It’s an Extra Chapter
Yin and Xia Chapter 6
When did Miss Xia return?
In the days without Xia Ke, Yin Ruxu focused solely on her studies and acting.
She had cut ties with her past completely, living a life that was just a straight line between two points1: the film crew2 and the school.
Xia Ke hadn’t taken any of her designer clothes from the dorm room.
Yin Ruxu sold all of them, along with the designer items she herself used to own.
She saved the money she made, using part of it for living expenses and part for her acting career.
Three years passed slowly, yet it also felt like the blink of an eye.
Yin Ruxu started as a dragon robe3 with no lines, and now she could land some female number n4 roles.
Although she was still far from famous, it was a decent start. At the very least, her delicate and beautiful face had earned her a small group of die-hard fans5.
She had no scenes to film today, so Yin Ruxu stayed in her rented apartment watching television dramas, studying the performances of others.
She wore cheap pajamas and ate a simple bowl of noodles.
Even though she had earned a little money from acting, on top of what was left of her savings, there were too many things that required large sums of money. She could only save by cutting back in other areas.
Just as she finished her noodles, her agent6, Chen-jie7, called, her voice buzzing with excitement. “Xiao Xu, you have a chance to get really big this time.”
Yin Ruxu’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly waited for her to continue.
“There’s a meal gathering8 tonight with some major, heavyweight figures. You’ll go with Director Zhang. You have to be on your best behavior. Who knows, the next female lead could be you,” Chen-jie said with a loud laugh, her words already painting a beautiful and brilliant future.
“Chen-jie, you know I don’t drink with clients,” Yin Ruxu said calmly.
The smile on Chen-jie’s face froze for a second before she softened her tone. “Xiao Xu, if you want to become big red and purple9, you have to network with some noble people10. Otherwise, where will you get good resources11?”
“I know, but I…” Yin Ruxu’s eyes darkened, and the rest of her words trailed off into silence.
Chen-jie knew how stubborn she was and tried to persuade her patiently. “There’s a young female president / CEO12 who’s just returned from abroad. She’s looking to cast the lead for a new drama. You absolutely have to seize this opportunity.”
“What’s her surname?” Yin Ruxu’s heart clenched. She practically held her breath waiting for the answer.
“I don’t know that, but I heard her family’s business is massive. In our industry, it’s a big company, one that makes others bend the thumb13,” Chen-jie said.
Yin Ruxu lowered her gaze, biting her lip so hard she could barely squeeze out an “en.”
Chen-jie immediately broke into a happy laugh. “That’s the spirit. Give it your all tonight. Xiao Xu is the best; you’ll definitely become a big star.”
“Thank you,” Yin Ruxu replied with a faint smile.
At one in the afternoon, Yin Ruxu was ready.
She wore exquisite makeup and her single most expensive dress.
After practicing her smile in the mirror several times, Yin Ruxu gave herself a silent pep talk, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed out.
When she arrived at the location Director Zhang had given her, Yin Ruxu saw two other girls were already there.
She greeted them with a warm and friendly smile, only to receive two cold glares in return.
Yin Ruxu didn’t care. She simply waited, her expression placid.
Half an hour later, Director Zhang came out.
Yin Ruxu and the other two women immediately went up to him, all of them wearing obedient and gentle smiles.
Director Zhang led the three of them into a car, his expression serious as he warned them, “Tonight, I need all of you to be a bit smarter on the uptake14. If you offend the big boss, your performing arts careers will end here.”
The three women nodded obediently.
At three-thirty, the car reached its destination. The three of them got out one by one.
Yin Ruxu glanced to the side and was stunned to see a familiar figure. “Shen Man…” she began, surprised.
Before she could finish, her gaze fell on the person behind Shen Man.
A tall, slender woman stood there, her face obscured, only half of her body visible.
Yin Ruxu recognized her instantly. It was Xia Ke. Her heart trembled, and she froze on the spot.
“Xiao Yin, how can you not understand the rules15? You need to call her President Shen,” Director Zhang scolded, getting out of the front passenger seat with a stern look on his face.
