C8

Qu Zhenzhen was completely unaware of his emotional shifts. With Xie Yaotian nearby, her performance was more vibrant, even exceeding expectations, which made Xie Yaotian nod approvingly.

The filming went smoothly for a while, and they were nearing the end. That day, there was a pivotal scene where Qu Zhenzhen and Jing Yuanhao had a heated argument, a highlight of the entire production. This scene was crucial for Zhenzhen, as it could elevate the whole project to its peak.

However, it was also her "Achilles' heel" since it involved crying. Achieving the right emotional outburst was no easy feat. Zhenzhen tried several takes but couldn't nail it. The director paused the shoot, asking her to find her inspiration.

Such an important scene being halted because she couldn't cry left Zhenzhen as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof. As she paced around, worried, she spotted Xie Yaotian talking with others not far away.

A sudden idea struck her, and she ran up to him, loudly accusing, "Mr. Xie, did you know about all the negative reports about me online lately?"

Caught off guard by her sudden question, Xie Yaotian instinctively replied, "I know."

"Oh, you know? Then why haven't you had PR handle these false claims? They really affect my mood and could delay filming, don't you realize that?"

Xie Yaotian was baffled, wondering what had gotten into her to shout at him in public. He looked at Zhenzhen, whose ears were flushed red, and replied coolly, "A good reputation is earned. If you truly have talent, let your work speak for itself."

Understanding her motive, he noticed a subtle change in her expression and added, "Besides, not all the gossip online is false. You should know how much is true and how much isn't."

After finishing his sentence, he glanced coldly at Qu Zhenzhen, whose eyes were red with unshed tears, and added more wood to the fire. "You can't even handle a crying scene. Seems like I picked the wrong person. Maybe I should have considered Yuh Wan."

Already feeling wronged and upset, hearing Xie Yaotian mention Yuh Wan brought back all the oppression and disdain she'd faced before. Her tears flowed like a broken string of pearls, and she cried out, overwhelmed with emotion, "Why are you saying this to me too? Do you know how hard I've worked for my future? Do you think it's been easy for me to hold on this long? And now you say things like this to provoke me!"

The more she spoke, the more upset she became. Qu Zhenzhen crouched down, hugging her knees, and let herself cry freely. The nearby cameraman was quick to react, grabbing his camera to capture Zhenzhen's sobbing from various angles.

As luck would have it, Zhenzhen's impassioned words closely matched the script, making it easy to seamlessly edit this scene into the film. This unexpected turn of events helped her complete the most challenging crying scene, turning misfortune into a blessing.

However, Jing Yuanhao's expression darkened. This was supposed to be a crying scene between Zhenzhen and Yaotian, having nothing to do with him. Why did she always seem so indifferent towards him? Did she really not like him?

With the final major scene wrapped up, the entire production successfully concluded. Xie Yaotian generously treated the whole crew to a wrap party, and the atmosphere was jubilant.

At the party, Jing Yuanhao sat next to Qu Zhenzhen, still attentive to her needs, which was obvious to everyone present. Yet, Zhenzhen seemed like an outsider, focusing on her meal and occasionally joining in the toasts with the others.

She kept subtly rejecting Yuan Hao's advances. To her, it was just his usual way of charming women. In this circle, the more people you meet, the more you realize how rare genuine feelings are. Playing games is all too common.

Besides, someone had quietly taken up residence in her heart. No matter how that person felt about her, she couldn't see anyone else.

When this time-travel series aired, the audience response was overwhelmingly positive. The early promotions were spot on, and the cast was incredibly appealing, making the show a massive hit.

Even though she was the supporting actress, Qu Zhenzhen's brilliant performance won her a lot of praise, especially her heartfelt crying scene at the end, which skyrocketed her fame.

Now, she was no longer an unknown third-rate actress. With the show's success, Qu Zhenzhen gained a considerable fan base.

Aside from an upcoming idol drama she had already signed on for, several scripts were vying for her attention.

Qu Zhenzhen's agent was so busy they barely had a moment to breathe, and they couldn't stop grinning.

"Zhenzhen, these scripts are all good. Take some time to pick one yourself!"

She lazily agreed, pulled down her eye mask, and drifted back to sleep.

The back-to-back press conferences had worn her out more than filming ever did. Now, on the way to another event, Qu Zhenzhen seized the chance to catch a quick nap.

Before long, her agent, Xiaoye, gently shook her awake.

"Zhenzhen, we're here. Get ready."

Groggily, she glanced around and realized they had arrived at the venue entrance. She patted her face to wake herself up.

Once she adjusted her gown, her assistant opened the car door and stepped out first, with Qu Zhenzhen following closely behind.

Flashbulbs immediately began to pop. Reporters from various media outlets were eager to capture this talented and beautiful young star.

She calmly posed for the photographers, exuding confidence and grace without a hint of stage fright.

Right behind her, a black Mercedes-Benz slowly pulled up.

Out stepped Jing Yuanhao, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. His arrival instantly drew excited screams from his fans.

"It's Yuanhao! Yuanhao's here!"

"Oh my gosh, he's even more handsome in person!"

The photographers quickly turned their cameras on him, capturing the moment. This young star was clearly a trendsetter, and his popularity was undeniable.

As they were co-stars, Qu Zhenzhen politely turned to Yuanhao with a smile, ready to continue down the red carpet.

To her surprise, Yuanhao quickly closed the distance between them, offering a charming smile as he softly asked, "Miss Qu, may I have the honor of accompanying you down the red carpet?"

With countless cameras and fans watching, Qu Zhenzhen naturally couldn't refuse his request.

"Of course."