Chapter Ninety: Ambiguity, and the Surprising Actress Cast as the Heroine

Early in the morning, Li Mengya rose and made her way to Jiang Yun’s room.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Who is it?” Jiang Yun’s voice came from within.

The door clicked open from the inside.

“Mengya?” Jiang Yun was momentarily surprised. “What brings you here so early?”

“Jiang Yun, are you filming today?” Li Mengya asked.

Jiang Yun nodded, “Yes, I am. Why?”

Li Mengya’s face brimmed with anticipation. “Can I go with you again? Don’t worry, I’ll just sit quietly and watch you act—I won’t disturb you!”

Looking into her hopeful eyes, Jiang Yun nodded, “Of course, as long as you don’t mind how exhausting it is!”

“Not at all, how could I?” Li Mengya replied with a bright, charming smile.

The two left the budget hotel and went to a breakfast shop.

“Boss, five fried dough rings and a bowl of mung bean soup. Mengya, what would you like?”

“I didn’t expect Hengdian to have the signature breakfast from Old Summer Capital,” Li Mengya marveled. “I’ll have two steamed buns and a bowl of black rice porridge.”

The proprietress at the window replied, “Alright! Please wait a moment!”

While waiting, Jiang Yun chatted idly with the lady behind the counter. “Ma’am, you’re from the north, aren’t you?”

She nodded, “Born and raised in Summer Capital!”

“I thought so—your breakfast is so authentic!”

“Your order’s ready, packed and all!”

Jiang Yun took the breakfast, paid via mobile phone, and left with Li Mengya.

Back at the hotel, they went to Li Mengya’s room to eat.

“Jiang Yun, what does mung bean soup really taste like?”

Jiang Yun said, “You won’t like it.”

“Let me try a sip!”

“Well… alright.” Jiang Yun picked up the tall glass and poured half into it.

He handed it to Li Mengya, who took a sip.

Her face instantly scrunched up, becoming a perfect reaction meme.

“Honk honk honk!”

Jiang Yun burst out laughing, imitating the sound, “Honk honk honk, is it really that dramatic?”

“It’s way too sour!” Li Mengya protested.

“It’s not bad. I think it’s fine,” Jiang Yun replied.

“You finish it,” she said, handing him the glass.

Then reconsidering, she said, “Actually, never mind, let’s just pour it out.”

She stood up to do so.

“Don’t! Don’t waste it!”

“But I already drank from it!”

“That’s alright, I don’t mind!” Jiang Yun took the glass and gulped it down.

Li Mengya’s cheeks flushed red.

Jiang Yun, glass in hand, tilted his head back, drinking.

Smacking his lips, he said, “Why does this mung bean soup taste odd? Almost like roses?!”

“Jiang Yun, go to hell!” Li Mengya blushed fiercely and threw a bun at him.

Jiang Yun dodged, then paused in surprise, noticing a lipstick mark on the rim of the glass.

Staring at the lipstick print, his thoughts wandered, and his expression grew strange.

Li Mengya saw his odd look, her own cheeks burning, even the tips of her ears pink.

The atmosphere in the room turned peculiar.

Jiang Yun’s breathing grew rapid; drawn by some inexplicable force, he moved toward Li Mengya.

Seeing his approach, Li Mengya retreated step by step.

Smack!

She backed up to the wall. Jiang Yun planted his hand against it, trapping her.

Li Mengya lowered her head, gazing at her toes. “Jiang Yun, we’re moving too fast.”

Jiang Yun, heedless of her words, was about to take the next step.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Damn!” Jiang Yun cursed inwardly.

He composed himself, while Li Mengya tried to calm down.

Jiang Yun opened the door angrily. “Whoever you are, if you don’t have a good reason, you can just drop dead!”

A woman’s voice rang out, “Mr. Jiang Yun, what’s got you so fired up this early?”

Jiang Yun looked closely and was stunned. At the door stood a woman of about twenty-five, six feet tall, dressed in black pants and an orange sweater. Her short hair reached her neck, with a small ponytail tied at the back.

“And you are?”

“I’m Wang Fengwan,” she extended her right hand. “I play both Xiao Xun’er and Medusa in ‘Battle of the Galloping Horses and the Vast Sky.’”

Jiang Yun was a bit taken aback. “You’re the national goddess Wang Fengwan? Triple Best Actress Wang Fengwan?”

“I believe that’s exactly who you mean, Mr. Jiang Yun.”

“Hiss—” Jiang Yun sucked in a breath, surprised at Liu Guoqiang’s boldness, hiring Wang Fengwan as the lead actress.

Wang Fengwan—since his entry into the entertainment industry, he’d often heard her name.

“What do you need from me?” Jiang Yun asked.

“I’m here to rehearse our lines. I knocked on your room earlier, but no one answered. Director Liu said you might be in Li Mengya’s room.” Wang Fengwan sized up Li Mengya. “Hello, Mengya!”

Li Mengya smiled and nodded.

Jiang Yun turned to look at Li Mengya and was suddenly stunned.

The scene became awkward.

Because Wang Fengwan and Li Mengya were wearing identical outfits.

Similar height, similar figure, even similar clothes: both in black pants and orange sweaters. The only difference was Li Mengya’s long hair and white flats, while Wang Fengwan wore work boots and had short hair.

The two women faced each other—Wang Fengwan, imposing and confident; Li Mengya, gentle and graceful.

They exchanged smiles and clasped hands.

A brief handshake, smiles, and then released.

Wang Fengwan said politely, “Mr. Jiang Yun, I’ll head back to my room. I’ll wait for you there—room 306, don’t go to the wrong one!”

“Alright!” Jiang Yun closed the door. He and Li Mengya sat down again.

“Mengya, I need to go rehearse soon. Wait for me here.”

“Okay.” Li Mengya nodded.

Jiang Yun left and headed to room 306.

Knock, knock, knock!

Click.

The door opened from within, and Jiang Yun stepped inside.

Wang Fengwan was all business: “Let’s start. The borrowing money scene and the bracelet-giving scene!”

“Alright.”

They began rehearsing.

At eight-thirty, the crew started work. Jiang Yun and Li Mengya arrived at the set.

Jiang Yun said, “Mengya, just sit here and watch me act. If you get bored, you can play games on your phone.”

Li Mengya sat down. “Don’t worry, I’m not bored. Watching you act is really interesting!”

The set grew busier, props were ready.

Liu Guoqiang raised his megaphone, “Departments, take your positions! Actors, on set!”

Wang Fengwan, dressed in blue, entered with a charming smile.

“Wow!”

“It’s the national goddess Wang Fengwan!”

“Who would’ve thought, the female lead is played by Wang Fengwan!”

“You might not know, but she also plays Medusa—two roles, one actress!”

“Amazing!”

Jiang Yun, in black, stepped onto the set.

“Mr. Jiang Yun, I hear you’re the author of the original work—don’t let us down during filming!”

Jiang Yun frowned as he watched Wang Fengwan’s brilliant smile.

She was truly formidable; the difference between her demeanor now and earlier was striking. Her charming smile contrasted sharply with her previous aura of dominance.

Jiang Yun nodded, “I’ll do my best. If I make any mistakes, please correct me, Miss Wang.”

Since Wang Fengwan had called him “teacher,” giving him such respect, Jiang Yun didn’t mind returning the compliment.

Wang Fengwan paused, wondering if Jiang Yun was praising her. She covered her mouth and laughed.

“Mr. Jiang Yun, you shouldn’t be so modest—people call you the nation’s talent!”