Forced to Pretend to Be an A and Marry the Best Actress Omega - Chapter 5

The sound from the corner caught the attention of a few guests, but it was quickly suppressed by the security team under Xu Yiming’s orders.

The intelligent ventilation system was already at work, swiftly clearing away the remaining pheromones. No one noticed who slipped away in the dim light—the waitstaff had long since cleaned up the shattered glass and bloodstains.

Only Xu Wanzhi, her face dark with anger, returned to her usual composed self when the lights came back on. However, she now wore a black lace hat large enough to cover her entire right eye.

She lowered her head, pressing the tip of her high heel against the dessert table in front of her before flipping it over in disgust, leaving a mess in her wake.

The commotion did little to disrupt the banquet’s continuation. Soon, another waiter arrived—this time a beta. Xu Wanzhi finally found an outlet for her rage, grinding her heel into the kneeling beta’s palm as they wiped the floor.

“All of you are worthless trash,” she said with a smile. “Only fit to kneel.”

–

Xu Mifei staggered toward the restroom, clutching her abdomen. She glanced back to confirm that Qin Lu and the black-suited bodyguards were no longer following her.

That little bastard… really stabbed her. But Xu Mifei hadn’t come out empty-handed—her punch had landed squarely on Xu Wanzhi’s eye, bruising it instantly and ruining the beauty of that face.

To clear a safe path for Jiang Lingyu, she had acted as a human shield, allowing Jiang Lingyu to slip back to the restroom unnoticed under her cover.

Xu Mifei was certain Xu Wanzhi wouldn’t dare kill her—the book hadn’t written that. What worried her more was Xu Wanzhi using her pheromones against Jiang Lingyu.

At such an important event, Xu Yiming wouldn’t let them escalate things to murder. Though her borrowed body was weak, she had mustered all her strength in that moment, snapping the glass shard aimed at her in half.

Xu Wanzhi’s instinctive surge in pheromone concentration after being struck also confirmed another suspicion of Xu Mifei’s.

The venue had pheromone monitors—once levels reached a set threshold, the purification system would activate, sweeping away all pheromonal influence within three seconds. She only needed to hold out for three seconds.

Heh.

Easy enough. Xu Wanzhi’s pheromones could suppress others, but not her, a beta. If not for the deep gash on her hand, she might’ve even clapped for Xu Wanzhi.

Just to say, You smell so nice, sis.

The good news was that her abdominal wound wasn’t deep. The bad news was that delayed fear had finally caught up to her, leaving her mind blank. She didn’t know if it was bl00d loss or something else, but her entire body felt unbearably heavy and cold.

Earlier, to convince Jiang Lingyu that the strong suppressant wasn’t poisoned, she had taken a sip herself. For a beta, it was like a healthy person downing a powerful fever reducer—her body temperature was plummeting.

As long as Jiang Lingyu was safe.

She should be safe now… right?

Her eyelids grew heavier. She wasn’t even sure if she’d reached the restroom. As she tried to wipe away the damp, tangled strands of hair from her face, the world suddenly spun.

Xu Mifei sighed, a trace of helpless misery flickering in her eyes.

At the banquet earlier, no one had stood by her side. The original host was universally disliked, and with those underhanded tactics that made Jiang Lingyu despise her too, what more could she expect? She was probably destined to collapse in the hallway.

“Madwoman.” Someone hurried over and unexpectedly caught her with their back.

How could this be? The protruding shoulder blades of that slender back were especially prominent, like broken wings, jolting Xu Mifei awake with a sudden clarity.

The door nearby was open—the lounge was actually much closer than she’d realized. She noticed the scent-blocking patch on Jiang Lingyu’s nape. Clearly still recovering, Jiang Lingyu couldn’t carry her properly and could only bend slightly, struggling to support the nearly collapsing Xu Mifei as they inched forward.

Xu Mifei never expected Jiang Lingyu to come out for her. Jiang Lingyu could barely manage herself… The faint trace of pheromones lingered at Xu Mifei’s nose as she stared at the loosened patch on Jiang Lingyu’s neck. She wanted to press it back into place, but her arm felt as heavy as lead.

She wanted to inhale that scent again—Xu Mifei shook her head violently. What was she doing? She needed to snap out of it!

By the time the lounge door closed, both Xu Mifei and Jiang Lingyu had collapsed onto the floor. Xu Mifei’s phone clattered to the ground, but neither of them bothered to pick it up.

