He Yan had a lot of haters. That was mostly due to her repeated attempts to ride Pei Yanchuan’s coattails.
So as soon as Lin Jingxi posted her Weibo, the gossip accounts sprang into action. Riding the wave of the Pei Yanchuan buzz from earlier, the hashtag #He Yan Slacking Off# quickly climbed the trending charts.
[He Yan’s acting again? Another flop, coming right up.]
[Bad acting, bad attitude. The seniors are working hard, and she’s just scrolling through her phone? Pathetic.]
[I heard He Yan pulls the diva act on set all the time.]
[Her? A third-tier nobody throwing diva tantrums? LMAO.]
[Honestly, this post by Lin Jingxi is pretty shady too. One long shot, and we have no idea what He Yan’s actually looking at.]
[It’s break time. Nothing wrong with using your phone. Isn’t Lin Jingxi taking a selfie?]
[Oh great, He Yan’s fans are defending her now? You guys remember how bad her acting is, right?]
Soon, the insults piled up and pushed the trending topic even higher, all the way into the top ten.
When people want to tear someone down, they don’t bother checking facts. They just want another excuse to take a swing.
But He Yan wasn’t even looking at Weibo. She used every spare moment to study, feverishly filling in the gaps in her knowledge. She’d even asked Lin Jingyi to arrange acting lessons for her.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. He Yan looked up.
Xia Yin, the third female lead, was standing behind her. She looked like she wanted to peek at the screen but didn’t quite dare.
“You want to see?” He Yan raised her phone so Xia Yin could see it clearly.
“I—I thought I heard Teacher Wang’s voice. I just wanted to check. Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” Her voice was a little timid.
“It’s Teacher Wang’s acting class. You want to watch?”
“Yes!” Xia Yin’s eyes lit up.
He Yan blinked slowly, her gaze flickering briefly over the girl in front of her.
This young woman was remarkably low-key. She carried herself with an air of quiet elegance, almost like a born heiress but often displayed a shy hesitation, paired with a childlike wonder at new experiences.
It was as if she were a little bird, sheltered for years, suddenly let out of its cage and seeing the world for the first time.
Flustered. And endearing.
He Yan pulled a nearby stool over and set it beside hers. She patted the seat. “Sit.”
Once Xia Yin settled in, the two of them squeezed together, both quietly marveling at Teacher Wang’s acting lecture.
Filming stretched late into the night.
By the time He Yan dragged herself back to the hotel, exhausted, she finally learned about the trending topic.
She didn’t even blink. She tossed her phone onto the bed and went straight to wash up.
When you’re holding a bad hand, any attempt to explain is just wasted effort.
But in another room, Xia Yin was furious.
Why are these people saying such things? He Yan was watching an acting class! How was that slacking off? And it was break time, since when does using your break count as slacking?
Seething, Xia Yin opened Weibo and posted:
Sister Yan Yan was watching an acting class video—I watched it with her! And it was during break time!
But a Weibo post from a newly debuted actress couldn’t turn the tide.
[An acting class? He Yan watching an acting class? Are you kidding me?]
[Who’s this nobody trying to ride He Yan’s coattails now? Since when is He Yan even worth leeching off?]
A torrent of sarcasm and insults flooded in. Xia Yin cried herself to sleep.
A sheltered young lady like her had never experienced anything like this. She’d been raised in the palm of someone’s hand. The only pushback she’d ever faced from her family was when she insisted on entering the entertainment industry.
The next day, He Yan was startled when she saw Xia Yin’s red, swollen eyes.
“What happened to your eyes? Did you cry last night?”
“Mm.” Xia Yin looked utterly aggrieved. “Sister Yan Yan… were you really sad yesterday too?”
“Me? Why would I be sad?” He Yan looked confused.
“A lot of people were cursing at you on Weibo…” Xia Yin quickly covered her mouth. She shouldn’t rub salt in the wound.
“Ah, that’s nothing. There are plenty of people cursing at me on Weibo. If I got sad every time, I’d have cried myself dry by now.” He Yan reached out and patted Xia Yin’s head. “First you have to improve your skills, then let your work speak for itself. Otherwise, any explanation is pointless.”
