Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 21

I want to take her home and lock her up.

What exactly was this emotion swirling in the depths of her heart at this moment?

Sourness, irritability, dissatisfaction, and a faint, underlying sense of anticipation.

Ming Tanqing sat in the car heading back to the ancestral residence, her mind thrown into chaos by these unfamiliar emotions.

Did these feelings truly belong to her? Or were they merely the influence of pheromones?

Before meeting Liang Ruojing, Ming Tanqing never knew her sense of smell could be so acute. Just by passing through a place where Liang Ruojing had been, she could immediately distinguish the cool, minty scent of wine from a myriad of other fragrances.

Fang Zezhi often advised her not to suppress her bodily sensations. Little did she know, Ming Tanqing found it impossible to suppress them even if she wanted to.

The night Liang Ruojing first came to the Ming residence to complete the initial treatment, Ming Tanqing had slept the most peacefully she had in two years. There was no panic, no nightmares, and no incessant stinging pain in her glands. The Alpha’s pheromones had enveloped her, bringing nothing but comfort and peace.

Since then, with every treatment, Ming Tanqing found herself craving the Alpha’s pheromones even more. It was an instinct she could not deny.

Her glands were becoming increasingly sensitive; even the daily friction of her collar could produce a sense of pleasure. Even the weakest trace of pheromones made her limbs go soft. Under the guidance of those Alpha pheromones, Ming Tanqing had no idea how many sweat-drenched dreams she had endured. When she woke, she felt a mixture of pleasure and pain.

Ming Tanqing often felt as though she were split into two halves. If she could, she wanted to dig out her own glands.

Fang Zezhi had turned pale with shock: “Tanqing! Are you joking?”

Ming Tanqing pursed her lips and spoke under Fang Zezhi’s expectant gaze: “I’m joking.”

However, Fang Zezhi’s mood did not lighten. In the modern era, removing one’s glands was equivalent to suicide. Even for a Beta, it was difficult to survive more than five years after such a procedure, let alone for an Alpha or an Omega.

Just moments ago, the two of them had been in the office discussing the treatment plan for the day after tomorrow. Fang Zezhi was optimistic; after all, between an Alpha and an Omega, it was normal for things to “misfire” during a temporary marking. She hadn’t expected Ming Tanqing to harbor such a deep aversion to establishing an intimate relationship.

“Is it because of Liang Ruojing?” Fang Zezhi asked. Little Liang seemed quite good, didn’t she?

Ming Tanqing shook her head. Actually, the moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Those words were too willful; the usual Ming Tanqing would never have said them. She was being controlled by the emotions in her heart—she found she couldn’t tolerate Liang Ruojing having normal contact with other Omegas.

Fang Zezhi’s noticed the calendar and suddenly understood. “Your heat period is approaching. Don’t be too hard on yourself. At a time like this, any reaction is normal.”

Ming Tanqing remained silent. She was thinking: I just wanted to take Liang Ruojing straight home and lock her up. Is that also normal?

Ming Tanqing didn’t say it out loud, sitting there like a perfect statue. Looking at her, Fang Zezhi’s heart suddenly softened. Over the past two years, she had come to view Ming Tanqing as a younger sister. Assuming Ming Tanqing was simply unaccustomed to physical intimacy, she offered some comfort:

“After the marking, provided there is a sufficient number of pheromones, the rate of glandular development will increase. The hospital will do its best with the research; your relationship won’t have to last forever.”

Ming Tanqing was puzzled: “Sufficient amount? Does the frequency need to increase as well?”

Fang Zezhi laughed; in her eyes, this was good news. “Yes, ideally every day. It could shorten the course of treatment.”

Ming Tanqing’s body visibly stiffened.

Fang Zezhi cheerfully returned to her desk. She was preparing a speech for next month’s summit. Last week, her paper, The Influence of Alpha Pheromones on Omega Glandular Maturation, had been published in a core journal, proving the hypothesis of pheromone-induced maturation for the first time in the industry. Because of this, she had been invited to speak at the summit and would be away on a business trip for half a month. This was also the reason for attempting a temporary marking the day after tomorrow. With Fang Zezhi away, a temporary marking would keep Ming Tanqing’s physical condition more stable.

That tie was eventually taken home by Liang Ruojing.

After showering, Liang Ruojing flopped heavily onto her bed. Her fingertips brushed against smooth fabric, and with a casual reach, a slightly rumpled shirt appeared before her. It was pure white silk, the collar embroidered with a few green leaves—simple and elegant.

