Zi Yan knew that just because she had won this round, it didn't mean the fight was over. If anything, Wang Yin and Guo Bao would now be even more desperate to take her down.
As she sat in her dressing room, applying light makeup before the next scene, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Li Mei.
Li Mei: "Be careful. I just heard that Wang Yin is planning something big."
Zi Yan's fingers tightened around her phone. What now?
She took a deep breath and replied:
Zi Yan: "Did you find out what it is?"
Li Mei: "Not yet. But whatever it is, they're acting fast."
Zi Yan's eyes darkened. She had no time to waste.
She stood up, adjusting her costume, and walked toward the set with calm steps. She couldn't afford to show weakness.
But as she approached, she felt a strange atmosphere in the air. The staff whispered among themselves, some throwing her nervous glances.
Something was wrong.
As soon as she arrived, the director called out, "Zi Yan, your next scene is with Wang Qian. Get ready!"
Zi Yan nodded, but her mind was alert. A scene with Wang Qian? How convenient.
She walked toward the set and saw Wang Qian standing there, already dressed in her costume. The woman smirked, her eyes full of hidden malice.
Zi Yan didn't react. If Wang Qian thought she could intimidate her, she was wrong.
The assistant director gave them instructions.
"This is an emotional scene. Wang Qian, your character is angry at Zi Yan's character. You grab her wrist, push her, and accuse her of betrayal."
Zi Yan immediately understood. This was the perfect chance for Wang Qian to cause an 'accident.'
The assistant continued, "Be careful, though. We don't want any real injuries."
Wang Qian smiled sweetly. "Of course. I'd never hurt my dear sister."
Zi Yan held back a laugh. Liar.
The cameras started rolling.
"Action!"
Wang Qian stepped forward aggressively. "You betrayed me!" she shouted, her voice shaking with fake anger.
She grabbed Zi Yan's wrist—too hard. Her nails dug into Zi Yan's skin.
Zi Yan endured the pain, staying in character. "I never betrayed you! You're the one who—"
Before she could finish, Wang Qian suddenly shoved her—hard.
Zi Yan had expected it, but even she was caught off guard by the sheer force. She was being pushed toward the edge of the set—toward a pile of metal props!
If she fell, she could be seriously injured.
But at the last second, she reacted. She twisted her body mid-fall, using her momentum to roll instead of crashing.
She hit the floor with a loud thud, but avoided the dangerous props.
Gasps filled the air. The crew froze in shock.
"Zi Yan! Are you okay?" someone shouted.
Zi Yan took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp pain in her arm. Slowly, she stood up. She wasn't seriously hurt.
Wang Qian put on an innocent act. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to push so hard!"
Zi Yan dusted herself off, staring at Wang Qian with cold eyes. This woman really thought she was stupid?
The director frowned. "That wasn't in the script."
Wang Qian gasped, playing innocent. "I got too into the scene! I swear it wasn't on purpose."
Zi Yan held back her anger. She couldn't lose control now. That was exactly what Wang Qian wanted—to make her look bad.
So instead, she smiled slightly. "It's fine. Accidents happen."
Wang Qian's smile faltered.
She wasn't expecting Zi Yan to stay calm.
After filming ended, Zi Yan returned to her dressing room. But before she could sit down, someone knocked on her door.
She opened it—and found a small envelope on the floor.
Her eyes narrowed. She picked it up and opened it.
Inside was a single photo.
A picture of her little sister, Zi Xue, walking to school.
Zi Yan's blood turned cold.
A message was written below the photo:
"Stop fighting back, or next time, it won't be just a picture."
Zi Yan clenched the paper so tightly her fingers turned white.
They dared to threaten her family?
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She had to think.
Whoever did this had been watching her closely. This wasn't just about the entertainment industry anymore. This was personal.
And Zi Yan would make them regret it.
She took out her phone and dialed Lu Yichen.
The call connected in seconds.
His deep voice came through. "Something happened?"
Zi Yan didn't waste time. "I need you to protect someone."
Lu Yichen was silent for a moment. Then he asked, "Who?"
"My little sister."
There was no hesitation in his response. "I'll handle it."
Zi Yan finally let out a slow breath. "Thank you."
Lu Yichen's voice was calm but serious. "Stay where you are. I'll come to you."
Zi Yan was about to refuse, but before she could, he had already hung up.
She stared at her phone, her heart unsettled.
Lu Yichen was dangerous, but right now, he was the only one she could trust.
And she had a feeling this was just the beginning.