The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha - Chapter 12

[Thank You]

In the parking lot of the Los Angeles Art Museum, Zhou Qiwei was still lingering in her car when she suddenly received a text from Song Haoyin. The message was abrupt, simply saying “Thank you.” After a moment of thought, Zhou Qiwei realized it was likely in response to Song Haoyin visiting An Ge and hearing her mention the research institute’s project on pheromone biology.

[Peeking in |ω｀), it’s nothing.]

Song Haoyin couldn’t help but chuckle; the expression was quite cute. [I heard from An Ge that you’re going to the Los Angeles Art Museum for the exhibition. Is it the abstract art exhibition opening today?]

[Yeah, are you interested in it? Want to come along?]

[╥﹏╥, I have a new film preparation meeting in the afternoon and an interview program in the evening. What a pity]

[The exhibition lasts for two weeks. Let me know when you have time, and we can go after hours. Honestly, I don’t really understand abstract art; I just have to be there.]

[Sounds good, I’ll see when I can make time. Appreciating art also depends on emotions and fate; it doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t understand it; perhaps it just doesn’t resonate with you. If you’re willing, we can go together.]

[(^ム^), then it’s settled. Let me know when you confirm the time.]

[Okay, enjoy the exhibition.]

Those few lines of text lifted Zhou Qiwei’s bad mood. She left the place with a light step and arrived punctually at the opening ceremony.

Li You quietly approached Zhou Mu. Her beloved fiancée seemed distracted today, constantly glancing toward the entrance, not knowing who she was looking for. It was rare for Zhou Mu to be so absent-minded, raising suspicions.

“Could it be that one of your ex-girlfriends is coming?” Li You asked, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

Zhou Mu’s expression twisted, looking both surprised and amused. Just as she was about to speak, a commotion erupted at the entrance. The two fiancées turned to look, and a figure in a dark blue smoking jacket entered, the metallic sheen of the fabric and the tailored short coat accentuating a tall, attractive figure. The strikingly beautiful face made the person appear like the brightest star in the deep blue night sky.

“Why did your mother invite her?” In an instant, Li You’s expression darkened, and she lowered her voice to express her displeasure to her fiancée: “What’s the point of inviting someone like her? She can’t possibly be a relative of yours, right?”

Zhou Mu was baffled by her fiancée’s discontent but still tried to soothe her: “Youyou, can you tell my mom that Qiwei is here?” After saying that, she went to greet Zhou Qiwei, while Li You, filled with frustration, remained still, glaring at Zhou Qiwei with an increasingly grim expression.

Pulling Zhou Qiwei’s arm, Zhou Mu excitedly brought her in front of Li You: “Youyou, this is”

“President Zhou,” Li You said with a half smile, “I know President Zhou, but those in high positions tend to forget things. I wonder if President Zhou remembers me.”

What a sarcastic tone. Dressed in formal attire with her hair elegantly styled and gold-rimmed glasses, her serious expression and the way she tried to glare through her glasses exuded an oppressive aura, reminiscent of Zhou Zhao, the strict disciplinary director.

Zhou Qiwei wasn’t angry; there were plenty of neurotics in this world, and she couldn’t be bothered to retaliate. In this situation, it was Zhou Mu who should take responsibility. Zhou Qiwei gestured for her to clarify, while Zhou Mu looked at Li You with confusion, her eyes filled with questions: What’s going on?

“President Zhou has gained both fame and fortune over the years. Even if she harmed some Omega, it was unintentional, an accident. The law can’t hold you accountable, so of course, you can pretend nothing happened.” Watching her fiancée’s expression, Li You grew angrier. She stepped forward, closing in on Zhou Qiwei: “But don’t you think your hands are dirty? Or do you believe that what you’ve done will never be uncovered?”

“Four years ago, the harm you caused that Omega is something many people haven’t forgotten!”

“Youyou!”

Zhou Mu stepped forward and forcefully turned Li You’s body to silence her. She then instructed the expressionless Zhou Qiwei: “I’ll tell Mom you’re here; you go look at the paintings!” After saying that, she dragged Li You away despite her struggles.

Pulling Li You into the stairwell and locking the door, Zhou Mu finally let out a sigh of relief. Li You was a lawyer, and she realized halfway through that something was off. Thankfully, there weren’t many people around earlier, so no one heard their conversation.

