CHAPTER 7

The next day, it was another hot and humid summer day.

As Xiang Xiaoyuan finished her makeup, she saw Zou Yirui and He Chenying.

The leading actress no longer had the arrogance and amateurishness from yesterday, her attitude towards He Chenying was respectful yet warm.

"Sister Chenying, how do you think I should deliver this line?"

"Mm, I think it would be good to pause here for a moment, of course, what you just said was also fine..."

Seeing this, Xiang Xiaoyuan felt a twinge of discomfort.

People in the entertainment industry are very perceptive about social dynamics, which is quite normal. The stark difference in Zou Yirui's attitude towards He Chenying compared to her made sense. While it was understandable, Xiang Xiaoyuan didn't care for Zou Yirui's enthusiasm and had no interest in interacting with her.

He Chenying lived up to her reputation, her demeanor was outstanding. Her attitude towards Zou Yirui was also very gentle, leaving Xiang Xiaoyuan feeling somewhat disappointed for no apparent reason.

Of course, being in the same company, it was only natural for them to look out for each other.

It was normal that she didn't wait for her, or invite her to rehearse their lines together. These were all normal occurrences.

Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable as her thoughts circled around.

At that moment, He Chenying's eyes turned and landed on her.

She took a deep breath inwardly and hurriedly went up to greet her, "Sister Chenying."

Looking closely, He Chenying had smooth and delicate skin, her eyes curved slightly with a faint smile. She quickly and politely glanced at her, "Hello."

Xiang Xiaoyuan was momentarily taken aback, sensing a hint of unfamiliarity, and her excitement faded a little. She could only manage a smile.

He Chenying had already turned back to continue rehearsing lines with Zou Yirui, not speaking to her again or inviting her to join. From the corner of her eye, Xiang Xiaoyuan could feel the smug yet disdainful look that Zou Yirui cast her way.

In that moment, she felt a bit awkward, unsure whether to stay or walk away.

She had originally wanted an autograph, but now she truly couldn't bring herself to ask for one.

He Chenying was dressed in an apricot silk suit, her hair styled in soft curls, adorned with a necklace of pearls. Her voice was pleasant and clear as she walked into the living room in a pair of leather shoes, making a "tap tap tap" sound.

In the living room, Zou Yirui's character, playing the younger sister, sat in a corner, silently wiping away tears.

"Baby?" He Chenying asked with concern, sitting on the sofa and reaching out to hug her daughter, softly asking, "Why are you crying?"

He Chenying's ability to handle lines was exceptional. Xiaoyuan had seen many of her movies, and her interpretation varied based on the roles she played. In this role, she portrayed a well-bred young lady, a strong mother who was well-mannered and doted on her daughter.

Her voice was melodious and clear, concise, with a slightly rising intonation at the end, making her seem particularly gentle.

"Mom," Zou Yirui leaned into her embrace, tears in the corners of her eyes, "Sister just told me some scary things about her time in the orphanage..."

He Chenying's eyes flickered slightly, glancing towards a corner of the living room almost imperceptibly, but it made the audience feel like there was someone standing there. She gently smiled, "Don't be afraid, that's all in the past for your sister. Look, she's with us now and won't go back to the orphanage."

Zou Yirui breathed a sigh of relief and regained her smile.

Watching from offstage, Xiang Xiaoyuan felt a twinge of discomfort as she observed the scene unfold.

"Be good, don't think too much." He Chenying brushed her daughter's forehead and a loving smile shone in her eyes, "Alright, go upstairs and rest for a bit. Mom has something to discuss with your sister."

"Okay." Zou Yirui obediently replied, got up and went upstairs. The camera captured her back, symbolizing that He Chenying's gaze was always on her. After a few seconds, emotions in her eyes seemed to change, a fleeting moment, with a smile still on her lips.

What was initially a lighthearted mother-daughter scene ended with a glance that made everyone hold their breath, raising anticipation for the next part of the story.

He Chenying truly was a star, with her subtle expressions, gestures, tone, and demeanor all perfectly in place. In just this short scene, she portrayed the role of the mother with elegance, showcasing the grace that comes from years of good upbringing and privilege.

Silently, like a gentle spring breeze, she permeated every corner of the set, including the hearts of the audience. Zou Yirui, acting opposite her, also displayed a stable and good performance.

When Zou Yirui acted with Xiang Xiaoyuan, she felt overwhelmed and struggled to complete the performance. Yet when she acted alongside He Chenying, she was effortlessly in sync with her, smoothly picking up on the cues given.

This created a contrast, highlighting the difference between Xiang Xiaoyuan and He Chenying.

Inside the set, Chen Yunxiu called for a cut, looking relaxed and satisfied. Some of the knowledgeable crew members flashed expressions of understanding on their faces. Wei Jiabao also sensitively perceived something, contemplating it.

A wave of unease and tension swept through the crowd, striking at Xiang Xiaoyuan's heart, but it was quickly overtaken by a surge of excitement.

Finally, she could act alongside her favorite actress!

