After Failing To Win Over the Yandere Best Actress, I Got Marked - Chapter 8

Early in the morning, Su Jin was jolted awake by the system’s notification pings, her head still heavy with sleep.

“New mission! Kiss Ye Qinglan. Success rewards you with ten million; failure results in a random penalty!”

Su Jin bolted upright in bed, nearly tossing her duvet aside. “What?!”

“The mission is a bit tough, but it’s not impossible. Look, aren’t you filming a kiss scene today? Just take the opportunity and strike.”

Su Jin’s teeth ground together in fury. “You’re trying to make me suffer social death on set!”

“Oh, Host, don’t think so much! Failure has a penalty anyway. Good luck!”

Su Jin couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Checking the time, she realized it was almost time for the crew to start. She had no choice but to drag herself up, wash, and rush to the film set.

As soon as she arrived, Su Jin noticed the atmosphere was off.

The usually quiet filming location was exceptionally lively today. Staff members were huddled in small groups, whispering to one another with expressions of excitement and gossip.

“What’s going on?” Su Jin pulled aside a passing staff member and asked softly.

The staff member lowered their voice mysteriously. “Don’t you know? Fang Qi is here!”

“Fang Qi?” Su Jin was stunned. “She isn’t even in this movie, is she?”

The staff member shrugged. “She wasn’t supposed to be, but word is the capital backing her forced her in. Director Lin had no choice but to modify the script on the fly.”

Su Jin’s heart tightened. She quickly asked, “Modify the script? To what?”

The staff member shook their head. “I’m not entirely sure, but it seems they added a love triangle. Fang Qi’s character will interfere in the relationship between you and Ye Qinglan.”

Su Jin’s scalp felt numb; panic set in. The original mission was hard enough, and now with Fang Qi added to the mix, she didn’t know how to cope.

She hurried toward the dressing room. As she pushed the door open, she saw Ye Qinglan sitting before the mirror while a makeup artist worked on her. Ye Qinglan’s face was somewhat grim, clearly dissatisfied with Fang Qi’s sudden “parachuting” into the production.

Su Jin walked over cautiously and whispered, “Movie Queen Ye, have you heard? Fang Qi is here, and they’re changing the script.”

Ye Qinglan gave a faint “mm.” “The power of capital. Director Lin has no choice.”

Su Jin asked tentatively, “Will… will our scenes be affected?”

Ye Qinglan turned to look at her. “Why? Are you worried your screen time will be stolen?”

“No, no, I’m just worried the plot will become too complicated and affect the quality of the film.”

“Quality?” Ye Qinglan let out a mocking chuckle, her tone tinged with sarcasm. “In a crew controlled by capital like this, quality stopped being the priority a long time ago.”

Su Jin was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond.

Just then, Director Lin walked in, looking frustrated. He glanced at Su Jin and Ye Qinglan and sighed. “The script changed at the last minute. Take a look at the new pages first.”

Su Jin took the script and flipped it open, her heart sank immediately.

In the new script, Fang Qi’s character was now Ye Qinglan’s ex-girlfriend with a significant increase in scenes, while Su Jin’s character became the “third wheel” interloper with her scenes heavily slashed. She looked up at Ye Qinglan and found the other woman’s face even darker, she was clearly displeased with the new script as well.

At that moment, Fang Qi pushed the door open and walked in.

She wore a triumphant smile, her gaze sweeping over Su Jin and Ye Qinglan with a hint of provocation. “Oh, what are you two chatting about? Not plotting how to deal with me, I hope?”

Su Jin blurted out, “Deal with you? Are you even worthy?”

Fang Qi’s expression soured instantly. She glared at Su Jin. “Su Jin, I heard your scenes were cut? What a pity. I thought you might actually make a comeback with this movie.”

Genuinely angry at her plans being disrupted, Su Jin couldn’t help but complain internally: We’re all “cannon fodder” characters, who do you think you are? I’m afraid to snap at Ye Qinglan, but you think I won’t snap at you?

She replied sarcastically, “Miss Fang, you must be joking. The amount of screen time doesn’t matter as long as the role is played well. I’m just afraid of those with no acting skills who insist on feeding the audience garbage it wouldn’t be good to be cursed by the public later.”

Ye Qinglan, who had remained silent, looked at Su Jin in surprise, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Fang Qi’s face flushed red with rage. “Su Jin, don’t act like you’re some saint. Everyone knows you’re just trying to leech off others’ popularity. Do you really think you’re some pure ‘white lotus’? You’re a shameless piece of work.”

The woman’s mouth was truly foul. Su Jin was about to continue her verbal assault when Director Lin’s voice boomed from outside.

