Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 3

Huo Shu?

Su Yu paused for a moment, roughly guessing why she had been added, and tapped “accept.”

A reply came almost immediately.

Huo Shu: Sorry, I didn’t know the netizens would think like that. I… I’m apologizing on behalf of the fans for their rudeness. Please don’t be mad. [Attached: crying emoji]

Su Yu couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

This little girl really was like a little white rabbit— even the tone of her messages felt so timid.

Kind of… cute?

Seemingly because Su Yu hadn’t replied, another rapid stream of messages came flying in.

Huo Shu: Su Yu-jie*, don’t be mad. I… how about next time I apologize to you in person, okay? They… they were misled by the photo, that’s why they said those things.
(*姐 [jie] is an affectionate way to address an older female, like “big sister.” Often used respectfully in the entertainment industry.)

Huo Shu: Su Yu-jie? Su Yu-jie, are you… really angry? I… I’ll definitely find that paparazzi and make him tell the truth. I won’t let anyone slander you again. Please don’t be mad, okay?

The little girl’s tone was flustered and puffed up, with a kind of childish petulance.

Su Yu curled her lips into a smile. A sudden urge to tease arose, and she replied:

“And what if I really am mad?”

On the other end, Huo Shu was clutching her phone, flopping onto the couch in frustration and rolling around nervously.

“It’s over! She must be mad.”

Being scolded after trying to help— anyone would be angry, right?

Let alone the fact she’d heard Su Yu didn’t have the best temper. She was doomed!

Huo Shu rolled around on the couch for a while, then carefully sat up and replied:

“How about I treat you to a meal?”

A long while passed without a response.

Huo Shu started to think she had been too forward.

After all, she and Su Yu weren’t close.

Just as she was about to hit “unsend,” a light response floated in:

“Sure.”

“Yay!”

Huo Shu lit up with joy, springing up from the couch.

“What’s got you so happy?”

Zhang Cheng walked in from outside, smiling as he raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me, you already found out I landed that role for you?”

“Nope.”

Huo Shu shyly shook her head, but caught the mention of a script and her eyes brightened. “What role?”

Zhang Cheng sat down and handed her the script in his hand. He gestured with his lips. “Here, Han Palace: Under Heaven.”

Huo Shu froze, her slender white fingers tightening slightly, her tone complicated. “Isn’t this… the drama Su Yu took on?”

She and Su Yu had crossed paths over one project before— this very drama, Han Palace: Under Heaven, a major palace intrigue period drama currently being planned by the well-known director Wang Yi.

In recent years, palace intrigue dramas had become all the rage. There were so many copycat productions, one after another like a running ledger, that audiences had long grown tired of the aesthetic.

However, Director Wang was a top-tier director with a solid fanbase. Even though this was another period drama, many online still looked forward to it.

He was notoriously demanding— getting into his crew was no easy feat. Last time, she had only gotten in thanks to Director Li’s recommendation.

In the end, due to Su Yu’s company, she hadn’t made it.

And now, if she took Su Yu’s role again…

Huo Shu bit her lip tightly, suddenly feeling like the script in her hands was burning hot.

Su Yu had saved her.

If Su Yu hadn’t appeared last night, she might’ve been taken away by Liu Jun, and then…

If that had happened, she’d have been ruined.

If she stole Su Yu’s role now—doing something so ungrateful—even she herself would look down on herself.

Huo Shu thought for a moment, then said firmly:

“Brother Zhang, I’m not taking this role!”

“Ahh, it was already a stroke of luck this script even came our way. If not for that trending topic, it wouldn’t have been so easy.”

Zhang Cheng sighed as he rambled, “Su Yu isn’t someone to mess with. After you join the crew, keep your distance from her—don’t go stirring up any drama…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when he realized something was wrong, his mouth gaping in shock. “You… why aren’t you taking it?”

Had this girl lost her mind?

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she was turning it down?

Huo Shu also sensed something was off and quickly asked, “Su Yu is in the cast too?”

Zhang Cheng looked utterly baffled. “Of course. She’s the female lead!”

Huo Shu’s face flushed bright red. Her voice grew faint. “I… I thought I was taking her role again…”

Only now did Zhang Cheng understand her meaning. He couldn’t help but slap his forehead. “You silly girl, what are you thinking? Honestly, I don’t know what to do with you…”

Role snatching was as common as air in the entertainment industry. If you could grab it, it meant you had the skills.

But this girl…

He sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.

Out of all his artists, Huo Shu was the most obedient and worry-free—never stirred up trouble, never gave him a headache.

But that was also the issue. She was too obedient. No ambition, no edge—in this industry, that kind of personality meant being constantly shortchanged.

“Brother Zhang, what role is it?”

Zhang Cheng snapped out of it and met her clear, expectant gaze.

He immediately refocused and smiled. “You’ll be playing Wei Zifu.”

“But… I thought Wei Zifu was an empress?”

Zhang Cheng laughed heartily. “This drama is adapted from a super popular novel. It tells the legendary life story of Empress Chen Ajiao, wife of Emperor Wu of Han. Don’t try to match it to real history— it’ll drive you crazy.”

Huo Shu nodded obediently.

“Brother Zhang, when does filming start?”

Zhang Cheng glanced at his phone and gave a precise date. “Next Monday, April 16th. I’ll let you know when it’s time.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and I almost forgot— the male lead is being played by triple Best Actor winner Cheng Chen. I don’t think I need to explain what that means.”

Zhang Cheng’s expression softened a little. He paused and added, “If he takes a liking to you, the road ahead will be much smoother.”

Huo Shu lowered her head slightly, exposing her pale neck. She wore a light-colored dress that emphasized her slender waist. Her long hair flowed freely—like a quiet flower that understood speech, delicate and graceful, completely captivating.

Zhang Cheng sighed again and reminded her, “Once you’re on set, don’t be like before and keep silent all the time. Go mingle with the seniors a bit more. Be lively— people will like you better that way.”

Huo Shu nodded absentmindedly, her mind spinning with the thought of acting alongside Su Yu.

Would Su Yu-jie think she did this on purpose?

Probably not… right?

But what if she did?

No—she had to explain everything over that meal.

Zhang Cheng watched her and rubbed his temples. “Ah Shu, are you even listening to me?”

Huo Shu gave a small “mm” and looked down at her phone.

Zhang Cheng’s mouth twitched. “Then repeat what I just said.”

Huo Shu tilted her head and thought for a moment, repeating his words back to him.

Her memory was good— remembering things like that was easy for her.

Zhang Cheng nodded in satisfaction, gave a few more reminders, then left.

Huo Shu curled up on the couch hugging her phone, a flicker of confusion flashing through her mind.

Triple Best Actor?

Cheng Chen?

What’s that got to do with her?

Never mind—who cares—ahhhhhh next week she was going to be acting with Su Yu-jie!

Thinking back to yesterday, the woman leaning casually against the table, her eyes slightly raised, exuding a flirtatious charm that tugged at the heart—

Huo Shu buried her face in the couch, the tips of her pale ears quietly turning red.