Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 28

She vanished into Liang Ruojing’s embrace.

The Huafeng Movie and Television Base, located in Nancheng, is the largest filming base in the country. Established in the 1990s, more than half of the nation’s films and TV dramas were born here.

The news that Liang Ruojing would be playing the female lead, Han Jiahe, in The Pursuit of Vengeance had already been released.

A top-tier “little flower” actress plus a famous director and screenwriter—anyone with a discerning eye could see this was a move to elevate her career status.

Immediately, fans cheered, anti-fans lashed out, and the general public tuned in for the drama.

And Liang Ruojing?

Liang Ruojing was busy picking a hotel room.

Tang Yuecen found it quite strange. Among popular stars, Liang Ruojing was considered one of the most hardworking and resilient. While others wouldn’t stay anywhere that wasn’t a presidential suite or a five-star hotel, Liang Ruojing wasn’t picky; as long as there were blankets and pillows, she was fine. For her last film, which required shooting in the mountains, she and her assistant had squeezed into a prefab cabin for a month.

So why was she suddenly being so selective now?

Either she complained about the lighting or felt the facilities weren’t convenient enough.

Luckily, they had arrived early, so they still had choices.

Tang Yuecen teased her: “Finished looking, Big Star? Finally developed a pursuit for quality of life?”

Liang Ruojing brushed it off: “Just afraid of sasaeng fans.”

Recalling the spectacle at the airport earlier, Tang Yuecen also broke into a cold sweat. Someone had leaked Liang Ruojing’s itinerary. Fans from all walks of life had swarmed the airport until it was packed tight; many were fans of her role as “Lawyer Liang,” and their enthusiasm was at an all-time high.

Tang Yuecen only managed Liang Ruojing and used to follow her to every set whenever possible. With her there, even if trouble arose, it could be settled quickly. However, news had come from her hometown a few days ago that an elderly acquaintance was in critical condition. Tang Yuecen had to go back to help and wouldn’t be able to get away for a while.

Liang Ruojing would be at the film set by herself for this period.

Tang Yuecen couldn’t set her mind at ease and gave instructions all the way.

“I’ve looked into Ren Wanying. Her new show is at the neighboring base. You know how to handle her, so I won’t say much.”

“Bai Zheng is also at Huafeng. The higher-ups shoved her into a new production, and her filming starts around the same time as yours. If you run into her, don’t get tangled up. There are many eyes and ears; be careful of negative rumors being spread.”

As Tang Yuecen spoke, she grew sentimental: “With me gone, you must be extra cautious. There are many big names in the cast; get along well with them, but don’t let anyone bully you.”

Liang Ruojing comforted her manager: “It’ll be fine. I’m not a newcomer anymore.”

She had just sent the hotel room number to Ming Tanqing.

It was a suite on the top floor. There weren’t many rooms on the same floor, making it quiet.

The hotel was close to the filming base. There was a script reading scheduled for the afternoon, which everyone was expected to attend. Since it was the first meeting, it was very important.

Considering there were Alphas and Omegas in the cast, Liang Ruojing took a shower before heading out, washing away every trace of the lily fragrance from her body. She even applied a suppression patch.

At 1:30 PM, Liang Ruojing arrived at the set early.

The crew was tidying up the room. Seeing the female lead arrive, an assistant immediately hurried over with a beaming, seasoned smile.

“Teacher Liang, you’re here so early! I’ll have a staff member take you to the lounge; she’ll be your point of contact from now on.”

As he spoke, a young assistant wearing an ID badge stepped out from behind him. She looked green and naive, likely a fresh graduate.

Others showed expressions of sympathy. Most stars in the entertainment industry had tempers that correlated with their fame; no matter how gentle or sunny they appeared in public; they were universally difficult to serve in private.

The staff member’s name was Lu Jinghe. She spoke softly and looked timid: “Hello, Sister Liang. I’ll take you to the lounge.”

Feeling curious about the new environment, Liang Ruojing smiled and replied: “Hello, I am Liang Ruojing.”

