After Rebirth, the Cold and Aloof Film Queen Always Wants to Cuddle with Me - Chapter 49

Chapter 49

But for something this important, someone should have proactively contacted Sister Ye. Assistant Li was torn—she wasn’t sure if she should bring it up now, especially since Ye Ruihuan’s expression was darker than she had ever seen before. The tension on her face was almost terrifying.

Just as she hesitated in this awkward situation, Ye Ruihuan’s gaze swept over. That cold, sharp look in her otherwise lazy eyes made Assistant Li shiver involuntarily.

Ye Ruihuan was all too familiar with this hesitant expression of Assistant Li’s. “Xiao Li, is there something you need to say?” she asked softly. Her tone was flat, emotionless, like a still pool of dead water.

“Um… Sister Ye, Haochen Entertainment invited you to audition… It’s for Director Wen Xian’s new project…” Assistant Li stumbled, caught off guard and unsure of how to word it.

“Director Wen Xian’s new project? They’ve already started auditions?” Ye Ruihuan asked in surprise. She had heard rumors a while ago that Director Wen had a new script, but since there had been no further news, she had assumed it was just a false lead.

Now, a thoughtful look spread across Ye Ruihuan’s eyes. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. This new project from Director Wen might just be her salvation.

Her expression relaxed significantly as if golden sunlight had broken through thick clouds, driving away the heavy gloom on her face and bringing a touch of brightness.

At this moment, Lin Ruijiao had just finished filming the final episode of the show. In the end, everyone had paired up, leaving only her alone. Whether the others ended up together or not, they at least had partners. Online, people joked that Ye Ruihuan was her CP (imaginary couple).

After the show wrapped, Lin Ruijiao had indeed gained the exposure she wanted. However, she wasn’t sure if she was riding the show’s popularity or if it was the other way around. Either way, the whole process left her mentally and physically exhausted. The show turned out to be far more stressful than she had expected—far from relaxing or fun. It was full of thorns and even more tiring than acting. On top of that, she had to help maintain the atmosphere on set. At this point, she had no plans to do variety shows anytime soon—and definitely never again a dating reality show. She had learned her lesson the hard way.

Dragging her suitcase, Lin Ruijiao and her assistant Jingjing were on their way back to Yuwan Villa.

In the car, Lin Ruijiao pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. “Jingjing, what’s the schedule looking like?” she asked, turning to her assistant.

“…Later on, Sister Wang sent over some notices—there are lots of variety show invites… Lin Jie, do you still want to do variety shows?” Jingjing asked with innocent eyes.

“…Nothing else besides variety shows?” Lin Ruijiao grimaced at the mere mention of “variety.” She had always thought variety shows were supposed to be fun and relaxing—but this time, it had really messed her up…

“There are two magazine interviews and one or two small web dramas, but Sister Wang doesn’t really recommend them. Lin Jie, take a look.” Jingjing handed over the tablet.

“…Fine. I’ll take a break for now…” Lin Ruijiao sighed. Seeing the flood of variety show invites made her feel mentally drained. She really didn’t have the energy or mood for them. It would be better to rest and pick a good drama to film.

Just as she leaned back against the pillow to rest, the car suddenly braked hard. Lin Ruijiao was flung forward, hitting the seat in front of her.

“Lin Jie?! Are you okay?” Jingjing asked nervously after steadying herself.

“…I’m fine. What happened?” Her expression darkened immediately as she stared ahead with a serious look.

“…The car in front suddenly cut us off,” the driver quickly explained, his face wrinkled with tension.

“…Is the car alright?” Lin Ruijiao’s eyes remained locked on the vehicle ahead. This kind of sudden incident didn’t seem simple. Since the car accident tactics from her past life couldn’t be used, were they trying a new method now?

“Lin Jie, it’s not a big issue. Luckily, I managed to brake in time,” the driver said, clearly angry but trying to remain composed. The car ahead had been in the left lane just fine, then suddenly swerved in—almost like it was on purpose.

“…Let’s pull over nearby and check the car, just in case,” Lin Ruijiao instructed cautiously.

Jingjing’s face grew even more serious—actually, she looked downright grim. If this wasn’t a coincidence, the implications were serious. She’d always known being in the entertainment industry came with its dangers, but this was her first brush with something life-threatening. It was hard not to feel shaken and terrified.

“…Lin Jie, should we tell Sister Ye about this?” Jingjing asked nervously. Perhaps with Ye Ruihuan’s help, their safety could be better ensured.

