The Salted-Fish Alpha and the Actress Got Their Marriage Certificate - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

While Ye Cike was busy making candy and washing a silk scarf, the small group chat with Ning Lan and the young assistant Liu Su was buzzing nonstop, the notification sounds relentless.

But she didn’t check it. As long as Ning Lan didn’t call, she assumed it wasn’t urgent.

She was focused on figuring out how to thoroughly clean the residual pheromones from the scarf without damaging it.

It was delicate work. By the time she had washed the scarf spotless, free of any lingering scent, and carefully repackaged it, the group chat had accumulated pages of messages.

The first thing she saw was Liu Su’s chat bubble.

[Boss, boss, boss!! They’re badmouthing you! Don’t you want to explain yourself?!]

Below that were countless similar messages, each loaded with excessive exclamation points.

Ye Cike casually typed a reply:

[You’re hurting my eyes with all that noise.]

She closed the chat app and opened Weibo, which she hadn’t touched in ages. As expected, her name was trending—#Ye Cike “Return to the Countryside”#

Clicking in, she saw a paparazzi photo posted by a marketing account. It was of her, leaning casually against a tree, looking up at the sky with a bored expression.

In the background were familiar staff members and the director giving instructions.

Ye Cike remembered that moment. She had been waiting for the production team to start filming. She didn’t know if the photo was taken by a passerby or someone from the crew.

In the past, guest stars for “Return to the Countryside” were kept secret until the show aired.

The production team was known for its tight confidentiality, but Ye Cike was now the exception.

She patiently scrolled through the comments. The massive comment section was dominated by Xi Ling’s fans—

[I know Ye Cike helped my wife last time, but can she please stay away from her!]

[No way, no way? Ye Cike has never done a variety show before. Is she here to stir up a CP?]

Then someone commented: [Meng Gujin suits Xi Ling better.]

The comment section exploded, with fans of all sides tearing into each other. A few curious onlookers chimed in, making the scene utterly chaotic.

Ye Cike read a few comments without much reaction, except for the top comment, where someone called Xi Ling “wife” with such familiarity. Even knowing it was just a fan’s term of endearment, it left a sour taste in her mouth.

Who could just casually call Xi Ling their wife? Most people talking like that were probably fickle playboys!

She silently cursed them, then popped a freshly made orange candy into her mouth. Her teeth crunched the candy with a satisfying “crack,” and the sweet-tart flavor spread across her tongue, soothing her mood.

Switching back to the group chat, Ye Cike typed: [I thought it was about me beating someone up that made it to the hot search.]

Ning Lan: [?]

What followed was a barrage of rapid-fire questions.

[You got into a fight again? Who did you beat up this time? They didn’t arrest you?]

Liu Su jumped in: [Why “again”? Boss, you know how to fight?!]

Oh, right. Ye Cike realized belatedly that she had indeed roughed up Meng Gujin, and he hadn’t reported her to the police. Could he be feeling guilty?

Ignoring Liu Su’s oversized exclamation marks, she replied in the group: [It happened about five days ago. I got carried away and had a little “chat” with Meng Gujin. Lanlan, can you ask the director about the follow-up?]

[Why don’t you ask him yourself?]

[I’m busy.]

Ye Cike put down her phone and went upstairs to change. She did have something important to do—she was going to meet Xi Ling.

The weather in City B was unpredictable. The morning had been bright and sunny, but by afternoon, a light drizzle had started.

Wangjiangnan, a renowned private restaurant, was located halfway up a mountain. Behind a wooden archway stretched a long stone staircase, winding through a bamboo grove to a two-story building.

With its gray tiles and white walls, and a babbling stream at the entrance, it lived up to its name, “Wangjiangnan.”

Ye Cike handed her umbrella to the concierge and followed their directions to a private room. She even paused to rehearse her greeting before pushing open the wooden door.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Xi—” Her smooth greeting cut off abruptly. Ye Cike froze: “Hmm?”

The elegantly decorated room wasn’t just occupied by Xi Ling. There was another woman.

Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, her features cool and refined. Dressed in a teal qipao, she looked like a beauty stepping out of a misty rain.

