With a bang, the door was pushed open, and a crew member poked their head in.
“Is Teacher Wen still here?”
Wen Chu, who was in the middle of changing clothes, hurriedly pulled her garment to one side. She glanced back to see the crew member smiling as their eyes met.
“Teacher Wen, don’t leave yet, there’s a scene that needs to be shot.”
“Which scene?”
“You’ll know when you step out,” the crew member said, then turned and left.
Wen Chu lowered her lashes and looked at the costume lying on the chair. The Costume Designer stepped forward, picked up the outfit, and handed it to her, helping her remove her current clothes and quietly dressed her in the costume.
The Costume Designer lowered her head and said softly, “We were just filming the 20th scene—the wire stunts.”
It was scorching summer heat, and only a few fans spun inside the makeup room. To save money, aside from those exclusive makeup rooms, everyone else was crammed into this one.
Wen Chu had finally wiped off the sweat on her body and put on a comfortable dress, but now she had to wear this cumbersome ancient costume again.
The Costume Designer touched up her makeup and tidied her hairstyle. Wen Chu sent a quick message to the driver who came to pick her up, telling him to wait a bit longer.
She stepped out of the makeup room and entered the set, enclosed by a large backdrop. The set makeup artist came forward to fix stray hairs as the fans whirred loudly.
Wen Chu’s eyes immediately landed on someone behind the cameras wearing the same costume, arms folded, surrounded by several assistants—it was Qi Yuan.
The Best Actress who already held two Golden Awards, one short of a grand slam. And Wen Chu was this Best Actress’s Substitute Actress.
Wen Chu asked the set makeup artist, “Isn’t this scene supposed to be Teacher Qi’s own?”
The makeup artist mumbled and said nothing. Wen Chu saw the expression and knew, “Qi Yuan is exhausted again.”
They helped her onto the high platform and strapped her up for the wire stunts.
The platform was extremely high, like an abyss. The action director came over, explained the scene, and when the clapperboard snapped, Wen Chu took a deep breath, conquered the height behind her, gripped the sword, and stepped back, suspended in midair.
Her clothes fluttered—
Her straight posture, youthful profile, and the pale, barely visible shoulder entered the frame, demonstrating Wen Chu’s beauty and dedication, with subtle hints of her acting skills shining through.
Qi Yuan squinted, her fingertips with polished nails tapped the monitor and said to the director, “Cut this part.”
The cut part was Wen Chu’s exposed profile. The director thought the hazy effect was perfect, but he knew the Best Actress would never allow her Substitute Actress to show even a hint of her face. He nodded and then signaled the assistant, “Have Teacher Wen do a few more takes.”
If something is cut, it needs to be compensated for.
Originally, Wen Chu’s scenes should have ended around three in the afternoon, but because of this wire stunt, she spent over four more hours shooting.
When she got down from the high platform, her legs were trembling, sweat drenched her costume, and because it was soaked, she had to shoot several more takes. This cycle left her too exhausted to speak, and she headed straight for the makeup room.
On the way, she passed by Qi Yuan, who was wearing sunglasses and talking with her Manager. Wen Chu didn’t say a word, quietly removing her hair accessories as she brushed past her.
Qi Yuan’s Manager frowned. “You see her and don’t even say a word? Where’s the basic courtesy?”
Qi Yuan played with her hair.
“Let her be.”
The Manager stared at Wen Chu’s back. Eight years ago, Qi Yuan was rising fast in the entertainment circle. A couple of idol dramas and spy dramas made her explode in popularity, becoming the new goddess.
Offers kept pouring in. During the filming of a college campus drama, she accidentally sprained her foot. The director wanted to finish the scene quickly and said they only needed a back shot, so they would use a stand-in.
Since they were filming on a university campus, finding a female student similar in build to Qi Yuan wasn’t difficult.
Soon, the Manager’s sharp eye caught sight of Wen Chu, who had just finished a body movement class.
When the Manager first saw Wen Chu, she was amazed—she was practically a copy of Qi Yuan. Or rather, she resembled Qi Yuan by sixty percent or more, perhaps even better, with an excellent figure.
If such a student got a chance to appear on screen, fame would surely be imminent.
But there could only be one Qi Yuan.
Moreover, Wen Chu’s family had some issues at the time—her mother had breast cancer surgery and urgently needed money. So the Manager bought out Wen Chu’s future for ten years with a Substitute Actress Contract.
It was essentially a death sentence for Wen Chu’s chances of appearing on screen.
–
Back inside the makeup room, it was noisy and stuffy. The heat and sweat didn’t ease with the nightfall; instead, the air grew even more oppressive.
Wen Chu sat in the chair for a long while, sticky with sweat, even feeling that uncomfortable sensation of sweat trickling down her legs.
After a long time, she finally reached up to unfasten the costume.
The makeup artist helped when she could, a bit sympathetic.
“No scenes tomorrow, right?”
Wen Chu straightened up and pulled down her clothes. She shook her head.
“Who knows? What if…”
The makeup artist sighed softly at Wen Chu’s pretty brows and eyes. When they finished the script earlier, it was confirmed that Qi Yuan herself would shoot this scene.
With a slight change of camera angle, the director could capture Qi Yuan’s cool and dazzling presence.
But just before filming, Qi Yuan’s waist started hurting again, and they immediately switched to Wen Chu.
But with Wen Chu shooting it, it wasn’t going to be cool and dazzling—it would only be a pretty back shot. The highlights would all be added later by Qi Yuan.
Everyone would shower Qi Yuan with praise, but Wen Chu wouldn’t get a single mention. The dirty and exhausting scenes were always Wen Chu’s to bear.
