After the other colleagues from the crew chattered away, explaining to the person in charge just how good Qi Ke and Song Yushi’s relationship was—even holding hands while sleeping—the person’s gaze shifted from “You’re pretending for business, but your sisterly bond seems deep” to “You two wait here, I’ll go move the Civil Affairs Bureau over.”
Song Yushi’s face was numb.
Qi Ke also found it a bit hard to listen to. She whispered, “It is a bit exaggerated.”
Song Yushi: “So why was there a mu…”
She couldn’t bring herself to say “mua,” so she mumbled and gestured with her chin for Qi Ke to explain.
Qi Ke held back a laugh. “It was actually ‘mua de.’ As in, ‘ma de’ (damn it). But I’d rather people think I was kissing you than cursing you.”
Only then did Song Yushi realize the blind spot. “…You were cursing me?”
Qi Ke: “I wasn’t!”
She glanced toward the stage, and Song Yushi instantly understood. Qi Ke had been cursing the person who was speaking.
Song Yushi was speechless.
Disrupted by the note, the speech sped up considerably and ended early. The director’s team took the person in charge out to eat, and the head writer directly announced the end of the meeting.
The boundary between dusk and night was almost nonexistent in winter. The last sliver of light on the gray horizon plunged into darkness. Beneath the continuous streetlights, the snow had lightened, fluttering in the cold wind. When someone passed by, their footsteps made crunching sounds in the snow.
Song Yushi grabbed a quick bite and returned to her room, greatly relieved to learn that Qi Ke had gotten a room opposite hers, 1906, and wouldn’t be staying with her.
Xiao Nan looked regretful. “Boss, why would Teacher Qi waste money like that?”
Song Yushi: “She’s rich.”
Xiao Nan: “…” Right.
With nothing else to do that evening, Song Yushi let Xiao Nan go home. When she came out of the shower, she found that Qi Ke had sent her several messages.
Song Yushi sat on the sofa, opening the chat window while drying her hair.
Qi Ke: I heard there’s a fireworks festival today. My room is the perfect viewing spot. Come watch.
Qi Ke: I ordered hotpot takeout. Hurry up.
Qi Ke: Look at my Moments.
Song Yushi first replied with a refusal: Not watching, I need to sleep. Not eating, I’m on a diet.
Then she opened her Moments.
The first post was from Qi Ke.
Qi Ke: Question: When the Captain doesn’t reply to messages, what is she doing?
The comment section was filled with replies from their mutual friends.
Meng Ying: In the past, she’d be practicing her dancing. Now, she’s probably reading a script. In short: she’s working, do not disturb.
Chengzhi: Probably sleeping. Sob, our Captain works so hard. #MangosteenEntertainmentYouHaveNoHeart. Hey Qi Ke, you blocked the boss from seeing this post, right?
Qi Ke replied to Chengzhi: Nope.
Chengzhi replied to Qi Ke: My account was hacked.
Zhong Yi replied to Chengzhi: You’re a dead woman.
Zhong Yi: Please stop while you’re ahead!
Sister Ming: Please stop while you’re ahead!
Meng Ying: Ah, but think of the worst-case scenario. Maybe she’s not busy and just doesn’t want to reply to you?
Qi Ke replied to Meng Ying: Scram!
Song Yushi’s movements slowed as she dried her hair. She couldn’t help but smile and replied to Meng Ying: Mm-hmm.
Her WeChat vibrated with a new message.
Qi Ke: The hotpot’s here. It has your favorite fatty beef rolls and shrimp paste. Eating it is a win.
Qi Ke: Come on, come on, the fireworks are beautiful.
Qi Ke: I swear on my honor, I won’t do anything to you.
Song Yushi was silent for a moment.
She wasn’t an easy person to persuade, but if asked a few more times, she would always soften up. Qi Ke knew this about her better than anyone.
Song Yushi replied: Wait for me.
Just as she was about to grab the hairdryer, the doorbell suddenly rang without any warning.
Resigned, Song Yushi crossed the carpet, slipped on her slippers, and said as she opened the door, “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? You… huh? Teacher Qian?”
Standing outside was Qian Fei, a senior actor from their crew who played the male lead’s older brother in the drama.
Song Yushi was wary on the inside, but a smile quickly formed on her face. “Teacher Qian, did you need something?”
Of course, Qian Fei didn’t actually need anything from Song Yushi. As someone who had been in the entertainment industry for years, he didn’t have many achievements, but he was well-connected, and juniors had to show him respect. Naturally, a status like his also made it easy to trick young women into bed.
This time, he had set his sights on Song Yushi.
So what if she was a Hundred Flowers Best Actress? She still had no backing, no capital, and was at the mercy of others. He could easily hook her by promising a couple of resources, become a “crew couple.” It would be a waste not to take advantage.
So he had come to find Song Yushi. He stared at her intently, a flash of covetous admiration in his eyes. “It’s nothing, I just wanted to come and chat with you. Are you free?”
Song Yushi hesitated. Before she could speak, Qian Fei added, “To discuss the script. Let’s not stand in the doorway; it wouldn’t be good if the paparazzi caught us.”
Song Yushi’s hand tightened on the doorknob. After a moment, she stepped aside, clearing a path for Qian Fei.
