“What a strong smell. Did Jiang Qing just have something going on with an Omega?”
“That’s disgusting. In broad daylight? She must be really desperate.” An Alpha wearing exaggerated hoop earrings waved the air in front of her nose with a look of disgust. Her eyes almost rolled all the way back.
“I honestly thought Jiang Qing was turning a new leaf lately. She hasn’t caused any drama and seemed to be focusing on acting. Guess I was wrong. People really can’t be judged by appearances.”
“Isn’t that obvious? It’s not like this is our first time working with celebrities. You still don’t know how messy they are behind the scenes? They only put on a decent face for their fans.”
“…”
“What exactly did you just do? Why do you smell like Omega pheromones?” He Shu looked at her with a complicated expression.
Jiang Qing handed her black leather handbag to her. “I went to the makeup room.”
“Then where did that Omega scent on you come from?”
“I ran into an Omega who needed help. I just did a good deed, that’s all.”
“What kind of help gets you covered in their pheromones?” He Shu said. “This is a filming base. There are paparazzi everywhere. Be careful not to get caught on camera.”
Jiang Qing replied calmly, “Don’t worry, Sister He Shu. The makeup room is surrounded by walls. No windows for them to sneak a shot through.”
He Shu responded, “Even if there are no windows, you still need to be cautious. Plenty of paparazzi wait by the doors. If you and someone else go into a hotel one after the other, they can use just two photos to make up a whole story about a romantic night together.”
“Then wouldn’t it be even more likely for you and me to get caught together?”
He Shu blinked. “What?”
“After all, Sister He Shu and I are the ones spending day and night together. We’d be the ones going into a hotel one after the other.”
He Shu pushed her away with an open palm. “Don’t drag me into this. I don’t do AA relationships.”
The Next Day
Director Chen was unhappy with a certain shot and had them reshoot it three or four times. He compared the footage on the monitor carefully, then finally clapped his hands and decided to go with the very first take.
After changing out of their costumes, Jiang Qing and He Shu headed to the cafeteria.
There weren’t many people inside. The windows were all open, and steam was rising gently from the food.
Because of an incident the previous day, the crew no longer allowed Alphas and Omegas to eat in the same cafeteria.
They even arranged a minibus specifically for the Omegas to take them back to the hotel for meals.
With no need to rush for seats, He Shu leisurely scooped a bowl of seaweed and egg soup. “Where should we sit?”
They used to sit by the window.
But with the windows open to air out the room, the food would get cold too quickly. Not ideal.
Jiang Qing carried her tray and tilted her chin toward the north side.
“You want to sit there?”
The stainless steel tray landed on the metal table with a loud clang. He Shu stretched her wrist and looked toward the table Jiang Qing had picked. Then her gaze moved to the person already sitting at the far end.
Jiang Qing didn’t hesitate. She placed her tray down on the other side of the same table.
Then she walked a few more steps and set her tray on the table diagonally across.
“Sister He Shu, over here.”
The tables were arranged in neat rows. Each long table had four seats, with two tables making up a row.
There were already two people sitting at the table Jiang Qing had chosen.
She tilted her head slightly, her smooth hair slipping over her shoulder, and asked the woman sitting on the innermost side, “Miss Song, would you mind if we joined you?”
“No, absolutely not,” Xiao Yu cut in before Song Qin Ning could respond. She glared, stabbing her chopsticks into a piece of braised pork. “There are plenty of empty seats. Why squeeze in at our table?”
She wouldn’t complain about Sister He Shu. She was beautiful, capable, and professional.
But her artist, Miss Jiang Qing, was just too much.
“More people make it lively. And I thought Miss Song wouldn’t mind.”
Jiang Qing lifted her tray with one hand. The light in her eyes dimmed, and her voice sounded disappointed. “But if you do mind…”
Song Qin Ning moved her tray slightly inward. “It’s fine. Have a seat.”
“Sister Qin Ning!” Xiao Yu was frustrated. The braised pork on her plate was now shredded beyond recognition.
Jiang Qing smiled brightly under Xiao Yu’s angry stare. “Thank you, Miss Song.”
She waved to He Shu, who was standing to the side watching in silence, and invited her over.
He Shu brought her tray and sat down next to Xiao Yu.
Sigh. Jiang Qing really didn’t know how to read the room.
Sister Qin Ning was just being polite, and Jiang Qing actually believed it.
