After A Secret Marriage With The Trending Queen - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

The temperature on the film set was always a few degrees higher than outside. Several large fans whirred loudly, and the actors’ freshly applied makeup would start to melt soon after. Whenever Ye Qin was filming, Shen Lu was always quite free. She mostly sat on a chair outside the filming area, propping up her face and watching the actors perform.

To an outsider, acting always seemed simple, but the reality of the business was vastly different. She had witnessed plenty of dark secrets and unspoken rules in this mixed-up industry. There was always something new to see and gossip about on the set every day. However, after three years with Ye Qin, Shen Lu had noticed that Ye Qin always had her own way of dealing with these things, managing to keep both the executives and investors happy while also maintaining her own boundaries.

…

A New Script

During a break in the afternoon’s filming, Ye Qin went to reapply her makeup. Shen Lu was sitting nearby, spaced out, until a slender, pale arm waved in front of her twice, startling Shen Lu back to reality. Seeing that the person standing before her was Tan Xueying, she was slightly surprised. “Sister Xueying, hello.”

Tan Xueying glanced toward Ye Qin, who was reapplying her makeup, and handed a document to Shen Lu. “Could you give this to Ye Qin for me?”

Shen Lu reached out and took it. “This is…”

“There’s a scene tomorrow, and the director made some last-minute changes to the script.”

“Then why don’t you give it to her yourself?” Shen Lu asked tentatively.

Tan Xueying smiled. “You know, Ye Qin has always… towards me.” She hesitated, but Shen Lu immediately understood and quickly waved her hand, explaining, “It’s not like that, Sister Xueying. Ye Qin isn’t how she appears on the surface. She’s just…”

“It’s fine, I’m not thinking ill of her. Anyway, please give it to her. Thank you.” Tan Xueying said, giving her a wink.

Shen Lu froze. After a long pause, she quickly nodded.

Not long after Tan Xueying left, Ye Qin finished her makeup and came over, appearing silently behind Shen Lu. Just as Shen Lu was staring blankly at the script, Ye Qin’s voice suddenly drifted over her head, nearly scaring the soul out of her.

“What did Tan Xueying want with you?”

Shen Lu clutched her chest, badly startled. “Sister, when you come over, why don’t you make any noise?” She then handed over the script in her hand. “Here, this. She said the director made temporary changes to tomorrow’s scene, and Sister Xueying asked me to give it to you.”

The corner of Ye Qin’s mouth curved up in a slightly sarcastic smile. “‘Sister Xueying’—you’re calling her quite affectionately.”

Shen Lu was helpless. “Sister, where did your mind go?”

“Did you two talk about anything else?” Ye Qin waved the script in her hand, clearly unconvinced. She had peeked over a few times and saw them talking for quite a while.

“We really didn’t talk about anything else. If you don’t believe me, Sister, you can… you can go ask Sister Xueying,” Shen Lu said on purpose.

Ye Qin pouted, her face instantly darkening. “I’m not bothering with you. I have to go film.”

Watching her rigid back, Shen Lu couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle, thinking proudly, Well, at least I know your weakness.

…

Midnight Study Session

Filming wrapped up early today. The scenes for the two lead actresses were finished around 5 PM, and they were allowed to leave. Shen Lu, in the car, had completely forgotten what Ye Qin had instructed her about at noon. After escorting Ye Qin back to her hotel room, Shen Lu returned to her own room to shower, change, and watch TV. She had just put on her pajamas and climbed into bed when the phone on her nightstand rang. The screen showed Ye Qin’s name.

Shen Lu’s heart sank. She must want something.

She frantically answered the phone, only to hear Ye Qin on the other end.

“Where are you?”

Shen Lu silently swallowed, and although she couldn’t see Ye Qin’s face, she could imagine the dark expression on the other side of the screen. “I… I’m in my hotel room.”

“What did I tell you at noon?”

“…” At the reminder, something flashed in Shen Lu’s mind. She immediately slapped her forehead hard. “Oh, Sister, I’m coming right now!”

Saying that, she quickly hung up, rushed upstairs in her pajamas and slippers, and tumbled into Ye Qin’s room.

At this moment, Ye Qin was sitting in the living room, cross-legged in a V-neck silk slip nightgown. Her hair was freshly washed, the ends still dripping water. The air was filled with the scent of shampoo, body wash, and her own unique, indefinable fragrance.

