Even Sister Li couldn't escape Yu Shuman's "punishment." Though she wasn't subjected to ear-pulling, she was scolded until her "fox tail" drooped. All that could be heard was the little "white rabbit" righteously declaring, "Sister Li, how could you help Qin Ran trick me like this?! And you told me you were saving money. Is that what you call saving money?"
Sister Li tried to hold her ground just like Qin Ran had, "No, what I meant was saving the money on buying fake followers. That money was definitely saved..." Yu Shuman, exasperated, asked how much buying followers would cost in the first place. Sister Li, unable to maintain her stance, could only lower her head and let Yu Shuman scold her. In her heart, she reflected that aiding and abetting really wasn't the right thing to do. You see, getting caught by the little white rabbit meant being bitten—rabbits can bite when pushed!
Though Sister Li was thinking this now, if something similar happened again in the future, she'd probably still side with Qin Ran. It's not just because Qin Ran is her boss but also because foxes and big-tailed wolves are inherently sneaky. They always work hand in hand, and that's just in their nature.
Sister Li couldn't help but wonder: who tipped off the little white rabbit and exposed the big-tailed wolf's scheme, causing her to get scolded too?
Meanwhile, Zeng Qian, who was hard at work, suddenly sneezed and felt even more motivated to work hard. That way, when the truth came out one day, Qin Ran would remember all the money she earned for the company and let her off the hook.
After the incident with the rich fan account, Qin Ran could no longer send red envelopes on her small account as freely as before. Now, she could only do it occasionally. Although she had to reduce the frequency, Qin Ran found other ways to give gifts, like lipsticks and perfumes, and started giving them away.
When Yu Shuman asked about it, Qin Ran simply said, "They're samples from collaborating companies. It would be a waste to leave them sitting around, so I might as well give them away as prizes."
She was telling the truth; they were indeed sent by other companies. Just kidding, if the boss asks for something, who wouldn't give it to her? Money? What money? If the boss wants it, it's just her looking at samples. How could they ask the boss for money? If they keep the boss happy, isn't that next quarter's budget secured?
Time passed by unknowingly, and Yu Shuman successfully defended her graduation thesis, lightening her load significantly. As soon as she had fewer tasks, Sister Li immediately lined up new work for her. Initially, Sister Li wanted to get Yu Shuman on a variety show, but Qin Ran said Yu Shuman wasn't that fond of them and suggested getting her a new drama instead. After thinking it over, Sister Li agreed.
"Shuman, I have two scripts here that I think are pretty good. One is a TV series where the director took a liking to you and invited you to play the female antagonist based on your audition performance. The other is something you have to audition for. It's a big production with a well-known director, and you can try for the female second lead. Whether you get the part or not is up to you."
Yu Shuman looked at both scripts and liked them. The female antagonist in the historical power drama is a young empress dowager with grand ambitions, controlling the emperor to command the world. She enters the palace at eighteen and stays until she's fifty when she's finally deposed by the grown emperor and sent to live in a temple in seclusion... Yet again, a dramatic life with a fate tied to Buddha.
Seeing her flip through the latter part of the script, Sister Li coughed strategically, "The director saw you holding the prayer beads and thought you fit the role well, so they sent the invitation. It's a female director, and she has two other candidates, but I think the script is good. You could meet with the director to discuss it."
Yu Shuman nodded and agreed.
The second script was indeed a big production, also set in an ancient fantasy world. The female second lead is a fox spirit, seductive and bewitching, with scenes where she seduces the male lead and even undresses. Yu Shuman looked at Sister Li, who explained, "If you're uncomfortable with undressing scenes, you can use a body double."
Yu Shuman wasn't particularly against undressing scenes that showed her back, but she was uncomfortable with seduction scenes. However, the chance to act in a film was very appealing, so she decided to check it out first. If it didn't work out, she could always change the way she performed the seduction scenes to make them less direct but still captivating.
She was confident in her ability to do that.
When Qin Ran heard that Yu Shuman was taking on more acting roles, and not just one but two, she couldn't help but roll around and act like a spoiled child. Yu Shuman lightly poked Qin Ran's forehead with her finger, signaling her to behave. Qin Ran pouted and hugged Yu Shuman's waist, asking for a kiss.
"Shuman, kiss me, and I won't feel bad anymore."
How could Yu Shuman harden her heart when Qin Ran said things like that? She gently lifted Qin Ran's chin with her finger, her eyes sparkling like a seductive fox spirit. Qin Ran's heart fluttered, especially when Yu Shuman nuzzled against her like a little fox. She almost couldn't hold back from pouncing on Yu Shuman right then.
