The next day, Yan Mian still had filming to do, so the two of them didn’t go overboard.
Even though the Omega clung to her at the end, begging Zhu Lexing to mark her, Zhu Lexing held back. Her knuckles dug into that slender white waist as she subconsciously asked, “Aren’t you afraid of someone finding out?”
Yan Mian brushed her hair behind her ear, her earlobe flushed red. Her gaze fixed intently on Zhu Lexing. “Why should I be afraid?”
Zhu Lexing stuttered on the spot.
Over the past two years, Yan Mian had always wanted Zhu Lexing to mark her—not just a temporary mark, but a lifelong one.
She never said it outright, but her actions made her intentions crystal clear to Zhu Lexing. Every time, though, the Alpha refused. Yan Mian sensed something was off on an instinctual level, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
In Yan Mian’s eyes, the one who truly feared marking wasn’t her—it was Zhu Lexing.
In the end, Zhu Lexing never gave a reason, and Yan Mian didn’t push. She simply said, “Then hold me while we sleep.”
Zhu Lexing stared at her for two seconds, drew in a breath, and finally agreed.
The following day.
Yan Mian left early for the film crew.
Zhu Lexing had just finished washing up when she received the variety show script from Jin Yu.
It was a rural variety program called 《Let’s Farm Together》, where a bunch of celebrities headed to the countryside to farm, soak in the local culture, and just live a bit.
This episode featured four flying guests, and Zhu Lexing was one of them.
She had signed the contract a few months earlier, before joining her current crew. The other guests hadn’t been locked in yet, so she had clicked open the list casually—and Xi Xue’s name jumped out among the flying guests.
Zhu Lexing fired off three question marks to Jin Yu and got a reply dripping with bitter tears.
【The Xi Family invested in this variety show】
Translation: She had shelled out way too much!
Zhu Lexing simply couldn’t fathom Xi Xue’s line of thinking.
The woman didn’t exist in the original work; she was a new character spawned from Zhu Lexing’s plot deviations. With no basis in the source material, even the System couldn’t analyze her.
But whether it was bizarre people or the System’s limitations, Zhu Lexing had grown accustomed to it all.
After a moment of quiet acceptance, she made her peace with the reality. Filming was about to start, after all—backing out now would be unprofessional. She could only steel herself with a plan.
—Keep as much distance from Xi Xue as possible during recording.
Two days before the variety show shoot began, Yan Mian wrapped production.
The role she had taken over didn’t have a ton of scenes, so things had lightened up after the initial crunch.
That evening, Zhu Lexing headed to the film crew again.
Autumn was closing in, and the sky hung heavy and dim. She didn’t have the car pull right up but called Yan Mian’s assistant, Little Yuan, instead.
After graduation, the two of them were supposed to sign with Liu Su’s Liu Family entertainment company together. But Zhu Zhao’s company had suddenly extended an invite to Zhu Lexing.
It was like dividing up a loaf of bread—the Zhu and Liu families each claimed one, with no objections from either side.
When Little Yuan arrived, Zhu Lexing was lurking in Yan Mian’s fan group chat. She had on a mask and hat, bundled up tight.
As the assistant drew near, she overheard one of Yan Mian’s top fans chuckling. “You wouldn’t be Mianmian sneaking out to grab the support goodies yourself, would you?”
Zhu Lexing paused mid-reach for the fan’s light sign, amused.
The story dated back to the filming of 《Atonement》. Yan Mian wasn’t a huge star yet, but she already had fans showing up just for her face. Zhu Lexing had been floored and slipped out during a break to check it out.
Even swaddled against the sun, Yan Mian’s features were too distinctive—she got recognized on sight. It barely made waves at the time, but once she blew up, marketing accounts kept dredging it up for hot searches.
“I’m not Yan Mian,” Zhu Lexing said deadpan. “I’m Yan Mian’s girlfriend.”
The fans cracked up. “I’ve already married Mianmian!” “Mianmian and I are hitting our golden wedding anniversary…” “DYING! We’ve been together ten lives over—”
The fans were just messing around, but Zhu Lexing’s eyes curved with genuine mirth as she listened.
