After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 27

The screen lit up again, showing: In a Call…

The entertainment industry exploded. Netizens were utterly bewildered.

What was going on? Wasn’t the rumor that they hated each other so much they were about to tear into one another? This didn’t look like a feud at all.

Soon, a skeptical netizen chimed in:

They’re acting, right? To save her reputation, that tainted actress is throwing herself at Shen Qing. It’s honestly an eyesore.

A thread immediately formed underneath:

Look closer, for heaven’s sake. It’s your Shen Qing who’s practically glued to her. Look, they’re almost kissing!

What “kissing”? They’re just in a professional working relationship, okay? It’s a normal chat! Do you think everyone in the world is a lesbian?

Oh, so now it’s a “normal working relationship”? Weren’t you the ones screaming about them being enemies five minutes ago? You can’t have it both ways!

Exactly. Isn’t Shen Qing the #1 actress on that “Sapphic Dream Girl” list? It’s perfectly normal if she’s into girls, right?

Stop changing the subject. Are these all-paid shills? Did you not see the evidence posted earlier? It’s a hammer-drop truth!

Are you going to believe your own idol or those inconsistent leaked chat logs from staff? “Shills”? You guys are way too easy to manipulate.

Um… I think it’s actually kind of sweet. Am I allowed to say that?

+1. I didn’t like Du and only came for the drama. But the visuals of them in the same frame are top-tier. I can’t look away! Someone go dig up that video of Du “acting like a diva” and see what’s actually going on between them.

Take your shipping elsewhere. Pick your battles. Don’t smear Shen Qing; she isn’t here to do charity work for a sinking ship, okay?

Agreed. I’ve been a Shen Qing fan for nine years, and I’m feeling complicated. Does the team really have to use this kind of hype? They should spend this energy promoting her new role instead.

Our Yaozhi is being slandered every day, it’s not a walk in the park for us either. Don’t act like your Shen Qing is some high-and-mighty goddess.

See? Someone’s lapdog is getting defensive. It’s hilarious. Without our Shen Qing’s star power, who would even know who your idol is?

But Qing-bao… that look in your eyes isn’t exactly “innocent.” The more I look, the more I think you’re obsessed with her. Wifey, if you’re being blackmailed, blink twice!

Yeah, blink.

What the hell? I came in here ready to fight the rival fandom, but they just fed me a spoonful of sugar.

The PR team finally arrived late to the frenzy:

Everyone, please stay rational while following the drama, No official news, no commitments. This was just a standard script table read. Please focus on the work “Jing Luo” and look forward to Shen Qing’s new character!!

Looking forward to Jun Luo!

**

“The ‘feud’ rumors are basically dead in the water. Public opinion is being managed well, but a lot of netizens are still skeptical, that’s unavoidable. You’ll need to do more ‘business’ interactions later to solidify your image.”

Gong Lin sent her a WeChat message accompanied by a professional data report. Her tone was serious. The subtext: Good acting, keep it up next time.

Du Yaozhi turned off her phone, moodily tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Her brow furrowed slightly.

Wasn’t this just a deal? Wasn’t this about revenge? Then why was her heart racing so uncontrollably?

The scene from that day played on a loop in her mind. Shen Qing’s silhouette was so slender; up close, her skin was flawlessly white, and her long lashes fluttered like silk.

Du Yaozhi had been in character, but being forced to sit on Shen Qing’s lap caused a momentary lapse in her professional composure. Shen Qing’s hand had gripped her waist, pressing her side against Shen Qing’s body. The lingering, intimate warmth from that palm contact felt illicit.

Every second she held her breath, her heart rippled with tension. The distance was so small that her exhales seemed to stir Shen Qing’s lashes.

As those lashes brushed against her eyelid, Shen Qing’s right eye fluttered shut. Under the fabric of Du’s clothes, Shen Qing’s pinky finger twitched a faint, almost accidental graze against the most sensitive part of Du Yaozhi’s waist.

A touch both strange and familiar. The ticklish sensation, the cool fingertips, and the bone-deep memories of their past intimacy in bed flashed back in an instant.

No matter how straight Du Yaozhi kept her back, her body’s reaction was honest. Her body still remembered Shen Qing; it remembered every touch and every caress of those fingers.

How irritating.

A soft hum escaped Du Yaozhi’s nose as her waist trembled. Her head tilted back involuntarily, nearly crashing into Shen Qing’s lips, which were inches away.

The shutter clicked. Du Yaozhi held it together; her expression didn’t crumble. But she had never experienced a near-NG (No Good) take like that.

In the professional field she took the most pride in, she had nearly messed up because of Shen Qing. This was not a good omen.

Yet, for the sake of the upcoming shots and the contract she’d signed, she had to stay calm. Du Yaozhi could only clutch her slightly strained waist and force herself to adapt to Shen Qing’s rhythm.

But a professional slip-up was shameful to Du Yaozhi.

Shen Qing can act all she wants, but why did she have to touch my waist like that?

Du Yaozhi was starting to loathe her. When did this woman learn all these new tricks? And why was she reacting this way? Why did a single touch leave her so high-strung?

