Twine

Li Chu's body stiffened as she felt the overwhelming presence of the alpha's pheromones spreading from the figure seated in front of her.

That night, for Li Chu, remained shrouded in a thick haze of memory, like a fog that blurred all clarity, allowing only the vaguest sensations to seep through. But this moment, this time, was different. For the first time, Li Chu fully and acutely felt the gender divide in their world the powerful effect alpha pheromones had on an omega.

It wasn't like the last time she was struck by the sharp wave of pheromones in the practice room mirror. No, this was slower, more insidious, like a thin snake or creeping vine, wrapping around her, little by little claiming her skin, her senses.

It was as though a skilled predator was tightening the snare around its prey, slow and deliberate.

Li Chu's senses were overwhelmed. Her eyes stayed on Ning Manqing, who sat still, just within arm's reach. Despite the distance between them, despite the dimness hiding part of her face, Ning Manqing's presence felt palpable, almost painfully vivid.

They were locked in an eerie stalemate. Yet, it wasn't a full pause it felt more like a slow, dangerous dance where one wrong move could break the fragile balance.

The sound of rain tapping against the roof broke the silence, a low, steady hum that made Li Chu blink and snap out of her daze.

She glanced down at her phone screen. It had only been thirty seconds since she'd climbed into the car, but it felt like thirty minutes.

The coastal city where This Is the Actor was filmed was prone to heavy winds, and rain had been forecast. Li Chu remembered reading about it before setting off, so she had packed an umbrella. It hadn't been necessary earlier that day, but now, with the rain pouring outside, her umbrella was in the hands of Qian Duoduo, her assistant.

Ning Manqing finally spoke, breaking the oppressive silence. "It's raining."

Li Chu nodded, her throat suddenly dry.

"Buckle up. I'll take you home. Where are you staying?"

Ning Manqing started the car, the wipers moving back and forth as the headlights flicked on, illuminating the rain-soaked streets.

"Same place as last time," Li Chu replied. But her voice came out rougher than expected, hoarse even. She quickly coughed, feeling slightly embarrassed, and grabbed a small bottle of water from her bag, drinking a few gulps to soothe her throat.

As she sipped, she glanced over at Ning Manqing. The alpha's pheromones were still wrapped around her like an invisible, warm net, though Ning Manqing herself seemed unaware.

Ah! Ning, your pheromones are out of control, do you even realize? Li Chu screamed internally, wanting desperately to point it out. But if Ning Manqing truly wasn't aware, saying something might make the moment awkward. Too awkward.

She thought back to the elevator, where she had caught a whiff of Ning Manqing's pheromones before. But back then, Ning's manager, Ran Yanru, who was also present, didn't seem affected at all.

Li Chu stared at Ning Manqing for a beat too long, causing the latter to turn and glance at her in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

Li Chu, practically vibrating from the pheromone tension filling the car, forced a neutral expression and replied stiffly, "Nothing."

Satisfied with the answer, Ning Manqing turned back to focus on the road. Her driving was calm, the speed steady.

Ahead, the traffic light turned red. Li Chu watched the countdown of the light, her fingers unconsciously clenching the edge of her clothing.

In this small space, time felt almost frozen, every second crawling forward. Her breathing slowed unconsciously, and her focus sharpened, like every small movement or sound in the car expanded to fill her world.

Her awareness seemed to explode outward, spinning into a thousand threads like spider silk, entangling in every corner of the car, capturing every detail of the moment.

Outside, raindrops trailed down the windows, streaking the glass, sliding down from the roof of the car.

It was cool. Damp. The smell of rain filled the air.

But the heat of the alpha's pheromones the burning, invisible force that surrounded her contrasted starkly against the cold rain outside. It seeped into her bones, her blood, making her feel like she was burning from the inside out.

She felt trapped between the cold and heat, suspended in an impossible, dizzying contradiction.

But the owner of these pheromones seemed completely unaware. Her slender, graceful hands rested on the black steering wheel, her attention fixed on the red traffic light counting down.

The pheromones wrapped around Li Chu like wild vines, creeping and spreading, bypassing any resistance, inch by inch closing in on her core.

Li Chu bit the tip of her tongue, trying to distract herself. The overwhelming heat made her cheeks flush, and she lowered her head, clenching the fabric of her clothes to hide the strange surge of pleasure building inside her.

Then, when the light turned green, it was as though everything vanished all at once. The intense sensations dissipated, leaving only a trace. Li Chu leaned back into her seat, relieved but still shaken. Without thinking, she reached to wipe away the faint dampness gathering at the base of her legs.

Her eyes were unfocused.

She felt like a toy that had been used and discarded a fragile rag doll.

Her body hadn't physically crossed any lines, but her mind was in tatters, completely worn down.

What is happening to me? Li Chu wondered, her thoughts muddled. She remembered the details she had read before how the article described a city called Jinjiang, not Haitang, but that seemed irrelevant now.

"Why do you seem so distracted? Did things not go well during practice today?"

Ning Manqing's voice snapped her back to the present. Li Chu's thoughts were still tangled up, and she couldn't very well admit that Ning Manqing's pheromones were wreaking havoc on her.

Part of her brain even debated whether Ning Manqing was doing it on purpose. But the more Li Chu observed her, the more she realized Ning Manqing had no idea what had just happened. Maybe it was because she had been tagged by Ning Manqing, making her more sensitive to her alpha's pheromones.

Li Chu recalled reading about pheromones in that same article. The closer people were to each other, the more perceptible their pheromones became. In confined spaces, like this car, the concentration of pheromones only increased with time. Alpha pheromones, in particular, could be especially intense for omegas unconsciously broadcasting demands without the alpha even realizing it.

Her face flushed an even deeper red. So, Ning Manqing has a wild side after all. That thought made her heartbeat quicken.

While trying to compose herself, she finally responded to Ning Manqing: "It was okay. The teachers on set said I did pretty well."

"But I still feel like something is missing. It doesn't feel like my performance is at its best yet, but I'm not sure how to make it better."

The presence of pheromones still lingered faintly in the air, but the suffocating tension had faded. Li Chu felt a bit more composed, enough to answer honestly.

"I can help you with that," Ning Manqing offered casually.

Li Chu wasn't exactly surprised by the offer, but this time, she hesitated. She didn't want to accept help so readily again.

Her fingers grazed the small box inside her bag, a thank-you gift she had prepared for Ning Manqing.

"Mr. Ning, you've already helped me so much."

Li Chu was not someone who liked to take advantage. Even though she often joked about clinging tightly to Ning Manqing's influence, that didn't mean she wanted to rely on her for everything.

"Aren't we friends?" Ning Manqing asked as she turned the steering wheel, heading into the hotel's underground parking lot. Before Li Chu could respond, she continued, "There's no need for formalities between friends. Giving you advice on your acting? That's nothing. It's part of understanding each other."

"If you're worried about owing me something, then just remember me when you get famous. Send a few good scripts my way."

Ning Manqing said this with a lighthearted smile as she parked the car.

Li Chu knew Ning Manqing was just trying to put her at ease. She didn't really care about getting resources. But still, Li Chu pursed her lips, gazing earnestly at Ning Manqing before making a promise, "I'll work hard, Teacher Ning. I won't let your advice go to waste, and when the time comes, I'll make sure to recommend good projects for you."

At that moment, Ning Manqing turned on the car's interior lights, casting a soft glow over the little girl's face. Li Chu's expression was serious, her eyes filled with a determined sincerity.

The warm, dim light reflected in her eyes, as though it revealed her innermost thoughts and feelings.

Ning Manqing stared at her for a moment, then broke into a smile and nodded.

"Then I'll be waiting for that day."