Chapter 32: Stage Feelings

Cheng Jinzhi had initially planned not to get involved, but when the group started getting “handsy” with Rong Si, she couldn’t stand by. In her past life, when her family went bankrupt and fell into debt, no small number of people had hinted that she should trade her body.

“What are you doing?” Cheng Jinzhi, in fifteen-centimeter heels, twirled her phone on her long fingers and blocked Rong Si. She looked up at the people before her.

The group looked at Cheng Jinzhi, exchanging glances. “Miss Cheng knows Miss Rong?”

The word “knows” was stressed heavily, and heavily ambiguous. Everyone here had had some contact with Cheng Jinzhi.

Cheng Jinzhi glanced at Rong Si behind her, then at the debt-collecting thugs. “How much?”

The leader beamed, bent low, and held up one finger in front of Cheng Jinzhi.

“One million?” Cheng Jinzhi said lazily, preparing to pull a bank card from her wallet.

“No. One—ten million.” The leader said.

“Ten million?” Cheng Jinzhi shoved the card back into her wallet. “Why don’t you go rob a bank?”

“It was Young Master Rong who borrowed it from Boss Tang. Boss Tang charges rolling interest. It’s been over a month now, and principal plus interest has doubled.”

“So you came here to rob?” Cheng Jinzhi said. “I’d love to know—how many packs of spicy strips does a student in school have to eat to owe you that much?”

Cheng Jinzhi guessed they’d set a trap for Rong Zhan.

“Wrongfully accused! Young Master Rong came to us himself, saying he was in a business partnership and needed money urgently. For a case like Young Master Rong’s, Boss Tang agreed out of respect for Miss Rong.” With that, the leader stole a glance at Rong Si.

What the hell? Rong Zhan was only fifteen this year—hair not even grown and he was trying to play businessman? Cheng Jinzhi glanced at Rong Si. Rong Si grasped her arm, stepped forward from behind her half-sheltering form, and said, “I’ll go with you.”

“Go with who?” Cheng Jinzhi had initially been ready to back down at the mention of ten million. Seeing Rong Si about to go with them, she hastily grabbed her. “Come over here.”

Cheng Jinzhi pulled Rong Si back to her side. “It’s only ten million, isn’t it?”

Holy freaking crap—ten! million! Hearing herself say ten million, Cheng Jinzhi shivered internally. When she’d heard the number at first, she’d been ready to play passerby, one step short of saying, “You guys talk, I’m leaving.”

“See this?” Cheng Jinzhi took out her car key, dangling it on her finger, and shook it. “This car—I bought it for fifteen million.”

“What are you saying.” The leader reached for the key in Cheng Jinzhi’s hand. Cheng Jinzhi held onto it, extending her other hand. “The IOU.”

“IOU, IOU, here you go.” The leader slapped his forehead obsequiously. “Look at me, so happy to see you I nearly broke protocol.”

God damn it! Cheng Jinzhi looked at the key in her hand with lingering reluctance. The moment she hesitantly reached out, Rong Si grabbed her wrist. “You don’t have to. This isn’t your business.”

“You think my fifteen million was given for free?” Cheng Jinzhi shoved it into the leader’s hand. She looked at Rong Si, grinding her teeth at the loss of her beloved car. “Remember how much you owe me now.”

Seeing the standoff between Cheng Jinzhi and Rong Si, the leader was confused. Was this… a fight?

He called over a bespectacled underling, who took the key for a test drive. Ten minutes later, the underling returned and whispered something to the leader. The leader beamed. He grew even more obsequious before Cheng Jinzhi. “Miss Cheng, we can’t take advantage of you. This car now is worth about ten million and two hundred thousand. This two hundred thousand…”

Cheng Jinzhi shot the leader a look, knowing he had no intention of coughing it up. She flicked her hand outward, back of her hand facing him. “Scram.”

“How could I…”

Cheng Jinzhi looked at the leader and gave a smile. “Oh? Then I’m already regretting it.”

“Miss Cheng truly has a wonderful sense of humor. We’ll take our leave and not disturb you two.” The leader and his underlings scarpered in a flash, afraid that if they lingered, Cheng Jinzhi would change her mind.

That loud engine, those nimble wheels. Cheng Jinzhi reluctantly withdrew her gaze. She looked at Rong Si—as if looking at her luxury car. That was a fifteen-million-yuan face.

The fifteen-million-yuan face spoke. “Let’s go up. I’ll write you an IOU.”

Cheng Jinzhi trailed slowly behind Rong Si. “Let me tell you, I charge rolling interest too.”

“Mm.”

“You’re generous, throwing all that money away for your brother.”

“I didn’t know.”

“He was doing business behind your back?” Cheng Jinzhi said. “Rong Si, your parenting is lacking.”

No wonder. Cheng Jinzhi figured Rong Si wouldn’t let her brother do business. He must have been stirring up trouble behind her back. Some people—it’d be fine if they just ate and waited to die. Instead, they randomly get “ambition,” and with the wrong methods, they just cause trouble. You can’t even scold them, because scolding means you’re against their “ambition.” Rong Zhan was hitting rebellious puberty; he’d probably give Rong Si plenty of grief.

“Mm.”

“See, you still should have gone to see him for New Year’s. You let him grow up, but he doesn’t know that—he thinks you don’t love him anymore.” Cheng Jinzhi got excited. See, I told you I’d fly you to Moscow, and you wouldn’t go.

