Chapter 10: Tit for Tat

With the new script in hand, production on Mountains and Rivers was officially underway.

Since Jiang Shumo was still in the middle of bulking up, all her scenes had been scheduled for the mid-to-late stages of filming. This gave her plenty of time to focus on her physical training.

Even so, she still had to join the rest of the cast for the opening ceremony and costume stills.

On the day of the opening ceremony for Mountains and Rivers, Jiang Shumo dragged herself out of bed before dawn to start her skincare routine.

In order to crush Yan Qingxu with her bare-faced beauty today, she had spent the past two days pampering herself from head to toe, making sure every single strand of hair was flawless.

After all, they would be doing professional styling for the stills anyway. Showing up with full makeup would only put her at a disadvantage.

“How’s the script reading going? There’s a table read this afternoon.”

As her manager, Liu Wan knew exactly what Jiang Shumo was up to. She had kept her company for the past two days of treatments and had even brought a beautician over in the wee hours of the morning.

“？！”

A table read?

Jiang Shumo nearly cracked, her face almost slipping. She was shocked— she had thought she could just focus on bulking up and leave everything else to the System.

How was she supposed to know there was a table read now?

She had only skimmed the script once. If she messed up at the read-through, wouldn’t that embarrass the original host?

And right in front of the female lead, no less!

The very thought made Jiang Shumo feel ill.

System: “I told you ages ago to study the script properly, but no, you just had to slack off!”

The System had been holding a grudge and couldn’t resist gloating now that she was panicking.

Jiang Shumo was already fretting when she heard this. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t you remember we’re on the same team? If I screw up, how is that good for you?”

In the past, the System would have panicked at that. But things were different now!

It was a System with confidence!

System: “This part wasn’t in the original story, so whether you embarrass yourself or not, it won’t affect the plot!”

Jiang Shumo: “……”

Hearing that, all of Jiang Shumo’s tension evaporated. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought it’d mess up the plot. If it won’t, then who cares if I embarrass myself.”

Besides, wasn’t it perfectly normal for a cannon-fodder side character to get slapped down by the heroine?

She hadn’t studied the script because she had been laser-focused on her bulking training. No time for anything else!

Look, she even had a ready-made excuse!

System: “……?%！?@#!”

The System nearly glitched from sheer exasperation. How was this human so thick-skinned? One moment she was doing two and a half days of intensive pampering to try and outshine the heroine bare-faced, and the next she was perfectly calm about potentially humiliating herself in front of her.

How was she this two-faced!

Furious, the System shot back: “You! The original host won’t stand for it!”

“What’s she got to complain about? I haven’t been slacking. I’ve been diligently bulking up—haven’t you noticed the muscles I’m getting?”

Mentioning her training made Jiang Shumo want to wipe away a tear for herself.

Thank goodness for the professionals. They gave her massages after every session, or the muscle soreness alone would have killed her.

Still, the results were impressive. Compared to her previous slender, ethereal build, her limbs now had a thin layer of toned muscle that actually looked pretty stunning.

System: “……”

Fine, that much was true.

The System had watched her every training session up close. She had clawed her way from an ordinary office worker to company exec for a reason—her willpower alone could crush most people.

“Shumo?”

Liu Wan’s puzzled voice pulled Jiang Shumo back to reality. “…Don’t worry if you haven’t finished studying the script. Your priority right now is bulking up, and you’ve still got two months before your official shoot starts.”

See? Even the pro had spoken!

Jiang Shumo smirked inwardly while keeping a perfectly serene expression. “No big deal. I can run lines anytime.”

She might not have delved into the character’s emotional arc, but she had a cheat. She could just let the Ming Zhao personality take over.

System: “……You are something else.”

A true master of slacking!

Liu Wan recalled Jiang Shumo’s performance at the East Road Film and Television audition and felt utterly convinced.

Who cared about the table read? As long as the final performance was solid, nothing else mattered!

After two or three hours of bustling around, Jiang Shumo was polished to perfection from her hair to her toenails. She seemed to glow, her beauty almost otherworldly.

Staring at the flawless beauty in the mirror, Jiang Shumo brushed back the strands falling over her ear and decided to chop her hair short once filming wrapped.

