The Scummy Alpha Who Transmigrated Into a Book Was Tricked by the Actress Omega - Chapter 26

Du Zuilan stood in place, like the jade-like, bamboo-like, peerlessly elegant young woman from the pages of a book, her gaze as if traversing a thousand years quietly resting on the person before her.

“Scene 48, Take 2, Shot 1 of Wei Ding action!!!”

As she spoke, Du Zuilan’s voice carried a hint of strain, her expression gradually shifting from docility to confusion, then to ruthlessness:

“Who are you?”

A ripple of emotion crossed Tang Ying’s usually calm face, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, watching her younger sister slowly raise the peachwood sword in her hand.

“Ah Xian, it’s me, your sister.”

Her sister had always been frail, never one to casually pick up her peachwood sword to play with. She was simple by nature and trusted her sister completely.

When had things become so estranged that they were now pointing blades at each other?

“I know not of thee. How dare a worthless mortal claim kinship with me?”

Worthless.

That word Yun Xian, Du Zuilan used to clench her fists in anger whenever she heard someone insult her sister, wishing she could fight them on the spot.

Yet now, it had come from her own lips.

Tang Ying still seemed unwilling to give up, stepping forward quickly, her movements gentle as she tried to take the peachwood sword from Du Zuilan’s hand.

Unexpectedly, in the next second, the cold-faced Du Zuilan pointed the sword straight at her chest.

The blood pack burst, splattering into a sinister, blooming flower.

Du Zuilan dropped the sword. The young woman’s oversized robes, ill-fitting as they were, fluttered lightly like gauze as she collapsed, then settled quietly onto the ground.

“Cut!”

“Perfect, one take! Great work, everyone.”

Du Zuilan had been fully immersed in the scene. Though her fall had looked effortless, she had actually thrown herself down with full force, and now her back ached terribly. Without a word, she forced herself to sit up, only to find a crowd suddenly rushing to her side.

“Zuilan-jie, did you hurt yourself when you fell? Here, we bought you some sour plum juice, it’ll help cool you down!”

“Zuilan-jie, get up quickly, the ground’s too dirty. You’ve been working so hard these past few days, go rest for a bit, okay?”

Du Zuilan pressed her lips together, feeling both overwhelmed and deeply grateful from the bottom of her heart.

Junyan’s counterattack had come swiftly, especially in terms of public opinion. Just when the malicious smear campaign against Du Zuilan had reached its peak when her reputation had hit rock bottom and she hadn’t even shown up to film that day Yan Xun had orchestrated a masterful reversal.

“Zuilan-jie, don’t pay attention to those people online. Those gossip accounts thrive on twisting the truth they have no idea how amazing and dedicated you are. Seeing all those hit pieces made me so mad, honestly. Thank goodness Junyan stepped in, hahaha.”

Du Zuilan stood up and thanked everyone sincerely.

Behind her, Tang Ying having changed out of her blood-stained costume approached.

She had been famous for so long that, despite her gentle demeanor, the chattering girls still grew nervous in her presence, their words stumbling to a halt.

Tang Ying smiled at them warmly before turning to Du Zuilan. “They’re right. You’ve been working too much, go rest. Someone’s waiting for you in the parking lot.”

“Don’t forget about the livestream.”

Du Zuilan nodded.

“Do as we discussed. Rui Wang’s stocks have already hit the limit down, no need to chase the defeated. Don’t act recklessly.”

Yan Xunzhen was wearing a pair of silver-rimmed glasses today. Though the prescription didn’t seem strong, they lent her an air of restrained allure, embodying the elite yet subtly roguish charm of a “refined scoundrel.”

Engaged in her work, she hadn’t yet noticed Du Zuilan outside the window. Leaning back in her chair, her slender fingers ran through her dark hair, revealing the elegant curve of her jawline.

The next moment, her tired eyes fluttered open slightly, catching sight of Du Zuilan outside.

She hurriedly opened the door.

“Alright. That’s about it. Bring me the summary you just compiled later. I’ll review it before making any decisions regarding Rui Wang’s strategy.”

With a click, she ended the call.

The collar of Yan Xunzhen’s shirt was slightly undone, the mole between her collarbones faintly visible, exuding a tantalizing allure that made one instinctively want to reach out. Du Zuilan glanced briefly before averting her gaze, her warm presence drawing closer.

Yan Xunzhen was still somewhat of a patient. The wound on her hand hadn’t fully healed, and even with suppressants, her sensitive period wasn’t something to breeze through. Aware of her own indiscretion, she adjusted her blazer.

“The Rui Wang matter is about to be resolved.”

Du Zuilan enveloped Yan Xunzhen’s fingertips with her palm, turning her hand over to inspect the wound.

Her gaze held a hint of inquiry. “It’s over?”

Yan Xunzhen shifted her fingers slightly, feeling the soft, cushion-like warmth of Du Zuilan’s palm, and quickly steered the conversation back to business. “Mhm.”

She avoided lengthy jargon about market economics, summarizing simply: “Rui Wang’s cash flow has dried up, no backup. The land he’s been flaunting was reclaimed by me. Tianneng hasn’t stepped in to help him yet. He’s desperate.”

