Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 58

I Didn’t Ask You to Kiss in Front of the Camera!

Liang Ruojing also left Huafeng on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. Her popularity was soaring; even without a leading television drama airing recently, the level of discussion surrounding her remained consistently high.

Taking this into account, Tang Yuecen specifically booked her on a midnight flight. Taking off at midnight, the plane arrived at Yanjing Shangcheng International Airport three hours later.

In the early hours of late winter, the cold wind was bone-chilling. Suddenly returning to the North from a southern city, Liang Ruojing found herself momentarily unable to adapt to Yanjing’s dry air. She felt the wind cutting across her face like a blade.

It was a confidential itinerary. Aside from being recognized by a fan who asked for an autograph just after boarding, she was undisturbed and managed to get a solid three hours of sleep. Walking out of the gate, Liang Ruojing pulled her hat down low and walked head-down toward the exit until Tang Yuecen patted her shoulder and told her to look ahead.

“What is it?”

Liang Ruojing scanned the area and suddenly froze. After two seconds of shock, waves of warmth welled up from her heart, instantly dispersing the cold air surrounding her. Not far away, two people—one tall and one short—were waiting. The shorter Omega pushed up her glasses, silently searching for the figure she had been longing for.

Liang Ruojing trotted over and locked eyes with another pair of amber orbs. “Mom! Why are you both here?” she cried. “It’s so late; I told you there was no need to pick me up.”

Liang Can took the suitcase from her daughter’s hand. “How could we not come? Your mother has been talking about it all day; it gave me a headache.”

Su Jing ignored Liang Can’s teasing, her gaze tracing every inch of Liang Ruojing’s features. “You’ve gotten a bit thinner. We need to nourish you at home.”

Liang Ruojing’s heart felt as soft as cotton. “It was necessary for the screen. I have work after the New Year.”

Watching from the side, Tang Yuecen couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth. No matter how many times she saw it, she was always moved by the atmosphere of Liang Ruojing’s family. Growing up in such a happy and loving environment, it was only natural for her to have an overly idealistic view of romance.

Despite the early hour, there were still many people at the airport. Tang Yuecen exchanged a few pleasantries and urged the family to leave the airport first. Su Jing was a professor of literature at Yanjing University; she could be a bit naggy at home, but in public, she was a dignified and elegant classical beauty.

“It’s thanks to your care that Xiao Jing is doing so well. You are more than welcome to visit our home often during the New Year,” Su Jing said. Liang Can then arranged for a secretary to drive Tang Yuecen back.

After seeing off the manager, the family finally drove home. Liang Can took the wheel and accelerated into the Yanjing city limits. Entering the old city district, the greenery on both sides was excellent; even in mid-February, it remained lush. Passing by Beihai, the willows along the shore were swaying. Just across a green path sat Liang Ruojing’s home—a lake-view apartment, a duplex formed by joining two units.

Liang Ruojing had grown up here. Liang Can had considered moving, but Su Jing couldn’t bear to leave the lake behind; moreover, it was close to Yanjing University and the nearby park scenery was beautiful, so they stayed. After all, being a lake-view property in the city center, the land was quite valuable. Aside from Liang Ruojing’s complex, several newly built high-end residential buildings were situated nearby. Because of the scenery and high privacy, rumors circulated that many celebrities lived there. When Liang Ruojing first entered the industry, she had dreamed of running into famous writers or directors to get resources, but she only woke up after being battered by reality.

Upon returning home, Liang Ruojing quickly changed into slippers and hurried upstairs. After a quick shower, she lay down on her bed wearing only a bathrobe. The mattress was soft, catching her tired body like a cloud. She rolled over lazily, her nose filled with the warm scent of sunshine. In preparation for her homecoming, Liang Can and Su Jing had prepared everything. Ever since Liang Ruojing started living at school in high school, it had been like this every time she came home.