“Maybe you have some misunderstanding with Qiwei. Although she has a bit of a temper and, well, she does have a thing for beautiful people, she wouldn’t intentionally harm anyone.”

Zhou Mu smiled apologetically, trying to cheer up her fiancée: “If she’s in the wrong, then I’ll apologize on her behalf, okay? Don’t be angry; today is about accompanying my mom, and it’s rare for Qiwei to come.”

This demeanor didn’t calm Li You; instead, it fueled her anger. Li You fired off like a machine gun: “You’re apologizing for her? What is she to you! If she really is your relative, I advise you to cut ties immediately and clean up your family’s reputation. If she’s not a legitimate relative, you should tell your mother that someone is impersonating a member of the Zhou family and acting recklessly, so she doesn’t tarnish the Zhou family’s name!”

Zhou Mu took a deep breath, looking at the furious Li You, and after much hesitation, finally told her: “I, we can’t cut ties with Qiwei. Youyou, Zhou Qiwei is my sister.”

Li You was momentarily stunned by this revelation, and after a while, she asked, “You have an illegitimate daughter in your family?”

Zhou Mu felt a pang of sadness, but more than that, she felt helpless: “No, she’s my biological sister, from the same mother. She’s the youngest child of my two mothers.”

“Then why don’t you take care of her? Just let her run wild outside?” Li You’s tone grew weaker, and she finally said, “No wonder she can get away with it; it all makes sense.”

“Family matters are a bit complicated; it’s not something I can explain in a moment. But,” Zhou Mu supported Li You, her tone serious, “I, our family doesn’t know what you’re talking about. If it doesn’t violate your professional ethics, can you tell me?”

Li You looked at her fiancée’s gloomy face, her tone a bit timid: “Just don’t argue with her in front of your mother. You don’t know the whole story; don’t let this upset your mother.”

“I won’t.” Zhou Mu’s expression was neutral; of course, she wouldn’t argue with Zhou Qiwei in front of their mother because if she didn’t bring her, she would never take the initiative to see her mother. Li You didn’t dare to speak further; Zhou Mu usually smiled and rarely wore a cold expression. She also noticed that when Zhou Qiwei had that cold demeanor earlier, it felt just like Zhou Mu.

Zhou Qiwei wandered aimlessly in the exhibition hall, her mood deteriorating. She decided to greet Zhou Mu and then leave. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Zhou Mu standing a few steps away with a stiff expression, signaling her to follow her to a nearby empty exhibition room. Zhou Qiwei understood and took the initiative to speak, jokingly asking, “Did your fiancée tell you? Oh, I’m going to file a complaint against her with the bar association.”

“Don’t be a jerk.” Zhou Mu’s tone was pained, her face even more so: “Why have you become like this?”

“What do you think I should be like?”

Zhou Qiwei looked at Zhou Mu with a smile in her eyes, seemingly enjoying her sister’s distress: “What did she say to you? That I maliciously harmed an Omega, mutilated him, beat him into a cripple, or that I threw him off a building, ultimately forcing a weak, pitiful, innocent, and impoverished Omega college student to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and the malicious injury case was resolved peacefully? Yes, all of it is true.”

“I’m an Omega too; how can you say such things so flippantly?” Zhou Mu couldn’t take it anymore; she couldn’t accept that a suspect in a malicious Omega injury case was her own sister. She looked at Zhou Qiwei with suspicion: “Is it because of me? Or because of our eldest sister, or our mother? Do you hate us, so you want to take revenge on Omegas?”

The smile vanished from Zhou Qiwei’s face as she stood still, watching her second sister pace like a trapped beast, on the verge of tears.

Zhou Mu’s emotions were nearing a breakdown, and Zhou Qiwei’s attitude confirmed that thought. She covered her eyes, her voice choked: “So most of your targets are Omegas, many from the entertainment industry, because those people can be silenced with money. There’s no benefit in exposing them.”

“Wow.” Zhou Qiwei politely applauded her, expressing surprise: “You actually know so much about my ‘hunting’ targets. Please tell me, how much does it cost to investigate me each year?”

Li You stood at the entrance of the opening ceremony banquet, the guests were already seated, and she hesitated whether to go in. Although Zhou Mu told her not to mention this to her mother, Li You was worried about her fiancée being at a disadvantage; after all, A Mu was an Omega, while that Zhou Qiwei was an Alpha.

