Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 83

Would You Be Willing to Take Things Slowly with Me?

The group caroused until late into the night, and by the end, few remained sober.

After Liang Ruojing finished showering and drying her hair, she checked the time; it was already 4:30 AM. She wasn’t the least bit sleepy, likely due to the excitement stirred by Ming Tanqing’s words: “Let’s go see a play the day after tomorrow.”

On the bed, the Omega was already fast asleep.

Liang Ruojing quietly took out her laptop and typed a string of words into the search bar in the living room: “What should I do on a first date?”

Information flooded the screen. Liang Ruojing, thirsty for knowledge, read through them one by one.

Send flowers, give gifts, see her home…

Below, there was a related question: “What does it mean if she goes to her house after the first date?”

Liang Ruojing clicked on it out of curiosity, and her body grew warmer as she read. At that moment, a sound came from the bed nearby.

The Omega’s voice was thick and groggy: “Liang Ruojing? Why aren’t you sleeping yet? I’m cold.”

Liang Ruojing realized how silly her behavior was. She slept with the person she liked every single day; why was she looking up dating strategies for couples? She already had plenty of “experience.”

Liang Ruojing shut her laptop, took off her bathrobe, and slipped directly into the covers. She skillfully embraced Ming Tanqing, dutifully acting as a human heating pad.

Liang Ruojing’s confidence crumbled on the eve of the “date.” She suffered from insomnia.

In order to appear absolutely perfect, she had done a lot of temporary homework. What clothes to wear, how to style her hair, what kind of flowers to give afterward… every single detail made her agonize.

Specifically on the day the play was showing, Liang Ruojing was simply restless. Even though she had no scenes to film, she arrived at the set early, gazing longingly from dawn until noon.

After two days of internal chaos, Liang Ruojing finished lunch on set and felt sleepy just looking at the words in her script. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the world had gone dark.

Liang Ruojing bolted upright, her mind a complete blank. I didn’t oversleep, did I?

Just as she frantically threw off her blanket, a familiar voice drifted from ahead. “No need to rush, it’s still early.”

Ming Tanqing was sitting on the sofa of the motorhome, quietly turning a page of a book. Liang Ruojing’s heart finally landed back in her chest.

A second later, Ming Tanqing sat down beside her. “The dark circles under your eyes are so heavy. Are you really that nervous?”

Ming Tanqing had witnessed all of Liang Ruojing’s frantic energy over the past two days. Simple anticipation for a play couldn’t explain it. Ming Tanqing leaned in slightly, her gaze playfully circling the Alpha as she said lazily, “Did you arrange something else? A gift?”

Liang Ruojing started sweating. Her brain worked at lightning speed as she asked, “What do you like, Tanqing-jie?”

“Gifts? I like anything,” Ming Tanqing tilted her head and smiled at her. “As long as it’s from you.”

Liang Ruojing had slept until 4:00 PM. The play started at 7:30 PM, and given their location, it wasn’t actually that early anymore. Especially since they both had to return to the hotel to change, factoring in travel time and early check-in, dinner had to be settled hastily.

Ming Tanqing wore a very dignified and elegant indigo long dress, accented with a thin pearl chain around her waist. Her hair was half-tied, with her smooth black tresses falling over her shoulders, looking gentle and sophisticated.

Liang Ruojing kept her hands in her pockets, fiddling with a smooth wooden jewelry box, appearing somewhat preoccupied.

“What are you thinking about?” Ming Tanqing suddenly struck up a conversation.

Liang Ruojing said somewhat nonsensically, “This is the first time I’ve come out to play with someone, just the two of us.”

“I don’t believe you. Not even during your student days?”

“Really,” Liang Ruojing explained. “In junior high, it was always with friends. In high school, I was busy studying; there was no time to come out.”

Ming Tanqing smiled. “Me too.”

After meeting Liang Ruojing, she had experienced many “firsts.”

By the time the car stopped at the theater entrance, it was past 7:00 PM, and ticket checks had just begun. Wen Qingjia had provided VIP tickets, so the two entered through a private passage.

Before entering, Liang Ruojing checked the end time of the play. Steeling her heart, she placed an order for flowers on a delivery app.

Ming Tanqing stood at the entrance, urging her: “Liang Ruojing?”

Liang Ruojing hurriedly stuffed her phone into her coat pocket and caught up with the Omega in a few strides. Ming Tanqing, thinking she was blaming herself for oversleeping in the afternoon, comforted her: “It’s fine. I feel very relaxed when I’m with you.”

The moment she said those words, Liang Ruojing froze. A tingling itch spread from her ears to the tip of her heart; her breathing became erratic.

When the Alpha suddenly stopped walking, Ming Tanqing found it amusing and looked back at her. “What is it now?”

