The Strategy For The Yandere Movie Queen Failed And Was Marked. Chapter 18

The nanny van slowly drove onto the Film Set. Through the window, Su Jin saw the staff gathered in small groups, their hushed conversations making her feel uneasy. Ever since she and Ye Qinglan publicly announced their relationship, scenes like this played out almost every day.

“Don’t be nervous.” Ye Qinglan’s warm palm covered hers, and she whispered, “I’m here.”

Su Jin forced a smile, but inwardly, she was full of bitter laughter.

How could she not be nervous? Today they were filming the hot spring scene, and last night’s “rehearsal” was still vivid in her memory. Just thinking about re-enacting those intimate moments in front of everyone made her ears burn.

“System,” she called out in her mind, “Can today’s scene be…”

“No!” the System interrupted her decisively. “This is a critical plot point and must be completed!”

Su Jin cursed the System countless times in her heart.

When she got out of the car, the surrounding gazes felt like needles pricking her.

Su Jin instinctively leaned closer to Ye Qinglan, who immediately understood and wrapped an arm around her waist. It was a simple gesture, yet it silently declared possession.

The whispers immediately quieted down significantly.

“Let’s go get your makeup done first.” Ye Qinglan’s voice was like an invisible barrier, isolating them from the outside disturbances.

Su Jin felt inexplicably reassured.

In the makeup room, the makeup artist was applying makeup to Su Jin, whose flushed face was reflected in the mirror.

“Miss Su, you look particularly radiant today,” the makeup artist teased with a smile. “Are you excited about the intimate scene you’re about to film with Film Empress Ye?”

Su Jin’s ear tips instantly turned red, and she stammered, unsure how to respond.

Just then, Ye Qinglan pushed the door open. She had already changed into her costume, a white yukata with a slightly open collar, revealing her delicate collarbone.

“Ready?” Ye Qinglan’s gaze met Su Jin’s, her eyes holding a silent understanding known only to them.

Su Jin nodded, her heart pounding like a drum.

The images from last night’s “rehearsal” flashed uncontrollably in her mind—their bodies pressed together in the hot spring, Ye Qinglan’s scorching breath, and that subtle, lingering touch…

“I… I’m going to change.” She quickly stood up, fleeing into the dressing room.

Inside the dressing room, Su Jin stared despairingly at the costume in her hands.

It was a sheer, gauze yukata, thin as a cicada’s wing, and particularly scandalous. She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she put on the garment, her eyes wide with panic, looking like a startled, red-eyed rabbit.

“Su Jin,” Ye Qinglan’s voice came from outside the door, “The director is rushing us.”

“A-almost ready!” Su Jin frantically tied the sash, and when she pushed the door open, she nearly bumped into Ye Qinglan.

Ye Qinglan’s gaze lingered on her for a few seconds, then she chuckled softly: “Very… beautiful.”

Three simple words, yet they made Su Jin’s heart race wildly.

She lowered her head, afraid to meet Ye Qinglan’s eyes, fearing the other woman would see her embarrassment.

The Film Set had already constructed the hot spring scene, and staff were adjusting the lighting amidst the rising steam.

The director saw them and immediately waved them over: “Come, come, let’s do a quick rehearsal and block the scene.”

Su Jin’s feet felt heavy, as if filled with lead. She took a long breath, forcing herself to enter the role.

She slowly stepped into the hot spring. The warm water enveloped her body, causing her to let out an involuntary sigh. According to the script, she was supposed to “accidentally” slip and fall into Ye Qinglan’s arms.

“Ah!” she cried softly, leaning forward.

Ye Qinglan caught her steadily, their bodies pressing tightly together in the water. Su Jin could clearly feel the other woman’s heartbeat, thump, thump, gradually synchronizing with her own.

“Cut!” the director shouted excitedly. “Hold that position, continue!”

The subsequent filming went surprisingly smoothly.

Perhaps the “rehearsal” from last night had worked, as Su Jin was more immersed in the role than usual. Following the script, she gently stroked Ye Qinglan’s cheek, leaned in to whisper in her ear, every movement perfectly executed.

Strangely, the more she immersed herself in the character, the less nervous she became.

It was as if only when playing “Zhou Yu” could she legitimately get close to Ye Qinglan, without having to analyze her increasingly confused feelings.

“Cut!” The director clapped enthusiastically. “That’s a take! Ten-minute break, prepare for the next scene!”

