Time flew by, and soon it was just two days before the filming of 《Twins》 was set to begin. Yan Ji needed to head to the production set to shoot promotional photos.
Her previous assistant had resigned after starting a relationship, and Zhang Tong hadn’t had the time to interview a proper replacement. With filming for the new drama just around the corner, he had simply handpicked a capable and hardworking newcomer from the company.
The filming location for the drama was nestled in the scenic Jiangnan region, so Yan Ji and her new assistant flew out together. Before boarding, the assistant, Weiwei, had already arranged their hotel accommodations, allowing the two to head straight there the moment they landed.
“Sister Yan, are you hungry? Should I order some food first?” Weiwei checked the time on her phone before looking up at the strikingly beautiful woman before her. “You can eat before we head to the set. It’s still early.”
Yan Ji let out a soft yawn and leaned lazily against the sofa, her long, fair legs bending slightly as she nodded. “Go ahead and order. I am a bit hungry.”
……
After lunch, Yan Ji made her way to the set.
Meng Yiming had already arrived. Dressed in a black trench coat with his hair meticulously styled by the makeup artist, he sat on a stool reviewing his script. He truly carried the effortless aura of a national heartthrob.
Yan Ji’s arrival instantly drew a wave of attention.
After all, her popularity had been skyrocketing lately, completely overshadowing the other trending actresses. The production itself had even landed on the hot search because of her. Someone with that kind of star power was naturally handled with care, even by the director.
Meng Yiming noticed Yan Ji’s entrance as well.
His initial instinct was to stand up and greet her, but then he remembered how she had completely ignored his messages for days on end. Too frustrating.
At the thought, Meng Yiming let out a soft, petulant snort and forced his attention back to his script.
Yan Ji had no idea what was going on in his head. Seeing how intensely focused he appeared, she chose not to disturb him and headed straight for the dressing room instead.
Along the way, staff members respectfully and enviously greeted her. Yan Ji merely offered polite nods and gentle smiles in return.
“Her skin is unbelievably good…… and she’s completely barefaced. Looking at the pimples on my own face makes me want to cry!”
“I thought all her photos online were heavily photoshopped, but she’s actually even prettier in person. How are other celebrities supposed to compete?”
“Haha, I heard Qin Yu’s visuals are amazing too.”
“I saw her at the awards ceremony. She’s definitely pretty, but she still can’t compare to Yan Ji.”
The hushed whispers behind her drifted clearly into Yan Ji’s ears. Her eyes narrowed slightly into a satisfied smile as she stepped into the dressing room.
The costume stylist handed Yan Ji a white qipao embroidered with large, vibrant red peonies. It was exceptionally stunning.
Yan Ji changed into the dress and stepped into a pair of black high heels. Every step she took exuded elegance and charm. The qipao hugged her figure flawlessly, and with every movement, her long legs peeked enticingly through the high side-slit.
Seeing Yan Ji emerge from the changing area, the makeup artist quickly approached, tools in hand. “Sister Yan, let’s get started on your makeup.”
“Mhm.” Yan Ji sat in the vanity chair, closing her eyes as she let the makeup artist work across her face with an array of brushes and products.
Her natural complexion was already flawless, leaving virtually nothing that required concealing. The makeup artist applied only a sheer, simple base before channeling the rest of her effort into the eye makeup.
In 《Twins》, the character Lian Chuchun was arrogant, spoiled, and breathtakingly seductive. After a moment of deliberation, the makeup artist used a deep eyeshadow to blend out the corners of Yan Ji’s eyes, slightly lifting the eyeliner upward.
The makeup was completed in no time.
Yan Ji kept her eyes closed, looking a bit sleepy, so the hairstylist immediately stepped forward to begin working on her hair. She meticulously arranged her locks into a classic S-wave updo, the height of fashion during the republican era. Standing back to admire her work, the stylist looked at the beauty in the mirror— her eyes were shut, her porcelain skin glowed, and her features were exquisitely delicate.
