Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 59

Wanting to See Her Tears

Baiyu International. A well-known residential development in the Xicheng District of Yanjing. Nestled against the core CBD, its property values were sky-high, starting at tens of millions. Six years ago, when the project first opened, Liang Ruojing was just a sophomore in high school.

No wonder she had never run into Sister Ming before.

Though both were located near Beihai, the two residential complexes were situated at opposite ends—one north and one south—separated by the vast expanse of the lake.

Entering Sister Ming’s home for the first time, and by the owner’s personal invitation no less, Liang Ruojing felt so lightheaded with joy that her steps were floating.

However, the moment the door opened, her bubbling anticipation curdled into shock, which then morphed into an indescribable, complex emotion.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the shimmering waters of Beihai, and the interior decoration was undeniably tasteful. Minimalist, walnut flooring—it was too exquisite, too beautiful.

And too empty.

The dust cover on the rattan chair by the balcony hadn’t even been removed. Everywhere one looked, there was a visible sense of loneliness and desolation.

When her fingers brushed against the cabinet in the entryway, they came away covered in dust.

Liang Ruojing asked, “Sister Ming, how long have you lived here?”

“Since yesterday afternoon. I moved in right after the magazine shoot.”

So, she had actually stayed here for one night.

Why didn’t she stay at the Villa? At least there were housekeepers to take care of her there.

Liang Ruojing cautiously kept her mouth shut, suppressing the urge to pry. The affairs of wealthy families were complicated; she was afraid of accidentally stepping on a landmine and upsetting someone on New Year’s Eve.

Stepping into the slippers provided by the Omega, Liang Ruojing walked carefully into Ming Tanqing’s home. The two years the owner had been away were enough to let the entire apartment fall into a deathly, stagnant decay.

The sound of trickling water reached her ears. Ming Tanqing approached with a damp towel and used one hand to steady the Alpha’s head.

“Don’t move. The blood is running down.”

Liang Ruojing’s “internal heat” wasn’t that severe. After wiping it three or four times, the bleeding stopped. Ming Tanqing pulled out two pieces of tissue and, with a touch of mischief, plugged both of Liang Ruojing’s nostrils.

Beneath those sharp, glamorous eyes, two strips of white paper dangled—a contrast so stark it was cute.

Looking around, Liang Ruojing couldn’t help her overflowing concern. She asked, “Sister Tanqing, are you spending New Year’s here today?”

Ming Tanqing nodded. “It’s quiet.”

The lights weren’t on in the room. The natural daylight from outside divided the person in front of her into two halves—one bright, one dark. Her blue eyes were like water, making her appear as crystal-clear and cold as a gemstone.

Liang Ruojing said she was going to wash her hands, but in reality, she wanted to see more of Sister Tanqing’s home.

Seeing her take an “S” shaped path toward the bathroom, Ming Tanqing’s figure blurred as she blocked the Alpha’s wandering gaze. She teased, “I’ll give you a tour in a bit. You don’t need to wash your hands like a thief casing the joint.”

Liang Ruojing finished washing her hands quickly, having scrutinized even the bathroom. A large mirror, a large bathtub—soaking in there must be heavenly.

Because she lived alone, there was only one bedroom. Aside from that, there was a walk-in closet, a study, a small media room, and a storage room.

The layout of the study was clever; it was an open design, connected directly to the living room. Liang Ruojing liked this design the most. Without the obstruction of a door, even if she were watching TV in the living room, she would only need to look up to see Ming Tanqing working in the study.

The design of the terrace also suited her perfectly. On an afternoon when they didn’t have to work, the two of them could sit by the table and have a little drink, watching the snow in winter and the flowers in spring. Who knew how much happiness that would bring?

Liang Ruojing froze, realizing what she was fantasizing about, and cast a guilty glance at Ming Tanqing.

Even though she knew it was unrealistic, Liang Ruojing still asked, “Am I the first person to visit your home?”

“No.”

