Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Alpha in a Scum Alpha Novel (GL) - Chapter 20.1

The next day, Fu Suihan completely finished her scenes in the prince’s manor.

This meant only one thing: she could now film at the same set as Song Shixue, returning to their past “day and night” routine.

Yet, as she walked towards Song Shixue’s set, Fu Suihan felt no anticipation. Instead, her heart was filled with only tension.

Her palms were already damp with sweat. She could almost still feel the warmth of Song Shixue leaning against her last night. When the car stopped, the woman seemed to genuinely be asleep, her breathing light. Fu Suihan hesitated for a moment whether to wake her, but ultimately just draped her jacket over her.

Even if she hesitated whether to meet her, the road still had an end.

Fu Suihan finally braced herself and pushed open the door. Inside, however, there wasn’t just Song Shixue. The equipment was already set up, staff members moved back and forth, ready for official filming at any moment.

Behind the camera, Qi Yuan was idly explaining the scene to Liu Yuanti. In the corner, Song Shixue was still reading. Seeing her arrive, Qi Yuan explained: “You’re not late. It’s Liu—Yuanti, who came early.”

After several weeks of filming, Liu Yuanti hadn’t caused any more trouble. No matter how much Qi Yuan disliked him, she wouldn’t embarrass him publicly. At this moment, she tried her best to project a “family-like” demeanor, attempting to sound intimate.

Liu Yuanti managed a smile at Fu Suihan, cleverly transitioning into a greeting: “Shen Miaomiao.”

They weren’t close, so calling each other by their character names was most appropriate. Fu Suihan nodded slightly. Just as she was about to approach Song Shixue, Qi Yuan called out again: “You two have a scene together soon anyway. Since you’re here, let’s talk about it together.”

Fu Suihan was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement, her gaze catching a fleeting smile from Song Shixue beside her.

Fu Suihan: ?

She quietly lowered her voice: “Is it funny?”

Fu Suihan thought Song Shixue wouldn’t answer, but a light whisper fell into her ear: “It’s funny when it’s you.”

Fu Suihan: “.”

••••

Fu Suihan and Song Shixue’s first scene together wasn’t complicated. The screenwriter’s outline simply stated: Shen Miaomiao deliberately provoked Ming Jue and was then ridiculed by the male lead.

It was a perfectly standard villainess role. After Qi Yuan explained the blocking, Fu Suihan thought she had it down and confidently started filming.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the final syllable of her first line fell, Qi Yuan frowned and called out, “Cut!”

Fu Suihan was bewildered. She looked up and met Qi Yuan’s heartbroken gaze: “You need to treat Ming Jue as an enemy! Look at her with jealousy! Jealousy! Not deep affection!”

Fu Suihan, who usually acted as she saw Song Shixue: ?

She couldn’t detect any deep affection herself and looked at Song Shixue strangely. The woman, however, avoided her gaze, appearing as if it had nothing to do with her. She then looked at Liu Yuanti.

The Beta subconsciously turned his face away, not meeting her eyes, clearly showing both awe and dislike.

Fu Suihan could only ponder on the spot, finally adopting Lin Jiyue’s gaze towards herself.

This time, the character of Miss Shen, fearless and audacious, was vividly portrayed. Her expression was unrestrained, her brows filled with disdain.

The scene of her provoking the palace servants passed quickly, until she took her seat and saw the timid, deposed princess Ming Jue in a rolling chair.

Song Shixue was still in her vibrant red palace gown today, with a beauty mark between her brows and vermillion lips. Her beauty was exquisite, perfectly fitting the image of Ming Jue as a fragile, pathetic figure in the early stages of “For the Emperor.”

Fu Suihan stood frozen.

This time, Qi Yuan thought she was fully in character, brewing her emotions, and didn’t interrupt.

As everyone waited expectantly, they saw the once imperious young lady lower her eyes, her voice gradually weakening until it was a mere whisper: “You, you are but a mere deposed princess, what right do you have to stand equally with me, Shen Miaomiao—”

Qi Yuan: “…”

The background staff: “…”

Seconds later, Song Shixue couldn’t maintain her expression and let out a soft laugh: “Your tone, it doesn’t sound like you want to harm me.”

Fu Suihan wanted to ask, “Then what does it sound like?” But her mind moved faster than her thoughts, providing the answer in advance—

It doesn’t sound like she wants to harm her; it sounds like she likes her.

With the lead actors losing their composure, this scene was naturally scrapped.

Facing Qi Yuan’s disappointed gaze, Fu Suihan assumed a posture of obediently accepting a lecture. She didn’t want to, but to make her deliver those lines fiercely to Song Shixue—

She really couldn’t do it.

Qi Yuan’s solution was quick and simple: after having Liu Yuanti sit in Song Shixue’s position, Fu Suihan’s lines instantly flowed smoothly.

The required anger and disdain were fully present, like a burning fireball ready to explode at any moment.

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim, “Indeed, a love rival is the greatest motivator!”

Shang Ming, passing by: ?

The rest of the scenes weren’t difficult. After finishing the afternoon’s shoot, Qi Yuan replayed Fu Suihan’s performance several times, very satisfied: “Lines need to be delivered with this kind of imposing aura, not limp like Liu Yuanti.”

Fu Suihan, unaccustomed to being praised publicly: “…Thank you.”

Liu Yuanti, who was forcefully pulled out as a target: “…”

Song Shixue, the only one in a good mood, tapped the screen. Qi Yuan pulled out her phone and saw only one message—

– Well said. Keep it up next time.

