After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

“And then, Jian Jixing’s kiss came down.”

After waking up, Sheng Ruxi was soaking in the bathtub in the bathroom. Last night was too intense, and she needed to recover.

After completing her full skincare routine, Sheng Ruxi was about to call Chu Wu to ask about some things.

But her phone kept ringing.

Ever since she woke up, her phone had been buzzing non-stop. Zhou Mei and Tuanzi were both looking for her, and various group chats and studio liaisons were asking for her opinion.

What could it be? Why was everyone making such a fuss? Sheng Ruxi looked, her expression indifferent.

It was just a trending topic, right? What’s the big deal about a trending topic?

Zhou Mei: [Is this a simple trending topic? Look at what’s trending right behind it!]

Tuanzi: [Something big has happened, Sis. Should we suppress this one? Will Director Jian be upset when she sees it?]

Tuanzi: [Image]

Sheng Ruxi opened it nonchalantly, and her expression slightly froze for a moment.

Trending Topic #1: #JianJixingShengRuxiRunningHandinHandatNight#

Trending Topic #2: #JianJixingShengRuxiRelationshipImprovement#

And then—

#ShengRuxiZouXinjieFamousSceneReproduction#

#JianJixingYouAreGoodatFilmingArthouse#

#TangHuiandYiYueyangAnnounceBreakupOverseas#

Sheng Ruxi: “…” What is this?

She and Jian Jixing’s trending topic even dragged Zou Xinjie into it? If Jian Jixing saw this, who knows what she would say about her.

The next few trending topics were more or less related to them.

For example, Jian Jixing’s first film was an impressionistic art-house film, about the hazy and unrequited love between two young people.

Sheng Ruxi had gone to watch it before, with the intention of finding flaws. But she couldn’t understand any of the metaphors or hidden meanings. All she saw was the tragic ending of the two girls.

The two actresses were Tang Hui and Yi Yueyang. The film had a tragic ending, but off-screen, the two announced their relationship, fulfilling the fans’ hopes.

Now they had announced their breakup—

Sheng Ruxi clicked on it and saw a top comment from a fan.

It said that Jian Jixing’s filming process was immersive and closed-off, making the actors live and eat together to get into character. They did get into character, but in that situation, it was inevitable that they couldn’t get out of it.

Another sharp comment said: [Why do we say our Director Jian is an all-rounder? She’s the best at coaching love scenes. Can we send Sheng Ruxi to an intensive training session? Didn’t they say her love scenes are the weakest?]

Sheng Ruxi saw that the person who commented was even using her fan club light stick as their profile picture. She was speechless.

Don’t fan the flames, okay?!

She just hoped Jian Jixing wouldn’t go online right now, so she wouldn’t see all this nonsense. Sheng Ruxi then looked at the third trending topic, which said that she and Zou Xinjie’s scene had been reproduced. Some enthusiastic fans had already re-edited a video of her and Zou Xinjie’s scene for comparison, saying: [Epic follow-up!!!]

Sheng Ruxi: “…” Epic follow-up. Who’s following up on what?

Is there any similarity at all? One was a happy moment on a night street, and the other was a gloomy, wet beach. Anyone with a pair of eyes could see they were completely different!

There were so many blind people, and she hoped Jian Jixing wasn’t one of them.

What was even more frustrating was that just as Sheng Ruxi was about to exit and go tell Jian Jixing, she saw a new like on her phone screen!

[Zou Xinjie liked this post]

Sheng Ruxi: Fck! Fck! You’re the f*cking worst!!!

Is this not chaotic enough?

Zou Xinjie’s involvement undoubtedly gave the third-ranked trending topic more fuel to rise. It was about to overtake the second one, #RelationshipImprovement#, and Sheng Ruxi was inexplicably annoyed.

She found Zou Xinjie in her WeChat blacklist. There was a message from Zou Xinjie, but she had never replied.

Zou Xinjie: [Xixi. We got along so well. Can we continue? I’ll wait for you, okay?]

