After Being Clung to by a Gentle, Seductive Omega - Chapter 1

The annual film and television gala.

The lights were gorgeous and dazzling.

People in all kinds of eye-catching evening gowns moved through the backstage area, clinking glasses and chatting.

Inside a VIP lounge far away from the noise.

The makeup artist was dressed neatly, wearing a medical protective cap and a mask, and was bending over to apply makeup to the woman.

She maintained an appropriate distance from the woman at all times to make sure neither she nor a strand of her hair would accidentally touch the other party.

That was exactly how the previous makeup artist had been fired.

“President Ji, the seat at the gala has been replaced and disinfected again.”

Behind the makeup chair, a female beta held a folder in both hands and stood perfectly straight.

Cen Sang was Ji Congyan’s assistant. The two had grown up together since childhood. At present, they were both superior and subordinate, as well as friends.

“Mm,” Ji Congyan replied faintly.

The makeup brush swept beneath her eyes, and she closed them.

“The Best Commercial Award is scheduled for around 7:05. The winning work is Cocoon. Film Queen Bo will go onstage to accept the award on behalf of the crew. This is the speech. Do you need to take it onstage with you?”

“No need. By the way, has Director Wu decided on the final candidate?”

Cen Sang said, “It’s been decided. It’s Film Queen Bo.”

Ji Congyan suddenly opened her eyes, and a slight crease formed between her brows.

The makeup artist had not finished her eye makeup yet, and the tip of the brush almost poked into her eye. Yet Ji Congyan did not even blink. She cast a puzzled look at Cen Sang through the mirror.

She had a pair of long, beautiful eyes. Her features were grand and bright. The deep orchid-colored evening gown made her look elegant, refined, and noble. Every gesture carried a faint air of grace.

“Her? You mean Director Wu plans to let Bo Shuang play the female lead of this project, the one who carries the cannon? Don’t tell me Wu Langli is mixing in personal bias.”

Anji Entertainment, the film and television company under the Ji Group, and Yueyu Entertainment were known as the two giants of the domestic film and television industry.

Recently, the two companies had reached an agreement to jointly invest in a project.

Everyone who had read the script outline believed, without exception, that Anji Entertainment’s leading actress, Yu Chen, had a more heroic appearance and fit the protagonist’s character setting better. Everyone had thought the role was practically in the bag.

Cen Sang stepped forward with a tablet and played Yu Chen’s audition clip.

It was brilliant. She had performed beyond her usual standard. There was no reason not to choose her.

Cen Sang was about to swipe to the next video when someone suddenly knocked on the door.

A staff member reminded them, “President Ji, Assistant Cen, you may enter the venue now.”

Ji Congyan waved her hand and closed her eyes.

“I’ll watch it after the banquet ends.”

In recent years, the Best Actress awards at all major domestic ceremonies had been swept up by Yu Chen and Bo Shuang.

Their acting abilities were, without question, top-tier.

There were only one or two outstanding film and television projects in a year, so the two film queens often ended up competing against each other.

Generally speaking, the director would choose whichever one better fit the protagonist’s character setting.

Unexpectedly, a role that had almost been in their grasp had now fallen into the hands of the rival company.

Ji Congyan wanted to see exactly where Anji Entertainment’s money tree, with such exquisite acting skills, fell short compared to Bo Shuang, whose appearance did not match the character setting at all.

The door to the VIP lounge opened.

Cen Sang walked slightly ahead of her to clear the way.

Ji Congyan was 179 centimeters tall. With high heels on, she appeared even taller and more striking, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Even in the entertainment industry, where beauties were everywhere, she had a distinct presence and elegance that made people unable to resist stopping and looking back.

Her long hair, slightly curled at the ends, flowed gracefully. The hem of her evening gown trailed along the floor as she walked forward with elegant, unhurried steps.

“President Ji.”

“President Ji.”

Passersby greeted her one after another, but none dared to get too close.

Everyone knew about the mysophobia of the Ji Group’s crown princess. They were afraid that getting too close would displease her.

