The Green Tea Actress Has Too Much After-Show Drama - Chapter 36

As expected of someone who had become a boss, Song Song arrived late for work, not until nearly ten o’clock at night. She sauntered in, picked up the empty cup from Ran Long’s desk, patted her shoulder, and said, “Ran Long, long time no see.”

The alcohol surged through Ran Long, warming her eyes. She looked up at Song Song and realized how much she had changed. The once-pure, unadorned student had transformed into a sophisticated, alluring woman. Her emotions were carefully concealed, her smile perfectly calibrated, like that of a seasoned adult ready to discuss business at any moment.

It’s only been a few years. What has Song Song been through?

Ah, Ran Long had forgotten again. She was the only one who had remained stagnant all these years. Everyone else had grown, matured, moved on. Only she, only she stubbornly clung to her childish ways…

“Long time no see,” Ran Long said. “You’re not acting anymore?”

“No, acting was too grueling. For someone like me, without connections or exceptional looks, no amount of hard work would ever get me ahead. It’s much more comfortable running a small shop, don’t you think?”

“Hmm…”

Ran Long recalled that Song Song had been the most diligent and ambitious student in their class. To prepare for a role as a delivery worker, she would spend a month delivering takeout. To play a wealthy socialite, she would wrack her brains to sneak into business banquets and mingle.

She worked at a bar to earn money instead of relying on her Ji Ying student status to take on shallow, unfulfilling roles. This was because she had standards, carefully selecting her roles and scripts. She refused to play vulgar characters, those with morally questionable values, or, to put it bluntly, anything that would earn her quick money. But genuine artistic projects were rare, and there was no room for struggling actors like her who relied on film salaries to make ends meet.

Seeing someone with such unwavering principles leave the industry filled Ran Long with a sense of melancholy.

Perhaps Song Song’s path had been flawed from the start. Without capital, connections, or popularity, how could she afford to be picky about scripts and roles? The right approach was to follow Qiu An’s example: take any well-paying job, and if there wasn’t one, at least get some exposure.

Then again, Song Song hadn’t done anything wrong. The industry simply couldn’t retain those who pursued art; it was the market’s fault, the market’s failure.

“You can’t hold your liquor. Don’t drink too much.”

Song Song had no interest in small talk. After delivering this curt warning, she walked away with her glass.

Yu Le shifted his gaze from Song Song back to Ran Long, resuming their earlier conversation. “Have you made up your mind about joining Chi Ye under a formal contract? Gourd Media can’t handle your future growth. You should seize this opportunity and come to Chi Ye.”

Ran Long didn’t rush to answer. Instead, she calmly asked, “Has Ran Cheng finished paying back the money he owed Chi Ye?”

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Yu Le slapped his thigh. “Your mother, Hu Fanghui, is a woman of her word. We’ve never had to chase her for payments; she always transfers the money on time.”

“So, how much is still owed?”

“The remaining debt is negligible for Chi Ye. Don’t worry about it. If you want, we can treat it as a signing bonus—forgive the past and wipe the slate clean. And if you’re not satisfied with the profit-sharing ratio, I can even negotiate a higher percentage for you.”

“Is that so? I understand. I appreciate your kindness…”

“Don’t be so quick to reject the offer,” Yu Le interrupted. “Take some time to think it over carefully. When you look at all the film and television companies and talent agencies in China, none can compare to Chi Ye. Over the years, we’ve produced countless Best Actresses and Best Actors, and countless A-list celebrities—everyone has seen it. Moreover, Chi Ye is still on the rise, unlike some other industry giants that are squeezing their artists, laying off staff, selling buildings, and still struggling to make ends meet. Even if they occasionally show signs of recovery, it’s just a fleeting sunset glow.”

Gourd Media couldn’t offer her anything better, but Ran Long would never accept Chi Ye’s invitation. If she were to switch jobs, there was actually a better option.

Qiu An still had her own studio.

Even if Qiu An exploited her, it wouldn’t matter. After all, Qiu An wouldn’t treat her poorly, since she still needed to maintain the facade of a good daughter in front of Ms. Hu. And even if Qiu An ever dropped the act, Ran Long would be willing to play her part, exposing Qiu An’s true nature to Ms. Hu and teaching her a lesson about randomly claiming illegitimate daughters.

Ran Long smiled. “Alright, I’ll think about it when I get back. We can’t sign a contract over drinks, but I believe you’re serious this time.”

As she spoke, Ran Long glanced at her phone to check the time. Seeing this, Yu Le affectionately draped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s still early. Why not stay a little longer? I didn’t invite you here just for work. I’ll call Song Song over, and we can catch up.”

“No need, I should probably head back now.” Ran Long gently removed Yu Le’s hand from her shoulder.

She’d had too much to drink and shouldn’t stay any longer. It wasn’t that she doubted her tolerance; normally, four small cocktails wouldn’t even make her tipsy.

The cocktails masked their potency, and the dry fruit bread was so dry she had to wash it down with the drinks. She hadn’t noticed how unusually strong each glass was.

Now, the aftereffects of the liquor were surging from her stomach to her head. Her eyes burned like fire, almost impossible to keep open. Her mind teetered between clarity and intoxication, utterly exhausted.

Even with Song Song present, Ran Long felt uneasy.

