Chapter 7

Xi Keqing began filming.

Even though everyone noticed a change in her demeanor, their opinions and perceptions of her wouldn't shift so easily.

Xi Keqing remained the same beautiful, empty-headed vase who only knew how to pose in front of the camera, good for nothing but her looks.

But to be fair, Xi Keqing's beauty was her greatest asset.

As her temperament mellowed, people found themselves drawn to her obsidian eyes, gradually letting down their guard and drawing closer to her.

By the second day, crew members were willing to approach Xi Keqing, handing her scripts and water. While not exactly fawning, they no longer actively avoided her.

Moreover, Xi Keqing no longer threw random tantrums as before, complaining about people blocking the light or the sound being unpleasant. She even managed to hold proper conversations with everyone, creating a surprisingly harmonious atmosphere.

Sister Donkey was thrilled. Could Xi Keqing's reputation finally be turning around?

Then came the third day. The two-day improvement in her image began to crumble.

Xi Keqing's bad temper resurfaced, and by the fourth day, she had completely reverted to her old ways.

Sister Donkey was frustrated, her efforts to help Xi Keqing proving futile. When asked what was wrong, Xi Keqing would just mumble that she was hungry. Even after being given food, she refused to eat, complaining that it was either too bland or too greasy.

Days passed without improvement.

What else could it be? Xi Keqing wasn't just being difficult—she was genuinely starving!

On the first day, she was completely full.

By the second day, she felt a faint hunger, but it didn't bother her.

On the third day, her hunger became noticeable, and her mood instantly soured.

On the fourth day, she was ravenous, and everything and everyone around her seemed to irritate her.

That evening, Xi Keqing was again in her room, clutching her blanket and weeping uncontrollably.

By the morning of the fifth day, Xi Keqing had already looked up flight prices. She was desperate to return to Beicheng, to Nanjing Villa where Gu Yizhen was waiting.

She'd had enough. She wanted to go home. She wanted to eat.

I want to eat! Waaah!

Sister Donkey forcibly restrained her. "Hold on a little longer. Just two more days. Focus on your work, finish quickly, and then you can leave. No running away!"

Thus, Sister Donkey kept Xi Keqing tethered to the set.

In public, Xi Keqing had to keep her lips from trembling and her tears from falling. She maintained her usual haughty expression, scowling at everyone.

Just then, a figure approached her.

Sister Donkey stood up. "Teacher Dengdeng."

The newcomer didn't respond, instead turning to Xi Keqing. "Oh, Teacher Qingqing, you look so down this early in the morning. What were you up to last night?"

Xi Keqing glanced over and immediately recognized her.

This was Feng Deng, an Omega who always inexplicably came to check on her and just as inexplicably left.

Because of their different roles and screen time, Feng Deng had arrived at the film set very late yesterday. This was the first time Xi Keqing had seen her.

Thinking she would leave just as quickly, Xi Keqing couldn't be bothered to speak. She simply snorted in response.

Her tone was a little higher than usual, as if she were genuinely happy to see a familiar face of her own age.

Feng Deng, who had intended to provoke her, found herself on the receiving end of the provocation. "......"

Her fists clenched.

It's always like this.

Why is she so annoying?!

The two were of similar age, with somewhat similar acting styles and career paths. Having debuted around the same time, they were constantly compared.

Despite Xi Keqing's unlikeable personality, mountain of scandals, and lack of support from the public and fans, she still managed to land roles comparable to Feng Deng's—and sometimes even better ones.

I'm a rising star, while she's universally hated. How can my resources be worse than hers?!

Not to mention, Feng Deng had originally auditioned for Xi Keqing's role, which had more than half the lines of her current role, yet some clueless Alpha snatched it away.

An Omega role, stolen by an Alpha!

It wasn't even like Xi Keqing was asked to play an Omega. With her tall stature, it would have taken considerable effort for her to even attempt it, yet the director had rewritten the script.

Feng Deng was so furious after learning Xi Keqing had secured the role that she barely slept for three days.

When she finally saw Xi Keqing and tried to step on her, she ended up getting worked up herself before she could even make her move.

Feng Deng couldn't help but snort. "We have a scene together later, Teacher Qingqing. Do try to take it seriously."

By the end, her voice was practically gritted through clenched teeth.

Anyone could see this was a challenge to Xi Keqing. Sister Donkey immediately went on high alert, fearing Xi Keqing might do something rash. As expected, Xi Keqing snorted back.

"You too."

Sister Donkey's mouth twitched. Seeing the veins on Feng Deng's forehead about to burst, she quickly interjected, "Hehehe, Qingqing means you should work hard together, work hard together! Hehehe."

Feng Deng stormed off, her body radiating anger.

Sister Donkey almost slapped Xi Keqing on the back. "Is that how you talk to someone?"

Xi Keqing didn't even flinch, her eyes full of confusion. What did I say wrong? I just meant what Sister Donkey said. Why is it okay when Sister Donkey says it, but not when I do?

She had no idea that to Feng Deng, Xi Keqing's words had just elevated Feng Deng's acting skills to her own level. Any ambitious actress would likely be furious to be told that her acting was on par with Xi Keqing's.

