After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 22

That lead actress carried immense weight; they had no choice but to…

Shen Qing was truly detestable.

One moment, she was luring Yaozhi to her home to play a game of cat-and-mouse; the next, she was setting traps, enticing Yaozhi to cross the line of professional boundaries. It was as if she were practicing some sort of dark sorcery.

Yaozhi felt a prickle of regret for explaining herself the other day. But more than that, she regretted being so blind in her youth, falling for Shen Qing and naively gifting her that red thread as a token of their love.

Yet, where there was danger, there was opportunity.

Shen Qing had provided a perfect bridge, giving Yaozhi—an actress with no major works or backing a chance to truly captivate the judges.

Meeting Shen Qing’s gaze, Yaozhi slowly lifted her head, a poise and effortless smile playing on her lips. “Your question is very enlightening, Teacher.”

“As for this red thread… in my view, it serves as an external manifestation of the character’s internal conflict.”

“Oh?” Shen Qing prompted, gesturing for her to continue.

“Indeed,” Yaozhi said, her voice steady and confident. “While a string of pearls might seem a more fitting adornment for a character as ‘pure’ as Lian Lan, I believe her core essence is ‘innocence’ rather than ‘purity.'”

“Lian Lan possesses a complex, natural emotional bond with other women. Most only see her outward vibrance and charm, but they fail to dig deeper to find that overlooked ‘red thread’ within her. She has desires of her own, and this thread symbolizes the fated ties between her and the other characters; it is her unconscious ‘longing’.”

The microphones in the audition area picked up every nuance of her voice, amplifying even her breathing. Yaozhi didn’t falter. She tilted her face up, continuing to pour out her vision. “The act of picking up and slowly releasing the thread represents Lian Lan touching upon a world she has never known. It’s her bewilderment when faced with choices she cannot understand, and her ultimate sacrifice after a long struggle. That is her character arc.”

“Therefore, the red thread is the perfect anchor for Lian Lan.”

Yaozhi’s argument was compelling. Director Chen nodded repeatedly, nearly ready to offer her praise, when Yaozhi shifted her tone expertly, circling back to the previous question. “However, if we take a broader view of the entire script, I believe this red thread finds an even more profound and tragic expression in the character of Wen Jinyue”

“Go on,” Director Chen leaned forward, her fingers interlaced, her eyes full of genuine interest.

“Wen Jinyue appears to have transcended the mortal world, yet she cannot escape her own internal agony. She sees everyone’s pain with her own eyes, but she cannot bring herself to sever those ties. She is both compassionate and reckless; when faced with the consequences, she meets them with a sense of nonchalance and playfulness. Her ‘red thread’ is a contradiction woven into her very flesh. Even as she walks toward her doom, she is willing to be pulled by the strings of fate. This extreme paradox, this unity of opposites—is where the character’s true, heart-wrenching tragic power lies.”

“That,” Yaozhi concluded, “is my understanding of the role.”

The room fell into a heavy silence for two long seconds. All Yaozhi could hear was the thumping of her own heart and the scritch-scratch of pens as the director, lead actress, and investors marked their scores.

Then, Director Chen began to clap.

Chen Yinqing’s eyes sparkled with a smile. This was exactly what she had been searching for the very soul of Wen Jinyue! The unknown actress before her had a delicate face, willow-leaf brows, and expressive eyes, but beneath that lay a fierce confidence and a raw ambition for her craft.

Especially that beauty mark at the corner of Yaozhi’s eye—it was sultry yet sharp, like a blade hidden under velvet. She wasn’t just a good actress who could play the supporting role of Lian Lan; her observation, presence, and temperament went far beyond that.

Du Yaozhi was born to play Wen Jinyue.

This sharp exchange had forced every member of the panel to truly see her. Shen Qing’s pen moved, leaving a score on the sheet. The producers beside her exchanged a few whispered words, glancing between Yaozhi and Director Chen before giving a subtle nod.

Finally, the Director and producers turned their gaze toward Shen Qing, the tension of Yaozhi’s brilliance focusing entirely on her.

Shen Qing spoke, her tone strictly professional. “Not bad. Go home and wait for our call.”

Days passed after the audition with no word.

Rumours began to swirl that the Director had found a brilliant talent she wanted to groom, but the investors had flatly rejected the idea. In this industry, half-whispered news can bury a career. Usually, for a major production, even if a contract hasn’t been signed, the team will keep in touch with the actors they like.

Seeing how even a “resource-backed” starlet like Xu Wanxin was practically guaranteed a spot, Yaozhi prepared for the worst: she had failed.

It had been too long. Even Gong Lin mentioned that the investors were hesitant about Yaozhi, preferring a “traffic star” with their own funding.

Yaozhi gripped a beer can, her knuckles turning white against the aluminium. “And then my ex just says, ‘Go home and wait for our call.'”

