The Unlucky Alpha and Her Hard-to-Please Omega - Chapter 5

It was happening again. In Shen Yu’s memory, every time she got into an argument with Song Yi, she lost. From middle school until now, without exception.

Shen Yu couldn’t figure out where she was lacking. In high school, she had even gathered her little clique to seriously analyze this phenomenon. At the time, Tang Di had bluntly said, “It’s probably the IQ,” which angered Shen Yu so much she didn’t speak to her for half a semester.

Was Song Yi’s IQ really higher than hers?

Well, she’s still in the same crew as me now!

Shen Yu followed aggressively behind Song Yi as they returned to the group. Most of the other actors had arrived. On the first day of filming, Director Wu Han had only scheduled one scene: the final “killing” scene of the leads. This was a signature habit of Director Wu’s.

“Let’s all have a meal together first to get to know each other. This afternoon we’ll run through one scene to warm up, and tomorrow we officially start work,” Wu Han stood in the center of the crowd, beaming.

Wu Han was a young director with a bold style. He didn’t have a massive portfolio, but every project he touched became a hit. Before joining the set, Song Yi had specifically watched all his works and had to admit she admired directors with such clear vision.

But…

She hadn’t expected Wu Han to be so… petite.

The actors and staff surrounding him were all taller than he was. Before he spoke, Song Yi hadn’t even realized where the director was. When she stepped forward to greet him, she realized with some embarrassment that she had to tilt her head down slightly to meet his eyes.

Is this rude? she wondered.

“Director,” Shen Yu said, plopping down on a small folding stool next to Wu Han, not forgetting to shoot Song Yi a smug look. “Are we still filming the finale for the first scene? Are you killing me off, or is Song Yi the one dying?”

Wu Han stared at Shen Yu’s face. “You’re the one dying.”

Shen Yu grinned. “Haha, I know eighteen different ways to die.”

Wu Han patted Shen Yu on the shoulder. “Let’s aim for a one-take wonder.”

Shen Yu’s expression instantly became complicated. Song Yi couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Wu Han surely didn’t mean it, but coming right after Song Yi’s earlier mockery about Shen Yu’s “N-Gs,” the comment felt pointed.

In truth, Shen Yu’s acting wasn’t bad. Though she hadn’t won awards, her roles always felt natural and fitting; there were no rumors in the industry about her being a poor actress.

However, filming the psychologist Yu Rong’s final curtain call right out of the gate was a massive challenge.

In the end, Yu Rong is ruined, abandoned by everyone, and dies at the hands of the detective Ran Mo (played by Song Yi). All her emotions are like water at 99 degrees—ready to boil over at a touch, yet held down by a calm, icy surface. She has to make everyone see her pain, share her pain, while she alone finds liberation.

Triggered by Song Yi’s laugh, Shen Yu pointed a finger at her and declared grandly, “Just you watch. If I can’t do this in one take, I’ll take your last name!“

“Fine. And if I’m the one who ‘N-Gs,’ I’ll take yours,” Song Yi calmly accepted the challenge.

Wu Han: “?”

The director didn’t understand why these young actors were so fired up, but seeing his two leads so motivated was a relief nonetheless.

….

The “Ice-Breaking” Lunch:

This was the first formal gathering for the core cast. Fortunately, the drama didn’t require filming in the middle of nowhere; the crew had booked a hotel nearby. Wu Han ordered a bottle of red wine to liven things up, though each person only got about half a glass to ensure no one was too drunk to work.

“Come on, let’s toast,” Wu Han raised his glass.

The crystal glasses clinked together. Wu Han took a large gulp, only to realize his two lead actresses had barely let the wine touch their lips.

“What? You two can’t drink?” Wu Han asked, surprised.

“Quit,” Song Yi said.

“Traumatized,” Shen Yu said.

They spoke in unison from either side of the director.

“Huh,” Wu Han was intrigued. “Quitting I understand—health and all that. But what’s this about being traumatized?” he asked Shen Yu.

Shen Yu cleared her throat, feeling awkward. She couldn’t exactly announce to the table that she’d gotten drunk and been “serviced” by a passing wild Omega, losing her virtue to someone she didn’t even recognize. Someone who had basically dine-and-dashed on her!

“Last month… I accidentally got too drunk. The friend who was supposed to pick me up didn’t show, and I ended up getting into a fight with a stray dog,” Shen Yu lied.

Ridiculous? Yes. But since it was Shen Yu, it somehow seemed plausible.

Wu Han imagined the scene and couldn’t help but laugh. He patted her shoulder sympathetically. “Did you lose the fight?”

Shen Yu nodded with tragic solemnity.

“Make sure you get your rabies shots.”

“Oh, I will. She was definitely rabid,” Shen Yu hissed through her teeth.

CLACK.

Song Yi slammed her chopsticks onto the table. “Who are you calling a dog?!”

Shen Yu looked bewildered. “I said I fought a dog. Why are you getting worked up?”

“Shen Yu, is it fun to provoke me over and over? Are you still in middle school?” Song Yi suddenly stood up, reaching across Director Wu to grab Shen Yu by the collar.

Shen Yu grabbed Song Yi’s wrist, applying pressure. “Surname Song, I’m warning you—let go. I don’t hit Omegas!”

The two glared at each other over Wu Han’s head, neither willing to back down. Until…

Shen Yu’s peripheral vision caught a small, delicate cinnabar mole on the side of Song Yi’s neck.

