Chapter 22

By then, it was almost 11 o'clock. Since the key scenes of the morning had already been filmed, the makeup room was bustling with people packing up props and costumes. A few B-roll photographers stood by with their equipment, while the two lead actors' teams and the props department crowded around the makeup mirrors—at least twenty people in total. It was a wonder the massive makeup room could even accommodate them all.

Meanwhile, the peripheral staffers had already noticed the director entering the makeup room and immediately paled, lowering their heads in greeting before quickly stepping away from the drama. The producers, including Qiao Ping, stiffened, never expecting that Xia Qing, such an important figure, would walk right into the scene of the diva's meltdown on his first visit to the set.

Xu Changying and Xia Qing didn’t have much time to process the situation either. They found it quite a coincidence to stumble upon the heated confrontation involving Wu Qize.

Wu Qize was wearing an army-green T-shirt and a well-worn cap, holding the head mold bandages in his hands. His entire body was hunched over like a shrimp dunked in boiling water, his neck retracted, his face and ears flushed red. Standing next to the seemingly glowing Xie Yinan and Zhuo Binbai, he looked like he belonged to an entirely different layer.

Xie Yinan was so furious her breathing had turned ragged. Her manager and assistants quickly took over the scolding, berating Wu Qize and the props team around him. The tall man at the front was likely the so-called "explosion king" Chao Zhengxin, who was also flustered, repeatedly bowing alongside Wu Qize in apology.

Nearby, Zhuo Binbai and his manager chatted quietly, occasionally laughing under their breaths. He was an exceptionally handsome male Alpha, six or seven years younger than Xie Yinan. With just a smile, he could easily win people over, and soon, he was completely above the fray.

Xie Yinan’s manager, a male Alpha, pointed at Wu Qize and shouted, "You’re absolutely vile! How can someone like you, who can’t even control your pheromones, work with actors and celebrities? This is utterly unacceptable!"

Chao Zhengxin tried to mediate, "During mold-making, we have to get close—it’s unavoidable to catch a scent. It’s not like he did it on purpose. We always set our pheromone inhibitor chips to the highest level during work. I’ve already sent someone to fetch scent neutralizer. Please calm down. The actors endure the most during mold-making—Nan-jie, don’t let this upset you..."

Xie Yinan wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Cut the crap! If it was set to the highest level, how could so much scent leak out? And it smells so foul—are you defective? What rotten luck, running into one of the few inferior-grade Alphas in the world, and you dared to put him near me!"

The moment those words left her mouth, everyone’s expressions changed. Commenting on someone’s pheromone rank or scent was a major taboo in society, let alone publicly shaming someone as an "inferior Alpha." Yet, the next second, Wu Qize merely trembled without refuting her—as if she had hit the mark.

The gazes directed at him couldn’t help but carry a mix of pity and disdain.

"If he’s really inferior-grade, then it can’t be helped… but it’s not like he did it on purpose," a makeup artist murmured in the crowd.

"True, but knowing he’s inferior-grade and still working near actors is his fault," whispered voices rose like wind rustling through leaves.

"So why can’t actors smell pheromones?" A voice dripping with nonchalance suddenly cut through.

Everyone turned in shock, including Xie Yinan.

Xu Changying had been asking Qiao Ping, whose face had turned stormy, but now that all eyes were on him, he looked around in confusion before settling on Xie Yinan. "Why’s everyone staring at me? Was my question that strange?"

Xu Changying, Xia Qing, and Shao Qiaoqiao stood at the back of the crowd. Both Xu Changying and Xia Qing were tall and striking, momentarily blocking Xie Yinan’s view of Gu Yangfeng and the others. Xie Yinan’s male manager, seeing red, barked, "Who the hell are you? Who gave you the right to speak? What kind of nobody do you think you are?"

Instead of getting angry, Xu Changying smirked. Tilting his head, he said, "I’m just here to watch the show. I don’t understand, so I’m asking. Can you tell me why actors can’t smell other people’s pheromones?"

The manager, taking in Xu Changying’s striking looks, instinctively assumed he was some attention-seeking Alpha stirring trouble. He snarled, "What kind of Alpha were you raised to be? Didn’t your parents teach you not to release pheromones around Omegas? Where are your manners?"

"Oh, you should’ve said so earlier," Xu Changying replied cheerfully. "As a beta, I'm not exactly well-versed in this. But he wasn’t actively releasing pheromones just now, right? The ads for pheromone inhibitor chips claim they’re undetectable beyond three meters. Unless there’s some industry taboo I don’t know about—are actors banned from smelling pheromones?"

Xie Yinan and her team had initially worried he might have some powerful background, especially with Xia Qing standing beside him—someone whose looks, presence, and vague familiarity suggested importance. But the moment they heard he was just a beta, their tension eased. Xie Yinan’s assistant jabbed a finger at Xu Changying. "What’s it to you, a beta? You’re not even an Alpha! Everyone knows it’s rude for Omegas to smell pheromones—stop playing dumb!"

Xu Changying shrugged. "Oh, so it’s just about manners? After listening to all this commotion, I thought the actor-celebrity circle didn’t care about manners. I was worried there was some industry taboo I didn’t know."

His words were practically a roundabout insult to Xie Yinan and her entire entourage. Shao Qiaoqiao stared at Xu Changying with her heart pounding with equal parts terror and awe, then glanced at Xia Qing—only to find him silently watching Xu Changying, expression unreadable.

Xie Yinan slammed her handheld mirror onto the ground, shattering it. "Where are the production assistants? Who let these people in? Since when can any stray mutt wander onto the set? How incompetent are you people? None of you should be working today!"

