First Acting Scene.

Meiying observed Xuejian as he gazed at her for a while before redirecting his attention towards Mrs. Feng. Without uttering a word to Meiying, he descended the stairs, leaving her in surprise.

Gently cradling Mrs. Feng in his hands, Xuejian gave instructions to Butler Yang to fetch his car keys before departing through the entrance. Butler Yang ascended the stairs, casting a sympathetic glance towards Meiying as he continued on his way.

Meiying was seething with anger. How could Xuejian not respond? Does this mean he actually believed Mrs. Feng's words? In a fit of frustration, she sprinted towards her room and locked the door. Approaching her dressing table, she swept her hand across it, causing all the contents to crash to the ground. Unsatisfied, she seized a chair and struck it against the mirror, shattering it into countless pieces.

Collapsing onto the floor, Meiying leaned against the wall, pulling her legs close and clutching them with her trembling hands, burying her face within. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she began to sob uncontrollably.

How could he have believed that she was capable of such a thing?

Meiying couldn't recall how she eventually fell asleep, but when she awoke, the sound of her phone and alarm clock echoed from the nearby nightstand. Groggily, she stood up and made her way towards the nightstand, switching off the alarm clock. She picked up her phone and settled herself on the bed.

It was Li Jingyi calling her. She answered, her voice laden with drowsiness, "My shooting is scheduled for ten. I still have time. You don't have to pick me up, just send me the address."

"Okay, but are you feeling alright?" Jingyi inquired with concern.

"I'm okay, Jingyi! I'll meet you really soon," Meiying replied, quickly ending the call and tossing her phone aside.

Glancing wearily at her disheveled dressing table, she released a deep sigh. Nevertheless, she gathered her strength and commenced the process of freshening up, not expending too much effort on her appearance considering her father-in-law had arranged everything in advance. He had messaged her a few days ago about it, easing her burden.

Grabbing the keys to her Ferrari, Meiying went outside and got into her car, heading towards the shooting location that Jingyi had texted to her. Jingyi was already there and welcomed her into the assigned van, where her personal stylist, Liu Xia, greeted her warmly. Liu Xia worked efficiently, swiftly preparing Meiying for her role.

Meiying transitioned into her character costume, donning a knee-length skirt adorned with stockings and a pair of low-heeled boots. On top, she layered a stylish dress shirt and a cardigan, while her hair mimicked the style from the earlier photoshoot.

Emerging from the van, Meiying settled into her designated chair, observing the bustling scene of preparations for the upcoming act. The scene focused on Xiu Ying and Huo Wu, who were assigned to road patrol as a punishment for Xiu Ying's bad behavior towards a suspect, highlighting her rebellious attitude

Chen Meilin joined her in the nearby chair and asked, "How do you feel about your first performance?"

Meiying let out a sigh, her inner turmoil attempting to surface. "I cannot say for certain," she responded, concealing her true emotions.

"Something seems amiss. You do not appear your usual self," Chen Meilin observed astutely.

"In order to embody the character of Xiu Ying, I must immerse myself in the role's frustrations," Meiying lied, subtly obscuring her own troubles.

Chen Meilin regarded her with admiration. "You are truly dedicated to your craft," she remarked, prompting Meiying to force a smile in response.

Meiying understood that all eyes would be on her during this crucial first act, necessitating her to let go of the events from the previous night. With unwavering determination, she prepared to seize this opportunity and showcase her acting prowess to the world.

Meiying gathered her composure as she was called to the scene, receiving some brief directions from the director. Before starting, she was handed two cups of coffee and positioned herself in front of a café.

As the crew and actors took their places, the director shouted "action!"

Meiying began to embody the role of Xiu Ying, determined to deliver a powerful performance, she walked toward a Bentley car where Huang Yifan, portraying Huo Wu, sat in the driver's seat, listening to the radio for any reports.

"You shouldn't be working so hard. This isn't even our job," Xiu Ying remarked, handing one of the coffees to Huo Wu.

