After the Vicious Supporting Female Character Became the Heroine's Cat - Chapter 16

Jian Shen couldn’t quite decipher her expression. Clearing his throat, he said, “Jingshu, here’s the situation. Yunmiao brought her kitten to the set today, but just a moment ago, the little thing went missing.”

“Now,” Jian Shen looked awkward, “uh, well, the tracker Yunmiao put on the cat shows it’s right here. Have you, by any chance, seen a little white cat with heterochromia around here?”

Qiao Jingshu cursed her assistant inwardly for being so clueless unable to see through such an obvious diversion tactic and still not back after being played for a fool.

Her smile remained innocent. “Oh, is that so? But Director Jian, I’ve been in the trailer the whole time and haven’t seen any kitten!”

Shen Yunmiao, standing on the ground, lifted her head and looked past Jian Shen toward Qiao Jingshu at the trailer door. Her voice was clear and composed. “Sister Jingshu, I’m really sorry. The tracker’s range is less than five meters. It’s possible the kitten got playful and slipped inside by accident. Could we please go in and look for it?”

Anyone with eyes could see this was a face-saving gesture for Qiao Jingshu.

If the cat were indeed found inside the trailer, neither side would be too embarrassed.

But Qiao Jingshu didn’t take the bait. She lowered her gaze and slowly began rubbing her fingers.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense and stagnant. After a long pause, she smiled gently. “Yunmiao, I’m really sorry, but there are some personal items in my trailer. It wouldn’t be appropriate for so many people to come inside.”

Shen Yunmiao clenched her fists tightly, though her expression remained unchanged. Her usually gentle dark eyes now held a hint of coldness.

Yuan Duan quickly stepped in to mediate. “Jingshu, please understand Yunmiao is just anxious to find her cat. As a cat owner myself, I know how much kittens love to wander off. One moment you’re not looking, and the next, they’ve slipped away somewhere.”

“Aren’t you afraid of cats? What if it’s inside and startles you? How about just letting Yunmiao and me go in to search? We promise not to touch any of your things.”

Although Yuan Duan had her own studio, nearly every artist in the industry had some connection to Mercury Entertainment, and she was no exception practically half a Mercury-affiliated artist herself. Given her status, Qiao Jingshu shouldn’t have refused her request outright.

But Yuan Duan wasn’t entirely confident. She understood the situation a bit better than Shen Yunmiao. With CEO Cheng keeping a low profile, company affairs were currently being managed by Zuo Ying and Li Shengran.

Everyone knew Qiao Jingshu and Li Shengran had grown up together as childhood friends. Qiao Jingshu’s fans were notoriously rabid in the industry, if things escalated, there was no telling how it would end.

Qiao Jingshu rubbed the bridge of her nose, feigning exhaustion. “Since you put it that way, Sister Yuan, I can’t very well refuse. Please, go ahead.”

She pulled the door open, her expression pained and resigned. “After all, this is partly my fault. If I hadn’t been scratched by a cat recently and gotten so scared. Ah, I’ve caused so much trouble for Director Jian and you these past couple of days.”

By bringing up the earlier incident, she was clearly trying to shift and amplify the conflict.

Jian Shen was utterly exasperated. What did changing the script have to do with a missing cat?

Just then, Qiao Jingshu’s assistant suddenly appeared outside the crowd, her voice urgent. “Sister Jingshu, you haven’t been resting well these past few days. Why are you putting yourself through all this commotion?”

Qiao Jingshu gave a pale smile. “It’s nothing. I’ve had cats before. Yunmiao must be so worried right now just coming in to look for a cat won’t be a problem.”

The assistant hurried over, pulling out a medicine box with a pained expression. “Sis Jingshu, here’s the medicine you asked for, but the doctor said just taking pills isn’t enough. You really need proper rest.”

Jian Shen and Yuan Duan stared at the medicine box, recalling how energetic and loud Qiao Jingshu had been around the cat just two days prior. For a moment, they were truly at a loss for words.

The RV entrance was now awkwardly blocked neither able to enter nor retreat, stuck in an uncomfortable standstill.

Shen Yunmiao stared at the integrated tracker displaying the cat’s heart rate, her fingers tightening around her phone until her nails nearly cracked. A long-forgotten anguish surged within her.

She strode over and nodded apologetically to Qiao Jingshu. “Senior, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

The doorway was too narrow, with Qiao Jingshu occupying most of it. Shen Yunmiao forced her way through the slim gap between them, yet Qiao Jingshu acted as if she’d been jostled off-balance, magnanimously saying, “It’s fine, it’s fine. I understand completely.”

The RV was spotless, with nothing out of place. Qiao Jingshu followed closely behind, sighing helplessly. “Yunmiao, do you see the kitten?”

“Maybe we should check under the bed or something. Kittens love to run around,” Qiao Jingshu suggested, approaching and patting Shen Yunmiao’s shoulder generously. “Don’t worry, feel free to search anywhere. If any of my things are in your way, just move them.”

Shen Yunmiao subtly shifted away, leaving Qiao Jingshu’s hand hovering in empty air.

Her eyes swept the room, ignoring Qiao Jingshu’s remarks. Outside, Jian Shen called, “Yunmiao, maybe we should head back first and search the woods?”

“Could the tracker be malfunctioning? Or maybe the kitten accidentally knocked it off?”

Qiao Jingshu cut in before Shen Yunmiao could respond. “Director Jian, it’s alright. If the kitten really is hiding somewhere, it’ll be harder to find later if we don’t look now.”

Jian Shen immediately knew the award-winning actress was up to no good. She hated these convoluted games in the industry, why create so much drama over a simple film shoot?

Her impatience even extended to Shen Yunmiao. Such a nice young woman, why did she have to be so stubborn?

Little did they know, just behind a cabinet door, the white kitten was curled in a corner of her carrier.

The cabinet was sealed shut, the air growing thinner. Though cats have excellent night vision, all she could see was an abyssal darkness, as if night had fallen completely.

Was she going to die here?

How tragic her human life had been worthless, ending in ambiguity, and now that she was a cat, loved and cared for, she would still die in this unclear manner.

Refusing to accept it, she continued meowing weakly. Even though her earlier cries had drained her energy to no avail, she couldn’t give up on that last sliver of hope.

The cabinet door muffled most of the sound, but she clung to that faint fantasy, what if? What if Shen Yunmiao came?

“Meow!”

Her plaintive cries passed through the heavy wooden door, leaving nothing behind.

Yet Shen Yunmiao’s sharp senses caught that familiar sound, though the chattering behind her nearly drowned out the faint meow.

She turned and raised a finger to her lips in a “shush” gesture.

Qiao Jingshu gritted her teeth, her expression unchanged, about to say something when Shen Yunmiao’s cold voice cut through. “Senior, quiet.”

Her voice finally pierced through the cabinet door, reaching the small cat inside.

Young Miss Cheng was nearly moved to tears, immediately meowing in response to the voice outside.

The two voices bridged the barrier of time and space, making the seemingly endless dark night no longer frightening.

Shen Yunmiao quickly stepped forward and pulled out the wooden box from under the bed.

Qiao Jingshu watched her movements with a cold glare, her porcelain teeth almost grinding in frustration.

The young girl’s voice was gentle yet firm as she said:

“Senior, may I open this box and take a look?”

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