Today I Will Also Be the Male Protagonist’s Rival - Chapter 4

Huo Shu arrived at the set early.

It was only eight in the morning, and there weren’t many people around. Inside the makeup room, aside from a few rookie actors, it was practically empty.

She sat quietly waiting for the makeup artist, head lowered, casually playing on her phone.

Today, she wore a light green long dress. Her brows were slightly lowered, her entire look like it had been painted in ink — delicate and demure.

Though she said nothing, her calm and gentle aura made her stand out.

A few young actors who had already finished their makeup gathered in a corner, whispering among themselves.

“That’s Huo Shu, right? Tsk tsk tsk, she sure came early. Way more professional than some other actors.”

“You mean Su Yu?”

“Who else? Even the old veterans don’t throw their weight around like she does. No idea where her sense of superiority comes from. Probably just relying on her face.”

“Have you heard? Just a while ago, she trended on the hot search because of a fight. I think she hit Huo Shu. Honestly, Director Wang must have nerves of steel to not worry about the two of them getting into it on set.”

“Tch, who knows? But speaking of Director Wang — isn’t he notoriously strict? How’d someone like Su Yu end up cast? Everyone in the industry knows her acting is garbage.”

“She probably slept her way up. No way she made it this far just on talent. She must be good at serving people.”

Their voices weren’t loud, but the makeup room wasn’t big — it was hard to ignore them.

Huo Shu’s slender, fair fingers curled into a fist.

She was suddenly angry. Su Yu-jie clearly lived freely and boldly, yet people smeared her like this.

Everyone said Su Yu was arrogant, temperamental, and quick to turn on people.

But the kind of person they described would never have saved her that night, nor said those things to her.

These people didn’t know Su Yu at all, yet they made such careless judgments.

Huo Shu despised people like that — and she despised them.

She took a deep breath and was just about to speak when a warm chuckle came from the doorway.

“What are you all chatting about that it’s gotten so lively?”

A man pushed open the door. His features were handsome and gentle, with a faint smile on his face.

“Cheng Chen is here!”

“Ahhhh, it’s my idol Cheng Chen! Film Emperor Cheng, can I get your autograph?”

“With Cheng Chen in the cast, this drama’s ratings are basically guaranteed!”

Cheng Chen responded to each fan with a smile. When he noticed Huo Shu standing, he paused slightly and nodded at her with a warm expression — a silent greeting.

Huo Shu didn’t return his gaze. Instead, she turned toward the corner of the room and spoke coldly, “There’s a saying — ‘trouble comes from the mouth.’ You’re not exactly newcomers anymore, so you ought to understand what it means to watch your words.”

The young actresses instantly turned red.

“Yes, of course.”

“It… it won’t happen again.”

They had never imagined that someone with Huo Shu’s personality would actually speak up?

And it wasn’t even about her — why was she so worked up?

Cheng Chen looked slightly surprised, his eyes flickering with curiosity.

The girl had already turned her back to him and sat down again. Her long hair was swept up, revealing a slender and graceful silhouette.

A ripple stirred in Cheng Chen’s heart.

In this industry, who didn’t want to get close to him? But Huo Shu seemed completely uninterested.

Intriguing.

Thinking of her cool and aloof profile, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

Huo Shu sat down and stewed in silence.

She wasn’t someone who was good at arguments, and today had already been a big step for her.

She sighed and looked down at her phone.

Su Yu-jie said she’d be coming today. She wouldn’t stand her up, right?

After all, today marked the official start of filming.

“Any random cat or dog can get shoved into a production now? Director Wang must be really short on people.”

The careless tone carried a sharp sneer.

Huo Shu jerked her head up.

The woman who had just entered was surrounded by a group of people. Her bearing was languid, like a queen inspecting her domain, her expression cold and detached.

Her skin was porcelain white, and she wore a floor-length black dress. Her firm, round hips curved gracefully into a narrow, fragile waist, forming a striking silhouette. The slit in her skirt parted with every step, revealing long, pale legs that flashed in and out of view — dangerously alluring.

The entire room fell silent.

Su Yu lifted her eyes and gave a careless chuckle.
“What’s wrong? Weren’t you all chatting happily just now? The moment I show up, not a single peep?”

She stepped forward and slowly approached the few people who had been speaking earlier. Leaning down, she said, “Go on, say a few more things so I can hear. Hm?”

Her tone dragged at the end—charming and seductive, like a lover’s whisper—but it carried not a trace of warmth.

The few small-time actresses were startled into silence, trembling all over.

They had only dared to gossip in private. Who would actually have the guts to speak in front of her?

Everyone had heard, more or less, about this ancestor’s temper. With her status, if she really wanted to deal with them, they’d have no choice but to swallow their grievances with broken teeth.

The small-time actresses exchanged glances, then cautiously lowered their heads, their voices timid.

“S-Su Yu-jie, we’re sorry. We… we shouldn’t have gossiped behind your back. P-please let us off this time.”

“Y-yeah, we’ll never dare do it again. Please forgive us just this once.”

Su Yu found a chair and sat down, playing with her fingers, expression indifferent.
“Go on.”

Her fingers were long and slender, fair and delicate, her nails round and painted a vivid red—like a seductress straight out of a painting, captivating enough to steal someone’s soul.

Thump!

One actress suddenly dropped to her knees, biting her lip, eyes glistening with tears.
“Su Yu-jie, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. Please be the bigger person and don’t stoop to my level, okay?”

