Chapter 30
It was not until the director called cut that Shen Yishu finally snapped out of her daze.
From the moment she made a move that was not written in the script, it felt as though her mind had sunk into the sea. Everything had become hazy, and all the lines and actions that followed had been completed purely by instinct.
She glanced at Ji Xiangyu.
The other woman’s expression remained calm, as though she had no thoughts whatsoever about the improvised kiss. She reacted so naturally that it seemed the scene had always been written into the script and she had known about it in advance.
Had Shen Yishu not come up with the kiss while filming, she might have mistakenly believed she had forgotten part of the script.
However, Ji Xiangyu’s normally pale neck was flushed pink.
Perhaps she was not entirely as composed as she appeared.
A crew member jogged over and began telling the extras to clear the objects from the ground, though her eyes kept drifting toward Shen Yishu.
Shen Yishu noticed.
She knew the crew member was checking the director’s expression to determine whether they needed to film the entire scene again.
The director remained silent, so the crew could only begin clearing the set.
Shen Yishu had improvised without permission and delayed the production’s schedule. Being scolded a few times would already be considered a light punishment.
She had kissed Ji Xiangyu without hesitation moments ago, but now she had mentally prepared herself to be reprimanded.
What truly made her feel guilty was the possibility that she had delayed everyone and forced the entire cast and crew to repeat the scene.
Only when she approached the director did Shen Yishu notice Jiang Wu standing beside him with a dark expression.
She looked at Jiang Wu in confusion, unable to understand why her face looked so terrible.
The director stared intently at the playback on the monitor.
When the footage reached the moment the two women embraced, he closed his open thermos and grinned.
The smile made Shen Yishu’s scalp go numb.
Ji Xiangyu stopped beside her and whispered,
“Don’t be afraid.”
Shen Yishu immediately relaxed inside.
As long as Ji Xiangyu was not angry, everything else was a minor matter.
Jiang Wu sent Shen Yishu an icy glare and asked the director,
“Aren’t we filming that section again? It’ll be difficult to edit in post-production.”
The director turned toward her in surprise, his entire face filled with confusion.
“Why would we edit it out?”
Jiang Wu pointed toward Shen Yishu, her tone stern.
“She added a scene without permission. According to the contract, you could demand compensation for breach of contract.”
The director had spent decades filming within the entertainment industry.
He was not an exceptionally famous director, but he was still someone whose name reassured certain drama fans whenever they saw it.
This was the first time he had encountered an actress attempting to direct his production for him.
Fortunately, he had a good temper.
Rather than becoming angry, he patiently explained,
“The added scene was excellent. The emotion was right. Why shouldn’t it be included?”
Jiang Wu was left speechless.
The director beckoned Shen Yishu over to watch the playback.
Shen Yishu crouched beside him as he opened the footage.
“You young people love romance.”
The director held his thermos and chuckled.
“Look at the two of you running toward each other. How romantic.”
Shen Yishu had no choice but to ask cautiously,
“Doesn’t it conflict with the character?”
“What were you thinking at the time?” the director asked.
“I felt that even though Li Jin always treated Zhou Yi as a chess piece, they still grew up together as childhood sweethearts and shared genuine affection. At a moment of victory like this, it would be difficult for her not to become emotional.”
Shen Yishu explained her reasoning.
From Li Jin’s characterization, the action was completely logical.
But for Shen Yishu herself, it had been close to losing control.
“Exactly.”
The director agreed wholeheartedly.
“You truly were born to play Li Jin. You understand her perfectly.”
Shen Yishu: “…”
Could he stop calling her the person born to play Li Jin?
If Shen Yishu were truly Li Jin, even with a hundred times more courage, she would never dare mistreat Zhou Yi.
How could she not understand the character?
While filming, her mind had contained only three words:
Kiss her now.
Only after the scene ended and she walked away did her mind begin working again.
