Chapter 2: The First Scene Together

When Ran Xing stepped out of the hotel, her assistant Xiao Yuan was waiting outside the car.

Seeing her looking dazed and disoriented, Xiao Yuan hurried over to support her, face full of anxious concern: “Sister Ran, are you okay?”

Ran Xing lowered the brim of her hat, a lingering trace of sorrow flickering in her eyes. Near the car door, she glanced back thoughtfully before replying calmly, “Let’s go.”

Inside the car, Xiao Yuan rolled down the window and handed her a bottle of water and a box of medicine.

Ran Xing skillfully swallowed the pills, then leaned against the seat, her vacant gaze drifting with the night breeze.

She had been taking medication for bipolar disorder for three years, but there was no sign of improvement.

Even the psychiatrist said it was a mental illness.

There was no cure.

Through the rearview mirror, Xiao Yuan saw her finish the medicine and then passed over some ointment.

“Sister Ran, this ointment will help with the injury.”

Ran Xing calmly pulled her sleeve down to cover the bruised wrist. Taking the ointment, her gaze shifted outside the window. “Thank you.”

“Oh, by the way, Sister Ran, the company said you’ve rested for quite some time now. About that news…”

Before Xiao Yuan could finish, she already guessed what was coming.

Three years ago, Ran Xing had a breakdown on set, her emotions spiraling out of control, smashing tables and chairs to pieces.

The media turned it into a scandal about her being a diva.

Under public pressure, the company shelved her.

That shelving lasted three years.

She plummeted from a top-tier star to nowhere.

That’s how the entertainment industry works.

New talents shine; old stars fade silently.

Seeing Ran Xing remain silent, Xiao Yuan awkwardly smiled, barely daring to breathe freely.

Since she was hired as an assistant three years ago, she had only ever seen this cold, distant side of Ran Xing.

She had never seen her smile.

Trying to break the tense atmosphere, Xiao Yuan quickly added, “Sister Ran, don’t take it to heart. Also, the company has gotten you a lead female role this time. You’ll be on set tomorrow.”

“Mm,” Ran Xing replied obediently.

Xiao Yuan shivered slightly.

This atmosphere just grew colder.

…

Early the next morning, the car was already waiting outside the villa.

Once inside, Xiao Yuan handed over the script.

“Sister Ran, this is the scene you’ll be filming later.”

Ran Xing flipped through it casually and asked without much interest, “Has the male lead been cast?”

Xiao Yuan shook her head. “I don’t know. The production hasn’t mentioned it. But the female supporting role…”

Trailing off, Xiao Yuan leaned toward the back seat and whispered hesitantly, “It’s Wen Xiaoning.”

Ran Xing frowned.

Wen Xiaoning?

That woman who always had it out for her, pretending innocent in public but a calculating green tea behind the scenes, only capable of reciting numbers during filming?

Truly, enemies meet on narrow roads.

Still, Wen Xiaoning wasn’t worth her concern.

Twenty minutes later,

Ran Xing arrived on set and saw several men clutching scripts, rehearsing their lines.

The director spotted her and eagerly ran over.

“Ran Xing, you finally made it!”

She asked, confused, “What’s going on?”

The director looked embarrassed.

“I’m casting the male lead. Several candidates showed up. You’ll have to test scenes with them.”

Ran Xing snorted softly, expression calm. “So, you want me to act opposite newcomers?”

The director muttered quietly, “Still think you’re a big star, huh?”

“What?” Ran Xing’s expression shifted, displeased.

“Sister Ran, you finally came,” a sweet female voice interrupted.

Ran Xing turned toward the sound.

Wen Xiaoning, lightly made up with a high ponytail, dressed in a floral ancient-style dress, approached with a bright smile.

She blinked her eyes coquettishly, lips curved in a pitiful look.

“Sister Ran, so good to work with you again.”

If Ran Xing hadn’t once seen Wen Xiaoning deliberately cut the wire on her aerial rig with a razor, she might have been fooled by this harmless facade.

