Chapter 3

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the private room became delicate.

Fortunately, the assistant director, being perceptive, discreetly cleared his throat and awkwardly changed the subject, bringing the focus of the meal back to the movie.

The movie is set to officially start filming in two months. Director Zhong organized tonight’s dinner to discuss the script with the screenwriter and actors.

With time before filming begins, the script can still be adjusted.

Similarly, he wanted to hear Sheng Qingli’s thoughts on the current script and make changes based on her feedback.

Sheng Qingli has always been a thoughtful actress. Although she is not formally trained, she is professional and meticulous.

Since her debut, she has approached every role, big or small, with utmost dedication. Her character analyses are praised by screenwriters and directors for their unique insights and deep understanding, even revealing aspects that others might miss.

Tonight, Sheng Qingli felt a lot of pressure during the meal. She was so tense that she couldn’t focus on eating the food on the table.

After a long discussion, the assistant director and producer left early. Director Zhong, Sheng Qingli, and the screenwriter continued to discuss with great enthusiasm, while Sheng Qingli’s food remained largely untouched.

Pei Qingci glanced casually and then stood up.

His movement drew the attention of the three others.

“What’s wrong?” Director Zhong asked.

Pei Qingci lowered his lashes and said nonchalantly, “I’m going to the restroom. You all continue.”

A few minutes later, Pei Qingci returned from the restroom and said, “Director Zhong.”

Director Zhong looked up.

Pei Qingci, with a calm expression, glanced at his watch and said, “It’s already past nine.”

Director Zhong was surprised, “So late already?”

Pei Qingci responded, “You should head home.”

The important plot discussions were mostly concluded. Director Zhong thought for a moment and looked at the screenwriter and Sheng Qingli, “Alright, then we’ll arrange another time for the remaining discussions online.”

He explained with some apology, “I need to be home by ten for my health.”

Director Zhong had been advised by Mrs. Zhong to rest after recent health issues and was warned not to come home after ten, or he would face consequences.

The screenwriter and Sheng Qingli had no objections.

After agreeing, everyone prepared to leave.

Noticing Pei Qingci leaving the private room, Sheng Qingli hesitated and called out to Director Zhong, “Director Zhong.”

Director Zhong looked at her, “Do you need to say something?”

Sheng Qingli hesitated for a moment, glanced at Pei Qingci, and slowly shook her head, “No, I just wanted to wish you a good rest.”

She still didn’t ask Director Zhong if the male lead role was being changed to Pei Qingci.

Regardless of whether the role was changed, she would not give up on it.

Director Zhong smiled with satisfaction, “Alright, take care and we’ll stay in touch online if needed.”

Sheng Qingli agreed.

---

After leaving the private room, Sheng Qingli used the excuse of needing to use the restroom to avoid taking the elevator with Pei Qingci and the others.

Before heading to the restroom, she asked Tong Tong to pack a portion of porridge for her to eat in the car. She needed something gentle on her stomach, or she feared her stomach might protest.

A few minutes later, when Sheng Qingli met Tong Tong downstairs, she already had the packed porridge in hand.

Sheng Qingli was surprised, “It’s ready so quickly?”

Tong Tong nodded, “The restaurant manager said they had a ready-made pumpkin porridge from an extra order, and asked if we minded taking it. If not, they would give it to us.”

Sheng Qingli was relieved and said without much thought, “Quite fortunate.”

The two went to the parking lot.

Once in the car, Sheng Qingli had a few spoonfuls of the steaming pumpkin porridge to calm her empty stomach.

Afterward, she checked her phone and saw a message from Lin Lin asking if she was done and to call her when finished.

Sheng Qingli called Lin Lin, who answered quickly, “Are you in the car?”

“Yes,” Sheng Qingli said, taking another spoonful of porridge, “Do you have any news?”

Lin Lin replied, “I’ve contacted Xu Xingyue’s agent and made some inquiries.”

