The Film Empress is My Old Lover - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Reunion

“Did you see the news?”

“Jiang Yi is back.”

Two people walked by, smartphones in hand, discussing it with each other. Mei Shi’s hand, hovering over her keyboard, froze for a moment. Her mind went blank.

Mei Shi felt an intense dryness in her throat. She gripped her cup and tilted her head back, downing the entire coffee.

The light from outside the window poured in like a thin twilight, illuminating Mei Shi’s well-fitting dress and making her slightly upturned neck look even more pristine, like white jade.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Mei Shi took it out, surprised to see a message that she hadn’t passed the audition.

It was for the production she had auditioned for last week. The script was about two omegas whose pheromones mutually attracted each other during their estrus periods, leading them to console one another.

The story was edgy and taboo, bordering on an R-rated theme.

But it didn’t matter. The result was what she had expected.

Mei Shi packed her things, got up from the cafe, and prepared to go back home to pack and buy a ticket to her hometown.

She had no acting experience and was a complete amateur. At twenty-four, she was already old to be starting in the industry. If she were a director, she wouldn’t choose herself either.

…

Jiang Yi had been back in the country for a week and had been on the top of the trending lists for almost the entire time. Major video platforms and web portals were all buzzing with news about her.

Fans abroad were heartbroken at the loss of a talented film empress; domestic fans were ecstatic that their “heavenly dish” had come home; and haters mocked her for returning just to make a quick buck.

A fellow actress of the same age even failed to manage her expressions during an interview, leading to speculation that she was intimidated by Jiang Yi potentially taking her roles.

For a time, there were many happy faces and many sad ones. The entire internet was embroiled in a fan war, with attacks flying everywhere, making it as lively as the New Year.

“Tomorrow there’s a red carpet and an interview. The day after is the ribbon-cutting event for the PV brand endorsement… Oh, right, I have a few new scripts for you to look at when you have a moment.”

“Since you just got back, I didn’t book too much work for you. You can treat this half-month as a small vacation… Oh, also, I took the liberty of turning down those scripts you were in talks with before you came back…”

At this, the person on the couch slowly raised her head, revealing a pair of long-lashed phoenix eyes that blinked a few times. “What?”

Jiang Yi was wearing a pair of low-prescription glasses, exuding a strong academic air.

However, her phoenix eyes, which didn’t match her scholarly demeanor, had earned her the adoration of both domestic and international media and fans, who hailed her beauty as one of a kind.

Jiang Yu Cheng spread his hands. “I turned down a few scripts for you.”

“That campus drama?” Jiang Yi asked.

Jiang Yu Cheng closed her memo pad and said casually, “I turned it down.”

“Oh,” Jiang Yi nodded, then said seriously, “Then I’ll take that script.”

Jiang Yu Cheng: “…”

A knock came at the door. Jiang Yu Cheng swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. “Come in.”

A waiter entered, setting down the food. His eyes darted around, looking at Jiang Yi, before he reluctantly left.

Jiang Yi got up and walked to the table to eat. The sound of her knife and fork clinking together was sharp. Jiang Yu Cheng finally spoke. “That’s a web drama about a double-O relationship.”

Jiang Yi nodded, her tone light. “I know. I’ve already read the script for the first three episodes.”

Jiang Yu Cheng’s short hair was a clean bob cut, meticulously tucked behind her ears. Everything about her, from her makeup to her demeanor and style, screamed efficiency and authority.

Jiang Yu Cheng said, “With your experience and ability, you don’t need to sell fanservice. Filming a web drama will only lower your value!”

“Sell what? I didn’t even think about it that way,” Jiang Yi propped an elbow on the table, chewing slowly on a leafy vegetable. “I just genuinely enjoy challenging scripts.”

What’s so challenging about a romance drama? Jiang Yu Cheng disagreed, her brow furrowed. “Absolutely not.”

Jiang Yi smiled. “What do you mean, ‘not’? I’ve already terminated my contract with my foreign company, Yu-jie. You’re working for me now. Shouldn’t you listen to your boss?”

