Jiang Hanguang’s fainting also startled Hua Ran. This omega, who looked to be in her early twenties, was the daughter of the wealthy merchant Hua family. Doted on and spoiled since childhood, she had developed a serious case of ‘princess syndrome’ and considered herself an unparalleled little princess of beauty wherever she went.
But ever since she joined this production and saw Jiang Hanguang, even with her blind confidence, she couldn’t shamelessly claim to be prettier than Jiang Hanguang.
Hua Ran, whose looks were completely overshadowed, was very unhappy at first, but Jiang Hanguang was low-key and never lingered in front of her except when rehearsing lines, so the two of them got along peacefully for a while.
The problem arose with Lang Wenxing, the other lead in 《White Robe》. Lang Wenxing was an idol actor who had exploded in popularity in the industry over the past two years, a handsome male alpha. He was very nice to Jiang Hanguang, always asking after her well-being and calling her ‘sister, sister’ whenever he had the chance. Towards Hua Ran, however, he was always lukewarm.
Catalyzed by this differential treatment, Miss Hua’s terminal case of princess syndrome had a full-blown flare-up. She was determined to teach this despicable AO pair, who didn’t take her seriously, a lesson. With her status, she couldn’t mess with Lang Wenxing for the time being, but bullying the newly returned Jiang Hanguang was more than easy enough.
Now that something had happened, Hua Ran’s first thought was to shirk responsibility. She curled her lip in disdain and said, “We haven’t even filmed a few takes, why are you acting like Lin Daiyu? You want to make a comeback with such poor health?”
Then she glared at Cheng Ying, “And who are you?”
Cheng Ying’s hand quickly touched Jiang Hanguang’s forehead. As expected, it was shockingly hot.
She needed to get to a hospital quickly. It would be such a pity for a fever to damage such a beautiful face.
She took off her sunglasses, gave an ingratiating smile, and greeted her obediently, “I’m Cheng Ying. Hello, sister-in-law.”
“Cheng Ying?” Hua Ran sized up the tall, beautiful, and leisurely alpha before her with suspicion. She couldn’t possibly connect her with the good-for-nothing with a messy private life that Cheng Liang had described.
Looking like this, even if she was a good-for-nothing, she was a beautiful one.
The beautiful good-for-nothing saw she wasn’t speaking and asked subserviently, “Sister-in-law, can I take this young lady to the hospital first? She doesn’t seem to be in good condition.”
These few ‘sister-in-laws’ greatly pleased Hua Ran. She waved her hand, “Go on, go on. Get whatever medicine she needs. Don’t go saying we mistreated her later.”
“Alrighty.” Cheng Ying nodded, carried Jiang Hanguang out of the set area, and shouted to the crowd in the filming area, “Who is Miss Jiang’s assistant?”
No one answered.
The director came up, wiping his sweat, and whispered in her ear, “Boss Cheng, it seems Miss Jiang had a bit of a falling out with her agent. She’s been coming alone these past two days.”
Cheng Ying: “…”
Miss Jiang, to end up in this state with a face like yours, you’re just too pitiful.
Words aside, since the person had fainted on set, the director still sent a staff member to take Jiang Hanguang to the infirmary next to the soundstage.
But…
Cheng Ying glanced at the fleshy-faced alpha and the greedy look in his eyes as they fell upon the person in her arms, and sighed.
“You’re not needed. I’ll take her.”
The staff member gave her a mysterious “we’re both alphas, I get you” smile and left reluctantly.
Cheng Ying sighed and carried Jiang Hanguang on her back. Her arms went under the woman’s knees, and she grabbed the hem of her own clothes to avoid as much unnecessary contact as possible.
It’s rare for me to do a good deed, might as well see it through to the end.
Perhaps due to the weakness caused by the high fever, the body on her back was light, soft, and hot. Cheng Ying couldn’t help but recall the feel of Jiang Hanguang’s waist.
That kind of firmness… she must pay close attention to exercise normally?
After all, Miss Jiang Hanguang seemed quite self-disciplined.
Jiang Hanguang’s pheromones were rose-scented, which suited her looks quite well.
Cheng Ying could imagine how intoxicating that scent would be when it grew stronger.
However, the scent was too pure. It was just like… the scent of an unmarked omega.
Next to every soundstage in the Central Film and Television City, there was a small infirmary to handle emergencies.
