The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha - Chapter 10

“Traveling with a Wolf?”

Zhou Qiwei clutched her phone, laughing so hard she nearly toppled over. Song Haoyin thought the woman had gone mad with rage, but her next words were: “I thought the media would call me Zhou the Pervert.”

Truth be told, such rumors did exist. In urban legends, Zhou Qiwei was the kind of Alpha who cruised around in luxury cars, seducing anyone who caught her eye resorting to threats and bribes if they refused.

Given that Zhou the Scumbag Alpha’s so-called “forbidden list” was so extensive encompassing all four designations across both Alpha and Omega genders some online commentators did label her a pervert, even accusing her of being a supremacist Alpha who discriminated against Betas.

Song Haoyin had seen all this. She struggled to keep a straight face, deciding it was best not to bring up such an outrageous nickname.

Though Song Haoyin occasionally found Zhou Qiwei baffling a rare oddity the woman hadn’t lived up to the monstrous, villainous reputation of urban legends. Aside from being a bit intense during her rut, emotionally unstable, and morally questionable in a spoiled-rich-kid way, Zhou Qiwei wasn’t the predatory monster people made her out to be.

The day’s scandal suddenly reminded Song Haoyin of Zuo Wangxun’s mention of an arranged marriage. Her heart prickled, as if scratched by a cat. She cared more than she wanted to admit but refused to let it show. Casually scrolling through her phone, she remarked, “By the way, when Zuo Wangxun and I argued, he said the Zuo family plans to arrange a marriage with you.”

“Oh, that.” Zhou Qiwei was still browsing gossip her first time reading entertainment news about herself. She pointed at the screen and grinned. “Bet it was the Zuos who leaked this. Notice how they only mention us going in and out of a hotel but conveniently leave out me following you home?” Too cowardly to provoke the tiger, yet too greedy to let go pathetic.

“If you’re planning to marry, then we”

“Huh?” Zhou Qiwei jerked her head up, wide-eyed. “What does an arranged marriage have to do with us?”

Song Haoyin’s heart sank like a lead weight dropped into the sea. Pressing her lips together, she laid it out plainly: “If you marry someone else but still want to keep things as they are between us, I won’t agree.” Her morals would never allow her to be the other woman not even if Zhou Qiwei’s marriage was purely political, not even if Zhou and her spouse led separate lives. She’d seen such arrangements before, but she could never be part of one.

Zhou Qiwei was baffled. How had the conversation spiraled here? “What’s gotten into you? The Zuos are just talking to themselves. What does that have to do with me?”

“But judging by his confidence,” Song Haoyin voiced her suspicion bluntly, “he seemed certain it would happen. Did your family agree to it?”

“My family?”

Zhou Qiwei paused, thinking carefully before replying, “My family is annoying. They’ll meddle in my life at every opportunity but it never works. They know it doesn’t, yet they keep trying. Persistence in the face of failure, I guess. Heh.”

That laugh carried a dark edge, but Song Haoyin caught the implication: Zhou Qiwei had family, and they sought control over her. Now she believed Du Xin’s words. When she’d once asked if Du Xin liked Zhou Qiwei, the answer had been no.

Du Xin had explained that their families were related, and she’d been entrusted with Zhou Qiwei’s care. At the time, Song Haoyin had doubted it. Now, it seemed true.

“Don’t overthink it. I won’t enter an arranged marriage because I’m fundamentally a marriage-free advocate.” Zhou Qiwei threw herself onto Song Haoyin, burying her face near the other woman’s scent gland and inhaling deeply, savoring the healing comfort brought by the pheromones.

Despite the blow from Zuo Wangxun’s infidelity, Song Haoyin still held some expectations for marriage and family life. Zhou Qiwei was several years younger than her why was she so adamant? Song Haoyin didn’t ask. Instead, she gently massaged Zhou Qiwei’s neck as they embraced. For now, maintaining the status quo wasn’t so bad.

Perhaps I only care about my own moral needs, or maybe I’ll just go with the flow. If Zhou Qiwei pressured me, would I compromise my principles and stay with her?

Song Haoyin let the mingled scents of elderflower and cognac envelop her, feeling Zhou Qiwei steadily encroach upon her personal space while her thoughts wandered freely.

Ring!

It was Song Haoyin’s phone. The caller was Xu Su. The PR director had no idea that while she was scrambling to handle the crisis, her boss and the client she served was thoroughly enjoying every aspect of this rut period.

“Are you with President Zhou right now?”

Xu Su had only learned from Yu Miao after the scandal broke that Song Haoyin had taken Zhou Qiwei home. She could hardly believe it. Piecing together the timeline: if they’d been photographed at last night’s banquet, any paparazzi following them would have inevitably captured them returning to Song Haoyin’s residence together. That would be far more damaging than a deniable rumor.

Either the paparazzi hadn’t tailed their car, or they’d dared not release photos of them going home together. Whatever the reason, it boiled down to one thing: they didn’t want to burn bridges.

Xu Su’s call was to ascertain Song Haoyin’s or more precisely, Song Haoyin and Zhou Qiwei’s next move against the Zuo family. She had a premonition this might become the highlight of her career as a PR director.

Zuo Family Ancestral Residence

Zuo Yang desperately wanted to be at work. She’d take business trips 360 days a year over sitting in this ancestral home listening to a bunch of old-timers drone on.

“We’ve already informed the Zhou family. Zhou Qiwei is far too arrogant someone needs to rein her in.”