Managing the situation was clearly her job as the manager.
He Shu said, “Since you’re co-stars, this is a good chance to connect. My Jiang Qing really admires Teacher Song. She’s been wanting to ask for advice about acting.”
Jiang Qing nodded and, using clean chopsticks, placed a piece of chicken breast on Song Qin Ning’s tray. “A small token of respect. Please accept it, Teacher Song.”
Xiao Yu raised her chopsticks to stop her, but a piece of braised pork was shoved onto them. He Shu smiled sweetly. “You seem to really like braised pork. Go ahead and enjoy.”
Xiao Yu stared at the pork and swallowed hard. She looked at Sister Qin Ning, who was clearly being targeted. In the end, she took a big bite of the pork and muttered, “Sister Qin Ning’s mentorship doesn’t come cheap. Not even a hundred pieces of chicken breast would be enough.”
Jiang Qing said, “Then how about two hundred?”
Song Qin Ning said calmly, “That won’t be necessary. I don’t even like chicken breast. Besides, I’ve seen your work. It was very good. You don’t need much guidance.”
Jiang Qing lifted the corners of her eyes with a soft smile. “Teacher Song, if you keep complimenting me, I might get arrogant.”
Xiao Yu pouted. “So fake.”
She finished the last grain of rice on her plate and pulled out her phone to check gossip news.
The trending list was as lively as ever. She was eager to see who made the headlines today.
But the moment she read the top headline, she gasped.
Three pairs of eyes turned toward her immediately.
Xiao Yu read the trending title aloud, clearly and slowly. “Vase Actress Jiang Qing Has a New Romance, Sweet Moments in Broad Daylight.”
She held up her phone. “Number one trending topic.”
He Shu barely had time to chew her food before she opened her own phone. Her artist had made headlines again.
At this point, Jiang Qing also checked her phone. After reading it, her brows knit together. Her beautiful expression turned into that classic confused subway grandpa meme. “What on earth is this?”
“What does it say?” Song Qin Ning asked casually, putting down her bowl.
Jiang Qing read aloud. “Vase actress Jiang Qing is rumored to have a new lover. Spotted in the makeup room with her partner, the two shared a few sweet minutes together. According to someone on set, she came out with a strong Omega scent. Clearly, something intimate just happened.”
After she finished, she blinked with an innocent look. “Miss Song, what do you think?”
Song Qin Ning paused before replying. “I think it’s just a rumor.”
Jiang Qing nodded in agreement. “These media people are too shameless. Not even one picture, and they start making things up. Worse than what Sister He Shu warned me about. And just ‘a few minutes’? That’s insulting.”
Xiao Yu kept scrolling through the comments, but suddenly the page stopped loading.
She checked her signal. Full bars.
Unconvinced, she logged back into the app. This time, the entire trending topic was gone.
She looked up at He Shu. “Sister He Shu, did you already get it taken down?”
He Shu said, “No—”
Just then, her phone rang.
“Hello?” She stepped away to answer.
Xiao Yu raised her eyebrows in amazement.
With that kind of speed, it had to be Jiang Qing’s rich family pulling strings to get the headline removed.
A few minutes later, He Shu returned. She was still on the call and handed the phone to Jiang Qing.
“President Jiang is on the line.”
Jiang Qing reached out and took the phone.
Since arriving in this world, this was the first time she had spoken with the original body’s older sister.
In the original story, the previous Jiang Qing never liked her half-sister.
But after Jiang Qing’s death, her sister lost all attachment to this world. She fell into despair and ended her life not long after.
Her sister had been a good person.
Jiang Qing had let down many people, but most of all, she had let her down.
“Hello, Sister.”
“Hmm? Xiao Qing, why aren’t you calling me by my name today?” President Jiang’s voice was low and a little hoarse.
“I think calling you ‘Sister’ sounds better. It suits you more.”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
“If you think it sounds nice, then keep calling me that.” President Jiang paused for a moment. “I booked a flight for you to come home tomorrow. We haven’t seen each other in a long time. Work hasn’t been too busy lately, so let’s meet.”
“But I’m filming right now. I don’t think I’ll have time to go back.”
“I’ve already spoken to the director. Your remaining scenes have been postponed for a few days.”
“Alright then. See you soon, Sister.”
After hanging up, President Jiang leaned back in her chair, one hand resting on the armrest. After a long silence, she spoke.
