chapter 7
Early the next morning, Su Jinfan’s costume photoshoot had already topped the trending list on Weibo.

A series of Su Jinfan’s costume photos showcased the woman as graceful as a classical beauty, her vibrant red wedding dress fluttering lightly in the air, breathtakingly stunning.

How many women could even compare to Su Jinfan in these photos?

The Weibo post announcing Su Jin Fan’s costume photos was actually published by Elsa, the CEO of Ding Sheng herself. This turn of events suggests that Su Jin Fan is far from being blacklisted as rumored in the industry. Instead, her popularity is spreading at an unimaginable speed. Su Jin Fan’s Weibo followers are increasing by the second, and the previously negative comments have been quickly swept away.

[Indeed! Watching your performances two years ago, I always felt you were different. Back then, I thought you were just pretty, but I never expected you to have such great charisma! Thumbs up!]

[Su Jin Fan’s fans, hurry up and promote her upcoming movie #Chang Ge Movie#!]

[What’s all the fuss about? She’ll still be overshadowed by Liu Xin in the end.]

    ……

The dispute between Su Jinfan and Liu Xin over who was the top actress gradually evolved into a trending topic on Weibo—”Peerless Beauty” vs. “Everlasting Song.” Naturally, this was the last outcome Liu Xin wanted to see.

“Didn’t they say Elsa was on our side? Why did she actively post Su Jinfan’s costume photos? And what’s going on with the online situation?” In the bedroom, Liu Xin, clad in a bathrobe, angrily threw her phone onto the bed, her eyes blazing with fury as if she wanted to tear Su Jinfan apart.

Seated at the desk, Liu Xin applied a face mask. Though she had a pretty face, without makeup, her features weren’t as refined as before—she could still be called a beauty, but certainly not the stunning one praised online.

“Photography and acting may not be directly related, but you should still think carefully. The company went to great lengths to secure ‘Peerless Beauty’ for you. Don’t blame me for not warning you—when it comes to acting skills, you’re no match for Su Jinfan,” Li Mochen said as he walked into the room.

Being so disrespectful to Liu Xin made her face turn pale and her body stiffen involuntarily.

Since the online exposure of “Chang Ge,” Liu Xin had always looked down on Su Jin Fan’s low-budget production. However, this small film coincidentally shared the same theme and content. If it were truly overshadowed by this low-budget film, Liu Xin’s commercial value in the film industry would plummet.

She had originally thought this movie would solidify her position as the top actress in Chinese cinema, but unexpectedly, Su Jin Fan emerged as a formidable obstacle. The car accident back then didn’t manage to silence her completely—clearly, she had powerful allies.

Realizing that Li Mo Chen would never help her, Liu Xin couldn’t help but let a tinge of resentment seep into her tone. She sent a text message to Li Qin.

【What should I do now?】

Precisely because she was adored by countless people, Liu Xin feared falling from grace. Her inflated ego couldn’t fathom the possibility of becoming universally despised. Thus, she was determined to bring Su Jinfan down by any means necessary.

    ……

The largest film studio in the country is located in F City, which is also where many dreams begin and end. It’s a place where numerous big-name stars were discovered. As early as 5 a.m., crowds gather here hoping for extra roles, dreaming of hitting it big someday.

Su Jinfan had just arrived on set. Though it was a small production, the director, who had studied in Canada, paid meticulous attention to costumes and makeup. Normally, actors wouldn’t wear complete period attire during filming, but today everything was carefully curated from head to toe—even a tiny earring was personally selected by director Liu Ming.

“That director is really meticulous.”

While enduring the makeup artist’s ministrations in the dressing room, Su Jinfan remarked.

Seeing Su Jinfan’s appearance, Tianxin also said with some surprise, “Xiao Fan, this director is really attentive. The productions we’ve acted in before were never this meticulous.”

“Didn’t you know?” The makeup artist smiled as she explained, “Director Liu Ming worked on props for many Hollywood blockbusters when he was abroad before returning to China, so he’s very particular about costumes, headpieces, and makeup.”

I never expected that director Liu Ming would be someone so meticulous about acting…

In the film city of F City, there’s a palace built at a 10:1 scale replica of the Forbidden City, exuding an authentic ancient charm that immerses visitors the moment they step inside.

Today’s scene for Su Jin involves portraying the carefree spirit of youth—her character’s rebellious longing for freedom as she sneaks out to play. The scene is packed with action, requiring both agility and the graceful demeanor of a young girl.

“3, 2, 1! Action!”

Snowflakes were drifting in the sky, countless snowflakes landing on Su Jin Fan’s shoulders and hair. Dressed in emerald green, she stood out vividly in the crowd, holding a snowball in her hand. Laughing as brilliantly as spring flowers, she threw it at someone, her eyes then curving like crescent moons, exuding a youthful aura that infected her two elder brothers nearby.

