Chapter Index

    “Exchange successful. Five million points deducted. You currently have three million points remaining. Host, please keep up the good work.”

    Along with the System’s annoying voice, Su Jin felt another pang of heartache.

    The System’s urging voice sounded again: “Host, please begin your action. Time limit: 24 hours.”

    “Huh?” Su Jin was a little confused. “It’s starting already? What am I supposed to do?”

    The System said matter-of-factly: “This System can only provide you with the opportunity to start over. How exactly you complete the mission is up to you, the Host, to figure out. If the mission fails again, you will still face Punishment.”

    Su Jin felt deeply cheated. The chance to start over, which cost five million points, was completely useless. Her rationality instantly collapsed.

    “You dog System, this is fraud! I @#¥#¥#……”

    “Host, please use civilized language, or I will be forced to take mandatory action against you.”

    Furious, Su Jin couldn’t help but speak sarcastically: “Your shamelessness has truly reached its peak.”

    “You’re like an old sow wearing a bra—one trick after another.”

    “Dog System, make sure to wear a lightning rod when you go out, lest you get struck by lightning.”

    “You, you, you…”

    The System was rendered speechless by her insults and cut off the connection.

    Su Jin instantly lowered her flag. She couldn’t contact the dog System, but based on her understanding of its shamelessness, the mission would definitely continue, and the time limit probably hadn’t changed either.

    She had no choice but to rack her brain for a solution. In the end, she couldn’t come up with anything good, only a suggestive idea. She felt she must have been influenced by the stupid System.

    She walked up to Director Lin and mustered her courage: “Director Lin, I think we could add a little more detail to this massage scene. Zhou Yu has a secret crush on Lin Xia and takes the opportunity to seduce her. During the massage, she could secretly touch her abs, creating a subtle, ambiguous tension. This would better reflect the character’s psychological state.”

    Director Lin frowned: “This… wouldn’t that be too deliberate?”

    Lin Xiaoxiao, the supporting actress standing nearby, couldn’t help but sneer, her tone sharp: “Su Jin, are you trying to turn fiction into reality and take advantage of Film Empress Ye?”

    Su Jin felt a wave of guilt but forced herself to remain calm: “I’m just considering the character. The emotional tension in this scene is very important. This is the only way to show Zhou Yu’s secret crush and seduction of Lin Xia.”

    Lin Xiaoxiao scoffed, her tone even more mocking: “Considering the character? I think you’re considering yourself! Everyone knows you confessed live last night, and now you’re trying to take advantage of her during filming, doing everything you can to gain popularity. How shameless.”

    Su Jin, whose thoughts had been exposed, was instantly embarrassed and weakly retorted: “Director Lin, I still think this subtle, ambiguous tension perfectly expresses Zhou Yu’s inner struggle and desire.” Halfway through, she couldn’t help but look at Ye Qinglan, “Film Empress Ye, don’t you agree?”

    After asking, Su Jin inwardly cursed herself for being brainless. How could Ye Qinglan agree to be touched?

    Director Lin didn’t speak for a moment, clearly still hesitating.

    Just then, Ye Qinglan suddenly stood up and said, “I think we can try it.”

    Su Jin was stunned. She hadn’t expected Ye Qinglan to agree.

    A surge of excitement went through her, and she quickly nodded: “Thank you, Film Empress Ye!”

    Lin Xiaoxiao’s face instantly darkened, and her tone became sharp and mean: “Film Empress Ye, please don’t be fooled by her! She clearly wants to take advantage of you under the guise of filming. Don’t fall for her trick!”

    Ye Qinglan gave her a cold look, her tone calm: “I believe Su Jin is thinking about the character.”

    Hearing her say this, Lin Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth in anger.

    Su Jin, however, couldn’t help but feel guilty.

    Ye Qinglan trusted her so innocently, yet she was trying every means to take advantage of her. She really was a terrible person. It was all the dog System’s fault; otherwise, she wouldn’t have joined the System’s pirate ship even if she were beaten to death. Now she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

    Before she could react, Director Lin had already nodded: “Since Film Empress Ye agrees, let’s try it.”

    Su Jin couldn’t feel happy at all.

    The reshoot began.

    Su Jin’s fingers landed on the small of Ye Qinglan’s back, slowly moving upward, and she asked in a low voice, “Does it hurt here?”

    The System’s voice, like a ghost rising from the dead, rang in her mind: “Host, hold steady! Time starts now!”

    Su Jin was startled but had no time to curse it.

    Her fingertips trembled slightly, gently touching Ye Qinglan’s abdomen. Her fingers slowly moved along the lines of the muscle, the action gentle and suggestive.

    Ye Qinglan’s body paused slightly but she didn’t push her away.

    Su Jin’s fingertips felt the firmness and warmth of her abs, and her heart fluttered nervously.

    The defined texture beneath her fingertips seemed to be slowly scorching her sensitive nerves. Su Jin felt her face involuntarily heat up. She couldn’t help but look down at Ye Qinglan’s waist, which was slender and strong, making her both envious and nervous. It must have taken a lot of training…

    Her thoughts drifted. She wondered how much time had passed. Was it enough?

    Su Jin felt like every minute was an eternity and didn’t dare to feel any more carefully. She was sitting on pins and needles.