He Chenying leaned against the sofa, slightly turned, looked over, her lips still curved in a smile. "Come, come over here." she beckoned, her wrist adorned with a string of pearls that glimmered softly.

Xiaoyuan walked over, not in a hurry. When she reached her, He Chenying gazed at her, her lips moving slightly.

"Sit over here." He Chenying patted the sofa.

Xiang Xiaoyuan hesitated. Others might not notice, but here, she felt as if she had been caught off guard for half a second.

"What's the matter?" she said.

He Chenying curved her lips again and patted the sofa, remaining silent but looking at her intently.

As a mother, she was exceptionally well-maintained, exuding a youthful aura that belied her age. Her hair was thick and lush, her skin like porcelain. In contrast, while Xiang Xiaoyuan's portrayal of her sister was beautiful, her youth alone meant that without the benefits of environment and experience, her natural beauty could diminish too soon.

In such close proximity, Xiaoyuan increasingly felt the difference in treatment from her sister, her tone, her smile, the slight upward curve of her lower lip, with only a shallow arc at the corners of her mouth. Polite, elegant, yet not intimate.

Xiaoyuan suddenly felt a prick in her heart, a sense of unease growing.

"Sit down." she repeated.

Xiang Xiaoyuan pressed her lips together tightly, just staring at her. What should she say? What was she supposed to say?

Should she sit down?

Another pang struck her heart, pulling away.

That unsettling feeling grew stronger, the wound widening, the ache intensifying.

Couldn't she say something else?

Couldn't she call her by a name?

"Child," He Chenying suddenly sighed, her tone softening, "Come sit by Mom."

In her ears, there was a sudden thud, the wound reopened, fresh blood slowly seeping out.

Xiaoyuan's eyes suddenly stung, and she felt tears welling up, biting her lip and turning her face away.

Wei Jiabao noticed this and was about to call for a stop.

Chen Yunxiu held his arm, whispering, "Let's wait for now."

Wei Jiabao glanced over and whispered, "Isn't this moving a bit fast..."

Chen Yunxiu replied, "It's fine, she turned her head in time."

Cai Juan watched nervously, opened the soda in his hand, took a sip to calm his nerves.

Oh my, He Chenying completely controlled the pace of the entire scene, Xiaoyuan couldn't even get a slight advantage...

Chen Yunxiu observed the atmosphere on set and then said, "Director Wei, don't interrupt them for now, let them go through it once."

Xiang Xiaoyuan felt herself entering a new state of mind.

She was split in two - one part of her was He Chenying's daughter, the eldest daughter. Being addressed as "child", and "mom" made her feel a bit overwhelmed, wronged, resentful, and indignant.

The other part of her was just herself, telling herself to calm down, to stay composed.

He Chenying was known to be a good person, with a warm and caring demeanor. How could she be so cold and distant upon their first meeting, making Xiang Xiaoyuan feel excluded and ignored?

It turned out that from the moment she stepped onto the set, He Chenying had been creating the atmosphere and shaping the character.

Xiaoyuan noticed sweat on her back and palms. Her heart was pounding.

She was acting opposite a three-time award-winning actress, she couldn't be afraid. She had to respond and learn!

"Mom?" Xiang Xiaoyuan turned her head back, eyes red but not crying, coldly curling her lips. "Am I really your daughter?"

"Of course."

"So you do know you're my mother. Have you ever looked for me all these years? Do you know what kind of life I've had?"

Her mother paused, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

The eldest daughter seemed to have found a crack in her mother's perfect facade, launching an attack with a tone full of anger. "You haven't! You don't know! All you see is your precious youngest daughter! You live happily together, but do you even remember there's another starving flesh and blood of your own!"

He Chenying lowered her eyes slightly, a moment of daze flickering in her gaze. She trembled and lifted her eyes to look at Xiaoyuan, softer, helpless, and pain. She still didn't respond, merely gazing at her in silence.

This blame was something she deserved.

Yet it was also something she could bear.

"You don't even..." Xiang Xiaoyuan suddenly faltered under that gaze.

How many times had she longed to be looked at this way, to be cared for? During her time in the orphanage, when she waited in hope while other children were adopted, when she was hungry, when she had no place to sleep, when she was exposed to the elements, when she felt utterly lost...

She envied it, longed for it. At first, she hoped her biological parents would find her. Later, she thought it would be good to have foster parents take her in. Eventually, she stopped hoping altogether.

She struggled to survive, begging, stealing, facing disrespect, abuse. She had long forgotten about such hopes, never imagining she would be found by her biological mother.

Was this gaze meant for her?

Was she dreaming?

Back then, in her dreams, she prayed that if someone looked at her this way, she would have no complaints, no grievances, she would be willing to do anything.

Xiang Xiaoyuan felt a bitterness in her mouth, realizing that tears had already started to fall, trickling into her mouth.

At that moment, He Chenying sighed and leaned forward. Finally, she reached out and took her daughter's hand, pulling her close.

She said slowly, "Child, you've suffered."

Outside the scene, Cai Juan covered his face.

Oh dear, the best actress was a bit terrifying... 

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