“No way,” Zhou Yue frowned, fuming on her behalf. “The Director and producer clearly liked you! You were right at the finish line, and then Shen Qing—as the investor, shuts you down? Did you provoke her? This is blatant professional sabotage!”

Yaozhi let out a cold laugh, drained her beer, and wiped her mouth. “I did.”

“Aside from that book, I provoked her in every way possible.” Yaozhi felt the situation was farcical, including the bitter sense of defeat she didn’t want to admit.

“She allowed those trending topics. She meddled with the LADY A invitation. The shawl was hers. She was the one who kept me there on that stormy night.”

“I don’t know what she wants with me, or why she’s pretending to care.” Yaozhi’s skin was flushed from the alcohol. “So I provoked her. I tested her. I deliberately taunted her, saying she still had feelings for me. She told me I was overthinking it. So I slept in her bed and used that red thread to mess with her head… only to find out she just wanted to play with me. To get revenge.”

Her chest heaved as she stared into the corner of the room, a surge of suppressed emotion choking her. Saying it out loud made the pain real. The grievance, anger, and resentment she had buried under a facade of logic were now crushing her, fueled by the alcohol.

She had actually been foolish enough to think there was some hidden explanation—to pity Shen Qing, to try and empathize with her. Was she insane?

Yaozhi took another long swig. Shen Qing, is this how you treat me? Once you’re bored with the silent treatment, you move on to this?

“Wait, wait, wait,” Zhou Yue said, both shocked and heartbroken. “When did all of this happen between you two?”

“Forget it. Just forget it.” Yaozhi covered her face, her shoulders shaking with bitter frustration. “Don’t mention it again.”

Zhou Yue reached out, hesitated, and finally rested a supportive hand on Yaozhi’s shoulder. It was so easy to bury a minor actress in this industry—they didn’t even bother to “blacklist” you; they just used you as a placeholder to make the pre-selected choice look legitimate.

Yaozhi sat in the darkness for a long time before wiping a stray tear from her eye. She straightened her back, gritting her teeth. “Don’t comfort me. I’ll have other chances. I can’t stay here feeling sorry for myself.”

She would never stop climbing.

Her gaze fell on the cluttered table. She reached for a fresh beer, but a flash of bright red caught her eye. That discarded red thread was now an eyesore.

“Zhou Yue, lend me your lighter.” Yaozhi grabbed the lighter with a cold determination.

Zhou Yue gasped, lunging forward to stop her. “You’re going to burn it?! You went and prayed for that yourself! You even braided your own hair into it! Sister Lin said you shouldn’t burn things like that, it’s bad luck!”

Yaozhi didn’t care for superstitions. “It’s a cursed bond. There’s nothing that can’t be burned.”

The lighter flickered to life, the flame dancing in the air. Yaozhi moved the fire toward the red knot. But just as the flames were about to catch, she froze. A massive wave of emptiness and exhaustion washed over her.

What would burning it achieve? Who would care? Would it burn away the humiliation Shen Qing caused, or forge a brighter future? She felt ridiculous, stuck in place. She realized that every time she tried to sever the past, it took an exhausting amount of strength.

Suddenly, a bright light pierced the room as a phone began to vibrate incessantly. Yaozhi released the lighter, took a deep breath, and answered.

“Miss Du, a bet is a bet,” Gong Lin’s voice came through.

“I know,” Yaozhi replied, maintaining her professional composure.

“How is your headspace?” Gong Lin asked.

“It’s fine.” Yaozhi didn’t want pity. “The role went to someone else, didn’t it? If that’s all—”

“You misunderstand,” Gong Lin interrupted. “I mean, you won. I’m satisfied. My team has reviewed the framework we discussed, and we’re ready to negotiate terms. I’ll send you the draft contract for your review.”

Wait… draft contract? He wasn’t supposed to sign her unless she got the role. Does that mean?

“I… passed?” Yaozhi’s voice was a whisper. “You mean I passed the audition? It wasn’t rigged?”

“Yes, you passed the first round. Miss Du, you have immense potential. The Director wants you for the second female lead, Wen Jinyue. Polish your lines; you’ll meet the producers and investors for the final audition next week.”

Yaozhi’s breath caught. “I thought the investors had concerns about me?”

“The Director and producer think very highly of you. And the lead actress gave her nod, too, she specifically asked to do a chemistry read with you. That lead carries a lot of weight; they had no choice but to reconsider you.”

“The lead is Sister V?” Yaozhi tried to recall the figure in the audition room. She’d seen a silhouette that looked like a veteran actress, though the wrinkles didn’t quite match the age.

“You didn’t see who it was on the day?” Gong Lin sounded baffled. “You’ve been all over the trending topics with her for days, you shared a car with her… I assumed you were quite familiar with her.”

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