Chapter 7: The Film Empress Who Jumped to Her Death (7)

Afraid?

Yes, she was.

Want it?

Yes, she did.

Shao Zizhi whispered softly, “Then… you can only have a quick kiss.”

Bai Qian chuckled and, as the little girl wished, gently cupped her chin before pressing a tender kiss to her lips.

“Satisfied now?”

Shao Zizhi’s face flushed red with a mix of shyness and irritation. “You’re the one who wanted to kiss me! How come you’re pushing it back on me now? You’re always like this, Bai Qian. You’re so annoying!”

Bai Qian pulled back the little firecracker of a girl—who ignited at the slightest spark—and fished a tissue from her bag. She carefully wiped away the lingering tears from her cheeks and the corners of her eyes.

“Why’d you come here today?”

“My little sister’s drama is starting production. Of course I had to come take a look!”

Bai Qian didn’t argue with her and simply accepted the answer. “Thank you.”

“What?”

“Shao Liangrong told me you pulled strings to get me this role. I haven’t had much work lately, so landing this one means a lot. I really appreciate it.”

Shao Zizhi’s freshly cooled face heated up again. She stammered, “I only did it because your acting’s decent. I just had her toss you a random role to try out!”

Bai Qian didn’t call her out on it and just smiled. “Got it. I’ll do my best and make sure I don’t embarrass you.”

“Good! And another thing—you’re not allowed to say stuff like that again, or do anything like that behind my back. Got it?”

She teased, “Like what?”

The little girl scowled fiercely. “Bai Qian! Don’t play dumb with me. If you actually did it, I’d… I’d really lock you up!”

“Alright, alright. I’ve got no interest in becoming a star anyway. I don’t need to go that far.”

Shao Zizhi looked puzzled. “You don’t want to be famous? Then why’d you even enter the industry?”

Isn’t it all because of you, you hopeless romantic?

“Come on. Are you heading back with me later? If so, let’s swing by and buy a fish on the way. I’ll make you some more tonight.”

“The one from the other day was way too spicy. The first time was just right, so go easy on the spice this time, okay? Bai Qian, you’re not answering me again! You’re really so annoying!”

“How about some boneless chicken feet? We can grab a couple pounds after the fish.”

“Didn’t you say deboning them is a hassle and you didn’t want to bother? Two pounds won’t cut it—they’ll be gone in a few bites. I want five pounds. Make me a big bowl. I could eat that much! Bai Qian, you still haven’t answered my question from earlier!”

“Three pounds it is, then. If you can’t finish them, they’ll taste off if they sit too long. I’ll make more for you later.”

The little firecracker grumbled sulkily, “Fine, whatever. Bai Qian! You’re seriously the worst! You ask me anything and I answer honestly every time, but when I ask you something, you dodge it. You don’t even treat me like a friend!”

“Stop right there. I need to head back first, or people will see us together and start gossiping.”

“Why do I have to stop? Why can’t you? I’ve never let anyone boss me around like this before! Do you think I’m little puppy or something, that I’ll stop just because you say so?”

Bai Qian had no intention of bickering over something so trivial. “Fine, I’ll stop. You go ahead.”

Shao Zizhi said, “Can’t you walk with me?”

“No.”

“No one will think anything of it. I’m always friendly with other actors and chat with them all the time.”

Bai Qian raised an eyebrow. “You say that without a pang of conscience? Didn’t you trend online just two months ago for giving some supporting actress the cold shoulder on set and acting like a diva?”

Shao Zizhi sounded aggrieved. “That was because she tried to sling her arm around my shoulder. We weren’t even close! I don’t like strangers touching me. If she’d kept her distance, why would I have given her attitude? It’s not my fault!”

“Fine, no arguing. Either you go in first, or I do. You know how reporters love to make up stories. The Film Empress just helped pick up Starlet Liu’s scarf, and they spun it into ‘divorce reunion, passion reignited, broken mirror mended.’ Even if we walk in together all innocently, who’s to say they won’t cook up some wild romance for us—”

Bai Qian gently kneaded the little pufferfish’s puffed-up cheeks. “What’s with that face? Everything I said is true. Do you think I’d steer you wrong? If they slap some scandal on us, it’ll only hurt you and bring no good. Understand?”

Shao Zizhi’s conflicted expression was impossible to ignore, so Bai Qian finally asked, “What is it? Spit it out.”

“Well… those two really were married. And they did get divorced. Right now, the Film Empress is chasing after that Starlet Liu you mentioned.”

“…”

“It’s fine. Not many people know about it anyway. It’s normal you wouldn’t.”

“Then how do you know?”

Shao Zizhi gave an abashed little smile. “Starlet Liu’s my cousin’s daughter. I was at their wedding banquet.”

The entertainment industry really is small!

The whole world really does revolve around the protagonist!

…

Without that fake layer of “Bai Qian is the mistress Shao Liangrong kept behind Zhao Tong’s back,” Zhao Tong’s attitude toward Bai Qian had improved considerably.

They weren’t exactly close, but at least when she saw her now, her eyes no longer shot piercing glares.

Bai Qian’s new drama was halfway through filming when another climax from the original plot finally arrived.

This was also a turning point in the emotional arc between the male and female leads in the original plot.

Another “accidental” loss of virginity to the male lead, on top of two hero-saves-beauty moments, finally stirred the female protagonist’s heart.

She began digging up every scrap of information on the male lead—his TV dramas, his movies, even frame-by-frame viewings of his commercials.

