After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 24

As soon as the cast list was finalized, the official social media account made the announcement immediately. The main actors were mostly newcomers, but Starlight always operated this way: boldly promoting new talent, spending heavily on costumes and makeup, and splurging on special effects.

Therefore, the choice of the Female Lead did not cause much of a stir and even helped Song Xingzi gain a small following. Taking into consideration public opinion and the book fans’ feedback, the official account did not announce that the actress playing Mu Yu was Starlight CEO Ji Ruyue, only dropping a small hint on Weibo to let everyone guess the identity of the actress.

On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, in the morning, the Xiangshan Global Studios, Deep Palace Chef Queen opening ceremony commenced.

The long altar table used for offerings was covered with a red silk cloth. An image of Guan Di was enshrined on the table, flanked by a roasted suckling pig and fruits. After the main creative team offered incense and paid their respects, Director Zhao Yu, with an expressionless face, unveiled the red cloth and announced the official start of filming for Deep Palace Chef Queen.

He had argued with Qi Nanchun again, or rather, he had argued with Qi Nanchun unilaterally.

In his opinion, the script revised by Qi Nanchun had the potential to deliberately generate ‘yuri’ (female/female) romantic shipping, which angered him. He believed that such opportunistic and sycophantic behavior was not only disrespectful to his efforts but also an insult to his capabilities. However, Qi Nanchun disagreed. She felt that there was nothing wrong with modifying the script to ensure reasonable plot logic while accommodating the actors’ characteristics, and that Zhao Yu was simply seeing same-sex romance everywhere. Yet, she couldn’t persuade Zhao Yu and had been dejected for days.

Zhao Yu, stubborn as an ox, sulked for a few days but couldn’t bear to see his girlfriend upset. He dutifully organized the series of events for the opening and joining the crew.

“Thank you very much for your attention to Deep Palace Chef Queen… Next is the interview session. Please ask any questions you have.”

After finishing his statement expressionlessly, Zhao Yu stood among the actors, waiting for the barrage of questions. He was a rising star director who had won the Golden Rooster Award for “Best Director” with his first film. This was his first TV drama, so he expected the media to have plenty of questions for him.

Reporters stood outside the line, media personnel held their camera equipment, and the constant flashing of lights added a little brightness to the gloomy winter day. Ji Ruyue, standing front and center in the C-position as both investor and CEO of Starlight, wore a bold smile. She was very familiar with this kind of scene as a top socialite and corporate CEO.

“Ms. Song Xingzi, how do you feel about making a triple-level leap to join Starlight?”

“Mr. Tao Le, didn’t you say you were trying to transition and would no longer accept period idol dramas?”

“What are your thoughts on the debate among the book fans online?”

The reporters excitedly held up their recorders and microphones, each scrambling to get a scoop, their voices louder than the last, making it impossible to clearly hear any single question.

“Hello, Ms. Ji Ruyue, what is your view on the rumors circulating in the industry about a ‘heavenly-priced mistress’? Is this true?” A sharp female voice cut through the hubbub. The lively questioning immediately silenced. Everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak again.

Heavenly-priced mistress? Song Xingzi, who had been dazed by the flashing lights and secretly closing her eyes, snapped them open in astonishment, looking at the female media professional in confusion.

Ji Ruyue raised an eyebrow. What scene is this? Song Xingzi is my heavenly-priced mistress?

She searched her memories for a similar scenario but found none.

“Is CEO Ji going to deny it? It is rumored that you spent fifty million in breach of contract fees to poach Song Xingzi from Huasheng. Is this true?” The sharp-tongued woman was relentless, thrusting the microphone directly into Ji Ruyue’s face.

Fifty million! Did Ji-Ji really spend that much money on me? Wouldn’t that mean I owe Ji-Ji a lot of money again! It will take two years just to pay off the salary on the contract, so how will I afford to open my fried goods shop?

Song Xingzi lowered her head in frustration, her face still quiet, obedient, and delicate.

He Ya, standing next to Song Xingzi and observing her and Ji Ruyue, immediately lightly grasped her hand and offered a comforting smile.

Don’t worry, it’s just speculation. Some media outlets are simply very rude.

Song Xingzi, who had no experience in the entertainment industry and completely missed the signal, looked strangely at their clasped hands. Her hand is so cold. Is she cold? But I’m not wearing thick clothes, and my hands are also cold. I shouldn’t touch anything colder; it’s easy to get sick.

Thus, Song Xingzi gave He Ya an apologetic smile, withdrew her hand, and moved a little closer to Ji Ruyue.

The woman who was monitoring the whole situation immediately turned her fire on Song Xingzi. “Ms. Song Xingzi, are you aware of the ‘heavenly-priced mistress’ rumor? Why do you think CEO Ji would be willing to pay fifty million to sign you?”

Song Xingzi, who was suddenly addressed, nervously rubbed her hands, preparing to take the microphone and express her endless confusion.

Why can a moron like you appear here? A malicious person like you should be thrown into the Demonic Realm’s Illusionary Wind Array for proper education! You clearly look like a woman with bad intentions, and your malice is breaking through the heavens.

So it was her. I wondered why things had been so quiet for so many days and the Female Lead hadn’t suffered a setback. She was waiting here. Does she want to frame the Female Lead, then encourage her, and get close to her? The malice of women toward other women is truly intense.

Ji Ruyue’s bold smile vanished, replaced by a cynical smirk with a furrowed brow and an upturned corner of her mouth. Her gaze, sharp as a knife, swept from He Ya to the aggressive female reporter. She reached out and snatched the microphone. “Heh, trash media will only use trash tactics. What are you hinting at? Can’t you just speak directly? Did you fail your civics class?”