A short distance away, Assistant Little Yuan felt a bead of sweat forming.
…Who could’ve guessed this self-proclaimed “girlfriend” was actually Yan Mian’s girlfriend?
Unlike Xiao Hua, Little Yuan had been by Yan Mian’s side since her first day at the company.
She hadn’t known the truth about their relationship at first, assuming they were just super close friends. Whenever Zhu Lexing dropped by after wrapping to visit Yan Mian, Little Yuan would tease that their bond was enviable.
That all changed one time when she was escorting Zhu Lexing to see Yan Mian. Not long after they parted ways, Little Yuan forgot a reminder from the agent and doubled back. She pushed open the dressing room door—and there was the female Alpha, usually the picture of defiance and wildness, cradling Yan Mian in her arms, all tender and soft.
Little Yuan could hardly believe her eyes. She hesitated before telling the agent, who took it in stride and simply instructed her to keep it under wraps.
That reaction made it clear the agent had known for ages.
And since the agent was tight with Liu Su, there was no way she hadn’t spilled the beans—
Zhu Lexing’s gaze landed on Little Yuan’s face from nearby, snapping her out of the memory.
Once the fans had trickled away, Little Yuan stepped up. “This way, Sister Zhu.”
And everything churning in Little Yuan’s mind—
Zhu Lexing remained blissfully unaware.
After graduation, the two had been bouncing around the country for work, rarely crossing paths with Liu Su in person. Their chats online stuck to the creed that cash cared more than chit-chat.
Even now, Zhu Lexing figured Liu Su had no clue about their relationship.
By the time they got there, Yan Mian had just finished her final scene. It was a period drama set; she wore flowing white robes that trailed to the ground, her costume intricate and stunning.
A crowd surrounded her as the director handed over a bouquet of flowers. Yan Mian stood at the center, offering the camera a faint, elegant smile.
Yan Mian didn’t notice the assistant or Zhu Lexing amid the crowd.
Zhu Lexing, however, pulled out her phone and, like so many people around her, snapped a photo.
After removing her makeup in the dressing room, Yan Mian tapped the screen and sent Zhu Lexing a message announcing the wrap.
No reply came back. Assuming she was resting, Yan Mian was just about to flip through her script when Little Yuan reminded her, “Mianmian, someone’s waiting for you outside.”
Yan Mian paused.
Waiting for her? Who?
Zhu Lexing’s name immediately crossed her mind, but she quickly pushed the thought aside.
From past experience, even if Zhu Lexing wanted to surprise her, she wouldn’t be able to resist giving her a heads-up ahead of time.
Figuring it must be some behind-the-scenes footage shoot from the film crew—with the other woman using code words to alert her—Yan Mian, who trusted the assistant well enough, pocketed her phone without a second thought and followed her out.
The moment she stepped outside, she spotted Zhu Lexing around the corner.
The woman was leaning against the wall, looking casually disinterested.
The glow from her phone screen lit up her exquisite features, casting a faint rose reflection in her eyes.
Hearing the footsteps, Zhu Lexing glanced up at Yan Mian, her casual expression melting into a smile.
“Happy wrap!”
The Alpha’s lips curved slightly, her smile bold and unrestrained.
Yan Mian stared at Zhu Lexing in stunned silence, then glanced at Little Yuan—who had already tactfully slipped away.
It took her several seconds to find her voice. “…How did you get here?”
Zhu Lexing tsked, shooting her a look before saying coolly, “What, your girlfriend visiting the set, and you’re not thrilled?”
In the next instant, Yan Mian threw her arms around Zhu Lexing. With a cluster of flowers between them, Zhu Lexing instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist. “We’re still outside—how are you already getting clingy?”
Yan Mian said nothing, only hugging her tighter. Zhu Lexing could only laugh helplessly. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?” Yan Mian finally lifted her face, asking earnestly.
Zhu Lexing named a restaurant.
