After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 43

Due to work commitments, Luo Zhu couldn’t accompany Ying Xu and could only arrange for a temporary assistant, Yi Ning, who had worked on the set of Sinking for a few days.

As Ying Xu read through the character script, she listened to Yi Ning’s introduction, gaining a basic understanding of the entire crew.

Just as Cheng Yun had mentioned, the production team was excellent, with generous funding. However, when it came to the female lead, they had chosen a second-tier actress known for her popularity Xia Qing.

Yi Ning cautiously advised, “Sister Xia has a strong hostility toward alphas. If possible, it’s best to stay away from her.”

Yi Ning was also an alpha, so her warning likely came from personal experience.

Ying Xu nodded in acknowledgment. She hadn’t rested much during the trip and was finally feeling drowsy.

But when she closed her eyes, what came to mind was the script she had just read.

The story of Sinking wasn’t complicated. The female lead, a psychologist, returned to her hometown after many years and unexpectedly discovered that many residents in the quaint, peaceful town suffered from psychological illnesses without realizing it. She began a journey of treatment and, after her vacation ended, shared her experiences online, achieving fame and fortune, reaching the peak of her life.

The character Ying Xu was to play, Li Yue, had attempted suicide multiple times due to domestic violence and school bullying. It wasn’t until the female lead arrived that the withdrawn, taciturn girl was finally “saved.”

This character reminded Ying Xu of Gu Qingzhu.

Though their experiences weren’t similar, both carried a familiar sense of numbness and calm.

By then, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Ying Xu wanted to contact Gu Qingzhu, but based on her understanding of the omega, she would still be sound asleep at this hour.

“I’m here.”

Three words and a location pin carefully deliberated until the car stopped.

The filming location for Sinking was a small town nestled between mountains and water, exceptionally tranquil.

By the time Ying Xu arrived, the crew was already in full swing.

Unlike Redemption, passersby frequently walked along the streets. On camera, Xia Qing, dressed in a long gown, interacted with a young actor beside her.

The character was supposed to be gentle, with a smile as her signature trait, but when Xia Qing performed it, it always came off as stiff and unnatural. The shoot was nearing its end when a look of relief flashed across her face, only for her to immediately flub her next line.

In any other production, such a mistake would be unacceptable. Yet behind the camera, the director seemed accustomed to it and casually approved the take.

Ying Xu realized that Yi Ning’s advice to “stay away” might not just be about Xia Qing’s temper.

As the crew began preparing props for the next scene, Yi Ning finally approached. The contract had been signed before boarding, and all accommodations and logistics were arranged by the production team.

But when the assistant director saw her, his first reaction was to toss over the shooting schedule.

“Ying Xu has a scene in two hours. Start preparing now.”

The coldness in his tone left Yi Ning stunned. She couldn’t believe he was unaware that Ying Xu had traveled overnight, why was he acting this way?

Ying Xu wasn’t some nobody!

She turned to look for Ying Xu, only to see the alpha already picking up the schedule.

Upon seeing her, the assistant director’s expression softened slightly. “You joined the crew late, and time is tight. It’s normal to have to make up for lost scenes.”

Ying Xu glanced at the paper and asked, “Is this all for today? Any more?”

A single sentence froze the people passing by. They had seen actors storm off in tears after being forced into rehearsals, but who had ever seen someone eagerly volunteering for them?

Seeing him shake his head awkwardly, Ying Xu remained unfazed and flipped through the script.

Meanwhile, Yi Ning bought breakfast. She briefly glanced at her messages, Gu Qingzhu still hadn’t replied.

Before Ying Xu started filming, Xia Qing began removing her makeup.

Unlike Ying Xu, who sat stiffly on a small stool, the woman was surrounded by attendants, some shielding her from the sun, others fanning her, handing her clothes and snacks.

The next second, the system popped up with an introduction. After reading it, Ying Xu stood up.

Before Yi Ning could stop her, the alpha had already walked to Xia Qing’s side.

“Hello, I’m”

“Xiao Lin,” Xia Qing called for her assistant without sparing Ying Xu a glance, rattling off a list of trivial tasks.

Yet Ying Xu remained standing beside her, as if oblivious to the cold shoulder.

Only when Yi Ning could no longer bear the tension did she raise her voice: “Ying-jie, it’s almost your turn”

Ying Xu finally turned away.

Just as she was about to leave, Xia Qing seemed to notice her for the first time, casting her a sidelong glance. “So you’re Ying Xu. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Ying Xu turned her head slightly to look at her.

Xia Qing smirked. “Where’s Gu Qingzhu? By the way, you two made quite the scene yesterday. I was hoping to get to know her.”

