Chapter 29: Trampling the Harem Protagonist (3)

Yu Liuxue became slightly wary of Yan Yi’s unusual behavior. Unable to figure it out, she found an excuse to leave, but Lin Jingye called out to her and said tactfully, “Little Persimmon, I heard that ancient-style makeup is your specialty?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” No, I’m not, I didn’t, stop believing everything you see online.

Upon hearing this, Yan Yi nodded slightly as if unintentionally. “I’ve heard that too. My assistant has seen her cosplay makeup video of Shen Yu, as well as one where she replicated my period drama look. Whether it’s male or female makeup, she’s quite skilled.”

Yu Liuxue humbly replied, “Not really, I just do it for fun when I have free time.”

She thought this would be enough to dismiss Lin Jingye’s idea, but to her surprise, he got even more excited. “Really?! Then from now on, you’ll be in charge of the female lead’s makeup.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?” Is our production crew this poor? We can’t even afford a makeup artist?

My dad is Xia Zhengtian!

The CEO of Xia Corporation!

Lin Jingye explained with a troubled expression, “Actually, this project only has a budget of 10 million. Seven million of that is Yan Yi’s paycheck, and out of the remaining three million, one million goes to costumes and accessories. The other two million covers everyone’s salaries, including mine.”

Yan Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, folding her arms as if watching a show.

Yu Liuxue’s eyes welled up with tears. In the end, Xia Zhengtian was nothing more than a heartless capitalist, calculating everything down to the last cent. But still… only 10 million? Isn’t that way too stingy?

Also, Yan Yi, you’re a titan in the entertainment industry, yet you let yourself be tricked into starring in this dumb, sweet Mary Sue drama for a mere seven million?!

Yu Liuxue deadpanned. She pointed at Yan Yi. “I can handle my own makeup, but what about hers?”

Yan Yi didn’t bring a makeup artist with her when she arrived. Would she have to do it herself too?

Yan Yi tilted her head and blinked seriously, “What do you think?”

“I think I must be an accidental child my dad got from a phone bill promo,” Yu Liuxue said despondently to the system. “Wasn’t Xia Zhengtian supposed to be a doting father? Why wouldn’t he even provide a makeup artist for the crew?!”

Yu Liuxue couldn’t help but glance at Yan Yi’s expression—only to meet her gaze directly.

“Is there a problem?”

“…” No.

Feeling utterly defeated, Yu Liuxue left the dressing room and sat down at the makeup station. The table was covered with both luxury and budget-friendly cosmetics. She picked them up curiously—some she had seen before, some she hadn’t, some she had heard of, and some she hadn’t. Now, they were all neatly displayed, gazing at her expectantly.

Fortunately, while this body had changed on the inside, its muscle memory was intact.

After studying the script for a long time, Yu Liuxue decided to design the makeup looks based on the female lead’s emotional shifts throughout the story. She carefully wrote down her ideas one by one, completely unaware that Yan Yi had silently changed into her costume and was now standing behind her.

Yan Yi had only meant to take a casual look, but as she observed, she realized Yu Liuxue’s handwriting was exceptionally beautiful.

Proper and structured, yet subtly flirtatious.

Interesting.

After finalizing a rough style concept, Yu Liuxue yawned and stretched. When she lifted her head, she suddenly saw Yan Yi standing behind her, slightly bent forward, watching her notes with interest. Her mouth, mid-yawn, snapped shut. She jolted up in shock. “When did you get here?!”

As she stood up, she finally saw Yan Yi wearing the black robe she had been eyeing with envy.

The fabric was pristine, the embroidery intricate. Yan Yi was slender yet tall, just enough to perfectly carry the outfit. Her delicate features leaned toward an alluring sharpness, a blend of sultry and cold. Her deep eyes, straight nose, and full lips—just a touch of red lipstick, and she was already breathtakingly stunning.

Even though her gaze was clear and composed, a single glance carried an inexplicable allure, as if she were both inviting and withholding at the same time.

Yu Liuxue stood frozen on the spot.

Where did this woman come from? Was she some kind of walking aphrodisiac?

If this went on, Yu Liuxue feared she’d be utterly captivated before she could even make her move.

