Chapter 22

Outrageous.
Thank goodness this time, unlike in the book, Young Lady wasn’t fighting alone, and Ji Yujing hadn’t suddenly defected to the heroine’s side.
Wen Jiu called the Young Lady’s agent and calmly laid out everything that had happened, plus what they wanted done about it.
The agent, whom Qin Yao had specifically asked President Chu to arrange for her, was very capable.
Soon enough, she and the company’s legal department produced evidence, grabbed a few particularly “distinctive” troll accounts, and publicly released their IDs and IP locations.
Even a total nobody with Xie Junyu’s tag could pull in millions of views, never mind when it involved the drama he was starring in.
Tens of millions of fans swarmed in first, followed by countless random onlookers.
Once the paid trolls were scrubbed out, what remained were confused passersby and Jade Plates (Xie Junyu’s fans) desperately distancing themselves.
[Wen Ling is way too scheming. The drama isn’t even finished filming and she’s already stirring trouble. Don’t drag my Brother Jun into fake CP hype.]
[The second female lead is really miserable. Book fans all say she fits the elegant-but-poisonous Noble Consort’s image. I can’t say about acting yet, but the face is very on-point.]
[I’m starting to feel sorry for the second female lead. We’re both nobodies and you have to step on me to climb?]
[I used to be neutral on Wen Ling; now I’m kind of turned off. Don’t let her mess up Pearl Chronicle for us.]
[@PearlChronicle @Director Can we change the female lead, please! I don’t want my pure white moonlight Mingzhu played by some scheming girl!!]
That night, Wen Jiu hurriedly set up a Weibo account for Young Lady’s studio, got the verification done, then posted a few casual photos.
Since everything was already trending, might as well siphon some traffic for Young Lady.
The photos, only six in total, were ones she’d gone begging from Young Lady for, all taken when she was studying abroad.
[…That school crest in the back… is that the top global university???
[Studio has confirmed. The second female lead is from Beicheng University? Even as an arts student, that’s super impressive.]
[Undergrad at Beicheng University, grad school at the top global university?? Goddess, please bless me, may I pass my grad exams this year.]
[Enough talking, I’m posting too (never cursed anyone), may I pass all my teacher certification exams in one go.]
Wen Jiu hadn’t bought a single water army, yet the netizens spontaneously formed a worship line, kneeling to the study goddess, praying for academic success and hitting follow.
Wen Jiu: “……”
Honestly, if she were still a college student, she’d be posting under that thread too. Yue Ling had no scandals and a clean background; maybe if you stuck close enough, some of that study-god energy would rub off on you.
It wasn’t the result she’d originally pictured, but no matter.
The Young Lady was a genuine top student, not a fake persona. There was no “house collapse” risk.
The agent then posted Yue Ling’s educational background and degrees on the studio’s official verified account, but skipped any mention of her family.
Of course, netizens were excellent at reading between the lines. Within an hour, they’d dissected every item visible around Yue Ling in those photos and arrived at the obvious conclusion: the second female lead was also a rich second generation.
Seeing things going so well online, Wen Jiu went to find the Young Lady in person.
“Wen Jiu?” Yue Ling was a little surprised to see her so late. She shifted slightly and pointed to the sofa beside her. “Sit.”
“Would you like something to drink?”
They technically weren’t that close yet, but Yue Ling’s presence was so gentle, like a breeze moving through trees, that it naturally eased people’s guard.
Wen Jiu slid her hands from her upright knees to accept the hot milk. “Thank you, Young Lady.”
Hearing the title, Yue Ling’s lips curved in a faint, amused smile. “Wen Jiu, you’re really cute.”
“You don’t have to be so stiff. Weren’t you perfectly relaxed on set today?”
Wen Jiu took a tiny sip of the milk foam on top and nodded obediently.
“Looks like you’re still not very relaxed.”
Yue Ling lowered her head and tapped her phone.
