Chapter 9

Ji Changyin watched the girls leave the stage. When Qiao Tingxi spoke with her teammates, she seemed a little more approachable.

Ji Changyin rested her chin on her hand, watching until they sat down before turning away. Xu Chaomu was staring at her.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Nothing.” Xu Chaomu looked away.

Ji Changyin didn’t ask again.

Filming lasted nine hours. It was already twelve-thirty in the morning, and by the time they wrapped, Ji Changyin felt like she was barely alive. Her legs were wobbly as she left.

“Are you okay?” Xu Chaomu asked, steadying her by the hand.

Ji Changyin shook her head. “I just haven’t worked this hard in a long time.”

“You’ll be fine. Once we finish filming this episode, things will ease up.”

Ji Changyin nodded. After this, most of her work would be as a mentor.

Zhao Xi was waiting for her outside. The moment Ji Changyin got into the car, she started complaining. “That was exhausting. I thought I was coming here to be eye candy and coast!”

“Weren’t you?”

“No. I was also a champion of justice. Someone tried to get us to look the other way so they could sneak a trainee through, and I shut it down,” Ji Changyin said.

Zhao Xi had spent more than a decade in the industry and had seen plenty of things like this. She wasn’t surprised that Ji Changyin had stepped in.

“The girl went flat, and they still expected us to praise her.”

“You didn’t get into a fight with Xu Chaomu, did you?”

“No. Why would I? She takes her work seriously.”

“Obviously. Everyone knows Xu Chaomu’s a workaholic.” Zhao Xi sounded exasperated. “If you were more like her, my life would be easier.”

Ji Changyin went back to the hotel, rested for a bit, and went straight to bed. She had filming again the next day, but all she had to do was dance to the theme song, announce the rules, and leave.

“You’ve got a few free days in the middle. Should I find you another job?”

Ji Changyin had plenty of exposure at the moment, but the things trending about her were mostly bad.

“They only have three days to practice the theme song. There’s no need. I’ll stay here and take it easy. The production team also wants me to drop by whenever I’m free. Oh, and send me the scripts you have. I feel like acting. Nothing that starts filming right away—I want to take some acting classes first. There’ll be about a week and a half between the theme song and the first team performance, so I could do a guest spot somewhere then. Be picky about the show. Ideally, I want to eat, drink, and have fun without having to work.”

“Got it,” Zhao Xi said with a nod.

The next day, Zhao Xi brought over six scripts. Ji Changyin glanced at the stack on the table and sighed.

Three movies and three television dramas.

“I’ve read them all already and weeded out the bad ones. The movie roles are supporting roles—second or third female lead. The dramas have two female leads and one second female lead. They’re all likable characters, and the production teams are solid,” Zhao Xi said. “Oh, and I should tell you: Xu Chaomu has been cast as the lead in Beauty Runs Wild. She’s already signed the contract.”

Ji Changyin rubbed her chin and pulled out the script for the only drama in which she would play the second female lead.

It was a romantic urban comedy with a crime-solving angle. The female lead was a forensic doctor and a total heartthrob, with plenty of admirers—not only because of her looks, but also because of her formidable professional skills.

The role was basically tailor-made for Xu Chaomu.

Ji Changyin skipped the female lead’s character profile and went straight to the second female lead.

She was a spoiled, slightly scatterbrained rich girl with a good heart—the kind who said one thing and meant another. When a murder happened at her school, she got caught up in the case and met the male lead, falling for him at first sight.

Ji Changyin’s brows drew together.

Sheesh. She didn’t know what to say.

She continued reading and smiled. The second female lead was a total sucker for good looks. A month after she fell for the male lead, a criminal psychology expert joined the investigation team. The man was just as handsome, so she promptly transferred her affections. He was her eventual match.

After reading the character profile, she moved on to the outline.

It was pretty good. Each case was a self-contained story, the plot was well paced, and the relationships developed smoothly. The male and female leads only had two misunderstandings, both of which were cleared up quickly.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Are you sure?” Zhao Xi asked, surprised.

“Absolutely.”

A project Xu Chaomu picked was practically guaranteed to be a hit, and the second female lead had plenty of scenes. She also helped move the main plot forward and grew as a person by the end.

“Think it through. If you play second fiddle to Xu Chaomu, people will talk.”

“I don’t care. I’m not afraid of that.”

“Just make sure you’re sure. You’ll be working with Xu Chaomu on two projects in a row. Her fans are going to say you’re clinging to her for attention.” Zhao Xi didn’t push any further. She thought the script was good too, or she wouldn’t have given it to Ji Changyin.

That afternoon, Ji Changyin went to film the theme song. It took about an hour and a half. Xu Chaomu left in a hurry as soon as they finished, and they didn’t get a chance to talk. Ji Changyin went back to her room and kept reading the script. By evening, she’d finished it, and she still wanted more.

The series had thirty-two episodes, each about an hour long. The plot was full and tightly paced, without any obvious padding.

Ji Changyin tapped on the table.

[Ji Changyin: Has anyone tried to get a cast member into this show through connections?]

[Zhao Xi: I don’t know yet.]

[Ji Changyin: Okay. Tell the director not to let anyone sneak garbage into the cast. You can use my name to turn them down. If anyone threatens to pull their investment, we’ll cover the shortfall.]

Once again, Ji Changyin appreciated the joys of having money.

[Zhao Xi: Got it.]

[Ji Changyin: When will I sign the contract? Make sure they notify me before they change the script. Put that in too.]

[Zhao Xi: Are you questioning my professionalism?]

[Ji Changyin: No. I’m sorry.]

Ji Changyin ended the conversation and stretched.

To be honest, something felt strange.

Zhao Xi knew her better than anyone. They’d spent more time together than anyone else, yet after all this time, Zhao Xi still hadn’t noticed anything odd about her.

Had this world repaired itself somehow?

Ji Changyin clutched the script and rubbed her forehead. Whenever she had nothing else to do, she found herself mulling over philosophical questions.

Who am I? What’s the meaning of my existence? Is the world I live in objectively real?

Ji Changyin took a deep breath and shook her head.

She didn’t wake until the next afternoon. She’d wanted to lie in bed a little longer, but then remembered she was supposed to check on the trainees, so she scrambled up, threw on some casual clothes, did her makeup, and headed over.

She ran into a number of trainees along the way. They all smiled and greeted her. What Ji Changyin had done the day before had earned her plenty of goodwill.

She pushed open a practice room door. The trainees inside were working on their routine, and Ji Changyin immediately spotted the girl at the front, teaching.

It was Qiao Tingxi, who had seemed so aloof the day before.

Qiao Tingxi started to stop and greet her, but Ji Changyin waved her on.

As Ji Changyin watched, she noticed that Xu Rui—the girl who had tried to get in through the back door—was in the same room. She was chatting with another trainee. A conspicuous empty space had formed around the two of them, but neither seemed the least bit uncomfortable.

It made sense. To anyone who didn’t know the full story, it looked like the whole group was ostracizing them.

How perfect for playing the victim.