Waking Up to a Contract Marriage with the Film Queen - Chapter 14

On her first official day of work, Le Yiqiu found she had very little to do.

Generally, screenwriters aren’t required to stay on set, and even when they do, there’s rarely a task at hand. Unless the director or actors suggest a change that needs immediate drafting, she could sit there all day with nothing to show for it. So, she spent the day perched behind Zheng Zhi, watching the monitors along with him.

As the lead, Lin Xianing was in almost every scene. Observing her act from such close proximity, Le Yiqiu found herself unwilling to even blink. Watching Lin Xianing was a pure indulgence; being able to learn her craft while enjoying the view made this the best job in the world.

While the rest of the crew thought she was simply a dedicated professional, Zheng Zhi was a different story. Internally, he was punching the air with excitement: I am totally shipping this!

******

During the lunch break, Le Yiqiu took her electric scooter out for a spin. When she returned, she headed straight for Lin Xianing’s luxury van, script in hand, and knocked on the door.

When Chen Tao opened the door and saw who it was, her expression soured instantly. “Teacher Le, is there something you need?”

Chen Tao understood that the two wanted to keep things private on set, and she knew Le Yiqiu was here as a writer. Internally, she felt a brief sense of relief that the woman was finally doing something other than lying around at home—but that was quickly replaced by her usual disdain. What she does is none of my business anyway, she thought.

Le Yiqiu waved the script in her hand, her expression casual. “I’m here to discuss the script with Teacher Lin.”

“And what about the other two writers?” Chen Tao countered. There were three people in the writing team; it seemed odd for only one to show up for a “discussion.”

Le Yiqiu didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, they already spoke with her. I just got here, so I haven’t had the chance yet.”

Chen Tao hesitated for a long moment before saying coldly, “Teacher Lin is about to rest.”

She wasn’t lying. Lin Xianing had already laid down for a nap to ensure she was in peak condition for the afternoon shoot. While most leads went back to the hotel during the long break, Lin Xianing felt the thirty-minute round trip was a waste of time and preferred to stay on set. The van was fully equipped for a comfortable rest.

“…”

Le Yiqiu reached for the bag at her waist, about to speak, when Lin Xianing’s voice drifted from inside the van. “Let Teacher Le in.”

Chen Tao rolled her eyes internally. Of course. She stepped aside to let Le Yiqiu pass, then wisely hopped out of the van to find a shady spot elsewhere, refusing to play third wheel.

It was Le Yiqiu’s first time inside the van. It was spacious, lacking any sense of confinement. It had sleek seating, a small bar for coffee and tea, a compact bathroom, and two rows of massage chairs. The back row had been flattened into a bed about 1.8 meters wide, covered with a thin duvet.

Lin Xianing was sitting on the edge, looking very much like she had been interrupted from her nap. “What’s wrong with the script?” she asked, glancing up.

She had read the script thoroughly. To her, the author “Yi Yi” was incredibly talented, and she had no suggestions for changes. Since the current script was largely Yi Yi’s own work, her previous meetings with the writing team hadn’t been particularly productive.

Le Yiqiu had only been “back” for twenty days and had only seen the script for a few. What could she possibly have to discuss? Lin Xianing figured she was probably just putting on a show for her first day. Her brow furrowed slightly; she decided she’d have to give Le Yiqiu a proper lecture on the script so that no one would question her presence on set.

Before she could start her lecture, however, Le Yiqiu pulled something out of her bag like a child showing off a treasure. It was wrapped in insulated foam. She peeled the layers back one by one to reveal the contents: “Ice cream.”

Her eyes were bright, shimmering with the simple joy of sharing a treat. This was her favorite ice cream from childhood—a milk bar coated in a thin, crisp layer of dark chocolate. She had ridden her scooter all over the area until she finally found this specific brand in a corner convenience store.

It used to be a best-seller, but it was hard to find these days. The taste hadn’t changed, though—if anything, the new version was even better. Whenever she ate something she loved, her first instinct was to share that happiness with the person she liked. The “script discussion” had been a sham; she just wanted to see her wife.

Lin Xianing stared at the ice cream, a flash of memory flickering behind her eyes. After a moment of silence, she stood up, walked over to Le Yiqiu, and took it. “Thank you.”

“Sit,” she said, gesturing to the seat beside her.

They sat in silence for a moment before Lin Xianing tore open the wrapper and took a bite. Her eyes narrowed slightly—looking like a regal cat that had just been offered its favorite treat.

“It still tastes the same,” Lin Xianing murmured, almost to herself.

Le Yiqiu smiled inwardly. “You’ve had this before?”

Lin Xianing stared at the ice cream in a daze. She stayed like that for a while, until tiny droplets of condensation began to form on the chocolate and it started to melt. She took another small bite, savoring the rich milky center, and leaned back comfortably against the chair.

Watching her like this, Le Yiqiu felt a flutter in her chest. Her throat felt dry. Her gaze drifted reflexively to Lin Xianing’s lips before she quickly forced herself to look away.

Sensing her gaze, Lin Xianing leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand, her eyes softening into an expression that looked almost… affectionate.

“Yes. You used to buy them for me.”

Le Yiqiu’s breath hitched. That smoldering, heavy-lidded look lasted only a second—so brief that if it weren’t for her pounding heart, she would have thought she’d imagined it.

Le Yiqiu took a deep breath, pushing down the surge of emotion. “Why won’t you tell me about what happened between us back then?”

Lin Xianing’s face instantly cooled. She tossed the remainder of the ice cream into the trash can. “I thought we were here to discuss the script?”

Le Yiqiu glanced at the melting treat in the trash. She didn’t say anything, but a clear realization settled in her mind: Lin Xianing is terrified of the past.

Now, Lin Xianing’s face was a mask of indifference, her tone flat and unreadable.

Discuss the script? Le Yiqiu looked down at the pages on the table. Knowing Lin Xianing needed her rest, she stood up and grabbed her copy. “Let’s do it another time.”

“Mm,” Lin Xianing replied. She knew the script hadn’t been the real reason for the visit.

Le Yiqiu reached the door, her hand pausing on the handle. She looked back over her shoulder. “Tonight. Are we still on?”

Lin Xianing suddenly remembered the invitation to the night market. I shouldn’t… right? She hesitated, staying silent.

Seeing her silence, Le Yiqiu smirked. Such a stubborn creature.

“I’ll wait for you in your room tonight.”

Without waiting for a response, she hopped down from the van. Outside, Chen Tao watched her leave, bewildered that a “script discussion” had lasted less than ten minutes.

“Hey, Xiao Tao,” Le Yiqiu chirped with a cheerful wave, looking like she was in the best mood of her life.

Chen Tao climbed back into the van, only to find that her boss also seemed to be in a surprisingly good mood. Is their relationship actually good? she wondered. Since when? Perhaps she just didn’t understand how couples worked.

“Boss,” Chen Tao asked curiously, “did you two actually discuss the ‘script’ or… discuss the script?”

Lin Xianing’s smile vanished instantly. She shot a dangerous look at her assistant. “Do you not have enough work to do?”

“No! No, I’m busy! Very busy!” Chen Tao stammered, shaking her head. She had clearly overstepped.

“Prepare a hat, a mask, and some loose-fitting clothes,” Lin Xianing said, her voice turning cold and professional.

Chen Tao blinked. “You’re going out?”

“Yes.”

Lin Xianing gave a short reply, but as she stood up, her foot accidentally brushed against the trash can. She looked down at the melting ice cream inside and sighed, her lips pressing into a thin line. If one looked closely, they could see a flicker of genuine annoyance—at herself—across her face.

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