    Just then, Ye Qinglan suddenly pressed down on her hand, her voice hoarse and restrained: “That’s enough.”

    Su Jin quickly withdrew her hand and gave an awkward smile: “Oh, well… then I’ll help you up.”

    “Cut!” Director Lin shouted, nodding in satisfaction. “Not bad. The emotion is more accurate than the original version. Keep it up!”

    Su Jin felt a huge sense of relief, but the System’s voice rang in her mind: “Host, mission failed!”

    “How is that possible? I clearly touched her for so long,” Su Jin couldn’t believe it.

    The System said: “The timer only reached 2 minutes and 53 seconds.”

    Ahhh! Just a little bit short. Su Jin felt a wave of collapse.

    Before she could recover from the blow, she saw Ye Qinglan lean closer to her and chuckle: “The scene is finished. Let’s settle our private matter. Come with me.”

    Su Jin felt a chill run down her spine. She knew Ye Qinglan was definitely going to settle the score with her. She stood rooted to the spot, hesitant to move.

    Seeing that she hadn’t followed, Ye Qinglan turned back to look at her, “Su Jin?”

    If it was a blessing, it couldn’t be avoided; if it was a disaster, it couldn’t be hidden. Su Jin steeled herself and followed.

    The two walked into the room one after the other. As soon as Su Jin stepped inside, the door behind her closed with a bang.

    Before she could react, she was forcefully pressed against the door. Her back was tight against the cold door panel, and her wrists were firmly held by Ye Qinglan, making it impossible to move.

    “Film, Film Empress Ye…”

    She looked up into Ye Qinglan’s icy eyes, feeling weak inside.

    Ye Qinglan leaned closer, her voice low and dangerous: “Su Jin, was last night’s live confession your way of proving you like me?”

    Su Jin was inexplicably relieved. So she wasn’t questioning her about touching her.

    She immediately nodded vigorously: “Yes, yes… Film Empress Ye, last night’s confession came from my heart…”

    Ye Qinglan gently pinched her chin, forcing her to look up at herself: “From your heart? Su Jin, do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? Gain popularity? Don’t forget your photos are still in my hands. I warn you, don’t try any more tricks.”

    Su Jin’s heart sank. The System reminded her: “Host, beg for mercy quickly! You can’t be exposed and kicked out of the crew. You still have a lot of plot to go through!”

    Having no other choice, Su Jin bit herself hard, and tears instantly welled up: “Film Empress Ye, I was wrong… I truly know I was wrong… Please don’t expose the photos. I, I am willing to do anything.”

    “Anything?”

    Ye Qinglan’s lips curved slightly, her eyes carrying a hint of mockery: “Very well. I’ll give you a chance. Retake the photos from last night.”

    Su Jin froze, her face instantly flushing red: “Wha, what?”

    “Unwilling?” Ye Qinglan’s eyes turned dangerous: “Then how about I send the photos out and let everyone see how you tried to seduce me.”

    “No!” Su Jin frantically shook her head, struggling internally.

    If she didn’t agree, Ye Qinglan really might expose the photos. If that happened, she would not only be cursed by the entire internet but also likely be kicked out of the crew, leading to complete mission failure.

    “I, I agree…” Her voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

    Ye Qinglan snorted lightly, “Then begin.”

    Su Jin lowered her head, her fingers trembling as she unbuttoned her shirt, one button at a time, the movement slow and difficult.

    Ye Qinglan’s eyes changed, and she said hoarsely: “Continue.”

    Hearing this, Su Jin’s cheeks were flushed with shame, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it.

    “Say you like me.” Ye Qinglan’s voice sounded coldly, carrying a hint of command.

    Su Jin bit her lip, her voice low and trembling: “Film, Film Empress Ye… I like you.”

    Ye Qinglan’s eyes grew deeper, her voice carrying a trace of suppression, “Call me… Qinglan. Say it again, you like me.”

    “Ye, Qinglan… I like you… I really like you…”

    Su Jin felt her cheeks burning, her ears completely red, and her heart pounding so fast it felt like it would burst out of her chest.

    She tightly clutched the hem of her shirt, panicking internally: What kind of perverse plot is this?! She was just following the System’s instructions to complete the mission. How did it turn into this?

    Just as her thoughts were in chaos, the System suddenly emitted a harsh, piercing sound that made her temples throb.

    “As expected of a Restricted Novel world, the plot development is certainly exciting.”

    That dead System, still having the nerve to watch the show. Su Jin was so angry she wanted to start cursing, but the light in front of her suddenly dimmed.

    She looked up, meeting Ye Qinglan’s deep, pool-like eyes, which carried a suffocating sense of oppression.

    Su Jin subconsciously took a step back, her back hitting the cold wall, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

    Ye Qinglan slowly approached, her voice a low threat: “Behave yourself, and don’t cause trouble for me again.”

    Su Jin didn’t dare to say no, nodding like a woodpecker.

    “Let’s go.”

    Su Jin felt like she had been granted amnesty and bolted out the door.

    After running out and calming down, she realized something was wrong. Had the script been flipped?

    Shouldn’t she be the Scum Alpha threatening Ye Qinglan?

    Note