Becoming the Comfort Alpha for the Aloof Movie Queen - Chapter 85

Ming Tanqing Relationship

Liang Ruojing embraced Ming Tanqing from behind.

This was the first time they had performed a temporary marking somewhere other than the bedroom.

The Alpha’s kisses did not fall directly on the gland. Instead, her lips brushed against the surrounding skin; the rustle of the formal dress rubbing against denim created an ambiguous, whispering sound.

Standing before the vanity mirror in the lounge, Ming Tanqing looked up and saw the expression on the Alpha’s face.

Devoted, cherishing.

She parted her lips, softly calling out Liang Ruojing’s name.

“Ruojing, be gentle.”

Liang Ruojing was already moving very slowly. Her lips moved over the Omega’s small, lovely gland; with every lick, the surrounding area secreted fluid. Lacking professional physiological knowledge, neither of them knew that this was a sign of an Omega approaching a period of “ripeness.”

Liang Ruojing only felt that Tanqing-jie smelled excessively fragrant this time. Her tongue swept over, licking away the sweet nectar within her mouth. Ming Tanqing’s gasps fell into her ears, making Liang Ruojing’s heart race wildly.

A temporary marking is best achieved when the Omega is relaxed. The waist of the person in her arms gradually grew soft; losing her strength, Ming Tanqing was supported by the waist and pressed against the table by Liang Ruojing.

The foreplay was too long. The gland began to protest.

A powerful lily fragrance erupted spontaneously from the Omega’s gland. The floral scent was rich, swirling around Liang Ruojing and growing more intense by the second. The provocation of an S-class Omega was fatal to an Alpha’s instincts.

Liang Ruojing felt as if she were nearly dissolving in the downpour of dense pheromones. She opened her mouth, and her fangs finally pierced the “ripened” gland before her.

Their pheromones began to combine violently, carrying a world-shattering passion and a primal attraction. Liang Ruojing’s scalp tingled. She hooked her arm around the Omega’s slender waist, pulling her even closer into her embrace as her fangs sank deeper.

Exquisite pain. Exquisite numbness.

Ming Tanqing was in an even worse state; her breathing was labored, and tears streamed down her face. From the corners of her eyes down to her collarbone, an enticing flush of passion spread. The Alpha’s pheromones flowed ceaselessly into her body.

The swollen gland finally found relief, and her body felt light. Ming Tanqing began to crave this sensation; just as she was about to release more pheromones to reciprocate—

“Knock! Knock! Knock!”

Qi Lin’s voice came from outside the door: “Are you ready? The makeup team is about to arrive.”

Ming Tanqing’s consciousness snapped back, and she hurriedly pushed against Liang Ruojing.

“Hurry.”

Liang Ruojing finished up, her tongue gliding one last time over the Omega’s gland to soothe Ming Tanqing’s emotions. Even though they had finished, they couldn’t leave immediately.

Ming Tanqing was completely drained of strength. Her arms hung limp as she lay on the sofa; every strand of hair and every fingertip radiated languor and satiety. Liang Ruojing’s gaze was also blurred, her eyes uncontrollably drifting toward the back of the Omega’s neck.

It took a full ten minutes before the heat entwined in their bones completely dissipated. Liang Ruojing peeled off a new isolation patch and carefully covered Ming Tanqing’s gland.

Ming Tanqing lowered her head obediently: “Is it okay?”

“…It’s fine.”

Liang Ruojing felt a bit guilty. She seemed to have bitten a bit too hard. Not only was the gland swollen, but the surrounding skin was covered in teeth marks. Because Ming Tanqing was so pale, they looked particularly startling.

After hesitating, Liang Ruojing said, “Tanqing-jie, don’t do an updo for your hair.”

Ming Tanqing looked up at her with a gaze that seemed ready to “kill” her. Liang Ruojing had no choice but to bring up her own experience from the Spring Festival.

“My back was covered in scratch marks, and I couldn’t wear backless clothes.”

Ming Tanqing gave a light huff: “Serves you right.”

Qi Lin returned to the lounge. Liang Ruojing stayed by her side for a few more minutes, then left Ming Tanqing’s room just before the makeup team arrived.

On the way out with a staff member, Liang Ruojing happened to encounter a familiar figure at a corridor junction. In a green dress with a low bun—it was Liu Lanshi.

It had been a while. Liang Ruojing waved her hand and greeted her warmly.

“Hello, Sister Liu—”

Liu Lanshi didn’t see her and walked straight past the intersection.

Huh?

Liu Lanshi looked… a bit preoccupied?

