Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 75

Thinking about making her cry.

Lu Chengwen also noticed the hairpin on Ming Tanqing’s head.

He had always been meticulous; after observing it repeatedly and confirming it was the same one Liang Ruojing had bought, he finally spoke:

“That hairpin… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

Ming Tanqing withdrew her gaze from the silly dog nearby and met Lu Chengwen’s searching and complex look with a light laugh:

“Is that so? This style is quite unique.”

Lu Chengwen understood: “Anyway, welcome. Zhaozhao likes you the most.”

Lu Zhao was the name of Lu Chengwen’s daughter.

Ming Tanqing still had an impression of the little girl—quiet and well-behaved, a true beauty in the making.

On the other side, the conversation between Liang Ruojing and Liu Lanshi continued.

Liu Lanshi’s expression was one of lingering shock and doubt: “Is it what I think it is?”

Liang Ruojing instantly understood the excitement and happiness Liu Lanshi had felt that night with Xie Xing, and she answered softly: “Mm.”

Liu Lanshi didn’t say anything more. Coincidentally, some friends called out to her, and she left.

When people in this circle held gatherings, the pretext didn’t matter; what mattered more was the outcome of the socializing.

Liang Ruojing felt the boost that fame brought firsthand.

In the past, when she and Qin Wei attended parties, they had to rely on third-party introductions to speak with others.

But now, as long as the person wasn’t an excessively big star, she could chat for a few minutes with almost anyone she passed; even some big directors were happy to chat with her about the weather.

Liang Ruojing was puzzled.

The Pursuit of Revenge hadn’t even aired yet. Was Lin Xiuzhu’s influence really that significant?

At lunchtime, Liang Ruojing met Lu Chengwen’s wife and daughter.

In the center of the living room, a giant screen displayed the words: “Wishing Little Lu Zhao a Happy 14th Birthday.”

The young girl, who had just differentiated into an Omega, smiled as she cut the cake accompanied by her parents.

The first piece was given to Ming Tanqing on her right.

Ming Tanqing was clearly surprised, while Lu Chengwen and his wife smiled dotingly.

The big shots at the front began to tease them. Lu Zhao’s face turned red, Lu Chengwen fake-cried a couple of times, and the atmosphere around them became even more relaxed and joyful.

Yu Feng was also at the main table. Liang Ruojing noticed that she was looking at Ming Tanqing the entire time.

More precisely, she was looking at Ming-jie’s hair accessory.

“Sister Jing,” a minor actor next to her suddenly struck up a conversation: “Are the rumors true? Did Ming Tanqing play Sun Ying?”

In an instant, many eyes converged on Liang Ruojing.

She suddenly realized—so that was why.

The drama’s promotion hadn’t mentioned it yet, but news in the industry always traveled fast.

Seeing the female lead nod, many people became excited.

“I want to act opposite Ming Tanqing too.”

“Do you really just want to act?”

“Maybe if I’d known, I would have gone to the audition.”

The topic at the table quickly veered off track. Listening to their discussion about Ming Tanqing, Liang Ruojing felt a bit jealous, yet also somewhat proud.

No matter what, she was Han Jiahe, she was the Alpha who stayed with Ming-jie through her heat, and the accessory on Ming-jie’s head was a gift from her.

After lunch, many guests with work commitments left, and the villa suddenly felt much emptier.

Liang Ruojing was concerned about Ming Tanqing, and only after receiving a clear “not leaving yet” on WeChat was she dragged away by fellow actors to play cards.

The weather today was lovely, with the mid-March sunlight casting a cozy warmth.

Someone set up a table in the back garden at a very specific angle, directly facing the floor-to-ceiling window of the villa’s reception room.

When Liang Ruojing sat down, the door to the reception room happened to open. Seven or eight people filed in, and Ming Tanqing was chatting with Wan Tingran, her profile serene and gentle.

“Sister Jing?”

Yu Youyou leaned over, nudging her with an arm: “It’s your turn.”

Liang Ruojing startled, subtly avoiding the Omega’s touch.

She slightly regretted sitting in the seat with her back to the reception hall; she felt as though eyes were constantly fixed on her.

Half an hour later, they had played four rounds in total, and Liang Ruojing had won them all.

The Alpha laughed boldly and wantonly, pointing at the loser: “Teacher Yang, please recreate one of your famous scenes.”

