The Movie Queen's Beloved Crybaby Alpha - Chapter 22

“Really?!”

Hearing Ye Qinglan agree, Ning Yunshu’s tone instantly brightened with joy.

Ye Qinglan couldn’t help but laugh. “What, would you rather I said no?”

Ning Yunshu immediately pouted. “Don’t tease me like that.”

Ye Qinglan burst into laughter.

“Alright, alright, I’m just joking.”

“Then I’ll contact Director Xu later,” Ning Yunshu said with a smile.

“Mm.” Ye Qinglan responded, then hesitated before asking, “Does Director Xu know about us?”

“She does. Director Xu was my mother’s former student,” Ning Yunshu replied before adding reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I won’t put you or Director Xu in an awkward position.”

Ye Qinglan thought about it, Ning Yunshu always knew where to draw the line. Rather than overthinking it, she decided to trust her.

“Okay, I believe you.”

Ning Yunshu chuckled and kept Ye Qinglan chatting for a while longer. If not for worrying about tiring her out, she might have even convinced her to play a few rounds of games together after all, gaming had earned her quite a bit of Ye Qinglan’s goodwill.

Seeing how late it was getting, Ning Yunshu urged Ye Qinglan to go take a bath. Ye Qinglan checked the time and realized they had indeed been talking for quite a while. With several scenes to film the next day, she agreed and hung up.

For once, she indulged in a long, relaxing soak in the hotel bathtub. After finishing her skincare routine and drying her hair, it was finally time to sleep.

Exchanging goodnight messages with Ning Yunshu, she drifted off into a deep slumber.

Meanwhile, after urging Ye Qinglan to go bathe, Ning Yunshu immediately called Xu Su.

“Hey, Yunshu, what’s up?” Xu Su answered.

“Director Xu, how have you been lately?” Ning Yunshu asked cheerfully.

Xu Su laughed knowingly. “I’m doing just fine. But clearly, you’re asking about something else.”

“See, this is why you understand me best,” Ning Yunshu said, laying on the flattery.

Xu Su snorted. “Cut the nonsense. Fine, I’ll tell you, Ye Qinglan’s performance has been solid. She’s hardworking and quick to learn. The scenes she’s shot barely have any retakes. So far, working with her has been smooth.”

“That’s great to hear. I’m glad you’re satisfied,” Ning Yunshu replied.

Xu Su huffed. “You didn’t call just to ask about that, did you?”

“Of course not. I wasn’t planning to hide it from you,” Ning Yunshu said with a laugh.

“Alright, out with it. What do you want?” Xu Su asked.

“I’d like to visit the set. Don’t worry, I promise not to cause any trouble,” Ning Yunshu stated bluntly.

Xu Su couldn’t help but scold, “You’re the chairman of a major corporation shouldn’t you have some ambition? Don’t be so lovestruck. She’s only been filming for a week, and you can’t even wait?”

Ning Yunshu countered with a smile, “Shouldn’t you know better than anyone whether I have ambition or not?”

Recalling Ning Yunshu’s circumstances over the past seven years, Xu Su fell silent.

“If not for special circumstances, Director Xu, I’d be competing with you for jobs right now,” Ning Yunshu teased.

“Oh, you!” Xu Su chuckled before relenting. “Fine, come if you must. Who am I to stop the investor?”

“Now, now, don’t call me that. Think of it as supporting your artistic endeavors,” Ning Yunshu said playfully.

“Forget it, sponsoring Ye Qinglan would be more like it. Alright, enough talk. Just let me know in advance when you’re coming so I can prepare,” Xu Su said.

“Okay, goodnight, Sister Xu.”

“Goodnight. And next time, call me Auntie. I’m only a few years younger than your mom, I can’t be your sister.”

“Fine, fine.”

With Director Xu’s approval, Ning Yunshu was finally able to visit the set, and she was instantly thrilled. She immediately sent Qin Yun a message.

[Ning Yunshu]: Help me check my schedule and free up a day. I’m going to visit the set in City A.

When Qin Yun saw the message, she was utterly baffled.

Hadn’t she just said Ye Qinglan wouldn’t let her go? How come she could go now?

Truly, a woman’s heart is as deep as the ocean impossible to guess.

Oh well. Her job was just to arrange the schedule. It was best not to pry into her boss’s affairs.

[Qin Yun]: Got it.

Qin Yun, who had been about to call it a night, resignedly opened her work files to figure out how to clear a day for Ning Yunshu.

Ning Yunshu had said she was coming but hadn’t specified when, leaving Ye Qinglan in anxious anticipation.

Even on set, though she tried hard to hide it and focused on acting, appearing no different to others, Xu Su still noticed something was off.

She frowned but decided to let Ye Qinglan concentrate on filming first, only pulling her aside for a chat during the lunch break.

“Director Xu, you wanted to see me?” Ye Qinglan naturally knew why Xu Su had called her over.

Her restlessness might fool others, but it wouldn’t escape Xu Su, who was notorious for her attention to detail.

Xu Su glanced at her and said, “Lately, you’ve been a bit distracted. You haven’t made any mistakes yet, but if you keep this up, that might change.”

