QKYJ - 4

Later, they both became public figures.

But this past event, which happened before they became famous, was never revealed. This was also what they hoped for, because that night, they were both too disheveled.

An actor’s job is to perform.

The special nature of their work requires them to display their glamorous side.

Preferably, all the time.

That night, she screamed, “It hurts so much!” and reached out to hit him. He uncharacteristically retreated, remaining silent, enduring with a hint of submission, only focused on continuing while she was unprepared.

They shared their true first time with each other.

Although it started somewhat miserably, it later became passable. As two inexperienced novices, they had certainly passed with flying colors.

After the bedsheet got dirty, Shen He spread out the bedding, planning to quickly fall asleep. Shen Zhi, somehow, found the strength to kick him, insisting on getting her clothes to cover herself.

“Go get it yourself,” he retorted, acting like a stranger.

“Can’t move,” she replied, as cold as ice.

After a few more squabbles and unpleasantries, Shen He finally conceded, wrapping Shen Zhi in his jacket.

After he took it off, she finally said, “I want to cover myself with mine, not yours—”

But he was already asleep.

She had to make do.

The next day, before dawn, she was woken up by his movements as he tidied up.

Shen He was awake, but Shen Zhi was in a deep sleep, her face full of exhaustion when she was woken up.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He replied, “Going back for morning practice.”

She thought he was doing it on purpose.

Shen Zhi was almost about to curse him, but Shen He just stared at her quietly for a while. Finally, he reached out to smooth her messy bangs, and she calmed down as a result.

“Let’s go,” Shen He said.

“Wait,” Shen Zhi said. “I’m coming too, for morning class.”

He had no other thoughts, simply stopped and waited patiently by the door for her to get dressed and come out.

It had snowed all night.

No one was visible in the nearby parking lot; it was utterly silent, and everything was a vast expanse of white.

They walked cautiously, and Shen Zhi lost her footing, slipping and falling to the ground. Fortunately, there was snow beneath her, soft and fluffy, so it didn’t hurt too much.

Shen He walked over unhurriedly, lowered his head, and extended his hand from above.

She took his hand.

Without hesitation, she pulled him down too.

The two lay on the empty snowfield. Christmas Eve had passed, but neither wished the other a Merry Christmas.

As rivals who were not very familiar with each other but had inadvertently engaged in physical relations, there was inevitably some awkwardness afterward.

However, everyone around them was watching, and they silently understood, recalling their previous modes of interaction and trying hard to imitate them—they were both very good at acting.

That’s how they ended.

—under their acting.

________________________________________

The final days of university became very busy, and everyone was tirelessly preparing for the future. Amidst the exhaustion, Shen Zhi also heard Sun Mengjia mention that Shen He had gone to a film crew.

For the graduation play, Shen Zhi got by playing a supporting role.

At the graduation ceremony, they didn’t take photos of throwing their mortarboards into the air.

Afterward, Shen Zhi did not go back.

Her aunt and uncle, however, came to visit with her cousin.

Shen Zhi’s cousin, Lan Qiao, was two months younger than her and attended another university in the same city. But in their four years of university, their interactions were rare.

She only heard that Lan Qiao had taken the civil service exam and then interned at a bank. When her uncle talked about these things, he would inevitably nag a bit, saying that working in the entertainment industry had no future, was improper, and it was better to come home early.

Shen Zhi wore a baseball cap and accompanied them to the park. The work she had appeared in had already aired, and although she wasn’t the protagonist, a few people recognized her.

They went out for dinner that evening, and Lan Qiao brought her boyfriend.

This future son-in-law, whom her aunt and uncle wished to show off to the whole world, was Lan Qiao’s senior. He worked at a TV station, had a respectable appearance, neatly styled hair, and spoke with clear, precise pronunciation. No wonder Lan Qiao held herself so straight.

Shen Zhi knew Lan Qiao didn’t like her much, but she didn’t like Lan Qiao much either. It was just that Lan Qiao wore everything on her face, while Shen Zhi remained outwardly calm. Her long history of living under others’ roofs had long taught her patience.

The meal passed relatively peacefully.

If the acting career was a marathon, Shen Zhi was one of those who started relatively well.

Shen Zhi’s company was Liangyi.

At that time, Liangyi treated her quite well. Their only demands were that she be down-to-earth, diligent, and follow instructions.

Shen Zhi had no difficulty adapting to the transition from an ordinary person to someone “somewhat famous.” She considered herself a rather ordinary person, with a gentle personality, adherence to moral principles, and no bad habits, so she just did what she was supposed to do.

Shen Zhi didn’t aspire to great fame but wanted to make a living from acting her whole life, preferably with ease.

After much thought, becoming famous was still the shortcut to an ideal life.

