The Film Queen Is Cold and Ruthless, Only Sends Money - Chapter 44.1

Jiang Zhi didn’t often call Su Yun by her name, so when Su Yun heard it now, it carried a strange unfamiliarity.

“Su Yun” just two ordinary words, yet when spoken by Jiang Zhi, they seemed imbued with a peculiar magic that made Su Yun’s heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.

The pounding in her chest only further muddled her already unclear thoughts. Every word she tried to form felt like an immense challenge.

An hour ago, Su Yun had been able to swiftly and humorously respond to the bizarre questions from netizens. Even when other guests tried to trap her with tricky questions, she could deftly sidestep them and even turn the tables with a clever counter.

But now, Jiang Zhi’s mere dozen-word question had left Su Yun’s mind sluggish, struggling even to grasp its meaning.

As the city lights flickered to life and night slowly descended, swallowing the distant glow of twilight, the barbecue street came alive with noise. The laughter of children, the shouts of customers placing orders, and the calls inviting the production crew to join in the feast all blended together until, suddenly, everything fell silent.

All that remained was Jiang Zhi’s voice:

“Su Yun, what if I allowed you to cross the line?”

From the moment Su Yun first met Jiang Zhi, she had drawn a boundary between them in her heart.

They could appear on variety shows together, interact as friends but all within the confines of that line. The moment things threatened to go beyond it, Su Yun would rein herself back into the safety zone. She believed this was what would make Jiang Zhi comfortable, what would keep their relationship stable.

But now, the one breaking that boundary wasn’t her.

At this moment, Su Yun finally understood the true meaning behind Jiang Zhi’s words.

Her lashes trembled slightly as she looked at Jiang Zhi, whose clear eyes remained fixed on her, unwavering.

Su Yun didn’t answer immediately, and Jiang Zhi didn’t press her. She simply waited in silence.

Outwardly, both appeared calm Jiang Zhi even casually flipped the skewers on the grill.

But only Jiang Zhi knew how tense she truly was. When she picked up the glass of water on the table, she could feel her own hands shaking.

She had acted in many scenes moments where protagonists faced life-or-death crises, or undercover agents stood inches from discovery. She had carefully considered and designed every subtle gesture: the slight tremble of fingertips, the pause in breathing, the faint pulse of a heartbeat traveling down an arm.

But now, this complex, genuine reaction had no trace of performance. Jiang Zhi realized she couldn’t even control the nervousness slowly spilling out of her.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment impulse or a fleeting whim. She had thought it through carefully, intending to ask this question tonight or perhaps after the show wrapped up, when the time was right.

But Su Yun had asked just now, and Jiang Zhi had no reason to lie or hide the truth. So she had spoken.

The two of them seemed isolated from the rest of the world, caught in a swirling vortex of tension. Yet no matter how they circled, the inevitable outcome was that they would only draw closer.

Su Yun watched as the flickering glow of the barbecue coals occasionally illuminated Jiang Zhi’s fair fingertips, casting a dancing, joyful light much like her own suspended heart at that moment.

She hesitated before finally speaking, her gaze fixed on Jiang Zhi as she asked, “Why me?”

There was joy in hearing Jiang Zhi’s words. After all, if Su Yun truly had no feelings for her, she wouldn’t have deliberately kept her distance.

Only those with emotions feel guilty. It was a line Su Yun had once read in a novel, and it had stayed with her for a long time, perfectly describing her own state before.

But beyond the joy, Su Yun had her own convictions. She wanted this relationship to be equal, free of any conditions.

Perhaps because of her upbringing, she had already endured too much in life, making her demands on love somewhat stringent. She yearned for a love and a lover untainted by too many complications.

It was this very exacting nature that often made her hesitate when it came to romance, a stark contrast to the personality she displayed to the outside world.

“I think we work well together want to give it a try?”

“I just got out of a relationship and wanted to move on, so I dated her for a bit. She’s fun, and we had a good time together.”

“We fought, and I want to break up. I don’t think she loves me, she’s still hung up on her ex.”

Su Yun had heard it all, the half-hearted confessions, the failed relationships of friends.

And yet, she still believed they were all braver than her.

They stumbled through love, eventually carving out their own paths.

Those paths might not have been the best or the most suitable, but they kept moving forward, meeting different people, experiencing different things, gaining different insights, until they finally glimpsed the scenery in the distance.

Only Su Yun remained behind the thorns, cautiously testing their sharpness, withdrawing her fingertips the moment they pricked her. Clutching the label her friends had given her “the pure love warrior” she stood in place, waiting for someone to emerge from beyond the brambles.

Her friends teased her: You’re just waiting for a love that crashes into your life like a home invasion.

“I always thought someone as easygoing as you would approach love the same way. Meet someone suitable, give it a shot, and even if you break up, you’d part with a smile and stay friends. Who knew you’d have such ideals about love?”

At the time, Su Yun had been unusually serious. After hearing this, she smiled and replied, “I want her to find me and then lead me out of this room.”

What she could offer in return was her complete trust and the courage to step outside.

Now, there was someone who wanted to lead her out. Su Yun stood at the threshold.

Behind her was her safe haven. Ahead was Jiang Zhi. Between them lay mere inches, but in an instant, an irreparable rift could form.

The last thing Su Yun had said to her friend was that she didn’t stay friends with exes nor with those whose confessions she rejected.

–

Jiang Zhi wasn’t surprised by the question.

In truth, the moment Su Yun asked, the initiative had been in Jiang Zhi’s hands whether to explain, and how much to reveal, was entirely up to her.

But what she had just said was practically a confession.

Once spoken, it couldn’t be taken back.

