After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 30

Seducing Shen Qing was a massive mistake.

Du Yaozhi only realized this with the benefit of hindsight, once the lesson had already been beaten into her. She had tried to test Shen Qing, only to find that Shen Qing was playing her own game.

“You didn’t use to be like this,” Yaozhi gasped, finally wrenching herself free from Shen Qing’s grasp, her irony sharp despite her heavy breathing.

With one hand braced against the wall and the other smoothing back her dishevelled hair, she glared directly at Shen Qing. She had lost all desire to provoke her by calling her “girlfriend.”

“I told you, I’m not the person I was before,” Shen Qing replied, her expression unreadable.

That line again.

Yaozhi scoffed dismissively. “I can see that. You’re much more of a troublemaker than you used to be.”

Ignoring the sarcasm, Shen Qing reached out and tapped the palm of Yaozhi’s hand. “My glasses. Give them back.”

“No.” Yaozhi twisted away, leaning against the wall to hook her heel back on. “I’m confiscating your little ‘enchanted weapon’.”

With that, she brandished the glasses in front of Shen Qing’s eyes before casually tucking them into her own neckline. The collar of her red jumpsuit dipped slightly under the weight, offering a fleeting glimpse of ivory skin and a hint of cleavage, accentuating her figure.

If Shen Qing wanted to bait her, there was nothing wrong with baiting her right back, was there?

Yaozhi had initially intended to tease her further, tell her to come and get them if she felt brave enough—but then she had second thoughts. What if Shen Qing actually did?

She decided to hold her tongue, no longer in the mood to bicker.

“I’m busy,” Yaozhi said, grabbing her coat from the sofa and tossing Shen Qing’s jacket over to her. “I need to go show my face to the director and producer. A certain Miss Xu is waiting for me.”

Catching the jacket, Shen Qing asked, “Will you be alright on your own?”

“Obviously.” Yaozhi gave a slow, nonchalant blink. “Or are you underestimating me?”

“Not at all,” Shen Qing replied.

As she watched Yaozhi walk away, Shen Qing’s lips curved into a subtle, private smile. Yaozhi was indeed different from the fragile girl of years ago who used to hide her sharp edges.

“Miss Du.”

“Remember to keep your back straight when you walk out. Don’t go bending for anyone.”

“I won’t be ‘bending’ for you a second time, that’s for sure.”

Yaozhi threw on her coat with a sharp movement. “I’m off.”

Stepping out from the sweltering, air-conditioned room, Yaozhi finally felt the reality of winter in the city. The temperature had plummeted overnight, and a biting wind swept away the last lingering traces of autumn, hitting her flushed face head-on.

She buried her face into her scarf and pulled her coat tight. Silently, she took a side path toward the car park. A door was opened for her, and she slipped quickly inside.

“Did you say your goodbyes?” Gong Lin asked.

“Mhm, all done,” Yaozhi said calmly, shutting the door. “I said hello to the paparazzi, too.”

“They’re too greedy; I needed to give them a little nudge,” Yaozhi said with a smirk. “That should force them to meet with their contact person.”

When she had gone to the ladies’ room earlier, she’d spotted a hidden camera in the corner. Yaozhi had simply played along, giving the lens a broad, friendly smile. It had spooked them so much they’d packed up their gear and vanished the moment she walked away. When she went back to check, there wasn’t a soul in sight.

Gong Lin rubbed his forehead. He knew Yaozhi usually had a reason for her antics. “Fair enough. The longer they linger, the higher the risk.”

“Where there’s risk, there’s profit.” Feeling a bit of a draught at her chest, Yaozhi pulled the glasses from her neckline. “Got a case for these? Or anything to put them in?”

“No, but I have a velvet pouch.” Gong Lin found one and handed it over.

Yaozhi nodded and tucked Shen Qing’s glasses inside.

“Are those… props too?” Gong Lin asked, his tone tinged with surprise. “You two didn’t take the ‘acting’ too far, did you?”

The pouch didn’t have a drawstring, so Yaozhi fished out the red cord she’d used previously and tied it around the top. “Found them on the road,” she joked as she worked. “I’ll have to find a master to perform an exorcism on them later.”

She sat with her legs crossed, her movements fluid and natural as she tied the knot. It was as if everything that had just happened hadn’t affected her in the slightest.

Can she really be this composed while ‘playing house’ with her ex? Gong Lin couldn’t help but feel a newfound respect for her. She was tough; that cold look in her eyes could be used as a blade.

And yet… why were her ears so red?

While Gong Lin was busy worrying if his artist would catch a cold, movement finally stirred outside in the car park.

Several figures in masks and baseball caps were dodging the security guards’ line of sight, glancing around furtively as if searching for someone. Gong Lin and Yaozhi exchanged a look and ducked behind the seats, staying out of view.

They had guessed the hand-over would happen in the car park to facilitate a quick getaway. They had tinted the windows with dark privacy film and parked in a corner, making the interior invisible from the outside. Hidden among the other cars, they looked like just another part of the scenery.

“Where is it?” Xu Wanxin’s voice was low and urgent.

A paparazzo brandished a memory card, his tone smug. “Miss Xu, this stuff is top-tier. My mates and I nearly got caught in there. That figure we discussed earlier… I don’t think it’s going to cut it anymore.”

Qin Qian snapped impatiently, “Give us a price. Quickly.”

The men huddled together, bickering over the split for a while. Eventually, the leader grew tired of it and held up a few fingers. “At least this much.”

“Are you robbing us?” Qin Qian gasped. “What paparazzo charges that much?”

“Fine, fine. It’s only money.” Xu Wanxin frowned and stepped slowly out of her car. “As long as it ruins that woman’s reputation, it’s worth every penny.”