Yan Yi smiled enigmatically. “What about mine?”

Yu Liuxue instinctively responded, “What?”

“I don’t see any notes about my makeup,” Yan Yi said, leaning down so their eyes were level. “Actually, I know a bit about male makeup too. But I have something to do right now. Why don’t you come to my room tonight?”

Yan Yi blinked her cool, clear eyes and smiled. “Bring the script with you too.”

“I heard you’ve never acted before. Maybe I can teach you.”

Yan Yi had left for quite some time when Yu Liuxue suddenly flipped through the script and read it three times.

She was sure now—Yan Yi did that on purpose.

Because the scene they were shooting tomorrow was a bed scene!

Yan Yi wanted to teach her a bed scene?

Yu Liuxue scratched her nose, suppressing her excitement, and asked the system, “The female lead wants to teach me a bed scene! How do you think she’ll do it? Will she just strip off my clothes and start practicing for real?”

“Or will we secretly hide under the covers and watch some ‘mm-hmm ahh’ videos together?”

“Oh no, should I wash my hair and take a bath first? Maybe spray some perfume?”

The system, now with a splitting headache, couldn’t help but cut in. “What if the female lead meant it literally?”

Yu Liuxue deflated instantly. “Then what’s the point of my life?”

“I’m not going. I refuse to go.”

She said it loud and clear, but when night fell, Yu Liuxue still scrubbed herself clean and tiptoed her way to Yan Yi’s room.

She rang the doorbell a few times. Yan Yi’s assistant answered, and the moment the door opened, the assistant seemed to catch a whiff of springtime flowers in full bloom.

After guessing Yu Liuxue’s intentions for a brief moment, the assistant calmly stepped aside and let her in. “Sister Yi is still busy. Please wait a moment, Miss Xia.”

Yan Yi isn’t here? No big deal.

She can run, but she can’t hide.

Yu Liuxue sat down on Yan Yi’s sofa while her assistant stood to the side, secretly whispering gossip to her friend. “Do you know about Xia Xiaoshi? She came alone with a script to see Sister Yi! Don’t tell anyone else…”

Ten minutes later, Yu Liuxue expressionlessly opened Weibo:

【Xia Xiaoshi visits Yan Yi late at night, suspected of seeking guidance on the ‘Night Glow¹’ script.】

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Assistant: “…”

Fans exploded instantly, flooding Yu Liuxue’s giveaway post with comments.

“Let go of my Yan Yi! Your beloved Shen Yu is in my hands. If you dare lay a finger on my Yan Yi, I’ll stab Shen Yu twice!”

“Ahhhh! Don’t ruin my Yan Yi! She’s the best person in the world!”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Then go ahead and stab him all you want.

Stabbing him to death would be best.

Yu Liuxue rubbed her chin and asked the system incredulously, “In this world, do I look like the top?”

The system answered instantly, “No.”

“Then that’s a relief. Yan Yi specifically called me here to discuss the script and teach me how to act. She’d better be the top.” Otherwise, this grudge would be irreconcilable!

The system: “…”

When Yan Yi returned after finishing her work, her assistant updated her on Yu Liuxue’s visit before tactfully leaving the room. Yan Yi took off her hat and mask, then hung her trench coat on the rack. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Yu Liuxue excitedly rubbed her hands, shaking her head repeatedly. “No problem, no problem.”

Her dark eyes sparkled with anticipation as she gazed up at Yan Yi. Now, finally, they could get down to business, right?

Pretending not to notice Yu Liuxue’s eager expression, Yan Yi picked up the script from the table and sat across from her. “I don’t know how good you are with your lines yet. Recite a few for me.”

Yu Liuxue was devastated—she almost died on the spot.

You called me here… just to hear me recite lines?

Not to personally roll up your sleeves and teach me how to act?

Feeling utterly lifeless, Yu Liuxue spent two hours reciting lines under Yan Yi’s watch. When the night deepened, Yan Yi finally put away the script. “That’s enough for today. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me. I’ll answer whatever I can.”

Yu Liuxue shot her a blank stare and made one last desperate hint. “We’re filming the bed scene tomorrow. Get some rest.”

