The Second Fall - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Her Pheromones

“Watch over her… innocence.”

That sentence echoed in Lan Cixing’s mind, and she lowered her head involuntarily, her earlobes burning a deep red. She didn’t understand if Rong Yushu said this deliberately to test her. A sentence of three words, yet Lan Cixing hadn’t handled a single one of them well.

Ultimately, Lan Cixing hadn’t hidden anything from Rong Yushu, nor did she think Rong Yushu could truly be interested in her. In the end, whether four years ago or now, no one thought she and Rong Yushu were a match.

Rong Yushu’s family background was too illustrious, and her appearance and talent both surpassed Lan Cixing’s. She had seen plenty of excellent Alphas in the entertainment industry, and the list of top Alphas in the wealthy social circles who were interested in her could stretch for miles.

Lan Cixing thought that Rong Yushu might just be playing with her. Like the fox demon she once portrayed, she specialized in stealing souls without moving a single shred of true emotion; once her cultivation was complete, she would vanish, leaving the infatuated lover to wait in vain.

Or perhaps, Rong Yushu was “in character,” becoming the legendary Jiu Lisheng—a woman who could shake the world or be a thousand shades of seductive. Naturally flirtatious and loose-tongued, she loved saying ambiguous sweet nothings, teasing people without ever putting her heart into it. After all, Rong Yushu’s makeup was already set, and her hair was styled in an old-fashioned way.

It was impossible for her to be serious.

But the hand resting on her waist did not lie. Lan Cixing shuddered; the sensation on her waist became even more vivid. It felt more abrupt than being splashed with boiling water. Those fingertips were the sharp points of a “snake nail” prop, but the pads of the fingers were the softness of a woman.

Rong Yushu hooked her loosely, but that didn’t stop the sensation from traveling through the clothes, following the texture of the skin, and scratching at Lan Cixing’s heart. Rong Yushu didn’t even seem to be using strength; she was so lazy she wouldn’t even expend effort for Lan Cixing. She understood that a mere light touch was enough to make Lan Cixing crumble.

Lan Cixing kept her head down, her mind already saturated with the scent of white tea. In a daze, Rong Yushu had already hooked her along to the front of the dressing room. The fox demon’s spells were mysterious and treacherous, stealing Lan Cixing’s soul in the blink of an eye.

Lan Cixing blinked, and the scent of white tea grew stronger, shifting from perfume into an Omega’s pheromones. The stimulation of a top-tier Omega’s pheromones was not to be underestimated. Lan Cixing’s rank wasn’t low, but she hadn’t reached the “top-tier” status. She felt she was about to faint in that unique Omega aura; the back of her neck was heating up continuously, and even her eyes were tinged with an abnormal red flush.

Her breathing grew heavy. Lan Cixing pinched her palm with her free hand, hoping the pain would bring clarity. She slowly gathered her strength to move outward. If this were four years ago, she probably wouldn’t have been able to endure such concentrated, close-range top-tier pheromones. Ultimately, it was the “accident” four years ago that had made her wary, instilling an instinctive resistance to the pheromones of a partner.

Lan Cixing wanted to escape Rong Yushu’s territory. Like a captive prey struggling to break free just to survive. But the fox hunting her was in the shadows, seeing her every move with perfect clarity.

Rong Yushu tightened her fingers. Lan Cixing looked up sharply, her eyes already showing the pinkish hue of her makeup.

“I… I can’t go in any further. It’s inappropriate.”

The moment she saw the dressing room, Lan Cixing simply bit her lip, using the taste of blood to reject Rong Yushu’s teasing. Rong Yushu just wanted to see her lose her composure, wanted to catch her in a mistake, or lure her into repeating past errors to force her away again. Perhaps Rong Yushu and the escort agency boss were on the same side.

Lan Cixing held her breath, the pain in her palm continuing. Rong Yushu cast a glance at her. A fox’s eye. Always glamorous and piercing. Her gaze reflected layers of hidden danger.

