Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 11

The Next Day

At 8:30 in the morning, Huo Shu arrived at the film set.

Filming hadn’t started yet, and the set was bustling with noise. Staff members sat around chatting in groups of twos and threes.

“Did you hear? Last night, Film Emperor Cheng and Su Yu were spotted having a private meeting at a hotel.”

“Oh please, have you not been online? The whole world knows already, and you’re only just hearing about it?”

“Tsk tsk tsk, if you ask me, Su Yu’s really something. Our Film Emperor Cheng, someone like him, got taken down by her without even making a sound.”

“Exactly. Hey—shh… Huo Shu’s here. I heard she’s been getting pretty close to Su Yu lately.”

Su Yu…

Huo Shu lowered her eyes, her slender pale fingers clenching tightly.

Su Yu-jie will be here later. She needed to find a chance to explain things clearly.

She didn’t dislike her, and she wasn’t repulsed by her either.

She couldn’t ignore her!

Today, she wore a light chiffon dress. Her waist was slender, and her back was straight. Her delicate features were soft and timid, her skin pale and thin. Only her eyes were slightly red and puffy.

The makeup artist applying makeup for her hesitated, “Ah Shu, about last night…”

“I was reading a novel.”

Huo Shu smiled at her, then lowered her head and played on her phone, not saying another word.

The makeup artist realized she was being nosy and focused on the makeup.

At 9:00 a.m., filming officially began.

Huo Shu didn’t have any scenes for now, so she found a place to sit down.

She looked around, but there was no sign of Su Yu.

Huo Shu’s expression dimmed slightly.

Was it because she hated her, that she didn’t even want to film?

Was she really that unbearable?

Huo Shu bit her lip hard, her already pale face turning even whiter.

Cheng Chen approached, his tone gentle. “Not feeling well?”

The moment she saw him, Huo Shu felt utterly uncomfortable. Her voice carried a hint of anger. “Thank you for your concern, Film Emperor Cheng, but I’m just fine.”

She sounded like a bristling little kitten.

Cheng Chen was stunned, then chuckled lightly. “Is Yu-yu with you? Why… didn’t she come today?”

Yu-yu?

Huo Shu clenched her fingers tighter.

What right did he have to call Su Yu “Yu-yu”? Even she herself hadn’t called her that before.

Scumbag!

“I don’t know!”

She replied stiffly.

Huo Shu bent slightly and turned to walk to the side, her voice tight with repressed anger. “Film Emperor Cheng, I’m not feeling well. I’ll go rest.”

Cheng Chen chuckled lowly.

Tsk, this little girl is jealous?

How amusing.

He smiled and simply sat down. His mind drifted to Su Yu’s pitiful little face from last night, and his gaze darkened.

In other people’s eyes, Su Yu was arrogant and willful, with a fiery temper.

He used to think so too, until the girl stood in front of him, soft and delicate, calling his name. Only then did he realize—this little girl had always had him in her heart.

“Brother Cheng, did you clear things up with Su Yu?”

His assistant ran over, forehead covered in sweat, his voice anxious. “Weibo’s exploding, and the trending topic still hasn’t dropped. The PR department is waiting to release a joint statement with Shengshi Media.”

Cheng Chen came back to his senses, slightly displeased. “What’s the rush? She drank too much last night. She’s probably still sleeping.”

“Brother Cheng, you’re not actually being serious, are you?”

The assistant looked stunned. “This… this is Su Yu! One wrong move, and your hard-earned popularity over the years could be ruined by her.”

Cheng Chen said nothing.

He was no longer in his twenties, no longer a rising star who had to protect his popularity at all costs.

The company was too naive. In the entertainment industry, a new generation always replaces the old. There were plenty of young men who were handsome and outstanding. Sooner or later, someone would take his place.

So what if Su Yu had lots of scandals? With that kind of face, people would still be willing to support her.

Compared to the persona of a devoted and faithful film emperor, what did that matter?

As Cheng Chen thought about it, he suddenly remembered Ling Qingqing.

If he had met Ling Qingqing when he wasn’t in a period of having nothing, he thought—he would’ve been willing to give love.

It’s just… blame it all on fate. If… if it could have happened later… but in this world, there’s no such thing as “if.”

He exhaled softly and came back to reality.

He was someone who didn’t believe in fate, and he never regretted. Once he made a decision, he would never change it.

His assistant looked at his expression and couldn’t help but sigh. “Ah… you really…”

That Su Yu is a real enchantress.

Brother Cheng used to be such a good person, but now—he’d completely changed.

“Mr. Cheng, it’s time for your scene.”

“I’m coming.”

Cheng Chen replied, then turned to his assistant. “No one is allowed to pressure her. That’s my stance. Go back and tell the company.”

With that, he walked off.

The assistant cursed under his breath, mentally picturing ten thousand alpacas trampling through his brain.

If he really dared to go back and say that, wouldn’t the higher-ups kill him?

But if he didn’t say it, Brother Cheng would be the first to kill him.

What a dilemma!

1:00 p.m.

Cheng Chen: Let’s walk the rest of life’s road together. Miss Su, I’ve liked you for a long time — Su Yu.

The moment that Weibo post went up, in less than ten minutes, the entire platform crashed!

Vanilla-Scented Cutie: Ahhhhh I’m crying! I never thought I’d live to see my male god go public! And with Su Yu? Am I the crazy one, or is the world crazy?

White Dew Becomes Frost: Fan turned anti! I used to think Film Emperor Cheng was different from other male stars, but now? Ha! Still just a man who can’t walk past a pretty woman. Goodbye.

Riding a Horse Looking for Oranges: Wow! My two faves got together! What a beautiful love story. Wuwuwu I’ll sing your praises forever!

Su Yu’s Darling Huo Huo: Please keep your delusions to yourself. Take your announcement and go. Our Su Yu has nothing to do with you. Clout-chasing again and again—so annoying!

Inside the lounge

Huo Shu was hugging her phone, furious to the point of gritting her teeth. “Bastard! ‘Go public’ my ass! Did Su Yu-jie even agree to this?”

“Shameless! You damn turtle!”

She cursed a few more times, then tapped into the Su Yu official fan club group and furiously typed a message.

Su Yu’s Darling Huo Huo: Help! Cheng Chen just made it public—he’s stealing our jiejie!

Su Yu’s Little Baby: I feel the same way! So angry! Cheng Chen isn’t even worthy of our jiejie, okay?

Eating Fish Without Spitting Bones: That may be true, but jiejie isn’t exactly young anymore. She can date now. Compared to some other male stars, Cheng Chen isn’t too bad.

Loves Drinking Yakult: Wuwuwu am I the only one who thinks that instead of a stinky man, our jiejie should just be with a pretty girl?

Huo Shu instantly blushed, replying: T-That’s not possible, right?

Two girls can’t be together, can they?

She was embarrassed and flustered, not knowing what to say.

Loves Drinking Yakult: Why not? Our country doesn’t have any strict rules about this. And in the past, weren’t there two actresses in the industry who were together? I think it’s great.

Su Yu’s Thirty-Sixth Wife: Agreed. I think that Best Actress Qiu Ya and jiejie would be a great match.

What Should I Be Named: No, I think Xu Zhouzhou and jiejie are a better match.

Huo Shu bit her lip and, against her better judgment, typed a message:

I think Huo Shu is a good match.