Chapter 16: The Future Movie Queen About to Be Abandoned (16)
“Sister Su…”
A head popped out from the doorway, accompanied by a hesitant call.
Su Mingxiu looked up from her desk and saw Ying Keren peeking in through the doorframe, not daring to enter. She placed her brush on the brush rest and beckoned to the girl with a smile. When the child scurried over to her, she asked: “What’s wrong?”
Ying Keren carefully studied her face, making sure she was in a good mood before hesitantly revealing the rumors she had heard: “They all say that you’re just playing a nurturing game with every artist you choose. Once you determine they have no more potential, you’ll abandon them without hesitation. Is it true?”
Su Mingxiu glanced at the painting in front of her. It was a landscape painting, primarily in ink, with light washes of color for the mist. The only bright color was the blue of the rocks, the finishing touch.
Contemplating adding a few wild chrysanthemums at the foot of the mountain, she picked up her brush again, her smile unwavering: “What do you think?”
Ying Keren followed her gaze to the painting, her eyes lighting up. She had been to many art exhibitions and auctions with her elders but wasn’t usually interested in these cultural relics.
But for some reason, she found Su Mingxiu’s paintings particularly beautiful, so she had been asking for one whenever she saw one recently.
Her thoughts diverted, she unconsciously blurted out: “I think… it seems to be true.”
As soon as she spoke, she came back to her senses and looked at Su Mingxiu nervously.
The person behind the desk picked up a stray hair from the tip of her brush and raised an eyebrow at her, as if asking: Since you already know the answer, why ask?
Ying Keren’s shoulders slumped, and she looked dejected. She subconsciously reached out to grab Su Mingxiu’s hand, but in the end, she only dared to gently tug at her sleeve and ask: “Can I… I don’t want fame or fortune, can you keep me by your side?”
She said: “I just want to be with you.”
Su Mingxiu looked at her with surprise, seeing the dependence and trust in her eyes. For a moment, she felt as if she was looking at a familiar face from the past. Thinking of the system’s vast powers, she wanted to ask if this girl was the reincarnation of her deceased relative, but she quickly suppressed the thought.
What if she was?
She was destined not to stay in this world for long.
So Su Mingxiu smiled, adding the chrysanthemums to a corner of the painting, and replied lightly: “I only promised your uncle that I would take you on for a while. If you want to stay, your family might not agree.”
Hearing this, Ying Keren seemed encouraged. She was about to seize the opportunity and grab Su Mingxiu’s hand, making a serious promise, but her hand was dodged before it could reach its target.
Only then did she notice…
That cursed thorny thing was still on Su Mingxiu’s left ring finger.
For convenience, Su Mingxiu wore a jade ring on each of her adjacent middle and pinky fingers. The mutton-fat jade made her fingers look slender, the pure white jade contrasting beautifully with her delicate skin, creating an indescribable air of nobility and wealth.
In contrast—
The wild, dark thorn ring looked like a long thorn extending from hell, entwined around an angel’s snow-white wings, wanting to pierce through the feathers and flesh, to be nourished by blood, its every branch spreading wantonly.
Ying Keren found the two jade rings pleasing to the eye, but the out-of-place black thorn ring was an eyesore. For a moment, she even forgot what she was going to say and complained to Su Mingxiu: “Why haven’t you taken that thing off yet?”
It was just an ordinary plant. No matter how hard it was, as long as Su Mingxiu agreed, it could be removed in less than half a minute.
In her heart, Su Mingxiu was perfect, as if she had a halo around her. She didn’t match this cheap, withered vine that could be found anywhere on the roadside at all. Even the black color was an eyesore, a stain that should be far away from Su Mingxiu.
But the woman ignored her words and continued to add the final touches to her painting. Only when Ying Keren’s impatience was written all over her face did Su Mingxiu put down her brush and pat her head: “You’re still young, you don’t understand.”
Ying Keren: “?”
At this moment, the system finally couldn’t hold back anymore and spoke up, seeking attention: “I’m not young, why don’t you tell me—you refused to start a relationship when I asked you to before, and now the mission is about to be completed, you only need to wait a little longer to leave this world, why are you provoking the female lead again?”
