Her Rose – Chapter 71

The next day, Jiang Hanguang’s frighteningly punctual biological clock was defeated by the strong liquor. When Cheng Ying went to check at eight in the morning, the woman was still sound asleep in the soft, fluffy quilt. Unwilling to wake Jiang Hanguang, she had no choice but to risk getting an earful from Yan Zhi and call him to ask for leave on her behalf.

Surprisingly, the strict old man didn’t fly into a rage as she had expected. He just readily agreed as if he had known all along, and even said in a gratified yet concerned tone, “It’s fine as long as she can come in the afternoon. I’ll shoot other scenes first. Is Xiao Jiang’s throat okay? I have some special medicine here. Why don’t you come to the set to pick it up?”

Cheng Ying: “…You’re too kind, that won’t be necessary.”

This feeling of being suspected of having done everything when she had actually done nothing was truly awful.

Jiang Hanguang slept until nearly 10 o’clock before waking up. The moment she sat up in bed, her head was still inevitably throbbing with a dull ache.

Thanks to the sobering soup Cheng Ying had made last night, the discomfort wasn’t unbearable.

But when Jiang Hanguang recalled her actions from the previous night, she immediately wished the pain would just make her faint on the spot.

Is it comfortable… It’s beating so fast…

The woman on the bed buried her face tightly in the quilt, her ears as red as blood.

After playing ostrich for ten minutes, Jiang Hanguang finally got out of bed, trembling, and got herself ready.

Mustering up the courage of someone facing death, she pushed open the bedroom door.

The spacious, almost empty living room was filled with the aroma of coffee. The tall, long-legged Alpha was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her messy hair draped over her shoulders. An open laptop rested on her knees, and the anti-radiation glasses on her face reflected the light, obscuring her eyes.

Hearing the bedroom door open, she looked up and flashed a grin at the embarrassed woman.

“Yo, you’re awake?”

Last night, Cheng Ying had practically let a delicious meal delivered to her door get away. It was certain she felt displeased about it.

Although she couldn’t bear to make things difficult for Jiang Hanguang, for the sake of her own physical and mental well-being, she resolutely decided to collect some interest.

Therefore, Boss Cheng had deliberately moved her work setup to the living room, just to lie in wait for the other person to wake up.

The small act of revenge was remarkably effective. The moment their eyes met, the woman opposite her blushed crimson and averted her gaze in a fluster, almost as if fleeing for her life.

Cheng Ying didn’t speak, a slight smile playing on her lips as she continued with her work. She waited for Jiang Hanguang to speak again.

If the other person were as thick-skinned as she was, she would definitely have brazenly brushed it off without hesitation.

But this was Jiang Hanguang. When she made a mistake, she would definitely apologize, and it had to be the kind of apology where she looked the other person straight in the eye.

Sure enough, a moment later, the sofa beside her suddenly dipped, and the woman’s soft, sweet voice, tinged with hesitation and shame, sounded out, “I’m sorry…”

Cheng Ying stopped what she was doing and looked at the person opposite her with a smile. Jiang Hanguang, like a rabbit targeted by a hunter, trembled but still forced her gaze to remain fixed on hers.

The Omega’s eyes had regained their brightness that made one feel inadequate, clearly distinguishing her from the enchanting vixen who had clung to her last night.

Her eyes were filled with deep guilt. After a pause, she continued, enunciating each word, “I just wanted to try, but I didn’t dare, so… I didn’t expect my behavior when drunk would be so bad.”

As she said this, the woman’s brows furrowed, as if she were angry with her drunken self.

Cheng Ying was amused by her adorable appearance and chuckled, but quickly put on a straight face before the woman’s gaze returned. “So, are we just going to let the matter of you taking advantage of me slide?”

Jiang Hanguang: “…”

Even though her mind was clouded with guilt right now, the ever-conscientious Miss Jiang couldn’t help but mutter to herself internally.

