Why Did the Top Alpha Suddenly Stop Acting Out? - Chapter 18

In this world, there are rarely truly spontaneous actions most things are carefully planned in advance.

To get close to someone, what you need isn’t just superficial information, but a heart willing to open up and the courage that might vanish at any moment.

Ye Shuyi didn’t wait to see how the standoff between the two actors in the scene would end before leaving the set.

She walked to the edge of the school’s Serenity Lake, gazing through the thin layer of ice at the lively fish beneath. As if sensing her presence, a school of golden fish paused their playful movements, hovering in the water to look up at her. Occasionally, they blew tiny bubbles, as if trying to share their joy with the person on the shore.

“Sister Ye Shuyi?”

A tentative voice suddenly called from behind. Ye Shuyi turned to see the girl with straight bangs from earlier, her eyes lighting up the moment she recognized her, excitement written all over her face as she stepped closer.

Ye Shuyi smiled slightly. “You know me?”

“Of course, of course!” The girl with bangs gushed. “I’m also crazy about motorcycles you look absolutely amazing when you ride!”

Ye Shuyi was momentarily taken aback. She had assumed the girl recognized her as Yi Qian’s manager, but she quickly recovered. “Where’s your friend?”

“You mean Weiwei?” At the mention of the girl in the knitted hat, the bangs girl’s eyes softened with unmistakable affection, her voice instantly gentler, as if afraid that speaking too loudly might disturb someone who wasn’t even there. “Something came up at home, so her mom picked her up after school.”

Ye Shuyi nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. “You like her?”

The girl’s eyes widened in surprise, her face flushing crimson. She pinched her earlobe, the blush spreading from her cheeks down to her neck, but she didn’t shy away from admitting it her love laid bare. “Yes. But I haven’t told her yet. We promised to get into the same university. Once we have our acceptance letters, I’ll confess.”

Looking at the girl’s bright, determined expression, Ye Shuyi was reminded of Yi Qian seven years ago, running to her with an acceptance letter in hand.

That afternoon, after receiving her own letter, Ye Shuyi had been lying in bed, typing and deleting words in her messaging app, still trying to find the right thing to say when suddenly, someone called her name from downstairs.

“Ye Shuyi! Are you home? Ye Shuyi…”

Her fingers froze mid-text. Tossing her phone aside, she rushed to the window and pulled it open, only to see Yi Qian below, bent over and panting, hands on her knees.

Rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn’t imagining it, Ye Shuyi called out, “Wait there! I’ll be right down!”

She dashed out of the house, barely steadying herself before Yi Qian pulled her into a tight embrace. Through the hug, she could feel Yi Qian’s heartbeat fast and unsteady.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Shuyi glanced around, noticing the absence of the car that usually ferried Yi Qian to and from school. “Did you… run here?”

“Yeah. I wanted to see you as soon as possible,” Yi Qian admitted without hesitation.

Ye Shuyi paused. “You idiot. Taking a car would’ve been faster and you wouldn’t have worn yourself out like this.”

“I forgot. When I saw the notice, all I could think about was seeing you, so I ran straight from home.” Yi Qian hugged her, nuzzling her chin against Ye Shuyi’s neck like a big puppy begging for affection. “Look how exhausted I am today could you grant me one favor?”

Ye Shuyi gently patted her back to soothe her, teasing, “Are you emotionally blackmailing me now?”

Hearing this, Yi Qian tightened her embrace and said earnestly, “No. If you’re unwilling, you can refuse. But I believe… what you feel for me is the same as what I feel for you.”

Ye Shuyi’s hand stilled. Her heart pounded violently, as if trying to leap from her chest. Feigning calm, she asked slowly, “And… what exactly do you feel for me?”

“Shuyi,” Yi Qian murmured her name, “your heartbeat is so fast. Are you… hoping for something?”

Just as Ye Shuyi opened her mouth to deny it, Yi Qian continued, “I love you, Ye Shuyi. So much. Will you… be my girlfriend?”

As the words hung in the air, Yi Qian held her even tighter as if afraid she might slip away, or as if trying to merge their bodies into one.

Wrapping her arms around Yi Qian’s waist, Ye Shuyi joked, “Judging by how you’re holding me, if I refused, would you never let go?”

Yi Qian was about to admit that was exactly her plan when Ye Shuyi cut her off. The voice in her arms, certain as the evening breeze, whispered by her ear: “Yi Qian, can you feel it? Our heartbeats… they’re perfectly in sync now.”

Yi Qian froze momentarily before realizing this was Ye Shuyi’s way of saying yes. Overjoyed, she swept Ye Shuyi off her feet, spinning them both under the golden sunset. Their merged shadows stretched long across the ground, painting a blossoming flower against the twilight canvas.

“Ye Shuyi… jiejie?” The girl with bangs waved a hand before Ye Shuyi’s dazed eyes. “Ye Shuyi-jiejie?”

“Hmm?” Ye Shuyi snapped back to the present. “What is it?”

“Your smile just now… it looked so happy,” the girl observed. “Were you thinking of someone you love?”

Ye Shuyi nodded with a quiet smile, offering no denial.

“Um…” The girl hesitated.

“You can tell me,” Ye Shuyi encouraged gently.

“Well… Weiwei really admires Yi Qian-jiejie. Since you’re her manager, could you… maybe get me an autograph? I want to give it to Weiwei when she returns, she’d be so thrilled.” The girl gazed at Ye Shuyi anxiously.

Ye Shuyi studied her. Though inclined to refuse, the hopeful look in those eyes made it impossible. Finally, she nodded. “How should I get it to you?”

The girl bounced excitedly. In her enthusiasm, she grabbed Ye Shuyi’s wrist and led her to a lakeside tree. Brushing aside a patch of grass revealed a hidden hollow containing several rolled-up paper slips.

Ye Shuyi blinked in surprise. “Since when has this been here?”

The girl with straight bangs shook her head and said, “I don’t know either. Weiwei and I discovered this place by accident it’s our secret hideout.”

“What are these?” Ye Shuyi pointed at the small paper rolls inside.

The girl scratched her head sheepishly. “When Weiwei and I were giving each other the silent treatment, we’d pass notes through here.”

“I see,” Ye Shuyi murmured softly. “That’s really sweet.”

“Shuyi-jie, you can just leave the autograph here later. I’ve got evening self-study now, so I’ll head off first.” With that, the girl with straight bangs ran toward the classroom building.

On the film set, the crew had just wrapped a scene. While staff were reorganizing the set and actors were resting, Director Zhang sat reviewing the footage on the monitor.

“Director Zhang!” A staff member rushed over anxiously. “We just got word the actress playing Teacher Yi’s white moonlight had an emergency and can’t make it.”

“What?” Director Zhang stood up abruptly from the monitor, displeased. “How many actresses have stood me up now? Do they think I’m running a pigeon coop? Blacklist all these actresses, no more collaborations.”

Jiang Shiluo approached curiously. “Director Zhang, what’s got you so worked up?”

A nearby staff member quickly explained the situation.

Understanding dawned on Jiang Shiluo. She glanced at Yi Qian studying his script not far away, her lips curling into a meaningful smile. “Director Zhang, I happen to know someone who’d be perfect extremely perfect for the role. The question is whether you can convince her.”

Director Zhang raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

Jiang Shiluo tilted her chin toward a spot behind him and said slowly, “Well, there she is.”

Director Zhang turned around to see Ye Shuyi walking toward them while talking on the phone.

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