Yet, with her eyes closed, it felt as though the final, defining touch was missing.
With that thought, the stylist said softly, “Sister Yan, we’re all done. Take a look and see what you think.”
Yan Ji slowly opened her eyes.
In the mirror, the resting beauty suddenly unveiled a pair of shimmering, liquid eyes. Her gaze flowed with an irresistible, soul-stirring allure. She stood up, took two graceful steps toward the door, and then abruptly paused to look back, casting a brilliant smile over her shoulder at the stylist.
At that exact instant, the stylist felt as if her heart had skipped a beat.
It was a smile capable of launching a thousand ships— a single glance that held a hundred charms.
Seeing the stylist staring blankly at her in a daze, Yan Ji nodded with satisfaction. She casually picked up a silk round fan from a nearby table, giving it a gentle wave as she glided out of the dressing room.
Nearly everyone who caught sight of Yan Ji froze in their tracks.
The woman in the white qipao descended the stairs with unhurried, graceful steps, lightly fanning herself. Her calm gaze swept across the room, casting an enchanting spell that made everyone feel as though they had truly been transported back to the republican era.
Deep amazement flashed across Meng Yiming’s eyes.
His throat tightened, rendering him completely speechless. Only a single ancient verse echoed in his mind— ‘In the north there lives a beauty, peerless and independent.’
Catching himself, he cleared his throat with a light cough. Seeing Yan Ji walking directly toward him, he subconsciously straightened his back.
“What do you think? Don’t I look beautiful in this style?” Yan Ji sat down beside Meng Yiming, casually waving her fan.
A faint, intoxicating fragrance drifted into his personal space, making his heart itch strangely.
Meng Yiming forced his gaze away and replied with practiced calm, “It’s alright. Just so-so.”
Yan Ji let out a soft snort, shooting him a half-smiling glance. That fleeting, playful expression struck Meng Yiming directly in the chest.
He couldn’t help but think that Yan Ji must be some sort of fox spirit, born specifically to steal people’s souls.
“The director has a bout of diarrhea and is still stuck in the restroom. The screenwriter is caught in traffic, and Qin Yu hasn’t arrived yet either. We’ll probably have to wait another half hour.” Meng Yiming offered, breaking the silence.
Yan Ji nodded slightly. “Then we’ll wait. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway.”
Meng Yiming subtly wiped the sudden sweat from his palms.
Whenever Yan Ji was near, he always felt completely derailed. He just couldn’t stop the overwhelming urge to lean in closer to her.
After a moment’s thought, he pulled out his phone, deciding that a thrilling round of 《Honor of Kings》 was exactly what he needed to calm his racing heart.
“Hm? What’s this?”
A curious voice drifted right next to his ear.
Meng Yiming turned his head, only to find Yan Ji tilting her head as she leaned in close to peer at his screen. The collarbone area of her qipao featured a delicate teardrop cutout. He caught a fleeting glimpse before immediately snapping his gaze away. In his sudden distraction, his fingers slipped, accidentally locking in Luban as his character.
He cleared his throat. “It’s a game called 《Honor of Kings》.”
“Oh.” Yan Ji nodded, shifting even closer to get a better view.
Meng Yiming took a deep, steadying breath.
Perhaps because a breathtaking beauty was watching his every move, he suddenly played as if he’d been injected with chicken blood. Triple kills and quadra kills flashed across the screen one after another, and he flawlessly carried his teammates to a spectacular victory.
Yan Ji offered her praise, “Wow, you’re really good.”
Meng Yiming raised his brows, an intense wave of satisfaction and delight swelling within his chest.
Of course, he was good. Did she think he was just a pretty face?
Just as the match ended, Qin Yu made her entrance.
Today, she wore a striking strapless dress designed to put her long legs on full display, making them an instant eye-catcher. Her makeup was absolutely immaculate.
Qin Yu’s gaze swept across the bustling set before locking onto Yan Ji for a tense couple of seconds. A flash of pure resentment darted through her eyes.