When she saw Ye Cike, a flash of obvious surprise and panic crossed her eyes, quickly hidden as she lowered her gaze.

Ye Cike recognized her immediately—Qu Weiyue, a highly regarded actress known for her exceptional acting skills, a white moonlight in the hearts of many.

She could have gone further in her career.

Meng Gujin’s actions were an open secret in the crew, but no one dared speak up because the production’s investor was the Meng family. Even the entertainment company Qu Weiyue was signed to was part of their empire.

Ye Cike sat across from Xi Ling without glancing sideways, saying nothing extra. She simply pushed a paper bag toward her.

“Here, I’ve washed the scarf clean. I also brought some candy for you.”

Xi Ling smiled and nodded, her slender hand reaching into the bag to pull out a small gift box, which she opened immediately.

Ye Cike’s heart skipped a beat. After all, the scarf had passed through her hands—would Xi Ling still accept it?

The soft, white silk scarf was neatly folded, its texture gleaming faintly under the light, looking as pristine as if it were brand new.

Perfect. Xi Ling gave her signature sweet smile. As Ye Cike had said, not a trace of scent remained!

“Thank you,” she said politely.

But the brighter Xi Ling’s smile, the more uneasy Ye Cike felt.

Even though Xi Ling showed no sign of displeasure, Ye Cike couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d done something wrong.

Thankfully, Xi Ling’s demeanor didn’t last long. She took a box of candy from the bag, unwrapped one, and popped it into her mouth without hesitation.

Even with Qu Weiyue sitting beside her, she had no intention of sharing.

With the candy in her mouth, Xi Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly, clearly pleased with the flavor.

Ye Cike’s thoughts wandered. A cat basking in the sun would look just like this, tail practically wagging.

“Sorry, I miscalculated the timing. I have another engagement later, so I scheduled both meetings for today,” Xi Ling said, her brows furrowing and her eyes drooping slightly, her tone full of apology.

Ye Cike subtly sipped the tea on the table. Oh, so she was just one of Xi Ling’s appointments, and it had been kept from her for a while.

“No, it’s my fault for being too indecisive,” Qu Weiyue quickly took the blame. “We talked too long and held you up.”

She sat angled toward Xi Ling, her eyes never once landing on Ye Cike, fixed instead on the table.

With her alpha’s sharp vision, Ye Cike could easily see Qu Weiyue’s fingers trembling slightly from time to time, her face pale as thin paper.

Ye Cike shook her head and said softly, “It’s fine. You two can keep talking.”

Then she curved her lips into a smile and looked at Xi Ling. “Want some pre-dinner dessert?”

“Yes, with extra orange,” Xi Ling replied instantly, catching her meaning and even making a request.

Ye Cike agreed readily and asked a waiter to take her to the kitchen.

The clientele at Wangjiangnan were either rich or influential, and the staff had seen all sorts of odd requests. Borrowing the kitchen to make dessert wasn’t anything unusual.

Eggs, flour, butter—Ye Cike added the ingredients with practiced ease, her movements so fluid that even the pastry chef couldn’t help but watch closely.

The crepe layers came out thin and perfectly translucent, and the whipped cream gave off a sweet, delicate fragrance.

Oranges weren’t ideal for mille-feuille, but since Xi Ling wanted them, Ye Cike took the time to peel away the fruit’s membranes for better texture, cutting them into perfect pieces to layer on the crepes. She even juiced some fresh oranges on the side.

When the mille-feuille was done, Ye Cike cut a single slice, placed it on a tray, and asked the waiter to deliver it to Xi Ling.

“Don’t you want to send it all over?” The waiter looked puzzled at the remaining cake, clearly meant for more than one person.

“No, pack the rest,” Ye Cike said, removing her disposable gloves without further explanation. In truth, even if she offered it to Qu Weiyue, she wouldn’t eat it.

She was afraid of her—or rather, of her alpha status.

When the waiter brought the cake and orange juice to the private room, Ye Cike still didn’t follow.

She wandered to a bamboo chair in the corridor, gazing at the continuous drizzle beyond the railing, and let out a soft sigh.

It wasn’t long before the wooden door opened, and Qu Weiyue stepped out.

Her simple teal qipao exuded an unmatched elegance. In today’s entertainment industry, no one else could match her unique aura.

