The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha (GL, ABO) - Chapter 2

“The appraisal results from the auction house are in. Here’s the list. Haoyin-jie, maybe you should reconsider.  Haoyin-jie?”

Song Haoyin’s studio was occupied only by herself and her assistant, Yu Miao. It was Friday, the day after her “unfortunate incident” at the Caesar Hotel. The rest of the studio staff had already been notified not to come in. After all, the boss currently had no concrete work all projects were at a standstill, and the other artists under her had either halted their activities or been poached by competitors.

It was truly shocking to hear. Even with the termination fees from the artists who left, the broken chain of funding couldn’t be mended. Song Haoyin had bundled up her artworks, properties, cars, and even designer bags for auction, hoping to at least cover employee compensation before the bank came knocking next month.

As for the project funds well, the reason she had attended the “Cultural Industry Promotion” themed gala at the Caesar Hotel last night was to secure investments and revive her stalled projects. Instead, she became the “black hole” of the event, avoided by everyone.

When someone finally approached her, Song Haoyin had just mustered a sincere smile before the man brazenly tossed out, “Miss Song, would you like to get to know us?”

Behind him stood a slick-haired, powdered-up male Omega. Song Haoyin frowned slightly, sensing ill intentions, and was still figuring out how to politely decline when the man bluntly laid out his terms: “I heard you’re in financial trouble. If you play along, maybe that problem will disappear.”

“Yeah, we’re short a female Omega. Come join the fun,” the male Omega chimed in, trying to rope her into their “midnight games.”

“…”

For over a decade in this industry, Song Haoyin had always sailed smoothly under her mother’s protection. She had never endured such humiliation. Even now, forcing herself to stay at the gala while being avoided like the plague, she wouldn’t tolerate these fools.

With a practiced smile, she politely replied, “Mr. Whoever-You-Are, if I really wanted to ‘get to know’ someone in exchange for funding, you wouldn’t even make the shortlist.”

The man’s face flushed red, and he stepped forward, ready to teach her a lesson.

Song Haoyin was about to call for a server when one appeared as if on cue, “politely” escorting the man away. Finally left in peace, she retreated to a corner and gloomily sipped her cocktail.

In the past, Song Haoyin had carried herself with grace and poise, with everyone fawning over her. But now that the phoenix had fallen into the mud, those who wanted to taint her wasted no time.

Still, she hadn’t expected someone to act so quickly. The slightest crack in her composure just a few drinks and she was already ensnared.

What followed was her realizing something was wrong and immediately leaving the gala, only to run into the event’s keynote speaker in the elevator Zhou Qiwei.

“Haoyin-jie!”

Yu Miao’s voice snapped her back to reality. Repeating her earlier plea, she urged, “Haoyin-jie, please think it over. If you sell your house and car, where will you live? What if there’s an event you need to attend? At least keep the company van.”

However, Yu Miao was destined to be disappointed. Song Haoyin, though seemingly easygoing, was actually quite stubborn. Once she made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to change it. Moreover, her reasoning was particularly sound: “If we can overcome this crisis, we can always buy these things back. If we can’t, keeping them won’t do us any good anyway.”

Yu Miao slumped in defeat, but then a sudden idea struck her. “Haoyin-jie, didn’t your old classmate, Miss Du, come by yesterday afternoon? Was she here to discuss investment?” Du Xin vice president of Rubik’s Industries, a regular in financial weeklies, and last month’s cover feature for a major business magazine. If someone like her were willing to help, Haoyin-jie could at least ease some of her financial burdens.

Petite Yu Miao was also an Omega, her pheromones carrying the scent of apple-pear, now faintly spilling over due to her agitation. The lively fruity aroma was like a little rabbit hopping up and down, trying to draw attention to itself and demand that its concerns be taken seriously.

Song Haoyin’s calm expression twisted slightly at the question before quickly returning to normal, though her reply came unusually fast: “No, Du Xin isn’t part of our industry her influence is limited. Besides, bringing in corporate funding would mean losing control of the studio. That would defeat the purpose entirely.”

The refusal was absolute, leaving Yu Miao no room to argue. She still had to submit auction documents to the bank to prove that Ms. Song Haoyin had repayment capabilities at least enough to stave off creditors for this month. Ever since their financial manager had fled, Yu Miao, as an assistant, had taken on multiple roles, from temporary agent to makeshift accountant. There was no job she couldn’t handle.

Song Haoyin looked apologetic, thinking to herself that she’d have to compensate Xiao Yu fivefold. Money could always be scraped together somehow. But asking Du Xin for help? Absolutely not.

The memory of yesterday’s conversation made Song Haoyin’s flawless expression crack. Her old classmate had come to the studio as a representative of Rubik’s Industries or rather, its owner, that Ms. Zhou Qiwei to propose a “highly feasible contract.”

Faced with her old friend’s awkward demeanor, Song Haoyin couldn’t bring herself to say anything too harsh. In the end, she had simply been at a loss for words, politely declining without causing embarrassment. After all, they had only been fellow members of their university’s drama club back in the day, and their contact over the years had been sporadic. Du Xin was just doing her boss’s bidding, Song Haoyin had no grounds to blame her.

