Chapter 25-Part 2: A Friend in Need

The afternoon sun slanted in, and the atmosphere in the studio was tense but orderly.

The second scene was about to be filmed.

It was a scene between Song Jin and Duan Yan.

This scene depicted the sisters’ farewell.

Song Jin had memorized her lines firmly the previous night.

Every word was deeply imprinted in her mind.

The plot was set several years after the previous scene.

The intimate relationship that the sisters had painstakingly rebuilt was now facing another separation, as the older sister was about to embark on a risky venture full of unknowns.

The younger sister, played by Song Jin, felt a rush of reluctance in her heart, but she understood her sister’s firm resolve to pursue her ideals.

“Are you leaving already?”

Song Jin stood with her back to Duan Yan, unwilling to let her sister see her vulnerable side.

Duan Yan said nothing, merely approaching silently and giving her beloved family member a deep, warm embrace.

Following the embrace, Song Jin naturally turned around, looking up at Duan Yan.

The camera slowly focused, landing on their intertwined figures.

Song Jin caught the familiar scent on Duan Yan.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on Duan Yan’s snow-white neck.

Her throat moved, and she couldn’t help but swallow.

An indescribable impulse surged in her heart, surprising even herself.

A flash of Duan Yan’s unexpected kiss suddenly appeared in Song Jin’s mind.

It was like a butterfly gently fluttering its wings, landing on a petal, leaving behind an ineffable tenderness and a trace of sorrow.

At the time, she had only thought Duan Yan’s behavior was frivolous and rude.

But thinking back now, the air around them seemed to be filled with a sweet, pink hue that made her heart race.

Song Jin’s mind went adrift.

Her thoughts were a blank slate, able to recall only the lingering intimacy of last night’s erotic dream.

Time passed, second by second.

Duan Yan was still waiting for her to say her lines, but Song Jin remained frozen in place.

Director Yuan Si stared sharply at Song Jin.

Seeing her dazed but not speaking, she couldn’t help but frown.

The cameraman next to her also watched the director’s every move, ready to stop filming at any moment.

Duan Yan sensed that something was wrong with Song Jin.

She improvised a line, gently stroking Song Jin’s hair, her eyes gentle and reluctant.

“Don’t be angry with your sister.”

Duan Yan’s voice pulled Song Jin back to reality.

She was mortified, but she quickly adjusted her state and changed her lines to follow Duan Yan’s improvisation.

Seeing that the director didn’t call cut, the cameraman continued to operate the camera.

The original script had her looking at Duan Yan during the embrace, delivering her line, and ending the scene.

“I’m not angry with you, sister. I just can’t bear to see you go.”

Song Jin’s voice choked with sobs, her eyes glistening with tears that slid down her cheeks, full of reluctance.

“But, I also understand that you must go. If you don’t, you won’t be happy. I will always support you.”

“Everything will pass. Then, we will never be separated again.”

Duan Yan gently wiped the tears from Song Jin’s cheeks, her tone as firm as a rock.

Song Jin nodded silently, her eyes shining with an unyielding light.

“Cut.”

Director Yuan Si’s voice suddenly pierced the silence.

“What was that? Why did you take so long to deliver your line?”

Director Yuan Si had always admired Song Jin’s talent and professional attitude and never expected to witness such a situation today.

A wave of embarrassment and unease washed over Song Jin.

She couldn’t possibly tell the director that she had lost her composure because of a dream she had last night.

She took a deep breath and bowed in apology to Yuan Si and Duan Yan, her tone sincere.

“I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m truly sorry.”

Her apology was sincere, and her subsequent performance did not disappoint.

“Alright, it’s very normal for a young person to make a small mistake. Besides, the way you recovered the scene later was quite good.”

Senior Zhao Chunying stepped in to smooth things over.

Yuan Si’s expression gradually softened.

She motioned for Song Jin to go rest, reminding her to be back in top form tomorrow.

The lights in the room were bright, illuminating the scattered scripts and notes on the table.

Song Jin covered her face with her hands, ashamed of her mistake on set during the day, but even more so because of that dream.

A “knock, knock, knock” broke the silence in the room.

“Xiao Jin, are you in there?”

Duan Yan’s concerned call came from outside the door.

Song Jin sprang from the bed like a jack-in-the-box and opened the door with a whoosh.

Duan Yan was wearing a water-red dress, looking like a fresh dewdrop on a clear lotus.

Her phoenix eyes shimmered, her gaze filled with concern.

It was like a warm stream in spring, gently brushing against Song Jin’s heart, bringing her a wave of warmth.

Duan Yan leaned against the doorway, her voice soft.

“What’s wrong? You didn’t seem like yourself today. Did something happen?”

Song Jin stared blankly at Duan Yan, the emotions in her heart surging like a bursting dam.

“It’s nothing, I just didn’t sleep well last night,” Song Jin said, a little bashfully.

“Is that so? I thought as much. This should be your second time on a film set, right? You might not be used to it yet.”

Duan Yan’s tone carried a hint of understanding and care.

Song Jin welcomed Duan Yan into the room, and the two sat opposite each other.

When Duan Yan mentioned it was her second time on set, Song Jin’s heart couldn’t help but speed up.

It was like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis in early spring, dancing among a sea of flowers.

