This should have been an ordinary Wednesday, but it became anything but ordinary due to a movie premiere.
The film was titled *Rouge Drunk*. On its opening day, the box office surpassed a hundred million, and over fifty percent of users on ticketing platforms left comments saying they would "go for a second viewing tomorrow."
Theaters across the country were packed to capacity for every screening.
*Rouge Drunk* told a story set in an ancient capital of thirteen dynasties.
A newly enthroned young Emperor encountered an opera singer from the Pear Garden during a royal tour. Whenever the actor appeared, the Emperor could always smell a scent of rouge that resembled medicinal herbs.
In modern terms, these were ancient pheromones.
Later, the two fell in love because of this rouge. After several twists and turns, the Emperor finally brought the actor back to the palace and never took another consort for the rest of his life.
The script wasn't particularly innovative; after all, in traditional Alpha/Omega (AO) romances, such devoted dramas were a dime a dozen.
However, the role of the "actor" in this movie had been brought to life so vividly that every frown and smile tugged at the audience's heartstrings.
Even more incredible was the fact that the actor playing the role was actually an Alpha.
In the movie, this Alpha had a waist as supple as a swaying willow and eyes like starlit clouds. Every movement and posture exuded a lingering, soulful charm that even an Omega might not have been able to interpret so well.
In particular, the beauty mark beneath his lower lip became the centerpiece of a thousand midnight dreams overnight.
On Wednesday evening, a premiere meet-and-greet was held at the Capital Cinema. The main cast made a surprise appearance in Screening Room 1. The inside and outside of the theater were instantly swarmed until it was completely impassable, eventually requiring a helicopter to extract them.
This kind of sensation had been rare in the entertainment industry over the past five years, let alone in the film industry specifically.
Even putting aside the so-called "hierarchy of disdain," audiences generally held much higher standards for films than for other media works.
In this day and age, it truly wasn't easy for a movie to be so well-received.
Consequently, that night, topics related to *Rouge Drunk* were pushed to the top of the trending searches on every social media platform, with an overwhelming flood of comments pouring in from everywhere.
Chu Xun was the name of the actor in *Rouge Drunk*, and Zhou Shu was the man who played him.
As a somewhat "unqualified" Golden Award-winning Best Actor, Zhou Shu had broken into the mainstream through a spy thriller, essentially becoming famous the moment he debuted.
Some said his rise to fame was luck; after all, he was able to act in movies right from his debut, and his career path seemed much smoother than that of the average person.
Later, more and more variety shows and reality programs sought him out. The most famous among them was the most popular travel show in the country.
After the first season of that show ended, an official post hinted at the intention to invite Zhou Shu as a guest for the second season.
To speak of prestige, the guests invited for the first season were all "Heavenly King" level figures—the kind of people who were practically untouchable in the entertainment industry.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, while the internet was rife with speculation, Zhou Shu’s studio issued a clarification that very day.
[Official Statement: Artist Zhou Shu does not accept any variety or reality show invitations and focuses solely on acting. For acting collaborations, please contact the email...]
Once this post went out, the tide of public opinion shifted completely.
Perhaps a crack had finally been found that allowed for a breakthrough; in a matter of minutes, a massive wave of negative comments flooded the internet, all mocking Zhou Shu.
Scanning the comments from that storm a year ago from start to finish, they could be summarized succinctly in four words: "Acting like a diva."
That was one thing, but what Zhou Shu couldn't understand was how these people managed to conclude from that statement that he discriminated against Omegas or that he wasn't a "good Alpha."
And now, they had easily placed him back on a pedestal because of a single movie. Zhou Shu couldn't wrap his head around this behavior—how people could stir up such storms on the internet just by wagging their tongues.
"Congratulations, Brother Shu, on becoming popular again after a year. It hasn't been easy for you to face such ups and downs at your age."
After a night of tossing and turning, switching from air to land travel, he finally sat in his own nanny van.
At night, the city's bizarre and gaudy lights gradually revealed themselves. Leaping into the car through the sunroof, a streak of red light happened to fall on the passenger seat.
At this moment, the person speaking in that seat looked as if she were being painted by that seductive beam of light.
"At my age?" The man lying in the back of the car had his eyes half-closed. It took a long while before he squeezed out those words.
The person in the front seat had finally finished her full makeup. She seemed accustomed to this cold indifference and didn't bother responding. She was busy packing her gear into her bag.
"Our schedule is packed for the next few days." She glanced at her phone, letting out an ill-timed laugh, then turned her head slightly toward the driver. "By the way, Xiao Zhang, just drop me off at the Oasis Hotel in a bit."
"Oh, okay, Sister Julia."
Julia patted Xiao Zhang's shoulder with satisfaction, only to hear a cold sneer from the back seat.
"Miss Zhu Lili, please show some restraint. To the public, you are still my rumored girlfriend."
The person in the passenger seat snapped the metal clasp of her bag and glared at Zhou Shu through the rearview mirror. "Who gave you permission to call me by my real name? Call me Julia, okay?" Her emotions were like those of a duchess of a thousand faces, matching her desire-inducing appearance perfectly. "Anyway, I wasn't finished. Next week, we’re flying to a different city every day for meet-and-greets. Get yourself ready."
"Yeah, whatever." Zhou Shu closed his eyes and took a drag from an e-cigarette, exhaling a helpless ring of smoke. "Next Sunday night, my parents want me to go back to Haicheng. Clear my schedule for that."
"Hmm? Sunday?" Julia quickly scanned her phone. "Sunday night probably won't work. There's a commercial collaboration to discuss in the afternoon."
