Chapter 44

Before Lin Ke shot the magazine spread, she first went with Lu Tu to look at the single apartments arranged by the company. There were three apartments, and Lin Ke chose the one with a fresh, light style.

Lu Tu contacted cleaners for a full first-time cleaning, gave Lin Ke the key, and kept a copy for herself. After viewing the apartment, the two went to eat lamb hotpot before hurrying to the shooting location.

Once she got busy, the shoot went straight until late at night, past midnight. Lin Ke’s styling was rather difficult. One makeup look took two hours. This issue of the magazine had a tropical rainforest cover.

For the first set of photos, Lin Ke’s half-length hair was blown into a slightly fluffy shape, tied with colorful hair ties, then decorated with fruit-patterned hair clips. Her face was painted with dazzling multicolored gold powder, and the exposed skin of her thighs and arms was given some fluffy decorations, making her look like a mysterious animal wandering through the forest.

For the second set, Lin Ke got hair extensions, braided them into a fishtail braid, wore a crop top and shorts, and had heavy makeup on. Under the light board, she posed in all kinds of ways and even wore fake teeth, looking exactly like a leopard hunting through the darkness.

There was still one final environmental-protection-themed set left to shoot. Everyone discussed it and decided to shoot it the next day. Once Lin Ke left the camera, that boundlessly energetic appearance immediately collapsed.

“I’m exhausted.” Lin Ke curled herself into the sofa.

“Done shooting?” Lu Tu took the magazine off her face and asked Lin Ke.

Lin Ke nodded. “Let’s go home.”

Lu Tu stood up and went to discuss the next day’s shooting time with the photographer. She also went to look at the freshly released photos. When she came back, she clicked her tongue in wonder and kicked the sole of Lin Ke’s foot.

Lin Ke: “…What?”

Lin Ke was so sleepy her eyes looked dazed.

Lu Tu tossed her a USB drive. “I kept a set of base images for you. They turned out pretty well. Send them to Film Queen Lin. She’ll definitely howl!”

Lin Ke climbed up and grabbed her fishtail braid. “They look super cool, right?”

Lu Tu said, “Both cute and cool! A little puppy! Who wouldn’t love an omega like this?”

Lin Ke chuckled, packed her things, and followed Lu Tu to remove her makeup. The fishtail braid was easy to tug at the scalp if she took it apart herself, so it took some time to remove everything on her head. By the time Lu Tu drove Lin Ke to the apartment, it was already almost four in the morning.

Lu Tu said, “I’ll help you get the rest of your luggage tomorrow. Shower as fast as you can, then sleep. Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll pick you up for the last photo set. The day after tomorrow, you have an endorsement. The day after that, a company meeting. The day after that, you join the crew.”

Lin Ke said, “…No rest time anymore?”

“No,” Lu Tu said. “Once you’re done being busy, you’ll join the crew right away. The notices are all arranged. What, didn’t you just rest for two days?”

Lin Ke complained, “A week’s workload is almost catching up to what used to be a whole month.”

Lu Tu nagged, “Nonsense. You’re still far off. Truly popular people fly to two or three cities in one day. You? You still have time to sleep in. Be grateful.”

Lin Ke slid out of the car seat, grabbed her small bag, and went upstairs. Along the way, Lu Tu told her some company matters. Only when they reached the door did Lu Tu ask, “Do you still want Fang Wuyu’s contact information?”

Lin Ke asked, “You got it?”

Lu Tu stuffed the food in her hands to Lin Ke and said, “I sent it to you. But I didn’t dare ask Fang Wuyu directly. I got it from someone [stolen content]else. I don’t know why, but whenever I see her, I feel guilty.”

“I used to feel guilty,” Lin Ke said. “Now I feel heartache.”

Lu Tu rolled her eyes at her. “She and Film Queen Lin have ten years of friendship! Judging from the way she acts, she still likes Film Queen Lin too. You’re the little anti-fan who came from behind and overtook her! Who wouldn’t feel guilty?”

Lin Ke said, “Now the person is mine. I feel heartache for Fang Wuyu.”

Lu Tu said, “You’re acetic acid, aren’t you?”

Lin Ke opened the door. The new apartment smelled of disinfectant after cleaning. She stood at the doorway, a little afraid to go in. “I’m living alone?”

Lu Tu asked, “You still want a roommate?”

Lin Ke laughed dryly. “Haha, no. Bye-bye, see you tomorrow.”

Lu Tu closed the door for her. “Call me if something happens.”

Once Lu Tu left, the room immediately felt empty. Lin Ke stood silently in the entryway for a few seconds, then turned on all the main switches in the apartment. After looking through the entire place, inside and out, she finally collapsed limply onto the sofa.

After lying there like a corpse for two seconds, Lin Ke went to shower. Then she pulled out her laptop, hugged her knees, curled up on the sofa, plugged in the USB drive, and looked through her own photos.