Yan Yi didn’t catch the implication and simply nodded. “Alright.”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Forget it, forget it. Not worth it. The human world isn’t worth it.

After seeing Yu Liuxue off, Yan Yi watched her leave with a subtle, unreadable smile on her lips.

In truth, she had just come back from meeting Shen Yu.

Shen Yu had her contact information but had never reached out before. Just when Yan Yi had almost forgotten he existed, he suddenly got in touch.

Yan Yi vividly remembered their meeting—Shen Yu had chosen a discreet location and, maintaining just the right level of propriety, said, “I’m sorry for reaching out so suddenly, but I have a favor to ask.”

“Xiaoshi suffers from severe depression, sometimes accompanied by intermittent delusions. Back when I was still at the company, she always fantasized that I was her boyfriend—her other half. She stalked me multiple times, hoping I’d go home with her. President Xia once did me a great favor, and I was afraid that rejecting her outright would worsen her condition. Now that she’s filming with you, I can’t be by her side, so I’d like to ask you to take good care of her.”

His words painted himself as gentle and considerate while ensuring that Yan Yi wouldn’t overthink or feel repulsed.

Yan Yi almost fell for his nonsense.

Removing her earrings in front of the mirror, she let out a soft chuckle.

Since when did the woman she set her sights on need some man’s pretentious request for protection?

Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue returned to her room, looking utterly drained. Maybe it was the disappointment, but her lips were pale, and she seemed completely out of energy. Her personal assistant quickly helped her sit down and handed her a cup of hot water. “Miss Xia, are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to call a doctor?”

Yu Liuxue shook her head miserably. “It’s fine. I’ll be better after some sleep.”

After all, there was still the bed scene tomorrow!

If all else failed, she could use it as an opportunity to seduce Yan Yi and see if she’d regret being so cold tonight.

But that was just a passing thought.

Her real priority was fulfilling the original host’s wish—surpassing Shen Yu and becoming an even greater actor than him. The first scene had to be a knockout. She had to stun everyone.

With high hopes for the next day, night passed quickly.

Yu Liuxue woke up early, arriving at the set barefaced. The moment she stepped in, she saw that Yan Yi had already changed into costume and was getting her makeup done.

Yan Yi played the role of the most powerful deity in the Nine Heavens—a god of unparalleled strength and a heart untouched by worldly desires. Just standing near her was enough to make people freeze from the cold.

Yu Liuxue studied her for a while. When Yan Yi wasn’t smiling, she really did exude an aura of untouchable arrogance—like the most powerful, effortlessly cool being in existence.

The makeup artist working on Yan Yi was her personal, long-time stylist. Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue stole a few more glances at the beauty before obediently carrying her costume into the dressing room.

As soon as the door closed, Yan Yi’s gaze flicked toward it.

Her makeup artist couldn’t help but tease, “The rumor about Xia Xiaoshi calling you her future wife has been spreading for a while. You didn’t take this role because you’re interested in her, did you?”

Yan Yi lifted her chin. “How could that be possible?”

The makeup artist thought about it and agreed.

Over the years, countless people had pursued Yan Yi—fiery, passionate types like roses, sultry, seductive types like femme fatales, cold, untouchable types like icy flowers on a distant peak—not a single one had ever caught her eye. There was no way she’d be interested in someone so… plain and simple.

If Yu Liuxue knew that she was being described as “plain and simple,” she would probably jump up and kick someone in the knee out of sheer indignation.

Unfortunately, she was too busy being excited about the upcoming bed scene to notice anyone’s gaze.

Having thoroughly studied the makeup look for this scene, she didn’t forget about Xia Xiaoshi’s side job. Yu Liuxue set up a camera and began filming herself applying makeup while absentmindedly muttering to the lens.

“When being intimate with your partner, your base makeup must be sheer. You must choose a foundation that makes it look like you have naturally flawless skin, blending seamlessly with your own skin tone. That way, even when you sweat, they won’t notice anything—only that you look more and more beautiful…”

“Eyebrows should be light to create a natural hair-like effect…”

“Lower lashline extension! Lower lashline extension! Lower lashline extension! Important things must be said three times. Want innocent, teary, and captivating eyes? Follow my technique exactly!”

