Chapter 39
High heels clicked against the stone pavement, the sound sharp and urgent.
Xu Jinnan knelt down, gently grasping Shen Shu’s slender arms and helping her up, half-carrying her. Her face was grim as she turned to a nearby crew member. “A towel, please.”
The crew member, startled by her cold stare and imposing aura, quickly handed her a towel.
Someone questioned Xu Jinnan’s presence; this was a film set, and access was restricted.
But the director and crew remained silent. Then, they noticed someone standing beside the director, someone recognized by the Sacred Heart Pictures staff as Tong Jia’s assistant.
After a brief exchange, the director glanced at Shen Shu and Xu Jinnan, then said, “Shen Shu, take a break. Find your center. Xiao Qin, get ready. Let’s reshoot the previous scene.”
Shen Shu thanked him.
Xu Jinnan wrapped the towel around Shen Shu, her voice low and concerned. “Are you hurt?”
Shen Shu, meeting her worried gaze, shook her head, her heart warming slightly.
Xu Jinnan gently rubbed Shen Shu’s cold arms, then glanced at Ren Xiaoqi.
Her touch was gentle, but her eyes were like a deep pool, unreadable and dangerous.
Ren Xiaoqi stiffened, a flicker of nervousness crossing her face, then she forced a smile. “Miss Xu, long time no see.”
Xu Jinnan looked away, as if she hadn’t heard, then turned to Shen Shu. “Are you still filming?” She had arrived just as Shen Shu was being pulled out of the water for the third time, and had restrained herself from interfering until now, afraid of disrupting the filming. She suddenly regretted her earlier words to Shen Shu.
It’s normal to face some hardships in this industry. It’s part of the process.
Bullshit.
She waited for Shen Shu’s answer.
Shen Shu, seeing the look in Xu Jinnan’s eyes, knew that if she said she wasn’t filming, Xu Jinnan would retaliate.
“Of course I’m still filming. This is perfectly normal,” she murmured, tightening the towel around herself, aware of the curious stares around them. “I’m going to change.”
Xu Jinnan looked at her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”
In the changing room, Shen Shu’s body still trembled slightly as she changed into a dry set of clothes. Xu Jinnan gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
“Are you cold? Where can I get some hot water?”
Shen Shu tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m fine,” she replied.
Just then, a knock came at the door. They both turned to see Xia Chun entering with a steaming cup of water. “Here’s some honey water. It’ll warm you up,” she said, intending to give it to Shen Shu.
But Xu Jinnan took it first. “Thank you. I was just looking for some hot water,” she said.
Xia Chun: “…You’re welcome.”
Xu Jinnan, holding the warm cup, thought Xia Chun wasn’t so bad after all, at least more agreeable than at the restaurant and the banquet.
“Ah Shu, are you alright?” Xia Chun asked, turning to Shen Shu, her voice soft and concerned.
Xu Jinnan, handing the honey water to Shen Shu, paused at the nickname. She hadn’t heard anyone call Shen Shu that before.
Not even Cai Ying.
Have they become that close?
Shen Shu took the cup. “I’m fine, thank you,” she replied.
Xu Jinnan sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, a strange tension she couldn’t quite place. Shen Shu suddenly turned to her. “Why are you here so early?”
“I wasn’t busy today,” Xu Jinnan replied, picking up the script from the table and flipping through it.
“I have another scene at 8 p.m. Why don’t you go back first?” Shen Shu suggested.
“I have nothing else to do. I’ll wait for you,” Xu Jinnan said firmly.
Shen Shu nodded silently.
The casual exchange filled Xia Chun with a sense of bitter longing. After a brief, polite farewell, she left the room, pausing at the doorway to take a deep breath and compose herself.
She overheard their conversation.
Shen Shu’s voice, clear and calm, held a note of familiarity and intimacy.
Something she had once shared with her.
“There’s hot water in the blue tent outside. Can you refill my cup?”
“Aren’t you going to drink this?”
“No.”
Xia Chun didn’t listen any further, a painful ache in her chest.
–
Tong Jia arrived with a blanket and a jacket. Xu Jinnan glanced at her, then stepped outside, Tong Jia following her.
–
Twenty minutes later, Tong Jia returned with the script for the next scene.
“Shu Shu, take a look. There’s been a slight change,” she said, handing Shen Shu the script.
The lines were the same, but Nightingale’s reaction had changed.
In the original version, after being pushed into the water, Nightingale had wanted to retaliate, but seeing her friend’s face, she had relented, and they had shared a smile.
Now, after climbing out of the water, Nightingale was supposed to slap her friend, then say, “How old are you? Such childish behavior. If you wanted me dead, you should have just shot me. Why push me?”
Then, they almost fought, but in the end, they still shared a smile.
Shen Shu paused. “This isn’t the original version, is it?”
“The writers and director discussed it and decided this version better reflects their long-standing friendship. The slap is more in line with Nightingale’s passionate and impulsive personality,” Tong Jia explained casually.
Shen Shu didn’t question it, rereading the scene and trying to understand Nightingale’s motivations.
