After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 3

“Ex-girlfriend.”

Those three words drifted through the frozen air like a feather.

Love is a subtle form of violence. No matter how deep the affection once was, the moment genuine hurt occurs, love twists into resentment. It plants a distorted seed in the heart, growing roots that tangle and bind.

Du Yaozhi admitted there was a vengeful streak in her, but she found it unexpectedly satisfying to see it work on Shen Qing. She forced herself to stand taller, tilting her chin up to maintain the facade that she felt nothing but cold hatred.

“You’re right.” Shen Qing took a breath, appearing to let something go. Her tone was so flat it was impossible to read. “I have no right to pry into your private life.”

Seeing Shen Qing’s compliance, Du Yaozhi assumed she was simply putting on an act again. She let out a cold laugh. “No need for pleasantries.”

“I have one more question.”

“Your Weibo account, it’s still being managed by Sister Jing on your behalf, isn’t it?” Du Yaozhi asked pointedly.

“Yes.” Shen Qing looked at her. “I haven’t logged in since the day you moved out.”

“Good.” Du Yaozhi relaxed her shoulders and stood straight.

It saved her plan from being disrupted. More importantly, it saved Shen Qing from being provoked to death by what she was about to see.

Shen Qing watched her calmly. After a long silence, she found her voice again amidst the confrontation. “Then, why ask that?”

Those deep, pool-like eyes didn’t blink as they searched Du Yaozhi’s face. Her half-lowered lashes gave her an air of gentle guidance.

In the entertainment industry, grooming newcomers is standard practice. Shen Qing, with her cold temperament, had only ever mentored one actress: Du Yaozhi. She had taught her how to act, and as a result, traces of Shen Qing’s style always lingered in Du Yaozhi’s performances.

Back then, “Teacher Shen” loved to guide her into answering questions, tempting her into traps only to let her fall deeper into infatuation.

Now, Du Yaozhi’s first instinct was to scoff. “Here we go again.”

“Teacher, you really do love asking ‘why’.” Du Yaozhi leaned in close. “I’m simply afraid you’re still carrying a torch for me and might get a bit misty-eyed when you see the trending searches.”

Shen Qing watched as Du Yaozhi’s defiant gaze entangled with her own. Her breath, laced with the sharp sweetness of alcohol, brushed against Shen Qing’s lips like a poisonous kiss.

Du Yaozhi’s casual tone remained as she smiled. “After all, it’s going to be a big surprise.”

A big surprise? What does she mean? Shen Qing’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

At that moment, a barrage of vibrations from her phone reminded Du Yaozhi that it was time to leave. The alcohol made her head spin, and with more pressing matters to attend to, she leaned into her “act,” becoming reckless and biting.

“Just joking.” Du Yaozhi gave her phone a little shake. “Someone is waiting for me. Farewell, Teacher Shen.”

Halfway out the door, the bitter memories of their break-up surged back. Du Yaozhi suddenly felt that leaving like this was letting Shen Qing off too lightly.

“Teacher Shen!” she called out, turning back with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I hope you find someone to spend a ‘pleasant evening’ with tonight as well.”

This former “secret lover” of hers used to love spending pleasant evenings together. Back then, all Shen Qing had to do was tap on the door, and Du Yaozhi would be lured right in.

Shen Qing showed no reaction. Satisfied, Du Yaozhi turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly caught in a firm grip. Before she could react, a cold sensation jolted through her skin like an electric current.

“What are you…!” Du Yaozhi shouted, the shock instantly sobering her up. “Shen Qing!”

“Weren’t you going for a ‘pleasant evening’?”

Shen Qing’s grip tightened slightly. She couldn’t explain why, but her throat felt dry. She felt the protrusion of Du Yaozhi’s wrist bone and immediately loosened her hold, eventually just cupping the hand gently in hers.

Du Yaozhi’s fingers curled within Shen Qing’s palm. She had no choice but to step back until she was enveloped by that familiar, cool fragrance.

Shen Qing pulled out a small white pill bottle that Du Yaozhi knew all too well. She placed it in Du Yaozhi’s hand and closed her fingers around it. “Your medicine. I checked; it’s safe to take after drinking. It will help protect your stomach lining.”

Shen Qing’s voice was icy. “Let your… date is inconsiderate.”

Du Yaozhi:

“Did you have to hold me like this?” Du Yaozhi hissed. Her hand was still being guided by Shen Qing, and her bare back was dangerously close to Shen Qing’s chest. She was mortified. They only ever stood like this when they were… intimate.

