After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 16

It was a strange realization. When Du Yaozhi first saw Shen Qing after their breakup, her entire body had felt as if it were being consumed by fire.

That glass of water had drenched Shen Qing completely; wet strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and her collar was a ruined, sodden mess. It was the first time Shen Qing had ever fallen from her high-and-mighty pedestal, yet that sight had scorched a path straight into Yaozhi’s heart. Love, hate, resentment, and agony had grown there like wild, tangled weeds.

But by their second meeting, Yaozhi’s thoughts had turned complicated.

The medicine Shen Qing gave her was fresh. Shen Qing had picked up the phone when Yaozhi made a drunken scene, had tattooed a beauty mark just like hers, had driven her home, and had fretted over whether she was cold.

Shen Qing even told her she had changed. And when “that” subject came up, Shen Qing had looked away, a flicker of possessive sorrow crossing her face, as if to say, That should have belonged to me.

Every clue pointed toward a truth Du Yaozhi was desperate to deny:

Shen Qing still cared about her.

Yaozhi didn’t let her guard down. She weighed the evidence in her mind, over and over, trying to discern Shen Qing’s true intent. Was she sincere, or was this just another game?

“Hi! Yaozhi!”

Jing Ping, following behind Shen Qing, waved from a distance. “Long time no see.”

“Sister Jing,” Yaozhi responded politely. As she nodded, a few stray hairs from her updo swayed gently.

Shen Qing took a shawl from Jing Ping and stepped forward. “Here. The wind is picking up tonight. Put this on first.”

“Thank you.”

Yaozhi gave a slight bow. She caught the hem of the soft fabric, shook it out, and draped it quickly over her shoulders. “I’ll make sure to return it to you later.”

It’s just a shawl provided by the event organizers, Yaozhi thought. Shouldn’t be a problem.

The shawl was a bit oversized, but it was thick and warm. As soon as the fabric touched her skin, her body began to thaw. It was a little long, though—not quite a perfect fit—so Yaozhi gathered one side and pulled it up slightly.

“Return… to her?” Jing Ping froze, her voice a mix of confusion and shock. “Return it to who?”

“Hmm? To the brand sponsors, of course.” Yaozhi looked puzzled. She adjusted the shawl and pointed toward the check-in area. “Is that not right?”

“Ah…” Jing Ping glanced at Shen Qing. Shen Qing met her gaze with a cold, warning stare.

Whatever Jing Ping was about to say died in her throat. She forced a couple of dry laughs to cut the awkwardness. “I mean… sure. That works.”

“Or, you could just come find me, and I’ll return it for you. That might be easier,” Jing Ping added quickly, picking up the pace of her speech. “I’m fast, I’m on call—I won’t waste your time.”

“No need. You’ve been helpful enough today.”

Yaozhi didn’t like being a burden, especially to anyone associated with Shen Qing. “Is there something special about this shawl?”

This girl is too sharp, Jing Ping complained silently. Since when did she get so quick-witted?

She played it off with a casual shrug. “Nothing at all. I just have a lot of free time today and wanted to help. Since you’ve already decided, I won’t push it.”

“You’re too kind, Sister Jing. I can handle it myself. No need to trouble you,” Yaozhi said, her eyes crinkling into a soft, gentle smile.

A shadow flickered at the end of the hallway, followed by the crisp click-clack of heels. When Yaozhi looked over, she saw Gu Lin and Li Youzhu searching for her.

“Over here, Sister Lin!” Yaozhi raised her voice and waved. Seeing her, Gu Lin immediately turned and walked toward her with a smile.

“Is someone looking for you?” Shen Qing asked.

“Yes, my friends,” Yaozhi replied. “I should head out.”

“Alright.” Shen Qing didn’t press further. She simply nodded. “Contact me if you need anything.”

Contact her? Probably not. Aside from being exes, what business could she possibly have with Shen Qing?

Yaozhi kept the thought to herself. She waved goodbye and quickly disappeared around the corner with Gu Lin. Shen Qing watched her depart for a long time before finally turning to leave with Jing Ping.

“So, Miss Shen…” Jing Ping felt a headache coming on and rubbed her temples. “Where exactly am I supposed to find another $40,000 (300,000 RMB) Buly shawl?”

“Speak to the brand,” Shen Qing said coldly, never breaking her stride. “If someone hands it to them, have them hold it for me.”

She added, “She’s afraid of being a bother. Don’t let her be embarrassed.”

“I finally found you! Where did you run off to? You were right there one second, and the next you vanished! I’ve been looking everywhere!”

“Really?” Yaozhi smiled, letting Gu Lin pull her along. “I was wondering why Sister Lin looked so radiant today—like Xi Shi herself. Turns out you were just worried about me.”

“Oh, you and your sweet talk!” Gu Lin teased. She leaned in close, patting Yaozhi’s hand affectionately. “Come on, tell me. Which corner were you hiding in? Who were you whispering with?”

“I had a good talk with a manager. They gave me a business card, which is a positive sign. If the public backlash dies down, things might get smoother once I’m back on track.”

Auditions, acting… being a real actress again.

“Good. I heard Director Chen Yinqing is scouting for new faces. Word is the investors are pushing her to finalize the cast soon. They’re still auditioning; you should try. It would be a huge boost to your career,” Gu Lin said earnestly. “Remember, seniority and opportunities are things you earn for yourself.”