Something flashed through her mind. Has Song Yi always had that mole? Why haven’t I noticed it before? But more importantly… Why does it look so familiar?

“What are you two doing?! My two leads, trying to flip the table during our very first meal?” Director Wu finally snapped.

Song Yi let go first. When Wu Han looked at Shen Yu, she seemed to snap out of a trance. She released Song Yi’s wrist, only to see startling red marks on the woman’s porcelain-white skin where she had gripped her.

That shade of red…

Wu Han forced them both to sit. The rest of the meal was spent in silence. The “ice-breaking” dinner had been thoroughly shattered.

Song Yi felt terrible. She didn’t understand what was wrong with her. She’d heard Shen Yu’s snide remarks for years—why did she snap so easily today? The moment she grabbed Shen Yu’s collar, her mind had gone blank, and her anger had peaked instantly.

Am I really as emotional as Chen Nian said?

Song Yi stole a glance at Shen Yu, only to find the other woman staring directly at her. More specifically, staring at her neck. The cinnabar mole, the one Shen Yu had kissed countless times that night, began to feel hot.

Pervert!

Song Yi glared back, but Shen Yu was completely unresponsive. She looked dazed.

All Shen Yu could think about was the mole on Song Yi’s neck and the red marks on her wrist.

She had a very bad feeling. Fragmented images were surfacing: red marks, a cinnabar mole, and Song Yi’s face in the throes of passion.

Impossible! She had never seen Song Yi like that. Their relationship consisted entirely of bickering and fighting.

But then again… combining “lust” with Song Yi’s perennially “frigid” face seemed like a fairy tale. She couldn’t even conjure such a dream if it weren’t based on reality. Without a factual basis, how could her brain piece those images together?

Shen Yu felt like she’d been struck by lightning. She realized she was missing exactly one night of memory…

Could it be? Is there even a one-in-a-million chance that person was… Song Yi?

No. No way. If it were Song Yi, I’d be playing mahjong with archangels in heaven right now. Song Yi would have stabbed me to death.

While Shen Yu tried to comfort herself with this logic, her eyes kept drifting back to Song Yi.

Objectively speaking… that mole really was quite alluring.

….

On the way to the set, Shen Yu couldn’t handle the internal turmoil. She trailed behind Song Yi, trying to work up the courage to ask. Even if it was absurd, she had to know. If she didn’t clarify this, it would be like a nail in her chest. The thought of having slept with Song Yi meant she’d never sleep again. She had just wake up screaming.

“Song Yi…” Shen Yu whispered, glancing around to make sure they were at the back of the group.

Song Yi quickened her pace, leaving Shen Yu in the dust.

When they reached Director Wu, Song Yi looked back warily. Shen Yu was on her tiptoes, still peeking in her direction.

Damn pervert!

Finally, they were on set. Song Yi had dodged her all the way, but there was nowhere left to hide.

Song Yi emerged from the makeup trailer. Her uniform was dusted with grime, the dark circles under her eyes were emphasized with makeup, and her lips were painted pale and cracked with traces of blood.

The scene: The final showdown. Ran Mo has chased Yu Rong to the rooftop of a half-demolished building. Yu Rong stands at the edge, looking down at the city lights. Hearing footsteps, she turns to face the barrel of Ran Mo’s gun.

The lights and cameras were set. Song Yi raised the prop pistol. Wu Han shouted, “Action!”

Ran Mo stared intensely at Yu Rong, her gun aimed straight at the other woman’s heart. She didn’t waver. She stepped forward, her boots crunching slowly but steadily on the gravel.

She had finally unmasked Yu Rong’s two faces. This woman had played the entire police department for fools; her partner had died at this woman’s hands. She wouldn’t let her escape again.

Behind Yu Rong was a drop of dozens of meters. The railing barely reached her waist. The wind whipped her hair. If her center of gravity shifted back just an inch, she would be free forever.

Ran Mo approached, her lips tight. She knew how soft those lips had once been.

“Ran Mo, I’m right here,” Yu Rong said, her arms spread wide as if for an embrace. She gave Ran Mo a complex, haunting smile.

“CUT!”

Wu Han stood up from his chair, looking displeased. “Shen Yu, what’s going on? Your emotion is completely wrong!”

“Yu Rong has already decided to die here. She knows it’s her best exit. She knows she’s deeply in love with the person hunting her, but she also knows that person wants to tear her apart.”

“The difference between her and Detective Ran is that Ran is righteous. She follows the rules. She wants to bring Yu Rong to court. But Yu Rong wants Ran to kill her personally. She wants to break Ran’s sense of procedural justice and blur the lines between good and evil in Ran’s heart.”

“This is Yu Rong’s revenge for being forced into this ‘sober yet mad’ game of feelings. Even in death, she wants to drag Ran Mo into the abyss with her.”

Wu Han stood in front of Shen Yu, gesticulating wildly as he explained the scene.

Shen Yu understood everything he said. The moment the camera hit her face, she knew she’d botched it. She couldn’t get into the headspace because the question from lunch was still crushing her. She hadn’t had a chance to ask.

Shen Yu’s gaze shifted past Director Wu to Song Yi. She searched Song Yi’s face for a sign, any clue.

Song Yi stood behind the director and silently mouthed a sentence to her.

Shen Yu struggled to read her lips:

“You N-G’d… Song Yu.”

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