Yang Jie laughed helplessly and completed the punishment: “I’m out. If I keep playing, my reputation won’t survive the afternoon.”

As she stood up, Yang Jie said: “Wait, let me pull someone else in for you.”

Two minutes later, she dragged Lin Xiuzhu over.

After not seeing her for half a month, the air of decadence around Lin Xiuzhu had deepened. There were dark circles under her eyes; as the director of The Pursuit of Revenge, she was the most exhausted during the preparation for filming.

Lin Xiuzhu rarely spoke on set and was ruthless when rejecting takes, so many actors were afraid of her.

Her arrival made the atmosphere stiffen considerably.

In the next round, Liang Ruojing won again. She pointed at Lin Xiuzhu: “Director Lin, do you know how to sing our theme song?”

“Ooh—”

Several minor actors looked on expectantly.

Lin Xiuzhu looked up coldly but ended up singing a few lines a cappella.

“Wow! That sounds so good!”

“If I praise you, can you cut me some slack on my takes?”

“Sister Jing is so good at cards.”

Liang Ruojing’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

Whether it was her flaxen hair or her amber eyes, they seemed to glow golden under the sunlight.

Amidst the relaxed atmosphere, Liang Ruojing inadvertently looked behind her.

Ming Tanqing was standing by the window, watching her through the clean floor-to-ceiling glass.

Her gaze was deep and brooding; there was no telling how long she had been staring.

Liang Ruojing’s heart skipped a beat.

Perhaps because she had just been reminded by the Omega about her “eyes” before leaving the house, Liang Ruojing had also begun to pay attention to people’s gazes.

Even from a distance, Liang Ruojing could still read Ming Tanqing’s focus.

It was as clear as crystal, watching only her.

Before Liang Ruojing could savor it further, Ming Tanqing turned away, leaving her with a slender, beautiful silhouette.

A few minutes later, someone on the other side called people over for a group photo for publicity.

The card table quickly dispersed, leaving only Liang Ruojing and Lin Xiuzhu facing each other.

Since Director Lin already knew about her relationship with Ming-jie, Liang Ruojing stopped pretending. She switched to the seat facing the reception room and stared at Ming Tanqing.

This time, the person chatting with Ming Tanqing had become Yu Feng.

Liang Ruojing felt a prick of annoyance, sensing that Yu Feng was standing too close to Ming Tanqing.

Looking at Ming-jie’s expression, she didn’t seem particularly inclined to respond either.

The next second, she thought of Lin Xiuzhu beside her.

Lin Xiuzhu was in the same year as Tanqing-jie, and Yu Feng was rumored to be in the same class as Tanqing-jie.

So—

“Director Lin,” Liang Ruojing leaned in secretly and asked: “Do you know Yu Feng?”

Lin Xiuzhu was also looking at the reception room. Hearing this, she replied expressionlessly: “I know her.”

Liang Ruojing’s eyes lit up: “What is her relationship with Ming-jie?”

Lin Xiuzhu lit a cigarette and replied coldly: “Why should I tell you?”

The hostility in her voice was so strong that Liang Ruojing was stunned for a second.

Lin Xiuzhu lowered her eyes and took a puff, murmuring: “I actually don’t like you very much.”

“I’ve known Tanqing for 24 years, and I’ve never seen her like this.”

Liang Ruojing silently raised an eyebrow, making no comment.

What did that prove? It proved Tanqing-jie liked her more.

Lin Xiuzhu’s face was shrouded in smoke: “But I hate Yu Feng even more.”

Liang Ruojing pricked up her ears. She guessed:

“Yu Feng likes Ming-jie?”

Lin Xiuzhu: “In our year, there weren’t many students who could say they weren’t interested in Tanqing at all. But anyone who confessed was rejected. Yu Feng pestered her for over half a year, and it only stopped when Tanqing joined a film crew to avoid her.”

So that was it.

Liang Ruojing still had a doubt: “Why is she hostile toward me?”

“Ha,” Lin Xiuzhu laughed: “You think you’re hiding it well?”

“Half the directors in the circle know Ming Tanqing is looking for resources for someone.”

Liang Ruojing was left unsettled by that sentence, walking into the villa in a daze.

The small gathering in the reception room had ended, and sounds of chatter came from behind the doors.

