MGG - 6

Chapter 6: Shame

Su Ling’s mind was in turmoil. Twelve Years of Dust was supposed to begin filming a year from now. Why was it being auditioned for now? Something felt off, and she immediately wanted to leave.

Almost everyone else was busy memorizing lines or analyzing the plot. She pressed her lips together and moved toward the door.

Just as she reached the doorway, a man in a white shirt, a rose dangling from his mouth, leaned casually against the frame, watching her.

Guo Mingyan exuded an obnoxious air. He took the rose from his mouth and held it out to her. “Miss Su, this is for you.” His eyes locked onto her, unblinking. Holy crap, she was stunning—up close even more so. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, her lips pink and plump, her lashes long and dark…

Su Ling didn’t take it. This turn of events left her feeling utterly overwhelmed.

She naturally recognized Guo Mingyan. Seven words could describe him: dumb, rich, with low emotional and intellectual intelligence.

In her past life, Qin Xiao had guarded her like a precious jewel, forbidding any contact between her and Guo Mingyan. Recently, Guo Mingyan had been repulsed by her ghostly makeup during the play, an expression that had stuck in her memory. Why was he suddenly... cozying up to her now?

She kept her hands behind her back. “I don’t know you. Please step aside.”

“Uh... I... my name is Guo Mingyan. You’re Su Ling, right?”

Guo Mingyan’s voice carried, drawing the attention of several girls preparing for their auditions. He blocked the doorway, refusing to let her leave. Su Ling grew anxious, her eyes welling up with involuntary tears. “Please, let me through.”

Guo Mingyan stared at her tear-filled, grape-like eyes, his soul nearly leaving his body. “Oh... oh.”

But before Su Ling could step out, he snapped back to reality, grabbing her arm. “Where are you going? Aren’t you here to audition?”

Her arm felt delicate beneath his palm, even through the gray long-sleeved shirt. He instinctively pulled out his wallet. “Let me buy you some clothes, okay?”

He wasn’t good at pursuing women, but money was all he had. Spending it had become second nature.

“No,” Su Ling said firmly, shaking him off. The commotion caught the attention of Instructor Chen Fan, who happened to witness the scene.

Chen Fan saw Su Ling arguing with someone at the door. His face hardened, and his opinion of her plummeted further. What was wrong with this student? She used to be so trouble-free, but now she kept causing problems.

He didn’t see the person at the door and was about to reprimand her when he spotted Guo Mingyan still holding the rose.

Chen Fan’s face instantly lit up like a chrysanthemum. “Young Master Guo! What brings you here?”

Guo Mingyan straightened up, hiding the hand that had touched Su Ling behind his back. For some reason, the sensation lingered vividly. He unconsciously rubbed his fingers together, then realized how awkward the gesture looked and quickly dropped his hand. Having already looked up her name, he cleared his throat. “I came to watch Su Ling audition.”

Su Ling raised her head, momentarily fantasizing about stabbing this idiot.

Chen Fan’s subtle gaze shifted. His impression of Su Ling skyrocketed by several dozen points. It seemed he’d misjudged her—she knew how to work connections.

Chen Fan smoothly interjected, speaking gently to Su Ling. “Then give it your best shot later. Don’t disappoint Young Master Guo.”

Su Ling lowered her head. “Teacher Chen, I’m not feeling well. Can I go back first?”

Chen Fan frowned. Was Su Ling blind? Such a golden opportunity! Just as he was about to encourage her to persevere, Guo Mingyan hastily cut in. “Sure, sure. If you’re unwell, I’ll take you home. It’s just a supporting role audition. Tell me what part you want—I’ll arrange it for you. No need to audition.”

The classmates eavesdropping inside turned pale with envy.

Su Ling felt the hostility around her, a heavy sense of helplessness washing over her. “No…”

“No,” a cold voice interrupted. Qin Xiao, hands in his pockets, strode toward them.

The sound of his leather shoes striking the floor made Su Ling lower her head. He seemed to be smiling, but his words were anything but kind. “What? Others rely on talent, and you rely on looks?”

“Boss Qin, no, I…” Guo Mingyan stammered, panicked.

“Shut up,” Qin Xiao said coolly. “I’m talking to her.”

His gaze fixed on her. She kept her head bowed, her hands tightly clasped.

“I’m sorry,” Su Ling murmured, her voice barely audible. She understood this man too well—obedience was always better than defiance. “You’re right. I have no talent. So I won’t…” audition.

“It’s your turn,” Qin Xiao said. “Whether or not you have talent is up to me. Come here.”

Qin Xiao didn’t know the meaning of requests or questions.

Su Ling felt the sky above her grow dim. She hung her head, like a quail resigned to its fate.

Qin Xiao glanced at her.

Forced to audition, Su Ling had never imagined such a thing was possible. She felt utterly hopeless, too afraid to look up at him. She stood frozen before the directors, unmoving and silent.