[Stepmother, you’re wrong to say that] Su Mingxiu replied in a good mood. “I didn’t do anything, she’s the one who keeps coming onto me.”
Looking at the unique ring on her left ring finger, as if it wasn’t enough, she added:
[Besides, you may be old, but you wouldn’t understand the fun of young people.]
The system didn’t respond, but Su Mingxiu heard a chaotic buzzing in her head.
Ying Keren observed her for a while and then whispered: “This couldn’t be a gift from someone you like, could it?”
She carefully recalled the day the ring appeared on Su Mingxiu’s finger. It was the day Su Mingxiu had taken her to the jewelry store. They had only been separated for ten minutes, and when they met again, the ring was on her finger.
After they reunited, Su Mingxiu had even coaxed her with a smile: “Don’t worry, the person who damaged your gift must be furious.”
At that time, she was too busy being smug, and later she was distracted by the dazzling array of brands in the shopping mall, forgetting about the ring. Only today did she belatedly realize that she had been by Su Mingxiu’s side for months and hadn’t even met this mysterious person. She felt both annoyed and curious.
Annoyed that someone had gotten to Su Mingxiu before her, stealing her favor.
Curious about who had the ability to capture Su Mingxiu’s heart.
Su Mingxiu, hearing the commotion in her head, felt that if she agreed, the system would probably wreak havoc in her sea of consciousness.
But she neither denied it nor responded. The precocious child naturally understood the answer, her voice rising a few decibels: “Really?”
“Who is it? Do I know them?”
She rattled off several names from their overlapping social circles, but Su Mingxiu’s expression remained calm and indifferent.
The child’s curiosity was completely piqued, as if to demonstrate how seriously she had been paying attention in class.
She began reciting names like a stand-up comedian, all of them industry figures whose status and position she deemed worthy of Su Mingxiu.
When she paused for breath, she even included some successful and good-looking celebrities from the entertainment world.
Then, for some reason, Ying Keren said to herself: “It can’t be someone you’ve managed before.”
She said: “If you really liked them, how could you let them leave?”
Su Mingxiu raised an eyebrow, looking at her meaningfully. But Ying Keren, carried away by her own deductions, confidently shared her analysis: “Those former movie emperors and empresses, none of them are doing very well… Oh, that Yu Yinglan is doing okay, but she’s a bit stubborn.”
Su Mingxiu responded with interest: “Oh?”
“You don’t know?” Ying Keren knew that she was currently semi-retired and, apart from handling work related to herself, was basically oblivious to the happenings in the entertainment industry. She didn’t even watch popular variety shows or TV dramas, let alone pay attention to online gossip.
So she leaned in mysteriously, lowering her voice: “That Yu Yinglan, after terminating her contract with Star Entertainment, despite being at the peak of her career and still holding the title of Interstellar Cultural Ambassador, she actually decided to make a movie.
I heard from my uncle that the core theme she wants to present in her script is impossible to film in our country. Even if she takes it abroad, apart from winning some small awards to add to her fame, it won’t be of much use.”
“The point is, she actually invested all her savings from the past few years into such a movie. I heard she used to live a hard life, and now, for this movie, she even sold her apartment.”
“Tell me, someone who has experienced poverty, finally becomes rich, but insists on throwing money into a bottomless pit, isn’t that being stubborn?”
After a long analysis, Ying Keren was convinced by her own words. She looked at Su Mingxiu expectantly, waiting for her reaction.
However, Su Mingxiu only asked: “Are you thirsty?”
“Huh?”
“If you’re thirsty, drink more water.”
“Uh…” Ying Keren vaguely guessed where her deduction had gone wrong and was about to ask further, but she saw Su Mingxiu about to roll up the painting. She instinctively stopped her: “Sister, look at me! I don’t think you have any more space in your study. Why don’t you let me keep this painting for you?”
Su Mingxiu lightly tapped her head: “You’re such a smooth talker.”
But she still handed the painting to her.
