Chapter 23

With Ji Linyu’s words, Zhu Xinyue put even more effort into her acting.
The entertainment industry is a place where people judge others by their status. The film set is like a small society, reflecting the fickleness of human relationships and the tendency to fawn over the powerful and look down on the less fortunate.
The makeup and styling for period dramas are complex, so actors usually arrive at the makeup room hours in advance.
As a newcomer, Zhu Xinyue was no exception. For daytime scenes, she had to set her alarm for the early morning and head to the makeup room to get ready.
This movie was a big-budget production, and many actors were vying for roles in it. Even Su Miao, who had trained with her and had previously starred as the female lead in a web drama, was considered experienced. For a fresh face like Zhu Xinyue to appear on the cast list was quite rare.
This scene was a group shot, so Su Miao and Zhu Xinyue went to the makeup room together to wait their turn.
They were the earliest to arrive, so the makeup artists started with them.
A short while later, an actress playing a minor role in the movie arrived, followed by three or four assistants and two bodyguards. The entourage crowded the makeup room, blocking the aisle as soon as they entered.
Someone bumped into Su Miao’s chair, startling her out of her doze and nearly causing her to hit her head on the makeup table. Luckily, Zhu Xinyue reacted quickly and cushioned Su Miao’s forehead with her palm.
Su Miao glared angrily at the person behind her.
Zhu Xinyue wondered inwardly, Who has such poor manners?
Both of them turned to look and met the disdainful gaze of the actress. “What’s your status? Do you even deserve to share a makeup room with me?”
The actress rolled her eyes, making it clear that bumping into Su Miao’s chair had been intentional.
Su Miao’s nails dug into her palms.
After the actress walked past, the makeup artist who had been working on Su Miao and Zhu Xinyue immediately followed her, taking two assistants with them and leaving the two newcomers behind.
Their side of the room suddenly grew quiet, making the other side seem even more bustling in contrast.
Su Miao lowered her voice and gossiped with Zhu Xinyue, "Back when Yan Jiao first debuted, we auditioned for the same role. I got the part, but she didn’t. Later, that drama gained some popularity, and I became somewhat known. She’s held a grudge against me ever since. Now that I’m not as popular, she’s managed to blow up by riding the wave of 'black fame'."
"Black fame?" Zhu Xinyue switched into gossip mode, knowing almost nothing about the entertainment industry in this world.
"She played a mute maid in the hit drama Fleeting Years, which starred Ji Qingyuan. Her team bought a ton of promotional posts and paid top video editors to create clips, hyping up a CP between her and Ji Qingyuan. Her character’s likability was purely due to the role’s setup. In reality, her lines are slurred and unclear, and her voice doesn’t match her face, it sounds sharp and harsh. Every time she stars in a drama using her real voice, it flops and becomes fodder for critics." Su Miao rolled her eyes in Yan Jiao’s direction.
Zhu Xinyue took out her phone and searched for Yan Jiao. The first related search term was her CP name with Ji Qingyuan, Qingjiao (Green Pepper) CP.
...Well, the CP name was certainly down-to-earth.
Further down were rumors about her relationships, some with celebrities, others with wealthy businessmen outside the industry. It was hard to tell which were true and which were false.
"Apparently, her current sugar daddy is the eldest son of Zhenheng Group," Su Miao whispered even softer. "My agent and I attended a private gathering earlier and saw the eldest son with his arm around Yan Jiao. They were laughing and chatting. But everyone knows what kind of person he is, engaged to his fiancee but still fooling around outside. He’s quite the player."
Zhenheng Group? Wasn’t that the company owned by Cheng Er, the guy Zhu Shilang had introduced to her?
Tsk, tsk. It seemed Zhu Shilang hadn’t done thorough background checks. If the eldest brother was like this, how innocent could Cheng Er possibly be?
Zhu Xinyue couldn’t resist sending Zhu Shilang a message.
[Zhu Xinyue: What kind of people are you setting me up with?]
[Zhu Xinyue: Did you know the eldest son of Zhenheng Group is a serial cheater? His reputation gives me a terrible impression!]
It was only 4:30 in the morning, and Zhu Shilang was still asleep.