Sheng Ruxi replied without mercy: [Can you not stir up so much trouble, please?]

Zou Xinjie: […After a year, this is what you sent me?]

[Your way of saying hi is getting more unique, Vivi.]

Rose was Sheng Ruxi’s name in that play.

Sheng Ruxi didn’t bother replying to her again. She immediately told Tuanzi and Zhou Mei to quickly get rid of that nonsense “follow-up” trending topic. They could ignore the others.

Zhou Mei replied with relief: [You finally realize you’re a married person…]

She had been worried that this ancestor would be stubborn and not respond, and it would look bad if Director Jian saw it.

Sheng Ruxi choked. It wasn’t that she had realized this. She felt that Jian Jixing probably didn’t even care about what was going on with her and Zou Xinjie, right?

She just purely didn’t want to see Zou Xinjie riding this wave of popularity. That movie with Zou Xinjie was ancient history. Now, suddenly, she was resurrecting it.

They all worked in the industry. She didn’t believe that this trending topic didn’t have Zou Xinjie’s tacit approval.

She could ride the wave of anything else, but why did it have to be her and Jian Jixing?

Sheng Ruxi clicked on the first trending topic, where the discussion about her and Jian Jixing was already very high.

Her eyes automatically ignored the comments that said they were hallucinating a scene with her and Zou Xinjie and found content related to Jian Jixing’s name.

[Director Jian is a born master of atmosphere. Weren’t Tang Hui and Yi Yueyang rumored to be at odds before joining Director Jian’s crew? After the filming, they announced their relationship. They said Director Jian would also guide them on set. Is Director Jian also very emotionally rich?]

[True. In the special environment of a film set, it’s easy to develop emotional dependency. If there are method actors, there are also method directors. What was Director Jian getting into character for when she was running hand-in-hand with Sheng Ruxi?]

[I strongly demand that Director Jian coach our Ruxi!!! So she can film more romance dramas to bless our eyes!!! @JianJixing]

Sheng Ruxi frowned slightly.

…Method director? What was Jian Jixing thinking about back then?

Everything that happened last night. Was it because Jian Jixing herself wanted it, or was it because of the atmosphere?

Sheng Ruxi was also an actress and could understand what kind of emotional dependency could arise in a special environment.

Just then, a message from Jian Jixing came in.

Hag: [Image]

Hag: [Does your Rose Path crew also have a thing for changing people for follow-ups?]

Hag: [/question]

Great.

It was still that annoying Jian Jixing, completely unchanged by their intimate moment.

The screenshot was of the promotional photo of Sheng Ruxi and Zou Xinjie running hand-in-hand on the beach.

That’s a promotional photo, doesn’t she understand?

Sheng Ruxi wasn’t afraid at all. Once provoked by Jian Jixing, she forgot what she was supposed to do and screenshotted the comment asking what Jian Jixing was getting into character for when they were running and sent it to her.

Little Green Bean: [Image]

Little Green Bean: Director Jian is not bad either. After a new experience, is the method director planning to add a bed scene to her next film?

Little Green Bean: [/question] [/question]

Jian Jixing was originally waiting for Sheng Ruxi to explain. She didn’t get an explanation, but instead got two question-mark emojis.

She looked down at her phone. Although she was on the film set, her mind had already flown away.

She really wanted to grab that disobedient and big-mouthed person, and force her to tell the truth.

[Is the Film Queen Sheng also planning to film a bed scene later? You’ve already had the experience.] Jian Jixing typed this into the chat box and sent it. [Stop changing the subject. You haven’t answered my question.]

Although there was no real relationship between them, no one would be happy if it were treated as a “follow-up” to another actress.

“Ah!”

A sudden cry of surprise made Jian Jixing look up. Little Pigeon came running, with Gu Chengyi and Ayilata following behind.

Little Pigeon was holding a phone in her hand. She came up to Jian Jixing and said, “It’s gone? Just now, it was just there!”

She handed the phone to Jian Jixing. “Sister Jixing, that trending topic. I just saw it, and now it’s suddenly gone.”

