After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 34

There is a saying: It is she who makes the moon the moon.

Before meeting Shen Qing, Du Yaozhi never truly understood what that meant. It wasn’t until Shen Qing stepped into her world, providing a safety net, looking after her—that it clicked. Shen Qing was like a perfect vessel, reflecting those unspeakable, almost divine emotions.

But she was merely a reflection.

When you truly looked at her, it was like staring into a deep, dark pool. You couldn’t see the thoughts at the bottom; you couldn’t tell if what lay hidden there was love or hate. Yet, Shen Qing could take the unreachable moonlight and hold it out to you, letting that gentle, white glow soak into your very soul.

If you asked her, “Are you the one loving me?” Shen Qing would reply, “It is the moon that loves you.”

As a result, despite all the years they had spent drifting in and out of each other’s lives, Yaozhi had never truly deciphered Shen Qing’s heart. When it came down to it, she didn’t know the woman at all.

But the moment she saw Shen Qing soak herself in that pool of freezing water in the dead of winter for her sake, Yaozhi’s heart wavered violently, and her breath hitched in her throat.

The set was a blur of activity, with people from all departments busy at their posts. While the gaffer adjusted the overhead lights, Shen Qing shrugged off her warm coat. Because her costume was so thin, she turned down her assistant’s offer of heat pads, as they would show through the fabric.

As the camera assistant confirmed the angles, Shen Qing tested the biting temperature of the water twice, then stepped in without a word of complaint. By the time Director Chen was finishing instructions to the props team, Shen Qing was already in character.

Her hair and her gossamer-white costume were drenched. Her ears and neck turned a sharp red from the cold, and even her breathing was a shallow tremor.

Yaozhi felt like she was going mad. How have I ended up owing her again?

Yaozhi was used to being the “filler” on set because of her lower status. She was used to taking the “hard knocks” freezing in the snow for hours in winter or wearing a fur-lined robe as a background extra in summer. She was seasoned in the hardships of the film set. If it had been her turn to soak in the cold water first, she would have seen it as part of the job.

But Shen Qing?

What right did Yaozhi have to let someone of Shen Qing’s stature suffer the cold in her place? A complex mixture of shame, heartache, and resistance churned within her.

It wasn’t until the assistant director called her name that Yaozhi was jolted out of her emotional spiral.

Shen Qing let out a small cough. “The temperature is fine. Come on in.”

Her voice drifted through the rising mist, raspier than usual and carrying a faint, barely perceptible tension.

Yaozhi didn’t delay. She handed her clothes to Shu Yuanxiang and stepped into the water immediately, her eyes involuntarily fixed on Shen Qing.

“Ready.”

Yaozhi took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down instantly. She stopped looking at Shen Qing and focused every ounce of her will on the character of Wen Jinyue. She had to nail this—it had to be perfect, a one-take wonder. If she messed up, Shen Qing would have to stay submerged in this freezing pool. All Yaozhi could do now to lighten Shen Qing’s burden was to be flawless.

“Action!”

Yaozhi stepped forward into the pool, the surface rippling into elegant circles. Her performance was precise, evocative, and completely in control. Her emotional management was faultless. Every look, every flick of her fingers perfectly captured Wen Jinyue’s allure and agency.

Framed by the rising steam, the way Yaozhi and Shen Qing’s eyes locked and their bodies drew close was enough to make anyone’s heart race. Yaozhi felt Shen Qing’s hand on her waist; the crimson train of her costume floated on the water, curving and stretching with her movements like a seductive nine-tailed fox.

Only when the director yelled “Cut!” did Yaozhi stop.

She kept her arm around Shen Qing’s shoulder, remaining in the water as they waited for feedback. Droplets of water slid down Shen Qing’s pale face. Her expression remained composed, yet the elegant line of her neck and shoulder above the water was trembling uncontrollably.

Yaozhi froze. Is she… shivering?

Shen Qing hadn’t said a word to anyone. No one knew, no one noticed, and she hadn’t let it show in her acting for a second. In the whole world, only Du Yaozhi could feel it the sheer fragility of Shen Qing in that moment.

Yaozhi suddenly felt a pang of guilt for the hand she had draped over Shen Qing’s shoulder. She felt like a criminal.

Shen Qing simply looked into the distance, waiting. All eyes were on Chen Yinqing behind the monitor. Everyone knew this director was notoriously strict—cruel, even when it came to the chemistry of underwater scenes.

Chen Yinqing and the AD went over the playback. Under Yaozhi’s tense gaze, the director finally nodded. “That’s the one. Moving on.”

“That’s a wrap for today!” the line producer shouted, his breath blooming into a white cloud.

“Right!”

The set instantly buzzed with life as people began to pack up.

“Good job, everyone!” “Bloody freezing! Finally, we’re done.” “We owe it to Miss Du. Otherwise; we’d be stuck here all night; my legs are killing me.” “Exactly. Miss Du nailed it in one, she looked brilliant. And Miss Shen was flawless as always. Watching these two go at it is a blessing for us mere mortals, we can actually get home and collapse.”