The makeup artist helped her dress, smiling, “Luckily, your driver is still waiting downstairs, hasn’t left for a moment…”
Her tone was comforting, implying that although Qi Yuan was difficult to deal with, Wen Chu had a good boyfriend. Wen Chu pursed her lips into a smile, her brows relaxing.
She smoothed her long hair, grabbed her small bag, and said goodbye to the makeup artist, leaving the room. Her azure long dress drifted like a summer breeze across the set.
She looked like a different person from the sweaty, exhausted figure from moments before. The Manager looked out toward the set and saw the Beijing A License Plate Bentley.
She crossed her arms and returned to Qi Yuan, who was still listening to the director explain the scene. Others on set also saw Wen Chu rushing toward that undeniably wealthy luxury car.
Several girls whispered among themselves.
“Wen Chu’s boyfriend is so rich, yet she’s still here as a Substitute Actress?”
“She has a contract. A ten-year contract. She can’t just quit.”
“The Gu Family is wealthy; they could pay her liquidated damages for breach of contract.”
“Who knows what really happened?”
The Manager glanced at Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan’s expression didn’t change; she kept smiling and listening to the director.
The black Bentley drove away, night fell, neon lights flickered everywhere. The driver handed Wen Chu her favorite Rock Sugar Pear Drink. Wen Chu set it on the center armrest.
She held her phone and opened the Substitute Actress Contract. When she first signed it, it was only on paper, but she scanned it into her phone to check it often.
Two years remained on the contract. It not only included liquidated damages but also stipulated that if she breached it, she would be banned from entering the entertainment industry for five years.
Back in her freshman year, knowing nothing and desperate for money, she signed it. Later, upon reading carefully, she discovered the terrifying traps hidden inside.
Years later, she realized that Qi Yuan and the Manager had been cutting off her future all along.
How could she ever feel close to Qi Yuan?
She put away her phone and picked up her Rock Sugar Pear Drink.
The car arrived at the underground garage. Wen Chu took her bag and went upstairs. The spacious apartment was quiet; only the study was lit.
Wen Chu turned toward the master bedroom, took a hot shower to wash off the sticky sweat, changed into a soft long dress, then went into the study.
Gu Cheng, wearing a white shirt, smiled while talking on the phone. His elbow rested on his thigh. Several contracts were spread out on the desk. His collar was slightly undone, as if he’d just loosened it.
The light fell on his brows and eyes, highlighting his sharp features and a hint of world-weariness.
He was the Gu Group’s heir and Wen Chu’s boyfriend.
Wen Chu stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind. Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow but continued his phone call. One hand rose to hold her wrist. He glanced sideways at her, his eyes smiling.
They looked at each other. Wen Chu lowered her gaze and brushed her nose against his. Gu Cheng’s smile deepened as he listened to Yan Xing’s voice on the other end, while here, he was quietly kissing Wen Chu—lips and tongues entwined.
After a long moment, Gu Cheng pulled away from her lips.
Wen Chu’s eyes glistened with moisture as she leaned on the chair back.
Gu Cheng wiped the corner of her mouth and continued talking to Yan Xing.
Yan Xing squinted, having sensed something off.
“Your girlfriend’s back?”
Gu Cheng pinched Wen Chu’s nose, his voice lazy.
“Mm.”
“Why didn’t you say earlier? I’m hanging up.”
Yan Xing said, then disconnected.
Gu Cheng put down his phone and pulled Wen Chu into his lap.
He frowned at the time.
“It’s past nine.”
He looked at Wen Chu in his arms.
“Weren’t you supposed to be back by three this afternoon?”
Wen Chu hugged his neck and met his eyes. She spoke softly, “They added a scene in the afternoon. Best Actress Qi had a waist ache again, so they didn’t film it and sent me instead.”
Hearing “Best Actress Qi,” Gu Cheng’s eyes flickered.
“Is that so?”
He leaned over to kiss her neck, smelling her scent, and said, “If you can refuse in the future, refuse whenever possible.”
“Do you think I can refuse? The contract terms are right there,” Wen Chu said gently.
Gu Cheng looked up and changed the subject.
“Are you hungry?”
Wen Chu nodded.
“Let’s go eat.” Gu Cheng took her hand and led her to the dining room. The housekeeper had prepared the meal, still warm. Gu Cheng served each dish one by one.
The weather was too hot, and after shooting such a long scene—especially the last one—Wen Chu was too hungry to eat much.
But since the housekeeper’s dishes were light and refreshing, and Gu Cheng was watching her, she ate a few more bites.
After finishing, she rested her chin on her hand and looked at Gu Cheng.
Gu Cheng swept the dishes into the dishwasher.
Wen Chu said softly, “I keep thinking about terminating the contract, but the termination clause is just too harsh.”
Gu Cheng rolled up his sleeve, revealing well-defined arms that looked striking under the light. Hearing her, he said, “If you want to terminate it, I can help.”
“But then I’d be banned from the industry for five years. Also, Qi Yuan’s not just physically unwell—she has Anxiety Disorder…” Wen Chu sighed lightly.
Gu Cheng closed the cabinet door upon hearing “Anxiety Disorder.”
He leaned against the cabinet and turned to look at her.
Wen Chu propped her face in her hands under the light; her brows and eyes were exquisitely beautiful like a painting.
Gu Cheng studied her for a few seconds, then said, “Or, you could hold on for two more years and wait for the contract to expire.”
Wen Chu looked at his face, the light dim, seeing the tenderness in his eyes. His gentleness often made her sink deeper. She pressed her lips and blinked.
“Alright, no matter what, she did help me once.”