Chapter 46: Affection Overload

Lu Qingzhuo woke up a little after six in the morning. Fu Yumian, it seemed, had a sleeping habit—no matter what time it was, she always had to be holding onto her, using her arm as a pillow.

Lu Qingzhuo gently slipped her arm out, having already mastered the perfect technique to avoid waking Fu Yumian.

She quietly sneaked away and returned to her own room. After closing the door, she went to the bathroom to freshen up. By the time she had changed clothes and stepped out, she happened to run into Ye Ran coming down from the second floor.

“Good morning, Sister Ran,” she greeted.

Ye Ran nodded and smiled warmly. “Good morning, Qingzhuo.”

Lu Qingzhuo greeted her casually, as usual. “Did you sleep well last night, Sister Ran?”

“Not bad,” Ye Ran replied. “If only every day could be like this—no filming, no work.”

Lu Qingzhuo turned around, her long, jet-black hair cascading down her back. Ye Ran’s gaze happened to catch a glimpse of the back of her neck, where a vivid red bite mark was faintly visible.

In that instant, Ye Ran understood exactly what it was. What surprised her more was that Lu Qingzhuo, an Alpha, had willingly allowed herself to be marked by an Omega.

---

Lin Zhiyu and Ye Shutong didn’t get up until after eight. With nothing urgent to do and Fu Yumian still sound asleep, Lu Qingzhuo wandered into the kitchen to see if there was anything she could use to cook.

Ye Ran followed and started rummaging around too. While Lu Qingzhuo was bending over, she found some hidden flour and rice tucked away at the very back of the pantry.

The kitchen was well-stocked with all the necessary tools—it was just ingredients they were lacking.

One by one, everyone began making their way downstairs. With virtually no ingredients to work with, Ye Ran suggested they first hit the morning market to grab some breakfast, then split up and shop for groceries afterward.

Lin Zhiyu and Ye Shutong paired up and zoomed off on a little electric scooter.

As for Lu Qingzhuo’s group, the three of them stood in front of an old, slightly worn-out tricycle, clearly unsure of what to do next.

Lu Qingzhuo, for her part, didn’t mind at all. The real issue was the other two—they looked like they’d never ridden a tricycle in their lives.

She sat in the driver’s seat, tested the throttle to make sure the tricycle could move, then turned around with a smile and said, “Sister Huai, Sister Ran, you two hop on! This is my first time driving a tricycle with passengers.”

Years ago, she used to drive a tricycle to transport all kinds of goods—sometimes even garbage. So today, finally getting to carry people instead, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

But the two of them weren’t the picky or fussy type. After Ye Ran and Song Huai climbed aboard, they held onto the sidebars while Lu Qingzhuo steadily drove them into the marketplace.

The seaside scenery was truly refreshing and serene, but the moment they arrived at the market, the hustle and bustle took over.

The five of them had set up a group chat. Lin Zhiyu messaged:

[We’re getting daily-use stuff, seasonings, and fruits and vegetables. The little scooter doesn’t have enough space to hold everything.]

Lu Qingzhuo replied with an “OK” and slowly pulled the tricycle over to the roadside.

Since they were all wearing masks, no one recognized them—at least for now. Lu Qingzhuo went into the supermarket, grabbed a container of cooking oil, and paid in cash at the counter.

But when the three of them returned to the tricycle, they found themselves surrounded by a circle of fans taking pictures and videos.

“Are they filming a variety show or something?”

“What kind of show could afford to get Ye Ran?!”

“Oh my god, even Teacher Song Huai is here? This show is definitely going to be a hit.”

“That masked Alpha carrying a water jug is so cool! Those arm muscles are insane!”

“Tiny waist, perky butt, and legs for days—everything from the neck down is just legs!”

“Damn, she just threw that bucket on her shoulder like it was nothing. That’s some insane strength.”

“This is our Lu-Lu! I never knew she had this side to her!”

In an instant, every phone was pointed at Lu Qingzhuo, as if she came with her own spotlight—captured from every angle.

