The Stand-in is Exceptionally Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: The Film Empress and Her Little Assistant

◎Not hurt.◎

The other crew members had noticed that Feng Qian was in a strange state, but they all assumed she was just so immersed in her role that she hadn’t snapped out of it.

Director Wang held up the script and praised her. “Now this feeling of resentment and indignation at a scheme being exposed—you’ve nailed it.”

“But it’s a bit too obvious. You need to smile and put on an act.”

Feng Qian: …

She forced a smile, perfectly demonstrating what it meant to have “a smiling face but no warmth in the eyes.”

Director Wang was even more pleased. “Yes, that’s the feeling. You don’t want to smile, but you’re trying your best to hide your malicious expression.”

Lou Bianxia, who was listening to their conversation: …

Unlike the moody Feng Qian, Jian Ke, with her sweet smile and good temper, quickly became familiar with several of the crew members.

“When I saw that Lotus Cup shatter, you don’t know how fast my heart was beating. I thought these past few months of work were all for nothing.”

The script supervisor sipped the milk tea Jian Ke had bought for everyone and shared the gossip in a low voice.

She was clearly still shaken by the incident. “Luckily, Film Empress Lou was there. Song Jing still had to pay that three million yuan.”

Jian Ke asked curiously, “So, the rumor about Film Empress Lou having a prominent family background is true?”

The script supervisor: “You’re her assistant, and you’re asking us? But it’s all very mysterious. Film Empress Lou has never mentioned her family since her debut.”

“There are all kinds of rumors, but it’s clear to see that she got to where she is today by relying on her own hard work and talent.”

“If she had a family to back her up, she would have been swimming in resources when she first debuted. Why would she need so many years to build her career?”

Jian Ke pondered this and asked System 521, “Do you really not know anything about the female lead’s family background?”

521: “My dear, the original plot didn’t describe it in detail, which means it’s not very important.”

Not important…

It must just be her overthinking.

Jian Ke shook off the strange thought and turned to look at Lou Bianxia on the other side of the set. She seemed to be running lines with Feng Qian.

Feng Qian was animatedly talking to Lou Bianxia, while Lou Bianxia calmly looked down at her script, occasionally giving a perfunctory reply.

She stood with one arm crossed, her back straight. Her graceful poise was that of a noble lady.

A person’s nobility is etched into their bones. It can be seen in every movement: the confident arch of their back, the cold glint in their eyes when they look at people with their chin slightly raised…

She was truly a “jade leaf and golden branch,” someone worthy of the world’s admiration, without a single flaw.

—But that little mud spot next to her is an eyesore.

Jian Ke grabbed two bottles of water and squeezed between the two of them, bumping Feng Qian, who was trying to get closer to Lou Bianxia, making her stumble.

“Sorry, Sister Feng, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Feng Qian looked at the water Jian Ke handed her, thinking that Jian Ke couldn’t possibly be that nice. Is there a laxative in the water?

She took it and, sure enough, saw that the bottle had been opened. She was about to cause a scene when she heard Jian Ke speak.

“I forgot, I’ve already drunk from this bottle,” she said, taking the water back from Feng Qian’s hand. “Sister Feng, you should get your own.”

The bottle of water had been passed to Feng Qian and then back, as if Jian Ke was deliberately messing with her.

Feng Qian gritted her teeth in anger. “Sister Lou, your little assistant is so ignorant. She’s giving others water she’s already drunk from.”

“She is ignorant,” Lou Bianxia replied, her eyes on Jian Ke. “She’s my assistant. What’s the meaning of her getting water for someone else?”

Feng Qian looked from one to the other, her eyes wide with fury. She loudly called for her assistant, and a round-faced girl came running over.

“Where were you? I’m thirsty. Go get me a bottle of water from the back.”

The round-faced girl looked at Feng Qian’s dark face nervously, agreed, and went to get the water.

It was just a simple little incident. Jian Ke had hoped to make Feng Qian give up her feelings for Lou Bianxia, but she didn’t expect Feng Qian to find her in the afternoon.

At that moment, Jian Ke was ironing the dark green, elegant qipao that Lou Bianxia was to wear in the next scene. The silk felt smooth and delicate to the touch.

All of Lou Bianxia’s qipaos were exceptionally beautiful. The smooth satin fabric, the exquisite embroidery, and the intricate but unique patterns made them look less like costumes and more like they were specially custom-made.

Jian Ke carefully hung the clothes on the rack and slowly ironed out the wrinkles.

Lou Bianxia was filming, and that’s when Feng Qian walked over.

“An assistant? Who knows what you’re really thinking, standing next to Lou Bianxia. Are you proud of yourself?” Feng Qian’s tone was dismissive. She looked at Jian Ke ironing the clothes and let out a cold sneer.

“You think Lou Bianxia looks down on me, so she’ll look at you?”

Jian Ke’s movements didn’t change. She pretended not to hear Feng Qian.

Feng Qian: “You’re protecting her like she’s the apple of your eye. Anyone with eyes can see what you’re thinking. We’re both the same.”

Jian Ke glanced at her coldly. “We’re really not the same. After all, Miss Feng has never been looked at properly.”

