Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 2

S-Class Alpha’s Pheromones

Liang Ruojing had liked Ming Tanqing for a long time—the kind of liking a fan has for an idol.

When she had been debuted for only a month, she had the privilege of attending an awards ceremony. Back then, she had no works to her name and sat in the back row, hidden in the darkness among a crowd of minor actors.

The presenter opened the card and smilingly read out Ming Tanqing’s name.

Following the movement of the camera, Liang Ruojing watched Ming Tanqing rise with composed grace and walk toward the center of the thousand-watt spotlights.

Cradling the trophy, Ming Tanqing leaned in slightly toward the microphone to deliver her speech. She was so beautiful that one couldn’t look away, and her voice was even more pleasant to the ear.

At that time, Liang Ruojing had been completely mesmerized.

Under the harsh lights, the Omega’s skin appeared almost translucent, and her smile was light and distant, her entire being exuding the cold arrogance and fragility of a winter plum blossom in the snow.

Yet, it was this very Ming Tanqing who possessed such superior acting talent. That year, she was only twenty-four, but she had already swept all the major awards both at home and abroad.

Everyone looked forward to an era belonging to Ming Tanqing.

Who could have known that half a year later, the media would report that Ming Tanqing had fainted on set? News on the internet was completely suppressed, and not a single photo leaked out.

The company handled the public relations promptly, stating it was “temporary physical discomfort, please do not worry, fans.”

However, news of Ming Tanqing became increasingly scarce afterward, and in the last two years, she had completely faded from the public eye.

Liang Ruojing admired her, even exceeding her own self-imposed rule of “following the work, not the person.”

She liked Ming Tanqing’s work, but she was even more interested in her as a person.

How did Ming Tanqing discover her acting talent? What were her experiences during her first project?

And… during those two years of hiatus from the public eye, what exactly had Ming Tanqing gone through?

The camera only flickered past Liang Ruojing briefly; the large screen at the side of the stage had become almost a dedicated live feed of Ming Tanqing.

The awards ceremony officially began. Liang Ruojing knew early on that she didn’t have much of a role tonight, so she played the part of a mindless clapping machine.

When a well-known friend won an award, she smiled and clapped, but most of her thoughts were spent observing Ming Tanqing’s state.

Every year at the WB Gala, the Best Actor in a TV Series award was the highlight of the ceremony.

This year’s “Best Actor” had already been revealed, and the presenter was a highly respected veteran actor.

Next was “Best Actress.” Liang Ruojing sat up straight in tension. Right in front of her, the faces of Bai Zheng and several other nominees were already projected onto the large screen.

At that moment, the host suddenly cued Ming Tanqing.

The camera followed again as the gaze of everyone escorted Ming Tanqing onto the podium.

She was actually the presenter for this year’s Best Actress!

Liang Ruojing’s eyes widened; no one had mentioned this to her at the beginning of the year!

The expressions of the nominees on the screen were also surprised; it seemed this was a “surprise” prepared by the organizers.

Appearing in public for the first time in two years, Ming Tanqing still held the ability to attract everyone’s attention.

This year’s Best Actress went up on stage, and Ming Tanqing personally handed the trophy into the actor’s hands.

The two hugged, and the winner leaned against Ming Tanqing, taking countless photos.

A newly debuted singer took the stage to sing a sweet little love song, marking the final performance of the gala.

When the entire ceremony ended, Liang Ruojing went backstage, planning to take some promotional materials.

On the same floor as the studio, there was a vast terrace with a great view where one could see the landmark buildings of Yanjing. It happened to be near the elevators, and by the time Liang Ruojing arrived, many people had already gathered there.

The assistant was testing the lighting, and Tang Yuecen stood beside Liang Ruojing, noticing her weary expression.

“Is it the smells again?” Tang Yuecen pulled her a bit further away from the crowd. “Bear with it a little longer, we’ll finish the shoot quickly.”

Liang Ruojing turned around, letting the cold wind dissipate the mixed pheromone scents at the tip of her nose.

As an S-class Alpha, Liang Ruojing was born with five senses superior to ordinary people, and her perception of pheromones was even more acute.

There were countless Alphas and Omegas gathered around, and the air was filled with the light scents of various pheromones.

This concentration had no effect on ordinary people, but for Liang Ruojing, it was a great torment.

