Chapter 4
After being shut down for three days, Song Xu’s brain finally began operating again, slowly and stiffly. She sat there in a daze for a long while before finally remembering what she had forgotten.
That night in the changing room, she seemed to have encountered an Omega in heat.
So where was that person now? Was she the “S-grade Omega” Doctor Du had mentioned?
Although there were many Omegas in the entertainment industry, those who qualified as S-grade were exceedingly rare. Among the new generation, there were precisely zero.
Don’t tell her that the person she had offended that night was some major senior figure in the industry. By then, it wouldn’t even matter whether the woman herself was willing to spare her—one mouthful of spit from each of the senior’s fans would be enough to drown Song Xu.
At this thought, Song Xu asked Xiao Cen in a trembling voice, “Um, Xiao Cen, did you see anyone that night? An Omega, for example…”
Sitting at the foot of the bed, Xiao Cen blinked her large eyes and replied blankly, “Huh? No.”
When she received the notification and rushed to the hospital, she hadn’t encountered anyone else at all. Whoever had brought Song Xu there had paid every expense that could be settled, yet hadn’t even left a name.
Moreover, the clothes Song Xu had been wearing when she was brought in had clearly been changed by someone. However, Xiao Cen hadn’t dared tell Lu Lingze about any of this and had temporarily kept it hidden.
Song Xu simply stared at her in silence, her expression complicated.
Xiao Cen was also a Beta. She clearly couldn’t smell the Omega pheromones on the gown, nor could she imagine just how concentrated the scent was.
The gown hadn’t even been fully removed from the envelope, yet the domineering scent of gin had already surrounded Song Xu, drawing a prison around her and tyrannically attempting to isolate her completely from everyone else.
Seeing that Song Xu didn’t look very happy, Xiao Cen gave it some thought. Although it didn’t seem appropriate to bring up work before Song Xu had recovered, she still wanted to share the news with her:
“By the way, Sister Xiao Xu, President Lu introduced you to a new script. Once you’re discharged in a few days, you can join the production immediately!”
Unexpectedly, Song Xu’s reaction differed somewhat from what she had imagined.
Looking at the slightly pale woman frowning on the hospital bed, Xiao Cen asked in confusion, “What’s wrong, Sister Xiao Xu? Didn’t you always get excited whenever you heard there was a new script? Why are you—oh, I understand. Have you been too tired lately and want to rest for a while?”
“Mm… Taking this opportunity to rest for a while would be good too. Honestly, I’ve always thought you put too much pressure on yourself. You spend three hundred and sixty days out of every three hundred and sixty-five rushing from one engagement to another. You really don’t have to work so hard.”
After all, no matter what happened, Young President Lu would always be there to support her.
Although Xiao Cen thought this, she didn’t dare say it aloud.
After contemplating for a moment, Song Xu asked, “What kind of character is it this time?”
Xiao Cen took out her phone and pulled up the relevant information. “It’s the type you’re best at. She starts out innocent and carefree, then rapidly matures after her kingdom falls. In the end, she avenges her country and family and finds love.”
After giving a highly condensed summary of the character based on her own understanding, she added as though afraid Song Xu might remain unconvinced, “The director released a xianxia drama this year that opened with a 7.5 rating on DB. That’s already quite good.”
“Turn it down. I don’t want to play this kind of character anymore,” Song Xu said listlessly.
Over the years, she had filmed quite a few television dramas of varying scales, but every one of her characters possessed more or less the same traits. After enough time, Song Xu had begun wondering whether she was capable of portraying only those few character types.
Not only that, but netizens’ assessment of her had also changed from “tomorrow’s rising star” to “acting skills visible only to her fans.”
The comment that left the deepest impression on Song Xu came from a film-and-television commentary creator on that little video site: “Song Xu happily prepares three dishes and a soup for you, but when you take a closer look, you discover that the four dishes are french fries, stir-fried potatoes, boiled potatoes, and mashed potatoes. It gives you the miserable impression that even if she deserves no credit, she has at least worked hard. You can’t bring yourself to praise her, but she’s not bad enough to criticize either.”
“How should I put it? I wish her success,” the creator concluded.
That was why she genuinely wanted to try playing a different kind of character.
But Xiao Cen couldn’t quite understand.
It was a major production adapted from a major IP, and the role was squarely within Song Xu’s comfort zone. With Young President Lu pulling strings on top of that, Song Xu would practically be able to do whatever she pleased on set. Why would she turn it down?!