“Blush must be sheer. Here, sweep it across the center of your cheeks, add a bit to the tip of your nose, a touch on your earlobes, a little at the outer corners of your eyes, and finally, a dab on your chin…”

System: Too embarrassing to bear.

Yan Yi’s makeup artist stared, dumbfounded. She marveled, “I never knew there were so many details to ‘intimate makeup.'”

Yu Liuxue immediately turned her head. “No, this isn’t ‘intimate makeup.’ This is ‘Spring Peach Pure and Innocent Faux No-Makeup Seductive Man-Killer Look.'”

Yan Yi: “…” That name is certainly… elaborate.

“Are you done with your makeup? If so, we should get started.” Yan Yi eyed her with an amused expression. She really did look delicately pitiful, with those watery eyes practically designed to seduce someone into committing a crime. Yan Yi leaned in, scrutinizing the blush dusted across Yu Liuxue’s nose bridge, and couldn’t resist brushing the back of her hand against her cheek. “You look just like someone who drank the wrong alcohol.”

You drank the wrong alcohol.

Yu Liuxue put down her makeup brush, spritzed her face with setting spray, and lifted the hem of her pale pink gown. “I’m ready.”

Dressed in costume, she looked breathtaking. Her slender waist was just the right size for a hand to grasp, and as she moved, the hem of her skirt swayed lightly—like the most beautiful flower on the branch.

This was Yu Liuxue’s first time filming such an intense scene, and she was a bit nervous. But when she arrived on set, she found only Lin Jingye there. The lighting and sound equipment were already set up. When he saw them enter, Lin Jingye simply sat down in front of the monitor. “Let’s begin.”

Huh? Just like that?

Before Yu Liuxue could react, Yan Yi was already in character. She strode forward, the jade pendant at her waist clinking crisply with each movement.

The revered god had mistakenly consumed an aphrodisiac—one of the most potent in the Nine Heavens. Even someone as powerful as the god could not resist its effects, stirring desires that had been long suppressed under an ascetic life.

On the surface, the god remained impeccably composed, but her eyes were already dark and stormy, as if a tempest was brewing. The intensity made Yu Liuxue’s scalp tingle.

Before she could process anything, Yan Yi had already swept her off the ground and tossed her onto the bed like a ragdoll. Her vision blurred for a moment, and when she regained her senses, she realized there was someone pressing down on her—not heavy, but their body was lean and oddly comfortable against hers.

Yan Yi’s lips landed in soft, scattered kisses, seemingly forceful but actually incredibly gentle. As Yu Liuxue was being kissed, she momentarily forgot she was still acting. Instinctively, she responded to Yan Yi’s movements.

The moment she reacted, Lin Jingye sighed and pressed his forehead. “Cut.”

Yu Liuxue froze.

Yan Yi had already pulled back, kneeling over Yu Liuxue with a teasing smile, her gaze falling on Yu Liuxue’s flushed ears.

Lin Jingye looked like he had given up hope. “Xiao Shi, this is supposed to be a forceful, non-consensual scene. Forceful, non-consensual. Do you understand?”

“You actively responding to Yan Yi—what was that supposed to be?”

Yu Liuxue lowered her head guiltily, muttering, “Well, Yan Yi is just too good-looking… I got a little carried away.”

Lin Jingye: “…” Oh, so now you’re the one with excuses?

Fearing that Yan Yi would continue distracting Yu Liuxue, Lin Jingye had her step aside while he personally went over the script to explain the scene. Yan Yi watched with amusement, sipping her tea while Yu Liuxue nodded obediently at every instruction—so obedient, it was almost comical. Lowering her gaze, Yan Yi’s eyes glinted mischievously.

Lin Jingye explained, “You need to struggle—as intensely as possible. She’s your master. You secretly admire her, but you also deeply respect her…”

Yu Liuxue: “Got it, got it.”

Lin Jingye: “But you have to control it so it doesn’t look like outright assault. The scene must maintain an aesthetic appeal. At the same time, you do have some selfish desires. You want to reject your master, yet deep down, you also want to take this opportunity to grow closer to her…”

Yu Liuxue: “OK, OK.”