Just as she finished hoisting the water container onto the tricycle, Lu Qingzhuo realized she was surrounded by a sudden surge of fans. She smiled and greeted them politely.

The weather was a bit hot, so she took off her mask and used her hand to fan herself. Instantly, she won over a whole new wave of fans smitten by her looks.

Ye Ran and Song Huai returned with plastic bags in hand and calmly climbed back onto the tricycle. With a stylish twist of the throttle, Lu Qingzhuo drove off to meet up with Lin Zhiyu and the others.

---

“Haunted house hiring NPCs! Requirements: neat appearance, good health, no superstition, and upholding core socialist values. Daily wages, paid in cash!”

Lin Zhiyu rubbed her chin thoughtfully, snapped a photo of the recruitment flyer posted at the haunted house entrance, and shared it in the group chat—directly tagging Lu Qingzhuo.

[Check this out. Haunted house NPC gig—daily pay!]

Lu Qingzhuo didn’t look at her phone while driving, so Song Huai read the message out loud for her.

“Qingzhuo, Zhiyu said in the group chat there’s a haunted house hiring NPCs.”

“Where is it?”

Lu Qingzhuo’s interest was immediately piqued. She followed the location Lin Zhiyu sent and parked near the haunted house.

The line outside was long, and there were several different themes to choose from. Lu Qingzhuo’s curiosity was instantly sparked. She turned to the others and asked if anyone wanted to apply with her.

Predictably, everyone except Lin Zhiyu shook their heads.

“Perfect. I’ll go be an NPC. The pay is three hundred a day and includes meals.”

Before her debut, Lu Qingzhuo had worked as an NPC in various haunted houses. Big cities really did offer more opportunities—even the NPC pay rate was way higher than it used to be.

Lin Zhiyu went with her to the interview. As they approached the front desk, they heard screams echoing from inside. Someone even ran out right after going in.

Was it really that scary?

Maybe it was all part of the show’s setup. Lu Qingzhuo told the front desk staff her purpose, and both she and Lin Zhiyu were led backstage by a female Alpha.

The staff explained the work environment and specific tasks. Lu Qingzhuo nodded—everything sounded manageable.

But as Lin Zhiyu caught sight of the bloody masks and costumes, her hair practically stood on end. She blurted out without thinking, “You guys don’t actually have real ghosts here, do you?”

Lu Qingzhuo nudged her with her elbow. The staff member gave a chilling smile. “Oh, there are no real ghosts here.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

Yeah, she figured this was all just part of the show. That staff member was probably a planted actor too.

After seeing the work environment, Lin Zhiyu started to second-guess herself. Lu Qingzhuo immediately picked up on her hesitation—she could tell Lin Zhiyu was thinking of bailing.

Sure enough, she heard Lin Zhiyu say, “Qingzhuo, I don’t think Sister Ran and the others know how to drive a tricycle. How about I take them back first, yeah?”

Lu Qingzhuo responded with a universal hand gesture of “friendly dismissal,” then sent her on her way.

“Just to confirm—this is strictly about playing an NPC, right? No hidden duties?”

She wanted to make sure the show wasn’t going to pull any tricks on her. After getting a definite answer, Lu Qingzhuo was taken to the dressing room, where a professional makeup and styling team got to work on her.

“So, what kind of NPC am I playing this time?” she asked as a staff member handed her a lollipop. Unwrapping it and popping it into her mouth, she glanced at the wall full of props and couldn’t help asking, “Do the ones floating in the air and crawling on the ground get paid the same?”

Director Zhong Lan, wearing sunglasses, laughed from behind her. “Don’t worry, we’ll help you negotiate your pay. But technically speaking, the rate should be the same.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s hair was tied into a ponytail with an elastic band. The stylist removed it and gently brushed her hair until it was smooth.

Meanwhile, the makeup artist applied a thick layer of foundation, heavy blush, bright red lipstick, and even fake blood under her eyes.

Staring at her reflection as she slowly transformed into a ghost bride, Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t resist snapping a photo with her phone.

