The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 77

The Old Master sighed. “Since you’ve made up your mind, then proceed as you see fit.”

“But listen to me: either commit to her quickly, or don’t touch her at all. Tan Ya currently has protection from high-ranking officials. If you move too aggressively, you risk obstructing her path.”

To win over the higher-ups in a mere few months, this Tan Ya was clearly no ordinary person. The Old Master felt a flicker of unease; the situation was murky, and he worried she might become a volatile variable.

It seems I need to start laying the groundwork as soon as possible, he thought.

After dinner, the Old Master headed upstairs. Su Mo turned to Pu Ying, her expression unreadable. “Have you reached a decision?”

“There isn’t much to decide,” Pu Ying replied, taking a final sip of her coffee. Her voice was level. “We each get what we need.”

“I only hope you can protect the Su family. Life hasn’t been easy for the Old Master; the family has been suppressed for years. He’s getting older, and he doesn’t have the energy he used to.”

It was time for Su Mo to step up.

“Understood,” Su Mo replied.

Su Mo had effectively vanished from the public eye for half a year, yet her work remained in the spotlight. Several series she had filmed recently had begun airing; although she only played supporting roles, her acting was no longer the eyesore it once was. In fact, many viewers didn’t even realize the actress on screen was Su Mo.

【 My god, did Su Mo suddenly have an epiphany? 】

【 I’m so confused, is that really Su Mo? 】

【 The difference is staggering! Even a masterclass wouldn’t produce this much improvement! 】

【 It’s like she’s been possessed by a different soul. It’s actually a bit terrifying. 】

Those who recognized her began analyzing her performances frame by frame. To their shock, every micro-expression was perfectly calibrated; there wasn’t a single flaw. Comparing her current work to her earlier “performances” was like looking at two completely different people.

【 If no one pointed it out, I never would have guessed Su Mo was in this show! 】

【 I’m eating my words. I swore I’d never watch her dramas again, but I failed. 】

While the Star Net was buzzing with excitement, Su Mo showed no intention of returning to the set. Slowly, the public began to notice something else.

【 I haven’t seen Su Mo flaunting her wealth or causing drama lately. Did she quit the industry? 】

【 No Star-Blog posts, no more “clown” behavior, she’s like a different person. 】

【 Sigh, even Su Mo has turned over a new leaf. What’s the fun in this world anymore? 】

【 I have all this pent-up snark and nowhere to direct it. 】

The anti-fans, who were used to mocking her daily, were holding their breath, waiting for her to reappear so they could find fault. But now that the usually hyperactive socialite had gone silent, they actually began to miss her.

As the silence stretched on, people grew anxious. They wondered if their relentless cynicism had finally broken her, driving her into a “self-imposed isolation” or early retirement.

【 Su Mo, where are you? 】

【 Su Mo, you didn’t actually get depressed, did you? 】

The topic “Where is Su Mo?” began trending out of pure curiosity, eventually knocking aside celebrity scandals and major advertisements to claim the #1 spot. So many people were “petitioning” for her return that casual passersby were left baffled, unable to understand the sudden obsession with a woman famous for her scandals.

Intrigued by the chaos, the general public swarmed Su Mo’s Weibo page, joining the chorus of voices asking for her whereabouts.

When Su Mo logged onto the Star Net by chance, she raised an eyebrow at the mountain of messages. This circle was always the same: they loved you one day and cursed you the next. These people had spent years bashing her, yet now that she had half-retired, they were pining for her. Utterly bizarre, she thought.

After a moment’s consideration, she posted a single update.

Su Mo V: I heard you missed me?

Seeing that familiar tone and the verified ID, the masses finally breathed a sigh of relief.

【 I knew this girl wouldn’t go down that easily. With skin as thick as hers, not even an XX25 Interstellar Missile could pierce it. 】

【 Tsk, so you finally decided to come back? We were worried sick! Quickly, tell us—how did your acting get so good all of a sudden? 】

【 Everyone, delete the compliments! If we praise her too much, she might get cocky and revert to her old ways! 】

To their disappointment, Su Mo had no intention of elaborating. After that one post, she vanished again. The fans were left bewildered; this didn’t fit her usual attention-seeking persona at all. Some even began to speculate if she had been kidnapped.

While the internet ran wild with theories, the subject of their concern was currently sneaking onto a film set.

Dressed entirely in black complete with a mask, glasses, and a hat Su Mo moved discreetly. Lacking a staff pass, she briefly lowered her mask to show her face to a nearby crew member.

The staff member’s jaw dropped. “You, you’re.”

Seeing the worker start to stutter, Su Mo quickly signaled for silence. “Shh. I’m just here to visit the set. Keep it down.”

The staff member nodded frantically, suppressing a scream of excitement. She never expected that Su Mo who had been a ghost on the Star Net lately would show up here so casually. But who was she visiting?

Thinking it through, there were only a few people in this production who could possibly be linked to her: Qiu Fu and Si Yu.