“Prepare to film! Ye Qinglan and Fang Qi, get in position!”

This scene was a climax in the movie Behind the Starlight. Fang Qi’s character, driven by jealousy and anger, was supposed to confront and even slap Ye Qinglan’s character, Lin Xia.

Su Jin originally intended to just watch the drama unfold. However, when she saw Fang Qi take the opportunity to vent her personal spite by actually striking Ye Qinglan with a hard slap, her heart skipped a beat.

Slap! The crisp sound echoed across the set.

Ye Qinglan’s head snapped to the side, and red marks immediately appeared on her fair cheek.

Director Lin frowned and shouted “Cut!” He walked up to Fang Qi, looking displeased. “Fang Qi, this was supposed to be a staged hit using camera angles. Why did you actually hit her?”

Fang Qi shrugged, looking innocent. “Director Lin, I felt that a real slap would better reflect the character’s emotions. Faking it just wouldn’t look authentic enough.”

Director Lin fell silent for a few seconds. He was clearly unsatisfied with the explanation, but given the capital backing her, he could only nod begrudgingly. “Fine, let’s do it again. But watch your strength.”

Ye Qinglan stood to the side, her face remaining calm as if the slap hadn’t affected her at all. She lightly rubbed her cheek, her gaze drifting over Fang Qi with a chilling coldness.

Su Jin felt a surge of irritation watching this. Even though her relationship with Ye Qinglan wasn’t great, she couldn’t stand seeing Fang Qi abuse the situation. She stood up, walked to Director Lin, and whispered, “Director, isn’t this a bit much? Ye Qinglan is the lead, after all. If she actually gets injured, what happens to the rest of the shoot?”

Fang Qi overheard her and sneered, “Su Jin, what do you know? Acting is about realism, otherwise, how can the audience immerse themselves?”

“Miss Fang, I just think this isn’t right. What if..”

Fang Qi cut her off with a sharp, biting tone. “Su Jin, everyone knows you’re just leeching off Ye Qinglan’s fame with those rumors. Now you’re pretending to be the ‘good guy’? How laughable.”

As the eye of the storm, Ye Qinglan hadn’t said a word. Su Jin felt a bit frustrated on her behalf you were so intimidating when you were scaring me earlier, why are you being so submissive now?

But before she could argue back, Director Lin waved his hand. “Enough, stop arguing. Prepare for the next take!”

Filming resumed. Fang Qi stepped up to Ye Qinglan again, her eyes filled with smugness and provocation. She raised her hand, ready to swing hard at Ye Qinglan’s face once more.

However, just as her hand was about to connect, Ye Qinglan suddenly ducked. She grabbed Fang Qi’s wrist and said coldly, “That’s enough.”

Fang Qi froze. Before she could react, Ye Qinglan raised her own hand and delivered two swift, sharp slaps in return.

Slap! Slap! The sounds rang out. Fang Qi’s head snapped back, and she stumbled several steps, red marks blossoming on her face.

Ye Qinglan’s eyes were ice-cold and sharp. “Get out! We are finished!” she barked.

The set fell into dead silence. Everyone was stunned.

Director Lin didn’t shout “Cut.” The cameras stayed fixed on the two.

Fang Qi clutched her face, her eyes filled with shock and fury. “You… you dared to hit me?”

Director Lin finally snapped out of it and shouted excitedly, “Cut! Brilliant! The emotional tension was perfect! This was even better than the script!”

The staff members began to applaud, praising Ye Qinglan’s performance.

“Movie Queen Ye is amazing! That emotion was spot on!”

“Fang Qi’s first slap was so mean, I can’t believe Movie Queen Ye improvised that counter-attack. So powerful!”

“This will definitely be a highlight of the movie!”

Fang Qi stood to the side, her face pale with rage and resentment. She hadn’t expected Ye Qinglan to retaliate, nor had she expected Director Lin to be so satisfied with the outcome.

Su Jin was also shaken by Ye Qinglan’s acting. She couldn’t help but cheer loudly, “Ye Qinglan, that was awesome! That scene was incredible!”

Hearing Su Jin’s voice, a flash of malice crossed Fang Qi’s eyes. “Su Jin, don’t get too happy. Just you wait.”

Su Jin felt a chill, but she maintained a calm front. “Miss Fang, I’m just admiring Movie Queen Ye’s acting. I didn’t mean anything else.”

Fang Qi let out a cold snort and stormed off the set.

Ye Qinglan walked over to Su Jin and smiled. “Su Jin, your reaction today… was quite interesting.”