After spilling the tea, Su Miao seemed to regret it and added, "But don’t tell anyone else. We can’t afford to mess with Zhenheng Group, and Yan Jiao is at the peak of her popularity right now, everyone’s fawning over her."
Zhu Xinyue stiffened slightly. "What would happen if I told someone?"
Su Miao thought for a moment. "You’d probably be fine. After all, you’re on good terms with President Ji. If anything happened, he’d bail you out since you’re one of his artists. Jin Huan Group may not have many artists, but they treat every one like a treasure. I’m so envious of you all."
Hearing the bitterness in her tone, Zhu Xinyue squeezed her palm in comfort and said, "It’s okay. I was just sharing the gossip with my brother, he’s not an outsider."
"Your brother likes gossip too?" Su Miao assumed Zhu Xinyue was just casually chatting with family. "My family loves it too. Every time I go home, they ask me if the tea is legit."
“No, it’s just that he introduced me to a blind date before, someone connected to Zhenheng Group,” Zhu Xinyue said.
Upon hearing this, Su Miao was taken aback, her brother was setting her up on blind dates? Earlier, Su Miao had only been testing the waters to figure out the relationship between Zhu Xinyue and her boss. Now she had a rough idea: Zhu Xinyue was just an ordinary girl. Acting was merely her job; once work was over, she still had to go home for blind dates and marriage.
“What kind of blind date? If the conditions are decent, it might be worth considering. In our industry, minor fame depends on promotion, but major success is a matter of fate. If you’re stuck in obscurity forever, it might be better to go home and find a regular job.” Su Miao worried that her earlier gossip might have interfered with Zhu Xinyue’s marriage prospects and tried to make amends. “Besides, just because the eldest son of Zhenheng Group is like that doesn’t mean all the employees are the same. He’s the only bad apple; it doesn’t reflect on the people below him.”
“What if it’s someone very close to him?” Zhu Xinyue asked.
Su Miao was a bit surprised. An employee who could interact with the eldest son would have to be a senior executive, right? And senior executives… how old would they be?
Of course, there were also young and capable executives. Still, she didn’t want to see a fresh flower stuck in… well, you know. So she silently hoped that Zhu Xinyue’s blind date would be handsome, young, capable, and wealthy… Hmm, just like that Mr. Ji who came to pick up Zhu Xinyue last time! They’d make such a perfect pair. Su Miao indulged in a little fantasy.
“If it’s someone very close, it’s hard to say. But employees can’t exactly stop their boss from doing what he wants, they still need to make a living, after all.” Su Miao spoke cautiously but couldn’t resist asking, “Who is it?”
Zhu Xinyue shook her head. “I don’t know his name either.”
Zhu Shilang had always referred to him as “Cheng Er,” probably based on his family ranking.
The two of them had been left waiting for half an hour, sitting and chatting while snacking on melon seeds, in no particular hurry.
Su Miao loved gossip, and now that she had finally found someone as clueless as Zhu Xinyue, she could share all the juicy details with her.
“Do you know that rising starlet? I heard she’s dating the young master of X Group.”
Coincidentally, Zhu Xinyue had seen the two of them at the Ji family’s wedding banquet.
Zhu Xinyue recalled the scene at the banquet. “No, they’re cousins.”
“Huh? Then why isn’t her team marketing that image? ‘Rich heiress’ is really popular these days,” Su Miao asked.
Previously, when Brother Hu saw that the CEO and chairman of Zhu Chang Group were following Zhu Xinyue’s social media accounts, he panicked and immediately removed all the big-name influencers, afraid that anti-rich fans would come after her and harass her family. He urged her and her family to keep a low profile.
“Maybe they want to stay low-key,” Zhu Xinyue said, scratching her cheek and avoiding eye contact.
Her phone vibrated, a reply from Zhu Shilang.
[Zhu Shilang: ??? I had no idea his brother was like that! His brother is ten years older than him, and they have different mothers. They don’t even get along. He probably isn’t that kind of person, right?]
[Zhu Xinyue: Do your background checks properly next time.]
[Zhu Shilang: Tell me your ideal type, and I’ll find someone who matches it for you.]