She sensed that Song Song had changed—a transformation from within, where her outward behavior was not the cause but the result.

After graduation, Ran Long and Song Song’s contact dwindled until it ceased entirely. Ran Long hadn’t given it much thought, assuming Song Song was like the others who drifted away as her star faded and she lost her usefulness.

But seeing Song Song again, Ran Long vaguely sensed that the reason for their estrangement might have originated with Song Song herself.

She wondered if this new Song Song would still take her home when she was drunk, as she had in the past.

As for Yu Le, he was the one with ulterior motives.

He would only say, “Are you drunk? There’s a room upstairs. Want to rest for a bit?”

Anyone could guess what the rooms in a private bar were used for.

Even if no one would actually do anything to her, Ran Long refused to lie on sheets that countless naked bodies had rolled over.

And that was only in the “even if” scenario.

“You’re truly a dog that can’t stop eating sh1t,” Ran Long spat out, her voice dripping with disgust. “Yu Le, you’re still pimping women to this day, aren’t you? How could I ever believe a word you say?”

Ran Long gripped her phone, her fingers hovering over the emergency call button.

“Aiya~ How can you say such things? Calling me a dog and a pimp? I was just trying to offer you a place to rest! Fine, if you’re really worried, I’ll have Song Song stay with you. How about that?”

Ran Long was drunk, but she hadn’t forgotten that Song Song owned this bar. It was laughable that she’d even entertained the hope that Song Song might take her home.

Ran Long struggled to her feet, her movements surprisingly swift. The alcohol had already begun to impair her control over her limbs.

The sudden shift from sitting to standing sent a wave of dizziness crashing over her. Her legs felt unsteady, and she stumbled into Yu Le’s waiting arms.

A firm hand clamped around her waist, Yu Le squeezing the flesh there. Ran Long felt an immediate urge to vomit.

She wanted to throw up.

“Yes, just throw it up. You’ll feel better.”

Ran Long immediately opened her mouth and, without hesitation, shoved her fingers down her throat.

Before she could even gag, Yu Le grabbed her hand. “Ranran, what are you doing? Forcing yourself to vomit is bad for you. You’re not even that drunk—just a little queasy, right? Come on, let’s go rest. You’ll feel better in no time.”

“Let go of me!” Ran Long shouted.

Yu Le only tightened his grip. “How can I let go when you’re like this? Hmm? What if you fall? You’re going to be a big star in my company, you know. Every inch of you needs to be protected~”

Yu Le’s foul breath, thick with bacteria, brushed against Ran Long’s ear, making her want to soak herself clean in a bath.

“Don’t touch me! I have my finger on the emergency button. I can call the police anytime.”

“Oh my, why involve the police?” Yu Le feigned surprise. “Alright, alright, I won’t touch you!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Le abruptly released her. His exaggerated gesture sent his hand swinging wildly, deliberately striking Ran Long’s wrist.

Her grip loosened, and her phone clattered to the floor, skidding far away.

Ran Long clenched her jaw, desperate to retrieve her phone. But the tables, chairs, and sofa before her swam in double vision. The moment she took a step, she kicked a table corner that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

The alcohol numbed the pain, but her body swayed unsteadily once more. Just as she was about to collapse, Yu Le caught her again.

Even without any external impact, the sudden lurch felt like a brutal blow to her head. Ran Long’s vision blurred, the world spinning wildly around her.

Yu Le laid Ran Long down on the sofa, stroking her cheek as he cooed, “Don’t be so impulsive, Ranran. You’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not some pimp.”

To prove his sincerity, Yu Le picked up Ran Long’s phone and pressed it back into her hand. “See? I’m giving you your phone back. If anything happens, you can call the police anytime, right?”

Ran Long’s consciousness was fading. She blinked slowly, struggling to focus on the person before her. For a moment, she couldn’t quite place him, and she nodded weakly in compliance.

“Good girl~”

Yu Le pinched her cheek, his long pinky nail scratching against her jawline.

In her dazed state, Ran Long suddenly remembered: she never kept her nails this long.

Qiu An, fearing that long nails would harbor dirt, always trimmed hers flush with her fingertips—clean, neat, and beautiful.

Besides, her perfume was gentle and calming, not this aggressively sharp.

Qiu An had a sensitive nose and couldn’t tolerate overly stimulating scents.

“Yu Le,” Ran Long said, opening her eyes and gripping his hand. “I shouldn’t have impulsively slapped Qiu An back then. If I hadn’t hit her, I wouldn’t have been blacklisted.”

Yu Le was surprised but quickly reassured her, “It’s okay, it’s all in the past. I can help you get back what you deserve.”

“No, what I mean is, when I discussed slapping her with you, you should have stopped me. But you didn’t. You even encouraged me.”

“Yes, it’s all my fault. I’ll make it up to you tenfold from now on, okay?”

Make it up to me…

Seeing Ran Long lost in thought, Yu Le took the initiative, grasping her hand and wrapping his other arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

The sudden movement made Ran Long dizzy again. The burning sensation around her eyes intensified, and she felt utterly miserable, desperately wanting to keep her eyes closed.

Yu Le pressed his nose against Ran Long’s hair, greedily inhaling the scent lingering there.

Ran Long was dressed modestly today, in a round-neck T-shirt and slim-fit pants. But that didn’t stop Yu Le from tugging her tucked-in shir