After Being Clung to by a Gentle, Seductive Omega - Chapter 10

In an era filled with the flames of war, a military ruler who occupied one region unexpectedly fell.

Inside an old-fashioned Song-style courtyard, guests came and went in low-key black clothing. Servants at the entrance pinned white boutonnieres onto the guests.

“This way, please.”

The servants led them into the main hall.

Inside the hall, a pitch-black coffin lay across the very center.

The coffin lid was open, and inside lay a charred corpse.

Its appearance could no longer be recognized. Only the enormous black-and-white portrait hanging in the hall told everyone how heroic, valiant, stunning, and peerless this Alpha general had been in life.

A beautiful woman knelt before the coffin.

She wore elegant, old-fashioned black clothing and a black veiled hat.

The sky outside was dark and gloomy. The pale light in the hall made the beautiful woman’s face look even more sorrowful and solemn, faintly revealing a hint of sickliness.

After burning the paper money, she slowly turned around and bowed to the guests.

“Everyone, forgive me for the poor reception.”

Her bearing was graceful and composed, her tone gentle yet dispirited.

This was the wife of General Ji, who had once held great prestige over one region.

“Madam Ji, please restrain your grief.”

“You and General Ji still have a child. You must take care of your health.”

“If General Ji knows in the afterlife, she will surely bless you.”

The guests spoke one after another. Madam Ji calmly responded to the comfort from her late wife’s comrades. Suddenly, her stomach churned violently, and the sensation of nausea rushed straight up her throat.

At that moment, the sounds around her seemed to drop several degrees.

She recalled the final intimacy she and her late wife had shared before her wife went to the battlefield…

Her already sickly complexion instantly became even paler.

She forced down the violent discomfort in her stomach, and her eyes reddened in an instant. She looked so pitiful that one could not help but feel compassion.

Seeing this, the guests only thought the general’s wife was overwhelmed with grief. They felt even more pity for this beautiful woman, who had been so well protected by the general, like a golden canary.

“Cut!”

“That’s a pass!”

Wu Langli looked at the monitor playback with satisfaction.

“President Ji, look. Film Queen Bo’s slight movement of the throat, paired with the natural reddening of her eyes—there’s no one else in the industry who can act so naturally and with such perfect restraint.”

The difficulty of the first scene lay in the fact that Bo Shuang had to portray multiple complex layers of emotion: the grief of mourning her late wife, the sudden joy and sorrow of discovering she was pregnant with her late wife’s posthumous child, the difficulty of forcing down her physical discomfort, and the extreme restraint of a widow who had been protected extremely well by the general and was now presiding over the situation alone for the first time. All these emotions had to be interpreted layer by layer, then blended together and calmly restrained at the moment of eruption.

It was like an earthquake erupting beneath the surface of the water, yet by the time it reached the lake’s surface, only a faint ripple remained.

This tested acting skill the most.

If the acting was too heavy, then it would no longer be a faint ripple, but raging waves, emotions splashed straight into the audience’s face.

If the acting was too light, there would not even be a ripple, and the audience would see nothing. The entire scene would be wasted.

Even for a globally renowned film queen, Wu Langli had not been confident that it would pass in one take.

A scene layered with physical discomfort and a mixture of joy and grief would usually require at least a few additional shots.

But Bo Shuang’s performance was natural and flawless. Perfect.

Ji Congyan commented faintly, “Indeed. It’s as if Bo Shuang herself has experienced losing a wife and carrying a posthumous child.”

Acting so convincingly that one became whatever one played was the highest praise for an actor.

As agreed, Yu Chen had personally come to the dressing room today to apologize to Bo Shuang. After the apology ended, she went to the neighboring production crew to find a friend.

She only came over once filming started, stood beside President Ji for a while, and watched Bo Shuang’s first scene.

She only felt that Bo Shuang’s acting had improved again. It was so strong it was outrageous. It gave a harsh slap to Yu Chen, who had originally come over to see whether Bo Shuang’s performance was really as brilliant as President Ji had said.

What was there left to compete with?

Anyone with eyes could see that Bo Shuang not only fit the role, but her performance was also ridiculously natural.

Yu Chen’s words about criticizing Bo Shuang died before they could even be born.

The set for the next scene required slight changes. The staff tidied up the venue, and the actors touched up their makeup.

