After the Vicious Supporting Female Character Became the Heroine's Cat - Chapter 24.2

Shen Yunmiao looked at the unusually clingy kitten today and found it both amusing and exasperating, but it suited her just fine. She hadn’t wanted to attend the drinking party anyway; years of misfortune had honed her intuition, telling her nothing good would come of it.

She crouched down, stroking the cat while calling Jian Shen: “Director Jian, I’m so sorry, but my kitten seems unwell and can’t be left alone right now. I might not make it tonight, I’m truly sorry.”

Cheng Jianian, who had initially felt a flicker of hope upon seeing Shen Yunmiao make the call, was stunned. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, why this outcome?

She immediately waved her paws and let out a series of meows, expressing her disapproval.

But it was too late. Shen Yunmiao gently held her two little paws, exchanged a few more words with Jian Shen to convey her helplessness and regret, and soon hung up.

The little white cat let out a despairing “Mew.”

Thinking the kitten was upset about not going out, Shen Yunmiao comforted her, “Good girl, big sister will take you out to play later.”

Needless to say, it would be another scenic, nature-filled outing but that wasn’t her goal! Little Cheng felt utterly defeated.

Resigned, she let Shen Yunmiao dress her up in a cute outfit and collar, all set for an outing.

Just as Shen Yunmiao was looking for the cat carrier, the phone rang again. Shen Yunmiao answered, and Jian Shen said excitedly, “Yunmiao, the investors said it’s fine. You can come whenever the kitten is better. If you’re worried about leaving her alone at home, you can bring her along.”

Shen Yunmiao frowned, sensing something off. What kind of investor would be so accommodating as to allow a cat at a business gathering?

Her instinct was to refuse, but Jian Shen’s words struck a chord with Cheng Jianian, who had been on the verge of giving up. She excitedly waved her pink-and-white paws in approval.

Shen Yunmiao hesitated, unsure whether to refuse or agree, but Jian Shen continued, “Don’t worry, Yunmiao. I’m not the type to push people into uncomfortable situations. The investors coming tonight are mostly women, and a few other actors being considered for roles in the film will be there too.”

“Then it’s really not good for me to bring the cat along. Guaiguai can’t be left alone for even a short while, Director Jian, perhaps.” Shen Yunmiao said cautiously.

Jian Shen cut her off first, “Don’t worry, the investors specifically said it’s fine to bring her along. It really isn’t safe to leave a kitten home alone. Don’t you usually check the surveillance often? This dinner might last a few hours, and if the kitten isn’t feeling well these days, being away for so long wouldn’t be good, right? Come on, come on.”

Listening to the enthusiastic invitation over the phone and then looking at the overly excited kitten in front of her, Shen Yunmiao fell silent.

Jian Shen hadn’t thought too much about it. The main point was that Mercury Studios had explicitly expressed their intention they wanted her to facilitate a meeting with the leading actress to ease the tension between Shen Yunmiao and the artists under Mercury’s umbrella.

It was probably because the movie was nearing its release date, and Mercury had recognized Shen Yunmiao’s potential, intending to recruit her into their roster.

Jian Shen was naturally pleased with this outcome. It would allow her to support a promising newcomer she believed in, improve relations with Mercury, and if handled well, even secure another investment, a triple win.

Shen Yunmiao sighed silently, rubbed the restless kitten’s head, and then smiled faintly, “Alright, then please send me the time and location. I’ll be there on time.”

“No need, get ready in advance. I’ll pick you up by car.”

Well then, there was no need to change the clothes the kitten was wearing.

However, Shen Yunmiao needed to change her own outfit. She chose an eye-catching yet understated ensemble: a crisp white button-up shirt paired with a deep black skirt that flared from the waist down, the long skirt flowing from her waist to her ankles pure and gentle, fitting the image of the female lead in the movie.

Letting her hair down would have made her look even more beautiful. Little Cheng’s heart raced at the sight so stunning. Even in such simple attire, Miaomiao looked like a classical beauty stepping out of an ink-wash painting, soft yet not coquettish, reserved and subtle.

