Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

After changing clothes, they still had to remove their makeup.

Yu Jing returned to the original makeup room from the restroom. As she pushed open the door, she saw the makeup artist cleaning the “wound” on Ming Zhu’s neck. Instantly, she recalled her previous “crime,” and her steps slowed.

Ming Zhu had little makeup on her face, so cleaning the “wound” was simple. She didn’t sit in a chair, just casually leaned against the makeup counter, eyes half-lowered, posture languid. Hearing the sound, she slightly raised her head, saw Yu Jing enter, and didn’t look away after that.

Yu Jing felt a bit guilty under her gaze, lowered her head, and walked past her without glancing sideways.

The makeup artist responsible for Yu Jing’s look was cheerful and eagerly pulled out a chair for her. Yu Jing smiled and said, “Thank you,” then sat down to wait for her makeup removal.

Her lip and eye makeup were quite troublesome, especially the eye makeup. The rhinestone at the corner of her eye was glued on with special adhesive, very secure. Seeing the makeup artist squeeze a large blob of makeup remover onto a cotton pad, Yu Jing quickly closed her eyes.

The makeup artist brought the cotton pad near her eye but didn’t wipe immediately. Noticing something, he pointed at the wet patch of skin near the rhinestone and teased, “Is this Teacher Ming Zhu’s saliva? It hasn’t even dried yet, haha!”

Yu Jing opened her eyes, first seeing the mirror in front of her. Her gaze met Ming Zhu’s in the reflection, her heart skipping a beat. Instinctively, she touched the corner of her eye, indeed feeling a wet spot.

It really seemed like the mark of Ming Zhu’s saliva…

Her mind flashed back to that ambiguous moment: Ming Zhu’s cool lips gently landing on her eye corner, as if afraid to harm her, only daring to softly hold the rhinestone, tender and lingering, brief yet endless. Finally, her lips reluctantly parted, leaving a moist trace.

During the shoot, Yu Jing had been in a daze. Now, the flustered, itchy feeling from that kiss slowly crept up. She couldn’t help but sneak another glance at Ming Zhu in the mirror.

Ming Zhu was still looking at her, and her gaze seemed even warmer than before…

That unfamiliar look made Yu Jing’s heart inexplicably flustered. She subtly shifted her gaze, wiping the saliva on her fingertip onto her skirt, her fingers clutching the fabric for a long time.

It was for the shoot; Ming Zhu didn’t mean it. She really shouldn’t overthink it.

Yu Jing took a few seconds to convince herself, lifted her head, smiled nonchalantly at the makeup artist, and closed her eyes again.

Seeing neither of them responded, the makeup artist, feeling snubbed, shut his mouth and focused on removing her makeup.

Ming Zhu leaned to the side, watching unabashedly.

Several lighting lamps by the mirror illuminated her face, making it translucent and snowy white. Her eyelids were thin, dusted with pink eyeshadow, her curled lashes trembling slightly, much like her shy, inexperienced reaction when Ming Zhu first kissed her eye corner.

After watching for a while, Ming Zhu couldn’t take it anymore, suppressing the strange stirrings in her heart and looking elsewhere.

When both had nearly finished removing their makeup, the editor’s assistant came in to discuss follow-up matters. “This issue goes on pre-sale tomorrow at noon. We’ll post on Weibo for promotion. Could you both cooperate by reposting?”

Yu Jing smiled. “Sure, no problem.”

Ming Zhu hesitated, then said, “Sorry, I don’t use Weibo.”

The assistant was stunned, quickly saying, “But this is a couple cover. If only Teacher Yu Jing reposts, the promotion effect might be halved.”

The magazine invited them to capitalize on the Ming-Yu CP’s popularity and gain from the CP hype. Without joint promotion, it would be a waste.

Ming Zhu genuinely disliked using Weibo, finding it troublesome. She was still frowning, thinking how to refuse, when someone lightly tugged her clothing hem.

Looking down, she saw a slender, fair hand.

Ming Zhu’s gaze shifted upward to Yu Jing’s hesitant face, asking with her eyes: What do you want to say?

Yu Jing glanced at the troubled assistant, leaned in, and whispered in her ear, “Didn’t you say you’re short on money? Cooperating with promotion might get the magazine to buy us a trending spot. Trending means exposure, which is worth it.”

Ming Zhu found her logical analysis amusing.

She had lied about being short on money without a good excuse, and Yu Jing actually believed her.

Why was she always so naive?

Exposure, fame, money—these weren’t things Ming Zhu valued much, but they were exactly what Yu Jing needed.

The girl’s eyes, bare of makeup, were still bright, sparkling with expectation and pleading, softening Ming Zhu’s heart.

