CHAPTER 104

After reading the script, Xiaoyuan couldn't help but send Wei Zhuang a message, [The role I'm playing this time is so thrilling!]

After sending it, she suddenly remembered—Tonghua had also invested in Deep in the Palace. Would Wei Zhuang see the final version of the script?

She was so busy—would she even notice this project? Or would she personally pay attention to it because of her?

For some reason, Xiaoyuan found herself giggling foolishly.

Ah, what should she do? It had only been a few days since they parted, and she already missed her.

No, no—she had to focus on work. The role of Liang Ji was challenging, and she couldn't afford to be distracted. She couldn't keep thinking about that night—her birthday night.

Wei Zhuang's pale, cool skin had gradually been revealed from beneath her shirt. Though it hadn't lasted long, the sight of her usually restrained demeanor slowly unraveling had been earth-shattering. Just recalling it now made Xiaoyuan's heart race and her face flush.

Wei Zhuang's figure was even better than she had imagined, her skin as delicate as a baby's...

If she kept thinking about it, she'd recall even more details. It felt a little shameless to reminisce like this, and her cheeks burned hotter.

Xiaoyuan preferred their int!macy this way—skin against skin. It made her feel closer to Wei Zhuang. Though she had taken advantage of her birthday to make one request after another, she hadn't expected Wei Zhuang to relent each time and comply.

Did that mean Wei Zhuang also wanted to be close to her? Maybe... she liked her too?

Xiaoyuan had always thought Wei Zhuang disliked being touched by others, but that night, she realized Wei Zhuang wasn't entirely averse to it—at least, not when it came to her.

When Xiaoyuan had caressed her, Wei Zhuang's reaction had been subtle. In the darkness, she couldn't see Wei Zhuang's expression, but she could hear her breathing—more hurried and uneven than usual.

Later, Wei Zhuang's movements had been more urgent and forceful than ever before, leaving no room for refusal. Yet Xiaoyuan realized she wasn't afraid of being treated like this—in fact... she even liked it...

Just as Xiaoyuan's face burned crimson, her phone buzzed. Wei Zhuang had replied: [It's a good role. Do your best.]

Xiaoyuan couldn't help but chuckle. So she did know about Liang Ji's character! She immediately typed back: [I will!]and added a big smiley face.

Suppressing the grin on her lips, though the joy in her eyes was as vivid as blooming flowers, she covered her warm cheeks and tapped out another message: [I miss you.]

She stared at the screen, waiting for a reply. Wei Zhuang had just texted her—surely her phone wasn't far from her.

But after a while, there was still no response.

Xiaoyuan nibbled her lip. She had guessed Wei Zhuang wouldn't reply to such a message, so she wasn't disappointed. Her eyes curved into crescents as she poked Wei Zhuang's profile picture.

She wasn't in a hurry.

One day, this big bad wolf would say she missed her too!

After training wrapped up, June officially began, followed by script readings and the opening ceremony. With filming about to start, the main cast gradually moved into the hotel arranged by the crew.

The cast was a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, all top-tier talents. Even before shooting began, the atmosphere was thick with intense pressure.

On the day of the script reading, Xiaoyuan didn't dare slack off. Among the cast, she was one of the least experienced, so she arrived early—well ahead of time.

Upon entering, she found Lu Jingnian had arrived even earlier. She greeted her, "You're here so early."

Lu Jingnian waved with a smile, "I just got here too." Xiaoyuan walked over, intending to sit beside her, when Zou Yirui suddenly appeared at the door. "Phew, good thing I'm not late," she exclaimed, patting her chest in relief.

"Xiaoyuan, come sit with me!" Zou Yirui said, glancing at them before quickly making her way over.

"We barely have any scenes together." Xiaoyuan replied, settling next to Lu Jingnian. Zou Yirui pouted but took the seat on Xiaoyuan's other side.

Staff brought them drinks, and Guo Zhilu soon arrived. "Oops, I'm late." she said with a smile.

"Sister Xiaoyuan, Sister Jingnian, Sister Yirui, you're all so early."

Guo Zhilu was noticeably warmer toward them than during the audition—likely because they were now part of the same production and needed to maintain good relations. None of them were newcomers, all had some fame and knew how to keep up appearances of harmony.

Another factor was that, in this crew, they were the youngest generation—all women. Even if they weren't close before or had been competitors, there was now an unspoken understanding to get along.

