Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 17

“But my illness is a chronic affliction, beyond medical cure.”

“Miss Sheng, focus.”

The horses paced slowly across the grassy field.

She carried the scent of incense specially blended by the production team for the Princess in the original story—a blend of medicinal herbs and woody notes. Qin Zhi spoke with a detached indifference.

At times, she was distant; at others, she was surprisingly familiar.

Sometimes she called him Mingluo; other times, she addressed him formally as Miss Sheng.

So she’d known all along about his illness… Sheng Mingluo resolved never to mention such things in front of someone with mental health issues. No one wants their vulnerabilities and ailments to become gossip fodder.

Today, one of the male leads playing the Crown Prince had arrived on set. He was considered one of the more promising actors among the rising stars, and his arrogance showed.

Surrounded by three assistants, his entourage rivaled even that of Best Actress Qin Zhi. Yet he remained respectfully deferential to Director Zhao.

“Good morning, Director! Good morning, Best Actress Qin! Good morning, Miss Sheng!”

The man’s eyes lit up when he saw Sheng Mingluo. They had previously worked together on a drama, where he played the male lead while she was merely a cannon fodder character—the fifth female lead, barely getting any screen time.

“We meet again, Miss Sheng.”

His enthusiasm was almost excessive.

Sheng Mingluo could only offer an awkward greeting, though her expression remained perfectly composed. She sometimes despised herself for this, but earning money wasn’t shameful. There was no choice; one had to become a master of social maneuvering to survive.

“Hello, Mr. Luo.”

Zhao Le also greeted the male actor cheerfully, her gaze fixed on Sheng Mingluo the entire time, except for a fleeting glance at Qin Zhi, who stood expressionless nearby.

An inexplicable wave of irritation surged within her.

She hated seeing others eyeing what belonged to her, just like when her sister had snatched her beloved teddy bear as a child.

Her fingers clenched into a tight fist. Such blatant flirtation on their very first meeting! Qin Zhi, being at the heart of the industry, was well aware of these people’s scandals and gossip.

She understood Luo Hu’s intentions perfectly.

As she turned to leave, Sheng Mingluo caught Qin Zhi’s departure from the corner of her eye. She hesitated, realizing the rumors about Qin Zhi were true: her moods were volatile, her temper unpredictable.

“Xiao Sheng, don’t mind her. Let her go. I’ve worked with Qin before—that’s just her personality. She’s not very good at socializing.”

The smile on Luo Hu’s face stiffened at Qin Zhi’s abrupt exit. He glared after her, resentment simmering in his heart.

“So what if she starred in a few Great Female Lead movies and reaped the benefits? What’s so impressive about that? She’s flown up to the top like a phoenix, and now she looks down on everyone on set.”

“I can only imagine how she acts in private.”

“No, no… Teacher Qin is actually very kind. She even taught me how to ride a horse earlier. She’s probably just tired lately,” Sheng Mingluo quickly explained, knowing the underlying cause of Qin Zhi’s condition.

“You’re such a kind girl.”

“I just hope Little Qin appreciates it.”

Zhao Le had initially worried that the two actresses sharing a room might lead to conflict. Seeing Sheng Mingluo actively defending Qin Zhi, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If the two leads clashed, the production schedule would be severely delayed.

“Alright, Mr. Luo, since you’re a few days late, quickly review the detailed script. We’ll shoot your missed scenes tomorrow.”

“Understood, Director! I promise to catch up!”

The man’s fleeting expression of disdain vanished, replaced by a cheerful demeanor. He bowed respectfully to apologize for his tardiness.

Zhao Le still had other matters to attend to. After greeting the male lead, he hurried off to handle his other responsibilities.

Only Sheng Mingluo and Luo Hu remained. Sheng Mingluo was terrified of standing next to this pretty boy with his legions of fangirls. If word got out, she’d be torn apart by Luo Hu’s fans the very next day.

It had been the same during their previous shoot together. The man would deliberately brush against her, constantly whispering cheesy lines to flirt with her.

Sheng Mingluo could only force a smile, inwardly rolling her eyes as she brushed him off. She couldn’t afford to show her annoyance with the male lead.

“Sheng…”

Luo Hu was about to speak when Sheng Mingluo immediately cut him off.

“Mr. Luo, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now. I still have scripts to review.”

With that, she vanished in a puff of smoke.

The man stood there awkwardly, though he’d anticipated Sheng Mingluo’s aloofness. No matter how hard he’d flirted on set, she’d always maintained her distance.

But wasn’t that precisely what made her so challenging? He had no interest in women who threw themselves at him.

A faint smile tugged at Luo Hu’s lips as he returned to his residence with his assistant. After all, the Crown Prince and the Swordforging Manor’s daughter had a romantic subplot. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask the director to add a kiss scene, would it?

Sheng Mingluo practically fled the scene.

Damn that male actor! The moment he stepped onto set, his nauseatingly conceited aura nearly suffocated her. Can’t he stop being so narcissistic? Not every woman who sees your face falls for you!

In the original novel, this scene was glossed over, but it did include a description of Qin Zhi’s intense jealousy, which thoroughly satisfied the CP fans.

“You’re back?”

Great, just when I got rid of one pest, another one shows up.

“Mm-hmm. Teacher Qin, why aren’t you resting inside?”

Sheng Mingluo climbed the steps, relieved that at least Qin Zhi wouldn’t spout those greasy, flirtatious lines. It was a much more comfortable interaction.

“His reputation is poor.”

Without context, Qin Zhi stood in the corridor, his thin lips parting slightly as he spoke. Sheng Mingluo froze, completely bewildered.

My brain’s doing mental gymnastics… Wait, could Big Shot Qin be talking about Luo Hu?

Although Luo Hu was immensely popular, with striking looks and impressive acting skills that made him a top-tier male star outside the industry, his reputation within the entertainment circle was indeed questionable. Switching girlfriends, cheating, and infidelity were practically routine for him.

Yet despite this, countless people—men and women alike—continued to throw themselves at him, eager to offer their affections.

During the filming of that drama, Luo Hu was already flirting with the lead actress and even had the audacity to pursue other women on the side.

A textbook example of a philandering playboy.

This was precisely why Sheng Mingluo kept her distance from him. Any normal person would have no problem being friends with him—in this industry, every friend meant another potential opportunity.

Congratulations, Host! Clearance value +1.

The System’s voice echoed in her mind again.

Sheng Mingluo closed her eyes, speechless. You’re really going to announce such a meager increase?

“I understand, Teacher Qin, but be careful—walls have ears.”

If someone recorded this and posted it on the Green App, it would ignite a full-blown media war.

Sheng Mingluo offered a well-intentioned warning. Even a Best Actress shouldn’t gossip so openly, right?

“I don’t care. I’m just speaking the truth,” Qin Zhi said, crossing her arms with nonchalant indifference.

Fine… I give up.

Having good acting skills really does make you invincible. Unlike her, who had to tread on thin ice her entire life, even bowing and scraping for a minor role.