Ying Xu replied, “I don’t think she’d be interested.”

Xia Qing’s smile stiffened. “What?”

Ying Xu curled her lips, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She met Xia Qing’s gaze, as if responding earnestly or perhaps sizing her up and repeated, “She wouldn’t be interested in getting to know an alpha like you.”

It wasn’t until Ying Xu began filming that Xia Qing finally snapped, “Was she mocking me? How dare she?”

Her assistant, not wanting to provoke her further, cautiously replied, “She’s no match for you. Don’t take it to heart.”

“How could she even compare to me?” Xia Qing fumed, launching into another tirade.

Ying Xu’s shoot lasted until dusk.

Only then did the assistant director remember the issue of accommodations, handing over the room key and the shooting schedule for the new week.

At a glance, Yi Ning frowned.

Filming at 5 a.m., ending at 10 p.m., with additional night scenes requiring coordination with other actors, Ying Xu’s schedule was packed to the limit, leaving barely any time for sleep. It would take a severe toll on her health.

“Oh, one more thing,” the assistant director added before leaving. “No electronic devices during filming. The set is closed you understand, right?”

Yi Ning wanted Ying Xu to refuse, but the latter kept her eyes fixed on her phone, visibly agitated.

She had been like this since wrapping up as if waiting for a message that never came.

Only when a reply finally appeared on the screen did Ying Xu give a slight nod in acknowledgment.

The assistant director, ignored for half the day, turned pale with anger, but no one cared.

The setting sun cast a decadent glow across the room.

Outside the hospital room, Xiang Ling stood with her hands in her pockets, listening to a brief rundown of the patient’s condition before cutting in, “Was hospitalization her own request?”

When the nurse nodded, the beta shot a glance at Assistant Lu. “If she asked for it herself, why are you so worked up? Isn’t it good to treat an illness?”

Half an hour later, Assistant Lu completed the admission procedures.

The only personal item was a phone.

Xiang Ling stared at it for a few seconds before asking, “Can you unlock it?”

Assistant Lu was lost in thought and didn’t respond. After a long while, she finally asked in a low voice, “Was it really Qingzhu’s request?”

A flicker of hesitation passed over Xiang Ling’s face. After pausing, she replied, “Haven’t you already seen the surveillance footage? After Gu Qingzhu opened the package, she had a panic attack and fainted. Before losing consciousness, she requested to be hospitalized.”

Xiang Ling hesitated for a moment but then continued calmly, “Both the residence and the hospital have surveillance. Didn’t you see it all? She opened the package, had a panic attack, vomited, and asked to be hospitalized before passing out.”

Assistant Lu instinctively denied it: “Even if that’s the case, she wouldn’t”

Gu Qingzhu hated hospitals so much, how could she voluntarily request hospitalization, especially in a closed ward where visits were nearly impossible unless absolutely necessary?

When Assistant Lu rushed to the hospital in a panic, she unexpectedly found Xiang Ling meeting with a friend, and the two had just arrived together.

“Wouldn’t what?” Xiang Ling retorted. “If it weren’t for Qinghong forcing her to earn money, she should have been hospitalized years ago. Can’t you tell what’s good and what’s bad?”

Assistant Lu couldn’t think of a response immediately, and a heavy silence filled the room.

Until a crisp notification tone broke the stillness.

[What are you up to? Want to video chat?]

The message was from Ying Xu.

The app showed that she had sent four other messages before this.

Ying Xu joining the film crew was one of the day’s hot topics. Some bloggers had leaked detailed insider information, and Assistant Lu knew that if Ying Xu returned now, she would likely lose the role.

Moreover, the fact that she could leave at all spoke volumes about Gu Qingzhu’s attitude.

In an instant, Assistant Lu stopped dwelling on Xiang Ling’s words, focusing instead on how to reply without raising suspicion.

Xiang Ling, bored, scrolled through her phone.

She had countless messages from the Xu family, patients, the lab… The shooting schedule was the last thing she opened.

After seeing the timeline, she sent a string of question marks.

[Her body can’t handle such an intense workload.]

[I know, so I left some breathing room.]

After a moment of silence, the other person sent another message:

[Keep her occupied. Don’t forget our agreement.]

Xiang Ling clenched her phone, trying to steady her emotions before extending a hand to Assistant Lu. “Let me handle it.”

Two minutes later, Ying Xu was successfully brushed off, no longer mentioning the video chat and only asking ‘Gu Qingzhu’ to rest well.

Assistant Lu looked at her in surprise, relieved but also puzzled by how smoothly Xiang Ling had managed it.

To her silent question, Xiang Ling replied stiffly, “I, know Ying Xu quite well.”

