After Failing To Win Over the Yandere Best Actress, I Got Marked - Chapter 16

When Su Jin returned to the villa, Auntie Lin was busy in the kitchen. Seeing her enter, she immediately greeted her warmly: “Miss Su is back? Miss Ye called just now to ask about you.”

“Auntie, is Ye… Qinglan back yet?” Su Jin asked cautiously.

“Not yet, she said she’d be a bit late.” The auntie stepped aside to let her in. “What would you like for dinner?”

“Whatever suits Qinglan’s taste is fine; I’m not picky,” Su Jin replied quickly.

The auntie nodded with a smile: “Miss Ye specifically instructed me to cook more of the dishes you like, saying you’re too thin.”

Just as Su Jin was about to speak, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“Perhaps Miss Ye forgot her keys.” Auntie wiped her hands and went to open the door, only to find a middle-aged woman in a professional suit standing outside. She wore exquisite makeup and exuded a sharp, piercing aura.

“Is Su Jin here?”

The woman’s voice was crisp and direct, her gaze already locking onto Su Jin standing in the living room.

Su Jin’s heart tightened. She immediately recognized her as Ye Qinglan’s manager, Zhao Man a woman highly skilled at masquerading, who would stop at nothing for profit.

In the original novel, she harbored feelings for Ye Qinglan and used her position as a manager to try and control her. Later, after her feelings were discovered and she was rejected, she turned vengeful. She even colluded with Fang Qi to drug Ye Qinglan in an attempt to send her to President Tang Yurou’s bed. After that failed, she spread black material about Ye Qinglan everywhere, leading to her being blacklisted and becoming one of the primary catalysts for Ye Qinglan’s “blackening” (descent into villainy).

Su Jin instantly felt a wave of dislike for Zhao Man. She stepped forward, forcing herself to remain calm.

“I am Su Jin.”

Zhao Man’s sharp eyes scrutinized her from head to toe before she spoke arrogantly: “Is it convenient to chat in private?”

Auntie Lin tactfully retreated to the kitchen.

Su Jin signaled for Zhao Man to take a seat on the sofa while she chose a single armchair, deliberately maintaining her distance.

“Would you like something to drink?” Su Jin asked politely.

“No need.” Zhao Man pulled a stack of photos from her briefcase and pushed them across the table. “Miss Su shouldn’t find these unfamiliar, right?”

The photos clearly showed her chatting and laughing with Lin Xiaoyu, and there were even shots of the two embracing. Su Jin frowned as she flipped through them, noticing that every photo was taken from a specific angle to make the interaction look ambiguous.

“The paparazzi really will film anything,” she sneered, throwing the photos back onto the coffee table. “So?”

Zhao Man leaned forward slightly, her voice low but crystal clear: “Ye Qinglan is in the rising stage of her career, and the company has invested a massive amount of resources into her. This ‘romance’ has already caused quite an impact. If this kind of negative news is added to the mix, it will be very detrimental to her career.”

“Negative news?” Su Jin interrupted, her voice inadvertently rising. “What’s negative about having a meal with a friend?”

“In the entertainment industry, the truth isn’t important, people only believe what they want to believe.” Zhao Man took another document out of her bag. “This is a draft for a statement. You just need to post it on Weibo, admitting that you are only ordinary friends. The company will give you appropriate compensation.”

Su Jin glanced at the document and almost laughed in anger. This was clearly asking her to deny her relationship with Ye Qinglan!

“Manager Zhao.” She intentionally drew out her words, mimicking the other woman’s hypocritical politeness. “Aren’t you overstepping a bit? My business with Qinglan isn’t something you get to dictate, is it?”

“Su Jin, I advise you to quit while you’re ahead.” Zhao Man’s voice was low, but her words were like knives. “You’re just an 18th-tier starlet who rose through ‘hidden rules’ (casting couch), surrounded by scandals and with a terrible reputation. Do you really think you’re worthy of Qinglan?”

“Whether I’m worthy or not doesn’t seem to be for Manager Zhao to judge, does it?”

Recalling what Zhao Man did to Ye Qinglan in the original novel, a flash of disgust crossed Su Jin’s eyes. “Manager Zhao is so concerned about Qinglan’s private life… could it be that you… like her?”

She deliberately dragged out the sentence, watching Zhao Man’s face closely. Sure enough, she caught a fleeting look of guilt and panic in the other woman’s eyes.

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Zhao Man snapped, flustered. “I am her manager naturally, I have to consider her career!”

“Is that so?” Su Jin couldn’t help but sneer, intentionally adding, “I think you’re using public interest for private gain. I bet you’re so jealous right now you’re about to go crazy, aren’t you?”

The blunt words were like a blade, piercing right through Zhao Man’s carefully maintained facade.

She suddenly raised her hand, looking as if she was about to deliver a slap.

Su Jin didn’t flinch or hide instead, she lifted her chin. “Go ahead, hit me. Let Qinglan see exactly what kind of person the manager she trusts really is.”

These words were like a bucket of cold water over Zhao Man’s head. Her hand froze in mid-air, and she was eventually forced to lower it.

“How long do you think you can stay smug?” Zhao Man hissed through gritted teeth. “Qinglan hates being deceived the most. If she knew your true purpose for approaching her…”

Su Jin’s heart skipped a beat, but she remained outwardly unbothered. “Oh? And what is my purpose?”

“Stop pretending!” Zhao Man sneered. “I’ve investigated your dark history thoroughly. Doing anything to get ahead, even cozying up to 50-year-old producers…”

“Have you said enough?”

A cold voice drifted in from the doorway.

