Everyone Loves the Alpha, But He’s Not Interested [Transmigration] - Chapter 33

Ning Xi looked at Bai Piaopiao and replied coolly,
“Thanks for the compliment. We need to get our makeup done, so we won’t take up your time.”

She turned to leave, but to her surprise, Yu Qingxue didn’t move. She stood still, quietly sizing up Bai Piaopiao.

Bai Piaopiao met Yu Qingxue’s assessing gaze and reluctantly pulled her infatuated eyes away from Ning Xi’s face.

“Qingxue-jie, I didn’t realize you were here too. Sorry, I didn’t notice you just now.” Though her words sounded apologetic, her tone carried a hint of arrogance, her chin tilted just slightly as if to say, I ignored you on purpose. What can you do about it?

The Bai family of Beihai was highly influential in the art world. Bai Piaopiao’s grandfather was a pianist, her grandmother a dancer. Her maternal grandparents were a painter and a calligrapher. Her mother, their daughter, became a novelist.

Only her father, Bai Qinian, deviated from the family’s artistic path and became a businessman. But even then, his business remained tied to the arts—he ran a talent agency.

Bai Qinian’s agency, Qirui Entertainment, had a longstanding working relationship with Yu Qingxue’s company, Six Leaves Media. Most of Qirui’s rising stars had gained fame through films, dramas, and variety shows funded by Yu Qingxue’s investments. Bai Piaopiao was no exception.

Originally, Yu Qingxue had enforced a rule: no participants in talent competitions were allowed if they hadn’t yet undergone gender differentiation. But while she was away on a business trip overseas, Bai Qinian bribed the show’s director and managed to sneak his daughter in.

By the time Yu Qingxue returned, Bai Piaopiao had already made it to the finals. Thanks to her undifferentiated status and adorable appearance, she had captured the hearts of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas alike. Her universal appeal helped her win easily over contestants who only attracted fans from a single gender category.

Bai Piaopiao had been introduced to Yu Qingxue once by her father. At the time, Yu Qingxue had made her displeasure very clear due to Bai Qinian’s underhanded move, giving neither of them a pleasant reception. Spoiled from a young age, Bai Piaopiao had taken offense to that and formed a grudge.

She didn’t think her family was inferior to the Yu family, nor did she consider herself less talented than Yu Qingxue. So why should she have to smile at someone who treated her with cold indifference?

“Didn’t notice me…” Yu Qingxue repeated the phrase with an amused tone, then lightly patted Bai Piaopiao on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Next time we meet, I guarantee you’ll notice me first.”

Bai Piaopiao lifted her chin, forcing a sweet smile.
“Really? I can’t wait.”

“Neither can I.” Yu Qingxue glanced at Ning Xi.
“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

As the two walked away side by side, Bai Piaopiao stared at their backs, eyes filled with jealousy.

While they waited for the makeup artist to return, Ning Xi asked casually,
“President Yu, do you already know Bai Piaopiao?”

“Yes, but not well.” Yu Qingxue was scrolling through her phone. When she heard the question, she looked up briefly.
“Do you like that type of girl?”

“Of course not. I was just curious about your relationship with her, not interested in her personally.” Ning Xi replied instinctively.

Yu Qingxue looked back at her phone.
“Our families know each other, but we’re not close. Though I do have a good online friendship with her older sister.”

Ning Xi was about to ask more, but the makeup artist returned.

After finishing their makeup and changing into costume, they went to look for Director Jiang Yuanxin.

To improve efficiency, the production was split into two units, A and B, each with its own assistant director. Jiang Yuanxin only personally oversaw scenes involving both Ning Xi and Yu Qingxue.

That morning, Ning Xi was scheduled to film with Unit A, while Yu Qingxue worked with Unit B. Their joint scenes would be shot in the afternoon.

Ning Xi’s morning shoot was with Wei Nian.

Three minutes before filming began, Wei Nian rushed onto the set.

The assistant director frowned but chose not to scold her to avoid disrupting the atmosphere or affecting the performance.

Their scene was simple—just a standing dialogue exchange. They were free to express emotion and inflection as they saw fit.

Back during the script read-through, Ning Xi had learned from Wei Nian about the online post and also realized Yu Qingxue had been quietly protecting her. That had left a decent impression of Wei Nian in her mind.

As Wei Nian approached, Ning Xi leaned in and whispered a reminder.
“Bai Piaopiao is still underage. If you two stay too close, it’s bound to stir up rumors. Better to be cautious.”

Wei Nian had started with her usual calm expression, but her face changed the moment she heard that.

“This is my business. I know what I’m doing.”

Just from her expression, Ning Xi could tell Wei Nian had already grown defensive. The more someone told her no, the more determined she became.
“Then I hope you truly do know.”