“Chang Ge, is this how you fool around with your elder brothers?” Li Chang Ge’s brother gazed at his sister with adoration, shaking his head slightly before gently brushing the snow off her hair.

Li Chang Ge hugged her brother tightly. “Third Brother, when do you think I’ll grow up?”

“Third Brother hopes you never grow up.” His brows revealed boundless affection—he truly wished Li Chang Ge would never grow up, so she could live happily like this for the rest of her life.

The second scene depicts Li Changge before her entry into the palace. Su Jinfan quickly changed into another costume, and the set was swiftly rearranged.

On the scene, in front of the palace gates, Li Changge no longer bore the appearance of her childhood. In the hazy morning light, the woman seemed enveloped in boundless sorrow, her neatly combed hair exuding a refined and ethereal aura.

Behind her stood her third brother, Li Lian, who had been silently watching. With just one glance, he found it hard to look away. His eyes, which had never held any woman’s gaze, were now fixed on that slender figure. As she stepped through the palace gates, the two unexpectedly shed tears simultaneously, stirring emotions too profound to ignore.

Cut!

Liu Ming called out, interrupting the visually pleasing scene created by the two. He glanced at the footage from various angles on the monitor and frowned slightly, “Cut…”

“You could say Su Jinfan is truly outstanding among newcomers. It only took one take to win over a picky director like you,” assistant director Wang Yang remarked with a smile.

Liu Ming nodded slightly. Although Su Jinfan wasn’t professionally trained and hadn’t been in the entertainment industry for long, she skillfully utilized the charm of her eyes, seamlessly blending into the scene. Every movement was flawless—such performance from a young actress was undeniably impressive.

Even Liu Ming couldn’t help but admire Su Jinfan’s exceptional talent. He had always thought it was rare to find a rising star in the entertainment industry who excelled both in acting and character, yet here she was, proving him wrong.

He really underestimated her…

After finishing all her scenes, Su Jinfan walked out of the set. As soon as she turned on her phone, she saw a text message from Liu Ming, which contained only a few brief words.

[Waiting for you outside]

Puzzled, Su Jinfan walked out and indeed saw a gray-white car that had been waiting for a long time.

Su Jinfan was completely unfamiliar with this Liu Ming, but seeing the situation, it seemed he intended to take her somewhere. However, Liu Ming had a good reputation in the industry, so she figured he wouldn’t do anything harmful to her.

She walked to the car and tapped on the window. Soon, the glass slowly rolled down, revealing Liu Ming’s handsome profile.

“What’s the matter, Director Liu Ming?” Su Jinfan gently rested her hand on the car door.

“Get in,” Liu Ming said, gripping the steering wheel without even glancing at Su Jinfan.

Su Jinfan immediately got into the car.

“Director Liu, where are you taking me?” Su Jinfan’s first question after getting in the car.

“Tonight, you’ll be doing an exclusive interview about the movie. I’ve already informed your assistant to help you pack and prepare.”

Regarding her collaboration with Director Liu Ming this time, many thought it was a desperate move. However, news of the 200 million yuan sky-high investment had been circulating for over a week without fading. While the audience might not understand, it didn’t mean Liu Ming and Su Jinfan were clueless. If it weren’t for the continuous hype from various parties, she wouldn’t have landed this exclusive interview.

The direct beneficiary of this news, apart from the entire “Chang Ge” crew, was no one else, so Su Jinfan always believed that the mastermind behind it was actually Liu Ming.

Su Jinfan always thought that Liu Ming wanted to use this hype to increase the movie’s visibility and give herself enough buzz. But since both parties stood to gain, Su Jinfan naturally reaped the benefits as well.

“Mr. Liu Ming, I didn’t realize you had such a powerful team behind the scenes. Right now, on Weibo and all the major entertainment magazines, it’s hard to imagine gaining this much traction without your push.”

Just as she finally found a topic to chat about and took out her lipstick to touch up her lips, a sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out, nearly throwing Su Jinfan off balance.

“Hey! Director Liu, we’re not on set right now, are you filming Fast & Furious or something!” Su Jinfan nearly got knocked over and angrily retorted.

“Your face.” Liu Ming acted as if he hadn’t heard, just staring at the right side of her cheek. “Miss Su, what brand is your lipstick…”

Su Jinfan’s heart skipped a beat as she pulled out her compact mirror. No way—her lipstick had smeared during all this, leaving a bright red streak across the right side of her face. It looked downright comical.

This was it. Her image in front of Liu Ming was completely ruined. At this critical moment, Su Jinfan couldn’t help but feel the atmosphere turn slightly awkward.

Still pondering how to handle this awkward situation, Liu Ming’s hearty laughter rang in my ears: “Don’t worry, Miss Su, I’ll definitely compensate you for the lipstick!”

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