“Director Chen Yinqing…” Yaozhi slowed her pace, turning to confirm. “The one with the top-tier reputation? The one who just won the Magnolia Award? They say anyone in her films ‘levels up’ their acting skills.”

Yaozhi had been in the industry long enough to hear all the rumors.

“That’s the one.” Gu Lin looked at Li Youzhu. “Xiao Li says there are plenty of people waiting in the wings to snatch that role.”

“I’ll study the script carefully when I get back.”

“Among those trying to steal the role, that Huasheng heiress has the most momentum. She’s watching it like a hawk,” Li Youzhu interjected, her voice laced with frustration. “I really don’t want to watch her ‘soap opera’ acting anymore. Talent shouldn’t be something you can just buy with a pile of cash.”

“Youzhu.” Gu Lin gave her a light tug, signaling for caution. “Don’t say those things here. Walls have ears.”

Of course, the very thing they feared happened.

“Soap opera acting? Are you talking about me?”

A saccharine, overly intimate voice rang out from around the corner. A moment later, they came face-to-face with Xu Wanxin.

It wasn’t a coincidence; it was a confrontation.

Xu Wanxin’s eyes flicked upward as she looked Yaozhi up and down with practiced nonchalance. Her gaze finally settled on the expensive, slightly out-of-place shawl. A tiny, sweet smile played on her lips.

“Nice shawl. It suits you much better than that vintage rag you had on earlier. Who lent it to you?”

Xu Wanxin leaned in close. “It’s not a rental, is it? You have to tell me, I’m quite fond of this style myself.”

Yaozhi didn’t bother with the bait. “The brand provided it. If you like it, go grab one. Though they’ve already run out for today.” She deliberately smoothed a wrinkle in the fabric and crossed her arms. “Miss Xu, you seem so concerned about me. You’re paying so much attention that you even noticed my clothes. That’s a first.”

Xu Wanxin scoffed internally. That shawl is clearly a top-tier, hand-woven cashmere piece! Even the stitching on the edges is exquisite. Yaozhi was actually trying to claim it was a generic brand handout? Did she think she was blind?

“My mistake. Yaozhi, I’ve just never been good at expressing myself. I apologize.” The smile never left her face. “But I’m not the only one concerned about you. Director Li is, too.”

Li Rongjin.

Why is he here?

Yaozhi scanned the crowd. In the distance, Li Rongjin was squinting at her, his sharp gaze fixed in her direction.

Heh. Does he have a death wish?

Yaozhi suppressed her anger. Before she could make her move, she had to endure a little longer.

People nearby were starting to notice. Conversations died down into whispers; heads turned from across the room. The situation was deteriorating.

Gu Lin stepped in, her hand expertly gripping Yaozhi’s wrist to pull her behind her. “Miss Xu, thank you for your concern. The main banquet is about to start. Shouldn’t you be heading over?”

“I should, but… Yaozhi hasn’t forgiven me yet. I didn’t realize that in her heart, I was such an unforgivable sinner.”

Xu Wanxin wasn’t stupid. She didn’t raise her voice. Instead, she let her shoulders tremble slightly, giving the onlookers the perfect view of a “wounded” victim.

Yaozhi took a steadying breath and placed a hand on Gu Lin’s arm, signaling that she was okay.

“How could that be?”

She stepped forward. Instead of anger, a bright, slightly lazy smile bloomed on her face. She reached out and took Xu Wanxin’s arm. “Miss Xu is my most important friend. Just because we aren’t at the same company doesn’t mean we’ve grown distant, does it?”

“You—!” Xu Wanxin wanted nothing more than to shake her off, but with eyes on them, she had to swallow her pride. “Of course… of course not.”

“Then stop trembling.” Yaozhi tightened her grip on Xu Wanxin’s hand. She leaned in, whispering in her ear like an intimate embrace. “It makes it look like you’re afraid of me.”

“Sharp-tongued as always,” Xu Wanxin hissed back. “Just you watch. No matter how hard you climb, you’ll never reach the people I’m about to meet. You’re nothing but a servant meant to clasp a necklace onto someone else.”

“I’m watching.” Yaozhi released her hand, unbothered. “I look forward to hearing how your ‘chat’ goes.”

She thinks I can’t reach Shen Qing?

Nobody knew. The kisses, the intimacy, the love, the hate.

Du Yaozhi and Shen Qing had done it all.

Xu Wanxin lifted her chin, pretending to be friendly as they brushed past each other. “Then, thank you? Yaozhi, thank you for always propping me up, even someone with ‘soap opera acting’ like me.”

“Uncle Li, let’s go.” With that, she took Li Rongjin’s arm and walked away. Her assistant followed behind, shooting a smug look back at Yaozhi.

“Birds of a feather really do flock together,” Gu Lin muttered, frowning. She turned to Yaozhi. “Are you alright?”

“It’s actually quite interesting.”

Gu Lin blinked. “Interesting?”

A smile spread from the corners of Yaozhi’s eyes, her expression full of curiosity. “An ex-girlfriend and a mortal enemy. This should be fun.”

She wanted to see if this “caring” ex-girlfriend would give Xu Wanxin the time of day.

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