After Flirting with the Wrong Stand-in, I Overturned (GL) - Chapter 18

“No!” Lin Shuyan practically bristled like a startled cat, leaping off the rock in an instant. Half her face was flushed crimson. “I would never film something like that!”

Oho. Ren Xuan raised an eyebrow, the last traces of her irritation vanishing completely. Her hand, which had been flipping through the script, came to a halt. She hadn’t expected to get such a reaction from a casual probe.

Lin Shuyan was even more pure-hearted than she had imagined!

That reaction, those words… did they mean Lin Shuyan had never kissed anyone before?

Well, wouldn’t another question clear that right up?

“Lin Shuyan,” Ren Xuan tilted her head, her eyes soft as water but quite impolitely staring straight at the girl. A shallow smile played at the corners of her mouth. “You’re going to film many works in the future, you know.”

Can an on-screen first kiss really be kept forever?

Lin Shuyan understood Ren Xuan’s meaning. Ever since entering the industry, she had only played supporting roles. Although her female supporting character in this drama was linked to the male lead, that affection was hazy—something she didn’t dare to say, much less express openly.

The male lead openly loved the Senior Sister, while the Senior Sister only had her internal struggle. She never spoke a word of it even on her deathbed; not a single person in the entire immortal sect knew of her feelings. She hid them so meticulously that she only dared to steal a few extra glances at the male lead as she was dying.

For such a character, a screenwriter adding a kiss scene would be an insult. However, Miss Ren was right—if she was going to film many works in the future, a kiss scene seemed…

Lin Shuyan suddenly snapped back to reality. She didn’t even know how this drama would turn out yet! Who knew about the next one? Besides, couldn’t she just pick roles without kiss scenes in the future?

Why am I even discussing this in front of Miss Ren? Lin Shuyan gripped her hem tightly, her white costume about to be twisted into a little braid. Thoughts raced through her mind one after another, but in front of Ren Xuan, she just stood there obediently with her head bowed and face red, lacking even the courage to look the other woman in the eye.

It was as if merely mentioning the words “kiss scene” carried a sense of sin.

“Lin Shuyan,” the more she retreated, the more Ren Xuan felt the urge to tease her. For anything else, Ren Xuan might have let it slide. But when it came to romance, she had to administer a “preventative shot” early. Right now, Shuyan might not have such thoughts, but the time spent on a film set was long. Over many days and nights, with someone constantly offering warmth and care while Ren Xuan wasn’t by her side—she’d be left in the dust.

“Have you really never been in love?” Ren Xuan stood up and walked toward Lin Shuyan step by step. Her presence drew closer and more imposing; Lin Shuyan’s heart hammered violently.

“Miss… Miss Ren.” Lin Shuyan shrank her head lower, biting her lower lip hard, her long, thick lashes trembling. Seeing Ren Xuan pressing closer, she couldn’t stop herself from shuffling backward. Eventually, her composure broke.

Lin Shuyan mumbled, thinking she should sound confident and righteous, but her words lacked any real conviction: “This… this is my privacy.”

There was a faint, undetectable trace of grievance in her voice. After all, in Lin Shuyan’s heart, Miss Ren had always been gentle and considerate.

“Mhm,” Ren Xuan nodded, sounding perfectly reasonable. “It is indeed Shuyan’s privacy.”

You know it’s private, yet you still ask, and you don’t look like you’re stopping. Lin Shuyan continued to tug at her hem, her head down, staring so hard at her simple lotus-embroidered shoes that she nearly bored a hole through them.

“I’ve never been in love either,” Ren Xuan said openly and grandly, appearing to have no intention whatsoever of hiding anything from the girl.

“So,” Ren Xuan chuckled, blinking innocently. She sat back down on the rock as if nothing had happened, placing the script casually on the other side. “I’m quite curious. Tell me, what does it feel like to kiss someone?”

Miss Ren has never been in love?

Those words were like a massive boulder dropped into a pond, instantly sending huge ripples through Lin Shuyan’s heart. There was shock and confusion; even though she knew Miss Ren had no reason to lie about such a thing, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit of doubt.

Miss Ren is so outstanding, there must be plenty of people pursuing her. How could she have never been in love?

Her skepticism was too obvious. Her face, which had been bowed, now looked up; her red cheeks and her little eyes full of doubt were caught perfectly by Ren Xuan.

“I’m serious,” Ren Xuan sighed. “I’m the eldest daughter of the family and have been held to high expectations since I was a child. The most important thing was always studying. Twenty-four hours a day were spent learning all kinds of knowledge. Even my entertainment was limited to sports chosen under the butler’s supervision.”

“If anyone approached me, other than acquaintances, my family’s first reaction was to figure out what they wanted to get from me.”

“Tell me,” Ren Xuan spread her hands and looked up at Lin Shuyan, “how could I possibly fall in love?”

“Unless my family arranged a fiancé for me beforehand, but unfortunately, they didn’t. Since I was little, I’ve envied those who could fall in love freely—who they like, who they want to confess to, it’s all their own business.”

“After growing up, I took over the Ren family. I only have a younger sister, so I have to be even more careful of people with ill intentions.” As Ren Xuan spoke, her demeanor grew lonely. She shook her head and murmured, “Someone like me is destined to be alone for a lifetime, I suppose.”

“No, that’s not true!” Lin Shuyan shook her head hurriedly. “Miss Ren, I didn’t mean that.”

She spoke rapidly: “I haven’t been in love either! I’ve been an orphan since I was a child. No one liked me, and I didn’t have anyone I liked either!”

“Really?” Ren Xuan asked.

“Really.” Lin Shuyan nodded vigorously. “Although my current role has some emotional scenes, they aren’t much at all.” At this point, she scratched her ear, saying bashfully, “Because I lack that experience, and I don’t have much acting experience either, I… I take a bit more time.”

“So we’re the same.” Having successfully fished out the truth and narrowed the distance, Ren Xuan took the chance to ask: “I was just thinking, when you’re filming, if you get into character, does it feel like being in love?”

“No.” Lin Shuyan waved her hands and shook her head repeatedly. “I won’t get lost in the character.”

“Are you so sure?” Ren Xuan was determined to finish this “preventative shot.” Shuyan would have so many roles in the future; Ren Xuan couldn’t go and watch her on every single set.

“What if a certain script really hits your taste, or a certain star really catches your eye? I see a lot of celebrities in the industry fall in love because of a drama—strangers to friends to lovers, then to husband and wife.”

“It won’t happen,” Lin Shuyan nodded with certainty. “I just want to work hard, act well, and make money.”

“Miss Ren,” she added after a pause, “I want to act well.” Should I have not added the part about making money? It’s the truth, but will it make Miss Ren think I’m too materialistic?

“That’s good. Making money is good,” Ren Xuan commented. “Lin Shuyan, act well and make money.”

“Mhm.” Lin Shuyan suddenly became happy. “Miss Ren, I will definitely act well and try my best not to let your investment go to waste.”

Lin Shuyan had said this more than once, and Ren Xuan’s fingers curled inside her sleeve. Lin Shuyan wouldn’t fail her investment, but she was destined to fail Lin Shuyan.

“It’s getting late.” Ren Xuan stood up and handed the script to Lin Shuyan. “Do you want to study it a bit longer, or head back over there?”

“Miss Ren, how about you go first…” Lin Shuyan said hesitantly.

“I understand,” Ren Xuan said. “Otherwise, why would I have specially run all the way here to find you?”

So, Miss Ren didn’t miss me earlier—she did it on purpose? A strange emotion welled up in Lin Shuyan’s heart as she clutched her script.

“People talk. It wouldn’t be good for you,” Ren Xuan said.