Forced to Pretend to Be an A and Marry the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 49

“I really admire your indiscriminate roasting style. Following now—I’ll be an OG fan later!”

“At first, I thought this was Xu Mifei’s own marketing stunt, but after digging up posts from two years ago, turns out this blogger is genuinely her anti. Can’t even hate anymore—their takes are actually fair.”

“OMG it’s Lazy Yang QAQ! Never thought Little Laz would become a hitmaker one day. My fave blogger finally made it!!”

“LMAO the fan site admin clearly hates the real girlfriend hahaha”

“Blogger, we’re only asking you because Qi Lu stopped replying to DMs entirely. You’re our only entertainment industry connection now—please give us the truth!!”

“I don’t care if Xu Wanzhi’s reputation collapsed. I just want to know if it’s true that Xu Mifei had Jiang Lingyu sue her to terminate her contract!!!! If true, I’ll apologize for all my recent Xu Mifei hate.”

“Her new manager is Hu Huaimeng? THE Hu Huaimeng I know?”

In the comments, people quickly uncovered that the leaked image came from Hu Huaimeng to Lazy Yang, while others began explaining Hu Huaimeng’s credentials.

“For newcomers: Meng-jie isn’t just anyone! She was a top-tier manager who used to handle international stars like Zhang Songyuan. No idea why she faded out—last year she only managed some rookie who flopped. Thought she’d been sidelined by the company.”

“Holy sh1t, it really is Hu Huaimeng. Who assigned her to Jiang Lingyu? Genius move—this is power coupling.”

“Guys, Xiao Ge posted HD pics! Xu Mifei was really in charge of props!!!! #XuMifeiTurnsPropMasterForLove trending now! She was watching the whole show—how can you not ship this?”

Soon, others pieced together that Xu Mifei had attended events with the Priority of Love props team—wherever Jiang Lingyu was, she appeared. Even previous critics claiming she only monitored Jiang Lingyu couldn’t deny the evidence.

“I… I’ll tentatively ship this first? The photographer’s skills are too good—Xu Mifei just stole my heart.”

“Under #XuMifeiTurnsPropMasterForLove, Xiao Ge posted Xu Mifei holding a reflector for Jiang Lingyu!!! Go look—absolutely stunning, already saved!”

“Casual viewer, saved.”

“Anti, saved (not converted, just think it’s pretty. Don’t @ me—all negativity rebounded.”

“Xiao Ge is the top fan site admin. Her posting Xu Mifei’s pics in this context—does that mean she knows something and supports her?”

“Not spreading rumors yet—don’t want my account banned again. As my entertainment industry insiders, please deliver. My overtime motivation today depends on you.”

“…Help, who made this spreadsheet? Zooming in, it looks so amateurish—like they’ve never worked a day in their life.” (Blogger liked)

“Never worked a day in her life—that must be Xu Mifei. Tell me, which spoiled rich kid actually holds a job?”

“Xu Mifei still has a nominal position in her family’s entertainment company, meaning she holds shares, but her name comes after Xu Wanzhi’s. Haven’t you noticed everyone calls her ‘Little Xu CEO’? The company was originally under her name.” (Liked by OP)

“With all this online uproar and neither the Xu family nor Yuyu personally responding, it’s probably true. After all, nothing’s too outrageous for the entertainment and elite circles.” (Liked by OP)

“? Refreshed and saw Lazy Yang liked the earlier comments! I think I get it now?”

“Ahhhhhhh was Xu Mifei really framed back then?”

“But OP didn’t just like those—they also liked some comments bashing Xu Mifei lol. Their personal bias is still strong. I believe they’re only speaking up now because they saw Xu Mifei did something good.”

Lazy Yang painstakingly sifted through the comments from the backend, his fingers trembling slightly as he tapped the like button.

Especially when liking the comments criticizing Xu Mifei.

Nervously, he took screenshots and sent them to the pinned chat, then respectfully sent a voice message, “Little Xu CEO, does this look acceptable?”

The reply came in voice as well: “No need to be so formal, Teacher Yang. Just act like you still hate me.”

Lazy Yang’s real name was Yang Nan. He never imagined his life would change so drastically in just four hours.

When Hu Huaimeng first approached him, he thought he was dreaming. Seeing the images Hu sent, he felt like he was floating on air—until Xu Mifei personally added him to discuss “business.” At that point, Yang Nan felt one foot was already in the grave.

She must be here to settle scores, right? He had always despised Xu Mifei’s behavior, often mocking her online, though his account never gained traction.

