Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 84

Careful, It’s Hard to Hide if it Swells

Although the process didn’t go exactly as Liang Ruojing had imagined, the outcome was quite good.

Her footsteps felt like she was walking on air as she led Ming Tanqing upstairs by the hand. Her round eyes were sparkling; she didn’t look like someone who had just been rejected, but like someone who had just started a new relationship.

The moment they returned to the room, Liang Ruojing couldn’t hold back. She wrapped her arms around Ming Tanqing’s waist and pressed her against the door. A scorching kiss followed immediately, delivered with such intensity it felt as if she were offering up her very soul.

She would do anything, as long as Ming Tanqing wanted it.

The red roses were squeezed out of shape by Liang Ruojing’s movements. As the Alpha’s pheromones flooded her brain, Ming Tanqing’s limbs went weak, and her fingertips brushed against Liang Ruojing’s gland.

“Stop kissing for a moment… put the flowers down.”

With a “click,” the lights flickered on. Liang Ruojing took the roses from Ming Tanqing and placed them on the coffee table. She truly couldn’t contain her joy. Though Ming Tanqing had said she wouldn’t accept them, she hadn’t even been willing to let them drop to the floor.

Liang Ruojing felt as if her own heart was like those roses—held carefully and tenderly in Ming Tanqing’s arms.

Amidst the rich fragrance of the flowers, they kissed again. Ming Tanqing sat on Liang Ruojing’s lap, her hair—which had been neatly pinned up all day—now cascading down, swaying slowly over her shoulders. She was wearing a one-piece long dress with a zipper on the side. As the pearl belt fell onto the carpet, Liang Ruojing leaned against her chest, kissing the indigo fabric.

“Mm—” Ming Tanqing tried to steady her breathing. She no longer cared if the “silly dog” bit and wrinkled her favorite dress. She reached out to press down on Liang Ruojing’s head and asked, “Where’s the box?”

“What?” Liang Ruojing spoke with her mouth full, her words muffled.

“Mmh… the box for the bracelet.”

Liang Ruojing immediately became alert. “Sister Tanqing, you’re not going to give it back to me, are you?”

“I can’t wear it all the time. I need to put it away for now.”

Hesitantly, Liang Ruojing pulled the box from her coat pocket. She watched as Ming Tanqing took off the bracelet and carefully returned it to its black velvet lining.

As the lid closed, Ming Tanqing’s heart finally found a bit of peace. She turned her head, only to meet Liang Ruojing’s gaze—it was like that of an abandoned puppy. Those watery eyes stared at her.

Ming Tanqing felt both exasperated and helpless. “What are you acting aggrieved for? You’ve bitten my dress into this state; where else could I possibly go?”

It was like marking territory. Pheromones weren’t enough; she had to leave a trail of saliva too.

Liang Ruojing slowly approached and circled Ming Tanqing with her arms. “You said it yourself—you’re giving me a chance.”

This time, when Liang Ruojing sucked at her skin, Ming Tanqing didn’t stop her. She simply bit Liang Ruojing’s collarbone, urging her to be gentler.

Spring in the south was fickle. One week of misty rain followed by a week of sunshine; before one’s bones could even dry out, another forecast of ten plus days of heavy rain and storms would arrive.

Outdoor scenes couldn’t be filmed on location, but fortunately, the crew’s progress was fast. By early April, the majority of what needed to be shot was finished.

Liang Ruojing became busy. When she wasn’t filming, she spent all her time in the hotel studying the script for Palace Words 2. The auditions were about to begin.

Ming Tanqing returned to the hotel just after dinner time. Pushing open the room door, she found the interior alive with the sounds of voices and a movie soundtrack; it was unusually lively.

Through her diligent practice, Liang Ruojing’s lines had finally improved by a level, and her understanding of her character had deepened. If Ming Tanqing hadn’t been by her side every day, she wouldn’t have believed that Liang Ruojing could make such progress. In just a few months, her acting had transformed from stiff to vivid.