Feng Qian’s expression turned cold, but the corners of her mouth curled up. Looking at Jian Ke, whose back was turned, she suddenly reached out.

“Ah—”

A clear scream came from the dressing room, and everyone else on set was stunned for a moment.

Lou Bianxia noticed that Feng Qian was missing from the set. Her face turned dark, as if a storm was brewing.

Her first thought was to run toward the source of the noise, with many of the crew following behind her.

The dressing room door was wide open. Someone ran out to call for a medic, saying things like, “Do we need to go to the hospital?” A crowd had already gathered around the sofa by the vanity mirror.

Lou Bianxia’s heart skipped a beat. As she pushed through the crowd, she heard quiet sobbing, which made her calm down.

She saw Feng Qian holding her swollen red left hand. There was a three-finger-wide red mark on the back of her hand.

She subconsciously glanced at the steaming iron not far away. The dark green qipao was still neatly hung up, but Jian Ke was not in the dressing room.

The medic provided emergency treatment. Luckily, the burn area was not large, and it was not very serious. But Feng Qian was still making a fuss about going to the hospital.

“If it leaves a scar, can you be responsible?!” Feng Qian cried out anxiously. “I have insurance, you know.”

Everyone looked at each other until the director spoke up, telling someone to take Feng Qian to the hospital immediately.

Lou Bianxia’s eyebrows were still furrowed. She pulled a script supervisor who had been in the dressing room. “What happened just now? Did you see my assistant?”

“Jian Ke was ironing the clothes. Then Sister Feng suddenly walked in. I don’t know what they said… Then Sister Feng seemed to try and grab the iron… and she got burned…”

The script supervisor was also confused. The situation had been so sudden. By the time she heard Feng Qian’s scream and turned around, she was already crouching on the ground in pain.

The iron had fallen between her and Jian Ke.

“Jian Ke seemed to have gone to the balcony in the back afterward.”

The balcony was paved with bluestone bricks, with green moss and weeds sprouting from the cracks. One of the bricks was cracked into several pieces, and it would make a rattling sound if you stepped on it. A wooden fence enclosed a small courtyard. There were several clay pots with green plants floating in them next to the sink.

The place was filled with green, but it felt desolate, like a forgotten corner of a garden.

A small stream of water gurgled down the grooves, and the faucet was making a hissing sound. A woman was leaning over, washing her hands, her long hair falling over her shoulders.

Jian Ke hadn’t expected to be the one who got hurt instead of Lou Bianxia. But compared to the original plot where Lou Bianxia’s hand was cut by a knife, Jian Ke’s hand was only slightly burned, which wasn’t a big deal.

Seeing Lou Bianxia suddenly walk over, her eyes darted up. She turned off the faucet and called out, “Sister Xia.”

Lou Bianxia: “Is your hand hurt? Let me see?”

Jian Ke subconsciously hid her hand behind her back. “I’m not hurt.”

“If you’re not hurt, why are you hiding it?” Lou Bianxia frowned. “Show me your hand.”

Jian Ke hesitated. “It’s ugly. You’d better not look, Jiejie.”

Lou Bianxia ignored her and walked forward, pulling her wrist up.

Her soft, pink palm was now red, with a shallow layer of skin peeled off. The spot between her thumb and index finger had a large, ugly blister.

“I’ll take you to put some medicine on it.”

Jian Ke pulled her hand away. “I’m really fine. It will get better in a while.”

She awkwardly pulled her hand free and held it behind her back.

Lou Bianxia’s eyes held a tenderness and concern that she herself didn’t notice.

Even without seeing what happened, she could guess the general chain of events.

Feng Qian’s revenge on Jian Ke was because of her, and this injury was something Jian Ke had taken on for her.

Seeing Jian Ke pulling back her hand, Lou Bianxia forcefully took her arm and led her back to the lounge. She came back with some burn ointment.

“Hold out your hand. If you don’t put some medicine on it now, are you hoping for a scar to form?”

Jian Ke met Lou Bianxia’s stern gaze and obediently held out her hand. The conspicuous blister on her fair, slender hand was indeed a bit of an eyesore.

Lou Bianxia knelt and dabbed the ointment on the red, injured area. She didn’t ask what happened the entire time.

“Jiejie, aren’t you going to ask me what happened?”

Lou Bianxia was silent for a moment. “The filming will be over in another week. You won’t have to see Feng Qian again.”

“—Ding! Detected a rise in the female lead’s favorability!”

Jian Ke’s eyelashes trembled. Feeling the tingling sensation in her palm, she felt like her heart was being scratched by a cat’s paw.

The self-harm ploy worked pretty well.

“Even if I see her again, I’m not afraid. I won’t bother anyone who doesn’t bother me, but if she bothers me, I’ll definitely repay her twofold.”

Lou Bianxia looked down, a ruthless emotion flashing in her eyes. Her voice was low and hoarse. “She won’t have the chance.”

Jian Ke didn’t hear her clearly. “What?”

“Nothing. Feng Qian went to the hospital, so the afternoon’s filming is canceled.”

“Do you want to… go out for a stroll?”

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