"Change the time. If you can't, cancel it."
"The boss on that side is a major financier. Are you sure?"
"That's something you, as an assistant, should consider, not me." Zhou Shu's tone remained indifferent, but it carried a hint of being non-negotiable.
"Okay, I get it. Then tomorrow I'm going to buy that bag the counter held for me." Julia turned around and threw a charming wink toward the back seat. "I'm charging it to your card."
Zhou Shu finally opened his eyes. He paused, his voice deepening.
"Trash."
The car was stuck in traffic for another half hour before reaching the Oasis Hotel. Julia adjusted her tube top, applied another layer of mascara, and changed into a pair of sky-high heels that laced from her ankles to her calves before getting out.
"I'm off. Don't call me tonight." She swayed as she got out of the car and swayed through the hotel doors, not looking back once.
Xiao Zhang watched Julia's retreating figure and murmured, "Sister Julia is truly beautiful..."
Zhou Shu didn't even open his eyes, but the corner of his mouth curled in disdain. "I didn't realize you liked female 'Sea Kings' among Omegas."
Xiao Zhang clicked his tongue and shook his head. "To be able to hook up with a Sea King of Sister Julia's caliber, one could die with no regrets."
Zhou Shu was speechless, slightly regretting his unnecessary banter.
"Take me back to the apartment."
"Sure thing, Brother Shu."
Zhou Shu had two properties in the capital: a villa in the suburbs and an apartment by the river.
The riverside apartment was in a bustling area, but because it was on a high floor, it became a sanctuary of quiet amidst the noise.
In the morning, it was close to the sunlight; at night, it was far from the clamor.
One could see solitary birds and feel the clearest wind.
Today was Wednesday, September 9th.
They really chose a "good" day for the premiere.
Zhou Shu rubbed his brow, trying to smooth out some trace of tension.
The vibration of his phone broke the still life. Zhou Shu made a light swiping motion in the air and answered the call.
"Mom, what is it?"
"Oh, Xiao Shu! Your father and I just got back from the movie. My son is truly amazing!"
Zhou Shu smiled, simultaneously thinking of how to respond.
Both sides of the phone were silent for a few seconds before the conversation continued. "Xiao Shu, um, Mom wanted to ask... when you were filming, who played Chu Xun? Was it you?"
Zhou Shu only blinked, his face remaining expressionless. "No, it wasn't me."
"Oh, it's fine, it's fine. It was acted very well, very well. It's the same regardless of which of you played it."
Zhou Shu's mother explained hurriedly, as if afraid of being misunderstood.
"Yes, it is. It's the same regardless of who played it." Zhou Shu finally softened his tone, putting away his public sharpness.
"By the way, can you come back next Sunday? If you're too busy, forget it. It's fine if you don't come."
"I'm coming back. Julia has already arranged the schedule. Don't worry."
The voice on the other end clearly became cheerful. "That’s wonderful! Xiao Yan is coming back next week. You haven't seen each other in five years; you should catch up properly."
"What? Who's coming back?" When Zhou Shu heard those two words, the blood in his body seemed to freeze, and his limbs stiffened.
"Why is your reaction so sudden? You gave me a fright," Zhou Shu's mother said, startled. "Xiao Yan. Jin Yan. He's coming back from Country A."
He's coming back from Country A...
What did "coming back" mean? Was he never leaving again, or just visiting?
He still knew how to come back? What right did he have to come back?
"What is he coming back for?"
Zhou Shu’s words returned to their usual coldness, but this time, they seemed laced with something else.
"You child, how can you talk like that! Haicheng is his home. Why shouldn't he be able to come back?"
After that, Zhou Shu was no longer in the mood to listen to whatever was said on the phone.
He hung up blankly and went to the balcony to light a menthol cigarette. The smoke drifting from his mouth was instantly scattered by the night wind.
The night before, a torrential rain had blanketed the capital. Everyone thought today's premiere would have to be canceled, but upon waking up, this morning's sunlight was even more dazzling than in the height of summer.
Even the weather was exactly the same as it had been twenty-three years ago.
The early autumn sun baked the riverside forest after the rain. Mixed with the scent of damp vegetation, it burrowed into Zhou Shu's head in waves.
Even the smell was the same.
It was equally capable of shattering one's peaceful state of mind, leaving one agitated and restless.
The moonlight was a sword, piercing the unique silence of the night.
The man in the room knitted his brows, bathed in the moonlight, when a splitting headache suddenly struck.
Using the last of his strength, Zhou Shu straightened his clothes. He lay on the bed and crawled under the covers, remaining motionless as if awaiting judgment.
Tonight, the wind rose and the clouds dispersed; the moon was dark and the wind was high.
He was about to transform.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 胭脂醉 | Rouge Drunk | The title of the movie within the novel. |
| 楚洵 | Chu Xun | The character in the movie played by Zhou Shu. |
| 周树 | Zhou Shu | The protagonist, a famous Alpha actor. |
| 朱丽丽 | Zhu Lili | Zhou Shu's assistant, also known as Julia. |
| 靳言 | Jin Yan | A character from Zhou Shu's past returning from abroad. |
| 海城 | Haicheng | Sea City; the hometown of the characters. |
| 梨园 | Pear Garden | A traditional term referring to the world of Chinese opera. |
| 海王 | Sea King | Slang for a player or someone who has many romantic entanglements. |
| 变身 | Transform / Transformation | Refers to a physical change, likely related to the ABO setting. |