After observing him for a stretch, this gentle, scholarly man gradually worked his way into her heart.

When a beauty falls in love, it’s often the start of tragedy.

For the original host, you could drop the “often.”

No matter how sweet their mid-plot romance or how profound their bond, at the end of the original plot, the male lead resolutely dumped the female protagonist to pursue a self-made middle-aged woman renowned in the business world.

The female protagonist, of course, refused to accept it. Seeing his future benefactor’s olive branch about to extend to a rival, the man hardened his heart. He pulled the secretly snapped lewd photos from their first time out of his private folder, cropped himself out without even adding mosaics, and sent them straight to a major news outlet.

The photos went viral online around 3 a.m. Though the female protagonist’s family swiftly suppressed them, the golden hour for damage control had passed. Silencing the masses afterward proved nearly impossible.

Having never endured such humiliation, the female protagonist ultimately buckled under the keyboard warriors’ “slut-shaming” and relentless cyberbullying. She chose to leap from the top floor of her family’s hotel—the very spot of their first intimate encounter.

Bai Qian had stopped the first incident, so she sure as hell would stop the second.

Unfortunately, the Charity Gala’s guest list was locked in. She couldn’t sneak in even if she tried.

She wanted to go but couldn’t, while the reluctant one had no choice.

Shao Zizhi vented to her: “Tomorrow I’ve got that damn Charity Gala again. I don’t want to go at all—total waste of my time.”

“You don’t want to go?”

“Of course not! Photos, red carpet—such a pain, and nowhere near as fun as acting. Who even invented this crap?”

Bai Qian tested the waters: “Then why not skip it?”

If the female protagonist stayed home, the “accident” probably wouldn’t happen, sparing Bai Qian the effort of intervening.

“No dice. I’m repping my dad’s company this time. If it were just me, I’d bail for sure. You want to go? Should’ve said so sooner. List’s set now; can’t add you. Next time? There’s another one coming up soon. I’ll take you.”

“I’m not interested either. What time does it start?”

Shao Zizhi teased: “Says she’s not interested, but asks for the deets? Stubborn much! Probably seven, but I have to head out before five for styling. Total hassle.”

“I’ll wait outside tomorrow night. Message me the second it’s over. And no alcohol or drinks of any kind, no matter what. Got it?”

Shao Zizhi blinked at her grave expression: “Why the doom-and-gloom face, Bai Qian? Cursing me to crash and burn tomorrow?”

“Listen. No beverages from anyone, period. Got it?”

“Fine, fine, message received. After last time, I wouldn’t touch random drinks anyway. That ease your mind?”

Bai Qian wasn’t fully reassured.

In the original plot, the female protagonist had sworn off all booze after the first ordeal too.

She nursed a dry mouth all evening with nothing to drink. Right as things wrapped up, she finally asked a server for orange juice.

That one spiked glass of orange juice changed everything.

…

Bai Qian waited in the car until nearly ten. To soothe her groundless worry, Shao Zizhi pinged her on WeChat every so often.

【Zizi: Just now someone poured me a glass of wine, I listened to you and rejected him, am I super obedient! Bai Qian, praise me!】

【Zizi: Waaah, so boring! Everyone’s striking poses left and right, all of them trying so hard.】

【Zizi: Starlet Kong’s makeup doesn’t look great today—it makes her look a bit older, don’t you think? [Picture]】

【Zizi: Shao Liangrong told me earlier that Director Zhang is hooking up with the screenwriter for this drama. I didn’t believe her at first, but guess what I just saw? I caught them making out as they slipped into the same restroom! That bathroom’s filthy, and they still went at it in there!】

Bai Qian couldn’t shake the feeling that something had gone seriously wrong when the Female Protagonist’s pure and innocent persona got uploaded into her brain.

How could this gossip machine, firing off one scandal after another and flooring the accelerator with zero restraint, possibly be the clueless, lovesick airhead from the original plot?

【Zizi: It’s finally over! I’m coming out now! Hurry up and meet me—did you bring water? I’m dying of thirst!】

Network lag meant Bai Qian didn’t see the message until a moment later.

No sooner had she read it than another one popped up.

【Zizi: I see the car! The connection’s lagging, so I’m only sending this now. No need to come get me—I’m heading straight over!】

Bai Qian was just about to reply when someone lightly tapped on the window from outside.

She rolled it down and locked eyes with the woman’s exquisitely made-up face.

Shao Zizhi had gone heavy on the makeup today, her smile bright and dazzling.

“Good evening, Bai Qian!”

Seeing her standing there safe and sound put Bai Qian’s mind completely at ease, like a massive weight lifting from her chest.

The roadside shrubs slid slowly past as the car moved forward.

But the atmosphere inside the vehicle was starting to feel off.

Shao Zizhi drained the two bottles of water Bai Qian had prepared, but she still wasn’t satisfied and reached for another.

“No more water? I still feel so thirsty. Bai Qian, isn’t there a supermarket nearby? Go grab a few more bottles for me.”

Bai Qian’s eyelid twitched without warning.

She had the nagging sense that she’d overlooked something important.

Suddenly, Shao Zizhi’s hand shot out and landed on her thigh. It was autumn now, and the woman wore only a thin evening gown, yet the heat radiating from her palm felt like it had just been pulled from a pot of boiling water.

“Bai Qian, I feel so hot. This sensation… it’s familiar, isn’t it? Just like that night.”