Chapter 19: The Film Empress Who Jumped Off a Building to Commit Suicide (19)

Bai Qian hadn’t even had time to react before the woman, her eyes brimming with desire, shoved her squarely onto the sofa.

Her phone clattered to the floor with a light thud, just as the delicate buttons of her shirt were yanked open with force.

Vibrant red lips pressed hungrily against the woman’s warm, soft neck, scented with a faint fragrance.

Her skin was dazzlingly white, the lipstick mark blooming on it like a fresh strawberry placed at the center of a cake, adding an irresistible allure to the sweet treat.

Their breaths came in ragged gasps.

Shao Zizhi’s fingers threaded through her hair, tightening bit by bit with each deepening movement, entwining them in a bond that could not be undone.

Rain fell from the sky, drifting down into the cliffs, trickling through the crevices.

A gentle breeze carried the rain upward, and the cliffs trembled silently in fury, desperate to escape the wind’s restraint—yet soothed by the breeze’s tender caress, they gradually calmed.

The raindrops, swept up by the wind, were returned to it as a gift.

“Sister.”

“It’s so sweet.”

“I love it so much.”

…

Bai Qian laid into Shao Liangrong over the phone.

The innocent Shao Liangrong clutched her phone, enduring a solid ten minutes of Bai Qian’s hoarse-voiced barrage of profanity.

Only after Bai Qian finally paused did Shao Liangrong dare to whimper pitifully, “Bai Qian, what did I do? Don’t just repeat the same curses over and over—tell me why I’m getting chewed out, at least?”

“It’s me.” Bai Qian’s voice cut off, replaced by Shao Zizhi’s.

Shao Liangrong’s neck shrank back. Bai Qian had just finished yelling—surely her sister wasn’t about to start in on her too? She was truly innocent!

“You’ve always wanted that limited-edition Scumbag Doll Figure of mine, right? Come pick it up sometime.”

What terrified her more than Bai Qian calling just to curse her out was her sister of over twenty years suddenly speaking in that eerily gentle tone.

Shao Zizhi paid no mind to whatever wild thoughts Shao Liangrong might be spinning on the other end. She tossed the phone aside casually and leaned in, planting a kiss on the head of the woman who’d buried herself under the covers again.

“Get lost!”

“Bai Qian, how is this my fault? It was all stuff Shao Liangrong bought blindly. I had no idea what it was—how can you blame me?”

Bai Qian lifted her head, peeking out from the sushi-roll bundle of blankets with just her upper face visible. Her eyes were rimmed red, tear tracks lingering from her crying.

She glared viciously at the insolent woman before her and snapped, “Are you a garbage picker? You dare drink anything you see! What if it had been poison?”

Shao Zizhi looked utterly blameless. “But this is our home. No one comes by except Shao Liangrong and the others. Is she going to try to murder her own sister or something?”

“Don’t even mention her—I want to curse out your whole Shao Family right now!”

“Fine, fine, curse away. But save it for later, okay? You’ve been using your voice all night; it’s hoarse as hell. If you don’t care about yourself, I do.”

“Pah! As if you care!”

Shao Zizhi let her rant on while helping her sit up and fetching the cup of water that had cooled by the bedside. She tested the temperature against her own lips first to make sure it was right, then freed Bai Qian from the blankets and coaxed her into sipping it down bit by bit.

“It was just this one time. All those other times, you’ve been the one initiating. They say love is equal—why can’t this be equal too?”

“Bullshit love—we don’t have love between us!”

Bai Qian shot her a withering look. Exhausted from a sleepless night of torment, faint bruises shadowed the skin under her eyes, tugging at the heart.

“Shut up starting now. I’m sleeping. Whatever it is, wait till I wake up.”

Shao Zizhi knew she’d gone overboard last night under the influence of that “Divine Medicine.” She tucked the covers more securely around Bai Qian and said softly, “Then I’ll head out first. If you wake up hungry, just text me. I’ll order you some takeout.”

Drowsiness was overtaking Bai Qian’s senses. Hearing that, she murmured with her eyes closed, “Where to?”

“Isn’t it the opening banquet for Sha today? I couldn’t get out of it, or I’d stay and keep you company. I’ll come back early, though.”

Bai Qian pried her eyes open a sliver. “Opening banquet? It’s already that time?”

“You were always nagging me to focus on it before filming started. Now that it’s here, you’ve forgotten all about it. Bai Qian, do you not care about me anymore?”

Freed from the Divine Medicine’s grip, the once-intimidating spitfire had reverted to her usual spoiled darling, full of coquettish whines.

She scooted closer with a pitiful pout, rubbing her cheek against Bai Qian’s. “Do you really not care anymore? You even forgot the opening banquet date. Bai Qian, don’t sleep—don’t dodge this topic!”

Bai Qian yanked the covers over her head, not even giving the other woman a chance to touch it. Her hoarse voice came out muffled through the thick blanket. “Hurry up and get to work. I want to sleep.”

“Bai Qian, are you feeling guilty or something? Why won’t you just answer me straight?”

The stubborn woman refused to leave without an answer. Instead, she climbed back onto the bed. Taking advantage of her greater strength at the moment, she lifted the edge of the blanket and slipped underneath, pressing close to the other woman’s side. Her warm breath tickled Bai Qian’s flushed ear. “Bai Qian, answer me. If you don’t, I’m not going!”

