After Being Marked by the Popular Female Lead O (GL) - Chapter 12

This time, the unauthorized filming not only failed to attract negative comments but actually saved the film crew a substantial amount of promotional funds.

This thoroughly infuriated Bai Siran. The reporter had been sent by her, and she had expected to undermine Zhou Que’s influence, but she had only ended up contributing to her success. Bai Siran had been throwing tantrums for days.

“Zhou Que is just an illegitimate daughter. Even if she enters the Bai family, she’s still under our control. It’s not worth arguing with her. Her mother has been dead for years, and father hasn’t mentioned her once.”

“Besides, she already has so many negative rumors. One more won’t make a difference.”

Bai Ting listened, feeling a headache coming on. He was currently busy with joining the board of directors and truly had no time to appease his spoiled sister. He was still puzzled about why, when everything had been settled and he was just one step away, those old foxes had suddenly changed their minds.

He didn’t seem to have offended anyone…

“That’s true,” Bai Siran listened, finding some sense in his words, and grudgingly gave in. “Just let her be a minor celebrity then.”

She wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble anyway.

However, the heat of the trending topics showed no signs of subsiding. On the contrary, it subtly began to rise again. After the makeup photos, the fans’ initial excitement gradually calmed down, and they began to notice an issue—the discord between Xie Qingshu and Zhou Que was something obvious to everyone.

Some even created video edits, specifically targeting recent red carpet events or other activities where the two were on the same stage, finding that they were almost never together. The only existing photo of them coincidentally captured a trace of annoyance in Xie Qingshu’s eyes.

[Xie Qingshu would definitely not like a pure, delicate flower, especially the overly seductive kind.]

[Exactly! Didn’t Xie Qingshu’s former Alpha like Zhou Que? So they are rivals in love.]

[Ah, well, I was going to tolerate it; at least their faces are good. But if this is true, aren’t they going to fight? Can we still watch the drama?]

[Who wants to watch the drama? What happens off-screen is much more exciting than what’s on-screen.]

[…]

Someone even created a mock poll: “Who has the least CP chemistry with Zhou Que?”

After several rounds of voting, Xie Qingshu unknowingly clinched the first place, surpassing all Alphas. Crucially, the votes were so numerous that she remained firmly at the top, dominating the chart.

The two leads were completely unaware of these online discussions.

Xie Qingshu’s parents were very supportive of her going out to film. They had initially disagreed but had gradually come to accept it through subtle persuasion.

However, when they learned the other lead was Zhou Que, their expressions paused.

“What is it?” Xie Qingshu asked.

Her mother shook her head. She had met Zhou Que before she became the head of the Protection Association and had a deep impression. “Be a little cautious when you are filming. She is from the Bai family.”

Xie Qingshu knew this from the original book, but she was now genuinely puzzled.

“It’s normal that you don’t interact much with those people and wouldn’t know. I just heard that her mother died when she was ten, and then she went to live with the Bai family. No one paid her any mind. I don’t know what kind of life she led…”

“Perhaps the reason she entered the entertainment industry is because her mother was also an actress.”

Her mother’s tone was full of melancholy.

Xie Qingshu lowered her eyelashes, remaining silent.

Although the original book didn’t explicitly detail it, the image of a pitiful girl could be sketched from scattered phrases and her mother’s words.

A small figure, her eyes red, bullied but daring not to retaliate, only able to quietly hide in a corner and cry silently.

An inexplicable and dangerous curiosity arose in Xie Qingshu, who had been completely unaware of this aspect.

The film crew spared no expense in selecting the location. It was a small place in Z City, reportedly chosen meticulously after scouting many areas. As soon as they landed, the thoughtfulness was evident.

The surroundings were picturesque, with beautiful mountains and lakes as far as the eye could see. The scenes described in the script immediately had a reference point.

The accommodations were in a guesthouse. After settling in, Xie Qingshu realized the room next door was still empty.

“Omegas are delicate, that room is reserved for Zhou Que.” A staff member thought for a moment before addressing Xie Qingshu’s concern. “Sister Qingshu, don’t worry. Our crew always has Omega inhibitors readily available. We won’t make a rookie mistake.”

Xie Qingshu had encountered an incident once when filming years ago, so she was being extra cautious. She hummed in response.

But for several days, the room remained empty, and Zhou Que was nowhere to be seen.

If the film crew hadn’t been vigilant in their defense, there would probably have been another trending topic about Zhou Que being a diva, suspected of skipping filming.

“Ready, 3, 2, 1, action!” With Deng Yue’s command, various departments began working simultaneously with exceptionally high efficiency.

Xie Qingshu, after years of work, quickly found her state. As soon as she heard the voice, her demeanor abruptly shifted.

The streets were bustling, the sounds noisy, and life permeated everywhere.

Even dressed in ordinary clothes, Ju Zhan’s demeanor made her stand out remarkably in the crowd. She hadn’t been out since the great battle, making everything around her seem unfamiliar, but fortunately, she was here to find someone.