Liang Ruojing then remembered that Liu Lanshi had a nomination in this awards ceremony. That made sense; she was probably nervous about winning.

The time for the audition was indeed ample. Liang Ruojing hurried about, but still arrived at the Yanjing Film and Television Center half an hour early.

Tang Yuecen, who had been working on a project out of town recently, made time to call Liang Ruojing.

“Have you arrived?”

“I’m here.”

When she first heard that Liang Ruojing had received an audition for Palace Song 2, Tang Yuecen’s heart was filled with nothing but shock.

This, this, this.

She hadn’t acted for a while, but once she did, she soared to the heavens. If she truly got selected, it would be the equivalent of kicking open the door to the film industry; her future would be limitless.

Tang Yuecen suppressed her internal excitement and said in a steady tone, “Good luck. Just perform at your normal level.”

Liang Ruojing’s voice was light and upbeat: “Don’t worry.”

The audition was held on the top floor. Besides Liang Ruojing, eight other actors were there. There were veteran actors who had been famous since they were child stars, and “resource players” eager to try their luck. More were like Liang Ruojing—actors with some skill but who were also feeling anxious.

Liang Ruojing remembered Ming Tanqing’s words and didn’t take out the script immediately. A few minutes later, she noticed with surprise that none of the other eight people had a script in their hands.

She had a slight impression of the faces around her and quietly leaned over, trying to strike up a conversation in her most natural tone.

“Sigh, there’s no script. Who knows how to act?”

To her surprise, this sentence was met with indignant agreement from two or three people.

“Exactly!”

“Right!”

“The casting director just told me to come.”

“Me too!”

“It’s fine. It’s a Wen Qingjia movie. Even just auditioning is worth it.”

Liang Ruojing’s throat tightened, and her heart was in her mouth. The three scripts in her bag seemed to start burning, and her fingers trembled as she pulled the zipper tighter.

A phrase appeared in her mind—Blessings and misfortunes are intertwined.

In this high-pressure state, her mind began to race. Whether she was the only one who had received the script in advance was not the most important thing. What Liang Ruojing wanted was to stand out—to achieve a victory that overcame all conditions.

The audition time arrived. Liang Ruojing drew number “4,” a relatively good position.

If not, everyone had the script, what kind of prompt would the production team most likely give?

One by one, people finished their auditions. Staff members came out to call new numbers, but those who finished were not seen coming back out. Palace Song 2 was very cautious; they had arranged separate entrance and exit doors, and phones had been confiscated. Judging facial expressions or sending messages—all methods were useless.

Soon, it was Liang Ruojing’s turn. She took a deep breath and stepped into the closed small room.

Liang Ruojing saw Wen Qingjia again, sitting in the very center. The old lady was organizing documents and didn’t look at anyone. To her right was Yu Feng, who was also a judge.

Under the gaze of countless people in the studio, Liang Ruojing took the card handed to her by the staff.

The content of the audition was—

“Improvised performance without props.”

“Prompt: Escape.”

Meanwhile, at the Yanjing Grand Theater.

Ming Tanqing entered accompanied by the organizers. The moment the camera swept over her, the audience in the back rows began to cheer, and the comments in the live-stream room paused for a second before exploding into a frenzy.

The Omega wore her smooth black hair down; her skin was cold and white, and she wore a string of pearls around her neck. The styling was simple, yet it perfectly brought out the elegance and nobility in her temperament.

Sister! I miss you so much! When will Below the Green Mountain be released? I’ve watched your old stuff so many times the film is practically worn out.

The person above, this appearance is probably for promotion.

Her face is a bit flushed, is it the makeup?

Does the makeup artist not understand aesthetics? A pearl necklace should go with an updo! Though my sister is still beautiful.

Ming Tanqing took her seat, her smile clear and soft. As long as she didn’t speak, no one would know that her gland was still stinging. It felt like needle pricks, but having experienced the bone-shattering pain of her past illness, it was bearable.

However, Ming Tanqing still felt a sense of daze. How long had it been since she was last troubled by her gland disease? It seemed that from the day she met Liang Ruojing, her life had slowly entered a spring full of vitality and vigor.

The eternal frozen plains had begun to thaw, and bright sunlight spilled across the land. From the deepest depths, the solid ice was melting bit by bit. Even the most hidden corners were starting to stir.

They also wanted to be seen.

Not the powerful, beautiful Ming Tanqing. But the weak, disheveled Ming Tanqing. The unknown, unlikable Ming Tanqing that no one cared about.

The dangerous thought was snuffed out by the Omega as soon as it sprouted. She came back to her senses as a friend tapped her arm.