To him, Xu Mifei was petty, promiscuous, and selfish, cycling through female companions like collecting omega trophies. How could someone like her stand beside the world’s best Yuyu?

But after adding him, Xu Mifei greeted him warmly, calling him “Teacher Yang” and even saying, “Hello.”

God! It was like the King of Hell suddenly appearing to pat a minor ghost on the shoulder, smiling, “Sorry, comrade, didn’t mean to scare you.”

After hearing Xu Mifei’s request, Yang Nan couldn’t help but wonder—had she been playing dumb all along?

She wanted him to publish the exposé, drive the hashtag trend, and then write a long post consolidating all the attention.

The content of the post was up to him, but in the comments, he couldn’t reply—only like the hate comments about her to maintain his usual style.

Yang Nan’s mind reeled. The contract and schedule she provided left him stunned.

After years in the marketing world, he knew exactly how explosive this revelation would be. This was his account’s lifetime peak moment!

As a fan, the sparse details in the documents made it clear: Jiang Lingyu had been exploited by the company.

And Xu Mifei was entrusting him with something this important!

By not responding now, she was deliberately stoking public curiosity—ensuring the fire only grew hotter.

At this critical moment, Xu Mifei was clearly the one who had done a good deed, yet she somehow managed to draw all the fire onto herself?

Xu Mifei wasn’t at all like the person Yang Nan had imagined. She was calm, poised, and even… when she spoke, Yang Nan found himself holding his breath, unconsciously compelled to follow her lead.

He never expected Xu Mifei to be so magnanimous, letting him join her team despite their past conflicts.

After talking with Damascus, Yang Nan learned that the design in question had been painstakingly created overnight by Xu Mifei. It had even appeared in Qi Lu’s case study, albeit blurred, but fans still recognized it—proof that this was a meticulously planned scheme from start to finish.

Xu Mifei was far too shrewd. She was a master at manipulating public opinion, and by redirecting the backlash onto herself now, she knew that if Jiang Lingyu were to terminate her contract with the company after the show, the company’s PR machine would inevitably turn against Jiang Lingyu, subjecting her to harsh criticism.

So, Xu Mifei chose to absorb the brunt of the attack first.

If Xu Mifei were truly as the rumors suggested—merely scheming to possess Jiang Lingyu, an omega—she wouldn’t have needed to go this far.

Now, it seemed she was genuinely an alpha who cherished her omega, willing to sacrifice her own interests and even defy her family for the sake of her beloved.

Yang Nan couldn’t bring himself to criticize her anymore. He really couldn’t. Damascus must have felt the same way, remaining silent ever since the show ended.

Yang Nan sent another voice message: “Director Xu, calling me ‘Teacher Yang’ is far too generous. Just call me Xiao Yang. My dislike for you is a thing of the past. From now on, I’ll stand on the front lines of your anti-defense efforts, devoting myself wholeheartedly.”

This time, there was no immediate reply. Worried he might have overdone the flattery, Yang Nan grew anxious—until Xu Mifei finally responded.

“Thank you, Xiao Yang. We still have some follow-up matters to handle, so Sister Meng will transfer your payment a bit later, but it won’t be delayed.”

Besides Xu Mifei’s voice, Yang Nan also heard a familiar voice in the background, distant but asking, “Who are you talking to?”

Xu Mifei replied cheerfully, “One of your incredibly dedicated fans. Wait, don’t move—let me do it. I’ll pour the water…”

Not only had he received a hefty payment on the spot, but he’d also heard his goddess’s voice!

Tears streamed down Yang Nan’s face. Xu Mifei was truly a great boss. From this moment on, he was her devoted, unquestioning fan.

Qin Lu hurriedly brought Xu Wanzhi back to the Xu residence, speeding all the way.

When Xu Wanzhi stepped out of the car, her face was ashen, her fingers still compulsively refreshing the comments on her phone.

The screen was flooded with remarks about her performance at the grand show. Her eyes zeroed in on the glaring words—”character collapse.”

She had maintained her public image flawlessly for years in the entertainment industry, yet during the show, she had nearly lost her composure multiple times.

The source of all this upheaval? Xu Mifei!

Ever since she stole Xu Wanzhi’s engagement with Jiang Lingyu, it was as if she had become a completely different person.

Though her screen was also filled with criticism of Xu Mifei, Xu Wanzhi couldn’t see any of it.

All she could see were the vile insults hurled at her, along with the humiliating images of her fleeing the show in disgrace—each one like a thorn piercing her heart.

By the time she stood before her father, her expression still hadn’t softened. Just as she was about to pour out her grievances, his dark, ominous glare froze her in place.