Wei Nian pressed her lips together and said nothing, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

“Alright, leads in position. Keep still, mind the camera angles when speaking. We’re starting.”

“Scene Three, Shot One, Take One. Mark.”

“Action.”

Hu Xiaohan bowed low.
“My Lord, I have learned that the Wulin Alliance’s saintess, Dong Lingxue, will arrive at Dianqiu Mountain tomorrow night. Our weapons and men are ready. If we ambush her in the canyon, I guarantee she won’t escape.”

Feng Yunyan stood to the side, half her face hidden in shadow. Her long lashes lowered, obscuring the dark gleam in her eyes.
“This plan will not work.”

“Why not? My Lord, if we want to capture Dong Lingxue and obtain the Jade Heart Sutra, this is the best way!”

It was said that those who cultivated the Jade Heart Sutra had to sever love and emotion, but their martial power would soar. Every saintess of the Wulin Alliance who trained in it had unfathomable strength. The demonic sect had attempted multiple attacks on the Alliance, and every time, the saintess had driven them back at the last moment.

The demonic sect had long coveted the Sutra. Twenty-five years ago, the former sect leader succeeded in ambushing and imprisoning the previous saintess. But despite every method he used, she never revealed even a single word about the technique.

Until his death, he remained obsessed with the Jade Heart Sutra, and made Ning Xi’s character swear to one day obtain it at any cost.

“I have a better strategy,” Feng Yunyan replied coldly.
“We cannot repeat past mistakes. You should know the cost of underestimating the saintess…”

“The saintess of the Alliance would rather die than surrender. Even if you capture her and torture her, you won’t get anything out of her.”

“My Lord!” Hu Xiaohan clearly disagreed.

The failure twenty-five years ago, in her eyes, was only because the former demonic sect leader lacked the proper methods. If Dong Lingxue were to fall into her hands, she refused to believe that Dong could keep her secrets if faced with the brink of death, unable to live and unable to die.

Feng Yunyan cast a cold glance at her.
“What is that look on your face? Are you questioning me, or planning to disobey your leader’s command?”

“You are the Left Guardian. Don’t forget your place.”

Hu Xiaohan lowered her head, eyes fixed on the dark, shadowy ground. Her expression was tense with restraint.
“I wouldn’t dare.”

Both she and Feng Yunyan were adopted by the former leader of the demonic sect. Both had differentiated as Alphas. Hu Xiaohan had always believed she was no less capable than Feng Yunyan. But in the end, it was Feng Yunyan who inherited the sect. And she—was forever just the Left Guardian, beneath her.

“You better mean that,” Feng Yunyan said coldly.

“You better really know.”

The same words echoed in Wei Nian’s mind—Feng Yunyan’s voice in character overlapped with Ning Xi’s words from earlier. In a daze, Wei Nian felt like she had become Hu Xiaohan.

Hu Xiaohan couldn’t get the position she wanted, and Wei Nian’s affections for Bai Piaopiao seemed equally unreturned. Piaopiao’s interest was clearly directed toward Ning Xi.

A surge of resentment rose from Wei Nian’s chest. She suddenly shouted,
“Stop talking to me like you’re above me. Who do you think you are?”

Before anyone could react, she lunged forward and shoved at Ning Xi. Her strike was fast and aggressive—Ning Xi could even hear the wind slicing through the air.

Ning Xi, caught off guard for just a moment, quickly stepped back to avoid the attack. Wei Nian missed, unable to stop her momentum, and crashed forward.

With a loud thud, she hit the ground hard.

Everyone around froze, stunned. No one could understand why Wei Nian had suddenly snapped.

The A-unit director, holding a megaphone, yelled furiously,
“What’s going on with you, Wei Nian? Can’t remember your lines? Want me to teach you one word at a time?”

He stood up, absolutely livid.
“We could’ve nailed this in one take, but you just had to pull some ridiculous stunt. What, think this set’s too small to contain your talent?”

There was some distance between units A and B, but the A-unit director’s voice, amplified by the megaphone, was so loud it carried all the way over. The B-unit was filming a critical scene, and the sudden shouting startled all the background actors. They froze, forgetting their cues.

The B-unit director had no choice but to call,
“Cut.”

“What’s happening?” Yu Qingxue frowned and walked over to ask Jiang Yuanxin.

Jiang had just arrived from the A-unit, hoping to check on B-unit’s progress. Now he looked completely baffled.
“I don’t know. Everything was going smoothly when I left.”

“Don’t worry,” he quickly added, “they’re definitely not yelling at Ning Xi. I’ll head back and check.”

Yu Qingxue set down the prop in her hand.
“I’ll come too.”

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