Setting aside her personal bias, Ming Tanqing believed she was now a qualified actress. As for the path to future mastery, that would have to be taken one step at a time.

Ming Tanqing stepped into the inner room. Liang Ruojing noticed her immediately and picked up the remote to pause the historical film playing on the television. On the dining cart nearby, a lonely dinner sat untouched.

Ming Tanqing frowned. “You haven’t eaten dinner yet.”

Liang Ruojing replied casually, “No rush, I’ll eat in a bit.”

“It’s already cold,” Ming Tanqing said with a faint smile, walking over to the landline and picking up the receiver. “I’ll order another one for you. Eat first, then talk.”

Liang Ruojing was sitting on the sofa reading the script. She had barely scanned a line before the book was taken away. Ming Tanqing stood over her, her long eyelashes casting shadows over her grey-blue eyes.

“Why don’t you go look in the mirror? Your eyes are bloodshot.”

Liang Ruojing pulled out her phone and was startled by her own haggard and weary appearance. Ming Tanqing walked to the bedside table and hooked her finger toward Liang Ruojing.

“Come here, let me give you some eye drops.”

Liang Ruojing walked over without the slightest hint of embarrassment and rested her head directly on the Omega’s lap. Not only did her nose get to smell the lily fragrance, but her mouth had to take some advantage as well.

“Sister Tanqing, why are you so good to me?”

“Be quiet,” Ming Tanqing pinched Liang Ruojing’s chin, her soft, warm fingers prying the Alpha’s eyelids open. “Don’t move.”

The moment the artificial tears hit her eyeballs, they felt icy and stimulating. Liang Ruojing blinked, desperate to regain her clear vision; she wanted to see the serious Ming Tanqing.

Ming Tanqing laughed at her, her palm lightly patting Liang Ruojing’s cheek. “Stop looking at me. Close your eyes.”

Liang Ruojing closed her eyes reluctantly. The Omega didn’t move away; her lily-scented fingers massaged around her eye sockets. It felt wonderful.

A few minutes later, Liang Ruojing opened her eyes again. Her vision couldn’t quite focus, so she stared at Ming Tanqing with damp, misty eyes. Ming Tanqing’s flickering gaze was caught by her.

“Sister Tanqing, do you actually really like my eyes?” As if she had discovered a secret, Liang Ruojing flipped over on the Omega’s lap, her large eyes blinking. “Is that it?”

“Get up.” Ming Tanqing nudged her leg, changing the subject. “My leg is getting sore.”

Always either your hand hurting or your leg getting sore. Movie Queen Ming, you really are quite delicate. Of course, Liang Ruojing didn’t dare say this to Ming Tanqing’s face.

She sat up but quickly turned back around to loom over her. One well-defined hand slid from the Omega’s knee upward, stopping on her soft thigh. Applying a bit of pressure, her fingertips sank in.

Liang Ruojing gave a fawning smile. “Then I’ll give you a massage.”

Ming Tanqing was wearing a pair of well-fitted suit trousers today. The thin fabric couldn’t block the Alpha’s naturally high body temperature. Liang Ruojing’s fingertips were sparking fires on Ming Tanqing’s body. Their gazes locked, and the surrounding air grew thick and syrupy.

The doorbell rang; it was room service. Ming Tanqing moved Liang Ruojing’s mischievous hand away and smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes. Her eyes were clear, and she returned to her lofty, unapproachable demeanor.

“Eat first. In a bit, run lines with me.”

A reward after an intrusion. Liang Ruojing truly didn’t understand Ming Tanqing’s self-positioning anymore.

At 10:00 PM, Liang Ruojing came out of the shower. Ming Tanqing was on the phone. She looked up, her gaze lingering on Liang Ruojing for a long while before she continued her call.

“Yes, I understand.”

“What was that about?”

“An invitation to be a guest at an awards ceremony.”