Lu Jinghe was momentarily dazed. Of course, she knew Liang Ruojing’s name—a popular “little flower” with deep, striking features. As an S-class Alpha, she should have exerted a strong sense of pressure, but Liang Ruojing happened to have a pair of innocents “puppy eyes.”

The corners of her eyes were short and moist, and her thick eyelashes framed honey-colored irises that had a natural affinity. She looked like two different people when she smiled versus when she didn’t, showing immense versatility. Those eyes played no small part in Liang Ruojing being chosen as the lead.

Lu Jinghe’s nervous heart eased slightly as she led Liang Ruojing toward the lounge.

On the way, they passed the filming shed. The Pursuit of Vengeance was a major production, dominantly occupying a corner of the base. With the start of filming imminent, the sets had already been built—all real-life physical sets. Looking out, over fifty different scenes were arranged in order, appearing both illusory and real.

People were coming and going. Liang Ruojing pushed open a door. On a fine winter day, sunlight flooded the prosecutor’s office. She picked up a ballpoint pen from a pen holder and was instantly drawn into the world of the drama. Everything here was exactly as described in the script. It was as if the fictional world truly existed.

Liang Ruojing’s excitement was nearly overflowing.

They didn’t go to the lounge. Under Lu Jinghe’s guidance, Liang Ruojing toured the entire set.

Eventually, another crew member found them: “Director Lin has arrived. Everyone is in the conference room.”

Unlike the actors, Lin Xiuzhu had joined the set two months ago to oversee the construction of scenes and the filming of empty shots. She had only returned to Yanjing specifically for casting. Frequently traveling between the two cities had left a look of deep exhaustion on Lin Xiuzhu’s face.

She scanned the room, her sharp gaze bypassing Liang Ruojing and stopping at an empty seat next to her. Her brows furrowed deeply.

“Where is You Qian? Didn’t I say everyone had to be here?”

To Liang Ruojing’s right, the seat representing “Sun Ying” was empty.

An assistant ran over hurriedly and deliberately lowered their voice, but Liang Ruojing had excellent hearing and heard everything clearly.

“Teacher Yu has an urgent matter and will arrive a week late.”

“A week?” Lin Xiuzhu frowned. “Then she might as well not act at all.”

The assistant pretended not to understand and just smiled foolishly. On one side was a rising international director; on the other was a veteran ultra-A-list actress. Neither could be offended. If there was to be a fight, it would be between Lin Xiuzhu and the investors.

Liang Ruojing felt conflicted.

Aside from joining the set, what she had been most nervous about today was meeting You Qian. Ever since that rehearsal on the balcony, whenever Liang Ruojing opened the script and saw Sun Ying’s scenes, the face, voice, and acting she visualized were all Ming Tanqing’s.

Inevitably, Liang Ruojing had projected some of her own feelings for Ming Tanqing onto Sun Ying, developing a “fledgling attachment”—both relying on her and wanting to surpass her, then in turn, wanting to protect her.

Originally, upon hearing that You Qian would play Sun Ying, Liang Ruojing had felt uneasy. Ming Tanqing held too much weight in her heart. As an actress, Liang Ruojing should banish her from her mind; as herself, she could not forget Ming Tanqing.

Now that the other party was acting like a diva and arriving late, Liang Ruojing actually felt a sense of relief. At least she still had time to adjust.

After the incident with You Qian, Lin Xiuzhu’s mood visibly dropped several notches. During the script reading, she went into full force, perfectly recreating the stern atmosphere seen in her documentaries.

When the four-hour reading ended, Liang Ruojing was covered in sweat and had a splitting headache. She had the most lines, and now even breathing made her throat ache. Such readings would happen many more times during filming.

The crew had arranged a dinner for the evening. As the female lead, Liang Ruojing barely ate a few bites of food, filling her stomach with various drinks and alcohol instead. Lin Xiuzhu was there too but didn’t participate in the socializing, instead standing alone on the terrace smoking one cigarette after another.

