Forced to Pretend to Be an A and Marry the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 3

The moment Yu Wei entered, Xu Mifei caught her scent. But as a beta, Xu realized her nose wasn’t sharp enough to distinguish whether it was pheromones or perfume.

If it were pheromones, then the bergamot fragrance that had just teased her senses would be the truly captivating one.

Thanks to the timely spray of air freshener, the lingering traces of Jiang Lingyu’s scent had already dissipated.

When Yu Wei saw the disheveled Jiang Lingyu on the bed, her face darkened with the look of someone catching an affair. She lunged forward, but Xu Mifei’s head was already buzzing. She immediately blocked Yu Wei, pushing her away.

That push was all it took—Yu Wei’s eyes instantly reddened.

“Is this why you’re breaking up with me? To marry Jiang Lingyu? Mifei! Don’t you know what kind of woman she is?” As Yu Wei placed her hands on Xu Mifei, she leaned in close, and Xu caught her scent again.

Roses.

This was unmistakable—Yu Wei was the one who had spent the night with the original host.

Her pheromones were rose-scented, and she drenched herself in rose perfume, practically marinating in the fragrance.

Goosebumps rose on Xu Mifei’s arms. Instinctively, she glanced at Jiang Lingyu, only to find that in the presence of others, Jiang had reverted to her aloof, unreadable demeanor.

Even though Yu Wei had just been about to strike her, Jiang acted as if the woman didn’t exist, her gaze instead settling on Xu Mifei, one eyebrow slightly arched.

Xu Mifei’s heart skipped a beat.

Damn.

The tiny shred of trust Jiang Lingyu might have had in her had just vanished, replaced by what looked like exasperation.

“Dressed like that for who? Director Gu’s lead role was supposed to be mine! If you hadn’t interfered, I would’ve won that award! Mifei, don’t be fooled by her pheromones—she slept her way into Director Gu’s bed with them!” Yu Wei’s eyes were red as she pressed closer again.

Xu Mifei’s expression hardened. “Have some self-respect. Didn’t you eat? Stand properly.” Always clinging like a boneless child—she wasn’t a baby.

Seeing how differently Xu Mifei was treating her now, Yu Wei’s tears came instantly. Biting her lip, she whimpered, “Mifei, you promised me that variety show and the endorsement deal.”

Yet today, she’d seen Jiang Lingyu’s diamond ring ads plastered all over Xu Corporation’s headquarters—the most popular brand under Xu’s empire. Furious, she’d ditched filming to come and wheedle, only to receive news of Xu Mifei and Jiang Lingyu’s engagement on the way.

Xu Mifei stayed silent. A stubborn glint flashed through Yu Wei’s tear-filled eyes as she raised her voice. “You’re not even an S-rank alpha—why tie yourself to Jiang Lingyu? Don’t you know? If your compatibility is low, you won’t even be able to soothe her during her heat.”

It was no different from calling an alpha impotent. No alpha could tolerate such humiliation, least of all the prideful Xu Mifei.

Yu Wei was certain—Xu Mifei still doted on her. She was just momentarily bewitched by Jiang Lingyu’s pheromones.

Compatibility… Xu Mifei fell into deep thought for a moment. The key issue was, she didn’t even possess the qualifications to match Jiang Lingyu.

How could a beta have any matching value?

“Qin Lu, escort her out.” The sight of Yu Wei made Xu Mifei feel nauseous. Perhaps the original host had some genuine or feigned affection for Yu Wei, but she felt none—Yu Wei was like a stranger to her. She vaguely recalled that the novel never mentioned Yu Wei as the original host’s lover, though it did note Yu Wei’s later rise to become a top-tier actress.

Perhaps the original host had played some role in that.

The door opened, and two black-suited bodyguards entered. Yu Wei immediately pulled out her phone and snapped several flash photos of Jiang Lingyu. Xu Mifei’s expression darkened instantly. “Delete those!”

Jiang Lingyu was currently at the peak of her fame. If any compromising material leaked from her side, the consequences would be disastrous. Earlier, Jiang Lingyu had only loosely draped an outer robe over herself, revealing a tantalizing glimpse beneath.

