The Green Tea Actress Has Too Much After-Show Drama - Chapter 10

That year, Yuan Chengyin was a graduate student in directing at Ji Ying Film Academy. While scouting for actors for his student film project, he immediately noticed Ran Long, who had just entered the school.

Back then, Ran Long radiated vitality, brimming with cheerful energy and sunny charm. In essence, she was the complete opposite of who she is now.

Yuan Chengyin’s artistic aura and the prestige of being an upperclassman quickly drew Ran Long in, and they soon became close.

Ran Long starred in several low-budget short films for Yuan Chengyin, who was still relatively unknown at the time. Qiu An, busy with both work and studies, occasionally made cameo appearances in these shorts, lending a hand when she could.

Ran Long often pestered Yuan Chengyin, urging her to find a great script after graduation, secure funding, and cast her as the lead actress so they could make a grand entrance into the film industry together.

Perhaps Ran Long’s auspicious words had some effect, as Yuan Chengyin received such an opportunity shortly after graduating.

That opportunity was the critically acclaimed film Half a Lifetime.

The success of Half a Lifetime earned Yuan Chengyin the Golden Phoenix Award for Best New Director that year, and it catapulted Qiu An to Best Actress status.

All these awards, achievements, and fame slipped right past Ran Long.

This opportunity shouldn’t have belonged to Qiu An.

The lead role in Half a Lifetime should have been Ran Long’s.

If Qiu An hadn’t resorted to every trick in the book, even stooping to seducing Yuan Chengyin with her body, how could a deal that was as good as signed suddenly fall through?

Ran Long had the evidence. She didn’t believe the explanations Yuan Chengyin and Qiu An later gave her.

She had personally seen those explicit chat logs and Qiu An’s purchase history filled with lingerie. She still remembered the nausea that had surged through her when she saw those things, forcing her to vomit up the xiaolongbao Qiu An had brought her for breakfast in one go.

– Let’s do it tonight.

– I’m busy. Maybe in a couple of days.

– Does this outfit look good?

– Photo retracted.

– You bought this too?

– Yeah.

– Then tonight it is. My place or Xiao Ran’s?

– Let’s get a hotel room.

At the time, Ran Long had seen Qiu An struggling financially and rented a two-bedroom apartment off-campus, inviting her to live with her. Worried that Qiu An might feel indebted and refuse, she had insisted she didn’t want to stay in the dorms and felt too lonely living alone, begging her to move in.

How kind she had been! Yet Qiu An, that ungrateful wretch, knowing full well Ran Long had a secret crush on Yuan Chengyin, had seduced him for a hotel tryst. Why him of all people?

It was only because Yuan Chengyin had graduated, signed with a film company, and now had connections.

What made it even more infuriating was that Yuan Chengyin’s job application portfolio, submitted to the company, featured numerous films with Ran Long as the lead actress. Ran Long’s support had undoubtedly played a crucial role in Yuan Chengyin securing his contract. Yet, after all her hard work, she had ultimately paved the way for Qiu An’s success.

How utterly laughable.

After Half a Lifetime premiered, it garnered rave reviews and its box office performance defied expectations, steadily climbing. Ran Long, still seething with resentment, invited Qiu An and Yuan Chengyin to a Western restaurant under the guise of celebration.

As soon as the aperitifs arrived, Ran Long lost her composure and tore off her mask of civility. She raised her glass and splashed the wine full in Qiu An’s face.

Laughing maniacally, she apologized and, as the pair rose to clean themselves up, slapped Qiu An across the face with one hand and Yuan Chengyin with the other.

This malicious act of revenge was secretly filmed and went viral shortly after Qiu An was crowned Best Actress. The public devoured the gossip, while fans erupted in fury. Ironically, the video’s popularity soon surpassed that of Half a Lifetime itself.

Before long, Qiu An’s PR team manipulated public opinion. The voices demanding truth vanished overnight, replaced by a tidal wave of condemnation and vitriol directed at Ran Long.

Ran Long’s reputation was forever tarnished.

She cared little for the slander. Her only regret was not slapping Qiu An more times that day.

I’m so angry, I’m shaking with cold.

“Xiao Ran, are you cold? Is the air conditioning too low? I brought an extra jacket. Put it on and warm up a bit.”

Seeing Ran Long shivering, Qiu An picked up the thin jacket draped over the chair back, stepped past Yuan Chengyin, and tried to hand it to Ran Long.

“Who wants to wear your clothes? Get that away from me!” Ran Long snapped, jolted out of her memories.

The entire set fell silent, all eyes fixed on them in stunned silence.

Everyone on the crew knew about the scandalous incident from years ago. Seeing the three of them reunited for filming, they had genuinely believed the past animosity had been put aside.

No one had expected Ran Long to publicly humiliate Qiu An, who was only trying to show concern.

For a moment, etiquette was forgotten as everyone stared, transfixed, at the two women.

Yuan Chengyin stood frozen between them, unsure how to defuse the tension or who to offer an escape route to.

Ran Long glared at Qiu An, her eyes brimming with loathing and hostility. Refusing to back down, she crossed her arms and waited to see how Qiu An would react.

She’s probably very good at this, Ran Long thought. Someone so calculating should put on a show for everyone.

Ran Long’s instincts were right. Qiu An was indeed very good at this.

After being publicly rebuffed by Ran Long, Qiu An showed no embarrassment, anger, or awkwardness. With perfect composure, she draped the jacket back over the chair and said to Yuan Chengyin’s assistant, “Then let’s raise the air conditioning temperature by two degrees.”

The assistant nodded and went to find the remote control.

With such ease, Qiu An defused the entire farce, further solidifying her image as both beautiful and kind-hearted, yet also vicious and ruthless.