Jiang Yu Cheng: “…”

“I can’t just stand by and watch you go…” Jiang Yu Cheng’s expression was serious, but before she could finish, Jiang Yi interrupted her.

“The director and writer are very sincere,” Jiang Yi said, sliding her tablet toward Jiang Yu Cheng. “Look, they sent me a few audition videos of the other female lead and asked me which one I liked.”

Jiang Yu Cheng took the tablet, glanced at it, and asked, “…That’s what you were looking at just now?”

Jiang Yi rested her chin on the hand holding the fork, thinking seriously. “I’ve also looked at the director’s resume. Five years ago, they remade First Love. It had almost zero negative reviews. The team is very reliable. The writer seems a bit green, but the script can be revised once we start filming. What do you think?”

Jiang Yu Cheng: “I think you can’t. Not many actors would lower their standards to film a drama. You…”

Jiang Yi pushed her plate away, took a soft measuring tape from her bag, and wrapped it around her waist, looking down. “Then it’s settled. You can contact the director for me.”

“Jiang Yi…” Jiang Yu Cheng’s face was grim. She hesitated before asking, “You’re not…”

Jiang Yi looked up. “Hmm?”

“Never mind.” Jiang Yu Cheng rubbed her forehead, thinking she must be confused to even question Jiang Yi’s sexual orientation.

…

In the evening, the sky was a canvas of red clouds. It was an unremarkable day.

Mei Shi turned off the electric fan on her desk. Dressed in a tank top and denim shorts, she sat astride a stool, opening her tablet to watch videos while using a plastic fork to eat instant noodles.

“Folks, you won’t believe it! I saw my sweetheart Yi Yi at the airport! She’s even more beautiful in person…”

Mei Shi used a finger to swipe to the next video.

“Ahhh! Jiang Jiang!” The camera was shaking badly, but she could still make out the airport setting.

The video was from a week ago, yet it was still being recommended.

Mei Shi watched for a few seconds, found it noisy, and swiped to the next. It was a food mukbang, her favorite to watch while eating, but today she just felt so-so.

After dinner, she started drawing. Mei Shi had majored in design and was one of the top students in her year. She had even secured a spot for graduate school before graduation. She had a bright future ahead of her, so who would have thought she’d end up dropping out and freelancing to make ends meet in a rented apartment?

The usual sounds of a young couple arguing drifted down from the upstairs apartment. Mei Shi placed a finger on her temple and expertly grabbed her noise-canceling headphones to put on.

By dawn, all the noise had died down, and the light from her computer screen faded.

A hot night breeze blew in through the window. After taking a shower, Mei Shi pulled a cold can of Coke from the fridge, enjoying a moment of peace the night offered her.

Mei Shi tilted her head. The condensation from the can wet her palm. She had a worn-out red string on her wrist, and the knot seemed to be on the verge of coming undone.

Before bed, Mei Shi watched a video on her phone, a detailed analysis of Jiang Yi’s acting skills.

As she watched, she found a piece of black yarn in her drawer. She wrapped it around her wrist, securing the red string, and tugged it hard to make sure it wouldn’t break before feeling at ease.

Unconsciously, she watched until midnight. Mei Shi had to admit that even after all these years, Jiang Yi was still Jiang Yi—the one who stood at the top, shining brightly.

Beep.

Her elbow touched the remote control for the air conditioner. Mei Shi woke up instantly, grabbed the remote, and turned it off.

She sighed and carefully placed the remote on the bedside table. She then closed her tablet before finally going to sleep.

“Beep beep beep.”

“Beep beep beep beep.”

Sunlight streamed into her rented room. Mei Shi slowly got up with her messy hair, rubbing her eyes as she turned off her alarm.

She spaced out for a bit, watching the reddish glow outside the window turn pale before she slowly got up to wash and make herself a boiled egg and instant black coffee for breakfast.

This little bit wasn’t even enough to fill her.

Mei Shi opened the fridge, took out leftover rice, and removed the plastic wrap. She sprinkled on some chopped peanuts, crushed seaweed, and yesterday’s leftovers. She then added a salty sausage and wrapped it all in two lettuce leaves.

A simple rice wrap was formed. Her cheeks puffed out as she ate, and her eyes squinted into crescent moons.