The host’s smile was perfect: “Next is the reveal of the Best Actress of the evening. Now, let’s invite Ming Tanqing to present the award for Best Actress!”

Amidst the roaring cheers and applause, Ming Tanqing walked onto the stage. The spotlights of the entire venue fell on her alone. Everyone held their breath, focusing on every word she said.

“The winner of the Best Actress at the 37th Huabiao Awards is—”

“Liu Lanshi, Nowhere to Forget.”

The big screen focused on the face of the new Best Actress. The moment the camera cut to her, Liu Lanshi wore a flawless smile and a perfectly measured look of surprise. She embraced her friends and manager sitting nearby, then went on stage to receive the trophy from Ming Tanqing.

This was the opportunity of her dreams. This was the moment she had longed for.

“I—”

Liu Lanshi barely said one word before she broke into tears. Sensing her emotions, Ming Tanqing turned slightly to block the main camera for her. She leaned down, took a handkerchief from her dress pocket, and handed it to Liu Lanshi.

Ming Tanqing’s voice was very low, her tone slow and powerful:

“If something has already happened and you cannot change it, at least do not let it affect the beauty of the present.”

Liu Lanshi’s figure stiffened for a moment. She wiped her tears and stood before the microphone again.

“I’m sorry, I’m too emotional. Three nominations and three misses; these tears are for the ‘me’ of the past three years.” Liu Lanshi smiled and showed the trophy to the camera.

The award ceremony drew to a close. After the group photo, Ming Tanqing walked off the stage with a group of people. Liu Lanshi was directly in front of her.

Despite what was said, a person cannot become strong in an instant. Seven years of friendship—it turned out it was all her one-sided wishful thinking. How could a girl from the countryside, now a star, compare to a lady from a wealthy family?

The moment she left the spotlight, Liu Lanshi’s legs went weak, and she nearly fell. Ming Tanqing quickly stepped forward and leaned down to help Liu Lanshi up.

With her movement, her loose black hair fell over her shoulders, revealing a small section of her fair neck. A normal-sized isolation patch could not cover her red and swollen gland.

Several people in the immediate vicinity saw her neck. It wasn’t intentional. It was just too obvious. Like red plums in the snow.

The bite marks were crisscrossed, and the exposed edges of the skin were red; one could tell at a glance that it had endured much friction.

The director in the control room instantly snapped to attention, straightened up, and cut the camera feed in a second.

Everyone backstage was as quiet as mice. Every person who saw it—without exception—silently stared at the ceiling or the floor.

An explosive piece of news surfaced in their minds: Ming Tanqing has someone.

Who?

Reminded by a friend, Ming Tanqing stood up straight, her black hair sliding down to cover that snowy white skin once more. Liu Lanshi was supported by staff, and Ming Tanqing thanked them.

After everyone dispersed, Liu Lanshi quietly approached Ming Tanqing and asked, “Are you okay? Did Little Liang and you…”

“It’s nothing.”

Ming Tanqing’s gaze was very frank. The episode of In the Peach Garden featuring Liang Ruojing had already aired, but no one in the industry had spread the news. Everyone was smart; they understood the difference between a “test” and an “official announcement.” Unless the two directly admitted to the relationship, anything else was subject to change.

Liu Lanshi also thought of this, and her gaze was somewhat forlorn. “I’ll be leaving first.”

Ming Tanqing took out her phone and called Fang Zezhi.

Liang Ruojing walked out of the Yanjing Film and Television Center, feeling as if she were in another world. From entering to finishing the audition, she had spent a total of three hours. No one knew what she had experienced inside, but her face was pale when she emerged.

Just as she came out, Xiao Xing brought her phone, her expression hesitating. Liang Ruojing didn’t really feel like talking either and went directly to her chat with Ming Tanqing.

Tanqing-jie: I am at Dr. Fang’s office. No need to come find me; go directly back to Baiyu later.

Liang Ruojing: Okay—I just finished here.

Liang Ruojing exited WeChat. Since Xiao Xing’s expression was truly too dramatic, Liang Ruojing couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Xing stammered, “Ru-Ruojing-jie, you… you should look at the trending searches yourself.”

What could be on the trending searches? Just the usual comparative articles about the Huabiao Awards. Did a dark horse win?

Liang Ruojing clicked in with interest, and her finger froze. The top three spots on the trending searches were dominated by one person, each followed by a blood-red “Explosive” tag.

#Ming Tanqing Gland

#Ming Tanqing Bite Mark

#Ming Tanqing Relationship