She initially planned to post it on Weibo, but after editing the post, she hesitated—she looked too terrifying. What if she scared some of her fans?

Once makeup was done, she changed into a red bridal costume. A heavy golden flower crown was placed on her head—brilliantly ornate, but with an eerie, indescribable feeling.

Lu Qingzhuo slipped on a pair of brand-new embroidered shoes—props borrowed from who knows where by the show’s production team. They weren’t too big or too small—just the right fit.

Who would've thought playing an NPC required such elaborate costume and makeup?

Her role was that of a ghost bride. All she had to do was sit in front of the bronze mirror in the wedding chamber and keep combing her hair.

Not a bad gig, honestly—much better than those NPCs who had to fly around suspended from wires or crawl under beds.

Lu Qingzhuo had been placed in a room with a ghost marriage theme. She sat in a chair facing the bronze mirror. After combing her hair for a while, her arm began to ache.

No players had come in yet. Bored, Lu Qingzhuo put down the comb and opened a drawer, finding it stuffed full of candies, cookies, and other snacks.

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

Clearly left behind by the last NPC.

The door creaked open. Lu Qingzhuo picked up the comb and resumed brushing her hair. Through the bronze mirror, she saw a trembling player cautiously enter, using their phone flashlight to light the way.

“Holy crap! It moved!”

“Run, run! Go while it’s distracted!”

The group of players didn’t even dare look directly at her—they turned tail and bolted, screaming like they’d seen their mothers.

With a soft thud, something skidded to her feet. Lu Qingzhuo paused, glanced down, and saw a phone lying on the floor.

“Oh no! My phone!”

A pale, slender hand gently picked up the phone and handed it back to the omega who had tripped and scrambled up in a panic.

The omega girl accepted it with both hands, saying, “Thank you, thank you!”

Then she looked up—and screamed. Loud enough to nearly rupture Lu Qingzhuo’s eardrums.

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but pat the girl on the back in comfort. “Don’t be scared. Watch your step next time.”

“Ahhhhhh!”

Another round of screaming erupted. Lu Qingzhuo, wearing colored contact lenses, glanced toward the door. A group of players was huddled together, shaking, too afraid to come in.

She tilted her head slightly, and the delicate golden beads on her headpiece swayed with her movement, catching the light. It created an eerie yet strangely beautiful atmosphere.

Someone was so terrified they dropped their phone and ran the way they came.

“Ghost! Ghost! Ghost!”

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but give herself a thumbs-up. Her acting was really improving—just playing an NPC, and she’d already scared off so many people.

By the end of the day, Lu Qingzhuo counted about a dozen groups of players she had frightened off. Along the way, she witnessed a love triangle and even saw a couple break up right in front of her.

After removing her makeup, Lu Qingzhuo kept the headpiece on and found a spot with good lighting to take a few pictures. Then she took off the heavy accessory around her neck.

She edited a nine-grid photo post and captioned it: “A day in the life of an escape room NPC,” then uploaded it to Weibo.

Afterward, she called Lin Zhiyu and asked her to come pick her up.

---

At that time, Fu Yumian was flying back from Milan when she noticed Lu Qingzhuo trending on the hot search.

Han Tian, seated behind Fu Yumian, saw that she was glued to her phone and immediately guessed it had something to do with Lu Qingzhuo.

As soon as the plane landed, Fu Yumian returned to the villa. Ye Ran and Song Huai had already prepared dinner and were setting the table.

“President Fu, you’re back! Come join us for dinner.”

Lin Zhiyu held the keys to the electric scooter, grabbing a pancake Ye Ran had just made and popping it into her mouth. She greeted them while saying, “I’m heading out to pick up Qingzhuo. She called me just now and said if I don’t come fast, she’s going to cut me off.”

Just as Lin Zhiyu reached the door, Fu Yumian stood beside her and stretched out her hand. “Give me the keys. I’ll go get her.”

Lin Zhiyu hesitated mid-motion. “President Fu, that’s really not something you should trouble yourself with.”

Fu Yumian took the keys anyway. “Give it to me.”