“Like what?” Shen Qing asked softly against her ear, her expression unreadable.

Du Yaozhi hated her. Why did she have to force these memories back? Did they both have to be destroyed before she would stop?

“We’re over. You don’t need to look after me.” Du Yaozhi wrenched her hand away, feeling more like she was escaping a snare.

The little pill bottle rattled in her hand. In her early days, Du Yaozhi had pushed herself too hard. Combined with the company’s grueling schedule, she’d developed chronic stomach issues and had to take these pills almost daily for a time.

But that wasn’t the point. The point was that Shen Qing was still carrying them. Carrying a bottle of medicine for someone she supposedly didn’t care about anymore?

Once she was far enough away, Du Yaozhi checked the bottle. It was sealed and well within its expiry date. She tipped out two pills, swallowed them, stuffed the bottle into her bag, and walked back into the dinner party as if nothing had happened.

The scene inside the private room was even more sordid than when she’d left. Bottles were strewn everywhere, and the air was nauseatingly foul.

Disgusting.

Du Yaozhi looked down at the room with disdain. Sheng Xiao was busy tending to Li Rongjin, feeding him glass after glass. “Mr Li, come now, have another drink to calm down. See? Yaozhi is back.”

“Yaozhi, get over here and look after Mr Li! He’s in a foul mood.” Sheng Xiao was struggling to hold up Li Rongjin’s head. She glared at Du Yaozhi with a look more venomous than ever.

Du Yaozhi glanced at the empty seat nearby. Wang Shiming had already slipped away, likely sensing trouble. She nodded to herself; her gamble had partially paid off.

Look after him? He’ll be lucky to leave with his life, she thought. She had already instructed the person on the phone to feed Li Rongjin some choice misinformation, the perfect fuse for a drunk man whose business deal had just been hijacked.

“Get lost!” Li Rongjin shoved Sheng Xiao aside, sending her and the drinks flying. “You told me the contract was airtight! That no one would find out! What’s Huasheng playing at, trying to screw me over?”

At the mention of the “contract,” Sheng Xiao’s face fell. She sat sprawled on the carpet. “Mr Li, how could you say that? The contract… it’s perfectly fine!”

“Sister Sheng, are you alright?” Du Yaozhi slipped into character instantly, her voice full of feigned concern as she helped Sheng Xiao up.

“What contract? Sister Sheng, explain it to Mr Li! How could Huasheng ruin his project? When I signed on, you said the contracts would be ‘handled flexibly.’ How can there be a problem now?”

“Flexible handling” a taboo phrase in the industry. It implied the kind of creative accounting that most investors hated. By mentioning it, Du Yaozhi had broken a cardinal rule of the “capital” game.

She looked troubled, thinking for a moment. “Should we… bring out my contract to check?”

The atmosphere turned lethal. Sheng Xiao wanted to murder her with a single look.

Du Yaozhi’s most dangerous and alluring trait was her ability to make insincerity look like sympathy and a trap look like a lifeline. When you looked at her, every glance seemed to be part of a performance. She was a natural-born actress. And she was Shen Qing’s best student.

Du Yaozhi tightened her grip on Sheng Xiao’s arm. Though her words sounded innocent, they were dipped in poison. She leaned into Sheng Xiao’s ear, making it hard for the older woman to breathe. This “fox” was doing this on purpose!

“Du Yaozhi! You’ve only got a month left on your contract, you really want to die, don’t you?” Sheng Xiao hissed through gritted teeth.

“Sister Sheng, whatever do you mean? You’ve always looked after me. I’m just worried there’s a misunderstanding that might hurt your reputation,” Du Yaozhi replied slowly.

“Don’t forget, you’re covered in scandals! You can barely save yourself!” Sheng Xiao tried her usual threat. She was the one who had forced an unwitting Du Yaozhi into an unfair contract, later using dirt and measly job offers to keep her in line. It usually worked.

But today was different.

Du Yaozhi turned to Li Rongjin, her voice trembling with feigned desperation. “Mr Li, please check again! Sister Sheng and the others have been so good to me. The company has its struggles, but they would never lie to you!”

“Check? Check what!” The alcohol had completely taken over. Li Rongjin stopped pretending. He roared, “To hell with ‘flexible handling’! It’s a double contract! You took my investment and bled it dry! That Wang guy and Huasheng are in on it together! You’re all leeches!”

