Chapter 23

After a brief but intense incident, Zhuo Binbai, the male lead, good-naturedly volunteered to have his mold taken first by the props team. As soon as he finished speaking, three cameramen from the crew surrounded him with their cameras, immediately setting up shots from every angle for B-roll footage, giving Xu Zhangying a firsthand look at the treatment of an A-list star.

While preparing for the mold, Zhuo Binbai kept chatting and laughing with his assistants, agents, and even the cameramen. Among the props team, Wu Qize appeared to be the main person in charge of the molding work, so it was he who secured Zhuo Binbai’s hair with a cap and adjusted the casting compound.

“How long does it take once the mold is applied to the face?” Wu Qize was stirring the casting compound when a man’s voice asked with a laugh. Startled, he looked up and saw Xu Zhangying’s face.

Wu Qize answered nervously, “Less than a minute after covering the nostrils and mouth, about thirty seconds.”

After speaking, he even gave Xu Zhangying a grateful glance. He knew this unfamiliar man had just stepped in to stand up for him. It seemed he wanted to say more to Xu Zhangying, but being socially awkward, he couldn’t find the right moment to speak. So, with a flushed neck, he silently returned to his work.

Shao Qiaoqiao stood behind Xu Zhangying. They were too close to Zhuo Binbai, and Shao Qiaoqiao’s face was flushed, still too shy to look directly at the heartthrob's face.

Zhuo Binbai, a 27-year-old classically trained alpha star, had transitioned from a singer to an actor only in the past two years. He belonged to the top tier of young celebrities in the entertainment industry. Under normal circumstances, ordinary people would have no chance to get this close to him unless it was for a special assignment like this.

At that moment, in their impromptu visiting group, two people watched Wu Qize mix the casting compound with curiosity, while the other two stood guard like statues. Qiao Ping and the other two producers, along with the on-site director, wanted to approach Xia Qing to speak but were intimidated by his and Secretary Zhang’s imposing presence, unsure how to start a conversation, so they lingered nearby instead.

Zhuo Binbai, embodying the image of a radiant, approachable heartthrob, waited for the mold to be applied while initiating a conversation with Shao Qiaoqiao behind Xu Zhangying. “Ma'am, are you here to invest in our production? Thank you for your support!”

Shao Qiaoqiao didn’t expect him to speak to her first and immediately panicked, glancing at Xia Qing and Xu Zhangying before stammering, “Y-yes, I came with Mr.—Mr. Xia.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Zhangying snorted with laughter. He turned to look at Xia Qing with a teasing expression, while Xia Qing showed a hint of confusion, as if unsure what was so funny.

Qiao Ping finally found an opening and quickly interjected, “This is Xia Qing, President of Xing’an Group. He took an interest in our production and came to visit today.”

A flash of surprise crossed Zhuo Binbai’s face, and he immediately shifted his full attention to Xia Qing beside Xu Zhangying. His still-smiling eyes were filled with scrutiny as he chided Qiao Ping, “Director Qiao, why didn’t you say so earlier? I was wondering why someone of your stature suddenly appeared on our set!”

Not just him, but everyone around the makeup station had heard Xia Qing’s name, sparking murmurs. Zhuo Binbai promptly extended his hand to Xia Qing. “President Xia, it’s an honor. I’ve long admired your reputation. I had no idea you’d be interested in *Wind and Thunder*. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner.”

Xia Qing shook his hand with a detached expression. “Pleasure.”

Just as Zhuo Binbai was about to say more, Wu Qize spoke up from the side. “The mold is ready. Brother Bai, are you good to go now?”

Xu Zhangying eagerly chimed in, “Is it starting now?”

Zhuo Binbai’s expression darkened momentarily at the interruption. He gave the lower-tier alpha beside him a complicated look, then glanced at the excited beta man next to Xia Qing, before nodding with put-on cheerfulness. “Let’s do it.”

During the molding process, Xu Zhangying cooperatively stepped back a few paces. The props team gradually applied the plaster compound to Zhuo Binbai’s face. Under the watchful eyes of the three cameras, they covered his nostrils and mouth, removing the mold after exactly thirty seconds. The surrounding crew erupted in applause, with the makeup artists and Zhuo Binbai’s team breathing sighs of relief as though they'd averted disaster.

Shao Qiaoqiao watched, her face flushed with excitement, until Xu Zhangying suddenly teased, “Why are you blushing? Boss Xia is far more handsome than him.”