Ye Qin, sitting gracefully with her fair, slender calves crossed, exuded an air of elegance and sexiness.

Shen Lu awkwardly stretched her lips into a smile. “Sister, I’m here.”

Ye Qin looked up at her, then patted the seat next to her. “Come here.”

Shen Lu pursed her lips and slowly walked over with a sense of going to her doom. Since they’d already slept together once, she wasn’t afraid of a second time. Sleeping with a beauty like this was no loss at all!

However, just as Shen Lu cautiously sat down next to Ye Qin, Ye Qin tossed a script onto her lap. “Read lines with me.”

Shen Lu: ??? Huh???

She was a little confused, but this was probably the normal way for this evening to unfold. It seems she sometimes thought too much.

“Oh, okay, okay.” Shen Lu fumbled to open the script, then asked, “Should we start from this part?”

Ye Qin glanced at it and hummed a “Mm.” “Start. You read the lines for Tan Xueying’s part.”

“Oh.” Shen Lu nodded.

Shen Lu held the script, her palms unconsciously sweating, though she didn’t know why she was nervous. She didn’t have to act, and she wasn’t even the protagonist of the show. Ten minutes later, they finished the first scene.

Ye Qin didn’t seem satisfied and turned to Shen Lu. “Let’s do it one more time. You don’t need to be so nervous.”

“Mm.” Shen Lu took two deep breaths, trying to relax.

They finished the second read-through of the first scene. The result was slightly better than the first time. Ye Qin still wanted it to be better, so they did a third.

Repeating this process, they reached the eighth read-through of the third scene. It was already one o’clock in the morning. Shen Lu was unbearably sleepy, yawning repeatedly, her eyes spinning as she looked at the script. In contrast, Ye Qin was also very tired but still forced herself to keep her eyelids from closing.

Shen Lu finally couldn’t help but say, “Sister, it’s too late now. You have to go to the set early tomorrow. Maybe you should get some rest?”

Ye Qin closed the script, covering her eyes with one hand, and nodded. “Fine, you can go back.”

Setting down the script, Shen Lu quietly opened the door and left. As she closed the door and turned to head toward the elevator, she keenly sensed that someone was secretly peeking or taking pictures. But when she looked around, she saw nothing. She went into the elevator.

…

Hot Search

The next morning, Shen Lu discovered that she was on the hot search again.

At six in the morning, she sat on her bed, holding her phone with messy hair. She saw the news immediately and felt utterly bewildered, but also had a bad feeling that the secret might be exposed because of this.

The hot search topics “Ye Qin” and “Ye Qin and Assistant” were ranked first and second, respectively, and the attention and topic search index continued to climb.

Clicking on the news article, what appeared was a screenshot of Shen Lu’s back entering Ye Qin’s room, including the time stamp, and a clear side profile photo of her leaving late at night, also with a time stamp. The news publisher used an incredibly eye-catching, explosive headline: [Ye Qin’s Assistant Stays in Ye Qin’s Room Late at Night], leading to endless speculation and association.

Shen Lu felt like crying and laughing at the same time. She was Ye Qin’s assistant! Going to her room at night was perfectly normal! Besides, it had happened so many times before. Why did it not make news then, but this time she was also dragged onto the hot search? This was the second time this month she was on the hot search, and in such a prominent position!

Of course, as soon as the news broke, Shen Lu immediately contacted Sister Wang. The battle-hardened Sister Wang had experience handling such incidents, and she naturally called the person involved, Ye Qin, right away.

Ye Qin was still asleep and was woken up by the phone call, so her mood was naturally not good. She muttered, “What is it?”

“I’m asking you, did you keep Shen Lu in your room until very late last night?” Sister Wang got straight to the point.

Ye Qin squinted her eyes, still groggy. “Yes. It wasn’t that late. I sent her back at one.”

Sister Wang calmed herself down. “Then, did you… did you do anything to her…?”

Ye Qin rubbed her eyes. “What exactly happened? Sister Wang, why are you asking this so early in the morning?”

“You’re on the hot search again. No, both of you are.” Sister Wang sighed helplessly, speaking as if it were a simple, everyday thing like eating a meal.