"Come on, sit down."

"Did you have breakfast?"

"We just got here too."

The three spoke one after another, leaving Guo Zhilu unsure who to answer first. "Okay, I did. Luckily, I wasn't late."

As soon as she finished, all four girls burst into laughter, breaking the ice a little.

"Haha, I'll sit next to Sister Jingnian." Guo Zhilu said cheerfully, dashing over as Lu Jingnian pulled out a chair for her.

So they ended up in a row: Lu Jingnian and Xiang Xiaoyuan side by side, Xiaoyuan next to Zou Yirui, and Lu Jingnian beside Guo Zhilu.

With just Xiang, Lu, and Zou, the atmosphere might have been fine. But once Guo joined, an awkward silence settled in. They sipped water, scrolled through their phones, or simply zoned out—no one spoke for a moment.

Lu Jingnian looked at her empty cup, slowly let out a breath, glanced at Xiaoyuan, and whispered, "Are you nervous?"

"Very..."

"I thought you'd be fully prepared."

"No way, how could I..."

Zou Yirui's sharp ears caught their conversation, and she quickly leaned in. "What are you two talking about? Oh, nervous? I'm nervous too! Super nervous!"

Guo Zhilu also chimed in, "Even you seniors are nervous? I'm practically scared to death!"

"Hey, you won a Golden Bauhinia—why would you be nervous?" Zou Yirui teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Sister Yirui, ah," Guo Zhilu sighed, "what have I really achieved? Just a minor newcomer award—it's nothing compared to Teacher He Chenying and Teacher Zheng Wan."

Guo Zhilu's eyes lit up. "Oh, right, Sister Yirui, you're in the same company as Teacher He Chenying, right? Could you introduce me? I really like her!"

"..." Zou Yirui's lips twitched slightly, "Sure, I... I can do that!"

"Thank you, Sister Yirui!" Guo Zhilu's eyes sparkled even brighter, her smile radiant. "Ah, I'm so envious that you get to work in the same company as Sister Chenying. You must have learned so much from her!"

Her tone carried a subtle nuance, yet Guo Zhilu's expression appeared utterly sincere.

Zou Yirui had shown some improvement in her acting over the past few years, but she still frequently ranked high on the list of criticized performers. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether Guo's words were innocent or laced with hidden meaning.

Zou Yirui: "..."

Lu Jingnian and Xiang Xiaoyuan exchanged glances, trying to suppress their laughter.

The atmosphere among the four young actresses hovered between harmony and tension as they sat in a row, their natural beauty and full makeup equally striking, every gesture exuding an air of elegance.

Zhou Yu was the fifth to arrive. At the doorway, he heard the cheerful laughter of the young women, and upon entering, was greeted by a delightful sight.

The girls stood up upon seeing him, "Teacher Zhou."

"Ah, no need for formalities," Zhou Yu said, his eyes crinkling in a smile. Having spent most of his career in male-dominated productions, this was his first time working with so many actresses—and all of them stunning. "Please, have a seat."

He sat across from them, and introductions were made.

Zhou Yu was also a humble person, without airs. "Although I've been in the industry a few years longer than you, I'm still learning. To be honest, I'm quite nervous myself!"

The young actresses exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

"Oh, we were just talking about being nervous too."

"There are so many seniors in the cast."

"Who knew even 'Prince Brother' would feel this way, haha!" Guo Zhilu clapped her hands in amusement.

Zou Yirui pouted inwardly, not wanting to be outdone. "Prince Brother, you'll have to take good care of us."

Surrounded by the girls' chatter, Zhou Yu found himself slightly overwhelmed. "Haha, sure. You're Chong'an," he turned to Guo Zhilu, "and you're Chongping, right?"

"Yes! Prince Brother, you're my dear brother!" Zou Yirui blinked at him.

"Prince Brother is my brother too—you can't play favorites!" Guo Zhilu rested her chin on her hand, gazing at him.

The two had even started quoting lines from the script, Xiaoyuan noted with amusement.

"This servant is Suhe," Lu Jingnian played along, standing and giving a slight bow.

"This one is Liang Ji," Xiaoyuan lowered her head slightly.

Zhou Yu already knew their roles, but he was particularly curious about Xiang Xiaoyuan, who was cross-dressing as his attendant. Hearing her speak, he couldn't help but observe her more closely. With only her eyebrows lightly touched up, her fair skin and the refined arch of her brows—slightly elongated with a defined peak—added a touch of spirited charm to her otherwise delicate features.

