Ning Manqing’s words felt perfectly natural at this moment. Li Chu looked into her eyes, suppressing the strange reaction in her heart.
As if hypnotizing herself, she repeated Ning Manqing’s line in her mind, trying to quickly immerse herself in the role.
I love her.
I love her.
I… love her.
Li Chu felt somewhat dazed, pulled into the character’s emotions.
The Eldest Princess had always believed their love was mutual, that only circumstances and status prevented them from abandoning everything to be together forever. But these thoughts dissolved into foam amidst her beloved’s words, like a teacup shattering upon falling, mocking her foolish fantasies.
She had loved two men in her life. One was her husband; A and O seemed like a match made in heaven, but hidden beneath the tenderness was merely an obsession with power, mocking her pathetic state. The second man, whom she had fallen for like a moth to a flame, didn’t want to get involved in the treacherous political situation and was also leaving her.
“Su knows he is foolish and unworthy of this position…”
Ning Manqing’s line delivery was excellent; every word landed clearly in Li Chu’s ears.
She grew even more dazed, as if empathizing with the woman she had spent the day imitating and embodying.
She didn’t believe he had fallen for someone else. She also knew he was very intelligent; he was merely retreating, wanting to escape this struggle, wanting to leave her!
Coward!
Yet she also knew he wasn’t wrong. Not liking officialdom, not liking conflict wasn’t his fault. It was only because she couldn’t keep him that she cursed him so resentfully in her heart. What she resented more was actually herself.
She wanted to ask, if she weren’t the powerful Eldest Princess, if she were just an ordinary Beta, could they have been together?
The Eldest Princess’s pride wouldn’t allow her to ask such things. She just dug her nails into her palm, swallowed her resentment, and questioned him about things that weren’t what she truly wanted to ask.
“Has your mother also consented?”
“My mind is made up. Mother naturally agrees.”
“What about Taxue?”
That was a small tiger the Eldest Princess and Bai Su had rescued together, which had been kept in Bai Su’s courtyard.
“Naturally, it will be sent to the Princess’s residence.”
“And if I don’t want it?”
“Then let it return to the mountains and forests. It wouldn’t be a bad place for it.”
The Eldest Princess knew he intended to sever every tie between them.
Her expression shifted from anger to cold hardness, seemingly having calmed down and accepted it completely. She took two steps back and sat down in her chair again.
When Bai Su looked up at her, he saw a teacup smash right at his feet.
“Between you and me, it is like this cup!”
“Get out! For the rest of your life, don’t you ever appear before me again!”
Her voice was harsh and resolute, each word a mournful cry.
Several minutes after the scene ended, Li Chu still found it difficult to detach from the role.
She lowered her head, feeling her chin gently lifted. Through tear-blurred eyes, she saw Ning Manqing’s gentle features.
Ning Manqing wiped the tears from her face with a wet wipe. Li Chu sniffled, her voice tinged with tears and a faint, plaintive tone as she asked, “I loved you so much, how could you bear to leave?”
An Omega’s innate sensitivity made them highly perceptive and empathetic to emotions. They possessed richer feelings; the deeper they immersed themselves, the harder it was to pull away.
Logically, Li Chu understood Bai Su’s choice, but emotionally, she empathized with the Eldest Princess and found it truly difficult to forgive Bai Su.
Ning Manqing let her clutch her collar, running her fingers through Li Chu’s loose long hair without replying.
If she responded now, once Xiao Chu came out of her emotional state, she’d probably be too embarrassed to face her.
However, Ning Manqing didn’t particularly like Bai Su’s personality either. If she were Bai Su, at a time when the new emperor desperately needed trusted advisors, she definitely wouldn’t leave. With the status of the Eldest Princess’s beloved, she could gain the new emperor’s trust more easily, rapidly advance her position, and eventually challenge the Right Chancellor. After all, alliances in politics could shift. Finally, she’d arrange for the Princess and the Right Chancellor to divorce, and then openly claim the beauty for herself.
Perhaps due to the sadness, the pheromones emanating from Li Chu carried a hint of sorrow, softly clinging to Ning Manqing.
Ning Manqing’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, hiding a fleeting smile.
Two minutes later, Li Chu snapped out of character. Realizing what she had just said, she immediately released Ning Manqing’s collar.
“Teacher Ning, I’m so sorry, I got carried away by the emotions just now.”
Li Chu felt her toes curl right through her slippers, digging into the ground. She wished she could dig a hole and crawl into it.
“It’s alright. You performed very well.”
Ning Manqing smoothed out her wrinkled collar and sat back down.