“Venerable Master, you found the demonic star. Are you… going to kill her?”

A junior by her side gritted her teeth, managing to ask the question despite Ju Zhan’s overwhelming presence.

Their master, the Elder, immediately widened his eyes and reprimanded, “Who told you to speak to the Venerable Master like that?!”

Ju Zhan pursed her lips, though she actually harbored no blame. However, the disciples looked terrified, profusely apologizing, and the more timid ones started trembling.

Was she that scary?

If anyone didn’t know better, they would think she was the demonic star.

“Venerable Master, please don’t be angry. I will discipline them more thoroughly when we return…”

Ju Zhan shook her head, indicating it was unnecessary. Then she said flatly, “The demonic star is just a child now, but if she’s allowed to develop, her power will be beyond our control.”

“Do we absolutely have to kill her? What if we guide her well…” A disciple’s eyes showed a hint of reluctance.

Ju Zhan’s steps paused slightly, her expression shifting.

“Enough! The Venerable Master does this for the sake of all living beings. What do you know?” The Elder’s beard nearly flew up in frustration at this presumptuous statement, but he suddenly realized something, his expression changing unpredictably. “Has anyone seen Xiao Shu?”

The disciples behind him stammered, afraid of being reprimanded. “He—he ran off just now. I didn’t see him.”

The Elder felt more worry than blame and subconsciously looked at Ju Zhan.

She parted her lips, her tone calm. “You should go look for him. Don’t let anything happen. I’ll be fine alone.”

No one in the world could harm Ju Zhan. The Elder gritted his teeth, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

…

“Cut!”

The solitary figure of Ju Zhan on the screen, though silent, conveyed an inner sadness that moved everyone.

Xie Qingshu exhaled, relaxing herself. She felt a vague, lingering gaze fixed on her. She tried to find the source but failed. Her eyebrow twitched slightly.

A sudden, significant commotion arose around her. Xie Qingshu could hear the gasps of the staff closest to her.

“I thought she would come later. Honestly, she really is the Alpha’s dream lover. Not everyone can pull off this look!”

“The key is that it doesn’t look awkward at all. I thought the makeup photos were photoshopped. My face hurts now.”

“What should I do? I’m already starting to feel sorry for her.”

Xie Qingshu walked toward the resting area without changing her expression. Even with the commotion, she didn’t spare a glance. She had known Zhou Que had arrived on set while she was filming.

The scent of blue water lily wafted from all directions. Although faint and elegant, it was fundamentally different from its owner, seeping out with a trace of corrosion, making Zhou Que’s presence impossible to ignore.

For the first time, Xie Qingshu hated that her differentiation wasn’t complete. However, this situation didn’t seem to affect her daily life. She subconsciously looked at her assistant.

The assistant initially didn’t understand the question but quickly realized and immediately denied it. “I can’t smell her pheromones.”

Even if she hadn’t said anything, Xie Qingshu could guess from the reactions of those around her. If everyone could smell Zhou Que’s pheromones, the set wouldn’t be this calm.

Then, am I…

Xie Qingshu tightly gripped the script, her lips forming no curve. Never mind. At least it’s not causing trouble.

Alphas and Omegas with high compatibility are generally more sensitive to each other’s pheromones, which can also induce heat or rut.

However, Xie Qingshu didn’t overthink it, attributing everything to her incomplete differentiation.

All these reactions were fully observed by Zhou Que. She withdrew her gaze, her smile bright enough to lift one’s mood. A trace of secret emotion remained deeply hidden between her brows.

“What’s wrong?” Deng Yue noticed her absentmindedness and asked, not seeing Zhou Que’s gaze lingering on Xie Qingshu.

Zhou Que shook her head. “I just discovered something interesting.”

Deng Yue was confused but didn’t press further, as their relationship wasn’t suitable for too much intimacy.

“The next scene is a little difficult. Let’s run through the lines first, just as a trial, to find the feeling before shooting,” he said.

For the sake of narrative fluidity, some segments were being filmed sequentially. This was one of them. Xie Qingshu had thought Zhou Que wouldn’t come at all, and this part of the shoot would have to be delayed.

Xie Qingshu lifted her eyelids, maintaining a certain distance from Zhou Que. Although they weren’t miles apart, there was enough space for two or three people between them.

A few staff members watched excitedly. They knew the two leads had a poor relationship, but they hadn’t expected it to be like this.

“She’s truly Xie Qingshu. Heart of stone must be like this. How can she keep such an Omega at arm’s length?”

“I saw Shen Tao practically trying to stick to her before!”

“Why would Xie Qingshu like someone who’s constantly surrounded by scandals…”

The intermittent voices reached Xie Qingshu’s ears. She had heard much worse things, so this level wasn’t bothersome at all; it didn’t even register two percent of the negativity.

But she frowned, her breathing momentarily catching. The scent of blue water lily in the air suddenly fluctuated. For a moment, her entire breath was consumed by that scent.