Before Lin Zhiyu could react, Fu Yumian was already riding off on the electric scooter.

Startled, Lin Zhiyu shouted after her, “Hey! President Fu! Qingzhuo’s at the XX Haunted House! Don’t go to the wrong place!”

---

After changing out of her costume, Lu Qingzhuo walked out but didn’t see Lin Zhiyu anywhere. Her stomach growled in protest.

She got a notification from Weibo—her inbox was practically exploding. Back when she first opened her account, Lu Qingzhuo used to respond to fans’ messages. But over time, the number of messages skyrocketed. Some even asked if she wanted to be their girlfriend.

A lot of fans used her inbox like a notepad. One particularly bold omega girl would leave notes every time she switched alphas, keeping a running log in her messages with Lu Qingzhuo.

Lu Qingzhuo treated their messages like mini comedy sketches. Sitting on a stone bench, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Is that Lu Qingzhuo? Is she filming a show? Why is she out here on the street?”

A few omega fans approached. Seeing her sitting there all pitiful-looking, one of them even bought her a grilled sausage.

“Sister Lu Qingzhuo, are you filming a show?” one very outgoing omega asked, spotting the PD nearby. “The production team didn’t even get you a car? That’s so cheap.”

Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but laugh. She waved to the fans and was just about to call Lin Zhiyu when she noticed a familiar figure approaching on an electric scooter.

“President Fu?”

Once she saw clearly who it was, Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She shoved the sausage into her mouth in two or three bites, tossed the skewer into the trash, and quickly wiped her hands with a tissue.

“President Fu? What are you doing here?”

Not only had she come—but she came on an electric scooter?

Was this really Fu Yumian? Could it be Lin Zhiyu in disguise?

The scooter stopped in front of Lu Qingzhuo. Watching Fu Yumian brake and smoothly plant her left foot on the ground, Lu Qingzhuo felt like the whole day had been one big surreal dream.

Since when could Fu Yumian ride a scooter? She looked so down-to-earth. Was this still the Fu Yumian she knew?

The helmet the other person was wearing had a cute yellow dog design, forming a striking and obvious contrast with Fu Yumian’s overall elegant aura and refined features.

Fu Yumian took a helmet from the back seat. Lu Qingzhuo reached out to take it, but instead, Fu Yumian placed it on Lu Qingzhuo’s head and naturally fastened the straps for her.

“…”

Such thoughtful service made Lu Qingzhuo feel a bit flattered and pampered.

She sat on the back seat and instinctively wrapped her arms around Fu Yumian’s waist, resting her chin in the crook of Fu Yumian’s shoulder. She smiled and said, “President Fu, why didn’t you bring your Rolls-Royce today?”

Fu Yumian gave the back of Lu Qingzhuo’s hand a light pinch with her left hand and replied casually, “Had nothing to do today. Figured learning a new skill wouldn’t hurt.”

She’d gotten a bit impulsive and just hopped on the electric scooter. Who would’ve thought it’d be so easy to ride? Since she was in a hurry to pick up Lu Qingzhuo, she didn’t even stop to consider whether a license was needed.

“By the way, do you need a license to ride this kind of scooter?”

Lu Qingzhuo, enjoying the softness of Fu Yumian’s back and unwilling to let go, replied, “Nope, you just hop on and go.”

“What did you do today?”

Fu Yumian, like a parent picking up a grade-schooler, started questioning her about the day—whether she had any fun or interesting experiences.

“I worked as an NPC at a haunted house today. I scared off a bunch of people.”

Though Fu Yumian already knew everything Lu Qingzhuo had been up to—thanks to the director giving her real-time updates—she still wanted to hear it from Lu Qingzhuo herself.

“You were an NPC?”

Leaning against Fu Yumian, Lu Qingzhuo let the evening breeze brush against her face and said comfortably, “Yup! It was actually really fun. I played a ghost all day and scared a ton of players, haha.”

Hearing Lu Qingzhuo’s cheerful laughter, Fu Yumian’s lips curled into a smile. “Was it fun?”