Seeing her innocent expression, Sister Donkey couldn't bring herself to strike. She took two deep breaths, struggling to calm down.

Xi Keqing glanced at Feng Deng from a distance before turning back. She suddenly lowered her head and picked up her phone, feeling an inexplicable urge to text Gu Yizhen.

Beicheng.

Gu Yizhen was in a meeting.

The head of Gu's Pharmaceuticals was at the podium, summarizing recent merger outcomes. The project had been progressing poorly, and the atmosphere in the room was heavy with tension.

Especially that pair of pale, cold eyes sitting at the very back of the room, calmly observing the entire gathering, made everyone break into a cold sweat.

Who didn't know that Gu's Pharmaceuticals had been personally established by Gu Yizhen and was her most cherished project?

Before joining the Group, Gu Yizhen had dedicated herself to pharmaceutical research, with several of her discoveries already in widespread use. Each was universally acclaimed, solidifying her reputation as a true genius researcher.

After transitioning to the Group, Gu Yizhen shed her researcher persona but refused to abandon the pharmaceutical sector. Instead, she aggressively began expanding the market for Gu's Pharmaceuticals.

It's worth noting that Gu's Pharmaceuticals had originally been a minor division within the Gu Group. Yet in just over two years, it had grown so rapidly that it now seemed poised to become one of the Group's pillars.

This achievement had also secured Gu Yizhen's position within the Group. Even after sustaining a debilitating injury a year and a half ago, which seemed to have left her permanently disabled, her status remained unshaken.

Gu Yizhen was only twenty-six years old.

This young Omega's methods and resolve were enough to make anyone's heart race.

The manager's voice fell silent, and the conference room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes turned to Gu Yizhen, nervously awaiting her judgment.

Gu Yizhen lowered her eyes.

Her phone on the table suddenly lit up with a message from Xi Keqing.

Keqing is a Big Star: Gu Yizhen! What are you doing?!

How odd.

She paused for a moment before opening it and replying: In a meeting. Something wrong?

Above this message were only a few scattered messages. The previous one was from the morning Xi Keqing left, asking if she was awake. Gu Yizhen had replied that she was.

Not long after, Xi Keqing had quickly knocked on her door, demanding a kiss.

Their marriage had come suddenly and swiftly, their time together brief. Neither had clearly grown accustomed to maintaining contact.

By now, the time they had spent apart far exceeded the time they had spent together.

Gu Yizhen was busy, while Xi Keqing had simply forgotten. Besides, being able to reach her but not fill her stomach only made her hungrier.

Fortunately, neither of them found anything amiss, and they maintained their usual rhythm.

Now, it seemed an Alpha's rhythm had been thrown off.

The chat window showed "Typing..." for a long time before the Alpha sent a long message:

Qingqing the Superstar: Okay, I'm waiting for my scene. It's raining in Jiangcheng again, just like yesterday. They call it the plum rain season, I think. Anyway, they've put up a lot of lights on set, and it feels so much hotter. I have to go film again soon, I'm so hungry, I'm running out of strength.

Z: Eat properly.

The Alpha immediately followed with an animated GIF of a Chihuahua holding a knife and fork, drooling—it was as if she were sending herself.

Gu Yizhen blinked, then looked up at the tense group in the conference room, who were still afraid to show their confusion.

She spoke calmly, "Continue with the plan."

In an instant, everyone seemed to exhale in relief, a sense of salvation washing over them as if they had narrowly escaped disaster.

Two more days passed.

On the evening of the seventh day, Xi Keqing finished her final scene. She immediately grabbed her pre-packed luggage and prepared to fly back to Beicheng that very night.

As she passed by the set, Feng Deng approached. "Wow, Teacher Qingqing, leaving in such a hurry? So busy?"

Xi Keqing, her mind solely focused on the meal she'd get at home, didn't detect the sarcasm in Feng Deng's voice. Instead, she replied cheerfully, "I'm going home now. You've worked hard."

Feng Deng froze, her expression as if she'd seen a ghost.

What the hell? Who is this?

Not only is she not talking down to me, but she's actually thanking me for my hard work?

Just a moment ago, she was being as arrogant and unruly as ever. Has she been possessed?

Feng Deng waved her hand in the air for no reason, feeling inexplicably unlucky.

Yet Xi Keqing continued on, greeting everyone with a cheerful smile and a string of "You've worked hard."

This caused a wave of inexplicable chaos.

Even Sister Donkey, who was following behind Xi Keqing, looked puzzled. Has she been possessed?

By the time they landed, it was already past midnight on April 1st.

Sister Donkey still took the "possessed" Xi Keqing to Nanjing Villa. Before Sister Donkey could say anything, Xi Keqing had already bounded out of the car in high spirits.

Yet within minutes, Xi Keqing stood alone in Gu Yizhen's dark and empty room. Completely ignoring the small horns and long tail that had materialized on her body, she let out a wail.

Waaah—

How could Gu Yizhen go on a business trip?! Waaah—

My food... waah—