Zhu Xinyue laughed.
[Zhu Xinyue: Someone like Ji Linyu.]
After sending that message, Zhu Shilang didn’t reply, probably rendered speechless.
After all, someone as good as Ji Linyu was one of a kind, and over the years, he had never been involved in any romantic relationships. It was possible he simply had no intention of dating.
While she was on her phone, a knock came at the door.
Ji Qingyuan, already finished with hair and makeup, walked in. Seeing that Zhu Xinyue hadn’t put on her wig yet, only wearing a hairnet with her makeup half-done, while the other side of the room was crowded with the makeup team bustling around Yan Jiao, he immediately understood what had happened.
As soon as Ji Qingyuan appeared, the previously lively room fell silent.
Yan Jiao stood up, thinking he had come to greet her on her first day of filming. She greeted him with a sweet smile and a sugary voice, "Qingyuan, good morning."
Ji Qingyuan gave a slight tug at the corner of his lips, then shifted his gaze to Zhu Xinyue.
"Didn’t you leave around three? I thought you’d be ready by now."
Su Miao stood up to fetch a chair for Ji Qingyuan.
He smiled warmly at her, "Thank you, Su Miao."
Su Miao was pleasantly surprised, he actually knew her name!
Zhu Xinyue watched him with the kind of smile reserved for someone you know well when they’re putting on a show.
"Not yet. I’ve been waiting here for an hour," she said, her voice just loud enough for the whole room to hear.
The makeup artist working on Yan Jiao paused mid-action.
Ji Qingyuan gestured toward his private dressing room, "Come do your makeup in my room. It’s empty. Su Miao, want to join?"
Su Miao quickly nodded and turned to gather her things.
Yan Jiao froze.
The makeup artist beside her started to panic inwardly, what was the relationship between those two "background characters" and the male lead?
As soon as Zhu Xinyue stood up, Ji Qingyuan naturally placed his hand on her shoulder, chatting and laughing with her as they walked out.
Everyone saw just how close they were.
At that moment, a makeup assistant whispered, "I heard Zhu Xinyue and Teacher Qingyuan are from the same hometown, they grew up together as classmates."
The makeup artist shot the assistant a glare, thinking to herself, Why didn’t you tell me this before I almost lost my job?!
Once they were out of the room, Ji Qingyuan removed his hand and raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, explaining, "I just wanted people to know we’re close so no one messes with you in the future."
"I know," Zhu Xinyue said with a resigned pout.
Just social niceties, after all.
After Ji Qingyuan’s intervention, Zhu Xinyue never encountered such situations again.
Time on set passed quickly, with busy days one after another.
Zhu Xinyue rarely chatted with Ji Linyu. Most of the time, she would post WeChat Moments visible only to him.
Although Ji Linyu never commented or liked her posts, Zhu Xinyue knew he had seen them.
For instance, the day after she complained about the terrible catering on set, the contractor was replaced, and the food quality improved significantly.
Posting on Moments felt like making a wish.
[Wrapping up filming tomorrow! I wonder if a minor character like me will receive a bouquet of flowers.]
Zhu Xinyue accidentally posted the update before setting the privacy group.
Would deleting it now seem too obvious?
She thought, "Forget it, I don’t have many friends on here anyway."
Su Miao, who had wrapped up filming earlier than her, commented with a "rose" emoji, followed by other trainees from the training base who also sent "roses."
She really did receive flowers. Amused, Zhu Xinyue refreshed her feed, and with each update, new notifications popped up, adding more roses to the comments section.
She kept refreshing with delight.
[Big Boss liked your post]
Next to Ji Linyu’s profile picture was a heart icon.
He had seen it!
So, would she receive flowers from him tomorrow?
Overjoyed, Zhu Xinyue rolled around on her bed.
She was already looking forward to the next day.
The following day, during Zhu Xinyue’s final scene.
After the director called "Cut," Zhu Xinyue concluded all her scenes in "Peach Blossom Spring."
The scene featured the Second Elder mentoring Qingyu in martial arts, with only the two of them in the shot.
As soon as she finished, Zhu Xinyue saw Ji Qingyuan approaching with a bouquet, handing it to her with a smile and praising, "You acted well."