Her brain had not moved this quickly even during the mathematics portion of the college entrance examination.
“What about you, Xiao Ji? What do you think?”
The director turned toward Ji Xiangyu, who stood diagonally behind him.
Whether the scene could ultimately be included still depended on Ji Xiangyu’s approval.
Kissing scenes were nothing unusual for her, but this was the first time she had encountered someone improvising one without warning.
Everyone close enough to hear quietly reduced the noise of whatever they were doing, afraid they might miss Ji Xiangyu’s answer.
Most people on the set had seen the trending topics from the past two days.
The two women rarely interacted while filming. No one had even seen them rehearse together, so everyone had treated the trending topics as fabricated rumors.
Some believed someone was deliberately spreading false gossip to target Shen Yishu or Ji Xiangyu.
Others believed Shen Yishu had intentionally exploited Ji Xiangyu’s popularity, hoping to rise to fame from a single drama.
No one had ever considered that the rumors might be true.
A Best Actress and a newcomer who had only just entered the industry?
No matter how one looked at it, they seemed completely unrelated.
Regardless of what they believed, everyone fell silent now, waiting to see whether Ji Xiangyu would object and teach Shen Yishu a lesson.
“It was quite good,” Ji Xiangyu answered coolly beneath the gaze of more than a hundred people.
“We don’t need to cut it?” the director asked excitedly, his eyes brightening.
“No.”
Ji Xiangyu shook her head slightly.
Someone was so shocked that the prop in their hands fell to the ground with a heavy crash.
Startled, they quickly picked it up.
Ji Xiangyu’s gaze drifted over lightly, but she said nothing.
“Teacher Ji, may I speak with you privately?” Jiang Wu asked through a rigid expression.
“You can say whatever you need to say here.”
Ji Xiangyu folded her arms and lowered her eyes toward Shen Yishu, who was listening attentively to the director.
“It isn’t something they can hear,” Jiang Wu said stiffly.
“Five minutes?”
“All right.”
Ji Xiangyu glanced at Shen Yishu, who was still crouching obediently on the ground, then followed Jiang Wu outside.
Meanwhile, Shen Yishu continued listening to the director.
“The scene you added was good, but it was too reckless—especially since it involved a kiss.”
“Best Actress Ji didn’t make trouble for you because she has a good personality. With someone else, that might not have been the case.”
“If you have ideas about a scene next time, discuss them with the director in advance. Don’t improvise however you please. Not everyone is as easygoing as I am.”
Shen Yishu nodded obediently.
“Teacher Ji truly is a very good person.”
The director rolled up his script and lightly tapped her head with it.
“Was that the main point of what I said?”
“Yes. I won’t act on sudden impulses again.”
Shen Yishu hurriedly corrected herself.
She did not even know whether the emotions at that moment had belonged to Li Jin toward Zhou Yi or to Shen Yishu toward Ji Xiangyu.
Had today’s Zhou Yi been played by anyone other than Ji Xiangyu, Shen Yishu might never have imagined adding the scene.
The thought left her frustrated.
Could she have already been silently influenced by Ji Xiangyu without realizing it?
Why had she behaved as though possessed?
“You have talent as an actress. I think highly of you.”
The director spoke earnestly, indirectly warning her.
“Don’t take the wrong path. Focus on acting. Within three dramas at most, you’ll become popular.”
Shen Yishu nodded rapidly.
“I won’t.”
“Don’t think about exploiting anyone’s popularity. That sort of attention arrives quickly, but the backlash comes just as fast.”
Seeing that she had not understood, the director continued explaining.
“All right…”
Shen Yishu suddenly realized what he meant.
Wasn’t he warning her not to exploit Ji Xiangyu’s popularity?
She did not know whether to laugh or cry.
She had never wished so strongly for Ji Xiangyu to announce their marriage.
She truly did not want to be treated as an obscure actress constantly clinging to someone more famous.
