Slightly tipsy from drinking, Shi Wei Yue was escorted home by Shi Xiang Ling and the driver. Despite repeatedly insisting that she had a high alcohol tolerance and wasn’t the least bit drunk, Shi Xiang Ling still treated her like a child even going so far as to go upstairs and personally prepare a bowl of fruit yogurt to help sober her up.
The woman, who exuded an elegant and refined aura in front of outsiders, had taken off her coat and tied on an apron, adding a touch of liveliness to her demeanor. No longer did she resemble the ethereal, unapproachable fairy of public perception. The light outlined their delicate, somewhat similar features as the kitchen door remained slightly ajar. Shi Wei Yue watched from outside, pressing her thin lips together before softly murmuring in a voice barely above a whisper:
“Elder Sister.”
Her call was so quiet it might as well have been spoken to herself.
In her previous world, Shi Wei Yue had more than one sister, but she had never been close to any of them. Shi Xiang Ling’s kindness came at her like a tidal wave for someone who yielded to softness rather than force, tenderness was the most lethal weapon, and she found it hard to resist.
The whispered words went unheard by the woman in the kitchen. When Shi Xiang Ling emerged again, she was holding a bowl of fruit yogurt.
The yogurt in the glass bowl was beautifully presented peeled green grapes, finely diced apples, and soft slices of banana adorned the mixture. Most of the fruits were chosen for their sobering properties, and a touch of pomegranate juice had been added to the yogurt for flavor, making it refreshingly sweet without being cloying.
Aside from the housekeepers hired by the original owner of this body, this was the first time Shi Wei Yue had eaten homemade dessert prepared by someone else. The burst of juices from the assorted fruits in her mouth made her narrow her eyes slightly from the sweetness.
Shi Xiang Ling might have looked like a pampered young lady who had never lifted a finger in her life, but in reality, she was far more capable and composed in both personality and skill. No wonder Shi Wei Yue’s father and the other elders favored this elder sister more.
Lost in thought, Shi Wei Yue continued eating her yogurt.
**
Past midnight, the clamor of the city gradually faded into silence. The scenic Changgu Valley, embraced by mountains and rivers, lay in the outskirts of M City, yet one particular spot remained bustling with activity.
Lights and set pieces were all in place. The assistant director, action director, and equipment team were conducting final safety checks to eliminate any hazards. Inside a makeshift tent, the makeup artist was touching up the lead actress Ye Jialan under the glow of the lights. Outside, Wen Ruxing stood with a paper script in hand, slowly flipping through it, her slender shadow stretching long under the set lights.
Her delicate fingers skimmed over the annotations for this fight scene. Unlike many scripts that glossed over details and left actors to interpret emotions on their own, Wen Ruxing was accustomed to preparing two versions, one with emotional cues added to key moments, and another cleanly formatted version for actors to annotate themselves and develop their character studies.
The script she held belonged to Ye Jialan’s character, and she was carefully reviewing the actress’s own notes and interpretations. Wen Ruxing’s gaze lingered on the neat, densely packed handwriting when a chilly autumn wind sent the pages fluttering. She raised a hand to steady them just as a tall shadow fell over her, blocking her line of sight.
Wen Ruxing lifted her head with a trace of impatience.
Standing before her was Fu Tingshen. Though he had no official role in the production, his hefty investment in the drama granted him the privilege of dropping by during his free time. At least on the surface, the director welcomed him warmly, addressing him with repeated, ingratiating calls of “President Fu.”
The only person in the entire crew who didn’t give him much face was probably Wen Ruxing. After all, every time he showed up, he’d stir up some trouble to add scenes for himself. Wen Ruxing knew this man’s rotten temper wouldn’t change, but she wasn’t exactly the most patient person either. Lately, she found Fu Tingshen increasingly unbearable, to the point where she could hardly tolerate him anymore.
The tall man stood silently beside her, but the height difference didn’t make Wen Ruxing feel pressured. Instead, the woman turned her head and moved to another spot, avoiding having part of the light blocked by him.
Fu Tingshen’s throat moved slightly, as if he had something to say, but in the end, he swallowed his words.
