The Movie Queen's Beloved Crybaby Alpha (GL , ABO) - Chapter 2

An eerie atmosphere settled among the three of them. Xiao Wenjin stood frozen for a long moment before finally reacting.

She glanced at Ye Qinglan, who was visibly struggling to maintain composure, then at Ning Yunshu with her gentle smile, forcing an awkward laugh to diffuse the tension. “Haha, I’ve long heard of President Ning’s reputation. But it seems,  you and Qinglan are old acquaintances?” she asked carefully.

“Yes.”

“We’re not close.”

Their answers came simultaneously, Ning Yunshu admitting it openly while Ye Qinglan responded with icy detachment.

Even Xiao Wenjin couldn’t maintain her composure now. She nudged Ye Qinglan subtly with her elbow, hoping her friend would ease up for the sake of appearances. Ning Yunshu noticed the gesture but said nothing, though her eyes dimmed slightly.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Qinglan forced a professional smile. “Apologies, I think something got in my eye. I’ll excuse myself to the restroom and leave you two to discuss business.” With a slight nod, she handed her champagne to Ke Ying and walked away.

Xiao Wenjin turned to Ning Yunshu. “President Ning, this—”

“It’s fine.” Ning Yunshu smiled faintly. “I’m very satisfied with the film’s success. My assistant will follow up regarding future collaborations. For now, I must take my leave.”

Not oblivious to the undercurrents, Xiao Wenjin nodded. “Of course. We’ll share a drink when the banquet begins.”

“Agreed.” Ning Yunshu inclined her head before heading in the direction Ye Qinglan had gone.

Only when both had left did Xiao Wenjin exhale deeply. Ke Ying frowned. “What’s the relationship between that President Ning and Qinglan?”

Xiao Wenjin’s gaze shifted, her smile tinged with helplessness. “Who knows? We’ll only get answers if Qinglan chooses to give them.”

Meanwhile, Ye Qinglan nearly sprinted to the restroom. Finding it empty, she stood before the mirror, taking several deep breaths that did nothing to calm her.

The door opened. Through the mirror, she saw Ning Yunshu enter, watching her reflection with pursed lips. Instinctively clenching her fists, Ye Qinglan turned to leave, but as she brushed past, a hand seized her wrist firmly.

“Let go!” Ye Qinglan tried to pull away, but Ning Yunshu’s grip was unyielding. “Let go!” she hissed quietly, afraid of being overheard.

Ning Yunshu stared at her with that familiar look of pleading vulnerability Ye Qinglan knew too well. Eyes reddening, she whispered, “I was wrong, jiejie. I’m back now. Please don’t push me away.”

With a cold laugh, Ye Qinglan retorted, “I can’t afford to keep you, President Ning. We’re not close, remember?”

“Jiejie!” The icy rejection visibly shook Ning Yunshu. “I can explain! Don’t abandon me. We promised!”

Ye Qinglan grasped Ning Yunshu’s hand and pried her fingers loose one by one. “Ning Yunshu,” she enunciated clearly, “you’re the one who broke that promise, not me.”

“Besides…”

Ye Qinglan smiled mockingly, “I’m an Omega.”

Ning Yunshu froze for a moment before seeming to steel her resolve. “I won’t give up. I know I’ve hurt you all these years, and I’ll do my best to make up for it. And it doesn’t matter that you’re an Omega, sister. I’m an Alpha.”

Ye Qinglan: “???”

She stared at Ning Yunshu, momentarily at a loss for words.

Ning Yunshu took a deep breath and said earnestly, “I know you resent me, maybe even hate me, I deserve that. But I swear, all these years we’ve been apart, I’ve dreamed constantly of this reunion. Though I admit this isn’t the best timing. Please believe I’ll explain everything that’s happened over these years. Even if,  even if you truly don’t want me anymore.”

Her voice trembled slightly at this point, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Just give me a chance to explain, alright?”

Seeing her like this, Ye Qinglan felt something stir in the softest part of her heart. But remembering everything she’d endured these years, she quickly regained her composure.

She shook off Ning Yunshu’s hand without even looking at her.

“Ning Yunshu, I’m not the Ye Qinglan you used to know anymore. Don’t make me despise you even more.”

With that, she walked away briskly, leaving Ning Yunshu standing alone, looking utterly shattered.

Returning to the venue, Ye Qinglan saw Ke Ying hurrying over. After giving her a once-over and noticing Ning Yunshu wasn’t following, Ke Ying asked worriedly, “Everything alright?”

Ye Qinglan shook her head lightly. “It’s fine. Has it started?”

“Yes, let’s take our seats.” Ke Ying wisely refrained from further questions, guiding her to their table.

An awkward situation had arisen initially, Xiao Wenjing hadn’t known Ning Yunshu’s identity. As the major investor, Ning Yunshu had been assigned to the same table as Ye Qinglan and other lead actors, directors, and screenwriters. Fortunately, Xiao Wenjing realized the issue and rearranged the seating to keep them apart.

