Transmigrated as the Future Movie Queen's Arch-Nemesis - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Facing the delicious food spread across the table, Su Mi maintained a smiling facade for the two people opposite her, but internally, she was wailing.

D*mn it. She had spent the entire afternoon working like a slave for Shi Yaya and that manager without even getting a sip of water. She had finally endured until evening, hoping to order takeout and rest, only to be dragged out for this social appearance.

The man and woman sitting across from her were clearly not the two who had bossed her around all afternoon. The man looked to be in his forties with a gentle expression, while the woman beside him appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six—sharp, capable, and clearly a decisive leader.

Su Mi rubbed her stomach, which was aching from hunger, while forcing a bright smile: “Hello, Director Song.”

She turned to the woman beside him: “And this is…”

“Hello Su Mi, I’m the assistant director for our crew, He Xiao.” Just as Director Song was about to speak, the woman beat him to it. “I heard you are President Huo’s granddaughter. President Huo helped us quite a bit with our previous films; we look forward to your guidance in the future.”

Good grief, they even brought up the old lady?

Su Mi had no choice but to smile along: “Oh, please, no, no. Grandma said Director Song is a brilliant talent and deserves support. I don’t have much experience with film crews, so I should be the one asking for guidance from you two.”

I can’t take it anymore. Stop the pleasantries. When can we eat? She truly didn’t want to deal with this “social drinking” culture.

Director Song seemed to see through Su Mi’s heart. He hurriedly said, “We’re all family here, let’s skip the formalities. Everyone is hungry, let’s start.”

“You got it!”

With Director Song’s permission, Su Mi snatched up her chopsticks and immediately began happily shoveling food.

If she hadn’t wanted to avoid making a bad first impression—making it look like she was a bully using her grandmother’s influence—and if she hadn’t wanted to stay busy so she wouldn’t overthink things… she never would have agreed to help Shi Yaya.

That Shi Yaya used her as if she were free labor, making her do everything. She was exhausted. Wait? It seemed Shi Yaya did use her for free. This won’t do. She’d have to present her a QR code for payment tomorrow.

Watching the fierce momentum with which Su Mi shoveled rice, Director Song laughed, seeing she was clearly famished: “Mi Mi, did you not eat lunch today? Look how hungry this child is.”

He placed a piece of chicken into Su Mi’s bowl: “Eat more.”

“Thank you, Director Song.”

Surface-level politeness was necessary, but it didn’t slow her eating pace one bit.

Su Mi blinked, putting on the act of an obedient child: “I ate lunch, but an actress came by this afternoon and asked me to do some odd jobs for her. I did quite a bit of work, so I’m hungry tonight.”

You little brat, I kindly worked for you and you used me relentlessly. You really think I won’t tattle?

Director Song and He Xiao exchanged a glance: “An actress? And she made you work?”

Both read “trouble” in each other’s eyes.

“Mmh, yes. A pretty older sister named Shi Yaya.” Su Mi nodded vigorously, acting innocent and naive. “She’s an actor in our crew, right? She said they needed help over there and thought I was a staff member, so she picked me.”

“I figured since I arrived early and there weren’t many people on set, I’d lend a hand since I had nothing to do. It turned out she had me moving things the whole afternoon.”

As she spoke, she wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead: “I’m exhausted.”

“This Shi Yaya…”

He Xiao, being direct by nature, rolled her eyes immediately.

Director Song, sensing things were heading south, quickly said to Su Mi, “I am truly sorry, Mi Mi. I’ll have a private word with Shi Yaya later. Honestly, how could she use you for such heavy labor? I’ll have her come apologize to you personally.”

There it is. He’s probably afraid I’ll tell Grandma.

However, Su Mi was finally starting to appreciate the feeling of “the fox borrowing the tiger’s majesty.” At least the God was looking out for her in some ways, ensuring she didn’t suffer too much.

Su Mi laughed and waved her hand: “It’s fine, Director Song. I had nothing to do anyway. Besides, we’re all in the same crew; helping out is what we do.”

