Feeling a starkly different and overwhelming aura in front of her than usual, even though she was quite familiar with her, Gu Qingtong reflexively wanted to sidestep.
Especially because of the hand pressing her head against the pillar, she felt uneasy and squirmed.
But her struggles seemed sometimes to inadvertently comply with the person trying to push her against the pillar.
“Xuan Qingyun! Have you gone mad?!”
Feeling the other person approaching to get close to her neck, Gu Qingtong seemed to realize only then that she meant business, and she cried out in shock.
Ignoring the fact that Xuan Yao might wake up at any moment, even in this bustling garden pavilion, it seemed as if anyone could see through the inappropriate relationship between the Eldest Princess and the widow of their late Prince.
Xuan Qingyun had been bold and daring in the past, but she had never brought their affair to such public attention, especially not in front of others. Even the confined and restricted He Haomei could use discretion and patience to uphold her former pride.
While Xuan Qingyun’s illness had made her oblivious to leaving herself vulnerable and tarnished, there remained a last shred of dignity in He Haomei’s heart that made her the more fearful one. She knew all too well that if she were to lose control in front of their enemy and inadvertently cater to someone, especially if Xuan Yao were to witness it, then all the pride and dignity she had painstakingly built up would be destroyed in an instant.
Whether it was Xuan Yao, who had grown up alongside her since childhood and had just recently confessed her feelings, or the husband who had died prematurely but was intimately familiar to her, the consequences would be dire.
He Haomei didn’t want any of them to see her in such a fallen state. When the familiar soft lips barely grazed her neck, not even a nibble began. Gu Qingtong had already closed her eyes, attempting in vain to suppress the overwhelming surge of emotions welling up inside her.
He Haomei lied; she mocked Xuan Qingyun for her inability to resist her body’s desires. Hadn’t she herself been unable to control her reactions from the very beginning? Until now, it felt like she had been branded by her.
Just the touch of her lips felt like a parched person finally receiving a momentary relief from their thirst. Her entire being rejoiced and welcomed her.
Even as she fiercely bit her lips, swallowing all sounds, trembling with suppressed emotions, she couldn’t deceive anyone. She saw through Xuan Qingyun’s stubbornness and lostness, but how could the other party not know that her body had long been under her control.
From the beginning of the mixed hatred and seduction, the two threads were tightly entwined, inseparable and chaotic.
He Haomei knew that besides a last bit of ridiculous pride, she had nothing left. If even that had been stripped away, she might not have been able to go on living.
With this in mind, she had no choice but to threaten: “Aren’t you afraid of being seen by so many guests and accused of illicit relationships in court?! You only gained your current power through Xuan Lan’s death. If the people instigated by you found out about your manipulation of me, it wouldn’t have been long before your true face was exposed to everyone!”
As Gu Qingtong said these words, her throat trembled slightly with excitement and fear.
This made the lips pressed against the neck of Yan Chi feel even more waves of tingling sensations. Hearing this, Yan Chi emitted a muffled low laugh against Gu Qingtong’s neck, as if hearing something extremely amusing. Indeed, she did not continue to suckle, but instead pressed against her skin and said: “Such threats are useless, after all, Mei’er also knows that if the world finds out about our illicit relationship, it will only make me more excited. Hasn’t Mei’er always been afraid of being discovered and revealing her true self?”
“If I were you, I would wisely save some effort now to please me. The longer you delay, the more likely you’ll be discovered by others.”
While speaking, Yan Chi’s lips kept grazing Gu Qingtong’s neck. If she didn’t know that Xuan Qingyun could never be this gentle, she might have mistaken the gentle kisses occasionally landing on her neck.
After speaking, she finally bit down on the collarbone as if she wanted to devour her whole. With her hands bound, Gu Qingtong had no room for resistance, and being bitten with a bit of a sickening brutality made her go mad. She could only desperately raise her chin, tightening her swan-like slender neck. Apart from the role she was playing, Gu Qingtong herself couldn’t stand it anymore.