Lin Jingye’s final reminder: “You need to portray that internal conflict, keep the scene visually pleasing, and remember—”

Yu Liuxue felt like her ears were about to develop calluses. She patted her chest. “Director Lin, don’t worry! I’ll get it right this time in one take!”

Feigning reluctance while secretly yearning? Saying no but meaning yes? She had mastered this skill!

Thus, the second take began.

Three minutes later, Yu Liuxue lay dumbfounded as Lin Jingye interrupted the scene again. She blinked in confusion.

Wait… what just happened? Who am I? Where am I? What was I doing?

Yan Yi’s eyes flickered with a hint of amusement.

Lin Jingye: “…”

After six or seven takes, Yu Liuxue finally caught on. Nervously, she whispered to the system, “I feel like Yan Yi is doing this on purpose. She’s getting way too into it, making me think she’s actually about to… well… have her way with me right here and now…”

System: “Do you think that’s likely?”

No… probably not.

But then why was Yan Yi deliberately throwing her off?

Yu Liuxue wrinkled her nose. “I still think she’s deliberately trying to seduce me.”

Lin Jingye let out a deep sigh. “Last take. No matter how it turns out, this will be the final cut.”

Yu Liuxue cautiously glanced at Lin Jingye’s expression, then shot a pleading look at Yan Yi.

Can I call you boss? Just please—stop seducing me. My willpower is weak! I can’t handle the temptation of such high-quality beauty in this world!

Finally, the last take was completed successfully.

The final scene was finally completed successfully.

Yu Liuxue had struggled through several scenes, leaving her hair in disarray and her clothes in a complete mess from Yan Yi’s tugging, making her look as if she had just been bullied. Yan Yi’s gaze inadvertently swept over the exposed skin on her chest, prompting Yu Liuxue to instinctively pull her clothes up, quickly getting out of bed, slipping into her slippers, and running to Lin Jingye’s side. “Director Lin, how was it?”

Lin Jingye was already very satisfied with the result, but he still responded indifferently, “It was alright.”

Watching good-looking people act was always a pleasant experience. The two of them pressed close together, and every frame looked as beautiful as a painting.

Especially Yu Liuxue’s flushed face.

Lin Jingye raised his hand. “Alright, go change your outfit and get ready for the next scene.”

Yan Yi lifted her foot and walked toward Yu Liuxue. Her scalp tingled—she still had vivid memories of how Yan Yi had tormented her just moments ago. Without thinking, she turned on her heel and ran, lifting her skirt as she fled. As she ran, she spoke to the system, “Actually, I don’t think I necessarily have to steal the male lead’s woman. As long as the male lead and the female supporting character end up ruined, and Xia Xiaoshi rises to Yan Yi’s level as a top star in this world, that should still count as completing the mission, right?”

The system had already seen through her hypocrisy and responded calmly, 【Can you really bear to do that?】

Yu Liuxue: “……” You talk too much.

While Pampered Wife on Top was being successfully filmed, its popularity online remained high. In contrast, The Emperor Wu of Han didn’t receive as much attention. Li Nuolin had always been proud and ambitious; she couldn’t tolerate being ranked below Xia Xiaoshi. So, she immediately instructed her team to hire internet trolls and started tying Shen Yu into gossip scandals.

Unfortunately, aside from a brief initial surge in discussion, most people quickly lost interest. In fact, every time the topic was brought up, the conversation always veered toward Xia Xiaoshi:

“Do you think Xia Xiaoshi acting alongside Yan Yi will single-handedly ruin Yan Yi’s legendary career, turning this into his Waterloo moment?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Xia Xiaoshi never even took professional acting classes, unlike Shen Yu, who was a top student.”

“Not interested in gossip. Just here to support my dear Shen Yu. Everyone, please look forward to his new drama The Emperor Wu of Han!”

Li Nuolin was so furious that she smashed two cups.

Just then, Shen Yu returned. Hearing the sound of breaking glass, he furrowed his brows slightly but quickly relaxed his expression. He walked over to Li Nuolin with concern and asked, “What happened? Did someone from the production crew upset you?”

As he spoke, he leaned in and delivered a deep, heated kiss that left her breathless.