By the end of the day, Liang Ruojing was exhausted. Lacking the Omega’s pheromones, her heart and gland could never quite settle down. Between her and Ming Tanqing, it was hard to tell who needed the other’s pheromones more. Especially since she was now covered in a jumble of different scents, Liang Ruojing couldn’t wait to shower and return to her Omega’s side.

Around 9:30 PM, Liang Ruojing finally received the WeChat message she had been waiting for.

Sister Ming: I’ve arrived

Liang Ruojing stood up instantly.

Liang Ruojing: Coming back now!

At the same time, a group of young actors walked toward Liang Ruojing playfully: “Sister Xiao Jing, are we going to an after-party?”

A male Alpha stepped forward, smiling suggestively at Liang Ruojing: “There’s a club nearby that I visit often. Sister Xiao Jing, please do us the honor.”

Liang Ruojing recognized him as a well-known playboy in the industry. Tang Yuecen had specifically warned her to stay away from any gatherings he was involved in.

Liang Ruojing played it off while heading toward the exit: “It’s not very convenient today, I have to see my manager off. Another time!”

In reality, Tang Yuecen had left before dinner even started.

Liang Ruojing ran out of the hotel. The city under the night lights was even more dazzling than during the day. Just as she was about to contact her assistant, a familiar figure approached her.

The person was wrapped in a heavy smell of smoke along with a faint, woody cedar scent—an Alpha’s pheromones.

“Going back to the hotel?” Lin Xiuzhu lifted her eyelids. “I happen to be going back too. I’ll give you a lift.”

Liang Ruojing hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing. Inside the quiet car, the atmosphere was exceptionally awkward. Lin Xiuzhu droves silently, her eyes tired behind her black-rimmed glasses.

Once they reached the hotel, Liang Ruojing unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “Goodbye, Director Lin.”

Lin Xiuzhu suddenly spoke: “Is she upstairs?”

Liang Ruojing panicked. She immediately used the “playing dumb” trick she had just learned that afternoon. “Who? My manager?”

Lin Xiuzhu gave a cold laugh and shooed Liang Ruojing out of the car: “Just go.”

Clutching her bag, Liang Ruojing dashed into the hotel like an elementary student. In this five-star hotel, the top floor was covered in thick carpeting, so a person’s footsteps made no sound.

Under the influence of the temporary marking, the Alpha was even more sensitive to the Omega’s pheromones. Liang Ruojing caught the faint scent of lilies in the hallway—proof that Ming Tanqing had been here.

She had been drinking; she wasn’t drunk, but her spirit was highly excited. She strode forward, chasing the lily scent like a cat attracted to a butterfly.

Liang Ruojing found the room and raised her hand to knock. The crisp sound echoed in the silent corridor. She waited for a few minutes. No one answered.

Opening the door, a more intense lily fragrance rushed over her. Liang Ruojing felt a wave of heat and stepped into the inner room dizzily.

“Sister Ming—”

The night wind blew in, making the curtains ripple. No one was there. Liang Ruojing’s heart sank.

There was no mistake; the Alpha’s attraction to the Omega was etched into her bones. Liang Ruojing could tell that Ming Tanqing had been in this room. But where was she?

Liang Ruojing anxiously searched every corner of the hotel suite. The more pheromones she inhaled, the more the urgency in her heart grew. She returned to the doorway; her gaze mournfully fixed on the empty hallway.

Did she leave?

At that moment, the door next door suddenly moved.

Ming Tanqing walked out wrapped in a bathrobe, her peach-blossom eyes meeting Liang Ruojing’s with a smile. She had just finished bathing and looked as clear and beautiful as a hibiscus emerging from water. Her skin was as delicate as porcelain, with only the tips of her ears and her cheeks flushed pink from the steam.

Seeing Liang Ruojing’s crestfallen appearance, Ming Tanqing felt a bit helpless: “Didn’t I send you a mes…”

Before she could finish, the remaining words vanished into the Alpha’s solid embrace.