After Becoming an Alpha, I Marked My Nemesis - Chapter 32

Zhou Qian was feeling stifled and needed a quiet place to clear her head. The weather was oppressively hot, even as evening approached, and her makeup was melting under her mask and sunglasses.

After walking about three hundred meters, she spotted a bar and hurried inside.

The bar’s air conditioning was blasting, and Zhou Qian felt instantly refreshed. She approached the bar, her voice slightly breathless, and said, “A lemon whiskey, please.”

“Certainly, miss. One moment.”

Zhou Qian was still wearing her backless dress. The bar was nearing its peak hours, and to avoid drawing attention, she kept her sunglasses on. Though she had been hot from walking several hundred meters in heels, the intense air conditioning soon left her shivering.

“Ah… Achoo!” Zhou Qian couldn’t help but sneeze loudly. As she reached for a tissue on the bar to wipe her nose, she suddenly felt something warm enveloping her. She froze for a moment, the sensation of the smooth, warm fabric feeling almost dreamlike.

Zhou Qian looked up at the person. They smiled sweetly. “Girls shouldn’t dress like this when they’re out alone at night, even if it’s just for the evening.”

Zhou Qian could smell the pheromones on the jacket… she could distinguish between perfume and pheromone scents. This particular pheromone smelled faintly like Longjing Jasmine, a fragrance that was both rich and refreshing. Zhou Qian quickly snapped out of her daze. “I’m so sorry,” she said.

The woman was dressed in a black dress, radiating an aura of aloof elegance. For some reason, Zhou Qian felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with her, even though they had never met before. The woman’s presence felt strangely familiar.

The woman smiled. “It’s no problem at all. I’m alone here anyway, and it’s rare to see such a beautiful girl like you.”

Zhou Qian paused, realizing the woman seemed to be flirting with her. Such a cliché approach, she thought.

Pushing her sunglasses up her nose, Zhou Qian replied, “You can tell I’m beautiful even with these on? You’re quite perceptive.”

To her surprise, the woman answered without hesitation, “I used to work in the cosmetic surgery industry. I can tell a woman’s beauty just by looking at her bone structure.”

Zhou Qian nodded as if she understood. “Impressive. Still, thank you for the jacket. Where do you live? I’d like to return it when I have time.”

The woman smiled slightly. “You’re right. After all this talking, I haven’t even introduced myself. Hello, I’m Chu Ruobing.”

Zhou Qian initially didn’t think much of the name. But when she processed it properly, her eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at the woman, almost afraid to ask, “Excuse me… could you repeat your name?”

The woman chuckled. “I’m Chu Ruobing. Chu is the one with the ‘衤’ radical, and Ruobing means ‘as if ice and snow.’ People often misspell it as ‘楚’ because my surname sounds similar.”

Shocked, Zhou Qian quickly regained her composure.

There was no mistake—this was Song Luoxue’s White Moonlight, Chu Ruobing.

Chu Ruobing and Song Luoxue had been classmates in middle and high school. Chu Ruobing had harbored feelings for Song Luoxue for years. After Song Luoxue was rescued from her downfall, she happened to meet Chu Ruobing again, and the two plotted their revenge against the original owner of Zhou Qian’s body.

But… something was off. Logically, Song Luoxue should have encountered Chu Ruobing first, not her. What had gone wrong?

“Miss, I haven’t even asked your name yet,” Chu Ruobing said.

Zhou Qian paused, startled by the question. “Um… I…”

Just as she was about to answer, she suddenly felt someone grab her arm with a painful grip. The force nearly twisted her arm blue. She winced and looked up, frowning to see who it was. To her surprise, she met Song Luoxue’s angry gaze.

Song Luoxue, a former A-list celebrity, had remembered to wear a mask when she ran out to chase Zhou Qian. Her glare seemed to say, “I turn my back for a moment, and you’re already attracting attention? You’re quite the charmer!”

Seeing someone gripping Zhou Qian so forcefully, Chu Ruobing said, “Who are you? Let go of her immediately!”

Hearing this, Song Luoxue looked up and scrutinized the woman Zhou Qian had apparently ensnared. She turned to Zhou Qian, completely unfazed, and said, “Tell her who I am.”

Zhou Qian looked visibly embarrassed but managed to say, “Um… I’m sorry, she’s my girlfriend.”

Chu Ruobing had been defending Zhou Qian just moments before, but when she heard the woman’s words, she exclaimed in surprise, “You… you already have a girlfriend?”

