Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 79.1

Liang Ruojing… made her happy.

The busyness of Liang Ruojing’s schedule on set came in waves.

When her scenes were heavy, she would film from 5:00 AM until midnight the next day; when they were light, she only needed to show up for a single scene.

Just as she had done at Huafeng, Liang Ruojing would come to the set even when she had no scenes to film.

The assistant director praised her for her diligence, saying that for a female lead, it was indeed important to constantly immerse oneself in the atmosphere of the drama.

Hearing this, Liang Ruojing felt a twinge of guilt.

There weren’t actually that many high-minded excuses; she clocked into the set every day for only one reason—to see Ming Tanqing.

In the past at Huafeng, it was to observe Ming Tanqing’s acting.

Now, it was because she couldn’t bear to leave her lover’s side.

Sun Ying’s styling in the second phase was primarily “battle-damaged,” with costumes that leaned closer to casual wear.

Ming Tanqing was too fair-skinned, so during makeup, they had to apply layers of ash and grime; her arms and face were covered in bloodstains.

The more disheveled she appeared, the brighter her eyes seemed by contrast—like a sharp blade hidden beneath a decadent exterior.

Anyone who underestimated her would surely pay a tragic price.

This afternoon, Ming Tanqing was filming a fight scene. With a rise and fall of her blade, the opposite actor’s abdomen “bled” all over the floor.

Liang Ruojing knew it was fake blood, but looking at the beads of blood splattered on Ming Tanqing’s face, she still felt a chill.

Unbeknownst to her, a hunched figure walked up to stand beside Liang Ruojing.

“She acts very well, doesn’t she?”

It was that old grandmother who always wore a hat.

“Of course,” Liang Ruojing’s tone carried an unhideable pride. “She is Ming Tanqing, after all.”

The grandmother let out a very soft laugh.

Liang Ruojing felt a bit defensive. In her heart, Ming Tanqing’s name and face deserved to be known by every household.

Just as she intended to continue the conversation, the scene on set finished. Ming Tanqing, frowning, walked toward Liang Ruojing.

The isolation patch on the back of her neck seemed to have gone crooked, and she wanted Liang Ruojing to help her re-apply it.

Before she had even drawn near, Ming Tanqing heard a flood of praise directed at herself.

Crackling like a string of firecrackers, the words popped out of Liang Ruojing’s mouth.

It was too exaggerated.

And who was Liang Ruojing talking to?

The figure looked somewhat familiar.

“Ah! Sister Tanqing, you’re here!” Liang Ruojing caught sight of Ming Tanqing out of the corner of her eye and hurried to greet her.

The grandmother also raised her head, happening to lock eyes with Ming Tanqing.

Ming Tanqing narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

A few seconds later, her eyes widened.

“Elder Wen? Is that you?”

Huh?

What?

Liang Ruojing’s mind went blank. She slowly turned her head, and this time, she saw the grandmother’s face clearly.

Having painstakingly studied Palace Lyrics for a week, Liang Ruojing naturally knew what the director looked like.

Even though the person before her was older and had more wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, Liang Ruojing recognized her—it was Wen Qingjia.

A figure who, by all logic, should absolutely not be here.

Ming Tanqing was both surprised and delighted, hurriedly asking, “Elder Wen, what brings you here?”

Since she had been recognized, Wen Qingjia stopped pretending and straightened her back.

Though she was still dressed like an old lady from a village entrance, her presence took on a steady, composed aura.

“Can’t I come if there’s nothing specific? I’m rehearsing a stage play in the neighboring city. I heard you and Little Lin were here, so I came to take a look.”

Little Lin?

That must be Lin Xiuzhu.

Liang Ruojing had already learned that Wen Qingjia had been a teacher for Ming Tanqing’s class during her university days.

Ming Tanqing understood: “How many days have you been here?”

At this moment, Liang Ruojing, who had been standing awkwardly like a quail, finally spoke up.

“About a week.”

Ming Tanqing was puzzled: “How do you know?”

Liang Ruojing weakly took half a step back. As if deprived of oxygen, she leaned her burning forehead against Ming Tanqing’s shoulder.

“Ming-jie, don’t ask. I beg you.”

Watching the interaction between the two, Wen Qingjia gave a hearty laugh.

It was time to prepare for the next scene, and the set became busy again.

Wen Qingjia bent her back, returning to her hunched posture. “I’ll be going first.”

Ming Tanqing: “Let me see you out.”

“No need, the driver is waiting nearby.” Wen Qingjia glanced at Ming Tanqing’s blood-stained costume and said, “You and Little Lin get back to filming. I’m at the Canal Grand Theater next door. It’s fine to visit on a day off.”

Ming Tanqing didn’t press the matter. Together with Liang Ruojing, she watched the veteran filmmaker disappear from sight.

The formal visit took place three days later in the morning.

Both Ming Tanqing and Liang Ruojing had no scenes during the day; they only needed to be back on set by 8:00 PM.

Although Lin Xiuzhu also knew that Wen Qingjia had visited secretly, the director’s duties were heavy and she truly couldn’t get away, so she asked the two of them to convey her regards.