There had once been a reckless male Omega who had pretended to accidentally bump into President Ji while holding a glass of red wine. In the end, before he could even touch President Ji, the assistant beside her kicked him straight toward the wall, and the red wine spilled all over him.

After that day, no one ever saw him in the industry again.

A commotion came from one side of the venue. A noisy crowd had gathered together.

Ji Congyan glanced over casually.

Two people had stuck together in public, clinging so tightly that they could hardly be separated.

Their assistants had no choice but to call security over and work together to send their artists back to the lounge.

In their world, as long as the compatibility between an Alpha and an Omega exceeded 80%, then when either party entered their rut or heat, as long as they were close enough, an irresistible attraction would form between them.

A literal physical pull.

The higher the compatibility, the stronger the pull between them.

Ji Congyan disliked this beast-like method of pairing. Even more than that, she could not accept any Omega sticking themselves to her body.

She was a true single-by-choice woman.

The Ji Group was the title sponsor of this gala.

Ji Congyan was attending on behalf of the Ji Group, and her seat was in the very center of the first row.

This chair was different from all the others. It was more textured, understated, and luxurious, and it was more than one and a half times wider than the seats beside it.

Within a two-meter radius around Ji Congyan, aside from Cen Sang, there was not another living person.

Everyone was used to it as well and did not look at the scene strangely.

There were many awards at the gala, and the host and guests spoke endlessly onstage.

At 7:05, Ji Congyan went onstage as the presenter for the Best Commercial Award. She wore a pair of white gloves and held the card the host handed to her.

“I announce that the film and television work that has won the Best Commercial Award is—”

Behind her, the posters of five nominated works appeared on the big screen. Ji Congyan did not drag it out for too long.

“Cocoon. Congratulations to the film Cocoon for winning this year’s Best Commercial Award.”

The host said, “Let us invite the crew members of Cocoon onstage to accept the award!”

The lights fell on the area where the Cocoon crew sat. The assistant director went onstage to accept the award. After Ji Congyan stepped down and returned to her seat, she received a message from Cen Sang.

[Film Queen Bo is feeling unwell and is resting upstairs.]

Ji Congyan did not care who accepted the award and casually hummed in acknowledgment.

The gala venue was on an independent resort island. It was far from where Ji Congyan usually lived, so tonight, she could only settle for staying at the resort hotel.

Cen Sang had brought people over a week in advance to clean the top-floor suite and replace the bed and mattress with the model Ji Congyan usually slept on.

Ji Congyan felt a faint discomfort at the back of her neck. She raised her hand and touched the suppressant patch on her nape.

It was still properly attached to the skin at the back of her neck.

But her rut was not supposed to be in the next few days.

“Go prepare some suppressants,” she instructed Cen Sang.

Cen Sang asked worriedly, “Do you need me to contact the doctor for you? She’s downstairs.”

“No. For now, it doesn’t seem like a big problem. It’s only a little discomfort. Go quickly. Also, send me that person’s audition clip while you’re at it.”

Cen Sang went to get the suppressants.

Ji Congyan’s phone vibrated. A call came in.

Yu Chen’s drunken voice came through the receiver.

“President Ji… I’m sorry. I couldn’t get the lead role. Is Director Wu biased toward her own company’s actress? A lot of juniors have told me the same thing…”

Ji Congyan pushed open the door to her room, her voice calm.

“I haven’t watched Bo Shuang’s audition clip yet. If her performance isn’t much different from yours, the company will fight for another audition opportunity for you. Your appearance has more of an advantage than hers.

“But if your skills are inferior, then you should accept it.”

Yu Chen choked up and babbled something else.

Ji Congyan had no patience to listen and directly hung up the phone.

After closing the door, before she could turn on the lights, she leaned against the door and opened the file Cen Sang had sent.

But before she could clearly see the image, a faint, elegant fragrance suddenly drifted through the air, accompanied by a sharp, intense pain at the back of her neck.

Ji Congyan felt her body move forward uncontrollably, as if she were being inexplicably drawn by something.

She held onto the door and steadied herself. Before she could figure out what was happening, something warm crashed into her arms.