Xia Yin froze. Oh my gosh… this elder sister is so gentle.
She felt an unexpected surge of strength. All her negative emotions seemed to wash away, and she threw herself into filming with renewed focus.
“Ahhh! Pei Yanchuan is filming nearby!” A voice bursting with shy excitement exploded across the set.
“Really? Where?” Others chimed in quickly.
“Right at that school across the street! I saw him go in—ahhh, he’s so handsome!”
“I have to go see him! Finally, I get to see oppa!”
“Me too!”
In no time, a crowd of young women with a few men scattered among them, gathered, determined to use their break to try their luck across the street.
“He Yan, do you want to come? Pei Yanchuan is right over there!” a young actress asked.
“I’ll pass.” He Yan’s reply was clean and swift.
Hearing that, the actress didn’t push. She quickly merged back into the group.
Lin Jingxi, standing nearby, let out a cold snort. She cast a sidelong glance at He Yan as she rose. “Finally learned some self-awareness, huh?”
With that, she, too, joined the Pei Yanchuan viewing party.
He Yan didn’t even blink. She couldn’t be bothered to spare Lin Jingxi a glance.
The group eventually shuffled their way to the school across the street. Someone familiar with the other production team said a few words, and they were let onto the set, where they stood off to the side, watching from a distance.
It happened to be a break. Pei Yanchuan was seated, reading his script.
A smile tugged at the corner of Lin Jingxi’s lips. She glanced at the staff and junior actors around her, none daring to approach then tossed her hair and stepped forward.
She had once played a minor supporting role in a film starring Pei Yanchuan. They shared a bit of history.
“Film Emperor Pei, what a coincidence, you’re filming here too?” Lin Jingxi leaned forward slightly, a smile curving her lips, her voice deliberately soft and sweet.
At the sound of her voice, Pei Yanchuan looked up and swept a glance over Lin Jingxi.
Who is this?
But years in the entertainment industry and his natural reserve kept any trace of confusion from showing. He offered a polite, mild smile. “Yes. Quite a coincidence.”
Taking his response as a sign he remembered her, Lin Jingxi was thrilled. Words spilled out of her. “I’m filming across the street—Director Zhang’s True and False Heiress. What are you working on, Film Emperor Pei?”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the gesture soft, tinged with subtle allure.
Pei Yanchuan paused for a moment. True and False Heiress? Wasn’t that the drama He Yan was in?
His gaze drifted past Lin Jingxi to the cluster of young actors behind her.
She wasn’t there.
He frowned slightly. “That’s the drama you’re in with He Yan?”
“Yes. I didn’t expect Film Emperor Pei to keep up with such things.” Lin Jingxi beamed, her eyes sparkling with surprise. Could it be he’d actually been paying attention to her?
“Did He Yan not come?”
At the mention of He Yan, Lin Jingxi faltered. Then it clicked, he probably just wanted to avoid her, that’s why he was asking.
“No, she didn’t. She’s still on set.”
Pei Yanchuan’s fingers tightened around his script, though his expression remained composed. “Mind if I visit your set?”
“Of course!” Lin Jingxi barely suppressed a shriek. Film Emperor Pei was this interested in her? Enough to visit her production?
Pei Yanchuan gave a slight nod, exchanged a few words with a staff member, and followed Lin Jingxi, an assistant in tow.
The group of young actors watching from a distance was stunned. Lin Jingxi was this close with Film Emperor Pei? Where were they going?
Just as they were puzzling over it, the two reached them. Seeing the shock and envy in their eyes, Lin Jingxi looked immensely pleased. “Film Emperor Pei wants to visit our set. Let’s go.”
She glanced shyly at Pei Yanchuan and smiled, which only deepened the crowd’s bewilderment. What was their relationship? Were they accidentally stumbling onto some hot gossip?
The group swarmed around Pei Yanchuan and Lin Jingxi as they made their way back to the set.
Lin Jingxi kept stealing glances at the tall figure beside her, her smile unwavering.