Unconsciously, she brushed against the hem of Shen Yunmiao’s long skirt. Shen Yunmiao finally showed her first genuine smile since the phone call. She crouched down, the skirt swaying like rippling water, enticing the little white kitten to tentatively reach out a paw to play with it.

As soon as the paw was raised, Shen Yunmiao subtly smoothed the skirt back, and the ripple slipped away.

The little white kitten grew anxious, reaching out again but still missing, reaching once more only to be evaded. After several repetitions, even Little Cheng, whose mind had been influenced by the cat’s instincts, realized something was amiss.

She lifted her paw, adopting a hunting stance, but then raised her head, her round, glistening cat eyes looking over: “Meow?”

The slightly reproachful yet utterly innocent gaze nearly melted Shen Yunmiao’s heart. In that moment of distraction, the little white kitten swiftly brought her paw down, capturing the long-coveted ripple.

The pure white long-haired cat pouncing on the pure black fabric seemed to paint a true ink-wash painting.

Shen Yunmiao didn’t scold her for being mischievous. Instead, she smiled gently, picked up the cat, buried her face in the soft belly fur, took a deep breath, and said firmly, “Guaiguai, this time, big sister will definitely protect you. I won’t let anyone take you away again.”

The soft cat paw retracted its sharp claws and gently stroked the soft hair.

After a long, tender moment with her cat, Shen Yunmiao finally got up. She packed a bag full of essentials mostly items for the cat, along with some emergency supplies, just in case.

Jian Shen’s car arrived quickly. As soon as she got in, Shen Yunmiao tried to lighten the mood, smiling as she said, “Oh, it hasn’t been that long since we last met, but this little one has gotten even prettier.”

It was, of course, a polite remark, no different from complimenting someone else’s child. Shen Yunmiao didn’t argue and simply responded with a few pleasantries.

Jian Shen had her assistant raise the partition, likely intending to discuss something more private. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Yunmiao, let me introduce you to the people attending tonight’s banquet.”

“The ones with the most influence are the two vice presidents from Mercury Entertainment Ms. Zuo Ying and Mr. Li Shengran. Mr. Li is childhood friends with Qiao Jingshu, so he might say something to smooth things over tonight. Just handle it as you see fit. No need to be too nervous.”

Jian Shen reassured her, “From what I can tell, Mercury is quite pleased with you. If you perform well, there’s a good chance they’ll want to bring you under their wing.”

Mercury Entertainment held near-dominance in the industry. If Shen Yunmiao could join them, her career would undoubtedly flourish. Jian Shen’s words were spoken with her future in mind.

Shen Yunmiao wasn’t one to hold grudges, so she accepted Jian Shen’s goodwill graciously and replied with a cheerful “Okay.”

Seeing her return to her usual good-natured self, Jian Shen felt much more at ease. She thought to herself that Qiao Jingshu had truly been out of line that day, pushing Shen Yunmiao to her breaking point and making her seem unusually irritable.

Under normal circumstances, Yunmiao was a sweet-tempered girl.

The understated white business car sped through the bustling city. Outside the window, the soft glow of streetlights flickered past, while neon lights from towering buildings left colorful trails. Nestled in the arms of the girl in the black dress, the pure white long-haired cat sat quietly, its slender neck and gentle profile illuminated by the shifting light.

Against the minimalist color palette, the girl and her cat seemed detached from the vibrant world around them as if they belonged to another, far simpler realm.

Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Jian Shen turned her thoughts to the future. Their collaboration would likely go smoothly, and perhaps her film would give rise to an extraordinary, phenomenon-level star.

They soon arrived at their destination. As Zuo Ying was hosting, the venue was naturally exquisite, a restaurant with classic Chinese decor, complete with winding streams, the faint melody of a guqin, and gently swaying beaded curtains. In the private room, some guests had already arrived.

