Chapter 28
The first faint light of morning appeared as dawn approached.
Shen Yishu suddenly woke up.
She had slept rather well that night. Ji Xiangyu had not nudged her awake in the middle of the night as she had imagined.
Thinking that Ji Xiangyu’s sleeping posture might have improved, Shen Yishu turned her head to look.
“…”
It had nothing whatsoever to do with behaving properly.
Ji Xiangyu had pushed her all the way to the side of the bed. Shen Yishu’s back was less than a centimeter from the edge. If she rolled over, she would fall directly onto the floor.
The person in her arms was sleeping soundly. Even her terrible sleeping posture could not diminish her beauty.
Perhaps because she had rarely slept so peacefully, her brows were relaxed. Without her usual coldness, she looked somewhat obedient as she nestled against the pillow.
Her black hair was spread across the bed. One side of her exquisite face pressed into the mattress, emphasizing the sharp line of her jaw, though the smile at the corner of her lips softened its severity.
Having been pushed to the edge, Shen Yishu had been forced to stretch out one arm.
The narrow space between the edge of the bed and Ji Xiangyu’s body happened to be just wide enough to accommodate her, while her extended arm naturally wrapped around Ji Xiangyu.
The position was certainly warm and intimate.
Unfortunately, Shen Yishu’s entire body felt stiff, and her neck hurt as though she had slept on it incorrectly.
She slowly withdrew her arm and prepared to climb out of bed.
She planned to sleep on the sofa for another two hours. They would need to leave for work after that, so Ji Xiangyu probably no longer needed Shen Yishu beside her to sleep.
Just as she began to rise, Ji Xiangyu blinked in confusion and woke up.
She was a light sleeper. The moment Shen Yishu moved, she awakened drowsily.
“Did I push you again?”
She yawned, her eyes half closed.
“Mm. I’m going to sleep on the sofa for a while.”
Shen Yishu did not hesitate any longer. If they continued talking, it would soon be time to work.
She sat up, only for Ji Xiangyu to grasp her wrist.
Since she was not fully awake, Ji Xiangyu used almost no strength. Her fingers held Shen Yishu lightly, like a kitten accidentally catching its claw on its owner’s clothes.
“Sleep here. I’ll make room for you.”
Ji Xiangyu’s eyes closed completely.
She pulled on Shen Yishu’s wrist, dragging the completely unprepared woman back onto the bed.
Both of them were too sleepy to react properly.
Shen Yishu fell directly into Ji Xiangyu’s arms, burying her face somewhere even softer than the pillow.
Through the thin layer of fabric, she could smell the intimate fragrance of the Omega’s body.
“…”
The sudden impact woke Ji Xiangyu completely.
Shen Yishu was stunned by the fall.
She raised her head and happened to meet Ji Xiangyu’s pained gaze.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m sorry, Sister.”
Shen Yishu’s mouth moved faster than her mind, and she apologized immediately.
“It wouldn’t matter even if you did.”
Ji Xiangyu casually stroked her hair.
“Consider it compensation for not sleeping well last night?”
Shen Yishu gave a muffled “Mm,” then rolled over and lay beside her.
Ji Xiangyu shifted away, surrendering half the bed.
Still barely awake, Ji Xiangyu yawned twice and quickly fell asleep again, leaving Shen Yishu staring at the ceiling in thought.
She was considering how she could get out of bed tomorrow without waking Ji Xiangyu.
After what had just happened, her drowsiness vanished completely.
Forget returning to sleep—her heartbeat had not even returned to normal and continued pounding wildly inside her chest.
Shen Yishu knew Ji Xiangyu had an excellent figure.
During their private interactions, Ji Xiangyu had never particularly concealed it.
But knowing and personally experiencing it were entirely different matters.
The soft sensation still lingered against Shen Yishu’s cheek, as though that place could contain and soothe every worry in the world.
The fragrance circling inside her nose made her heart itch, tempting her to smell it again.
She quietly turned her head and studied Ji Xiangyu’s peaceful sleeping face.
Her gaze uncontrollably drifted downward.