At this moment, under the scrutiny and filming of so many directors and cameramen, the simple sensation of biting the neck was magnified countless times by her. Moreover, it was a posture she had never tried before…
Gu Qingtong even had to suppress and endure her perception, so as not to show too much sensitivity, lest she lose control in front of so many people. And there was also Tan Siying, who was particularly close to the two, intoxicated in the script, but now acting it out.
Thinking of this, she became somewhat distracted, her gaze drifting towards the crowd and Tan Siying.
At this moment, she hadn’t realized that this deviation from the script was just the beginning of the performance.
While Yan Chi was sucking on Gu Qingtong’s neck, her eyes were lifted upwards, staring intently at her eyes. In the fleeting moment of Gu Qingtong’s wandering gaze, that distraction fell into Yan Chi’s eyes.
The gaze unintentionally falling on Tan Siying made Yan Chi’s own possessiveness towards both herself and Xuan Qingyun overlap in that moment. Yan Chi’s breath gradually revealed itself behind the character she was playing, Xuan Qingyun.
The next moment, Yan Chi’s actions and words were completely different from the script.
“Even while enjoying our love, must you still look at others?”
This sentence wasn’t completed; the final words remained unspoken. Only the warmth pressed against Gu Qingtong’s neck, forming the word “Tong Tong,” gradually unfolded Yan Chi’s possessive delusion.
It was only then that Gu Qing Tong realized Yan Chi was saying these words to her, not the character He Haomei she was supposed to be portraying.
Yan Chi’s performance, now a blend of acting and reality, had already begun. Amidst this blurred line between truth and fiction, even Gu Qingtong could hardly distinguish which words were meant for her.
“I’ve said it before, no more next time. I’ll be jealous to the point of madness. If you continue to look at others disobediently, you’ll only realize who truly makes you comfortable, time and time again.”
Whether it was Yan Chi’s restrained possessiveness or Xuan Qingyun’s fervent onslaught…
At this moment, waves of sensations would all converge onto her alone, whether it was in front of so many people. She could only feel the kisses on her neck becoming more and more intense, biting.
The hand previously held by Yan Chi became instead her only support to barely stabilize herself from slipping away. So, everyone could see, although Yan Chi was just kissing and acting, Gu Qingtong seemed to have reached her limit, her body swaying slightly.
Yan Chi took another step forward, encroaching further. Her other free wrist reached under the layers of skirts, touching the undergarment.
“No….please!”
Gu Qingtong was genuinely afraid. Just the kisses alone made her tremble uncontrollably. She couldn’t even imagine what would happen if Yan Chi became truly excited and touched her most intimate parts as usual.
She was already sensitive, and now being forced to intimacy under the gaze of others, she felt like she was back in the state of being intentionally teased by Yan Chi in the closet during the variety show. That’s why she feared losing control like she did that day, in a public setting, just because of a nibble on her earlobe…
That time, it was in a closet where no one saw. But if this time were like last time, whether it was the crowd watching or the cameras, they would witness and possibly record everything.
She had already forgotten what her lines looked like, struggling to utter fragmented phrases: “I…I only look at you…don’t make it unbearable for me here, I beg you.”
Yan Chi had already touched her undergarment, naturally knowing how she was trembling. The undergarment became wrinkled bit by bit.
Even though she knew Yan Chi was being merciful and wouldn’t go too far in front of so many people, and in reality, nothing much happened, Gu Qingtong’s face instantly flushed even redder. Her breathing became hurried and erratic, and even her gaze couldn’t help but become misty.
Because many details couldn’t be captured, the most common approach in such scenes is to focus on close-ups of the actors’ expressions. Expressing the state of emotions at this moment, however, is the most challenging.
Gu Qingtong’s natural, genuine reaction and expression changes even began to make the crew members gossip. They didn’t know if it was because of her exceptional acting skills or if Teacher Yan had actually done something.
But with her hands hidden in the layers of skirts, nothing was visible. Gu Qingtong also knew they must have misunderstood, but her embarrassing reaction was easily misinterpreted.
“It’s just touching your leg. Why are you being so coy, making it seem like I’ve done something real?” Yan Chi seemed to mock, although she was speaking to He Haomei in the scene, to the ears of the crew, it sounded like Teacher Yan was teasing Gu Qingtong.