As expected.

Ming Tanqing took a bottle of water from the fridge and handed it over, then smiled. “But you are the first person I’ve personally given a tour to.”

Liang Ruojing felt a surge of sweetness in her heart and complained lightly, “Sister Ming always likes to tease me.”

Ming Tanqing suddenly leaned in close. “Are you saying you’re not happy?”

In that moment, Liang Ruojing actually thought she was going to kiss her. However, the Omega simply picked up the towel from nearby and turned on the faucet to rinse it.

Her heart drummed like a stampede. Liang Ruojing took a gulp of water, discovering that her palms were actually sweating. She really did need to “cool down.”

“What about New Year’s Eve dinner? Are you going out to eat alone, Sister Tanqing?”

She had seen the state of the fridge just now. It was empty, containing nothing but a few bottles of mineral water.

“Probably,” Ming Tanqing said. “There’s a small gathering. It was scheduled in advance.”

Sometimes, Liang Ruojing really hated that Ming Tanqing was such a good actress; she couldn’t tell if that sentence was true or false. Just as she wanted to chat more, the owner issued an order for her to leave.

“Ruojing, you probably have things to attend to.”

After struggling through a few more vapid lines of dialogue, Liang Ruojing was practically ushered out of the door by the Omega.

Leaving Baiyu International reluctantly, Liang Ruojing walked home with a heavy heart. Sister Tanqing was spending New Year’s alone at Baiyu with no one to look after her.

What if she caught a cold? What if something went wrong with her glands again? Even if there were no problems at all, couldn’t she simply want to see Ming Tanqing?

Liang Ruojing recalled the display cabinet she saw in the study. It was filled with photos, arranged in chronological order, from her days as a child star all the way to recent group photos with the cast of Under the Green Mountains. Everything was meticulously preserved.

That display cabinet, occupying less than one square meter, was actually the liveliest place in the entire house.

When Liang Ruojing returned home, she was blocked by Su Jing, who questioned her:

“Where did you go to buy vinegar that took an hour and a half?” Su Jing scanned her up and down. “Where’s the vinegar?”

Only then did Liang Ruojing realize that she had been so preoccupied with being a guest at the Omega’s house that she had forgotten it. “I ran into a senior from the film crew and chatted for a bit.”

Liang Ruojing changed into her slippers and was about to head upstairs when she suddenly stopped and called out to Su Jing, “Mom—do we have anything in the house to lower internal heat?”

Just then, Liang Can came down. Su Jing, unable to rely on her daughter, instructed Liang Can to go out and buy some, and to pick up some pears for Liang Ruojing while he was at it.

“Rock sugar and pear soup, okay?”

Liang Ruojing gave a charming, sycophantic smile. “How is it my mom knows how to do everything?”

Turning around, her smile vanished. Liang Ruojing went to the second-floor study and searched for the Ming Group.

In the past, when she liked Ming Tanqing, her attention was only on Ming Tanqing herself. Even though she had met Father Ming at the Villa, she didn’t have much of a desire to explore further. Now it was different; Liang Ruojing wanted to know everything about Ming Tanqing.

An hour later, Liang Ruojing closed the webpage and rubbed her aching eyes. She had no leads at all.

The Ming Group was a massive corporation, and although Ming Tanqing was the only daughter, her connection to the family business wasn’t deep. Searching the web mostly yielded reports from financial news. Aside from that, there were marketing articles about the relationship between Ming Peide and Yan Mei.

Even if Liang Ruojing rarely followed financial news, she knew that Ming Peide and Yan Mei were a devoted couple. They were a well-matched pair from similar backgrounds who had met young—a rare instance of a family-arranged marriage resulting in deep affection. Moreover, their compatibility was very low; being so in love for so many years was truly rare.

According to the reports, Father and Mother Ming had just finished a global tour and were currently in Yanjing.

Did Sister Ming move out temporarily because her family was here? Liang Ruojing’s mind was as muddled as paste.