Ji Xiangyu slept on her side. Her loose neckline resembled a half-open door waiting for someone to push it wider and enter.
Shen Yishu’s cheeks flushed crimson.
She abruptly turned her head back, retrieved the blanket that had fallen from the bed, and pulled it over her face to hide the evidence.
Before she could adjust her sleeping position, a certain cold and aloof Best Actress pressed against her again.
As though Shen Yishu were an enormous stuffed toy, Ji Xiangyu wrapped both arms around her and tangled their legs together, clinging so tightly that Shen Yishu could not move at all.
For one brief moment, Shen Yishu wanted to push Ji Xiangyu away.
She only considered it.
She did not dare act.
If she accidentally woke Ji Xiangyu, Shen Yishu could endure neither her anger nor her aggrieved expression.
After sleeping for a while, Ji Xiangyu felt that her exposed legs were becoming cold.
She rubbed against Shen Yishu’s neck and released her arms.
Shen Yishu had not yet managed to feel relieved when a person whose skin had been chilled by the air conditioner slipped beneath her blanket.
The moment Ji Xiangyu entered, she once again wrapped her arms and legs around Shen Yishu to absorb her warmth.
Her thigh accidentally brushed below Shen Yishu’s abdomen.
Shen Yishu nearly launched herself out of the covers to escape the enchantress.
Fortunately, Ji Xiangyu quickly found a comfortable sleeping position and did not move again.
However, while being forced to serve as a teddy bear in this position, Shen Yishu had no possibility of falling asleep.
Two hours later, the alarm woke Ji Xiangyu precisely on time.
She had slept exceptionally well.
After waking, her complexion looked noticeably healthier, and even the oppressive mood that usually surrounded her in the morning had disappeared.
Of course, oppressive moods did not truly disappear.
They merely transferred from Ji Xiangyu to Shen Yishu.
Shen Yishu did not dare complain.
She could only climb from bed with an aggrieved expression, enter the bathroom, change her clothes, and refuse to speak first.
“Didn’t sleep well?”
Ji Xiangyu braced her left arm against the wall and blocked the bathroom doorway, trapping Shen Yishu after she had finished washing and dressing.
“A young person losing two hours of sleep doesn’t matter,” Shen Yishu said gloomily, unable to conceal her resentment.
“After another couple of nights, perhaps you’ll become accustomed to it.”
Ji Xiangyu suppressed the smile at her lips, though her eyes betrayed her amusement.
“All right.”
Shen Yishu looked deeply resentful.
Unable to endure any longer, she forced out a suggestion.
“Sister, should I buy you a bear too?”
A bear could withstand being rubbed against.
Shen Yishu could not.
She was a living person capable of reacting when someone rubbed against her.
“Zheng Shu gave Ah Sheng a bear because she can’t sleep beside her every night.”
Ji Xiangyu’s stomach hurt from suppressing her laughter.
“You already sleep in my bed. Do you still want to place a bear between us?”
Shen Yishu closed her mouth.
She could not win against Ji Xiangyu when discussing matters like this.
She only hoped Ji Xiangyu would stop sleeping pressed against her next time.
Shen Yishu had originally assumed that based on the nature of their relationship, Ji Xiangyu would move away after waking and discovering their position.
Unexpectedly, after Ji Xiangyu woke and noticed it, she deliberately rubbed her thigh against Shen Yishu several more times.
Shen Yishu was merely an innocent young Alpha.
Why did she have to endure this kind of temptation—especially temptation from such a beautiful face?
Fortunately, she possessed extraordinary self-control and was a dependable young Alpha.
Otherwise, who knew what excessive actions she might have committed?
By the time Zhu Li and Ji Xiangyu’s assistant, Wang Xing, arrived, both women had finished washing and dressing.
The topic of Ji Xiangyu’s sleeping posture was temporarily set aside.
With outsiders present, they both needed to preserve their dignity.
As Ji Xiangyu’s personal assistant, Wang Xing was extremely curious about Shen Yishu, the actress who had suddenly appeared and become Ji Xiangyu’s wife.
However, professional ethics prevented her from asking questions.
While organizing their belongings, she could not stop herself from glancing at Shen Yishu repeatedly.