A second later, Wen Jiu’s own screen lit up.
WeChat transfer: 1,000 yuan.
Wen Jiu’s eyes lit up; her head snapped up. “Ah?”
“Now you look much more relaxed,” Yue Ling said with a light laugh, slipping her phone away.
Wen Jiu: !!!
Young Lady had just given her 1,000 yuan purely to help her loosen up.
Wuwuwu, Young Lady was too good.
If she could’ve turned into a little mudfish and wriggled circles on the floor to express her joy, she would have.
“Come look at my painting,” Yue Ling beckoned.
It was something she’d brought yesterday, already mostly finished, though she kept adding details.
It was a traditional ink painting: at first glance, you felt the vast sweep of mountains and rivers; look closer and it was that uniquely Chinese kind of spacious, quiet joy.
“It’s beautiful!” Wen Jiu ran a whole list of words around in her head and still only managed to squeeze out the simplest two.
Seeing she meant it, Yue Ling’s smile didn’t fade. “I want to stand at the very peak, where everyone can see my work.”
She didn’t just do Chinese painting; Western oil painting was also her strong suit.
“But after filming today, I realized acting is pretty good too. It’s like painting in a way, I can experience all kinds of lives. I like it a lot.
I’ll probably be in this industry for a long while. After these three months are up, if you want to stay, you can. If you don’t, you can leave anytime.”
Wen Jiu’s eyes shone, clear and damp, as she met Yue Ling’s gaze.
“When I get the chance, I’ll paint one for you,” Yue Ling added, heart softening unexpectedly as she watched her. The promise just floated out on its own.
Wen Jiu nodded so fast her head almost came off. “Yes, yes, that would be amazing, Young Lady is the best!”
Yue Ling’s brows arched gently. “How come I never noticed you could be so lively before?”
Wen Jiu didn’t dare answer.
She wasn’t sure if she should even be worrying about the Young Lady’s love life.
But the more she thought about it, the more she feared Yue Ling might follow the book’s path and go off the rails. Carefully cupping her milk, she ventured, “Young Lady, do you… like Film Emperor Ji?”
She started with the male lead first.
Yue Ling paused her brush and looked back, answering seriously, “We’re very compatible. We understand and respect each other’s views. If the opportunity arises, I’d like to see if something could grow between us.”
“Then… what about Ji Yujing?” Wen Jiu pressed, even more cautious now.
Maybe she was being paranoid, but she really felt like Ji Young Master was lurking behind a wall somewhere, eavesdropping.
“Yujing’s life is full, but his inner world is empty. He treats me as a kind of spiritual anchor. When he one day understands what liking actually is, that’s when I’ll really talk to him about this.”
Wen Jiu understood.
The very next day, she started loading Ji Yujing up with tasks.
“It’s bad enough I’m your ‘assistant’s assistant,’ and now you want me to lug lights for the crew?” he spluttered.
“Are you going or not?” Wen Jiu planted her fists on her hips, channeling full neighborhood-bully energy.
Ji Yujing swore under his breath but still worked a full day on set.
Forget running after Yue Ling, by the end his wheat-colored skin had turned flushed and tender, the back of his neck red and sore from the sun.
Dumping all her duties on Ji Yujing, Wen Jiu finally experienced the joy of being capital.
That night, as usual before bed, she counted her little balance and got ready to turn in early.
Her phone rang.
“Wen Jiu! Get over here to Young Master’s room!”
When she found his door number and walked in, she slathered the rush-delivery aloe gel she’d ordered onto his neck, prompting a scream like a pig headed for slaughter.
“Bear with it. It’ll feel cool in a bit,” Wen Jiu said, twisting his head back around.
It was a mild sunburn, nothing too serious. A thick layer of aloe gel and some hydrating toner would handle it.
“It hurts like hell. Wen Jiu, if you make me work again tomorrow, I’ll kill you.”
