The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha - Chapter 22

[“Fire Fuse” Extended Theatrical Run; Suspense Crime Thriller Defies Expectations with Staggering Box Office]

[“Fire Fuse” Cumulative Box Office Reaches 349 Million; Projected to Break 400 Million in Final Week]

“Song Haoyin’s produced ‘Fire Fuse’ will never hit 400 million. I’ve seen it the pacing drags, editing’s chaotic, acting’s subpar, and the direction is a complete mess.”

“Nonsense! Clearly a smear campaign. ticket stub photo I’ve watched it twice the storytelling is remarkably cohesive. While not groundbreaking, the production team, director, and actors all delivered exceptional work. Within the suspense crime genre, I’d rate it 70-75 out of 100.”

The official box office reports and media commentary sections showed divided opinions about the film, yet negative reviews failed to gain traction.

“Your new PR person is quite effective.” Yuan Zhi scrolled through film reviews on her phone, grinning at compliments while downvoting criticisms about her directorial skills.

Song Haoyin was analyzing box office projections without looking up, casually responding: “Zhou Qiwei poached Xu Su for us.”

“Ohhh~ Qiwei~” Yuan Zhi floated over in an annoyingly singsong voice, leaning on the desk with exaggerated affection. “Qiwei~ poached Xu Su~”

“Yuanbao, someday that mouth of yours will get you punched.”

Helpless, Song Haoyin employed Zhou Qiwei’s tactic using Yuan Zhi’s childhood nickname. It worked instantly, sending Yuan Zhi scrambling three meters away. “Fine, I’ll stop. So… when are we planning the victory party? Any venue ideas?”

“Caesar or Caprius.”

“We’ve been to both so many times…” Yuan Zhi racked her brains before proposing: “How about I pick somewhere fun? A cruise ship or private island?”

“No.”

Closing the projection charts, Song Haoyin patiently explained to the confused director: “I never expected ‘Fire Fuse’ to perform this well. You’re a key contributor, as are the cast and crew. This film’s release was hard-won—the celebration shouldn’t just be about fun. We need a prestigious venue that reflects our efforts and achievements, a victory party that commands universal recognition.”

“More importantly, we need to show the industry we’ve turned the tide that we’re not to be trifled with.”

After thoughtful consideration, the quick-witted Yuan Zhi grasped the significance. Yet her gaze lingered on Song Haoyin, the woman behind the desk radiated gentle but unshakable authority. “You’d never have considered these things before,” Yuan Zhi murmured.

“Someone used to handle them for me.”

Song Haoyin’s eyes glistened as she wiped them, smiling at Yuan Zhi. “Now we have to think ahead and take charge ourselves.”

She’s changed so much, Yuan Zhi reflected. The Song Haoyin she’d first known shared her own temperament outwardly humble yet fundamentally proud. Just as Yuan Zhi proclaimed herself a purist director, Song Haoyin had aspired to be a pure actor.

The current Song Haoyin was clearly someone who pondered many things and handled numerous matters. She could never go back to being just a pure actress no, it would be more accurate to say that the old Song Haoyin had been floating in the clouds, while now she had finally landed on solid ground. Yuan Zhi had a premonition that Song Haoyin’s acting would reach new heights. The emotions she now understood and the complex feelings she could express had grown exponentially.

And what about herself? Yuan Zhi wondered, would she too have a day when she came back down to earth?

“Song Haoyin, there’s something I need to confess to you. If after hearing it you don’t want to be friends anymore, you can just tell me straight.”

“Yuan Zhi said it was you who persuaded her to come clean with me.”

Since their parting outside the private kitchen last time, Zhou Qiwei and Song Haoyin hadn’t seen each other at all throughout September. Unlike Song Haoyin, who frequently appeared in the news during her movie promotion period, Zhou Qiwei had practically vanished without a trace. If not for the occasional phone call or text message, and Ango mentioning that Zhou Qiwei sometimes showed up at the research institute, Song Haoyin might have thought she had evaporated into thin air.

