Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 30

She took a deep, satisfied breath.

Ming Tanqing knew exactly how troublesome her illness was. It required frequent temporary marking, and the person involved had to remain inseparable from her. Not only was she unable to leave the Alpha’s pheromones, but Liang Ruojing’s life was also affected, making it impossible for her to leave Ming Tanqing either.

What Ming Tanqing least wanted to see was Liang Ruojing accommodating her unconditionally. Through their previous interactions, she had already sensed that the Alpha before her was different from those she had encountered in the past.

Ming Tanqing was well-versed in handling malicious glares, but she didn’t know how to respond to such fervent gazes—even if Liang Ruojing sent her long, rambling messages.

Inwardly, Ming Tanqing remained skeptical. Having lived to twenty-seven, the one thing she never lacked was the affection of others. Some loved her brilliance on the screen, some loved her family background, and others loved her body. They all wanted something, and Ming Tanqing could easily distinguish their motives.

But with Liang Ruojing, Ming Tanqing actually couldn’t see into her heart. Was there really someone in this world who sought no return? Someone who was simply good to another person for no reason? Even if such a person existed, would Liang Ruojing be that person?

January 19th. Sunny. Auspicious for: Starting a production, Marriage.

After sharing a bed with Liang Ruojing, Ming Tanqing no longer had nightmares, as if a dream-knight were guarding her peace throughout the night. Today was no exception. Having slept soundly wrapped in the Alpha’s pheromones, Ming Tanqing woke up feeling refreshed. Only the swelling and pain in her gland reminded her of how she had been held down by the Alpha the night before, plunged into a peak of both pain and pleasure.

Liang Ruojing had already gotten up; the sound of splashing water came from the bathroom. The wet-haired Alpha walked out wrapped in a bathrobe. Ming Tanqing smelled the cooling scent of mint, and her mood lightened.

Then, she realized a problem. There wasn’t a trace of her lily scent on Liang Ruojing. Not a single bit. Had she showered this morning just to wash away her pheromones?

The production started today, and Liang Ruojing had scenes in the morning. Taking advantage of the fact that the assistant hadn’t arrived yet, she quickly dried her hair and took out a pre-prepared scent blocker—

“Ming-jie!”

In the mirror, Ming Tanqing narrowed her eyes, staring at the small circular patch on Liang Ruojing’s fingertip. She recognized it, of course; it was the latest research from her family’s hospital, specifically designed for Alphas and Omegas who needed privacy after temporary marking. Once applied, not a single trace of pheromones would leak out.

Ming Tanqing asked, “You’re going to wear a scent blocker?”

Liang Ruojing replied, “There are a lot of people on set, it would be easy to get discovered—”

Discovered what? Discovered that Liang Ruojing and she had been sharing a bed?

A lot of unreasonable negative emotions surfaced in Ming Tanqing’s heart. She was the one who proposed “secrecy,” yet when Liang Ruojing actually tried to draw a clear line between them in public, Ming Tanqing was unhappy.

Liang Ruojing blinked earnestly. “Don’t worry, Ming-jie. No one else will know.”

Who cares about that…

Ming Tanqing felt both a sense of hatred and love for Liang Ruojing’s naivety. She gave her a glare and walked away.

The Pursuit of Vengeance held a simple opening ceremony. Liang Ruojing followed the producer, offered three bows with incense, and took a few photos, marking the end of the ceremony.

The first scene to be filmed today was Han Jiahe’s debut. The set was bustling with people. Originally, director Lin Xiuzhu wanted this to be a one-take sequence. The camera would follow Han Jiahe’s footsteps starting from the gate of the procuratorate, through the lobby and corridors, into the busy office, circling around the young prosecutor, and finally stopping on Sun Ying’s face and that intriguing smile.

However, since You Xi wasn’t there, the shot was temporarily changed to end on Han Jiahe’s face.