By the last sentence, Yan Xunzhen couldn’t help but let a smirk slip.

In truth, “desperate” was an understatement. Rui Wang bald and overconfident had dreamed of a dark-horse victory toppling Junyan, even taking veiled jabs at Du Zuilan. But in one fell swoop, Yan Xunzhen had sent him reeling. Furious to the point of nearly having a heart attack, he’d come begging for mercy, admitting fault and pleading for leniency.

The fabricated rumors were easy to dismantle.

Du Zuilan lowered her head, the nape of her neck pale and vulnerable fully exposed to Yan Xunzhen. She even tilted it slightly further, the scent of citrus and wine overwhelming, prompting Yan Xunzhen to withdraw her hand abruptly.

Meeting Du Zuilan’s kitten-like puzzled gaze, Yan Xunzhen cleared her throat, feigning nonchalance as she picked up the tablet beside her. She pulled up the latest press release on Weibo, along with the flood of new comments.

[Big Scoop! The Truth Behind the Smear Campaign Against the Rising Star: The Dark Side of Showbiz?]

The article was skillfully written, succinctly outlining Rui Wang’s misdeeds while playing into the public’s fascination with industry “secrets,” thoroughly roasting the bald tycoon.

The harshest criticisms against her had always revolved around terms like “sugar daddy” and “kept woman.” But when the incident from the other day was revealed where Yan Xunzhen, without a second thought for her own safety, rushed to hold Du Zuilán’s safety harness how could anyone still believe those rumors? Have you ever seen a sugar daddy who treats their “kept woman” with such genuine care and attention? This was none other than the esteemed Miss Yan! If their relationship wasn’t truly one of close friends, what other “improper” explanation could there possibly be?

The article then pivoted to speculate why Miss Yan had rushed to save Du Zuilán in the first place. It boldly suggested that Rui Wang, after failing to coerce Du Zuilán into an inappropriate arrangement, had resorted to harming her intentionally sabotaging the harness to make her fall from seven meters high!

As for accusations of Du Zuilán being a diva? How could going to the hospital after nearly losing her life be considered diva behavior?

With this reasoning, public opinion like a spring pressed to its limit finally rebounded. The tide of negative press surrounding Du Zuilán began to clear.

As Yan Xunzhen quickly skimmed the article, she noticed another reason the clarifying statement had spread so widely and positively: Tang Ying.

[Tang Ying v: Du Zuilán is a very dedicated actress [rabbit]. I hope malicious rumors decrease to give actors a better environment to grow. // Gossip Entertainment: Sharing a long post.]

The top comments under Tang Ying’s post, many of which she had liked, were largely supportive.

[Holy crap, front row! I always thought the sudden flood of black PR was too suspicious. Glad to see the truth come out following my queen keeps me sharp~]

[Sorry, Du Zuilán! I saw some of the rumors and thought they were true orz. Turns out she was just working hard and got targeted. Hope she’s okay and unaffected by all this!]

[Thank you, Tang Ying, for helping clear things up! We Blue Wines are so moved! Our Zuilan is not only stunning but also hardworking and super sweet to fans. Join the fandom! I once saw her filming in person she’s even more beautiful in real life and even treated us to drinks!]

Du Zuilán’s eyes flickered almost involuntarily.

Softly, she murmured, “Thank you.”

Yan Xunzhen didn’t want to wag her tail!

But this was Du Zuilán.

The usually composed, aloof CEO removed her glasses, her gaze softening with warmth and an unconscious tenderness.

“I promised I’d treat you well.”

The next moment, she froze.

Du Zuilan’s soft body pressed against her through the smooth, thin fabric of her suit. Her slightly cooler neck nestled close, and Yan Xunzhen could almost catch the faint, fresh scent of orange liqueur.

Slender, delicate arms wrapped around Yan Xunzhen’s shoulders.

Perhaps unintentionally, as Du Zuilan embraced her, her lips soft as cotton candy and sweet as spun sugar brushed against Yan Xunzhen’s cheek before lingering near her ear. The light puff of breath sent a flush of heat through Yan Xunzhen in an instant.

Suddenly Yan Xunzhen didn’t want to let go either.

She gently patted Du Zuilán’s back.

I’ll protect you even better from now on!

Du Zuilán held her for nearly ten seconds before finally pulling away.

When she looked up again, her eyes were rimmed with a watery red, tears clinging to her lashes.

Yan Xunzhen saw it, a damp little kitten tentatively extending a paw, testing whether to trust someone who had once hurt her.

“Thank you.”

After speaking, Du Zuilan curved the corners of her eyes again: “Um, Tang Ying mentioned that she just discussed with the director about me doing a livestream today. On one hand, it’s to promote the new drama, and on the other, it’s to clarify and explain the situation.”

Yan Xunzhen pondered for a moment and found no issue with it; during the livestream, Tang Ying would surely assist, and it could also help Du Zuilan gain a bit more popularity.

Du Zuilan’s soft figure was very close to Yan Xunzhen, who could still sense her familiar scent.

“Probably, I’ll have to do the livestream at home.”

“Is that okay?”

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