She wanted to make one last attempt, like when a teacher called on her in class, but she knew nothing and could only stand there stupidly. Eventually, the teacher would sigh and say, “Never mind, sit down.”

Qin Xiao hadn’t seen her yet. Perhaps if he lost patience, he might say, “Forget it, get out.”

But Qin Xiao’s brow remained stern as he began rolling up his sleeves. Several directors below watched in awe. Qin Xiao was the investor, so they dared not speak. He smirked and asked them, “What’s her role?”

The director of Twelve Years of Dust explained. “Miss Su plays the supporting role of Ruan Dai. This scene shows her realizing the male lead has feelings for the female protagonist and, in a panic, deciding to seduce him.”

“Hmm. I’ll act opposite her. Any objections?”

The director dared not object. “None.”

“What do I need to do?”

“She’ll come to seduce you, and you reject her.”

“Reject?” Qin Xiao chuckled.

“Yes.”

“Begin.”

From start to finish, Su Ling had no choice. Everything was decided for her.

In the story, Zhao Gou, the male lead, was a gentle prince. But with Qin Xiao sitting there, his aura was overwhelmingly unruly. He tapped the prop table with his fingers, exuding a wild charm, and lazily called out to her, “What are you standing there for? Come over.”

The director inwardly thought, What is this nonsense? That’s not the dialogue. And this scene is about the female lead seducing him, not the male lead forcing himself on her. But since their Mr. Qin wasn’t professionally trained, they figured... it would have to do.

Su Ling was terrified, on the verge of tears.

Having acted in this scene before, she remembered it well. Ruan Dai, the daughter of a chancellor, came from a noble background. At this point, she hadn’t yet turned villainous. A sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl, shy yet determined, she aimed to outshine the female lead, who hailed from a brothel.

She lit incense, calling Zhao Gou “Big Brother” with feigned innocence. Then, pretending to stumble, she fell into his arms. Weak and fragile, her eyes brimming with tears, Zhao Gou remained cold as ice, pushing her away. “Miss Ruan, show some self-respect.”

Later, the aphrodisiac incense took effect, and the male lead sent his subordinates to fetch the female protagonist. Ruan Dai’s efforts were wasted, and she inadvertently paved the way for the lovers’ reunion.

But now, Su Ling was Ruan Dai. She stood frozen, cold sweat pouring down her back. Qin Xiao narrowed his eyes, on the verge of losing his temper.

Su Ling feared his anger more than anything. When angry, he tortured people until they obeyed him. After he sneered, she finally moved.

She walked to his side, bent down, and mimed lighting incense with her slender hands. Once done, she looked up. Originally, she was supposed to smile, but Qin Xiao wasn’t following the script—he wasn’t reading the book. Instead, he was staring at her.

So instead of the tender “Big Brother Zhao Gou,” her trembling voice called out, “Zhao… Zhao Gou, Big Brother…”

The word “brother” sounded unbearably intimate to him.

He smiled. “Hmm?”

Su Ling’s legs nearly gave out. But thinking quickly, she adjusted her stumble, deliberately bumping into his chair. Injured, she couldn’t possibly continue acting.

Qin Xiao scoffed, extending his arm to pull her waist toward him.

He didn’t need much effort—she landed directly on his lap. With a forceful twist, Qin Xiao steered the scene back to the script.

Su Ling was stunned. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with terror. From this close, he finally saw her clearly. Her eyes were pure and beautiful, clearer than crystal. She had always kept her head down, but now, looking up, he overlaid her image with the girl in the photo.

Still so young, he recalled she was only nineteen.

Innocent and naive, both scared and timid, she trembled in his grasp. Her round eyes reflected his face entirely.

Qin Xiao curved his lips slightly. “Ruan Dai.” Feeling generous, he decided to help her along, calling her by her character’s name. “What are you here to do?”

Su Ling couldn’t escape. She forced herself to deliver the line: “Big Brother Zhao Gou, I didn’t mean to…” Overwhelmed with shame, she whispered, “I’m yours… please take me.”

Qin Xiao, let me go.

The man chuckled softly. Su Ling stiffened as she felt it—the unmistakable change pressing against her hip…

He was hard.

Her face turned ashen. Without hesitation, she began struggling. Qin Xiao clicked his tongue and released her. She quickly stood up, backing away. Bowing deeply to everyone, she pushed open the door and fled.

This time, Qin Xiao didn’t stop her.

He remained seated, crossing his legs calmly.

Sipping tea brought by his secretary, he turned to the stunned director beside him. “How was my performance?”

What could the director say? Faced with capitalism incarnate, he could only offer dry flattery: “Excellent.”

Then he heard the man scoff softly. “The script doesn’t make sense.”

“What doesn’t make sense?” the director asked humbly.

Qin Xiao didn’t respond.

You expect me to reject her? Who the hell could resist that?