Huo Wu turned to her, scoffing, "Well, someone had to break into a suspect's house and threaten him until he fainted. Now I'm stuck here with you."

"They'll need us back eventually," she said, passing him the coffee. However, Xiu Ying followed his gaze, noticing a young woman resembling Huo Wu's step cousin, Chen Meilin, who was playing the role of Yang Xiulan.

"Why does she bear such a resemblance to your step cousin?" Xiu Ying asked curiously.

"She doesn't," Huo Wu answered, turning away.

"Are you still upset with your step cousin?"

"Who wouldn't be?"

Xiu Ying was about to ask something else when a middle-aged woman suddenly screamed for her bag.

Seeing a man running past her with the woman's handbag, Xiu Ying gave chase, and Huo Wu stepped out of the car to join her.

Xiu Ying yelled for the man to stop, but he continued to run. She reached for her gun, ready to shoot, but Huo Wu shouted from behind, commanding her not to. Frustrated, she threw her coffee at him instead. The man faltered but kept running.

"Damn it!" Xiu Ying exclaimed. She was about to use her gun, even if it meant Huo Wu scolding her once again, but before she could pull the trigger, a man wearing a black hood and face mask knocked the thief unconscious. Xiu Ying and Huo Wu stopped running as they stood in shock.

Taking the handbag, the hooded man handed it to the middle-aged woman, who had been running alongside them. She thanked him profusely before leaving.

People gathered around, some actors and crew members among them, including Chen Meilin. The hooded man, played by Zhang Hongzong and referred to as Wei Long, turned towards both Xiu Ying and Huo Wu with a smile.

"Police officers these days are so unreliable," he remarked as he turned away to leave.

Xiu Ying widened her eyes, feeling a surge of anger. "Hey!" Xiu Ying shouted, demanding his attention. Wei Long turned around, only to be met with a gun pointing at his forehead and meeting Xiu Ying's intense gaze. But instead of cowering, he seemed amused, his smirk taunting her. Gasps of shock filled the air as everyone watched in disbelief.

Xiu Ying's finger tightened on the trigger, ready to take action. However, Huo Wu, alarmed, swiftly intervened, dragging her away as she protested, her voice filled with rage.

"You want to risk losing your job?" Huo Wu threatened, trying to reason with her.

"Maybe. But let me kill that bastard first!" Xiu Ying shouted in fury. Huo Wu reluctantly took hold of her gun and hit her on the back of her head, causing her to fall unconscious.

Wei Long observed the scene, an amused expression lingering on his face as he looked at Huo Wu who was struggling to hold Xiu Ying from not falling.

"Her taste for blood is remarkable" he stated with a smile before he turned away, gracefully walking out of the chaotic scene.

Amongst the crowd, Yang Xiulan watched the unfolding drama with a mix of surprise and concern. Her eyes locked with Huo Wu's for a brief moment before he broke off the eye contact. He swiftly carried the unconscious Xiu Ying to the car and drove away, only stopping when they heard the director yell "cut!"

As the applause erupted, Meiying emerged from the car, holding her head in pain. Huang Yifan rushed to her side, showing genuine concern.

"Did I hit you too hard?" he asked, worry etched across his face.

"No, I'm alright," she assured him, though he remained adamant, scooping her up in his arms and insisting they needed a doctor.

Meilin and Hongzong approached them, Hongzong pinching his ear, indicating Yifan's loud fuss, while Meilin wore a worried expression.

The director approached the group, explaining that a friend of his, who happened to be a doctor, was visiting him and offered to help. Yifan, unwilling to relinquish his protective stance, continued to cradle Meiying as they followed the director's lead. Meiying attempted to reassure him, yet Yifan persisted, until their path was obstructed by the sudden appearance of Xuejian.

A piercing gaze locked between them, Xuejian standing his ground while Yifan valiantly held his own.

"Release my wife," Xuejian uttered through gritted teeth.

The weight of the word 'wife' reverberated in Yifan's ears, prompting him to concede and carefully place her down.

Meiying's eyes burned with anger as she glanced at Xuejian.