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Liang Can opened the room door and looked at Liang Ruojing, who was sprawled like a salted fish on the bed. “Go to sleep early. The housekeeper has gone back to her hometown for the New Year, so come help prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner tomorrow.” Liang Ruojing agreed. In reality, she only knew how to wrap dumplings.

Having slept for three hours on the plane, Liang Ruojing wasn’t sleepy yet. She rolled herself into the quilt and casually opened Weibo to browse. In less than six hours since she posted her celebration, it had gained over 100,000 reposts, over 400,000 likes, and more than 50,000 comments. Based on these numbers, Liang Ruojing was firmly established as a top-tier young star of the new generation. No wonder some passersby thought the previous two scandals were intentional hype by Liang Ruojing. In less than two months, without a drama currently airing, her popularity had surged significantly. Even the pre-order numbers for the YC Spring line had doubled compared to previous years.

Opening the comments section and sorting by time, many were from fans who had only recently discovered her, lamenting how tragic Liang Ruojing was and feeling sorry for her. Many others were won over by her audition footage, believing she had acting talent. Where there were new fans, there were also new haters. As expected, Liang Ruojing saw malicious comments as she scrolled down.

“Gross, clinging to the Film Queen for hype doesn’t make you feel low?” “Does Ming Tanqing even know you? I used to have a good impression of you.”

Such comments were numerous. Hype, seeking sympathy, creating a persona… Liang Ruojing refreshed again, and those comments disappeared, presumably reported by her fans. Honestly, Liang Ruojing didn’t care about malicious comments; she had been much more high-profile during her debut year and had faced even more storms. Rather than those insulting her, she cared more about those using Ming Tanqing to put her down. Seeing the person she liked become a tool for others to vent their malice made her feel terrible.

She wondered what Sister Ming was doing now. She was probably at the villa preparing for the New Year.

Liang Ruojing got up and pulled a small card from a hidden layer in her bag. It was a Polaroid she and Ming Tanqing had taken on set—their only photo together. In the photo, the Omega’s skin was porcelain white, and her eyes were gentle. A smile melted the icy aura around her, making her breathtakingly beautiful. Only now did Liang Ruojing realize she didn’t have a single private photo of Ming Tanqing. If she wanted to look at something to miss her, she only had this Polaroid. She looked at it for a long time. She originally wanted to keep it by her pillow while she slept, but fearing she might accidentally smudge the signature on the bottom left, she reluctantly placed it on the nightstand.

Early the next morning, Liang Ruojing was woken up by Liang Can to do chores. Today was New Year’s Eve, and according to tradition, a thorough cleaning was required in the morning. Liang Ruojing put on an apron while yawning, holding a rag to wipe the stair railings one by one. She did this every year; when she was a child, Liang Can said she was short and wouldn’t get tired wiping railings, but even after Liang Ruojing grew to 180cm, she was still responsible for them.

She had forgotten to turn on the humidifier before sleeping. Yanjing was too dry; Liang Ruojing coughed a few times, dust hit her face, and her nose felt a bit uncomfortable. Slacking off while working, she received a message from Tang Yuecen regarding her upcoming work: magazines, endorsements, live streams, offline events… the bulk of it was an invitation to be a guest on a variety show.

Her popularity was rising fast, but The Pursuit of Vengeance was still filming, expected to wrap up by the end of March and air on network platforms in the second half of the year. Between the Spring Festival and entering the production, there was a half-month gap. The company wanted Liang Ruojing to film some variety shows before going into the mountains. Liang Ruojing looked at the information; the show was a currently popular “slow” variety show about travel and lifestyle. Celebrities would run a guesthouse at a scenic spot, with two to three guest stars visiting each episode. A two-day trip would be split into four episodes, airing once a week, ensuring nearly a month of exposure—perfect for solidifying her fan base.

According to the content, the company had also arranged for her to play a “couple” with an Omega to dilute the impact of her previous scandal with Lin Xiuzhu. Liang Ruojing looked troubled. “Do we have to do the CP (couple) hype?”

Tang Yuecen replied: “That’s Liu Lanshi! It’s not a loss to share the screen with her.”