For lunch, the family had a simple meal. All the ingredients needed for the New Year’s Eve dinner had been bought, with bags and packages spread across the kitchen island. The head chef in Liang Ruojing’s house was Liang Can, whose cooking was no worse than a restaurant’s.

Dumpling wrapping wouldn’t start until five o’clock. Usually, if one were going out for a banquet, that would be around the time to leave.

After holding it in all afternoon, Liang Ruojing finally couldn’t take it anymore. She changed her shoes and headed for the door.

Su Jing shouted from behind her, “We’re about to wrap dumplings! Where are you going?”

“Going for a walk!”

Liang Ruojing wasn’t walking; Liang Ruojing was running.

Fortunately, she had brought Ming Tanqing’s handkerchief home with her; now she had an excuse to visit again. Liang Ruojing had thought it through clearly.

If she went now and Sister Ming was gone, it meant there really was a gathering and she had company, so Liang Ruojing could be at ease. If Sister Ming was still there, it meant Heaven was giving Liang Ruojing a chance to seize the moment.

The handkerchief had already been washed clean by Liang Ruojing. One had to press it against their face to catch the lingering scent of the Omega.

Because Liang Ruojing had been there in the morning, the concierge remembered her. Knowing she was also in the entertainment industry, they let her go up.

Baiyu International featured a one-unit-per-elevator design. Just as Liang Ruojing stepped out of the elevator, she suddenly smelled a cloyingly sweet scent of lilies.

Though both were lilies, the characteristics and the feeling the scent gave off were entirely different from Ming Tanqing’s. One was a cold fragrance triggered by ice and snow—clear, crisp, and deep. The other was a flower variety carefully cultivated in a greenhouse—sugary and lingering.

Walking down the hallway, Liang Ruojing saw a beautifully and exquisitely dressed noblewoman in the distance—it was Yan Mei.

Ming Tanqing stood opposite her, one hand gripping the doorknob tightly, her entire body radiating resistance. It seemed the timing wasn’t quite right.

Just as Liang Ruojing was about to slip away quietly, a sentence made her stop in her tracks.

“Xiao Tan, come home. Your father and I won’t bother you.”

“Madam Ming, you are bothering me right now.”

Ming Tanqing’s voice was exceptionally cold and hard. She applied pressure to her hand, intending to close the door.

Yan Mei suddenly rushed forward, her fingers catching in the door crack. She was over fifty this year, but her face remained beautiful, as if favored by time. But she was not a youth after all; when she frowned, there were very obvious fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

Ming Tanqing’s eyes widened. “Have you gone mad!”

Yan Mei didn’t seem to feel the pain, murmuring to herself, “Do you still resent me? Xiao Tan, Mama only has you left…”

Ming Tanqing cut her off, her exquisite eyes falling into shadow, not showing a hint of emotion. “To think you haven’t said enough of those words yet. I won’t pursue what happened back then.”

She gave a cold laugh, seemingly mocking the woman before her for being too naive. “Besides, there is also the guarantee letter.”

“Mama didn’t mean it like that…”

Ming Tanqing glanced at Yan Mei’s stomach and said nonchalantly, “Since you’re pregnant, don’t go running around as you please.”

As soon as she spoke, Yan Mei stumbled back two steps, hurriedly trying to defend herself. “Xiao Tan, it’s not what you think. Mama saw that your illness had improved a lot, so I…”

“Enough!” Ming Tanqing suddenly raised her voice. “Please leave.”

Hidden in the shadows, Liang Ruojing was also startled by that shout. In her impression, Ming Tanqing was always composed and elegant. Even when she was teaching You Qian a lesson, it was like a dull knife slowly cutting; she had never lost her composure like this.

Just what had happened?

Liang Ruojing’s heart sank heavily. She hid herself even better, watching as Yan Mei left in a pathetic state.

The handkerchief in her pocket seemed to catch fire, radiating a scorching heat. Just as Liang Ruojing was considering her next move, a cold and clear voice called out from behind her.

