After the storm over Wen Nianshen's murder case passed, A-Xin began selecting the script for the TV drama she planned to shoot next.
Because she'd been framed for murder, Wen Nianshen herself had blown up too, and the film—which had been good to begin with—blew up along with her. There really were quite a few people coming to ask her to act and to do endorsements. But she wasn't short on endorsement money; now, apart from her wife's projects, she didn't want to take on anyone else's.
Unable to fend off the sheer number of people seeking her out, she simply posted an update on Weibo: From today on, I, Wen Nianshen, will only act in Director Ruan's projects.
Netizens: Has this woman gone mad again?
The masses of netizens didn't believe it—didn't believe Wen Nianshen could collaborate with A-Xin every single time. Those who'd started to come around on her now began trashing her again.
What, Wen Nianshen overestimating herself, actually spouting such arrogant nonsense, saying she'd only act in Director Ruan's films—did she not take a look at what small fry she was? Was Director Ruan's film so easy to get into? Last time, she'd just been lucky; she herself fit the character, which was why Director Ruan had used her.
As for that final, stunning scene—it was just because of the script that she'd shone. Put anyone else in it and they'd surely have shone brighter than her.
A few months later, the masses of netizens learned what it meant to get slapped in the face, over and over. Because in Director Ruan's new drama, one of the best roles—seemingly something like the number one beauty of the immortal realm—really was played by Wen Nianshen. They wanted to call it a rumor, but the matter had been officially announced, and Director Ruan, who never posted on Weibo, had actually reposted Wen Nianshen's Weibo.
And had even said: Nianshen is a good actress. She's very professional.
Now, they just felt their faces stung, as if doused with a bowl of chili water, burning hot.
Director Ruan, are your eyes not working?
They flocked to A-Xin's Weibo, leaving comments saying Wen Nianshen wasn't good enough and so on—this woman was a little good-looking, sure, and rather rich. But she really wasn't suited to acting; they pleaded with Director Ruan to swap in a different actress.
Because the personas Wen Nianshen liked basically couldn't be the lead, but she didn't care whether it was the lead or not—as long as the persona was beautiful, that was enough. Worth mentioning was that the female lead of this xianxia drama was Su Wei. When Su Wei learned that she was the lead while her Nianshen-jie was only playing a supporting role, she felt a little uneasy and apprehensive.
"Nianshen-jie, why don't you revise the script? I can play the supporting role for you instead." She'd always felt Wen Nianshen's acting wasn't bad at all—it was just that the masses of netizens looked at Wen Nianshen through tinted glasses.
Wen Nianshen said indifferently, "Relax, don't be nervous. I think very highly of you, Su Wei. Perform well. Whether this drama can blow up rests on you."
Su Wei felt mountainous pressure. Could she please not play the lead?
"When I act, it's just for fun. If I'm the lead, then this drama would have nothing worth watching. That crowd is like a pack of lunatics, personally attacking me every day." She said this, but she'd never been seen to actually care. "If you're the lead, you'll earn more money."
Su Wei: "..."
"Then I'll definitely work hard and earn more money for Nianshen-jie," Su Wei said honestly.
Wen Nianshen was very satisfied and patted Su Wei's shoulder. "Work hard, and don't pay any mind to those stinking men pestering you—not one of them is any good. They're all after your looks, wanting to sleep with you; they're not sincere about you. Lay a good foundation now, in preparation for becoming Best Actress later. Once you become Best Actress, I'll earn even more. As for personal matters—if you haven't met anyone now, don't rush, understood? Especially that Jing Songyuan. If you hadn't been signed by me, this fresh, tender little blade of grass that you are would probably have been rubbed about however he pleased."
The aura on Jing Songyuan she knew very well—it was that scoundrel who, in every world, wanted to bully this little blade of grass. From what A-Xin said, this fellow had originally been the Dragon Prince, and had even wanted to absorb her divine power. One listen and you knew he was no good; how could this fresh, tender little blade of grass withstand being bullied by him?
