Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 46

At the director’s mention of investor, everyone turned envious eyes toward Ji Qingshu. Her youth, wealth, talent, and striking beauty naturally drew admiration.

Ji Qingshu had trended on social media a couple of times, but as everyone knew, the internet has a short memory. Initially, only a few recognized her.

However, everyone had researched Chu Xueyi beforehand, so they were well aware of the twisted relationship between the two women.

Ji Qingshu had originally planned to stay on set longer, but she knew her continued presence would inevitably subject Chu Xueyi to even greater public scrutiny. So she returned to the hotel early, leaving Chu Xueyi alone.

Having bypassed the usual channels to secure her role, this was Chu Xueyi’s first makeup trial. She sat patiently in the chair, letting the makeup artist work on her face.

The drama’s potential success proved its costume, makeup, and props were decent. Chu Xueyi had no intention of acting as a know-it-all instructor she simply let the makeup artist work their magic.

Just then, voices drifted from the adjacent seat. The lead actress seemed to be having a voice chat with her best friend.

I’m so unlucky! They cast someone with a bit of a fanbase as the supporting actress. What if they cut my lead role down to supporting status?

The woman’s voice wasn’t loud, but whether intentionally or not, it seemed deliberately meant for Chu Xueyi to hear.

The makeup artist froze instantly, her hand trembling so much she nearly dropped the powder puff.

What do you mean ‘can’t act’? I’m just unlucky to keep running into these ‘resource hires’ every day.

Let me tell you, she was parachuted in. She skipped all the auditions, rehearsals, and makeup tests—just showed up for today’s filming ceremony.

As her anger grew, the lead actress’s voice rose louder and louder.

In the past, Chu Xueyi might have rushed over to confront her. But now, after a lifetime of relentless slander and accusations of diva behavior, her heart was as cold as a fishmonger’s hands after a decade at RT-Mart.

She remained completely unmoved.

A faint smile played at the corner of her lips as she closed her eyes, feigning sleep.

Only after the makeup artist had carefully finished her work did Chu Xueyi rise. She needed to take some promotional photos.

Shooting on location was far better than green screen work.

As she passed the lead actress, Chu Xueyi paused. She might have learned to play nice, but that didn’t make her a pushover.

Leaning down, she placed her hands on the actress’s chair. Her words, spoken in a voice as venomous as a viper’s hiss, were a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor.

I mean… since you know I have connections, since you know I’m the investor’s woman, how dare you badmouth me on set?

You know I could easily parachute into the supporting role. But do you realize… it would be just as easy for me to replace you as the lead actress?

Chu Xueyi leaned closer, her breath as fragrant as orchids, but her words dripped like venom.

The lead actress broke out in a cold sweat, barely daring to turn and face Chu Xueyi directly.

Scared now, aren’t you? If you’re scared, you should keep your mouth shut.

Chu Xueyi reached out and playfully stroked the other woman’s cheek, her demeanor as sinister as a femme fatale from a movie.

Throughout her life, she had relentlessly exploited every lesson learned from her previous life.

She had even stooped to using Ji Qingshu.

But only Chu Xueyi knew that if she couldn’t stop manipulating others, she was just one step away from falling from the precipice of ambition into the abyss of love.

Feeling the lead actress tremble, Chu Xueyi felt a perverse sense of satisfaction. She couldn’t help it she was just that wicked.

Punishing those who spoke ill of her brought her a twisted sense of pleasure.

With a light step, Chu Xueyi left the room, her demeanor eerily mirroring the villainous supporting character from Between the Brows, Snow.

Boss, filming the new character is easy. No assistants… nothing at all.

Since this is your first time contacting me, you probably know that my shots are high-definition and visually stunning, but they come at a premium price.

Ji Qingshu sat on the hotel sofa, half-heartedly watching the web drama on the high-definition screen.

The drama’s costumes, makeup, and props were laughably bad, looking like they’d been pulled straight from a photo studio’s storage room. The story itself seemed to have been written by a screenwriter sitting on the toilet, using their toes.

But because Chu Xueyi was in it, Ji Qingshu forced herself to endure it. She paid no attention to the plot or the cinematography, focusing solely on one person.

Listening to the Proxy Photographer’s incessant chatter on the phone, Ji Qingshu felt her patience wearing thin. Still, she desperately wanted to collect videos and photos of Chu Xueyi acting.

If you were to ask her why…

Well… its purpose was roughly the same as the role of such content in perverted comics and novels—something that would require full-screen censorship if described.

Just keep filming. If you capture any particularly good footage, I’ll pay you handsomely.

Anyway… your minimum payment is 2,000 yuan for ten seconds of footage.

The Proxy Photographer dropped the cigarette butt from between his fingers the moment Ji Qingshu finished speaking.

Okay, okay, okay!

It’s a deal! I’ll definitely work hard!

Forgetting all about his lunchbox, the Proxy Photographer grabbed a Red Bull from the table and chugged it down in a dozen gulps.

He immediately decided to skip lunch and get back to filming.

The man stubbornly climbed over the wall, standing precariously on a makeshift wooden platform. His partners stood guard around him, keeping watch.

Getting caught by the film crew would be disastrous.

The closer he got, the better the photos would be. The man raised his camera and slowly adjusted the focus.

His eyes held no lust for beauty, only a burning desire for money.

Heh… who would’ve thought? You’re not even famous yet, and you already have a private fan throwing money around like this.

Chu Xueyi, it seems you’re really destined to become a top star.

The man couldn’t help but praise her.

Proxy Photographers are a deformed profession born from the entertainment industry. They specialize in tracking popular celebrities, secretly capturing exclusive photos, and selling them to fans at exorbitant prices.

This profession, however, came with risks.

Some film crews strictly prohibited filming to prevent plot leaks. If caught secretly filming, it was like opening the floodgates—you’d be strung up and spanked.

Ji Qingshu knew her actions were wrong, but… she had no choice. This was the only way to obtain photos and videos of Chu Xueyi.

She didn’t want to ruin the image she had cultivated in Chu Xueyi’s heart.

Xueyi… I must make you fall deeply in love with me—so deeply that even if my true nature is revealed, you won’t abandon me.

Ji Qingshu closed her eyes.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she committed this despicable act.

Using photos to alleviate her longing… to alleviate her longing…

Ji Qingshu knew her actions were no different from those of a crazed fan, yet she couldn’t resist.

Because of her love, because of this uncontrollable, pathological obsession, she was gradually crossing the moral boundaries of humanity…