A Cannon Fodder A Has No Intention of Moving Up - Chapter 23

Shu Yan knew the girl probably didn’t belong to this film crew; otherwise, she would have remembered her.

She looked at An Muxue, her gaze searching. “Your new assistant?”

“No…”

An Muxue hesitated on how to introduce Lin Yue. It wouldn’t be impossible to describe her more intimately, but remembering the resolution she had made previously, she lowered her eyes and spoke in a businesslike tone. “I haven’t been feeling well lately. She’s my traveling therapist.”

“I see.”

Shu Yan smiled slightly, her gaze lingering for a moment in the direction where Lin Yue had vanished. Then she turned her attention back to An Muxue to continue discussing their collaboration.

Lin Yue was breathing softly, looking like a cat in a state of high stress. She actually wanted to leave the set immediately and run as far away as possible. But halfway through her exit, she realized she was in a foreign country…

Aside from An Muxue’s hotel, she had nowhere to go. She didn’t even know how to call a taxi. Lin Yue stopped, suddenly feeling the helplessness of a caged bird.

An Muxue’s call came quickly, asking where she had gone. Lin Yue stammered for a moment and lied, saying her stomach was bothering her. “An Muxue, can I wait for you in the car in a bit?”

An Muxue was puzzled. “Why in the car?”

“I… I want to lie down for a while.”

“Are you really okay?” Although she wanted Lin Yue by her side, the situation here was different from back home. She was only here for a cameo; she had to go for a quick interview with the director and then start filming. She wouldn’t be able to get a private dressing room. “I might be a long time. Do you need Lu Qian to buy you medicine?”

“No, no,” Lin Yue said hurriedly. “I just want to sit in the car for a bit.”

An Muxue was already due to meet the director, so she could only agree. She had Assistant Lu open the car door and turn on the air conditioning for her.

Settled inside the car, Lin Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief. Shu Yan wouldn’t just barge into An Muxue’s car for no reason… Since they hadn’t actually come face-to-face just now, it shouldn’t be a big deal, right? Who would notice her anyway?

Lin Yue spent the morning safely in the car, only emerging when it was time to eat. She received a lunch box from the crew’s catering. After wandering around for a while, she found a small, deserted patch of grass and a picnic table on the edge of the set.

Lin Yue set her lunch box down. Upon opening it, she was disappointed by the “white people food” inside, but she didn’t intend to let it go to waste. Just as she picked up her plastic fork, a shadow suddenly fell over her.

“Is this seat taken?”

Lin Yue’s entire body went rigid. She didn’t dare look up, hoping it was just a hallucination.

Shu Yan saw the girl in front of her freeze with her fork in her mouth and was amused once again. Even though Lin Yue didn’t answer, Shu Yan sat down familiarly.

“An Muxue said you’re the therapist she found. I’m surprised; you look so young. Are you usually based in China or over here?”

Therapist? Lin Yue stared at her for a long time, slowly processing the situation… and gave a quick nod. “Mhm.”

At all costs, she couldn’t let Shu Yan know she had an intimate relationship with An Muxue. “China…”

“Then the fact that she brought you all the way here proves you must be very talented.”

Even though Lin Yue’s attitude was strange, Shu Yan seemed unaffected. She continued to look at her with an open, smiling expression. Then she brushed her hair back, revealing her slender neck on the side with the earring, and rubbed it with her ring-clad fingers. “Actually, I’ve been working out lately, and the muscles here feel a bit stiff. Does the ‘little teacher’ have any suggestions?”

Lin Yue: “…”

Shu Yan smiled: “?”

Lin Yue: “………”

Lin Yue’s face first went pale, then slowly turned red, until even her forehead was flushed, but she still couldn’t find the words to speak.

“There you are!”

Just then, a Caucasian man walked over and greeted Shu Yan enthusiastically in English. They spoke rapidly; Lin Yue could only gather that the man was asking why Shu Yan had wandered off here alone. Shu Yan replied that she thought the air was nice over here.

With the “soul-searching” question interrupted, Lin Yue let out a breath. “I have things to do. I’ll go first.” Without waiting for a response, Lin Yue hurried away.

“Huh, it’s rare for someone not to like you,” the friend teased.

Shu Yan’s smile only grew wider. “Haha, yeah.”

Shu Yan had been the “king of the kids” growing up; as an adult, love letters filled her desk. She was a natural leader at work and a darling of the audience. Being loved by the whole world, this was the first time Shu Yan had met someone who didn’t even want to look her in the eye.

What an interesting girl, she couldn’t help but think.

Having lost the only quiet spot she could find, Lin Yue felt even worse. Clutching her lunch box, she didn’t know what to do. In her state of panic, although her brain told her that An Muxue’s side was the most dangerous, her body still instinctively sought comfort from someone familiar.

Lin Yue started walking and unknowingly found herself back at An Muxue’s side.

An Muxue pouted when she saw her. “I’ve been calling you for ages. Why just now…?”

“Come over here.”

Actually, Lin Yue had turned off her phone and hadn’t intended to come at all…

An Muxue was currently in the dressing room, sitting before a brightly lit vanity mirror. She had likely spent the morning getting special effects makeup; her skin was covered in intricate patterns, her hair had been turned a stunning silver, and she wore diamond-like ornaments on her head. A stylist was behind her, braiding the wig.

