Chapter 21

After resting for two days, Gu Qian recovered just enough to return to the set without delay and resume filming the remaining scenes.

Inside the hotel suite, Xiaofan lounged on the sofa watching television.

Apparently something hilarious was playing. She laughed so hard her whole body shook while casually shoving another handful of popcorn into her mouth, happily crunching away.

She was thoroughly enjoying herself—

Until she suddenly felt an intense gaze fixed on her face.

Her cheeks stiffened.

“Sister Gu?”

Swallowing the sweet popcorn, Xiaofan looked at Gu Qian in confusion.

A moment later, realization dawned.

“Oh! If you want some, just have it.”

“It’s fine to indulge once in a while.”

“I won’t tell Sister Zhou.”

Gu Qian looked as though she wanted to say something.

In the end, she simply shook her head.

Several more minutes passed.

Under Gu Qian’s lingering gaze, Xiaofan found herself completely unable to enjoy her snack anymore.

“Sister Gu…”

“What exactly is wrong?”

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Qian finally walked over and sat beside her.

“There’s something that’s been bothering me.”

Xiaofan raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue.

“I have a friend…”

The instant those words left her mouth, Xiaofan’s expression turned downright horrified.

Gu Qian hurriedly clarified,

“It really isn’t me.”

Xiaofan had previously worked for another celebrity.

The last thing that artist had ever said to her was,

“I have a friend who’s getting married and retiring from the entertainment industry.”

Shortly afterward…

Xiaofan had lost her job.

Ever since then, she’d developed psychological trauma whenever anyone began a sentence with “I have a friend…”

Hearing that the mysterious friend wasn’t Gu Qian herself, she finally relaxed.

“So…”

“What happened to your friend?”

“She…”

Gu Qian bit her lip, carefully choosing her words.

“She’s… rather insecure about her body.”

“Huh?”

Xiaofan blinked.

“Too fat?”

“Too skinny?”

“Or… some other kind of physical issue?”

Gu Qian hesitated.

“No.”

“It’s the sort of insecurity that would affect…”

“…her sex life.”

The last trace of worry disappeared from Xiaofan’s face.

“Oh…”

“So it’s that.”

She waved a hand casually.

“Tell your friend not to worry.”

“Eat more lamb.”

“Leeks.”

“And, well…”

“…certain traditional remedies.”

“Oh, right!”

“I have a distant relative who’s a traditional Chinese medicine doctor.”

“They’re pretty knowledgeable about this sort of thing.”

“I can contact them for you.”

She was already reaching for her phone.

“You misunderstood.”

Gu Qian quickly stopped her.

“She’s an Omega.”

“Not an Alpha.”

“…An Omega?”

Xiaofan stared at her in shock.

“Even Omegas have these kinds of insecurities?”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“I think…”

Gu Qian continued slowly,

“…she feels she won’t be able to satisfy her future partner.”

“Because…”

“…her future partner is also an Omega.”

“Oh…”

Xiaofan rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“I get it now.”

Suddenly she slapped her thigh.

“That’s not a problem at all!”

“There are plenty of Omega–Omega couples these days.”

“There are all kinds of solutions.”

“For example?”

Gu Qian listened attentively.

“If you’re missing certain equipment…”

“…buy some.”

“If you’re lacking technique…”

“…study.”

She patted her chest confidently.

“As long as the two people love each other…”

“None of that matters.”

Gu Qian fell silent for a moment.

Then humbly asked,

“Would I need to buy anything?”

“I’d like to give it to her.”

“Leave it to me!”

Xiaofan declared proudly.

“Is it urgent?”

“If it is, I’ll place the order this afternoon.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

“No problem.”

“Oh, right.”

“Technique matters too.”

“So what if someone’s an Alpha?”

“If they’re bad in bed, they’ll still get rejected.”

Xiaofan’s eyes sparkled.

“Sister Gu.”

“I’ll send you my cloud drive later.”

“Just forward it to your friend.”

Completely satisfied, Gu Qian returned to her bedroom to practice her lines.