Leaving aside whether doing such things between lovers counted as taking advantage, if they were to really keep score, it was Cheng Ying who had taken advantage of her more often, right?

Cheng Ying paid no mind to that. She leaned in on her own accord. “Then I’ll come and collect my interest now?”

Jiang Hanguang froze in place and didn’t dodge. Firstly, she still felt a little sorry for Cheng Ying. Secondly, there were the scenes from yesterday, which, because they hadn’t gone all the way, had left a deep impression on the sexually frustrated party.

After all, stopping there hadn’t just been uncomfortable for Cheng Ying.

The impact of those images was so great that now that Miss Jiang Hanguang’s sense of shame had returned to normal, she would blush so hard she’d freeze up just thinking about them.

The Alpha’s kiss, as light as a feather, landed on her cheek, an almost imperceptible tickle.

Cheng Ying pulled back with a serious expression. “I see you won’t be able to pay it back all at once. Let’s do it in installments.”

This was, of course, nonsense. In reality, the current Cheng Ying didn’t dare to provoke Jiang Hanguang in any substantial way.

Those abruptly halted moments of intimacy were like bundles of dry firewood, ready to ignite at the touch of a flame. They had been piling up time and again and had now reached a very dangerous edge.

Before something real happened, she could only go so far and no further.

Cheng Ying pulled away so quickly that Jiang Hanguang was stunned for a moment before raising a hand to touch her kissed cheek, her expression complicated.

Cheng Ying, afraid she would say something that would test the limits of her endurance, like “Is that all?”, urged her, “There’s breakfast in the kitchen, hurry up and eat. I only got you half a day off. If you’re late, that old man will definitely give you a lecture.”

Jiang Hanguang could only follow her suggestion and get up. Just before leaving, she regained her usual composure, gently ruffled Cheng Ying’s hair, and said a quiet “thank you.”

Watching the woman’s slender back, Cheng Ying suddenly felt the wicked fire that had been building since last night subside a little.

Her gaze returned to the screen. It wasn’t so bad, she thought. At least she had once again proven to Jiang Hanguang that she was safe.

That even if she acted mischievously, she was safe with her.

If things continued like this, sooner or later, she would accept her, body and soul.

For someone like Jiang Hanguang, no amount of waiting was too long; it was worth it. She had enough patience.

Although that patience didn’t stop her from feeling so pent-up she could spit blood.

When the two arrived at the set in the afternoon, Yan Zhi, for once, wore a satisfied expression before filming had even started. His gaze swept over the two of them, and he nodded. “You felt it, didn’t you?”

Cheng Ying: “…”

This guy was just being an improper old man!

Then, as if remembering something, she quickly concealed the displeasure in her eyes. “Um, Director Yan, could I discuss something with you?”

Yan Zhi looked warily at the overly polite Alpha before him. “Go on.”

Cheng Ying said with a grin, “Do you think I could play Xin Ze?”

Jiang Hanguang: “…”

Yan Zhi frowned. “Are you kidding?”

Cheng Ying: “No.”

If she let Jiang Hanguang look at someone else with that kind of gaze, that would be a real joke.

Yan Zhi sneered. “Acting is no child’s play. Someone like you with no experience would just make a fool of yourself up there.”

Jiang Hanguang: “Director Yan…”

Yan Zhi waved his hand. “Xiao Jiang, you don’t need to say anything. I know about your relationship, but this affects the crew’s filming schedule. If an actor’s girlfriend can’t even support her lover’s career, it’s better not to hold each other back and part ways sooner rather than later.”

These words were extremely harsh. Jiang Hanguang couldn’t say anything more. If she continued, she would be seen as someone who disregarded the filming schedule just to please her lover, unworthy of being an actor.

Since Cheng Ying was asking for a favor, she was surprisingly patient and continued in a pleasant tone, “Why don’t you just pick a scene and let me try? If I’m no good, we can let that young man continue playing the part. I’ll compensate everyone with overtime pay for the wasted time.”