Those who came early were well-known actors. Though not the main focus of the evening, they knew better than to arrive late, most having shown up shortly after Zuo Ying’s assistant. When Jian Shen and Shen Yunmiao entered, lifting the beaded curtain, everyone stood to greet them.

They had all read the script to varying degrees and were well aware of Jian Shen’s capabilities she had the potential to produce another award-winning actress. However, upon noticing the cat in Shen Yunmiao’s arms, their expressions remained unchanged, though their thoughts grew somewhat complicated.

After the incident with Qiao Jingshu, many had assumed this lucky-yet-unlucky girl wouldn’t last long in the entertainment industry, a promising start, but unable to withstand the pressures. To their surprise, it was Qiao Jingshu who had ultimately backed down. And now, with the two key figures from Mercury Entertainment hosting the event, everyone present began to reassess the situation with newfound clarity.

“Looks like this one might be the rising star of the new generation at Aquarius Studios.”

Although Qiao Jingshu came from a solid background, she was already over 25, with her achievements limited to television dramas. In the world of film and television, movies always took precedence over TV shows. Even as a leading lady, she likely couldn’t compare to someone like Shen Yunmiao, who had a custom-tailored film script written for her at just 18.

Shen Yunmiao was well aware of these dynamics. She observed the crowd with a cold gaze, yet her lips curved into a gentle, seemingly warm smile.

In truth, her only concern was the kitten nestled on her lap.

The room temperature was comfortable enough, but to create an ethereal, misty ambiance, vintage-style humidifiers had been placed in all four corners. She regretted not bringing the cat carrier, as Jian Shen had advised, it was too damp in here.

Feeling slightly irritable, Shen Yunmiao lowered her head and stroked the kitten’s soft, still-dry fur.

Little Cheng Zong responded with a faint meow, assuring her he was fine.

As Zuo Ying entered, she took in the scene: behind a low antique-style table sat a young woman in a white top and black skirt, bathed in soft, hazy light. Mist rose gently behind her as she bent over the pure white kitten curled obediently on her lap.

What an elegant lady. Their assumptions were correct Zuo Ying did have plans to sign Shen Yunmiao. Because of Qiao Jingshu’s connection, she hadn’t yet discussed it with Li Shengran. Today, she intended to reassess whether Shen Yunmiao could bring greater benefits to Aquarius Studios.

Zuo Ying’s reasoning was straightforward: as a businesswoman entrusted by Cheng Zong, she had to maximize profits for him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be fulfilling her responsibilities.

As the group rose to greet her, Shen Yunmiao, with her sharp hearing, had already stood up, cradling the kitten. Her layered skirt flowed gracefully, enhancing her radiant presence.

Zuo Ying was quite pleased.

After a few opening remarks from Zuo Ying and a brief word from Li Shengran, the banquet officially began. The choice of venue indicated that Zuo Ying hadn’t intended the event to be overly formal, it felt more personal and intimate.

Still, a banquet had its rituals. As the intermediary, Jian Shen stood first, offering auspicious words: wishing the film success, thanking Zuo Ying and her team for their trust, and celebrating the formation of the movie’s crew.

Once she sat down, it was Shen Yunmiao’s turn. Carefully placing the kitten beside her, Shen Yunmiao rose, raised her glass with a smile, and delivered some polished, pleasant formalities.

The atmosphere was harmonious, but Little Cheng Zong, nestled by her skirt, was far from pleased. Usually, others toasted her, she rarely had to utter such flattering words and felt nothing about it.

Today, however, watching Shen Yunmiao navigate these interactions so flawlessly stirred a deep discomfort within her.

A fierce thought took root in her chest: never again did she want to see Miao Miao speaking such words to this crowd.

In her eyes, these people weren’t even worthy of tying Miao Miao’s shoelaces. Not that Little Cheng Zong had suddenly become disrespectful she’d always held people to this standard.

Miao Miao was a celestial being, precious and exalted,

while they were merely vulgar mortals with a bit of money.

If that money could sustain a celestial being, then so much the better.

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