After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 36

The sky was still dark, barely four or five in the morning, when Du Yaozhi rose.

After the chaos of the previous night, Shen Qing had insisted on helping her wash the dishes before finally taking her painkillers. Yaozhi had practically bundled her into bed, and only after confirming that Shen Qing was resting properly did she return to her own room to do some serious thinking.

Shen Qing truly deserved her title as Best Actress. Her self-discipline, her mastery of emotion on camera, and her sheer dedication were peerless. She earned every accolade she held.

Before the opening ceremony, Yaozhi had scrolled past a particular post. A netizen had written: [Shen Qing is “descending to the mortal realm” just to act in a TV drama with some niche little star.]

Due to the lingering influence of the old industry guard, many still viewed film as “art” and television as a mere “pastime” something smaller and less prestigious. This snobbery ran deep in the entertainment world. Almost every actor wanted to break into film; it used to be the only real marker of an A-lister.

In the eyes of those who believed the “Flower on the High Ridge” had left her altar, Shen Qing was slumming it. Though her PR team, led by the formidable Jing Ping, had scrubbed most of those comments, the phrase “niche little star” stuck in Yaozhi’s throat.

Even if Yaozhi had talent and a passion for acting, what good was it if she remained in Shen Qing’s shadow? If she didn’t stand out, she would finish this project as nothing more than an “add-on” someone the public believed was only there because Shen Qing had deigned to give her a chance.

Yaozhi had ambition. She wanted to leave a unique mark on the screen. She refused to be outshone, even by Shen Qing.

That night, she asked Shu Yuanxiang to coordinate with the crew to contact the martial arts team.

“What?! Sister Yaozhi, you want to practice sword dancing with the instructors?” Yuanxiang’s voice crackled through the phone.

“I do,” Yaozhi said firmly. “I’ve been re-reading the novel. Wen Jinyue channels her emotions into her swordplay, specifically her thrusts and parries. If I can master the sword dance and integrate it into the scenes, it will take the performance to a whole new level.”

After a pause, Yuanxiang gave a cheerful laugh. “No problem! I’ll get on it right away.”

The news came back quickly. “The martial arts team is thrilled! They said they love seeing a lead actress show this much initiative. It saves them so much work in post-production. They’re ready to teach you everything they know!”

Yaozhi smiled and arranged to meet the instructor at 5:30 AM in the empty training shed of Area A.

Fortunately, the snow had stopped. Yaozhi didn’t have to practice in a blizzard, but the wind was still bone-chilling. Wrapped up tight in her down jacket and snow boots, she trudged toward the set.

The site workers had already cleared most of the snow. Yaozhi respected their hard work; rather than getting in their way, she stopped to buy them hot breakfast.

“Miss Du, you’re up early today!” a worker greeted her.

“I am,” Yaozhi replied, trotting over with the bags. “I’ve got hot eggs and soya milk here. Eat them while they’re warm to keep the chill out.”

The steam from the food cut through the early morning frost.

“Oh, we couldn’t possibly! This is just our job.”

Yaozhi gave a gentle smile. “It’s fine. You work so hard. I’m off to find the martial arts instructor now. Bye!”

The instructor was a woman named Xiao Yun. Seeing Yaozhi’s calm demeanour, she asked, “Not surprised to see me?”

Yaozhi took the practice sword and smiled. “Why should I be?”

“Usually, younger actors are shocked to find out the martial arts lead is a girl. They expect some old bloke.”

“There are brilliant women in every field,” Yaozhi said, shaking her head. “I should feel proud, not surprised.”

Xiao Yun arched an eyebrow. “So, you know a bit about sword dancing then?”

“A little,” Yaozhi said. She spoke of Lady Gongsun from the Tang Dynasty, a legendary figure whose swordplay was said to “move the four directions.” She admired the power and aesthetic beauty that broke traditional gender stereotypes.

Xiao Yun listened in silence, then nodded. This “niche star” the tabloids mocked was clearly serious about her craft. She was a good sprout—confident and bright without being overbearing. She was worth teaching.

They started with footwork—bow stances and empty stances. Yaozhi picked it up quickly. However, the wrist rotations—the inner and outer “flowers”—were more taxing.

Drenched in sweat, Yaozhi shed her heavy jacket and tied her hair back in a ponytail, throwing herself into the training.

“Not bad for a first go. Want a break?” Xiao Yun asked.

“No,” Yaozhi panted, checking the time. She raised her sword again. “Crew time is precious. Let’s keep going.”

By the time the sky turned pale grey, Yaozhi was mimicking Xiao Yun’s movements with fluid grace. The combination of her soft features and the sharp, disciplined swordplay was the epitome of Eastern aesthetics. She practiced until the makeup artists arrived, then bid Xiao Yun goodbye.