Jian Jixing glanced at it. It turned out that the third trending topic about Sheng Ruxi and Zou Xinjie’s follow-up had dropped out of the top ten.

They were pretty fast.

“It’s nothing,” Jian Jixing said with a cold laugh. “Some people still have a conscience.”

Gu Chengyi caught up and took the phone from Little Pigeon’s hand, panting. “This pigeon… She saw the trending topic on my phone and had to come and ask you. She doesn’t even know what it means. She thought you were going to film a movie with Sheng Ruxi.”

Film a movie with Sheng Ruxi? Was she tired of living? Jian Jixing was still angry and kept a straight face, not saying a word.

Gu Chengyi also saw that the trending topic was gone and said in surprise, “Oh, Zhou Mei’s public relations team is pretty fast this time. And this Zou Xinjie… I saw her mom at the golf course the other day. She was so worried.”

Ayilata: “Isn’t she a celebrity?”

“Yeah, a big celebrity built by money. The kind who has to go back and inherit the family business if she doesn’t do well,” Gu Chengyi said jokingly. “She’s always been the lead. She only willingly took the second female lead role in that movie with Sheng Ruxi, and all the promotions cooperated with Sheng Ruxi. It’s pretty incredible.”

Ayilata: “Does she like Miss Sheng?”

As soon as she spoke, Jian Jixing’s gaze swept over Ayilata. She gave a faint glance. Ayilata met her gaze and asked, “Or who else would like Miss Sheng?”

Jian Jixing withdrew her gaze. “Who cares about that.”

A reply from Sheng Ruxi appeared on her phone.

[You didn’t answer my question either.]

[Why did you get into bed with me last night?]

Jian Jixing replied expressionlessly: [The reason you did is the reason I did.]

She couldn’t figure out what Sheng Ruxi was thinking.

Whatever the reason, it wasn’t for the sake of experience. It happened naturally. Had she ever heard of someone getting into bed with someone just to get a precious experience for a bed scene?

If Sheng Ruxi wasn’t so prickly, this would be a simple matter to discuss. But since it happened to coincide with the trending topic, neither of them wanted to give in.

Jian Jixing felt a faint sense of powerlessness. In her communication with Sheng Ruxi, she felt like a complete rookie, hitting walls everywhere.

Little Green Bean: [Can’t you just talk normally?]

Jian Jixing continued to type: [Where am I not talking normally? Please enlighten me.]

Little Green Bean: [I don’t want to talk to you anymore.]

After that, for a full five minutes, Sheng Ruxi didn’t say another word. Jian Jixing waited and waited. She reread her chat history with Sheng Ruxi. She hesitated for a few seconds and then typed in the chat box: [It’s not what you think. Last night happened naturally. I wasn’t thinking about anything else, and it wasn’t for the sake of experience.]

But after she sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared.

Jian Jixing’s face instantly went dark.

Sheng Ruxi had blocked her.

Just then, Jin Yue came down from a black-brown horse, looking pale and dejected.

“This is so hard… My body hurts! I’m falling apart!” Jin Yue had been practicing riding all morning because she needed to film a scene of riding a horse with Sheng Ruxi in the mountains later.

She was a rookie at this and couldn’t do it even with special training from Ayilata.

Jin Yue only took on acting roles with dialogue. She really couldn’t ride a horse and was even afraid of it. Before coming here, she had done very little research. She just wanted to come and see Sheng Ruxi and had no idea what she would face.

Now, it was even worse. She already hated riding, and now she hated it even more.

She came over and saw everyone’s expressions were different. She didn’t know what had happened. She complained a few times, but no one paid attention to her. She asked Gu Chengyi curiously, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Chengyi said, “We were talking about Zou Xinjie’s trending topic.”

“Huh?” Jin Yue immediately pouted. “Isn’t that Ruxi’s ex—”

Gu Chengyi’s eyes widened in shock. Girl, who are you talking nonsense in front of? But at this moment, Jian Jixing’s gaze had already landed on Jin Yue.