She told Sheng Qingli, “Their male lead contract hasn’t been signed yet, but Director Zhong was satisfied with Xu Xingyue during their previous discussions.”

Sheng Qingli frowned and said directly, “So the male lead role still has potential changes.”

“Based on my knowledge of Director Zhong and the industry’s view of him, if he wasn’t very satisfied with Xu Xingyue, they wouldn’t have been in talks for so long,” Lin Lin analyzed.

Sheng Qingli understood this well.

However, if Pei Qingci was willing to take the role, then the earlier assumptions would be invalid.

After all, Pei Qingci is a young actor who has won two major film awards and received nominations at the four major international film festivals.

Even if Xu Xingyue’s contract was finalized, if Pei Qingci wanted the role, Director Zhong and the producers would likely immediately terminate the contract with Xu Xingyue and offer a new one to Pei Qingci at his doorstep.

That’s the status Pei Qingci holds in the industry.

After a moment of silence, Sheng Qingli said vaguely, “Let nature take its course. After talking with Director Zhong, I lean towards him not taking the role.”

Lin Lin was surprised, “Why do you think so?”

“The role of the male lead doesn’t suit him,” Sheng Qingli said rationally.

Lin Lin agreed, and then suddenly recalled something, “When you took the role of Shu Lili two years ago, people said the same thing.”

Shu Lili is a tragic character with a life full of sorrow, contrasting greatly with Sheng Qingli’s image and temperament.

When news broke that Sheng Qingli would play Shu Lili, many netizens and professional critics commented that Sheng Qingli was unsuitable for the role. They acknowledged her acting skills but felt there was almost no resemblance between her and Shu Lili, except for the name.

Fortunately, the director and the production team at that time resisted the pressure and insisted on casting Sheng Qingli as Shu Lili.

And Sheng Qingli delivered a stellar performance, convincing the audience when the movie was released. Afterward, some online reviewers exaggeratedly commented that the role of Shu Lili was meant to be played by Sheng Qingli.

Last year, she won the Best Actress award at the Golden Leaf Awards, one of the most prestigious film awards in the country, for her role as Shu Lili.

Hearing this from Lin Lin, Sheng Qingli thought for a moment, “It’s different.”

“How is it different?” Lin Lin asked, curious.

“It’s hard to say,” Sheng Qingli gave up on explaining, “Anyway, this role isn’t suitable for him.”

Instead, another minor role in the script would be more suitable for Pei Qingci.

Lin Lin: “…”

She understood Sheng Qingli and realized that she was tired and didn’t want to continue the conversation.

After a moment of silence, Lin Lin said gently, “Alright then, let’s end the call. Rest well when you get home.”

After hanging up, Sheng Qingli finished her porridge, closed her eyes, and prepared to rest for a while.

As soon as she closed her eyes, the culprit behind her sleepless night appeared in her mind. While chatting about the script with Director Zhong and others in the private room, Pei Qingci had been sitting quietly, not using his phone or interacting much with those around him.

Only when Director Zhong called his name did he lazily lift his eyelids, glance at her dispassionately, and then answer Director Zhong’s questions.

What was he looking at?

At that moment, Sheng Qingli was so focused on the script that she didn’t pay much attention to Pei Qingci’s attitude.

Now, thinking back, she regretted not staring back at him when he looked at her.

With a soft sigh, Tong Tong, sitting next to her, turned and asked, “What’s wrong, Sister Li Li?”

“Nothing,” Sheng Qingli yawned tiredly, “Just a bit sleepy.”

The driver turned around and said, “We’ll arrive in three minutes.”

—

Three minutes later, Sheng Qingli got out of the car and entered the elevator.

She lived in a high-end, highly private residential area in North City, in a spacious duplex apartment of over 300 square meters.

The first floor had the kitchen, guest room, shoe and hat room, and yoga room. The second floor featured her master bedroom with a connecting dressing room, a relatively large study, and a media room.