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingtong withdrew a bit of her rationality from the abyss, biting her lip tightly and saying nothing.
“Weren’t you just comforting Xuan Yao earlier? Why are you suddenly silent now? How about comforting me instead? Maybe you’ll receive a lighter punishment, Mei’er, what do you say?”
Even though the lines in her previous scene with Xuan Yao were all about comforting and soothing the other’s obsession.
But Gu Qingtong inexplicably recalled the words she had said to Tan Siying privately, “It’s okay, just borrowing a position, don’t be nervous,” as comfort. She continued:
“Xuan Yao likes you so much, and from my perspective, you two seem like a perfect match. It seems like I’m not the only one who sees it. Even the nearby palace maids are commenting on how well-suited you are. This secret meeting in the garden tonight might be the talk of the town by tomorrow. When everything is exposed, you might just be handed over to Xuan Yao directly, fulfilling your wish, isn’t it?”
Clearly, Yan Chi, that wicked vinegar jar, remembered everything and cleverly incorporated insinuations into her improvised lines, all while her hands were not idle.
These words and actions almost drove Gu Qingtong crazy. She was instinctively acting in the scene, defenseless against Yan Chi’s onslaught.
It wasn’t until Tan Siying beside her, prompted by the director, began her own lines, making some noise, that Gu Qingtong suddenly snapped out of it, realizing she was still acting.
Her gaze, momentarily dazed, scattered like frightened spirits: “She… she’s awake!”
As she uttered these lines, all the suppressed voices in her mouth couldn’t help but follow suit. This was entirely Gu Qingtong’s own inability to hold back, unrelated to the script, deepening the panic on her face.
Yan Chi not only didn’t help her but also took advantage of the moment when she had to speak her lines, making things worse.
“Awake? Isn’t that great? To admire or to join, which do you think she’ll choose? Given the extent of the princess’s infatuation with you, she probably won’t be able to resist.”
As Yan Chi spoke, she finally released the hand she had been holding down for so long, and she grabbed Gu Qingtong’s wrist, intending to pull her towards Xuan Yao, who seemed to be waking up.
“Don’t let her see….Your Highness! Please! From now on, Mei’er won’t see her anymore. Mei’er belongs to Your Highness, and she doesn’t want anyone else… “
He Haomei collapsed under the pressure, finally reverting to her initially feigned compliance.
“More lies. He Haomei, do you have a single truthful word in your mouth? You know what I want.”
Yan Chi stared deeply at Gu Qingtong, her eyes relentless in their demand.
In the end, the words in Gu Qingtong’s mouth changed from referring to herself as “Mei’er” to “I,” gritting her teeth as she said each word: “Until you reject me, I’ve always been….,only yours.”
Even if reluctantly, she was still temporarily conquered by Xuan Qingyun.
Yan Chi finally revealed a long-lost smile, her eyes filled with a somewhat bloodthirsty delight:
“Don’t worry, I haven’t finished playing yet.”
“For example, right now.”
Yan Chi didn’t let her off the hook at all.
Even though she knew the script well, Gu Qingtong naturally portrayed a panicked and flustered demeanor: “Didn’t you promise me just now that you wouldn’t do this?!”
Yan Chi replied calmly: “Isn’t she still asleep? Why the rush? If Mei’er provokes me one more time, I’ll throw you next to Xuan Yao and let her see the sorry state you’re in now.”
According to the script, He Haomei would ultimately lose her composure due to the simultaneous awakening of Xuan Qingyun and Xuan Yao. The expression of losing composure usually involved furrowing brows and closing eyes. But Gu Qingtong, who had practiced countless times, didn’t realize that she wouldn’t need to use it at all. Because Yan Chi had hardly given her any peace, knowing every secret within her body. Even without doing anything drastic, she could easily plunge her into a state where she could act out this scene solely based on instinct.
“Ugh….my head hurts…”
As scripted, Xuan Yao emitted a dream-like murmur before opening her eyes as a cue.