Nevertheless, Xiao Cen still offered her suggestion earnestly. “I heard Sister Ying Ru mention a few days ago that she’s currently negotiating for a film. If everything works out, one of the artists under her might become a Best Actress. Sister Xiao Xu, why don’t we give it a try too?”
Ying Ru was Song Xu’s manager. She didn’t represent many artists, but every one of them generated considerable discussion online.
Her judgment was exceptionally sharp. Apart from Song Xu, whose acting prospects were restricted because of Lu Lingze, the scripts chosen for her other artists all enjoyed excellent longevity.
Song Xu’s eyes lit up.
“But that director is quite strict. If you want a role in her production, an audition will be unavoidable—”
“None of that is a problem.” Song Xu’s smile deepened.
“All right, I’ll ask her now.” Seeing that Song Xu had regained her energy, Xiao Cen immediately felt much more relaxed.
“Then I’ll head out first. Sister Xiao Xu, get some proper rest.” After speaking, she lowered her gaze to the kraft-paper envelope still clutched in Song Xu’s hand. “What about this gown…?”
“I may have to ask you to get it dry-cleaned for me,” Song Xu said helplessly. Although there was a high chance she wouldn’t need to return it, if she failed to handle it properly and someone from the Lu family smelled the overwhelmingly concentrated Omega pheromones on it, even eight hundred mouths wouldn’t be enough for her to explain herself.
“Got it.” Xiao Cen made an “OK” gesture at her. After accepting the envelope, she took out the gown and shook it open to check for snagged threads or damage.
“Oh, right. Doctor Du said that your gland is currently unstable. It would be best to find the person who caused your secondary differentiation and ask whether she can lend you some pheromones, or have the hospital synthesize an artificial inhibitor…”
Before she could finish speaking, both of them froze when they saw the hem of the gown.
A large piece of pale beige tulle had been torn from the previously intact color-blocked mermaid gown and was nowhere to be found.
.
At the Chi family’s private hospital, Chi Yue lay on a hospital bed connected to numerous machines, staring blankly as she recalled what had happened that night.
She hadn’t originally intended to attend the red carpet, but she heard that a director she admired would be there. Since the event was also being held on her family’s property, she stopped by while she was in the area. Who could have known that she would suddenly enter heat? She had no choice but to find a random room and hide inside in a panic.
As a result, something like that had happened afterward…
At the thought, Chi Yue felt her face grow slightly warm.
Unwilling to face reality, she closed her eyes. Her long lashes trembled continuously because her heart had yet to calm down.
“Your heart rate is a little high. What nonsense are you thinking about now?” A clear female voice came from nearby. It would have been better if she hadn’t said anything. Having her thoughts abruptly exposed startled Chi Yue so badly that her heart began beating even faster, prompting the monitor to emit a brief alarm.
Fang Qingqu casually switched off the alarm, smiling smugly.
“Are you almost done? I’m getting tired of lying here.” Chi Yue changed the subject.
“Pretty girl, do you hear yourself?”
Fang Qingqu’s lips twitched. She had been sitting in front of the equipment for exactly as long as Chi Yue had been lying there. Still, considering that Chi Yue was a patient, she ultimately explained patiently, “Hold on for another five minutes. The data is still being generated.”
Chi Yue gave a short grunt through her nose, indicating her agreement.
“Honestly, you already knew your gland function was unstable. How could you still dare go somewhere with such a high concentration of Alphas and Omegas when your heat was approaching?”
The thought made Fang Qingqu angry, and her tone involuntarily became more reproachful. “You really don’t take your health seriously at all, do you?”
“How was I supposed to know there were genuinely that many Alphas and Omegas in the entertainment industry? There were barely any whenever I filmed with a production crew before.” And they had been releasing pheromones everywhere, as though afraid they wouldn’t be able to identify each other’s secondary gender otherwise.
“Alphas and Omegas can rise into the upper-middle ranks of nearly every field. How many actual big names did your production crews have…?” While Chi Yue couldn’t see her, Fang Qingqu openly rolled her eyes.
The computer screen displayed a notification that loading was complete. Fang Qingqu moved the mouse and clicked “Confirm.” A crisp click cut through the silence of the room, and rows of data soon surged onto the screen like a rising tide.
She casually propped up her chin with her left hand, though her eyes rapidly and attentively scanned the data. Her mouth didn’t remain idle for even a second. “Hey, so do you know who the person who marked you was?”
Chi Yue wrinkled her nose and gave her a name in a somewhat unnatural tone. “It’s really not a big deal. I’ll just treat it as being bitten by someone.”