“We’ve both been played by them!” Li Rongjin barked.

“What?” Du Yaozhi’s eyes widened. After a pause, her voice shook uncontrollably. “So that’s why… that’s why my earnings never added up. The company was behind it all along.”

She leaned against the table for support, her hand clutching the tablecloth. She stared at Sheng Xiao with tearful, accusing eyes. “Sister Sheng! Is this how Huasheng treats its artists? I respected you! I worked myself to the bone for you!”

She broke into sobs. “And in the end… I have nothing but scandals! You destroyed everything! Everything!”

Sheng Xiao panicked. “You! How dare you… turn on me? Without me, you’d still be a nobody in Hengdian!”

“You still won’t admit it” Du Yaozhi covered her face, looking utterly broken and helpless. Her eyes were red and swollen.

Li Rongjin’s gaze darkened with a twisted kind of satisfaction. He loved this kind of drama.

“Shut up!” Li Rongjin barked at Sheng Xiao. She was left speechless, stammering in the background.

Li Rongjin then moved closer to Du Yaozhi, offering a clumsy, predatory hand of comfort. “Yaozhi, you still have me! My power far exceeds Huasheng’s. Making someone a star, especially a beauty like you—is easy.”

“Really?” Du Yaozhi looked up at him. The bottom-feeder finally took the bait.

“Really! Don’t look at me now; soon you’ll have all the money and resources you want!” Li Rongjin bragged, his eyes growing more lecherous.

“It’s impossible… I can’t recover. Weibo is full of hate… I’ll never get a chance to act again” Du Yaozhi continued her performance, sobbing quietly.

“Act? Little beauty, who said anything about the honest path?” Li Rongjin laughed manically. “I have a channel. It’s for beautiful girls to achieve their dreams—very quickly. A beauty like you… if you’re willing to pay a ‘small price,’ I can guarantee you the top of the industry!”

His face was flushed beet-red. He swayed toward her, his tone dripping with malice. “The question is… are you willing to give me the ‘opportunity’?”

As he lowered his greasy, bloated frame toward her, Du Yaozhi suddenly stopped crying. She smiled.

“An opportunity?”

Her voice turned bone-chillingly cold. Now that the truth was out, she was done playing. She tossed her hair back, her helplessness vanishing instantly. “Actually, I think I’ll pass.”

Before Li Rongjin could react, a sharp, searing pain erupted in his foot. Du Yaozhi’s stiletto heel slammed down on his toes, grinding with relentless force.

“ARGH!” Li Rongjin screamed, clutching his foot and collapsing onto the floor. Sheng Xiao jumped back in shock.

“Mr Li, do I look like an idiot to you?” Du Yaozhi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her words like a poisoned barb.

“What!! You! How dare you!” Li Rongjin roared through the pain. “You think those scandals happened by accident? I’ll destroy you!”

“I’m sure you will, you moron.” Du Yaozhi smirked. She calmly pulled a wet wipe from her bag and wiped the blood and grime off her heel.

“Because I’m the one who did it,” she said. “A star buying her own hit pieces—you didn’t see that coming, did you?”

A chill ran through the room.

“You!”

“You wanted a desperate, self-destructive fool, didn’t you?” Du Yaozhi looked down at him. “If I hadn’t given you one, would you have let your guard down?”

As Li Rongjin wheezed in pain, she leaned in. “Why don’t you try barking? You look quite like a dog right now.” She laughed, genuinely amused.

“You!”

“Me? I’m the one holding the leash.”

Li Rongjin tried to scramble up in a rage, but she kicked him back down. “Shut up.”

She frowned. Meeting her ex had already put her in a bad mood; she didn’t need him ruining her shoes further. She pulled a lipstick from her bag, but instead of applying it, she pressed a button. A recording of the filthy, incriminating things he’d just said began to play.

“Everything from today has been uploaded to my cloud in real-time. Every word.”

“Do you want to keep shouting?” Her gaze pressed down on him. Li Rongjin gasped for air, his face pale.

“That’s better,” Du Yaozhi smiled. “Old bones should stick to being old dogs. Don’t fall apart on me now.”

She turned her gaze to the trembling Sheng Xiao. “And you”

Sheng Xiao was terrified, babbling about calling the police, but she lacked the courage knowing her own crimes. She backed away as Du Yaozhi took the seat at the head of the table.

Du Yaozhi crossed her legs and looked at her agent. “Now, Sister Sheng… I think it’s time we discussed my contract termination, don’t you?”

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