Still, lately she was busy digging pits for Jing Songyuan. He dared to absorb her divine power—and though she didn't know exactly what divine power was, in any case it was nothing good. And his mother had even come specifically to frame her. Digging a couple of pits in the other's business, she felt, was still quite necessary. Her wife was a formidable person; doing these things, no one should be able to stop her, Wen Nianshen thought smugly.
No matter how the netizens objected, A-Xin's new drama began shooting.
The masses of netizens cursed and cursed, but when the drama aired and they saw how happily everyone was watching, they couldn't resist watching too. Watching while commenting, saying the scenes without Wen Nianshen were actually quite good—Director Ruan's standard had never once been poor. Yes, for the scenes with Wen Nianshen, I just close my eyes and listen to the voices. The masses of netizens talked tough, but in the end they were truly hooked, and the ratings were never poor.
In each following year, A-Xin would shoot one film and one TV drama. In every one of them was a most beautiful role that belonged to Wen Nianshen.
Every time, the masses of netizens worked hard to boycott, and the final result was still that they were hooked. Before they knew it, many years had passed this way. From the age of twenty-five to thirty-four, Wen Nianshen really did only act in A-Xin's projects each year.
The netizens had already gone numb. For nearly ten years, Wen Nianshen had slapped their faces hard every single time, never once failing. And the one helping Wen Nianshen slap their faces was that prim and proper Director Ruan, beloved by countless people.
"In a little over a year it'll be the tenth year of Wen Nianshen and Director Ruan's collaboration. Tell me—all these years, why has Director Ruan always indulged Wen Nianshen's nonsense?"
"What nonsense—she's practically put her up on a pedestal. I heard from inside sources that for a script Director Ruan fancies, even if there's no beauty role, she'll revise one in for Wen Nianshen. Tell me, if that's not putting her on a pedestal, what is?"
"Tell me—just how much money did Wen Nianshen throw at Director Ruan to make her bow for ten years?"
"How would we know? The world of the rich is beyond our imagining. Tell me—this time, will it be Wen Nianshen announcing the project, or Director Ruan first? My guess is it'll definitely be Wen Nianshen first, and Director Ruan will repost her update in under a minute, still adding that one line: Nianshen is a good actress, she's very professional."
"Don't you all think they've got real CP chemistry, that they suit each other?" This comment was drowned out by countless other remarks without stirring up the slightest ripple.
The netizens discussed back and forth what A-Xin would shoot this year, no longer curious about whether Wen Nianshen would be in it.
Wen Nianshen was holding a script as she arrived at A-Xin's office.
This time she wore a very pretty floral dress, but on her feet were not high heels—instead, a pair of little white shoes. Her makeup wasn't bright and showy. Her face was done up very pale, almost bloodless, her lips a vivid red, her eyebrows drawn too—a bit crooked, and you could tell it was deliberate. She was a perfect person; if it weren't deliberate, her eyebrows definitely wouldn't be drawn crooked. At her neck she'd also tied a pretty silk scarf.
"Director Ruan, I have a script here. Do you want to take a look?"
Wen Nianshen walked up to A-Xin's desk and gazed at her with burning eyes. "This time, I want to be the lead, but I have one condition."
"What condition?" A-Xin paused, her gaze sweeping over Wen Nianshen. "Your getup today is a bit unusual." She thought for a moment and said, "Pale skin, lips red as blood—that's not the makeup of a normal person."
"Director Ruan has a good eye." Wen Nianshen laughed, pulled over a chair herself, and said in a low voice, "This is called zombie makeup."
"I've watched many films about zombies, too. None as good-looking as you," A-Xin said truthfully.
"Of course. Even as a zombie, I'm the best-looking one."
Wen Nianshen wasn't the least bit modest, her gaze never once moving from A-Xin's face. It had been nearly ten years. She rather admired herself—comparable to a ninja turtle. Her wife within arm's reach, and she'd actually been able to endure all these years without confessing. And A-Xin, really—without a confession, did she truly just never think of her?