“So fun,” Lu Qingzhuo couldn’t help but share. “Some of the players were such scaredy-cats. I picked up a phone for one omega and she got so spooked she ran off without it—rolling on the ground in a panic. In the end, the staff had to retrieve it for her.”

“Omega?”

Fu Yumian was especially sensitive to the word “omega” these days. She was constantly on guard against other omegas getting close to Lu Qingzhuo. With the level of popularity Lu Qingzhuo had now, there were plenty of Alpha and Omega fans obsessed with her looks.

Those fans only cared about appearances—no substance at all—and they were always calling her “wifey” like it meant something.

Fu Yumian had never pretended to be selfless. She couldn’t accept things like that happening with her partner, yet she didn’t have a solution for it either.

Lu Qingzhuo really enjoyed interacting with her fans. Many had even posted selfies with her on Weibo, making Fu Yumian grit her teeth in frustration.

Why could total strangers take so many photos with Lu Qingzhuo, while she herself didn’t even have one?

S City was a well-known tourist destination both domestically and internationally. Tourists came year-round to check in and take pictures.

“President Fu, have you had dinner yet?”

Lu Qingzhuo’s hand was resting against Fu Yumian’s lower belly—it felt a little flat. She nuzzled her ear, forgetting she still had her helmet on.

“I haven’t eaten yet. I was waiting to eat with you.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s voice was soft and fluffy. As they rode against the wind, it seemed to scatter in the breeze and drift into Fu Yumian’s ears like a muffled kitten’s meow under the covers.

Fu Yumian’s voice was calm. “When I left earlier, Ye Ran and the others said they were waiting for you to come back for dinner.”

Lu Qingzhuo quickly pulled out her phone, opened the group chat on WeChat, and started typing with one hand. Her other hand stayed firmly around Fu Yumian’s waist.

“Then I’ll send a message in the group—I’m not going back for dinner.”

Fu Yumian’s eyes widened slightly, as if she couldn’t believe those words came from Lu Qingzhuo. She’d always been resistant to being controlled, so why was she suddenly acting clingy today? Was she… possessed by a ghost?

Fu Yumian pulled over to the side of the road. When she turned back, Lu Qingzhuo had already finished her message and sent it to the group chat.

Lu Qingzhuo’s hand was still on Fu Yumian’s stomach. Tilting her head curiously, she asked, “President Fu, why’d we stop all of a sudden?”

“I want to kiss you.”

Fu Yumian looked at her intently, removed Lu Qingzhuo’s helmet, hooked an arm around her neck, and pressed a kiss to her slightly cool lips—then put the helmet back on and continued driving.

Lu Qingzhuo was completely stunned. Fu Yumian was acting more and more unlike herself—kissing her right in the middle of a busy road with people and traffic everywhere.

Neither of them spoke for a while. Eventually, Lu Qingzhuo asked, “President Fu, where are you taking me for dinner?”

“Chairman Zhao’s youngest daughter from Mingguang Group is having her one-month celebration in S City. She sent me two invitations, so I figured I’d take you with me.”

As she spoke, Fu Yumian pulled two red, gold-stamped invitation cards from her handbag.

Lu Qingzhuo took a quick look—the calligraphy inside was written in an elegant, thin-stroke style, with both their names printed individually.

She took the handbag from Fu Yumian and slipped the invitations back inside. “Perfect timing—I’m starving. I only had a sausage earlier from a fan, and the more I ate, the hungrier I got.”

At the mention of “fan,” if Fu Yumian had fluffy animal ears, they’d have perked up in irritation. She frowned. “From now on, don’t eat random things strangers give you.”

“I’ll remember.”

Lu Qingzhuo never talked back to Fu Yumian. Though, truth be told, she’d seen the vendor grill the sausage and hand it to her directly.

But since Fu Yumian didn’t like hearing that, she figured it was best not to explain.

Halfway through the ride, they switched places. Lu Qingzhuo drove while Fu Yumian clung tightly to her waist from behind, her legs practically wanting to wrap around her too.

"President Fu, we’re not at home right now. Put your leg down."