After being pacified, Li Nuolin’s anger subsided a little. She picked up a glass of water and casually asked, “Have you thought about joining my agency? I’m telling you, Shen Yu, my patience isn’t great.”

Hearing no response, she turned around and saw Shen Yu lost in thought.

“You still haven’t decided?” Li Nuolin’s tone turned displeased. “Shen Yu, don’t forget who lent you money to buy yourself out of the Xia family.”

The word “buyout” successfully pricked Shen Yu’s self-esteem. He hid his true thoughts and responded with an evasive smile, “Nuolin, give me a little more time. You know how wary I’ve become after being burned once.”

“How about this—let me finish filming this drama, and then I’ll give you an answer?”

Shen Yu spoke with deep sincerity. “Right now, I just want to focus on my acting and not be distracted by other matters.”

Li Nuolin looked at him coolly. “You’d better not be playing any tricks on me.”

Late that night, Shen Yu put on a cap and mask, covering himself tightly as he returned to his room. He sat silently on the sofa, staring at his phone screen, which displayed Yan Yi’s number. His previous interaction with Yan Yi, facilitated by Xia Xiaoshi, had been perfectly calculated—not too much, not too little, ensuring that he wouldn’t leave a bad impression.

Thinking of this, Shen Yu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Li Nuolin was too domineering; she would undoubtedly become an obstacle in his career. But for now, he still needed to use her to climb higher, so he couldn’t burn that bridge just yet. If he could drag things out, he would.

Yan Yi, however, was different. At an event, Shen Yu had overheard someone discussing Yan Yi’s family background. The moment he learned the details, he immediately marked Yan Yi as his true target. It was said that Yan Yi only appeared aloof on the surface but was actually simple and straightforward in personality. If Shen Yu could trick Yan Yi into falling for him and also win the favor of Yan Yi’s parents, then he would truly have secured his place at the top, ensuring a lifetime of wealth and ease.

At that point, who would dare look down on him for being a poor boy?

So what if someone had money? That didn’t make them special.

Yu Liuxue quickly caught wind of the argument between Shen Yu and Li Nuolin. The reason? None other than her state-of-the-art intelligent system—an essential tool for any household or traveler.

Yu Liuxue, holding an eyeshadow brush, remarked, “I actually hope Shen Yu makes more moves soon. If he stays this quiet, I’ll be so bored I might grow fleas.”

The system: 【……Honestly, you just have a bad case of drama addiction.】

Pampered Wife on Top was progressing smoothly. Almost all the actors had professional training, so the filming moved at an impressive pace. Even the so-called “burden” of the cast, Yu Liuxue, performed well—so much so that she hardly seemed like a newcomer.

Determined to learn as much as possible, she frequently took her script to the veteran actors for advice. With her good looks and humble attitude, she quickly won their favor, and they willingly guided her. Naturally, she also got along well with the younger actors—after all, they were all from her cheap dad’s company. Thanks to this drama, nearly every actor, regardless of their role, was on the path to stardom.

Halfway through filming, Lin Jingye suddenly had a new script delivered, saying that there had been a plot adjustment.

Yu Liuxue skimmed through it and immediately jumped up in anger. She grabbed her phone and called Xia Zhengtian, “Dad! The screenwriter cut my scenes to give the second male lead more screentime! Fire her! Kick her out! Right now!”

Xia Zhengtian: “……” Since when did his daughter become this spoiled?

“Alright, alright, whatever you say. I’ll have her fired immediately.”

Thus, less than half an hour after receiving the new script, the screenwriter was dismissed.

The screenwriter, tearful and unwilling to leave, shouted when she saw Yu Liuxue, “What’s wrong with giving the second male lead more scenes? You drama hog! You only care about having more screen time and a better storyline for yourself, ignoring everyone else’s fate!”

Yu Liuxue righteously responded, “I’m the female lead. If I don’t get more scenes, who should?”

She blinked. “You?”

“You changed the original author’s story—did they even approve of that?”

The screenwriter was left speechless. Because of this incident, filming was temporarily put on hold.

Pampered Wife on Top had been around for nearly a decade. It was a top-ranking novel back in the day and remained a classic romance on Jinjiang’s high-rated list. So when the news of Yu Liuxue firing the screenwriter broke online, the novel’s fans were terrified and rushed to Weibo to comment:

“What’s going on?! What has Xia Xiaoshi done to our beloved author’s work?!”