“…Father, why—why are you looking at me like that? It was Xu Mifei’s doing—she deliberately smeared our family’s name!” Xu Wanzhi threw herself onto the desk in agitation, desperate to justify herself. “We can’t afford to be soft this time—PR! We need PR now! Get these negative comments suppressed immediately. What right do they have to criticize me?”

“It’s you who’s brought shame upon us! Look at yourself—where’s the dignity befitting a Xu family member? Wasn’t the embarrassment at the fashion show enough?” Xu Yiming was so furious he nearly slapped Xu Wanzhi across the face. “You’ve been spoiled rotten.”

“Dad! How could you—”

Xu Yiming sneered coldly. “Thank goodness I had Qin Lu bring you back early. Did you really intend to shove those reporters at the event? You’ve always maintained perfect composure before. Xu Mifei didn’t even show her face today—you’re the only one who made a fool of yourself!”

Just that single curse Xu Wanzhi uttered at the event had already caused fluctuations in the Xu family’s stock prices.

Xu Mifei, being a beta, had long been written off by the family. Xu Wanzhi, with her gentle and graceful public image, had always been Xu Yiming’s pride. Now that such a major incident had occurred, what concerned him most was the Xu family’s reputation—his own reputation.

Xu Wanzhi felt as if something was stuck in her throat, rendering her speechless. She took several deep breaths but couldn’t suppress her rage. Yet here, she had no outlet for it—she didn’t dare release her pheromones recklessly in front of her father.

After a brief standoff, Liao Xuelan entered and shielded her daughter, chiding, “How can you blame Zhizhi for this? It’s A-Fei who went too far. Why not take this opportunity to transfer the shares to Zhizhi’s name?”

Xu Yiming remained silent. Liao Xuelan continued, “Zhizhi is the most talented alpha in our family. Compared to A-Fei, she’s only made a minor mistake, hasn’t she? Don’t hold her to such impossibly high standards. She’s just hot-tempered—her heart isn’t bad. You know perfectly well whose heart is truly rotten. That child—we might as well consider her a wasted investment. She turned down a life of luxury as a young lady, choosing instead to throw herself away on that outsider.”

Xu Yiming seemed to have a change of heart, his expression softening. After a long pause, he said to Xu Wanzhi, “Fine. I’ll handle this matter.”

A satisfied smile spread across Xu Wanzhi’s face, the pent-up frustration in her heart finally dissipating.

Not long after Jiang Lingyu and Xu Mifei returned home, Hu Huaimeng’s call came through.

“Just as we anticipated—after the initial wave, people seem to have regained their senses and are now turning against you.” Hu Huaimeng’s voice was unusually excited, brimming with energy without a trace of fatigue. “Is Lingyu there?”

Jiang Lingyu, who had been about to retreat to her room, paused at the sound of Hu Huaimeng’s voice.

She frowned, perplexed. Wasn’t Hu Huaimeng her manager? Why was she now reaching out through Xu Mifei?

She glanced at Xu Mifei, whose face still bore red marks.

Had she really used that much force in the car earlier? How… how was it so visible? Perhaps Xu Mifei’s skin was just too fair.

Now that Xu Mifei was standing before her, Jiang Lingyu averted her gaze, refusing to look at the marks.

“She’s here. Here you go.” Xu Mifei handed her phone to Jiang Lingyu. “Sister Meng, go ahead.”

“Lingyu, have you seen what everyone’s saying? If not, don’t bother looking.” Hu Huaimeng advised, her voice sounding strained.

Jiang Lingyu’s voice came through: “That I used Miss Rose’s fashion show as my way to terminate the contract? That I stole the spotlight? Or—”

“Ever since being tied to the name Xu Mifei, Jiang Lingyu’s behavior has become so low-class it’s incomprehensible?”

“…Ah.” Hu Huaimeng clicked her tongue on the other end. “So, you already know.”

Jiang Lingyu hadn’t glanced at her phone the entire journey. She lowered her eyes. “I didn’t need to look to know it would be like this.”

“It’s the Xu family’s PR team making moves. I’m familiar with their tactics—seems Xu Wanzhi has arrived home safely,” Xu Mifei remarked mockingly.

Jiang Lingyu looked up at the person across from her. She noticed that except when intentional, Xu Mifei never called Xu Wanzhi “sister.”

“They’re launching a one-sided condemnation against you two. I thought people who’ve worked with you before and know your character might speak up, but surprisingly, no one has.” Hu Huaimeng sighed regretfully. “So Lingyu, what you need to do is simple—rest. Turn off your phone for a few days and enjoy some peace.”