“It’s all thanks to Teacher’s guidance. I’ll head off now, don’t want to disturb your rest!”
Li Chu picked up the mineral water bottle she had thrown on the floor, pretending it was the teacup, bowed to Ning Manqing, and scurried away, closing the door behind her.
Ning Manqing sniffed the faint, almost nonexistent peach scent in the air, her gaze falling on the small black box Li Chu had brought.
Inside was a pair of earrings, their intricate craftsmanship exuding a captivating classical beauty.
…………
Li Chu felt like she had suffered a social death.
Returning to her room, she looked at her red-eyed reflection in the mirror, feeling it screamed “embarrassing.”
However, finding the right state of mind still excited her. She mentally roared, “The female lead is the best!”
The next day in the rehearsal room, the state she presented earned high praise from the actor playing opposite her.
“Xiao Li, your emotional state is excellent, your acting is quite good.”
The actor playing Bai Su was a Beta. Although only thirty, he was considered a veteran actor in the industry. He started as a child star, and while he never became massively popular, his acting skills were solid, having won several best supporting actor awards.
He was quite impressed by Li Chu’s performance. This surprise stemmed mostly from the contrast between Li Chu’s appearance and the character she portrayed. She looked like a pure, sweet girl. He had seen her previous performance as Han Tao; that kind of contrast was simple for a veteran like Dong Ming – praiseworthy but not stunning. This time was different.
A proud, noble Eldest Princess, heartbroken by love – she could carry such a role despite her appearance. If she continued down this path, her acting range would surely broaden.
“Thank you for the compliment, Teacher Dong. I feel I still have many shortcomings and need you to help guide me into the role.”
Li Chu always respected seniors in the industry who possessed genuine talent. Besides, during yesterday’s rehearsal, it was Bai Su (Dong Ming) who initially helped her get into character and even coached her on delivering a few lines.
The original owner wasn’t professionally trained, and neither was Li Chu herself. So, she could only learn and practice diligently, feeling grateful to everyone who helped her.
“Such sweet words, you really know how to talk.”
Dong Ming couldn’t help but laugh, growing fonder of the young actress before him.
The girl was already likable due to her looks and seemingly good personality. When they first met yesterday, she greeted him politely and earnestly. Moreover, yesterday he felt like he was catching a cold, though he hadn’t realized it himself, yet the girl thoughtfully made him a cup of Banlangen, smiled at him, put the cup down, and went back to memorizing her lines.
It was hard not to like someone like that. Plus, she was hardworking and motivated. Dong Ming felt that, barring any accidents, it was only a matter of time before this kid became famous. But in this industry, nothing was certain.
Li Chu chatted with Dong Ming for a while, then sought out another teacher to rehearse the next scene.
Actually, she found it somewhat difficult to get into character just now. Looking at Teacher Dong wasn’t as smooth as yesterday. In terms of image, Dong Ming resembled Bai Su more than Ning Manqing did – not because of gender, but temperament. His lean body and decent face, though lined with age, gave him a mature charm somewhat similar to Bai Su’s detached feel. With proper styling and costume, he would likely appear younger.
But Li Chu discovered that the amorous suggestion she used on Ning Manqing yesterday simply didn’t work on Teacher Dong.
So, she had to mentally tell herself the person before her was Ning Manqing, find a sliver of the right state, and then quickly immerse herself in the role, treating the person before her as the Bai Su in the play.
Because of this, she felt a bit guilty, like she was using Dong Ming as a substitute for Ning Manqing.
Hiss, how terrifying!
In the adjacent practice room, Ming Xi, who was paired with Ning Manqing, was praising her newly worn earrings.
“Teacher Ning, these earrings really suit you. They look great.”
Ming Xi didn’t hold back her compliments. Her ranking in the last competition was seventeenth. If she couldn’t rank higher this time, she might be eliminated. Ning Manqing was undoubtedly her lifeline.
Not only was the other woman a beautiful and captivating Alpha, but her acting skills were also top-notch. Ming Xi wished Ning Manqing could teach her line by line.
“Thank you. It’s a gift from a friend.”
Ning Manqing, who hadn’t reacted much to her attentiveness, finally offered a polite smile when Ming Xi started complimenting her earrings.
“Your friend has great taste. Teacher Ning, could you guide me on this part?”
Seeing Ning Manqing’s attitude soften slightly, Ming Xi immediately pressed her advantage.
Ning Manqing nodded. They were partners for this scene; the other’s performance would affect her own standard. This person’s acting wasn’t terrible, but it was just average, even less spirited than before.