The lights in the theater illuminated half of Liang Ruojing’s body. She blinked and whispered, “Tanqing-jie, I want to kiss you.”

The Omega’s brow twitched, looking conflicted. “Here?”

Liang Ruojing sensed a loosening of boundaries and nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Five minutes later, they finally took their seats. The smile on Liang Ruojing’s face was uncontrollable; her eyes were narrowed, and her index finger pressed against her lips as if savoring the moment.

Ming Tanqing got annoyed and reached out to swat Liang Ruojing’s hand away.

The tension that had gripped Liang Ruojing for two days was healed by that kiss. She moved her hand, her fingertips brushing the back of the other’s hand, before her fingers climbed onto the Omega’s skin and gripped tight.

As the play was about to start, the surroundings fell into darkness. Ming Tanqing sighed. “Don’t tease me anymore. Watch the play seriously.”

Liang Ruojing felt quite pathetic—clearly, she was the one constantly being flirted with.

This was a classic play; even an outsider like Liang Ruojing knew the script by heart. There was a big difference between stage plays and film; the actors’ emotions had to be sufficiently externalized, and the dialogue had to be precise and evocative.

Liang Ruojing gradually became immersed.

At the climax, Ming Tanqing leaned over and spoke softly in her ear: “Pay attention to the stress and rhythm of the dialogue. Recall what we discussed before.”

Liang Ruojing’s heart was in disarray again.

After plucking the Alpha’s heartstrings, Ming Tanqing lay back in the dark red chair as if nothing had happened. The dim lighting allowed many unnamable emotions to grow wildly. Liang Ruojing’s fingers slid down, stroking the Omega’s wrist.

The skin here was very thin; it was always the first place to flush when she was moved, and her breathing would change after just a few kisses. Like a piece of frost or snow, Liang Ruojing felt that the white jade bracelet in her pocket was a perfect match for Ming Tanqing.

From 7:30 to 10:30, the three-hour play depicted the rapid decline of a great family. During the curtain call, all the actors held hands and bowed in unison to the audience.

Ming Tanqing withdrew her hand and smiled while clapping. Liang Ruojing’s heart began to race again.

Her phone vibrated; the flower shop delivery person had called, urging her to pick up the flowers.

Liang Ruojing lagged behind the crowd, quickly leaving the address for the side door. She caught up to Ming Tanqing before she noticed anything unusual and followed her backstage.

When Wen Qingjia saw them, she immediately broke into a hearty laugh, opening her arms to embrace them. “How was it?”

Ming Tanqing: “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a play. It makes my hands itch to perform.”

Wen Qingjia exchanged a few pleasantries and came to hug Liang Ruojing. “How did it feel for your first time?”

“Breathtaking.” Liang Ruojing purposely turned her body slightly to prevent the jewelry box in her pocket from being exposed too early.

The group chatted backstage for a while. Wen Qingjia specifically asked about Liang Ruojing’s progress with the Gong Ci 2 script, and Liang Ruojing answered seriously. Several actors from the play were fans of Ming Tanqing and lined up for autographs.

Liang Ruojing took the opportunity to whisper to Ming Tanqing, “Tanqing-jie, I’m going to the restroom.”

There was a nearly imperceptible look of anticipation in Ming Tanqing’s eyes. “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you at the back door in a bit.”

With her hands in her pockets, Liang Ruojing walked away quickly.

It was past 11:00 PM by the time Ming Tanqing got away.

The weather had been good lately; there were no clouds covering the night sky, and the moonlight was bright, casting fragmented light across the ground. At the back door of the theater, Ming Tanqing saw Liang Ruojing.

She was wearing a long black coat. She was tall with broad shoulders, and her flaxen hair hung down to her waist, swaying gently in the evening breeze.

As Ming Tanqing approached, she smelled a strong floral fragrance. It was frank and direct, pounding against her heart along with the Alpha’s pheromones.

Noticing her, Liang Ruojing looked up, and an intensely radiant, childlike smile instantly appeared on her face. She pulled the meticulously prepared bouquet from behind her back.

A whole armful of roses.

There was no concealment; they were the most representative red roses, each one vivid and delicate, looking like a ball of fire in the Alpha’s arms.

“Tanqing-jie, these are for you. I hope you like them.” Liang Ruojing gave a smile that was impossible to refuse.

Ming Tanqing did not take the flowers immediately. Her voice was exceptionally crisp in the cold wind: “Liang Ruojing, roses aren’t something you can just give casually.”

Liang Ruojing stole two quick glances at her, took a step forward, and firmly shoved the flowers into the Omega’s hands. “I’ve only ever given them to you.”

Just as Ming Tanqing was about to speak, the car picking them up arrived. Liang Ruojing grinned, as if everything was settled once the flowers were given, and pulled Ming Tanqing by the arm into the car.