But that Ms. Zhou Qiwe, she truly lived up to her reputation as an eccentric. It seemed urban legends didn’t lie, who would send their senior vice president running errands to ask about the possibility of collaborating using pheromones?

That kind of question bordered on sexual harassment!

Before leaving, Yu Miao stopped by the office to ask if Song Haoyin wanted a ride to the hospital to visit Song Ange. Standing alone by the window, lost in thought, Song Haoyin cut a striking figure in her white blouse and black pencil skirt, which accentuated her perfect waist-to-hip ratio though these were merely embellishments to her natural beauty.

It was amusing, really. Song Haoyin was often called one of the most captivating Omegas of her generation, yet first-time encounters were always drawn to her eyes. They were extraordinarily expressive, almost as if they could speak especially when she was performing.

When she soared with the wind and was revered as a goddess, this breathtaking beauty was naturally elevated to the heights of art. But there are always those in this world who revel in the spectacle of peonies falling into the mud and roses sinking into deep pools. Yu Miao didn’t dare tell Song Haoyin that the previous phone call had been from an agent, asking if Miss Song would be willing to have dinner with a potential buyer.

“If Miss Song agrees, we can still negotiate the seller’s offer.”

Yu Miao held back again and again, restraining herself only because Song Haoyin still needed the other party to sell the house. Otherwise, she would have cursed them out. What did they take Haoyin-jie for?

Even if fortunes change, Song Haoyin shouldn’t have fallen to this point, right? No matter how she thought about it, someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes.

As for who was orchestrating this it had to be the Zuo family.

In her heart, Yu Miao cursed every Zuo she knew those surnamed Zuo were all scoundrels! She didn’t want to disturb Song Haoyin either, so she quietly left the studio to go to the bank and argue with the debt collectors.

Coincidentally, just then, three characters flashed across Song Haoyin’s phone screen: Zuo Wangxun.

Song Haoyin’s biological father.

The worst scoundrel among all those surnamed Zuo.

Song Haoyin declined the call. She hadn’t even enjoyed five minutes of peace by the window before her phone vibrated again. This time, the name displayed was Song Ange. Song Haoyin immediately answered, her voice laced with concern: “Ange? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll come to the hospital right away!”

But the voice on the other end wasn’t Song Ange’s. A gentle woman’s voice came through the phone: “Haoyin, it’s Su Ye.”

Song Haoyin’s expression instantly turned icy. Without a trace of politeness, she snapped, “Why are you there? Where’s my sister?”

“I just returned to the country and came to visit Ange,” Su Ye replied, her tone still warm and unruffled by Song Haoyin’s hostility. “I already know about the situation Haoyin, listen to me there’s no shame in yielding to your father.”

“Shut up!” Song Haoyin struggled to suppress her fury as she demanded, “Su Ye, we used to be good friends. When my mother passed, you even helped me with the funeral arrangements. You’ve witnessed everything that’s happened since then. And now you’re telling me to bow to Zuo Wangxun? How can you even say that?”

“I’m worried about you,” Su Ye said, her tone almost coaxing. “The Zuo family is relentless. Even if you just pretend to comply, isn’t that better than actually leaving the industry and going bankrupt? And the assets your mother left you Uncle Zuo also has a share. If your situation worsens, how will you protect your mother’s legacy?”

“Thanks, but I don’t need your concern. From now on, don’t bother me and don’t you dare disturb my sister!” Hanging up, Song Haoyin grabbed her keys and sped toward the hospital where her younger sister, Song Ange, was staying.

A friend of over a decade had just stabbed her in the back and then had the audacity to play the innocent. Song Haoyin’s hands trembled with anger. She sat in the car, taking deep breaths for a long time before she could calm down enough to start the engine. She needed to think about how to explain all this to Ange later.

Ever since her mother’s death, Ange’s car accident and hospitalization, and the discovery of her pheromone disorder, everything had happened too fast. Song Haoyin was overwhelmed. Then her studio was exposed for tax evasion by outsiders, the financial manager fled, and soon after, scandals like “Song Haoyin throwing her weight around” spread like wildfire. But Song Haoyin didn’t care about any of that anymore.

As long as her younger sister Ange could recover, Song Haoyin could send her abroad, far away from all these troubles. At least one of the sisters should leave this environment and find some peace.

The hospital room held only Song Ange. When Song Haoyin entered, her sister was watching TV.

“How are you feeling today?” Haoyin’s voice was gentle as she spoke to her sister. She glanced around, wanting to ask what Su Ye had said. But before she could speak, she heard a familiar name:

“Now, let us welcome Ms. Zhou Qiwei to the stage to receive her award.”

What made Haoyin’s vision darken even more was the sight of her precious sister Song Ange, disabled yet determined lying in her hospital bed and still clapping for Zhou Qiwei’s award.

What, had her sister actually taken that kind of person as an idol?