Right next to their filming location was Nancheng. The Canal Grand Theater was in the city center, and the route passed through a bustling urban landscape.

Suddenly returning to the city from the wild mountains gave Liang Ruojing a sense of surreal unreality.

During the process of filming Chasing Revenge, she had gradually adapted to the enclosed life of the crew and gotten used to becoming her character, sinking into the script.

In the morning, the Grand Theater was not open to the public.

The main entrance was tightly shut, with a “No Entry” sign standing beside it.

The car stopped at the back entrance of the theater. Just as the two got out, a staff member who had been waiting for a long time came forward.

“You must be Ms. Ming Tanqing and Ms. Liang Ruojing. Director Wen asked me to bring you in.”

Inside the empty theater, Liang Ruojing saw Wen Qingjia in her working state.

Her clothes were no longer gaudy cotton-padded jackets; she wore a linen base layer paired with a khaki vest, with a pair of gray sunglasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She looked elegant and capable.

Based on her energy, she didn’t look eighty-two years old at all.

When they entered, Wen Qingjia was coaching the stage actors. Her voice, even without a microphone, reached every corner clearly.

Ming Tanqing noticed Liang Ruojing’s focus and asked, “First time in a theater?”

Liang Ruojing: “…It feels very novel.”

Ming Tanqing: “Elder Wen comes from a performance troupe background. She has similar requirements when directing movies; the actors’ dialogue skills must be excellent, and their enunciation cannot be muddled.”

Liang Ruojing took these words to heart.

A scene on stage finished. Sharp applause suddenly echoed in the quiet theater. Ming Tanqing led Liang Ruojing down the steps, quickly reaching the front.

“You’ve arrived.”

Wen Qingjia came down from the stage. She noticed Liang Ruojing’s outfit, and her eyes clearly lit up.

Today, Liang Ruojing had her hair in a high ponytail, wearing a high-necked black base layer under a long, military-green trench coat. The belt was cinched, tracing the Alpha’s lean and upright figure.

Ming Tanqing was still dressed in her cold-fearing, fluffy style. She said obediently, “How is she, Elder Wen? Ruojing looks good, doesn’t she?”

Wen Qingjia was stunned for a moment, then reacted and patted Ming Tanqing with a laugh. “You’re the one with all the clever ideas.”

She glanced at her watch. “It’s about time. Come to my house for a bit and have lunch while you’re at it.”

Liang Ruojing felt a nudge from Ming Tanqing’s elbow and immediately said, “Sorry for the intrusion.”

On the way out of the theater, Wen Qingjia and her assistant walked ahead, while Ming Tanqing and Liang Ruojing followed slowly behind.

Thinking about what the Omega had just said, Liang Ruojing couldn’t help but lean toward her, whispering, “Sister Tanqing, what did you just say?”

Ming Tanqing deliberately played dumb: “‘Where is the car’?”

“Not that sentence.”

“‘You go first’?”

“…Not that one either!”

After several rounds of this, Liang Ruojing admitted defeat, saying pitifully, “Just say it one more time.”

Ming Tanqing pulled the corners of her mouth into a secret smile. Taking advantage of the movement of getting into the car, she leaned specifically toward Liang Ruojing’s ear and whispered, “You look very beautiful.”

Right up until the car stopped at Wen Qingjia’s doorstep, Liang Ruojing’s ears remained red.

Wen Qingjia’s home was located near a famous lake in Nancheng. The location was exceptionally prime, only a five-minute walk to the lakeside.

Aside from the location, the villa’s design was also unique—a three-story small Western-style house with a small garden in front and a fish pond in the corner.

Amidst all the admirable features, what surprised Liang Ruojing the most was that Wen Qingjia kept cats.

Many, many cats. At a rough glance, there were over a dozen.

After taking a look around, Ming Tanqing asked, “Are you settled here now? What about the place in Yanjing?”

Wen Qingjia beckoned, and an orange cat dashed onto her with a “shoo.”

The elderly woman stroked the cat as she spoke, “When one gets old, it’s still most comfortable to live in one’s hometown. Returning to the roots.”

A middle-aged woman walked out of the villa and spoke to them: “Lunch is almost ready. Please come inside.”

Ming Tanqing acknowledged her and turned to find Liang Ruojing.

The Alpha was already surrounded by cats and couldn’t move a step.

Liang Ruojing had a look of distress as she looked to Ming Tanqing for help.

“Ming-jie…”

Ming Tanqing walked over. As soon as she released her pheromones, the cats gathered at Liang Ruojing’s feet scattered instantly.

The two walked side-by-side toward the inner rooms.

Ming Tanqing found it funny: “Why didn’t you use your pheromones to drive them away?”

Liang Ruojing: “I did, and they became even stickier.”

Ming Tanqing deduced: “Maybe cats like mint.”

Liang Ruojing thought of another scene and agreed.

Cats indeed seemed to like her pheromones.

The interior decor of the villa was very refined. Some appetizers were already placed on the dining table in the center of the living room.

Liang Ruojing sat next to Ming Tanqing and noticed an extra set of bowls and chopsticks.

“Is someone else coming?”