After Transmigrating as a Scum Alpha, I Pampered the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 19.2

To create an opportunity for the original Righteous Lead, Jiang Bailu’s manager had intentionally brought her to the banquet, originally intending to provoke a certain mogul, but accidentally provoking Zhai You instead.

Zhai You had played out a drama for Jiang Bailu, torturing her until readers screamed to drop the book.

Then the Righteous Lead, a gentle and understanding older sister, appeared.

She enchanted the readers.

After the cannon-fodder Zhai You was dealt with, Jiang Bailu’s manager would continue her antics and introduce her to someone else.

To avoid all the future troubles, Zhai You wanted to solve it at the source.

Change managers.

And deprive the Righteous Lead of her chance to show off in the future.

Jiang Bailu couldn’t be taken away by anyone.

But thinking of the termination fee, Zhai You let out a long sigh. She felt a bit guilty. She estimated the time; it was still a few months before the Righteous Lead would appear.

During this time, she should have a chance to ask Father Zhai for money again.

But during these months, Jiang Bailu would be starring in Deliberate Love. Her status as the lead would make her value soar, and the termination fee would only become more terrifying.

Out of necessity, Zhai You turned her thoughts to the acting fees.

“You may be famous, but your status isn’t high, and Jiang Bailu is still a newcomer. It’ll be a miracle if your fees combined reach one million,” Sister Ji stated the facts.

Zhai You: “…How much did I invest in the crew?”

“30 million.” Invested a few months ago.

30 million, and the fees for the two leads were only one million? Where did the rest of the budget for this school drama go!

Zhai You had even donated a building to solve the location issue, so where was the money going!

“No, I want a raise,” Zhai You said indignantly.

“Then go talk to Director Guo. I’ll give you his contact info.” Sister Ji didn’t waste breath on Zhai You, sending her a string of digits to let her contact him herself.

“Then… what’s the minimum for Jiang Bailu’s termination fee?”

“She signed as a non-celebrity, so it should be the lowest tier contract. About a few million.”

Zhai You was considering the possibility of borrowing money.

How to borrow a few million without losing face for Father Zhai.

She first thought of Su Luo.

Su Luo’s family owned the resort, and the kid was always out playing around. He had no major financial pressure. He was the most likely person Zhai You currently knew to lend her money.

We’ll see.

This commercial street was full of various high-end and accessible luxury brand stores.

100,000 certainly wouldn’t go far in high-end luxury, and what Jiang Bailu needed currently was just daily wear. Qiao Yan led her into a niche accessible luxury store.

The walls were hung with a dazzling array of clothes. Qiao Yan let Jiang Bailu pick for herself first.

Jiang Bailu didn’t move. She looked at Qiao Yan and got straight to the point: “Do you like Zhai You?”

Based on Qiao Yan’s behavior at the hospital, she clearly had feelings for Zhai You.

Perhaps without too much trouble, she could set Qiao Yan and Zhai You up.

Qiao Yan was wary, thinking Jiang Bailu was testing her. Thinking of Zhai You’s instructions, she frowned: “Who would like that stupid woman?”

Then she thought that wasn’t right—Zhai You had asked her to say good things.

“Actually, Zhai You isn’t bad.”

Dueling words. Jiang Bailu took a garment off the rack. She hesitated a moment and checked the tag.

This piece alone was several thousand.

Although she planned to pay Zhai You back later, with this much, she didn’t know when she’d finish. Jiang Bailu put it back and picked one from the rack with a price she felt was appropriate.

“How did you pick the most common and outdated style from a whole rack of clothes?” Qiao Yan shook her head.

Aside from her exceptional natural gifts, Jiang Bailu really had zero “allure,” yet somehow she had Zhai You completely enchanted.

Wait, Zhai You wanted her to be Jiang Bailu’s bestie!

Qiao Yan shuddered and took back her previous words, turning to show a warm smile: “But although your taste is unique, it’s very distinct, hehehe.”

Jiang Bailu’s aesthetic was fine. She lowered her eyelashes: “This one is the cheapest.” Just stating a fact.

“…” Qiao Yan was confused. “But Zhai You said she’s paying?”

“Still.” Thinking of their relationship, Jiang Bailu said no more.

Zhai You specifically had Qiao Yan come out shopping—maybe she just wanted her to have a shopping spree? Jiang Bailu felt a faint confusion. To not waste the opportunity Zhai You had sought…

“Then you pick.” Maybe buying her clothes was just a cover, and the goal was to let Qiao Yan buy.

Watching Qiao Yan pick out clothes.

Jiang Bailu felt a slight envy. It’s nice to be loved so deliberately.

Qiao Yan had good taste in picking clothes, but she always went for the expensive ones, having developed the habit of ruthlessly slaughtering wallets.