Bathed in the light, she looked like an untouchable elven princess. Lin Yue instinctively stopped at the door.

“What’s wrong?” Realizing Lin Yue was staring, An Muxue’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Do I look good? I’m going to be performing a non-object scene summoning a dragon in front of a green screen in a bit.”

Seeing Lin Yue’s eyes light up, An Muxue quirked her lips and patted the seat next to her again. “Come here.”

Lin Yue hesitated but eventually walked over, still holding her lunch box. An Muxue was puzzled. “Why are you sitting so far away?”

Lin Yue didn’t answer, instead glancing toward the door.

“What’s the matter? No one is going to kick you out.” Under repeated urging, Lin Yue sat a bit closer, right in front of the vanity mirror. The mirror’s lights illuminated Lin Yue’s makeup-free face and her clean, transparent eyes.

The stylist behind An Muxue noticed her and said to An Muxue, “Your friend is truly cute.”

An Muxue smiled. Once the stylist finished the hair, she said her goodbyes and went for her lunch break.

Lin Yue had just opened her lunch box to continue eating when An Muxue suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek.

Lin Yue: ?

“Do you not like the food?” An Muxue leaned in. “We could go buy something else, though the Chinese food here is just…” She wrinkled her nose in disapproval.

Lin Yue shook her head. Not wanting to be wasteful, she obediently ate the broccoli, carrots, mashed potatoes, and diced chicken. She looked like a puppy who wasn’t a picky eater.

“Oh, you poor thing…” An Muxue suddenly felt like she was lacking pheromones again and leaned in to kiss Lin Yue.

Just then, Lin Yue heard a sound outside the door and recoiled violently. The chair let out a sharp creak.

“Is An Muxue still in there?” Outside, Shu Yan asked the stylist in English.

“Yes, she’s with her cute friend.”

Shu Yan smiled, instantly understanding who she was talking about. She knocked and pushed the door open. “Muxue, are you ready? The director says you can head over.”

Her gaze swept the room and quickly locked onto Lin Yue. The girl was backing away from the vanity, almost retreating to the furthest corner from An Muxue, her head lowered and her face pale.

In front of An Muxue lay a spilled lunch box. Her face was cold, and she looked like she wanted to lose her temper, but she quickly suppressed it and stood up. “Alright. I’m coming.”

Shu Yan was stunned. What happened? Was their relationship not good after all? A spilled lunch box and such a tense atmosphere. It really wasn’t any of her business, so she didn’t ask; she simply escorted An Muxue to the director.

But as she walked, the image of Lin Yue with her head down, silent, lingered in her mind. Unable to resist her curiosity, she eventually circled back to find her. But the dressing room was already empty.

Shu Yan scratched her head and reminded herself again: Forget it, it’s none of your business.

In the afternoon, An Muxue delivered an outstanding performance, leaving a deep impression on the director and staff and earning much praise. Before leaving, Shu Yan and her manager pulled her aside to discuss future collaborations.

They talked just outside the set, where An Muxue could see her car. She knew Lin Yue was hiding inside again. Honestly, what a dummy—pushing me away so hard earlier. She hadn’t even sent a text to explain herself yet. Who knew if she’d even finished lunch?

An Muxue was restless all afternoon and was still a bit annoyed. The collaboration Shu Yan’s manager mentioned was to form a “CP” (couple pairing). Their fan bases didn’t overlap much but were both very loyal; a pairing would help Shu Yan break into the domestic market. Of course, Shu Yan could offer An Muxue equal benefits in return. It was a clear “power-coupling.”

The manager was incredibly excited, acting as if he wanted them to actually start dating. Shu Yan, instead, cast a curious glance toward the car.

An Muxue usually disliked such hype-tactics. However, since the partner this time was a trusted friend, it was easier to accept. The manager suggested they could pretend to go on a few dates here to be caught by paparazzi, then join a variety show together later. Their “CP” would reach terrifying levels of popularity.

An Muxue thought about it and said she would consider it.

Back in the car, seeing Lin Yue look up at her, An Muxue asked deliberately, “Aren’t you going to ask what Shu Yan and I talked about?”

Lin Yue shook her head. An Muxue glared at her instead. “Shu Yan wants to date me.”

Because she needed to remove a large amount of makeup, An Muxue had simply taken a shower. Her cheeks were now flushed like a lotus after rain, with strands of damp hair clinging to her neck. Her long eyelashes were perfectly defined.

She tilted her chin up arrogantly. “She’s so good-looking, a high-grade Alpha, and we’re from matching social backgrounds. I might just say yes.”

Lin Yue nodded. “Mhm…”

Actually, Lin Yue remembered this plot point. This was where they started to pretend to be a couple. At first, they were evenly matched rivals, putting on a show and testing each other. Later, Shu Yan realized An Muxue truly wasn’t interested in her, which—ironically—made her fall for An Muxue. During the variety show, the “act” became real, and she started pursuing her.

Lin Yue didn’t have much of an opinion. She remembered this move was a big boost for An Muxue’s career.

An Muxue’s cheeks puffed out, and she glared again. Why did she feel so frustrated? Staring at Lin Yue’s lips, An Muxue suddenly understood and crowded Lin Yue against the car door.

“Kiss me.”

Her cheeks were red, her soft body pressed against Lin Yue, her eyes losing focus almost instantly. “I’m lacking pheromones.”