“Fine.” Ming Zhu looked at her, her voice unknowingly gentle as she compromised. “I’ll register one later.”

Yu Jing’s lips curved into a smile, and she let go of her clothes.

Hearing Ming Zhu relent, the assistant, fearing she’d change her mind, eagerly said, “Teacher Ming Zhu, we have Wi-Fi here. It’s really fast!”

Ming Zhu paused, then reached out to Zhou Qi for her phone.

Zhou Qi was surprised. She had tried countless times to convince Ming Zhu to join Weibo without success, yet Yu Jing’s whisper did it! She pulled the phone from her bag, handed it to Ming Zhu, and gave Yu Jing a meaningful look.

The Wi-Fi was indeed fast; Ming Zhu downloaded Weibo in seconds. Registration was tedious, but she patiently filled in the details step by step. When choosing a username, she found “Ming Zhu” taken, so she added a prefix.

New accounts couldn’t be searched immediately. The assistant, unsure of Ming Zhu’s progress, reminded her, “Teacher Ming Zhu, once you’re registered, you can follow ‘Red Beauty Magazine.’”

Ming Zhu’s fingers, not very adept, tapped the screen a few times, found “Red Beauty Magazine,” and followed. “Done.”

The assistant, holding her phone, logged into the Red Beauty official account and grinned. “I’ll follow back right away!”

Ming Zhu gave a noncommittal “Mm,” her fingers sliding over the screen. After a moment’s hesitation, she said to Yu Jing, who was playing with her nails nearby, “I followed you too.”

Yu Jing realized this was a hint to follow back. Blinking, she said, “You’re not just going to use it for this repost and then abandon it, are you?”

Ming Zhu actually considered it, then said, “Probably.”

Yu Jing clicked her tongue. “Then why should I follow you?”

“…” Ming Zhu was left speechless.

Used to Ming Zhu’s calm, composed demeanor, Yu Jing found her stumped expression hilarious. She couldn’t hold back a giggle, took out her phone, logged into Weibo, saw a new user named “IAmMingZhu” had followed her, and followed back, waving her phone at her. “Alright, I followed you.”

Ming Zhu felt teased, but seeing her bright, smiling eyes, she couldn’t muster any annoyance.

The shoot was over, and all instructions were given. The assistant politely escorted them out of the magazine office.

The sun was high, wilting the leaves of the money tree by the door. The heat was stifling, discouraging movement.

The parking lot was some distance from the entrance. Seeing the fierce sun, Zhou Qi told them to wait while she and Xiao Ye braved the heat to get the cars.

The two stood on the steps at the entrance, the tall building behind them blocking the harsh sun. Occasional breezes blew through, but they weren’t very cool. The hot wind lifted their skirts and tousled their hair.

Yu Jing, bored, played with her skirt hem. Glancing up, she caught Ming Zhu watching her and instantly felt childish. Sticking out her tongue, she quickly let go of the hem and stood straight.

Ming Zhu didn’t find her childish—rather, a bit cute—and couldn’t help but look a few more times.

Sensing her gaze, Yu Jing looked back, then noticed the faint scar on Ming Zhu’s neck. Her heart skipped a beat.

If Lu Han hadn’t pointed it out, Yu Jing would’ve forgotten she’d bitten her…

“Is your neck still not healed?” Yu Jing asked. She’d wanted to ask during makeup removal, but too many people were around.

Ming Zhu couldn’t see her own neck but could feel the spot. Pressing lightly, she said, “It healed long ago; the color just hasn’t faded.”

Yu Jing wasn’t reassured and stepped closer. Ming Zhu, realizing what she wanted, brushed her hair aside to let her see clearly.

Her elegant swan-like neck tilted slightly, her pale, smooth skin making any flaw obvious. The bitten spot had healed, leaving faint cherry-pink marks.

Yu Jing muttered at the pink patches, “It won’t scar, will it?”

“Don’t know.” Ming Zhu’s tone was casual.

Yu Jing wasn’t as calm, staring wide-eyed. “You’re not using any scar-fading cream?”

Ming Zhu shook her head. “I checked at the hospital. Those creams have ingredients I’m allergic to, so I can’t use them.”

Yu Jing remembered Ming Zhu mentioning her drug allergies when recommending a suppressant. Looking at the fading wound, she felt a headache coming. “If it really scars…”

Ming Zhu wasn’t too worried. Seeing Yu Jing bite her lip and frown, her face full of conflicted expressions, she felt an inexplicable amusement. Leaning forward, her gaze landed on Yu Jing’s fair, delicate neck, and she said slowly, “If it scars, you can let me bite you back.”

Yu Jing gasped, instinctively stepping back, forgetting the steps behind her. Her heel hit one, and she stumbled.