So infuriating.
"Director Ruan, why don't you read the script first—how about it?"
Wen Nianshen had already pushed the script in front of A-Xin. A-Xin nodded gently, opened it, and began reading carefully. Seeing it was set against an apocalyptic backdrop, she wasn't curious at all. But once she saw the plot, a trace of bewilderment appeared in her eyes. This world had existed in her memory. But in her memory there was no person called Han Xiaojiao. Rather, the memory belonging to the female zombie Han Xiaojiao had been erased or sealed.
She didn't believe anyone in all the heavens and myriad worlds could erase her memory. She'd already guessed that the one who'd done this was herself. As for why, she didn't know.
Reading on, she remembered that the person inside called Ning Shen was her. She could no longer recall why she'd ended up in the apocalypse. The memories belonging to the apocalypse were, in fact, very few—especially those concerning Han Xiaojiao, which had all been sealed. In this script, she saw a complete storyline. Of course, because the memory was sealed, even seeing Han Xiaojiao and Ning Shen together stirred nothing in her heart. Even seeing Han Xiaojiao tell Ning Shen that she liked her could rouse no resonance within her.
After finishing, she lifted her head and glanced at Wen Nianshen. She thought that if Wen Nianshen were to say something, perhaps something might happen. But Wen Nianshen didn't seem willing to right now. Setting the script down, she asked, "What's your condition?"
"My condition, hm..." Wen Nianshen stood up, braced herself on the desk, and locked eyes with A-Xin. The distance between them was very small; they could smell each other's fragrance, which nearly made Wen Nianshen confess everything. But she held back, lifted her chin, and said with great pride, "I think there's no one in this world more suited to playing Ning Shen than Director Ruan. Director Ruan, what do you think? And besides—this is a story about love between one girl and another. Do you dare film it?"
"What's there not to dare?"
"So—you agree?"
A-Xin said, "I agree."
The corner of Wen Nianshen's mouth curved. She'd known the other would surely agree. She fished out her phone, opened the Weibo interface, and said to A-Xin, "Director Ruan, you've decided—you'll film this script?"
"I'll film it."
"Then I'll make the official announcement? Oh, right—that girl called Song Tiantian, just let Su Wei play her. I think she's very suitable." And wasn't she just? This was, after all, the very same person. This pitiful little blade of grass, this pitiful unlucky thing—meeting her really was a blessing earned over eight lifetimes.
A-Xin agreed. Holding her phone, Wen Nianshen sat down right beside A-Xin. "Director Ruan, come a little closer to me. Let's take a photo before the announcement—it'll be more convincing that way, so the masses of netizens don't find it unbelievable again and come clamoring under your Weibo."
A-Xin leaned over a bit, and Wen Nianshen turned to the side at just the right moment, so the two became cheek to cheek. She fired off three shots in a row but felt unsatisfied.
"Director Ruan, give me a smile, will you?"
A-Xin said, "Sure." Then she revealed a faint smile, which sent Wen Nianshen's heart and soul fluttering wildly.
Having taken the best-looking photo, she posted an update:
This is my wife!!
...
...
...
...
In the drama.
When the masses of netizens scrolled to this update, paired with a cheek-to-cheek photo, they really nearly bit through their tongues. They'd nearly written a protest in blood—until they scrolled down and saw the line "in the drama," and they really wanted to kowtow to Wen Nianshen in gratitude. Luckily she'd shown mercy and hadn't really laid hands on their Director Ruan.
"Looks like they're collaborating again."
"Scared me to death—I really thought they'd come out of the closet."
"How could they? If they were going to come out, they'd have done it long ago. If it's real, I'll eat sh*t for you all to see."
When Wen Nianshen saw this comment, she very much wanted to reply: I'll wait for you to eat it. She secretly used a sock-puppet account to follow this person and took a screenshot, planning to invite him out later to make good on his promise.