Elsewhere, Ji Xiangyu and Jiang Wu were speaking inside a narrow alley.
The sky was gradually darkening.
Areas of the set without proper lighting had become dim, barely bright enough to distinguish their faces.
“Speak. What is it?”
Ji Xiangyu folded her arms, her expression displeased.
She had never enjoyed working with Jiang Wu.
Her personality meant she rarely responded to her, but that did not mean Jiang Wu did not irritate her.
“Haven’t you always hated people without professional ethics? She added a scene without permission, yet you tolerated it. Why didn’t you call for a stop?”
Jiang Wu fired a series of aggressive questions.
“You should consult the director regarding matters related to filming.”
Ji Xiangyu lowered her eyes, unwilling to look at her.
Out of sight, out of mind.
“I never knew there would come a day when you could tolerate someone casually adding a kissing scene.”
Jiang Wu mocked her coldly.
“Today, you indulge her and allow her to improvise whatever she wants. In the future, when she works alone and does the same thing to some other major celebrity, I’d like to see how you protect her then!”
Ji Xiangyu finally raised her eyes and looked at her in extreme confusion.
“What does that have to do with you? Are you secretly in love with her?”
Jiang Wu: “…”
“I simply don’t want your reputation ruined by some minor actress.”
Jiang Wu acted as though she were genuinely concerned for Ji Xiangyu.
“If this spreads, people will say you indulged her when she added a scene—and a kissing scene at that. It’ll damage your reputation too.”
Her apparent concern only confused Ji Xiangyu further.
“So you actually understand that spreading certain things could damage my reputation.”
Even after knowing Jiang Wu for years, Ji Xiangyu often failed to understand what happened inside her mind.
“I…”
Jiang Wu closed her mouth, suddenly unsure what to say.
If they were discussing why some people in the industry had a poor opinion of Ji Xiangyu, Jiang Wu herself bore a great deal of responsibility.
“Besides, she added the scene, the director approved it, and I approved it.”
“You weren’t acting opposite her, and you weren’t the one being kissed. Why are you angry?”
Ji Xiangyu approached her and asked with an indescribable expression,
“Are you secretly in love with me?”
Jiang Wu’s face instantly turned crimson.
She retreated two steps and took a deep breath, deciding to use this opportunity to finally reveal the feelings she had hidden for so many years.
She had a premonition that if she did not speak now, she might never manage it in this lifetime.
However, Ji Xiangyu did not give her the opportunity.
She saw Shen Yishu coming to look for her.
The young woman still looked anxious and confused, apparently blaming herself for suddenly improvising the scene.
“Shen… Baby, come here.”
Ji Xiangyu changed the form of address midway.
If they were putting on a performance, they needed to complete it properly.
She had no interest in playing another round with Jiang Wu.
Shen Yishu suddenly heard Ji Xiangyu’s voice and was about to follow it.
But then she heard the word Baby and hesitated, believing she must have misheard.
How could Ji Xiangyu possibly call her Baby?
In private, Ji Xiangyu usually addressed her directly by name.
Yet when Shen Yishu instinctively looked over, she met Ji Xiangyu’s smiling gaze.
The sky was overcast.
The lights were dim.
Yet the woman before her seemed to glow.
Ji Xiangyu still wore armor. Artificial dirt remained painted across her face because she had not yet wiped it away.
Her lips curved faintly, and her eyes seemed capable of containing every river of stars.
Shen Yishu realized that the word Baby truly had been directed at her.
She walked over in a daze.
Ji Xiangyu wrapped an arm around her shoulders and addressed the pale-faced Jiang Wu.
“From an acting perspective, Shen Yishu can explain why she added that scene.”
Confused, Shen Yishu repeated what she had already told the director.
Her explanation was logical and contained no flaws.
After listening, Jiang Wu merely sneered.
“You’ve only just debuted, yet you dare add a kissing scene with a senior. Your morals and character are this poor, yet you still managed to deceive everyone into protecting you. You’re quite impressive.”