Bai Qian was getting seriously annoyed. She gave a half-hearted reply. “I haven’t slept all night—who has the energy to think about that stuff? If you don’t leave now, we’ll settle this account once and for all.”

Shao Zizhi deflated instantly, like a naughty puppy who’d been scolded by its owner for half an hour after getting into mischief. She let out a couple of pitiful whines before slinking away in grievance.

“I’ll head out then. If you get hungry, just tell me—I’ll reply right away!”

~~~

Filming on Sha was progressing smoothly according to schedule.

Shao Zizhi had a natural talent for acting, and her co-stars were all seasoned veterans. Not only did they easily draw her into the scenes, but during breaks, they generously pulled her aside to run lines and offer pointers.

Shao Zizhi truly loved acting. Ever since production on Sha began, she no longer came home every day just to act all coquettish and beg for kisses.

After her showers, she would sit primly on the sofa, diligently analyzing her character’s personality, dialogue, and mannerisms.

Bai Qian was delighted to see this change.

Once the first half of Sha‘s storyline wrapped, the crew would head overseas for on-location shoots of the second half.

Shao Zizhi immediately ran to discuss the trip with Bai Qian.

“I’ll book you a hotel near the set. Come with me overseas to finish filming, okay?”

Bai Qian shook her head. “I was just starting to think you’d finally gotten some ambition, and now, just a few days later, your lovestruck brain is back in full force? No way. Hotels aren’t comfortable, and it’d be for so long—I have zero interest.”

Shao Zizhi wheedled. “But I’d be so pitiful all alone overseas. Bai Qian, I want you with me. L Country has tons of fun spots. I can take you around during my breaks, pretty please?”

“No can do. Aren’t the director and assistant director there? I’d just distract you from work. Better for me to stay home and wait. You focus on nailing your scenes.”

Shao Zizhi’s eyes reddened. She mumbled, “I’d feel even less at ease with you at home. Bai Qian, seeing you waiting for me every day is what keeps me motivated on set.”

Bai Qian’s cool rationality bordered on ruthlessness compared to her emotional pleas. “So how were you so professional before I showed up? Don’t even think about it—I’m not going.”

Shao Zizhi blinked, and tears came spilling down her cheeks like they cost nothing. “Back then, acting was all I had in my heart. Now you’ve squeezed your way in too. Without you, it’d just be empty. Bai Qian, boo-hoo, come with me, come with me~”

Bai Qian turned away without hesitation, refusing to look at that pitiful expression. Her heart remained unmoved as she rejected her. “No amount of wheedling will change my mind. I’m going to do my pulls now. Go pack what you need.”

In the end, Shao Zizhi—whose pitiful act had failed spectacularly—boarded the flight to L Country with resentment oozing from every pore.

This was the first night Bai Qian had slept alone since moving in with Shao Zizhi.

She wasn’t used to it at all. That night, she barely got a wink of sleep.

Her phone stayed silent. On any other day, that woman would have already bombarded her with messages.

Bai Qian refreshed their chat several times before finally tossing the phone onto the sofa and heading to the kitchen to boil some noodles.

She had no idea how she’d gotten through the rest of the day.

She scrolled through her phone as usual, but videos that would normally have her cracking up barely sparked any interest today.

The evening sky outside was awash with sunset hues. This irritating day was finally drawing to a close.

Bai Qian checked her phone for the umpteenth time. Seeing no word from that heartless little thing, she let out a helpless laugh.

In the end, the one who’d been tormented was just her.

A little after six, Zhao Tong messaged her.

A friend of Shao Liangrong’s had opened a vacation villa in the mountains and invited her to join tomorrow.

“Got something tomorrow. Next time.”

Bai Qian was sorting through her clothes as she typed that.

“We’ll be staying there for quite a few days. If tomorrow doesn’t work, come the day after. Shao Zizhi’s off filming overseas—you’re home alone anyway. Come hang out with us.”

“I’m going on a trip. Won’t join you guys.”

“A trip? Solo or with someone? Bai Qian, no way! You wouldn’t ditch going with Shao Zizhi just so you could sneak off for a romantic getaway with your side piece while she’s gone, would you?!”

Bai Qian was utterly floored by this family’s wild imaginations. “Relax—even if you cheat on Shao Liangrong, I won’t cheat on Shao Zizhi.”

“You’re sick!” Zhao Tong snapped.

Smack. Bai Qian ignored her.

~~~

She had always trusted the security in the neighborhood.

But when that thief brazenly jimmied open the front door lock and boldly made a beeline for the bedroom, she couldn’t help but grow suspicious.

Had the night guard dozed off, letting this intruder slip through?

Footsteps headed straight for the bedroom. Recalling those news stories she’d seen before, she forced her ragged breathing to even out and pretended to be fast asleep.

Valuables could be found with a quick rummage—once they had enough cash, the thief ought to be satisfied and leave, right?

Unexpectedly, this burglar wasn’t after money. They quietly pushed open the bedroom door and approached the bed.

Bai Qian’s heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest. Could it be a thief not after riches, but after her body?

She could sense the intruder’s burning gaze fixed intently on her through the darkness for a long while.

At length, the next move came.

Not leaving, but bending down toward Bai Qian.

The gap closed, bringing a familiar scent—and then a hot droplet splashed onto her cheek with a soft plop.

The intruder sobbed, “Bai Qian, wuwuwu, I miss you so much.”