Xia Qing turned his head at the remark, and Xu Zhangying winked at him.

Shao Qiaoqiao had a sudden realization, as if remembering something belatedly. “Oh, right! But I’ve been too shy to look at Boss Xia properly, so I forgot for a moment.”

Xu Zhangying nearly collapsed onto Xia Qing in laughter, and Xia Qing let him have his fun at his expense. Secretary Zhang, however, discreetly observed Xu Zhangying and his boss a few more times.

Wu Qize worked much faster than expected. In less than half an hour, Zhuo Binbai’s part was done. However, Xie Yinan and Gu Yangfeng, along with the other main creators, were still in the adjacent lounge. Chao Zhengxin, his hands full of casting plaster, looked helplessly at Qiao Ping. “Director Qiao, could you ask Sister Nan for us? There’s a location shoot scheduled for 2 p.m., and I’m worried we’ll fall behind.”

Qiao Ping nodded but then turned to Xia Qing. “President Xia, it’s getting late. Should we arrange for the crew’s van to take you and Director Gu to the hotel for lunch and a rest? We don't often get to see a movie being filmed.”

Xia Qing simply turned to Xu Zhangying, and Qiao Ping and the others followed his gaze. Xu Zhangying then looked at Xia Qing. “Are you hungry?”

Xia Qing shook his head. “No.”

Xu Zhangying grinned. “Then let’s keep watching. We don't often get to see a movie being filmed.”

Xia Qing nodded. “Alright.”

Secretary Zhang then said to Qiao Ping, "We won't be having a meal for now."

Qiao Ping and the others finally understood—this unpredictable beta was actually the one calling the shots for Xia Qing's group. They couldn't help but cast more curious glances toward him.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Ping easily managed to bring Xie Yinan back out. Having already learned of Xia Qing's identity in the break room, Xie Yinan reappeared with a warm smile that made her delicate, beautiful face seem to glow. She was a completely different person from the fiery-tempered woman from before, which gave Shao Qiaoqiao another scare.

Xu Changying quietly teased, "Putting aside her attitude, you've got to hand it to her professionalism. You should still ask Qi Feng for an autographed photo later."

Secretary Zhang, standing behind him, heard every word clearly and couldn't help but hide a chuckle.

So Xia Qing's stone-faced secretary could actually smile. Did that mean their usual poker faces were just an act to match their boss's personality? Xu Changying found himself thinking rather cynically.

Xie Yinan was still shaken by Xu Changying's earlier outburst and didn't engage too enthusiastically with Xia Qing. Her expression also darkened when she saw Wu Qize, though she had abandoned her previous aggressive demeanor, sitting quietly in the chair with a look of both resignation and hurt on her lovely face before murmuring, "I'll just endure it for a little while."

This time, other members of the prop team handled her headpiece and preparations, but Wu Qize, as the technical core, still had to step in for the most crucial part—applying the mold. Humiliated earlier in front of everyone, his face and neck flushed red again as he worked, holding his breath the whole time. Shao Qiaoqiao watched him with sympathy, but in the film set's strict pecking order, only outsiders like them would spare a thought for what the underdogs go through.

Xia Qing's attention remained entirely on Wu Qize. Soon, Xie Yinan's head mold was completed, and Wu Qize finally let out the breath he'd been holding as the makeup room broke out in applause again. Zhuo Binbai stood beside Xie Yinan, clapping and chatting with her. Then, Xie Yinan glanced at Xia Qing and, noticing Wu Qize stepping aside to let other prop masters handle the remaining hand molds, suddenly spoke up, "Hey, you—come back and do the rest for me. You know what you're doing."

Wu Qize looked stunned, but Chao Zhengxin shot him a meaningful look, prompting him to nod immediately. "Yes, thank you, Sister Nan."

Xie Yinan's gaze, soft as autumn water, lingered briefly on Xia Qing's face, but Xia Qing's eyes remained fixed on Wu Qize. The actress couldn't hide her disappointment.

By the time the molding work finished, it was already past noon. The crew began distributing boxed lunches. Qiao Ping, used to this by now, recommended the five-star hotel with an ocean view to Xia Qing for the fifth time that day. Yet again, Xia Qing turned his gaze toward Xu Changying under the expectant eyes of Qiao Ping, Gu Yangfeng, and the others.

With no other choice, Qiao Ping reluctantly had them clean out the director's lounge so Xing'an Group's heir apparent could eat his boxed lunch there.

Secretary Zhang declined Qiao Ping's offer to join them for the meal, leaving only the four of them in the spacious break room.