It couldn’t be that she was starting to care about Shen Qing again. Don’t be ridiculous.

Du Yaozhi was clear-headed. Agreeing to be a “contract couple” was simply about maximizing interests. Shen Qing needed her as an unpredictable wild card, and she could use Shen Qing in return. That was all.

As for the physical reaction, they were exes, after all. A little spark was harmless, right?

Du Yaozhi huffed and turned her head away, just as her screen lit up. The person you hate most is always the one who messages the fastest.

Shen Qing: Is your waist feeling better?

It was like asking a blind man if he could see. Du Yaozhi snapped back with a biting voice note: “Thanks for the concern, Teacher Shen. I’m doing much better.” She added her usual “warm smile” emoji.

Shen Qing: Be careful during work in the future.

Du Yaozhi: I won’t let it affect my work.

Shen Qing: Is that so?

A moment later, another message popped up: Then, give me a call.

**

Since when is calling you part of the job?

Du Yaozhi shot back: I don’t have a habit of calling my ex-girlfriend.

Shen Qing corrected her coldly: Current girlfriend.

Du Yaozhi was momentarily speechless. She had nothing to say to that. Since signing the contract, it really was “work.”

Shen Qing had somehow picked up a new way of talking that didn’t fit her usual style: Miss Du, we aren’t together right now, so we can’t hold hands. How else are we supposed to maintain our relationship? The internet says we don’t get along. With your acting skills, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Another provocation.

Du Yaozhi saw right through it. She should have ignored her, but Shen Qing knew her too well. The word “acting” pricked her competitive spirit.

Du Yaozhi’s beautiful eyes narrowed. She was the type of person who would dedicate her life to acting; without it, she felt life had no meaning. Implying she was a bad actress was the ultimate insult.

Fine, you want a phone call? It was just playing a role. What could Shen Qing possibly pull off over the phone?

Du Yaozhi decisively hit the voice call button.

After two vibrations, Shen Qing picked up. Her cool, elegant voice began to speak, but before she could finish a single syllable, Du Yaozhi cut her off, reclaiming the upper hand.

“Listen up,” Du Yaozhi said in a business-like tone. “We can call.”

“But you aren’t allowed to speak, and you aren’t allowed to make a sound. You can only listen.”

After a pause, Shen Qing replied via text: Okay.

“Anything else you want to ask?” Du Yaozhi’s red lips curled into a smirk as her fingers idly twirled the ends of her hair. She was baiting her.

Du Yaozhi waited. She waited for the Shen Qing who loved to ask “why” after their breakup. Then, Du Yaozhi would casually throw back the same “why” Shen Qing used on the day they split and say with a laugh:

“Still so attached? You love asking me why that much?”

She wanted to see the reaction. She wanted to see how this “current girlfriend” ex-girlfriend would respond.

Du Yaozhi waited a long time.

Shen Qing simply messaged: No.

So obedient?

A hint of boredom rose in Du Yaozhi’s heart. She was about to say something else to tease her “current girlfriend,” who was acting so dignified, when Zhou Yue’s voice suddenly drifted from outside the door, sounding urgent.

“Zhizhi! The meat is going to be overcooked!! Come eat, come eat!”

The apartment smelled like hotpot. Zhou Yue’s voice was muffled, her mouth clearly stuffed with food.

Crap.

Du Yaozhi’s thoughts snapped back to reality. She had almost forgotten there were people in the living room. Today was their scheduled trio dinner. It was supposed to be a work meeting, but she’d gotten distracted by Shen Qing for too long.

It was rude to keep guests waiting and make them cook for themselves. Du Yaozhi immediately got up. “Coming!”

She went to put her phone down and head out, but the phone vibrated again. The “In Call” screen was glaringly bright. Then, a message appeared.

A simple question.

Shen Qing: Are you going to leave me behind?

Leave?

Du Yaozhi’s hand froze on the doorknob. Her brows knitted together.

Shen Qing, the “High Mountain Flower” of the film industry, the irreplaceable “White Moonlight” in the hearts of a generation. She was born into a prestigious family, a child star who became the youngest Grand Slam Best Actress at 26.

Du Yaozhi’s impression of Shen Qing had always been of someone standing on a high pedestal, surrounded by crowds, unreachable. How could the name “Shen Qing” ever be associated with being “left behind”?

A strange emotion stirred in Du Yaozhi.

Just like years ago, when Du Yaozhi hated hearing Shen Qing call herself a “display case,” and hated seeing her downcast eyes when she buried her emotions deep inside. She realized she didn’t want to see Shen Qing wallowing in self-pity.

Du Yaozhi sighed helplessly. “I’m going to eat. You stay quiet.”

Shen Qing agreed instantly:  Okay.

Seeing her nod (figuratively), Du Yaozhi grabbed her phone, turned the knob, and walked out of the bedroom.

She had no idea how much she would regret this decision in a few minutes.

**

Walking out of the bedroom and seeing her two familiar friends at the table, Du Yaozhi gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Gu Lin brought her a set of bowls and chopsticks, inviting her to sit. “It’s fine. Sit down.”

“Don’t be so polite with us! We’re old friends. Here, try this,” Zhou Yue said enthusiastically, using serving chopsticks to pile meat into Du Yaozhi’s bowl.

