How Can a Construction Foreman Be the Public Girlfriend of a Top Celebrity? - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
The other artists on the scene were stunned. Zheng Ling immediately checked Shu Xuan’s face, afraid Ye Yu had actually bitten her.
There were two thick lipstick marks on Shu Xuan’s face, as bold as train tracks, stretching from her temples to the sides of her nose.
“Did that woman have a worm in her mouth or something?” Zheng Ling quickly pulled out a tissue from her pocket to wipe Shu Xuan’s face.
But doing so would ruin her entire makeup. Shu Xuan looked at herself in the mirror; those lipstick marks were as dramatic as the Grand Canyon.
Due to traffic, Xiao Ying and the makeup artist hadn’t arrived yet, and there wasn’t enough time to redo everything.
Only after trying to wipe it with tissues did Shu Xuan realize—Ye Yu had used lip tint!
That stuff was notoriously hard to remove. Even after using a wet tissue, there was still a visible stain.
After washing her face in the restroom, her makeup was completely ruined.
While helping Shu Xuan clean her face, Zheng Ling grumbled, “I thought Ye Yu kissed you because she admired you. Who knew she was so vicious to pull something like this?”
Shu Xuan only had a single tube of lipstick in her bag—nothing else.
“What now?” Zheng Ling kept wiping Shu Xuan’s face. Only then did the lipstick marks finally start to fade.
Even without makeup, Shu Xuan’s natural features were stunning. The slight redness left from wiping only made her pale skin look even more delicate and pitiful.
“It’s fine. For a screen test, what matters most is acting,” Shu Xuan said softly and dabbed a bit of lipstick on the center of her lips.
When they returned from the restroom, a young, unfamiliar actress who had been watching from the corner timidly approached them. She didn’t have an assistant with her, and her face was new.
“Miss Shu, if you don’t mind, you can use my makeup,” the young actress offered shyly.
Shu Xuan turned to her. “Thank you.”
She took the makeup bag and picked out an eyebrow pencil.
“I’ll do it,” Zheng Ling said, taking the pencil from Shu Xuan and hopping up onto the table while Shu Xuan sat in the chair. Zheng Ling hovered above, drawing her eyebrows.
She had barely drawn two strokes when Shu Xuan said, “That’s enough.”
“Huh?” Zheng Ling didn’t think it even showed.
Shu Xuan handed the makeup bag back to the actress. “Thank you. What’s your name?”
“Chen Ju. Miss Shu, I’ve followed your work for a long time. Can I take a picture with you?”
“Of course,” Shu Xuan said with a smile.
Zheng Ling didn’t quite get it—Shu Xuan had barely used any makeup and still ended up owing someone a favor.
After the photo, Director Li started calling in actors for auditions—starting with minor roles like male lead four and three, then the same for the female roles.
Shu Xuan led Zheng Ling to the waiting area. Along the way, Zheng Ling whispered, “Miss Shu, you could’ve done your makeup properly. Why didn’t you?”
“I didn’t dare,” Shu Xuan said naturally, as if nothing had happened.
“But why?” Zheng Ling was confused.
“If I had declined the offer in front of everyone, that young actress would’ve felt rejected,” Shu Xuan replied softly.
Zheng Ling admired Shu Xuan’s grace under pressure—and at the same time, she felt a pang of heartache for her. Others saw her as a cold, untouchable goddess, but behind her glamorous image lay a path full of thorns, walked with careful steps.
If it had been Zheng Ling, she would’ve shamelessly used the makeup and thought those people were pretty nice.
While waiting, several young actors came to take photos with Shu Xuan. Since the production team required the audition process to be confidential, no one posted anything online.
Zheng Ling stood off to the side, watching the radiant Shu Xuan from a distance. That long hallway between them seemed to draw a line in the sand.
Since getting married, Zheng Ling had always seen Shu Xuan as an ordinary working woman—because she had never stepped into Shu Xuan’s world. But now, she could feel the distance between them.
Shu Xuan was summoned by the director’s team for her screen test. She approached Zheng Ling and handed over her bag. “Be good and wait for me here.”
Zheng Ling nodded and stood in the corner, peeking through a crack in the door.
Shu Xuan stood on stage under a spotlight. The rest of the room was dim, but the white light on her face highlighted her unadorned beauty.
