AVSFCBH 14

Chapter 14

As he spoke, he drifted back to sleep.

Shen Yunmiao silently hung up the phone.

She gently stroked the well-behaved cat beside her a couple of times and said softly, “You can do whatever you want, sweetheart. Big Sister will protect you.”

Yet inwardly, she couldn’t help worrying.

What am I supposed to do…

The little white cat had no idea what was troubling her. She was happily munching away at her delicious homemade cat meal.

After eating her fill, she stretched out lazily on the sofa, basking in the warm sunlight.

It wasn’t just this part of the story.

Every future plotline where Shen Yunmiao got hurt…

She was going to change every single one of them.

The next day, Shen Yunmiao put the cat carrier on her shoulder and, for the first time ever, took a taxi to the filming location.

It cost forty yuan just to get to that suburban set.

Watching the fare climb on the meter, Cheng Jianian’s heart ached.

She knew Shen Yunmiao had a student discount.

A four-month shared bicycle pass only cost twenty-two yuan, and every single time, Shen Yunmiao would ride for an hour and a half to that awful suburban filming location.

Through the transparent cover of the cat carrier, Xiao Cheng Zong couldn’t clearly see Shen Yunmiao’s expression.

But she could see the hand tightly clutching the carrier.

It was pale and delicate, the knuckles turning white from gripping it so hard.

Those very hands braved wind and rain every day, cycling three hours round-trip just to earn such pitifully little money.

In fact, Jian Shen had booked hotel rooms for all the actors in the production.

But since Shen Yunmiao had a cat, she naturally couldn’t stay there.

So whenever she had scenes to film, she got up at six every morning to commute to the suburbs.

She even had to wear earphones on the way, listening to lectures while studying.

Cheng Jianian unconsciously curled her tail.

Her heart ached unbearably.

When she turned back into a human, wherever Shen Yunmiao filmed, she’d buy a house there.

No, wait.

By then, Shen Yunmiao wouldn’t need to run around filming in all kinds of weather anymore.

She could simply attend classes.

But she definitely couldn’t go back to living in the dormitory.

Those roommates of Shen Yunmiao’s in the original story were even worse than eccentrics.

They were absolutely despicable.

Perhaps sensing her low spirits, Shen Yunmiao turned the cat carrier around.

Separated only by the thin transparent cover, her watery eyes were gentle as she comforted her.

“Don’t be scared, sweetheart. We’ll be there very soon. Everything will be fine. After we finish filming, remember not to run around. Even if someone calls you, don’t pay attention to them. You have to stay obediently by Big Sister’s side, okay?”

Cheng Jianian was speechless.

She really was treating her like a child.

She licked her paw and let out a dignified little “Meow,” indicating that she’d heard.

Shen Yunmiao smiled warmly.

“Good girl. If you perform well today, I’ll reward you with some cat treats when we get home.”

Hmph.

As if a few cat treats could tempt her.

She wasn’t some ordinary gluttonous cat who’d be won over so easily.

Quietly…

Xiao Cheng Zong’s tail curled upward.

Shen Yunmiao merely smiled without saying anything.

Through the transparent cover, she gently tapped the little cat’s forehead with her fingertip.

Silently, she made up her mind.

No matter what happened, she would protect her little cat.

Even if they ended up not filming anymore, it didn’t matter.

She was someone who had nothing.

No family warmth.

Little friendship.

No hope for love.

The fewer things a person possessed…

The more tightly they wanted to hold on to what little they already had.

As for the things that seemed hopeless…

She only became more afraid of approaching them, choosing hesitation and retreat instead.

To have something was already a blessing.

Losing it was the true normal.

When they arrived on set, Jian Shen walked over with a cigarette dangling from his mouth the moment they got out of the taxi.

“I’ve been waiting forever. Since when were you willing to take a taxi? Not using that student discount anymore?”

Because Shen Yunmiao had to prepare delicious homemade meals for Cheng Jianian every morning, she never arrived particularly early.

Whenever she cycled over, she would always run into Jian Shen, who had an equally perfect habit of arriving right on time.

