The Scummy Alpha Who Transmigrated Into a Book Was Tricked by the Actress Omega - Chapter 6

Around 9:20 a.m., Yan Xunzhen came upstairs carrying some takeout breakfast she had picked up downstairs.

She glanced at the time. The opening ceremony was scheduled for 11:11, so there was still a while to go. But considering traffic and makeup, she needed to wake Du Zuilan and get her to the set.

Knock knock.

Yan Xunzhen rapped lightly on the already open door but didn’t step inside.

Du Zuilan, who had her back to Yan Xunzhen, was awake but still seemed a little dazed. She responded softly, her voice gentle and accommodating: “Mhm. I’m up. Sorry for oversleeping…”

She still seemed a bit off, her voice slightly nasal as she sat up, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, making her look soft and vulnerable.

She turned her head slightly to glance at the person at the door, then suddenly blinked, swallowing the rest of her words. Her tender pink lips pressed together briefly.

Yan Xunzhen thought to herself: The road ahead is long and arduous still a lot of work to do. Someone who had been mistreated so many times wouldn’t suddenly drop their guard. Of course, she still didn’t want to see this scumbag alpha.

But now that Yan Xunzhen had made up her mind, she wouldn’t back down. She spoke openly and honestly: “Morning. Have you eaten?”

Du Zuilan didn’t answer, only shaking her head slightly.

Yan Xunzhen continued, “Then do you want some? I just bought it, it’s still warm.”

After a brief standoff, Du Zuilan replied, “No, thank you.”

The fact that they could have a normal conversation was progress enough. Yan Xunzhen smiled, her voice relaxed, clear, and tinged with nonchalance: “No worries. I’ll leave it here for you. You can eat after you freshen up.”

Du Zuilan’s expression flickered with hesitation and surprise.

It was true, Yan Xunzhen’s restrained behavior yesterday and now this polite breakfast delivery today. She was still the same elegant, composed person, yet the impression she gave was entirely different. This Yan Xunzhen exuded a refined, elite aura that would be hard for anyone to mimic in just a few days.

Before her thoughts could wander too far, Yan Xunzhen spoke again: “Take your time getting ready. I’ll step out to review some documents. Just call for me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll give you a ride.”

Du Zuilan’s pale fingers tightened slightly, her heart skipping a beat as she quickly refused, “No need. I’ll go on my own.”

Yan Xunzhen had expected this. She set down the beautifully packaged breakfast and casually pulled out her phone, tapping lightly on its back after hearing Du Zuilan’s response.

“But isn’t today the opening ceremony?” Yan Xunzhen turned on her phone screen, which now displayed 9:30. “Are you sure you’ll make it in time?”

Du Zuilan froze. The timing was indeed tight, but she wanted to insist she could handle it alone after all, she’d managed similar situations before.

However, Yan Xunzhen added, “Don’t worry. Isn’t it normal for friends to give each other rides? A private car would be much more convenient.”

Du Zuilan was a moderately well-known actress taking the subway was out of the question, and hailing a cab in the inner city wasn’t ideal either. Asking another friend might just inconvenience them.

Surprisingly, going with Yan Xunzhen turned out to be the most practical option.

Du Zuilan remained silent. She pushed back the covers and got out of bed, her fair feet slipping into thin slippers. Yan Xunzhen caught only a glimpse before turning away, arms crossed as she focused on the documents in her hands, inadvertently accentuating her slender, toned waistline, unconcerned about who might see.

It wasn’t that Du Zuilan didn’t have an assistant, but the one assigned to her had been arranged by the original scumbag alpha. This assistant followed the alpha’s orders and paid little attention to Du Zuilan’s needs. Yesterday, the assistant had hastily dropped off some clothes and left without a second thought, completely forgetting about Du Zuilan’s upcoming opening ceremony. The assistant was probably inwardly congratulating themselves for landing such an easy job with a paycheck.

Du Zuilan dressed herself, grabbed her phone, and headed downstairs in her light attire.

Yan Xunzhen quickly pieced together why Du Zuilan’s assistant was absent and mentally noted it as something to address later. She followed silently behind as they both got into the car. The driver up front started the engine without a word, and the scenery outside blurred past.

The only sound in the car was the faint hum of the engine. Both women sat in silence, the distance between them as stark as a drawn battle line.

After a long pause, Yan Xunzhen finally broke the silence. “Are you feeling better now? Did everything go alright after yesterday?”

The poised beauty’s gentle concern was undeniably captivating. Du Zuilan replied softly, “Mm. I’m fine.”

A faint smile touched Yan Xunzhen’s lips. “That’s good.”

Good. The fact that Du Zuilan could still speak to her and share a car meant her attitude had noticeably softened.

With that, Yan Xunzhen fell silent again, sitting composedly in her seat. Though she reined in her imposing aura, her dignified presence still commanded attention.

Meanwhile, Du Zuilan’s thoughts returned to what had been weighing on her mind back at the hospital.

Faced with an omega lifting their inhibitor patch and asking for her pheromones, Yan Xunzhen had remained unshaken like the virtuous Liu Xiahui. That had made Du Zuilan lower her guard, if only slightly.

Yet Yan Xunzhen’s natural ease around her now made Du Zuilan instinctively wary again, like a cautious rabbit. Was this just another tactic? A sugar-coated bullet?

