Shan Song seemed to be lost in thought, and Tong Zhao asked him again before he came to his senses.
"Yes, everything went smoothly. Have you heard the rumors circulating outside lately?"
Tong Zhao nodded: "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"I guess so. I did a little bit of pushing things along. We'll probably maintain this kind of relationship as rumored for a while."
The rumored relationship? Tong Zhao thought for a moment and concluded: "You beat and scolded me because you were dissatisfied with being forced into an arranged marriage, and I had no choice but to endure the humiliation due to the oppression of the powerful—a pair of bitter lovers in a wealthy family?"
Dan Song pondered Tong Zhao's choice of words, thinking that this little omega must have heard quite a bit of gossip in the Qin family.
He gave a helpless "hmm" and added, "But we still have to maintain a facade of harmony in front of others."
Oh, the fig leaf of the wealthy. Although everyone knows what's really going on, they still have to put on a show.
Tong Zhao suddenly realized, turned around and gave him a smile: "No problem, I will cooperate."
"This kid didn't even ask a question?" Shan Song gave him a deep look and took the initiative to explain, "Don't worry, I won't make you feel wronged for long."
Tong Zhao was stunned for a moment.
"The outside world's opinions might not be pleasant, and they might tone it down a bit in front of me, but—"
As Shan Song spoke, he frowned in distress, and his expression turned rather unpleasant. Tong Zhao immediately understood the unspoken meaning behind his words.
Tong Zhao said casually, "It's okay, don't worry. At most they'll just gossip, they won't really hurt me. I've been criticized a lot as an actress, I'm mentally prepared!"
Dan Song's expression hadn't softened much. He instructed, "If you encounter someone who annoys you, use your status to put them in their place. Once you're married, your reputation will be tied to that of the Zhou and Qin families, and they won't dare to act too recklessly."
"Okay, I will make good use of it!" Tong Zhao looked at Shan Song seriously and nodded, indicating that he had taken his advice to heart.
Shan Song was still uneasy: "But it's also possible that some of them are brainless. If there are any, tell me and I'll help you get revenge."
"Okay, I understand." Tong Zhao leaned over, both amused and exasperated, and said, word by word, "I'm really not that easy to bully."
Shan Song looked at his face as it drew closer, then at the hand that reached out and grabbed his hem, shaking it. His expression relaxed. "Yes, I believe you."
"..."
Shan Song genuinely believed that Tong Zhao had managed to protect himself all these years, so he must have his own unique way of surviving. He just inexplicably wanted to tease him.
Tong Zhao was probably speechless, and shrank back.
The car suddenly fell silent.
As the car drove over the overpass, watching the road signs rushing past the window, Tong Zhao suddenly blurted out, "Does that mean we'll just be a fake couple from now on?"
Dan Song raised an eyebrow: "Plastic couple? Where did you learn such a weird term?"
"Is it strange? It's just a common internet buzzword. Don't you go online?" Tong Zhao thought for a moment: "It's also a line from a script I filmed before."
"Oh? What kind of dramas are they filming?"
"Some small productions, mostly supporting roles with very few scenes." Tong Zhao lowered her head and tugged at the buttons on her clothes, her voice noticeably weaker than before, as if she didn't really want to talk about this topic.
After glancing to the side a few times, Shan Song asked, "Didn't you play the male lead once?"
Tong Zhao exclaimed "Ah!" and looked up in disbelief, "You've seen it?"
"Yes, I've only seen that one before. I looked through your recent works a few days ago, and they're very good."
That's a bit of a lie. Thinking about the countless terrible movies he's made in the last two years, and those lines that make you want to roll your toes, Tong Zhao's face suddenly became a hot topic.
Seeing the omega, who had just been lively for a moment, shrink back into a quail, Shan Song raised an eyebrow and said without hesitation:
"Your acting skills are very good. It's just that the scripts have held you back all these years. But you're still young and have plenty of opportunities. Once I've settled things with the Zhou family, I'll invest in a big-budget production for you and make you a big star."
