Wan Wei gave a general overview of the script. Seeing Zhou Yining remain silent, she asked, “What’s wrong? Not interested in this script? Actually, I’ve said it before—the idol route doesn’t suit you. And your starting point is quite high. *The Peaceful Dynasty* is a serious historical drama Director Xu spent three years preparing. Even award-winning actor Ji Dongyang, who hasn’t done TV dramas for years, took the male lead role. There are plenty of veteran artists in the series too. Once this drama airs, everyone will remember you.”

Especially a character like Consort Ning, who was rotten to the core—far too memorable.

Zhou Yining snapped out of her thoughts, masking the hesitation in her eyes. She looked up with a smile. “No, of course I’m interested. The female lead!”

This opportunity was rare. If she really landed the female lead role, she’d be one step closer to Ji Dongyang.

She pushed aside her lingering concerns, stating firmly, “I’ll do my best at the audition.”

Wan Wei smiled. “Good. As long as your performance is up to standard, this role is basically yours. It won’t get away.”

Zhou Yining was puzzled. “Why? Shouldn’t a lot of people be fighting for this role?”
She’d only filmed one period drama. Although she’d taken some courses in her spare time, she was still a newcomer with many shortcomings. The competition for Wei Zhong’s new film was imagineable. For Wan Wei to speak so confidently, it was as if it was already certain she could play the female lead.

Wan Wei smiled triumphantly. “I have confidence in you. This role suits you too well.”

Zhou Yining was silent for a few seconds, then also smiled. “What about the male lead? Is it confirmed?”

Wan Wei shook her head. “Not yet. People are still fighting for it. Or rather, someone is trying to snatch it. Don’t worry about that for now. Head back first. I’ll notify you of the specific audition time. I’ll go with you then.”

Wan Wei personally saw Zhou Yining out. After she left, Wan Wei turned back to see Yang Xun standing there holding a cup of coffee. Yang Xun asked, “Are you really set on Zhou Yining playing the female lead?”

Wan Wei leaned against the doorframe and smiled. “I wouldn’t say it’s set in stone. What about you? How are things on Ji Dongyang’s end?”

Yang Xun also smiled. “It was practically a done deal from the start. He’s the one who chooses scripts; scripts don’t get to choose him.”
Although it was the truth, Wan Wei was still a bit annoyed. Yang Xun added, “But if the female lead is Zhou Yining, then I’ll have to reconsider.”

Wan Wei sneered. “Then reconsider. Li Zheng is quite good too.”
With that, she turned and closed the door.

Yang Xun frowned, holding his coffee as he walked around the corner and ran right into Zhou Yining, who was leaning against the wall.

Zhou Yining had come back to discuss something with Wan Wei and hadn’t expected to overhear their entire conversation. Now caught by one of the parties involved, she showed no embarrassment, smiling slightly. “Brother Yang, what a coincidence.”

If she hadn’t misheard, was the male lead for *Knots of the Heart* Ji Dongyang?

If that was really the case, she would fight tooth and nail to get this role.

Wait, hold on! Wasn’t the male lead a psychologist? Zhou Yining felt conflicted, propping her chin as she thought.

Yang Xun watched the girl’s changeable expression, found it somewhat amusing, shook his head with a laugh, and left.

The next day, Zhou Yining asked Aming, “Do Brother Yang and Wei-jie have some kind of grudge?”

There had been strong gunpowder fumes between them yesterday. Plus, Yang Xun had significant objections to her. She’d thought about it all night; she was probably just caught in the crossfire.

Aming looked surprised, wearing an “how could you not know” expression. He looked left and right, ensuring no one was around, then lowered his voice. “Wei-jie and Brother Yang have been divorced for three years. You didn’t know? All the artists under Wei-jie know. You’re probably the only one who doesn’t. They’ve been butting heads since the divorce. Brother Yang dislikes Wei-jie’s bold methods. Wei-jie scorns his caution.”

Zhou Yining’s eyes widened. It took her a long moment to say, “So that’s how it is.”
No wonder Yang Xun was so skeptical of her.

She looked at Aming. “But you’re Wei-jie’s cousin and also follow Ji Dongyang. That relationship is a bit messy too.”

Aming sighed helplessly. “But I was already following Dong-ge before they got divorced!”

Zhou Yining raised an eyebrow. “Then why did they divorce?”
Aming: “Wei-jie’s personality is too strong. Brother Yang wouldn’t compromise either. They just weren’t suitable.”

Another ‘not suitable.’ Zhou Yining didn’t like hearing that. She patted Aming on the back of the head and walked away jauntily.

As soon as she turned the corner, she ran right into Ji Dongyang. Zhou Yining looked up at him with a smile. Seeing his still expressionless face, she couldn’t help complaining quietly, “Your Majesty, I’ve already been banished to the cold palace. I only have a few miserable scenes left, ending in death. Can’t you be a little nicer to me?”

Ji Dongyang reminded her, “That’s in the drama.”
She lowered her head, muttering under her breath, “You’re not nice to me outside the drama either. I got thrown off the sofa after one kiss.”
It seemed this matter would never be laid to rest.

Ji Dongyang frowned. “What are you doing in my dressing room again?”
Zhou Yining snorted. “I was looking for Aming, not you.”
Ji Dongyang walked past her. “In that case, don’t bring a bottle of wine to my place tonight.”
Zhou Yining glared at his retreating back, her heart itching with curiosity. She really wanted to peel off his cold exterior and see if, as she suspected, a passionate heart was hidden inside.