She actually preferred this version, but she didn’t know why it had been changed.
She didn’t mind the change, but Ren Xiaoqi probably wouldn’t be pleased.
As expected, as soon as Xu Jinnan left to give Shen Shu some space before filming resumed, Ren Xiaoqi stormed in.
“How dare you! Using your connections to rewrite the script for revenge!” she accused, no longer bothering with pretense.
“The director made the changes. You’re overthinking it,” Shen Shu replied calmly. “And who’s actually seeking revenge here?”
Ren Xiaoqi scoffed. “As if! Do you think anyone will believe you?”
Shen Shu looked at her silently. “I’ve been wondering, what did I ever do to offend you?”
“You didn’t offend me. I just hate you. Sometimes, you don’t need a reason to hate someone,” Ren Xiaoqi retorted.
It was a childish response, but it was the truth.
She hated Shen Shu’s aloofness, her air of superiority.
“Then there’s nothing more to say,” Shen Shu said.
“I know what you’re trying to do. You want to get back at me for earlier, don’t you?” Ren Xiaoqi narrowed her eyes. “If you try anything, I’ll make sure your career in this industry is over!”
“You’re very confident,” Shen Shu said calmly. “Do you have a sugar daddy too?”
The sarcasm was clear. News of Ren Xiaoqi liking Tan Jie’s Weibo post had already trended online.
While Ren Xiaoqi wasn’t as popular as Tan Jie, she had started as a child actress and had a decent following. And now that they were in the same production, liking that post was practically confirmation that she was using her connections to secure roles.
Shen Shu’s words had been meant as a simple taunt, but Ren Xiaoqi’s expression changed slightly. “How dare you!”
“Are you two ready?” a crew member called out, interrupting their confrontation.
This time, Ren Xiaoqi didn’t cause any trouble, and the scene went smoothly.
Before the next take, Ren Xiaoqi whispered to Shen Shu, “You better watch out.”
Shen Shu knew she had only cooperated because she was afraid of being slapped too hard. Her face was her most valuable asset.
It was a subtle retreat.
Nightingale smoothed her damp hair, the hem of her qipao dripping onto the ground, creating a dark halo around her feet. She looked trapped, surrounded by the oppressive atmosphere.
Then, she suddenly raised her hand!
“Ah!”
Before her palm could connect, Ren Xiaoqi instinctively flinched.
“Sorry, Director… I wasn’t ready,” she mumbled, unable to stop herself from flinching at the thought of Shen Shu slapping her.
The director sighed. “Let’s try again.”
Shen Shu smiled faintly, slowly flexing her fingers in front of Ren Xiaoqi. “Why bother dodging? You can’t escape it.”
Seeing her gesture, Ren Xiaoqi knew she would use more force this time and flinched again.
After several NGs, her anxiety increased, affecting her performance and her expressions.
“Take 36, Scene 4, Take 2. Ready.”
…
“Take 36, Scene 8, Take 2. Ready.”
Shen Shu’s hand barely grazed Ren Xiaoqi’s face, but Ren Xiaoqi closed her eyes…
The director stood up, his voice booming with anger. “Ren Xiaoqi! Can you even act?! We’ve been at this for over an hour! Do you think everyone here has time to waste on you?! If you want to act like a spoiled brat, do it somewhere else! This is a film set, not your personal playground!”
Ren Xiaoqi’s eyes reddened. She had been a child actress for years and had rarely been scolded so harshly.
“Five minutes! Get yourself together! If you can’t do this, you’re out!” the director yelled, throwing down his headset.
Ren Xiaoqi mumbled an apology and walked away, her back to everyone.
Shen Shu turned slightly, glancing around, then her eyes met Xu Jinnan’s.
Xu Jinnan raised her chin and smiled faintly.
Shen Shu’s heart skipped a beat. She’s actually quite beautiful, she thought.
Five minutes later, filming resumed.
As Shen Shu and Ren Xiaoqi took their positions, Xu Jinnan stood outside the director’s tent, her long, light blue dress swaying gently in the breeze.
She looked like a delicate flower blooming on a mountaintop.
Some of the crew members, instead of watching the filming, were staring at her.
“Who is she?”
“I don’t know. Did you see the trending topic? I think she’s Shen Shu’s sugar momma.”
“I suspect so too. The director didn’t even scold her, even let Shen Shu take a break. If it were anyone else…”
Their whispers were drowned out by the director’s call of “Action!”
Just then, Tong Jia approached, her voice carrying through the set. “CEO Xu, our Shu Shu isn’t a bad actress, is she?”
“Of course not. It’s her co-star who’s lacking,” Xu Jinnan replied loudly, not bothering to be discreet.
Tong Jia lowered her voice. “Still angry? While this was always in the script, I still had to pull some strings to make it happen.” She remembered Xu Jinnan’s furious expression and harsh words earlier.
What a protective wife! she thought.
Xu Jinnan didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on Shen Shu.
Tong Jia, watching the scene, chuckled. “You wanted to use the script as an excuse for Shen Shu to retaliate, but she didn’t have to do anything. Ren Xiaoqi exposed her own weakness.”