Mei Shi burped, took off her gloves, and tied her shoulder-length hair into a messy bun. She first booked a ticket to her hometown.

She then took out her electricity, gas, and water cards from her drawer, slung her canvas bag over her shoulder, and went out to the property management office to get her deposit back. She would pack her things in the afternoon and mail them off. She could go back to Jianghai City that night.

Mei Shi pushed the door open. Her phone vibrated. It was an unknown number. She took the call, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder while she used her hand to lock the door.

“Hello.”

The person on the other end briefly explained their purpose, and Mei Shi froze in place, surprised.

In the hallway, Mei Shi’s voice echoed slightly in the narrow space. She was shocked and asked, unsure, “What?”

The other person said, “Miss Mei, you passed the audition. When would you be available to come and sign the contract?”

Mei Shi: “…”

A stone had fallen into a still lake. The ripples spread and spread and spread, reaching the entire surface of the water, creating a wave.

…

Half a month later, all the formalities were settled. Mei Shi sat in the production car on her way to the filming location.

She still felt as if everything was an unreal, fleeting dream. She had read the first three chapters of the script and knew it was a campus drama. The double-O theme was still a niche genre today.

The writer had said that the filming wouldn’t involve any intimate scenes, just a pure love story about a one-sided crush in their youth.

But Mei Shi needed the money. In the super-first-tier city of Pingyang, her small rented room cost three thousand a month, and her internship salary was pitifully low.

The filming period was two months. As one of the leads, she had secured a payment of two hundred thousand.

The production team would also provide food and lodging during filming, which would save her a considerable amount of money. This amount would be enough for her to save for two to three years. She wasn’t one to give up a good thing and knew how to seize an opportunity.

She had only heard from the writer that the other lead was still being sought. That actress’s manager had made some very harsh demands, but the writer and director were fans of the actress, and their desire to work with her was very strong. They wouldn’t give up until the very end.

The production team had arrived.

The July sun was scorching. The Second City High School was on summer break. The chirping of cicadas filled the campus. The security guard peeked his head out from his booth and opened the gate.

The production vehicles drove directly into the campus entrance.

A wide asphalt road stretched into the depths of the campus. Tall, straight trees lined both sides, their crowns thick, casting dappled, shimmering spots of light on the ground.

Mei Shi lowered a car window.

A warm breeze floated in, brushing against her cheeks. Mei Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly, feeling as if she were entering a time gallery with the car.

The fragmented past was pieced together into a blurry, out-of-focus photograph by the scenery before her: the crowd gathered and discussing in front of the honor roll; students holding textbooks and studying in the shade of the trees; a boy running freely down a slope, his clothes billowing…

The car shook, and Mei Shi came back to her senses.

—This was her school.

In the show.

The car moved slowly, passing by a wall with an honor roll. Props were being set up, and the photos of the first-place winners on the honor roll were all being replaced with the actors from the show.

Mei Shi wanted to stick her head out to see what the mysterious female lead who hadn’t been revealed was like. She was supposed to be a top student in the show.

The car turned, and Mei Shi could only see a blur, unable to make out the details.

…

The production team’s office was set up in a vacant classroom nearby.

“Could you make my makeup look a little younger?” Mei Shi said to the makeup artist, sitting in front of the mirror.

“You look young already,” the makeup artist said, looking down. She caught a glimpse of the tablet in Mei Shi’s hand, which had a compilation of clips from classic campus dramas. Mei Shi was currently making faces at the tablet, trying to learn from their acting.

“You look new. Are you an amateur?” the makeup artist asked, having already heard that Du Lingfeng had cast an amateur to be the second lead opposite the film empress.

Mei Shi touched her nose. “Yeah.”

The makeup artist blinked. “You could learn from Jiang Yi. Her acting is known in the industry for being very nuanced.”

Mei Shi picked up a bottle of mineral water and unscrewed the cap. “Huh? I… I usually watch more domestic dramas. I’m not very familiar with Jiang Yi.”

“Is this the place?” a voice came from the door.

Mei Shi’s drinking motion stopped. She abruptly turned her head toward the doorway.