Ye Jialan finished her touch-up and stood outside, warming up while listening to the director explain the scene.
The action sequence Wen Ruxing had designed was challenging for an Omega, so initially, they had intended for an Alpha to perform it. However, the gentle temperament of the female lead contradicted that of most Alphas. In the end, Fu Tingshen, as the producer, insisted on giving the role to his agency’s artist, Ye Jialan.
Wen Ruxing had also watched some of Ye Jialan’s previous performances. She wasn’t the most technically skilled actress, but she made up for it with natural talent and hard work, which was why Wen Ruxing eventually agreed to cast her.
In the original story, this scene involved the female lead encountering a fleeing drug dealer and capturing him alone. The sequence was thrilling, intense, and packed with confrontational moments.
The director was known for being strict in the industry and didn’t allow actors to rely on stunt doubles for everything, if they could do it themselves, they had to. However, considering Ye Jialan was an Omega, he asked beforehand if she could handle it, to which she gave a firm yes.
In fact, Ye Jialan was eager to try. This was her first time playing a lead role, and while she was nervous, she also wanted to prove herself. She had studied the script thoroughly, carefully analyzing every expression and emotion of her character.
Once everything was confirmed, the director called for action, and Ye Jialan immediately dashed forward without hesitation, executing the moves taught by the fight choreographer as she leaped onto the car ahead.
She ran so fast that the wind roared in her ears. The stunt was undeniably dangerous, even for an untrained Alpha, it would have been difficult.
The actor playing the drug dealer, in desperation, pulled out a gun and shakily aimed it at the female police officer charging toward him. The officer flipped to dodge the bullet, only to see the dealer attempt to attack an innocent bystander. At the critical moment, she executed a drifting motion and lunged forward.
“Thud!”
Ye Jialan slammed hard into the car. She hadn’t been able to brake in time, and the impact left her dazed, her hand scraped and bleeding. Still, the effect was decent. But then, a man’s voice came through the megaphone:
“Cut!”
It was Fu Tingshen who had shouted it not the director. No one knew when the megaphone had ended up in his hands. At his command, many turned around in surprise.
Fu Tingshen’s handsome face was full of displeasure as he turned to glare at Wen Ruxing, who stood not far from him.
But before he could speak, Wen Ruxing, well aware of Fu Tingshen’s temperament, cut in first:
“It’s scripted.”
“Then why write such a troublesome script?” Fu Tingshen remained unsatisfied with her explanation. “I have an obligation to ensure the safety of the artists under my management.”
Wen Ruxing: “…”
She cursed inwardly, her beautiful eyes simmering with dangerous emotions, barely holding back an explosion.
This wasn’t the first time Fu Tingshen had meddled like this. Under the guise of concern, he always thought his ideas were superior, insisting on ridiculous script changes. As a screenwriter, Wen Ruxing couldn’t stand people like him.
Not long ago, they’d attended a drinking gathering together. When she’d switched to water after reaching her limit, a common unspoken practice that few would challenge, Fu Tingshen had bluntly called her out, infuriating her.
“Director Zhou, Sister Ruxing, President Fu, my apologies. The issue was mine earlier. Let me try again, we can get this scene right.”
As tensions threatened to boil over, Ye Jialan quickly intervened to mediate. She gently placated Fu Tingshen first, then went to coordinate with the director. After two more takes, a breathless Ye Jialan finally nailed the scene.
Yet Fu Tingshen’s expression remained stormy, though it was unclear who had provoked him. When the director called wrap, the man who’d been silently watching Wen Ruxing under the streetlight suddenly turned and left. Ye Jialan, nervous at his demeanor, avoided his gaze and slowly made her way to Wen Ruxing.
Only now, after the long day, did she finally get a chance to speak with Wen Ruxing alone.
“Sister Ruxing, someone asked me to deliver a gift to you.”
As she retrieved the ring box from the locked cabinet, Ye Jialan couldn’t hide her admiration. Examining the exquisite little case wrapped in red velvet, she solemnly placed it in Wen Ruxing’s hands.