Ye Qinglan acknowledged her issue and replied honestly, “I’m sorry, Director Xu. I’ll adjust.”

Xu Su gave a hum of approval, glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, then lowered her voice. “Yunshu is busy and hasn’t confirmed when she’ll have time yet. Stop fixating on her and focus on your own work first. She’ll come when she’s free.”

Ye Qinglan flushed slightly and whispered back, “Understood. Thank you, Director Xu.”

Xu Su sighed. “Alright, alright, I’m not some tyrant. Go rest up, you’ve got two more scenes this afternoon. Better pull yourself together.”

“I will. I’ll get myself back on track,” Ye Qinglan promised earnestly, as if steeling her resolve.

Satisfied, Xu Su let her go.

That afternoon, Ye Qinglan’s performance noticeably improved, much to Xu Su’s approval.

“Good, good. There’s one more scene left prepare well,” Xu Su praised, patting Ye Qinglan’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Director Xu.”

As Ye Qinglan walked off to rest, Xu Su sighed and remarked to Jiang Ying, “Rare talent. It’s been a while since the industry saw someone like her.”

Jiang Ying, flipping through her script without looking up, replied, “What, feeling protective of her now?”

“Tell me, what director wouldn’t be thrilled to work with an actor like her?” Xu Su clicked her tongue.

Jiang Ying finally lifted her head. “Weren’t you the one who doubted her the most at first?”

“Ahem.” Xu Su’s face flushed red as her thoughts were exposed. She glared at Jiang Ying and said, “Can you blame me? There was already a living example before.”

Jiang Ying didn’t press further. Instead, she handed over the script in her hand and said, “I want to make some changes here. See if it works.”

“Let me take a look.”

After a busy afternoon, Ye Qinglan finally wrapped up filming. By the time she got into the van, she was completely exhausted.

“Sister Ye, heading back to the hotel?” Zhou Tiantian asked.

“Yes,” Ye Qinglan replied weakly.

Seeing how utterly drained she was, Zhou Tiantian quickly instructed the driver to return to the hotel.

Back in her room, Ye Qinglan told Zhou Tiantian to rest while she collapsed onto the bed. After lying there for a while to recover, she sat up and sent a message to Ning Yunshu.

[Ye Qinglan]: I’m done for the day.

Strangely, Ning Yunshu, who usually responded no matter what, was silent this time. Assuming she was busy, Ye Qinglan got up to freshen up.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Ye Qinglan frowned. Zhou Tiantian had been dismissed to rest, and the others were still at the set. Who could it be?

It wasn’t that she suspected an outsider, Xu Su had ensured tight security in the hotel, and strangers rarely made it to their floor.

Thinking it might be Wei Youning or someone else returning to see her, she went to open the door, though she instinctively kept the security chain latched as she cracked it open.

But when she saw who stood outside, she froze in shock. Without a second thought, she unhooked the chain, yanked the person inside, and slammed the door shut behind them.

The entire sequence was so swift and fluid, there was no time for hesitation.

Only after confirming the door was locked did she turn to face the tall woman in a baseball cap and mask. She exhaled in relief before glaring at her.

“Ning Yunshu, are you trying to scare me to death?”

The woman removed her cap and mask, revealing a pitiful expression. “I just wanted to surprise you, Sister.”

Ye Qinglan thought to herself it was indeed a surprise, but also a bit of a fright!

Half-amused, half-exasperated, she said, “Well, this surprise was a little too startling.”

“Sorry,” Ning Yunshu mumbled, her spirits visibly drooping.

Ye Qinglan sighed. “Did anyone see you?”

Ning Yunshu shook her head quickly. “I had Sister Qin Yun keep watch. No one noticed.”

Ye Qinglan pinched Ning Yunshu’s ear lightly. “You! Next time, don’t be so reckless. At least send me a heads-up.”

“Okay,” Ning Yunshu agreed obediently.

Seeing her like this, Ye Qinglan couldn’t stay upset. “Alright, sit down and rest. When did you get here?”

“Just now. Director Xu said you’d returned to the hotel, so I came straight over,” Ning Yunshu replied.

“Have you eaten?” Ye Qinglan asked.

Ning Yunshu shook her head again. “Not yet.”

Ye Qinglan sighed. “Then I’ll have Tiantian order some food. You rest for now.”

“Okay,” Ning Yunshu agreed promptly before looking at Ye Qinglan. “What about you?”

“I ate at the set before coming back. If you’d told me earlier you were coming, I would’ve taken you out,” Ye Qinglan said with a mix of fondness and exasperation. “Would’ve saved me the scare too.”

Ning Yunshu blinked innocently.

“If someone sees us, you’ll have to think carefully about how to explain this,” Ye Qinglan said, lightly tapping Ning Yunshu’s forehead with her finger.

Ning Yunshu suddenly burst out laughing.

Seeing this, Ye Qinglan couldn’t help but ask, “I’m talking about you, what are you laughing at?”

Ning Yunshu looked up at Ye Qinglan with a mischievous expression.

“Sister, the way we are right now,  it’s like we’re having a secret affair.”

Support