The Green Tea Actress Has Too Much After-Show Drama - Chapter 16

Before her lay the person she cherished most, surrounded by her scent. That night, Qiu An slept soundly.

The morning air always felt colder, regardless of the season or whether the room’s climate control was on.

Qiu An, who was naturally cold-bodied, adored Ran Long’s inner warmth, a ghostly fire born from her heart. While awake, she could restrain herself, but in the hazy daze of morning sleep, all pretense of politeness, restraint, and forbearance vanished into thin air.

Qiu An pressed herself tightly against Ran Long, her knees straining desperately to wedge between Ran Long’s legs, even without her arms wrapped around her.

The result was a sudden thump as Ran Long’s eyes snapped open to find herself face-down on the floor.

She landed on all fours, kneeling on the thick carpet, most of the blanket sliding off. Fortunately, the carpet was thick enough to cushion her fall, preventing injury.

As the situation dawned on her, Ran Long’s morning grumpiness surged to the surface. She shot to her feet and saw Qiu An had already crossed the “38th parallel,” sprawled across her pillow.

Perhaps sensing the sudden loss of her coveted heat source, Qiu An frowned, curling up into a ball and whimpering softly, as if expressing her displeasure.

The alarm hadn’t even gone off yet; it wasn’t even seven o’clock.

Ran Long had been about to unleash her anger, but the sight of Qiu An’s sleeping face inexplicably extinguished more than half her fury.

It was a face utterly harmless, devoid of any aggression. Though Qiu An’s brow was furrowed, there was no trace of cold arrogance. Her slightly parted pink lips, rather than appearing seductive, conveyed an extraordinary sense of vulnerability.

The most infuriating thing in the world isn’t when someone you dislike is beautiful—even more beautiful than you. It’s when they’re not only beautiful, but beautiful in precisely the way that appeals to your aesthetic sensibilities.

No one could bear to vent their anger on such a sleeping face, a masterpiece worthy of Nüwa herself.

Helpless, Ran Long raised her hand toward Qiu An’s face, feigning a slap at the air to release her remaining frustration.

Before her hand could fall halfway, Qiu An’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

Ran Long’s hand froze mid-air.

“…Xiao Ran? Were you… going to hit me?”

The two women stared at each other, a moment of awkward silence hanging between them.

Observing the textbook slap gesture, Ran Long silently bent her arm, pretending to smooth her disheveled hair. “No, of course not! But you—were you really asleep or just pretending? How are you so alert right after waking up? And look where you’ve sprawled—did you deliberately push me off the bed?”

Qiu An glanced at her sprawled position, then at Ran Long standing before her, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I’m a restless sleeper, you know that.”

Ran Long knew that Qiu An’s hands and feet were always icy cold when she slept, and she loved to snuggle close, often startling Ran Long awake with a shiver in her sleep.

Yesterday, caught up in the excitement of filming a kissing scene, Ran Long had impulsively agreed to share a bed, completely forgetting about this habit.

Qiu An sat up, the blanket sliding off her. The buttons on her nightgown were loosely fastened, having slipped open halfway at some point during the night. Now, only the middle two buttons held the two sides together.

Ran Long glanced down and took in the curve of Qiu An’s chest and the expanse of bare skin. Strands of her long hair draped across her chest, creating a “half-hidden face” effect, like a woman coyly holding a pipa.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a hazy, dreamlike glow across the room.

The scene was strikingly similar to a mental image Ran Long had once envisioned:

Shen Zixin and Yu Youxuan waking together on the morning after their first exploration of each other, rising from sweet dreams.

Ran Long, wearing a spaghetti-strap nightgown, felt the air conditioner’s chill as usual. Yet instead of feeling cold, a strange heat began to rise within her, originating from her lower abdomen and spreading to her limbs.

This sensation was entirely unfamiliar to her.

Strangely, the more Ran Long tried to suppress this heat, the less her body obeyed her. An itch even began to prick at her heart.