The name sounded familiar to Yan Mian. It wasn’t until they were in the car that she realized it was the place she’d casually mentioned during one of their recent chats—just idle talk, really. Yet Zhu Lexing had remembered it and wanted to take her there.
The partition rose between them and the driver. Yan Mian turned to Zhu Lexing and noticed a small hair clip perched on her head.
It featured an adorable little sheep, with [YANMIAN] etched in the corner—clearly fan-made merch.
Yan Mian reached up to touch it. “How do you still have this?”
Zhu Lexing replied, “Ran into some fans outside the set, so I grabbed one.”
Yan Mian nodded, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Zhu Lexing. After a moment’s thought, Zhu Lexing removed the clip and fastened it into Yan Mian’s hair on the right side.
“Like this?” she asked tentatively.
Yan Mian couldn’t suppress a grin, biting her lip before murmuring after a beat, “Xingxing.”
Zhu Lexing: “Hm?”
“I like you.”
The restaurant’s food was nothing special, but the decor was exquisitely elegant—perfect for Instagram-worthy shots.
Zhu Lexing snapped some pics of the dishes and posted them to Moments. Meanwhile, Yan Mian fiddled with selfies, planning to upload one to Star Net later to hit her daily KPI.
Naturally, she’d taken the clip off for those.
After dinner, as they stepped out, Yan Mian glanced around. “Xingxing, mind taking a photo for me?”
Zhu Lexing took the phone and backed up a few steps with utmost seriousness.
Yan Mian pulled her mask up high and struck a rigidly precise scissor-hand pose—stiff as a board.
Zhu Lexing stared at the screen, snapping over a dozen shots until Yan Mian asked, “All done?”
Only then did she quietly airdrop all the photos to herself, leaving just the best one on Yan Mian’s phone before handing it back. “Yep, done.”
Yan Mian leaned against her, scrolling through the results with satisfaction. After a moment’s consideration, she clipped the accessory back into place. “Take one more like this.”
“Even if I can’t post it, it’s still a token from the fans,” Yan Mian explained.
Zhu Lexing had to agree it made sense.
She had just returned to the spot and was figuring out the perfect angle when a shocked female voice rang out from nearby. “Mianmian? Is that you, Yan Mian?”
Zhu Lexing: “…………?”
Zhu Lexing instinctively looked over to see two girls out together.
Yan Mian looked surprised too, glancing at Zhu Lexing—only to receive a smile in return.
She smiled back and nodded to them. “That’s me. Keep it down, though. Want a photo?”
The pair were clearly Yan Mian fans, showering her with stuttered praise for her acting skills even as they posed for the selfie.
Yan Mian listened attentively, answering each of their questions in turn. All the while, Zhu Lexing stood a short distance away, watching the scene in quiet contentment.
She thought to herself that no life could be better than this.
That night, entirely as expected…
Casual Encounter with Yan Mian# rocketed to the top of Hot Search.
Across the live feed, fans and passersby alike gushed over Yan Mian’s stunning looks.
Amid the flood of compliments, one post from a major fan—packed with exclamation points—stood out especially.
【Mianmian’s Hair Clip: ! The one Assistant Sis brought for Mianmian was clearly a different pink one! So why is she wearing today’s limited-edition support merch?!】
Eagle-eyed observers even spotted the tall woman dressed head-to-toe in cover-up gear, who hadn’t strayed far the whole time, and posted in confusion.
【Is this Yan Mian’s assistant? How’d she shoot up so much taller than in the last Hot Search [surprised]】
The comments exploded with “hahahaha”s, insisting it wasn’t the assistant.
But that raised the question—not the assistant, yet glued to Yan Mian’s side… who was she?
Putting the two posts together, plus the fact that Zhu Lexing hadn’t changed outfits, some fans recalled the Alpha who’d picked up merch that afternoon.
The two clearly knew each other; otherwise, Yan Mian never would have worn the clip the woman had gotten.
But why would an Alpha stick so close to an Omega?
