The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha - Chapter 11

Zhou Qiwei’s rut period ended in just three and a half days, accompanied only by “mild” irritability, anger, and anxiety. Compared to the blood-soaked, unbearable ruts of past years, this one was practically smooth sailing a cause for celebration.

This alone was enough for Zhou Qiwei to build a shrine in honor of Miss Song Haoyin and her pheromones, complete with three daily incense offerings, never missing a day.

Of course, building a shrine might be a bit too avant-garde Miss Song probably wouldn’t approve.

So instead, Song Haoyin noticed that Zhou Qiwei had become even more attentive to her affairs. The day after the rut ended, Zhou Qiwei gathered a legal team to discuss how to pressure the Zuo family through legal channels.

“In my mother’s will, the disposal of her assets only mentioned her shares in the studio, her savings, properties, and collections. As for the shares she jointly held with Zuo Wangxun, it seems they weren’t addressed”

In the studio, Song Haoyin pondered the will’s contents before confirming, “They really weren’t mentioned. So, will this approach work? There’s no explicit will regarding them.”

The lawyers were frank: “The law recognizes that children have rights to their deceased parent’s jointly held assets and allows them to demand division or inheritance. This law is also valid in Luocheng. If we file a lawsuit on your behalf, even if we succeed, it will take considerable time especially since this involves shares in a publicly traded company.”

Song Haoyin still had doubts, but Zhou Qiwei patiently explained: “They’re in negotiations with Jiuzhou. Any rational person knows that maintaining corporate stability is crucial during such a process. So, they’ll quickly propose terms to settle with you. This is just a common legal tactic.”

“The real question is, what do you want to achieve? Do you want your mother’s frozen assets distributed, or is there something else?”

“What does she actually want?”

In the conference room of Dingyi Group, all relevant parties had gathered. Zuo Wangxun was still putting on an act, playing the innocent, grieving father.

The display was nauseating, Zuo Yang thought to herself. Meanwhile, her third uncle had already spoken up with undisguised disdain: “Second Brother, don’t pretend you don’t know what Haoyin wants. The moment Song Yu died, you withheld the legal documents for the Luocheng Film Festival and froze her assets. Don’t even pretend you didn’t know about the smear campaign against Haoyin recently. Even if the child doesn’t bear the Zuo name, she still carries half of the Zuo family’s blood. Was this really necessary?”

Zuo Xingyu wanted to say something, but a glare from his father and the sight of his uncle’s darkened expression kept him silent.

Zuo Wanggong was an expert in cultural studies and a part time film critic who had always respected his sister in law Song Yu and held both nieces in high regard. After Song Yu’s death, he had been abroad and unable to intervene in the disputes between the Zuo and Song families. Later, he simply hadn’t found the right opportunity.

More importantly, Song Haoyin had been too well-protected by her mother. Faced with the Zuo family’s influence, she had only her hollow defiance to endure the attacks. Zuo Wanggong even thought that if Song Haoyin chose to quietly retire and take Ango abroad, it might not be such a bad outcome.

This kind of countermeasure clearly wasn’t Song Haoyin’s own idea it was likely orchestrated by that CEO Zhou. How ruthless. By having Cube and Jiuzhou interact, leaking information about negotiations concerning Top Profit’s distribution business, and then having Song Haoyin make demands for Top Profit’s shares, including those jointly held by Zuo Wangxun with voting rights.

The Zuo family had been able to suppress Song Haoyin by exploiting her reluctance to let news of the marital discord between Song Yu and Zuo Wangxun spread. Song Haoyin didn’t want her mother, even after death, to be the subject of gossip due to Zuo Wangxun’s scandals, with people endlessly speculating, “How did the model couple come to this? Could Song Yu also have a hidden side?”

Now that Song Haoyin had made it clear she no longer cared about scandals and had powerful external support, Zuo Wanggong decided to add fuel to the fire. After all, he’d had enough of his second brother and his foolish son.

“Uncle, will Granduncle agree to their demands?” Zuo Yang asked curiously during a meeting break, standing outside the conference room. In her eyes, Granduncle Zuo Wangshao was an extremely stubborn man, but her uncle seemed to have a different opinion. Zuo Wanggong smiled and nodded. “He will agree. No matter how much your granduncle favors Alphas or how biased he is, at the end of the day, he’s a businessman.”

Top Profit had only risen to prominence over two generations. That it could develop to its current scale in such a short time was partly due to its undeniable commercial credibility. But more importantly, the Zuo family excelled at being opportunistic fence-sitters, even to the point of swallowing insults, Zuo Wanggong included. Seeing that they couldn’t suppress Song Haoyin and that it would harm the company’s interests, Top Profit’s leadership wouldn’t persist in their mistakes.

If they couldn’t win the fight, then harmony would bring prosperity,that was the essence of a true businessman.

Someone pushed the door open it was Zuo Wangxun. Glaring at his Beta daughter and Omega brother, he tersely informed them that the company had decided to accept Song Haoyin’s conditions in exchange for her dropping her claims on the shares.