The assistant director held the script, explaining the scene to Liang Ruojing. “This is Han Jiahe’s first day reporting to the procuratorate, and it’s also the first time she meets the legendary Sun Ying. Han Jiahe has been excellent since she was a child; she has pride in her heart. But in front of her is Sun Ying, and her pride isn’t quite enough to measure up.”

Liang Ruojing nodded. The studio was hot, and standing under the spotlights felt like being roasted by a harsh sun. Before joining the production, she had watched all of Lin Xiuzhu’s directed films. Lin Xiuzhu loved filming eyes; her ability to capture a performer’s subtle emotions was terrifying.

The shot lasted three minutes in total, with a minute and a half focused solely on Liang Ruojing. If she made a mistake, everyone would have to reshoot. Liang Ruojing was nervous, but also excited. This emotion didn’t belong to her; it belonged to Han Jiahe—the Han Jiahe who passed the exams with the highest score and was full of longing for the future.

The first official take began. The set of over two hundred people fell silent. Liang Ruojing’s nervousness merged perfectly with Han Jiahe. She still couldn’t help but view Sun Ying as Ming Tanqing. At this moment, the thumping of her heart was no lighter than that afternoon when she had crossed the field of lilies and seen Ming Tanqing for the first time.

The crisp sound of leather shoes echoed from afar. Han Jiahe walked forward with her long legs. The young prosecutor wore a full uniform, the top button of her white shirt fastened to the very top. A thin belt cinched her flexible, narrow waist, and her legs were straight and long, encased in the black uniform—abstinent and serious. Not a patch of skin was exposed, yet it was inexplicably attractive.

When Ming Tanqing entered, this was the scene she witnessed. Liang Ruojing’s eyes were sharp, her expression filled with the arrogance of a favored child of heaven. Ming Tanqing curled her lips slightly. Such an Alpha did indeed overlap with the bright and flamboyant “Rookie King” at the awards ceremony in her memory.

Ming Tanqing had come to visit accompanied by the head of the film base. News of her guest appearance in the film was already well-known in the industry, and the person in charge, knowing this, had arranged a tour. No one knew she had arrived the night before; they all thought she had just arrived this morning.

Ming Tanqing watched Liang Ruojing from a short distance with interest. Both the first and second takes were scrapped due to supporting actors missing their marks. Liang Ruojing took a deep breath and took a water bottle from her assistant to rehydrate. Her wandering gaze landed precisely on Ming Tanqing.

The light grey-blue eyes reflected a soft smile. It wasn’t a hallucination. It was Ming Tanqing; she was on set. Liang Ruojing patted her face, controlling the urge to smile like an idiot.

So silly, Ming Tanqing couldn’t help but laugh.

The third take began. Under Ming Tanqing’s gaze, Liang Ruojing’s pace didn’t falter at all. Her thin lips were pressed together, and while her puppy-like eyes remained innocent, the expression reflecting in them was a clear refusal to lose. The camera was pressed right up to her face.

After a full minute, Lin Xiuzhu finally spoke: “Cut. This take is a wrap.”

Liang Ruojing froze for a second, then couldn’t help but smile. She must have performed reasonably well, right? Her eyes searched through the chaotic set, but her heart slowly cooled. At some point, Ming Tanqing had left.

The production schedule was tight. By the time they finished the original morning scenes, it was already 12:00 PM. Filming would resume at 1:30 PM. Liang Ruojing didn’t go to her trailer but lay down on the sofa in the lounge to rest.

It was time to change the scent blocker. Liang Ruojing peeled off the thin sticker from her gland. Her Alpha pheromones, mixed with the lily scent, were released, gently enveloping her. For the sake of that slight lily scent mixed in, Liang Ruojing released as much of her own pheromones as possible, taking several deep breaths, feeling an increasing itch in her heart.

It was too faint.