“Youyou, what are you doing standing here? Why isn’t Mu Mu with you?” The elegant and poised lady was informed that her daughter’s fiancée had arrived, and her smiling expression turned to one of surprise upon seeing her: “You look unwell. Are you feeling sick, or is Mu Mu upset with you? Call her over; how is she bullying you?”

“No, no.” Li You quickly denied it. Speaking to this consistently tolerant elder, she still told the truth: “Aunt Zhou, A Mu, she’s with Zhou Qiwei. They had some unpleasantness.”

To Li You’s surprise, Zhou Qing’s expression changed drastically. She only asked where her two daughters were before hurriedly leaving, not even having time to ask someone to greet the guests. Watching Zhou Qing’s retreating figure, Li You suddenly thought that if looks were to be compared, Zhou Qiwei actually resembled their mother more than Zhou Mu and Zhou Zhao.

How strange, clearly three sisters, the eldest Zhou Zhao was particularly cautious and steady due to her profession, while her fiancée Mu Mu was practical and capable. Speaking of careers, that Zhou Qiwei was no ordinary person, yet their character and nature differed too much.

Li You would never forget that four years ago, when she was providing legal aid to Omegas, her first case was that malicious injury case involving an Omega. The case files described a scene drenched in blood, a male Omega on the brink of death, thrown from a building, discovered by hotel staff who called the police. In the suite’s bathroom, there was also a female Omega who had entered a sensitive period but received no treatment, nearly losing her life.

And the perpetrator, Miss Zhou Qiwei, was found lying in bed in a room filled with Omega pheromones, sound asleep. Even when the police arrived and woke her, her first concern wasn’t for the two Omegas but rather her own hand, worried it might be fractured from the altercation.

Later, the Omega Protection Association that rushed to the hospital demanded an apology from Zhou Qiwei for her violent actions, only for Zhou Qiwei to question the association, asking if it was meant to protect poultry.

The male Omega, having worked as an escort, feared the legal and public backlash, likely feeling immense pressure, ultimately chose not to sue Zhou Qiwei, agreeing to a non-disclosure agreement to close the case.

It was absurd; could it be that a moment of misstep turned an Omega into someone who could be freely insulted, stripped of legal rights?

Was that scum truly a child of the Zhou family?

Zhou Mu remained silent, suppressing her sobs, unable to answer questions about the investigation, leading to a prolonged silence.

“Fine, if you won’t answer, I can tell you that I didn’t just maliciously harm an Omega; I also maliciously imprisoned an Omega, just to see her locked up and begging for pheromones. So now what do you want to do? Lift the non-disclosure agreement and send me to prison?”

“Who are you sending to prison!”

Recently, for some reason, no one knocked before entering. Zhou Qiwei thought about this and suddenly remembered the last time she slapped Zuo Wangxun, she also barged in without knocking; it was all the same kind of person. The person entering was Zhou Qing, and Zhou Qiwei instinctively took a step back, while Zhou Mu was still crying,she was actually crying.

Zhou Qiwei forced a greeting: “Good evening, Mrs. Zhou. The opening ceremony went well, and the exhibition is nice. Unfortunately, I don’t have much of an artistic sensibility, so I’ll be leaving.”

Seeing her long-lost youngest daughter, Zhou Qing stood at the door, unwilling to budge, scrutinizing Zhou Qiwei. Zhou Qiwei hated being stared at like that but couldn’t push her away; the two stood at the door in a standoff.

Tonight’s good mood was utterly destroyed. Zhou Qiwei took a deep breath, suppressing her crumbling emotions, and asked, “Is there something you want to say? If not, can I leave?”

The mother and daughter, sharing similar features, were in starkly different emotional states. Zhou Qing had never been able to handle this youngest daughter, so she turned to her second daughter: “Zhou Mu, you tell me, what happened? Why did you mention going to prison?” Zhou Mu was still crying; Zhou Qing had never seen her this upset, and her brow furrowed slightly as she couldn’t help but look at her with concern.

What a gaze filled with maternal love and care. Zhou Qiwei observed coldly, stepping aside from Zhou Qing. Their eyes met, and Zhou Qiwei avoided Zhou Qing’s gaze, raising her chin toward Zhou Mu: “I said her fiancée is just like Zhou Zhao; it’s a wonder she could say such things and make her cry.”

“You child.”

“No, cough, cough”

Zhou Mu wanted to deny it but ended up coughing from crying. Zhou Qing walked over worriedly, wrapping her arms around her daughter’s shoulders, softly soothing her emotions. By the time Zhou Mu calmed down, there was no one else in the room.