Su Jin felt a wave of relief. Just as she was about to leave the hot spring, she felt Ye Qinglan gently take her hand.

“You acted very well,” Ye Qinglan murmured, her thumb lightly stroking Su Jin’s palm—a small gesture known only to them.

Su Jin’s heart lost control again. She hastily pulled her hand away, scrambling out of the hot spring as if fleeing, wrapping herself in the towel offered by her assistant, and rushing toward the resting room without looking back.

In the resting room, Su Jin splashed cold water on her burning cheeks, trying to calm herself down.

“Lustful thoughts are running wild,” the System commented coolly, adding insult to injury. “Host, you look exactly like a cat in heat right now.”

“Shut up!” Su Jin snapped in embarrassment and anger. “I’m just… just too immersed in the role!”

“Is that so?” the System countered meaningfully. “Do you dare say you don’t like Ye Qinglan?”

Su Jin was speechless, unable to refute.

Yes, why didn’t she dare admit it? Was it because Ye Qinglan loved that “old friend”? Because she was just a substitute? Or was it because… she ultimately had to complete the mission and leave this world?

Just as she was lost in thought, the resting room door was suddenly pushed open.

Su Jin looked up and saw Fang Qi leaning against the doorframe, a mocking curve on her red lips.

“Nice acting,” Fang Qi strolled in slowly, her high heels clicking sharply on the floor. “Looks like you’ve been doing plenty of ‘practice’ in private.”

Su Jin’s face hardened: “What do you want?”

Fang Qi sat down in the chair opposite her, pulling a stack of photos from her bag and pushing them across: “Take a look at these.”

Su Jin looked down, and her blood instantly froze. The photos were intimate pictures of the original Host with various people.

“You think you can clean up your image just by climbing onto Ye Qinglan?” Fang Qi sneered maliciously. “If these get out, what do you think you’ll face?”

“What do you want?” Su Jin forced herself to remain calm.

Fang Qi leaned closer, her perfume overwhelmingly strong: “It’s simple. At the cast party tonight, you need to find a way to get Ye Qinglan to drink this.” She took a small vial from her handbag. “Then take her to room 2103. The rest… you don’t need to worry about.”

Su Jin stared at the small vial. She knew exactly what it was. In the original novel, Fang Qi used this drug to set up Ye Qinglan, nearly sending her into the bed of a certain backer.

“Impossible!” Su Jin abruptly stood up. “Don’t even think about it!”

Fang Qi calmly put the photos away: “Then wait for these to hit the news. And let me remind you, Ye Qinglan hates being deceived the most. If she finds out your true colors…”

“Host!” the System’s voice suddenly rang out. “This is the final critical plot point! Agree to her demand!”

Su Jin’s mind was in chaos.

The System’s voice, Fang Qi’s threat, Ye Qinglan’s intimacy… all the sounds intertwined, threatening to tear her apart.

“Host! Hurry and agree!” the System urged anxiously. “As soon as you complete this mission, you can redeem your reward and go home!”

“Shut up!” Su Jin roared in her mind. “Do you know what’s in that vial? That… that will completely destroy Ye Qinglan!”

“So what?” the System retorted coldly. “This was always your mission: to provoke Ye Qinglan’s Blackening. The opportunity is right in front of you, what are you hesitating for?”

Su Jin’s fingernails dug deep into her palms. The pain helped her regain a little clarity: “I won’t do it. Ye Qinglan trusts me so much, I can’t do this to her.”

“Electric shock warning!” the System suddenly raised its volume. “Countdown three seconds, three, two…”

A violent pain instantly swept through her body. Su Jin sharply arched her back, biting her lip hard to stifle a scream.

“This is just the beginning.” The System’s voice was icy cold. “If you continue to disobey orders, I will directly take over your body. Think about what will happen then?”

Su Jin’s pupils contracted sharply.

The System controlling her body… that meant it might hurt Ye Qinglan in an even crueler way. No, she had to stabilize the System and Fang Qi first, then figure out a solution.

Pretending to struggle for a long time, Su Jin finally squeezed out a difficult sentence, “Fine, I will… do as you say.”

Fang Qi smiled in satisfaction, stuffing the small vial into her hand: “That’s better. Remember, don’t try any tricks.” With that, she turned and left, the sound of her high heels like heavy hammers pounding on Su Jin’s heart.

The moment the resting room door closed, Su Jin collapsed into the chair, the small vial in her hand feeling impossibly heavy.

Now, she had to buy time and find a way to tell Ye Qinglan everything.