The Salted-Fish Alpha and the Actress Got Their Marriage Certificate - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Ye Cike tilted her head, holding the phone away from her ear to shield it from the high-pitched noise.

She slid her mouse and clicked back to the comment section. In just ten minutes, her profile picture was prominently displayed at the top, complete with a small yellow V badge beneath it.

The replies under that snarky comment had already surpassed a hundred.

Ye Cike, knowing she was in the wrong, spoke in a softer voice: “Oh, I forgot to switch accounts.”

“Why are you meddling in other people’s business? Isn’t it messy enough already?”

Celebrities jumping into controversies without knowing the full story was a big no-no. If the situation flipped, they’d be dragged and mocked online.

Not to mention, Ye Cike was already a frequent target for criticism about her acting and character every few days.

She didn’t care much herself, but a bad reputation would inevitably affect the production team and brand sponsors’ profits.

In the nested comments, someone had already started criticizing her—a big fan of Meng Gujin, no less:

[No evidence, and you’re already jumping in? Fishing for clout again?]

Ye Cike pouted, grimacing as she finished the bitter medicine. Ever since entering the entertainment industry, her days of carefree internet surfing were gone for good.

She apologized sheepishly: “Sorry, Lanlan.”

Halfway through, Ye Cike suddenly remembered her plan to leave the industry.

She was about to walk away, with all her commitments cleared. Why should she still worry about affecting others?

Ye Cike perked up instantly.

“No big deal. Once the variety show airs, I’m out. I’m not scared.”

“What? What are you doing?”

Ning Lan’s question went ignored as Ye Cike, still on her main account, boldly replied under the big fan’s comment:

[What if I said I have evidence?]

The other side was clearly glued to their screen, replying almost instantly:

[If you really have evidence, I’ll livestream eating *!]

Seeing this, Ye Cike’s lips curled into a smirk. Too young, too naive.

“Ye Cike! You’re really something, huh?”

The voice in her ear spiked a few decibels, clearly signaling Ning Lan’s anger meter was maxed out. Ye Cike sheepishly stopped typing, her earlier online bravado nowhere to be found.

“Don’t be mad. I’ll treat you to some cookies,” Ye Cike quickly offered to make amends.

Ning Lan, who was about to let loose, was completely disarmed by this.

She knew Ye Cike’s personality—fierce on the outside but a total softie once you got close. As long as you didn’t cross her bottom line, you could tease her all you wanted, and she wouldn’t get mad.

“Fine,” Ning Lan relented, tacitly approving Ye Cike’s antics.

But then her tone shifted as she brought up something else: “About that follow-up you asked me to check on Meng Gujin’s injury—I got answers. Meng Gujin admitted he fell on his own.”

“No way,” Ye Cike refuted without a second thought.

With Meng Gujin’s personality, if he had a chance to throw someone under the bus, he’d never hold back.

“Hmm, I said the same thing,” Ning Lan hesitated for a few seconds before continuing, “The director told me Xi Ling forced Meng Gujin to admit it, using Qu Weiyue’s situation as leverage.”

Ye Cike propped her head up, her slender fingers rhythmically tapping the table.

“No wonder Xi Ling said they were in a rush. They could’ve prepared more.”

Meng Gujin knew they had evidence and wouldn’t let it go easily. He might even resort to dirty tricks to destroy it.

So Qu Weiyue needed to strike first, or risk complications if things dragged on.

Ning Lan’s voice grew heavy, her seriousness palpable even over the phone: “Xi Ling isn’t as simple as you think, but she knows a lot more about this stuff than you do. The entertainment industry’s twists and turns? You’re no match for her. Ever wonder how she knew about Qu Weiyue?”

“But she helped me scare people off,” Ye Cike interrupted, her eyes even sparkling with a hint of amusement. “What bad intentions could she have toward me?”

Ning Lan: “No, don’t be so naive and believe everything she says.”

Ye Cike set her phone on the table, brushing it off with an, “Oh.”

On Weibo’s trending list, a new topic was climbing fast—Qu Weiyue’s newly released statement.

A nearly ten-thousand-word post with images, meticulously categorizing all the evidence: physical proof, testimonies, and Qu Weiyue’s personal account.