*The Peaceful Dynasty* crew had entered the final filming stage. Zhou Yining only had one last scene today: Consort Ning, banished to the cold palace, ending her life with a white silk cord. Usually, such thoroughly rotten characters would get a redemption arc at the end—regretting their past actions, crying hysterically, confessing and begging for forgiveness.

Consort Ning did not. Until the day she died, she did not regret a single thing she had done.

She laughed maniacally, calling out to the emperor’s retreating back: “Your Majesty, your servant does not regret anything she has done. If I hadn’t done those things, Your Majesty would have long forgotten me. I know these crimes are unforgivable, but at least they made Your Majesty look at me a few more times…”

The emperor’s face was cold and stern. He let out a self-mocking sneer, flicked his sleeve, and strode away.

Leaving Consort Ning with a back view she would never see again.

Consort Ning sat on the ground for a long time, finally lifting her numb and desolated head. She looked at the white silk cord hanging from the beam, walked over swaying unsteadily on bare feet.

She grabbed the silk cord, gazing hopefully at the door, her lips curling in bitter sorrow.

Director Xu watched monitor two, hand raised ready to call “Cut!”. This segment would later be followed by a long shot from outside the window, just needing a silhouette of the hanging figure. Suddenly, he sensed something was off.

Zhou Yining closed her eyes. At the last moment, a single tear slowly slid from the corner of her eye.

Director Xu stared at the camera in surprise, taking a moment to react. He asked eagerly, “Did you get that close-up just now?”
“We got it.”
Director Xu clapped his hands excitedly! For the first time, he praised Zhou Yining without reservation: “Zhou Yining, your performance in this final scene was perfect.”

This girl had improved tremendously, her condition getting better and better. It was truly astonishing. Director Xu sighed inwardly, relieved he hadn’t chosen the wrong person back then.

Ji Dongyang, also standing behind the monitor, was equally stunned by Zhou Yining’s explosive acting in the final moment.

No matter how vicious Consort Ning was, she was ultimately still a woman. What she yearned for most in her heart was the emperor’s favor. Until the moment of her death, that hope still lingered in her heart. This was the tragedy of women in the harem.

Zhou Yining wiped the corner of her eye, smiled at Director Xu, then looked past him directly at Ji Dongyang. The next instant, she froze.

“I’m treating everyone to supper tonight to celebrate Consort Ning’s wrap!” Director Xu picked up a megaphone and announced.

Everyone cheered. “Wrap! Wrap!”

Zhou Wei walked over and patted Zhou Yining on the shoulder. “What are you spacing out for? Go change.”
Zhou Yining came back to her senses. Had Ji Dongyang just smiled at her? Not a sneer, not a mockery, but a gentle curve of his lips. It was truly like a spring breeze!

She grinned happily. “It’s nothing! Let’s go change!”

The entire crew trooped in a grand procession to a nearby grilled fish restaurant, instantly filling the second floor. This area often had crews finishing night shoots coming to eat. The owner and waitstaff were used to seeing celebrities. The female boss was a die-hard fan of Ji Dongyang. This was the first time she’d seen him come here for grilled fish, and she was overjoyed. Somewhat embarrassed, she asked if she could get a photo together.

Ji Dongyang smiled faintly. “Sure.”
The (boss lady) got her photo, happily cradling her phone as she left.

Zhou Yining came up from the restroom on the first floor and saw Aming talking to the boss lady. “You still have congee here, right? Get me a bowl of congee.”
She looked at Aming. “You want congee? Everyone ordered grilled fish and barbecue.”
Aming shook his head. “Not for me. It’s for Dong-ge. Barbecue and grilled fish are heavily seasoned, most have chili. Dong-ge doesn’t eat spicy food; it’s too harsh on his stomach.”

Was his stomach condition that serious?

Zhou Yining returned to the second floor, thought about it, then turned and went back downstairs.

Upstairs, barbecue and grilled fish were served one after another. Beer was brought up by the pitcher, some even ordered baijiu, white liquor.
“Where’s Zhou Yining?”
Someone shouted. People at several tables looked around. Indeed, Zhou Yining was nowhere to be seen.
“There she is!”

Zhou Yining walked out from the stairwell landing holding a plate. Seeing everyone looking at her, she was baffled. “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Wei laughed. “Nothing. Everyone noticed you were missing and thought you’d been kidnapped.”
Zhou Yining rolled her eyes exasperatedly. Zhou Wei asked again, “What are you holding?”
Zhou Yining looked down at the extremely bland grilled fish and (barbecued meat) on her plate, saying somewhat awkwardly, “Food.”
No one paid it much mind, thinking she had dietary restrictions and had gone downstairs to pick her own food. They smiled and turned back to their eating and drinking.

Ji Dongyang was eating congee and also not drinking beer, so his table had plenty of empty seats—just Director Xu, the assistant director, the screenwriter, and a few others. Everyone else started drinking and began hopping tables. Zhou Yining saw only Aming and the screenwriter were left with Ji Dongyang, so she quickly carried her plate over, placing it in front of Ji Dongyang. “For you. No chili. Very light.”
She grinned at him, leaned in close, and said sweetly in his ear, “I grilled it myself.”

—