Zhou Qian frowned deeply at her reaction. What? Are you surprised I have a girlfriend? Or are you disappointed?

Of course, Zhou Qian kept these thoughts to herself. She was merely curious: Chu Ruobing and Song Luoxue had once been each other’s White Moonlight. Even though Song Luoxue was wearing a mask, Chu Ruobing had mentioned earlier that she used to work in the cosmetic surgery industry. Shouldn’t she have recognized Song Luoxue immediately?

Why did she seem to have no idea who these two were?

Wait a minute… if Song Luoxue finds her White Moonlight early, and I, the villainess, get off work early too, wouldn’t that mean I could make a clean escape?

This brilliant idea had just flashed through Zhou Qian’s mind.

Just as Song Luoxue was about to pull her away, Zhou Qian grabbed her hands and held her back. “Wait, Luo Xue,” she said excitedly. “Let me formally introduce you. This is Miss Chu Ruobing. She saw I was wearing a backless dress without a coat and lent me hers.”

Song Luoxue nodded, her expression shifting to one of understanding. When Zhou Qian first introduced Chu Ruobing, she hadn’t thought much of it. But now, as she considered the name “Chu Ruobing,” a shocking realization dawned on her.

Could it be?

What are the odds of such a coincidence?

If Chu Ruobing was the only person with that name in this novel, then she must be the original female lead’s White Moonlight—the unattainable ideal.

Chu Ruobing had recognized Song Luoxue the moment she walked in. It wasn’t until the woman in the backless dress mentioned her name, “Luo Xue,” that she finally placed her.

They had been classmates in middle and high school. Now, Song Luoxue was a Golden Award-winning Best Actress, having swept all the major domestic film awards. Her very name evoked an aura of untouchable stardom, yet here she stood, flesh and bl00d, right in front of her.

Chu Ruobing stared blankly at the two women for a long moment before snapping out of her daze. “Um… Miss Luo Xue, it’s nice to meet you.”

The moment Song Luoxue heard the intimate form of address, her expression hardened. Her voice turned sharp and cold as she snapped, “Don’t call me that!”

Chu Ruobing seemed startled by Song Luoxue’s reaction.

After regaining her composure, Song Luoxue realized her earlier words and actions had been excessive. After all, Chu Ruobing was the original female lead’s White Moonlight. Even if her first impression of him had been unfavorable, she should have considered the original female lead’s feelings and avoided being so harsh.

Zhou Qian, who had also been startled by Song Luoxue’s outburst, now clung to her arm like a frightened child, gently shaking it. “Luo Xue… what’s wrong?”

Snapping out of her daze, Song Luoxue quickly apologized to Chu Ruobing. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to people addressing me so intimately. My surname is Song. Please call me Madam Song.”

Only then did Chu Ruobing dare to confirm that the person before him was indeed Song Luoxue, his high school classmate!

Chu Ruobing immediately shifted his demeanor. He stepped forward to stand before Zhou Qian and Song Luoxue, his gaze shifting from Zhou Qian to Song Luoxue. “Could it be… could it be you’re Luo Xue? Don’t you remember me? I’m Ruobing. We were classmates in high school, even seatmates!”

Chu Ruobing’s approach was identical to Lu Sheng’s, whom Song Luoxue had encountered recently.

Fortunately, Song Luoxue remembered Lu Sheng; otherwise, she would have dismissed this as harassment from a stranger.

Hearing this, Song Luoxue tilted her head, her round eyes darting around. “Oh… I think I remember now. We were classmates before, right?”

Chu Ruobing’s face lit up with exaggerated delight. “Yes, yes, we were classmates! I’ve heard you’re making waves in the entertainment industry. It’s been seven or eight years since we last saw each other. This is the perfect opportunity to organize a class reunion for our old classmates!”

Song Luoxue knew perfectly well she wasn’t the original female lead. Even if they held a reunion, she wouldn’t recognize a single person there. She was about to decline when Zhou Qian chimed in with a bright smile, “Great idea! Luo Xue and I will come together. We’ll be counting on you to take good care of us then!”

Song Luoxue’s face betrayed a flicker of murderous intent toward Zhou Qian. Though she maintained a sweet smile, the hand she had linked with Zhou Qian’s quietly twisted her arm.

Zhou Qian gasped at the sharp pain, took a deep breath, and quickly regained her composure.

Noticing Zhou Qian’s reaction, Chu Ruobing asked with concern, “Are you alright? Is something wrong?”

Zhou Qian forced a wry smile. “No… it’s nothing.”