Lu Qingzhuo had predicted Fu Yumian's next move and suddenly regretted switching places with her earlier.

Fu Yumian decided to follow Lu Qingzhuo's suggestion, smiling as she nipped at her partner's earlobe. "I don’t think it’s embarrassing. What are you afraid of?"

As soon as she finished speaking, an electric scooter passed by, blowing a gust of hot wind. The two people on the scooter glanced at her, making Lu Qingzhuo instinctively cover her face with her hand.

Seeing her embarrassed reaction, Fu Yumian reached inside her shirt and gently touched her firm, toned abs, clearly satisfied, before pulling her hand back.

"Alright, let’s go. I won’t tease you anymore."

Luxury cars started arriving one after another, and Lu Qingzhuo calmly rode her pink electric scooter, weaving between the expensive vehicles.

Then, in the stunned gazes of the wealthy onlookers, Lu Qingzhuo pulled up to the hotel entrance, ready to enter with the other luxury cars, only to be stopped by a security guard.

"Hello, our hotel has a rule: no parking here."

Lu Qingzhuo widened her eyes slightly and honked the horn to explain, "But this is an electric scooter."

The security guard froze for a moment after hearing her words, disbelieving, and even checked his ears as if he hadn’t heard right.

The two didn’t even wear decent formal attire, and the Alpha was holding a milk tea bag from a local store—she looked like she had just come from a village gathering.

"Electric scooters are not allowed either. We have a rule. You can park your scooter at a free parking lot one kilometer away."

When Fu Yumian swung her long legs off the electric scooter, the security guard immediately closed his mouth.

"Hello, President Fu!"

This five-star hotel was also owned by the Fu family, and all the staff had memorized the face of their ultimate boss the day they joined.

Fu Yumian took Lu Qingzhuo’s left hand in her right, showing off the ring on her ring finger. The security staff all spoke in unison, saying, "Good evening, Madam!"

Lu Qingzhuo: "…"

Suddenly, she felt like she wanted to die.

The security guard eventually moved the electric scooter aside. Lu Qingzhuo, holding a fluffy keychain and carrying her rare Hermès bag, walked in arm in arm with Fu Yumian.

Chairman Zhao Shu was waiting by the door. Everyone knew she was waiting for Fu Yumian, but after looking around, she still didn’t see Fu Yumian’s car.

But the next second, her eyes lit up as she saw Fu Yumian walking toward her, hand in hand with her newlywed wife.

"President Fu is here!"

When Lu Qingzhuo and Fu Yumian got married, Zhao Shu had attended the wedding. She had only seen Lu Qingzhuo once and remembered her face, though she had never visited her.

Today, finally having the opportunity to invite them to her little daughter’s full moon banquet, she had waited for so long that she couldn’t stand it anymore and had come out to greet them.

"The development in these years has been pretty good, hasn’t it?"

Lu Qingzhuo, with her hand linked to Fu Yumian’s arm, walked in with a slim waist and long legs. Even in a simple white shirt, she carried herself like a model on a high-fashion runway.

At Fu Yumian's wedding, almost everyone here had attended and seen the outstanding Fu Yumian’s wife.

There had been rumors in the circle that two people from different social classes, even if they got married, would have a hard time staying together, especially in the entertainment industry where people had seen so many things—who knew when they might get a divorce.

But now, seeing them walking hand in hand without wanting to let go of each other, those rumors seemed to crumble on their own.

When Fu Yumian and Lu Qingzhuo finally arrived, the banquet officially began.

Fu Yumian was chatting with a group of CEOs, all of whom Lu Qingzhuo had only seen in news reports. She couldn’t understand the conversation, but Fu Yumian kept holding her hand, not letting go.

Lu Qingzhuo whispered into Fu Yumian’s ear, "I’m going to get something to eat; I’m hungry."

The conversation around them abruptly stopped, and Lu Qingzhuo awkwardly smiled at the group.

Fu Yumian’s voice sounded more composed than usual. "Alright, don’t wander off. Come back and stay by my side after eating."