An actor’s malleability was too strong. The light in her own eyes was something she almost could not recognize.

Lin Ke seemed to see Chu Feng, but in the blink of an eye, that person disappeared.

Sleepiness attacked. Lin Ke hugged the laptop and fell asleep directly on the sofa.

The next morning.

A medium-sized business van slowly drove into the parking lot. Lin Bingran put on her mask, opened the car door, and stepped out with her long legs.

Guo Rongrong came downstairs to meet her. “Ran-jie.”

Lin Bingran nodded. Her ink-black hair was tied into a ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a full set of casual clothes, the fabric leaning toward cotton. Her clothes pursued comfort above all and had no visible brand decorations.

Aside from her superior head-to-body ratio, Lin Bingran was so low-key she did not look like an artist.

After sitting down on the twenty-third floor, Du Yi pushed the door open and came in. With him was Fengyue’s boss.

“Bingran is here!” Fengyue’s boss was over fifty, a male alpha.

Lin Bingran shook hands with him. “President Tang, please sit.”

President Tang laughed heartily, pointing at the seats for Lin Bingran and Du Yi to sit. “Sit, all sit. Ai, how long has it been since the three of us gathered like this?”

Du Yi smiled and pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. “Almost a year. The timing never worked out.”

President Tang smiled. “That’s right. Bingran is too busy. If she isn’t filming on set, she’s rushing notices out of town. Rare, truly rare!”

Lin Bingran smiled serenely. “Brother Tang, let’s not talk about that.”

President Tang smiled. The few of them exchanged pleasantries until an assistant pushed open the door and brought in three cups of water. After the door was closed again, the atmosphere finally settled.

President Tang held coffee. Du Yi drank wolfberry and red date water. Lin Bingran had a cup of hot tea. Each suited their habits and preferences.

Du Yi said, “President Tang, today…”

“I know.” President Tang raised his hand. “Bingran’s contract still has one year left, right?”

Lin Bingran smiled. “Yes. One year and two months.”

President Tang narrowed his eyes slightly. His pale-yellow eyes revealed a businessman’s keenness. “What are you thinking?”

Lin Bingran glanced at Du Yi. President Tang raised his hand. “You don’t need to mind Du Yi. Just speak for yourself.”

Lin Bingran said, “I have to leave.”

“Seven years,” President Tang said. “Bingran, you’ve stayed at Fengyue for seven years. With feelings built over so long, I thought you would choose to stay.”

Lin Bingran said, “There is no banquet in the world that does not end. Brother Tang’s kindness—I won’t forget it.”

President Tang rubbed a hand over his buzz cut, placed his cup on the table, and said to Du Yi, “Let me see Bingran’s work schedule.”

Lin Bingran’s schedule had been saturated in the previous two years. Only in the last year or two, because of her personal transition and the company’s issue of cultivating new talents, had resources tilted slightly elsewhere.

The fact that Lin Bingran was going to leave was something the entire upper management of the company tacitly understood. Rather than spare no effort in squeezing money out of Lin Bingran, it was better to cultivate a newcomer with a longer flowering period and easier control.

President Tang flipped through the materials, occasionally raising his head to size Lin Bingran up. Lin Bingran was twenty-eight this year, but there was not the slightest trace of age on her face. Her condition was comparable to that of a newly graduated university student.

With her acting skills, box-office appeal, and reputation, she could remain popular in the industry for at least another seven or eight years. Until she was thirty-five, Lin Bingran would still be able to receive leading roles in films and TV dramas.

Letting go of a money tree still left President Tang unwilling.

“Have you found a new company?” President Tang asked.

Lin Bingran said, “At the moment, I want to build up my studio and be my own boss. Freedom.”

Lin Bingran’s team had long had mature and independent working ability. Lin Bingran’s usual resource connections and business dealings were generally handled by the studio people when they liaised with Fengyue.

President Tang smiled. “That little group of yours wasn’t easy for the company to cultivate. Fine, you’re leaving, but you want to take them with you too?”

Lin Bingran smiled. “After all, they’ve followed me for several years. We have feelings.”

President Tang’s face cooled. “Bingran, have you thought this through?”

Lin Bingran nodded.

President Tang bent his index finger and tapped Lin Bingran’s notice schedule. After Lin Bingran finished filming a movie, there was nearly a two-month gap. He said, “Since you’re leaving, bring some newcomers for the company one more time.”

Du Yi raised his voice. “President Tang, this…”

President Tang said, “Du Yi, you’re the company’s gold-medal manager. Do you want to leave with Bingran too?”

Lin Bingran said, “No problem.”

Du Yi sighed. The meeting lasted two hours. Everything afterward was a tug-of-war over Lin Bingran’s schedule and work content.

Du Yi was physically and mentally exhausted from negotiating. After President Tang left the meeting room, he lit a cigarette and bit it between his teeth.