“…Let’s talk about it later…” Lin Ruijiao replied, unwilling to involve Ye Ruihuan further. After all, she had already expressed her desire to leave. In this situation, she couldn’t believe Ye Ruihuan would help her unconditionally…

But it wasn’t entirely impossible. Suddenly, the memory of Ye Ruihuan confessing to her—so seriously and sincerely—flashed in her mind. Lin froze. Why was she suddenly thinking about this?

Her round eyes clouded with something unclear—lost in thought.

After confirming the car was fine, they returned safely to Yuwan Villa. But Lin Ruijiao still looked deeply preoccupied. Others might not know, but having lived through a whole life before, she was certain this accident was no coincidence. Someone was already targeting her. The weight of that realization pressed like a heavy stone on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Lin Jie, are you okay? That was scary…” Jingjing gently patted her back to comfort her.

“…Mm.” Lin responded absentmindedly, clearly distracted.

As soon as they entered the house, they saw Ye Ruihuan again—but this time was different. Usually, she would be casually lounging on the sofa. Now, she stood right in the center of the living room, bathed in warm light. She wore a black, sexy dress—large areas of skin exposed. The upper half shimmered with smooth satin, while the lower part was adorned with mesh and lace, ending just below the knees. Her makeup was perfectly matched. With her slightly curled long hair falling naturally, she looked exquisite and alluring, cold yet breathtakingly beautiful. There was an air of untouchable elegance.

Lin Ruijiao was surprised, though not emotionally moved—she had grown used to this. Just taken aback by the sudden change in appearance.

She figured Ye Ruihuan had just come back from some event. Raising a hand, she greeted, “Ruihuan.”

“Mm, you’re back,” Ye Ruihuan smiled radiantly, dazzling like a diamond.

Lin Ruijiao’s heart skipped a beat—briefly dazed by the sheer beauty. But she quickly collected herself, returned a polite smile, nodded, and walked upstairs without another word.

Unbeknownst to her, Ye Ruihuan, watching Lin’s back, curled her lips slightly—smug with satisfaction. Dressing up for Jiaojiao had worked after all. As expected, Jiaojiao liked beautiful things.

Ye Ruihuan picked up her wine glass and gently swirled the red liquid inside. The rich aroma wafted up. She sniffed it but didn’t drink. She looked every bit the elegant, noble heiress.

Soon, Lin Ruijiao came back down for dinner. Ye Ruihuan had already poured her a glass of wine—she was sure Jiaojiao would drink it. After all, the little bunny had quite the sweet tooth.

“…Ruihuan,” Lin Ruijiao called softly as she came down, freshly showered, and saw Ye Ruihuan waiting leisurely at the table—as if she’d been expecting her.

From afar, Ye Ruihuan could smell the scent of Lin’s usual shower gel—warm and lingering. It melted through her defenses. Her heart thumped wildly with each of Lin’s steps. Her eyes locked on her. Dressed in cute pajamas, looking pure and vibrant, Lin was enchanting. Ye Ruihuan’s heart pounded faster and faster—everything else faded. In her eyes, only Lin Ruijiao existed now. All she could hear was the sound of her own racing heartbeat.

Freshly showered, the little bunny looked rosy and adorable—her lips soft and moist, droplets clinging to her hair. She was pure yet seductively enchanting, like a walking temptress drawing Ye Ruihuan in—utterly mesmerized.

Her pale, slender fingers resting on the table trembled slightly—matching the rhythm of her heartbeat. If those feelings could take physical form, Ye Ruihuan would be surrounded by a pink backdrop filled with blooming roses, her cool demeanor replaced by shyness and helpless infatuation.

Assistant Li, who had been with her for years, couldn’t even watch anymore. She turned her head awkwardly—she never imagined Ye Jie had such a lovesick side. The power of love truly was incredible.

Meanwhile, Lin Ruijiao sat down calmly, seemingly unaware of Ye Ruihuan’s emotional state. Her only focus was avoiding her—careful not to meet her eyes. After all, Ye Ruihuan was still her boss in name, and she had already rejected her. This was all too awkward.

And with Ye Ruihuan looking so radiant now, Lin feared remembering things she shouldn’t. Everything from the past should be blown away with the wind—no more regrets. In that moment, she reaffirmed her decision: she had to leave Huari Entertainment and Ye Ruihuan’s side soon. It was time to put the termination of her contract on the agenda.

The red wine in the glass shimmered under the light, and Lin Ruijiao’s thoughts grew heavier.

Ye Ruihuan’s eyes were filled with Lin Ruijiao. Watching her approach, she couldn’t help but blush, her fingers clenched tightly under the table. She hadn’t expected that after confessing to this little bunny, she’d still feel so nervous being near her. Ye Ruihuan instinctively placed a hand over her chest, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart and suppress the shyness she didn’t know where to hide.

