After the Agreement, the Aloof Movie Queen is Chasing Me All Over the Internet - Chapter 62

Shen Qing lifted her gaze to find Du Yaozhi leaning her chin on her hand, a length of prop rope coiled playfully around her fingers, watching her with keen interest.

Meeting Du Yaozhi’s look, Shen Qing offered a faint smile. “I heard you.”

Why does that “kissing buddy” look have to be so doting?

Watching the screen, Zhou Yue managed a weak, “Hello, Teacher Shen.”

At that, Shen Qing’s eyes shifted over, her tone becoming detached. “Hello.”

Zhou Yue felt a shiver. Right. The doting is strictly reserved for Du Yaozhi. Still haunted by her previous “water bottle incident” with Shen Qing, she asked hesitantly, “Are you actually tying her up, or is this just for show?”

“Just for show,” Du Yaozhi replied, turning her phone screen back around. She wasn’t actually going to tie Shen Qing up. “It’s basically just a bit of technical demonstration for a scene.”

In The Fallen Embers, there was a scene where Jun Luo loses her immortal powers and is about to have her celestial lineage stripped by villains. To save her, Wen Jinyue has to tie up the out-of-control goddess and hide her away.

Du Yaozhi said to Shen Qing, “Hand.”

Shen Qing looked up, her eyes clear and cool as if covered by a thin layer of frost, yet she offered her hand without a moment’s hesitation. As her fingertips landed in Du Yaozhi’s palm, they felt cool to the touch. With a slight turn of her wrist, she surrendered all control.

Du Yaozhi looped the prop rope around, slowing her movements as the rough texture brushed against Shen Qing’s pale skin. “Once you’re bound, you first rotate your wrist to find the slipknot, then use the momentum of your turn to”

She stopped, trying to figure out how to demonstrate the rest by herself.

Following Du Yaozhi’s lead, Shen Qing rotated her wrist with professional precision. “Continue.”

Is the kissing buddy really being this cooperative?

Du Yaozhi chuckled. With a flick of her wrist, the seemingly secure knot loosened significantly. “Like this. Brace your shoulder against a fixed point behind you, pull the slipknot, and it opens. If it’s a dead knot, you rub your wrist against something rough to fray it, or find a sharp object to pick it apart.”

She wound the rope around Shen Qing’s wrist again, then released it to illustrate her points. “I think this scene is quite meaningful.”

Zhou Yue wanted to nod, but looking at the scene before her, she didn’t quite dare. “Er… maybe the two of you should just stay tied up then? For now?”

Away from the film set, why does this look more and more like foreplay?

Never mind. Zhou Yue decided not to care. As long as she wasn’t the one being tied up.

Once the “demonstration” was finally over, Zhou Yue changed the subject. “When are you filming this scene?”

Du Yaozhi brushed her hair back. “In a bit. Just waiting for the call.”

Zhou Yue: “Right. I’m off to get some food then.”

The two were quiet for a moment. Shen Qing went back to her script while Du Yaozhi toyed with the rope, her eyes lingering on the red marks on her own wrist. The marks were stark against her fair skin, and her lashes fluttered slightly.

She suddenly thought of their “token of love” that red string. She’d kept telling Shen Qing she’d burnt it, but she never actually did. It was still at home. Shen Qing seemed to treasure that string quite a bit.

A ripple of emotion stirred in Du Yaozhi’s heart. She rubbed the rope between her fingers and stole a glance at Shen Qing before pulling herself back to reality. Never mind. Now isn’t the time for that.

There was no telling what tricks Xu Wanxin and Li Rongjin might pull. Even though she’d asked for help monitoring them, she still couldn’t feel at ease.

In the distance, several stage lights flickered on, casting mottled shadows across the crowd in the warm yellow glow. Gu Rong’er walked over. “Teacher Du, Teacher Shen, it’s your turn.”

Since “the incident,” Gu Rong’er no longer called Du Yaozhi “Sister.” She remained polite and well-behaved, though she clearly had things on her mind.

Shen Qing hummed an acknowledgement and stood up. Her white skirt swept the edge of the chair a movement both crisp and elegant. The coldness radiating from her softened slightly as she rose, yet she still maintained that untouchable aura.

Du Yaozhi let go of the rope, patted the creases out of her hem, and said goodbye to Zhou Yue. “Coming.”

Why was Gu Rong’er the one calling them? Du Yaozhi wondered for a second. Gu Rong’er’s manager usually wouldn’t let the girl do even a bit of “grunt work.”

As they brushed past her, Du Yaozhi watched Gu Rong’er closely. The girl’s eyes followed them with a hidden meaning. Her lips moved subtly, mouthing two words to Du Yaozhi: “South City.”

Du Yaozhi froze, her expression turning grim. Even she is paying attention to that?

In the other film set, the voice of a script supervisor asking for help snapped Zhou Yue back to reality. The supervisor was frantic, shouting over her shoulder, “Yueyue, can you hand me that folder? It’s right by your hand.”

Zhou Yue responded immediately, “On it!”

After helping out, someone on the way back asked her what her relationship was with the lead actress. Zhou Yue puffed out her chest proudly. “See her? That’s my Big Sister.”

Gu Lin only filmed “strong female lead” dramas. Despite her lack of “trending” status, she had secured a solid footing in the industry through sheer acting talent. To the audience, she possessed a natural integrity; she didn’t market herself or manufacture hype. She was the real deal.

This was why Zhou Yue had immediately claimed Gu Lin as her “Big Sister” it was a “heart-eyes” attempt to cling to greatness.