“Who told you that?” Jian Jixing paused and asked. “Were they together?”

Jin Yue nodded and then shook her head. “That’s what everyone said, you know, because I’ve always been very interested in the plot. That movie was almost two years ago, right? Wasn’t it Ruxi’s first film where she won the Film Queen award? They said she got into character more than usual, and she and Zou Xinjie…”

The more she spoke, the more she felt a chill down her spine. She didn’t know why Jian Jixing’s gaze was getting more and more terrifying.

Did she say something wrong?

Gu Chengyi grabbed Jin Yue. “You should go ride your horse!”

Jin Yue screamed in pain. “Wait, wait. Can I get a different horse? I think that white horse named Qiaoqiao looks easier to ride.”

Jian Jixing: “…No. That one is reserved specifically for Sheng Ruxi.”

Jin Yue: …Don’t you hate Sheng Ruxi? Why would you reserve a horse just for her?

Jian Jixing said to Gu Chengyi, “Can you send Sheng Ruxi a message and tell her to come here early?”

Gu Chengyi: “Why don’t you call her yourself? It’s not right for me to call her.”

In the dead silence, Gu Chengyi felt Jian Jixing’s low pressure.

Gu Chengyi: “…” Grumble, grumble. Gu Chengyi still did as she was told. She rubbed her chin and said, “Even though Sheng Ruxi and Zou Xinjie had a lot of fans for their on-screen chemistry, it doesn’t mean they actually dated, right? I don’t think Ruxi is the type to not get out of character.”

She saw Jian Jixing’s confused expression and couldn’t help but ask, “You didn’t look into any of this?”

Jian Jixing said, “I haven’t watched it.”

“…I’m speechless. You’re so talented. Otherwise, if anyone else said that, I would have to give them a hard time.” Gu Chengyi said, “The love story in that movie was a very small part, but it was excellent. It seemed like there was only one kiss in the entire film, and it looked like a fake kiss, right after that scene of them running on the beach.”

“A lot of people interpreted it as the two main characters doing it on the beach later. The film’s director, Bian Dairong, said she welcomes interpretations.”

All of Sheng Ruxi’s current leaked photos and final cuts have very few kissing scenes. Industry insiders can easily tell that the kisses are faked.

They were just love scenes in a film, not a dedicated romance film, so it didn’t feel out of place.

Jian Jixing said, “I’ve seen Bian Dairong’s other movies. She really likes to use metaphors.”

Gu Chengyi jabbed at her. “You’ve seen her other movies but not this one with Sheng Ruxi. If I didn’t know your relationship, I’d think you were jealous.”

Jian Jixing didn’t want to hear her talk nonsense and simply didn’t say a word.

Hmph, jealous. Why would she be jealous? Why should she be jealous?

No one who gets involved with Sheng Ruxi has a good outcome. She shouldn’t be jealous; she should be sympathizing with Zou Xinjie.

Sheng Ruxi had plenty of people who liked her in school. Jian Jixing knew this best. From their school days, Sheng Ruxi and she were not on the same path.

Jian Jixing calmed down and dissipated her anger from being blocked by Sheng Ruxi. She then went back to reviewing the footage.

Today’s work was really strange. Almost all the shots were of Sheng Ruxi. Here was Sheng Ruxi riding a horse, and there was Sheng Ruxi feeling the sunlight on her face in front of the camera.

Jian Jixing: “…” What a terrible job. I can’t handle it at all.

**

Over there, Sheng Ruxi was already in the car on her way to the film set, but she was so angry that she forgot what she had planned to do.

Even though the trending topic had been taken down, and she had put Zou Xinjie back in her little black list, the thought of what Jian Jixing had said made her good mood from last night completely disappear.

Everything was fine, but Jian Jixing just had to do something like that. Sheng Ruxi was in a terrible mood. As she was about to arrive at the filming location, she remembered she had wanted to call Chu Wu.

Even though she was calling Chu Wu, it was because Sheng Ruxi wanted to know a little more about Jian Jixing.

