After Failing To Win Over the Yandere Best Actress, I Got Marked - Chapter 18

The production van slowly pulled into the filming location. Through the window, Su Jin watched the staff gathered in small groups. The way they whispered and exchanged looks made her feel uneasy. Since she and Ye Qinglan had gone public with their relationship, scenes like this played out almost every day.

“Don’t be nervous,” Ye Qinglan’s warm palm covered hers, her voice soft. “I’m here.”

Su Jin forced a smile, but inwardly, she was grimacing.

How could she not be nervous? Today they were filming the hot spring scene, and the memory of last night’s “rehearsal” was still vivid in her mind. Just the thought of reenacting those ambiguous scenes in front of everyone made her ears burn.

“System,” she called out in her mind, “Can today’s scene be…”

“No!” the System interrupted her flatly. “This is a critical plot node. It must be completed!”

Su Jin cursed the system a thousand times in her head.

When they stepped out of the car, the surrounding gazes felt like needles pricking her skin.

Subconsciously, Su Jin leaned closer to Ye Qinglan. The latter took the hint immediately, wrapping an arm around her waist a simple gesture that silently asserted her dominance.

The whispering quieted down instantly.

“Go to makeup first.” Ye Qinglan’s voice acted like an invisible barrier, shielding her from the external noise.

For no particular reason, Su Jin felt much more at ease.

In the dressing room, the makeup artist was working on Su Jin’s face. The mirror reflected her flushed cheeks.

“Miss Su’s complexion is wonderful today,” the makeup artist teased with a smile. “Is it because you’re filming an intimate scene with Film Queen Ye later?”

The tips of Su Jin’s ears turned red instantly, and she stammered, unsure of how to respond.

Just then, Ye Qinglan pushed the door open. She had already changed into her costume a white yukata with a slightly open collar, revealing her delicate collarbones.

“Ready?” Ye Qinglan’s eyes met Su Jin’s, carrying a silent understanding known only to them.

Su Jin nodded, her heart drumming against her ribs.

Flashes of last night’s “rehearsal” flickered uncontrollably in her mind the bodies pressed together in the water, Ye Qinglan’s hot breath, and that lingering, phantom touch…

“I… I’m going to change.” She stood up abruptly and fled into the changing room.

Inside, Su Jin stared despairingly at the costume in her hands.

It was a gauze yukata as thin as a cicada’s wing hardly “modest.” She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she put it on. Her eyes were panicked, making her look like a startled red eyed rabbit.

“Su Jin,” Ye Qinglan’s voice came from outside the door, “The director is calling.”

“Co-Coming!” Su Jin hurriedly tied the sash and pushed the door open, nearly crashing into Ye Qinglan’s arms.

Ye Qinglan’s gaze lingered on her for a few seconds. She chuckled softly: “It looks… very good.”

Those three simple words made Su Jin’s heart race once more.

She lowered her head, not daring to meet Ye Qinglan’s eyes, afraid the other woman would see her sheer embarrassment.

The hot spring set was already prepared. Amidst the rising steam, staff members were adjusting the lighting.

Seeing them, the director beckoned immediately: “Come, come! Let’s walk through the positions first.”

Su Jin’s legs felt like they were made of lead. She took a long breath, forcing herself into character.

She slowly waded into the hot spring. The warm water enveloped her body, causing her to let out a small, involuntary sigh. According to the script, she was supposed to “accidentally” slip and fall into Ye Qinglan’s arms.

“Ah!” She gave a light cry and tipped forward.

Ye Qinglan caught her steadily, their bodies pressing tightly together in the water. Su Jin could clearly feel the other’s heartbeat thump, thump gradually syncing with her own.

“Cut!” the director shouted excitedly. “Keep that state! Continue!”

The rest of the shoot went surprisingly smoothly.

Perhaps because last night’s “rehearsal” had worked, Su Jin was more immersed in the role than usual. Following the script, her fingers lightly brushed against Ye Qinglan’s cheek as she leaned in to whisper in her ear; every movement was pitch-perfect.

Strangely, the more she threw herself into the character, the less nervous she became.

It was as if only when she was playing “Zhou Yu” could she rightfully be close to Ye Qinglan without having to ponder her own increasingly chaotic feelings.

“Cut!” The director clapped enthusiastically. “That’s a wrap for this scene! Ten-minute break, then get ready for the next one!”

