Chapter 11: Watching with Cold Eyes

Jiang Yu clenched her fists, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes.
"Shen Rongyin, just you wait. Who's playing whom is still up in the air!"

Night descended, and the lights in the studio gleamed with an almost blinding intensity. Jiang Yu had received a notice to come in and reshoot a scene. Although she had no new work lined up at the moment, it was still better than idling away her time.

During a break in filming, she sat quietly in a corner, leafing through the script in her hands. Dressed in a thin costume and draped in a simple coat, she appeared especially serene and withdrawn.

Zhuang Luoyan approached, carrying a steaming cup of coffee, a half-smile playing on her lips.
"Miss Jiang, so diligent today?"

Jiang Yu looked up, her gaze indifferent, her voice calm. "Secretary Zhuang, is there something you need?"

Zhuang Luoyan set the coffee down carelessly in front of Jiang Yu, though her tone carried a certain sharpness.
"You've been working hard, so I brought this especially for you. But Miss Jiang, do be careful not to make any mistakes this time. If you delay filming again and require more reshoots, there will be consequences."

At these words, Jiang Yu frowned slightly, but her voice remained even. "Thank you for the reminder, Secretary Zhuang."
Despite her words, she made no move to touch the coffee.

Noticing this, a trace of displeasure flickered in Zhuang Luoyan's eyes, and her tone grew even more pointed.
"Does Miss Jiang have some issue with me?"

Jiang Yu's hand paused briefly. She shut her script and looked straight at Zhuang Luoyan. "Secretary Zhuang, are you here to teach me how to do my job?"

Zhuang Luoyan was taken aback, her smile freezing instantly.
Just as she was about to retort, Lin Zhiwei pushed open the door, her gaze sweeping over the two of them before she let out a cold laugh. "What a lively scene. Is Secretary Zhuang's job now to supervise the artists?"

Zhuang Luoyan suppressed her anger and forced a smile. "Miss Lin, I was only reminding Miss Jiang, nothing more."

Lin Zhiwei snorted, crossing her arms as she leaned against the doorframe. "Is that so? Because it didn't sound like a reminder to me—more like a reprimand. With that tone, Secretary Zhuang, you really do sound like a deputy director."

Zhuang Luoyan's expression darkened further, but she dared not say more. She knew Lin Zhiwei's status was special—someone who had earned Fu Boyun's favor was not someone she could afford to offend lightly.

"Jiang Yu, let's go," Lin Zhiwei said, unwilling to spare Zhuang Luoyan another glance. She took Jiang Yu by the arm and made to leave.

They had barely taken two steps when Fu Boyun's voice sounded from outside the door—cold and oppressive. "Where do you think you're going? Did you come here just to stand up for others?"

Fu Boyun strode in, tall and imposing, his features sharp as if carved from stone. His gaze swept over Jiang Yu and Lin Zhiwei, chilly and unyielding.

"Lin Zhiwei," he said, surveying the tense atmosphere, his voice unfriendly. "You still haven't changed that temperament of yours. Who told you to meddle in this business?"

Lin Zhiwei arched an eyebrow, utterly unafraid.
"President Fu, it was Secretary Zhuang who overstepped and tried to give Jiang Yu a hard time. I just happened to see it and didn't want her to be bullied, that's all."

Zhuang Luoyan's attitude shifted immediately. In front of Fu Boyun, she was always scrupulously polite.
"President Fu, I wasn't making things difficult for Miss Jiang. I was only reminding her to keep an eye on the schedule. Miss Lin must have misunderstood."

Fu Boyun ignored Zhuang Luoyan and fixed his gaze on Jiang Yu instead, his voice cold as ice.
"Jiang Yu, if that's your attitude toward your work, then all your assignments can be put on hold. There's no need to just give you a quiet ban!"

Jiang Yu felt her chest tighten, looking up at him.
What was wrong with this man? Was he blind?

"How ridiculous," she sneered. "In what way have I been disrespectful? President Fu, which of your eyes saw me slacking off?"