The Villainess A Marked the Seductive Movie Queen - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Noticing

When she saw that page of unfamiliar handwriting in her diary, overflowing with the words “I like you,” Liu Yitong’s first reaction was actually quite calm. There wasn’t a trace of confusion.

She stood up and quickly checked the hotel doors and windows, confirming they had been locked from the inside since her return. There were no signs of an intruder. Therefore, that line of text could only have been written by her own hand.

It was only then that her chest began to burn, igniting a flare of panic.

She rushed back to the desk and tore the page out of her diary, only to see that the ink had bled through, leaving indentations on the blank pages beneath. She tore out several more pages until the blank paper showed no more traces.

She crumpled the paper into a ball, but just before tossing it into the wastebasket, she stopped. She smoothed the crumpled pages out one by one, used a ballpoint pen to black out every single word until they were unreadable, and then tore the paper into tiny fragments.

She threw the fragments into the toilet and flushed. She watched coldly as her “likes” were swirled into the depths, destined for the lightless sewers.

She washed her face and leaned against the mirror, looking at her disheveled reflection. She realized with a start that her prideful self-control had failed. She was powerless against it and could only offer herself a futile warning:

Hide it better.

Shu Ran called again at that moment. Still high on the buzz from the “CP photo,” she began prattling on about the “sweet” comments online until Liu Yitong interrupted her.

“Sorry, Shu Ran. I’m not in the mood to talk about this.” She covered her face with her hand and let out a long sigh. “I…”

“What’s wrong, Yitong?” Shu Ran’s tone turned serious.

It was impossible to explain in a few words, especially since Liu Yitong herself wasn’t sure what was happening to her. She didn’t want to spread unnecessary anxiety, so she simply stated her conclusion:

“Shu Ran, I want to change hotels. Right now.”

“Did something happen? Are you in danger?”

“It’s a kind of danger, but not from the outside world toward me—it’s from me toward the outside. I might not be able to keep certain secrets hidden. This hotel partners with the production crew; everyone nearby is an industry professional. If I’m exposed…”

“I think I understand. Yitong, give me a little time. You’re an artist; accommodation needs to be handled carefully. Safety and privacy are paramount. I’ll take care of it.”

“Okay… thank you…”

“Don’t be silly!” Shu Ran hung up.

Liu Yitong was scolded into a smile, which actually helped her relax. Shu Ran hadn’t blamed her for the demand, only for the gratitude.

Shu Ran was incredibly efficient. Ten minutes later, she sent a text with the address and room number of a new hotel.

Liu Yitong didn’t have much luggage; she had already packed and immediately went to the address in the text to check in.

The new environment was a massive upgrade. Compared to the business hotel built for convenience near the film city, the “Ti Amo Hotel” Shu Ran had booked also prioritized the view. Located at the foot of the nearby mountains, the scenery was elegant and quiet.

Behind the main portico was an Italian-style palace garden. The water from a Palladian fountain cascaded down shell-shaped steps, the sound of water harmonizing with the mountain breeze, putting Liu Yitong at ease.

The hallways and main lobby were hung with Renaissance-style oil paintings, and the carpeted floors emitted a faint scent of orange blossoms. After swiping her card to enter, Liu Yitong found that the guest room was not only larger and fully functional, but it also featured floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the mountains and water.

She learned from Shu Ran that Ti Amo belonged to her fifth uncle; it was essentially a family business. Being the premier establishment in Xiangheng, many high-profile figures stayed here—including Ruan Minxue.

“I only remembered Ruan-jie lives here too after I spoke to my uncle… Do you need to avoid her?”

Liu Yitong didn’t expect Shu Ran to be so attentive, still remembering her initial avoidance of Ruan Minxue. She smiled silently and replied: “We’re already on set; there’s no need. Regardless, thank you.”

“Thanks? If you thank me again, I’m raising the rent!” Shu Ran knew Liu Yitong’s personality and joked, “Of course, the cost of switching hotels will be added to your rent later!”

Liu Yitong also knew Shu Ran’s personality. After signing with the crew, she had received a deposit and could afford it. She simply reminded her: “Don’t give me a discount.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t give you a ‘broken bone’ discount. Since you don’t mind Ruan-jie, I’ll confess a small selfish motive of my own.”

“Hmm?”

“I picked a room on the same floor as Ruan-jie. Looking out from the bedroom, you should be able to see her window.”