He then turned to Shen Man, his expression instantly shifting to a broad smile. “President Shen, I’m so sorry, we’re late.”
“Director Zhang, you’re too kind. We were the ones who arrived early,” Shen Man said with a smile, stepping aside to reveal the person behind her.
Seeing her, Director Zhang immediately walked over, his own smile enthusiastic. “Miss Xia, you’re here as well. My eyes must be clumsy16, I didn’t see you.”
Xia Ke gave a cool “en.”
She glanced to the side, her expression severe, and started walking inside.
The instant their eyes met, Yin Ruxu quickly lowered her head.
She clasped her hands together so tightly that on the back of her pale, soft hands, the green veins all burst forth17.
That familiar yet strange figure quickly disappeared from view.
Yin Ruxu stood dazed for a moment before finally coming back to her senses.
She walked at the very back of the group. Pausing at the entrance for a few seconds, she turned to look at Shen Man.
Shen Man knew she had something to say. “Miss Yin, why don’t you stay behind,” she offered.
Hearing this, Director Zhang rushed forward and gave Yin Ruxu a little push, his smile carrying a warning. “President Shen has spoken. What are you waiting for?”
Yin Ruxu nodded obediently and walked over to Shen Man, bowing politely. “President Shen.”
“We were all classmates. There’s no need to be so formal,” Shen Man said, her tone flat. The smile that touched her lips held a trace of mockery.
Yin Ruxu lowered her head, feeling uneasy.
After a long moment of silence, she looked up as if she had made a decision.
Before the words could leave her mouth, her eyes were already shimmering with fragile tears.
Shen Man wasn’t in a hurry. She waited quietly.
“Xiao Ke…” Yin Ruxu’s voice was hoarse as she called out the name. She choked up, a bitter smile forming on her lips as she corrected herself. “When did Miss Xia return?”
“That’s not something you should be concerned with,” Shen Man said lightly.
Yin Ruxu’s heart seized, and the tears in her eyes were about to fall.
Shen Man watched her, this expression of wanting to cry but not crying18, and a hint of amusement entered her voice. “Miss Yin has appeared in quite a few roles alongside Film Queen Sang. Even my Shushu enjoys watching them.”
“If it weren’t for Film Queen Sang’s help, I doubt you’d have the little bit of fame you have now, would you?”
Hearing the ridicule in her words, Yin Ruxu lowered her head in shame.
She turned away, her head still slightly bowed, but the corners of her lips curved up in a joyful arc.
At four o’clock, everyone had arrived. Director Zhang gestured for the three women to offer toasts.
Yin Ruxu obediently picked up a glass of wine and stood before Xia Ke.
She bit her red lip gently, her eyes filled with a soft, vulnerable light.
Xia Ke’s fingertips cradled her wine glass, but she said nothing.
Director Zhang’s face wore a fawning expression as he smiled. “Miss Xia, please have a drink. When our Xiao Yin heard she would get to see you, she was excited for the longest time, eagerly awaiting today.”
The corner of Xia Ke’s mouth lifted, but her eyes were filled with scorn.
Her long, slender fingers swirled the wine in her glass. “I hear Miss Yin has been in quite a few explosive style dramas19 recently,” she said, her voice devoid of warmth. “Her popularity is quite good.”
“You flatter me, Miss Xia. They were all just minor roles,” Director Zhang said humbly, though he couldn’t hide the pride in his smile. “It’s all because Xiao Yin works hard. She can perform even minor roles in a way that penetrates the wood by three-tenths of an inch20.”
“I’m not just saying it, Xiao Yin’s acting is impeccable. Even the main leads on set praise her endlessly.”
“She really knows how to act,” Xia Ke said with a laugh whose meaning was unclear.
Hearing this, Yin Ruxu bowed her head even lower. Her slender fingers gripped the wine glass tightly as she said softly, “Miss Xia, I’d like to toast you. I hope you won’t refuse.”
With that, she raised the glass and drained it in one go.