Not just clothes for a few thousand, but even some for over ten thousand.

She picked five or six outfits, hitting exactly the 100,000 mark. she handed the chosen clothes to Jiang Bailu: “Go try them on.”

Jiang Bailu took them, feeling something was odd.

The shop assistant had already seen who was dominant in this shopping trip and moved closer to Qiao Yan with a fawning smile: “You have excellent taste, Miss. These pieces you’ve selected are all our shop’s main features.”

Qiao Yan arched her eyebrows, enjoying the praise.

But she looked at Jiang Bailu and said: “She’s the one buying the clothes. You’ve praised the wrong person.”

Zhai You could casually pull out 100,000 for Jiang Bailu to buy clothes; the benefits for her shouldn’t be small.

In that case, she’d better keep Jiang Bailu happy.

The shop assistant’s smile froze. She awkwardly turned to lead Jiang Bailu to the fitting room.

Inside the fitting room, there was a pleasant fragrance.

The base note reminded Jiang Bailu of Zhai You’s pheromones. She subconsciously sniffed a few more times.

Realizing this, Jiang Bailu froze.

Why go out of my way to smell something similar to Zhai You’s pheromones? Are Zhai You’s pheromones that enchanting to me?

The marked gland throbbed slightly.

Jiang Bailu pressed her hand to the back of her neck. Her body suddenly felt weak and grew hot.

A marked Omega wouldn’t enter heat so quickly.

She was just… simply thinking of Zhai You.

And she began to sink into it, as if that marking had been incomplete, and she instinctively wanted it to be more complete.

Her body was inducing her to think in that direction.

Jiang Bailu leaned against the wall, her breathing rapid, a hazy mist forming in her eyes.

But because she was marked by Zhai You, the pheromones were only released subtly, preventing anyone outside the fitting room from noticing anything amiss.

Jiang Bailu bit her lip and turned her head away, as if trying to stay further from Zhai You’s “scent.”

When her hand touched the clothes Qiao Yan had picked, Jiang Bailu suddenly snapped awake.

There were no pheromones.

It was just the shop’s aromatherapy.

Simply because of a similar scent, she had become like this. Jiang Bailu’s face was flushed with a blush of annoyance. What terrified her even more was Qiao Yan, waiting outside the fitting room.

Jiang Bailu was at a loss. Although she didn’t hate Zhai You that much anymore, she didn’t exactly like her either.

Zhai You has someone she likes, and that person is right outside.

A contract marriage was just a contract marriage. Her relationship with Zhai You could only stop there; any further would be crossing the line.

She would become the kind of person she hated most.

Jiang Bailu put in a lot of effort to calm down, but the faint heat inside couldn’t be released. She bit her lip, changed her clothes, and went out.

“This lady looks so enchanting in this—it’s like it was tailor-made,” the assistant praised sincerely.

Jiang Bailu was slender with cool, pale skin and could pull off most clothes. Combined with her aura—part gentle, part cool—she was uniquely enticing.

Even a Beta would fall for her.

“Seems my taste is good.” Qiao Yan nodded, but felt it was strange.

It was just changing clothes—why did Jiang Bailu look like she’d just fought a major battle inside?

Were the clothes that hard to put on?

Zhai You had mentioned that Jiang Bailu’s health wasn’t great… Omegas were so delicate. Qiao Yan felt a bit of envy; if she were an Omega, maybe she could land even bigger whales.

“You look like this, Zhai You will definitely like you even more.” As soon as Qiao Yan spoke, Jiang Bailu’s body trembled.

She was instantly clear-headed.

She couldn’t let Qiao Yan misunderstand. Jiang Bailu clenched her hands: “Zhai You comes from a wealthy background; her standards are definitely high. Even if she is satisfied, it’s because you picked good clothes.”

Maybe if I get Qiao Yan and Zhai You together, I can escape.

Qiao Yan’s lips curved upward; she couldn’t suppress it: “No, it’s definitely because you’re beautiful.”

Zhai You’s taste… she wouldn’t comment, but praising Jiang Bailu was never wrong.

“How am I beautiful…” Jiang Bailu’s eyes flickered. She looked at Qiao Yan’s sweet face. “It’s better for an Alpha to have someone cute by their side.”

Qiao Yan pondered. Since Jiang Bailu was so good at praising people…

She decided to make this girl her bestie.

She wouldn’t take Zhai You’s money anymore.

But the other money was still to be earned. Qiao Yan remembered to say good things about Zhai You in front of Jiang Bailu: “If only I could meet someone as devoted as Zhai You.”

Jiang Bailu gave a slight smile, though it felt forced.