Ji Qingyuan was still in costume, as his next scene with the female lead was about to be filmed.
Zhu Xinyue smiled, pleased with her performance.
"Xinyue." Liang Yuyu walked over, took a bouquet of lilies from his assistant, and handed it to her. "You’re a very hardworking actress. May you stay true to your original intention and have a bright future ahead."
Surprised that Liang Yuyu would also give her flowers, Zhu Xinyue repeatedly thanked him, "Thank you, Teacher Liang."
Liang Yuyu admired her, this girl was anything but spoiled. She executed fight scenes smoothly, never complained about injuries, and her progress and dedication were evident. She was a commendable actress.
In her, he saw a reflection of his younger self when he first entered the industry.
Ji Qingyuan’s gaze shifted between Liang Yuyu and Zhu Xinyue.
They had many scenes together, and Liang Yuyu and Zhu Xinyue often spent time on set, one teaching, the other learning. There had been some gossip circulating, though it never reached their ears. Ji Qingyuan had heard about it and made sure to quash the rumors at the source. Still, he felt that an experienced actor like Liang Yuyu should be more mindful of his behavior to prevent an innocent newcomer like Zhu Xinyue from becoming the center of unwanted attention.
So, when Zhu Xinyue went to change out of her costume and remove her makeup, Ji Qingyuan hooked an arm around Liang Yuyu’s shoulder, leading him away from the crowd to a secluded spot for a talk.
"I've been in the same class as A-Yue since kindergarten. I can tell what she looks like when she likes someone, what she feels for Teacher Liang is nothing but respect and admiration. What I want to ask is, what are your intentions toward A-Yue?" Ji Qingyuan thought that with Liang Yuyu's seniority, if he had no such intentions, these rumors would never have spread in the first place.
Ji Qingyuan and Liang Yuyu had collaborated several times and even exchanged personal contact information. Their relationship was quite good, so his tone was half-serious and half-joking, ensuring Liang Yuyu wouldn’t feel offended.
"Xinyue is a good girl," Liang Yuyu said with a smile, not hiding his admiration for Zhu Xinyue. "You’re at the peak of your career right now. Getting involved in a CP scandal would do more harm than good to your professional life."
Ji Qingyuan finally understood, Liang Yuyu had intentionally let Zhu Xinyue and him become the subject of CP rumors. No wonder their on-screen chemistry was so ambiguous that even the passing crew members couldn’t help but "ship" them.
Given Liang Yuyu’s reputation and acting skills in the industry, being part of a CP with him would actually benefit Zhu Xinyue. As for Liang Yuyu, who had a stable but not explosive career, participating in such rumors was neither here nor there, just a nice bonus.
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. I’ve walked the path of being part of a hit drama without gaining personal fame, it’s not an easy road. If possible, I’d like to help hardworking actors like her, who are willing to put in the effort, avoid some of those detours.
"If being part of a CP with me can make her journey a little smoother, why not?" Liang Yuyu thought to himself, since the young lady addressed him as "Teacher Liang," why not go all out and do a good deed?
Ji Qingyuan fell silent. No wonder Liang Yuyu had such a stellar reputation in the industry, he genuinely supported newcomers.
Liang Yuyu wasn’t ignorant of these intricate tactics; he simply disdained using them for himself. But when it came to helping newcomers just starting out, he was more than willing.
"Thank you, Teacher Liang," Ji Qingyuan conceded, albeit reluctantly.
After Ji Qingyuan left, Liang Yuyu brushed off the leaves on his clothes and was about to leave when he ran into Jiang Rui, whose eyes were slightly red.
"Senior..." Jiang Rui had been hiding in the shadows and overheard everything. She had liked Liang Yuyu for over ten years.
Back in middle school, he was the most outstanding senior from the high school division, giving a speech at a school-wide assembly. Everyone said he was that child star, so dazzling, so within reach. The him on screen was different from the him in real life. In reality, he was the gentle senior who helped his juniors carry lab equipment and the strong-willed senior who stood up against bullying...
She had liked him all this time, up until now. Even her decision to enter the entertainment industry was because of Liang Yuyu.