“Sister, can we start?” Zhou Que’s expression showed no hint of anything amiss. Her smile was gentle and harmless, making people instantly drop their guard.

“We can.” Xie Qingshu stared intently at her.

The fluctuation only lasted for a moment. Xie Qingshu was initially convinced it was there, but now she doubted if it was her own illusion. Using the movement of brushing her hair aside, she subtly touched her restless scent gland, which caused a tingly itch on the surrounding skin.

Then, she didn’t dare touch it again. What if her differentiation went wrong again?

Zhou Que’s eyes darkened, and no emotion leaked from her glamorous shell.

The child in worn-out clothes walked along the road. There were many children like her, but unlike them, she possessed a beauty that could not be concealed even in rags.

People nearby constantly turned their heads, their gazes filled either with pity or with a greedy desire to possess her.

“Poor little Qin. Her mother is gone, and her father is as useless as a decoration, letting outsiders bully her. She looks so pitiful.”

“Don’t provoke her. You wouldn’t understand. Forget it…”

These comments reached her ears. Qin Yun crouched by the corner of the wall, her face devoid of any reaction, as if they were talking about someone else. Suddenly, a pair of hands appeared in front of her.

“Come with me.”

The woman smiled softly, but a strange emotion flickered in her eyes.

Qin Yun didn’t even look at her, her pale lips moving. “No.”

The woman hadn’t expected to be rejected. Her confident smile instantly froze on her face, and her expression turned frantic. “How dare you say that! Someone! You’re coming with me whether you want to or not!”

A look of bloodlust flashed in Qin Yun’s eyes, cold, sharp, and fierce, but she suddenly caught sight of a certain figure and her expression changed. She curved her lips.

It was Ju Zhan.

Although her figure was obscured, the grace around her was something Qin Yun could never forget, or rather, what she remembered was the cold temperature of the sword tip.

I ended up like this because of her.

The woman was deeply frightened, feeling as if she had fallen into an icy pool. She thought she was going to die. She snapped out of it and raised her hand to strike.

The descending palm carried an unknown force. An ordinary child would probably be crying, but Qin Yun didn’t move, as if paralyzed by fear.

The woman instinctively felt something was wrong and tried to retract her hand, but suddenly realized she couldn’t control her own movements. She widened her eyes, her heart filled with panic and regret over her action.

Just as the palm was about to land, Qin Yun moved.

A faint trace of demonic energy surged in the space. Ju Zhan’s dark eyebrows slightly furrowed, her gaze precisely falling on the child, though she couldn’t clearly see her face.

A warmth, colder than the snow on Cold Mountain, appeared in her hand.

The action exceeded Ju Zhan’s reaction ability. Or rather, she had never imagined that someone would one day initiate contact with her, and that person would be the demonic star.

…

Time stopped in that moment. Only their heartbeats persisted.

“You…” Let go.

Their breaths were close. Zhou Que held Xie Qingshu’s hand as designed before. The white jade-like wrist was tightly restrained, creating a stark contrast.

Xie Qingshu intended to deliver her line. Her performance was overly restrained, and only her lines would convey a trace of emotion, earning her the reputation of a standard textbook in acting schools. To this day, she had never used voice dubbing and was a learning example for many actors.

This was what she was best at, yet now she was blocked. Xie Qingshu hadn’t forgotten the line; she remembered it better than anyone and could recite it backward. But her lips parted slightly, and her throat felt tightly squeezed, unable to produce any sound no matter how hard she tried.

“Sister, save me…” The voice was hoarse and cautious.

Zhou Que’s eyes, the kind that made anyone look twice, were dark like black glaze, filled with childish innocence. But a closer look would reveal they were unfathomably deep, mysterious, and dangerous. Getting closer would lead to ruin.

It was just one line, unchanged from the script, a phrase that could have been completely glossed over, but when performed by Zhou Que, it became entirely different.

The emotion and expression were all perfectly executed, creating an extremely strong sense of immersion.

Xie Qingshu’s heart was deeply shaken, her eyelashes trembling as if they might take flight the next second. Only her innate self-control kept her expression from showing much change.

But she knew she had broken character.

“I apologize, I forgot my line.” Xie Qingshu, in her confusion, seemed to treat the other person like a hot potato. She broke free from the restraint and fled the scene as if escaping.

The assistant quickly handed her a glass of water. Xie Qingshu took it and quickly gulped it down. The cool water entered her mouth, but her throat felt like she had swallowed strong liquor, stimulating her nerves.

Zhou Que glanced at Xie Qingshu’s neck. A drop of water rolled down, looking ascetic and self-possessed. Only she knew it was sweet.

The coolness on her fingertip had already been unknowingly warmed by the other’s skin. A shadow of displeasure hid in her eyes. Does she dislike me that much?

…That truly is irritating.

She ground her teeth. The Alpha blood in her body pulsed secretly, hot beneath the surface. The instinct deeply etched in her soul struggled like a wild beast unwilling to be confined, shaking its chains, wanting to break free from the cage.

The desire to conquer silently grew.