After ending the call, Liu Yitong walked into the bedroom. Without turning on the lights, she saw the symmetrical building directly opposite. On the same floor, a long distance away, a warm, dim light was on—a tiny patch of glow, like a moon.

Liu Yitong suddenly felt lightheaded. Floating across from her was Ruan Minxue.

With everything that had happened tonight, she couldn’t sleep anyway. She sat at the head of the bed all night, memorizing her lines for the first day of shooting. The moonlight from the window opposite accompanied her the whole night.

She didn’t know if the person in that “moon” was sleeping with the light on, or if she was like her—sleepless through the night.

The next day was the first day of filming.

Zhang Lishen showed a rare touch of humanity by not making the two newcomers act alongside their seniors immediately. Instead, he had them observe the seniors first, then start with their own simpler scenes.

Ruan Minxue didn’t have any scenes scheduled for the morning. To the assistant director’s surprise, she showed up anyway. She hadn’t brought an assistant and was dressed low-key in a jacket, wide-leg pants, and a baseball cap, but she couldn’t hide her elegant posture or the glimpse of her satin-white skin.

The assistant director was about to order tea, but Ruan Minxue waved it off. To her, the set was not a place for luxury; she didn’t like making a scene. She sat with Zhang Lishen, their two folding chairs blending into the camera crew as they monitored the shots.

Before work started, the technical staff behind her were whispering about why she was there. The more refined guesses suggested “striving for artistic excellence,” while the coarser ones suggested she “had her eye on some nameless rookie.” Famous people are used to being dissected; sometimes, simply wearing fewer clothes during a change of seasons would spark a discussion on whether it was a new fashion trend.

Ruan Minxue let them speculate, her eyes locked onto the person in the viewfinder.

In the frame, Liu Yitong, having just changed into a classic blue-and-white school uniform, stood still while the makeup team worked on her. A tracksuit-style school uniform is the simplest of garments, and the simpler the clothes, the more they highlight a beauty. Since the clothes themselves have no aesthetic value, the visual anchor becomes the wearer’s figure and features.

Modern technology hasn’t reached the point where a camera can perfectly replicate the human eye; lenses more or less distort the human body. This is why many stars are described as “not photogenic but beautiful in person.” An “actor’s face” is a rare gift.

Liu Yitong had long arms, long legs, and a long neck. Her bone structure was smooth and her face was symmetrical. Her outstanding temperament and near-perfect beauty meant that as soon as she appeared on screen, people couldn’t look away.

The girl wore no makeup—not even “no-makeup” makeup. her brows and lashes were dark and thick, looking beautiful with a slight edge of sharpness. The makeup team was applying “battle damage” paint for the first scene; the red made her cold, white skin appear even brighter.

Liu Yitong stood quietly, her arms hanging naturally at her sides. The faint bones and veins on the back of her hands, tinted blue-white, created a tension that felt almost “unclean,” trailing down her skin to her well-defined long fingers.

The makeup artist gave a few instructions. Liu Yitong nodded, raised her hand, and used the pad of her middle finger to touch the corner of her mouth, circling the red paint… rubbing and blending it repeatedly.

Witnessing this, Ruan Minxue shifted her gaze imperceptibly, leaned back, crossed her long legs, and began flipping through the script.

After observing the seniors’ demonstrations and learning the key points of coordination for each team on set, the two newcomers prepared for their first scene together.

The newcomer acting with Liu Yitong was named Xiao Zhizi. She was classically trained, and this was her debut project as well. A vibrant and simple college graduate, she had even praised Liu Yitong’s notes during the script reading.

The advantage of being classically trained showed; in the first scene, Xiao Zhizi wasn’t intimidated at all.

The plot involved two high school girls arguing over a misunderstanding. The argument gets heated and turns into a fight, leading the teacher to demand their parents come in. Qiao Jing (played by Liu Yitong) has no parents show up and remains silent, while Fang (played by Xiao Zhizi) has her parents arrive promptly. Emboldened, the girl begins to wail her grievances.

“She was the one who bullied me first…”

Xiao Zhizi’s tears came on command, falling in large drops. Her lines were thick with a crying tone but remained perfectly clear. For the final word “bully,” her voice even cracked into silence, her lips moving with an intensity where silence was louder than words.

Seeing this, Liu Yitong dazed for a moment. This acting style reminded her of someone.

“Cut.”

Zhang Lishen’s voice came through the loudspeaker just in time. The script supervisor marked the take. During the adjustment break, Liu Yitong had time to reflect on her brief distraction during the scene.