Every word dripped with anguish.

But beneath the raw emotion was an airtight logical chain and flawless rhetoric, identical to the materials Xi Ling had given her.

The speed of this evidence drop was staggering—clearly prepared well in advance. Xi Ling’s guidance was likely behind this post.

Most importantly, the article ended with a list of thanks, and Ye Cike saw her own name.

[Thank you, Miss Ye Cike, for your help.]

That single line lingered in Ye Cike’s heart, washing away much of the medicine’s bitterness.

She dove back into Meng Gujin’s comment section, under the big fan who’d boldly claimed they’d eat *. With great restraint, she replied with just one word:

[Please.]

The other side went silent.

Ye Cike strutted like a victorious peacock, practically dancing in their face. Look how awesome Xi Ling is!

She couldn’t help but let out a gleeful, “Hehe.”

Her phone was still on speaker, and Ning Lan heard the laugh loud and clear.

After a brief silence, Ning Lan hung up.

Thanks to Qu Weiyue’s second post, the trending topic swung entirely in her favor. Everyone began rallying behind her, demanding a thorough investigation, even catching the attention of the Omega Rights Association.

Ye Cike sprawled on her bed, scrolling through the trending topics on her phone. She even spotted a few comments about herself.

[Am I the only one who thinks Ye Cike’s pretty bold?]

[She was like this last time she clapped back at a reporter.]

[Hiss, if I say she’s kinda authentic, will I get flamed?]

The smile on Ye Cike’s face froze, replaced by a hint of bewilderment. This was the first time anyone had praised her like this.

Just then, a group chat notification popped up.

Ning Lan: [I can’t handle Ye Cike’s lovestruck brain anymore.]

Qin Cunxue: [In love? Ye Cike’s actually dating? Since when?]

Ning Lan: [Why are you here too?]

Qin Cunxue: [Caring for a patient’s mental and physical health is my duty.]

Ye Cike’s lips twitched. Qin Cunxue sounded so righteous, but she was just here for the gossip! She’d insisted on being added to the work group.

Ye Cike clarified in the chat: [Not dating, don’t spread rumors! Xi Ling’s my friend.]

Ning Lan: [Oh, sure, sure.jpg]

Qin Cunxue: [Speaking of Xi Ling, did you handle what I asked you to do?]

At the mention of her task, Ye Cike’s vibrant energy faded, wilting like an unloved cabbage in a field.

It was awkward to ask an omega for their pheromones—she’d already felt embarrassed last time.

Ye Cike: [I’ll ask Xi Ling once she’s done with her stuff.]

Qin Cunxue: [Remember the concentration requirement, or it won’t test properly.]

Her eyes darted over the message. Ye Cike took a deep breath, tossed her phone aside, and grabbed her pillow instead.

She buried her face in it, rolling back and forth until her slightly wavy long hair was a mess. With a head full of tangled locks, she sent Xi Ling a message.

[Sorry, I might need your help with something.]

Ye Cike waited a few minutes after sending it, but there was no reply.

Figuring Xi Ling was probably still focused on Qu Weiyue’s matter, she slipped on her fuzzy slippers and headed downstairs to bake cookies for Ning Lan.

As the oven dinged and started running, her phone buzzed.

Xi Ling: [What’s up? Cat peeking.jpg]

The emoji was adorable, and Ye Cike chuckled as she saved it before sending a carefully worded explanation, mostly academic jargon lifted from Qin Cunxue to describe her condition.

[So I need your pheromones. Of course, if you’re not okay with it, no worries.]

Xi Ling: [Of course I’m okay with it.]

Ye Cike’s heart set off a tiny firework—she’s so kind! But her joy was short-lived as Xi Ling’s next message came through.

[It’s just that I can’t meet the concentration requirement right now.]

Before Ye Cike could ask, Xi Ling explained:

[My heat just ended not long ago, and the suppressant’s effects haven’t worn off.]

Ye Cike frowned. True, Xi Ling relied on suppressants to get through her heats, which would affect her pheromone release to some extent. And Qin Cunxue’s testing requirements were admittedly high.

[No problem, I can wait until you’re ready.]