The issues Ning Manqing pointed out yesterday, she hadn’t improved on at all today.
Ning Manqing tried explaining in a simpler way, but Ming Xi still didn’t grasp it. She walked over to ask for more guidance. Summer clothes were thin, and as Ming Xi leaned in, her body’s curves became even more pronounced.
Ning Manqing shot her a cold glance, unwilling to speak further, turned, and left.
Li Chu was practicing her lines in the rehearsal room when she suddenly saw Ning Manqing leaning against the doorframe.
“Teacher Ning, what brings you here?”
Li Chu walked over, pleasantly surprised. Ning Manqing hadn’t come to her rehearsal room yesterday.
“Just visiting.”
Ning Manqing leaned forward slightly, the pendants on her earlobes swaying gently with her movement.
Li Chu’s eyes curved into crescents, very happy that Ning Manqing liked the gift she gave.
“Teacher Ning, is everything going smoothly on your end?”
“Yes.”
Ning Manqing nodded. She herself was doing fine. As for others with ulterior motives, it had little to do with her; this was an individual competition, after all.
This wasn’t filming a drama or a movie; no director would correct the actors’ performances. What you see is what you get.
“Duoduo just bought me two fruit teas. Would you like one?”
Li Chu wasn’t being stingy; she just didn’t have much money right now. Her available spending cash was only a few hundred yuan.
Who would have thought? She looked like such a respectable female celebrity!
Not only did she have just a few hundred yuan, but she was also indebted to her agent!
Perhaps this was life, Li Chu thought, lighting a metaphorical cigarette with a world-weary sigh.
“Okay.”
Ning Manqing didn’t refuse. The two went into the lounge together to drink fruit tea.
The actor program treated its participants quite well. The air conditioning in the lounge was on. While Li Chu practiced her script and lines in the rehearsal room, Qian Duoduo had been enjoying the cool air here. When Li Chu and Ning Manqing entered, she instinctively thought about leaving but was stopped by Ning Manqing’s gaze.
Qian Duoduo immediately realized her lapse in duty. If she left, and someone saw, they might think Teacher Ning and Sister Li were having a private meeting.
Yet, her initial instinct to leave felt both natural and strangely compelled. Qian Duoduo took a silent, sharp breath and quietly sat in a corner, observing the two beautiful women.
Qian Duoduo knew Li Chu and Ning Manqing had a good relationship. As Li Chu’s personal assistant, she was closest to Li Chu’s daily life and occasionally overheard phone calls, chats, or other things. She had even accompanied Li Chu to pick out the earrings now worn by Teacher Ning.
So she also knew that Li Chu and Ning Manqing’s relationship was purely platonic. Li Chu’s attitude towards Ning Manqing was more like that towards a respected elder or teacher. But Teacher Ning was only three years older than Sister Li, Qian Duoduo couldn’t help but mutter inwardly.
Li Chu took a sip of her fruit tea, chewed the chewy pearls inside, and comfortably sank into the soft sofa. Although the rehearsal room offered freedom, it was filled with cameras, and the floor was uncomfortably hard. The lounge was much more relaxing.
“Teacher Ning, have you been very busy lately?”
Li Chu had indeed sensed Ning Manqing’s recent busyness. Ever since that night she saved her, they hadn’t met again until yesterday.
Ning Manqing would take a while to reply to messages. Feeling like she might be bothering her, Li Chu stopped sending them.
Teacher Ning was wearing makeup now, so it wasn’t obvious, but last night when she was makeup-free and guiding her, she looked somewhat tired. Li Chu had intended to ask about it yesterday, but she was too mortified by the incident where she clung to Ning Manqing’s clothes while crying in character, so she didn’t get the chance.
“Yes, dealing with some matters. Went abroad, there was some jet lag.”
“Oh, I thought you had a new role.”
“Still choosing scripts. What about you? Any news from the audition?”
“Not yet. But I probably have to shoot a commercial after tomorrow’s performance.”
Li Chu shook her head. She never hid things from Ning Manqing. She had told Ning Manqing about switching companies right away via WeChat, so she didn’t mention it again now.
“What kind of commercial?”
“I don’t know, my agent didn’t say.”
Li Chu shook her head again, sipping her fruit tea, her eyes narrowed in contentment.
Sigh, if only I could lie down, make money without working, drink milk tea every day, and not eat diet meals, life would be even happier!
Ning Manqing watched her carefree, or rather, heartless appearance, and couldn’t resist tapping her forehead.
“Be more careful.”
Li Chu nodded like a chick pecking grain. She drank quickly, finishing the fruit tea in no time. She chewed on the straw, her tongue swirling around the flattened plastic.