Rong Si lowered her head, uncapped her pen, wrote in flowing script. The IOU was beautifully written.

Huh, she’d clearly done this a lot.

“You want to pay me back twenty million?” Cheng Jinzhi looked at the IOU. Huh? She’d profited?

Rong Si put away her pen. Seeing Cheng Jinzhi’s excitement, she paused. “To me, owing fifteen million and owing twenty million are the same.”

“…” Why was she excited?! That’s only if Rong Si actually repays!

Without her car, Cheng Jinzhi felt hollow. Looked like she’d have to go home in a couple days and drive out some old beater.

Back at the set, they dove into makeup and filming. Two battle scenes were scheduled today. One was the first meeting between Eldest Princess Liu Changxi and Bai Qian; the other was the Eldest Princess severely wounded on the battlefield. In it, Bai Qian was also beautiful enough to draw the lecherous gazes of battle-hardened men.

“There’s a noble one—take him alive.”

“Looks like a delicate little woman. Whoever catches him keeps him.”

These lines made Cheng Jinzhi want to complain endlessly. She rolled her eyes at the original author internally.

Cheng Jinzhi’s war robe was splattered with blood. She dragged her long sword as the crowd slowly surrounded her. She gave a cold laugh, swiftly pressing the blade to her own neck. The prop blade had just “drawn blood” from her neck when the director called cut. Next came the Eldest Princess swinging her long whip to knock the prop sword from Cheng Jinzhi’s hand. The camera zoomed in slightly; the martial arts director walked Rong Si through the movements once more.

“Miss Cheng, do you need a stunt double?”

“No need.” The shot needed her chin; a double would ruin the take.

“Alright, everyone ready.” Wang Zhang picked up her megaphone.

Rong Si looked dashing in this, a red cape over her shoulders, her figure tall and striking. She held the long whip, rotating her wrist.

“Rong Si, don’t use this as a chance to get even with me.” Cheng Jinzhi said haltingly, the makeup artists still fussing over her face for final touch-ups.

“Mm.”

“What does your ‘mm’ mean?! Getting even or not?”

Rong Si didn’t answer. As if testing something, she flicked her wrist, and the whip knocked over a full water bottle in the distance.

“…” Cheng Jinzhi was pushed in front of the camera. She watched the director’s lips move. Was it too late to ask for a stunt double?

The moment Rong Si pulled out the whip, Cheng Jinzhi instinctively flinched. Director Wang Zhang quickly grabbed her megaphone, saying urgently, “Miss Cheng, don’t close your eyes! Right now, you’re the righteous Western Dai prince.”

Stifled laughter rippled through the set. The crew laughed, Wang Zhang herself paused, then laughed along too.

“…” Cheng Jinzhi glared at Rong Si, her ears burning.

Rong Si paused, then looked at Cheng Jinzhi with certainty, as if saying: don’t worry, I won’t hit you.

Rong Si was indeed skilled—in five seconds she’d wrapped the whip around the sword and pulled it from Cheng Jinzhi’s hand.

“Oh, Miss Rong, too fast. Slower.” Director Wang Zhang said. “Maybe another take?”

Cheng Jinzhi was scared to death. She “despairingly” looked at Wang Zhang. How could a director like this exist—did she want to see her actor wet her pants?

“Poor thing.” Wang Zhang laughed at Cheng Jinzhi. “Alright, next scene.”

The next scene was Liu Changxi gravely wounded, at death’s door. Rong Si wore pale makeup, a blood bag in her mouth. The action director arranged their positions; Rong Si lay cradled in Cheng Jinzhi’s arms. Honestly, in character or not, she’d never held Rong Si like this before.

“Action.”

The camera zoomed in. Rong Si bit open the blood bag; blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. “Bold… didn’t I send you to Western Dai? You… left your border post without permission…”

Bai Qian hadn’t been willing to become Liu Changxi’s King Consort, so Liu Changxi had said she’d banish him—but banished him back to his own country instead.

“I am bold… I deserve death. You must wake up and punish me for abandoning my post, punish me…”

Rong Si laughed, more blood spilling out, speaking weakly. “Mm… punish… I’ll punish you…”

“But… how could I bear to…” Her voice grew faint.

Rong Si’s eyes snapped open again, her voice pressing from her chest, carrying subtle crackle. “You may leave now. I won’t survive. My appearance… is far too ugly…”

“Beautiful.” Cheng Jinzhi’s face was bloodless as she stroked Rong Si’s cheek. “The first time I saw the scar on your brow bone, it was like a flower bud blooming in March…”

Cheng Jinzhi tore off her own sleeve, pressing it to Rong Si’s endlessly bleeding mouth. Her eyes rimmed red, lips trembling. “Please… stop bleeding… I can’t stop it… please stop…”

Coming off camera, Cheng Jinzhi rubbed her eyes and breathed several times, fanning her eye sockets. She was in character—God damn it…

“You okay?” Rong Si’s mouth still had blood; she asked without wiping it.

“Wipe the blood off.” She hadn’t come out of the scene yet, looking at the blood on Rong Si’s mouth and feeling oddly… distressed? “Mm.” Rong Si rinsed her mouth, holding her robes as she slowly spat out the blood.