Her Rose – Chapter 69

The unexpected trip to the haunted house finally came to an end with Jiang Xinyue fainting. After receiving treatment from the professional doctor on-site, Jiang Xinyue suffered no other lasting effects, aside from having to change her pants again and developing a tendency to stiffen up and scream uncontrollably at the sight of red. It was estimated she would never think of showing off in front of her sister again.

Regarding the matter of Feng’s Food Group, Cheng Mantou seemed to have uncovered some leads and was expected to give Cheng Ying an answer within the next couple of days.

The filming of 《Return》 continued in an orderly fashion. Although Cheng Ying couldn’t help but feel jealous, Jiang Hanguang always managed to soothe her at the right moments, so it never reached the point where Cheng Ying truly despised the film.

Having escaped her family, Gu Qingsheng integrated into her new life with a speed that surprised even herself. The things she had once yearned for, which had seemed so out of reach, came to her with unexpected ease.

She had planned this escape for so long that she had thought of everything. She brought all the necessities for survival—identification, money, clothes, and so on—and left a letter behind to ensure that meddling police wouldn’t drag her back under the pretext of her being a missing person.

She found a part-time job in a large city not far from her hometown, rented a small apartment, and worked during the day while indulging in the nightlife at bars in the evening. Gu Qingsheng became addicted to this lifestyle; it felt as though after leaving the cage that had confined her since childhood, even the air she breathed was exceptionally sweet.

However, she hadn’t yet dared to do anything too outrageous, which included, but was not limited to, so-called one-night stands.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to; it was simply that she hadn’t met anyone suitable. Although her past life had been incredibly stifling, it had left an indelible mark on Gu Qingsheng, which included her taste in people.

She couldn’t be bothered to give a second glance to the alphas who perpetually hung around bars, with their dark under-eye circles and bloated figures, let alone let anything happen with them.

Today was supposed to be another ordinary day. Gu Qingsheng sat at the bar, bored, slowly sipping a colorful cocktail, the straw in her mouth chewed flat by her idle teeth.

After rejecting the sixth alpha who had tried to hit on her, she yawned.

It was about time to head back and get some rest.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard the bell at the bar’s entrance jingle.

Several omegas walked in, clustered around one person. This individual had a handsome, rugged face and a mischievous smile playing on their lips. Their hands roamed restlessly over the omegas surrounding them.

Gu Qingsheng stared dazedly at the alpha, the straw falling from her lips and into her glass unnoticed. It stirred the remaining liquid, creating a swirl of mesmerizing colors.

It was as if all the light in the bar had converged on that person, accentuating their tall, healthy physique and sharply defined features, making them look like a god.

Gu Qingsheng’s gaze was locked on the person. For the first time, she felt her heart pound so violently, and for the first time, she felt that being alive—or rather, living freely—was such a blissful thing.

They were the very image of her fantasy lover—tall and powerful, wild and untamed, brimming with a vigorous and savage vitality. No omega who had ever indulged in so-called “bad alpha” literature could resist being captivated by them.

Often, disaster arrives in the guise of a fortune that brings its victim ecstatic joy.

Just as Gu Qingsheng was staring, entranced, the alpha actually looked back at her. They parted the omegas clustered around them and strode toward her.

Their feet landed on the floor, awash in the dazzling, colorful lights. Though the bar was noisy, each step seemed to land directly on Gu Qingsheng’s heart.

Every muscle in her body tensed involuntarily, as if desperate to leap from her skin and into their arms.

But her heart also fluttered with a long-absent unease. In the presence of such a handsome alpha, she couldn’t help but feel inadequate and began to regret not having dressed up more carefully that day.

Fortunately, the other person didn’t seem to mind her minor breach of etiquette. They stopped in front of her, a charming smile on their face, took her hand, and placed a light kiss upon it.

“My beautiful lady, may I have this dance?”

Instinct overrode reason. Without a second thought for the slender high heels she was wearing, Gu Qingsheng nodded emphatically.

She was already completely smitten.

Frenetic drumbeats, dazzling lights, a wild dance on the floor—yet Gu Qingsheng’s gaze was fixed only on the alpha beside her.

The alpha used their tall frame to shield her as they led her in an uninhibited dance.

Sweat beaded on their bodies, yet it caused no discomfort. At this moment, the scent of their perspiration was the best catalyst, heralding the inevitable, natural course of events to follow.

She found herself almost uncontrollably caressing their body, just as they were doing to her.

As their gazes collided, sparks ignited, scorching the fragile wings of a moth.

“Cut!” Yan Zhi’s voice rang out, and the studio, which had been blasting death rock music, instantly fell silent.

The two leads on the set immediately separated, reverting to their usual, unfamiliar demeanor.

Yan Zhi frowned as he watched the playback on the camera, and Jiang Hanguang’s heart leaped into her throat at his expression.

This was the first time she had been stopped in the middle of a take. Although it was perfectly normal for an actor to be cut off, the meticulous Jiang Hanguang still treated it with the utmost seriousness.

“Miss Jiang, come over here a moment,” Yan Zhi said after a moment, gesturing to Jiang Hanguang. Then he addressed the rest of the crew, “That’s it for today. Everyone, take a break.”

The sudden announcement to wrap for the day was met with a cheer from the crew, who immediately began packing up their equipment. Only Jiang Hanguang, with a slightly apprehensive heart, walked over to Yan Zhi’s side.