Jiang Lingyu frowned. “What about Xu Mi?”

“Me?” Xu Mifei laughed carelessly. “Let the netizens curse me for a few more days. Xiao Yang just tipped me off—yes, Xiao Yang was part of our plan too.”

Jiang Lingyu’s brows furrowed deeper, as if she had something to say. In other words, in this incident, the only one bearing the brunt of the backlash was Xu Mifei.

Why?

She had never met someone like this—someone who would willingly take all the blame, even actively drawing the ire of haters, just to minimize the criticism directed at her.

She had overheard Xu Mifei’s conversation with that lazy blogger.

This wasn’t the first time Jiang Lingyu had been criticized; she was used to it. But Xu Mifei seemed unwilling to let even the slightest insult land on her.

On their way back, Xu Mifei had already asked Qi Lu to explain everything to her. The lawsuit appeared complicated but was actually straightforward.

All she needed to do was coordinate with Xu Mifei.

Before the trial, the court would initiate mediation proceedings. If her side agreed to mediation, the contract could be legally terminated.

She could finally be free of that predatory contract, while the normally signed contract with less than a year remaining would remain unaffected.

Because the evidence presented was clear-cut—the company had breached its obligations—Xu Mifei would have to pay an astronomical sum in penalties.

What was visible online wasn’t the full picture. People only saw that Xu Mifei was being sued by her, and all the vitriol fell solely on Xu Mifei.

Heart and soul, Xu Mifei’s every thought was for her.

Yet when it came to herself, Xu Mifei was so casual, enduring insults and mockery without a care.

Xu Mifei had truly become that beam of light, illuminating her entire being, and through actions, declared, This light exists solely to brighten your path.

Jiang Lingyu’s heart ached faintly, as if pricked by countless tiny needles—a bittersweet pain that made her want to curl up and seek refuge in a warm embrace.

Xu Mifei didn’t notice the shift in Jiang Lingyu’s gaze, still discussing countermeasures with Hu Huaimeng.

“With the entire internet criticizing her right now, can Miss Rose come forward to speak up for Lingyu?” When Hu Huaimeng brought this up, a trace of concern finally crept into her voice. “But I keep seeing Director Wen Tianyun making statements. How reliable is the brand side?”

“Director Wen is probably still preparing. She won’t stand me up. If we want to become a top-tier brand, we have to go through some dramatic incidents.” Xu Mifei smiled confidently. “Once Director Wen speaks out, no one will dare criticize Lingyu anymore.”

Wen Tianyun taking Jiang Lingyu’s side would be like placing a glaringly obvious major resource right here.

“Wait a minute.” Jiang Lingyu, who had been lost in thought, suddenly spoke up. “Can’t I respond to this myself?”

Hu Huaimeng: “What did you say? Respond?”

At this critical juncture, what was there for her to respond to? Wasn’t everything already arranged? Jiang Lingyu was clearly the victim here—she just needed to wait for this to blow over. Besides, wasn’t her manager here to take the lead? What was there to fear?

“Arrange a live stream tonight. I’m not responding for myself—I’m doing it for her.” Jiang Lingyu looked at Xu Mifei. “We’re married now. We should face this together.”

Xu Mifei froze.

She hadn’t expected Jiang Lingyu to say those words—”face this together.” Back when she had said the same thing, Jiang Lingyu had been deeply distrustful.

Did this mean Jiang Lingyu was finally starting to truly trust her?

Hu Huaimeng was momentarily stunned into silence. After a long pause, Jiang Lingyu said, “Xu Mifei can’t show her face right now either. It’s better if I respond. Isn’t there still skepticism about whether we actually got married?”

Hu Huaimeng thought for a while. “…You might have a point. So?”

“No! Absolutely not! No live stream, and don’t show the marriage certificate either!” Xu Mifei immediately objected. She knew how chaotic live streams could be, especially now that the Xu family had begun their PR maneuvers. There was no telling what kind of vile comments might flood in to provoke them.

Everything Xu Mifei had done was to ensure Jiang Lingyu could get through this unscathed, without having to see any of the filth.

Right now, the situation was still volatile. Going live carried risks—there would definitely be hate, and the Xu family’s PR team might even deliberately target their vulnerabilities.

In their eyes, what were the weak points between her and Jiang Lingyu?

First, the marriage was something she had stolen—Jiang Lingyu had been forced into it.

Second, she was a truly incapable beta, not an alpha, meaning there was no possibility of a bond with Jiang Lingyu.