This sudden voice startled Gu Qingtong one last time in her disoriented state. Trembling all over, she clung tightly to Yan Chi’s neck. Meanwhile, tears welled up, achieving what had not happened last time—being brought to tears by Yan Chi.
Hardly distinguishing between acting and reality, in the final moment of emotion, she reflexively called out: “Yan…”
Sensing her mistake, Yan Chi’s expression froze, and she sealed Gu Qingtong’s lips with hers, cutting off her words before lifting her up and retreating behind the nearby artificial mountain, concealing their figures.
As Gu Qingtong gradually calmed down, she realized with fear that she had instinctively called out Yan Chi’s name. Luckily, Yan Chi stopped her after just one syllable. If she had said the whole name, not only would it have revealed their relationship, but they would also need to reshoot the scene.
Although the scene had been quite smooth, there were several interruptions midway through, prompting several retakes. By now, they had been filming into the late hours of the night.
Gu Qingtong had been on edge the entire time, feeling the heat of scrutiny. By the end of the scene, she felt utterly drained.
Finally, when the director announced the end of this scene.
Gu Qingtong finally breathed a sigh of relief, lifting herself up slightly to whisper to Yan Chi’s ear:
“After bullying me like this, you must be done with your jealousy now, right?”
Yan Chi’s gaze fell mischievously on Gu Qingtong’s blushing face:
“Just once, how could it be enough for Tongtong? Who used to always pester me for more?”
Clearly, she had no intention of letting Gu Qingtong off the hook, even just now, she had restrained herself too much for the sake of acting.
Gu Qingtong’s eyes twinkled as she suddenly lifted her cheeks and smiled at Yan Chi, her beautiful features forming crescents as she coquettishly said:
“Oh my, whose darling wife is so jealous? Clearly, Tongtong has always only liked her!”
The term “darling wife” reached Yan Chi’s ears, causing even her to tremble slightly. Ripples were stirred in her eyes.
She rubbed Gu Qingtong’s uplifted head, her voice carrying both laughter and tenderness:
“Mm, no more jealousy from now on. I’ll just indulge in my darling wife.”
❖❖❖❖❖
The next day, the long-dormant official Weibo account of “Bai Mei Sheng” finally came alive, releasing the casting and makeup photos for each character!
This news caught all the fans and passersby off guard, who hurriedly came to watch.
However, the official account seemed to be dragging its feet, as if it knew who they wanted to see, but stubbornly refused to comply with their wishes.
They started by releasing supporting roles, only to release one photo every half hour, nearly driving the fans crazy with impatience.
It wasn’t until all the named characters had their photos released that only the two leads, He Haomei and Xuan Qingyun, remained.
People then noticed that Gu Qingtong, who had been photographed on the set, didn’t appear in any of the makeup photos.
As fans anxiously awaited He Haomei’s makeup photo, they heatedly discussed Gu Qingtong’s situation.
[It seems Gu Qingtong was really brought into the cast by Teacher Yan? There’s no role for her at all.]
[Where’s the role? Isn’t He Haomei still there? Don’t be surprised if they announce that Gu Qingtong is playing her.]”
[Hahaha, the person above is so funny. How could that be possible? Didn’t you see the leaks? They said she performed so poorly during the audition for Xuan Yao that even Director Yuan Jingyu didn’t spare her a glance!]
Seeing some netizens getting out of hand, the silent fans of Gu Qingtong finally got angry:
[What evidence do you have to spread rumors about our Tong Mei here? Is it because my girl doesn’t meet the appearance requirements or isn’t talented enough that she can’t play He Haomei?”
[That’s right! She’s going to play the female lead, let’s see who gets upset!]
[Some ‘passersby’ better keep their mouths shut and stop saying Tong Mei isn’t suitable for the role while also recommending their idols to Director Yuan.]
Initially, since hearing that Gu Qingtong hadn’t been chosen for Xuan Yao, they hadn’t had much hope for the movie. But now, they couldn’t help but pay attention, silently waiting for Gu Qingtong, who had been working hard behind the scenes, to surprise everyone.
Gu Qingtong’s fans were no longer as few as before, although they couldn’t compete with the massive scale of top stars like Yan Chi.