If the lead actress was reliable, the project was already nearly half successful. After watching the first scene attentively, Ji Congyan casually glanced around a few times, then lowered her head and continued handling work.

Her schedule was packed. For inspection-related trips like this, other work arrangements would also be mixed into the schedule to ensure every thread was filled and everything ran efficiently in all directions.

Now, she needed to put on her earphones and sit in on an online meeting for one of the group’s departments.

After an important round of discussion ended, the employees casually chatted about a few unrelated things to relax. At that moment, Ji Congyan raised her head and happened to enter the nth scene.

Bo Shuang’s face was even paler than it had been during the first scene. She stood beside the coffin, her fingertips brushing over the frame of the enormous black-and-white portrait. Behind her knelt a hall full of her late wife’s subordinates.

In this solemn and dignified moment, the beautiful woman’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

“Cut!”

Wu Langli frowned. The script supervisor at the side did not even dare to breathe loudly.

The atmosphere beside the set was no longer as relaxed as it had been earlier. Everyone’s faces looked heavy.

For this scene, Bo Shuang had NG’d a full eight times.

Her performance had completely fallen below her usual standard.

Bo Shuang walked from in front of the camera to behind the monitor.

“I’m sorry, Director Wu. I’ll adjust my condition.”

Five minutes later, Bo Shuang came out of the dressing room and returned to her original position.

“…Ninth take, Action!”

The script supervisor clapped the slate.

Her late wife’s subordinates were utterly loyal, kneeling behind her as they waited for the widow to accept the general’s final wishes and inherit the overall command.

She stroked General Ji’s photograph, her back to everyone, her eyes filled with intense longing and love for her late wife.

At a certain moment, she made her decision. Her fingers tightened heavily around the edge of the frame, and her gentle voice trembled yet remained firm.

“All members of the Ji family—”

Before she could finish saying “Ji family army,” the churning sensation in her stomach instantly rushed up to her throat. Bo Shuang’s throat rolled heavily against her control, and she forcibly suppressed the urge to vomit.

But because of that, just like the previous eight times, the scene was ruined.

The script supervisor’s crisp “cut” sounded. The staff who had been watching for a long time began speaking in low voices. Some were puzzled, some were impatient, and some watched with worry.

The urge to vomit had almost reached the limit of her endurance.

Bo Shuang hurriedly said something to Wu Langli, then pressed her lips tightly together and left in the direction of the dressing room.

The area near the monitor fell silent. Everyone was watching Director Wu’s expression, while also secretly paying attention to the two investors.

Chairwoman Yue cursed inwardly, but her smile remained proper on the surface. She took the initiative to greet Ji Congyan.

“President Ji, I’m going to take a call. Langli, take good care of President Ji.”

The two important people in the production crew, Director Wu Langli and lead actress Bo Shuang, were both capable generals under Yueyu Entertainment.

Wu Langli cursed that person surnamed Yue inwardly.

That old fox had it good. She herself did not dare offend President Ji, so she left the person to Wu Langli and slipped aside, definitely to call Bo Shuang’s manager.

“President Ji, may I trouble you to step aside for a moment?”

Wu Langli smiled pleasantly.

There were too many people on set, so it was not suitable for conversation.

After they returned to the lounge, Cen Sang brewed a cup of tea each for Ji Congyan and Wu Langli. Ji Xunwu sat quietly to the side, her worried gaze frequently looking toward the door.

Wu Langli had brought the original footage in and played Ji Congyan a few selected clips from the earlier scenes.

Ji Congyan folded her hands together, calm and unhurried.

“Director Wu, even with my amateur-level eye, I can tell that apart from the first scene, the later ones are barely passable.”

They could be used.

But compared with the first scene, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Wu Langli smiled apologetically.

“President Ji, an actor’s condition sometimes varies. Bo Shuang is a film queen recognized by major global awards and the public alike. Besides, haven’t we already decided to let Bo Shuang take the lead role? Changing things back and forth at the last minute would not be good.”

There was no need for hidden words between people who understood.

After watching the later clips, Ji Congyan’s eyes could not hide her intention to replace the actress.

Yu Chen was on site. She had borrowed Assistant Cen’s script to read, and from the looks of it, she had realized that something was wrong with Bo Shuang’s condition and was eager to try.

As long as Ji Congyan gave the order, she could step onto the set at any time and take over Bo Shuang’s lead role.