Her unpainted eyes were large, clear, and lively, yet when they shifted, they carried a mesmerizing depth.

Zhou Yu suddenly understood why Xu Muyi had insisted on choosing her. Even without makeup, she was stunning. Among these exceptionally beautiful actresses, she was still the one who caught everyone's eye first.

Choosing her was completely justified.

Zhou Yu picked up his glass and took a sip of water. He was already looking forward to acting with Xiang Xiaoyuan. The moment he thought of Xu Muyi, the man himself appeared.

He walked in with a cheerful grin, "Ah, you're all here! Sit, sit, no need to be so formal with me."

Director Xu was indeed well-liked, greeting the actresses with a smile, calling each one "sister" affectionately before turning to Zhou Yu. "Brother Zhou, I'm here to keep you company. You looked a bit lonely sitting alone."

His antics drew laughter, lightening the mood.

Next to arrive were He Chenying and Zheng Wan. It was said they met at the entrance and chatted for a few moments before coming in.

One was a triple-crown film queen, the other a double-award-winning TV drama queen. Given their status, everyone stood up to greet them one by one.

He Chenying wore only light makeup, dressed in a mint-green loose suit that made her look effortlessly elegant and feminine.

Zheng Wan, two years younger than He Chenying, was a strikingly beautiful woman. Even with minimal makeup and a simple dress, she radiated glamour.

"Hello, Sister Chenying, I'm Lu Jingnian. Sister Wan, hello..."

"Hello, Sister Wan, my name is Zou Yirui..."

"Hello, Sister Wan, I'm Guo Zhilu. I play Chongping."

"..."

The actresses exchanged handshakes, hugs, and pleasantries, creating a lively atmosphere.

Xiaoyuan wasn't familiar with Zheng Wan but greeted her politely with a handshake. The older actress gave her a kind yet intrigued look.

When it came to He Chenying, Xiaoyuan felt more at ease, sharing a light hug and calling her "Sister Chenying."

He Chenying smiled warmly as she hugged her. "It's been a while. You've grown even more beautiful."

Xiaoyuan blushed slightly. "I'm so glad to be working with you again, Sister Chenying."

After the round of greetings, which took considerable time, everyone settled back into their seats.

Zheng Wan and He Chenying sat together near Zhou Yu's side. With more people present, the conversation flowed naturally, eventually turning to Zhu Ehua.

"Director Xu, is it true that Teacher Zhu will be playing the Empress Dowager?" Guo Zhilu voiced the question on everyone's mind.

"Of course! Would I lie about that?" Xu Muyi blinked playfully.

"Wow!" Even though they'd heard the news earlier, the younger cast members couldn't hide their astonishment.

"To be honest, it was only after learning Teacher Zhu would be involved that I proactively contacted the producer..." Zheng Wan glanced at He Chenying.

He Chenying nodded in agreement. "Same here."

"I can't wait."

"Neither can I. This is a priceless opportunity to learn from Teacher Zhu."

Hearing such humility from these industry veterans intensified the pressure on the younger attendees. Zhou Yu felt sweat forming and instinctively wiped his brow, drawing suppressed giggles from the girls opposite him despite their own nervousness.

Zou Yirui suddenly asked bluntly, "Director Xu, will Teacher Zhu attend the script reading too?"

Xu Muyi dropped his bombshell casually: "Yes, my father went to pick her up."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Were Xu Shumin and Zhu Ehua's decades-old rumors still ongoing?

And a legendary figure like Zhu Ehua was actually coming to the script reading?

For a moment, everyone was unsure which piece of shocking information to process first, so they swallowed it all silently, digesting it quietly within themselves.

Just then, amidst the silence, a voice rang out: "Ah, the children have all arrived?"

Zhu Ehua walked in leisurely, her jet-black hair thick and lustrous. The faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and brows exuded an effortless charm, her lips curled in a subtle smile. With just a sweeping glance, she had taken in everyone present.

After a brief daze...

Chairs scraped noisily across the room as everyone rose to their feet.

Guo Zhilu's eyes sparkled intensely: 'The big boss has finally appeared—time to pay respects!'

Zou Yirui muttered gloomily to herself: 'I barely had time to warm my seat...'

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT