Falling for the Married Movie Queen - Chapter 2

Twelve years ago.

A single phone call brought a script that An Ji had already rejected right back to her doorstep: Entanglement.

That year, An Ji was thirty years old and a mother of two. She had been through a failed marriage, and her second marriage was now in its fifth year, which, from her perspective, was reasonably satisfying.

Because her younger son, Mai Zhixuan, was only three, and her older son was not yet ten and just entering middle school a time when they needed care and supervision An Ji had turned down all work offers.

“We hope you can reconsider. We will accommodate Teacher An’s schedule as much as possible, and as long as your fee is within our acceptable range, we will definitely meet it,” producer Han Deyu said earnestly to An Ji and her husband, who were sitting across from him.

“Producer Han, you’re quite familiar with my situation. The children need looking after, and as a mother, I don’t want to miss a single stage of their growth once missed, it’s gone forever. I hope you can understand,” An Ji said, her face practically radiating apology.

“Teacher An, this role was chosen by online vote, did you know that? Everyone is eagerly looking forward to seeing you in it; no one is more suited for this role than you,” Han Deyu said, looking at her with eyes full of anticipation.

“I am deeply grateful for the fans’ support and for Producer Han’s trust, but…”

Before An Ji could finish, Mai Jianhua tugged at her sleeve. Swallowing the rest of her sentence, she listened as Mai Jianhua asked, “Who is the male lead?”

“You might actually know the male lead. She’s also a beauty.”

“A beauty?” An Ji and Mai Jianhua asked in unison.

“That’s right! The male lead in our drama is a cross-dressing role, performed in a style unlike anything before, so there are plenty of eye-catching elements. I’m very confident we can pull this off,” Han Deyu declared, his confidence palpable.

An Ji glanced at Han Deyu, silently picked up the script, and began flipping through it.

“Who on earth is the other lead?” Mai Jianhua pressed.

“Yu Junye.”

“The youngest double-crown Best Actress? The ‘genius girl’?” An Ji raised her head in astonishment. “She’s a film star, would she really take part in a television drama?”

In most people’s minds, there was an unwritten rule: film actors held a higher status than television actors. Having spent nearly a decade in the entertainment industry, An Ji knew this all too well, which was why she had her doubts.

“Yes, it’s her. Rest assured, she will be participating,” Han Deyu replied with certainty.

An Ji looked at Han Deyu with a mixture of skepticism and belief.

“Let us discuss it and give you an answer tomorrow,” Mai Jianhua timely cut off the conversation.

“I’ll await your good news. As for the compensation, we will meet your expectations as much as possible. Mr. Mai is also an industry insider some opportunities come only once in a lifetime. You’ll support your wife, won’t you?”

“Naturally.” Mai Jianhua shot Han Deyu a smug look.

After seeing Han Deyu out, Mai Jianhua looked at An Ji and asked with a smile, “What do you think?”

“I want to stay home and take care of the children. My last project ended just over half a year ago, and I already missed that exact moment when Xuanxuan first learned to walk,” An Ji said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on the script.

“Isn’t I here at home? I don’t have any good scripts coming my way right now; I can just take Xuanxuan to visit the set!” Mai Jianhua’s temptation was written all over his face. “An opportunity like this is rare! Right now, your popularity in the television circle is unmatched, and the pay will naturally be extremely generous. Your co-star is even a female actress, which avoids a lot of unnecessary trouble. Besides, don’t you actually really like this script?”

An Ji kept her eyes on the script and didn’t answer.

Mai Jianhua knew that she had agreed.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll contact Producer Han.”

As soon as he finished his call with Mai Jianhua, Han Deyu immediately dialed another number.

“Xiao Yu, An Ji has agreed to star in Entanglement. We’re just waiting on you now.” Han Deyu’s excitement carried clearly through the phone to Yu Junye’s ear.

“I’m not doing it, I’m not doing it,” Yu Junye whined lazily, lounging against the banquette of a bar. “I’m a delicate young woman; what am I doing playing a man? I’m not doing it.”

Her close friend Ling Chuchu and boyfriend Guo Nianhong cast sideways glances at Yu Junye’s dramatics. She hadn’t even drunk that much alcohol, yet she was acting as if she were truly plastered.

“Xiao Yu, our arrangements earlier weren’t thorough enough, and we wasted your time. But you can’t leave me hanging in a tight spot like this now!” Hearing Yu Junye’s refusal, Han Deyu nearly broke out in a sweat.

After An Ji’s initial rejection, Han Deyu had found another popular television star, but no matter what they tried, she couldn’t generate the desired chemistry with Yu Junye. On top of that, the actress suddenly fell gravely ill, and netizens weren’t very accepting of her anyway. Yu Junye had seized the opportunity to step down from the role, driving Han Deyu to utter despair.

Han Deyu had searched for other actors and held auditions, but only Yu Junye matched the script, possessed the top-tier acting skills, and fit the part perfectly.

Thus, he had pulled out all the stops and lowered his pride to win An Ji back, only for things to hit another snag on Yu Junye’s end.

Before he could say another word, the line went dead.

A moment later, Guo Nianhong’s phone rang. He checked the caller ID, looked at Yu Junye with a helpless shake of his head, and answered. Before he could even speak, Han Deyu launched right in:

“Brother, is your Xiao Yu drunk? You can’t leave your buddy in such deep waters! Help me talk some sense into her this whole project is counting on you, man.”

“Don’t panic. Let me figure out what’s going on first,” Guo Nianhong said unhurriedly.