The one who confesses their feelings first is like standing on the edge of a cliff, with no retreat left only able to openly extend their hands to the person before them.

At this moment, the initiative completely shifted to Su Yun. She could ask any question she desired, react however she wished, none of which Jiang Zhi could control.

All Jiang Zhi could do was answer honestly, holding nothing back.

“Why me?” Su Yun’s question was one Jiang Zhi could answer in countless ways. “I…”

But she had barely uttered that single word when Su Yun stopped her.

Just like the reversal earlier that morning, Su Yun had now also calmed down, realizing this wasn’t the best moment.

She smiled, pointed to her earpiece, and said to Jiang Zhi, “Let’s talk about it when we get back. The live-stream audience must be getting impatient.”

Jiang Zhi nodded softly. “Okay.”

As she spoke, she placed the freshly grilled skewers in front of Su Yun.

[Hehe, Su Yun and Jiang Zhi are back online! I can hear their voices again!]

[Did they mute their mics earlier?! I didn’t even notice, I was too busy watching the others outsmart the production crew, hahaha!]

[The director must be completely betrayed by now, right? The staff have all been bribed with barbecue they’re practically about to leak tomorrow’s missions to the guests!]

Since the barbecue street was noisy, the audio from everyone’s live streams sounded roughly the same, so few noticed when the two of them had muted their mics.

Su Yun glanced at the other guests, who were currently playing games with the production crew.

They posed riddles, if the staff guessed correctly, they could take any skewer they wanted. If they guessed wrong, it didn’t matter; as long as they revealed a little secret about the director, they could still claim a skewer.

Naturally, the director objected to these rules.

But both the on-site staff and the live audience overwhelmingly supported them. No matter how much the director protested, she couldn’t stop it.

“The director often competes with other variety show directors to see who has more hair. Last time, she lost!”

Su Yun and Jiang Zhi snapped back to attention just in time to hear this.

Su Yun chuckled and said to Jiang Zhi, “I do think our director’s hair is pretty thin.”

Once the staff member finished speaking, Liu Yangran, true to her word, let them pick their skewer.

“At the start of the show yesterday, the director didn’t drive she came on a bicycle. I bet she was trying to exercise.”

Su Xue: “Approved! Go grab your skewer!”

She knew it! The director must’ve been secretly working out!

“During a team-building event, the director got drunk and started talking about her campus crush.”

Before the staff member could finish, the director rushed over and covered their mouth. “Mmph.”

If she didn’t intervene now, she’d be completely exposed!

Besides, the morning after that team-building event, she had asked everyone if she’d said anything embarrassing while drunk. They all swore she had just passed out!

And now, even her campus crush was being spilled?!

The director narrowed her eyes threateningly. “Aren’t you all afraid of getting your pay docked?”

Wang Yue, who had already secured two skewers by revealing director secrets, wasn’t fazed at all. “Weren’t you always the one preaching about following rules and laws?”

Last time I rode a bike wearing a helmet, I deliberately took a route where there were traffic police, afraid they wouldn’t notice me.

If the female officer had given a word of praise, the director’s tail would probably have wagged right up to the sky.

Unable to threaten them, the director could only say, “If everyone wants to eat barbecue, I’ll pay out of my own pocket and have the boss set up a separate table for you. Eating skewer by skewer just isn’t satisfying enough!”

“Director, are you serious?!”

The moment she said this, the entire crew immediately crowded around the director, their smiles brighter than spring blossoms.

It was impossible to tell they were the same people who had just been exposing the director’s embarrassing past.

Even a weathervane couldn’t change direction as fast as they did, the director thought silently to herself.

But though she thought so, her hands were honest as she paid the bill. “Of course I’m serious. Go ahead and sit down to eat!”

“Thank you, director! Our lips are absolutely sealed, we’d never spill that you got dumped by your first love!” the crew cheered as they headed to their barbecue seats.

Director: “…”

Maybe this show wasn’t worth filming after all!

This barbecue was easily the happiest moment since they started recording the show!

The guests chatted and laughed, eating for three or four hours before finally preparing to head back. By then, it was almost midnight.

Su Yun stood up from her seat and patted Jiang Zhi. “Look up, there are stars in the sky.”

Jiang Zhi tilted her head upward. Perhaps because the barbecue street wasn’t in the heart of downtown Jinguang, the light pollution was minimal.

Late at night, the twinkling stars embedded in the dark night sky looked exceptionally beautiful.

But after a glance at the stars, Jiang Zhi lowered her gaze to Su Yun and chuckled softly. “Actually, this counts as one reason too.”

Su Yun let out a small “ah,” belatedly realizing Jiang Zhi was answering her earlier question.

–

After returning to their respective rooms, they quickly washed up and got ready for bed.

Though the barbecue had been delicious, staying in the barbecue street for so long left them reeking of smoke. No matter how tired they were, they had to shower first.

Each room had its own bathroom. After Su Yun finished washing up, Jiang Zhi went in, leaving Su Yun alone in the room.

Normally, Su Yun would be waiting in bed by now, ready to crack a joke when the other came out before they both lay down to sleep.

But today…

Su Yun looked at the large bed but chose to sit on the chair beside it instead.

After all, there were still things left unsaid. If she just climbed into bed like usual now, wouldn’t that be a bit too shameless?

So, when Jiang Zhi finished washing up and stepped out, she was surprised not to find Su Yun in bed as usual.

Her gaze shifted slightly before landing on Su Yun sitting by the chair, a pot of invigorating tea beside her.

Drinking tea before bed, it was clear Su Yun had something important to discuss tonight. And the only thing they needed to talk about on this show was the nature of their relationship.

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