“Let go! Mifei, tell these people to let me go! Jiang Lingyu!” Yu Wei glared at the aloof woman standing there, her teeth grinding with resentment. How could someone who did nothing still command such devotion from everyone? “What are you so proud of? If it weren’t for your unmarkable, unbearable pheromones, would your family have even sent you here…”

What family? It seemed Yu Wei knew more about the plot than expected—likely information the original host had carelessly divulged during their intimate moments.

Suddenly, Jiang Lingyu rose from the bed.

Her silk nightgown slipped slightly with her movements, revealing shoulders as smooth as polished jade. Tall and imposing, she gazed down at Yu Wei with a faintly lowered gaze, exuding the aura of a deity looking down upon an insignificant ant.

Beads of sweat formed on Yu Wei’s forehead, her breathing growing increasingly ragged. Her eyes widened in terror, yet the tips of her ears uncontrollably flushed with heat.

She had never known—how could even an omega’s pheromones be so oppressive? There was no mistaking it: Jiang Lingyu was deliberately releasing her pheromones. Yu Wei’s gaze flickered to Jiang Lingyu’s scent gland.

There, an unusually deep bite mark—almost a wound—was visible.

The room fell so silent that the drop of a pin could be heard. Yu Wei’s fear peaked in that instant, and she blurted out what was meant to be her trump card:

“Stay back! I might be carrying Mifei’s child! We were together all last night.”

She tilted her head, proudly displaying her own scent gland like a soldier flaunting a medal—marked with a fresh bite.

Instantly, it was Xu Mifei’s turn to feel horror. What nonsense are you spouting? How could I have marked you last night?

Jiang Lingyu observed Xu Mifei’s rapidly shifting expression and let out a soft, amused chuckle. Her thoughtful gaze lingered on the back of Xu Mifei’s neck before she addressed Yu Wei: “Oh? Then congratulations in advance.”

Yu Wei stared at her in disbelief.

Snapping back to reality, Xu Mifei barked, “What are you waiting for? Get her out of here!”

The bodyguards finally dragged Yu Wei away despite her struggles. As she was hauled out, Yu Wei shrieked, “Mifei! Jiang Lingyu has her eyes on Xu Wanzhi, not you!”

At the same time, Qin Lu’s voice sounded: “Second Miss, it’s time for you both to leave.”

“I really didn’t—how could I have—” Xu Mifei steeled herself, whispering the rest to Jiang Lingyu before gripping her wrist and standing beside Qin Lu. “Qin Lu, cancel the engagement banquet.”

The costume designer had already entered with the outfits. Qin Lu, who had been waiting on the side, remained expressionless upon hearing Xu Mifei’s outrageous words: “Second Young Miss, stop fooling around. The guests outside are all waiting.”

“I won’t go through with the engagement,” Xu Mifei repeated numbly. “I’ll go see my parents and explain everything to them.”

Jiang Lingyu felt a slight roughness against her wrist—the scabbed-over wound on Xu Mifei’s palm. Her gaze drifted to Xu Mifei’s profile, her brows furrowing slightly.

How strange.

“Xiao Lin, get them changed,” Qin Lu commanded, her patience at its limit, as if deliberately ignoring Xu Mifei’s resistance.

Though phrased as a request, it was anything but. Jiang Lingyu had just suppressed her heat cycle, while Xu Mifei’s frail constitution made them no match for the well-trained bodyguards. The two were dressed up like exquisite dolls, Jiang Lingyu’s eyes dull with exhaustion, showing no further reaction to the proceedings.

Despair welled up in Xu Mifei’s heart—she couldn’t go through with this engagement to Jiang Lingyu. Not only was this the first step toward tragedy, but Yu Wei had been right: Jiang Lingyu would eventually fall for Xu Wanzhi, leaving Xu Mifei as nothing more than cannon fodder in the protagonists’ anguished love story!

Yet her resistance proved futile as the bodyguards began ushering them out of the dressing room. Amid her struggles, Xu Mifei heard Jiang Lingyu murmur calmly by her ear, “It’s pointless. Save your strength.”

“This wasn’t my doing. I’m not lying to you,” Xu Mifei said, her eyes flickering toward the discarded bathrobe. She hadn’t forgotten the shard of porcelain hidden within. Now that they’d changed clothes, she retrieved the bloodstained fragment, wrapping it in several layers of tissue before tossing it in the trash.