She drank too quickly, and her small face flushed red as she choked.
Seeing this, Xia Ke froze, an involuntary reaction.
She quickly composed herself and said coldly, “A toast requires sincerity. How is one glass enough?”
“Miss Xia is right,” Director Zhang chimed in with a smile, turning to give a low-voiced order to one of the other women.
The woman quickly returned with a tray on which six glasses of baijiu were neatly arranged.
“I want to see just how deep Miss Yin’s sincerity is,” Xia Ke said, her voice low, the upward curve of her lips forming a cold smile.
Yin Ruxu gave her a deep look, then picked up a glass with firm resolve.
She downed it in one gulp and, without pausing, reached for the next.
By the fifth glass, her face was crimson, and an unmistakable look of pain showed through her delicate features.
A knot tightened in Xia Ke’s chest. She wanted to stop her.
The words reached her lips, but she bit them back, swallowing them down.
Shen Man was standing close by and saw every flicker of emotion on Xia Ke’s face.
As she watched Yin Ruxu pick up the sixth glass, she spoke up. “Director Zhang, let’s have the food served. Everyone’s getting a little hungry.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Director Zhang agreed hastily. He said to Yin Ruxu, “Quick, take the glasses away.”
Yin Ruxu’s gaze was fixed on the last glass. She gripped it with both hands, closed her eyes, and drank it all in one breath.
A jolt went through Xia Ke. She almost shot to her feet.
“Miss Xia, I’ve finished. Are you satisfied with this sincerity?” Yin Ruxu tilted her head slightly, a gentle and pure smile on her face.
The pain in her eyes was impossible to hide, making her look both stubborn and fragile.
Xia Ke paused for a few seconds, then slowly smiled. She picked up her own glass and drained it. “I’m very satisfied.”
“Thank you.” Yin Ruxu’s eyes crinkled in a happy smile, her expression as pure and simple as it was back then.
That familiar smile threw Xia Ke off balance for a moment.
She steadied herself and turned her head to stare at the dishes in front of her.
At the table, Director Zhang kept the atmosphere lively.
All in all, the meal was one where guests and host were all happy21.
Shen Man and Lin Shu left first.
As Shen Man passed by Xia Ke, she patted her on the shoulder and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Xiao Ke, don’t make the same mistakes you did before.”
Xia Ke’s eyes darkened, and her fingers clenched into a tight fist.
After a moment of silence, her expression grew resolute.
Yin Ruxu stood not far away.
Watching the two of them whispering intimately22, a wave of uncontrollable jealousy washed over her.
“Director Zhang, I’m a little tired,” Xia Ke said coldly, her pale blue eyes fixed on Yin Ruxu.
Director Zhang immediately understood. He gave Yin Ruxu a meaningful look. “Xiao Yin, quickly help Miss Xia to her room to rest.”
“Of course,” Yin Ruxu said, suppressing her excitement with an obedient nod.
She picked up her bag and went over to support Xia Ke.
The moment their bodies touched, Yin Ruxu was overcome with the urge to throw herself into the other woman’s arms.
She lowered her head, biting her lip to restrain herself with all her might.
A complex emotion flickered in Xia Ke’s eyes.
She let out a cold laugh. “You must have had a pretty good life these past few years.”
“En, it’s been very good,” Yin Ruxu said, looking up, her eyes curving into a gentle arc.
Xia Ke’s gaze turned to ice. She reached out and pinched that delicate chin. “You couldn’t have achieved what you have today without this body and pretty face of yours, could you?”
She spoke through gritted teeth23, the sarcastic tone failing to mask the fury within.
Yin Ruxu wasn’t afraid in the slightest. She smiled faintly. “I relied on my beauty and my acting.”
“Not your body?” Xia Ke leaned in closer, the breath from her nose brushing against those small, crimson lips.
“No,” Yin Ruxu said, shaking her head with certainty.
“Is that so?” Xia Ke pulled her hand back and started walking ahead alone.
In her chest, her heart was hammering, uncontrollably fast.
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