Fang Qingqu snorted when she saw Chi Yue’s noticeably rising heart rate. “Just make sure your mother never hears you say that.”
The Chi family maintained an extremely strict upbringing. Forget temporary marking—Chi Yue’s mother even disapproved of hospital personnel who performed artificial marking for patients who had developed resistance to inhibitors.
But Chi Yue was an S-grade Omega, while artificial pheromones could reach only A-grade at best. As a result, she needed several doses whenever she entered heat. If this continued, having a living person mark her was only a matter of time.
The generated data showed that all Chi Yue’s current physical indicators were normal and even more stable than they had been the previous month. Only then did Fang Qingqu breathe a sigh of relief.
She moved her slightly stiff arms, then continued, “You said that person was called Song Xu? The same Song Xu I know?”
“Is there anyone else in the industry with that name?”
“True.” Fang Qingqu nodded and commented, “After all, there’s only one person whose acting looks the same in everything but who was still elevated to such a lofty position by someone powerful.”
Chi Yue frowned. “Don’t say that. There’s still a natural spark to her acting.”
“Wow. This is the first time our Young Miss has ever spoken up for someone else,” Fang Qingqu said in amazement.
“It’s the truth.”
“Fine, fine. As an outsider, I won’t comment on your industry.” Fang Qingqu looked away from her, stood, and retrieved a small temperature-controlled case from the refrigerated storage cabinet in the corner.
Seeing that the examination was finished, Chi Yue carefully removed the instruments attached to her body and sat upright.
Her smooth bare feet slipped into the disposable slippers arranged beside the bed as she accepted the slightly heavy case.
Fang Qingqu pursed her lips toward it. “Here, all the pheromones you asked me to extract and clone are inside. Don’t ask me to do this kind of work again. There was barely anything on that piece of fabric. Weren’t you deliberately making things difficult for me?”
“I had no choice. You’re the only expert I know.” Chi Yue heavily emphasized the word “expert” and smiled as she flattered her. “Isn’t that right, Ms. Fang Qingqu, the youngest scholar in our country’s field of pheromone therapy?”
“Stop sweet-talking me.” Fang Qingqu rolled her eyes again, though the corners of her lips honestly curved several degrees upward.
Chi Yue deftly flipped up the latch of the temperature-controlled case with her fingers. When she saw the amount inside, she was somewhat dissatisfied. “Why is there so little?”
“How much did you expect?” Fang Qingqu finally lost her patience and stepped forward to rap her on the head. “The Alpha who marked you that day didn’t have a high enough pheromone grade. Besides, the fabric was almost entirely saturated with your scent. Producing this much was already quite an achievement.”
“Besides, cloning takes time, all right? Once you use these up, come and ask me for more.”
Chi Yue stared straight at her for a long moment before extending her hand.
Fang Qingqu: “?”
Confused, she placed her right hand in Chi Yue’s, only to have it slapped away without mercy.
Fang Qingqu: “!”
“Chi Yue, don’t think I won’t beat you up just because you’re my childhood friend.”
Chi Yue said, “Give me back that piece of fabric.”
“You can’t be serious. You want me to return a scrap of torn fabric?” Fang Qingqu stared at her in disbelief. When she realized that Chi Yue’s expression was completely serious, she became even more astonished. “Since when did our Young Miss develop a hobby of collecting rubbish?”
“You’re the one who collects rubbish… Are you giving it back or not?”
“Fine, fine, I’ll give it back.” Fang Qingqu dug a sealed bag out of her desk drawer and unceremoniously tossed it over. Chi Yue caught it steadily and finally appeared satisfied.
After chatting for a little longer, Chi Yue left first because she had other matters to attend to. The moment she stepped out of Fang Qingqu’s office, she guiltily found a corner and hid there.
After confirming that no one would be coming up to that floor for the time being, she carefully removed the piece of fabric from the sealed bag, brought it to her nose, and gently sniffed it.
Although the domineering scent of gin had covered nearly every inch, she could still distinguish the faint jasmine fragrance that didn’t belong to her.
The anxiety she had felt earlier was instantly soothed by the pheromone scent that was now so faint it was nearly gone. At the same time, it stirred memories of the body heat that had entwined with hers that night.
.
Inside Fang Qingqu’s office, the heart rate displayed on the monitor rose slightly again. The young doctor froze for a moment, then sighed in annoyance.
Great. She had forgotten to make Chi Yue remove the heart-rate bracelet again.
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