At a look from Wanxin, Qin Qian hauled several cases of cash from the boot. Wanxin lifted her chin arrogantly. “Open them. It’s more than enough for the likes of you.”

“Right then, you’re a straight shooter.” The leader grinned, counting the cash. “Hurry up and give the goods to the boss.”

With the money in hand, the underlings didn’t dawdle. They handed the card to Qin Qian and vanished into the shadows before their identities could be compromised.

“Miss, when would you like this released? I’ll follow your lead,” Qin Qian asked subserviently.

Wanxin gave a disdainful laugh. “Now. I can’t wait a moment longer.”

But Wanxin had no idea that her every move was being watched. In fact, Du Yaozhi had calculated all of this long ago.

“Can’t wait?” A gentle, smiling voice suddenly rang out, shattering the silence of the car park.

Yaozhi stepped leisurely out of the car, the sharp click of her heels echoing on the pavement. “Xu Wanxin, I hope you don’t regret this.”

Her voice drifted through the cold wind. Wanxin froze midway through getting into her car and turned around in disbelief.

How is Du Yaozhi here?!

After a brief flash of panic, Wanxin regained her composure, her expression twisting into a sneer. Showing up now was nothing more than an invitation to be humiliated. Yaozhi couldn’t stop her now; coming here was a death wish.

“Regret? Me? Don’t make me laugh. You’re the one who’s going to regret everything.” Wanxin smirked triumphantly. “Do you have any idea what I’ve done? I’ve caught your little ‘explosive’ moment in crystal clear detail. How does it feel? Humiliating? Want to beg for mercy?”

To add to the drama, Qin Qian shook her phone, showing the video on the screen. “Have a look, Miss Du. You look like a proper little slut here.”

“How utterly humiliating,” Yaozhi replied tonelessly, not even bothering to look twice.

The earlier scene was “humiliating”? Hardly. Now, if Qin Qian had a clip of Shen Qing tenderly calling her “Miss Du” over and over again, that might have actually made Yaozhi feel a bit embarrassed.

Seeing Yaozhi’s lack of reaction, Wanxin’s rage flared. Does this bitch not understand the gravity of the situation? Why isn’t she cowering?

“Let me tell you something, Du Yaozhi. Not only did I catch you on film, but I’ve got people outside.” Wanxin tilted her head, gesturing toward the exit with a smirk. “The moment you walk out of here tonight, you’re tainted meat, regardless of whether you’re innocent or not.”

Wanxin stepped forward, tilting her chin up mockingly. “Late-night tryst with a CEO, casting couch scandal at a restaurant, fleeing in disgrace after being caught—which headline do you prefer?”

Yaozhi didn’t blink. “‘Fleeing in disgrace’ suits you much better, I think.”

“Suits me?” Wanxin laughed as if she’d heard the joke of the century. “You’re the one who was caught on camera, Du Yaozhi! Can’t you get that through your thick skull?”

“Besides, you don’t get a choice anymore. Because, I’ve already hit ‘send’.”

She really is quite insidious, Yaozhi thought. She had underestimated her slightly. However, Wanxin was still a long way off from being “clever.”

“Well, that’s perfect then.” Far from panicking, Yaozhi looked as if she’d received good news. The smile on her lips deepened.

She turned unhurriedly and glanced toward the car window. Gong Lin took the cue and fired off a series of messages to Jing Ping.

Moments later, the sound of lively conversation and a cacophony of footsteps echoed from the corridor behind them, growing louder and clearer.

Shen Qing appeared, her expression cool, walking alongside a smiling Chen Yinqing. Behind them followed the producers of Jin Luo, several assistant directors, and a large group of core crew members and lead actors. A massive crowd of people emerged, looking relaxed as if they had just finished a satisfying meal.

Wanxin’s heart skipped a beat. She… she brought half the production crew here?!

“Let’s go this way; the car park is right outside,” Jing Ping said, leading the group. Her eyes were already fixed on Yaozhi. “Oh? Yaozhi, what are you doing here?” Jing Ping’s eyes lit up as she hurried over. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Sister Jing… Director Chen… Why… why are you all here?” Wanxin completely lost her nerve.

“We’re having a crew dinner! We were just practicing some scenes for fun. Practising in the dark really adds to the atmosphere.”

Yaozhi smiled. “Indeed. Professor Shen is a wonderful actress; I’ve learned so much from rehearsing with her.”

Rehearsing? Du Yaozhi wasn’t having an affair; she was rehearsing with Shen Qing?

Yaozhi acted as if she’d just remembered something. “Oh, by the way, is it alright with all those cameras outside?”

Jing Ping played along perfectly. “From the look of it, they’re here for our crew, aren’t they? We don’t mind; the opening ceremony is coming up anyway.”

“But Miss Wanxin, with so many people filming us, aren’t you worried about not wearing a mask or a cap?”

Yaozhi stood beside Jing Ping, watching the chaos with quiet satisfaction. “Perhaps someone invited Miss Wanxin?”

Jing Ping nodded knowingly. She looked around, purposefully calling out loudly to Shen Qing. “Qing, did you invite Miss Wanxin?”

Outside, the sound of shutters clicking became a frantic chorus. Wanxin waved her hands, trying to make them stop, but it was too late. She went deathly pale. “No… no, I just…”

“I didn’t.”

Shen Qing clearly had no intention of letting Wanxin explain herself. She stepped forward, her voice cold and brook no argument. “Her name is not on the list. Miss Xu, why are you here?”

“Quite,” Yaozhi said with a pleasant smile a smile that felt like it was laced with poison. “Indeed, Miss Xu, why are you here?”

Shen Qing had taught Yaozhi well. As the two of them stood side-by-side, their demeanours were different, yet they exerted the exact same crushing pressure.

It was terrifying.

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