Inside the infirmary was a panic-inducing white. Fortunately, the temperature was comfortable enough. Cheng Ying helped Jiang Hanguang take off her shoes and laid her flat on the snow-white hospital bed.
A medical robot, with gears on its lower body, entirely snow-white with a round head and body, rolled up to the bed. It first scanned Jiang Hanguang, who had been placed on the bed by Cheng Ying. It extended a probe-like tentacle and pressed it against Jiang Hanguang’s full forehead.
“Diagnosis: Temporary coma caused by fever due to exhaustion and catching a chill. Optimal solution: Inject antipyretic medication, maintain body temperature, and rest well.”
After the robot finished its statement in a flat, electronic voice, it took a syringe from a nearby cabinet and accurately pierced a pale blue vein on the back of Jiang Hanguang’s hand.
Watching its rough and direct technique, Cheng Ying’s own hand throbbed in sympathy.
Jiang Hanguang’s brows furrowed tightly, but she didn’t struggle much.
This was the second time Cheng Ying thought she was well-behaved.
After giving the injection and applying a hemostatic patch, the robot turned and left without a second thought.
Cheng Ying speechlessly watched its mechanical and confident back, muttering, “What happened to ‘maintain body temperature’? Which moron made this system?”
The machine was useless, so she had to do it herself, tucking Jiang Hanguang in.
Freed from the abuse of the cold water, the Omega’s face was flushed with an unnatural ruddiness. Cheng Ying sat down beside her and complained to the indifferent medical robot, “Are you the doctor or am I? Do you even know how to take care of a patient?”
The medical robot clearly didn’t have a conversation system loaded and didn’t react to Cheng Ying’s words at all.
Cheng Ying sighed softly. Her devil-may-care tone suddenly deepened, like a great tiger waking from an afternoon nap, baring its sharp fangs.
“Mantou, hack it.”
The watch on her wrist flashed, and the cute, silly face on the medical robot’s electronic screen suddenly changed to the face of a little girl with short hair, who bore a ninety percent resemblance to Cheng Ying.
The girl curiously examined her own chubby, round hands and rolled over to Cheng Ying’s side.
“What’s up?”
Cheng Ying pointed to Jiang Hanguang on the bed. “Don’t you like her? Look up if there’s any way to make her more comfortable.”
“OK, one moment.”
Mantou’s movements were much faster than the original robot’s. In no time, she brought a basin of warm water and wrung out a wet towel to cool Jiang Hanguang down physically.
Cheng Ying sat to one side, watching the possessed robot bustle about with boredom. During this time, she stopped it once from trying to strip Jiang Hanguang’s clothes to give her a sponge bath.
With the help of the medication and external aid, Jiang Hanguang’s fever subsided almost completely in less than two hours. Her complexion also returned to normal, and she seemed to be fine.
“Jiang Hanguang, female Omega, of ancient Asian descent, 30 years old, occupation: actress. Her representative work is 《South Wind》, released in 2080. That work earned her multiple nominations, but she ultimately didn’t win any awards. Shortly after, she retired from the entertainment industry to marry Feng Nan, the current president of Feng’s Food Group. One month ago, she divorced Feng Nan, signed with Cheng’s Media, and is playing Mo Yan in 《White Robe》.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Cheng Ying pressed her forehead.
“For reference. If you don’t want to sign her, why did you save her?” Mantou was eager.
Cheng Ying: “…”
Good question.
She wanted to know herself.
Was it just because Jiang Hanguang reminded her of her mother, of whom not even ashes remained?
That was truly too offensive.
Miss Jiang’s face clearly looked even younger than Hua Ran’s.
However, Cheng Ying looked at Jiang Hanguang on the bed again. In her sleep, the woman’s face was peaceful, still so beautiful she could have been in a painting.
This really wasn’t her type.
Under the dual effects of the fever and medication, Jiang Hanguang had a rare, peaceful sleep. She dreamed she was back in her university days, standing alone on the stage of an empty auditorium. A few people with blurred faces sat sparsely in the audience.
Her throat hadn’t sung in a long time, like a rusty old machine. It took a long time and much effort to find its function again.
Jiang Hanguang’s singing voice was not quite the same as her speaking voice. She grew up at her maternal grandmother’s house and was only brought to Yunjing City by her parents at the age of 8, after it was confirmed her younger sister would differentiate into an alpha.
Her parents detested her soft, regional accent, as if that sound from a less developed area was a kind of disgrace.