A small smile played on her lips, her delight overflowing.

‘Of course, she knew. Duan Yan has me in her heart.’

“It’s okay, it’s very normal. When I was your age, I was the same way on set. I couldn’t get a line out for half the day. It was a senior actor who changed the scene on the spot that finally snapped me out of it. But now that I have more experience, I’m much more skilled.”

Duan Yan shared her own experience, her tone friendly.

“Huh?” Song Jin was surprised by Duan Yan’s frankness, but upon hearing the word “young,” she couldn’t help but feel a little dissatisfied.

‘What does she mean?’

She didn’t like Duan Yan classifying her into a different world.

They should be on the same level.

“What do you mean? Teacher Duan, you’re very young now too, just like me.”

Song Jin put on a straight face, like a cute kitten pretending to be serious.

Duan Yan was amused by Song Jin’s earnestness.

Her usually cool face immediately relaxed into a broad, radiant smile.

“Alright, alright, alright. Thanks to you, I’ve become much younger.”

Seeing Duan Yan smile, Song Jin didn’t know why, but a sweetness blossomed in her heart, and she naturally started laughing along.

“Still looking at the script so late?” Duan Yan noticed the script on Song Jin’s table and asked with concern, “Is there anything you don’t understand? I can teach you right now.”

Song Jin didn’t want to leave an impression of being “incompetent” in front of the person she liked and immediately denied it.

“No.”

“Oh? Then I’ll have to test you.”

Duan Yan casually picked up the script and flipped to a random page.

The two chatted about the script for a while.

Duan Yan found that Song Jin was indeed very smart and quick on her feet.

As a senior, she didn’t hesitate to praise her, offering Song Jin compliments.

Receiving Duan Yan’s approval, Song Jin was indeed very happy.

But then she suddenly remembered the woman who had placed finger cots in Duan Yan’s room, and jealousy flared in her heart like a lit flame.

She had accompanied Duan Yan for so many days and nights, yet she had never seen this so-called girlfriend show any concern, not even a simple phone call to say hello.

It was she who had filled Duan Yan’s loneliness with her fluffy fur.

That person was clearly not worthy.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got that Duan Yan had found such a girlfriend.

Now that she liked Duan Yan, she had to find a way to make them break up.

After chatting about the script, Song Jin casually brought up the topic.

“Best Actress Duan, are you single right now?”

Caught off guard by such a question, Duan Yan’s eyes widened slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.

“Hm? Why would you ask that? That’s my private business, you know. It’s a secret.”

“If this makes you uncomfortable, then just pretend I didn’t ask.”

Song Jin’s lips drooped slightly, a flash of disappointment in her eyes.

Her voice was low, as if she were confiding her own troubles.

“It’s mainly because I have a friend who’s having some relationship problems, and I wanted to ask for your opinion.”

Duan Yan’s brows knitted slightly.

She secretly mused that this “non-existent friend” was probably Song Jin herself.

“Then what… what problem is this friend of yours facing?”

Song Jin embellished the story of Duan Yan’s “girlfriend’s” actions with extra details.

Duan Yan’s brows furrowed tightly.

She couldn’t imagine that Song Jin would be troubled by, and even consider forgiving, such a person.

In order not to hurt Song Jin’s feelings, Duan Yan tactfully advised:

“The most important things in a relationship are love and respect. It’s very clear that your… your friend’s partner does not possess such qualities. There’s no point in being with someone like that. You should advise your friend to consider breaking up.”

Hearing this, Song Jin was secretly delighted.

‘Yes, yes, yes! So hurry up and dump that “scum girlfriend” of yours!’

But her face only showed a hint of hesitation, as if she were weighing Duan Yan’s advice.

“But…”

Song Jin’s words carried a trace of reluctance, her eyes revealing her inner struggle.

“Don’t hesitate anymore. Your friend shouldn’t have to endure such treatment. There are plenty of people in this world. Why must your friend only look at the one person in front of her?” Duan Yan continued to persuade.

“Then if Best Actress Duan encountered someone like that, would you break up with them?” Song Jin was still not reassured and asked again.

“Of course, I would.” Duan Yan’s answer was indisputable.

Seeing that Song Jin was still hesitating, Duan Yan advised again, “You’re still very young. Don’t put all your heart into love. Your career is the most important thing. Don’t let other things distract you.”

Song Jin nodded in satisfaction, secretly pleased.

‘This is great.’

‘Duan Yan must not have realized yet that her girlfriend is a scum. After I finish filming this project, I’ll turn into a cat, sneak into Duan Yan’s house, and make sure they break up. Then Duan Yan will see how good I am and confess to me.’

“I understand. Thank you, Teacher Duan. It’s getting late, you should get some rest too. Let me walk you back.” Song Jin’s tone was full of concern.

She had been on set for so long, but because she had been deliberately avoiding Duan Yan, she still didn’t know where she lived.

Now was a good opportunity to find out, so she could visit her in the future.

“No need to trouble yourself. you look very tired today. You should rest early,” Duan Yan politely declined.

“How can that be?” Song Jin’s attitude was firm.

Duan Yan could no longer refuse and had to tell Song Jin her room number.

Song Jin was secretly overjoyed.

She carefully memorized the room number, planning how she would go and find Duan Yan.