“Is she that attractive?”
When Wang Xing looked at Shen Yishu yet again, Ji Xiangyu caught her.
Because of her excellent sleep, Ji Xiangyu seemed as though she had been caressed by a spring breeze. Her mood was relaxed and content, and her voice toward the people around her was much softer than usual.
“She trended again yesterday.”
Wang Xing spoke quietly.
“Her manager said it wasn’t a negative trending topic, so we didn’t inform you.”
“Mm?”
Ji Xiangyu was drinking her morning glass of water.
Hearing this, she accepted the phone her assistant offered.
The studio had purchased this phone specifically to manage all of Ji Xiangyu’s public accounts. The Weibo account logged into it was Ji Xiangyu’s official account.
Ji Xiangyu herself rarely checked Weibo. Her interest in entertainment gossip was even weaker than that of an ordinary passerby.
Although most people had not yet risen for the morning, the topic remained high on the trending list.
#Shen Yishu Li Jin#
When Ji Xiangyu opened it, she found a video of Shen Yishu in costume taken by an unauthorized photographer.
The previous day, Shen Yishu had gone to the entrance of the set to meet someone and had accidentally been filmed.
The afternoon sunlight was pleasant, and a gentle breeze passed through the air. The soft light rested against the side of her face without being glaring.
The young actress, still unfamiliar with the industry’s rules, had been filmed before she understood what was happening.
The instant she realized someone was secretly recording her, she frowned and protectively guided the young woman beside her into the set.
Because the other woman was not a public figure, her face had been blurred. One could only tell that she appeared attractive.
Some comments speculated that Ji Xiangyu had been cheated on.
[Surely not? Cheating right beneath Best Actress Ji’s eyes? That woman practically looks ready to stick herself onto Shen Yishu. Best Actress Ji finally had a somewhat interesting pairing, and it’s already ending badly?]
The comments then developed in a direction Ji Xiangyu had never expected.
[I disagree with “finally had an interesting pairing.” Isn’t Ji Xiangyu × Jiang Wu interesting?]
[Honestly, the fans of that pairing have more chemistry than the actual celebrities. If I remember correctly, they haven’t voluntarily interacted for eight years.]
[Real couples need to avoid suspicion. Fake ones can behave recklessly.]
Ji Xiangyu calmly continued drinking her water.
She felt these people clearly had far too much free time.
She needed to announce the marriage soon, or they would continue supporting pairings she could not understand.
Some of Ji Xiangyu’s solo fans were maintaining distance.
[Taking Yuyu away. Let the Best Actress shine alone. We acknowledge nothing without an official announcement—especially not a certain awardless person. Stop clinging to her.]
[Sister Ji is too famous. Every insignificant fish and shrimp wants to attach themselves to her.]
Her career-focused fans stated their positions.
[Sister Ji has remained productive and dedicated for years and never produces terrible work. Her private life is her own choice. I only hope she keeps her eyes open and doesn’t trust the wrong person.]
[As long as Sister Ji continues acting, I’ll continue supporting her.]
Multi-fandom spectators stirred the trouble further.
[If the rumors are real, wouldn’t the Best Actress be furious? This is practically a slap in her face.]
[Shen Yishu is impressive. She used Ji Xiangyu for publicity, then immediately found another beautiful young woman.]
Naturally, Ji Xiangyu was not angry.
She had listened to the entire conversation the previous day and understood what had happened far better than the gossiping public.
After Zhu Li reminded her, Shen Yishu also opened her phone and began refreshing the page.
She opened a different account from Ji Xiangyu’s.
It was a personal account focused mainly on admiring attractive people, which had reposted the video with a comment.
[She’s rather beautiful. Does anyone understand what I mean? I think she genuinely resembles Li Jin from the original novel.]
The replies were filled with agreement.
[Her charming-scumbag aura is so strong. Sister, please break my heart, QAQ.]
[Exactly! She resembles the novel’s Li Jin so much. She especially gives the feeling of pretending to love someone deeply while actually being an absolute scumbag.]
[I wasn’t looking forward to her playing Li Jin because Li Jin has so many scenes early on. I’ve changed my mind. Sister, please hurt me!]