For the first time in half a year, Song Haoyin returned to what was once her “home.” After her mother’s death, Zuo Wangxun had swiftly taken control of the house, leaving Song Haoyin unable to take anything with her.

This time, she wasn’t alone. Initially, she had planned to come by herself, but Zhou Qiwei insisted it wasn’t safe, and in the end, Song Haoyin heeded her advice. She knew full well that the Zuo family had conceded not because of any legal measures she had taken, but because Zhou Qiwei stood behind her.

Fearing collateral damage, the Zuo family had hesitated, worried that Zhou Qiwei might truly go berserk and tear into Top Profit. Zhou Qiwei had even joked self-deprecatingly that this was probably one advantage of being a madwoman.

Zuo Wangxun wasn’t present. The person sent to handle the handover with Song Haoyin was Zuo Wangshao’s assistant, who, perhaps under instructions, was courteous and assured her she could take whatever she wanted as long as it adhered to their agreement.

Sensing Song Haoyin’s desire for solitude, Zhou Qiwei didn’t follow her upstairs. Instead, she wandered around downstairs, keeping an eye on the Zuo family’s assistant to ensure he didn’t interfere with Song Haoyin’s affairs.

The house seemed uninhabited since the lady of the house had passed away, yet traces of family life remained. From the decorations in the entryway to the paintings and photographs on the walls, everything mirrored the arrangements in Song Haoyin’s own home.

The photo wall displayed images of a young Song Haoyin holding her baby sister, her crying at the school gate with a small backpack, and her first award winning moment. That particular photo was quite famous, often featured in introductions about Song Haoyin’s family: Haoyin holding a trophy while embracing her sister Song Ange, Zuo Wangxun smiling as he aimed his camera at his daughters, while director Song Yu captured the scene of her children and husband in the background.

What a blissful family they once were. Zhou Qiwei sighed for them, why must such beautiful things be destroyed? Those who had never experienced such happiness could only feel envy, anger, and icy hatred.

“Let’s go.”

Song Haoyin descended the stairs carrying only a suitcase and a briefcase, having taken down all the photos from the house. Though Zhou Qiwei didn’t understand, she refrained from commenting in front of the assistant, simply helping Haoyin load the luggage into the car.

Before leaving, Haoyin gazed at the house as Zhou Qiwei quietly suggested, “You could reclaim this property. Or at least take all your belongings we could hire movers.”

Haoyin refused. Zhou Qiwei couldn’t comprehend why someone would abandon what they cherished.

“This wasn’t just my home. It was Ange’s home, Zuo Wangxun’s home, and my mother’s home.” Haoyin’s smile was complex. Only much later would Zhou Qiwei understand her unspoken meaning.

Haoyin’s studio gradually resumed normal operations, with her shelved new film entering standard distribution channels. The industry recognized that her streak of bad luck had ended. In this silent war, she had ultimately repelled the Top Benefit Group the Song family still had resources after all, not to mention external support.

These were the public narratives. Behind the scenes, less savory comments circulated: “An Omega like Song the Movie Queen could make any Alpha bend the knee no wonder she resolved things standing tall,” accompanied by snickers. But such whispers remained just that no one dared say them to Haoyin’s face.

Zhou Qiwei’s life continued as usual, with one exception: following medical advice, she now met weekly with Song Haoyin.

“To cure pheromone imbalance, we must ensure adequate pheromone absorption and neutralization time. No matter how busy you are, medical protocol requires at least weekly meetings with your pheromone provider.”

Truthfully, Zhou Qiwei didn’t mind more frequent meetings, but Miss Song was now busier than her. Their last encounter in a production van revealed dark circles under Haoyin’s eyes deep enough to rival a panda’s.

Though tempted to advise moderation, Zhou Qiwei knew better than to challenge Haoyin’s work ethic. As long as her pheromone needs were met Yet somehow her feet carried her uncooperatively to St. Karl Hospital just for a checkup, mind you.

And while there, she might as well visit Song Ange on Haoyin’s behalf, bringing the latest journals on pheromone biology research. Perhaps inquire whether Ange planned to join the Rubik’s Institute’s targeted treatment program for pheromone disorders.

This project was originally Zhou Qiwei’s personal life-saving initiative, but now it seems she no longer needs it. Opening it up for volunteer recruitment to expand research subjects and accumulate data isn’t a bad idea. Moreover, the project contains many cutting-edge experimental drugs, allowing Song Ange to access the most advanced treatments anytime.

While Zhou Qiwei found her match in Song Haoyin, Song Ange still hasn’t located a compatible pheromone match. She can only rely on artificial pheromones to stabilize her condition, with limited effectiveness. To this day, she hasn’t been able to leave the hospital and return to school.

“Sister Qiwei, I’ve made up my mind, I want to join that project.” Song Ange’s pale face showed no trace of a smile as she spoke rapidly: “I want to cure myself and stop being a burden to my sister. She never talks about her own affairs, but I go online too, I ” She hesitated before finally asking:

“What exactly is your relationship with my sister?”

Zhou Qiwei froze mid response when the phone rang that distinctive notification tone signaling another text: You must attend tonight’s opening at Luocheng Art Museum. Mother insists.

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