________________________________________

Ouyang Sheng occasionally invited her out, and the two chatted idly in a restaurant. Ouyang Sheng spoke in fits and starts, while Shen Zhi picked shrimp from her vegetable salad. Suddenly, Ouyang Sheng looked at her: “Do you ever find yourself unable to keep up appearances?”

Shen Zhi replied, “Of course.”

“You don’t really consider me a friend, do you?”

Shen Zhi calmly replied, “Everyone is my friend.”

She didn’t worry much about relationships. Anyway, people kept approaching her, so she didn’t need to put in much effort.

Fortunately, Ouyang Sheng was easygoing and just leaned back, laughing.

As she was leaving, she asked if Shen Zhi had been troubled lately. Shen Zhi remained silent, just waved, and got into the car.

Ouyang Sheng was indeed perceptive enough; Shen Zhi did have quite a bit of trouble.

The only son of one of Liangyi’s directors had recently been aggressively pursuing her. He showered her with flowers, jewelry, and candlelit dinners. Unfortunately, Shen Zhi came from an ordinary family, avoided high society, and lacked the romantic inclination for a Cinderella fantasy. Any unforeseen variable was like a wolf or a tiger to her.

She informed her agent, and the agent did their best to subtly convey her message.

However, the higher-ups just considered it childish bickering.

For important people, it truly was just childish bickering. But for a new actress with no connections, childish bickering could crush her.

This only son was not a bad person.

However, having never been rejected since childhood, he seemed to not understand when he was being told no. Shen Zhi would refuse ten times, and nine times he would misunderstand it as her being shy, and one time he’d think she was in a bad mood because of her period.

Shen Zhi also didn’t dare to be too harsh.

To show his sincerity, he found several resources for her.

It might sound a little unethical to say, but at first, Shen Zhi was interested. However, those resources, while not bad, were perhaps too good, overly good, so good that they simply weren’t suitable for Shen Zhi.

It wasn’t that Shen Zhi lacked confidence in herself.

Rather, due to objective circumstances, she was still a newcomer in all aspects; what she couldn’t do, she simply couldn’t do.

Besides, if she accepted, who knew what she would have to give in return.

It was originally a good intention, but it ended up causing trouble. After half a year of effort, her agent, Ding Yaocai, found her a good role, and she got an audition pass.

It was a promising urban drama, tentatively titled When You Are Old. It roughly told the story of a rich young lady who falls in love with a poor young man who comes to the city for work. The male protagonist then abandons his girlfriend, the second female lead, who is also from a rural background. However, in reality, he only values the female protagonist’s family background. It was a work full of emotional entanglements and struggles of desire.

Shen Zhi played the second female lead.

The female protagonist was a notoriously well-connected new actress.

The male protagonist was a popular young heartthrob at the time.

Before joining the crew, Shen Zhi prepared thoroughly.

For her now, every step had to be taken steadily and surely. At that time, neither of them was famous, nor was there any pre-hype.

Shen Zhi immersed herself wholeheartedly in her preparatory work.

Coincidentally, that day she went to the beauty salon and happened to meet the female lead she was about to work with.

Shen Zhi had just returned from the gym, dressed rather simply. After a moment of consideration, she took the initiative to say hello. Unexpectedly, the other person first concentrated on her phone, ignoring her, and when Shen Zhi was about to leave, she looked up, rolled her eyes, and said dismissively and rudely, “Who are you?”

Shen Zhi wasn’t angry at all; she just considered it a futile effort on her part, smiled, and turned away.

The beautician had styled her a few times and didn’t violate professional ethics by gossiping, only hinting, “Are you afraid of her too?”

Shen Zhi said, “So, you’re afraid of her.”

With just one sentence, she cleverly tossed the ball back.

The still not-famous actress in the mirror remained approachable.

For a moment, the two exchanged smiles.

Ding Yaocai knew about this and said with unclear intent, “You’re so capable, why didn’t you argue more with that little star? Let her be so arrogant.”

Having just finished class, Shen Zhi was eating broccoli and simply said, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Ding Yaocai became interested, propped her chin, and pressed, “You know she’s formidable, so why aren’t you more enthusiastic?”

“I don’t want to,” Shen Zhi replied unhurriedly, lowering her head. “It hasn’t reached that level yet.”

She seemed indifferent.

Ding Yaocai was responsible for multiple artists, and Shen Zhi was just one of the most inconspicuous among them. But this time, Ding Yaocai couldn’t help but ask an extra question: “Do you have any thoughts about your future?”

Shen Zhi casually replied, “Just like this, it’d be nice if I could just make a living acting.”

“Just make ends meet… What about your life plans?” Ding Yaocai said, “Like marriage and having children.”

Suddenly asked about this, Shen Zhi didn’t hide anything: “Not interested, it’d be nice if I could just act.”

After that, she went to act.