She then changed the subject: “But, I also ask the two directors to please not tell anyone who my grandmother is. I’m here to learn. If everyone knows… it might be a bit troublesome.”

“Understandable,” He Xiao nodded. “But if Shi Yaya or anyone else tries this again, Su Mi, don’t be too kind-hearted. Remember to protect yourself. You have the Director and me; don’t be afraid.”

She was just a sharp assistant director, how did she suddenly become like a big sister? Had she not heard of the original owner’s notorious reputation and mistaken her for a sheltered, innocent daughter of a wealthy family?

Regardless of how He Xiao viewed her, the important thing was that Su Mi truly didn’t want the whole crew to know her family was rich. The waters in this circle were too murky. She was just here to follow the plot; whether she did it crawling or kneeling didn’t matter—no one cared.

The main point was how to interact with Xin Keke once she returned. What she needed was to avoid complications as much as possible.

Su Mi obediently nodded to He Xiao.

Director Song chatted with Su Mi for a bit longer, asking about her grandmother, before discussing the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the script with He Xiao.

Though Su Mi came with the intention of being a general assistant, she was open to playing a role if asked. After all, nobody wants to come all this way for nothing.

After asking for her opinion, Director Song made a suggestion: “Mi Mi, as it happens, the actor for Bo Xiaoling hasn’t been decided yet. Why don’t you play her?”

“Bo Xiaoling?”

She had read the script and had some recollection of the character.

“She’s the childhood friend of the female lead, Yuan Yuan, who is the last to move into the dorm,” He Xiao explained. “She’s not one of the four leads, but her role is quite significant. Since you said you wanted to train but didn’t want the lead, would this character work?”

Fine by me. As long as it’s not the lead, anything works.

With that in mind, Su Mi accepted: “Sure! Thank you, Director and Assistant Director.”

“Xiao He will take you to sign the contract tomorrow. Eat your fill tonight and get some good rest; we start tomorrow,” Director Song said. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me or Xiao He. Since you’re here, learning as much as possible is the best goal.”

Su Mi raised her juice glass: “Thank you, Director Song~!”

Man, the NPCs in this small web-drama side-quest are actually quite nice, Su Mi thought. The bitterness of being rejected by the protagonist and being unable to do the main quest was slightly diluted by the sweet juice.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was in the morning. Not wanting to delay anything, Su Mi woke up early the next day.

She was calculating whether she needed to print a QR code if Shi Yaya tried to use her again—being firm is better than suffering in silence. But when she arrived at the ceremony site, she found quite a few people were already there.

Su Mi looked around curiously. There were some genuinely good-looking people here. Even if these people were just NPCs in Su Mi’s heart, it didn’t stop her from enjoying a lifestyle she had never experienced before. Even just treating it as “eye candy” was fine.

“Hee hee, I told you before that the two of us would definitely collaborate.”

A playful voice came from behind. Su Mi turned her head and saw a petite girl with her hands behind her back, tilting her head toward another girl beside her with a mischievous grin.

The girl she was looking at had short hair and looked quite capable and sharp. Hearing the petite girl’s words, she sighed and lightly flicked the girl’s forehead: “Yes, yes. You’re a regular Great Prophet, aren’t you?”

Both girls’ visuals were a full level higher than the surrounding staff, so they must be…

“Ye Luo, Xiao Ai!”

Su Mi’s lip twitched. That voice—there was no doubt—her personal exploiter, Shi Yaya, had arrived.

Shi Yaya walked quickly to the two of them, her smile so sweet it practically dripped honey. She immediately grabbed their hands: “Long time no see, Ye Luo, Xiao Ai! When I heard from my manager that you two were in this, I was so happy.”

Ye Luo gave a dry smile and subtly pulled her hand away from Shi Yaya: “Long time no see, Yaya.”

Only Xiao Ai acted as if nothing was wrong, swinging Shi Yaya’s hand back and forth: “Hee hee, I was so happy when I heard you were in it too!”