Now that the movie was nearing the end of its theatrical run and the promotional period was mostly over, Song Haoyin took the initiative to invite Zhou Qiwei out for a meal, wanting to thank her for salvaging her friendship.

Rarely did Song Haoyin extend an invitation, so Zhou Qiwei had guessed the reason, but she still couldn’t help voicing her dissatisfaction: “I knew it was because of her. Otherwise, you’d never have asked me out on your own.”

“Should I leave then?”

See, this perfectly decent person just had to have a mouth. Song Haoyin had by now figured out how to handle Zhou Qiwei. She picked up her bag and made as if to leave just as she expected, Zhou Qiwei jumped up to stop her. During her spare moments lately, Song Haoyin had tried analyzing Zhou Qiwei the same way she analyzed her roles. Her conclusion? Sometimes, this woman couldn’t control her words because she was testing Song Haoyin’s attitude toward her.

To be more precise, she wanted to confirm the extent of Song Haoyin’s patience and tolerance toward her. She needed that reassurance.

Song Haoyin decided to test her theory. When Zhou Qiwei stopped her, she didn’t insist on leaving but sat back down and bluntly remarked, “Don’t worry, for the sake of our collaboration, I won’t get mad at you.”

“…”

Sure enough, Zhou Qiwei started deflecting and agreeing with everything Song Haoyin said, her attitude so ingratiating it was almost unbearable. But this behavior seemed more like a small animal afraid of being abandoned. Song Haoyin couldn’t help but wonder, how had Zhou Qiwei ever made friends acting like this?

Not one to toy with others’ emotions, Song Haoyin quickly ended her little experiment. When Zhou Qiwei ran out of things to say and looked lost, Song Haoyin told her that everything she’d said earlier was just out of frustration.

Zhou Qiwei didn’t look happy or unhappy she just realized something was off about her own emotions. She shouldn’t feel this way. What Song Haoyin said was her own prerogative, so why did she feel so dejected? So upset?

This wasn’t logical!

She still seemed unhappy, which made Song Haoyin uneasy. Had she gone too far? Now it was her turn to rack her brain for conversation topics. Thankfully, the TV in the private room was broadcasting news: “Ms. Elden has issued a public statement that she will not stop acquiring shares in Top Advantage Group. She remains highly optimistic about the company’s future prospects.”

“I don’t really understand these things. Could you explain Ms. Elden’s strategy to me?”

Those expressive eyes that could convey so many emotions held only her in their gaze. The beauty rested her chin in her hand, her gaze like rippling water reflecting in Zhou Qiwei’s heart. Zhou Qiwei didn’t know how others would react, but she quickly found herself disarmed, abandoning all principles as she began revealing Lady Leliana Elden’s secrets to Song Haoyin.

Achoo!

Leliana sneezed, and immediately a female Alpha appeared by her side, draping a blanket over her shoulders before asking with concern, “Dingyi has sent people to discuss the share buyback for the third time. When do we proceed to the next step?”

“Soon,” Leliana gently caressed the female Alpha’s face. “Then we can leave this place and return to our home.”

“Xu Bai, aren’t you happy?”

Ji Xubai allowed Leliana to stroke her face, her eyes unfocused and dazed for a long moment before finally responding, “I’m very happy.”

“So now Dingyi wants to buy back the shares from Elden, but she refuses to sell?”

Zhou Qiwei explained carefully, and though Song Haoyin understood, she still didn’t grasp why: “But according to what you said, Elden won’t stay in Luocheng for long. Why wouldn’t she sell the shares? Logically, Dingyi’s current offer must be slightly above market price.”

“Maybe she has other plans?”

Zhou Qiwei, who had been speaking enthusiastically earlier, now tried to gloss over the question. But Song Haoyin glanced at the TV, then her phone, before fixing her gaze on Zhou Qiwei: “Isn’t it because she’s here to avenge you? I had no idea you’d been with her all this month while remaining silent. Online rumors say Leliana and you were bathing in love at the Voled Naturist Resort”

“Nonsense!” Zhou Qiwei was so furious she nearly saw stars. She snatched Song Haoyin’s phone: “Who’s spreading these lies about me?”