Though unfamiliar, she vaguely understood the source of this heat.

She found herself craving the sight of Qiu An’s exposed skin, longing to… gently touch it, to feel its texture…

She had seen Qiu An and others dressed lightly before, but she had never experienced such a physical reaction.

It was all the fault of that damned lesbian drama script, which had corrupted her mind.

Now she was even feeling something for Qiu An.

“It’s nothing… gulp… it’s nothing!” Ran Long tried to act nonchalant, but the saliva that had inexplicably pooled in her mouth betrayed her.

Qiu An heard and chuckled softly. Ran Long, as if enraged by embarrassment, grabbed her phone and stormed out of the room without a word.

Even at the filming location, Ran Long remained

Yuan Chengyin had no choice but to select a stand-in with a similar height and build to Ran Long and rehearse the blocking with Qiu An first.

As Ran Long finally arrived, she was about to enter the filming room when she collided with a flushed girl rushing out.

The girl was about Ran Long’s height, her back hunched, face buried in her hands, head bowed low. If Sister Hou hadn’t reacted swiftly to block, Ran Long’s nose would have slammed into the girl’s forehead.

Puzzled, Ran Long asked, “Who was that just now? She seemed so flustered. Did some media or a fan sneak in?”

“She’s one of ours,” Yuan Chengyin replied. “A temporary stand-in we found to help with the lighting.”

“Oh.”

Ran Long glanced at Qiu An, who was wearing a sleeveless black top that showcased her alluring collarbones, smooth neck, and bare shoulders. Her makeup was seductive, her amorous gaze fixed on the easel.

Sensing Ran Long’s gaze, Qiu An turned her head and stared directly at her.

Unable to withstand Qiu An’s provocative gaze, Ran Long averted her eyes, handed her belongings to Sister Hou for safekeeping, and quipped playfully, “What’s wrong with you? Trying to seduce even the stand-ins who just happen to walk by?”

“Now it’s your turn.”

Qiu An’s voice reached Ran Long’s ears, devoid of its usual calm rationality and instead thick with lust.

Ran Long froze momentarily, goosebumps belatedly rising on her spine. She shifted slightly, trying to shake off the sudden chill.

When she looked back at the figure by the window, it was no longer Qiu An, but Yu Youxuan, staring at her as if she were prey. Like a ravenous hound, long starved and eager to break free from its cage, waiting for the director’s signal to tear off its muzzle and devour her whole.

Why get into character so early? It’s creepy.

Ran Long rubbed her arms and shook her head, trying to catch up with Yu Youxuan’s intensity and slip into the role of Shen Zixin.

This scene involved a kiss and mild nudity. Yuan Chengyin cleared the set, leaving only a few female photographers, sound technicians, and the script supervisor.

“Ready, Xiao Ran? Relax.”

“Okay.”

Ran Long answered obediently, but inwardly she thought: Easy for you to say. You try doing this.

“Action.”

“You’re late. I thought you were going to run away at the last minute again.”

Shen Zixin frowned, her voice impatient. “Stop wasting time. Let’s get started.”

“Don’t rush,” Yu Youxuan said. “Sit down and relax for a bit. What would you like to drink? Soda? Coffee? Or should I make you some tea?”

“Yu Youxuan!” Shen Zixin’s voice rose slightly, her anger masking her nervousness.

“What’s wrong? You used to love tea. Remember when we used to…”

Shen Zixin’s hand loosened, and her handbag fell to the floor. She reached for the collar of her shirt and began unbuttoning it, her hands trembling so badly she struggled to undo the first button.

Frustrated, Shen Zixin grabbed the collar and yanked it open roughly.

Seeing this, Yu Youxuan stepped forward and took her hand.

Their eyes met, and Shen Zixin calmed down.

Yu Youxuan led Shen Zixin to the sofa and gently settled her against the cushions. Her hands glided over Shen Zixin’s shoulders, her fingers moving to the collar to unbutton it for her.

Yu Youxuan’s fingertips brushed lightly against Shen Zixin’s neck, her hands icy cold.

Ran Long’s skin prickled with goosebumps in waves.

Yuan Chengyin watched Ran Long’s physical reaction on the monitor, pleased. But when he switched to another camera, his expression instantly turned cold.

“Cut. Qiu An, you…”

“Director Yuan, I know. I’ll go get an ice pack to cool down.”

Yuan Chengyin had always trusted his actors implicitly. Good actors often recognized problems even before the director did.

So, instead of being annoyed by Qiu An’s interruption, he simply nodded. “Go ahead.”

Ran Long looked puzzled. “An ice pack? What for? Your hands are freezing—you’d be better off with a hot water bottle!”

Yuan Chengyin froze, realizing the real reason for her goosebumps.

“I’ll just wash my hands with hot water.”

Yuan Chengyin stopped Qiu An. “Don’t bother. The cold hands are perfect.”

“Perfect for what?” Ran Long protested.

“If you can act out the goosebumps, she can go wash her hands.”

Ran Long slumped, defeated. Goosebumps were hardly something she could control.

Since they couldn’t find an ice pack on short notice, Xi Xi brought Qiu An a towel soaked in cold water instead.

Ran Long watched the scene unfold with a puzzled expression until Qiu An took the towel and gently pressed it against her ear.

“What’s wrong with your ear?” Ran Long asked, but no one answered.

She had no choice but to approach and investigate herself. Peeking beneath Qiu An’s flowing hair, she discovered the ear was as red as if it were about to bleed.

“Eh? Eh? Eh?” Ran Long exclaimed, as if she’d discovered a new continent. “Are you blushing? Shy? I never pegged you for the innocent type!”

Qiu An remained silent, her face growing even redder.

Yuan Chengyin walked over and flicked Ran Long on the head. “Stop messing around. We’re filming.”

“Oh,” Ran Long muttered, rubbing her head as she sulked away.

Filming resumed with the unbuttoning scene. Ran Long awkwardly leaned back against the sofa, waiting for Qiu An to straddle her.

The proximity was overwhelming. Qiu An’s blush was contagious, and Ran Long’s body wasn’t immune either.

A wave of heat washed over her.

Yet Qiu An’s fingers were ice-cold. At the slightest touch, Ran Long’s skin prickled with goosebumps. She silently prayed for this scene to end quickly.

Qiu An unbuttoned Ran Long’s chest, revealing her bra. Only then did Ran Long’s belated embarrassment finally kick in.

Fortunately, Shen Zixin’s emotional state mirrored her own, and Yuan Chengyin didn’t call for a cut.

“Cut!”

What’s going on?

“Yu Youxuan, stop darting your eyes around! Be direct—look at her bra.”

That single sentence turned both women’s faces crimson.

Yuan Chengyin rubbed his forehead. “Can you two just focus and be professional?”

The answer was clearly no.

Xi Xi had to leave for another task, so Sister Hou took over handing out cold towels.

Since the scene required absolute silence for sound recording, the air conditioning was off. Even though the room had been cooled beforehand, the long shoot time had turned the enclosed space stuffy and stifling.

Sister Hou moved around, dabbing cold towels on one actress, then the other.

Occasionally, when she entered the room, Ran Long hadn’t yet fastened her bra. The black bra, though conservatively styled, looked undeniably sexy against her skin.

Whenever Sister Hou accidentally caught a glimpse, she had to dab a cold towel on herself too.

After more than a dozen awkward retakes, the scene of Ran Long undressing was finally approved.

Originally, this short scene could have been filmed in a single take. But because the actresses couldn’t get it right, Yuan Chengyin had to split it into two shots.

Next up was the kissing scene. Yuan Chengyin sat before the monitor, flipping through the script and scratching her head.

She had a feeling the real battle was just beginning.