Chapter 22: Too Many Coincidences

“It’s been a while.”

Duan Yan greeted her with an elegant posture, asking casually like a senior concerned about a junior, “Which role are you playing?”

Song Jin habitually straightened her back, squeezed out a proper smile, and responded politely.

“The director hasn’t said yet.”

Her manager, Su Xun, answered for her.

Duan Yan frowned in confusion, then smiled and nodded, leaving behind a mysterious remark: “You’ll find out in due time.”

With that, Duan Yan had already taken a step ahead, entering the hotel with her luggage and assistant.

“What’s going on?”

Song Jin was extremely surprised and turned to ask her manager.

Su Xun had always known that Song Jin secretly viewed Duan Yan as a rival, but Song Jin’s reaction was just too strange.

Su Xun was astonished.

“What’s wrong? Surely things haven’t gotten to this point between you and Best Actress Duan?”

Song Jin hastily denied it.

“No.”

“This was Director Yuan Si contacting me personally. She has high hopes for you, didn’t even require an audition, and just cast you directly. Taking this drama has only benefits and no downsides, so I accepted it on your behalf.”

Her manager, Su Xun, patiently explained.

Song Jin thought about it carefully.

It was true.

After all, she couldn’t avoid meeting Duan Yan forever.

She had to forget her life as a little orange cat as soon as possible, repay Duan Yan for her care, and put this chapter of her life behind her.

The hotel’s security measures and protective work were very well done.

The room conditions were quite good, and it wasn’t far from the film set.

Song Jin’s personal assistant had been carefully selected for her by her sister, Song Yu.

Her name was He Xin, a shrewd and capable housekeeper.

He Xin was highly efficient.

After checking the room, in less than two hours, she had already organized the contents of the luggage neatly.

“Second Miss, you should rest for a bit. There’s a script study session tonight.”

Song Jin grunted in acknowledgment and told He Xin to go rest as well; there was nothing here that required her help.

After sleeping for a while, at five in the afternoon, her manager knocked to wake her, informing her of the time and place.

After dinner, Song Jin deliberately avoided Duan Yan and went to the film set early with her assistant.

A script study, as the name suggests, was where the screenwriter and director took turns explaining the story of the script to the actors so they could better understand and perform it brilliantly.

The venue was a moderately sized classroom used for filming high school dramas.

The wooden desks were meant for two people to sit together.

Song Jin pursed her lips.

This familiar feeling was like returning to her miserable high school life.

She glanced around.

The other actors were seasoned veterans, with only Song Jin being the least experienced.

Song Jin chose an inconspicuous seat and sat down, noticing that none of the other actors had brought their assistants.

She was the only one who had, which made her stand out a bit.

“Sister He, you can go back first. I’ll contact you by phone if I need anything.”

Song Jin found an excuse to send her assistant away.

There was still half an hour before the notified time, and there were still some empty seats.

Feeling a bit bored, Song Jin flipped through the printed script and immersed herself in it.

“Is this seat taken?”

The newcomer’s voice was as cool and clear as flowing water.

Her finger pointed at the script on the table.

Hearing the familiar voice, Song Jin’s heart suddenly clenched in fright.

Duan Yan wanted to sit with her?

Duan Yan explained, “These senior actors said I’m too young and none of them want to sit with me, afraid it’ll make them look old.”

With that, Song Jin couldn’t really say anything else.

“This seat is free. Please.”

Just as she reached out to take her script, her hand suddenly brushed against Duan Yan’s.

Hand against hand, skin to skin, a warm sensation was transmitted to Song Jin’s fingers.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Song Jin replied almost instinctively, not daring to look up at Duan Yan’s face.

She lowered her head and took back her script.

Her heart raced at that moment.

Song Jin took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions, but the warmth lingering on her fingertips was like a brand that wouldn’t fade.

Fortunately, after Duan Yan sat down, she didn’t strike up a conversation with her and quietly began to read the script.

If Song Jin had looked up, she would have been surprised to find a faint blush on Duan Yan’s cheeks.