Just then—
Slap!
Nightingale’s slap was instinctive, seemingly forceful, but her palm was actually open – a reflection of her impulsive yet ultimately kind nature.
“Cut!”
“Shen Shu, that detail was perfect! Excellent take. We’ll move on,” the director said.
Tong Jia’s eyes gleamed with admiration. “I’m starting to think I’ve found a real gem.”
Xu Jinnan raised an eyebrow. “Thank you.”
“…” Such a simp!
Shen Shu’s last scene with Xia Chun wasn’t until 8 p.m., so Tong Jia ordered some food, and the three of them ate backstage.
As Shen Shu walked past, Xu Jinnan instinctively steadied her, noticing her damp clothes.
“I don’t have anything else to change into. I’ll do it when I get home,” Shen Shu said, taking a bite of shrimp.
They usually had spare clothes on set for scenes involving water, but Shen Shu, lacking experience, had only brought three outfits.
Xu Jinnan frowned slightly, quickly finishing her food and asking Tong Jia to stay with Shen Shu while she stepped outside to make a call.
Twenty minutes later, she returned with a bag.
“Here, change into these,” she said, handing it to Shen Shu.
Shen Shu looked inside; it was a complete outfit, including undergarments.
In the changing room, Shen Shu stared at the perfectly fitted bra, then a few minutes later, emerged from the changing room.
Xu Jinnan, who had been scrolling through her phone, looked up. “Aren’t you cold, being wet all afternoon? Have something warm,” she said.
Shen Shu nodded, taking the script and sitting down opposite her. After a moment, she said, “Teacher Xu is quite experienced.”
Xu Jinnan: “Huh?”
Teacher Xu again?
“It fits perfectly. Thank you,” Shen Shu continued.
Xu Jinnan’s gaze drifted downwards.
“…”
She had been in a hurry and hadn’t thought much of it. Besides, that size was practically etched into her memory after the near-exposure with the label on Shen Shu’s phone.
She hadn’t realized anything was amiss.
But Shen Shu knew she shouldn’t know her bra size. A normal person would have asked.
Either she was incredibly experienced and could tell just by looking, or she had snuck a peek at the label.
Neither scenario was particularly innocent.
Xu Jinnan, trying to act casual, said, “I just grabbed a random one. I was worried it would be too big.”
Shen Shu: “…”
As expected, Shen Shu dropped the subject. There weren’t many people filming tonight, and Tong Jia had made arrangements, so they were alone.
Xu Jinnan worked on her phone while Shen Shu read her script.
Tong Jia occasionally sent updates from Weibo in the group chat. The trending topic had subsided slightly, but the hate comments on Shen Shu’s Weibo post hadn’t stopped.
“Don’t read those,” Xu Jinnan said, hearing Shen Shu scrolling through Weibo. “Those people don’t know you. They just want to feel superior, like Ren Xiaoqi. You have half an hour before filming starts. Don’t let them affect your mood.”
Even the calmest person would be affected by such hateful comments, and the incident with Ren Xiaoqi this afternoon had clearly upset Shen Shu.
But hearing Xu Jinnan’s patient voice calmed her down.
She put down her phone.
It was a little past 8 p.m.
This was Shen Shu’s last scene in Into the Dream.
Ignoring her friend’s warnings, Nightingale walked into V’s trap, knowing V intended to use her as a stepping stone, sacrificing her life for a promotion.
The most famous assassin in the organization, what a prize.
In a dimly lit wooden corridor, Nightingale, wearing the same dark green qipao from their first meeting, her figure perfectly accentuated, walked towards V and embraced her.
A knife plunged into her chest, and she collapsed into V’s arms.
V held her, her eyes reddening, her hands trembling. “Why did you come?” she whispered.
After a long moment, she stood up, leaving the body behind.
A voiceover played: As V turned to leave, she knew she had truly lost her.
Xu Jinnan, watching from the sidelines, was captivated.
Xia Chun’s performance was flawless, her emotions shifting seamlessly, and Shen Shu matched her perfectly. But Xu Jinnan was particularly drawn to the tragic beauty of Nightingale’s character.
Living for love, driven mad by love, dying for love.
Tong Jia had been right; Shen Shu’s performance outshone even the supporting actress.
After the scene, the director presented Shen Shu with a bouquet of flowers. Seeing a small crowd gathered around her, including Xia Chun, Xu Jinnan went to sit on a nearby wooden platform.
“Miss Xu.”
Ren Xiaoqi approached her.
Xu Jinnan ignored her.
Ren Xiaoqi took a deep breath. “Did you see the news online? About Shen Shu being a…”
Xu Jinnan glanced at her, her voice casual. “You’re quite nosy, aren’t you?”
Ren Xiaoqi: “…”
She gritted her teeth. “She has a sugar momma, and you’re still so good to her? She’s just using you, and you don’t even mind?!”
“Oh, you mean the sugar momma?” Xu Jinnan stood up, smoothing her dress, her voice turning cold. “That would be me.”
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