“Take them away,” Qin Lu ordered, directing the bodyguards to escort them into the elevator heading straight to the twelfth-floor banquet hall. Sandwiched between the guards, shoulders pressed together, Xu Mifei could barely move her feet. She focused on keeping her balance, careful not to brush against Jiang Lingya.

Suddenly remembering something, Xu Mifei produced a slightly wider scent-blocking patch she’d managed to grab earlier.

She tried to apply it to Jiang Lingyu, whispering, “Jiang Lingyu, tilt your head toward me.”

“What game are you playing now?” Jiang Lingyu had noticed Xu Mifei’s furtive movements and refused to comply. Xu Mifei insisted, “There’ll be too many people later. If they see your wound, it won’t look good for you.”

Look good? Wasn’t this the very mark Xu Mifei had deliberately bitten to flaunt to everyone? What was she playing at now?

A storm of emotions raged within Jiang Lingyu. Did Xu Mifei find it amusing to toy with her like this—first bringing her lover to confront her, now calling off the engagement?

Yet her mind flashed back to how Xu Mifei had carefully wrapped that porcelain shard before disposing of it moments ago.

Had she not known Xu Mifei’s true nature, she might have been touched by such considerate attention to detail.

Jiang Lingyu’s fingers tightened imperceptibly, one hand trembling slightly before clenching into a fist against her dress. Finally, she slowly inclined the back of her neck toward Xu Mifei.

Xu Mifei’s fingertips were frighteningly cold, but the contact lasted only an instant as the patch adhered neatly to Jiang Lingyu’s nape. With meticulous care, Xu Mifei even adjusted Jiang Lingyu’s hair to ensure better coverage.

The isolation patch carried a cooling medicinal ointment that covered the wound, concealing what was once meant to be a badge of honor.

At this moment, Jiang Lingyu unexpectedly realized—with an indescribable feeling—that the dignity she had seen shattered and trampled over the past two days had been partially restored by none other than Xu Mifei, the very instigator of her humiliation.

Should she trust Xu Mifei’s words?

Right now, Xu Mifei’s hair was styled in an updo, revealing the smooth nape of her neck and the isolation patch adhered there.

She had always worn it like this, and everyone had grown accustomed to it. Who would have guessed that Xu Mifei was actually a beta?

There were only two possibilities for why she would reveal this to Jiang Lingyu.

First, Xu Mifei was telling the truth—she wanted Jiang Lingyu to trust her, hence she honestly disclosed her weakness.

A beta masquerading as an alpha for so long would naturally be an unspeakable disgrace and secret for a prominent family.

Second, Xu Mifei already had a contingency plan in place. Even if Jiang Lingyu knew, it wouldn’t matter—she had ways to ensure Jiang Lingyu could never speak of it.

Jiang Lingyu’s rationality told her that reality likely aligned with the second possibility.

The engagement had been arranged by their elders, though it was uncertain whether it would ever be fulfilled. Everything changed when she was discovered to be an omega with top-tier pheromones.

Whether with Xu Wanzhi or Xu Mifei, entering the Xu family was inevitable—she couldn’t refuse any of it now.

But one thing was clear to Jiang Lingyu.

Xu Wanzhi was undoubtedly a true alpha, while Xu Mifei might genuinely be a beta.

If Xu Mifei really was a beta…

Then she was currently the best option. At the very least, Jiang Lingyu wouldn’t be permanently marked before she could fully break free from the company.

So—

Should she trust Xu Mifei?

Countless thoughts tangled and clashed in Jiang Lingyu’s mind as the elevator ascended rapidly, the floors ticking by like a countdown.

Ding. The elevator arrived. Ahead stood the grand, intricately carved doors of the banquet hall. The waiting attendants slowly pulled them open, revealing a dazzling scene of extravagance and indulgence.

Beside her, Xu Mifei took half a step back—a movement Jiang Lingyu noticed.

She exhaled deeply.

The next second, her hand actively looped through Xu Mifei’s arm, pulling her forward half a step. Her spine straightened elegantly, proud and unyielding, like a queen.

“Let’s get today’s formalities over with,” Jiang Lingyu’s cool voice sounded beside Xu Mifei’s ear, each word deliberate. “After this, I have questions for you.”