Social media was openly speculating, attributing Elden’s stock market actions against Dingyi to Zhou Qiwei. If she weren’t the subject, Zhou Qiwei wouldn’t mind treating these wild claims as gossip. But lines like “President Zhou is deeply in love with Lady Elden, following her beloved to Voled ” were beyond ridiculous.

What kind of nonsense was this!

“Listen to me, this is absolutely, undeniably malicious slander!”

Song Haoyin’s expression was indescribable. Zhou Qiwei wanted to swear everything above was false, but she found herself at a loss for words. There were too many rumors about her denials hardly seemed credible.

For the first time in her life, Zhou Qiwei felt a twinge of regret for her past recklessness. She shouldn’t have prioritized amusement over facts, allowing others to spin tales about her.

But why was she thinking this way?

What was wrong with being a free spirit?

What was wrong with seeking happiness? Why did Song Haoyin’s displeasure make her want to explain herself, to avoid misunderstandings? The Zhou family had plenty of misunderstandings with her blood ties couldn’t prevent estrangement

They hadn’t seen each other for a month. After being overwhelmed by pheromones in Voled and then irritated by the mixed scents on Li Nian, Zhou Qiwei had avoided absorbing any pheromones this entire month. So when she rediscovered her rational, scientific side and examined her emotions objectively, she realized her feelings for Song Haoyin were independent of or unaffected by pheromones.

What attracted her and stirred her emotions was Song Haoyin herself.

This was truly unscientific the thought that instantly flashed through Zhou Qiwei’s mind. It didn’t align with her behavioral patterns at all. Zhou Qiwei knew herself well: when she said she would do something, she would follow through without fail; if she promised not to do something, she absolutely wouldn’t.

What she had originally sought from Song Haoyin was pheromones a way to keep their relationship in a stable state. But now, what she wanted from Song Haoyin was no longer just pheromones. This would inevitably disrupt their dynamic because Zhou Qiwei was acutely aware that she could only offer material support to Song Haoyin. She didn’t believe she was capable of fulfilling the emotional reciprocity required in an intimate relationship.

Though public opinion painted Zhou Qiwei as a seasoned player in the game of romance, a pioneer in affairs of the heart, the truth was that Zhou had never seriously been in a relationship. The closest she had ever come was during her first year of university, but just as the other person confessed their feelings, Du Ning had interfered.

Zhou Qiwei no longer remembered that person, only the label of “the first to confess to me.” Yet she harbored deep resentment toward Du Ning’s actions: because Madam Zhou deemed that person unsuitable for any romantic involvement with her youngest daughter, Madam Du had abused her authority to send them abroad as an exchange student. From start to finish, Zhou Qiwei’s own wishes had been completely disregarded.

However, both of them paid a heavy price for it. Zhou Qiwei was sick of them watching over her, controlling her life. In a fit of rage, the young Zhou returned home, dug out two large cans of gasoline from the garage, and drenched Du Ning’s study with it.

“If this happens again, I’ll burn this place to the ground!”

Fearing retaliation from the old bureaucrat and the domineering CEO of the Zhou family, Zhou Qiwei, after dousing the room in gasoline and having a fierce argument with Du Ning and Zhou Qing, immediately signed up for the reserve Alpha officer exams. To ensure the Zhou family couldn’t meddle further, she deliberately avoided their traditional stronghold the air force and joined the navy instead.

She would rather spend eighteen months at sea, vomiting eight times a day, than yield to anyone who tried to interfere with her life under any pretext.

As fate would have it, in the thirteenth month of her service as a military police lieutenant aboard a submarine, Zhou Qiwei’s vessel came under attack. She nearly ended up as canned human meat inside. At the time, her emergency contact was Du Xin, who rushed to the medical ship upon receiving the news and deliberately concealed the fact that Zhou Qiwei was experiencing pheromone dysregulation.

By the time Zhou Qing and Du Ning were informed and finally saw Zhou Qiwei, she had already been transferred back to land and had made a pact with Du Xin: under no circumstances should a third person learn about her pheromone instability. Zhou Qiwei later heard that Zhou Qing had wept outside the ICU for a long time perhaps a sudden burst of maternal love?

