I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

The private ward was very quiet.

Yang Mi was lying in the hospital bed with an IV drip in her left hand.

Her complexion had improved somewhat, and her lips had regained some color, but she was still weak, leaning against the raised headboard with the blanket pulled up to her chest.

Zhao Ruoyao sat on the chair by the bed, her mouth never stopping.

"Why did you go out for a late-night snack? Sister Zeng was furious when she found out you snuck out; her face turned green with anger."

"Don't you know what era we're in? 'Palace' has just started filming, how many eyes are watching you? What will people write online if you get photographed like that?"

"Yang Mi secretly meets with a mysterious man late at night; do you believe she'll be on the front page tomorrow?"

Yang Mi closed her eyes, looking as if she couldn't hear anything.

"Luckily, we got you to the hospital right away. It was acute gastroenteritis. The doctor said if we had come any later, you would have had to stay on an IV drip until tomorrow morning. What if something had happened to you?"

Yang Mi turned over, facing the window, showing her the back of her head.

"Honey, are you even listening?"

"I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen, it's like a monk chanting scriptures." Yang Mi mumbled, her voice hushed and indistinct, buried in her pillow.

Zhao Ruoyao was so angry that she wanted to pull out her IV drip.

The ward door was pushed open, and Zeng Jia walked in.

The woman, in her early thirties, had short, ear-length hair, exquisite makeup, and wore a well-tailored black suit jacket.

Zhao Ruoyao immediately stood up: "Sister Zeng, is it all done?"

Yang Mi pricked up her ears, but didn't move.

Zeng Jia didn't rush to answer. She walked to the bedside, glanced at Yang Mi who was pretending to be dead, and slapped her on the butt.

"Alright, stop pretending. With your strong constitution, you wouldn't die from gastroenteritis."

Yang Mi cried out "Ouch!" and stopped pretending. She sat up and chuckled twice, "Sister Zeng, I'm seriously ill, really seriously ill."

"Serious? Didn't you bring that on yourself?"

Zeng Jia took a chair and sat down.

"Sneaking out for a late-night snack? How old are you? Still doing this kind of thing?"

Zhao Ruoyao asked again, "Sister Zeng, how is it?"

Zeng Jia nodded: "There's no problem. I had someone check around, and no one took any pictures of Mimi. We've also spoken to the hospital, so the nurses won't say anything."

Yang Mi breathed a sigh of relief: "It was nothing to begin with, you're all making a fuss over nothing."

Zeng Jia ignored her, "It shouldn't be a trap set by that kid."

Yang Mi was taken aback for a moment, then frowned: "Sister Zeng, what are you saying? Jiang Chen is from our film crew, and Ya Ya asked me to go. He kindly brought me to the hospital, why are you suspecting him?"

Zeng Jia looked at her, her expression unchanged, but her tone became serious.

"Kindness?"

"Honey, you're not new to this industry. You can't be too careful. Haven't you seen enough of these kinds of people using collaborations to gain popularity and scheming to climb the ladder?"

"You're at the peak of your popularity right now. 'Palace' has already generated a lot of buzz even before it's aired. How many young actors are eyeing you? They're just looking for an opportunity to ride on your coattails, even if it's just a scandal or some negative publicity, they can use it to climb the ladder."

"The industry is full of people who are all smiles on the surface but stab you in the back."

Yang Mi stopped talking, leaned against the headboard, her fingers gripping the corner of the blanket, looking a little unhappy.

Seeing her expression, Zeng Jia sighed and softened her tone: "Honey, I'm not saying that kid is definitely problematic. But you can't be too careful. What stage are you in right now? Don't you know?"

Yang Mi lowered her head and remained silent.

She knew Zeng Jia was telling the truth, but she still felt that Jiang Chen wasn't that kind of person.

Looking at her like this, Zeng Jia sighed helplessly, softened her tone, and said earnestly, "I'm not telling you to be on guard at every turn, but you're at a critical juncture right now, and you can't afford to make a single mistake."

"Why did you leave Rongxinda and sign with me to Mei Ya? Wasn't it just to get rid of the label of a TV drama actress and get movie resources?"

Zeng Jia was Yang Mi's agent in 2005, and Zhao Ruoyao was her assistant.

In January 2009, she first switched to Mei Ah Entertainment as an artist director. This year, Yang Mi's contract with Rong Xinda expired and was not renewed, so she followed her there.

Rong Xinda started out in television dramas and has almost no film resources.

Mei Ah is different. Originating from the film industry, its resources, distribution channels, and connections in Hong Kong are far superior to Rong Xinda's.

In 2010, Hong Kong films were still very popular in mainland China.

Moreover, Mei Ah Entertainment doesn't have many artists under its umbrella. Leung Wing-ki and Fan Siu-wong have limited influence in mainland China. Yang Mi was groomed to be the top female star in the past.

Zeng Jia paused for a moment, then continued, "The company has already secured a film for you, 'Mysterious Island.' Once 'Palace' is finished filming, you'll join the crew directly. This is your first step in transitioning to film, so you have to be careful."

"Also, the Miss Sixty global brand ambassadorship deal has reached a crucial stage. If you can secure this endorsement, it will be your first international fashion ambassadorship, and your status in the fashion industry will be several steps ahead of Liu Shishi and Tang Yan."

"A difference of a few steps can mean the difference of an entire body length."

"So now, you absolutely cannot have any scandals or negative news. Even the slightest disturbance could ruin everything."

Zeng Jia's words were still ringing in her ears, but Yang Mi was already lost in thought, her eyes drifting to the window, her mind replaying the scene in the elevator uncontrollably.

Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, what kind of backstabbing and intimacy hasn't she seen?

They had long ago developed the ability to be immune to all poisons.

But this time is different.

It happened in an elevator, a small, enclosed space, during an intimate encounter in front of everyone. She was a superstar, and the thrill of it all left her heart pounding.

It's just... so addictive.

Jiang Chen, right?

A sly smile curled at the corner of her lips, and a hint of amusement flashed in her eyes.

Despite his young age, he's quite daring.

Watch how your older sister disciplines you.

……

The next morning, in a side hall of the Ming and Qing Palace.

The scenes between the Fourteenth Prince and Nian Suyan.

This scene depicts the Fourteenth Prince bidding farewell to Su Yan before setting off on his campaign.

Nian Suyan stood at the palace gate, clutching a jade pendant in her hand. The Fourteenth Prince, dressed in military uniform, stood with his back to her, the two separated by three or four steps.

The script says that the Fourteenth Prince hesitated to speak, but ultimately did not turn around.

Jiang Chen was wearing dark blue armor, a red-tasseled helmet, and a sword at his waist.

The armor was newly made by the props team. It was made of leather and metal plates and was quite heavy, but it made the wearer look broad-shouldered and long-legged, giving them a heroic appearance.

Tong Liya stood opposite him, dressed in a light blue qipao, her hair styled in a qitou updo, with earrings dangling down, which accentuated her exquisite face shape.

"The fourteenth performance, the first time!"

The clapperboard is struck.

Jiang Chen had his back to Tong Liya, his shoulders were taut, and his back under the armor was like a fully drawn bowstring.