Chapter 3: Gossip Queen (3)

Ming Shu left with a smile, as if she hadn’t poured juice on someone just now.

“…” The spectators could only think, She’s worthy of being the big-shot.

“…” Song Man was also silent. What was she doing just now?

Ming Shu returned to the break room, her smile shrinking but still visible. Tian Yuan was afraid of even breathing loudly and didn’t dare to lecture Ming Shu. She secretly sent a message to Sister Aileen.

Sister Jiang Nian is not herself today.

Meanwhile, Ming Shu was talking to the Harmony System.

“How was my behavior just now?”

[You should have poured it on her face.] the Harmony System suggested.

Ming Shu’s gaze changed and after a while she said, “I didn’t know you’re that type of system?”

Harmony?

What kind of fucking harmony?

[My task is to help you get Hatred Points, so the suggestion I’m providing is that you make others more hateful.]

Ming Shu’s index finger rubbed her lips and her smile even curved her eyebrows. She was very peaceful and gentle now, which made others want to be close to her.

But the Harmony System knew she was not so innocent. Even when she killed others, she was hardly affected and a smile always graced her face.

Ning Keqing also went back to the break room she shared with a few others, full of confusion and resentment. Another woman made fun of her when she arrived, embarrassingly enough.

Ning Keqing glanced at her and hid her hatred behind her eyes. Then she silently went to the dressing room to change out of her dirty dress.

She looked at the reflection in the mirror and her face became gloomy.

What had happened today was outside of her expectations. Why did Jiang Nian act against her? Jiang Nian smiled at everyone, but in the past days of filming she didn’t notice that Jiang Nian was especially close to Song Man. So why did Jiang Nian help Song Man today?

Yes, now Ning Keqing thought that Ming Shu was helping Song Man.

Ming Shu had nothing to do with today’s affair. And according to what she had known about Jiang Nian before, she should have simply stood by.

Ning Keqing patted her own cheek. She lived so miserably in her last life, she wouldn’t allow herself to live that way again.

No matter whether Jiang Nian was trying to help Song Man or not, she would remember what had happened today.

One day…

She would succeed.

Ning Keqing firmed her resolve, walked out of the dressing room while ignoring everyone’s scorn, and started to read the script.

Because of this argument, the leading roles’ act was stopped. The director had to film other scenes first.

What Ming Shu was acting in now was called Ever-Burning Light, which involved some magical elements. The ever-burning light which allowed people to live forever was the central point of this story, and most of it would be filmed in the palace.

Ming Shu played the second leading female role, a spoiled concubine of the highest rank, so Ming Shu’s part was pretty much this scene.

Because of her great background, Ming Shu could easily get the opportunity to play the first leading female role. But her agent, the director, and the scriptwriter believed her image was more suitable for the second leading female role.

Ming Shu was going to play opposite Ning Keqing in her next part.

In the plot, Ning Keqing was a newcomer to the palace and the Emperor spoiled her constantly. Since she was so popular, she was going to be taught by another concubine, one of the highest rank.

Ming Shu seemed to be interested in acting, so she read the script willingly. With the original owner’s knowledge and skill, acting wouldn’t be a big problem for her.

She was even afraid of herself when she started acting.

So, was acting a problem for her? Nope.

Maybe the director didn’t want to offend Ming Shu, so he filmed Ming Shu and Ning Keqing early the next morning.

A well-dressed woman was led to the bright palace where everything was luxurious and maids stood to the sides with their hands faced down. The palace was extremely fragrant. It felt like they’d really been transported to the past.

But—

Ka! The director stood up from his seat and looked at the one who was sitting on the rose-carved wooden chair. Restraining his anger, he said, “Miss Jiang, you are going to eat all the stage props. Those are not for you.”

“I can’t help it.” Ming Shu threw up her hands helplessly. With a huge smile, she suggested, “How about taking them away?”

“…”

Does your agent know that you can eat so much?

As the old saying goes, don’t hit someone who smiles at you. So the director asked the prop crew to take away the food props and exchange them for something that couldn’t be eaten.

Without food to distract her, Ming Shu could focus solely on work.

“Again.”

The staff quickly returned and prepared to shoot again.

The newly arrived beauty was led to the palace. She secretly looked around where the concubine of the highest rank lived, fearful and curious. The most spoiled woman in the entire royal palace was sitting in front of her.

Her hands were slippery with sweat. The closer she was to the concubine, the more nervous she became. But her nervousness couldn’t be revealed to others, so she only gripped her sleeves tightly.

When the leading maid stopped and moved to the side, the new beauty halted for a second and kneeled down in salutation. “Your Highness.”

Her voice trembled slightly, reflecting her nervousness, faint fear, and excitement.

The concubine casually held her newly polished nails up to examine them as if she didn’t hear the new beauty’s greeting. The whole palace was silent, the atmosphere oppressive.

“Did His Majesty sleep in your room last night?” the concubine asked. She only glanced at the new beauty who was still kneeling down, an act that accentuated her pride and nobility.

“… Y-yes.” The new beauty’s voice trembled, though she tried her best to restrain it.

The concubine dropped her hand and said, “His Majesty has been busy recently, but he still hasn’t forgotten to visit you, so you’d best serve him well. Today I am going to ask somebody to teach you how to serve His Majesty well. Do you wish to learn?”

The new beauty seemed to know what the concubine really meant. She was so frightened. She dared to look up and glance into the imperial concubine’s eyes.

Ning Keqing made eye contact with Ming Shu and felt truly frightened for a second. At that time, she seemed to see Ming Shu’s smile in her eyes. Ning Keqing appeared to be scared and quickly looked down to avoid being distracted by Ming Shu’s eyes.

The director held his breath and looked at the screen. This was what he wanted.

Although lowering her head just now was different from what the script demanded, it was so great that he didn’t stop Ning Keqing.

Jiang Nian didn’t need to be mentioned. She’d acted for many years and her skill was exceptional. But this woman who’d joined the film crew through the backdoor and was called a vase—somebody with good looks but no real talent—could also fulfill her role so wonderfully.

This part was so successful that the director grinned from ear to ear. “Miss Jiang, you’ve worked hard. Let’s prepare for the next part.”

Ming Shu didn’t feel tired; it wasn’t difficult for her to play as others. Now she only wanted to find someplace to eat food.

She started acting early in the morning and hadn’t eaten anything up until now. She was very hungry.

“Sister Jiang Nian.” Ning Keqing approached, hands lifting her skirt. She gently smiled and said, “I’m so sorry for what happened yesterday. When we finish here, could I invite you to a meal to apologize? I beg Sister Jiang Nian to give me this chance, otherwise I’ll feel guilty.”

Ming Shu was watching the props crew the entire time she was spoken to so she answered randomly, “Well, you can keep on feeling sorry.”

Ning Keqing’s eyes widened in surprise. She didn’t think that she would be refused in such a way. Does she have any good opinion of me? Ning Keqing tried to recall when she had offended Jiang Nian.

But before this, they even didn’t know each other. After they joined the same film crew, there was also no conflict between them.

Ming Shu took several steps and stopped.

She said she’d invite me to dinner?

Food…

I want to eat.