She glanced at Wen Xiaoning with disdain and ignored her, casually finding a seat and browsing the script.

Ignored, Wen Xiaoning almost bit her tongue in frustration but turned to the director with a sweet smile and gentle tone.

“Director, Sister Ran and I haven’t seen each other for so long. We’d like to have a little private talk.”

After the director left, Ran Xing spoke flatly.

“Aren’t you tired of pretending?”

Wen Xiaoning laughed outright, leaning slightly forward.

Her lips brushed near Ran Xing’s ear as she raised her eyes with a sly glint, speaking in a voice only they could hear, each word a provocation.

“And you? Aren’t you tired of pretending to be normal?”

Ran Xing’s heart skipped a beat.

Wen Xiaoning feigned sympathy, clicking her tongue twice.

“Sister Ran should be thanking me. After all, I’m the only one who knows you have bipolar disorder.”

“You’re welcome to tell the whole world.”

Ran Xing met her gaze without flinching, then scoffed and added, “I don’t care.”

“That won’t do.” Wen Xiaoning’s lips curved further as she placed a hand on Ran Xing’s shoulder, voice sharp with barely concealed malice.

“If you quit the industry, my life will lose a lot of fun.”

Then her palm squeezed Ran Xing’s shoulder hard, her tone twisted.

“Sister Ran, you really must take good care of yourself.”

—

After Wen Xiaoning left, Ran Xing shot a cold glance at Xiao Yuan beside her.

Xiao Yuan protested, “Sister Ran, I swear, I didn’t tell anyone.”

Ran Xing sighed.

“Guess why she hasn’t spoken up?”

Xiao Yuan guessed, “Maybe she had a conscience?”

“Or maybe the white lotus has turned over a new leaf?”

Ran Xing drew a deep breath.

“If she speaks out, I’ll have to quit the industry. But she won’t jump to lead actress just because I quit. However, if I lose control during filming and hurt her, she becomes the victim and gains public sympathy. Then her fan base will explode, and with some maneuvering and that delicate face, she’ll get more opportunities.”

Xiao Yuan suddenly understood.

Just then, the director came running over, panting.

“Ran Xing, it’s time for your scene.”

As Ran Xing stood, a stranger appeared in her line of sight.

The man was tall and slender, fair-skinned with refined features, his deep, curved eyes clear and kind, untouched by worldly dust, shining like a star that invited closeness.

He stood obediently behind the director.

It was him.

Ran Xing recognized immediately.

The man who had drunkenly collapsed on her last night.

The director introduced warmly, “Ran Xing, this is Xiao Yi. You’ll do the scene with him. I need to get busy now.”

Xiao Yi approached politely, bowing slightly, then extended his hand with a smile that revealed dimples.

“Hello, Sister Ran, I’m Xiao Yi.”

“Mm.”

Ran Xing looked at the outstretched hand and, out of politeness, held it a few seconds before quickly withdrawing.

Xiao Yi gestured to the script in her hand, shyly saying,

“Have you read it? The scene we’re testing is a kissing scene.”

“Mm.”

She had been in the industry for years and was used to it.

“The director wants us to improvise first. If the test goes well, we’ll follow the script.”

Ran Xing nodded in agreement.

Before she could respond further, Xiao Yi stepped forward, his tall figure enveloping her completely.

Though she was 168 cm tall, she only reached his chest.

Xiao Yi bent down, his lips close to her ear.

His voice was clear with a softness.

“Since it’s a kissing scene, close contact is unavoidable. This distance—Sister Ran, is it acceptable?”

The warm breath near her ear made her skin tingle.

Ran Xing forced calm. “It’s fine.”

Xiao Yi moved closer, stopping just an arm’s length away.

He raised his hand gently, brushing stray hair from her forehead and tucking it behind her ear.

His eyes softened with tenderness and longing as he smiled brightly and asked with a tentative tone,

“How about this?”