“Jiaojiao, would you like a drink?” Ye Ruihuan asked softly, her voice low and husky, with a magnetic tone. As the words left her lips, the complex swirl of emotions inside her seemed to ease slightly, and her entire being relaxed a little.

“…Maybe not,” Lin Ruijiao looked at the wine glass in front of her, hesitating for a moment.

“…Alright then. Jiaojiao, let’s eat,” Ye Ruihuan gave her a gentle smile, so soft that it didn’t seem like her usual self. “You must be exhausted from filming the variety show…” she said, placing a piece of beef brisket into Lin Ruijiao’s bowl.

“…Mm, thank you. I can help myself.” The gesture startled Lin Ruijiao, who quickly moved her bowl a bit farther away.

For a while, no one at the table spoke. Everyone quietly ate, and the atmosphere grew so tense it was almost unbearable. Jing Jing and Assistant Li exchanged glances several times.

Ye Ruihuan kept stealing glances at Lin Ruijiao, while the latter tried hard to lower her presence, avoiding her gaze.

“Jiaojiao, have you thought about what you said before?” Ye Ruihuan’s smile became a bit stiff, tinged with a hint of pleading, her eyes full of deep affection and hidden hope.

Lin Ruijiao paused with her chopsticks. She really didn’t want to answer that kind of question. In this setting, how could she possibly respond directly?

“…Not yet…” Lin Ruijiao lowered her head, her fluffy hair falling over her face. She didn’t dare look up and just kept eating.

“Jiaojiao… um… let’s talk after dinner, alright?” Ye Ruihuan said thoughtfully, her smile fading slightly.

“…Is something the matter?” Lin Ruijiao looked up at her. At that moment, Ye Ruihuan’s superficial smile was full of loneliness and disappointment. She lowered her head again.

“Mm, I heard Director Wen Xian is planning a new project,” Ye Ruihuan said, eyes lowered toward her bowl, her voice gentle.

“Mm? Director Wen Xian?” Lin Ruijiao immediately looked up, eyes wide with surprise and curiosity, her small face full of anticipation.

“Yes.” Ye Ruihuan met her gaze. Her expression softened a lot, her smile became brighter, and a glimmer of hope lit up her eyes.

“Great, let’s talk more about it later,” Lin Ruijiao said, shoveling rice into her mouth. A chance to be in Director Wen’s work wasn’t easy to come by. But she had just asked Ye Ruihuan for contract termination… This wouldn’t be an easy negotiation. The other side might make a lot of unreasonable demands. She mentally prepared herself for all possibilities.

After dinner, they sat apart in the living room. The assistants stood to the side. Assistant Li sat holding a tablet, waiting for Ye Jie’s instructions to prepare the contract draft. Though she wasn’t sure what happened between the two on the show, judging from the situation now, it was clearly a contract issue. Could it be that Miss Lin was dissatisfied with some clause? Assistant Li had drafted thousands of contracts since working with Ye Jie, and from all angles, Lin Ruijiao’s contract with Huari Entertainment was already top-tier.

Ye Ruihuan, now holding a wine glass again, looked stunning in a black dress. Sitting on the sofa, with a red wine glass in hand, she exuded an alluring charm. Every move of hers was graceful, radiating beauty and elegance.

“Jiaojiao, Director Wen’s team is currently in pre-production. He sent me an audition invitation a few days ago…” Ye Ruihuan took a sip of wine, her eyes filled with a subtle smile—gazing only at Lin Ruijiao. Finally, she couldn’t help but lick her lips. She tried to steady herself, but her heart kept racing. Her face showed only a slight flush, hiding the storm inside her.

“Mm, is there any role still available? Big or small, anything’s fine. If possible, can you help me get an audition?” Lin Ruijiao didn’t bother beating around the bush and voiced her thoughts directly, calm and collected. Director Wen’s team was incredibly rare and precious—she couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Director Wen was known for his strictness in the industry, yet everyone was dying to work with him. Even seasoned actors were willing to lower their status for small roles in his films. Many top stars even took on background roles.

Everyone also knew that Director Wen was closely connected with Haochen Entertainment and Huari Entertainment, with years of cooperation among them. Lin Ruijiao, currently under Huari, had an obvious advantage. She couldn’t let it go to waste. Now, it all depended on what conditions Ye Ruihuan would offer—and whether she could accept them. Lin Ruijiao played out countless possibilities in her head and firmly drew her own line.

Her expression remained calm, but her round almond eyes were full of excitement, ambition, and determination.