As the banquet commenced, no one paid much attention to these details. The crew ate and drank merrily, but as the female lead, Ye Qinglan couldn’t avoid sharing a toast with Ning Yunshu.

Ning Yunshu raised her glass first, looking at Ye Qinglan. “To Actress Ye’s bright future, may all your wishes come true.”

“Thank you, President Ning. Wishing you continued success in your endeavors.” Compared to Ning Yunshu’s heartfelt words, Ye Qinglan’s response was much more formal.

Noticing the tension, Xiao Wenjing quickly engaged Ning Yunshu in conversation to divert her attention, while Ye Qinglan turned to toast with others.

After several rounds of drinks, Ye Qinglan felt slightly tipsy and excused herself to get some air on the terrace outside the banquet hall.

The night sky was beautiful, but Ye Qinglan had no mind to appreciate it. Her thoughts were in complete disarray after Ning Yunshu’s sudden appearance.

Just as Xiao Wenjing had guessed, she and Ning Yunshu did indeed have history.

They could even be called childhood sweethearts born on the same year, same month, same day, with Ye Qinglan arriving just an hour earlier. From birth, they’d been inseparable, with their families being neighbors and knowing each other intimately.

Ning Yunshu had always clung to her since childhood. Their families had even jokingly said that if their secondary genders turned out compatible when they matured, they should just get together.

They had thought the same way back then. Ning Yunshu was frail and sickly, unlike her who was active and energetic. Everyone assumed Ning Yunshu would eventually present as an Omega, while she would become an Alpha.

Because of this, she had always taken extra care of Ning Yunshu since childhood. They even made a wish on their sixteenth birthday to stay together forever. However, this happiness didn’t last long. When they were seventeen, sudden changes in Ning Yunshu’s family forced them to move abroad. Ning Yunshu had tearfully begged her to wait.

She agreed, and that wait lasted seven years.

Seven years, Ning Yunshu might as well have vanished, leaving not a single trace. It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried reaching out, but every message she sent disappeared without a reply.

She waited and waited, her heart shifting from full of hope to faint expectation, until finally, all feeling died away.

It took her seven whole years to go from comforting herself to complete disillusionment.

And just when she thought she and Ning Yunshu would never meet again in this lifetime, the person who had disappeared for years suddenly reappeared.

Ye Qinglan couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling. She had no idea how to face Ning Yunshu, she even wanted to ask why Ning Yunshu had come back at all.

But the words wouldn’t come. She wanted to run away. Maybe she should hear Ning Yunshu’s explanation, but right now, she couldn’t bring herself to.

“You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here any longer, superstar.”

A familiar voice sounded behind her. Ye Qinglan turned to see Xiao Wenjing approaching with a coat, handing it to her.

“Thanks.” Ye Qinglan took it with a murmur of gratitude.

“Don’t mention it.” Xiao Wenjing replied lazily, leaning against the balcony railing beside her and gazing up at the starry sky. “The night sky is beautiful tonight.”

“Yeah.” Ye Qinglan responded absently, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.

Noticing her mood, Xiao Wenjing spoke up. “The person you’ve always carried in your heart, it’s her, isn’t it?”

Ye Qinglan stiffened, instinctively wanting to deny it, but Xiao Wenjing raised a hand to stop her.

“I know you’re not in the mood to talk about it, and you don’t have to admit anything. But Qinglan, I’ve known you for five or six years now. I know what kind of person you are. If there’s something unresolved between you two, maybe you should take some time to talk it out?”

Ye Qinglan paused before replying, “Since when did you have so much free time? Did you finish all your work?”

Clearly, she had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Xiao Wenjing clutched her chest dramatically. “Here I am worrying about you, and you go straight for the heart?”

Ye Qinglan chuckled lightly. “Just making sure you’re not so bored you start stirring up trouble.”

Xiao Wenjing rolled her eyes. “Fine, I won’t bother you any longer. By the way, the banquet’s almost over. If you’re not feeling well, you should head back and rest.”

With that, she straightened up to return to the ballroom.

Seeing an opportunity to leave, Ye Qinglan called Ke Ying to inform her, then rang Zhou Tiantian to arrange a ride home.

When Zhou Tiantian arrived, she noticed Ye Qinglan didn’t look well. Driving carefully, she ventured, “Ye-jie, are you okay?”

Ye Qinglan leaned against the window, watching the neon-lit streets pass by, her gaze distant. “I’m fine.”

Zhou Tiantian didn’t believe it at all, but she didn’t dare pry into her boss’s private matters.

“By the way,” Ye Qinglan suddenly spoke up.

“Yes!” Zhou Tiantian responded immediately.

“I’m going back to the compound tomorrow evening, so you can take the day off.”

“Understood!”