A OO Love After Officially Announcing with the Best Actress - Chapter 36

Guo Rongrong held her phone between her neck and shoulder. In her left hand, she carried a bag of packed-up late dinner, while her right hand rummaged through her shoulder bag for the room card.

The phone rang a few times, but no one answered. Guo Rongrong sighed and was just about to call out when someone behind her took the bag from her hand.

Lu Tu leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.

Lin Ke took the food Guo Rongrong had packed, pulled the room card from her hand, and smiled. “I’ll do it.”

Guo Rongrong: “…”

Guo Rongrong said, “Didn’t you go to an audition? You left in the morning and came back at night?”

Lin Ke touched her nose and mumbled, “It was three scenes. Acting them out didn’t even take half an hour.”

Guo Rongrong gave an “oh,” but she still blocked the door, hesitating over whether to let Lin Ke in. “Um… you’re not going to go in and not come out for several days again, are you?”

Lu Tu said, “Hard to say.”

Lin Ke’s ears heated. “What are you talking about! I’m just here to… offer love and care…”

Guo Rongrong: “…”

Helpless, Lu Tu had no choice but to say to Guo Rongrong, “Rongrong, I’ll vouch for Xiao Lin.”

Guo Rongrong looked at her with disdain. “Once you say that, I feel even less reassured.”

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Ke coughed lightly and said, “I’m just going in to check on her! I won’t do anything. Besides, I’m Teacher Lin’s girlfriend. If I don’t take care of her during her heat, do you want the fans to scold me?”

Guo Rongrong choked, and Lin Ke took the opportunity to push her aside.

Lin Ke slid the room card across the lock. After slipping inside, she poked half her head out again and said, “My heat hasn’t arrived, and I haven’t been abusing suppressants lately. Don’t worry.”

Lu Tu slung an arm around Guo Rongrong and swiped open the door to Room 602. “Rongrong-jie, want to team up?”

Guo Rongrong’s phone buzzed. She looked down and saw that the screen showed the call had ended, lasting one and a half minutes.

Guo Rongrong: “…”

Lin Ke tiptoed into the room. The moment she entered, the room was full of rich green-tea pheromones. The bedroom door was not closed, and she could vaguely see the rise and fall of curves beneath the deep gray bedding, along with a patch of snow-white skin.

Lin Ke rubbed her face, carried the takeout into the kitchen, and heated the food on the stove. Then she found a few eggs in the fridge and cooked a bowl of sweet egg soup.

After doing all this, Lin Ke opened the window to ventilate the room, then walked to the bedroom door and peeked inside.

Lin Bingran was sleeping like the dead. Even with all that noise, she had not heard anything.

Lin Ke muttered, “Able to eat and sleep, just like a pig.”

The sound of footsteps went away. Lin Bingran opened her eyes. She was half-buried in the bedding, one section of her back to her hips and her faintly visible calves exposed outside the soft gray quilt.

Lin Bingran opened one eye and, through the open bedroom door, watched Lin Ke bustle around the living room.

Today, Lin Ke wore a short suit set. The lower half was a pair of suit shorts above the knees. The overall colors were blue and white, plus a striped yellow bow tie. It was casual yet neat, making her look lively, youthful, and as pretty as a little idol.

Lin Ke boiled some hot water, set the bowls and chopsticks in the dining area, kept the food warm in the pot, brewed a cup of green plum water, and carried it into the bedroom.

Lin Bingran had a habit of sleeping naked. Half her body was buried in the blanket, while the other half was exposed. Half of her smooth bare bottom could be seen.

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Ke turned her head away, pulled the quilt, and covered Lin Bingran’s butt for her.

The quilt rustled, startling Lin Bingran. The sleeping omega’s steady breathing suddenly paused.

Lin Ke pinched the edge of the quilt, so nervous that she suddenly let go.

Lin Bingran mumbled and rolled over in her sleep, turning her back to Lin Ke and pressing a large part of the quilt beneath her body.

Just now, Lin Ke had only been able to glimpse half the scenery. Now, she could almost see the entire view.

Lin Ke drew in a deep breath and did not dare breathe out. She moved from the foot of the bed to the head.