If there was one thing she absolutely detested, it was having someone steal her spotlight. And once again, it was this exact woman.
“Sister Qin, please head to the dressing room first for your wardrobe and styling.” A makeup artist greeted her warmly with a bright smile. “The director went to pick up the screenwriter and should be back in about ten minutes.”
Qin Yu let out a soft, dismissive hum. She touched her elegant pearl earrings before loftily leading her two assistants toward the dressing room.
It wasn’t long before Qin Yu reemerged, now dressed in a blue-and-white porcelain-patterned qipao, her waist swaying elegantly as she walked. Compared to Yan Ji’s dramatic look, her makeup was much lighter. Overall, she was undeniably stunning— provided Yan Ji wasn’t standing right next to her for comparison.
Five or six minutes after Qin Yu finished changing, the director and screenwriter finally hurried onto the set.
Director Liu spotted Yan Ji in the crowd instantly, a look of profound amazement lighting up his face. Even the normally stoic screenwriter couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“Hahaha, looks like everyone is here! Let’s not waste any time, then.” Director Liu barked, clapping his hands together. “Once we wrap up these promotional photos, everyone can have a rest day before filming officially starts the day after tomorrow!”
The set immediately burst into motion, and the lead actors stood up to follow him.
The photographer had already set up the lighting and equipment.
First, they shot the individual portraits for Yan Ji and the rest of the cast, followed by the paired promotional shots of Meng Yiming and Qin Yu.
Qin Yu stood beside Meng Yiming, tilting her head to gaze up at his profile with eyes practically brimming with affection. Meanwhile, Meng Yiming stared straight ahead into the camera, a roguish, charming smile curling the edge of his lips.
“Perfect.” The photographer called out, lowering his camera slightly. “Next pair!”
Yan Ji walked forward. As she brushed past Qin Yu, she caught the faint, mocking laugh the other woman let out.
Yan Ji merely narrowed her eyes slightly, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Meng Yiming raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. “How do you want to do this shot?”
Yan Ji didn’t answer right away.
After a moment of deliberation, she leaned slightly forward and gripped Meng Yiming by the collar. The warmth completely vanished from her face. There wasn’t a single trace of light left in her beautiful eyes— only an inexplicable, heavy sense of despair and oppression.
Meng Yiming froze for a fraction of a second before instantly slipping into character. His own expression melted away as he stared deep into Yan Ji’s eyes, a complex, unreadable storm of emotions surging within his gaze.
A heavy, suffocating atmosphere instantly enveloped the pair. It left the onlookers feeling tense and breathless, yet completely captivated by the hidden depth of the story unfolding between them.
Recognizing the brilliant chemistry, the photographer hurriedly pressed the shutter. “Perfect! Done!”
……
After more than an hour, the promotional photo shoot finally wrapped up.
Before heading out, Yan Ji said her goodbyes to Meng Yiming and returned to the hotel with Weiwei.
Meng Yiming stood in place, tracking her departing figure for a long moment. When he finally turned around, he realized Qin Yu had materialized beside him at some point.
Having already changed back into her striking strapless dress, Qin Yu offered him a seductive smile, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Interested in grabbing a drink tonight?”
Meng Yiming cast a sidelong glance at her before indifferently looking away. “No, thanks. Filming starts the day after tomorrow, so I need to head back and get some proper rest.”
Truth be told, his impression of Qin Yu wasn’t particularly good.
With that curt refusal, he turned on his heel and left with his own assistant.
Qin Yu’s expression twisted with resentment for a fleeting second. She stared deeply after Meng Yiming’s retreating back, slowly licking her lips as a dangerous, determined glint surfaced in her eyes.
Any man she set her sights on was a man she would absolutely get.
……
The day after the promotional shoot, the calm was shattered. Several major entertainment accounts on Weibo simultaneously dropped the exact same explosive piece of news.
【Popular Actress Yan Ji’s Explicit Video Leaked! Who Knew She Was Actually This Kind of Person?!】
Instantly, the entire internet exploded.