[I’ll take a number and wait for my turn to be loved.]
[Everyone cursed her when the promotional stills were first released, and now they’re praising her. Attaching herself to a certain person’s powerful thigh really does wonders. When will my favorite learn?]
[The person you support is genuinely ugly. Ugly people should leave the comments of accounts dedicated to beautiful faces.]
Shen Yishu quietly asked Zhu Li,
“What does ‘charming-scumbag aura’ mean?”
Zhu Li looked at her with an indescribable expression.
“It means that although you’re a scumbag, you’re so charming that people still want to experience the suffering of loving you.”
Shen Yishu: “…”
She would like to state very clearly that she was not a scumbag.
She logged into her own Weibo account and felt she needed to clarify the matter.
She could not allow herself to become permanently associated with the word scumbag immediately after entering the industry.
[The plot requires it. The character’s personality has nothing to do with my own.]
While drinking water and scrolling through Weibo, Ji Xiangyu saw the platform’s new “Post by the Person Involved” feature appear.
Her finger slipped, and she accidentally liked Shen Yishu’s post.
Ji Xiangyu: “…”
Wang Xing: “…”
Shen Yishu: “…”
Zhu Li: “…”
All four people immediately fell silent.
A senior truly was a senior.
Ji Xiangyu recovered first and calmly followed Shen Yishu’s account.
“We’ll announce it eventually. It doesn’t matter.”
Shen Yishu silently followed her in return.
When the mutual-following symbol appeared, she felt that marketing accounts and entertainment bloggers on every platform would lose their minds today.
Only the private investigator she had re-added the previous night—the ordinary young woman in the video whom the original owner had saved in her contacts as [167 cm, 20 years old, sweet voice]—sent her a WeChat message.
[Ji Xiangyu followed you? Won’t your wife go insane with jealousy?]
Shen Yishu did not know what to say.
She could hardly explain that Ji Xiangyu would not become jealous of herself.
Before reaching the set, Shen Yishu checked Weibo again.
The discussion had already shifted away from whether she possessed a charming-scumbag aura or whether Ji Xiangyu had been cheated on.
Now everyone was discussing why Ji Xiangyu had liked Shen Yishu’s post and why the two had followed each other almost instantly.
#Ji Xiangyu Likes Post# surged high on the trending list.
The identities of the people commenting beneath the topic were completely mixed. Everyone appeared determined to contribute an opinion.
Some investigated Shen Yishu’s background.
Some asked whether Shen Yishu was so breathtakingly beautiful that Best Actress Ji had fallen in love at first sight.
Others wondered whether Shen Yishu had stolen Ji Xiangyu’s phone while they were filming together.
After endless speculation, everyone reached a conclusion.
[Damn it. This time, we may actually be supporting something real.]
After arriving at the set, both women handed their phones to their assistants.
During the drive, Ji Xiangyu’s manager had already lectured her and told her to use an alternate account next time she checked Weibo.
Sudden incidents like this were terrifying.
Ji Xiangyu felt entirely innocent.
How was she supposed to know it was so easy for one’s finger to slip on Weibo?
Today’s scenes depicted a palace coup.
Because it was a major sequence, the production had hired many extras, all of whom were currently having their makeup applied.
There were several large night scenes, so Ji Xiangyu estimated they would be filming until deep into the night.
She did not particularly like night shoots.
During her heat, her pheromones were always somewhat unstable after dark.
In the story, Zhou Yi had persuaded most of the court’s important officials to support Li Jin and pressured the emperor during court to appoint a successor.
The emperor wavered and intended to write the decree later.
Before he could do so, the Thirteenth Prince staged a coup, demanding to be named Crown Prince and threatening to kill the emperor if he refused.
The scene they would film today involved Li Jin being summoned to the palace.
On the surface, the emperor wished to tell her something.
In reality, the Thirteenth Prince intended to eliminate Li Jin in advance and remove the obstacle before him.
After Li Jin entered the palace, Zhou Yi learned what was happening and infiltrated the Imperial Guards surrounding the palace to rescue her.