The CEOs stared in shock. They had all heard the stories of how Fu Yumian had fallen in love at first sight with her new wife, and they had also heard about Lu Qingzhuo’s infamous reputation in the entertainment industry.

She had low emotional intelligence, was a bit foolish, and greedy, with little to her name besides her looks.

But from what they saw today, it was clear that Fu Yumian seemed to be incredibly fond of her, with even the slightest hint of affection in her tone.

Actually, aside from their family backgrounds, the two looked very compatible standing together. Lu Qingzhuo was indeed a beauty recognized within the industry, but Fu Yumian, standing by her side, was not lacking in either figure or appearance.

Lu Qingzhuo wasn’t interested in Fu Yumian’s conversation with the other CEOs, mostly because she couldn’t understand any of it. She preferred to quietly find a place to eat something.

She did find a quiet spot, but then she saw a familiar omega in a white dress walking toward her.

She finished the last piece of foie gras from her plate, wiped her lips with a napkin, and looked up to meet the eyes of Jiang Yanwei, who was walking toward her with a lofty expression.

Lu Qingzhuo’s curious gaze swept behind her, surprised that Jiang Yanwei didn’t have her usual Alpha partner with her today. This was unusual for her.

"Is there something you need?"

Jiang Yanwei had built her career on a pure, girl-next-door image, carving out a niche for herself.

To generate heat for her, Lu Qingzhuo’s company had intentionally crafted a similar image, eventually causing Jiang Yanwei’s fans to attack her.

So, Lu Qingzhuo learned that it’s not wise to mess with people in this industry, and if not for needing money, she wouldn’t have endured all that.

"You actually came to Chairman Zhao’s banquet?"

Jiang Yanwei’s eye sockets were slightly sunken. It was hard to tell if it was from makeup or the "aegyo sal" (a cosmetic technique for under-eye highlights), but the overall effect made her look like a zombie bride in a white veil, her lips twisted into a mocking smile.

“I came with my wife.” Lu Qingzhuo pointed toward Fu Yumian, who was surrounded by a group of high-profile figures. “See her? The omega in the white shirt—that’s my wife.”

Jiang Yanwei looked at her with disdain. “Being kept like that and still speaking so highly of it.”

“You really have a way with words, huh? I’m the legal partner here.”

“And your alpha partner?” Lu Qingzhuo’s gaze shifted to the space behind her. With a smile, she asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve swapped them out again?”

“What can you even offer, aside from that face of yours? What makes you think you can compare to me?”

Lu Qingzhuo twitched her lips, picked up a sweet strawberry cake, took a bite of the strawberry, and gave Jiang Yanwei a look as though she were dealing with a madwoman.

“Are you okay? Did you forget to take your meds before coming here?”

No matter how she looked at it, something about Jiang Yanwei’s reaction seemed off. Recently, it seemed like she’d offended some big shot in the industry and was nearly blacklisted. Even the marketing accounts had stopped promoting her "jade woman" image.

A while back, paparazzi had caught her entering and exiting hotels with different alphas all night. Later, the scandal was clarified with the excuse that they were distant cousins. That flimsy lie could only fool a few dim-witted fans.

Lu Qingzhuo suddenly seemed to remember something. She touched the back of her head, the spot where she had once suffered a serious blow—she had nearly been killed in a swimming pool that day.

“Jiang Yanwei, my head hurts so much…”

Lu Qingzhuo’s eyes were vacant as she slowly stood up from her chair and walked toward Jiang Yanwei, stretching out a hand as if trying to grab her.

“There’s so much blood… My head’s bleeding so much…”

If it were anyone else in this situation, they’d probably think Lu Qingzhuo had gone crazy or was just playing around. But Jiang Yanwei didn’t react that way.

Her pupils suddenly contracted, her mouth opened, and she staggered backward. One of her high heels snapped off with a loud crack, and she collapsed onto the floor, screaming and scrambling away.

“No… It wasn’t me…”

Lu Qingzhuo returned to her indifferent expression, looking down from above at the mentally unstable omega. Deep down, she vaguely confirmed something in her mind.

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