Shen Yunmiao smiled.

“I’ve got the kitten with me. Riding isn’t convenient.”

“Oh?”

Jian Shen took another drag on his cigarette before leaning right in front of the carrier to admire today’s little star.

The thick, fruit-scented cloud of smoke drifted straight toward the carrier.

“Tsk, what a beautiful little thing. Totally worth shamelessly begging you to bring her over. When we’re done, I’ll give both of you a big red envelope.”

Inside the carrier, Cheng Jianian was cursing Jian Shen to death.

Harassing young actresses wasn’t bad enough.

Now he was smoking in front of a cat too.

Once she turned back into a human, she was pulling every last bit of investment she’d ever made in Jian Shen.

Without drawing attention to it, Shen Yunmiao subtly shifted sideways, rescuing the poor little cat carrier from most of the smoke.

She only hoped her kitten hadn’t been choked by it.

Half jokingly, she replied,

“Our sweetheart being able to act in Director Jian’s drama is already something she’ll be proud of when talking to other cats for the rest of her life. Let’s head over and start filming first, Director Jian.”

Jian Shen grinned from ear to ear.

He patted Shen Yunmiao’s shoulder and casually slung an arm around her as they walked inside.

“Good, good. Come on. I’ll explain the scene to you in a bit. See if you can guide your kitten into giving a perfect performance.”

He was still in high spirits.

Completely unaware that the cat inside the carrier already hated him with a passion.

Fuming, Xiao Cheng Zong pretended to bite Jian Shen’s wandering hand in midair.

Who said you were allowed to touch her?

Chapter 13

My Wife Looks So Beautiful Acting!

The scene Cheng Jianian needed to film wasn’t complicated.

Yu Buyan had bid farewell to her homeland and had just arrived in the Kingdom of Qu as its new queen.

With the deliberate indifference of the King of Qu, one of his consorts instructed the Grand Marshal to summon the Divine Messenger during the Festival of Divine Sacrifice.

The Divine Messenger…

Was the cat Cheng Jianian would be playing.

Standing atop the sacred altar, the Divine Messenger stepped on the sacred relic, causing cracks to appear.

This delivered a divine prophecy that the drought demon was about to descend.

The prophecy claimed that the one who had brought forth the drought demon…

Was none other than the newly crowned Queen, Yu Buyan.

Originally, the plot had Yu Buyan personally expose the deception by pulling out the schizonipeta herb hidden beneath the sacred relic, calmly dismantling the lie and earning the admiration of the King of Qu.

But because of Qiao Jingshu’s earlier outburst, Jian Shen had reluctantly rewritten the scene.

Instead, Yuan Duan’s character, the queen’s personal physician, confessed under Yu Buyan’s instructions that she had seen the Divine Messenger carrying away the medicinal schizonipeta the day before.

By the time she chased after it, it had already fallen beneath the sacred relic.

She’d been too frightened to retrieve it immediately.

Jian Shen pointed at the script until his throat was dry.

After taking a big gulp of his sports drink, he said matter-of-factly,

“If you ask me, this version’s actually better. Otherwise the heroine I worked so hard to write would suddenly act like some reckless brute, charging in and making a scene the moment she arrived in a new country.”

“Although…”

He rubbed his chin.

“Now that it’s changed like this, we’ll also need a shot of the kitten carrying catnip in its mouth.”

“Can your kitten do it? If not, I’ll just have the special effects and editing team patch something together.”

Shen Yunmiao didn’t dare answer on behalf of her kitten.

She gently rubbed the lazy little cat resting in her arms, signaling for the cat to answer herself.

Cheng Jianian lazily flicked her long drooping tail.

“Meow.”

“Oh?”

Jian Shen looked surprised.

“Your kitten actually understands human speech?”

He reached out to pet the fluffy white head that looked irresistibly soft.

Xiao Cheng Zong had her own pride.

It was one thing for Shen Yunmiao to pet her.

But who did Jian Shen think he was?

What gave him the right?

The previously docile, lazy kitten instantly bared her teeth.