“She actually fired the screenwriter—legendary move!”

“How is this drama even going to be filmed now? Please don’t ruin our author’s masterpiece!”

Li Nuolin, who had been overshadowed for so long, finally laughed in delight upon hearing this. Sitting on Shen Yu’s lap, she played with her hair. “Your ex-girlfriend is really something. I heard she even fired the screenwriter.”

Shen Yu remained expressionless. “Since we broke up, she has nothing to do with me anymore.”

Li Nuolin chuckled. “That’s what I like about you.”

Hearing about Xia Xiaoshi’s reckless actions reassured Shen Yu. If she were quietly filming in the studio, he would actually be suspicious. He couldn’t help but wonder—when would Xia Xiaoshi cause another online stir? He had been lacking headlines recently, and he could only rely on her antics to generate some buzz for him.

“Achoo!”

Yu Liuxue sneezed. Yan Yi glanced at her with concern. Yu Liuxue rubbed her nose and whispered, “Consort, be honest with me—was Yan Yi just thinking about me?”

At that moment, Lin Jingye called everyone for a meeting. The topic was, of course, what to do about the screenwriter.

He cast an accusatory look at Yu Liuxue. She quickly put on an innocent expression. “Director Lin, don’t look at me like a scorned wife.”

“It’s just a screenwriter. If worst comes to worst, we can invite the original author instead. Since it’s their work, they understand their own characters and plotlines better than some random screenwriter making unauthorized changes.” She said casually.

Random screenwriter? That person had rewritten multiple dramas for the Xia family, and every single one had been a hit. If the screenwriter heard this, they’d probably die of anger on the spot.

But at this point, it was the only viable solution. Thus, inviting the original author delayed filming by another half a month. When filming resumed, Lin Jingye finally sighed in relief. If she weren’t the boss’s daughter and didn’t have passable acting skills, someone would’ve dealt with her already.

The original author was deeply moved by how highly Yu Liuxue valued them. So, despite the risk of going bald from stress, they worked overnight to revise the script. Not only did they fix plot holes, but they also made the interactions between Yu Liuxue and Yan Yi more engaging and entertaining. Even the supporting characters gained more depth, each becoming more memorable.

For example, there was the nth male supporting character whose head could be broken, blood could be shed, but his hairstyle must not be messed up. Or the heroine’s mortal father, who frequented brothels but was terrified of his wife. Thanks to the author’s efforts, every character came to life.

Lin Jingye: “…” Are they trying to make me refilm everything?

Luckily, they only needed to reshoot a few scenes, and the overall plot remained unchanged.

Today was another intimate scene between Yu Liuxue and Yan Yi. Boss Xia had given strict instructions: the usual rule—no one except Lin Jingye was allowed to watch.

The grand chamber was eerily quiet. The occasional flicker and crackle of the candle flame were the only sounds. The warm canopy bed framed a woman with her eyes tightly shut. Her delicate red lips parted slightly, like a parched fish thirsting for water. Her breath came in uneven, hurried waves, and her cheeks were flushed a deep, unnatural red.

After a while, she stirred. The ornaments on her slender ankles jingled softly, highlighting her fair, flawless legs.

Her waterfall-like black hair spilled across the pillow, and her pale yellow dress accentuated the pearl-like glow of her skin. Yu Liuxue twitched her ears, catching the faint sound of footsteps outside the door.

“Creak…”

The door was pushed open gently. The footsteps grew closer.

Yu Liuxue’s heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.

A subtle sense of anticipation rose within her.

Someone sat down beside the bed.

That person remained still for a moment, silently watching her. Yu Liuxue could feel their gaze lingering on her face.

Just as she was about to open her eyes and get into character, the person suddenly leaned down, their lips pressing against her forehead before landing an unexpected kiss.

Yu Liuxue: “….!!!”

Why was Yan Yi’s script different from hers?! This wasn’t in the script at all!

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1. “夜光” (Night Glow) in Chinese internet slang refers to leaked content that appears online late at night, such as TV episodes, films, or books released unofficially. ↩︎