“As for the compensation, rest assured, brother. And regarding the business collaboration you and my older brother discussed last time, I’ll do my absolute best to persuade him.” Han Deyu was truly desperate, willing to up the ante.

He couldn’t afford to drag this out any further; production had already started, and every day the project sat idle meant heavy losses. As a grand anniversary release for the network, the schedule left zero room for further delays.

“Let me find out what’s going on first. Wait for my word.”

Hanging up, Guo Nianhong leaned over to Yu Junye, who was nursing a drink in gloomy silence. “What’s wrong? Unhappy?”

“A little bit! Your buddy’s script the one where I have to play a guy is making the rounds again. So annoying!” Yu Junye took a large gulp from her glass, using her free hand to ruffle her long, draped hair with unmistakable irritation.

Indeed, Yu Junye possessed every right to be proud and uninhibited.

Having started out as an advertising model at eighteen, within less than half a year in the industry, she had gone out to eat with Guo Nianhong who was then an assistant on a commercial shoot. Spotting her there, one of Guo Nianhong’s director friends instantly cast her as the female lead in her very first feature film, winning her the Best Newcomer Award right out of the gate. Over the next five years, two Best Actress awards and one Best Supporting Actress award had been effortlessly tucked under her belt. In an era when those awards still carried immense prestige, Yu Junye’s spotlight was second to none.

Though lacking formal training, the title of “genius girl” suited her to a T. When it came to characters, there was nothing she couldn’t play it was purely a matter of whether she wanted to or not.

“Don’t want to take the role anymore?” Guo Nianhong took Yu Junye’s hand, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles in silent comfort.

“The female lead took forever to lock down. All that back-and-forth completely killed my passion.” Yu Junye pouted, staring at the clear liquid in her wine glass.

“If you don’t want to play it, then don’t take it. You’ve got so many scripts waiting for you that they’re about to crush your desk!” Ling Chuchu said lazily, holding a wine glass in one hand while propping her head up with the other, leaning back against her seat.

“The female lead has been finalized this time. It’s that same An Ji; the other party has already agreed,” Guo Nianhong said softly.

“If you really don’t want to, we won’t do it. Don’t force yourself.”

“Who? An Ji is the female lead?” Ling Chuchu asked in surprise.

Yu Junye shot Ling Chuchu an amused look. “Yeah! The one media outlets praise as the Audrey Hepburn of the East, the woman you’re always complimenting as every man’s dream girl An Ji.”

“When do I always compliment her? I’ve only said it once. Back when her divorce scandal blew up with all those rumors of domestic violence and infidelity, how come you never bring that up?” Ling Chuchu curled her lip. “Ask Lao Guo isn’t An Ji every man’s dream girl? Come on, Lao Guo, you tell ’em.”

Ling Chuchu tossed the ball to Guo Nianhong, a smiling smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she watched the two of them like she was watching a good show.

Yu Junye frowned in silence. Her knowledge of An Ji went no further than the occasional gossip headline she caught in the media, she only knew her as an actress with high recent media traction who served as dinner table gossip due to her television work or personal life, subjects Yu Junye cared nothing about anyway.

“What’s wrong with you? Just trying to watch the world burn, aren’t you?” Guo Nianhong gave Ling Chuchu an amused look before turning back to Yu Junye. “My only dream girl is the one sitting right in front of me.”

“Tch, no fun.” Denied her entertainment, Ling Chuchu rolled her eyes at both of them, though a faint, peculiar ripple stirred in her heart.

“If I back out, how badly will it hurt your business?” Yu Junye dropped her lazy posture and asked seriously.

“Not much. It just means giving up the Jiangnan regional market,” Guo Nianhong replied casually.

“And you call that ‘not much’?” Yu Junye muttered softly under her breath.

She felt profound gratitude and respect for this man who was seven years her senior. It was he who had brought her into the industry, provided her with resources, mapped out her career path, and shielded her innocent self behind him all the while steering her life through uncharted journeys. He acted like a father and an elder brother, watching over her. Though from a wealthy background and surrounded by women eager to throw themselves at him, he gave them all the cold shoulder, reserving his care and protection solely for her.

Warmth filled Yu Junye’s heart. He never forced her, nor did he demand she do anything, always letting her follow her own inclinations. But she couldn’t afford to be completely oblivious either.

In the adult world, silence didn’t mean nothing was wrong; nobody had it easy.

She reached out, grasped Guo Nianhong’s hand tightly, and broke into a smile. “Don’t worry, I actually really like this script. It’s a sweet gig some people never get the chance to play a male lead in their entire lives, let alone get to romance a great beauty. Why would I give that up so easily?”

Ling Chuchu didn’t wait for her to finish, her eyes rolling almost up to the ceiling.

Yu Junye was naturally a woman of deep, captivating charm. With that single smile, she could melt the bones right out of a person’s body.

And just like that, the matter was settled.

One phone call, one official notice, and a week later, the production crew officially launched.

That day, the weather in Nanshi was unusually fine clear skies, picturesque mountains and rivers, shining brilliantly as if filtered of all impurities.

When An Ji arrived at the studio, even before stepping through the door, she heard bursts of hearty laughter and the chatter of playful bickering from afar. Her mood lifted in tandem; this must be a very relaxed team, she thought, the corners of her lips curving upward on their own.

Standing before the ajar door, An Ji raised her hand, ready to knock, when the door suddenly swung inward from the other side. Instantly, a dark figure rushed out, carrying a wave of chilly air and an unidentifiable, fresh fragrance that rushed right at her.