In this crisis, Wu Langli had no choice but to be direct and take the initiative to fight for her own artist.

“Enough. Yueyu Entertainment has a film queen, but Anji Entertainment doesn’t lack one either. If I don’t see Bo Shuang perform at her proper level today, then the lead role can only be changed. Understood?”

“Understood, understood.”

Wu Langli smiled bitterly and gave Ji Congyan a whole basketful of empty assurances.

The two of them did not know that their conversation had already passed through the terribly soundproofed partition and reached Bo Shuang’s ears.

Bo Shuang gently wiped the stain from the corner of her mouth, tilted her head back, and rinsed her mouth. Thin sweat stuck strands of hair to the side of her forehead, and her face was pale.

Beside her, the phone was not on speaker, but Yue Hong’s sharp voice was extremely penetrating.

“Ah Shuang, this is where you’re being dishonest. You knew President Ji was watching. What level is your acting supposed to be? Let me tell you how ruthless President Ji’s methods are. If you’re still in this state today, forget this film—after this, you’ll never be able to cooperate with any Anji Entertainment project again!”

“Don’t forget your family still owes me several hundred million. Your father lost another sixty million gambling yesterday, and then there’s your mother’s sky-high nursing expenses. Calculate that debt yourself. If you don’t act well today, you can forget about paying it off in this lifetime!”

“It’s fine if you can’t act well, too. President Huang thinks highly of you. When are you going to accompany President Huang for a drink? Which option you choose—think it through yourself.”

The call ended, and only the humming of the air conditioner remained in the room.

Sweat slid down her temple. Bo Shuang opened her mobile banking app. Before she could clearly see the balance, the overwhelming nausea struck again.

·

Ji Congyan finished her meeting in the lounge and rested with narrowed eyes for a while.

There was no point watching the lead actress’s perfunctory performance.

“Mom, I’m back.”

Ji Xunwu poked her little head in through the door.

Ji Congyan smiled. “Is it hot outside? Come in and enjoy the cool air for a while.”

Ji Xunwu shook her head. “It’s not hot. Sister Bo is here too. Can Sister Bo come in with me?”

The smile on Ji Congyan’s face disappeared.

After entering, Bo Shuang greeted her.

“President Ji.”

The tea spoon stirred the water in the porcelain cup. Ji Congyan took a slow sip.

“Miss Bo has good methods. If you could put these thoughts on the proper path, you wouldn’t have NG’d nine times.”

Bo Shuang stood not far away, her brows and eyes lowered.

“Delaying the crew’s time is my fault. May I ask President Ji to show mercy and allow me two more days?”

Ji Congyan glanced at the partition.

“The soundproofing is that bad?”

“I’m sorry, President Ji. I didn’t do it on purpose. I still ask President Ji to allow me two more days.”

“Haven’t I already given you two months? Miss Bo has done well. You took the money, took the break, and now you’ve come to the crew to retire?”

Ji Congyan leaned against the sofa, her gaze cold.

“President Ji…”

Bo Shuang’s face was pale. Her stomach was still nauseous, and clear sweat slid down her slender neck.

She did not have the slightest posture of someone asking for help.

Although her eyes were lowered, her attitude was neither humble nor arrogant. Her long lashes trembled, and her eyes were red because of the scene just now.

It looked even more like she was deliberately showing weakness, intending to gently guide Ji Congyan into agreeing to her request.

Vaguely, Ji Congyan smelled a scent that should not belong in the air.

Mixed into the orchid-and-sandalwood fragrance was a special aroma.

Her mind went into a daze for a moment. By the time she reacted, she was already holding a kettle, slowly pouring warm water into a clean teacup.

If she had reacted any slower, who knew whose hands this cup of tea would have been delivered into.

Just like that night.

Realizing that she had done something unnecessary, Ji Congyan’s eyes pressed down unhappily at the corners. She called Ji Xunwu over to drink water.

Ji Xunwu came over with small steps.

She took the water and steadily walked to Bo Shuang’s side, offering it with both hands.

“Sister Bo, drink some water.”

Bo Shuang was slightly startled. Ji Congyan had a bad feeling, and her eyelid twitched wildly.

Ji Xunwu’s smile was brilliant.

“Mom never pours water for me. So this cup of water was poured by Mom for Sister Bo.”