Fu Bing returned the phone to Xiaomei.
Xiaomei gazed at her eagerly. "Sister Bing, take it. Even if you don't, you've already seriously offended Qin Jinhai and Li Qing. If you act in Director Su's movie, you might catch the favor of Director Su or someone else from the Su Family. Then, even if Qin Jinhai wants to move against you, he'll have to think twice. Moreover, Director Su's offer isn't low. By taking the role, we can pay off our debts."
Was there another choice? No!
「The next day.」
Fu Bing was dragged out of bed by Xiaomei and sent to the film city. Even her makeup was hastily done in the car.
Upon arriving at the set, she saw two familiar faces: Qin Jinhai and Li Qing.
When Li Qing saw Fu Bing, a hint of jealousy flashed through her eyes. Her long hair cascaded down her back, held in place by a diamond hair clip. The dark blue dress was an old one of hers.
Fu Bing turned her head to adjust her earrings in the mirror. Delicate yet vibrant, she added a splash of color to the otherwise dreary film city.
At that moment, the screen was full of little white flowers, but Fu Bing was a striking stroke of vivid ink. She was radiantly beautiful, always skilled at showcasing her own charm.
Li Qing said, "Bingbing, I knew I couldn't compete with you. The moment you appeared, you snatched away my favorite role."
Those words essentially shifted all the blame onto Fu Bing.
Qin Jinhai watched Fu Bing with an intimidating gaze. If looks could kill, she would have died a hundred times over.
Fu Bing made a concerted effort to ignore Qin Jinhai's presence and said lightly, "Director Su's character has been to jail. I have experience in that area; you don't."
With that single sentence, Li Qing froze on the spot.
"Bingbing, I'm sorry, if it weren't for me..."
Fu Bing ignored her and walked toward the set.
As she passed Qin Jinhai, her arm was grabbed. Her fragrance was enchanting, captivating Qin Jinhai. The sweet, warm scent inexplicably brought comfort.
Qin Jinhai articulated fiercely, "Do. Not. Act!"
Fu Bing turned to look at Qin Jinhai, not responding.
Li Qing watched the standoff between the two. In their eyes, they only saw each other; their absolutely dazzling appearances and aura made them a perfect match.
She felt an isolating loneliness, as if she was being edged out.
Again, this feeling!
Whenever these two were together, an inexplicable magnetic field naturally formed, making everyone else mere background props to them.
Li Qing grasped Qin Jinhai's hand, pleading, "Jinhai, I don't want this role anymore. Don't make it difficult for Bingbing."
"Bingbing just got out of prison and has such a good opportunity; I should be happy for her."
After speaking, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
"Who gets my roles is my decision. Since when did an outsider get to decide?" a mocking voice came from behind.
Li Qing turned her head and hurriedly wiped her tears. "Director Su, I'm sorry."
Qin Jinhai said coldly, "You don't need to apologize to him."
Su Junling pulled Qin Jinhai's hand away. "Mr. Qin, there's an unwritten rule on my set: outsiders are not allowed to touch my actors, not even a single strand of hair!"
"Su Junling, don't get too cocky!"
"And what can you do to me if I am? The Qin Family may shake Jiangcheng with a stomp, but my Su Family is no pushover either."
Li Qing watched Qin Jinhai and Su Junling helplessly. She didn't want to offend Su Junling; as one of the Su Family's five sons, he was as desirable to the women of Jiangcheng as Qin Jinhai. She now stood where Fu Bing once had, seen by others as Qin Jinhai's confidante. Yet Qin Jinhai hadn't touched her beyond her hand, let alone proposed.
If Qin Jinhai offended Su Junling, in the eyes of the Su Family, she would have offended them too. It would then be difficult for her to marry into the Su Family.
"Jinhai…" Li Qing's watery eyes pleaded pitifully.
Qin Jinhai's expression turned cold as he released Fu Bing.
Su Junling pulled Fu Bing into the set, which was enclosed by a security line.
Qin Jinhai watched as Fu Bing followed by Su Junling's side. Fu Bing, slender and graceful, complemented Su Junling's tall and suave demeanor. Side by side, they entered the set, as picturesque as a painting.
So, someone else could stand beside Fu Bing too!
Su San, what an eyesore!
Qin Jinhai, without looking back, got into his car and drove away from the set.
Li Qing was left standing there, on the verge of tears.
Only after Mu Lin drove out of the film city did he remind Qin Jinhai, "Miss Li is still on the set."