Su Jin felt a wave of relief. Just as she was about to leave the spring, she felt Ye Qinglan gently grab her hand.

“You acted well,” Ye Qinglan whispered, her thumb lightly grazing Su Jin’s palm a small gesture meant only for her.

Su Jin’s heart spiraled out of control again. She hurriedly pulled her hand back, scrambled out of the spring, wrapped herself in the towel handed over by her assistant, and bolted toward the lounge without looking back.

In the lounge, Su Jin splashed cold water on her burning face, trying to calm herself down.

“Springtime yearning,” the System remarked coolly. “Host, you currently look like a cat in heat.”

“Shut up!” Su Jin snapped in embarrassment. “I was just… just too into the role!”

“Is that so?” the System asked meaningfully. “Do you dare say you don’t like Ye Qinglan?”

Su Jin was speechless, unable to find a rebuttal.

Yes, why didn’t she dare admit it? Because Ye Qinglan loved an “old flame”? Because she was just a substitute? Or because… she was ultimately destined to complete her mission and leave this world?

Just as she was lost in thought, the door to the lounge was suddenly pushed open.

Su Jin looked up to see Fang Qi leaning against the doorframe, her red lips curled into a mocking arc.

“Nice acting,” Fang Qi said slowly as she walked in, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor. “It seems you’ve done plenty of ‘practice’ in private.”

Su Jin’s face went cold. “Is there something you want?”

Fang Qi sat in the chair opposite her and pulled a stack of photos from her bag, sliding them across. “Take a look at these.”

Su Jin looked down, and her blood turned to ice. The photos showed the original owner of the body in intimate poses with various people.

“You think climbing onto Ye Qinglan will clear your name?” Fang Qi sneered maliciously. “If these get out, what do you think will happen to you?”

“What do you want?” Su Jin forced herself to remain calm.

Fang Qi leaned in, her perfume stiflingly strong. “It’s simple. At the crew party tonight, find a way to get Ye Qinglan to drink this.” She pulled a small vial from her purse. “Then take her to Room 2103. As for the rest… you don’t need to worry about it.”

Su Jin stared at the vial. She knew exactly what it was. In the original novel, Fang Qi used this drug to frame Ye Qinglan, nearly sending her to a certain financier’s bed.

“Impossible!” Su Jin stood up abruptly. “Don’t even think about it!”

Fang Qi unhurriedly tucked the photos away. “Then wait for these to hit the headlines. By the way, a reminder: Ye Qinglan hates being deceived the most. If she finds out your true face…”

“Host!” the System’s voice suddenly rang out. “This is the final critical plot node! Agree to it!”

Su Jin’s mind was a mess.

The System’s voice, Fang Qi’s threat, Ye Qinglan’s intimacy… all the sounds intertwined, nearly tearing her apart.

“Host! Agree quickly!” the System urged impatiently. “Once you finish this task, you can exchange your rewards and go home!”

“Shut up!” Su Jin roared in her mind. “Do you know what’s in that bottle? That… that will completely destroy Ye Qinglan!”

“So what?” the System countered coldly. “This was your mission all along to stimulate Ye Qinglan into blackening. The opportunity is right in front of you; what are you hesitating for?”

Su Jin’s nails dug deep into her palms. The pain brought a sliver of clarity. “I won’t do it. Ye Qinglan trusts me so much. I can’t do this.”

“Electric shock warning!” the System’s volume spiked. “Countdown: Three, two…”

Excruciating pain instantly flooded her body. Su Jin buckled over, biting her lip hard to keep from screaming.

“This is just the beginning,” the System’s voice was bone-chillingly cold. “If you continue to defy orders, I will take direct control of your body. Think about it what would happen then?”

Su Jin’s pupils shrunk.

The System controlling her body… that meant it might use even more cruel methods to hurt Ye Qinglan. No, she had to stabilize the System and Fang Qi first, then find a way out.

After pretending to struggle for a long time, Su Jin squeezed out a sentence: “Fine. I’ll… I’ll do as you say.”

Fang Qi smiled satisfactorily and tucked the vial into Su Jin’s hand. “That’s more like it. Remember, don’t try any tricks.” With that, she turned and left, the sound of her heels hitting the floor like hammers against Su Jin’s heart.

The moment the door closed, Su Jin collapsed into the chair. The small vial in her hand felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

Now, she had to buy time and find a way to tell Ye Qinglan everything.