After an Alluring Alpha Provokes an Unhinged Omega 20

Chapter 20: Comparison

“Mimi.”

Zhao Jia appeared suddenly, running towards Jiang Mi from a few meters away.

Jiang Mi’s attention shifted from Yan Wei. She turned her head and heard Zhao Jia say, “apple came to visit the set.”

A look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.

Then, remembering something, she looked back at Yan Wei, but she had already walked ahead.

The atmosphere, which had seemed to be easing just a moment ago, instantly dissipated.

Zhao Jia came forward and, through the blanket, rubbed Jiang Mi’s arms to warm them up. The two of them were three or four steps behind Yan Wei, also walking quickly towards the break room. Zhao Jia said, “You must be freezing, right? apple called me, couldn’t find the entrance, so I went to pick her up, which took some time. You two haven’t seen each other much lately, have you? I think she’s lost a lot of weight.”

Hearing this, Jiang Mi’s gaze shifted from the person in front of her. “Didn’t she say she was trying to gain weight? Where is she?”

“She said she’s waiting by the set. You can ask her in a bit. She’ll definitely say it’s because she misses you,” Zhao Jia joked. Seeing her shivering, she said, “Quick, quick, once you change your clothes, you can go see her.”

The doors to the two break rooms closed one after the other.

Yan Wei stood at the door. The heating had been turned on long ago, and the room felt like the arrival of spring, with a hint of coffee in the warm air. She tossed the blanket onto a chair and glanced to the side.

A woman was sitting ramrod straight in the chair opposite her, studying Yan Wei’s expression. She asked, “What’s wrong?”

She seemed a little interested in what had caused Yan Wei’s state, but it didn’t seem like she absolutely needed an answer. After taking a sip of coffee, she asked, “Are you going to dinner tonight?”

“No.”

“I have something to do tonight too. Help me tell Jiang Qu.” Tan Zhaoxin stood up and walked towards the door. “If she’s smart, she’ll know that helping her was only because of you. She just needs to thank you. Go change your clothes.”

Jiang Mi had scenes later that night. She changed into a loose-fitting outfit and came out of the break room with Zhao Jia. Hearing someone talking, they both looked over.

Beside Yan Wei’s break room, a woman stood sideways, holding a phone. Her posture was as straight as a prosecutor’s. She wore a white shirt, black suit pants, and pointed high heels, exuding a formal and serious aura. The sunlight reflecting off the Patek Philippe on her wrist cast a sharp, cold light.

Probably sensing their gaze, the woman looked over sharply.

Jiang Mi and Zhao Jia quickly turned their heads away. After leaving the rest area, Zhao Jia said in a low voice, “That’s Tan Zhaoxin, the big boss of Shenhai, a top-tier Alpha, and also Yan Wei’s partner.”

Jiang Mi: “Oh, no wonder her presence is so strong.”

“Don’t worry, you’re no worse than her,” Zhao Jia said.

I wasn’t trying to compare, Jiang Mi thought.

apple’s nanny van was parked under a sycamore tree next to the set.

Jiang Mi pulled open the car door, and a warm citrus scent wafted out. She saw the person in the car open her arms, waiting for her. She smiled, moved closer, and they gave each other a “long time no see” hug.

apple’s Chinese name was Jiang Yuying. Although her name sounded heroic, her looks were very sweet. When she debuted in a group at fifteen, she was known as the “Nation’s Sweetheart.” After going solo, she entered the acting world and has been acting for seven or eight years now.

“How did you get so thin?”

Looking up close, she realized Zhao Jia hadn’t been exaggerating. Although apple was still very beautiful, her once full cheeks were now slightly sunken, and there were dark circles under her eyes that couldn’t be covered up.

Jiang Mi asked with concern, “Have you been feeling unwell lately?”

Jiang Yuying shook her head and smiled. “I had some stomach problems for a while, but I’m all better now. Don’t look at me with those pitiful eyes. Believe it or not, after losing weight, I’ve received several scripts. A director even said I’m very suitable for playing a broken-hearted female lead.”

That didn’t sound good. Jiang Mi frowned. “That’s not as important as your health.”

“Don’t worry. I just came to see you. How is filming with Yan Wei? Is there a lot of pressure?”

“Mmm… I almost went crazy. It’s been a little better these past two days.”

“It must be tough, right? You have to take good care of yourself too.” After getting a positive response, Jiang Yuying said, “Can you get an autograph for me? I have a little fan who really likes her too.”

Jiang Mi thought for a moment and nodded. “Okay.”

An autograph, Yan Wei probably wouldn’t mind.

When the phone in her saddlebag vibrated for the umpteenth time, Jiang Yuying took it out and glanced at it, then quickly looked at Jiang Mi. The two of them looked at each other for two seconds and then smiled.

Jiang Yuying said helplessly, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to have a good chat with you and Shanshan. We haven’t gotten together in so long.”

Jiang Mi: “I know, right? Let’s do it over the New Year. We’ll definitely find a couple of days to go wild this year.”

After she finished speaking, she saw Jiang Yuying’s eyes turn red. Surprised, Jiang Mi knelt down and looked up. “What’s wrong? Is something bothering you? Did you argue with that manager of yours? Tell me.”

Jiang Yuying didn’t cry. The redness in her eyes quickly faded like a light being extinguished. She smiled faintly. “No, I just miss you guys a lot. We just met, and now we have to part again.”

There was a driver in the car, so Jiang Mi couldn’t ask too much. She made a promise, “When I have some free time, I’ll come find you. If you’re on set, I’ll visit you too, okay?”

She looked into Jiang Yuying’s eyes. The light in them seemed to have been sucked away by something, yet the owner was desperately trying to ignite a spark. Her heart suddenly ached a little.

Jiang Yuying nodded. “Mmm, okay.”

Jiang Mi was about to get out of the car. Through the car window, she heard the low rumble of an engine. Not far away, a gray sedan was driving away. She shared with Jiang Yuying, “That’s Tan Zhaoxin, the boss of Shenhai.”

By the time Jiang Yuying looked, only the sleek metal rear of the car was left.

**

Jiang Mi watched the nanny van drive away, the dust kicked up by the sun looking like a farewell wave.

Jiang Mi said with certainty, “Something is definitely wrong with her.”

Zhao Jia responded from the side, “If she’s not willing to say, you can’t pry it out of her. Don’t worry, it’s fine. apple has been in this industry for so long, she knows how to adjust better than you do.”

“That manager of hers… to be honest, I’m very worried.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it. You’re just an outsider,” Zhao Jia stated the truth.

Jiang Mi was silent for a moment. Yes, no matter how good of a friend you were, when it came to someone else’s relationship, you didn’t have the right to interfere too much.

“Go get some rest. We have to work overtime tonight.”

“Mmm, but I still have something to do.”

At two in the afternoon, the glass window at the end of the corridor wasn’t closed, and the window hinge was making a faint creaking sound.

Sunlight slanted in through the window, stretching her shadow into a long string.

She knocked on the door of Yan Wei’s break room. “Teacher Yan, are you there?”

Jiang Mi heard the faint sound of a prop cart rolling over the ground outside. A few seconds later, light leaked from the crack in the door, and Bai Qiu called out to her with a smile, “Teacher Jiang.”

After she spoke, she directly stepped aside, creating a gap. The movement stirred the air, and the scent of brandy mixed with the roasted aroma of coffee quietly wafted over.

Jiang Mi was momentarily stunned, then quickly stepped inside.

She really had something to ask Yan Wei.

***

Author’s Notes

Yan Wei: Unhappy, but doesn’t know how to act on it.