Xi Ling: [I won’t be in City B next week—work’s crazy. QAQ]

The mention of work left Ye Cike speechless, unable to come up with a solution.

Xi Ling: [If you’re in a rush, there’s a way. It just needs a little stimulation.]

Ye Cike suddenly had a bad feeling. What kind of stimulation?

[?]

Xi Ling: [Ever heard of induced heat?]

Her fingers moved faster than her brain. Before Ye Cike fully processed the words, she’d already typed and sent, “No way.”

What a terrible idea!

Induced heat involved using drugs or alpha pheromones to force an omega into a pseudo-heat state, producing large amounts of pheromones.

If an omega went through a heat without relief, it could harm their body. There was no way Ye Cike would agree to that.

Ye Cike: [I’m not in a rush. I can wait.]

Xi Ling: [I am. Work can’t wait.]

The two hit a stalemate, neither willing to budge.

The sweet, creamy scent of cookies filled the kitchen, but Ye Cike seemed oblivious, staring intently at Xi Ling’s last message.

[Don’t worry, I won’t take drugs. Just a mild heat will do. Last time my heat came early, and nothing went wrong, right? Cat pouting.jpg]

Ye Cike twisted herself into knots.

A mild heat would indeed meet Qin Cunxue’s requirements, but could she control herself like last time?

As her fingers hovered over the screen, Xi Ling sent another message.

[Cat hug.jpg]

A fluffy white kitten stretched out its pink paw, pressing it against the screen with an innocent, adorable expression.

Ye Cike took a deep breath, but instead of calming down, the warm, sweet cookie aroma seemed to heat her entire body. She hadn’t even tasted the cookies, yet she felt sweetened.

Blushing, she typed: [Okay, get the suppressants ready.]

[Got it~]

Over the next few days, discussions about Meng Gujin didn’t die down—they only intensified with the explosive revelations.

Harassment, coercion, bribery—each was an indelible stain on his record.

The once-gentle, refined young man was now garbage in the mud.

Endorsements dropped him one after another, and even his past shows were pulled for re-editing.

No matter how much the Meng family tried to protect him, public opinion wouldn’t allow it. In the end, Meng Gujin issued a retirement statement.

But it wasn’t over. Legal consequences awaited—Qu Weiyue had filed a lawsuit against him.

Still, Qu Weiyue’s fans were worried, as her contract with her company hadn’t ended.

Just as netizens were rallying for her, Xinghan Entertainment extended a formal invitation, even offering to cover all her breach-of-contract fees.

Like a stone stirring a thousand waves, speculation ran wild. After all, Xinghan Entertainment was known for launching stars to fame.

But Xinghan offered no explanation, only pinning a single sentence alongside the invitation:

[Miss Qu, your life is still long. Keep moving forward, no need to look back.]

There were countless comments below, but Ye Cike didn’t look. She was nervously standing at Xi Ling’s doorstep.

Yes, Xi Ling’s home!

Ye Cike was on the verge of a breakdown. Every location she’d suggested had been shot down by Xi Ling, who insisted on collecting pheromones at her place. Why? Shyness, discomfort, and feeling safest at home.

What could she do but agree? Xi Ling was the one making the biggest sacrifice, even putting her health on the line!

At that thought, Ye Cike’s eyes darted nervously as she cautiously knocked on the door.

Ten seconds later, footsteps thudded, and the door swung open.

“Xi—” Ye Cike’s breath caught, her mind went blank, and her eyes widened in shock.

The person before her looked like they’d just woken up, gazing at her with sleepy eyes.

A black silk nightgown hugged her curves, the hem barely reaching her thighs. A thin strap on her right shoulder hung loosely, revealing smooth, rounded lines.

The nightgown’s design exposed a generous swath of pale skin at her chest, yet Xi Ling seemed completely unaware. Her soft hair clung slightly to her cheek, her eyes filled with innocent confusion.

The stark contrast of black and white, purity and allure, collided in a breathtakingly stunning way.

It was as if all the bl00d in Ye Cike’s body rushed to her head. She froze for a moment, then gripped the door tightly and slammed it shut with a loud “bang” right in Xi Ling’s face.

Xi Ling, now locked inside: ?