“How much longer are you going to keep listening?”

Liang Ruojing slowly shuffled out from behind the pillar and came before Ming Tanqing.

“Sister Tanqing, how did you know?”

“The scent.”

Ming Tanqing gazed at the Alpha before her. “The moment you stepped out of the elevator, I smelled it.”

After her secondary differentiation, her reaction to Liang Ruojing’s pheromones had become even more sensitive. Perhaps it was because, after a long period of treatment, Liang Ruojing’s pheromones had participated in the repair process of her glands.

“I didn’t do it on purpose, I’m sorry.”

Liang Ruojing knew an explanation was useless. She let her “ears” droop, looking like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting for punishment.

The Omega’s aura drew closer and closer. Liang Ruojing’s heart began to rise into her throat. No matter how angry Ming Tanqing was, she could take it. She could hit her or scold her—

Suddenly, Liang Ruojing was embraced by Ming Tanqing.

Her head buried in the Alpha’s neck, she relaxed as if all her strength had left her, pressing the full weight of her body against Liang Ruojing.

Liang Ruojing quickly wrapped her arms around the Omega’s waist, holding her steadily.

Ming Tanqing said in a muffled voice, “Don’t speak, and don’t move.”

The Omega’s voice was slightly hoarse. Liang Ruojing caressed the body of the person in her arms. Every inch was familiar, but now it seemed excessively fragile.

Liang Ruojing’s heart was in turmoil. She had wanted to capture Ming Tanqing’s heart, to take advantage of her vulnerability, to see her tears, and to comfort her. But in reality, she couldn’t even bear to see Ming Tanqing’s fingertips red from the cold. Even the slightest hint of sourness overflowing from her was enough to drown Liang Ruojing.

This embrace lasted long enough to feel ambiguous.

By the time Ming Tanqing stood up again, she had returned to the usual, effortlessly capable “Sister Ming.” But Liang Ruojing could see the Omega’s tension from her curled fingertips.

“Ruojing—”

“Sister Tanqing—”

The two of them spoke at the same time.

Ming Tanqing smiled. “You go first.”

Liang Ruojing swallowed hard. Looking up, her gaze lingered on the Omega’s exquisite and cold features. A program seemed to be running in her heart, wildly jumping between “Yes” and “No” at this moment.

Finally, the image of the Omega sitting alone on the sofa filled her mind. The program stopped. Liang Ruojing met those blue eyes:

“Sister Tanqing, can I invite you to my house for New Year’s?”

Su Jing and Liang Can were engaged in a heated discussion.

Subject: Does Liang Ruojing have a partner?

Affirmative: Su Jing “She absolutely does! Look at the way she ran out, and that look in her eyes! One look and you know she’s gone to see her sweetheart!”

Negative: Liang Can “You said the same thing when she was in college. Ruojing said she ran into a senior from the crew; there are a lot of artists in this neighborhood, it’s very normal.”

Su Jing gave a smug “hmpf.” “Your daughter changed her clothes specifically before heading out this afternoon.”

Liang Can wrapped dumplings efficiently. “Occupational habit. In case she runs into fans, she wants to look good on camera. After all, she even gets photographed going to the hospital…”

Suddenly, the sound of the door unlocking came from the entrance.

“Mom—I’m back—”

Liang Ruojing entered, her spirits twice as high as usual. “I brought someone back. You guys know her.”

Su Jing raised an eyebrow, starting to wonder which of Liang Ruojing’s classmates it was. She took two steps forward, only to see a figure emerge from behind Liang Ruojing.

Long black hair, blue eyes, an aura of elegance—every frown and smile was full of a sense of story. The impact of seeing her in person was hundreds of times greater than seeing her on screen.

Su Jing froze.

Liang Can walked over and also froze.

Ming Tanqing nervously pursed her lips and gave a bow. “Hello, Aunts. I am Ming Tanqing.”