“Xiao Qing called me ‘Sister’ today.”
“Looks like Miss Jiang is finally growing up,” Secretary Liang said gently.
President Jiang and Miss Jiang both had strong personalities. A few minutes of conversation usually turned into an argument.
In the past, if Miss Jiang found out that her schedule had been rearranged without her consent, she definitely would have caused a scene.
This was the first time Secretary Liang had seen them finish a phone call without arguing. President Jiang even looked calm and relaxed.
President Jiang smiled slightly. “Yes. The director also told me that she’s been very focused during filming and hasn’t shown any diva behavior.”
Secretary Liang nodded respectfully. “Then you can be at ease now.”
She was also relieved.
Whenever President Jiang was in a bad mood, she would work overtime, and Secretary Liang would have to stay with her.
But today, President Jiang was in a good mood. That meant she could finally go home on time and catch up on her favorite dramas.
President Jiang tapped her fingertips on the desk. “Since Xiao Qing is working so hard, I need to do better as her sister. Xiao Liang, bring me the quality control department’s contract statement for this month. I want to review it.”
Secretary Liang’s professional smile wavered slightly. “President Jiang, it’s already five thirty.”
It was time to clock out.
“Overtime pay is twenty thousand.”
“…Understood, President Jiang. Would you like dinner from Yushan Garden again?”
After the call, Jiang Qing handed He Shu her phone.
“By the way, I forgot to ask earlier. Was it President Jiang who removed the trending topic?” He Shu asked.
Xiao Yu pretended to drink water, but her ears perked up.
“Yes, it was my sister.”
Xiao Yu nearly choked.
Exactly what she expected.
The cruelty of capitalism!
Jiang Qing added, “She said she’s already acquired thirty percent of Weibo’s shares. She won’t let this kind of thing happen again.”
Song Qin Ning stayed silent.
Xiao Yu stared in disbelief.
That level of wealth was outrageous.
Jiang Qing dragged her suitcase onto the set.
She greeted Director Chen and told him she was leaving for a while. He didn’t react much, clearly already informed in advance.
Director Chen told her to eat well, have fun, and just make sure she returned to the crew on time.
Jiang Qing nodded and stood to the side, quietly watching them film.
“Cut. One more take!”
Director Chen was watching intently. When he finally looked away from the monitor and saw someone standing nearby, he jumped in surprise.
“Aren’t you supposed to be leaving?”
“I have something I need to say to Miss Song.”
She had come back a week earlier than planned. It was better to give Song Qin Ning a temporary mark in advance.
“Go ahead and talk to her now.”
Jiang Qing nodded.
She walked over to Song Qin Ning. “Miss Song, I’ll give you a temporary mark before I go.”
Song Qin Ning still had makeup on her face and body. She looked disheveled, covered in grime and fake blood.
The scene they were shooting was a dramatic one. Her character’s secret relationship with the princess had been discovered. The emperor, unwilling to punish his beloved daughter, had taken it all out on her.
She was being subjected to brutal punishment, forced to submit and cut ties with the princess.
Her blood-stained, dust-covered face moved slightly. In a voice so quiet only the two of them could hear, she said, “No need. There’s already fake blood on my neck. It’s not convenient right now.”
“What if your heat cycle gets disrupted again?”
“It shouldn’t. The last few times it happened were only because I was too close to you.”
“Alright. That’s good to know. Then… I’ll get going?”
“Take care. Safe travels.”
The wheels of the suitcase rolled across the gravel path, squeaking loudly at first, then fading into silence.
After the third scene wrapped, the sun had moved directly overhead, blazing hot. Director Chen finally called out, “Cut.”
Song Qin Ning walked over to him and the staff, politely thanking them for their hard work, then headed toward Xiao Yu.
Director Chen stopped her.
“Xiao Song. Hey, Jiang Qing left this for you. She said to make sure you remember to take it.”
Next to the monitor stood a kraft paper bag.
“She left something for me?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what it is. She just dropped it off and left.”
Song Qin Ning looked puzzled. What would Jiang Qing have left for her?
She walked over and picked up the paper bag.
As she lifted it, the contents slid slightly into view.
Inside was a light cream-colored blazer, thin and tailored.
It had been neatly folded by hand, clean and crisp, without a single wrinkle.
A cool autumn breeze swept past.
A soft floral scent drifted into her nose.