She remembered that before Jian Jixing started pursuing Chu Wu with her, they were clearly friends.

Why do I even want to know?

Sheng Ruxi angrily put her phone away. When she arrived on set, Jin Yue was yelling on horseback, and the sound gave Sheng Ruxi a headache. She deliberately found a place far away from Jian Jixing to sit down, out of sight, out of mind.

“I’m not filming anymore, not filming anymore!” Jin Yue shouted, almost slipping off the horse. Little Pigeon, who was waiting nearby, caught her and asked in confusion, “Are all alphas like this?”

Sheng Ruxi couldn’t help but laugh.

Jian Jixing said coldly, “If you really can’t do it, you can tell Xie Ruizhang to replace you.”

The last shot of this scene was from a helicopter’s perspective of Sheng Ruxi. The camera would then move to Jin Yue riding the horse out of the scenic area, followed by a shot of the helicopter flying away.

The next shot would then directly cut to Snow Sheep Peak.

But Jin Yue couldn’t overcome her fear of riding, and it was dragging down the crew’s progress.

Jian Jixing’s crew never kept idle people. And since this person was brought in by Xie Ruizhang, she threw the problem back to the source.

“Xie Ruizhang, you deal with it.”

Because of Jin Yue’s repeated mistakes, Jian Jixing’s face was grim. The staff on set didn’t dare to discuss the trending topic they had seen today in hushed tones.

Sheng Ruxi, who had arrived on set, was also in a bad mood. They had just been on a trending topic about their improved relationship last night, but how has it changed today?

As expected, water and fire don’t mix. It’s not that easy to change.

Xie Ruizhang was also anxious. She went over and started scolding Jin Yue. Jin Yue had only come here for Sheng Ruxi. Now she barely got to see Sheng Ruxi, and she had to suffer through riding a horse. Her temper flared up, and she shouted in frustration, “Horseback riding isn’t easy! Isn’t it normal for a rookie like me to be like this? Can you show me who’s this good on their first try?”

“There is,” Ayilata, who had been watching for a while, said. “My first student was many times better than you on their first try.”

“Where is your first student? Show me.”

Sheng Ruxi seemed to have a realization. At the same time, she and Ayilata’s eyes turned to Jian Jixing.

The name of Ayilata’s first student was already unspoken.

Jian Jixing: “If you can’t even do this, who will believe you can be paired with Sheng Ruxi?”

Jin Yue replied unwillingly, “But Ruxi’s shot is from a helicopter’s perspective, looking down from high up. Even if I’m a little bad at riding, it won’t be noticeable, right?”

Xie Ruizhang sensed the change in atmosphere and immediately wanted to cover Jin Yue’s mouth. Don’t embarrass yourself here! But it was too late. Jin Yue’s temper had flared up, and there was no stopping her.

“Not noticeable?” Jian Jixing slowly walked out from behind the monitor, went to the black-brown horse, gently stroked it twice, took the reins from Little Pigeon’s hand, and flipped onto the horse. She looked down at Jin Yue.

“If you can’t handle the hardship, leave early. This isn’t a place for your unrequited love,” Jian Jixing said bluntly and without mercy. All the staff immediately shifted their gaze to Sheng Ruxi.

Jin Yue gritted her teeth. Seeing that Sheng Ruxi wasn’t even looking at her, she replied, “Why does Director Jian love hardship so much? Even if the shot is a bit sloppy, it will look fine from a high-angle shot.”

Jian Jixing raised an eyebrow. “Fine?”

She easily rode the horse, turning in a circle, and stopped in front of Jin Yue.

Her aura was sharp, and Jin Yue’s face was flushed. She was in a difficult position with no way out.

She said, “Why don’t you demonstrate for me, Director Jian?”

Sheng Ruxi suddenly stood up. She gave Jian Jixing a cold smile. A staff member came to call her to get on the helicopter for filming.

Sheng Ruxi followed the person. As they were about to pass each other, Jian Jixing also spoke up.

“Camera, follow.”