As soon as he entered the set, Pei Yanchuan spotted He Yan. She was tilting her head slightly, her hair draping to one side, revealing the pale, delicate curve of her neck. Slender fingers held a script as she talked with Xia Yin beside her.
Her lips moved softly, small and pink.
The director and producers spotted him and immediately rose to greet him, exchanging pleasantries.
Pei Yanchuan responded absently, his gaze drifting uncontrollably toward He Yan.
Why wasn’t she coming over?
Their commotion was impossible to ignore. He Yan and Xia Yin looked up. Xia Yin shot to her feet immediately. “Brother Yanchuan!”
A faint smile touched Pei Yanchuan’s lips. He walked over and stopped in front of He Yan.
Reluctantly, He Yan rose and gave a slight nod. “Film Emperor Pei.”
“Are you two reviewing the script?” His gaze stayed fixed on He Yan.
“Yes! Sister Yan Yan is so kind, she’s helping me break down the scene!” Xia Yin looked up at He Yan with admiration.
Nearby, Lin Jingxi’s face turned green.
Who did this Xia Yin think she was, calling him “Brother Yanchuan”? And with such familiarity! She hadn’t realized it before, but this girl was clearly a green tea bitch.
And then, Xia Yin actually tugged at Pei Yanchuan’s sleeve, her voice sweet and coaxing. “Brother Yanchuan, when do you have time to teach me acting?”
And Pei Yanchuan, he actually reached out and gently patted her head.
Lin Jingxi’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. This was the type the film emperor liked?
“Once I’m done with this round of filming.” His gaze swept over He Yan again before returning to Xia Yin. “Your friend can come too.”
He Yan startled. Friend? Who? Surely not her? No, no, no—not going, wouldn’t dare.
But Xia Yin immediately grabbed hold of He Yan’s arm, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Then Sister Yan Yan can come too, right?”
The corners of Pei Yanchuan’s mouth lifted unconsciously. He gave a slight nod. “You can bring whoever you want.”
Lin Jingxi was practically fuming beside them. What was this Xia Yin to the film emperor? Girlfriend? Didn’t seem like it. Did he really fall for girls who acted this clingy?
“I’ll pass. Wouldn’t want to trouble Film Emperor Pei.” He Yan blinked, her smile polite but hollow.
Study acting with Pei Yanchuan? And risk another scandal on top of it all? What would happen to her hundred million then? Not a chance. Not worth it.
A flicker of darkness passed through Pei Yanchuan’s eyes. His smile faded.
She’s avoiding him.
So, the earlier scandals weren’t something she wanted. They were pushed by her agency. She didn’t actually want to be associated with him.
He Yan, however, was completely oblivious to the inner turmoil behind Pei Yanchuan’s composed expression. Her mind was firmly fixed on Jiang Mingcheng’s hundred million.
After their brief exchange, Pei Yanchuan’s assistant leaned in. “Brother Pei, the director’s calling you back.”
Pei Yanchuan gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Lin Jingxi, who had been standing ignored at the side, panicked. She hadn’t even gotten a word in!
“Pei… Brother Yanchuan? Can we come watch you film again?” Her deliberately cutesy tone made the assistant wince.
Pei Yanchuan’s brow furrowed slightly. He glanced back once more at He Yan, then finally nodded. “Sure.”
Lin Jingxi was overjoyed, thinking to herself that this was the type Film Emperor Pei liked! With that in mind, she shot a smug glance at He Yan, thinking that all of He Yan’s daily clinging to Pei Yanchuan for scandals wasn’t as effective as her simply acting cute.
Meanwhile, on the walk back to their set, the assistant finally blurted out, “God, that Lin Jingxi was so cringe. It’s not like she’s Miss Xia, calling ‘Brother Yanchuan’ like that. Crazy, honestly. He Yan’s way better than her. And honestly, He Yan’s actually gorgeous.”
At those last words, the corners of Pei Yanchuan’s lips curved upward, his eyes softening. He replied quietly, “Yeah.”
She is gorgeous.
**