My Ex’s White Moonlight Omega Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 24.4

Chao Wan snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushing slightly as she averted her gaze. “…No.”

Even if she were, she wouldn’t admit it, because the contrast was just too stark.

Only now did she realize how substantial and weighty Ji Tanyue’s reputation as a triple-crown actress truly was, something her own shallow fame in her past life couldn’t compare to.

“Teacher Ji has never taken on a villain role before, even though she’s playing Han Yun…” Xiao Sui gritted her teeth, recalling the original story. “But I’m still looking forward to it.”

“Mm,” Chao Wan murmured in response.

She didn’t know how to continue the conversation, her mind already tangled in a mess of thoughts.

In her past life, she had been filming Pillow Galaxy and hadn’t known Ji Tanyue, so she’d never had the chance to be involved in this film.

But now, having been reborn and trapped in Ji Tanyue’s cage, it seemed the woman intended for her to join the cast.

It could be considered a blessing in disguise, but Chao Wan didn’t want to shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

Moon Over West River was an award-winning film, and with her acting skills, even as a minor character beside Ji Tanyue, she would only ruin the production.

Lost in thought, the car stopped in front of a commercial building where Si Jin was located.

The contract required shooting a set of six photos with the same theme, all to be taken in the building’s built-in studio.

Before the shoot, Chao Wan was led to a spacious dressing room backstage for makeup and styling.

“Good skin, minimal flaws,” the makeup artist smiled approvingly in the mirror. “A simple touch-up will do.”

Chao Wan had been a bit nervous, but hearing this, she quietly relaxed.

Without applying foundation or concealer, the makeup artist brushed on a barely-there eyeshadow, filled in her brows, and layered on a crimson lip gloss before patting her shoulder to signal the end.

Chao Wan turned to look at her, slightly dazed.

The makeup artist paused, taken aback.

The girl’s cheeks were pale and translucent, with a faint blush visible even without rouge. The hint of crimson at the corners of her eyes and the small, light mole on her nose accentuated her delicate, fragile aura.

She had seen Chao Wan’s unedited photos on Weibo before and been greatly impressed, but this was her first time seeing her in person.

Combined with the aloofness her expression conveyed, it was almost impossible to look away.

“Is it done?” Chao Wan lightly pressed her lips together and asked softly.

“Shouldn’t we cover… that mole?”

In her past life, both her exploitative agency and Qin Si Yu had considered the mole a flaw on her face.

Now she understood: the agency wanted a flawless cash cow, while Qin Si Yu simply felt that with the mole, she didn’t resemble Ji Tanyue enough.

“Why cover it?” the makeup artist murmured. “It’s so captivating.”

She nudged Chao Wan out of the dressing room, instructing, “Tell Old Wang the photographer to transfer me some money later. He can’t just look at such a beautiful model for free.”

Chao Wan: “…”

Staring at the tips of her shoes, her cheeks warmed slightly.

She had assumed Ji Tanyue’s company would be meticulous and strict, just like Secretary Yu. She hadn’t expected…

They arrived at the photography area.

The ice-blue dress she brought along perfectly suited the photography theme. The planner handed Chao Wan two concepts.

The first was a girl-next-door style, holding a bouquet of flowers; the second was an elegant and aloof style, adorned with luxurious pearls and jade. Both complemented the elements of her dress.

“Miss Chao, considering your age, I’d recommend the first option,” the planner said cautiously after studying her for a moment.

Chao Wan bit her lip, her finger hovering over the second image. After hesitating for a long while, she finally looked up and asked softly, “Teacher, can I choose this one?”

A silver hairpiece studded with moonstones, with long, dangling tassel pendants.

It sparkled, and she loved it.

It seemed that for a long time, she had been particularly fond of collecting pearls, jade, and similar trinkets. In the hidden drawer at her grandfather’s house, she still kept the shiny beads she had gathered from various places as a child.

She glanced at the props already set up nearby, her heart warming with anticipation. She looked at the planner with a pitiful expression.

The planner stammered a few times, his ears turning slightly red. “Alright… alright, then we’ll go with option two.”

Soon, the set was ready, and the shoot began.

To complement the second concept, the background was designed in a medieval style.

On the intricate and ornate white spiral staircase, the girl stood with a slender waist, her ice-blue gown flowing gracefully to the floor.

In the camera frame, she tilted her face slightly, revealing her delicate nose and crimson lips.

Her eyes were downcast, partially obscured by the silver tassels, yet it only added to the allure, as if trying to hide something but failing.

Suddenly, Chao Wan lifted her eyelids and gazed directly at the camera, calm and composed.

Elegant and captivating.

The photographer’s heart inexplicably raced as he pressed the shutter.

The shoot progressed smoothly, with an exceptionally high success rate.

The set buzzed with chatter, everyone marveling at Chao Wan’s natural presence in front of the camera and her seamless transitions between poses, nothing like a recent graduate.

Chao Wan overheard a few words of praise and nervously lowered her eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed.

After all, in her past life, she had often been invited to shoot covers…

In terms of skill, she really wasn’t anything special.

After resting backstage for a while, Chao Wan prepared to remove the accessories from her hair and slip away quietly.

She didn’t notice the woman who had entered the studio before the shoot began and had been watching her from the crowd for a long time.

“Teacher Ji,” the planner showed the woman the final shots.

Ji Tanyue’s lips curved into a gentle smile as she browsed through a few photos. She gave him a warm nod and made her way backstage.

Behind the sheer prop curtains, the slender figure was particularly evocative.

As if searching for something unseen.

“What’s this?” She bent down, the gauze curtain lifting as her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

She walked over and silently wrapped her arms around Chao Wan’s slender waist.

The figure in her embrace trembled slightly, like a startled bird, trying to pry her hands away.

“Ms. Ji?” The voice was soft and gentle.

No one was around. Ji Tanyue felt a shiver run through her, and a sudden thought crossed her mind.

She quietly lifted the transparent inhibitor patch on the back of Chao Wan’s neck, leaned down, and brushed the tip of her nose against that fragile skin.

Almost immediately, the person in her arms grew soft and feverish, struggling to stand steadily.

Chao Wan bit her lip lightly, the lingering warmth from the previous night surging back, blurring her vision.

In the air, a sweet, cool lychee fragrance silently spread, like a spilled glass of chilled fruit drink.

Yet Ji Tanyue, the instigator, showed no sign of satisfaction. With a cool fingertip, she traced Chao Wan’s flushed lips and whispered persuasively:

“Can I have a kiss?”

“No…” Chao Wan protested softly, still clutching the tassel hair accessory whose string she had accidentally broken earlier.

Pearls had already scattered across the floor, shimmering with a gentle glow under the sunlight streaming through the window.

She tried to pry Ji Tanyue’s hand away, her voice trembling: “Ms. Ji, let’s find the pearls first, and then kiss, okay?”