She wanted to rock a short, slicked-back style. This face could totally pull it off!

Anyway, by then she’d be exiting stage left. Who cared what hairstyle she sported?

“Let’s go.”

~~~

Sea City Film City

Yan Qingxu had risen early too. Determined to utterly demolish Jiang Shumo today, she had prepared meticulously well in advance.

From meticulous skincare to deep character study, she had even sworn off electronics for days just to keep her eyes bright and clear.

Old grudges and new ones had her fuming inside.

If she didn’t grind Jiang Shumo into the dust today, she wouldn’t be worthy of the Yan name!

After getting fully dolled up, Yan Qingxu arrived at the set in her van.

As the highest-profile lead, she was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the crew the moment she stepped out.

“Good morning, Teacher Yan.”

“Teacher Yan, you’re here so early!”

“……”

“Good morning to all of you. Sorry to drag you out here at this hour.”

Yan Qingxu had a great temperament and always treated the staff with respect. She responded warmly to nearly every greeting.

You Xin was in the middle of coaching the male lead on his character arc for the leads who had already arrived. He had just gotten started when he heard the commotion.

“You’re here early. Eaten breakfast yet?”

Spotting his voice, Yan Qingxu hurried over with a smile. “What kind of question is that? You think I’d starve myself?”

Her eyes lit up when she saw Zhang Zhou, already in costume beside him. “Brother Zhang Zhou? I thought it was just a coincidence with the name! I had no idea it was really you. I love your dramas—especially We Were Seventeen. I just rewatched it the other day!”

Unlike Yan Qingxu, who had snagged the Film Empress award within three years of debuting and become the country’s top commercial actress, Zhang Zhou was the classic early success story. He had debuted at sixteen, starred in hit idol dramas thanks to his killer looks, and exploded across Asia with We Were Seventeen at just twenty-three. Then he married his co-star and largely stepped away from the spotlight.

Yan Qingxu had assumed it was just someone with the same name—Zhang Zhou wasn’t exactly unique.

Zhang Zhou grinned good-naturedly. “What can I say? The pressure got to me, so here I am earning milk money.”

You Xin shot him a glare. “You punk. You’re a big shot boss now, and you come crying to me for milk money?”

As if he wasn’t just bored out of his mind after a decade at home and itching for a role.

Zhang Zhou threw up his hands in surrender. “No offense meant! You know how the economy’s been these past few years.”

As they bantered, a fresh wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Yan Qingxu sensed it and turned, her gaze immediately snagged by a figure in luminous ivory.

The sun had just peeked out, casting soft golden light that made the tall, graceful woman stand out even more.

Surrounded by staff, she approached, her porcelain skin so radiant it outshone the sunlight itself. A faint halo glowed atop her head, framing her raven hair and snowy complexion in ethereal beauty.

She was stunning!

Yan Qingxu blanked for two seconds, a bad premonition surging in her chest. She looked closer—

Damn it, that was Jiang Shumo!

To be floored by the infuriating Jiang Shumo herself—Yan Qingxu’s iron control was the only thing keeping her from flushing with rage at her own treasonous reaction.

She cursed herself inwardly for being so useless. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Jiang Shumo before. Why act like some country bumpkin?

Composing herself, Yan Qingxu subtly adjusted her posture to ensure she held her own.

You Xin and Zhang Zhou noticed the stir too and looked up, both spotting the blindingly fair Jiang Shumo.

“！！！”

She hadn’t looked this gorgeous even at the audition!

You Xin couldn’t help marveling. Glancing at Yan Qingxu, realization dawned, leaving him equal parts amused and exasperated.

No wonder Yan Qingxu’s skin was on point—these two had been secretly one-upping each other.

Seeing Yan Qingxu stand tall like she was ready for an award stage, You Xin lowered his voice. “I know things are tense between you two. A little rivalry’s fine, but don’t let personal grudges mess up the shoot.”

These characters were bosom friends who yearned to journey together despite oceans of blood and deep-seated hatred!