Once she got closer, Lin Ke saw the tray on the bedside cabinet. The suppressant had not been opened yet.

Lin Ke swallowed. Lin Bingran was asleep, but the signs of heat were already obvious. Her face and neck were red, the flush spreading across her shoulders and neck to her bare back, down to her slender waist that looked as if it could be grasped in one hand.

Taking advantage of someone in danger is unacceptable. Taking advantage of someone in danger is unacceptable. I’m not in heat. I’m not in heat. Lin Ke repeated this over and over in her heart as she bent down to pull out Lin Bingran’s quilt.

She tugged lightly and pulled out just a little, then quickly held her breath and observed Lin Bingran.

She had not woken up… and her breathing was long and even, her brows relaxed, the corner of her mouth curved into a silly smile. It felt like she was having some kind of good dream.

Lin Ke blinked and returned to herself. She pinched the quilt edge and tugged lightly again, wanting to cover Lin Bingran a little more.

Lin Bingran’s leg hanging over the bed was soft. Following Lin Ke’s force, it lifted slightly. Suddenly, in her deep sleep, she frowned and pressed down hard on the quilt with her leg.

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Bingran trapped the quilt between her legs. Her brows furrowed tightly, and her breathing grew fast and urgent. It was as if she were hugging a person, rubbing her face against the soft blanket. Her half-open eyes made Lin Ke turn her head away in embarrassment.

Lin Ke picked at the mattress, lowered her head, and sat at the bedside playing with her phone. She aimlessly opened every app once. The panting behind her grew louder and louder until she could no longer endure it. “…You’re awake and still not saying anything.”

Lin Bingran hummed a few times, her voice tight and sticky, giving a vague answer.

Lin Ke turned her head and secretly glanced at her. Lin Bingran’s eyes were half-open, but her gaze was unfocused. It was hard to tell if she was awake or not. She had been made muddle-headed by her heat.

After finishing the call with Lin Ke, Lin Bingran had put down her phone and gone to sleep. She only woke when Guo Rongrong called again.

She forced herself through the drowsiness to listen to Lin Ke and Guo Rongrong’s conversation, but she was too sleepy and closed her eyes again in the blink of an eye. She drifted in and out of sleep several times. Sometimes she had only slept a few minutes before opening her eyes and seeing Lin Ke going in and out, steam rising from the kitchen. Then she would close her eyes again in peace.

Now that Lin Ke was right in front of her, Lin Bingran looked at her, her heart restless, feeling as if she was still dreaming.

Lin Bingran said, “Mm…”

Lin Ke’s face looked as if it had been flooded with blood. She gave up on trying to cover someone with the quilt and sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the rustling behind her.

Lin Bingran might have been having a spring dream. What she murmured… was all Lin Ke’s name…

Even dreams could be DIY. Lin Ke tugged at her hair several times. Her feet felt nailed in place. She could not get up, nor did she want to. Lin Bingran’s voice was like a steel cable, binding her firmly where she sat.

Lin Bingran murmured, “Lin… Ke…”

The toes hidden inside Lin Ke’s slippers curled and tightened. She threw down her phone, braced both hands behind herself, and pressed down a tiny bit of the quilt edge to prevent Lin Bingran from slipping out and catching cold.

Lin Bingran’s eyes were half-open. Her dimples showed, and her taut instep suddenly kicked Lin Ke’s fingers. She wanted to pull back, but Lin Ke grabbed it firmly with her backhand.

Fiercely, Lin Ke dug her fingers into the sole of Lin Bingran’s foot.

An omega in heat was like a sponge soaked full of water; with one light squeeze, water would spill everywhere.

Lin Ke gripped Lin Bingran’s sole hard, venting some unspeakable emotion.

Lin Bingran struggled to no avail, lightly trembling beneath the quilt. Her unfocused eyes stared at the ceiling. The person sitting by the bed suddenly left. The figure drew her pupils, her gaze turning with Lin Ke’s movements.

Lin Ke came back with two tissues, pulled Lin Bingran out from the quilt, and wiped her fingers for her.

After wiping her hand clean, Lin Ke picked up the chilled green plum water and fed Lin Bingran a few sips.