Xu Mifei gasped heavily for breath.

Suddenly, she felt that she and Jiang Lingyu were bound together now—two grasshoppers tied to the same string, neither able to fall behind.

“I’m—”

“Don’t say it. Haven’t you said those words enough tonight?” Jiang Lingyu cut off Xu Mifei’s apology coldly, as if she had already seen through her thoughts.

But weakened as she was, her tone wasn’t steady either. In their shared disheveled state, Xu Mifei actually managed a faint smile.

“I was going to apologize for staining your dress.” The bl00d dripping from her hand and her overall wretched state had sullied Jiang Lingyu, who had been pristine moments before.

A good sign—she had to keep pushing. Xu Mifei told herself silently. If she could just buy herself more time, Jiang Lingyu would eventually realize she wasn’t like the original host.

The question was, how could she buy more time?

The Xu family would act swiftly. Once the engagement banquet ended, the announcement of their betrothal would be made public.

This was a critical moment—Jiang Lingyu had just won the Best Actress award, becoming the youngest double Golden Statue winner in the film industry. She was a true powerhouse with a bright future ahead. But the original host’s scheme had tied Jiang Lingyu to the Xu family at this pivotal time, effectively ruining her career.

Jiang Lingyu had clawed her way up entirely on her own. Yet after the engagement was announced, whispers that she relied on the Xu family for resources never ceased.

Jiang Lingyu got up faster than Xu Mifei. The bloodstains on the back of her dress had darkened to a deep crimson, blooming like flowers against the white train.

She had returned to the lounge before Xu Mifei, where she had immediately vomited violently in the bathroom—a backlash from the pheromone stimulation.

Her mind was still foggy, filled only with the memory of Xu Mifei’s words under the lights: “Go. Quickly.”

She really left—she was supposed to leave anyway. But as she gathered her hair and caught sight of the inhibitor patch on the back of her neck in the mirror, the hesitation tearing at her heart made her head throb violently.

A villain only needs to do one small good deed to appear reformed—the contrast is painfully stark.

Xu Mifei had done this on purpose. She couldn’t afford to soften now. After all, this was just an engagement banquet—what could Xu Wanzhi really do to Xu Mifei?

Jiang Lingyu forced herself out of the bathroom, accidentally kicking over the trash can. The shard of porcelain that Xu Mifei had carefully wrapped before discarding now pressed against her elbow.

Thanks to the layers of tissue cushioning it, Jiang Lingyu wasn’t hurt.

She stared blankly at her palm, which Xu Mifei had bandaged earlier, before finally making up her mind. Steeling herself, she walked out—just in time to run into Xu Mifei.

It was a pitiful sight.

The two of them should have been the most radiant hosts of the evening, yet now they were utterly disheveled, as if life itself were slipping away.

Jiang Lingyu sighed inwardly. Maybe… she could trust her one more time. Maybe.

She returned with a first aid kit, her thick lashes lowering as she said, “Lift your clothes.”

“…It’s not that bad. Just disinfect my hand first,” Xu Mifei murmured, still dazed, before noticing Jiang Lingyu kneeling in front of her—her expression no longer as distant as before.

Buzz.

As if answering Xu Mifei’s unspoken fears, the phone on the floor suddenly vibrated.

No way. Already?

The banquet wasn’t even over yet.

The phone lay between them, and Jiang Lingyu naturally saw the messages lighting up the screen:

Trash (Unnumbered): All done, babe! Tomorrow’s meeting with the Priority of Love director’s team—I’ll send you the location later. How’re you gonna thank me, Assistant Xu? wink

Unknown Number: Had enough? If not, come to Nital Underground Tower tonight—same VIP room. Got a wedding gift for you. The aircraft will be on your rooftop at 11. You’re at your own place, right?

She didn’t recognize either sender.

Before Xu Mifei could process whether these were spam or something worse, Jiang Lingyu had already seen them.

And of all things, both messages mentioned places tied to her.

Of course. What had she been expecting? This just proved Xu Mifei was still the same Xu Mifei—unchanged.

“…” Xu Mifei clearly sensed the shift. She snatched up the phone, but in that moment, she had no idea how to explain.

From Jiang Lingyu’s perspective, even if she claimed ignorance now, she doubted Jiang Lingyu would believe her.