Left alone…

Xiaofan continued watching television.

After sitting there for a while…

The more she thought about it…

The stranger the whole conversation seemed.

Which Omega friend of Gu Qian’s was dating another Omega?

She couldn’t think of anyone.

One by one, she mentally eliminated every close acquaintance Gu Qian had within the entertainment industry.

Then…

A shocking possibility appeared in her mind.

…Qi Yu.

She’s an Omega.

---

Today’s filming involved one of the most important scenes in the entire movie.

Xu Sheng was beaten by her drunken father.

He dragged her by the hair all the way from inside the house to the entrance of the alley—

Where Chen Yan happened to witness everything.

Consumed by fury…

Chen Yan killed Xu Sheng’s father.

Director Wang tirelessly went over the details with the principal cast one final time.

Qi Yu listened carefully.

Accidentally…

She met Xiaofan’s gaze in the distance.

Xiaofan’s expression looked incredibly strange.

The instant their eyes met…

She guiltily turned her head away.

Ever since arriving on set that morning…

Not only Xiaofan…

Even Gu Qian had been looking at her oddly.

Qi Yu couldn’t help wondering what was going on.

“Little Qi.”

Director Wang called.

“Did you understand everything I just explained?”

Qi Yu quickly snapped back to attention.

“I understand.”

“Scene Fifty-Three, Shot Seven, Take One.”

“Action!”

Xu Sheng was covered in bruises.

Her drunken father dragged her through the alley by her hair.

A piece of broken glass sliced open her arm.

Fresh blood dripped from her fingertips onto the damp stone pavement.

Deep into the night…

The alley grew even quieter.

Every household had shut its doors and windows tightly.

As though some terrifying beast lurked outside.

One light after another went dark.

The winding trail of crimson blood on the ground gradually disappeared into endless darkness.

Only the moon…

Hidden behind thick clouds…

Continued secretly watching the cold, monotonous tragedy unfolding below.

Xu Sheng stared coldly at her father’s twisted face.

As another slap came flying toward her—

She closed her eyes.

Numbly waiting for the next round of abuse.

“AHH!”

Instead of the expected pain…

Her father’s agonized scream exploded beside her ear.

His large, heavy body crashed onto the ground.

The smell of fresh blood quickly filled the air.

Chen Yan stood there holding a black stone.

Fresh blood soaked her fingertips.

She breathed heavily.

Then slowly raised those dark, emotionless eyes.

“Cut!”

Director Wang shook his head.

“Gu Qian.”

“That expression isn’t right.”

“I’m sorry.”

Gu Qian apologized immediately.

Though it was obvious she still didn’t understand what she’d done wrong.

“Your emotions are very strong.”

Director Wang accepted the tea handed over by his assistant before continuing,

“But your eyes aren’t giving me what I want.”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Do you remember what I told you before?”

“In this film…”

“When Chen Yan faces Xu Sheng…”

“…what is the hardest emotion to control?”

“…Pity?”

Gu Qian answered after a pause.

“Exactly.”

Director Wang took another sip of tea.

“Chen Yan does pity Xu Sheng.”

“But that emotion absolutely cannot become the primary force driving her actions.”

Gu Qian lowered her eyes thoughtfully.

“Chen Yan protects Xu Sheng excessively.”

“She’s possessive.”

“And eventually…”

“…she even kills someone for her.”

Director Wang looked at Gu Qian.

“At its core…”

“…is that really love?”

“I don’t think it’s entirely love.”

Gu Qian answered.

“I’d go even further.”

Director Wang’s gaze became profound.

“I wouldn’t say it’s ‘not entirely love.'”

“I’d say…”

“…it’s not love.”

“On the surface…”

“It looks like Chen Yan kills because she can’t bear seeing Xu Sheng suffer.”

“But in reality…”

“It’s an act of emotional release.”

“She’s freeing herself.”

“What I want to portray…”

“…is the dark symbiotic relationship between these two women.”

He paused.

“Possessiveness…”

“…isn’t always love.”

Hearing those words…

Qi Yu fell silent.