She flicked the reins and galloped toward the predetermined route.

“Of all the things you could do, why did you have to provoke her?” Xie Ruizhang grabbed Jin Yue, disappointed. “You’re so useless. See for yourself!”

On the monitor, the shot had already switched to Sheng Ruxi’s high-angle shot.

She perfectly completed her lines and introduction. The camera then followed her perspective, looking down at the shots below.

The camera panned.

Someone was galloping on a horse.

Her body was slightly leaned forward. Her black hair fluttered in the wind. She rode steadily, using the wind as a tailwind, and galloped out of the exit, rushing into the vast open world.

The camera moved up again.

The shot was supposed to end here, but it didn’t cut. Sheng Ruxi appeared again.

Sheng Ruxi was still in that pose, looking down, her eyes filled with unconcealed admiration.

Xie Ruizhang sighed in frustration. “Look at Sheng Ruxi’s reaction! When she was filming with you, she was full of disdain.”

With the two takes compared, Jin Yue’s entire being exuded an aura of extreme dejection.

Even Director Jian and Sheng Ruxi could cooperate so seamlessly. They were so good at getting into character…

Jin Yue wanted to be left alone.

Jian Jixing returned on horseback. She dismounted and walked over to Jin Yue. Her voice was very flat.

“Jin Yue,” Jian Jixing said. “A little difference is a world of difference. Whether it’s riding a horse or treating people.”

This time, Jin Yue couldn’t say anything to object. She felt that Director Jian’s words had a double meaning.

Jian Jixing no longer bothered with her and went to find Sheng Ruxi in the car outside.

The cars were parked at the back entrance. Sheng Ruxi would go to the car to rest after filming this take. Jian Jixing headed straight for the pickup truck.

But she didn’t see Sheng Ruxi in Lao Zhang’s car.

What? After a fight with her, she didn’t even want to get in her car and went to Xie Ruizhang’s minivan instead.

Jian Jixing was so angry she wanted to laugh. Xie Ruizhang’s car was right next to hers, with a distance of only half a car’s length between them. She took a step forward and saw Sheng Ruxi opening the car door and getting out of the minivan.

So she really did get in?

Sheng Ruxi hadn’t even said anything when Jian Jixing grabbed her arm and pulled her in front of her.

“You blocked me?”

Sheng Ruxi almost fell into Jian Jixing’s arms. She quickly regained her balance, not wanting to give her such an advantage. “Let go. I told you I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Jian Jixing still held her wrist. She didn’t know what she was thinking. Seeing Sheng Ruxi being so disobedient, she simply pushed her against the car door.

Sheng Ruxi said, “Why are you holding on so tight? It hurts…”

Jian Jixing loosened her grip for a moment. Sheng Ruxi immediately pulled her hand back. Her angle was just right. She wanted to pinch Jian Jixing’s face, but Jian Jixing thought Sheng Ruxi was going to slap her and blocked Sheng Ruxi’s hand.

Sheng Ruxi scoffed. “What are you trying to get into character for now, Director Jian?”

Jian Jixing didn’t say a word. Sheng Ruxi couldn’t understand what she was thinking. She was itching to provoke Jian Jixing, but she hesitated, wondering if she should. She felt so ridiculous.

“…Are you really a method actor?” Jian Jixing asked in a low voice.

How could she be? Sheng Ruxi never liked that kind of thing. Being a good actor had nothing to do with personal experience. But now, she especially wanted to contradict Jian Jixing. Even though the distance was so close, she said righteously, “I am a method actress. Do you have any pointers, Director Jian?”

Jian Jixing’s breathing became heavy. She stared at Sheng Ruxi, not moving her gaze for a second.

“Your fans said to give you some pointers so it’s easier for you to take on roles in the future,” Jian Jixing’s gaze moved down a little. Sheng Ruxi didn’t react. “What kind of roles?”

“Kissing scenes.”

Jian Jixing’s soft sigh landed on Sheng Ruxi’s ear, making her heart tremble.

And then, Jian Jixing’s kiss came down.