The ride back was exceptionally quiet.

Ming Tanqing put the flowers down as soon as she got in the car. The two who had leaned against each other on the way there were now separated by a large bouquet of roses, a subtle boundary having been drawn.

Liang Ruojing had ordered “Explorer” roses from Ecuador; the petals were thick with a silken texture, and the crowns were beautiful. Ming Tanqing stared at them, sensing the Alpha’s thoughtfulness. The driver looked curiously behind him but was smart enough not to say a word.

The car stopped in the hotel’s underground garage. As the driver pulled out the key and weighed his words, Ming Tanqing spoke: “Master, you can go first. We’ll head up in a bit.”

The driver couldn’t have asked for more and vanished in an instant.

Only the two of them remained in the narrow carriage. The rich scent of red roses had crowded out much of the lily and peppermint wine scents along the way.

The feigned smile on Liang Ruojing’s face vanished instantly.

Ming Tanqing took the initiative to offer a graceful exit, touching the Alpha’s elbow. “Let’s go, time to head upstairs.”

Liang Ruojing was quick, grabbing Ming Tanqing’s arm. The overhead light in the car was still on, and her eyes were strikingly bright. “Of course, I know what roses mean. Tanqing-jie, I like you.”

Ming Tanqing was stunned.

Up until now, they had shared a tacit understanding not to discuss this topic. Ambiguity was full of sweetness, but once “like” and “love” were involved, things became complicated.

Liang Ruojing clearly couldn’t hold it in anymore. In fact, she had endured for a long time. Having said the first sentence, the words that followed came smoothly.

“I like you. I’ve liked you for a very long time. When you’re sad, I’m heartbroken. I want you to be happy all the time. I want to be with you and never be apart.” Liang Ruojing finished in one breath, her face turning red from the effort.

Silence fell over the car for a long time.

Ming Tanqing took a deep breath. “I’m sorry—I can’t agree to that.”

Liang Ruojing’s eyes dropped, looking at her sorrowfully. “At least don’t refuse so quickly, please.”

Ming Tanqing leaned back against the seat, her breathing becoming rapid. She had once thought she would never feel this emotion in her life—that by closing off her heart, she could gain eternal peace. But she would also lose much more.

Ming Tanqing closed her eyes; her heart trembled at the words she was about to speak. For her, every word she uttered was like breaking and rebuilding her very persona.

“Liang Ruojing, I do indeed have feelings for you.”

Liang Ruojing was dazed and looked up. Ming Tanqing’s fingers began to shake.

“But it’s too fast. I’m not prepared.” Ming Tanqing’s stomach began to ache. The Omega turned to meet the Alpha’s gaze. “Would you be willing to take things slowly with me?”

Liang Ruojing’s emotions were like a roller coaster, plunging to the bottom only to soar into the clouds.

“So! I still have a chance?” Liang Ruojing’s eyes lit up, and she laughed as if she had won the lottery. She raised her hand and brushed the tears from her cheeks, not caring in the least. “I still have a chance, right?”

Liang Ruojing was practically begging Ming Tanqing.

Ming Tanqing, struggling to catch her breath, nodded.

“I can pursue you!” Liang Ruojing was ecstatic. Not noticing Ming Tanqing’s abnormality, she shifted over and directly embraced the slender Omega. “Tanqing-jie, I will definitely perform well. I can pursue you; please don’t give anyone else a chance, okay?”

Ming Tanqing nodded.

Liang Ruojing pulled the wooden box from her pocket, took out the bracelet, and while Ming Tanqing was momentarily dazed, slipped it directly onto her wrist. “This is the gift I truly wanted to give you.”

Sensation after sensation of shock hit Ming Tanqing’s heart. “Liang Ruojing, I can’t accept this!”

Just by looking, Ming Tanqing knew the value of that bracelet; it had to be worth at least seven figures. It couldn’t possibly be an ordinary gift. It was likely from Liang Ruojing’s family.

Ming Tanqing immediately tried to break the embrace. Before she could touch the bracelet, her wrist was gripped by Liang Ruojing. The Alpha’s strength left her unable to break free.

Liang Ruojing held Ming Tanqing’s skin tightly, her voice and expression humble as dust: “This is the return gift for New Year’s.”

“It’s your birthday gift, and it’s something a pursuer should give.” Liang Ruojing blinked, her eyes seemingly accusing. “You said so yourself—you like anything I give you.”

Ming Tanqing’s eyelashes fluttered, casting moving shadows on her face. What was she to do? Accepting it was tantamount to a promise.

The two remained in a stalemate for over five minutes. Gradually, Ming Tanqing’s fingers relaxed. She lowered her head and looked at her own hand.

“I’ll accept it. Let go; you’re gripping me so hard it hurts.”