The awkwardness was easily resolved, and Tong Zhao's eyes crinkled with laughter as she said, "Then I'll be waiting!"
Dan Song's lips also curled up slightly.
"Come to think of it, I've never asked you before, what made you decide to become an actor back then?"
Tong Zhao's smile hadn't faded yet when she heard the sound, she first looked up at Shan Song's profile in the driver's seat.
Once you get used to it, it doesn't seem so fierce; it's a reassuring appearance.
Shan Song didn't hear him say anything, and just as he turned his head to look at him at the traffic light, their eyes met unexpectedly.
Tong Zhao's heart skipped a beat, then started pounding wildly. He lowered his head and looked away.
"Why are you looking at me?" Shan Song blurted out.
Although it was just a simple question, and he might not even need to give any answer, Tong Zhao's fragile little heart still trembled, and a blush rose on her face again.
The fluctuating heat on her face made Tong Zhao feel a little dizzy.
When the green light came on, Shan Song's eyes were already focused back on the road conditions.
Tong Zhao took the opportunity to catch her breath. She managed to rummage through her mind to recall the question Shan Song had just asked, but her mouth was a little unresponsive. She stammered twice before she could get her tongue out.
"Oh...oh, there was a film crew at the hotel that year, and I happened to run into one of their managers on the day I resigned. He said they had a role that would pay 500 yuan a day."
“I saw that they were dressed so nicely and thought the job must be great, so I gave it a try. The director seemed quite satisfied with me, added a shot, and gave me an extra 500.”
"Oh, they even added me on social media, saying I'm very talented and they'll contact me again if they have any acting opportunities!"
Seeing that he was getting more and more excited as he spoke, Shan Song thought to himself, "Tong Zhao is still young at eighteen but already has a stunningly beautiful face. The director only gave him 500. That's too stingy."
"Later, when you found someone to sponsor me, I said I wanted to apply to a performing arts school. In the second semester of my freshman year, that director came to me again and invited me to act in my first play, the one where you said I was the male lead."
Tong Zhao smiled a little embarrassedly: "It's a pity that I haven't had any works that have surpassed that drama since then."
"So now, do you still enjoy performing?"
"I like it," Tong Zhao affirmed. "Although I haven't played any outstanding roles since then, I still love this industry."
Shan Song looked at Tong Zhao, his eyes sparkling, and his voice carried an inexplicable power, as if he had embodied the word "love".
“Well, let’s keep going then,” he heard himself say.
Hearing his confident tone, it was as if the slogan "Just do it!" was ringing in my ears!
This inexplicably tickled Tong Zhao's funny bone. He pursed his lips and chuckled to himself through the other car window, leaving Shan Song completely bewildered.
"We've arrived, get off the bus first." Shan Song patted the back of Tong Zhao's head as she turned her head away.
Only after being reminded by him did Tong Zhao realize that they had stopped in front of a magnificent building.
"Where is this?" Tong Zhao reached out and opened the car door, looking out as she got out.
"Watch your head!" Shan Song suddenly shouted, almost making Tong Zhao's legs buckle.
The man had somehow gotten around to the car, holding onto the car door with one hand and hovering the other above his head for protection.
“…Thank you.” Tong Zhao awkwardly crawled out from under the Alpha’s broad arms.
"Thanks?"
"It just came out of my mouth. We agreed not to thank each other, I remember."
After a pause, Tong Zhao looked up and complained softly, "You could have spoken a little softer when you were being concerned."
Dan Song was taken aback, then realized that his tone might have been a little too hasty.
"Okay, I understand. If there's anything you're not used to, just say so. I've never been with an omega before, so I need to adjust."
Tong Zhao replied knowingly, "I know you're always like this, I'll get used to it as soon as possible."
"Okay, let's go inside first. There are people here who will help us with the wedding arrangements."
"Aren't we supposed to make the arrangements ourselves?"
Shan Song smiled at him: "So honest, yet you say you won't get bullied?"
"..."
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