Whether Assistant Lu believed it or not, Ying Xu didn’t seem suspicious.

She was incredibly busy.

On her second day with the crew, she began a grueling schedule, spending eighteen hours a day on set, her sleep fragmented. After a few days, she increasingly resembled her character.

While filming, she couldn’t use her phone, so her contact with Gu Qingzhu became even sparser.

Though every time they spoke, Gu Qingzhu seemed perfectly normal. But an omega’s stability was, in itself, a sign of instability.

When Ying Xu realized she was subconsciously planning to return to Xingcheng on her day off to see Gu Qingzhu, she froze for a long time. Only when Yi Ning called her back to set did she snap out of it.

Half a month passed, and Ying Xu had found her place in the crew.

Just as Li Yue was an overlooked outsider in the drama, Xu Ying was ostracized by everyone in the crew. Even the staff rarely communicated or coordinated with her. As a result, she often missed schedule changes, leading to accidental tardiness or mistakes.

Whenever Xu Ying made a mistake, Xia Qing would always fan the flames, clearly holding a grudge over the previous incident.

Everyone could see Xia Qing’s scheming, yet they had no choice but to play along, if they refused her, they would be the next target of her malice.

It could be said that the entire Sinking crew operated like Xia Qing’s personal fiefdom. Even the director rarely reprimanded her.

Another instance of lateness. After the assistant director took the opportunity to berate Xu Ying mercilessly, Xia Qing said with satisfaction, “Alright, don’t waste any more time on unimportant roles. Let’s start filming.”

Soon, the crew revolved around Xia Qing. Yi Ning could no longer suppress her anger. “She’s really going too far.”

Having been in the industry for years, Yi Ning had never seen a crew like Sinking, where the entire group ganged up on one actor.

What was the point? The thrill of bullying? It was just too blatant, treating people as less than human!

“Isn’t it just because she has a sugar daddy?”

Xia Qing was famous for bringing investments into productions to secure roles and force her way into the spotlight.

The problem was, everyone knew she had a backer, but no one knew who it actually was.

Xu Ying said, “I know.”

Yi Ning thought she was responding to her earlier remark and inwardly sighed in frustration. If Xu Ying really knew, she wouldn’t be living like this.

No wonder there were so many recent online posts dissecting Xu Ying and Gu Qingzhu’s relationship, claiming Xu Ying was the weaker party, subjected to psychological control.

Unable to bear pressing further, Yi Ning changed the subject. “The stunt double for the next scene is already here.”

In the plot, as Li Yue’s illness worsened, she began to desire death and chose drowning as her method.

After being saved by the female lead, she finally opened up, began to confess, and was ultimately redeemed.

To avoid delaying filming, most underwater scenes, aside from the actual diving shot would be performed by a stunt double.

This was Xu Ying’s first time using a double. The woman’s figure was indeed similar to hers, but their faces didn’t match. Noticing Xu Ying’s gaze, the double smirked.

Curious, Xu Ying was about to ask something when Chen Yan, standing behind the camera, snapped coldly, “If you’re ready, let’s shoot. Don’t hold up the schedule.”

Chen Yan had a notoriously bad temper, even outright malicious. Such unwarranted hostility sent chills down one’s spine.

Xu Ying paused, then turned toward the camera.

To ensure she wouldn’t regret her decision, Li Yue had tied rocks to her feet.

Chen Yan scrutinized Xu Ying’s costume and said dismissively, “For the shore scenes, you need to portray anger and lingering fear. She almost strangled her own brother. If she doesn’t die here, her father will beat her half to death anyway.”

Xu Ying caught the word “shore” but didn’t immediately object.

Chen Yan continued, “As for underwater… it’s about relief, acceptance. Of course, since it’s your first time filming underwater, it might take some adjustment. Take your time.”

Yi Ning, standing behind Xu Ying, was stunned. “Isn’t the stunt double doing the underwater scenes?”

“The double is my double,” Xia Qing drawled lazily. “I have underwater rescue scenes too, you know?”

She said it so matter-of-factly that Yi Ning was left speechless in shock.

In the silence, Xu Ying simply nodded. “Sure.”

She looked at Xia Qing: “After this scene, I have something to say to you.”

Her tone was calm, yet it carried weight, piquing everyone’s curiosity.

Xia Qing clenched her fists but hadn’t yet spoken when the filming officially began.

With a loud splash, the camera captured the woman’s face contorted in pain and struggle.

Though everyone knew most of these expressions were for the role, the discomfort of being submerged still made many hearts leap into their throats.

Underwater scenes were all about facial expressions. Logically, all that was needed was to convey pain and struggle.

Yet, just when they thought Ying Xu’s performance was good enough to pass, Chen Yan behind the camera would always veto it: “No.”

