To Sink Into You - Chapter 28

By November 8th, the weather had turned noticeably cooler. Filming for Red Furnace Snow at the studio had wrapped up, and the entire crew traveled to City L for location shooting.

Early that morning, Wen Yuxi packed her belongings and boarded the plane with Shi Yuan. After stowing her luggage and fastening her seatbelt, she put on an eye mask and settled in for a rest.

Two hours later, the plane landed. The crew piled into chartered buses and headed to their hotel.

During the ride, Shi Yuan chuckled, “City L has some beautiful scenery. Why don’t you take some photos for your wife?”

Wen Yuxi, who was pulling out her phone, grinned. “Master, we’re truly on the same wavelength! I was just about to do that.”

City L, being a northern city, had crisp, dry air in late autumn. The morning wind was icy, almost biting. After getting off the bus, Wen Yuxi tightened her coat, reviewed the photos she’d taken en route, and sent a few good ones to Ming Qian.

Ming Qian: Very beautiful. Have you reached the hotel yet?

Wen Yuxi: Just arrived and heading upstairs now. Waiting for the crew to assign rooms.

Wen Yuxi: How about you, Sis? Been busy lately?

Ming Qian: It’s almost year-end, so things are a bit hectic.

Wen Yuxi: Take care of yourself~

Ming Qian: You too. Look after yourself.

Wen Yuxi: Okay! ^3^

She put away her phone and followed the main group to the tenth floor, where they waited in the corridor.

The entire production crew numbered over two hundred people. With insufficient vacant rooms in the hotel, staff members had to share rooms, randomly assigned by gender, though private exchanges were permitted.

After settling the rooms for the stars, the production assistant took the elevator to the tenth floor and began distributing room keys to the staff according to the roster. Ten minutes later, everyone had gone to their rooms to drop off their luggage, except for Wen Yuxi, whose name hadn’t been called.

Puzzled, she asked, “Uncle Nan, why haven’t I been assigned a room?”

The production assistant glanced at her and said, “The director instructed you to stay in the penthouse suite upstairs, the same treatment as the supporting cast. Come with me.”

Wen Yuxi paused, taken aback. “Why?”

The production assistant chuckled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’ll have to ask the director that. What would a lowly worker like me know about the affairs of you big shots?”

Wen Yuxi was an Omega, and a strikingly beautiful one at that. In a world where gender equality remained elusive, such preferential treatment from an Alpha director inevitably fueled speculation and gossip.

The crew member had worked in the industry for decades and always looked down on Omegas who used their bodies to gain preferential treatment. Naturally, his attitude toward Wen Yuxi was less than welcoming.

Wen Yuxi’s lips curled into a smile as she turned his own tactics against him. “Oh, Uncle Nan, do you hear that buzzing? It’s almost winter—why are there still flies buzzing around? It’s so annoying.”

The crew member immediately understood her veiled insult. His expression darkened, but he dared not retort, muttering sullenly, “I don’t hear anything.”

“Maybe I misheard,” Wen Yuxi said with a smile. “Uncle Nan, you can get back to work. Just give me the room card, and I’ll find my way.”

Reluctant to prolong the awkwardness, the crew member handed her the card. “Room 1802.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

Wen Yuxi wheeled her suitcase to the 18th floor, unlocked the door, changed her shoes, made the bed, hung up her clothes, and quickly organized everything. She then hurried downstairs to join the group, and they immediately set off for the filming location to begin shooting.

During the lunch break, Shi Yuan pulled Wen Yuxi aside, her expression serious. “When they assigned rooms this morning, were you given a suite?”

Wen Yuxi nodded. “Yeah.”

Shi Yuan frowned, her voice filled with concern. “There are rumors spreading about you and Director Luo, saying he’s giving you special treatment. You know what I mean, right? What’s really going on?”

“Who’s got time for such nonsense?” Wen Yuxi rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing between me and the director. It’s probably because my wife told him I wasn’t feeling well that he made these arrangements.”

Shi Yuan bristled with anger. “Nan Suicheng is such a scoundrel! Spreading rumors without knowing the facts—his gossiping is infuriating.”

“Uncle Nan started it?” Wen Yuxi chuckled lightly. “That explains everything. Everyone knows how much he hates Omegas. He’s useless at everything except spreading malicious rumors.”

“It’s not just him,” Shi Yuan sighed softly. “Yin Rong has started kicking you when you’re down too. His ability to stir up trouble is far worse than Nan Suicheng’s. Now half the crew knows, and who knows what they’re saying about you behind your back?”

Wen Yuxi rubbed her temples. “Don’t worry, Master. I’ll talk to the director.”

That evening after work, Wen Yuxi called Ming Qian.

“Sister, good evening.”

“Good evening,” Ming Qian replied softly. “Are you off work? Was it a tiring day?”

“It was alright,” Wen Yuxi said, sitting on her bed. “How about you?”

“I’m doing fine too,” Ming Qian replied.

Wen Yuxi gathered her thoughts. “Sister, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“This morning, when they assigned rooms, I got the deluxe suite. The production staff said Director Luo arranged it. Sister, did you contact him about that?”

Ming Qian paused before answering, “Yes, I did ask Director Luo to look out for you.”

Wen Yuxi: “…I see.”

Sensing the unusual tone in her voice, Ming Qian asked, “Did it cause you any trouble?”

Wen Yuxi feigned nonchalance. “No, not at all! Why would it? I was just a little curious.”

Ming Qian fell silent for a moment before speaking earnestly. “Yuxi, I didn’t think this through properly. I should have asked for your consent before interfering with your work. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that. I know you were just worried about me,” Wen Yuxi said with a smile. “But I’m not the little girl who needs you to take care of everything anymore. I’m not that fragile. It’s good to experience some hardship at work. Hothouse flowers can’t survive in the real world.”

Ming Qian didn’t say much, replying gently, “I agree with your opinion.”

“Mm-hmm,” Wen Yuxi said casually, flipping the page. “Alright, that’s all. We have to get up early tomorrow. Good night, Sis.”

“…Good night.”

After hanging up, Wen Yuxi fell back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind blank.

The person Ming Qian would love would undoubtedly be someone with a complete and healthy personality, someone who had achieved success in their career, and someone who was economically independent and self-reliant—not merely an accessory to love, much less a sheltered pet in some utopian fantasy.

To be loved by someone exceptional, one must become exceptional oneself. Love built on spiritual inequality is nothing more than the strong condescending to the weak, keeping them as pets—a display of control and a trophy, utterly devoid of dignity.

Wen Yuxi would never sacrifice her dignity for love.

In this twisted world, survival for Omegas was already precarious. If she remained complacent, failing to hone her abilities, her situation would only deteriorate further.

A dodder vine clinging to others could only ever live by wagging its tail and begging for scraps.

She might lower her pride for love, but she would never betray her principles for survival.