Once they saw their beloved Tongtong being bullied, they couldn’t stay silent anymore. They had to stand up for her and make things right.
At that moment, the official Weibo account of “Bai Mei Sheng” finally updated its status:
[With a smile, the Bai Mei Sheng comes to life; the beauties of the six palaces pale in comparison.
He Haomei — portrayed by Gu Qingtong.】
The makeup photo was taken in a snowy landscape, with Gu Qingtong barefoot on the snow, wearing only a white veil with splatters of red resembling plum blossoms. The cold wind gracefully swirled her clothes and dispersed her dark hair.
Beneath her sleeve, a slender hand held a dagger, both the dagger and her palm stained crimson. It was impossible to tell whose blood it was, as each drop that fell onto the snow created a red stain.
With a glance back, the beauty smiled, yet her peach blossom eyes were clouded with tears, on the brink of cascading down in the next moment.
The pale and plain face bore no adornment, only a hint of crimson color welling up at the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose due to the cold and tears. The inherent grace and allure of her bones, with a beauty so enchanting, were accentuated by a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye.
Almost every netizen who saw this pre-production photo held their breath for a moment. It wasn’t just an extreme beauty; more remarkably, it was a beauty with soul.
She thought she had broken free from her cage, only to see a vast expanse of white. For whom were those tears in her eyes flowing for?
Of course, after a moment of shock, the news that He Haomei was to be played by Gu Qingtong was even more explosive, instantly igniting the internet. Most people were initially incredulous; how could such an unknown, who hadn’t even played a lead role, surpass numerous movie stars and directly collaborate with explosive combinations like Yan Chi and Yuan Jingyu?
Ironically, if it were an unheard-of amateur being chosen, they would be highly regarded. Not only would there be no questioning, but they might even be hailed as a heaven-sent talent.
And just because Gu Qingtong has never played a lead role in a movie, people started to criticize and question her abilities. Many haven’t even seen any of the roles Gu Qingtong has played, but judging solely based on her stunning appearance, they label her as just a pretty face, dismissing her acting skills.
The discussion couldn’t even be diverted by Yan Chi’s pre-production photo; on the hot search, Gu Qingtong, Yan Chi, and Bai Mei Sheng divided the spotlight.
[Can’t quite accept it. I’ve been looking forward to ‘Bai Mei Sheng’ for so long, but I didn’t expect Yuan Jingyu to stoop to the level of using a no-work influencer as a mere publicity stunt.]
[Could it be Yan Chi’s demand? Wasn’t this movie shelved for a long time? Does Yuan Jingyu have to agree to cast Gu Qingtong if she wants Yan Chi to act?]
[What I want is a professionally trained actor to play in this intense movie! Not some variety show celebrity packaged with CP1Couple Pairing hype. I’ve been waiting for so long, what a disappointment!!]
Gu Qingtong’s fans couldn’t believe their Tongtong pulled off such a big move without any prior notice; they were overjoyed. When they saw this mindless criticism, they immediately retaliated:
[Are you sick? Does anyone not know that our Tong Tong is a professionally trained actress from China Film Group?]
[For those who trouble themselves with baseless criticisms about her acting skills, please take a look at the pinned post on my homepage, where I’ve compiled clips of Tong Mei’s supporting roles. She may not have played a lead role, but who has seen any issues with her acting? From portraying villainous characters to innocent roles, she can handle them all with ease.]
[This pre-production photo is already divine; still calling it inappropriate is just talking nonsense. They’re even willing to discard their dignity just to criticize. What a joke!]
Even fans of the “Silent Gaze” CP joined the battlefield:
[Oh my god, we’re taking off! Is this real? My CP is acting in a same-sex film!]
[I didn’t dare say it before, but now I have to shout it out: Gu Qingtong is the perfect fit to play He Haomei! And the chemistry with Yan Chi, who plays Xuan Qingyun, is undeniable!]
[Some monsters dare to oppose the natural pairing of Silent Gaze?]
Amidst all this chaos, the official Weibo account of “Bai Mei Sheng” unexpectedly released another video clip.