“…Alright…” Ye Ruihuan hadn’t even had the chance to say what she planned. Lin Ruijiao had already laid everything out, leaving her a bit flustered. She looked down at the swirling red liquid in her glass, the reflection showing her conflicted and hesitant eyes. Her smile appeared bitter and tired.

Perhaps the little bunny saw her as the villain now—like a hedgehog with its quills up, full of defense and wariness.

She snapped back to reality and said softly, “…There shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll arrange it. When the time comes, let’s go to the audition together.” Her voice was clear and melodious, like a gently flowing stream—refreshing and captivating.

“Okay.” Lin Ruijiao’s lips curled slightly, a faint smile finally appearing. Her eyes sparkled with joy, excitement, and a bit of nervousness. After a long pause, she looked back at Ye Ruihuan, waiting for what she would say next.

Ye Ruihuan was stunned by the look on Jiaojiao’s face. She had thought about binding her to her side by any means necessary—but only as a fleeting thought.

What she really wanted was Jiaojiao’s true heart—genuine recognition and love. Not something fake. The little bunny would only pretend for her sake. What she truly wanted was that radiant, sincere smile—just like her own.

Seeing Ye Ruihuan remain silent, Lin Ruijiao couldn’t help but ask, “Ruihuan, are there no conditions?” she asked tactfully.

“…No… Just prepare well. Director Wen is very strict.” Ye Ruihuan clearly understood what she meant.

“That’s it?” Lin Ruijiao looked at her in surprise. She hadn’t expected it to be this easy—no harsh terms, completely unexpected.

“Mm… I hope you’ll reconsider the termination. Huari Entertainment will do its best to meet all your demands.” Ye Ruihuan lowered her eyes, her voice tinged with bitterness. She’d said everything she could. Her pride shattered, she was left feeling small. Under the elegant black dress was a dejected, heartbroken girl—like a poor little dog in the rain.

The two assistants on the side were stunned. They never expected such words from Ye Jie. Assistant Li suddenly realized everything. No wonder Ye Jie had been so off lately. But what shocked her even more was seeing this helpless and humble side of Ye Jie—something she had never seen before. Turns out, Ye Jie, who never dated, was an absolute romantic when she did. She clutched her tablet awkwardly, not knowing where to look.

From now on, she’d need to keep a close eye on Ye Jie’s actions, to stop her from doing anything too impulsive—something she might regret later.

“…Alright,” Lin Ruijiao was stunned too. She hadn’t expected Ye Ruihuan to really ask for nothing. Suddenly, she remembered her confession again. Did Ye Ruihuan really like her?

“I’ll think about it seriously.” In the end, Lin Ruijiao added softly.

The disappointment in Ye Ruihuan’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a smile. Jiaojiao still cared for her—even just a little. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have added that comforting sentence at the end.

Ye Ruihuan felt her courage surge. Just thinking about it filled her with joy and happiness. Now that they lived together and saw each other every day, there would be plenty of chances to develop their relationship. One day, they’d be together.

At that moment, Ye Ruihuan had already imagined everything—even whether they’d have kids and where to retire together…

Her aura shifted dramatically. In that instant, she seemed more radiant than ever—full of confidence and irresistible charm.

Lin Ruijiao didn’t notice these subtle changes. Her heart was filled with thoughts of Director Wen’s film—excitement and happiness bubbling up. She even wanted to run out and share the news with everyone. Being part of his film was a lifelong dream.

Thinking back to her past life, she remembered that Director Wen hadn’t started this project so soon. It should’ve been another year. She frowned—why were things happening so differently this time? She hadn’t even interacted with Director Wen before. Why was this different?

Director Wen’s next film was still a movie, but it broke away from his usual themes. Set in modern times, it captured the essence of everyday people’s lives, with profound meaning. It won many awards—but it was also his final work. In her memory, it was his last. He announced his retirement during the award ceremony, causing widespread regret and media frenzy, trending for three days straight.

A director like Wen, known for his emotional depth and unique style, was a rare talent. His retirement was considered a great loss in international film history.

As Lin Ruijiao pondered all this, her hand unconsciously picked up the wine glass from the coffee table and took a big sip. The rich aroma of wine filled her mouth, exploding on her taste buds with lingering flavor. Only then did she come back to her senses and frown.

Ye Ruihuan looked at her little bunny and couldn’t help but smile. This side of Jiaojiao was so cute—turns out she really was a little wine lover.

“There’s nothing much going on, so having a little drink is fine…” Ye Ruihuan’s usually clear voice now carried a husky edge, her gentle tone wrapped in a dreamy haze, making her seem all the more tender and soft.