“The expression in this scene is off.”

“That relieved smile, why is it so unrestrained? Make the curve subtler!”

“Are you not listening to me?”

Each time Chen Yan’s sharp reprimand rang out, Ying Xu would be hauled out of the water by professionals, drenched and disheveled.

Yi Ning instinctively moved to dry her hair, only to be stopped by Chen Yan: “For underwater scenes, drying it is pointless. Don’t waste time on formalities.”

And so, after just two minutes of rest, the alpha was plunged back into the water.

A single underwater scene was shot eight times under repeated demands.

As Ying Xu’s figure slowly sank beneath the surface once more, Yi Ning could no longer bear to watch and turned away to contact Luo Zhu.

Her voice might carry little weight, but surely Ying Xu’s agent could exert some influence?

In the sea.

Submerged again, Ying Xu had grown accustomed to the surroundings.

Though her eyes burned, she delivered the performance Chen Yan demanded.

To Ying Xu, this expression was far removed from the character’s emotional state Chen Yan was clearly nitpicking.

But she was willing to comply.

Ying Xu waited patiently for the familiar rejection.

One second, two seconds… Half a minute passed, yet her earpiece remained silent.

In the murky, suffocating water, her vision blurred. The only thing she could make out was the faint red light blinking in the upper right corner of the camera trained on her.

Ying Xu lost track of time, only knowing it had far exceeded the planned one-minute shot.

In the prolonged silence, only her breathing and heartbeat echoed in the void.

When time stretched beyond her threshold, pushing her to her physiological limit, Ying Xu suddenly began to thrash.

In that moment, she was like an ordinary person who couldn’t swim desperate for air, gripped by an uncontrollable fear of drowning.

But the rocks tied to her legs mercilessly dragged her deeper.

More and more water flooded her lungs, as if her body were nothing but a vessel for it.

The moment Ying Xu closed her eyes, someone onshore finally stammered in fear, “Hasn’t it… been too long?”

“Could something have happened?”

“Ying Xu, Ying Xu, can you hear us?”

Only then did the crew snap into action, pulling Ying Xu from the water.

As she surfaced, her hair clung to her neck. The instant she saw daylight again, she coughed violently, expelling mouthfuls of water.

Her legs bore fine, bloody scratches likely from brushing against rocks during her struggle, standing out starkly against her skin.

A gust of wind blew, and the alpha’s body visibly trembled.

By the time Yi Ning finished her call, Ying Xu was a mess from head to toe, leaving her frozen in shock.

She reached out and touched Ying Xu’s forehead, finding it as scorching hot as she had imagined.

Only then did Chen Yan finally speak: “You’ve worked hard today. Take tomorrow off.”

Ying Xu lowered her eyes in acknowledgment. The moment Chen Yan turned away, she stood up and walked toward Xia Qing.

Fear still lingered on the woman’s face, but as Ying Xu approached, that fear twisted into terror.

If something had really happened to Ying Xu underwater, who would take responsibility? Who could take responsibility?

“It wasn’t me who caused this!” Xia Qing finally blurted out, her voice trembling. “I called for a stop, but the director didn’t listen.”

Ying Xu’s ears were still muffled. She casually wiped the water from her lashes and said calmly, “This scene was added the day before I joined the crew. You thought it suited the character and proposed it.”

“So what?” Xia Qing feigned composure.

“Tell Song Fei to come see me, or I’ll have Gu Qingzhu contact her instead.”

Watching Xia Qing’s expression shift, Ying Xu recalled the words that had flashed before her eyes when she first met the alpha: [Song Fei’s Lover].

She had realized it was a trap, but not knowing the source of the hostility, she had waited patiently to understand the other’s motives.

Only now did it occur to Ying Xu, for someone like Song Fei, hatred didn’t need a reason. To Song Fei, she was just a plaything, much like how the entire “Sinking” crew treated Xia Qing.

“Before that, I want to see a video of you falling into the water nine times.”

Ying Xu had to admit, regardless of her feelings toward Gu Qingzhu, the omega had undeniably influenced her emotions and temperament.

“I’m a very kind person,” Ying Xu echoed Xia Qing’s tone, speaking nonchalantly. “You don’t have to do it all at once three days will do. If my agent doesn’t receive the video by then, I’ll share my entire experience online and let the public decide.”

Xia Qing didn’t even need to think to imagine the fallout.

Her fanbase was nowhere near Gu Qingzhu’s, nor did she have the same achievements. What awaited her would be abandonment by all her collaborators.

Xia Qing’s face turned ashen. “It wasn’t my idea”

Ying Xu smiled gently. “That’s what everyone says. I know.”

She was no different.