Liang Ruojing saw the invitation on Ming Tanqing’s phone. April 10th… “Isn’t that the same day as the audition?”

“Yes,” Ming Tanqing stretched, a beautiful watery glint appearing in her eyes. “So I accepted. I can head back to Yanjing with you then.”

This woman, honestly!

As soon as Ming Tanqing lay down, her nose was suddenly filled with the Alpha’s pheromones. The sharp peppermint was warmed by body heat, feeling hot and stifling; when it enveloped her, it made her entire body tingle.

Liang Ruojing climbed onto the bed, her knees apart, pinning Ming Tanqing beneath her. Her gaze was almost tangible, intensely and slowly licking over the Omega’s fair and smooth legs. The lightweight bathrobe stopped above her knees, her skin lustrous and possessing the quality of jade under the light.

Ming Tanqing curled her legs uncomfortably. “Liang Ruojing, you…”

Before she could finish, Liang Ruojing lowered her head and caught the hem of the bathrobe in her mouth.

“Sister Tanqing, you haven’t answered yet. Do you like my eyes?”

If Ming Tanqing had known that the lines the Alpha practiced by holding chopsticks in her mouth would be used for this, she wouldn’t have helped.

“Let go.” Ming Tanqing tried to pull the fabric from Liang Ruojing’s mouth.

In the next second, her movements froze. It was messy and crooked. The pressure against her soft skin left red marks.

“Wow,” Liang Ruojing said with a smirk. “I didn’t expect you to like it so much, Sister.”

“Nonsense.”

Ming Tanqing lay flat on the bed, her abdomen flat and rising and falling with her breathing. This was the first time Liang Ruojing had seriously observed Ming Tanqing’s stomach. She became addicted to the sight. Sister Ming’s skin seems very thin. Wow, I can actually see it.

“Don’t—” Ming Tanqing’s voice was broken.

Restricted by her field of vision, she could only see Liang Ruojing’s amber eyes. Those round eyes were wide open, eyebrows arched with interest, like a dog who had finally gotten a meaty bone, her whole body radiating a sense of sated satisfaction.

What exactly is she looking at? Ming Tanqing turned her head, her scalp tingling. Her body faithfully expressed her state of mind.

Liang Ruojing’s words followed: “Sister, don’t be nervous.”

“Stop looking.”

Ming Tanqing’s entire body was under the Alpha’s control, her lower half numb and tingling.

Liang Ruojing asked giggling, “So, Sister Tanqing, do you like my eyes?”

In all honesty, the Alpha’s eyes were beautiful. Clear, translucent, as if a never-ending summer burned within them. But at this moment, Ming Tanqing had no intention of admiring them. Her vision was covered by physiological tears.

“I like them, I like them… just stop looking.”

It’s going to end now, right? Ming Tanqing wiped away her tears and gathered the courage to look at Liang Ruojing again.

Suddenly, the world began to shake. Her trembling waist also fell into the Alpha’s grasp. It actually happened in this manner.

Sweat even appeared on Liang Ruojing’s forehead, droplets trickling down, making those eyes shine even more like brilliant stars. She was very charismatic.

Ming Tanqing’s mind went blank; everything in the world began to drift away from her. Liang Ruojing’s panting, her own sobbing, the sounds—everything became distant and then close again.

A few seconds later, Ming Tanqing’s consciousness gradually returned. The first image she saw was Liang Ruojing holding her, wanting to kiss her. Liang Ruojing used her other hand to cup her face, and her kiss landed on her damp eyelashes.

“Sister Tanqing, I’ll strive to make you like me a little more.”

Ming Tanqing pulled her close and kissed the Alpha’s lips.

On the day of the awards ceremony, it had been raining for seven consecutive days in the city where they were filming. Except for a small number of actors, most people were in a state of having nothing to do.

Liang Ruojing knocked on Lin Xiuzhu’s door to ask for leave. “I might be gone for a day.”