Both women turned simultaneously to see Ye Qinglan standing there. It was unclear how long she had been there, but her expression was terrifyingly grim.

“Qinglan!” Zhao Man immediately stood up, switching to a professional tone. “I was just discussing a PR strategy with Miss Su…”

Ye Qinglan walked over with long strides and sat directly on the arm of the sofa next to Su Jin, her hand naturally resting on Su Jin’s waist. “Are you finished discussing?”

The intimate gesture made Su Jin’s heart skip a beat.

She looked up at Ye Qinglan and noticed that although there was a smile on her face, the depths of her eyes were filled with ice.

Zhao Man hardened her resolve and continued: “The company believes this relationship is more harmful than beneficial to you. Plus, with these photos today.”

“My private life does not require the company’s interference,” Ye Qinglan interrupted. “As for those photos…” she gave a cold laugh, “They’re not bad. They captured Su-Su quite beautifully.”

Su Jin felt the hand on her shoulder tighten slightly. Ye Qinglan’s body heat radiated through the thin fabric of her clothes, making her feel both safe and strangely nervous.

Zhao Man took a deep breath, making one last attempt: “Qinglan, stay calm. This Su Jin clearly has ulterior motives. Today she’s meeting an old flame behind your back, tomorrow she’ll..”

“That’s enough, Zhao Man.”

Ye Qinglan’s voice caused the temperature in the living room to plummet. “Go back and tell the company I will handle my own affairs.” She stood up, the intention to see the guest out being very obvious. “Goodnight.”

Zhao Man opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately left in a fit of rage.

After the sound of the door closing, the living room fell into an eerie silence.

Su Jin stole a glance at Ye Qinglan’s profile, trying to find a topic in her mind to break the awkwardness.

Ye Qinglan looked at her and smiled: “Su-Su, those things Zhao Man said… you don’t need to take them to heart.”

Hearing this, Su Jin’s heart wrenched. The original owner of the body had indeed done some unsavory things to get famous. If Ye Qinglan knew…

She decided to be upfront, looking directly into Ye Qinglan’s eyes. “In the past, I really was… not very decent. If you mind…”

“I don’t mind,” Ye Qinglan interrupted, her voice exceptionally firm. “The past isn’t important.”

Su Jin was stunned. She hadn’t expected Ye Qinglan to accept it so easily.

“Why?” she couldn’t help asking.

Ye Qinglan’s gaze became deep: “Because I believe in the you of right now.”

Those words struck Su Jin right in the heart. Her nose felt tingly, and she nearly burst into tears.

The more it was like this, the more she couldn’t bear to see Ye Qinglan’s tragic ending in the original novel. She couldn’t help but try to warn her: “That… Zhao Man isn’t a good person. In the future, she will..”

“System Warning: Host is forbidden from revealing key plot points!” The sharp notification exploded in her brain. Su Jin bit her tongue so hard tears actually came out from the pain.

Ye Qinglan noticed her abnormality and frowned deeper. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing…” Su Jin endured the headache and forced herself to continue. “Anyway, Zhao Man isn’t a good person. Stay away from her!”

Ye Qinglan suddenly laughed, the frost in her eyes melting a little. “Are you… jealous?”

“Huh?” Su Jin’s eyes widened. “I am not! I’m just afraid she’ll screw you over!”

“Mm, I understand.” Ye Qinglan intentionally misinterpreted her, her fingertips lightly brushing against Su Jin’s cheek. “You’re worried I’ll be stolen away by someone else.”

“No! I meant…” Su Jin waved her hands frantically, but then she caught the teasing glint in Ye Qinglan’s eyes. This woman was messing with her!

She pushed Ye Qinglan away huffily. “Think whatever you want!”

“Let’s go eat.” Ye Qinglan smiled and turned toward the dining room. “Auntie should have everything ready.”

Dinner was sumptuous. Su Jin ate happily, quickly pushing the earlier unpleasantness to the back of her mind.

“Did you go to the orphanage today?” Ye Qinglan asked suddenly.

Su Jin nodded vaguely and briefly mentioned the donation, instinctively omitting the details regarding Lin Xiaoyu.

“That Lin Xiaoyu…” Ye Qinglan brought her up as if it were a casual thought. “Are the two of you very close?”

“Just ordinary friends,” Su Jin pouted. “Paparazzi these days are ridiculous, they’ll make up anything.”

Ye Qinglan set down her chopsticks and looked at her intently. “What kind of ‘ordinary friend’ gives a hug?”

“We grew up together in the orphanage, and we hadn’t seen each other in a long time…” Su Jin explained offhandedly, then suddenly realized something was off. “Wait, could it be that you’re…”

She looked up and met Ye Qinglan’s deep eyes. The churning emotions within them made her go silent instantly. That intense possessiveness was almost tangible, sending a shiver down her spine.

Ye Qinglan… was jealous?

This realization made Su Jin’s heart race, but she didn’t dare confirm it. She could only lower her head and shovel rice into her mouth to hide her fluster.

“What kind of person is she?” Ye Qinglan continued to press, her voice terrifyingly calm.

“Just… very ordinary. She’s a kindergarten teacher, very gentle…” Su Jin’s voice got smaller and smaller because Ye Qinglan’s gaze was becoming increasingly dangerous.

The dining room fell into an eerie silence.

After a long while, Ye Qinglan spoke softly: “Next time you meet, take me with you.”

“Huh?” Su Jin looked up sharply.

“I want to meet your friend.” Ye Qinglan’s expression had returned to calm, as if the loss of control just now was a mere illusion. “Is that not allowed?”

Su Jin nodded blankly. She didn’t dare say no.