Su Jin panicked slightly. “Movie Queen Ye, I… I just thought your acting was so great, I couldn’t help but…”

“Is that so?” Ye Qinglan chuckled softly. “Then I’m looking forward to… the next scene.”

Thinking about the upcoming kiss scene, Su Jin’s ears turned red. “I… I’ll work hard.”

Ye Qinglan gave a meaningful smile and turned to head to her break area.

Su Jin checked the time. There were thirty minutes left before the next shot, and her mission—to kiss Ye Qinglan still had no clear plan.

“System, you’re setting me up!” Su Jin grumbled. “Did you see how she slapped Fang Qi? If I dare to kiss her in public, she’ll slap me into a coma.”

The system consoled her: “Host, don’t panic! Just play it by ear.”

Su Jin felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

The time for the shoot arrived. Su Jin walked over reluctantly. Director Lin was adjusting the equipment while the lighting and camera crews made final tweaks.

This was the kiss scene between her and Ye Qinglan. In the plot, Zhou Yu and Lin Xia are in an ambiguous stage. Zhou Yu gets jealous because Lin Xia met with her ex-girlfriend and proceeds to force a kiss on her. Originally, this was supposed to be faked for the camera, but Su Jin had to make it real.

As the shoot began, Su Jin stood in the designated area, her palms sweating. Her eyes kept darting toward Ye Qinglan. She felt incredibly guilty and instinctively touched her own cheek.

I hope Ye Qinglan shows some mercy and doesn’t disfigure me.

“Action!” Director Lin commanded.

Su Jin entered the character immediately. Transforming into Zhou Yu, she looked at the person across from her with a wounded expression.

“Lin Xia, why are you still meeting her? You clearly know I like you!”

Ye Qinglan, playing Lin Xia, frowned slightly. “Zhou Yu, stop being unreasonable. We’ve been over for a long time.”

Su Jin’s next line was supposed to be: “If it’s over, then why were you afraid to let me know?”

But in her nervousness, she choked. She stood frozen, her lips trembling, but no words came out.

“Cut!” Director Lin shouted impatiently. “Su Jin, what’s wrong? Where are the lines?”

Su Jin turned pale and apologized quickly. “Sorry, Director Lin. I’m a little nervous. Let’s try again.”

Director Lin waved his hand. “Again!”

The second take began. As soon as Su Jin walked up to Ye Qinglan, her eyes started wandering before she even spoke. Her mind was filled with images of Ye Qinglan slapping people. She was completely unnerved.

“Cut!” Director Lin’s voice got louder. “Su Jin, you’re supposed to be jealous, not guilty! Get your eyes right!”

Su Jin grew even more anxious. But I am guilty! She stole a glance at Ye Qinglan and found the other woman looking at her with a half-smile, which only made things worse.

The system chimed in: “Host, if you keep stalling, you’ll have to accept the penalty for mission failure.”

Between a slap and the system’s penalty, Su Jin decided the penalty was scarier.

On the third take, after a long session of mental preparation, she decided to bite the bullet.

Ye Qinglan performed as usual, delivering her lines: “Zhou Yu, it’s not what you think…”

“Lin Xia, you clearly know I like you.”

After finishing her line, Su Jin gritted her teeth, reached out, and grabbed Ye Qinglan’s wrist. She pulled the woman toward her, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips directly against Ye Qinglan’s.

The set went silent instantly. Everyone was stunned.

Director Lin didn’t call “Cut.” The lens remained focused on them.

Su Jin’s kiss was frantic and desperate. As her lips met Ye Qinglan’s, she felt the other woman’s body stiffen momentarily. But very quickly, Ye Qinglan’s hand came up to cup the back of Su Jin’s head, deepening the kiss.

Their breaths intertwined, and the air filled with an ambiguous tension.

Su Jin’s heart beat so fast it felt like it would burst from her chest. She could feel Ye Qinglan’s breathing become ragged, and the woman’s fingers tightened slightly against her skin.

The kiss lasted for several seconds until Director Lin’s excited voice broke the silence: “Cut! That improvisation was fantastic! Ye Qinglan, your coordination was perfect!”

Amidst the director’s praise, Ye Qinglan released Su Jin, a smirk playing on her lips. “Su Jin, your acting… has improved.”

Su Jin’s face turned bright red. “I’m sorry, I… I got too into the character.”

Ye Qinglan gave her a knowing look, said nothing, and turned to go rest.

Su Jin stood there, her mind a mess. She felt like Ye Qinglan’s reaction wasn’t quite right. Why didn’t she look angry at all? In fact, it almost seemed like she was… cooperating?

She’s way too dedicated to her craft, Su Jin thought, feeling a sudden wave of self-reproach for her own “unprofessional” motives.