“Shouldn’t you protect me?” She didn’t even need to speak. The intimidation in her eyes alone could kill Lan Cixing a hundred times.

Instead, Lan Cixing felt much more awake because of that familiar tone.

“You… You were the one who crossed out ‘personal’ [bodyguard].” That unpleasant event had happened only half an hour ago. Rong Yushu had squeezed her hand so hard; crossing it out ten times felt like stabbing her ten times.

Rong Yushu definitely didn’t want her to be her personal bodyguard. Stimulated by this realization, Lan Cixing completely woke up from the pheromone haze. The tingling at her waist turned into a sharp pain.

“Heh.”

Rong Yushu gave her a very hard pinch, left a mocking scoff, and slammed the dressing room door shut. Lan Cixing finally caught her breath, nearly collapsing in front of the door. She wasn’t afraid of the pain; she didn’t even care about the red mark Rong Yushu left on her waist. She was too busy moving back to her previous position, acting like a piece of background scenery, not daring to move an inch.

The crisp scent of white tea drifted past her nose again. Lan Cixing finally realized. There were no Omega pheromones. That was just Rong Yushu’s custom-made perfume. It was just that, on her alone, it worked wonders.

The Set of the Promo Photo Shoot

Rong Yushu was the sole protagonist, so naturally, she had the most looks and costumes. After she finished the first set, Lan Cixing followed silently, escorting her to the dressing room door to wait for her to change into the second outfit.

During the costume change, the supporting actors were taking their photos one by one. Lan Cixing didn’t dare play with her phone anymore, fearing another punishment from Rong Yushu, so she focused on identifying the people on set.

She actually recognized quite a few. A top-tier script and production team naturally selected a top-tier cast. Several veteran actors were collaborating with Rong Yushu for the second time, and the person playing the elderly Jiu Lisheng was a legendary actor who had been retired for years and had won countless awards. The new generation was also full of powerhouse actors.

The only one who didn’t quite fit the vibe was Mu Huai. Lan Cixing wasn’t clear on Mu Huai’s background; she guessed she might be a plant from the investors, or perhaps her appearance matched the lover of Jiu Lisheng from the original historical events. Even though the cast was top-notch, the project still needed investment. Giving a role that isn’t too heavy or demanding—but still eye-catching—to someone from the investor’s side is a common choice for most crews.

But then again, even though Mu Huai was more of a “trending” idol type, she had A-list popularity and decent acting skills compared to other idol dramas. The entire film team was strong and determined to sweep awards. After subconsciously analyzing this, Lan Cixing emptied her brain again.

The affairs of the entertainment industry had nothing to do with her. She had her “vest” on tight; she couldn’t risk being photographed and trending for a “alternative comeback.”

Mu Huai’s photo shoot wasn’t going smoothly. Lan Cixing still retained her judgment from her time in the industry; she saw at a glance that Mu Huai’s styling didn’t fit the background—or rather, it didn’t match the female lead, Rong Yushu. After a few shots, the photographer was dissatisfied, and the director was also unhappy.

The director, Nian Guanqi, was a grandmaster who took years to sharpen a single “sword” (film). Lan Cixing had never worked with her before, but who in the circle didn’t know her name? Director Nian called Mu Huai’s stylist over.

“Still think she’s not professional enough?” Rong Yushu appeared like a ghost; she had finished changing at some point and pressed up behind Lan Cixing.

A cold sweat broke out across Lan Cixing’s back. “Um… if she had good judgment, she should have known after the styling was done that the temperament was wrong. It doesn’t stick to you; put together, you don’t look like you’re from the same era.”

Lan Cixing didn’t understand why Rong Yushu kept bringing up Mu Huai to her. Was this Mu Huai very important? Did Rong Yushu care a lot? Was it because Mu Huai had feelings for her? Lan Cixing’s gaze toward Rong Yushu changed slightly.

Rong Yushu didn’t respond to her look; she had already walked to her side, slightly ahead. As the light hit Rong Yushu’s face, in the blink of an eye, she no longer looked like the Rong Yushu she knew, but more like that legendary merchant who became more courageous with every setback.