She still needed to be careful.

Unaware of the suspicions swirling in the other’s mind, Yan Xunzhen was preoccupied with the tangled mess of her family’s company affairs. Layer upon layer of convoluted relationships, like stubborn weeds, pulling one only shook the entire field.

A sudden screech of brakes snapped them both out of their thoughts as the driver negotiated parking with the film crew’s staff.

Outside was a lively scene. The novel this movie was based on was a wildly popular IP, so the production had secured ample funding. Not only were the facilities top-notch, but a lavish stage had been set up not far from the parking lot. The crew bustled about inside, while outside, fans swarmed in waves.

Du Zuilan smoothed her long hair and reached for her phone, ready to step out, but hesitated briefly at the car door.

A sudden realization struck Yan Xunzhen.

If the female lead, an omega, stepped out of the CEO’s car… wouldn’t that invite misunderstandings?

“You go ahead,” Yan Xunzhen said. “I’ll join you later.”

Du Zuilan pressed her lips together. “Thank you.”

Yan Xunzhen chuckled softly.

She waited while reviewing the materials, and before she knew it, about an hour had passed. Seeing the people around her heading toward the venue for the production launch event, her phone vibrated.

“President Yan, the production launch is about to begin. We’ve saved your seat just waiting for you now.”

Yan Xunzhen acknowledged the message and, after a moment’s thought, grabbed a pair of sunglasses from the car, put them on, and stepped out.

Her seat was positioned very close to the front practically a VIP viewing area. The lead actors hadn’t taken the stage yet and were mingling in small groups below.

Du Zuilan had just gotten out of the car earlier, likely to have her styling done. Now, her hair was arranged in a traditional ancient Chinese updo, adorned with delicate pink flowers and an elegant hairpin that swayed gently with her movements, making her look both adorable and stunning, like a little royal princess.

Standing beside the little princess was another woman, her back turned to Yan Xunzhen, obscuring her face. Judging by her position, she wasn’t a lead actor either her billing was even lower than Du Zuilan’s supporting role.

Yan Xunzhen sifted through her memories but couldn’t recall any mention of this person. After all, she had just arrived in this world and had already altered the plot. The current scene bore no resemblance to the original story.

Taking things one step at a time, Yan Xunzhen maintained her usual calm demeanor. However, seeing the woman opposite Du Zuilan laughing so hard her shoulders shook while Du Zuilan herself smiled softly, clearly enjoying their conversation, stirred a faint discomfort in her heart.

Yan Xunzhen also wanted to befriend Du Zuilan, but unfortunately, her notorious reputation as a scumbag Alpha made it impossible for now. She could only watch enviously as others interacted with her.

The production launch officially began at 11:11.

In her previous world, Yan Xunzhen had attended a couple of these events as a guest, but none were quite like this one.

Aside from the director, the original author, and the main cast performing the ceremonial rituals, numerous investors also took the stage to speak. It was the transition between spring and summer, and the sun was scorching. The actors, standing for so long under the heat without parasols and dressed in heavy period costumes, were soon drenched in sweat.

Yan Xunzhen lifted her sunglasses slightly and spotted Du Zuilan’s fair complexion standing out vividly among the flashy lead actors. Her beauty was unique, and Yan Xunzhen couldn’t help but wonder why she was still stuck in the role of a relatively obscure supporting actress.

The heat had brought a faint sheen of sweat to Du Zuilan’s face, flushing her cheeks slightly. The lipstick she wore made it hard to discern her natural lip color. She stood there quietly, unmoving.

Yan Xunzhen checked the time, they had already been standing for an hour and a half.

She lowered her sunglasses back into place and glanced at the director, who was chatting animatedly with someone nearby. Her voice was cool, with a lazy lilt that was undeniably captivating.

“Director, you’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all, not at all! We’re incredibly grateful to have you here,” the director replied, noticing her sunglasses and the way her fingers tapped against the chair’s railing as she fanned herself with some documents. “Are you feeling the heat? We’ve prepared a parasol and some refreshments for you, please help yourself.”

Yan Xunzhen nodded with a smile. “Thank you, Director. But I was thinking… the actors standing out there must be exhausted. What do you say?”

The director suddenly understood, his expression brightening. “Ah, of course! Please, take your seat. Just a moment, just a moment.”

Sure enough, the crew members were bustling backstage with large sunshades in tow, while the actors made their way to the shaded areas below the stage. The investors on stage were content to bask in the spotlight alone.

Beneath the shade of trees and umbrellas, the actors gathered in small groups to chat.

The actress who had been talking to Du Zuilan earlier was nowhere to be seen, leaving Du Zuilan standing alone below. Once offstage, she no longer strained to maintain her graceful posture. Leaning against a tree, her body swayed slightly, looking unsteady.

She had just been discharged from the hospital and, out of fear of Yan Xunzhen, hadn’t eaten breakfast.

Staring silently at the tips of her shoes, she suddenly noticed a pair of flawlessly shaped feet appear before her.

Du Zuilan looked up.

Yan Xunzhen had removed her sunglasses at some point, her phoenix eyes filled with a hint of concern. “Are you feeling lightheaded?”

After a brief pause, she extended a slender, fair hand toward Du Zuilan.

Resting in her palm was a delicate pink strawberry hard candy.

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