Ning Manqing gazed at the glimpse of red between her lips, her dark eyes growing deeper, more intense.
Sitting in the corner, Qian Duoduo felt something was very wrong. Was this really just innocent teacher-student affection? Why did she feel like pink bubbles were exploding all over her face?
Ning Manqing didn’t stay long, taking the fruit tea with her as she left Li Chu’s lounge.
Li Chu used the restroom and quickly returned to practicing her lines.
She couldn’t slack off; she absolutely couldn’t let down Teacher Ning’s guidance!
The next day, during the stage performance, Li Chu worried she wouldn’t be able to get into character quickly. So, while waiting, she stared at Dong Ming, hypnotizing herself.
Ning Manqing, Ning Manqing, Ning Manqing!
“Xiao Li, is there something on my face?”
Dong Ming felt a bit baffled by her intense stare and touched his face.
Li Chu smiled and shook her head, hiding the three parts coolness, three parts mockery, and three parts indifference in her eyes. Heh, you’re just her substitute!
After indulging in some mental trash talk, Li Chu thought maybe she could try acting in domineering CEO dramas in the future.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror. The Eldest Princess wasn’t old; she married at sixteen and was only twenty-four during this scene. However, to fit the characterization, the makeup artist aged her to look thirty-four, making her features appear visually sharper and more serious.
The group performing before them was Ning Manqing’s. Li Chu watched the entire performance on a small screen in the broadcast room. All she could say was that Ming Xi, acting opposite her, was completely overshadowed. Ming Xi’s stiff acting made Li Chu shake her head inwardly. She remembered studying Ming Xi’s past roles when she first started learning, never expecting her skills to regress so quickly.
The exit passage and the waiting area were in different locations, so Li Chu couldn’t meet Ning Manqing. She went on stage with the two teachers.
She had already finished her self-hypnosis while waiting, so her performance went very smoothly. She didn’t stay to wait for her ranking, needing to return to the hotel to grab her things and catch a later flight.
On the way, Li Chu sent messages to Ning Manqing, but received no reply. Li Chu figured she might be busy discussing future work with Hu Yi.
In the hotel room, assistant Li Si watched Ning Manqing, who had just injected a susceptibility suppressant and was now lying on the bed, with concern, feeling somewhat helpless.
Alphas have a susceptible period. During this period, which lasts 3 to 7 days, Alphas become irritable, easily angered, and insecure, with a greatly increased need for their Omega. Alphas with partners or Omegas can be gently soothed by Omega pheromones, but single Alphas can only rely on susceptibility suppressant injections during their monthly susceptible period to maintain emotional stability.
This was Ning Manqing’s first month after differentiation. Normally, Alphas who differentiate after adulthood enter their susceptible period immediately, thus learning its timing. However, Ning Manqing differentiated late. After differentiation, she was hospitalized and unconscious for three days. Upon waking, she showed no abnormalities. Everyone around her, including Ning Manqing herself, assumed those three days were her susceptible period. Unexpectedly, it struck now, right after Ning Manqing left the stage.
Ning Manqing had hastily injected the suppressant and was now lying pale-faced on the bed.
“Sister Ning, is there anything I can do?”
Li Si had been with Ning Manqing for two years, but she wasn’t very familiar with how to care for an Alpha during their susceptible period.
“You can leave. Don’t enter my room unless I contact you.”
An Alpha’s territoriality is extremely strong. It might not be apparent normally, but Ning Manqing was currently experiencing pheromone imbalance. Even though the person before her was a Beta, she found it difficult to tolerate sharing the same space.
Li Si quickly exited. With the sound of the closing door, Ning Manqing’s breathing became increasingly erratic.
Despite her efforts to control it, her heightened senses pushed her to the brink of emotional volatility. The desire for control and destruction surged wildly through her nerves. A frantic craving arose in her mind, a desire that rampaged like a caged beast in her thoughts.
Suddenly, she smelled something and her red lips curved upwards.
Found it.
As Li Chu went upstairs, she saw Ning Manqing’s assistant walking out of the room with a worried expression. She wanted to ask something, but the assistant walked past with her head down, seemingly not noticing her.
Strange.
Did something happen to Teacher Ning?
Li Chu stood before Ning Manqing’s door. Just as she was about to knock, she suddenly froze.
Even through the closed door, the intense scent of Cloud Mist Tea pheromones washed over her.
If those pheromones could materialize, Li Chu would surely see them eagerly spilling out from under the door, wrapping around her.
Li Chu decided to leave, but just then, the door opened.
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