Tang Yuecen was a Beta and had never experienced this kind of torture, so she felt sorry for her artist, but she was also curious.

“Would smelling your own pheromones make it a bit better?”

The lighting was already set up over there. The assistant walked over. “Jing-jie’s rank is high, she can control her pheromones. I rarely smell Jing-jie’s pheromones.”

“Because you’re an Omega.” Liang Ruojing struck a pose. She was photogenic and easy to photograph, quickly finishing a set. “It’s not very polite to leak pheromones in front of an Omega.”

This was what her family had always taught her.

The assistant laughed. “Only Jing-jie would think that way now! Most Alphas take advantage of their high rank to show off everywhere.”

Tang Yuecen promptly interrupted the conversation; she was very cautious now.

Some actors she had worked with on several sets last year also came over, and Liang Ruojing cooperated with all of them for photos.

Work wrapped up near 11 PM. Liang Ruojing waited off to the side, planning to go down once most people had left.

Tang Yuecen had gone down early to handle arrangements, so at this moment, only her assistant Huahua was by her side.

Bai Zheng came over then, with only one assistant following her.

Before she even got close, Liang Ruojing frowned deeply.

The reason was simple: this Bai Zheng had too strong a scent of pheromones on her.

Bai Zheng usually maintained a persona of a “pure Alpha,” often selling a “gentle Alpha” image to the public, but she acted quite arrogantly in private.

“Bai Zheng, pull in your scent,” Liang Ruojing said coldly, while gesturing for her assistant to go down first.

“And what if I don’t?” Bai Zheng had come looking for trouble, so she naturally didn’t listen to Liang Ruojing; in fact, she released even more pheromones.

Liang Ruojing had no intention of participating in such a low-level struggle, and she didn’t understand how she had offended Bai Zheng.

Liang Ruojing spoke calmly: “The audition back then was public; I didn’t steal it from you.”

“You still have the nerve to say that!” Bai Zheng was furious.

Years ago, the two had debuted one after the other and, by coincidence, participated in the audition for the female lead of the same TV drama.

Bai Zheng had debuted half a year earlier than Liang Ruojing and already had some popularity at the time. Being from a professional background, she was full of confidence.

Who would have expected Liang Ruojing to emerge out of nowhere and snatch the role of the female lead?

If it had just been one role, it might have been fine, but in the end, that drama became an underdog hit and was named the best series of the year. Liang Ruojing also became the Best Actress, enjoying unparalleled glory for a time.

Bai Zheng watched from below the stage, harboring an unspeakable hatred, and unilaterally declared herself Liang Ruojing’s mortal enemy.

Bai Zheng let out a heavy breath: “Next time, let’s see how you beat me.”

Liang Ruojing was completely bewildered.

Beside Bai Zheng, the little assistant’s face had already turned pale.

Betas cannot smell pheromones, but they are still suppressed by the pheromones of high-level Alphas.

Liang Ruojing was rarely angry. She had deep features, and when she had no expression, she looked exceptionally grim.

“Bai Zheng, take your pheromones back.”

“Liang Ruojing, is there something wrong with your gland?” Bai Zheng stepped a few paces closer, the provocation in her eyes blatant. “Are you disabled?”

Liang Ruojing looked around; the terrace was completely empty now. It was pitch black all around, and there seemed to be no one else besides the three of them.

Bai Zheng was triumphant. Liang Ruojing hadn’t moved, so Bai Zheng had already declared herself the winner.

Just as she was about to leave, a strong and terrifying pressure suddenly struck.

The dull, woody scent that had been rampant in the air vanished completely, replaced by a faint scent of mint.

At first, it was fresh, but then it became a strong scent of alcohol, full of aggression—demonstrating that this was the pheromone of an angry, high-level Alpha.

The scent wasn’t actually very dense, but the suppression within the Alpha hierarchy was absolute.

A sudden chill rose up Bai Zheng’s back.

She had never realized that mint liquor could have such an overwhelming pressure.

Opposite her, Liang Ruojing carefully controlled the concentration of her pheromones.

Seeing that Bai Zheng had behaved, she instantly retracted her pheromones.

However, the pheromones that had already been released were still lingering around her, and she could only wait for the wind to slowly blow them away.