Jian Shen awkwardly withdrew his hand before it even reached her.

He rubbed his nose.

“She sure has quite the temper.”

Standing nearby and listening to the discussion, Yuan Duan laughed.

“You just don’t get it, Director Jian. Cats know exactly who’s close to them. Even if you begged to become our little master’s servant, you still wouldn’t qualify.”

Not bad.

At least someone understood.

Cheng Jianian let out an approving little “Aow.”

Still holding the cat, Shen Yunmiao smiled.

“Our kitten is just a little shy around strangers. She isn’t fierce at all. She’s always the one getting bullied by other cats.”

She gently rubbed the kitten in her arms.

Her practiced hands soon had Xiao Cheng Zong purring softly in bliss.

“Hahaha, I don’t buy that. Your cat looks like she’d win every fight. If she ever fought my troublesome brat, she’d probably beat him until he rolled all over the floor.”

Shen Yunmiao simply smiled without replying.

But inwardly she quietly protested.

My sweetheart would never fight your cat.

My sweetheart is terrified of black cats.

Once the explanation was finished, everyone prepared to start filming.

Cheng Jianian didn’t have many scenes.

One required her to step on the sacred relic several times during the Festival of Divine Sacrifice.

The other had the kitten quietly watching from nearby as the Grand Marshal secretly placed the schizonipeta beneath the relic.

Xiao Cheng Zong cooperated perfectly.

Even standing atop the plain, unedited prop that hadn’t yet received any visual effects, she looked elegant and noble.

On camera, the little white cat gracefully took two perfect feline steps.

Then she lifted her head.

Her blue-and-gold heterochromatic eyes stared straight into the camera.

Captivating.

Mesmerizing.

Both scenes were completed in a single take.

Jian Shen nearly slammed the table in excitement.

“Excellent! Your kitten has incredible camera presence. She’s gorgeous too. If I ever have another role like this, I’m definitely asking you again.”

Shen Yunmiao smiled faintly.

“Then I’ll thank you in advance.”

She had been sitting near the edge.

As soon as filming ended, she immediately picked up her kitten and carefully placed her back into the carrier, clearly intending to head home.

Jian Shen called after her.

“Hey, what’s the rush? It’s already a hassle for you to come all the way out here. How about this? I’ll move your scenes up and we’ll film them together before you leave. Just leave the cat with me.”

Shen Yunmiao refused without the slightest hesitation.

“Thank you, Director Jian, but it’s better not to. We’ve already been out long enough today. I’m worried Sweetheart won’t adapt well.”

Knowing her personality, Jian Shen understood that once Shen Yunmiao made up her mind, she rarely changed it.

Just as he was about to sigh in disappointment, the little white cat inside the carrier suddenly began frantically scratching at the transparent cover.

He quickly said,

“Hey, look! Your kitten doesn’t want to leave.”

Cheng Jianian really didn’t.

She was here today, so Shen Yunmiao had taken a taxi both ways.

But on ordinary days, Shen Yunmiao rode that lousy bicycle from dawn till dusk.

Cold.

Exhausting.

If she could save Shen Yunmiao even one trip, it was worth it.

Besides, she had nothing to do while waiting here anyway.

Lifting the carrier, Shen Yunmiao frowned and looked through the transparent shell at the little cat inside, who was waving her paws dramatically.

The instant Cheng Jianian noticed Shen Yunmiao looking at her, she immediately lowered both paws and sat up neatly.

The carrier was spacious and well ventilated.

As the breeze blew through, her long white fur fluttered gently.

The tips of her ears were pink.

She obediently let out a soft,

“Meow.”

Lowering her gaze, Shen Yunmiao asked quietly,

“Sweetheart, do you really want to stay?”

“Meow!”

Let’s stay.

Otherwise next time you’ll have to ride all that way again.

Looking into the kitten’s beautiful, crystal-clear mismatched eyes, Shen Yunmiao smiled helplessly.

“All right. But you have to promise me you won’t run around. While I’m filming, you’ll stay beside Director Jian like a good girl.”