"Oh." Qin Jinhai didn't react much, opening the laptop on his lap and starting to work.
After a long while, he called Mu Lin. "Get Su Junling's script for me. I want to see it."
「*」
Out of Qin Jinhai's sight, Su Junling swiftly let go of Fu Bing's hand.
Fu Bing rubbed her sore wrist. "Thank you, Director Su, for helping me out."
"If you weren't suitable for this role, you wouldn't have gotten this opportunity. Whether you can act it or not, that's up to your ability."
"I understand."
Su Junling asked the assistant director to get Fu Bing the script.
After flipping through a few pages, Fu Bing's expression changed.
Su Junling watched Fu Bing's face with amusement. "Does it seem familiar?"
"Sorry, Director Su. Your favor is an honor I cannot accept."
The script was about her own story. She had just escaped a nightmarish place, and now she was being forced to display her despair and humiliation in front of strangers.
"Apart from me, who else would hire you for a film right now? You were imprisoned for tax evasion for three years, and the domestic soft ban lasts five years. You still have two years where you can't do anything. Are you content with that?"
"As long as I have hands and feet, I won't starve."
"Food and clothing might not be a problem, but will your creditors wait? Plus, with the losses the Su Family incurred because of you, your total debt amounts to at least three billion. Fu Bing, how will you repay that?"
Fu Bing didn't speak. Her rosy lips were tightly pressed, and her dark brows slightly furrowed, compelling one to fixate on her face, wanting to smooth away the worry lines between her brows.
1.6 billion was already an unreachable figure. Three billion…
"Shooting one film could clear over a billion in debt, and you'd still earn tens of millions in salary. No matter how you look at it, this deal isn't a loss."
Cold sweat slid down Fu Bing's forehead, past her eyebrows, and seeped into her eyes, stinging them sharply.
Su Junling leaned back in the director's chair, watching Fu Bing's struggle as if he were watching a play.
Indeed, she was an irreplaceable, peerless beauty. After she disappeared, the entire entertainment industry lost its luster. The current female stars couldn't match Fu Bing in beauty, acting talent, or intelligence. It was utterly tedious. If he had been interested in the entertainment industry before Fu Bing vanished, he could have captured her at her most radiant, at the peak of her career.
Fu Bing looked up, meeting Su Junling's contemplative gaze.
"I'll... do it!"
In her dark eyes, hesitation and timidity had vanished, leaving only resolute determination.
The blood in Su Junling's veins seemed to ignite at her gaze, instantly coming to a boil.
Her acting skills had never been doubted. If film awards weren't manipulated by capital, she could have swept all the most prestigious ones.
「The gloomy prison cell.」
Ye Ying was cornered by several fellow inmates.
"They say you're a great actress, an award-winner even. Act something out for us."
Ye Ying's eyes were indifferent. "Act out what?"
"Cry. Cry in utter despair."
Ye Ying's expression transformed in an instant. In the blink of an eye, tears like pearls rolled from her eyes. She looked so pitiful, it would move anyone to compassion.
One of the female prisoners rushed up and slapped Ye Ying twice. "You're the bitch who seduced my husband! That little slut he found looks just like you! I'll beat you to death!"
Tears streamed down Ye Ying's face, but her expression was cold. "If you kill me, your sentence will only be more severe."
Her words incited more inmates to beat her...
「Cut.」
The tension in Fu Bing's mind suddenly eased. She slightly tidied her hair, which had been messed up by her fellow actors, and strolled over gracefully.
Even in a prison uniform and without any makeup, Fu Bing was still the dazzling Fu Bing. Only now, her past brilliance had faded, replaced by a quiet calm.
Su Junling's gaze remained fixed on her.
Fu Bing sat down on a small stool next to Su Junling. "Was the scene just now okay?"
"Did someone in prison teach you how to cry?"
He had studied all of Fu Bing's films. Her crying scenes were indeed beautiful, but they had never been as soul-stirring as the one just now. Her face was expressionless, yet it was heart-wrenchingly captivating.
"There wasn't much to do in prison, so I just figured it out myself through trial and error."
Su Junling knew he wouldn't hear the truth from her.
Fu Bing was definitely not a foolish woman. Given the harsh climate of public opinion in the entertainment industry these past few years, tax evasion results in a soft ban; absolutely no one would dare hire her for films. But… if one were as famous as Fu Bing, it might indeed be possible.
"The acting was great. Continue."
The next scene was a passionate one in the prison cell.