It was like the soft glow of sunset clouds in the twilight, silently spreading across rice paper, rendering a gentle hue.

When the time came, the director introduced the actors and their roles one by one.

Only then did Song Jin realize that she was playing the sister of Duan Yan’s character in the drama.

No wonder Duan Yan’s tone had been so mysterious earlier.

Song Jin opened her notebook and took notes while listening to the director speak.

Song Jin was considered a “traffic” celebrity.

Since entering the industry, she had only filmed three productions, spending most of her time on promotional events, commercials, and fashion shows…

Now that she finally had this chance to transition, she was naturally very dedicated.

Song Jin had never systematically studied acting.

Her method of note-taking was learned from Duan Yan.

Back then, Duan Yan would study scripts at home, analyzing almost all the relevant characters.

Song Jin had followed along and become quite familiar with the characters in the script as well.

As she listened, she recalled Duan Yan’s previous analysis of this character and jotted it down in her notes: character’s speech patterns, personality, actions, expressions…

Because she was listening so intently, Song Jin almost forgot about Duan Yan’s presence, completely immersing herself in studying the script.

By the time the director and screenwriter finished their explanation, there were still some parts Song Jin didn’t fully understand.

She remained immersed in trying to figure out the character’s psychology.

The character had a sisterly relationship with the protagonist, but because she had grown up in the countryside, she felt a certain distance and a faint jealousy toward her unfamiliar older sister.

Therefore, every time her sister approached her with affection, she was unwilling to easily open her heart, remaining somewhat cold, but she would never respond to this blood-tied warmth with insults.

Grasping this delicate balance was very difficult.

A senior actor from the front row saw how hard she was working and didn’t hesitate to offer guidance, proactively approaching her.

“Such a diligent newcomer. Although this old woman’s acting isn’t great, I can still teach you a thing or two.”

The woman before her, nearly fifty, was named Zhao Chunying, a national-level actress whose acting skills had been recognized by the entire country.

“That would be wonderful.”

Song Jin was pleasantly surprised and quickly handed over her notes, pointing out the parts she had questions about.

Zhao Chunying glanced at Song Jin’s notes and frowned.

“Why do these notes look so familiar? Little Duan, come over here for a moment.”

Duan Yan’s cat was missing, and she was afraid someone might contact her.

She had been packing up to leave right after the session ended.

Just as she reached the door, she was called over by Senior Zhao Chunying.

“Teacher Zhao, what is it?”

Duan Yan glanced at Song Jin, took the notes, and was also taken aback.

“Why is this note-taking method so similar to mine?”

The way Song Jin memorized scripts was only subtly different.

This was too much of a coincidence.

Song Jin finally remembered this issue and forced herself to remain calm, explaining, “I went to a training camp recently, and the instructor taught it.”

Duan Yan nodded and proceeded to answer the questions Song Jin was puzzled about.

From time to time, Senior Zhao would also point out some inaccuracies in Duan Yan’s explanations.

Listening to the two of them, Song Jin clearly felt that she had benefited greatly.

Song Jin glanced at the time on her phone screen; it was already ten o’clock.

“Teacher Zhao, it’s getting late. We should get some rest.”

Just as she spoke, Duan Yan also spoke up.

Their voices unexpectedly sounded at the same time.

Senior Zhao was surprised.

“You two, not only are you sisters in the show, but you’re also so in sync off-screen. You’re really like real sisters.”

Duan Yan also looked at Song Jin in surprise, seemingly taken aback that someone shared the same routine as her.

‘What a coincidence!’

‘Her note-taking method is identical to mine, and even her daily routine is similar. This is also the time I prepare for bed.’

Song Jin looked directly into Duan Yan’s eyes.

Her eyes were like a clear lake, reflecting Song Jin’s face.

They held a genuine appreciation, like the surprise of finding a kindred spirit.

The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.

Just then, Song Jin’s phone suddenly rang.

Realizing it was a personal call for Song Jin, Duan Yan politely gestured and left first with Senior Zhao.