Liang Ruojing recalled the Ming Tanqing she had just seen. She had left in such a hurry this morning that she had forgotten to ask—she didn’t know if Ming-jie’s gland was still hurting.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Lu Jinghe peeked her head in and frowned. The pheromones in the room were so thick. S-rank Alphas were truly difficult to deal with.

Lu Jinghe said, “Jing-jie, the food ordered by the crew is here.”

Liang Ruojing waved her hand. “I’m not hungry, just leave it there—”

Lu Jinghe had only taken one step when the Alpha lounging on the sofa suddenly stood up and reached her side in two or three strides.

“What else did you bring?” Liang Ruojing’s eyes were practically glowing.

“Food, and…” Lu Jinghe pulled out a paper bag. “Someone just asked me to give this to you, said it was from an assistant.”

Liang Ruojing took the paper bag. Inside was a scarf—red and white checkered—one that Ming Tanqing had once worn.

Ming-jie!

In Lu Jinghe’s eyes, Liang Ruojing seemed like a different person. The aloof female celebrity had instantly turned into the owner of sparkling puppy eyes. The popular starlet even buried her face in the scarf and took a deep, satisfied breath, her face flushing instantly.

Liang Ruojing forgot the morning’s disappointment and nervousness in a second, wrapped the scarf around her neck in a few quick motions, and sent Lu Jinghe away.

Filming tasks were always heavy. The weather had been good lately, and it was a rare night with a bright moon and sparse stars, so they had to finish several important night scenes.

At midnight, Huafeng was brightly lit. The outside temperature was minus ten degrees Celsius. Liang Ruojing had changed into light casual clothes and was rehearsing lines with her co-stars along the street. During a break, she sat alone to one side wrapped in the red-and-white checkered scarf, lost in thought.

Everyone else was gathered over by the warming room. Liang Ruojing had a good constitution and wasn’t afraid of the cold, so she purposefully came out to seek some peace. She opened her phone; two lines of text sat quietly in the chat box.

Liang Ruojing: Ming-jie, I have to film night scenes tonight, I’ll be back a bit late. Ming-jie: Okay.

In the cold wind, that lily scent seemed even more refined. Liang Ruojing buried her face in the soft scarf, her every breath filled with the Omega’s scent. She had been thinking about Ming Tanqing’s words from last night all day. The expression in her eyes then… it was mockery, wasn’t it?

Liang Ruojing’s heart twitched. To her, Ming Tanqing had always been a person with delicate thoughts. If she weren’t gentle, why would she have someone specially send a scarf? Liang Ruojing felt a wave of causeless sadness. She felt sad for Ming Tanqing’s self-reproach.

If possible, she would rather Ming Tanqing be a bit more selfish. A person who is too sensitive often ends up hurting themselves.

Ha. If she told Sister Tang such a thought, she would surely laugh her head off. She was just a popular starlet; how could she end up feeling bad for a Grand Slam Best Actress?

Liang Ruojing remained silent, when suddenly a loud cheer erupted behind her. Someone had ordered late-night snacks for them. Lu Jinghe brought Liang Ruojing her portion. It was a roasted brown sugar milk tea and a sandwich.

Liang Ruojing froze. She remembered this milk tea. At the Weibo Awards on New Year’s Day, she had ordered this same kind for the fans waiting outside. She loved it too. She had never specifically posted about it on her Moments, but it could always be seen in photos taken on set.

Liang Ruojing took the milk tea; the warm cup sent waves of heat through her hands. “Who ordered this?”

Gu Jinghe thought for a few seconds; she actually didn’t know either. “Probably the assistant director.”

Liang Ruojing looked around; everyone had the same set. It was probably her overthinking things. After being in the industry for over two years, the deepest lesson Liang Ruojing had learned was not to take herself too seriously.

There was still one last take to film. Liang Ruojing continued to sit on her small stool, soaking in the Omega’s pheromones. Suddenly, she heard a meow. Looking toward the sound, a small, exquisite kitten appeared before her. It was entirely snow-white with two large, round eyes—as blue as the clear sky. It was a lovely Persian cat. Judging by its noble and haughty look, it probably escaped from a nearby set.