She was auditioning for the role of a consort about to be executed—a scene with few lines but demanding a full range of emotions.
[In the 25th year of Jin City, a rebellion caused famine, floods, and plague. Yet within the palace, the Jin King indulged in music and luxury. The demon consort took part in governance and helped the people, prompting the court to petition for her execution as a means to comfort the dead. The king had no choice but to banish her to the cold palace, and Jin gradually declined. The Central Plains took advantage and invaded.]
Shu Xuan stood on stage, her gaze shimmering. She addressed the empty space, “My king.”
In the script, the king visited the cold palace where the frail consort was kept. He knew the dynasty’s fall was inevitable.
Shu Xuan took a small step forward, then held back.
“My life has been adrift. I am grateful for Your Majesty’s favor,” she said gently.
“Is Your Majesty’s visit related to the war on the front lines?” Her head lowered slightly. Though the jewels in her hair were gone, she still carried herself with dignity.
The Central Plains had demanded the consort be handed over as a condition for halting their advance.
The king came to persuade her.
Upon hearing this, the consort shed her final tears. She forced herself forward, kneeling and crawling to the king’s feet.
“I beg Your Majesty to grant me death,” she said firmly. “Please… grant me death.”
She clung to the king’s robe, struggled to her feet, and looked him in the eyes.
“If I must be delivered to the Central Plains, may I make one request?”
The king pushed her away but agreed to hear it.
Shu Xuan mimed grabbing robes and being thrown to the ground. Her performance was so vivid it felt like a scene from hundreds of years ago.
The consort’s eyes shifted from hope to despair, and she delivered her final lines:
“Jin’s fall was not mine to prevent. In peace, women are playthings; in turmoil, they are offerings.”
“If not, then Jin will fall to corruption. The officials are useless, the nation overrun by villains. The ones responsible for this collapse are not remnants of the old dynasty, but traitors.”
She knelt hard, bowing low.
“As a woman, I offer myself to protect our homeland. Please, Your Majesty—send me out of the city.”
The king covered his face, unable to bear it.
“Please, send me out of the city!”
Her words struck the audience deeply. The director, producers, and staff all took out tissues to wipe their tears. Shu Xuan’s emotional power was overwhelming.
At the door, Zheng Ling saw not Shu Xuan—but the real consort kneeling and begging.
She wiped her own tears. This was the first time acting had ever moved her like this.
Watching Shu Xuan on TV was nothing compared to seeing her live—like standing in history.
Silence fell, then thunderous applause erupted.
“Miss Shu, you truly live up to your name,” the director said, sniffling. “Shall I have someone confirm your contract with your agent?”
Shu Xuan quickly pulled herself out of character and nodded.
Afraid Shu Xuan might slip away, the director called her agent Big Head immediately in front of everyone. “I was scared it was a prank when I heard she was auditioning.”
“Can’t believe you actually came.” He was full of praise. “Did you skip makeup on purpose?”
Before she could answer, he added, “It fits perfectly. The consort in the cold palace should look just like this.”
As Shu Xuan finished, Big Head and Xiao Ying finally arrived. The director paused auditions and invited them to the meeting room to discuss the contract.
Zheng Ling was left alone. She suddenly remembered something.
She approached a staff member. “Excuse me, there’s no water in the lounge. Where else can I get some?”
“Over there.” The staff pointed.
Zheng Ling nodded knowingly.
She pushed open a door—not looking for water at all.
Sure enough, only Ye Yu was inside.
Bang! She kicked open the door and strolled in. “Miss Ye, still waiting for your turn?”
Ye Yu was reading her script while her assistant knelt on the ground, holding up a cup with a straw for her to drink.
“Y-You… why are you here?” Ye Yu shrank back. She had one leg crossed earlier, but now she looked nervous.
“Came to find you,” Zheng Ling said with a fake smile.
Ye Yu hid behind her script. “What do you want?!”
Zheng Ling marched over, grabbed Ye Yu by the collar like a chicken, and yanked her up.
“What do you think?” She kicked over a chair. The assistant who had been feeding water got so scared she dropped the cup and ran out.
“You crazy-ass foreman! I’m telling you, don’t act out—I’m a top-tier actress!” Ye Yu said, visibly scared. This forewoman was unlike other women—she had a ruthless, fierce energy.