Everything about that ignorant little girl was quickly dismantled and reassembled by the rules of this advanced city. Only in some unnoticed corners were fragments left behind, like the tiny footprints of a sparrow in the snow.
When Jiang Hanguang normally spoke, she was always unhurried, her enunciation so perfect she could have applied to be a news anchor.
But when she began to sing, that long, soft hometown accent would involuntarily seep between the words and lines. It wasn’t obvious, but it was definitely different.
She struggled to open her mouth. Just as she uttered the first syllable, bright lights suddenly illuminated the audience, clearly revealing everyone’s face.
Her parents, her sister, her… husband.
Jiang Hanguang froze on the spot, like a stunning but lifeless sculpture.
Her mother was heartbroken and furious, “Why did you have to act? How could you divorce President Feng?”
Her father glared at her coldly, “You disgraceful thing!”
Her sister, with innocent eyes, said, “Sister, did you get to act in that film because you slept with the director? They say it’s really easy for omega actors to fall victim to the ‘unspoken rules’.”
Finally, there was Feng Nan. The man smiled coldly, “What are you rejecting? Do you have to wait for me to throw away your blockers and then watch you beg me like a dog?”
Feng Nan’s gaze was too realistic, almost identical to his threat before the divorce. Jiang Hanguang couldn’t help but shudder and opened her eyes.
Her vision was filled with a piercing white. She was dazed for a moment, then smelled the woody scent from before she fainted. She remembered bumping into someone the second before she lost consciousness, and her eyes moved to the side.
A long-limbed woman was sitting on the visitor’s chair next to the hospital bed. One arm was slung carelessly over the back of the chair, swinging, while the other hand was rapidly scrolling through her phone. Her body was leaned back slightly, a pair of long legs with nowhere to go propped, half-bent, on the metal bar under the bed. Her entire person was the very definition of “improper posture.”
But this person, who seemed so unreliable at first glance, possessed a set of good looks that were hard to forget. She looked not even twenty, with mid-length black hair tied casually into a small ponytail at the back of her head. The bangs on her forehead were a bit messy, but it only made her look extremely young. Her facial contours were soft, but her eyebrows were straight and thick, her eye sockets slightly deep, her nose straight and lips thin, presenting a beauty unique to Eurasians where strength and softness blended. Especially those light blue eyes, long and narrow with a slight fold, the corners tilting upwards, holding the bright color of the sky. At this moment, they held a hint of a casual smile, like a shallow sea rippling under the sun.
“Yo, you’re awake?” The other person noticed her movement, casually put away her phone, and used her butt to scoot the wheeled chair closer to the bed, a playful grin on her face. “Feeling okay? Miss.”
“Mm…” Jiang Hanguang had recently become quite allergic to the term ‘sister’ because of Lang Wenxing. She paused for a moment before speaking, her voice a bit hoarse, but her tone was steady and her enunciation clear, not at all like an omega who had been running a high fever just a short while ago.
Cheng Ying watched her sit up slowly, instinctively straightening her back and tidying her messy hair first, before turning to look directly at her with black eyes devoid of any impurity, and thanking her seriously, “Thank you.”
Strict upbringing, keeps her distance, hard to get close to.
Cheng Ying made a simple evaluation of Jiang Hanguang in her mind, and at the same time, reconfirmed that this really wasn’t her type.
She was an impatient gardener who didn’t like overly delicate flowers.
That being said, out of humanitarian principle, Cheng Ying still poured the patient a glass of water. “Director Yan just called me. He said he’s rescheduled your scenes to the day after tomorrow. Get some good rest these two days.”
“Mm.” Jiang Hanguang took the cup, nodding hesitantly, unsure for a moment whether to thank her again or to ask who this benefactor was.
Cheng Ying watched her hold the cup and take small sips with a calm expression, and for some reason, again had the mistaken impression that Miss Jiang was very well-behaved.
Clearly, Jiang Hanguang’s looks and temperament had nothing to do with the word ‘well-behaved’.
Cheng Ying suspected that maybe she’d been staying up too late recently and her brain wasn’t clear.
At that moment, a light knock on the infirmary door interrupted the two’s thoughts.
The person outside didn’t seem to intend to wait for permission. After three seconds, she pushed the door open herself. With the clacking of high heels and her clothes fluttering as if in a breeze, she floated in, walked up to Cheng Ying, and said with a hint of reserved grievance, “I waited for you at the studio for so long. Why did you run off here?”