Qi Yuan: “…”

She put her phone away and looked at Fu Suihan with guilt. The female Alpha was reading the script for the next scene. Peeking at her serious expression, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but reflect that she was actually helping someone like Song Shixue deceive Fu Suihan, which meant she was truly blinded by self-interest.

Fu Suihan, who suddenly received her guilty gaze: ?

The next second, Song Shixue’s light voice called out “Xiao Fu,” and Fu Suihan immediately turned to listen, no longer paying attention to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan, who clearly witnessed this scene: “…………”

Annoying! Just end it all!

••••

As night fell, after wrapping up the scene, the crew members busily arranged props for the next one.

The summer evening breeze was cool, carrying the full scent of flowers. Fu Suihan merely glanced and averted her gaze, but Song Shixue sweetly said, “Today is the first time I’ve seen you act.”

Fu Suihan: “Haven’t you seen it before?”

Song Shixue said, “Acting in private is different from acting in front of the camera.”

It was different to be seen only by her, versus being seen by everyone. But in either case, Fu Suihan was dazzling, and she liked it very much.

Song Shixue thought Fu Suihan wouldn’t continue the topic, but saw the female Alpha ponder for a few seconds, then proactively say, “It is indeed different.”

Saying that, she began to tell her about her recent insights into acting.

Song Shixue smiled gently, listening patiently, until Fu An, who had finished her scenes and was sitting under a tree, noticed them and waved. Only then did Fu Suihan’s explanation stop.

Beside Fu An, a young man with delicate features had a hint of panic in his eyes when he saw Song Shixue.

—[Zhang Heng, Beta, plays Zhang Hengzhi, the third male lead in “For the Emperor.”]

The system’s introduction was concise, but it didn’t mean “For the Emperor” was his first drama. It meant his previous roles were too obscure, so obscure that the system didn’t bother to track them.

The male Beta had clearly heard about Song Shixue’s close relationship with her. Seeing the two approach, he wasn’t surprised, only his voice trembled inexplicably: “Hello, Senior Song, hello, Senior Fu.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he found an excuse to leave as if extremely afraid, as if he feared contact with anyone. But before leaving, he didn’t forget to glance at Song Shixue again.

Fu Suihan was right beside Song Shixue, so she naturally didn’t miss that glance. She was about to look at Song Shixue, intending to ask silently, but Fu An, unsurprised, said, “He’s also a fan of Song Shixue. He wanted to emulate her and give up his family fortune to enter the entertainment industry. But a few years have passed, and he hasn’t made a name for himself, and he’s become increasingly shy. He joined the crew with his own funding and plans to retire from the industry after filming this drama.”

Pitiable as it was, the key word Fu Suihan caught was “also.”

Also. Besides Zhang Heng, who else?

As she spoke, a light, clear female voice sounded: “What are you talking about?”

The newcomer was Chi Qiu, whom they hadn’t seen in days.

The woman had her long hair tied up and was wearing a light blue costume, clearly having rushed over right after finishing her own shoot, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead.

In their last call, Song Shixue’s attitude had been too firm. After much deliberation, Chi Qiu proactively gave up the role of Shen Miaomiao and instead chose Duan Yu, the third female lead role, which had become vacant due to an actor’s incident.

Duan Yu was merely the inconspicuous young lady of a scholarly family in the plot, whose merits and demerits were ordinary. With the Chi family providing funding, no one would make things difficult for her again.

Chi Qiu entered the crew as she wished, dressed very gently, but having been in a high position for many years, she still exuded a somewhat arrogant demeanor.

Upon seeing Fu Suihan, her eyes darkened, but she maintained the curve of her lips: “Senior Song, long time no see.”

Any other person, faced with a wealthy heiress throwing herself at them, would at least give a perfunctory response even if they didn’t care. Song Shixue, however, just rubbed her temples and sighed deeply.

Fu An and Song Shixue had known each other for years, so she naturally understood this was a subtle request for help.

Artists were pursued for all sorts of reasons; Chi Qiu’s little trick was nothing. With a quick shift of thought, Fu An already had a smile on her face: “Xiao Qiu, I haven’t seen you in a long time either. Why didn’t you greet me?”

It was better she didn’t mention it. Now that she did, Chi Qiu’s face darkened further: “I still vividly remember how Sister Fu snatched the painting from me at the last charity gala, so I naturally wouldn’t dare offend you.”

Fu An was completely unreasonable: “But the painting was auctioned. Even if I only added one dollar more than you each time, the highest bidder wins, right?”

Facing Fu Suihan, Chi Qiu could still resort to insults if she couldn’t argue. But Fu An had been in the industry for many years, and she dared not offend her. She could only curse her internally for being a hypocrite.

Chi Qiu still hadn’t forgotten that her purpose for coming was Song Shixue. When she looked up again to find her, Fu An blocked her way again. Though just a Beta, the woman had a convincing aura. She casually brought up another topic, circling Chi Qiu around and around.

By the time Chi Qiu felt she had dealt with it, Song Shixue had already begun her final shoot of the night.

On a film set, interrupting an actor’s shoot was a major taboo.

Chi Qiu glared unwillingly at Fu Suihan by the camera. The woman stood tall, silhouetted against the light, making her profile appear even more superior, yet her gaze would always only fall on Song Shixue in the center of the frame.

Just as Song Shixue would only occasionally look at her.

Chi Qiu clutched her sleeve, almost tearing it as if it were Fu Suihan.

“Miss Chi.”

A male voice suddenly sounded beside her. Chi Qiu looked coldly, it was Liu Yuanti, who had already changed back into his casual clothes.

The Beta’s smile remained unchanged: “Can I talk to you?”