Hearing that Liang Yuyu was willing to engage in a CP scandal with some unknown actress who was only there because of her connections with Jin Huan Group made Jiang Rui both angry and heartbroken.
She admitted she was jealous, but at the same time, she resented Liang Yuyu for not cherishing his own reputation.
"I’ve liked you for fifteen years," Jiang Rui choked out, tears falling in front of Liang Yuyu.
Liang Yuyu froze, at a loss for what to do.
He... had never really had many fans before; his Weibo followers were all zombie accounts bought by the company. Faced with such a scene, he was uncharacteristically flustered.
From a distance, Zhu Xinyue, having changed her clothes, came out and saw Liang Yuyu and Jiang Rui in a secluded corner, unsure of what they were doing. Just as she was about to greet them, she saw Jiang Rui suddenly hug Liang Yuyu, and then Liang Yuyu immediately pushed her away.
Liang Yuyu seemed to feel apologetic and reached out to pull Jiang Rui back, but she slapped his hand away and walked off without looking back.
"Huh?" Isn't Jiang Rui the female lead of the novel? Why is she hugging Liang Yuyu? System! Say something!
The system picked up on the host's signal and suddenly spoke: "It's today."
"What's today?"
"Ji Qingyuan will have an accident on set today. You need to be prepared to save him. Once you get through this hurdle, you'll successfully protect Ji Qingyuan's career, and your eyesight will recover by half," the system said.
Even now, Zhu Xinyue still had to wear contact lenses.
The next scene was a group shot.
Zhu Xinyue kept an eye on Ji Qingyuan's surroundings. He seemed to notice that Jiang Rui was not in the right state and gently patted her shoulder blade, asking her a few quiet questions.
Standing beside them, Liang Yuyu looked pale, whether it was due to his makeup or something else was unclear. He didn't touch Jiang Rui; instead, he seemed to avoid her as if she were a plague, taking a couple of steps to the side to put distance between them.
As Zhu Xinyue watched their movements, the props crew moved props behind her, rearranging the set.
She stepped aside to make way for the props crew, and her phone vibrated in her pocket.
[Big Boss: Still on set?]
Zhu Xinyue glanced over at Ji Qingyuan and scanned the area.
There didn't seem to be any safety hazards; it probably wasn't the moment for the accident to happen. So, she took out her phone to reply.
[Zhu Xinyue: Yep, flying back to Tianze City tomorrow.]
[Big Boss: I'm passing by your area on a business trip. Want to have dinner tonight?]
Zhu Xinyue wondered, Is it really just a coincidence?
She smiled and replied.
[Zhu Xinyue: Sure!]
[Big Boss: I'll pick you up.]
Zhu Xinyue put her phone away and focused on the actors on set.
Liang Yuyu, who usually nailed his scenes in one take, seemed off today. He stumbled over his lines twice while delivering his dialogue to Jiang Rui. Jiang Rui's performance was also problematic, she kept staring at Ji Qingyuan instead of the Second Elder, who was the subject of her lines.
The director repeatedly yelled, "Cut!"
In this scene, Jiang Rui was injured, and Ji Qingyuan was supporting her while she delivered her lines to Liang Yuyu. Since Jiang Rui and Liang Yuyu couldn't get their part right, Ji Qingyuan couldn't proceed with his performance.
"Let's take a break," the director said, going over to explain the scene to them again.
Zhu Xinyue stood to the side with her arms crossed.
The behind-the-scenes photographer, carrying a camera, came over and, seeing her standing there, gave her a shot. A crew member joked with her, "Qingyu, haven't you snapped out of character even after wrapping up? Still acting as the personal guard protecting the Second Elder?"
Thinking she was watching Liang Yuyu act, ever the loyal bodyguard.
Zhu Xinyue playfully waved her arms at the camera and joked back with the crew, "Even if I turn into a fierce ghost, I'll protect the order on set!"
Her expression was adorable and lively, making the staff laugh heartily.
The camera lens then shifted to the director and others discussing the scene.
Zhu Xinyue’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She guessed it was a message from Ji Linyu, but before she could pull it out, she noticed a chandelier connected by chains to the sky above the director and his group swaying slightly.