Liang Ruojing found that pair of glass-ball-like blue eyes strangely familiar. She spoke to it in a high-pitched voice, wanting to pet it. “Why are you filming at night too?”

Before her hand could touch the fur, the little Persian cat let out a “meow” and nimbly dodged away, staring at Liang Ruojing while making a purring sound in its belly.

“Are you angry?” This trait was similar, too.

Liang Ruojing’s smile deepened. She pulled the hot dog out of her sandwich to tease the cat. “I’ll give you a hot dog if you let me pet you, okay?”

The cat’s nose twitched twice. Nobly yet without losing its cool, it approached Liang Ruojing again and began to bite the hot dog in her hand. Liang Ruojing’s heart nearly melted as she happily stroked the kitten’s soft fur. She had always liked cats and had specifically learned how to pet them. Within just a couple of strokes, the blue-eyed Persian cat was won over by Liang Ruojing’s technique and began to nuzzle her hand affectionately.

Liang Ruojing laughed and sighed, “If only she were like you. Kittens probably don’t get gland diseases.”

The kitten couldn’t understand. “Meow~”

It was late at night by the time Liang Ruojing finished work. Except for the film base, the entire city had fallen into a deep sleep. The hotel was quiet. Having been outside all day, she had picked up quite a few mixed pheromones. Liang Ruojing went back to her own room specifically to shower, not forgetting to mess up the bed to pretend someone had slept there before she left.

Wrapped in a bathrobe, she opened the door to the next room. It was also silent. In the inner room, Ming Tanqing was sleeping soundly. By the silvery moonlight, Liang Ruojing was able to gaze at her for a long time.

Her chest overflowed with an indescribable emotion. Her pheromones surged out uncontrollably, doing what their owner couldn’t—crawling over every inch of the Omega’s skin. Ming Tanqing sensed it in her sleep and let out a soft hum, her rosy lips parting slightly like a rose petal.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t expectant. Ming Tanqing’s face was a top-tier existence even in an entertainment industry full of beauties. But while Liang Ruojing was attracted to her appearance, she was even more captivated by her personality.

She still wanted to give the initiative to Ming Tanqing. They were bound together because of the illness; the cost for an Alpha to mark was low, while the Omega bore a massive risk. Putting herself in the other’s shoes, Liang Ruojing wanted to give Ming Tanqing more security.

Liang Ruojing climbed onto the bed, nudging her way in to sleep next to Ming Tanqing. Fearing it wasn’t intimate enough, she turned on her side and slipped her hand under the blanket, resting it on Ming Tanqing’s slender waist. While the other was fast asleep, Liang Ruojing also pressed her face against the Omega’s nape, nuzzling her like a spoiled child.

Ming-jie had slept in her arms before. This way, it should count as fair. The exhausted Alpha showed a smile and fell asleep with her nose pressed against the Omega’s skin.

Ming Tanqing felt like there was a furnace roasting the back of her neck. She opened her eyes; it was just dawn, and the room was filled with a layer of gauze-like white light.

She didn’t know when Liang Ruojing had returned last night. She was nestled in Ming Tanqing’s arms in a very awkward manner, her loose bathrobe agape, revealing her fair collarbones and the curves beneath. The Alpha’s face was flushed, and she was obedient and clingy—completely different from the Han Jiahe on set.

Ming Tanqing narrowed her eyes and checked their surroundings. She was in her original position. So—

Ming Tanqing looked at the Alpha playfully. As expected, Liang Ruojing had poor sleeping habits.

Forget it.

Ming Tanqing specifically turned around, letting Liang Ruojing lean against her shoulder. She would never admit, of course, that she found the Alpha’s dependence on her quite pleasant. Nor would she admit that in her heart, Liang Ruojing had already become someone special.