He felt like he was insane, paying money to be Wen Jiu’s assistant and suffer on top of it.
“I have to make sure Young Master feels he’s getting his money’s worth.” Wen Jiu mentally jotted down a few more tasks in her little notebook.
If he still had energy to complain, clearly he hadn’t worked hard enough.
She finished and kneaded his neck. “Does that feel better, Young Master?” Her technique was like she was marinating a slab of pork.
Ji Yujing had enjoyed plenty of professional pampering in his life.
He squinted suspiciously. Is massage supposed to feel like this?
His expression shifted a few times, but he couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. “Quit sucking up, Wen Jiu.”
Wen Jiu withdrew her hands and smiled sweetly. “Young Master, the aloe gel is 100. The massage is 1,000. Don’t forget to transfer.”
Young Master had no concept of normal prices; the first number didn’t faze him. The second: “?”
“Wen Jiu, are you robbing me?”
“You really think Young Master is just a walking ATM?!”
“Tomorrow I’m giving you the day off.”
He went silent for three seconds, then grabbed his phone and sent a transfer. “I’m only paying because you didn’t honestly tell me how much the aloe gel cost. Aside from the 100, that extra 1,000 is absolutely not for your massage, and I refuse to recognize it as such.”
“The extra 1,000 is a tip, got it? For buying the aloe gel!”
Wen Jiu accepted the transfer and did a neat 180. “Mm-hmm, Young Master is so generous. You’re the most generous Young Master I’ve ever met.”
Completely unappeased, and still feeling like he’d been scammed, Ji Young Master: “……”
The next day, Wen Jiu really didn’t call him over to do grunt work.
Instead, she booked him into three months’ worth.
Running errands, fetching lunch boxes, holding reflectors, driving people around…
By the time the third day rolled around, crew members were calling for him left and right, “Ji Yujing! Ji yujing!”, as he staggered back to the hotel. Only then did he realize something was seriously wrong.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to settle accounts with Wen Jiu; he was already drowning in work.
He could have refused, of course, but then Wen Jiu sent him a message.
Wen Jiu: Film Emperor Ji can do it, so you can too. Young Master should show off his strengths.
Ji Yujing: You’re talking crap!
The Young Master stormed off in a huff… and then, with one little detour of his feet, stayed.
He was absolutely going to outdo his brother.
After another full day of work, he passed out that night and slept like the dead, completely forgetting he’d meant to go shake down Wen Jiu.
And just like that, three days passed, and the first week was over.
There were no weekends in the film crew’s world, but Young Master Ji demanded one anyway.
Once he finally had a breather, he thought back over the past week and decided he really was sick.
What on earth had he been doing?
Why had he been obediently working himself to death?
And the worst part, he hadn’t seen Yue Ling once that whole week. He’d clearly come here for her sake in the first place!
Ji Yujing (Dumb, Rich Fool): Wen Jiu, I’m not doing next week’s work!
Wen Jiu got Ji Yujing’s message while she was on set.
The first thing that popped up on her screen was the remark name she’d saved him under.
They were shooting a crowd scene today. A cluster of gorgeous actresses shared the same frame, playing the scheming concubines at a palace banquet.
After finishing her lines, Wen Ling “accidentally” drifted over and blocked Yue Ling’s camera, stealing her shot.
Wen Jiu felt that this woman really refused to give up, still trying to stir trouble for Young Lady.
She glanced back at Ji Yujing’s message and replied:
Sure. Then next week you can stick with me and be Sister Yue’s assistant.
Ji Yujing frowned hard.
No way. Something was off.
Wen Jiu was such a little snake, there had definitely got to be a trap waiting for him.
Wen Jiu couldn’t care less what he was overthinking. She flipped through the script and found next week’s scenes.
Next week there’d be emotional scenes between the Noble Consort and the Emperor, with Mingzhu watching from the side, that is, a confrontation among Yue Ling, Xie Junyu, and Wen Ling.
Perfect.