Jiang Lingyu’s expression cooled. The hand she’d been about to extend to help Xu Mifei up stilled midair before she simply set the first aid kit down beside her and stood.

Xu Mifei silently took out the bandages and antiseptic, wincing as she poured the latter over her wound. It was deep—she couldn’t suppress a pained gasp, her hand trembling so badly she nearly spilled the bottle.

The medical supplies were surprisingly well-stocked. It was hard to imagine what kind of incidents this hotel had prepared for.

Xu Mifei was wearing a dark red dress the stylist had shoved at her, the fabric at her abdomen now stained a deep brown. Gritting her teeth, she met Jiang Lingyu’s gaze. “Hey, do you have… any pants I could borrow?”

She wanted to apply medicine to the wound on her waist. The thought of cutting her skirt in half crossed her mind, but that would leave her bottom half exposed. She couldn’t possibly appear naked before Jiang Lingyu—who knew what Jiang Lingyu would think of her then.

Jiang Lingyu said, “No need. Just disinfect the wound quickly and lift your skirt.”

Xu Mifei found it difficult to comply. “No, how about handing me that bathrobe instead? I’ll use it as an emergency cover.”

Her breathing was slightly rapid, and an unnatural flush had spread across her face. Jiang Lingyu frowned, then stepped closer and pressed the back of her hand against Xu Mifei’s forehead.

Burning hot.

It might be an infection—the wound needed immediate treatment.

Jiang Lingyu had long noticed Xu Mifei’s clumsy attempts. Unable to watch any longer, she pulled the first-aid kit back to her side, unilaterally ending their prolonged tug-of-war—though she didn’t feel like the winner either.

In the end, she couldn’t just stand by and watch Xu Mifei suffer.

Had it been before, what happened at the engagement banquet might have been interpreted by Jiang Lingyu and others exactly as Xu Yiming claimed to the public: two alphas naturally competing for a top-tier omega, with the younger one—Xu Mifei—occasionally acting out due to her impulsive nature.

But knowing Xu Mifei was actually a beta changed everything.

The entire family resented her, despised her, simply because a mere beta dared to steal an engagement meant for an alpha sister—utterly unforgivable.

If Xu Mifei held no value to the Xu family, they might truly have let her die like this.

The thought made Jiang Lingyu’s chest tighten with irritation. Her movements weren’t gentle as she yanked Xu Mifei’s skirt upward, causing the younger woman’s face to flush deeper. Xu Mifei’s pale ankles resembled fragile snow that would melt at the slightest touch, her skin marking easily with faint red traces under fingertips.

The original owner might have been accustomed to others’ touches, but Xu Mifei wasn’t. Jiang Lingyu avoided looking at her face as she unceremoniously gathered the skirt and rolled it up to her waist.

“Don’t—” The sudden exposure to air made Xu Mifei break out in goosebumps despite the room’s warmth.

Her body temperature seemed to drop further, yet her skin grew hyperaware of Jiang Lingyu’s every contact. When Jiang Lingyu’s fingers occasionally brushed her thighs or waist, she couldn’t help closing her eyes and whispering, “Stop…”

It tickled too much.

Xu Mifei’s reactions were excessively sensitive, her voice sounding as if she’d been forced to hold a cloyingly sweet candy in her mouth.

“Stay still.” Jiang Lingyu noted Xu Mifei’s flushed cheeks and the way her thighs pressed together unconsciously. Lowering her gaze, she said flatly, “This is just medical treatment.”

The unspoken message—I have no other interest in you.

Xu Mifei wanted to die of humiliation. These were involuntary bodily responses, yet they’d become a joke for Jiang Lingyu to witness.

How had she ever pretended to be an alpha like this? Why did her body react so intensely to an omega’s touch when she was supposedly a beta? Last night with Yu Wei hadn’t been like this at all.

Xu Mifei was strikingly pale, her crimson lips and jet-black hair accentuating her breathtaking beauty. The flush on her cheeks and her vulnerable position lying on the floor might confuse onlookers about who was truly the alluring omega in this scenario.

Jiang Lingyu merely glanced at her before averting her gaze, refocusing on treating the wound.

Her movements were practiced and swift. In no time, she had applied the medicine to the injury and placed an anti-inflammatory pill against Xu Mifei’s lips.

It was a small white tablet. Xu Mifei hesitated for a moment—taking it raw was a bit of a challenge.