Qian Fei walked in and glanced around. “Qi Ke isn’t here?”
Song Yushi replied distractedly, “Yeah, she’s staying in the room opposite.”
Qian Fei thought to himself, Heaven is on my side. He sat down on the living room sofa, looking Song Yushi up and down, making no effort to hide his desire. “Yushi, with a figure like yours, your boyfriend must be a very lucky man.”
Song Yushi barely managed to suppress her disgust and said, “Teacher Qian, you should know I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“No boyfriend?” Qian Fei exclaimed with exaggeration, then added as if in sudden realization, “It must be that Yushi’s standards are too high, too picky when choosing a boyfriend.”
Song Yushi just smiled.
Her standards were picky; she didn’t choose men at all.
Believing he had closed the distance with his humor, Qian Fei pressed his advantage, bragging about himself to the high heavens. Song Yushi was so embarrassed her toes were curling, on the verge of digging a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor. Only then did he get to the point.
Qian Fei scooted closer to Song Yushi and deliberately lowered his voice. “Yushi, what do you think of me?”
Song Yushi leaned back and said vaguely, “Teacher Qian is a very dedicated actor.”
“Tsk! I know that.” Qian Fei said smugly. He draped his arm over the back of the sofa behind Song Yushi and raised an eyebrow. “I mean, as a man, what do you think of me?”
Song Yushi: “…”
Would it be inappropriate to use the word ‘greasy’? she thought.
Song Yushi chose to remain silent.
Qian Fei, however, mistook her silence for shyness. Feeling pleased with himself, he grabbed Song Yushi’s hand and pressed further. “Yushi, I know you like me too. After all, few women can resist a man like me. Don’t worry, as long as you’re with me, I guarantee these next few months on set will be absolutely ecstatic and unforgettable…”
Song Yushi kept her head down, her eyes fixed on the hand Qian Fei was using to grab hers. Her mind was buzzing, and she couldn’t clearly hear what he was saying. By the time she snapped back to reality, Qian Fei was already leaning in to kiss her.
Song Yushi neither flinched nor dodged.
Qian Fei gave a sleazy smile. “Our Yushi is so obedient.”
The man’s nauseating smell was inches away. Song Yushi closed her eyes as the strings in her mind snapped, one by one. Her free hand slowly clenched into a fist.
“Pow!”
One punch drew blood.
The air was silent for two seconds.
Then, Qian Fei’s miserable scream pierced the night sky.
By the time Qi Ke swiped the key card and burst in, Qian Fei had already been beaten so badly he was lying on the floor, unable to even cry out, only soft whimpers escaping him.
Song Yushi stood ramrod straight in front of him, her slender body trembling slightly. The fist hidden by her long sleeve was tightly clenched, and blood dripped from between her fingers, pattering onto the carpet at her feet.
Qi Ke strode over quickly. “Yushi!”
Song Yushi seemed stunned for a moment. She turned her head slightly, her long hair disheveled, her small, pale face expressionless. The moment she saw Qi Ke, her features softened slightly. She stammered, “…I’m sorry.”
Qi Ke pulled her into an embrace. “What are you apologizing for at a time like this?”
Song Yushi leaned against her, her long, slightly curled eyelashes trembling. She whispered, “I told you to wait for me, but I didn’t go.”
Qi Ke’s heart instantly softened. She looked with disgust at Qian Fei, who was dazed from the beating on the floor, and kicked him. “Hey, do you have any idea whose person this is?”
Qian Fei thought Qi Ke had come to save him. He grabbed onto her and started wailing, “Help me!”
Song Yushi straightened up, looking like she wanted to go over and land another punch.
Qi Ke held her back. “Don’t hit him anymore.”
Song Yushi’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Qi Ke, a hint of grievance in her expression.
Seeing this, Qi Ke’s heart itched. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. Before Song Yushi could react, she delivered a flying kick that sent Qian Fei sprawling on his back.
Qi Ke smiled. “What I meant was, you stop hitting him. It’s my turn. Let him find out what happens when you covet someone who belongs to me.”
Song Yushi felt compelled to remind her, “I’m not your person.”
Qi Ke: “…” Why get hung up on that right now! Can’t we just present a united front!
Song Yushi: “?” Whatever, she thought, I won’t ruin her moment.
Qi Ke pressed the key card for the room across the hall into Song Yushi’s hand. “Be good. Go wait for me over there. I’ll take care of him and then come find you.”
Song Yushi was a little worried. “…Don’t kill him.”
Qi Ke: “Do I look like that kind of person!”
Song Yushi tilted her head in thought. “Hard to say.”
Qi Ke: “…” Since you’re being so cute, I won’t argue.
Song Yushi wanted to say more, but Qi Ke put an arm around her shoulders, turned her around, and said soothingly, “Alright, alright, I’ll spare his life.”
After Song Yushi left, still half-doubting, Qi Ke turned back, kicked the door shut, and added with a smile, “But I will make you wish you were dead.”
The greasy Qian, still flat on his back: “………”
What are you going to do!!! This is a society governed by law!!! Help!!
Why wait for updates? Get all chapters now and read the entire story on your schedule.
