Her Dangerous Performance Lessons

Next book: Her Thousand-Layered Schemes When Jiang Yining saw her own name in the trending hashtag #HeiressGetOutOfShowbiz, her diamond-studded nail nearly cracked her phone screen. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she'd never known hardship. But becoming an actress was another matter. In her three years since debuting, she'd appeared in countless terrible films. She had everything going for her, except the talent. When her agent tactfully suggested she find an acting coach, a clip from the film Dark River was playing on TV. Onscreen, facing the camera, Xu Shutong smiled as she teetered on the brink of death. Audiences had hailed it as a legendary performance. Jiang Yining pointed at the screen, her voice ringing out: "I want her!" Her agent looked troubled. Jiang Yining didn't know that Xu Shutong had ended her contract with her agency just days earlier and announced her retirement. The scandalous rumors about her had even overshadowed the retirement news on the trending list. Retiring at the height of her career, Xu Shutong had been forced to return to an ordinary life. Then one rainy night, a Maybach pulled up outside a convenience store. The "resource-backed star," a frequent name on the trending list, walked in. A check landed on the counter. Jiang Yining said in an unmistakable tone: "Teach me how to act." Xu Shutong glanced at the check, covered in zeros, and smiled coolly. "Not enough." Jiang Yining paused. "Then what do you want?" What did she want? She wanted to stand beneath the spotlights again. She wanted the former boss of her agency to kneel and beg her forgiveness. She wanted to carve out her own shining road to stardom in these murkiest waters. "I want a lot." "Then let's see what you can teach me." Later, the two appeared together on a variety show. A guest teased, "Yining's acting has improved by leaps and bounds. Netizens all say it's because Teacher Xu is such a good coach. Teacher Xu, could you teach me too?" Before Xu Shutong could answer, Jiang Yining draped an arm over her shoulder and said with a smile, "Xu Shutong can only have one student, and that's me." The host asked, "Could you give us a little glimpse of what happens in your acting lessons?" The two exchanged a look, and the camera captured its unmistakable meaning. "That's our secret." CP fans: Huh??? Did something just get shoved into my mouth?! --The first night of acting lessons-- Xu Shutong gripped Jiang Yining by the throat as she taught her to act out choking. "Your trembling makes you look too much like a greenhouse rose. I want you to play a weed on the edge of a cliff, about to die." --The Nth night of acting lessons-- Jiang Yining pinned Xu Shutong against the edge of the bed as they practiced a steamy scene. "Why are you hiding? Didn't the bed scene in Dark River win an award?" Next book: Her Thousand-Layered Schemes Blurb: Wen Yuqing had been single her entire life. The most mind-blowing thing she'd ever seen happened one weekend: Her dim-witted little brother, who did nothing but play video games, had actually brought home a goddess for a girlfriend. "Sis, this is my girlfriend, Jiang Yao." Wen Yuqing stared at the face that had appeared in her old dreams countless times. The spicy snack in her hand dropped to the floor. She grabbed Jiang Yao's hand, struggling to hold back her turbulent emotions. "He's dark, skinny, and stupid. What could you possibly see in him?!" Jiang Yao gently squeezed her hand in return, her fingertips brushing Wen Yuqing's palm almost imperceptibly. Her voice was languid, tinged with amusement. "Take a guess." [New forum help thread]: [Help! My brother's new girlfriend is the upperclassman I had a crush on in high school. What do I do?! Urgent, waiting for replies!] [Reply]: Obviously, steal her away~~ As long as you make the first move, you'll have a story together! [Thread starter]: Stop messing around. I haven't been into straight girls for years. [Update]: Help, my brother's new girlfriend keeps asking me out when he's not around, and she gives me gifts... [Reply]: She is definitely into you! [Thread starter]: Stop being delusional. Then one night, Wen Yuqing ran into Jiang Yao at a lesbian bar, surrounded by a group of women asking for her contact information. "You heartbreaker!" Furious, she stormed over, dragged Jiang Yao into an empty private room, and demanded, "Are you trying to trick my brother into a marriage of convenience? What are you really after?!" Jiang Yao turned the tables, gently pressing her against the door. Her warm breath drew near, and her fingertips lifted Wen Yuqing's chin. In the darkness, her voice was irresistibly alluring. "What am I after..." "I had to trick him so I could have a proper excuse to keep seeing someone..." "The silly girl who could only sneak glances at me in the library back then, and didn't even dare say hello." Wen Yuqing went rigid, her mind completely blank. "So, here's the answer to your question." Jiang Yao's lips nearly brushed her ear. "The one I want..." "Has always been his sister." Theme: Moving forward hand in hand to build a future together.