Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 52

Flirting Under the Table

The snow outside was falling heavily. In less than two hours, the world was wrapped in a silver shroud. Against the backdrop of the dark night, snowflakes drifted like willow catkins or goose feathers.

“Seriously?”

Liang Ruojing suddenly turned her head. But there was no one there.

She looked back at the screen: “Mom, did you mistake her for someone else?”

Su Jing replied: “With her figure, it would be quite difficult to mistake her for someone else.”

Liang Ruojing thought that made sense, but she truly hadn’t seen anyone. Checking the time, she realized she had been out for nearly twenty minutes. Since it was a cast dinner, it wasn’t good to be away for too long.

Liang Ruojing hung up the video call and returned to the private room.

Ming Tanqing had already arrived and was drinking warm mulled wine. The steam drifted around her, and in the misty atmosphere between her brows, even her coldest expression seemed softened. As their eyes met, a faint smile appeared at the corners of Ming Tanqing’s mouth, carry a hint of teasing.

Liang Ruojing felt embarrassed and instantly believed Su Jing’s words. Sister Ming really had gone looking for her. She had heard her calling out “Mom.” Like a good little baby. Now she truly felt younger.

Thoughts raced through Liang Ruojing’s mind. Just as she was about to take her seat, she realized her original spot had been taken by the screenwriter of the crew. The screenwriter and the head of the art department were chatting happily and had no intention of moving; in a few words, they had Liang Ruojing’s seating arrangement settled.

“Little Liang, take my seat, it’s right next to Tanqing. You like her, don’t you? Seize the chance to chat more. Go on.”

Liang Ruojing said seriously: “Thank you.”

In reality, this wasn’t their first dinner together. The filming of “Vengeance” had a heavy workload, and working overtime was the norm. Recently, the weather had been harsh, and the creators, sympathizing with everyone’s hard work, squeezed in time to treat them to meals. Previously, when things were busy, they ate on set, gathering in the lounge to eat together. In that casual atmosphere, Liang Ruojing dared to shamelessly sit beside Ming Tanqing.

On other formal occasions, such as the wrap party or official gatherings, Liang Ruojing only watched from afar. Even if they were intimately close in private.

The assistant director enthusiastically added new tableware for her. Ming Tanqing’s expression remained indifferent, showing no special treatment toward Liang Ruojing. Sitting next to her goddess, Liang Ruojing ate slowly and meticulously, maintaining her composure while consuming a fair amount.

The assistant director and Lin Xiuzhu were discussing the arrangements for several upcoming climax scenes. Ming Tanqing listened intently, her long eyelashes fluttering. She seemed to sense a gaze; her eyelashes trembled slightly as her eyes fell upon Liang Ruojing.

Liang Ruojing’s heart tightened, and she changed the subject: “Tan—Sister Ming, why aren’t you eating?”

“It’s a hassle.”

What was a hassle? Cooking the hotpot?

Liang Ruojing spoke quickly: “Sister Ming, what do you like to eat?”

Ming Tanqing smiled: “Are you going to cook for me?”

The assistant director was a bit surprised to hear this, but then accepted it. Liang Ruojing was already cooking, sweating from the steam of the hotpot. She knew what the assistant director was thinking. Cooking for Best Actress Ming was indeed a bit fawning. But cooking for Sister Tanqing was just flirting.

Once the food was ready, Liang Ruojing carefully shielded it with a bowl and placed it into Ming Tanqing’s bowl, specifically adding: “Please eat, Sister Ming.”

Ming Tanqing held back a laugh: “Thanks for your hard work.”

Here, they were in a senior-junior relationship. The Best Actress Ming was dignified and elegant, her face appearing devoid of worldly desires—sacred and inviolable. As she lowered her head to eat, her tongue darted out first to test the temperature before she took a small bite.

Liang Ruojing swallowed hard. She worked hard to pile Ming Tanqing’s bowl until it was overflowing. Just as she reached for the beef again, her knuckles were lightly tapped by a new pair of chopsticks.

“Ow,” Liang Ruojing said aggrievedly, “What was that for?”

“I can’t eat any more.” Ming Tanqing put down the serving chopsticks.

Liang Ruojing whispered: “I can help you eat it.”

Ming Tanqing gave her a glare.

Just as they finally had some interaction, it was gone again. Liang Ruojing retracted her hand, trying to convey her emotions through her eyes.

She complemented this with some action under the table. Her black trousers brushed against Ming Tanqing’s calf, rubbing back and forth. Sister Tanqing. Sister Tanqing.

The Omega’s leg bumped back, accompanied by a sharp glance. Know when to stop.

Liang Ruojing was indignant. Back at the hotel, she had helped Ming Tanqing “eat.”

While Liang Ruojing was sulking to herself, a waiter suddenly entered and placed a bowl of tangyuan (sweet rice balls) in front of her. They were round and plump, looking exceptionally cute.

Liang Ruojing’s brain overloaded, and she stopped thinking: “I didn’t order this?” And there was only one bowl.

The waiter looked puzzled: “It’s for this room.”