Shen Yishu frowned.
Jiang Wu’s words were especially sharp today and made her unusually unpleasant to listen to.
Shen Yishu was about to respond when Ji Xiangyu stroked her hair and interrupted her.
“Didn’t you ask why I didn’t call for a stop?”
Ji Xiangyu smiled.
Under Jiang Wu’s gaze, she patted Shen Yishu’s head.
“Baby, crouch down.”
Shen Yishu crouched in confusion.
She did not understand what Ji Xiangyu intended, but outside, whenever Ji Xiangyu asked her to do something, she would obey.
It was a silent form of trust.
No matter what happened, Ji Xiangyu would never harm her.
Ji Xiangyu bent down, grasped Shen Yishu’s chin, and kissed her.
Soft lips pressed against the corner of Shen Yishu’s mouth.
Ji Xiangyu’s long hair fell from behind her shoulders with the movement, perfectly concealing the sides of their faces.
Shen Yishu’s confused eyes remained wide as she stared into the pair only inches away.
They were so close that even their eyelashes seemed to kiss, and Shen Yishu could feel the arc of every trembling lash.
Their warm breaths silently mingled.
A soft, electric sensation spread from the corner of her lips throughout her body, leaving Shen Yishu feeling as though she might float away.
When she kissed Ji Xiangyu on set earlier, her mind had gone blank the instant their lips met.
Moreover, although they had not removed their costumes now, they were no longer Li Jin and Zhou Yi.
They had become Shen Yishu and Ji Xiangyu.
This kiss at the corner of her lips belonged entirely to the two of them.
Still, the placement felt strangely unsatisfying to Shen Yishu.
She understood that Ji Xiangyu was probably declaring her claim in front of Jiang Wu, so she did not make any additional movements.
Ji Xiangyu silently counted several seconds.
When she felt it had lasted long enough, she raised her head and looked back at Jiang Wu.
“Didn’t you ask why I didn’t call for a stop?”
Ji Xiangyu pulled Shen Yishu to her feet.
“Because she’s Shen Yishu, and I was willing. It’s that simple.”
Her voice was calm and effortless.
Meanwhile, she naturally brushed dust from the lower edge of Shen Yishu’s costume, appearing completely genuine.
Jiang Wu parted her lips.
She suddenly remembered encountering a similar situation in the past.
At the time, Ji Xiangyu had believed a certain kissing scene was unnecessary and could be removed.
Jiang Wu had argued fiercely that the scene was logical and should remain.
Ji Xiangyu had merely told her calmly that she did not want to film a kissing scene.
So even someone as cold and emotionally distant as Ji Xiangyu could show favoritism.
In the final traces of light before darkness fully descended, Jiang Wu asked with overflowing malice,
“Then Shen Yishu, if the person today had not been Ji Xiangyu, would you still have added that kissing scene because, as you claimed, it was logical for Li Jin?”
Shen Yishu wanted to say no, but Ji Xiangyu covered her mouth.
The position nearly pulled Shen Yishu completely into her arms, similar to how they had stood inside the lounge earlier.
This time, Ji Xiangyu leaned her head out beside Shen Yishu’s shoulder and asked softly,
“What does it have to do with you?”
“If you’re curious about my relationship with Shen Yishu, perhaps you can ask us on a variety show someday.”
“But not now. My little friend is shy.”
Jiang Wu froze slightly.
“Are you planning to announce it publicly?”
Ji Xiangyu felt Shen Yishu’s rapid breathing against her palm and found it amusing.
She released her hand and changed the position into an embrace from behind.
“If we don’t announce it, I’m always afraid someone will develop other intentions toward my little friend.”
Ji Xiangyu sighed.
“She seems far too easy to deceive.”
Shen Yishu: “…”
If either of them should fear someone stealing their wife, it ought to be Shen Yishu.