Inside, there was a large desk and a small coffee table, each with two seats. Xu Changying instinctively pulled out the desk chair for Xia Qing, but Xia Qing instead took a seat on the low sofa by the coffee table with his lunch box. Xu Changying grinned at Secretary Zhang. "You and Qiaoqiao can sit here."

Before Secretary Zhang could react, he saw his boss and Xu Changying squeeze onto the small sofa together, opening their lunch boxes. His usually stoic face, a mirror of his boss's, twisted in alarm. "Mr. Xia, Mr. Xu—why are you sitting there?"

Xia Qing looked up, expression unchanging. "Just sit down."

So Secretary Zhang had no choice but to pull out the two leather chairs by the desk, letting Qiaoqiao sit first before taking his own seat.

Xu Changying ate astonishingly fast. The crew had ordered them ¥230 Japanese unagi and foie gras bento sets. By the time Xia Qing had finished a third of his, Xu Changying was already polishing off the last bite.

Xia Qing paused, lifting his head to watch Xu Changying dig for some mints. "Why eat so fast?"

Xu Changying popped two mints into his mouth and shrugged. "Old habit from my school days. Never got around to fixing it."

Xia Qing frowned. "It's bad for your stomach."

Xu Changying grinned at him. "I'll work on it."

Then he stretched. "After this morning, even though we didn't see much, we've got ourselves a potential motive."

Shao Qiaoqiao blinked. "Brother Xu, do you still suspect Wu Qize? He seemed decent today—I can't picture him as the killer at all."

Xu Changying replied calmly, "But there's no evidence ruling him out. And given how harsh his work environment is, with all the discrimination and exclusion, he's got motive to spare."

Shao Qiaoqiao realized Xu Changying's thoughts always ran darker than others', almost aligning with an actual criminal's mindset.

After a moment of consideration, she nodded. "True. Just being there for a short while felt suffocating. And I never expected Xie Yinan, such a beauty, to be so nasty. It was scary—and cruel. I used to like her, but now the only one who comes off decent is Zhuo Binbai."

Leaning back on the sofa, Xu Changying turned his head and smirked at her assessment. "Really? I think Xie Yinan's fine. Zhuo Binbai's the annoying one."

Secretary Zhang also couldn't help but look up at the sound. Seeing their puzzled expressions, Xu Changying straightened up and patiently explained, "I believe that to quickly and roughly judge a person's character, one must consider both their behavior and their circumstances—alphas and Omegas, though both secondary sex groups, face entirely different situations. While societal resources favor secondary sexes, Omegas within this group have historically been reduced to subordinate roles due to biological and historical factors, making them mere appendages of alphas. Thus, alphas are the true wielders of power in society, while the authority held by Omegas is illusory."

"Different circumstances demand different behavioral standards under the same moral framework. For instance, Xie Yinan's blatant humiliation of lower-status staff stems from an underlying logic of reinforcing her privileged position as a secondary sex. Though despicable, it also exposes the distinct predicament of Omegas compared to alphas—alphas need not assert their privilege; they simply stand by and watch Omegas demean the weak, profiting without lifting a finger, all while maintaining a spotless reputation. Conversely, if Zhuo Binbai's character were truly superior to Xie Yinan's, how could he idly turn a blind eye to bullying within his own power bloc?"

"In cases of gender-based oppression, the silence of bystanders equates to complicity, and the tacit approval of those in higher power is no different from being the primary perpetrator."

Shao Qiaoqiao and Secretary Zhang were both stunned. After a long pause, Shao Qiaoqiao sighed, "So I've been this shallow all along?"

Xu Changying smiled earnestly. "How is that shallow? Being able to empathize with the disadvantaged means you've transcended ingrained societal power dynamics—you're already a rebel."

"So," Xu Changying leaned back on the sofa, gazing at the ceiling pensively, "Zhao Xiuzhen is practically the most morally sound in her entire family. That's a terrifying thought."

Secretary Zhang, the youngest among the extraordinary secretaries and even a year younger than Shao Qiaoqiao, couldn't hide the reverence in his voice. "Mr. Xu, does working at AGB give you deeper insights into these matters?"

Xu Changying shook his head and chuckled. "When you or someone you care about is at the bottom of the power structure, the sting of injustice clears a foggy mind. That’s far more effective than any gender studies lecture."

"After all," Xu Changying lowered his eyes, lost in thought, "people only feel the pain when the whip hits their own back."