“I ordered it, just leave it there.” Ming Tanqing pushed the bowl in front of Liang Ruojing: “Eat up, Nannan.”

Under the table, the Omega’s toe tapped Liang Ruojing’s leg, teasing her in circles. Liang Ruojing’s face flushed instantly. She wasn’t sure if anyone else had heard that nickname. Ming Tanqing smiled and moved her leg away, as if it were just a little joke.

The tangyuan had black sesame filling; Liang Ruojing could finish one in two bites. She didn’t particularly like sweets, but she managed to finish the entire bowl.

The snow outside grew heavier. A few drinkers opened the window to admire the snow. A cold wind blew in. Ming Tanqing, who was sensitive to the cold, squinted her eyes as her hair began to fly about. In a completely subconscious move, Liang Ruojing stood up and reached out to block the wind for her.

The surroundings were noisy as several people called out to close the window again. She looked down and saw the Omega’s serene profile, as pure as a lily. When their eyes met, Liang Ruojing felt a bit awkward.

“Happy Little New Year,” Ming Tanqing said softly.

The filming at Huafeng was nearing its end. Different actors were wrapping up every day, and the celebratory flower baskets outside the studio never ceased. Two more days passed like this, reaching the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month. Most of the actors had already left the set; the number of regulars could be counted on one hand.

It was a rare sunny day, and they were reshooting a scene of falling into the river. While the lighting crew adjusted the lights, the remaining four actors chatted in the tent. Liang Ruojing sat outside, blocking the wind for Ming Tanqing.

The story of that bowl of tangyuan had somehow spread, and they were currently chatting about it.

Yang Jie: “Tanqing is biased. How come she only ordered for Little Liang?”

Ming Tanqing: “She worked hard cooking, so I ordered it along the way.”

“No,” someone chimed in, “Sister Ming usually looks after Little Jing as well, explaining the scenes to her every day.”

Liang Ruojing: “We have a lot of scenes together, so Sister Ming is kind enough to give me pointers.”

Yang Jie smiled: “Little Liang, no need to deny it. We can all see how well Tanqing treats you. We’ll all be friends in the future.”

These were polite words, but Liang Ruojing took them to heart. She even felt a bit dazed. Does she already have a name in Sister Ming’s life?

Liang Ruojing flattened the corners of her mouth and stole another glance at Ming Tanqing.

The lighting was ready, and the floor manager came to call them for the scene. Ming Tanqing stood up and patted Liang Ruojing’s head: “Let’s go, kiddo.”

Lin Xiuzhu adjusted the camera positions. Just as the clapperboard was struck, Liang Ruojing went “plop” and jumped into the water.

“Cut! Too exaggerated.”

Liang Ruojing waited for her temperature to drop and took the second take seriously. By the end of the twelfth lunar month, the temperature was five or six degrees colder than it had been half a month ago. Ming Tanqing’s face was pale, half of it melting into the sunlight, looking as if she might scatter if the wind blew again. Even though both of them were in good form, it still took four takes to pass the scene.

Ming Tanqing’s complexion didn’t look good. Lin Xiuzhu hurried over: “Are you okay?”

Ming Tanqing asked back: “What about the progress?”

“There are two scenes left, we’ll make it.”

Liang Ruojing was dripping with water and went back to the RV to take a shower. When she came out again, Ming Tanqing was filming a close-up; her thin shirt clung to her skin, making the flesh beneath almost visible.

When they finished for the day, the assistant director specifically checked on Liang Ruojing, telling her to take care and not catch a fever. Liang Ruojing’s heart was with Ming Tanqing, so she quickly replied and hurried back to the hotel.

As the New Year approached, the sides of the roads were decorated for the festival, with colored lights and small red lanterns hanging from the tree branches. Not many crews were still at Huafeng, so there were few cars on the road, adding a touch of winter desolation. Tang Yuecen’s old friend had also gone home, so she didn’t go out to catch up in the evening and stayed in the hotel to rest.

Liang Ruojing leaned against the elevator with her arms crossed, her face tense, dark, and silent.

Ding—

Tang Yuecen’s floor arrived. Even though she knew Liang Ruojing had a strong constitution, Tang Yuecen was still worried: “If there’s any problem with your body, remember to come find me, do you hear me?”

Liang Ruojing nodded, “I know.”

She went up to the top floor alone. With two room cards in her pocket—her own was as good as new, while the one belonging to the room next door was slightly faded at the edges. Liang Ruojing had also filmed a close-up shot, so she returned over an hour late.

Opening the door, she was met by a wave of heat mixed with the scent of lilies and mint. Ming Tanqing had just finished her shower and was drying her hair. Liang Ruojing stepped forward, naturally took over, and began to blow-dry the Omega’s black hair.

“You’re becoming more and more observant,” Ming Tanqing praised leisurely.

“It’s all thanks to the Master’s good training.”

Ming Tanqing turned around and met a pair of amber eyes—clear and burning, that was Liang Ruojing’s gaze. She felt a sense of gratification. “You really have improved.”

