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Due to Su Yao's refusal to revise the script, filming of "Dark River" was forced to halt. The production team issued a statement saying, "Filming is paused for creative adjustments," while Su Yao's agency added, "The actress needs to adjust her state," cleverly maintaining the image of all parties involved.
Taking advantage of Su Yao's popularity during this temporary break, her agency arranged several advertising shoots and commercial activities for her. However, despite her usual focus, her gaze frequently drifted off into the distance, and it took ten times the effort to barely concentrate on her work. She checked her phone repeatedly, anxious about missing any news from Lu Chen—that was her only link to Lin Yue.
"Sister Yao, you look terrible," Xiao Lin said, handing Su Yao a cup of warm water.
"It's nothing, just a bit tired," Su Yao forced a smile.
Xiao Lin sighed, wisely choosing not to press further.
That evening, Su Yuyan called, her voice filled with concern. Su Yao leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes, feeling exhaustion wash over her. "Mom, I'm really fine; I'm just a little tired lately."
"When have you ever been able to fool me?" Su Yuyan's tone softened. "Since we were kids, you've looked like this whenever you have something on your mind. It's okay if you don't want to talk about it, but don’t carry it all alone."
Su Yao felt a lump in her throat and nearly cried. "Mom, I really am fine."
After hanging up the phone, Su Yao slumped on the sofa, staring blankly at her phone screen.
One day, she finished work early and returned home. Before she could even sit down, the doorbell rang.
"Who is it?" she called out impatiently, not intending to answer the door.
"Su Yao, it's me, Zhang Zihao." The confident voice outside made Su Yao furrow her brows.
After hesitating for a moment, she reluctantly moved to the door and cautiously opened it a crack.
Zhang Zihao stood outside in a sharp suit, holding a large bouquet of roses in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other, his smile dazzlingly bright. "Long time no see."
The mixed scent of cologne and cigarettes hit her immediately.
Su Yao instinctively stepped back a half-step as she grasped the doorknob. "Young Master Zhang, is there something you need?"
Zhang Zihao raised an eyebrow and smiled confidently. "I heard our big star is in trouble? I came specifically to help you out."
He leaned forward slightly with the flowers in hand, his expression radiating "look how considerate I am."
"How did you find out about my situation?" Su Yao asked warily.
Zhang Zihao shrugged casually. "Did you forget? Zhang Group is also investing in 'Dark River.'"
His gaze roamed unabashedly around Su Yao's apartment. "Can I come in to talk? This bouquet and wine are quite heavy."
Su Yao hesitated for a moment before replying coldly, "Five minutes." She stepped aside to allow him entry.
Seeing that Su Yao had relented, Zhang Zihao placed the flowers and champagne on the entryway table and swaggered into the living room, casually sitting down in the center of the sofa.
Su Yao stood at the entrance of the living room with her arms crossed over her chest. "Get to the point; I have things to do."
"Alright, straight to business." Zhang Zihao's smile faded as he adopted a rare serious expression. "I heard you’re unwilling to change the script?"
Su Yao remained silent, coldly staring at him.
Noticing the tense atmosphere, Zhang Zihao immediately straightened up and raised his voice. "I support you!"
He exaggeratedly patted his chest as if he were a hero coming to save someone in distress. "What does Fu Qiming think he is? Letting him act opposite you? It's an insult! Don't worry; as long as I'm here, he won't succeed."
Upon hearing this, Su Yao's frown deepened further.
While Jiang Rou pressured the production team to insert Fu Qiming into the cast, she also sent Zhang Zihao to "support" her. There had to be some ulterior motive behind this absurd "assistance," but at that moment, she couldn't care less about it.
"Thank you for your kindness." Su Yao nodded politely, her tone laced with an icy indifference. "If there's nothing else, please leave. I have important matters to attend to."
Zhang Zihao clearly did not expect such a direct rejection; the smile on his face froze. A flicker of dark anger flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his harmless demeanor. "Su Yao, your important matter wouldn't happen to be about Lin Yue, would it?"
Su Yao's body jolted, and she stood frozen in place. She hadn't anticipated that Zhang Zihao would know about Lin Yue. Her face turned pale in an instant. "Why did you mention her?"
"It seems I guessed correctly." Zhang Zihao smiled smugly, suggestively spreading his hands. "Su Yao, I genuinely want to help you."
He stepped closer to Su Yao, lowering his voice with a hint of temptation. "I know Lin Yue is currently hospitalized in the United States and her condition isn't great. If you're willing, I can take you to see her."
Su Yao couldn't help but take a step forward. "You can really arrange for me to see her?"
Zhang Zihao observed Su Yao closely; it had only been a few days since they last met, yet her usually bright and captivating eyes were now bloodshot, dark circles underlining her beautiful cheekbones, which had sunken in, making her look much more haggard.
He couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch her face, wanting to hold her in his arms and soothe her current feelings of despair and pain. But deep down, he knew that the anxious look in Su Yao's eyes was not for him; all her worries, urgency, and heartache were for another person.