In the enormous entertainment industry, perhaps no one would be interested in her.
But the number of people interested in Ji Xiangyu could probably form a line around the entire Third Ring Road.
Whether or not Ji Xiangyu was merely deceiving Jiang Wu, Shen Yishu found the words extremely pleasant to hear.
“Disgusting.”
Jiang Wu frowned.
“I never expected you to become this kind of… love-struck fool.”
“You don’t know a damn thing.”
Shen Yishu could no longer resist cursing her.
“You’re so sour that when you walk outside, people probably ask how many years your family has been brewing vinegar.”
Ji Xiangyu nodded in strong agreement.
“Do you have anything else to say? If not, could you leave now?”
Jiang Wu looked at Ji Xiangyu with a complicated expression.
The light was too dim for her to see Ji Xiangyu’s face clearly, but she could vaguely sense that Ji Xiangyu was genuinely happy.
A relationship could be faked.
Happiness could not.
She issued a final threat.
“I won’t let this end here.”
Ji Xiangyu did not take it seriously at all.
She replied casually,
“You’d better not let me see any news about you announcing this on my behalf.”
“Otherwise, you’ll never receive another award-worthy script in your life.”
Jiang Wu clenched her fists and glared fiercely at Shen Yishu.
Shen Yishu glared back without backing down.
Then she watched Jiang Wu turn and leave.
Only after Jiang Wu had disappeared completely did Ji Xiangyu release Shen Yishu and poke her forehead.
“Next time she asks whether you would have kissed someone else if it weren’t me, don’t answer.”
“Why?” Shen Yishu asked, confused.
“If you say yes, then you’re superficial and immoral because you’re easily tempted by beauty.”
“If you say no, then it proves you simply wanted to kiss me and that it had nothing to do with Li Jin’s characterization, meaning you lack professional ethics.”
Ji Xiangyu patiently explained.
Shen Yishu nodded in partial understanding.
Had Ji Xiangyu not been present, Jiang Wu would have trapped her with the question.
“So what is the answer?” Ji Xiangyu pursued.
“I wouldn’t.”
Shen Yishu answered decisively.
She had considered this question the entire way over.
Had she truly become Li Jin and become carried away by the scene?
Or had she lost control precisely because she was Shen Yishu?
“Why?”
Ji Xiangyu was surprised by the decisiveness of her response.
“Because only Zhou Yi played by Teacher Ji is the Zhou Yi belonging to Li Jin played by Shen Yishu.”
The sentence was somewhat confusing, so Shen Yishu spoke slowly.
“Someone else wouldn’t create that feeling.”
No matter who else played the role, Shen Yishu would never have entered the scene so deeply.
“I see.”
Ji Xiangyu nodded.
“So ultimately, it was still because you wanted to kiss me.”
Shen Yishu: “…”
If one insisted on describing it that way, then yes.
“Sister…”
Shen Yishu asked quietly,
“Are you angry?”
“Were you angry when I kissed you just now?”
Ji Xiangyu looked at the one-meter-seventy-five Alpha, whose voice had become weak and guilty.
“No.”
Shen Yishu looked slightly confused.
“You didn’t actually kiss me.”
“So you wanted me to kiss you properly?”
Ji Xiangyu’s smile deepened.
“I deliberately missed because I was afraid you would become angry.”
Even if someone gave Shen Yishu a hundred times more courage, she would not dare become angry.
She had taken advantage first, so it was only fair for Ji Xiangyu to take some back.
Besides, the earlier scene had been filmed publicly in front of more than a hundred people and a large crowd of extras.
Shen Yishu had gained an enormous advantage.
The kiss in the alley had only been intended to prevent Jiang Wu from continuing to bother her.
No matter how one looked at it, Shen Yishu had no right to become angry.
“If I became angry, I’d be completely ungrateful.”
Shen Yishu possessed at least that much self-awareness.