Zheng Ling slammed her against the makeup table and pulled a lipstick from Shu Xuan’s bag.
She smeared the lipstick across Ye Yu’s face. “This line is so you remember—Shu Xuan isn’t someone you can kiss.”
“This one’s to crush your ego. No matter how famous you get, you’ll never beat our Shu Xuan.” She drew a giant X on Ye Yu’s face.
She turned Ye Yu’s head and drew another line. “This one’s to show you—some people you just don’t mess with.”
Ye Yu didn’t dare fight back—she was no match for someone who lifted bricks for a living.
“And this last one is to teach you to act with skill, not petty tricks.” Zheng Ling broke the lipstick mid-smear and mashed it into Ye Yu’s hair.
Ye Yu trembled with rage. “Psycho! You’re a total psycho!”
Zheng Ling let her go, pulled a tissue off the table, and smiled lazily. “If you already know I’m crazy, then you’ll know better than to mess with me again.”
“AAAAAHHHH!” Ye Yu screamed. Her face looked like a circus clown’s.
Zheng Ling tossed the crumpled tissue into the trash and walked out.
Ye Yu’s assistant had just returned with a crowd. Zheng Ling calmly strolled past them like nothing happened.
From inside the lounge, they heard Ye Yu yell, “GET OUT! ALL OF YOU GET OUT!”
Zheng Ling frowned at the people gathered by the door—she wasn’t sure if the assistant did this on purpose.
Later, when Shu Xuan came out after signing the contract, she saw Zheng Ling playing on her phone.
“Boss Zheng, let’s go,” Shu Xuan said.
Zheng Ling looked down, tugging at Shu Xuan’s sleeve like a guilty kid. “Miss Shu, I think I messed up.”
“Hm?” Shu Xuan raised an eyebrow.
When they left the theater, Big Head and Xiao Ying asked if Shu Xuan wanted to ride in the company car or go with Zheng Ling. Zheng Ling instantly pulled Shu Xuan to her side possessively.
She rode the motorbike, loudly explaining what had just happened.
The whistling night wind swept over them. Zheng Ling braced herself for Shu Xuan’s scolding. She knew she had acted rashly and wasn’t sure if Shu Xuan would get into trouble for it.
Then she heard Shu Xuan behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist. “It’s fine.”
“Really?” Zheng Ling slowed down.
“I’ve got you,” Shu Xuan said, resting her head against Zheng Ling’s back. She never imagined Zheng Ling would stand up for her like that. It was bold and reckless—but made her feel truly safe.
“…”
When Shu Xuan joined the production team, Zheng Ling officially launched her “Everyone’s Full Labor Company.” She was busy taking on projects.
A few days before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Zheng Ling personally invited Secretary Chen via WeChat. At first, she thought Secretary Chen wouldn’t come—until she replied a day later.
To Zheng Ling’s surprise, Secretary Chen arrived on the day with media reporters and South City Daily’s journalist in tow. She stood proudly in the center beside Zheng Ling for the ribbon-cutting.
In the beginning, the company only landed small jobs. Half the workers had nothing to do.
Zheng Ling rented a building as worker housing. Since there weren’t many projects, most employees just stayed there playing games or resting.
This drained a lot of funds daily. Even with savings, Zheng Ling knew this couldn’t go on. She needed cash flow.
After work, she returned home. It was Qixi Festival—Chinese Valentine’s Day. She had planned a dinner with Shu Xuan, but Shu Xuan still wasn’t home after a long wait.
The lipstick Zheng Ling ordered for her had arrived—99 tubes in a gift set. She’d also bought her a massage chair and a nanny car.
The housekeeper had finished dinner prep and gone home. Zheng Ling stared at the time, feeling uneasy.
She didn’t want to disturb Shu Xuan while filming, so she messaged Xiao Ying first—no reply. Then she tried Big Head—still no reply.
Strange.
Zheng Ling started getting angry and a little hurt. They were supposed to spend Qixi together. What now?
She jumped in her car and drove straight to the filming location. Thankfully, the set was nearby in South City.
Just as she arrived, she overheard a heated argument.
“Miss Shu, this is clearly your fault. You must take responsibility!” shouted a woman—Ye Yu, unmistakably.
Another voice, a man, responded, “Call the cops! I’m not afraid!”