She didn’t realize it herself, thinking: Qiao Yan says she doesn’t like Zhai You, yet she’s saying good things about her. She really does like her.

Once Qiao Yan and Zhai You are together…

Jiang Bailu shook her head, suppressing that point of inexplicable, strange, incomprehensible emotion: “Zhai You’s personality is indeed very pure. The rumors outside are likely all misunderstandings; she’s a good person.”

Qiao Yan was speechless. Why was she praising Zhai You even more than herself? Had Jiang Bailu been paid too?

The two women left the shop, each with their own thoughts.

Carrying clothes worth 100,000, Jiang Bailu suddenly noticed one thing: Qiao Yan hadn’t bought anything for herself: “Aren’t you buying?”

Zhai You specifically found a chance for you to buy clothes.

Qiao Yan slowly threw out a question mark, wanting to say that stingy Zhai You hadn’t given her money yet. If she embezzled the clothing budget for Jiang Bailu, things probably wouldn’t end well.

She always felt Jiang Bailu’s attitude was a bit strange.

Although she was praising Zhai You, and her expression seemed to mean that, it also didn’t.

Qiao Yan explained that shop wasn’t a brand she usually wore, then asked: “Aren’t you married to Zhai You?”

Jiang Bailu’s body stiffened slightly.

She frowned, wanting to say it was a contract marriage, but she didn’t know if that would count as a disclosure and a violation of the agreement.

What on earth is Zhai You thinking?

Just as she was agonizing, Qiao Yan seemed to see an acquaintance. She approached intimately, her gaze landing on the other person’s white sports car.

She’d missed one male Beta trying to hit on her; she couldn’t miss this big whale.

Qiao Yan’s eager appearance made Jiang Bailu look over in confusion.

What is this person thinking?

Praising Zhai You one moment, then showing interest in others the next.

Jiang Bailu suddenly felt it wasn’t worth it for Zhai You, and suddenly imagined why Zhai You would find her for a contract marriage.

Qiao Yan wasn’t an ordinary woman; Zhai You could only helplessly resort to this.

Jiang Bailu felt a subtle heartache.

This heartache lasted until her manager called her. Seeing the call, Jiang Bailu’s face turned pale, recalling unpleasant memories.

Leaving the hotel room that day…

Once the manager found out, she called and scolded her, saying many things, especially about the termination fee.

At that time, Jiang Bailu didn’t have time to think much. After brushing her off perfunctorily, she dragged her tired body to care for her mother.

The next day, she married Zhai You.

During those days she was sick, she hadn’t received a call from her manager, and had unconsciously forgotten about it.

Looking at the manager’s call, Jiang Bailu’s lips moved slightly. She picked up the phone with difficulty.

Surprisingly, the manager didn’t roar.

Jiang Bailu was suspicious. The manager asked gently: “Bailu, why haven’t you picked up my calls these past few days? I haven’t been able to reach you.”

“I was sick.” Jiang Bailu bit her dry lips.

“Sick? Not serious, I hope?” The manager became urgent.

Jiang Bailu looked up at the blue sky. Beneath the sky, she was so tiny.

“I’m almost fully recovered.”

The manager paused for a few seconds: “That’s good. Didn’t Zhai You seem dissatisfied with you before? Don’t worry, another big mogul is asking me for your contact info.”

The manager said: “Listen to me. Just have a meal with the mogul, and you’ll get tens of thousands.”

“If you’re lucky, maybe there will even be a role to film—”

A meal? Jiang Bailu couldn’t say how the corners of her mouth curved up.

She was no longer that simple, flawless Jiang Bailu.

After this experience with Zhai You, Jiang Bailu understood very clearly what would happen after that “meal.”

For tens of thousands of yuan, the manager couldn’t wait to push her out.

Jiang Bailu’s breathing was rapid. Her fingers gripping the phone began to use force, her knuckles turning white. She suppressed her sorrowful emotions with all her might.

To the manager’s ears, Jiang Bailu sounded too excited to contain herself.

The manager gave a mocking laugh. Still a poor person after all. She was so short of money now that tens of thousands made her lose control of her emotions.

“If you agree, tomorrow evening…” Jiang Bailu didn’t hear the rest.

Her brain was short of oxygen, and her vision nearly went black.

Just as Jiang Bailu’s hands were shaking, wanting to hang up the phone.

“Why are you here alone?” Zhai You, having hurried back from the company, found Jiang Bailu standing solitary on the street.

Several shopping bags were at her feet, and one had already fallen over.

And Jiang Bailu’s expression looked as if her heart were dead ash. Zhai You’s eyes widened.

Zhai You ground her teeth: “No way. I definitely have to dock her pay!”

“You…” Jiang Bailu didn’t have time to hang up. On the other end, the manager called out “Hello?” several times.