The green plum was sweet and sour, with two drops of lemon squeezed into it. The chilled coolness sank into the lungs. Taking a sip in this lingering autumn heat was indescribably refreshing.

Half-awake, Lin Bingran asked hoarsely, “I want tea…”

Lin Ke muttered, “Still tea? If you drink tea at night, are you planning to sleep or not?”

Lin Ke said, “Get up.”

Lin Bingran sat up. The cotton blanket slid down her spine to her waist, her waist half-collapsed, the silk quilt hanging there.

Lin Ke struggled to look away.

Lin Bingran smiled and spread her arms wide, letting Lin Ke button up her pajamas for her. In the end, even her pants were put on by Lin Ke.

Lin Ke looked so dazed and obedient that Lin Bingran laughed at her.

Wickedly, Lin Ke secretly withheld one pair of Lin Bingran’s underwear.

Lin Bingran was fully awake now. Her nose was pink, and her eyes were damp and red. Across the dining table, she interrogated Lin Ke. “You’ve learned bad habits.”

Lin Ke drank the sweet egg soup. Actually, just a little more, and she would have… Guiltily, Lin Ke answered, “I was afraid of ruining your good dream.”

Lin Bingran set down her chopsticks, propped her chin up, and smiled wickedly. “I dreamed of you. Do you want to hear the details?”

Lin Ke was intermittently bold but habitually timid. She pressed her lips together, released them, then chickened out. “…No. I’m afraid I’ll get dyed with color.”

Lin Bingran burst out laughing. As her body shook, her smile suddenly froze. Her lips parted slightly, and she tightened her grip on the chopsticks. “You didn’t… put underwear on me?”

Lin Ke held the bowl, drank the last mouthful of sweet soup, slid down from the dining table, collected the bowls and chopsticks, and rushed toward the kitchen. “I’m going to wash the dishes!”

Lin Ke pretended nothing had happened, but the heat on her face exposed her.

Lin Bingran’s dimples looked as if they held honey. Sitting on the high stool, she leisurely swung her legs. She picked up the green plum drink and took a sip, surprised to find that the drink actually tasted pretty good.

The night sky was a river of stars, spread across the entire night. Lin Ke washed the dishes, and her movements slowly slowed down.

Lin Bingran turned on the TV. After Lin Ke finished showering and came out, she sat next to her. The two curled up on the sofa like cats squeezed together, licking each other’s fur.

Lin Bingran tugged Lin Ke’s collar messy. Lin Ke hurriedly snatched it back, pulled it tight, and said, “I have something to tell you.”

Lin Bingran hummed and leaned in to kiss her. “Go ahead.”

Lin Ke dodged backward, only for Lin Bingran to kiss her neck. “It’s very important… listen to me…”

Lin Bingran invaded, half-pressing Lin Ke onto the sofa, asking with uneven breaths, “What is it?”

At the last moment, Lin Ke suddenly hesitated. She swallowed, unable to open her mouth for a long time.

Lin Bingran looked at her and said, “If you’re hesitating, that means you haven’t thought it through yet. I can wait.”

Lin Ke: “…”

“Today at the audition, among so many people, I was the only one auditioning for the female lead,” Lin Ke said.

Lin Bingran gave an “oh.”

Lin Ke said, “…No one else had a script, but I got it a week in advance.”

Lin Bingran said, “…Mm.”

Lin Ke poked Lin Bingran’s chest. “The audition hadn’t even started yet, and the screenwriter already told me that by the time I joined the crew, the script would definitely be revised.”

Lin Bingran propped herself up. “Oh.”

Lin Ke said softly, neither blaming nor angry, “Don’t do this again.”

Lin Bingran asked, “Are you angry?”

Lin Ke said, “No.”

Lin Bingran said, “Walking step by step is too tiring. I wanted to make it easier for you.”

Lin Ke choked. Unable to find a way to punish Lin Bingran, she pouted and blew a breath at Lin Bingran to vent.

Lin Bingran narrowed her eyes from being blown at. “…”

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Bingran grabbed Lin Ke’s chin and pinched Lin Ke’s lips into a goldfish pout. As if bewildered, she asked, “Are all young kids as cute as you?”