Their first meeting had been over a red envelope mix-up; their second was on set. Gu Lin had performed a horse-riding stunt so flawlessly it left Zhou Yue dazed. Seeing that grit in her eyes, Zhou Yue was sold. The moment the scene ended, she ran to Gu Lin, shouting, “Big Sister, please take me under your wing!”

The shout had startled Gu Lin. Where she came from, being called “Big Sister” usually implied one was quite elderly. It left Gu Lin fretting and checking the mirror constantly, worried she’d aged.

Du Yaozhi had sensed the shift in the wind and quickly dragged Zhou Yue along to change the address to “Sister Lin.” That soft, gentle address had melted Gu Lin’s heart, and the “revolutionary friendship” between the three of them was saved. Zhou Yue had successfully latched onto her “Big Sister” and was being “tethered” to the set for training.

As for whether she slacked off during that training… well, that was another story. She had certainly managed to read a lot of trashy romance novels.

At mealtime, Zhou Yue said her goodbyes to the staff and walked to her usual secluded corner. Hearing movement at the door, An Dongling’s shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably. She gripped her sleeves, her eyes turning cold and dark.

Only when she saw the familiar figure did her racing heart finally begin to steady. Zhou Yue’s eyes lit up when she found An Dongling. Carrying a steaming bowl of instant noodles and a small loaf of bread, she ran over happily. “Dongling!”

“Finally found you.” Zhou Yue didn’t mind the dirt; she spread a piece of newspaper and sat right down on the steps next to An Dongling. “Phew, I’m exhausted from running errands.”

An Dongling sniffed. As she looked up, her stray fringe brushed against her eyelids, making her blink. “You came to find me even though you’re so tired?”

Zhou Yue: “Of course. Aren’t we best friends?”

Without waiting for a reply, Zhou Yue continued, “Here.” She pulled the small fork out of the lid of the noodles and thrust it into An Dongling’s hand. “Haven’t you had a cold and a blocked nose lately? I specifically went to the shared kitchen to borrow a stove. I cooked fresh greens, carrots, and even bought some beef. Try it!”

“Thank you…” An Dongling held the bowl. A heavy weight pressed on her chest; she had no appetite.

But looking at the bowl packed with ingredients, the glistening slices of beef and the rising steam carrying the aroma of food, her heart began to feel a localized warmth. Her eyes pricked.

Ever since her mother fell ill and she signed with Huasheng Entertainment for the money, she had been bullied and blackmailed by Xu Wanxin. She hadn’t eaten a meal this hot in a very long time. An Dongling pushed up her glasses, brushed her fringe aside, and wiped the corner of her eye.

Seeing her not eating, Zhou Yue leaned in, her eyes full of nervous anticipation. “My cooking might not be great… but my friend is an amazing cook! I’ll introduce you next time!” Chewing on her bread, Zhou Yue mumbled, “My friend is going to be a huge star. She’s wonderful, really”

An Dongling heard every word and interrupted: “You’re wonderful, too.”

Zhou Yue’s heart skipped a beat. She gripped the bread wrapper. “Huh? Me… me?” She’d never been praised by another girl in such a tone before.

An Dongling’s fringe hid most of her face, leaving only her pale, delicate chin visible. She looked melancholic and fragile, yet there was a sharp edge to the corner of her eyes. As she looked at Zhou Yue, her gaze was steady and earnest, as if she were stating something of profound importance.

Zhou Yue’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head. The air was filled with the scent of noodles, and the cool breeze didn’t dampen the warmth of the moment. They sat side by side in silence.

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhou Yue spoke again, swallowing hard. “One day, after you’ve finished your scenes, I’ll bring you some high-end instant noodles. The imported kind.”

An Dongling kept her head down, taking the words to heart. There really are people in the world who make jokes sound so beautiful—beautiful enough to make me want to stay alive.

Forcing down the nausea in her stomach, she finished every last bit of the noodles. The bowl had long since turned cold, but the warmth seemed to linger on her fingertips, spreading to her heart. Then the cold air blew, and the chill returned.

As she checked the items in her bag, her hands began to shake again. She turned away, leaving Zhou Yue with only the sight of her back.

Identity card, insurance policy, mother’s medical records and latest reports… and a cold dagger.

An Dongling traced the creases on the medical records, marks left from countless nights of frantic reading. Every fold was etched with her mother’s groans of pain and her own powerlessness. She stared at it for a long time. Finally, she silently removed the dagger and hid it away.

While Zhou Yue was still munching on her bread, An Dongling spoke suddenly. “Could you… look after my bag for me?” Her voice sounded distant.

Zhou Yue agreed instantly. “Sure! When should I give it back?”

An Dongling thought for a moment. “Give it back to me when I’ve finished my scenes.”

“No problem!” Without a second thought, Zhou Yue hopped over, bread still in her mouth. “I promise to keep it safe!”

An Dongling zipped the bag tightly and handed it over. Zhou Yue took the heavy bag and remarked instinctively, “Whoa, it’s heavy.”

An Dongling: “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Zhou Yue didn’t catch the underlying meaning; she just thought the girl was embarrassed. She hoisted the bag onto her shoulder and grinned at An Dongling. “See? Not heavy at all like this.”

An Dongling looked at Zhou Yue, looked at her for a long, long time. Zhou Yue had messy stray hairs on her forehead and breadcrumbs on the corner of her mouth; she was carefree, her eyes full of pure laughter.

Will I ever see this again?

Perhaps not.

An Dongling tilted her head back, took a deep breath, and let out a cloud of white mist. Her fringe was really poking her eyes; they felt so sore and painful right now.

I’m sorry, Zhou Yue. You silly girl.

My scenes are already finished.

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