As she left, she ran straight into Shen Qing.

She looked much better. Yaozhi lifted her chin and tried to walk past as if she hadn’t seen her, but Shen Qing called out, “Good morning.”

Yaozhi stopped. Wait… what on earth is she wearing?

Shen Qing wore a knee-length, belted black trench coat. The collar was slightly turned up, giving her a severe, “don’t-touch-me” look. Paired with matching trousers and high-quality leather boots that clicked rhythmically against the frozen ground, she looked devastatingly cool. When she looked up, the slight tilt of her cold eyes held an almost aggressive beauty.

This… this is bordering on unfair, Yaozhi thought.

Shen Qing seemed indifferent to her own look, but she caught Yaozhi’s reaction and smiled. “There’s a fan visit tonight,” she reminded her. “The fan clubs coordinated with the PR team last week. There’s a designated area.”

Yaozhi hesitated. “They’re coming tonight?”

“Mhm. Don’t be afraid,” Shen Qing said calmly. “You deserve this.”

“I know I deserve it,” Yaozhi said, her red lips curving into a smirk, though her beauty mark trembled slightly. She had been so focused on her training that she hadn’t had time to process the nerves. “I just have a difficult scene tonight. I can’t afford to rush it.”

“Is that so?” Shen Qing’s expression remained cool, but her eyes danced with knowing amusement. “Not even a little bit nervous?”

Shen Qing knew her too well. This was Yaozhi’s first real fan visit; she’d never had a proper following before. Her heart was racing. But she refused to lose face.

“Perhaps a little,” Yaozhi said, casually tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

Shen Qing didn’t push. “Regardless, I’ll be there waiting for you.”

**

By evening, Yaozhi was rushing to finish her scenes. She finally received the notification for the fan visit location from the assistant director’s aide. It was a shared link on her phone.

The map showed a relatively remote square in the film city. Yaozhi found it odd—that was usually a spot for low-budget productions, but she hadn’t been on a major set long enough to know the protocol. She messaged the aide to confirm but received no reply.

With time running out, she assumed the crew wanted a quiet spot to avoid crowds. She and Yuanxiang hurried to the location.

When they arrived, the square was empty. No fans, no Shen Qing. Not even a stray crew member.

Yaozhi frowned. She realised immediately what had happened. “The message was sent to the wrong person.”

“What? Wrong person? No… this is your first visit! It’s important!” Yuanxiang froze in horror.

Yaozhi didn’t panic or complain. “The assistant must be coordinating for several shows at once. They’ve sent me the location for a different production.”

Yuanxiang was frantic, but Yaozhi calmed her. “Don’t blame yourself. There’s still time. Call the line producer, find out where the real location is, and we’ll head back now.”

By the time they reached the correct area, they didn’t even need to see the crowd to know where it was. The air was thick with the anxious chatter of staff.

Twilight had fallen, and the film city was dotted with lights. Shen Qing stood there like a stray snowflake in the night. When she looked at Yaozhi, the entire winter seemed to go quiet. The wind caught the corner of her trench coat.

She hadn’t looked impatient once. She was usually so cold, yet in this moment, she possessed a soft, almost lingering patience. Like someone waiting for a latecomer to return home.

In a blind spot away from the crowd, Yaozhi stopped her as they brushed past. “Why did you help me again?”

“Do I need a reason?” Shen Qing asked quietly, looking down. It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. As if to say: As your girlfriend, do I need a reason to help you?

Yaozhi froze. She realised then that when Shen Qing said “I’ll be there waiting,” she hadn’t been being polite. She had literally been there to catch her.

“You got the wrong location, didn’t you?” Shen Qing’s voice was thin in the night air. “I’ll handle it. Don’t give it another thought.”

Yaozhi watched her, unable to find the words. Shen Qing walked into the shadows, adjusting her cuffs with an elegant flick, as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Yue came running over to find Yaozhi, looking like she was about to burst into tears. “Thank God you’re here! I was worried sick!”

Yaozhi frowned. “What happened?”

“You don’t know?! Your fans arrived and were devastated when you weren’t there. One of the newer fans a young girl, thought your ‘professionalism’ was all an act. She started screaming that you were a diva for leaving them standing there. She was going to quit the fandom! She started throwing things and making a massive scene.”

Zhou Yue continued breathlessly, “Shen Qing stepped in to defend you. She spent ages calming the fans down and then ordered milk tea for everyone in the name of the crew.”

“It’s everywhere now,” Zhou Yue said, eyes wide. “The trending topics are exploding. The whole internet says it’s ‘solid proof’ that Shen Qing is head over heels for you, that she’s humbling herself to chase you for love!”

What?! Yaozhi stood frozen.

Solid proof? Proof that Shen Qing… is chasing HER?

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