The newcomer wore a long, snow-white dress that didn’t look like everyday clothes, but more like a gown for a commercial shoot.
Even Jiang Hanguang, who had only recently returned, knew her name: Xu Ning, a currently rising starlet.
Then she must be… Jiang Hanguang looked at Cheng Ying, her mind recalling a gossip piece from some entertainment station—”Daughter of a Genius Becomes a Profligate, Has an Ambiguous Relationship and Lives with Her Signed Artist.”
Cheng Ying, Cheng Mo’s daughter, Xu Ning’s agent.
A sincere smile finally appeared on Cheng Ying’s face. She pointed at Jiang Hanguang and said to Xu Ning, “I saw it was still early, so I came to the company’s studio to look around. It just so happened that this sister wasn’t feeling well, so I brought her over.”
Xu Ning’s assessing gaze swept over. Jiang Hanguang felt it was necessary to help her benefactor prove her innocence to avoid any misunderstanding from her rumored partner, and quickly nodded. “Yes, I’m very grateful to Miss Cheng. I’ve troubled her.”
Xu Ning gave her a half-smiling glance and waved her hand. “It’s fine as long as you’re okay.”
For some reason, that look reminded Jiang Hanguang of the look her old orange cat used to give her when it saw her feeding stray cats outside.
Proud, yet pitying, and perhaps a little guarded.
The stray cat, Miss Jiang Hanguang, unconsciously touched her nose and lowered her head a little.
Xu Ning stopped looking at her and turned to Cheng Ying. “Shall we go then?”
The two said goodbye to Jiang Hanguang and walked towards the door, but they had barely taken two steps when someone else burst in.
This person was even more direct, not even knocking. He rushed directly to Jiang Hanguang’s bedside, grabbed her hand, and asked with a concerned face, “Sister, sister, sister, are you okay!”
It was none other than Lang Wenxing, the lead of 《White Robe》.
Jiang Hanguang immediately felt the headache that had just eased a little worsen. She nodded slightly while pulling her hand away. “I’m fine. How did you know I was here?”
Lang Wenxing, with his curly hair, blinked his big, sparkling eyes like an overly enthusiastic canine. “The director told me! That Hua Ran was bullying you again, wasn’t she! I’ll settle the score with her another day!”
“There’s no need,” Jiang Hanguang said helplessly. “I’m fine. You should get back to work.”
“How can I do that? Sister, are you still feeling unwell? Is there anything you want to eat?”
Cheng Ying was being pulled towards the door by Xu Ning, but in the end, she couldn’t resist looking back at Jiang Hanguang, who was being pestered to death by Lang Wenxing. She felt that Miss Jiang’s misery was truly in a class of its own.
For one production to have both a princess syndrome and a prince syndrome, and have them both tormenting her alone, the odds were probably lower than winning the lottery.
Mantou’s voice sounded in her head again, “This guy is so noisy. Doesn’t he know a patient needs to rest?”
Cheng Ying glanced back again and felt a light but firm pinch on her palm from Xu Ning. Her own artist’s soft teasing was right beside her ear.
“A wildflower smells sweeter than the one at home?”
Forget it. We’re just strangers who met by chance. You’re on your own, Miss Jiang.
Cheng Ying silently turned and left.
Cheng Ying and Jiang Hanguang were like two straight lines, miles apart, that had a chance intersection and then went their separate ways without looking back.
Little did they know that fate had already tied an inextricable knot at the ends of their lines.
After taking Xu Ning to the airport, Cheng Ying was dragged out to a bar until late at night by her good-for-nothing friends. Lying in bed, she scrolled through the meeting information her cousin Cheng Liang’s secretary had mass-sent her, her expressionless face as if covered in a thin layer of ice.
Meanwhile, Jiang Hanguang, who had finally managed to shake off Lang Wenxing and was preparing to leave the infirmary for home, discovered a valuable, gem-studded silver ring on the infirmary’s clean white floor. The ring was a size larger than her finger. She thought back: Xu Ning’s hands were about the same size as hers, and Lang Wenxing wasn’t wearing anything on his hands.
Then it could only be Cheng Ying’s.
Jiang Hanguang thought for ten minutes but couldn’t come up with a way to contact Cheng Ying. She could only put the ring away for now and wait for an opportunity to return it.