Upon entering the house, Sheng Qingli went straight to the second floor.

She was very tired and planned to take a bath to relax before going to bed. Before she could fill the bathtub, her phone, which she had placed nearby, began to buzz with notifications.

She glanced at it briefly—it was a message from her friend Li Yuwei, asking how her evening chat went.

Sheng Qingli: “Don’t mention it.”

Li Yuwei: “Why? The contract was signed, so it must have gone well, right?”

Sheng Qingli: “It’s not about the script.”

Li Yuwei: “Then what’s the issue?”

Sheng Qingli had few friends, and Li Yuwei was one of them, being the most aware of the issues between her and Pei Qingci.

She thought for a few seconds, undressed and got into the bathtub, and typed her reply: “You wouldn’t believe who I saw tonight.”

Li Yuwei: “Who? A ghost?”

Sheng Qingli: “More terrifying than a ghost.”

Li Yuwei: “???”

Just as Sheng Qingli was about to type “Pei Qingci,” Li Yuwei guessed first: “Could it be your ex?”

Sheng Qingli: “[smile][smile][smile]”

Li Yuwei: “Ahhh, Sheng Qingli yyds!”

Sheng Qingli: “?”

Li Yuwei quickly retracted her previous message: “I meant, how did you two run into each other? The online rumors can’t be true, right? Did Director Zhong change the male lead in the new movie to Pei Qingci?”

Before Sheng Qingli could respond with “I don’t know,” Li Yuwei shifted focus: “You’d better tell me all the details, and I’ll help analyze the situation.”

Sheng Qingli was momentarily speechless, realizing that Li Yuwei was just trying to gossip.

She replied with an eye-roll emoji.

Li Yuwei: “What does that mean?”

Sheng Qingli: “We just had a meal. There’s nothing much to analyze.”

Li Yuwei: “… A meal isn’t worth analyzing? Do you believe I could write you a three-thousand-word analysis?”

Sheng Qingli: “…”

Li Yuwei: “Hey, don’t you think you two resemble a pair of protagonists from a blended family story, secretly dating behind their parents’ backs, then breaking up but still having to come home for New Year’s Eve dinner together?”

Sheng Qingli was speechless: “Not at all. You should read fewer novels.”

Li Yuwei: “Nonono, that’s not something I can do.”

Li Yuwei was anxious: “Tell me more about it!!”

She kept pressing.

Sheng Qingli was silent, regretting telling her friend about meeting Pei Qingci.

She tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling light in the bathroom, and blinked lightly: “There’s really nothing to say. We didn’t talk.”

Li Yuwei: “Boring.”

Sheng Qingli: “.”

Li Yuwei: “Then can I ask another question?”

Sheng Qingli: “Go ahead.”

Li Yuwei: “Since you didn’t talk, did you kiss?”

Sheng Qingli: “………… Do you want to be blocked?”

Li Yuwei: “I’m just reminiscing about the times you two kissed. It’s not my fault for being curious… I regret not recording that moment when I saw you two kissing a few years ago.”

Sheng Qingli: “………… Blocked.”

The other side went quiet. Sheng Qingli put her phone aside and immersed herself in the bathtub.

The comfortable water temperature helped her relax and ease her tense emotions.

Perhaps it was because Li Yuwei mentioned the scene where she saw her and Pei Qingci kissing, Sheng Qingli also recalled what happened that day after a long time.

When Sheng Qingli and Pei Qingci were together, it was a time when they were curious about everything, and their energy was high in every aspect. They had a secret relationship for more than a year, but their time together was less than two months, all counted together.

At that time, Sheng Qingli was a newcomer in the industry. Before the release of the art film “Love Oath,” which she starred in alongside Pei Qingci and which most people had low expectations for, she had no fame and the scripts and roles she could get were not impressive.

Sheng Qingli was not professionally trained. She knew clearly that if she wanted to improve, she needed to join more sets, learn more, and play different roles.