The sound of breaking glass startled Zhuo Binbai, who had been taking selfies. He craned his neck and laughed at his photographer. "You scared me!"

Xu Changying crossed his arms, grinning at Shao Qiaoqiao, his voice still perfectly audible. "Well, if her Alpha is ‘inferior-grade,’ then we betas aren’t even human—we’re just stray animals. The rules in your acting world sure are fascinating."

Xia Qing suddenly turned to him. "Don’t listen to them."

Xu Changying looked at Xia Qing’s slightly furrowed brow, thinking to himself that he was just being a smartass—why was Xia Qing more thin-skinned than him? He was about to whisper something reassuring when the production assistants and Xie Yinan’s aide pushed through the crowd and grabbed his arm.

Before he could react, Xia Qing had already twisted the assistant’s arm, while Secretary Zhang seized the aide’s wrist with equal speed. Both men yelped in pain before they could even lay a finger on Xu Changying. The whole thing happened so fast that it took a second for Qiao Ping to snap, "Back off! Who gave you permission to touch President Xia?"

Only then did the crowd turn and notice Gu Yangfeng and the other directors and producers standing at the back. The set assistants and Xie Yinan’s personal aide froze. Only when Xia Qing saw they no longer resisted did he release the assistant, and Secretary Zhang also let go but remained vigilant, keeping his eyes fixed on the two.

Xu Changying was startled—how had these two moved faster than him and Shao Qiaoqiao?

Seeing the director arrive, Xie Yinan and her group cooled their tempers. However, in domestic film crews, the pecking order was long set in stone. The top tier always belonged to famous actors and their inner circles, the second tier to directors, producers, and the technical team, while the third tier consisted of minor actors, extras, and miscellaneous staff.

Thus, Xie Yinan and her entourage weren’t afraid of Gu Yangfeng or Qiao Ping—they merely softened their expressions. Zhuo Binbai even greeted Gu Yangfeng with a smile, playing it cool as if oblivious to the tense atmosphere.

Qiao Ping and the other producers couldn’t be bothered with the spat between Xie Yinan and Wu Qize. Instead, they swarmed Xia Qing with apologies and excuses, "Just a minor dispute on set, please don’t sweat it, President Xia. The environment here is chaotic, the crew is mixed, and the air isn’t great. Let’s step outside for a break."

While Xia Qing was being swarmed, Xu Changying and Shao Qiaoqiao ducked their heads, muttering. "What I said earlier was just to provoke that aide. Don’t take it personally."

Shao Qiaoqiao didn’t seem offended at all—in fact, she looked rather pleased, grinning. "I read you loud and clear, Brother Xu. Too bad I’m not as handsome as you—I wouldn’t dare say things like that."

"You shouldn’t be apologizing to me," Xia Qing cut in, icy, stepping in front of them.

Xu Changying and Shao Qiaoqiao looked up. Xu Changying met Xia Qing’s gaze, finding the look inscrutable. Then, with a frosty expression, Xia Qing added sharply, "You should have your employees apologize to my friend."

It was the first time in days that Xu Changying and Shao Qiaoqiao had heard Xia Qing speak so sternly. The steel in his voice instantly wiped the smiles off their faces. Gu Yangfeng immediately intervened, "Get over here and apologize to Mr. Xu and Miss Shao!"

Yu Ze, Xie Yinan’s manager, quickly realized that the silent young man beside them—though unfamiliar—was someone not to be trifled with. A showbiz old-timer, he swiftly led his assistants forward and dipped into a bow to Xu Changying. "Mr. Xu, Miss, we let our tempers get the best of us earlier and offended you. Please forgive us."

Xu Changying was taken aback by the man’s instant change in demeanor. Though he had been involved in the film’s pre-production, he had never participated in on-set filming and was entirely unfamiliar with these social dynamics. While he excelled at stirring trouble, he wasn’t the type to press an advantage. The sudden sincerity of the apology left him almost embarrassed.

Xu Changying scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. "No big deal, no need for the song and dance—so, are you still casting the molds today? I really wanted to see that."

His words left both Yu Ze and the onlookers speechless. They wondered if this mysterious beta had a few screws loose—was he really just here to watch the drama?

Qiao Ping jumped in, all smiles, "Of course, of course! It won’t take long. Zhengxin, is your team ready?"

Soon, the crowd was dispersed by the producers, and the prop team resumed preparations.

Xu Changying shot a look at Xia Qing, but their eyes met only briefly before Xia Qing looked away. Xu Changying blinked, then leaned closer with a smile. "What’s with the cold shoulder?"

Xia Qing refused to meet his gaze.

Xu Changying froze—was Xia Qing mad at *him*?

"Did I upset you?" he asked.

Only then did Xia Qing turn to face him, holding his gaze for a beat too long before murmuring, "No."

But Xu Changying was stunned. He studied Xia Qing’s slightly lowered eyes, his handsome brows faintly furrowed as if pondering a difficult question. Unconsciously, the 28-year-old Xia Qing’s face overlapped with that of his 17-year-old self.

Xu Changying ventured cautiously, "You didn’t like what I said?"

Xia Qing remained silent.

Xu Changying draped an arm around him, smiling gently. "Then I won’t say it again. I promise."

Xia Qing’s pupils dilated slightly, the ice in his expression thawing unnoticed. He seemed unused to such intimate contact but didn’t show discomfort, allowing Xu Changying to hold him close.

"Okay."

Xu Changying hadn’t expected that a self-deprecating joke about his gender would upset this top-tier alpha more than it did the beta girl—and that he’d be tougher to win over, too.

Yet, this trait felt all too familiar—too much like the Xia Qing of the past.

Qi Feng’s words echoed once more in Xu Changying’s mind, leaving a dull ache in his chest.