“You acted well,” Yan Zhi began with an affirmation. After several days of filming, he had come to understand Jiang Hanguang well enough. A dedicated, talented, and hardworking actress was likable anywhere, and he wasn’t the type of director who would berate someone indiscriminately. “But,” Yan Zhi seemed a little unsure of his next words, hesitating for a moment before slowly adding, “it’s still missing a spark.”

Cheng Ying, who had approached, raised an eyebrow in dissatisfaction. This old man was too picky. Did he need them to literally create sparks to be satisfied?

Jiang Hanguang, however, showed no dissatisfaction at all. She simply nodded, waiting earnestly for Yan Zhi to continue.

“It’s just…” Yan Zhi was a very professional director, but that didn’t stop him from feeling that what he was about to say was a bit unbecoming of a man his age. “It’s lacking a certain… hungry, sexual undertone.”

Jiang Hanguang: “…”

Perhaps feeling his words had been a bit blunt, Yan Zhi explained with uncharacteristic patience, “Gu Qingsheng’s feelings for Xin Ze aren’t a traditional love at first sight. A large component is his sexual appeal… er, so her gaze shouldn’t be so gentle. It should be more like a hunter coveting its prey.”

Jiang Hanguang: “…”

Yan Zhi rubbed his forehead and, deciding to just throw caution to the wind, said, “Do you have someone you like so much you want to sleep with them? That feeling, the way you look at that person. Understand?”

Jiang Hanguang: “…”

Her face turned completely red, but her gaze involuntarily shifted to Cheng Ying, who had just walked up to them.

Cheng Ying was clearly stunned by Yan Zhi’s blunt words, a rare, dazed expression on her face.

Yan Zhi’s gaze flickered between the two of them. He then patted Jiang Hanguang’s shoulder solemnly. “Go home and get a good feel for it today. Rest well. We’ll continue tomorrow. I believe you can do it.”

“Has that old man fried his brain from filming? How is someone supposed to ‘get a good feel’ for something like that?” On the way home, Cheng Ying still felt her skin crawl when she recalled Yan Zhi’s confident gaze. She felt she might never understand the thought processes of an artist in her entire life.

Not to mention, she had already been simmering with jealousy while watching Jiang Hanguang dance intimately with that alpha earlier. Naturally, her words now were not going to be polite.

After waiting a moment without receiving the expected rebuttal, Cheng Ying turned her head. She saw Jiang Hanguang’s brow was furrowed, likely still worried about the next day’s scene.

Jiang Hanguang was wearing a white, wide-collared, short-sleeved shirt that day. In the dimly lit car, her exposed skin seemed to merge with the snow-white fabric. Curled up in the passenger seat, she looked like a soft, white rabbit.

Cheng Ying couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke the woman’s soft hair. “Hanguang?”

Jiang Hanguang started, looking up at her in a daze.

Cheng Ying asked worriedly, “Are you too tired? Don’t overthink it. That old man is just nitpicking. You did a great job today.”

So good, in fact, that I wanted to dig a hole and bury that guy.

Some thoughts were best left unsaid.

Jiang Hanguang shook her head and said only, “Director Yan is right,” before reverting to her listless state.

Cheng Ying assumed she was just exhausted, so she stopped trying to talk to her and sped up, wanting to get home sooner so Jiang Hanguang could rest.

After returning home, Cheng Ying took a shower. When she came out, she smelled the faint scent of alcohol in the air.

“Hanguang?” She knew Jiang Hanguang couldn’t hold her liquor well, and what’s more, the bottles she kept were all high-proof spirits. For a moment, she was puzzled.

The living room curtains were drawn tight, and only a single lamp was on. Its dim light merely outlined the graceful curves of the woman on the sofa.

She was still wearing her unromantic plaid pajamas, sitting perfectly upright. The bottle in front of her was already nearly half-empty.

Surprised, Cheng Ying walked over, picked up the bottle to check the proof, and then hurried to feel Jiang Hanguang’s forehead.

Before her hand could make contact, it was seized by a soft, tender hand.

Whether it was because Cheng Ying was too unguarded around Jiang Hanguang, or because drunk people simply had more strength, by the time she could react, she had been pulled down onto the sofa.

Before she could process what was happening, the woman’s warm body was already pressing down on top of her.

Almost instinctively, Cheng Ying wrapped her arms around Jiang Hanguang’s waist, accepting the kiss that was heavy with the scent of alcohol.

Jiang Hanguang was now sitting on her lap. In the dim light, the woman’s fair face was flushed a beautiful shade of red.

She wasn’t heavy at all, yet Cheng Ying felt as if all the strength had drained from her own body.

She struggled to raise a hand to touch the woman’s face. “Hanguang, are you all…”

Before she could finish, she was silenced by the woman’s finger pressed against her lips.

Jiang Hanguang was obviously drunk. Her words were slurred, soft and sticky like sweet rice cakes. “Don’t move. I’m trying to get a feel for it.”

In that instant, her other hand had already slid lightly down to Cheng Ying’s lower abdomen. Her slender fingers traced over the thin silk of the pajamas, like a playful kitten batting at its owner with retracted claws.

It brought a faint tickle, followed by an explosion of heat.

Cheng Ying’s throat bobbed. Her body went rigid, having completely lost the ability to resist.

And Jiang Hanguang just stared at her, entranced, her gaze a mixture of hazy and confused.

“Like this… does it feel good?”