Was it the wind?
It swayed for a while and seemed fine. But Zhu Xinyue didn’t think so.
The director had already moved away from the three of them, preparing to resume filming.
Just then, the chandelier suddenly fell!
A single move could affect the whole situation, this chandelier was connected to countless surrounding chains and candle-lit red oil lamps, with flammable decorative drapery hanging beneath.
"Move aside!"
"Ah!"
The incident happened too quickly for anyone to react.
Ji Qingyuan, who was directly under the chandelier, instinctively shielded the actor beside him, ducking his head. He had only taken two steps when a chain struck his back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
As the remaining chains, candles, and hot wax were about to crash down on him and Jiang Rui, a red umbrella suddenly opened in front of them.
Zhu Xinyue held up the heavy prop umbrella, shielding them from the falling chains and flames.
"What are you standing around for? Run!" she yelled at the stunned Jiang Rui, disregarding her own image, urging her to drag Ji Qingyuan out of the collapsing chain zone.
Jiang Rui snapped to attention, pulling the semi-conscious Ji Qingyuan toward safety, but not before glancing back at Zhu Xinyue.
Zhu Xinyue, still in the center of the chaos, turned to rescue other affected staff after saving them.
Holding the umbrella, she helped up a staff member whose leg had been struck and couldn’t walk.
Her vision was nearly obscured by a sea of flames, her eyes stinging from the smoke.
The acrid smell of burning drapery filled the air, and the surrounding temperature was scorching.
Seeing the staff member collapsed halfway, Zhu Xinyue knew she had to go back and save them.
For no other reason than she believed if Ji Linyu were there, he would have done the same.
The prop umbrella was heavy, designed more for aesthetics than practicality, not meant to be held up for long, especially while bearing the impact of chains. Zhu Xinyue’s arms were already trembling.
Just as she thought she couldn’t hold on any longer, a warm, large hand covered hers, and a familiar, fresh botanical scent enveloped her, replacing the foul smoke.
The newcomer held the umbrella with her in that position.
Zhu Xinyue looked up, her nose tingling with emotion.
Ji Linyu looked disheveled, a smudge of soot on his tall nose bridge, his expensive suit jacket singed with holes from the flames, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead from the intense heat.
But he didn’t care.
Ji Linyu took her place, shielding Zhu Xinyue beneath him while single-handedly carrying the injured staff member.
“It’s alright, let’s go.” His tone was calm, carrying a soothing power.
The three of them walked out of the dangerous candlelit area together.
Ji Linyu brought the staff member with the injured leg to the medical team that had rushed over.
Zhu Xinyue watched their retreating figures, but before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, she heard the electronic voice of the system: “Congratulations on successfully protecting Ji Qingyuan’s career. Rewards are being distributed.
“Note: During the reward distribution period, your eyes will be in a state of complete blindness.”
Wait…
Zhu Xinyue thought she had misheard.
The next moment, her vision went black, and she could see nothing.
She could hear the chaotic sounds around her, but it felt as if she had been isolated from the world. Panic set in, her heart pounding wildly as she stood frozen in place, not daring to move.
Someone bumped into Zhu Xinyue, causing her to stagger backward and collide with a nearby box.
She covered her eyes and crouched down.
Of course, such good fortune wouldn’t come to her.
Everything came at a price.
Amid the noise, a steady, firm set of footsteps approached her and finally stopped right in front of her.
Zhu Xinyue felt a breeze rustle her hair, and someone gently patted the top of her head.
“You’re amazing.” It was Ji Linyu’s voice, gentle and clear.
Zhu Xinyue could no longer hold back. She lifted her head and “looked” toward Ji Linyu with her empty, sightless eyes.
“Ji Linyu…” she called his name.
Ji Linyu noticed the abnormality in her eyes, and his heart panicked even more intensely than when he had seen her in the sea of flames.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Linyu enveloped her hand with his large palm, his tone gentle. “It’s alright, I’m here.”
Zhu Xinyue’s fear receded like a tide, replaced by the grievances she only released in his presence.
Her voice trembled, choked with sobs:
“Ji Linyu, I can’t see you.”