Lin Bingran said, “Give me one.”

Du Yi said, “Don’t smoke.”

“Then should I smoke your secondhand smoke?” Lin Bingran chuckled.

Du Yi: “…”

Du Yi handed Lin Bingran a cigarette. Lin Bingran had not smoked in too long. After lighting it, she tightened her cheeks and narrowed her eyes slightly as she exhaled a cloud of white mist. The mist turned into a ring, then slowly dissipated in the air.

She had learned this trick back when she was filming a movie, from a street delinquent girl.

Du Yi: “…”

“What is it?” Lin Bingran asked.

Du Yi said, “Why are you in such a hurry? What if the company intends to renew your contract…”

Lin Bingran stretched her arms like a big cat and said, “If I don’t leave soon, I’m afraid there’ll be a few more incidents like the airport.”

Du Yi asked, “You know?”

Lin Bingran hummed. “Even if I don’t say it, the company will gradually make me bring newcomers onto the screen. It’s better to make things clear early. Remember to reject the lousy dramas that should be rejected.”

Du Yi said, “There’s no way around it. Right now, Fengyue doesn’t have a pillar who can compare to you. All topics can only be maintained through you.”

Lin Bingran said, “I have only one request. Don’t buy messy trending searches anymore.”

Du Yi said, “I’m afraid that won’t work. Until your two movies release during the Spring Festival slot, the relationship can keep maintaining heat for you.”

Lin Bingran clicked her tongue. “Am I not popular enough? Is that it?”

Du Yi said, “The company only wants to maximize profit.”

Lin Bingran sneered. “One last year.”

Du Yi said, “Don’t tear faces apart.”

Lin Bingran smiled. She was not afraid of haters, nor was she afraid of rival teams. As long as she still filmed, she was even less afraid of being controlled by the company. On the contrary, the company’s contract restricted her from coming into contact with some good scripts.

Lin Bingran asked, “How are negotiations for that script from last time?”

Du Yi took a drag of his cigarette and shook his head. “No good. The pay is low, not to mention that with that kind of subject matter, the box office definitely won’t do well. Letting you take Wind Chime was already the company’s biggest concession, and that was only because they hoped you’d win another trophy.”

For a company, cultivating a film queen could let them enjoy dividends for one or two years.

Lin Bingran had not won an award in three years. She had been taking on more commercial films. She could carry box office and had good acting skills, so directors liked working with her. But after filming many commercial films, it was also true that her reputation had declined.

Otherwise, the haters would not mock her as a sunset-red film queen.

Lin Bingran said, “I’m going back.”

Du Yi asked, “Do you want to take a look at the company’s trainees? They’re all young alphas.”

Lin Bingran bit her cigarette. “No. I’ve eaten too much lately.”

Du Yi asked, “Eaten too much?”

Lin Bingran gave a soft “mm-hm,” the ending tone rising into a light hum.

Du Yi: “…”

“Was it you who gave Lin Ke the resource to get Gu Bai’s drama?”

Lin Bingran said, “It was the director’s keen eye for talent.”

Du Yi rubbed his brow and said helplessly, “In the second half of the year, I’ll arrange for some rumors of discord between you and Lin Ke to spread.”

Lin Bingran did not speak.

Du Yi said, “Let the public eat some material first, then gradually intensify it little by little. Half a year of subtle influence will be enough for you two to break up.”

Lin Bingran said, “We dated for two years and then broke up? Then why are we building up a deep-love persona now?”

Du Yi said, “That’s the team’s matter. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Lin Bingran said, “Don’t tie Lin Ke to another CP. That trick is too old.”

If a CP needed to untie, the safest method was for a newer, more topical CP to appear. But with this method, the person bound to the new CP was easily scolded by fans and the public for being fickle. At the same time, the greater the scolding, the easier it was for the other person to safely untie.

Du Yi froze. “You…”

Lin Bingran exhaled a cloud of white smoke. Her fingers rubbed over her phone screen. The single dimple by her lips appeared and disappeared, unauthorized copymaking her look both charming and willful.

Lin Bingran said, “Do you think that after Lin Ke has hyped a CP with me, fans will buy it if she forms another CP with someone else? Will passersby believe it?”

Du Yi: “…”

“Among the female omegas in the entertainment industry, how many are prettier and more popular than me, and qualified enough for Lin Ke to abandon me and cheat?”

“No matter who you drag over to pair with her, it would embarrass me. Don’t make me wear such a low-grade green hat.”

Du Yi said faintly, “Then what about an alpha? After all, the two of you are omega and omega.”

“Lin Ke is joining a crew soon,” Du Yi said. “The male lead is a capable alpha actor. Tall, handsome, and I hear he especially likes sour things.”

“…”

Lin Bingran stubbed out the cigarette in her hand.