Li Jin possessed decent martial arts skills and could barely protect herself amid the chaos of the coup.
When Zhou Yi rushed into the palace, the two saw each other from afar and ran toward one another amid the sounds of slaughter filling the air.
To create those “sounds of slaughter,” the director had hired at least a hundred extras.
The set was so crowded that it had become chaotic.
Taking advantage of the disorder, Shen Yishu slipped into Ji Xiangyu’s lounge.
Lin Luosheng was already sitting inside.
She studied Ji Xiangyu’s face for a long time before pouting.
“Cousin, today you look especially like a fox spirit who has absorbed her fill of vital energy.”
Without raising her head, Ji Xiangyu replied,
“You should conceal the wound on your lips first. It’s extremely obvious.”
Lin Luosheng’s face instantly turned red.
She stood and complained,
“It’s all Zheng Shu’s fault! Is it truly that noticeable?”
“Mm. If you remain here any longer, it will become even more noticeable,” Ji Xiangyu said.
Only then did Lin Luosheng notice Shen Yishu, who had just entered.
She immediately understood why Ji Xiangyu was driving her away.
The newly married wives felt as though an entire lifetime had passed whenever they were separated for a single minute and could only be satisfied by clinging to each other.
She instantly remembered Zheng Shu, who had rushed back into the city overnight, and became even more dissatisfied.
“I’m only sitting here. What could the two of you possibly discuss that I’m not allowed to hear?”
“Children aren’t allowed to watch or listen.”
Only after reviewing today’s scenes and confirming she would not forget her lines did Ji Xiangyu raise her head.
“I’m an adult, and she’s the same age as me.”
Lin Luosheng pointed at Shen Yishu.
Shen Yishu innocently followed Ji Xiangyu’s gesture and sat beside her.
“She belongs to my family.”
Ji Xiangyu smiled faintly.
“You can find Zheng Shu and discuss something she isn’t allowed to hear.”
“Who wants to discuss anything with her?”
Lin Luosheng spoke irritably but still walked out.
Before leaving, she poked her head back through the doorway.
“Don’t make it too obvious. Makeup won’t be able to conceal it.”
Shen Yishu sat obediently, unaware of why Ji Xiangyu had summoned her.
“I should experience one final pheromone loss of control today.”
Ji Xiangyu did not waste time.
The extras were having their makeup applied outside, and once they finished, filming needed to begin immediately.
The longer the shoot lasted, the more exhausted everyone would become and the poorer the result.
Passing on the first take would be best.
“Do you need me to reinforce the mark now?” Shen Yishu asked.
“Yes,” Ji Xiangyu said. “But it will only delay it.”
Suppressing pheromones that needed to be released could only work temporarily.
When they could no longer be restrained, they would still need to emerge.
They could not delay this scene.
A sequence involving more than a hundred people would only occur once, so they needed to complete it as efficiently as possible.
“I’ll pay attention to you.”
Shen Yishu frowned slightly.
There were too many people present.
Fortunately, she and Ji Xiangyu had marked each other twice recently.
Otherwise, Shen Yishu would not have been able to identify the scent immediately when Ji Xiangyu’s pheromones first became unstable.
Since her makeup had already been completed, Shen Yishu could only wipe the lipstick from her lips with a wet tissue and return to have it reapplied afterward.
Both women had completed hairstyles and makeup, so they could not move too intensely.
Fortunately, they only needed to supplement the pheromones from the previous mark.
It did not need to be like the night before.
Shen Yishu only needed to inject a small amount, encouraging Ji Xiangyu’s pheromones to behave instead of suddenly escaping.
She gathered Ji Xiangyu’s long hair behind her and considered the best angle.
Then she leaned forward and bit directly into the mark.
Ji Xiangyu released only a muffled sound.
Fortunately, she was seated and did not collapse from weakness.
After injecting the pheromones, Shen Yishu immediately rose without hesitation.
“You’re becoming increasingly skilled,” Ji Xiangyu praised while arranging her hair.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed.
Had the lights not been as bright as daylight, Shen Yishu might not have noticed.