One of Ruan Minxue’s award-winning films had featured this exact acting style. Liu Yitong had watched it so many times she could recognize it instantly—a period piece during the warlord era where her lover was executed for desertion, making her a notorious young widow. She didn’t shed a single tear while calmly gathering his belongings, but accidentally found unsent letters revealing that the war was an unjust civil conflict for the profit of high-ranking military officials, leading to the live burial of innocent civilians.

The film followed the widow’s journey to uncover the truth. She sought justice for her lover, for the civilians who died in vain, and for herself. When the grievances were finally aired, the resolute woman knelt at her lover’s grave as if she had lost the very breath keeping her alive, wailing and asking vacantly:

“Why you? Why me? Why us?”

For the final “us,” Ruan Minxue used a silent mouth shape, yet it was deafening. It moved countless viewers and won her several awards; it is still talked about today.

Clearly, Zhang Lishen also recognized the style and called a temporary “cut.” A director calling “cut” mid-scene is usually due to an error. He asked:

“Why did you act it that way?”

“Huh?” Xiao Zhizi scratched her forehead awkwardly. After a moment, she took a breath and confessed: “Actually, I’m a fan of Ruan-jie! Ruan-jie’s ‘Ruan-style Accusation’ from that war film is in our school textbooks. I studied it almost every night before bed! Did I… did I do it wrong?”

Surprised murmurs rippled through the set, mostly due to the girl’s honesty and passion. As for the fact that her idol was Ruan Minxue, most people found it unsurprising.

Even Zhang Lishen only raised his brows in understanding and glanced at Ruan Minxue beside him.

Xiao Zhizi was quick-witted and read the hint in Zhang Lishen’s eyes. She immediately stood before Ruan Minxue, biting her lip to suppress her excitement at facing her idol, and asked obediently:

“Ruan-jie… Senior! What did I do poorly? Could you teach me?”

Even Liu Yitong felt her heart flutter at the girl’s cuteness. She remained composed, her gaze involuntarily landing on Ruan Minxue. She saw the woman, used to being worshipped, remain modest and candid. Ruan pressed her palms together and nodded in a gesture of appreciation for the admiration, replying warmly:

“Losing one’s voice is a high-level expression of emotion. Being able to present it proves your control over facial expressions and body language is excellent. However, you lack a bit of experience; you should pay a little more attention to the choice of expression.”

Xiao Zhizi understood. “I get it! The small grievance of fighting with a classmate doesn’t warrant that level of emotional expression!” The girl gave a silly laugh. “Hehe, I admire Ruan-jie too much. I couldn’t suppress my desire to show off in front of my idol… I’ve caused everyone trouble!”

Xiao Zhizi bowed sincerely to the crew, and everyone waved it off, showing understanding for the newcomer.

To the side, Liu Yitong withdrew her gaze and silently adjusted her breathing. There was a fleeting tightness in her chest, not because she saw Ruan Minxue smiling at someone else—that was just a senior giving appropriate guidance to a junior, accompanied by gentle praise. It was handled perfectly; no one had a legitimate reason to mind.

Liu Yitong was simply envious of Xiao Zhizi. The girl had likely grown up in a safe, forgiving environment. Facing mistakes or her idol, she was direct and graceful—very likable.

“Yitong! Yitong!”

She was lost in thought when she heard Xiao Zhizi return, calling her name in an excited whisper. Before Liu Yitong could look up, a soft touch hooked onto her arm. She froze as she saw Xiao Zhizi familiarly hugging her arm, bouncing slightly with joy, squealing softly:

“Ruan-jie praised me! Ahhh!”

Liu Yitong frowned, feeling a bit awkward at the sudden proximity. She was debating whether to pull her hand away when she instinctively glanced toward Ruan Minxue.

She met Ruan Minxue’s leisurely, upward gaze.

“Yitong, you might not be a fan of Ruan-jie, so you don’t understand how I feel right now! Wuuu…”

Xiao Zhizi was still excitedly babbling, unaware. Liu Yitong ultimately didn’t pull her arm away, letting the girl cling to her intimately without interrupting her joy.

And over there, Ruan Minxue seemed to only glance this way casually before her gaze drifted away like a light breeze.

Only the leaves that have been brushed know that the wind has passed.

Liu Yitong thought calmly: Indeed, she noticed. Indeed, she is likable.

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