Amidst the cheers, Shen Qing’s lips were pressed into a thin line as her assistant pulled her from the water. They immediately wrapped her in a heavy towel, put a thick hat on her, and blasted her with a hairdryer. When the assistant offered a hot drink, Shen Qing waved it away, saying she just wanted to go back and rest. The assistant, looking worried, could only help her away.

Yaozhi watched her retreat as she changed out of her own damp costume. She couldn’t find it in herself to be happy about the early finish. Shen Qing was in there so long. Will she be alright?

The only thing she could still feel on her fingertips was that faint, involuntary shudder of Shen Qing’s body.

**

After packing up, Shu Yuanxiang and Zhou Yue caught up with Yaozhi. Yuanxiang was beaming as she carried Yaozhi’s things. “Sister Yaozhi, did you hear? Everyone was praising you on the way out!”

Zhou Yue added smugly, “Well, obviously. Our Yaozhi is a star; her talent is undeniable.”

“And we finished early!” Yuanxiang patted Yaozhi’s shoulder happily before turning her toward Zhou Yue. “I’ll take these things back first, you two have a catch-up. Give me a bell if you need anything, Sis. I’m on call!”

Yaozhi nodded solemnly. “Thanks, Yuanxiang.”

Zhou Yue, who was thrilled to be seeing the inner workings of a major production, chattered away as they walked, jumping from one topic to another before settling on the cast.

“Gu Rong’er is perfect for those ‘innocent’ roles. Ever since the announcement, the internet has been saying she’s a dead ringer for the character in the novel. I saw her filming from the safety zone, she really fits the vibe,” Zhou Yue said. “She’s great on camera, but I wonder what she’s like in real life.”

Yaozhi was clearly preoccupied. “Quite shy.”

“Shy? No way,” Zhou Yue said, surprised. “I saw her chatting with her manager; she seemed quite bubbly.” She paused, a thought occurring to her. “Surely… she isn’t only shy with you?”

Zhou Yue had been reading too many melodrama novels in her spare time and loved the idea of a “battle of the beauties.” She was like a bloodhound for drama.

“I doubt it,” Yaozhi replied. Her mind was full of the sight of Shen Qing looking unwell after leaving the water. She hadn’t really processed a word about Gu Rong’er.

How are you? Yaozhi typed the message, then deleted it. Too awkward. She tried again. Do you need an electric blanket? She deleted that too. Shen Qing wouldn’t lack for such things; her assistants and Jing Ping would have seen to it. Offering would be redundant.

Frustrated, she kept editing and deleting until she snapped. “I’m going to see her.”

Zhou Yue:

“I’ll drop you back at Sister Lin’s first, then I’m going to find Shen Qing,” Yaozhi said firmly.

The hotel was a fifteen-minute walk from the base. After dropping off Zhou Yue, Yaozhi hurried back and took the lift to the floor where the leads stayed. Shen Qing’s room was right next to hers. Usually, they kept their distance; Yaozhi would even take the far lift just to avoid a run-in.

But today was different. She took the nearest lift and walked straight to Shen Qing’s door. She checked her breathing and knocked.

“Who is it?” came the cool voice from inside.

“It’s me,” Yaozhi replied.

There was a long silence. When Shen Qing finally spoke, her voice sounded thin and fragile. “It’s not a good time.”

“Then I’ll wait at the door. Let me know when you’re free.”

Shen Qing didn’t answer. Yaozhi leaned her shoulder against the wall, her long curls resting against the surface. After a while, Shen Qing, having checked the peephole to ensure the coast was clear, turned the handle and pushed the door open just a crack.

At that exact moment, a slender, pale hand gripped the edge of the door. With a burst of strength, Yaozhi forced it open. She had known Shen Qing would check eventually.

Shen Qing, terrified of catching Yaozhi’s fingers in the door, had no choice but to let her in. She gave a helpless smile. “Do you actually like me, or do you hate me?”

“I loathe you,” Yaozhi said without blinking, her hand still braced against the doorframe. “Satisfied?”

I loathe that you say nothing. I loathe that you’re sick because of me.

Shen Qing slowly adjusted the shawl around her shoulders—the same one she had lent to Yaozhi before. “And what does it mean when you come to find someone you loathe?”

Yaozhi didn’t answer. Instead, she peered into the empty room behind Shen Qing, her brow furrowed. “Where’s your assistant? Is Sister Jing here?”

“My assistant had things to do, so I sent her home. Jing Ping is stuck behind a snow blockage. Is there something urgent? I can contact someone for you,” Shen Qing said. Her lips were pale, almost translucent under the cool lights. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and her voice was languid and weary.

It rarely snowed like this in Hengdian, and it was even rarer to see Shen Qing looking so physically weak.

“Are you unwell?” Yaozhi noticed Shen Qing was calmly holding her hand over her lower abdomen. Her heart tightened.

“I’m fine,” Shen Qing said. “It’s late. You should head back, Miss Du.” She moved to close the door.

“Wait! Is it a crime to want to rehearse a scene with someone I loathe?” Yaozhi blurted out, desperate for a reason to stay.

“Rehearse?” Shen Qing paused. “And which scene would we be rehearsing?”

“The kissing scene. What’s the matter… are you scared?”

Yaozhi arched an eyebrow, standing tall and defiant.

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