Ying Keren happily ran out and instructed the villa’s servants to invite her family’s housekeeper, eager to have the painting framed and placed in her collection room—
After the previous incidents of her gifts being damaged, Miss Ying had learned her lesson.
Not only did she bring a group of bodyguards with her whenever she went out, but she also rented several more safes at the bank and increased the security measures in her collection room. Only then did she manage to prevent that elusive saboteur.
Su Mingxiu went downstairs with her. It was getting dark, and it was time for dinner.
Ying Keren turned around and saw her, blinking. For some reason, she thought of the previous topic again and leaned in to ask: “Sister Su, you still haven’t given me an answer.”
Su Mingxiu glanced at her with a half-smile: “You didn’t guess correctly, what answer should I give?”
“Eh?”
The girl’s eyes went blank for a moment before she continued to pester her: “Impossible, right? Unless the person you like is someone outside the industry, I must have guessed a name correctly, right?”
At that moment, Su Mingxiu was walking ahead of her, heading towards the dining room. The child, who was only as tall as her shoulder, followed closely behind, stepping in her footsteps.
However, the person in front suddenly stopped, causing Ying Keren to bump into her back.
As she rubbed her nose and straightened up, Ying Keren saw Su Mingxiu turn her head and say slowly: “You did guess one thing correctly.”
Ying Keren’s eyes lit up: “Hmm??”
Su Mingxiu said unhurriedly: “If I really liked someone, I wouldn’t let them leave—you were right about that.”
“Uh…”
Since guessing Su Mingxiu’s intentions, the system had stopped actively reporting Yu Yinglan’s situation, as if hoping that with time, she would regain her rationality and stop thinking about the female lead at the wrong time.
But even without the system’s reports, news about Yu Yinglan still reached Su Mingxiu’s ears.
The reason was simple: Yu Yinglan’s new movie had actually caught the attention of a local entertainment company in the new star system. No one knew what resources and connections she had used. In any case, when spring arrived again, the name of the movie suddenly spread throughout the country—
“Mingxiu Jade.”
Ying Keren, who was participating in an interstellar talent show, insisted on borrowing a phone from the instructors of the closed training camp when she heard the news. She video-called Su Mingxiu: “That Yu Yinglan! What does she mean by giving her stupid movie that name?”
As soon as the call connected, a barrage of complaints came from the other side.
Su Mingxiu had been dozing off in the hot spring. She was first woken up by the ringing of her phone, and then completely awakened by Ying Keren’s energetic voice. She asked lazily: “What?”
“That ‘Mingxiu Jade’ movie, everyone around me is saying that the two main characters are based on her and you…”
Reminded by her words, Su Mingxiu finally remembered the project.
The reason why this theme was difficult to release was that it exposed the dark side of the entertainment industry. In a world where “entertainment is king,” it was understandable that this story wasn’t favored by investors.
Su Mingxiu didn’t expect Yu Yinglan to give the film this name and release it on another planet.
Based on its popularity—
She had done a good job.
Ying Keren saw that the camera was covered in steam, unable to see Su Mingxiu’s face clearly. Afraid that she would drown in the hot spring while they were talking, she couldn’t help but ask urgently: “Are you listening?”
Su Mingxiu hummed in response, distracted by thoughts of how her mission was nearing completion and when she should dismiss the people in the villa.
The girl’s voice continued to complain from the other side: “She’s really bold… to dare to use such a blatant and provocative name…”
“Provocative?”
At the same time.
Yu Yinglan had just met with the people from Baiyao Media. Because her work had opened up the market for cultural products in another star system, Baiyao Media wanted to deepen their cooperation with her.
The woman who had risen from the bottom to the top again, her name known throughout the industry, now carried a hint of composure between her brows. Her aura was still pure, and her smile was as gentle as ever. But she had accumulated too many legends, and no one dared to underestimate her anymore.
Hearing her friend’s worried question about the movie title spreading throughout the country, Yu Yinglan leaned back in the car seat, a pair of thin glasses now perched on her nose. The frame was intricately carved with black patterns, making her look more scholarly.
But as she spoke, the malice in her voice couldn’t be concealed: “This is just the beginning.”