After the near-fatal incident, the two of them seemed to raise a white flag, swearing they would never again overstep Zhou Qiwei’s boundaries or dictate her private life.

Zhou Qiwei was well aware that her personality had an extreme edge. In a positive light, one could call her tenacious and unwavering, willing to go to any lengths to achieve her goals. But the downsides of such a temperament were equally glaring: she was stubborn, domineering, and disliked communication beyond the bare minimum exchange of necessary information.

Xuan Tinglu had trusted her so much, willing to assist her when the concept of artificial pheromones was first proposed. Later, through her mother General Xuan’s connections, she helped recommend artificial pheromones as military supplies, securing the first major order for Rubik’s Cube.

Yet Zhou Qiwei had never considered telling Tinglu about her pheromone disorder. Having missed that opportunity, she felt there was no need to bring it up specifically. While she advised Yuan Zhi to be honest with Song Haoyin, she knew keeping secrets from her best friend wasn’t right yet she lacked the motivation to correct it.

She knew Tinglu trusted her and had an open, outgoing personality. Even if Tinglu eventually discovered she’d been kept in the dark for years, Zhou Qiwei believed a few excuses and playing the victim would ensure Tinglu wouldn’t hold it against her.

If this was how she treated friends, how long could her growing dependence on Song Haoyin, and Haoyin’s increasing pull on her possibly last?

Zhou Qiwei had no confidence in herself.

“Zhou?”

Song Haoyin was beginning to regret her outburst. Seeing those baseless comments had made her lash out at Zhou Qiwei in anger. In truth, Zhou’s scent was clean, she could tell there wasn’t the slightest trace of residual pheromones, just the crisp aroma of aged liquor, like the moment a cognac cask is first opened.

But Zhou Qiwei had remained silent for too long, staring blankly at the floor. When Haoyin tried to speak, Zhou simply handed back her phone. With a strained smile, Zhou claimed she had matters to attend to and needed to leave.

Haoyin didn’t stop her. The silence between them was different from their usual unspoken understanding, this silence felt ominous. Haoyin sensed Zhou was making some decision, though she couldn’t guess what.

“I’ll go first,” Haoyin forced a smile. “Better not get caught by the paparazzi outside.”

This celebrity-frequented restaurant was a favorite stakeout for entertainment reporters, always lurking outside.

Zhou’s continued silence made Haoyin’s heart sink. The usual Zhou Qiwei would have insisted on leaving first to draw the reporters’ attention, allowing Haoyin to slip away unnoticed.

After Haoyin left, Zhou sat alone in the private room before slowly rising to leave. She felt certain their relationship was doomed. Haoyin had humored her, but that tolerance was clearly tied to material support. Judged purely as a person, Zhou doubted Haoyin had any real interest in her.

No sooner had Zhou stepped out of the room than she heard an obnoxiously familiar voice from below: “Well, well, Miss Song in tears? What’s wrong thought one successful movie meant you’d won? Who knows if that Zhou Qiwei even bought your box office numbers. Seems you sold yourself at quite the premium not every Omega can fetch hundreds of millions!”

“Exactly! Truly a gilded Best Actress, our Miss Song!”

Peals of laughter followed. Zhou’s temple throbbed with rage she recognized one speaker as Qu Yuanzhi’s worthless half-brother Wei Yu. That bastard never learned his lesson!

How dare these worthless scum insult someone I’ve handled with such care and caution? I’ll be damned if I let this stand!

Though Song Haoyin was in a bad mood, she wasn’t so upset as to cry, her reddened eyes were from the overwhelming stench emanating from this group. God only knew what Zuo Xingyu and his band of good-for-nothing friends had been up to. Barely suppressing her irritation and the urge to vomit from the stench, she was just about to speak when footsteps approached from behind.

A more familiar voice laughed loudly, “Young Master Wei, don’t you dare leave. Your mother will be here any minute.”

This Wei trash the stain on Qu Jinghan’s life she refused to acknowledge Zhou Qiwei was determined to see him get his legs broken today.

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