Chapter 15: Sister, I

Hengdian, small forest

"…"

Qin Lan still couldn't believe it, glanced at the script again, and looked at Yan Li in confusion: "Are you sure you're playing Yuwen Chengdu?"

Yan Li pointed at the words on the script: "Isn't it written right here?"

"But…"

Qin Lan stared at the lines in the script, struggling to find a polite and appropriate way to describe it, finally blurted out one sentence.

"You really don't pick roles."

Yan Li sighed: "Just trying to make a living. The contract's signed—I can't just run away. Newcomers like me, just being cast is already lucky."

Hearing this, Qin Lan nodded with a sense of shared understanding.

The role of Yuwen Chengdu isn't great, but the role of Zhihua she played in "My Fair Princess 3" wasn't any better.

Outwardly frail and kind, pitifully delicate; inwardly cunning and cruel, ruthless in pursuit of her goals.

As for Qin Lan herself, she disliked the character intensely—even hated it.

Playing her felt especially awkward: Zhihua spoke in an artificial, calculating way, utterly unlike Qin Lan's own straightforward and cheerful personality.

But as a newcomer, Qin Lan had no real choice. Even though she disliked Zhihua, she was secretly grateful and cherished the opportunity to act in Qiong Yao's drama.

Qin Lan used her own example to comfort Yan Li, who then realized that Qin Lan had also played a villain.

Having seen Qin Lan's costume from previous dramas, Yan Li had always assumed she played characters like Ziwei or Qing'er.

"We're both fallen souls."

Yan Li's remark struck a chord with Qin Lan, stirring layer upon layer of subtle ripples in her heart.

Both newcomers, both playing roles they disliked, sharing the same circumstances and emotions, and having met repeatedly here and now.

With so much fate between them, could they really be nothing more than friends?

Yan Li didn't know what was going on inside Qin Lan's heart—he was focused mostly on the rehearsal.

The scene he needed to practice with Qin Lan was the one where the queue forms for Li Rongrong's role—the part of Yuwen Chengdu that gave him the most headache and discomfort.

As a film and television newcomer, Yan Li didn't have much acting experience.

In school, he'd played minor thugs who harassed women, but no teacher had ever taught—or dared to teach—how to portray a lecherous teacher leading a line like this.

So, facing this uncertain "big scene" for the first time, Yan Li resorted to his own clumsy method.

Practice it over and over until the performance is flawless!

This was also a habit Yan Li developed at Beijing Film Academy: for any difficult skit or exam, he rehearsed repeatedly, adjusted and refined endlessly, until he felt increasingly confident.

So before approaching Qin Lan, Yan Li had actually practiced this scene many times alone, even rehearsed with someone else—like Wang Xiu.

But this kind of scene still needed some feedback and interaction from a female actress.

Facing Wang Xiu's bushy-bearded round face, and considering his sexual orientation, Yan Li simply couldn't get into character.

As for the other female actresses in "Sui and Tang Heroes," Yan Li didn't know them well, and this scene was too embarrassing to ask for help—if any rumors spread, he'd be finished in the crew.

So Yan Li thought of Qin Lan.

First, they were at least friends—he could ask her without too much awkwardness.

Second, Qin Lan wasn't part of the "Sui and Tang Heroes" crew; at worst, she'd tease him privately, and it wouldn't reach the set.

After getting Qin Lan familiar with the script, Yan Li prepared to begin rehearsing.

Before speaking, he carefully scanned the surroundings to see if anyone was nearby or passing by.

Forget embarrassment—key lines were too explosive. He feared she'd misunderstand and think it was an assault, maybe even call the police.

…

The background of this queue scene: the female lead, Li Rongrong, failed to assassinate Yang Guang and was sentenced to death.

Before execution, Yuwen Chengdu, captivated by Li's beauty, came to the prison and, determined not to waste such a treasure, lined up his men for their turn.

Qin Lan leaned against the tree, pretending to be bound to the execution stand, adopting a brave and fearless posture—but her eyes revealed she was more amused than serious.

Yan Li, by contrast, was far more immersed: he designed a hand-on-sword gesture, nailed every detail, stood beside Qin Lan, and leered at her with a lascivious, greedy, and lustful gaze.

"The Emperor was right—such a beautiful woman, if killed, would be a waste of heaven's gift."

As he delivered the line, Yan Li added motion: he gripped Qin Lan's chin and turned her face toward him, his fingers brushing lightly over her skin.

Hmm, smooth!

Since this was just a rehearsal, Yan Li didn't apply force; Qin Lan cooperated well—she turned her face instantly at his touch, blinking her big eyes up at him.

Yan Li: "…"

Too cooperative. At this point, the heroine should be furious, even struggling.

But she was helping him—he couldn't ask for more. Roughly getting the idea was enough.

Though Qin Lan wasn't fully in character, she still remembered her lines: "What do you want?"

"What do I want?"

Yan Li sneered, his gaze filled with unmasked aggression: "I, Yuwen Chengdu, hate waste above all else…"

After a few lines, the queue began—General Yuwen Chengdu, naturally, took the first turn.

Finally, the real scene arrived. This time, Qin Lan reacted: her face flushed with terror: "You… you you're not human! Help!"

"Call out. Scream louder."

Yan Li wrapped both hands around Qin Lan's neck, leaned in close, inhaled deeply at her neck, his face twisted with cruelty and ecstasy.

"I, Yuwen Chengdu, despise begging and pleading. Hahahaha."

In Yan Li's vision, at this moment, Qin Lan should have been furious, desperate, terrified—her face and body writhing as he drew near, while he advanced relentlessly, heightening the tension.

But Qin Lan started well, struggling briefly—then, somewhere in the middle, her movements gradually weakened.

When Yan Li sensed something was off, he let go and looked up—her face was flushed, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears.

「……」

Yan Li couldn't help scratching his head: "Sister, come on, I'm the villain oppressing the innocent—don't make it sound like flirting, okay?"

"Who's flirting with you!"

Qin Lan, flustered and angry, stomped her foot toward Yan Li's, but no matter how furious she acted, the blush on her cheeks refused to fade.

Seeing this, Yan Li offered: "Maybe we should just call it off—this scene's a bit too intense. I'll find someone else to practice with."

"No."

Qin Lan immediately objected, then realized her reaction was too strong, and began to backtrack.

"I can't just eat your food for free—we agreed I'd help you; I can't break my word."

Yan Li hesitated: "You're sure?"

"No problem."

Qin Lan gave a thumbs-up gesture: "I was just unprepared before—give me a moment to collect myself."

Seeing her determination, Yan Li waited. Qin Lan stepped aside, took deep breaths, calmed down for two minutes, then walked back and nodded at Yan Li.

"I'm ready."

"Shall I begin?"

"Go ahead."

After restarting, Qin Lan's performance improved noticeably—she slipped into the role more deeply, and Yan Li was drawn in along with her.

Acting is like this: your partner's cooperation matters greatly; you can elevate each other. If one side is just a lifeless post, even the other's finest acting loses three-tenths of its power.

"Shout—shout louder, more desperate. I, Yuwen Chengdu…"

Yan Li grew more immersed, pressing his face against Qin Lan's neck, nudging insistently; Qin Lan, at first, played her part well—fearful, struggling.

But as Yan Li's long, strong hands gripped her chin, his rugged, heroic face drew closer to her cheek and neck, nearly touching yet not quite, Qin Lan could distinctly feel his warm breath brushing her skin.

For some reason, her body grew weak, her face burned fiercely, and a strange numbness spread through her heart…

(End of Chapter)