Listen to that paternalistic tone, always spouting “someone should control her.” They couldn’t even manage their own family’s messes properly, yet here they were meddling in others’ affairs. Zuo Yang’s heart brimmed with disdain, though her face remained the picture of obedience. This was how she’d survived in the Zuo family all these years outward compliance, inward defiance.

She’d learned early that neither Zuo Wangxun nor her biological father could be relied upon, and the Zuo family was certainly no safe harbor. She could only depend on herself.

Even playing the obedient role couldn’t spare Zuo Yang from gossip. Her eldest cousin Zuo Xingyu wouldn’t let up: “You should reflect too, Zuo Yang. The family paved your way to meet such people you should’ve worked harder to get closer to President Zhou. Letting Song Haoyin cling to Zhou Qiwei all night? Pathetic.”

Eldest Uncle Zuo Wangshao at the head of the table nodded approvingly, while her own father Zuo Wangxun beside her kept agreeing. Only Zuo Xingyu’s father Zuo Wanggong seemed unimpressed, though he offered no rebuttal.

Deep breaths. Don’t get angry. There’s nothing worth anger over you’re used to this. As Zuo Yang surveyed the room, she wondered: Had Song Haoyin ever endured this kind of treatment?

On the very night Zuo Wangxun was beaten, he rushed to the ancestral home to complain to the Zuo family patriarch. Patriarch Zuo Wangshao immediately recognized an opportunity this was the perfect chance to negotiate with the Zhou family. A Zhou branch family member daring to strike a Zuo elder? They must be relying on the Zhou family’s influence. But with negotiations ongoing, if the Zhou family wanted to avoid a major scandal, they’d have to make concessions.

Either in business or through marriage, the families needed to strengthen ties amicably.

Yet outright confrontation wouldn’t do either. After all, Song Haoyin might be easy to handle, but Zhou Qiwei still had considerable capability. A warning shot would suffice. Zuo Wangshao shot his brother a dissatisfied glance. If only Zuo Wangxun hadn’t gotten carried away and ruined his marriage with Song Yu, causing both daughters to disown him this matter would be much simpler now.

Whether Zhou Qiwei and Song Haoyin’s relationship was fleeting or long-term, why let Zuo Yang, a mere Beta, take the lead? An Alpha and Omega would be the ideal match, how perfect that would be.

In the old-fashioned hall, everyone harbored their own thoughts. Zuo Wangxun believed he’d once again contributed to the family’s prosperity. Though Zuo Yang was somewhat disobedient, when it came to an arranged marriage, she’d ultimately comply with the family’s wishes of this he was certain. Their branch had sacrificed enough for the family. With elder brother Zuo Wangshao childless, the future distribution of inheritance and company control.

Though nephew Zuo Xingyu was an Alpha, the boy was useless beyond his gender always bullying younger cousins since childhood and frequently being put in his place by his sister. At the corporation, everyone flattered him while he boasted endlessly with little real ability.

None could compare to Zuo Yang. Though young and a Beta, she was clever and hardworking. Thinking of his daughter’s merits, his anger at her defiance tonight lessened somewhat. But seeing Zuo Yang spaced out, Zuo Wangxun grew displeased again, scolding in a low voice: “Zuo Yang! The phone’s been ringing forever, what if you delay official business?”

Old Zuo might as well change his name to Jinx, Zuo Yang thought as she answered the reprimanding call. Watching the smug old men and young masters, she announced the latest development: “Song Haoyin’s studio has sued the most vocal and offensive entertainment media outlets. Also, their PR director has demanded we issue a clarification.”

“What?”

Zuo Xingyu, who’d never gotten along with his differently-surnamed cousin, was furious: “How dare she still act so high and mighty, demanding we clarify? We won’t! I refuse to believe the Zhou family would break relations with the Zuos over some branch family’s fling!”

Zuo Yang looked at him like he was an idiot: “Hear yourself? Zhou Qiwei may be from a Zhou branch family, but if she decides to ignore the Zhous, can you make them fight for you? Of course Song Haoyin acts high and mighty the license plates and faces of the stalkers who tailed her car were all caught on camera. They’re from our Dingyi Group. Do you want her to publicly expose that we sent people to stalk her?”

After listening to a night of self-righteous monologues and watching the colorful expressions around the room, Zuo Yang finally felt his anger subside. The elders always assumed things would unfold according to their expectations, while the younger generation acted as if they ruled the world recently, everyone in this family seemed to have lost their minds. But one thing became clear to Zuo Yang: Song Haoyin had never been mistreated in the Zuo family.

He even felt a twinge of envy.

“Oh, but we’re not done yet.”

Zuo Yang glanced at his phone and read the latest update aloud: “Breaking news just moments ago, Dr. Du Xin, Vice President of Rubik’s Industrial, was seen dining with Ms. Zhou Mu, CEO of Kyushu Enterprises. No private arrangements were made, so eyewitnesses report they appeared to be discussing the acquisition of Top Profit Distribution’s business.”

“And one more thing,” he added, suppressing a smirk as he watched his uncle’s face turn ashen before dropping today’s atomic bomb: “Song Haoyin’s studio has publicly announced that Ms. Song is demanding Mr. Zuo Wangxun to divide the shares of Top Profit Enterprises under his name.”

“On what grounds?!” Zuo Xingyu shouted, only to be silenced by a glare from his own father, Zuo Wanggong. The elder Zuo stared coldly at his foolish son and said, “Because those shares were gifted by your grandmother to your second uncle and his wife after their marriage. Now that Director Song has passed away, Haoyin is fully entitled to claim her mother’s portion of the inheritance.”

Top Profit was in deep trouble.

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