Lin Ke said, “Tch.”

Lin Ke said, “Don’t you just like young ones?”

Lin Bingran rubbed against Lin Ke’s temple. “…Who said that?”

Lin Ke’s eyes showed disdain, and she said sourly, “It’s being spread all over the industry! Lin Bingran doesn’t like ripe watermelons. She likes astringent green plums.”

Lin Bingran said, “You added the second half yourself, didn’t you?”

Lin Ke lacked confidence. “Can’t I add it?”

Lin Bingran bit Lin Ke’s lower lip, lightly nibbled twice, and released it. “Hiring paid commenters costs fifty cents a comment. You’re spreading rumors about me. Shouldn’t you give me some benefits?”

Lin Ke: “…”

Taking care of an omega in heat really was not something humans should do. Lin Ke worked like an ox and horse. Not only did she have to exert strength, Lin Bingran would also pinch her face and ask why she was making that expression.

Lin Ke pouted, her hand too sore to lift.

Lin Bingran said, “Be good. Make a prettier expression.”

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Ke freed one hand to cover Lin Bingran’s mouth and said, “Too much.”

Lin Bingran dodged Lin Ke’s hand and panted roughly. “If you do that… I’ll be much faster…”

Lin Ke’s ears turned deep red. Holding back a chestful of tears, she bit Lin Bingran’s ear and said, aggrieved, “I want to too.”

Lin Bingran parted Lin Ke’s legs, bent her long leg, and said, “Do it yourself. I don’t have strength anymore.”

Lin Ke: “…”

Lin Ke was dissatisfied. Everything was done half-heartedly.

Lin Bingran stared unfocused at the ceiling lamp swaying above her. Lin Ke suddenly blocked the light, weakly falling onto her.

Lin Bingran lifted her chin, rubbing across her lower lip, feeling that Lin Ke’s expression was still not pretty enough.

Lin Ke suddenly stiffened and looked at Lin Bingran in surprise. “What… what is it…”

Lin Bingran slipped in and explored deeper. “Don’t want it?”

Lin Ke said, “Of course not.”

Lin Ke bit the quilt, being retaliated against by Lin Bingran grabbing the sole of her foot. Her sole was itchy and uncomfortable, itching all the way into her heart and hurting there too. As expected, a tear squeezed out and hung beside her eye. She buried her face in the quilt, rubbed the tear away, and let out a suppressed soft gasp from her throat.

Early the next morning, Lu Tu came to knock on the door of Room 601.

Lin Ke came out rubbing her eyes and pulled the door tightly shut behind her. Half-asleep, she asked, “What time is it?”

The corner of Lu Tu’s mouth twitched. “The director called you to film.”

Lin Ke opened her eyes. “Wasn’t I still on leave today?”

Lu Tu shrugged. “Yesterday, when Xiao Wang drove to pick us up, the moment the car left the hotel, news that you’d returned spread. Oh right, everyone in the crew also knows Film Queen Lin is resting at the hotel because of heat.”

Lin Ke held the wall, touched it back and forth twice, and stammered, “Then they all know I…”

Lu Tu teased, “Looking at those dark circles, you worked hard.”

Lin Ke’s eyes dodged. Last night, she and Lin Bingran had been watching TV on the sofa. Before she finished speaking, they had already tangled together.

Lu Tu said, “The director sent a call sheet. She wants you and Film Queen Lin to come back and film.”

Lin Ke opened her mouth. “…She hasn’t gotten up yet. I’ll go first.”

Lu Tu said, “Indecent.”

“…The director is unreasonable.” Lin Ke’s face was red, but she did not refute it. She opened the door and went into her room to wash up.

Lu Tu chased her into 602 and asked curiously, “Did you and Film Queen Lin fight?”

After rinsing her mouth, Lin Ke buried her face in a warm towel. Fight about what? The serious matter had not even been said before they had only cared about…

Last night, Lin Bingran had released herself absurdly under Lin Ke’s hands three times. In the end, she had lain on the bed, her face cooked into a giant shrimp, and fallen asleep.

“No,” Lin Ke answered muffledly.

