A week later, in the film set’s break room.
Yet another routine act of bullying—only this time, it was exceptionally harsh.
"Go! The sun’s out—take those costumes I’ll be wearing in a couple of days and hang them outside to dry!"
"Be careful not to wrinkle them. Stand guard and watch over them."
Outside, it was the height of summer, the midday sun blazing mercilessly.
The costumes weren’t meant to be exposed to such harsh sunlight; even a short while could cause the colors to fade.
This was clearly deliberate torment.
Su Qianqian’s body stiffened for a moment before she relaxed again, still keeping her head down. "Understood, Sister Shu."
Without argument, she turned to the clothing rack, gathered the costumes, and walked out.
The door to the break room closed behind her, cutting off the cool air from the air conditioning.
The scorching noon heat hit her like a wall.
She found a relatively clean spot, carefully spread each costume over the drying rack, then quietly stepped into the shade of a nearby tree.
Even in the shade, the oppressive heat clung to her.
Sweat soon trickled down her smooth forehead, dampening the strands of hair at her temples, sticking them to her cheeks and the edges of her glasses.
She didn’t complain. She didn’t try to slack off.
She just stood there, silent.
Her gaze, however, drifted involuntarily toward the filming set under the canopy not far away.
Lin Shu was shooting a pivotal scene.
Her character, betrayed, had to unleash a storm of grief and despair.
On camera, Lin Shu’s striking beauty still commanded attention.
Her eyes reddened, her voice choked with emotion, her movements full of intensity and drama.
When the director called "Cut," the crew erupted in applause.
"Ms. Lin’s emotional delivery was flawless!"
"Such powerful acting!"
"This take is definitely a wrap!"
Lin Shu accepted a bottle of water from her assistant, wearing a practiced smile as she basked in the praise.
From a distance, Su Qianqian watched, her dark-framed glasses masking the focus in her eyes.
Among the current wave of popular stars, Lin Shu’s acting skills were indeed above average.
She had strong emotional projection, knew how to leverage her beauty, and had excellent camera presence.
But Su Qianqian always felt something was missing—something that could truly resonate with the audience.
This was Lin Shu’s weakness. As netizens had bluntly pointed out, her acting wasn’t stiff or awkward, but she’d never had a breakout, iconic performance.
Su Qianqian withdrew her gaze, her mind turning to the script she’d memorized. How would she handle such an emotionally charged scene?
This character was a resilient female lead who endured hardship without breaking.
Leaning against the rough bark of the tree, she closed her eyes, immersing herself in the character’s imagined life.
The bold, radiant girl of her youth. The fury and disbelief when her family was torn apart…
Sweat dripped from her chin, but she barely noticed.
Occasionally, a crew member would pass by, casting a brief, pitying glance at the little assistant standing guard under the scorching sun before hurrying off.
No one paid much attention to an insignificant assistant, even if the girl’s plain glasses couldn’t entirely hide her delicate beauty.
In the entertainment industry, you only mattered if you were famous.
Beauty alone was never enough to stand out.
Nightfall, penthouse apartment.
When Su Qianqian dragged her exhausted body home, the vast space was silent, save for the motion-sensor lights flickering on softly with her steps.
She was utterly spent.
Not just physically—today’s unwarranted bullying from Lin Shu had drained her emotionally too.
Her bones ached, her throat parched.
Still… she pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the steady, strong heartbeat beneath.
At least Gu Chengyu had been taking good care of her lately, helping her regain some vitality. Otherwise, standing for hours under the sun, humiliated and exhausted, would’ve surely made her collapse.
She kicked off her canvas shoes, padding barefoot across the cool, polished floor like a wilted kitten, drifting into the ensuite bathroom of the guest room.
The warm shower washed away the sweat and fatigue. After changing into a soft cotton nightgown, she finally felt a little more alive.
Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, her hair freshly dried, the faint beep of the fingerprint lock sounded at the entrance.
Gu Chengyu was home.
He shrugged off his tailored suit jacket, draping it over the entryway console, and loosened his tie.
The moment the girl saw him, the dazed emptiness in her eyes instantly brightened, locking onto him.
Then, her soft pink lips trembled into a pout, her dewy almond eyes welling up with tears.
Like a fledgling bird finally spotting its returning caretaker, she stumbled forward on slender legs, throwing herself into his arms.