Ye Cike had expected Qu Weiyue to pass by without a glance, but after hesitating for a few seconds, she approached, stopping a couple of steps away.

“Thank you,” she said, giving a gentle bow.

“Why are you thanking me?” Ye Cike asked, raising an eyebrow.

Qu Weiyue kept her head lowered but seemed much calmer. “Xi Ling said you left Meng Gujin in quite a mess.”

Ye Cike wasn’t surprised that Xi Ling had guessed she was the one who did it.

“Are you and Xi Ling close?”

“Not really,” Qu Weiyue answered without hiding anything. “But she’s taught me a lot, like carrying a recorder…”

Her voice grew hoarser, trembling slightly by the end.

“You don’t have to force yourself,” Ye Cike interrupted gently. “Miss Qu, you have plenty of time. Take it slow.”

Qu Weiyue’s eyes misted over, tears welling up but refusing to fall. She bowed again in thanks, then her slender figure disappeared around the staircase.

Ye Cike returned to the private room just in time to see Xi Ling fork a piece of cake into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out slightly, making her face look rounder.

“Delicious,” she said, not holding back her praise. Then she handed Ye Cike the menu, mumbling, “Order whatever. My treat.”

Ye Cike didn’t hesitate, picking a few tasty dishes. They ate and chatted.

“Why did you invite Qu Weiyue here?”

Xi Ling licked her lips and picked up a white porcelain cup of orange juice. “To put Meng Gujin behind bars, of course.”

She pulled out a thick stack of papers and slid it toward Ye Cike.

“All the evidence is organized. We can start.”

Ye Cike quickly skimmed through it. The contents were clear and methodical, clearly the work of someone who had put in a lot of effort.

Her fingers traced the neat handwriting on the paper, and she suddenly asked, “Did she have a mark removal surgery?”

She had caught a glimpse of a small bandage on the back of Qu Weiyue’s neck.

Xi Ling nodded. “Yes.”

Mark removal surgery was like scraping poison from the bone for an omega—not only excruciating but potentially causing severe side effects. And it often required multiple sessions to fully erase the mark.

“She’s not as indecisive as she claims,” Ye Cike said, forming a clear impression of Qu Weiyue.

Forking up the last piece of mille-feuille, Xi Ling shamelessly ignored Ye Cike to savor it slowly before continuing.

“I asked you here because I want you to testify in court. We’ve also invited other witnesses, so it’s fine if you don’t want to.”

So that was why. Ye Cike leaned back lazily in her chair, unsure what she had been expecting.

“Of course I’m willing.”

“Then let me walk you through the process.” Xi Ling’s face lit up with a radiant smile, sweeter than the mille-feuille.

Ye Cike felt a wave of satisfaction, her gaze softening.

Xi Ling was well-prepared, breaking down the complex process clearly enough that even Ye Cike, who was new to it, could understand.

Their conversation lasted until night fell. As they left Wangjiangnan, the rain outside hadn’t stopped.

The stone path glistened with wet reflections, and the warm yellow lights, filtered through bamboo leaves, cast a dim glow around them.

Ye Cike held an umbrella over Xi Ling, mulling over the process they’d discussed. But after just one step, she noticed Xi Ling had stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Cike looked over, puzzled.

Xi Ling stared at her shoe tips, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She answered softly, “The path is a bit slippery. It’s not easy to walk.”

Ye Cike followed her gaze and realized Xi Ling was wearing strappy high heels, the heels at least twelve centimeters, thin and pointed.

No wonder she seemed taller today!

Xi Ling stood there, letting Ye Cike look her over. Her chiffon dress hugged her slender waist, delicate and seemingly weightless.

Light enough to be easily picked up.

But the thought only lingered for a moment before Ye Cike suggested, “Wangjiangnan probably has disposable slippers. You could change into those.”

A perfect solution, Ye Cike thought, proud of her quick thinking.

“”

Xi Ling was silent for a moment, then bit her rosy lip, her downturned eyes making her look pitiful.

She asked softly, “Ye Cike, could you hold my hand?”

Hmm?

Ye Cike froze. What? Xi Ling wanted to hold hands?!