“Why can’t we go live? We just got this marriage certificate, and you’re already denying it?” Jiang Lingyu pulled the red booklet from her bag and slapped it onto the table. “Xu Mifei, I don’t want you bearing the entire burden alone.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m just considering the risks. You know how messy live chat can get. What if they refuse to believe we’re really married? They’ll say the certificate is fake, that it’s photoshopped, or that we have no physical chemistry—what then?”

Xu Mifei carefully picked up Jiang Lingyu’s marriage certificate. “We can’t just give in to their demands and perform physical affection for them! We can’t start kissing just because they tell us to, right?”

“You said it yourself, I don’t need to consider the consequences. So, as long as it can be proven,” Jiang Lingyu stared at her, “why not do it this way?”

“Because you don’t want to! You’re unwilling to do this. You’re not some object or puppet—why should you listen to them?” Xu Mifei walked over to Jiang Lingyu’s sofa and handed the marriage certificate back to her. “When I said those words, it was under the assumption that you were willing to do it.”

The marriage certificate returned to Jiang Lingyu’s palm, its slightly rough leather cover weighing like a thousand pounds, pressing heavily against her skin.

So, this certificate could be light yet also become this heavy.

Holding it, Jiang Lingyu stood up and met Xu Mifei’s gaze. “Who said I’m unwilling?”

On the other end of the phone, Hu Huaimeng’s hand slipped in shock, immediately hanging up upon hearing those words.

Xu Mifei froze. “What?”

“I said I’m willing,” Jiang Lingyu replied. “Whether it’s kissing, holding hands, or any kind of contact—I’m willing.”

Xu Mifei was stunned into silence by these words. After a long pause, Jiang Lingyu countered, “Or… is it actually you who’s unwilling?”

“No! How could I possibly be unwilling to kiss you?” Xu Mifei blurted out in a panic, then immediately felt it sounded strange and backtracked. “I didn’t mean it like that—it’s not like I’m constantly thinking about kissing you…”

This was getting worse. The more she spoke, the more it sounded like she was some lecherous rogue who did nothing but fantasize about physical contact with Jiang Lingyu.

Xu Mifei’s face flushed crimson, while Jiang Lingyu’s previously cold expression softened, revealing a hint of tenderness.

“Don’t be so stiff. I understand what you mean. I’ll handle the public appearances when the time comes.” Jiang Lingyu sat back down on the sofa and beckoned to her. “Xu Mifei, come closer.”

Xu Mifei had already done so much, yet Jiang Lingyu hadn’t properly thanked her.

For some reason, a simple “thank you” felt impossibly difficult to say. Even though it was just the two of them in the house, Jiang Lingyu needed Xu Mifei to lean in close before she could whisper it into her ear.

Xu Mifei obliged, bending down to crouch beside the sofa, where she noticed Jiang Lingyu’s bare feet on the floor. Without hesitation, she reached for a pair of house slippers and slipped them onto Jiang Lingyu’s feet.

In that instant, Jiang Lingyu recalled countless small gestures of care from Xu Mifei. Since returning to this villa, every glass of water Xu Mifei handed her had been the perfect temperature.

Perhaps noticing Jiang Lingyu’s habit of rarely wearing shoes, Xu Mifei had even laid soft carpets throughout the living room.

As the soles of her feet sank into the plush surface, Jiang Lingyu’s heart seemed to collapse along with them—like falling from a great height, overwhelmed by a numb weightlessness and inexplicable melancholy.

What had begun as a simple expression of gratitude suddenly shifted when she saw the woman before her look up again.

A strange, tiny impulse emerged from somewhere deep within her, traveling up her spine to cloud her mind—like slender fingers plucking at her reason—all while Xu Mifei knelt there, helping her with the slippers.

She wanted to be closer to Xu Mifei. Not just close enough to whisper in her ear, but close enough for their breaths to merge, filling every empty crevice between them.

Slippers could be put on just as easily as they could be taken off—and that was the source of her melancholy. When breaths could trespass so effortlessly, why did bodies and clothes remain so properly restrained?

“Xu Mifei, do you know that rehearsals are necessary before a live broadcast?” Jiang Lingyu looked at Xu Mifei’s ear, her voice growing softer. “We need to anticipate all possible scenarios and prepare corresponding strategies. That way, we can have a perfect live stream.”

Xu Mifei: “What exactly do we need to rehearse…”

“It’s the parts where fans are most likely to lose control,” Jiang Lingyu blinked, replying with a calm expression. “Possible physical contact—we should rehearse that.”