Her ingratiating manner somewhat soothed Yan Zhi’s temper. Coupled with the consideration that Jiang Hanguang might get into character more easily acting opposite Cheng Ying, he finally gave in for Jiang Hanguang’s sake. He nodded with a frown. “I’ll give you five minutes. The scene from yesterday where Xin Ze enters the bar.”

Cheng Ying nodded repeatedly. “No problem.”

Jiang Hanguang tugged her sleeve worriedly. “Can you act?”

“No,” Cheng Ying replied matter-of-factly.

Jiang Hanguang immediately grew anxious. Yan Zhi wasn’t a director who could be easily fooled. “Then why did you…”

“Don’t worry.” Cheng Ying smiled and patted her shoulder. “Today, I’ll let you witness what’s called playing oneself.”

She had been playing the part of a profligate heir for ten years. How could she not be able to play a scoundrel who specialized in deceiving innocent young women? It was a joke.

The set was already prepared. The bewildered actor playing Xin Ze watched as the female Alpha who had previously given him a very hostile look took his place on stage.

Cheng Ying channeled the demeanor she used to have when she was eating, drinking, and carousing with that group of profligates, perfectly embodying Xin Ze’s wild and unrestrained temperament.

The only difference between a profligate and a rogue was probably money, and Cheng Ying’s professional expertise in this area was indeed something others could only hope to aspire to.

After the scene, Yan Zhi nodded with a deadpan expression. “You’re much more punchable than he is. We can indeed make the switch.”

Cheng Ying: “…Thank you for the compliment.”

Things were much simpler after that. Yan Zhi’s word was law on this set. The contract only stipulated that he couldn’t replace two actors: the lead, Jiang Hanguang, and the Omega whom Gu Qingsheng’s ex-wife later married, named Meng Ziyan.

As for the male actor who was hopping mad about his role being replaced, he glanced at the number on the check Cheng Ying handed him and decisively started packing his bags.

Yesterday’s scene began filming again. Jiang Hanguang sat at the bar, watching Cheng Ying enter, surrounded by Omegas.

At this moment, she truly understood Gu Qingsheng’s feelings.

It was a feeling so wonderful it was enough to make a person drop all their defenses.

She is my fated lover. I desire everything about her.

If only I could make her look only at me, how wonderful that would be.

The adoration and desire in the woman’s eyes intertwined into a complex tapestry of colors, shimmering with a dangerous and captivating light under the bar’s colorful lights.

And the film crew finally understood what the director meant yesterday when he said something was missing.

These two didn’t even need to get close; just their gazes colliding sent sparks flying. Their actions weren’t even particularly out of line, yet watching them somehow made people thirsty.

But still, it felt like they were being force-fed dog food.

Yan Zhi was clearly very satisfied with today’s results. There was even a hint of a smile in his eyes. He waited a full thirty seconds after the scene ended before calling “Cut!” with satisfaction.

But the two on stage were still holding each other.

Jiang Hanguang’s costume was a classic nightclub outfit, the kind that was flimsy and seductive.

Feeling the woman’s warm body and graceful curves, Cheng Ying really couldn’t bear to let go for a moment.

And Jiang Hanguang, surprisingly, didn’t struggle.

Not until Yan Zhi’s amused voice rang out, “We’re going to eat first. Why don’t you two hold each other a while longer?”

The crew burst into laughter. Jiang Hanguang, her face beet red, jumped out of Cheng Ying’s arms and hurried towards the dressing room like a fugitive.

Cheng Ying, however, nonchalantly touched her nose and smiled at the people below. “What’s the rush? Today’s lunch is on me. I’ll treat everyone to a big meal at the restaurant across the street in a bit!”

The crowd immediately erupted in cheers, mixed with teasing whistles and praise for Boss Cheng’s generosity.

Cheng Ying walked towards the dressing room with a grin.

She now felt that maybe this movie wasn’t so bad after all.