Du Yaozhi laughed and stopped her. “Enough, enough! I can’t eat that much. I’m on a strict diet lately.”

Zhou Yue remembered then that Du Yaozhi was about to join a film set. Mentioning work made Zhou Yue’s face fall as she started complaining. “You have no idea how much I’ve been suffering on set lately.”

“Hmm?” Du Yaozhi dipped a green leaf into the pot.

Zhou Yue: “Since I don’t have any scenes, the director said my acting stinks! Sister Lin wouldn’t take that sitting down. She drags me to the set every day to ‘learn’ calling it an ‘acting upgrade.’ My legs are practically falling off!”

“It’s for your own good. We can’t let that arrogant director look down on you,” Gu Lin said, clicking her chopsticks against the edge of Zhou Yue’s bowl. “Theory is nothing compared to practice! Reading a textbook a hundred times isn’t as good as watching a ‘living textbook’ on site!”

“The veteran actors’ breathing rhythms follow the script perfectly. Every eye contact, every change in breath is a lesson. If you follow them for a month, you’ll definitely improve!” Gu Lin lectured.

“Please let me off, Sister Lin! I’m just not cut out for acting!” Zhou Yue wailed in resignation. “I don’t know if my acting has improved, but my grass-eating skills certainly have! Look at this clear soup and boiled veggies, another week and I’ll be blown away by a stiff breeze!”

“You brat!” Gu Lin was exasperated but amused, helplessly cooking another piece of tripe for her.

Du Yaozhi rested her chin on her hands, watching their bickering with a gentle smile. The steam blurred her vision, and she waved it away, the mole under her eye fluttering with her expression.

She tapped her screen. The page lit up; Shen Qing’s blue profile picture was calmly active.

Not bad. She’s being quite well-behaved.

Relieved, Du Yaozhi set the phone face-up on the side of the table.

Zhou Yue, tired of being lectured by Gu Lin, turned the spotlight on Du Yaozhi. “Hey, Zhizhi, how have you been? We haven’t seen you come home much lately.”

“Did you… not see the trending searches?” Du Yaozhi glanced tentatively between Zhou Yue and Gu Lin. “What about Sister Lin?”

“There have been too many scenes lately, so I haven’t had time for social media. But I keep hearing your name on set. What happened? Is something wrong?” Gu Lin asked worriedly, placing a hand on Du Yaozhi’s arm.

“Wait, who’s cursed you now?! Is it that Miss Xu again? I’ll go make ten burner accounts and tear her a new one right now,” Zhou Yue snapped, ready to fight for her friend.

“It’s nothing much,” Du Yaozhi said levelly, fishing her vegetables out to cool. She looked down, poking her spinach with her chopsticks as she thought of how to phrase it. “It’s just”

Zhou Yue: “Are you in love?“

Gu Lin:

Du Yaozhi:

How did she jump to that conclusion?!

Before Du Yaozhi could deny it: “Wait, no”

“I knew it! Every time you want to talk about feelings, you look down and start poking around your bowl, even when there’s barely any food in it.” Zhou Yue’s face immediately filled with gossip. She leaned in close. “Spill! Who is it?”

Gu Lin interrupted: “Yueyue, let her speak for herself.”

Du Yaozhi: “Right, I’ll”

Gu Lin then took her hand with a warm smile. “It’s been a long time since the breakup. It’s about time you moved on.”

“Is it that person you mentioned during the table read? The one playing the third female lead? Isn’t she the daughter of one of the investors? You said the investors were being strict and wouldn’t announce the cast until the opening ceremony. She must be younger than you, right?”

Du Yaozhi:

This wasn’t letting her speak; it was a full interrogation!

Du Yaozhi’s skin crawled with awkwardness. Shen Qing was still listening! She glanced covertly at the phone. Hanging up now would be too suspicious—it would look like she was scared of the questions.

She took a deep breath, calmly dipping a vegetable into her sauce without looking up. “That’s not it.”

“Then there definitely is someone.”

“Exactly.”

Clearly, no matter how perfect Du Yaozhi’s acting was, no one at this table believed her. They hadn’t met her yesterday.

Back then, Du Yaozhi was the type of person who could patiently and gently find topics to talk about with the icy Shen Qing every single day for six months. Even if a rose has thorns, its petals are still beautiful and soft. That part of her hadn’t changed; her capacity to love hadn’t changed.

But now was clearly not the time for this topic.

Zhou Yue’s interest piqued at the mention of “younger.” “Zhizhi, since when did you start liking younger girls? Weren’t you always into older sisters (unnie-types)?”

Du Yaozhi bit into a peppercorn. The spicy sting shot up her throat, making her cough. She scrambled to pour some water.

Her eyes were red from the spice as she chugged the water and retorted, “When did I ever say I was into older sisters?”

Zhou Yue was blunt: “You told us all that when you were in love with Shen Qing!“

“You were drunk and insisted on going to tell Shen Qing yourself. Did you forget?” Zhou Yue said with total conviction.

The screen lit up again, showing: In a Call…

Du Yaozhi nearly choked to death on her water.

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