Liu Lanshi was the leading lady of Light Harmony Entertainment, an A-list star, an A-grade Omega, 26 years old, unmarried, beautiful, a good actress, and had a gentle, restrained personality. Liang Ruojing had met her at the company; she was indeed a quiet beauty as poetic as her name suggested.

Liang Ruojing didn’t answer. Tang Yuecen, knowing exactly what was on her mind, added: “I didn’t ask you to kiss in front of the camera! At most, you’ll be paired up during tasks. Just act naturally; the production team will use editing to guide the audience.” Liang Ruojing hesitantly accepted.

It was just after 9:00 AM when she finished the railings. The house was usually cleaned by a housekeeper, so even for a “thorough cleaning,” there wasn’t much work. Su Jing came out of the study, pointed to the trash bag in the living room, and told Liang Ruojing to take it downstairs, and to buy a bottle of vinegar while she was at it.

Accustomed to being bossed around since childhood, Liang Ruojing carried two trash bags to the disposal station at the community entrance. The nearest supermarket was across the lake; taking the main road required a long detour. Having lived here for over twenty years, Liang Ruojing knew many secluded paths. She wrapped her trench coat tightly and stepped onto the small path by the camphor trees.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying the bitter fragrance of vegetation. Liang Ruojing felt the atmosphere of winter and couldn’t help but slow down. The weather was clear, the water shimmering; the distant green hills contrasted beautifully with the white lake, as lovely as a round mirror. Mandarin ducks frolicked on the lake, leisurely wagging their short tails, while pigeons nested in the nearby forest, their crisp chirping carrying on the wind. Many of her worries dissipated like ripples. It was a beautiful moment.

If only Sister Ming was here too.

Liang Ruojing continued along the lakeshore. At the end of her line of sight, an old two-seater bench appeared. Someone was sitting on it, leaning over to scatter feed for the pigeons. The pigeons weren’t afraid of her; they hopped onto her shoulders, and she didn’t shoo them away, simply looking down quietly. The light dancing off the water was reflected on the Omega’s face, adding more radiance to her than any spotlight could.

Liang Ruojing stopped in her tracks. The wind picked up, and the rustling of leaves gradually merged with her intense heartbeat, clamoring and growing within her body, never-ending. The pigeons were startled and suddenly took flight. As the scattered clouds drifted away, the person Liang Ruojing had just been missing appeared before her.

Ming Tanqing, holding pigeon feed and half-melted into the lakeside light, asked in confusion, “Liang Ruojing? Why are you here?”

Why are you here?

Liang Ruojing opened her mouth to call out, “Sister Tanqing.” Before she could say a second sentence, a wave of heat hit her brain, and a streak of blood flowed from her nose.

Damn it. It’s too dry. Can a person be any unluckier?

“Ruojing!” Ming Tanqing hurried forward, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to cover Liang Ruojing’s nose. The handkerchief from the Omega’s pocket carried a strong, cold scent of lilies. Liang Ruojing’s ears turned blood-red from the cold wind. She had imagined countless scenarios of their first meeting after the Spring Festival, but she never expected it to be so pathetic.

A helpless smile touched the corners of Ming Tanqing’s mouth. “There, the bleeding has stopped.”

Liang Ruojing asked: “Sister Tanqing… why are you here? Weren’t you at the villa?”

Ming Tanqing’s gaze darkened slightly as she replied, “I used to live nearby. I’ve been feeling a bit better lately, so I moved back out.”

Nearby?!!! How had she never run into her once!

Liang Ruojing wanted to speak again, but blood started flowing from her nose once more.

“Don’t speak anymore,” Ming Tanqing said with a smile, taking Liang Ruojing’s hand. Staring at the disheveled Alpha before her, her thoughts shifted, and she suddenly said, “Come to my house. I’ll help you take care of it.”

Liang Ruojing originally wanted to say she could handle it herself at home. But hearing this, she nodded without hesitation.