Ming Zhu’s expression changed. Quick as a flash, she wrapped an arm around Yu Jing’s waist, steadying her before she fell. Once Yu Jing was stable, she let go immediately.

Yu Jing’s yelp was choked by the sudden, brief embrace. She stared at Ming Zhu, stunned.

Having nearly caused her to fall, Ming Zhu felt regret, her face serious. “I was just joking.”

Yu Jing belatedly realized she’d overreacted. The comment was obviously a joke, but Ming Zhu had leaned so close, her breath brushing Yu Jing’s neck, making her panic and lose all reason.

As expected, nothing good came from being alone with Ming Zhu.

Yu Jing grabbed her hair to cover her burning ears, stepped back to her original spot, and decided not to talk to her anymore.

A warm breeze passed between them, leaving an awkward silence.

Ming Zhu realized her comment was a bit ambiguous. Seeing Yu Jing deliberately keep two meters away, she opened her mouth silently, sighing inwardly.

Seeing Xiao Ye drive up, Yu Jing’s heart lifted. She forced a smile, waved at her, and said, “I’m going. Bye.”

“…Bye.”

Zhou Qi arrived shortly after.

Ming Zhu’s gaze returned, and she walked straight to the white Bentley, opening the door and getting in.

“It’s lunchtime. Didn’t you invite Yu Jing to eat?” Zhou Qi asked casually.

Ming Zhu recalled the girl hopping down the steps, eager to get away from her, and gave a curt “Mm.”

Zhou Qi found the response perfunctory. Glancing at her, she saw Ming Zhu’s furrowed brow and asked, “You okay?”

Ming Zhu stared at the rearview mirror, watching Yu Jing’s car drive further away in the opposite direction. Leaning back in her seat, she rubbed her temple, saying emotionlessly, “A bit tired.”

The magazine worked fast, finalizing the cover and back cover images that evening. The cover used the first version, the back the second.

When the assistant sent them to Yu Jing for feedback, she suppressed intense embarrassment and replied, “Very good.”

As for the two images, she was too shy to zoom in and look closely.

Lu Han was too good at shooting. Her teasing actions toward Ming Zhu, her emotional yet expressionless face when pinned and kissed by Ming Zhu, and the restrained, deep desire in Ming Zhu’s eyes as she looked at her—every detail was captured, almost too real.

At noon the next day, Red Beauty Magazine’s official Weibo posted the pre-sale announcement for the next week’s issue, with lengthy text and the two refined couple cover images.

Red Beauty Magazine: “Love has no hierarchy or value. Whether AA, BB, or OO love, it deserves our respect. For Red Beauty’s July same-s3x love special, we invited @IAmMingZhu and @YuJing to shoot two stunning couple covers…”

[Holy crap, as a loyal Red Beauty reader, these Ming-Yu couple covers are the best I’ve ever seen!]

[Just looking at the photos makes my nose bleed. Yu Jing is so spirited and pretty, and Ming Zhu is so Alpha and sexy, oh my god.]

[Are you sure they’re not a real couple? This CP chemistry and tension are insane.]

[First version, Ming Zhu’s hand on Yu Jing’s button—so detailed, even the veins on her hand stand out. If there wasn’t a photographer, I bet she’d have ripped Yu Jing’s clothes off.]

[This bed shot is so hot, every expression and move looks like they’re actually doing it. My god, I’m getting a nosebleed.]

[Their looks and vibes are perfect. God-tier CP. Ming-Yu rocks.]

[I’m hooked, I’m hooked. From today, I’m a Ming-Yu stan!]

[Thought we’d get no content since Treasure Hunt’s third episode was delayed, but this is such a huge surprise! I’m buying ten copies!]

[Wait, Ming Zhu actually joined Weibo???]

In less than half an hour, #MingYuRedBeautyStunningCoupleCover and #MingZhuJoinedWeibo shot into the top ten trending topics, sparking heated discussions.

Meanwhile, Yu Jing and Ming Zhu reposted the Weibo as per the assistant’s provided text.

IAmMingZhu: “I want to love you wildly @YuJing: If we could cast aside worldly norms @RedBeautyMagazine: Love has no hierarchy or value. Whether AA, BB, or OO love, it deserves our respect. For Red Beauty’s July same-s3x love special, we invited @IAmMingZhu and @YuJing to shoot two stunning couple covers…”

If we could cast aside worldly norms, I want to love you wildly. That was the theme this issue aimed to promote.

The two bold, stunning photos sent Ming-Yu CP fans into a screaming frenzy.

As for the two people in the photos, one was too embarrassed to look closely, while the other secretly saved them with unclear thoughts.