Therefore, over the course of that year, Sheng Qingli took on many roles.

Pei Qingci was slightly better off. He took fewer minor roles than Sheng Qingli, but he stayed involved with the crew consistently.

The two of them worked on different sets and only occasionally appeared in each other’s cities after finishing their respective shoots.

At that time, they were both young and energetic, with a stronger sense of possessiveness and curiosity than they have now.

When they reunited after a long separation, their conversation barely started before they ended up in bed. It seemed that only by holding each other close, feeling each other’s throbbing hearts, and being physically close could they truly sense each other’s presence.

The day Li Yuwei caught them was Sheng Qingli’s birthday.

She and Pei Qingci hadn’t seen each other for two months. A few days before her birthday, Pei Qingci told her that he couldn’t get leave from the film set and couldn’t come.

Although Sheng Qingli felt disappointed, she understood. After all, if it were her, she would prioritize work too. Birthdays come every year.

That’s why when Li Yuwei offered to visit her on set, Sheng Qingli agreed.

She didn’t expect that despite not being able to get time off, Pei Qingci still came. After finishing his work at the crew at 9 p.m., he went to the airport, took a 10 p.m. flight to her city, and drove to the set before midnight.

When Pei Qingci rang the doorbell, Li Yuwei was in the bathroom, and Sheng Qingli was sending him a message, complaining that he hadn’t even called her.

Just as she sent the message, the doorbell rang.

Sheng Qingli thought it was her assistant and opened the door directly.

The moment the door opened, she saw Pei Qingci, who looked travel-worn, standing outside.

Sheng Qingli was pleasantly surprised, and before she could speak, Pei Qingci squeezed into the room. The door slammed shut, and he picked her up with one arm, covering her lips with a passionate kiss.

He seemed impatient, not taking the time to delicately trace her lips as he usually did.

Instead, he pushed his tongue past her teeth, his warm lips and tongue making Sheng Qingli dizzy, forgetting that there was another person in the room. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to him.

Their kiss was intense and all-consuming.

As Pei Qingci’s hand brushed her waist and lifted her shirt, Li Yuwei, who had come out of the bathroom upon hearing the commotion, stared in shock at the scene, forgetting to breathe.

When the couple was about to take things further, she suddenly snapped back to reality and tried to return to the bathroom, but accidentally bumped into the wall, making a loud noise and causing the two in the throes of passion to regain their composure.

…

Thinking back to that moment, Sheng Qingli still felt embarrassed and rubbed her face, blaming Pei Qingci. If he hadn’t been so hasty, she wouldn’t have been teased by Li Yuwei for so many years.

Meanwhile, the person Sheng Qingli was cursing at rubbed his itchy nose.

Noticing his action, the manager, Xiang Rong, raised his eyebrows and asked, “Why are you rubbing your nose? Caught a cold?”

Pei Qingci replied, “No.”

He paused while changing his shoes at the door and added, “Someone is probably scolding me.”

Xiang Rong asked, “Who would dare scold you?”

As Pei Qingci’s manager, he was very aware of Pei Qingci’s current status in the industry. After a moment of silence, he thought of something and scrutinized the man in front of him, who looked disheveled and had a face of frustration. “You’re not talking about Sheng Qingli, are you?”

Considering it carefully, apart from anti-fans, Sheng Qingli would be the only one who would dare to scold Pei Qingci. Anti-fans’ online criticism had no real impact on him.

Pei Qingci remained silent.

“Oh,” Xiang Rong raised his eyebrows and teased, “Did you have a rough time at dinner with Director Zhong and your ex-girlfriend?”

He knew what Pei Qingci had been doing that evening.

Hearing this, Pei Qingci shot him a cold glare, “If you don’t stop talking, people might actually think you’re mute.”

Xiang Rong clicked his tongue and said mercilessly, “You’re just embarrassed, aren’t you?”