The coat rolled on the beach.

Zhou Qiwei finally realized that her coat had long been thrown away. She thought she was holding it, but in reality, she had been clenching her fists, her palms damp. The July sea breeze wasn’t cold; she walked far along the beach in just her shirt.

The ocean, merging with the night sky, and the silent beach belonged to her alone at this moment.

Leaving the art museum, Zhou Qiwei drove aimlessly through Los Angeles. She didn’t want to go to the research institute or return home, eventually driving to the seaside. That lawyer Li said many people still remembered what happened four years ago, and of course, Zhou Qiwei herself could never forget.

Zhou Qiwei wrapped her arms around herself, trying to warm up. She knew very well that it wasn’t the weather that was cold, but rather her physiological aversion. Mentioning the events of four years ago brought her back to that dreadful afternoon.

At that time, she had just finished her service and returned to school. It was also then that she, along with Du Xin and Xuan Tinglu, started a business and met many investors. That day, Du Xin went to handle banking affairs, and Xuan Tinglu was in the lab focusing on data reports, leaving Zhou Qiwei to attend an investment cocktail party alone.

What exactly went wrong at that cocktail party, Zhou Qiwei’s pheromone disorder suddenly flared up. She wanted to leave but was clumsily led to a hotel suite. The male Omega who assaulted her was a high-end escort, essentially a gigolo, who had only recently entered the scene and was brought to the cocktail party by a client.

That fool thought everyone at the cocktail party must be wealthy, so he set his sights on Zhou Qiwei. A young, rich, seemingly naïve female Alpha still in school, what a perfect target. Coincidentally, this female Alpha seemed to be in a sensitive period that day, a golden opportunity.

The female Omega locked in the bathroom by Zhou Qiwei happened to burst in just as Zhou Qiwei was about to be lured into a double deep marking.

In short, the female Omega interrupted that fool’s criminal act.

The high concentration of synthetic pheromones in the room dissipated, and Zhou Qiwei regained some clarity, flipping the male Omega who had been inching toward her glands onto the floor. At that moment, she had already lost control of her emotions, and what followed was the black and white account in the case files: the male Omega was brutally beaten by a recently discharged naval officer, nearly losing his life.

Meanwhile, the other victim, the female Omega, was locked in the bathroom by Zhou Qiwei, who was worried about marking her. As for what happened next, Zhou Qiwei couldn’t remember clearly; she woke up to find the police had arrived, and then she requested to go to the hospital, but inhaling synthetic pheromones didn’t prevent her from becoming a suspect.

Fortunately, the female Omega was willing to testify for Zhou Qiwei, and Du Xin rushed to the hospital with a lawyer, allowing Zhou Qiwei to avoid prison time. As for the male Omega, that fool seemed to regain consciousness after being beaten into a pulp, claiming to the Omega Protection Association and legal aid that he had no knowledge of what happened and that he was also a victim, not knowing who had released the synthetic pheromones in the room.

Due to the lack of evidence showing he had purchased a large quantity of synthetic pheromones, and the surveillance only captured him supporting Zhou Qiwei, more importantly, neither Zhou Qiwei nor the female Omega wanted to expose the incident. After discussing with Du Xin, Zhou Qiwei chose to settle the matter with a non-disclosure agreement.

As for the male Omega, the Omega Protection Association and Omega-specific legal aid provided him with comprehensive assistance and protection, adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence, and after “suffering at the hands of a scummy Alpha,” he was merely warned not to go down the wrong path and not to associate with bad company before being released.

Considering that the “scummy Alpha” was quite wealthy, it seemed the Omega Protection Association even helped him hide his identity. The female Omega, who was also a victim, had no objections, so what could Zhou Qiwei say? After all, she had never been lucky and could only chalk it up to her bad fortune.

After that, Zhou Qiwei underwent a lengthy rehabilitation process, and her pheromone disorder worsened. Du Xin no longer dared to let her attend cocktail parties alone. Thinking back, attending the cultural industry promotion cocktail party at the Caesar Hotel was one of the few times Zhou Qiwei acted like a lone wolf in recent years.

Luck is truly unpredictable; when one is down on their luck, they encounter scum, but when fortunate, they meet a lifesaver.

Zhou Qiwei’s phone, left in the car, received an email from Song Haoyin:

[The evening interview program has been canceled. Want to go see the exhibition?]

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