How infuriating! Ran Long thought. One day, I’ll tear through Qiu An’s hypocritical mask.

Halfway through the script reading, Yuan Chengyin and producer Sister Wang were still arguing endlessly over censorship issues. As their debate intensified, a thin layer of sweat began to bead on their foreheads.

The only air conditioner in the conference room was a malfunctioning antique, its casing yellowed and creaking loudly. The old problem had resurfaced: lowering the temperature by one degree would cool the room, but raising it by one degree would shut the machine down completely.

With the doors and windows tightly sealed, the room quickly became as stifling as a alchemist’s furnace. Everyone was drenched in sweat.

Only the assistant moved freely. Unable to bear the heat any longer, she stood directly beneath the air conditioner’s vent, using it like a fan. Clutching the remote control, she waited for the order to rescue everyone.

But Ke Ran remained silent, and no one dared to speak up.

Ran Long was also hot, but her mind was elsewhere.

In her memory, Qiu An was a cold-blooded creature. She would stop at nothing to seize opportunities, viewing all friendships as mere transactions.

Sometimes, it wasn’t even an exchange—just her unilateral demands.

Qiu An’s professed love for Yuan Chengyin couldn’t possibly be genuine. There had never been any hint of romantic interest between them back in school. How could Yuan Chengyin’s newfound resources suddenly ignite a passionate, melodramatic romance?

But if their relationship had always been a transactional exchange, why was Qiu An still jealous when Ran Long merely touched Yuan Chengyin?

If it was all an act, was she overplaying her hand?

Besides, what was there to be jealous about? Ran Long had long since lost any feelings for Yuan Chengyin, and he had always treated her like a younger sister.

Could it be that their charade had somehow morphed into genuine affection over time?

It was all so bizarre.

If Qiu An cherished Director Yuan so much, why had she agreed to let Ran Long join the film project?

It couldn’t be a sudden pang of conscience. If Qiu An had a conscience, it would have surfaced long ago.

A bead of sweat trickled down Ran Long’s jawline, dripping onto the script between two lines of dialogue, landing on the names of the characters: Painter Yu Youxuan and corporate drone Shen Zixin.

“Damn it, Qiu An! Are you trying to roast us alive? Hey, Yuan Chengyin’s little assistant, turn down the temperature already!”

With a series of beeps, sighs of relief filled the conference room.

Yuan Chengyin and Sister Wang had regained their fighting spirit, continuing their heated back-and-forth debate.

Ran Long’s gaze darted between Yuan Chengyin and Qiu An. She decided to probe further, to see if the sharp, dagger-like glance she’d caught earlier had been her imagination.

Taking advantage of Yuan Chengyin and Sister Wang’s immersive argument, several people slipped out to use the restroom, smoke, or stretch their legs.

Ran Long seized the opportunity to stand up and casually stroll over to the stack of bottled water. She grabbed a bottle and then, with feigned nonchalance, moved to Yuan Chengyin’s side, offering her the water.

As expected, her action immediately drew Qiu An’s attention.

But the moment Ran Long looked up to meet her gaze, Qiu An averted her eyes.

Lost in her argument, Yuan Chengyin accepted the water without pausing, clutching the bottle like a weapon as she gestured wildly.

“You can’t make a film just to pass censorship! The movie hasn’t even been shot yet! Why are you self-censoring already?”

“Didn’t you already switch gears and become determined to make money? If you film something that won’t pass censorship, you’re just wasting money! If it fails review and can’t be edited, the entire investment goes down the drain. Do you even want to keep your job?”

“If it can’t be shown here, we can take it elsewhere!”

“How many theaters outside will screen a film shot here? How many screenings will we get?”

“Don’t assume the plot won’t pass censorship! We need to create it first, and create a lot of it, so they’ll realize this kind of content exists and can be broadcast!”

“I’m talking about investment and returns, and you’re talking about art and ideals? Seriously?”

The conversation went in circles, the two sides unable to find common ground. Ran Long quickly grew bored and seized the opportunity to snatch the water bottle from Yuan Chengyin’s hand again.

She twisted off the cap and held the bottle to Yuan Chengyin’s lips, hoping he’d be so engrossed in the argument that he’d let her feed him a sip.

Here it comes… the daggers in his eyes. Ran Long braced herself against his fierce glare, determined to get the water into his mouth.

Yuan Chengyin instinctively leaned in to drink, but when he realized the hands holding the bottle belonged to Ran Long, alarm bells rang in his head.

He didn’t understand what she was up to, but every hair on his body stood on end. He quickly said, “Thank you, Xiao Ran! I can do it myself!”

Yuan Chengyin immediately ducked his head to avoid Ran Long’s mouth, reaching out to take the water bottle from her hand. In her haste, she accidentally placed her four fingers over the back of Ran Long’s hand.

Ran Long: “Huh?”

Yuan Chengyin: Someone save me.

Qiu An shot to her feet, the script on her lap falling to the floor with a thud. Ran Long’s hand loosened, but Yuan Chengyin didn’t dare catch the bottle, which clattered to the ground.

The bottle rolled to Qiu An’s feet, splashing water that soaked the shoes and pant legs of all four of them. The water from the bottle completely drenched Qiu An’s script.

Yuan Chengyin’s assistant watched the scene unfold, her heart sinking. What kind of mess are these people making every day? They’ve never lifted a finger in their lives, and now I’m the one who has to clean up this disaster.

Ran Long settled back into her chair, adopting a “well-behaved” posture, while secretly replaying Qiu An’s earlier reaction in her mind.

Look at how jealous Qiu An was. Look at how Yuan Chengyin was so whipped.

These two are definitely having a secret affair, aren’t they?