Liang Ruojing stared at the green leaves for a few seconds before burying her face in the fabric and taking a deep breath. The subtle scent of lilies flooded her nasal cavity, causing a flush to spread across her face.

This scent fascinated her—no, more accurately, she was obsessed with it. Every time she smelled it, her entire body would relax.

Tang Yuecen had once asked curiously: “Is the influence of pheromones really that big?”

Liang Ruojing hadn’t replied at the time, but she retorted in her heart. It’s not just because of the pheromones.

Alright, it did smell very good. But more importantly, it was because of Ming Tanqing. Because the owner of the pheromones was Ming Tanqing, Liang Ruojing allowed herself to be immersed in them. If it were anyone else, Liang Ruojing wouldn’t be like this. She knew exactly what her heart wanted.

Liang Ruojing opened her phone. Photos from a luxury brand’s charity gala a few days ago had been released. A photo of Ming Tanqing with the brand’s founder was placed in the center of the official gallery. She was wearing a casual white suit, and the shirt underneath was exactly the one Liang Ruojing held in her hands. Liang Ruojing had compared every detail; they were identical.

This realization excited her. When the “bright moon” enters one’s arms, who wouldn’t be moved?

Unfortunately, after three or four days, the Omega’s pheromones on the shirt had faded. While loathing herself for it, Liang Ruojing piled the clothes the Omega had sent into a little nest and lay down inside, feeling utterly content.

On the day of the treatment, Liang Ruojing was at home packing her bag. Tang Yuecen came by to discuss a script and caught her putting clothes into a suitcase.

Tang Yuecen placed the thick script on the coffee table. “I don’t recall you having any travel plans recently.”

“It’s a private trip,” Liang Ruojing hummed a tune, clearly in a good mood.

“Going for treatment again? Why do you need to stay overnight?”

Liang Ruojing replied, “The situation is complicated. It’ll be about three days.”

Tang Yuecen raised an eyebrow. She still didn’t approve, but since things had come to this, she focused on work. “I’ve filtered a few scripts for you, and there’s a variety show. Tomorrow is the final deadline for notification, so we should be prepared for a rejection.”

Liang Ruojing paused. “I know.”

To say she wasn’t disappointed wouldn’t be realistic. Liang Ruojing had sacrificed a lot for the role of Han Jiahe. If she lost it, it wouldn’t just be losing a good script; it would also mean failing Ming Tanqing’s help.

Tang Yuecen comforted her, “There will always be better ones. You’re still young.”

Liang Ruojing closed her suitcase. “I know. Ming Tanqing’s role in Palace Lyrics was also replaced, and hers was a role for an international movie queen.”

Tang Yuecen chuckled, clearly not the first time she had heard Liang Ruojing’s fan-girl remarks. “You really do like her.”

Now, the word “like” held a double meaning in Liang Ruojing’s ears. She nodded solemnly. “Mm.”

After Tang Yuecen left, Liang Ruojing sat in her room dazing for a while. Beside her was a bag of clothes—Ming Tanqing’s clothes. She had washed and dried them carefully, so not a trace of the Omega’s scent remained. No matter how she sniffed, there was only the smell of laundry detergent.

Liang Ruojing put the clothes back, feeling a bit down. Seven days was enough for a person to form a preliminary habit. Now that she was in a bad mood, the first person she thought of was Ming Tanqing.

At 1:30 PM, Liang Ruojing arrived at the Ming residence.

Fang Zezhi greeted her at the door. “Little Liang, have there been any abnormalities with your glands lately?”

Does missing the Omega’s pheromones intensely count as an abnormality?

Liang Ruojing found it hard to say and simply shook her head.

Fang Zezhi smiled. “Your compatibility with Tanqing is too high, so she has influenced you. It should be better after the temporary marking.”

Liang Ruojing was dazed. Is that how it works? After a temporary marking, won’t I become even more obsessed with the Omega?

Fang Zezhi led Liang Ruojing to a new room. She stopped and suddenly asked, “Do you have any prior experience?”

Liang Ruojing understood instantly. Her face flushed red, and her voice grew smaller and smaller. “I’ve read some books and… watched videos. You have to bite the gland…”

So, it was her first time.

Fang Zezhi noted this understandingly. “I see. Just follow your heart.”

Liang Ruojing felt apprehensive. Is it really, okay? To just follow my heart?

The door opened.

Ming Tanqing was wearing a loose camisole dress. She turned around in the bright sunlight and gazed quietly at Liang Ruojing.