“Is this also a portable charger’s self-awareness?” Ji Xiangyu asked, tilting her head.
“This is basic human self-awareness.”
Shen Yishu lied without hesitation.
“Being kissed by Sister is like a fairy descending to the mortal realm and suddenly deciding to kiss some random morning glory.”
“The morning glory would remember it through ten reincarnations.”
“…”
Ji Xiangyu laughed.
“You still need to tell me if there’s anything you dislike.”
Ji Xiangyu seemed especially fond of stroking Shen Yishu’s hair today.
“I won’t force you.”
“I can’t imagine who would dislike it.”
Shen Yishu shook her head.
Whenever she had refused Ji Xiangyu’s closeness before, it had never been because she disliked it.
It was because such actions felt far too intimate and did not match the nature of their relationship.
“Then in the future, I can do it more—”
“Sister!”
Shen Yishu had known Ji Xiangyu would continue in that direction.
“That wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“So you still dislike it.”
Ji Xiangyu looked at her with feigned disappointment.
Shen Yishu had never been able to resist the slightly coquettish rise at the end of Ji Xiangyu’s voice.
This time was no exception.
She released a long sigh.
If it was only kissing, perhaps it truly was not excessive.
“If Sister likes it, then it’s allowed,” she finally conceded.
“There are many things I like.”
Ji Xiangyu prepared to expand the discussion.
Shen Yishu hurriedly stopped her.
“The director said we still need to film a few additional shots. It should almost be time. Let’s return.”
Shen Yishu released a relieved breath.
After confirming that Ji Xiangyu was not angry, she felt much more relaxed.
Ji Xiangyu decided she had teased her enough.
If she continued, Shen Yishu might genuinely become upset.
“Let’s go.”
Zhu Li had covered for Shen Yishu by claiming she had gone to the restroom.
Therefore, when Shen Yishu returned, she visited the restroom along the way.
She happened to encounter Jiang Wu coming out with red-rimmed eyes.
Jiang Wu had no scenes today and wore no makeup.
Her features remained exquisite, while drops of water slid down her cheeks, making her appear somewhat vulnerable.
When they crossed paths, Jiang Wu merely glanced at her indifferently.
Shen Yishu walked past without looking at her, completely unconcerned by the expression.
Regardless of Jiang Wu’s intentions, repeatedly speaking badly in front of her and Ji Xiangyu was unforgivable.
Anyone attempting to smash Shen Yishu’s golden bowl for living off her wealthy wife was not a good person.
When she came out again, the director was already instructing the crew to move props.
They would use the night to film several scenes before Li Jin’s ascension.
Tomorrow, Shen Yishu could transform into the Empress Regnant.
Shen Yishu had no desire to become the sovereign at all.
Becoming Empress Regnant meant she would soon transform into a scumbag and begin mistreating Zhou Yi.
Looking at Ji Xiangyu’s face, Shen Yishu did not know how she could possibly harden her heart.
Especially when Lin Luosheng would be playing the unforgettable first love.
Ji Xiangyu had changed into another costume and was having her makeup altered.
Shen Yishu also waited for the makeup artist to touch up her face.
The additional shots were not particularly important.
As long as no one appeared obviously out of character, the director waved them through so everyone could return and sleep earlier.
During the final shot, Zhou Yi and Li Jin held hands beneath the moon and spoke of their future.
Shen Yishu caught a faint trace of rosemary in the air.
The scent appeared and disappeared, concealed beneath Ji Xiangyu’s citrus perfume.
Only Shen Yishu, who was especially sensitive to Ji Xiangyu’s pheromones, detected it.
She suppressed her anxiety and merely tightened her grip around Ji Xiangyu’s hand.
Ji Xiangyu immediately understood the signal.
She calmly held Shen Yishu’s hand and completed every line.
The instant the director announced, “That’s all for today,” Ji Xiangyu turned and rushed directly toward the lounge without looking back.
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