Some people can get into character in a single second just for a photo. Lan Cixing felt inferior and averted her gaze. Rong Yushu’s brilliance was just that overwhelming. The tabloid accounts were wrong. Even if Lan Cixing had continued acting, she would have eventually been surpassed by Rong Yushu and left far behind.

Perhaps quitting the circle back then really was the best timing. Lan Cixing thought that being able to disappear at her peak without leaving behind any embarrassment was a stroke of luck.

She didn’t know where to look. After seeing Rong Yushu, the rest of the world wasn’t as vivid or bright. Lan Cixing’s eyes turned back, seemingly asking Rong Yushu if her answer was correct.

“Wait,” Rong Yushu said. She clearly wasn’t looking at her, yet she knew exactly what those eyes looked like. To soothe her like a confused puppy, Rong Yushu’s voice carried a hint of a gentle coax.

Lan Cixing was stunned. Within two minutes, Mu Huai indeed approached Rong Yushu.

“Teacher Rong, my shoot isn’t going well. I think it’s because I’m having trouble getting into character. Director Nian keeps saying my eyes aren’t right. Could… could you help guide me?”

Mu Huai’s motive was too obvious. Lan Cixing couldn’t even pretend not to see it. She looked away, slightly unable to bear the sight. This must be the investor’s daughter, probably here for the little miss of the Rong family, Lan Cixing grumbled silently in her heart.

At this moment, Rong Yushu had her fox-like eyes narrowed and her lips curled. Paired with her red floral outfit and her head full of fine, dark curls, she was truly romantic and languid—like a big shot leaning under the moonlight blowing a pipe, whose single glance would petrify an opponent. She wasn’t filming yet; she had only changed clothes, and her eyes had already entered the role.

Looking at her closely, Mu Huai almost didn’t dare call her “Teacher Rong.” Suddenly, Rong Yushu withdrew the gaze belonging to Jiu Lisheng and changed back into the lazy, mysterious Best Actress Rong.

“It’s just a photo, and you can’t get into character?” Rong Yushu spoke, and her words weren’t very pleasant. To Mu Huai, it was a blatant mockery.

Mu Huai had mostly acted in idol dramas before, and her fans praised her for having “serious drama” acting skills, calling her a “dimensional strike” in idol shows. This time, she had finally snagged a major supporting role in an award-contending film, but she couldn’t meet the director’s requirements and was mocked by the person she admired.

Mu Huai bit her lip. “If Teacher Rong is willing to help me, I’m sure I’ll get into the state very quickly.”

Actually, her role wasn’t that difficult. At least for the promo photos, she just needed to show the infatuation of a lover and the stuffiness of a scholar. And indeed, her character was strongly tied to Rong Yushu’s. They almost never appeared separately. If Rong Yushu acted with her, it would be twice the result for half the effort.

Lan Cixing’s peripheral vision shifted slightly toward Rong Yushu. She felt that Rong Yushu would not agree to Mu Huai’s request. This guess came from intuition; Lan Cixing had no evidence. After all, when they worked together before, Rong Yushu was quite approachable and would teach her how to bring out emotions and share professional techniques.

“Actually, I can’t get into character either,” Rong Yushu replied, her answer completely unexpected. She leaned back squarely against Lan Cixing’s shoulder, using her as a chair back.

The second time today. Lan Cixing felt she was getting used to it, though the patch of skin being touched went numb instantly.

“The character of Jiu Lisheng is too complex; it’s very difficult.” Rong Yushu’s body language was clearly still in character, but her tone had returned to normal, her gaze distant and aloof. Her voice was clear and crisp, but it hit Mu Huai like a blunt club. She was clearly acting.

“How about… I find someone to help me get into character too.” Rong Yushu exhaled, her gaze suddenly snapping to Lan Cixing’s eyes.

“Let… my little bodyguard help me?”

“After all, she just said she has to watch over me and can’t give me away to others.” Her fox-like eyes curved with mischief.

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