Yu Yinglan lowered her eyes, her smile faint: “There’s more to come.”
Yi Jia rubbed her face, feeling that this person had become even more captivating after experiencing the trials and tribulations of the world. She quickly looked away and only after a while did she remember what she wanted to say: “She’s still a major shareholder of Star Entertainment.”
“What can you possibly do to her?”
Hearing her words and thinking about the market she had opened up in the new star system, Yu Yinglan’s smile deepened: “Star Entertainment?”
“Soon, it will just be an ordinary company.”
As she said.
In the following six months, Baiyao Media and Star Entertainment fought fiercely for market share in the new star system. Because Baiyao Media had rallied other companies to form a committee, working together to set rules and jointly develop the new market, Star Entertainment’s expansion plans were repeatedly frustrated.
After suffering several defeats in copyright battles, Star Entertainment retreated to its original territory. But the other companies that had long been under its influence had made a fortune abroad and, having tasted success, naturally wanted to bring their experience back home.
Star Entertainment’s stock price had been falling for six months. Several key artists whose contracts were expiring jumped ship, and everyone was on edge. The board of directors held meeting after meeting—
But Su Mingxiu never appeared.
Rumors were flying outside.
Some said that she had had enough of playing around in the entertainment industry and had gone home to inherit the family business, preparing to sell her shares in Star Entertainment.
Others said that she had been indiscriminate in her personal life while she was an agent and had contracted some kind of illness. She was now hospitalized and couldn’t appear in public anymore.
On the tenth day after the rumors spread.
A line of text suddenly appeared before Su Mingxiu’s eyes:
[Mission completed! Time remaining before extraction from this world: 90 days.]
That night, as the text appeared.
The night sky was clear, with only the bright moon hanging high.
Su Mingxiu slept for two hours. When she opened her eyes, she wanted to check the time, but she saw a figure standing by her bed. She blinked, but before she could see clearly, the bedside lamp was turned on. The sudden light made her instinctively close her eyes.
A warmth settled on her neck.
When she opened her eyes again, there was an additional weight on the quilt. The newcomer was propped up on one hand beside her neck, the other hand touching the new ornament on her neck. Her fingertips traced the edges of the white lace pattern, watching as a thin silver chain extended from it, glinting coldly as it reached the bedpost. Her voice was slightly hoarse: “This gift seems more suitable for you.”
Su Mingxiu took a moment to adjust, about to open her eyes again, but the other party’s palm covered them, the warmth blocking her vision. Only the other person’s voice remained in her ears: “Everyone in the villa has been sent away. Is your insomnia that bad now?”
A hot and cold breath landed on her lips.
She smelled the familiar mint fragrance.
But Su Mingxiu remained motionless.
Her indifference fueled Yu Yinglan’s frustration. She no longer dared to delude herself into thinking that her appearance was within Su Mingxiu’s expectations—
This was clearly the fearlessness of someone who had never taken her seriously.
How could Su Mingxiu be so calm?
She wanted to break that fake mask and see Su Mingxiu’s true emotions. She wanted to see her regret, her breakdown, and then, in those shattered emotions… find what she desired.
Yu Yinglan tore open the package of mint candy she always carried with her, placed the hard candy between her lips, and did something she had been longing to do for a long time.
… The mint flavor that flooded Su Mingxiu’s mouth became even stronger.
She no longer held back, doing her best to capture every bit of the refreshing fragrance. As the mint candy melted layer by layer, the temperature of her lips and tongue also climbed higher and higher.
The other person was the same.
Until a gust of wind blew in from the balcony—
Yu Yinglan suddenly realized her own indulgence. She pushed herself up from the bed, wanting to escape from the web of tenderness woven by Su Mingxiu.
But as her red lips moved an inch away, the back of her neck was pressed down by the other party’s palm, which had appeared there at some point. Still unable to see, Su Mingxiu bit down on the much smaller candy, using its sweetness to trace Yu Yinglan’s lip shape. Sensing her stiffness, she rolled the candy away and asked with a chuckle: “Where are you going?”
“The candy hasn’t been finished yet.”
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