Even the assistant the company had arranged for Yan Mian seemed a bit over the top. Right away, a swarm of fans bombarded Yan Mian’s management company with @mentions until they received the official response that “the two are friends.” Only then did the online furor finally die down.
That very night, another highly upvoted post shot up the hot search charts.
【Isn’t it possible—just possible—that they’re not friends, but lovers? [doge]】
Zhu Lexing’s name hadn’t appeared anywhere in the whole affair.
Yet halfway through the drive, she still got a call from Jin Yu.
The other woman had clearly spotted her immediately. The moment the call connected, Zhu Lexing’s eardrums nearly ruptured from the high-pitched tirade: “Zhu Lexing! I told you to rest, not to go making hot search headlines with Yan Mian—”
Zhu Lexing clapped a hand over her ear on instinct and shoved the phone at Yan Mian.
Surprise lingered on Yan Mian’s face. She’d met Zhu Lexing’s agent before, but the woman had always been the picture of refined politeness—nothing like this.
Still, she reined in her shock with impressive speed and offered a greeting. “Hello, Sister Jin. This is Yan Mian. Lexing’s with me right now.”
Jin Yu: “…”
A soft, gentle voice had a way of calming the storm.
In just a few sentences, Jin Yu settled down. It was the first time in two years Zhu Lexing had heard her speak so sweetly. Before hanging up, she even asked in disbelief, “Hey, after I wrap shooting, can I take a few extra days off?”
Jin Yu’s tone grew even softer, though her words were: “You can try.”
As the call ended, Yan Mian gazed at Zhu Lexing—who was rubbing her forehead with a comically defeated look—and let out a quiet chuckle.
“Are you scared of her?” Yan Mian wondered after a moment.
It was the first time she’d seen Zhu Lexing so wary of anyone.
Zhu Lexing shook her head. “Of course not.”
It was just that every time she saw Jin Yu, Zhu Lexing couldn’t help remembering her agent from her previous life. The two were like identical copies, stirring up a pang of nostalgia at the mere sight.
“We do bicker a lot, though,” Zhu Lexing admitted.
Yan Mian smiled faintly. “She’s a good person. Talk to her nicely, and you won’t fight.”
Zhu Lexing: “…Where have I not talked to her nicely? I’m polite to everyone, okay? Don’t believe me—ask the driver!”
The driver straightened up abruptly at the mention. “Yes! Miss Zhu has impeccable character. She’s always elegant and kind to everyone—truly wonderful!”
Zhu Lexing: “Perfect! But try not blinking so fast while you say it. I didn’t threaten you!”
The partition rose with a frantic wave from Zhu Lexing, sealing off the sound.
Yan Mian spoke mildly. “Mm. Xingxing’s good to everyone. I know.”
Zhu Lexing backpedaled at once. “Well… not exactly.”
She shot Yan Mian a sidelong glance and murmured, “I’m not… that good to just anyone.”
Yan Mian blinked in confusion. “Really?”
Zhu Lexing thought it was mortifying, but she mumbled on anyway. “…Don’t you know who I treat the best?”
Sensing Yan Mian might dwell on it, Zhu Lexing bulldozed ahead with a new topic. “Oh, right—my variety show tomorrow’s a three-day shoot.”
She’d cleared every itinerary with Yan Mian ahead of time, surprises aside. The variety show was no exception.
Yan Mian nodded, not calling out her real motive, and simply asked, “And then?”
Zhu Lexing: “…Then what?”
Yan Mian prompted, “During the recording…”
Zhu Lexing went quiet for several seconds before forcing the words out. “I’ll video call you.”
Yan Mian smiled. “It’s a live variety show, Xingxing. Not worried about getting caught?”
Zhu Lexing flashed back to their late-night chat from a few days ago.
Sure enough, words had a way of boomeranging right back at you.
“There are always camera blind spots,” Zhu Lexing said. “How bad could it be?”
Before Yan Mian could reply, she turned the tables. “Why so many questions? Already missing me?”
Yan Mian met her eyes, her expression tender. “Yes. Every minute you’re not by my side, I’m thinking of you.”