By the time Liang Ruojing came out of the bathroom, the hallway was completely empty. The door to the reception room was ajar, letting light spill out.

As Liang Ruojing approached, she heard Yu Feng’s voice.

It was ice-cold, laced with anger: “I didn’t think you would wear it.”

Hmm?

Liang Ruojing found an angle and peered inside sneakily.

The vast reception room held only Yu Feng and Ming Tanqing. The small courtyard was also empty and quiet.

The March Spring light shone on Ming Tanqing’s face. Liang Ruojing saw her expression—it was blatant impatience.

“Yu Feng, I don’t think our relationship has reached that level.”

Yu Feng couldn’t control her expression. She was originally a proud person; Liang Ruojing hadn’t expected to see her so… resentful.

“That’s not what you said back then.”

Ming Tanqing’s tone was very calm: “My view remains the same as it was then. We are not a good match.”

“I never forgot you, otherwise I wouldn’t have accepted Palace…”

Yu Feng’s words were cut short by Ming Tanqing’s sharp interruption. She loathed those who held favors over others: “Don’t flatter yourself. Back then, Teacher Wen wanted an open audition. Who was it that ran to her house in the middle of the night to try out for the role?”

“But I still played it,” Liang Ruojing noticed Yu Feng’s tone softening, the end of her sentence curling up with unhideable smugness: “To be able to play a role with you, anything is worth it.”

Ming Tanqing turned away; she felt insulted by Yu Feng’s gaze.

It was like this in their university days, and it was still the same now—always that look of conquest.

It was nauseating.

More than love or liking, it felt like vanity.

Possessing her would give Yu Feng a sense of accomplishment, and nothing more.

Ming Tanqing turned to leave without hesitation.

Yu Feng moved a step, blocking her path.

The Omega’s tone flared with anger: “Yu Feng, get out. There is no possibility for us.”

Yu Feng sneered: “Right, you like the stupid ones.”

Ming Tanqing froze. She was thoroughly enraged now.

The Omega’s words reached Liang Ruojing’s ears one by one: “What makes you think you can compare to Liang Ruojing?”

The next moment, the reception room door was suddenly flung open, and Ming Tanqing walked out.

As if she had sensed someone eavesdropping at the door long ago, Ming Tanqing looked sideways. Her icy gaze cut toward Liang Ruojing, and her voice was as cold as frost.

“Had enough listening? Come with me.”

Liang Ruojing followed Ming Tanqing’s lead like a devoted puppy.

The two of them ducked into an empty corner.

Ming Tanqing was clearly furious; her long eyelashes trembled incessantly, her brow was tightly furrowed, and the corners of her mouth were pressed into a flat line.

Liang Ruojing realized this was the first time Tanqing-jie was truly angry in front of her.

So this was it.

Her face was actually flushed with anger.

Liang Ruojing was quite a bit taller than Ming Tanqing. She lowered her head, easily tracing the curve from the bridge of the nose to the corner of the mouth of the person before her.

“Was the eavesdropping good?”

Liang Ruojing argued weakly: “I was just passing by…”

Ming Tanqing said coldly: “Passing by and stopping for a full minute? Liang Ruojing, you really are something.”

“Don’t be angry,” Liang Ruojing coaxed, her eyes unable to stop stealing glances: “It’s all Yu Feng’s fault.”

“You Alphas all think the same way.”

Liang Ruojing felt truly wronged now: “I don’t.”

“You don’t?” Ming Tanqing stopped abruptly. Liang Ruojing didn’t brake in time and nearly collided with the Omega. Before she could straighten up, the tie at her chest was grabbed, forcing her to look up at Ming Tanqing.

Ming Tanqing looked down at her, her lips moving: “You didn’t think about how to mark me, how to possess me, how to make me cry, how to make me beg you… Liang Ruojing, you’re such a saint.”

Liang Ruojing pressed her lips together, not daring to speak.

That look.

Her state was a bit messy.

An Alpha’s pheromones couldn’t hide things.

Ming Tanqing raised an eyebrow and smiled, her knuckles gripping the tie turning white from the force.

Liang Ruojing swallowed, feeling the Omega’s gaze travel over her entire body.

From her features to her chest, then down to her waist and legs.

The blue eyes in front of her slowly narrowed. Ming Tanqing said:

“Liang Ruojing, actually, you’re very well-suited to act in Palace Song 2.”