1.22

Yin Yin folded her arms across her chest, studying Su Mo in silence.

Su Mo, sensing her skepticism, felt at a loss. He struggled with words and wasn't adept at soothing her or expressing himself sweetly. What if she really misunderstood him? He couldn't help but look genuinely aggrieved.

Seeing his pitiful expression made Yin Yin chuckle.

"Okay, I'm not angry. You're my husband, so of course, I trust you. But you should have told me about this," she said, her tone softening. It seemed Liang Xin had used the opportunity of filming to get close to Su Mo, and Yin Yin was unaware of Liang Xin's harassment.

"I was wrong," Su Mo admitted, looking as if he were a big dog wagging its tail in apology.

Xiao Gao exited the room, a smile on his face. The aloof Brother Mo was evidently afraid of Sister Yin. It was an amusing contrast.

Relieved by Yin Yin's trust, Su Mo focused solely on her opinion. He didn't care about others' judgments—his priority was to avoid misunderstandings with her.

Yin Yin naturally believed in Su Mo. After all, if he didn't cherish her, he wouldn't have stayed with her and their child for so many years. He wouldn't have resisted divorce despite family pressure, nor would he have fallen into depression a month after their separation.

Su Mo placed Dudu on the bed and then embraced Yin Yin, saying, "Thank you for believing in me."

Su Yuanjin, watching, giggled, covering his mouth with tiny hands like a mischievous mouse.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yin Yin patted Su Mo's hand. "Alright, go take a shower. We still need to eat later."

"Okay," Su Mo replied, heading toward the bathroom. Yin Yin watched him with a thoughtful expression, contemplating Liang Xin's audacity. It seemed she needed to be taught a lesson.

---

"Cut!" The director's voice thundered with irritation. "Liang Xin, what's wrong with you? I told you to act angry, not just glare!"

Embarrassed by the public criticism, Liang Xin swallowed her frustration. She could only apologize, "Sorry, director. I'll focus better this time. Let's do it again."

"Alright, reset," the director instructed, signaling everyone to prepare for another take.

At that moment, Yin Yin was performing opposite Liang Xin. As the heroine, Yin Yin's role was to be weak while Liang Xin's character, the villain's daughter, bullied her—only for Yin Yin's character to retaliate later.

Yin Yin's attire was disheveled, yet her demeanor remained regal. Her eyes, cold as ice, locked onto Liang Xin as she delivered her line, "Su Yuan, I don't provoke others unless provoked. But if someone wrongs me, I'll make them pay a hundredfold."

Liang Xin, facing the chilling gaze, momentarily blanked out. She opened her mouth but couldn't muster a response.

"Cut! Liang Xin, are you daydreaming?" The director roared again, his patience wearing thin. "Do you even know how to act? If you can't handle it, get out of my crew."

Director Jin had exceptionally high standards for his actors. If he weren't indebted to Shaohua Entertainment's CEO, Liang Xin would never have made it into the cast.

He had no acting skills and was proving to be a hindrance.

Yin Yin's gaze shifted away as Liang Xin snapped back to reality, her face flushed with humiliation. This had happened repeatedly—five or six times already. Her repeated failures were becoming a source of embarrassment.

-----

Liang Xin was fuming as she confronted Sister Hu after being scolded in public. "I don't understand what's wrong with that woman, Yin Yin. She's deliberately suppressing my performance to make me look bad!"

Sister Hu quickly intervened, covering Liang Xin's mouth and apologizing to the director and others. "I'm sorry. Liang Xin may be having an off day. Let us take a short break to help her recover."

The director waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, everyone take a fifteen-minute break."

Yin Yin, watching Liang Xin being led away by Sister Hu, couldn't help but smile lazily, her red lips curving in amusement.

---

In the lounge, Liang Xin struggled against Sister Hu's grip. "Let me go! It's that woman, Yin Yin, who's sabotaging me. That's why I'm being scolded!"

Sister Hu closed the door behind them. "I know. Not only you, but everyone knows that she's deliberately undermining your performance."

Liang Xin was taken aback. "Then why hasn't anyone said anything? Why hasn't the director stepped in?"

Sister Hu sneered. "What are you expecting? She's a top actress. The director begged her to take this role, while you were a paid addition. Who do you think the director will support? Who do you think the others will side with?"

Feeling even worse upon hearing she was overshadowed by Yin Yin, Liang Xin fumed. "She's obviously trying to make me look bad in front of everyone. I hate being humiliated like this."

"So what? Are you planning to retaliate?"

Liang Xin was momentarily speechless, glaring at Sister Hu. She wanted to fight back but lacked the means.

Sister Hu sighed and spoke earnestly. "You should consider whether you've offended her in some way. Yin Yin isn't known for bullying others just because of her status."

Angry at the implication that she might be in the wrong, Liang Xin snapped, "Are you implying that I'm the one who bullies others? I have no idea how I might have offended her. I think she's just jealous of my youth and beauty."

Sister Hu's face twitched with frustration. "Arguing with you is pointless."

"If you've really wronged Yin Yin, you should apologize to her as soon as possible," Sister Hu advised.

Liang Xin huffed, dismissing the suggestion. "Why should I apologize? I don't think I've done anything wrong. She wouldn't dare hold this against me."

Sister Hu warned, "Aren't you worried about losing your role in this drama?"

Liang Xin's pride flared. "She won't dare. Remember, I come from the Chu family. If I'm ever in contact with the core figures, I'll make sure she's pulled down."

Sister Hu shook her head, feeling that Liang Xin was heading for trouble. Yet she was puzzled. Why was Yin Yin intentionally suppressing Liang Xin? What had Liang Xin done to offend her?

After the break, Liang Xin returned to filming. This time, the shoot went more smoothly, with Yin Yin no longer pressing the issue. The director, though aware of Yin Yin's deliberate suppression, chose not to confront her, maintaining harmony on set.

Su Mo, observing from the sidelines, also noticed Yin Yin's intentional undermining of Liang Xin's performance. He believed that Yin Yin had a reason for her actions, considering she knew about Liang Xin's harassment the day before.

(End of this chapter)