Lin Xiuzhu had been beaten into submission by the torrential rain. “Go ahead. Two days is fine. Anyway, you only have one outdoor scene left.”

The final scene was the wrap-up scene for both of them, and it was also the plot point where Sun Ying exits the story.

She took the same flight as Ming Tanqing. The audition for Palace Words 2 was at the Yanjing Film and Television Center. The awards ceremony Ming Tanqing was guesting at was a live broadcast at the Yanjing Grand Theatre. One was in the south and the other in the north; they had to go in opposite directions from the airport.

On the plane, Liang Ruojing was so nervous her eyes never left the script. This was her first time auditioning for a lead role in a film, and with a director of Wen Qingjia’s caliber, it was impossible not to be nervous.

Ming Tanqing comforted Liang Ruojing and reminded her to put the script away first and only take it out once she was sure everyone else had theirs. Liang Ruojing agreed.

Noticing the Omega looked a bit tired, Liang Ruojing asked, “Headache?”

Ming Tanqing pressed the isolation patch on her gland. “It’s probably because I was too tired from filming recently. The gland feels a bit swollen.”

Liang Ruojing was worried. There was still some time before the audition started, and she wanted to go with Ming Tanqing first.

Ming Tanqing refused. “You go and familiarize yourself with the environment first.”

Liang Ruojing still wouldn’t have it. Ming Tanqing finally had to promise: “If there’s a problem, I’ll contact you immediately, okay?”

The Alpha reluctantly gave in and watched Ming Tanqing’s car drive away.

The call from Ming Tanqing came an hour later. Qi Lin was the one calling, saying that Ming Tanqing wasn’t in a good state.

Liang Ruojing had guessed as much. She slung her bag, put on a mask, and rushed to the backstage lounge with the help of the staff.

Opening the door, she saw Ming Tanqing had already changed into tonight’s gown—a strapless floor-length dress with a water-drop pearl chain accentuating the waist. The Omega was bowing her head in distress, her neck long and graceful, surrounded by the pure white gauze of the skirt spread across the floor. From a distance, she looked like a suffering white swan.

“I’m here.”

Qi Lin was exceptionally surprised to see her. “It’s only been ten minutes. Where did you come from?”

“I was just nearby.”

Liar.

Ming Tanqing looked up weakly at Liang Ruojing. With one being in the south and the other in the north, there was no way she could have arrived so quickly. Liang Ruojing must have been waiting in a nearby coffee shop all along.

“Is it the gland?”

Ming Tanqing nodded. “It’s swollen. The inhibitors didn’t help.”

Liang Ruojing leaned over, gently brushing aside the Omega’s long hair. After peeling back, the isolation patch, the pink, translucent gland appeared before her. It looked like a perfectly ripe peach that would burst with juice if bitten lightly.

The scene felt familiar. She couldn’t quite place the memory for a moment.

Ming Tanqing’s head was thumping painfully. She hadn’t intended to contact the Alpha; it was Qi Lin who had made the call.

“It’s fine,” Ming Tanqing shook her head. “I can endure it.”

Liang Ruojing felt a bit angry. “I’m already here; how could I possibly let you ‘endure’ it?”

“You still have your audition.”

“There’s time,” Liang Ruojing’s attitude was unusually firm. “Besides, being there whenever the person, you love calls—isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

Qi Lin raised an eyebrow as if watching a drama unfold.

Liang Ruojing observed for a moment longer, her fingertip lightly brushing over the gland. Ming Tanqing’s grip on her hand suddenly tightened. She knew the Omega’s expressions too well.

“You need a temporary mark,” Liang Ruojing said.

Qi Lin: “Alright, I’ll step out first.”

Only the two of them remained in the room. Ming Tanqing lowered her neck, her voice very soft and her eyelashes trembling with nerves:

“Ruojing.”

“Be gentle this time. It’s hard to hide if it swells.”