During filming…

There had been moments when Chen Yan and Gu Qian seemed to overlap in her mind.

Is possessiveness love?

At least within this movie…

Director Wang had already given his answer.

Possessiveness isn’t love.

But once they stepped away from the screen…

Between herself…

And Gu Qian…

What would the answer be?

Gu Qian truly deserved her reputation as a Best Actress.

Although she’d NG’d once…

After Director Wang’s guidance, she immediately adjusted.

The second take passed perfectly.

Seeing Qi Yu looking so downcast…

Gu Qian instinctively wanted to walk over.

Then she stopped herself.

Being insecure about one’s body…

Or even one’s secondary gender…

Must be terribly damaging to one’s pride.

Better to take things slowly.

---

Before long…

The production reached its final days.

Perhaps because he was so pleased with both the casting and everyone’s performances…

Director Wang generously prepared a small gift for every actor and crew member.

All the gifts were left at the hotel front desk.

While sorting the packages…

The receptionist noticed there were two parcels addressed to Qi Yu.

One large.

One small.

Both beautifully wrapped.

Without thinking much of it, she assumed Director Wang had simply prepared two gifts for her.

She knocked on Qi Yu’s hotel room door.

Wearing a professional smile, she said,

“Miss Qi.”

“Director Wang prepared gifts for you.”

“Please sign for them.”

Qi Yu had just put on a facial mask.

Curious and slightly excited, she walked over.

This is my very first production…

And the director actually prepared a gift for me?

What could it be?

The larger package immediately caught her attention.

The square gift box had been tied with an elegant pink ribbon.

Closing the door…

She carefully carried it over to the table.

The package was wrapped with extraordinary care.

Even after removing three separate layers…

She still hadn’t reached the contents.

Drawing upon years of online shopping experience…

Qi Yu guessed it must contain something delicate and fragile.

Finally…

She peeled away the last layer.

Holding her breath…

She sliced open the box.

One second later—

Her expression changed dramatically.

She stared at the contents as though unable to believe her own eyes.

The utility knife slipped from her fingers.

Clink.

It hit the floor.

W-What…

What did Director Wang send me?

Her trembling hands slammed the lid shut again.

Muttering a curse beneath her breath…

She frantically searched through the discarded wrapping paper.

Three unmistakable characters were written across it:

For Qi Yu.

Qi Yu: “…”

Director Wang…

Sent me sex toys?!

She covered her mouth in disbelief.

Director Wang…

Praised from the very beginning of his career as one of the brightest talents among Chinese directors.

Over the years…

He’d worked diligently, producing countless award-winning films.

His professionalism.

His ethics.

His reputation.

All were widely admired throughout the industry.

A director like him…

Actually sent me these things?

A storm of emotions crashed through Qi Yu.

Disappointment.

Shock.

Fear.

Completely overwhelmed her.

No.

Director Wang isn’t that kind of person.

Someone else must’ve sent them.

Clutching her hair in agony, Qi Yu tried desperately to think.

This hotel maintained extremely strict security.

Outside parcels couldn’t simply be delivered unless they came through the production.

Which meant…

Someone from the crew had sent them.

But…

Who would give her something like this?

After thinking it through…

Only one explanation remained.

The receptionist’s assumption.

She sank into a chair, pressing her fingers against her forehead.

She had no idea what to do next.

A director giving explicit adult products to one of his actresses…

What other reason could there be?

Qi Yu sighed bitterly.

You really can’t judge a person by appearances.

If I’d known months ago that Director Wang liked taking advantage of actresses…

I never would’ve auditioned for Alley.

Just as she was anxiously trying to think of a solution—

Someone knocked on the door.

Qi Yu nearly jumped out of her skin.

She accidentally knocked over the gift box.

The unspeakable items inside spilled across the floor with a loud clatter.

Apparently hearing the commotion…

The person outside knocked even more urgently.

Qi Yu hurriedly crouched down.

On the verge of tears…

She frantically gathered everything back up.

If anyone sees these…

I’d rather jump into the river than face them.