Lu Tu clicked her tongue. “Clean up and go downstairs.”

Lin Ke said, “I need to change clothes.”

Lu Tu closed the door and went out. Lin Ke changed inside. There were already two or three sets of pajamas she had worn back from Lin Bingran’s room saved in the room. At this rate, after filming this movie, she would not need to worry about summer and autumn pajamas at all.

Lin Ke folded the pajamas neatly and carefully placed them at the bottom of the wardrobe. When she had time, she would wash them clean and hang them up.

Back at the crew, Lin Ke returned to filming, tossing the audition matter to the back of her mind as she focused on handling every scene.

Granny Zhou was dead. Master Li did not call the police and made the decision to hold a funeral for Granny Zhou.

At night, Butler Fang kept vigil for Granny Zhou. Yellow paper burned. Master Li sat in a wheelchair, dragging his sick body as he coughed, advising Butler Fang, “Xiao Fang.”

Butler Fang said softly, “Master.”

Master Li said, “Xiao Zhou died in Ling’er’s room. I hope you understand me.”

Butler Fang’s voice carried no discernible joy or anger. He said quietly, “This lowly one understands.”

Master Li waved his hand. Someone came over holding a stack of papers. With trembling, branch-like fingers, Master Li pulled out two indenture contracts. He said, “This is no longer the old society. Take your indenture contracts.”

One life, two pieces of contract paper. In the end, they burned to ash among the pile of yellow paper.

It was as if nothing had ever happened in the Li family. Tranquility returned. The miracle doctor said Master Li did not have much time left, and now that he was old, he had already lost the ability to have children.

Master Li discussed with Butler Fang that they would recruit a live-in husband.

For a time, the Li family was unmatched in the limelight. The people coming to propose marriage nearly trampled down the threshold.

Ji Fengling hid behind the round window on the second floor, trembling. Every night, Chu Feng secretly tore down the notices posted on the town bulletin board.

Until the continuous drizzling rain of autumn, the candidate was settled.

Chu Qiu’s belly was two months along, and she stayed at home every day to protect the pregnancy. Some gossip began spreading in the village, saying the Chu family’s daughter did not marry and had instead gotten mixed up with a labor-reform criminal.

Chu Feng lay on a haystack, biting a blade of grass. She had just beaten up a bunch of smelly brats who had been chewing their tongues. The man found her and asked what to do.

Chu Feng jumped down from the haystack. She was half a head shorter than the man, her gaze like a small beast tearing at prey, protective of its food and not allowing others to covet it. “You marry her. I’ll enter the bridal chamber in your place.”

The man was silent for a long while. “Fine.”

Chu Feng said, “Wait! We have to hide it from my sister!”

“I know.” The man picked up the carrying pole on the ground. The bamboo baskets were filled with stones. “I’m going to repair your broken wall.”

Chu Feng said, “Just patch it casually. Once you get the money, take my sister to Taiwan.”

“What about you?”

Chu Feng said, “War is coming. I’ll take Miss overseas to study.”

The two looked at each other and smiled. All past grudges were uncovered and no longer mentioned.

The wind chime rang. Chu Feng stroked one corner of the red bridal veil, excitedly leapt down from the haystack, and shouted loudly toward the sky as she ran.

Miss Ji was recruiting a live-in husband to bring good fortune to Master Li’s illness. The town set up a flowing banquet and invited people from all the surrounding villages to eat.

It was lively for three whole days. Everyone said the labor-reform criminal had risen up in one leap and would have to be called young master in the future. Those who joked about it laughed loudly. As they laughed and laughed, they suddenly realized that not a single person remembered the man’s name.

What was he called?

A man with no father or mother who had been in prison—in the future, he would be surnamed Li.

Chu Feng pushed open the door. The room was filled with red silk cloth. Ji Fengling wore a red qipao, her hair pinned up with a large red flower on her head, sitting by the bed and smiling at Chu Feng.

Chu Feng closed the door, pulled out a red bridal veil, and said, “This red veil was used when my grandfather and grandmother got married.”

Ji Fengling pursed her lips and smiled. Chu Feng covered her with the veil, then gently lifted it.