In just a few seconds, a large amount of sweat had broken out on Bai Zheng’s forehead, and her previous arrogance was gone.

Her assistant caught her just in time to keep her from falling to the ground.

Liang Ruojing took a kind step back. The night breeze ruffled the stray hairs by her ears, and the pitch-black night made her eyes as bright as stars. The scent of mint liquor gradually faded.

“Don’t release your pheromones outside in the future; it’s impolite.”

Bai Zheng looked up miserably, feeling even more hatred.

She hadn’t expected that the “S-class Alpha” Liang Ruojing’s fans talked about was actually real.

In this day and age, which Alpha wouldn’t promote themselves like that?

And which S-class Alpha would be so low-key?

In the two years they had known each other, this was the first time Bai Zheng had smelled Liang Ruojing’s pheromones.

“Let’s go.” Bai Zheng was supported by her assistant as she left, her retreating figure looking quite pathetic.

Liang Ruojing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t just a day or two that Bai Zheng liked to release pheromones haphazardly.

Hopefully, this would serve as a lesson for her. After all, there were many Omega employees in the company who usually didn’t dare to speak up.

Except in specific circumstances where they are pleasant, the pheromones of high-level Alphas basically represent aggression.

Not only do they pressure Alphas and Betas, but they are a disaster for Omegas.

Due to their different physiological structures, an Omega’s gland is naturally attracted to Alphas and is more easily influenced by Alpha pheromones.

In mild cases, it causes blurred consciousness; in severe cases, it induces heat and causes chaos.

Of course, some Alpha-Omega couples use this characteristic as a form of intimacy, allowing the Alpha to continuously release pheromones as a playful interaction between lovers.

To this, Liang Ruojing said: Rogues! She would rather die than do such a thing!

Fortunately, there was no one else on the terrace.

Otherwise, first with Bai Zheng making such a scene, and then her…

Liang Ruojing pulled out her phone and sent a message to her concerned assistant: “I’m fine now, coming down.”

Just as she took a step, heavy footsteps suddenly sounded behind her.

Looking closely, a person actually ran out from the darkness at the far end of the terrace!

In a black Tang suit, with long straight hair and gold-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of her nose—it was actually Lin Xiuzhu!

“Hello, Director Lin…” Liang Ruojing greeted her as she saw Lin Xiuzhu running over in a hurry.

Lin Xiuzhu ran right past her, her expression extremely anxious.

Across a wall, Liang Ruojing heard Lin Xiuzhu’s concerned question inside.

“Tanqing, why did you come up? Didn’t we agree you’d wait below?”

Ming Tanqing?

Ming Tanqing!

An Omega!

When did she get here!

Liang Ruojing hurriedly moved her feet.

In front of the elevator inside, Lin Xiuzhu was leaning over slightly, looking concernedly at the person beside her.

Ming Tanqing had already changed out of her evening gown and was wearing a set of pure white wool coat. Her jet-black hair was coiled into a classical bun, adorned only with the simplest sandalwood hairpin, her temperament restrained and ethereal.

She seemed very sensitive to the cold, with a very thick red scarf wrapped around her neck, her lower face buried in it. Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and a hint of sickly pallor lingered between her brows.

Liang Ruojing’s breath hitched.

So close.

Ming Tanqing looked over, her pale grayish-blue eyes like gemstones, looking inexplicably melancholic.

So beautiful.

“Teacher Ming, hello.” Liang Ruojing spoke tentatively; she had prepared for this moment for a long time and had so much she wanted to say to Ming Tanqing.

But obviously.

Now was not a good time.

Ming Tanqing gazed quietly at Liang Ruojing, and Liang Ruojing suddenly didn’t know what to say.

In a daze, she seemed to smell an elegant scent of lilies and felt an unprecedented sense of security.

She wanted more.

Ming Tanqing nodded politely to the stunned young Alpha in front of her and replied, “Hello.”

The elevator arrived just then.

Lin Xiuzhu carefully escorted Ming Tanqing inside, her attitude like she was handling precious porcelain.

Before leaving, she also gave Liang Ruojing a sharp glare, clearly smelling the lingering scent of Alpha pheromones nearby.

The elevator left.

Only then did Liang Ruojing realize how strong the scent of mint liquor was here at the wind’s entrance.

She also swore she had once again caught that scent of lilies.