Could she be here for Si Yu? the staff member wondered. She didn’t even consider Qiu Fu; everyone knew she and Su Mo couldn’t stand each other, they were sworn enemies who traded cold glares every time they met.

Oblivious to the gossip, Su Mo walked further into the set. To capture a sense of realism, the production was filming on location, and today’s choice was a massive waterfall. Because Interstellar-era safety technology was so advanced, no one was particularly worried.

Su Mo watched from the sidelines as Qiu Fu performed. Eventually, her gaze drifted to the waterfall itself.

The roaring, turbulent water reminded her of the waterfall where she had died saving someone in her past life. She wondered briefly if her death had been “ugly” back then, if her body had made the news without a blur filter. That would be quite embarrassing.

Her focus shifted back to the actors. The lead actress was a rising starlet known for her “fragile” image. Currently suspended mid-air by cables, the girl looked as delicate as a wilting rose, trembling so violently she could barely deliver her lines.

Seeing her state, the director called for her to be lowered. They would figure it out later; they couldn’t have the crew chasing her around with cameras if she was this terrified.

As the “willow-in-the-wind” actress sobbed quietly, the cables began to descend. No one noticed a figure in the crowd with a look of fanatical mania in their eyes.

The next second, the person lunged forward and slashed the rope with a blade.

“AHHH!!!”

The rope snapped. For a heartbeat, every mind went blank; no one could react. Then, a piercing scream tore through the air as the starlet plummeted several meters, crashing violently into the river and sending up a massive spray of white water.

“Save her! She can’t swim!” the director shrieked.

The girl was already being swept away by the churning rapids, hurtling toward the edge of the precipice. Without a word, Su Mo ripped off her glasses and mask and took a powerful leap into the river. She cut through the current with a rapid stroke, heading straight for the girl, whose fate remained unknown.

“Su Mo!”

The moment she hit the water, Qiu Fu recognized her. She let out a strangled cry of alarm and sprinted toward the riverbank. Hearing that name, the director’s brain completely seized up.

If something happens to her, if she.

“Someone, save them!”

At the very last second, Su Mo managed to wrap an arm around the girl’s waist but the relentless force of the water dragged them both over the edge of the cliff.

Witnessing this, Qiu Fu’s eyes turned bloodshot with terror. She threw herself against the bank, arm outstretched, her voice cracking into a raw, broken scream: “Su Mo!”

Si Yu, too, nearly dove into the water after them; had someone not held her back, she would have jumped. Watching Su Mo vanish over the falls felt like a hand had tightened around her heart, squeezing the very air from her lungs until she couldn’t breathe.

The director collapsed to the ground, his soul seemingly leaving his body.

Su Mo was gone.

He was finished. The entire production was finished. Their lives were over.

In the midst of his agonizing regret, the person who had cut the rope attempted to flee. In the frantic chaos, no one even noticed him until a sleek, silver-white mecha suddenly soared up from beneath the cliff.

The crowd froze, staring in a daze as if they couldn’t process what they were seeing.

The mecha landed directly in front of the fleeing man. A dark gun barrel leveled itself at him, and Su Mo’s cold, metallic voice rang out through the air: “Hands behind your head. Get down.”

The man looked at the mecha and immediately lost all will to resist.

As he sank to his knees, trembling, the director finally snapped back to his senses. He tried to scramble up, but his legs were like jelly; he tripped several times, only making his bruises worse. After forcing himself through a few deep breaths, he managed to stand and barked orders for the man to be restrained.

Su Mo deactivated the mecha. Sopping wet, her clothes clinging to her frame and water dripping from her hair, she emerged before the crowd carrying the unconscious starlet.

“Thank you, thank you.”

As they took the girl from her, everyone’s hearts sank. The situation had been so perilous that even the professional emergency team hadn’t reacted in time, yet Su Mo had dove in without hesitation.

If not for her powerful Alpha physique, the impact of the water likely would have knocked her unconscious, let alone allowed her to summon a mecha and fly back up.

The director didn’t know what else to say besides ‘thank you.’ As an Omega, his mind had turned to static during the crisis; saving someone had been the last thing he was capable of.

Su Mo shook her head, her face still slightly pale. “I need a quiet room to rest and a set of clean clothes.”

“Yes, of course. Right away.”

Once the arrangements were made, the director asked cautiously, “The medical team is here. Do you want a check-up? It’s best to be sure, in case there are any internal injuries.”

The current had been so violent; she could have easily hit a rock while being tossed around. He kept his voice soft, terrified of aggravating whatever injuries she might have.

Su Mo replied, “I need to change first.”

She couldn’t stand the feeling of wet clothes sticking to her skin; it brought back too many memories of her previous life.

“Alright.”

Qiu Fu swayed on her feet for a moment before speaking in a hoarse, raspy voice. “I have some new clothes you can use.”

Su Mo looked at her and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Okay.”