“Miss…”

A week had passed since Old Tang’s audition. The casting results were announced online.

Lin Ke’s mentality was much calmer now. She knew being scolded was unavoidable, and she could guess most of the content. What surprised her was that the people scolding Lin Bingran were no fewer than those scolding her.

Lin Ke: “…”

Netizens and haters scolded Lin Bingran for having a love-addled brain. With Lin Ke’s dime-a-dozen idol-drama acting, she could participate in a Gu Bai production?

No need to think. Lin Bingran must have stuffed her in.

The internet was full of scolding. CP fans in disguise were also very active. The two sides fought nonstop. Lin Ke ate melon during a makeup break.

Lu Tu said, “Stop looking at your phone. Zou Qi will arrive soon. Go down and greet him later.”

Lin Ke turned off her phone, her mood not high. “Oh.”

Seeing this, Lu Tu comforted her. “Aiya, it’s all acting. Don’t be sad.”

Lin Ke said, “It’s not because of Zou Qi. It’s because there are so many people online scolding…”

“Scolding Film Queen Lin?” Lu Tu said. “Teacher Lin has been through it before. This level of power is just sprinkling water to her.”

Lin Ke: “…”

The makeup artist smiled and said, “Teacher Xiao Lin feels sorry for Teacher Lin, right?”

Lin Ke smiled awkwardly and closed her eyes, letting the makeup artist work around her eyes.

The newly joined Zou Qi played Master Li’s son, who had lost contact with the family for many years.

Shen Feng said the budget was insufficient, so they had found a new actor. Lin Ke happened to know Zou Qi.

Zou Qi quickly threw himself into filming with the crew.

Lin Ke greeted him simply. The rest of the time, when they ran into each other on set, they mostly brushed past each other without looking sideways.

Lu Tu noticed and asked curiously, “Isn’t Zou Qi your classmate? Are you not close?”

Lin Ke was waiting off set, waiting for Lin Bingran and Zou Qi to finish filming the scene of reunion after a long separation.

Lin Ke said, “Middle school classmate. We weren’t close. He pulled my hair tie, and I punctured his bike tire.”

Lu Tu burst out laughing. “First love? If so, I’ll have to report it to the company.”

“No,” Lin Ke said helplessly. “He was a delinquent. I was a marginal person in class, the type who didn’t have much contact with bad students.”

Lu Tu was surprised. “He was a bad student? He doesn’t look like it!”

Zou Qi had a face full of righteousness. With his buzz cut, he looked honest and simple, playing the reporter Li Suiping in the drama.

Lu Tu gossiped, “In interviews, he talked about being bullied at school and gained a lot of sympathy. So it was all fake?”

Zou Qi’s acting was average. The reason he could play Li Suiping was mostly because of that face.

Lin Ke frowned. “Fake. It was good enough if he didn’t bully others. I fought with him before.”

Lu Tu reminded her, “Don’t start fighting on set.”

Lin Ke said, “I know.”

Zou Qi could not find his state. When he acted in the same frame as Lin Bingran, they never seemed to be in the same picture. Shen Feng called cut and pulled Zou Qi aside to explain the scene.

Lin Bingran held a small fan, unfastened the neckline of her qipao, and stood under the eaves to cool down. Water Town had long since entered autumn, and fans were no longer often used. Filming was entering its final stage, and Shen Feng was polishing every scene to perfection.

Lin Ke handed Lin Bingran a water cup and asked, “Did Zou Qi touch you?”

Lin Bingran ate a green plum and smoothly stuffed her own tea cup into Lin Ke’s hand. “No. What’s wrong?”

Lin Ke said, “He’s an alpha, isn’t he? I’m jealous.”

Lin Bingran glanced sideways, set down the water cup, and placed her hand on Lin Ke’s shoulder, sliding down to her waist. She pulled Lin Ke in and licked open her teeth.

Lu Tu and Guo Rongrong turned sideways to block them, making conversation with nothing to say. Lu Tu said, “The weather’s pretty good today.”

Guo Rongrong raised her head and looked at the dark clouds pressing overhead. “…When you say it like that, it’s really hard for me to respond.”