But this time, Yu Shuman was taking the initiative to kiss her. Qin Ran had to keep her composure; otherwise, it would seem like she was always the one being forward. Qin Ran was incredibly excited but tried to appear calm and collected. Yu Shuman tilted Qin Ran's chin and slowly leaned in, brushing her tongue lightly over Qin Ran's lips. At that moment, no matter how much Qin Ran wanted to maintain her composure, she couldn't. She immediately pinned Yu Shuman down and kissed her deeply, tracing the outline of Yu Shuman's lips and savoring their softness.
Eventually, it escalated into an uncontrollable passion, and Yu Shuman ended up oversleeping the next day. When she finally woke up, Qin Ran had already made breakfast and left for her classes. Although Yu Shuman had completed her graduation defense, Qin Ran, a second-year student, hadn't gone on break yet and still had another round of classes before exam week.
Stretching lazily, Yu Shuman got out of bed. As she ate breakfast, she glanced through the audition scripts Sister Li had sent over. Judging by Sister Li's notes, it was clear she preferred Yu Shuman to take the film role, which would elevate her status in the industry. Yu Shuman understood but still had some reservations about the character.
Compared to the female second lead in the film, which didn't demand much in terms of acting skills, Yu Shuman was more inclined toward the TV drama's antagonist, the empress dowager. Unlike a commercial film, she was more interested in this serious drama. The character of the empress dowager, as the director described, didn't require romantic scenes. Even if there were, they were brushed over. In a world of political intrigue filled with ambitious men, these men were either her enemies, subordinates, or tools. In such a scenario, romantic involvement seemed impossible.
After finishing breakfast and skimming through both scripts, Yu Shuman decided to follow Sister Li's suggestion and meet the TV drama's director first.
The meeting took place at a teahouse at the foot of a mountain. Few people visited this spot, but it had a nice view. Occasionally, tourists would stop by but leave after seeing the expensive tea prices. The teahouse also had private rooms to ensure privacy. The location was chosen by the director. Yu Shuman, accompanied by Sister Li, arrived more than half an hour early, only to find the director already seated.
Yu Shuman had actually met this director before—back at the film studio when Qin Ran arranged social practice for her young fans, this was the director who helped. This time, the director also brought along the scriptwriter, whom Yu Shuman recognized as February, the writer she had previously worked with.
Seeing Yu Shuman, February gave a careful smile. In that instant, Yu Shuman understood everything. February had been roped in by 99 Entertainment after the last suspense drama but preferred to remain an independent contributor. Not joining 99 officially, she liked her freelance status, but whenever she had a good script, she would present it to 99 Entertainment first. They would offer her a good price and help set up a production like this.
Having worked with 99 before, the director had a good impression of the company. After reading the script, she agreed to take on the project without hesitation.
"The commission from President Qin was one reason, but I was genuinely captivated by your acting. You have that quality of a true actor—I noticed it right away. I also watched your audition video, and that eerie feeling you conveyed is exactly what the 'Empress Dowager' in this drama needs. Plus, this role demands a lot from an actress, portraying the character from 18 to her twilight years in her 50s. Do you think you can handle it?"
Yu Shuman sat upright in her chair, her back straight with no hint of slouching, her eyes filled with determination. But she spoke honestly, "Director, you know I've only played two roles so far. I've never tried such a challenging character. But if you believe in me, I'll do my best and won't let you down."
The director smiled and nodded, "I believe in you. You're a very dedicated actress." When they were filming near the same studio, the director occasionally visited the set and knew how hard Yu Shuman worked. To be honest, the director's situation hadn't been great in recent years, often working on low-budget web dramas while dealing with demanding actors.
Perhaps that's why, when Qin Ran's assistant asked for help organizing social practice for the young fans, she readily agreed, even going the extra mile to brief the young actors' parents. After receiving 99 Entertainment's invitation and reading the script, she had only one thought: she wanted to make this political drama.
"To be honest, although the 'Empress Dowager' is the antagonist, in my eyes, she is the main character throughout the drama. Entrusting her to you, I feel at ease."
After leaving the teahouse, Yu Shuman felt a bit light-headed, an unreal sensation lingering around her. She hadn't expected Qin Ran to remember her wish to act in serious dramas so well. After a long day, she returned home to find Qin Ran already in the kitchen. Hearing Yu Shuman's entrance, Qin Ran came out.
"You're back," she started to say, but before she could finish, Yu Shuman wrapped her in a tight hug. Yu Shuman held her so tightly it seemed like she wanted to embed Qin Ran into her own body.