Thank You for the Invitation, I Successfully Held Hands with the Best Actress - Chapter 14

“This really opened my eyes. The Moe Cult Leader is seeing the bigger picture, exposing the inherent flaws in alphas—what an inspiration to us all.”

“Isn’t this taking things too far? You can’t just generalize an entire group like that.”

“Studies show that among all cheaters and playboys, alphas make up the largest proportion. If we say every alpha is a player, you’d better believe it’s not a joke.”

“No idea where alphas get their superiority complex from, acting like they’re so much nobler.”

“Come on, AOs make up just 1% of the population—the elite of the elite. How can ordinary betas even compare? Ever heard of emperors selecting concubines from thousands? That’s how ‘noble’ they are.”

“Stop being so sarcastic. Shouldn’t we stick to the topic? We’re discussing Ning Yu, not attacking an entire group. The Moe Cult Leader is clearly pushing Ning Yu into the fire.”

“Let’s drop it already. The livestream might get cut if this continues. If you know it’s sensitive, don’t bring it up.”

“Typical of her, always picking the most toxic topics. Wasn’t that talk show canceled because of her? Now that she’s out of work, she’s here fishing for attention again?”

“LOL, Ning Yu isn’t even acknowledging her. She must be fuming with embarrassment.”

“Hey, has anyone noticed… is Actress Mu actually angry?”

“Seems like it. Kinda makes me ship them even more.”

“She wasn’t this mad even during that male fan incident. Does she maybe… like Ning Yu just a little?”

Li Mengmeng flinched under Mu Qiuyan’s icy glare, shrinking back as she muttered, “I didn’t say anything wrong.”

Mu Qiuyan’s eyes darkened. “An alpha forcing an omega with pheromones? You know how serious that accusation is. I could sue you for defamation—everyone here and the livestream audience heard you.”

The crowd turned to stare. Using pheromones to coerce someone was a crime, and Li Mengmeng’s words were undeniably malicious.

Flushing red with humiliation under their gazes, Li Mengmeng clenched her fists, shot Ning Yu a glare, and stormed off.

Once Li Mengmeng was gone, Mu Qiuyan stood and addressed the fans. “Everyone, let’s stop lining up. It might rain soon—how about a group photo before we wrap up?”

Ning Yu blinked. That’s it? She hadn’t even earned enough points yet. “Wait, maybe let them keep criticizing for a bit? The rain probably won’t come so soon—” She trailed off under Mu Qiuyan’s frosty glance, swallowing the rest of her words.

Who knew Mu Qiuyan could be so intimidating when angry? Ning Yu rubbed her nose, feeling a chill down her spine.

Mu Qiuyan took the center spot as fans circled around, some pulling out long-prepared fan banners from their bags. Against the backdrop of blue skies, white clouds, and the tiny tricycle dessert stall, the moment was captured.

Ning Yu crouched in front, adjusting her stance as she dutifully played photographer.

Then a girl with a yellow backpack and ponytail rushed over. “Sister Ning, you should join the photo too! I’ll take the picture.”

Ning Yu waved it off. “No need. You’re all Actress Mu’s fans—take more photos to cherish this memory. I totally get how exciting it is to meet your idol.”

“Yellow Backpack” chuckled, her cheeks slightly flushed. “Don’t you want to take a photo with Actress Mu?”

Ning Yu’s eyes curved into crescents. “Better not. I’d just get criticized again. As a notorious alpha, I should keep my distance from your esteemed actress.”

Though self-deprecating, her words carried no trace of melancholy.

“Yellow Backpack” insisted. “Seeing you in person now, you’re nothing like the rumors online. I can tell you genuinely care about Sister Mu—we all saw how you protected her earlier. People… won’t criticize you anymore.”

Ning Yu froze, surprised. She glanced at the fan group chatting happily with Mu Qiuyan and scratched her head. “Hearing that feels kinda strange.”

As Ning Yu approached, intending to stay at the edge, Mu Qiuyan unexpectedly pulled her wrist. The warmth was startlingly vivid, seeming to seep straight into her heart. With reddened ears, Ning Yu let herself be drawn to Mu Qiuyan’s side.

No one objected. Ning Yu was astonished.

Was this hatred turning to friendship?

With the mission ending early, Mu Qiuyan and Ning Yu left the island, heading back to the Heart House.

Moments later, thunder cracked across the sky as torrential rain poured down, catching everyone off guard.

Fans who’d heeded Mu Qiuyan and Ning Yu’s warnings had either returned to their hotels or boarded departing ferries.

Mu Qiuyan gazed at the darkened sky, a stark contrast to the morning’s sunshine, and turned to Ning Yu, who was resting against the seat with closed eyes. “How did you know it would rain this afternoon? You’re more accurate than the weather forecast.”

Ning Yu opened her eyes and laughed it off. “Island weather changes in a blink.”

She rummaged through her bag and handed Mu Qiuyan a bottle. “Island specialty—mint water. Want some? Packed with minerals and trace elements. Great for your health.”

Mu Qiuyan took the bottle of strikingly blue liquid, eyeing Ning Yu skeptically. “You believe in this? It’s just mineral water with mint and food coloring. Nothing miraculous.”

“Try it. Tastes good too.” Ning Yu’s gaze flickered away uncomfortably.

The mint water came in a small, delicate plastic bottle with a label covered in strange symbols and text—unrecognizable, almost like a child’s doodles.

Upon opening, a refreshing mint aroma wafted out—not the artificial scent of cheap flavoring, but like fresh mint leaves from nature.

As Mu Qiuyan’s lips touched the bottle, the blue liquid inside seemed to shimmer with life.

The taste was light and unique, unlike anything she’d had before. But this mint flavor… felt familiar?

Mint water. Mint scent. Pheromones?

Wasn’t this Ning Yu’s exact pheromone scent?

So why was Ning Yu making her drink something that tasted like her pheromones? And why the made-up health claims?

Mu Qiuyan paused mid-sip, realization dawning. She glanced sideways at Ning Yu, who was watching her intently—

“Cough, cough…” Mu Qiuyan choked a few times, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she pursed her moistened lips. Memories of minty freshness—memories of that kiss—suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Ning Yu frowned at the half-finished mint water, growing impatient. “What’s wrong? There’s still half left, you need to drink it all… Wait, why is your face so red?”

Wasn’t this supposed to be a potion that enhanced constitution and had healing effects?

A flushed face—was that a normal reaction?

Mu Qiuyan held her breath, angrily tossing the remaining half-bottle of mint water back into Ning Yu’s arms, glaring at her with a look that could kill. “Ning Yu! Are you trying to be a pervert?”