“It’s not poison.” Jiang Lingyu seemed unwilling to engage further. Without ceremony, she pinched Xu Mifei’s cheeks, forcing her lips apart, and pushed the pill inside.

“!!!” So rough! Her fingers pressed against Xu Mifei’s tongue, triggering a gag reflex. The tip of Xu Mifei’s tongue inadvertently brushed against Jiang Lingyu’s retreating fingertips, prompting Jiang Lingyu to immediately withdraw her hand.

“Why are you going?”

“Wh-what?”

“Are you joining ‘Love’s Priority’?” Jiang Lingyu’s cool gaze bore down on her. “Just how many things are you still hiding?”

Xu Mifei’s expression blanked momentarily.

Wait—that variety show?

She remembered a show from the original plot called “Love’s Priority.” Jiang Lingyu had joined as a guest in the last two episodes, and Xu Wanzhi was also there.

The interactions between Xu Wanzhi and Jiang Lingyu on the show had spawned a massive wave of shippers, with fans gushing over their chemistry—so sweet that everyone conveniently forgot Jiang Lingyu’s fiancée wasn’t Xu Wanzhi.

No wonder the original host was nothing but cannon fodder.

…

“I used to… be your fan,” Xu Mifei added. “During my… mentally unstable phase. But not anymore.” Rejecting blind fangirl behavior starts with me.

Once her memories were sorted, Xu Mifei was about to say she wouldn’t go when Jiang Lingyu stood up abruptly.

“Never mind.”

She turned away, lost in thought. Xu Mifei struggled to shift herself onto the sofa, breathing heavily.

The technology in this world was far more advanced than her original one—even the medicine worked astonishingly fast. Her dizziness had faded, and warmth was returning to her fingertips.

Whether from numbness or the medication’s effect, the pain from the wounds on her hand and abdomen had dulled.

Xu Mifei looked at Jiang Lingyu sincerely. “Thank you.” If Jiang Lingyu hadn’t carried her out, she would’ve collapsed in the hallway.

Jiang Lingyu’s shoulders tensed imperceptibly—unnoticed by Xu Mifei, who was now trying to get up.

“My family might release a press statement tonight. I need to find Qin Lu and stop it first.” Xu Mifei could only tackle one issue at a time, and suppressing this announcement felt urgent.

“No need.” Jiang Lingyu spoke up.

Xu Mifei pressed, “Do you have questions? I’ll answer them when I get back, but if they—”

Jiang Lingyu turned to face her, meeting her eyes directly. “I already have my answer.”

“You’re a beta, and I’ve chosen to marry you.” Jiang Lingyu took a step back, increasing the distance between herself and Xu Mifei. “We can sign an agreement—valid for one year. During this period, we’ll maintain a superficial relationship, and I won’t reveal that you’re a beta.”

“After one year, we’ll divorce, and my assets will be divided according to the law.”

Xu Mifei: That’s not necessary…

She asked dazedly, “Any other conditions?”

Jiang Lingyu glanced at Xu Mifei’s frail appearance and added, “You can freely use the supplementary card every month. We won’t live together, and we won’t interfere with each other. I’ll cooperate when necessary for public appearances. What you need to do is—”

“Be by my side when I need help during my heat.”

“Provide you with help?” Xu Mifei was still reeling from Jiang Lingyu’s statement about the supplementary card. “I’m a beta; I can’t mark you.”

“Precisely because you can’t mark me, I chose you.” Jiang Lingyu curled her lips without warmth. “Deliver suppressants to me. Your identity is the most suitable.” And there’s no risk of exposure—others will simply assume Xu Mifei is marking her omega.

Once the agreement took effect, they would each have something to gain from the other, and Jiang Lingyu wouldn’t have to worry about betrayal—at least for the time being.

“Any other questions?”

Faced with Jiang Lingyu’s inquiry, Xu Mifei stammered, “Y-yes.”

Jiang Lingyu frowned. “Go on.”

Xu Mifei: “What’s the card’s PIN? Will you give it to me now?”

Jiang Lingyu: “?” Was it normal for Xu Mifei to look so blatantly interested in her money?

“I was just joking. Don’t take it so seriously.” Xu Mifei smiled. “Deal.”

“During the contract period, if you meet an alpha with higher compatibility whom you like, you can terminate the agreement anytime.” Xu Mifei thought for a moment and added this final clause.

Jiang Lingyu’s gaze was indifferent. “That won’t happen. I despise alphas.”