liang Ruojing into a cold sweat.

How was… the result?

Liang Ruojing was anxious. Honestly speaking, she completely couldn’t remember her state just now.

Most “Method” actors have this situation; they become too immersed and lose themselves.

“That’s fine,” a staff member spoke, their tone flat.

Liang Ruojing’s heart cooled a few degrees.

The gland at the back of her neck began to act up again, like she was running a fever. Liang Ruojing started to feel dizzy, and her pheromones unconsciously leaked out a bit more.

If Fang Zezhi were here right now, he could definitely identify immediately that this was a precursor to an Alpha’s rut!

“Okay,” Liang Ruojing calmed her heart and nodded politely. “Thank you all for giving me this opportunity.”

With that, she took a deep breath, preparing to leave.

But before she could turn around, Lin Xiuzhu suddenly spoke, calling her back.

“Liang Ruojing.”

Liang Ruojing turned. Her head had already started to ache, but she still composed herself to reply: “It’s me. Is there something else?”

Lin Xiuzhu gestured to the staff.

“I wonder if you’d be willing to try one more scene. Episode 24, Scene 5.”

It was precisely the fallout scene between Han Jiahe and Sun Ying.

It was also the scene with the highest difficulty in the entire drama.

If the scene of Han Jiahe’s debut was the brightest light, the fallout scene was the deepest darkness.

Performing two scenes with extreme emotions back-to-back was a huge test of an actor’s ability to regulate their emotions.

In any other situation, Liang Ruojing would consider this targeted harassment.

But an audition was different; every opportunity was precious. She was used to giving her all.

Even if Lin Xiuzhu did have the intention to make things difficult, Liang Ruojing would grasp this opportunity firmly.

Lin Xiuzhu’s posture was relaxed, contrasting sharply with Liang Ruojing’s tension.

“Of course, you also have the right to refuse,” she said.

“I agree.” Without any hesitation, Liang Ruojing answered decisively.

A staff member brought over a new script, but Liang Ruojing declined; she had long ago memorized all the lines.

Liang Ruojing lowered her head, adjusting her state of mind.

The scent of lilies lingered faintly around her, like a breeze on a spring evening—gentle and intoxicating.

Unknown since when, this lily fragrance that carried a hint of coldness had become a presence that could soothe Liang Ruojing.

In just a few breaths, Liang Ruojing looked up.

She was looking at Ming Tanqing.

“I’m ready.”