Her heart belonged entirely to that person.
Zhang Zihao forced a smile but maintained a confident facade. "Of course, I can arrange a private jet; we could leave as soon as tomorrow."
"Once we arrive in the United States, I can take you directly to the hospital where she is staying—the Jiang family's private hospital."
Su Yao hesitated.
She desperately wanted to see Lin Yue and confirm with her own eyes that she was safe and sound. But how did Zhang Zihao know so much about Lin Yue's situation? How could he possibly be so familiar with Lin Yue or her family?
She instinctively sensed there might be a trap behind this offer, but what if this was indeed the fastest way to see Lin Yue?
"I'll think about it," she finally said.
"Good." Zhang Zihao's face broke into a confident smile. "Take your time; I'll be waiting for your call."
After sending Zhang Zihao away, Su Yao leaned against the door and slowly slid down to the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.
How she wished someone could tell her what to do at this moment, whether Lin Yue was alright, instead of being tormented by pain and uncertainty until she could hardly breathe.
Meanwhile, far away in a private hospital room in Los Angeles, Lu Chen and Jiang Rou were engaged in a heated argument.
"I can't believe this, Xiao Rou," Lu Chen said angrily, veins bulging on his forehead. "How dare you do this behind Lin Yue's back?"
His tall figure paced back and forth in the hospital room, occasionally pointing at Jiang Rou with fingers full of accusation. "Changing the script is one thing; letting Su Yao act in bed scenes with someone like Fu Qiming? And giving away Yuexing Capital's exclusive project to Zhang Group?"
"Have you lost your mind?" Lu Chen's voice was low but filled with fury.
Jiang Rou sat beside Lin Yue's bed, gently stroking Lin Yue's pale hand with her slender fingers. She wore an expression as if nothing were amiss. "Why are you reacting so strongly? What's wrong with what I did?"
She looked up and met Lu Chen's gaze directly, disdain flickering in her alluring eyes. "I just wanted to enrich the story content and make the characters more three-dimensional."
"Audiences today prefer excitement—visual effects that pack a punch," Jiang Rou said flippantly as she shrugged. "Besides, bed scenes aren't real."
"You—" Lu Chen was so furious he couldn't find words; he could only point at Jiang Rou with trembling fingers, disbelief filling his eyes.
"As for collaborating with Zhang Group," Jiang Rou continued nonchalantly while fiddling with the Eugene bracelet on her wrist, "that was Zhang Zihao's request. Since you refused to help him pursue Su Yao, he naturally turned to me."
A smug smile crept across her lips. "What's wrong with collaborating with the Zhang Group? They’re willing to invest money and promote us heavily, saving us a lot of trouble. Spending a little to achieve a lot—why not?"
Lu Chen took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his anger. "Jiang Rou, have you thought about the consequences if she finds out about this?" He pointed at Lin Yue, who lay on the hospital bed.
"There won't be any consequences," Jiang Rou waved her hand dismissively, appearing confident. "Once Lin Yue wakes up, I’ll explain everything to her. She won’t get upset over a movie."
"Xiao Rou!" Lu Chen raised his voice, unable to contain his fury any longer. "You know what Dark River means to Yuexing Capital!"
"This is our first entertainment industry project; Lin Yue values it more than anything else."
"Changing the script and investors behind her back—what else could that be but betrayal?"
For the first time, Jiang Rou's expression wavered, her gaze shifting away.
Lu Chen stepped closer to her, leaning down to meet her eyes, his voice low and serious. "I don’t want to see you and Lin Yue create a rift over this, especially not in the current situation."
His gaze sharpened. "But what you’re doing will only push her further away and make her more determined to go towards Su Yao."
Jiang Rou's eyes instantly reddened as she shook her head in panic, her brown curls swaying slightly under the light. Her voice trembled. "That’s impossible; Lin Yue wouldn’t leave me for an outsider."
"I could wait for Lin Yue to wake up and tell her everything you’ve done," Lu Chen sighed. "But I won’t do that."
"Because the three of us are family, and I don’t want our feelings hurt because of someone outside."
He stared intently at Jiang Rou. "You need to face reality—what can you do to keep her heart?"
Tears silently streamed down Jiang Rou's face, dripping onto Lin Yue’s hand resting on the bed.
She looked down at Lin Yue, the face she had loved for over twenty years. The bitterness swelling within her nearly overwhelmed her.
Finally, she nodded tremulously. "I promise not to change the script."
She lifted her gaze to Lu Chen. "But the contract has already been signed; I need to talk to Zhang Zihao about breaching it myself."
Lu Chen shook his head helplessly. "Fine, but you need to handle this quickly; I’m afraid we can’t delay too long."
Just then, Lin Yue on the hospital bed let out a soft groan.
Her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings before slowly opening her eyes.
"Lin Yue, you’re awake!" Jiang Rou exclaimed excitedly as she stood up, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Lu Chen immediately moved closer to the bedside, concern etched across his face.
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