Liang Ruojing lowered her gaze, her fingers running through the black hair, grooming it meticulously. “I wouldn’t dare forget what Sister Tanqing taught me.”

Feel the world. Step out of the character. But Liang Ruojing had cheated. The world she felt was a world where Ming Tanqing existed.

After drying the hair, the hotel happened to deliver dinner. The meal came with two pieces of pastry as part of a New Year promotion. Ming Tanqing had no appetite for the main course but picked up the pastry with two fingers and finished it in a few bites.

Liang Ruojing remarked: “It really is the end of the year.”

Ming Tanqing asked: “Are you in a hurry to go home for the New Year?”

“No,” Liang Ruojing complained slightly, “My mom is the one in a hurry; she starts nagging early every year.”

Ming Tanqing laughed. Even though she wasn’t teasing, Liang Ruojing’s face still felt hot.

“What about Sister Tanqing? Going back to the Villa for the New Year?”

Ming Tanqing paused, the smile in her eyes fading: “Probably.”

Liang Ruojing instinctively felt she had asked the wrong question. Sister Ming’s relationship with her family seemed to be quite poor. Since she was helping Ming Tanqing with her condition, the person she saw most often was Fang Zezi.

“Sister Tanqing,” Liang Ruojing proactively pushed the pastry over as a peace offering, “Do you want more?”

Ming Tanqing accepted the peace offering but only took half a bite. Liang Ruojing ate the remaining half. No wasting.

After being exposed to the cold wind all day, Ming Tanqing’s spirit was weary, and she changed her clothes early to go to bed. Liang Ruojing finished her shower and dried her hair before returning to the inner room, seeing a bulge in the bed like a cocoon. Ming Tanqing had wrapped herself in the blanket, her face surrounded by it—just a small, white speck.

Liang Ruojing walked over and called her name softly. “Sister Tanqing, are you still cold?”

Ming Tanqing opened her eyes and blinked slowly. The hotel had a thermometer gun; Liang Ruojing helped her check her temperature, and it was normal. Strange, the room was already very hot.

Liang Ruojing got into bed and with a gentle tug, unrolled the “cat roll.” Ming Tanqing cooperated by rolling twice, eventually facing Liang Ruojing. Liang Ruojing felt hot and was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and short pajama pants. Ming Tanqing reached out a finger and poked the Alpha’s arm.

Her fingertip caught the heat. Ming Tanqing seemed puzzled: “Why are you so hot?”

Liang Ruojing leaned in and hugged the Omega: “Does this make it a bit better?” The Alpha straightened her legs and pressed them between the Omega’s legs, their skin touching, using her body temperature to warm the cold jade in her arms.

Ming Tanqing was being playful and pressed her feet against Liang Ruojing’s calves.

“Hiss—” Liang Ruojing’s eyes widened: “So cold.”

“I’m like this every winter.”

“Do hot water bottles help?”

“A little.”

“I’m used to it.”

Ming Tanqing wanted to pull her feet back. Her ankles were suddenly grabbed by someone and placed back in the same position. Liang Ruojing grinned: “Then let me help you warm them up.”

Ming Tanqing was dazed. The cold winter nights she was used to suddenly became unbearable. She slowly leaned in and pressed her ear against Liang Ruojing’s chest. The young Alpha’s heart was beating strongly, thumping against her eardrums. The scent of mint was also present, stirring the heat in the Omega’s bones, steaming them until they felt crisp and soft. Liang Ruojing tightened her arms, her hand cupping the back of Ming Tanqing’s head, fully enveloping her.

They slept until the snow stopped. Liang Ruojing was awakened by the heat. At first, she thought it was the heater, but after getting up, she realized the source of the heat was the person in her arms. Ming Tanqing was curled up in a very insecure sleeping position, the corners of her eyes-stained pink, her neck and ears flushed, and even her eyelids were translucent red.

“Sister Tanqing?” The Omega’s breath was scorching, her heat was alarming.

Liang Ruojing panicked, not caring about anything else: “Ming Tanqing! Can you hear me?” Ming Tanqing didn’t respond, her forehead dripping with sweat.

This was not good. This was not good. Liang Ruojing had never encountered such a situation and only knew that the faster they got to the hospital, the better. She scrambled out of bed, and without thinking much, she picked up the Omega in a princess carry. After a few steps, she remembered something, put her down, wrapped her tightly in layers, and didn’t forget to take both of their phones. As for herself, she just threw on a coat and rushed out holding the Omega.

Liang Ruojing ran into the elevator, frantically pressing the button. Hurry, hurry. Nothing else mattered.

Tang Yuecen was sleeping soundly when she was suddenly awakened by a loud knocking on the door. It was noisy outside, and she couldn’t hear what was being shouted. “What’s going on! It’s 4 o’clock!”

Tang Yuecen threw open the door and froze. Outside the door, Liang Ruojing was wearing thin pajamas, tightly holding someone in her arms. Ming Tanqing’s head was hanging down, leaning weakly against Liang Ruojing’s chest.

Liang Ruojing shouted at her: “Sister Tang! Ming Tanqing has a fever! We need to go to the hospital!”