Another quickly followed, choking back tears.
“Su Yu-jie, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. Sob sob… Please forgive me.”

Su Yu let out a light scoff.

How ridiculous. Did they really think such petty tricks could fool her?

Feigning retreat to gain the upper hand?

Tsk! To outsiders, it might look like they’d been terribly wronged.

“All right, aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you, making a scene like this?”

Cheng Chen cleared his throat, voice gentle.
“It’s just a joke, no harm done. You two really think Su Yu is lecturing you? Hurry and get up.”

Though he was smiling as he spoke, it was clear he was speaking in defense of the two small actresses.

Hearing this, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

“Did I say you could get up?”

The lazy tone was soaked in seduction.

Cheng Chen looked up.

The woman leaned there like a boneless cat, languid and relaxed. Her eyes lifted slightly—those long, narrow, and beautiful phoenix eyes holding a hint of casual disinterest.

His expression darkened slightly, and he spoke softly.
“Must things really be so tense? After all, we’re all part of the same production. If word gets out, it won’t look good on Director Wang.”

Su Yu lifted her eyelids and smiled seductively.
“Film Emperor Cheng is absolutely right.”

What a convincing act as the nice guy.

Didn’t speak earlier, didn’t speak later, just had to open his mouth now. Tsk.

“Iron Hammer, you were right. This guy really isn’t someone to mess with.”

【Correction! Cheng Chen is not a difficult scumbag!】

“Fine, fine, you’re Iron Hammer. Whatever you say is right.”

Su Yu casually brushed off Iron Hammer and finally stood up. As if not seeing the two kneeling girls, she sat down at the dressing mirror and said cheerfully,
“Sister Ye, please help me with my makeup.”

The makeup artist was briefly stunned but then nodded.
“Okay.”

The room returned to calm.

But due to what had just happened, everyone was much more cautious in their speech. Their gazes toward Su Yu now held deep respect and fear.

This little ancestor really didn’t hold back when she got angry.

Cheng Chen gave the two actresses a glance, voice flat.
“Get up. Be more careful next time.”

The two actresses were moved to tears.

“Thank you, Film Emperor Cheng, sob sob sob sob…”

“If it weren’t for Film Emperor Cheng this time, we might have really been…”

They glanced at Su Yu out of the corner of their eyes and hesitated. In the end, they didn’t dare say more.

Cheng Chen gave a slight smile, his voice deep and pleasant.
“It was just a small favor, no need to thank me.”

Huo Shu glared fiercely at Cheng Chen.

Mind your own business!

Su Yu-jie punishing them was completely justified. This Film Emperor Cheng is really annoying—what’s with the goody-two-shoes act?

She angrily clenched her phone.

Cheng Chen seemed to sense something and looked her way, giving a gentle smile.

He had handsome, refined features, and his looks were already outstanding. When he smiled, he could easily win people over.

Huo Shu’s expression changed slightly.

Disgusting!

Her gaze turned cold, and she looked away.

Cheng Chen: ???

He really didn’t think he’d offended this girl?

Still confused, he gave a puzzled smile and stepped forward, intending to ask the young lady what was going on.

Just then, a lazy and seductive voice rang out nearby.

“Film Emperor Cheng, I’ve heard your acting skills are excellent. I was hoping to go over the script with you.”

Su Yu tilted her head and raised the script in her hand, her narrow and pretty phoenix eyes curving like crescent moons.

Cheng Chen stopped in his tracks, frowning slightly.
“Sure. Which part would Miss Su like to go over?”

Su Yu casually pointed to a segment and bit her lip lightly, speaking in a soft voice,
“This part is a bit confusing. I wonder if Film Emperor Cheng could explain it to me so I can better understand it?”

Cheng Chen’s brows furrowed briefly, but he seemed to think of something and nodded.
“All right.”

Su Yu kept her head lowered, coldly sneering in her heart.

A leopard never changes its spots!

He just met Huo Shu and already has an interest in her.

He wanted to get closer to Huo Shu? She wouldn’t let him!

【Host, Huo Shu is not “spots”!】

Su Yu paused, glanced sideways at the little girl, and actually felt a little guilty for once.
“It was just a figure of speech. Pretend you didn’t hear it.”

【Host, I have very good hearing.】

“You didn’t hear it!”

【Host, I…】

Su Yu rolled her eyes.
“I don’t want to do this mission anymore!”

【All right, Host. I didn’t hear anything!】

Su Yu couldn’t help but laugh, her brows curving sweetly.
“Iron Hammer, you’ve changed. Since when were you so adaptable?”

【Host, I suspect you’re making a dirty joke… but I have no evidence.】

Not far away—

Huo Shu bit her lip, her face slightly pale.

Su Yu-jie didn’t respond to her.

She had looked at her just now, but quickly looked away, her expression distant—as if she were looking at a stranger.

Huo Shu clenched her hand tightly, feeling a little uncomfortable inside. Her fingers twisted together anxiously.

After hesitating for a moment, she couldn’t resist the impulse and walked over to the two.

She was just going to say hi.

Yeah, that’s all.

Cheng Chen noticed the girl approaching and smiled gently.
“Huo—”

Before he could finish saying her name, his smile froze on his face.

The girl bypassed him and walked straight up to Su Yu, her voice carrying a hint of grievance.
“Su Yu-jie.”