Yan Qingxu smiled confidently. “You shouldn’t be telling me that. Work always comes first for me.”

It was always Jiang Shumo picking the fight first. Had she ever attacked Jiang Shumo unprovoked?

Never!

You Xin thought about it and realized she was right.

When that scandal about Jiang Shumo blew up online recently, Yan Qingxu had been the first to speak up in her defense. She wasn’t the type to stir trouble and knew how to prioritize the big picture.

Reassured, You Xin planned to have a word with Jiang Shumo later.

In just that short moment, Jiang Shumo had already walked up to You Xin. She offered him a polite smile. “Good morning, Director You. Good morning, Teacher Zhang.”

As for Yan Qingxu?

Not provoking her directly was already a shining example of civility and good breeding. Greet her too?

Fat chance!

You Xin was a real old hand in the industry, but what really hooked him was Jiang Shumo’s stellar audition performance that day. He felt like he’d unearthed a gem. “You’re here early too. Head on over and get your hair and makeup done. I’ll walk you through the vibe for the costume photos afterward.”

“Sounds good. I’ll go now.”

Jiang Shumo turned to leave, but her gaze paused as it swept past Yan Qingxu. She put on a show of surprise. “Oh, Teacher Yan.”

Yan Qingxu: “?”

She couldn’t say why, but that casual address sent a twinge of unease through her.

Jiang Shumo’s eyes raked her over from head to toe, those dark pupils glittering with undisguised judgment. “You really live up to the hype.”

The scrutiny got under Yan Qingxu’s skin, but she forced herself to stay composed. “What exactly are you saying?”

Jiang Shumo’s lips quirked up, her smile thin and razor-sharp. “Wide hips, thick legs, uneven shoulders—your fans nailed it.”

“You!”

Heat flooded Yan Qingxu’s cheeks. She shot a critical glare at Jiang Shumo’s figure, hunting for dirt. “You think you’re flawless?”

Jiang Shumo had on a loose hoodie and light-wash jeans. The hoodie hid her shape, but those jeans hugged a pair of perfectly proportioned, slender legs—gorgeously so.

Damn it, why are her legs that perfect?

The thought flickered across Yan Qingxu’s mind. Realizing she had nothing, she nearly choked on her own breath.

But she recovered fast. Body-shaming was amateur hour. Jiang Shumo might sling mud like that, but she had standards!

In a heartbeat, Yan Qingxu reined in her temper and flashed a mild smile. “I hear Teacher Jiang needs eight or ten stunt doubles on set. Have they shown up yet? We could meet them first—it’d help with teaming up later.”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t spot flaws in Jiang Shumo’s looks. She just refused to play that low.

Stunt doubles? You Xin’s ears perked right up. He shot Jiang Shumo a pointed look. She didn’t bat an eye, just smiled with perfect poise. “I figured anyone with a ninth-grade education wouldn’t swallow that tabloid trash.”

“Looks like entertainment gossip rags keep churning out lies in this country, and Teacher Yan’s leading the charge.”

Yan Qingxu: “!!!”

Jiang Shumo had just called her an illiterate gossip-monger who fell for rumors!

She was livid. Beyond livid!

You Xin jumped in as Yan Qingxu’s ears turned pink with rage, giving Jiang Shumo a half-stern glance. “Cut it out, both of you! Remember the new script—you two are best friends. Keep sniping like this, and I’ll have to tie you together till you bond!”

Both women grimaced at the idea in unison.

Jiang Shumo waved the white flag first. She’d ticked off her daily “cannon fodder side character taunt” quota and saw no point dragging it out. “Director You, acting’s my job. I’m a professional.”

She strode off toward the makeup room.

Yan Qingxu almost barked a laugh in fury. As if she weren’t professional. She’d snagged two Best Actress Awards, while Jiang Shumo’s lone win was just Most Popular Actress. How could she possibly outshine her?

If Jiang Shumo hadn’t started it, she could’ve kept up the polite front!

You Xin watched Yan Qingxu take a deep breath to steady herself. He patted her shoulder. “Don’t sweat it. If Jiang Shumo flops, I’ll rip her a new one for you.”

That lit a fire in Yan Qingxu’s eyes. She smiled through gritted teeth. “Don’t worry, Director You. I’ll bring my A-game.”

She’d show Jiang Shumo what a true Film Empress could do.