“Oh, since you two are both here, then the actor for the final lead, Yuan Yuan…”

“I don’t know. Director Song hasn’t said who is playing her yet,” Xiao Ai shook her head. “It’s either a newcomer or a big star.”

Ye Luo glanced into the distance and happened to spot the pink-haired Su Mi: “If it’s a big star, they probably wouldn’t deign to play the fourth lead.”

Hmm? Su Mi was alert. Why was this Ye Luo looking at her while saying that? None of her business.

Ye Luo and Xiao Ai were pleasing to the eye, but Su Mi didn’t want to stay in the same area as Shi Yaya. Not wanting to give herself extra work, she was about to slide away when Shi Yaya followed Ye Luo’s gaze.

She spotted the retreating Su Mi.

“Wait, Su Mi?!”

“…”

What do you call this? Enemies meeting on a narrow road? Actually, she and Shi Yaya hadn’t reached that level yet. At most, she just didn’t want to see her.

It wouldn’t do to not say hello. Su Mi turned around awkwardly and waved stiffly at the three girls: “Hi… hello there…”

The three of them looked at Su Mi simultaneously, causing a cold sweat to break out on her back.

Xiao Ai blinked: “You are…?”

Before Su Mi could speak, Shi Yaya beat her to it: “Her? She’s a crew staff member named Su Mi. Don’t let her beauty fool you; she’s actually staff and very good at working! If you guys need help with anything, you can ask her!”

Su Mi: “…” You brat, are you ever going to stop! Do you really think I won’t lose it!

“She’s staff?! So pretty!!”

Ye Luo held back the eager Xiao Ai: “It’s fine, Xiao Ai. We have our own staff, it’s enough.”

Huh? This Ye Luo seems pretty decent. Unfortunately, this was just Su Mi’s internal monologue; no one heard it.

While she was grumbling internally, a staff member nearby suddenly said: “The actor for Yuan Yuan is here!”

Boom. That was a bombshell that set the area abuzz. It was said that Director Song kept this news tighter than a celebrity’s marriage. Whether intentional or not, not a single one of these actors knew who it was. Su Mi was even getting sick of hearing them mention “Yuan Yuan.”

Hearing that the actor had arrived, Su Mi also curiously stood on her tiptoes to see who this mysterious figure was that had kept everyone in such suspense.

“Excuse me, please let me through.”

…? Wait, why does that voice sound a bit familiar? Is it because I’m too far away and misheard?

While Su Mi was dazed, the staff automatically cleared a path. Through that gap, Su Mi saw the newcomer clearly.

She had long black hair that made her skin look even paler in the sunlight. Her small face carried a faint smile—polite yet distant—and there was a small mole near her right cheekbone.

No matter how you looked at her, she resembled a little fox.

The moment she saw that face, Su Mi’s mind went blank.

Wait… wait a minute…? How is this possible…?!

In that instant, a fragment flashed back into Su Mi’s mind. In a large rehearsal room, a girl with an expressionless face but eyes full of surging emotion:

“Wei Minghui, for the sake of a promise, I waited for you for three years. During these days and nights, whenever I felt it was too hard to bear, I would remember how serious you looked that day.”

Wei Minghui… Wei Minghui???

When she read the script, she had skimmed over the parts involving men, but she only now remembered that the name Wei Minghui was the name of the boyfriend the female lead eventually dates. And in the script, Wei Minghui has a childhood friend… the eldest daughter of the Yuan family…

Su Mi looked into the other person’s eyes.

The other person also hadn’t expected to run into Su Mi here. she stopped abruptly, her fox-like eyes widening. Her mouth opened slightly, but she didn’t say anything; her eyes were filled with pure shock.

But soon, that shock returned to silence.

So, the person playing Yuan Yuan was…

“Hello everyone, I am Xin Keke from Shengxing Entertainment.”

Her voice pierced the air and reached Su Mi’s ears.