The female reporter’s face flushed bright red. “How can you insult people!”

The other reporters’ legs trembled, obediently huddling together like little quail: “…”

Who paid for this idiot? Doesn’t she know that CEO Ji is notoriously short-tempered? Even if you haven’t read a financial newspaper, haven’t you heard entertainment gossip! This is a CEO who can break people’s legs!

“Heh, you’re not worthy of my insults. Didn’t you want to know why I was willing to pay fifty million in liquidated damages?” Ji Ruyue, with black hair and red lips, spoke sharply, her words like knives. “Because I’m rich. Fifty million is nothing. I have as much as I want. The time I’m standing here answering your idiotic question is enough for me to earn a hundred million. Well, are you satisfied with that answer?”

The female reporter nodded fearfully, “S-Satisfied, yes. I-I apologize, I shouldn’t have listened to false rumors.”

“Too late,” Ji Ruyue flipped the microphone over, clearly saw the logo, and then gently handed it back, saying with a smile, “Qi Xing Media, right? Remember to go back and learn how to be a proper person.”

“You, what do you mean? You can’t use your power to bully others.”

Ji Ruyue raised an eyebrow, “Don’t always judge others with your filthy mind. That’s not good.”

“You…”

She wanted to say more, but she froze under Ji Ruyue’s heavily implied gaze. She shrank back into the crowd, looking at He Ya as if seeking help.

He Ya subtly shook her head: What kind of person did Tang Wen hire? She can’t even handle a simple task, and she dared to directly confront Ji Ruyue! Is she an idiot?

Ji Ruyue took in their interaction entirely, sneered, and turned her attention to the group of people feigning humility. She said coldly, “Do you all have any other questions? It’s cold out here.”

You want to harm Song Xingzi, that fool, and steal my plot? It won’t be that easy. If you finish your part, how am I supposed to bully the Female Lead and follow the Male Lead’s route of saving the beauty? The Male Lead also has to get her pregnant, and I don’t have that ability.

Ji Ruyue, who had unknowingly progressed through the ‘sweet romance Male Lead’ plot, narrowed her eyes, scanning the crowd.

The reporters, who were all very sharp people, quickly maintained their quail-like stance and said in unison, “No, no, we’re done asking. We’re done. We won’t hold up the start of filming. We’ll leave now.”

…

The storm of the opening press conference, which had started with a bang but ended with a whimper, silently concluded after Ji Ruyue’s intervention. No rumors about the relationship between Ji and Song leaked out. The female reporter’s studio, Qi Xing Media, was successfully shut down three days later for illegal activities including cyberbullying, doxxing, and spreading rumors.

Ji Ruyue’s line, “Because I’m rich. Fifty million is nothing. I have as much as I want,” was filmed by fans of other celebrities and spread to the drama’s fan page, successfully going viral and trending. For a time, the hashtag #FiftyMillionIsAsMuchAsIWant became a popular meme, with frequent witty replies across various platforms. The beautiful, wealthy, and capable CEO Ji was praised as the “Ultimate Dream of the Entertainment Industry,” becoming even more popular than a current top actress.

Ji Ruyue paid no attention to any of this. Compared to the irrelevant chatter on the internet, she was more annoyed by the damp, cold winter in the South, where she finally flew on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month to the Hengdian World Studios. Endless rain and snow, rare glimpses of the sun—it’s no place for a person to stay.

So, why did the way of Heaven make me fly back and forth from south to north every day, like a double agent, just to find trouble with that idiot?

Ji Ruyue opened her eyes and glanced at the blissfully unaware Song Xingzi, who was chatting with He Ya, that ‘Black Lotus.’

She’s truly an idiot.

“CEO Ji,” noticing Ji Ruyue’s gaze, Song Xingzi turned her head and flashed a bright smile.

Ji Ruyue twitched the corner of her mouth, too lazy to respond.

“CEO Ji, please don’t move. The loose powder might fall into your mouth, and that won’t feel good.” The makeup artist whispered in Ji Ruyue’s ear, gently pushing the loose powder from the inside of her cheeks outward with a brush.

They were the makeup team Starlight had prepared for Song Xingzi. They, along with a group of bodyguards and assistants, had come to Hengdian for the filming. However, Ji Ruyue’s situation was special, and she disliked having a crowd of people around her, so she was temporarily sharing the same team as Song Xingzi. Given their relationship, no one would object.

The makeup artist chuckled, “CEO Ji cares very much about Ms. Song.”

Ji Ruyue frowned. Ever since that idiot shouted “heavenly-priced mistress,” the crew’s gaze towards her and Song Xingzi had been off. She knew what these people were thinking: Aren’t they just shipping a female/female couple?

Heh. If they knew that the Female Lead and I are destined enemies for all eternity, I wonder what their reaction would be.

Ji Ruyue found the thought amusing. She twitched her mouth but didn’t deny the makeup artist’s words.

The CEO didn’t deny it! That means it’s as good as true! A beautiful female couple! After being in the entertainment industry for so long, I finally encountered a real ‘yuri’ couple!! Beauties should definitely be together.

The makeup artist smiled and continued applying makeup to Ji Ruyue.

On the other side, He Ya smiled gently, leaning in to talk to Song Xingzi in a soft voice: “Xingzi, why didn’t you add me on WeChat before? I was ready to send you the discussion notes, but I never expected our scenes would barely be changed.”

Wow, Ji-Ji looks so pretty even like that!