Ji Xiangyu found a lipstick on the dressing table similar in shade to the one Shen Yishu had worn and handed it to her so she could repair her makeup.
“It’s because Sister teaches me well.”
Looking into the mirror, Shen Yishu imitated the makeup artist’s design for Li Jin and reapplied the lipstick.
“I’ll teach you more things in the future.”
Ji Xiangyu looked at her profile with satisfaction, smiling faintly.
“…Are they all things I’m required to learn?”
Shen Yishu did not dare imagine what else Ji Xiangyu intended to teach her.
“You call me Sister. If I don’t teach you more, my conscience won’t allow it.”
Ji Xiangyu took out a wet tissue and wiped the back of her neck.
“Will you teach me proper things or improper things?”
Shen Yishu glanced unnaturally at Ji Xiangyu.
Her reflection in the mirror appeared slightly dazed.
Ji Xiangyu elegantly wiped her neck.
The four fingers visible above the tissue were long and slender, their joints covered by smooth flesh, clearly defined yet carrying a peculiar softness.
“I can teach either.”
Ji Xiangyu threw the tissue into the trash and turned to face Shen Yishu directly.
“After all, we’re together during both the day and night. Whatever you want to learn, I have time to teach you.”
Her makeup today made her appear more resolute than usual, yet the words leaving her lips resembled those of an enchantress.
The contrast was striking and made her even more captivating.
“Sister.”
Unable to withstand it any longer, Shen Yishu called to her pleadingly.
“Mm?”
Ji Xiangyu had no intention of sparing her.
“I’ll learn the proper things,” Shen Yishu could only continue.
Ji Xiangyu rose and stood beside Shen Yishu, looking into the mirror.
They had also stood together before a mirror the previous night.
Today, however, they wore makeup and costumes.
The two people reflected there appeared entirely different from those of last night.
“I can teach you the proper things once we enter the set.”
Ji Xiangyu stood partly sideways.
Because one leg was bent, she had to look upward at Shen Yishu, her bright eyes filled with starlight.
“Is there anything else you want to learn?”
“No.”
Shen Yishu shook her head like a rattle drum.
In her eyes, Ji Xiangyu had become an enchantress capable of devouring her.
Every smile and movement seemed designed to tease her, lure her, and tempt her into taking the bait.
Once Shen Yishu was hooked, she had no doubt Ji Xiangyu would devour her until not even her bones remained.
“Little Friend Shen Yishu isn’t particularly eager to learn.”
Ji Xiangyu made a note of it on her phone.
“…”
Shen Yishu could neither agree to learn nor refuse.
Had it not been for their contract, even if she and Ji Xiangyu genuinely loved each other, Shen Yishu would have fled by now.
“You didn’t sleep well this morning. Why didn’t you tell me directly?”
Seeing that Shen Yishu could no longer speak, Ji Xiangyu finally stopped teasing her.
“A portable charger should possess proper self-awareness.”
Shen Yishu sighed.
Ji Xiangyu merely slept poorly; it was not as though she had a terrible temper.
Since Shen Yishu had accepted so many benefits, she could endure what needed to be endured.
“You think you’re my portable charger?” Ji Xiangyu asked.
“Yes.”
“Portable chargers keep improving as technology advances.”
Ji Xiangyu leaned close and lowered her voice.
“Why haven’t you improved?”
Shen Yishu froze.
“What would count as improvement?”
Outside, Wang Xing announced that the director was calling for them.
Shen Yishu finally released a long breath of relief.
At last, she no longer needed to remain trapped there while Ji Xiangyu teased her.
She could go film instead.
“For example, this time it was only an indirect kiss.”
Ji Xiangyu pointed meaningfully toward Shen Yishu’s lips.
“Next time, you can improve.”
After speaking, she laughed softly, opened the door, and left.
Shen Yishu remained frozen in place.
Her entire body instantly heated from her neck to her forehead.
Ji Xiangyu had a private dressing room, and her team brought all her personal cosmetics.
That meant the lipstick Shen Yishu had just applied had previously been used by Ji Xiangyu herself.
Calling it an indirect kiss was entirely accurate.
“…”
She could not win.
She truly could not win at all.
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