The Movie Queen Always Wants to Kiss Me - Chapter 12 - A Young Girl’s Secret Feelings

By thirteen, Cheng Muye had already cut off her long hair and dyed it a brassy yellow. She swaggered through school with a gang of girls at her side, smoking, drinking, picking fights in back alleys. On campus, she was a notorious little tyrant, terrifying boys into tears, sending them running home to their mothers.

Fun? Hardly. Happiness? Not at all. She had been teetering on the edge, suffocating beneath the weight of her mother’s early death, a stepmother’s arrival, and the birth of a newborn brother… a burden that nearly crushed her.

All she had wanted was to lash out, to vent her fury at being born the wrong gender.

She was born into a traditional family that favored sons over daughters and for more than a decade, no matter how hard she struggled, every effort was brushed aside, unrecognized, erased without a trace.

Perhaps her grandparents had been too domineering. Perhaps her parents had been too weak. When two powerless, faltering people come together, tragedy is inevitable. Her mother slit her wrists, leaving behind silence and blood. A stepmother entered the picture soon after, and not long later, a baby brother was born… everything unfolding so quickly she could hardly keep up.

And all of this happened simply because she was a girl.

If only she had been born a boy, they might have been a happy family. Her mother would never have cursed her with such venomous words, ‘You ruined me! You’re a curse, you’ve killed me!’

In the end, she really had killed her.

Cheng Muye snapped out of the weight of her memories and saw Tang Anhe had already changed. A long white shirt paired with pink ultra-short shorts made her look sweet, almost adorable. She stood just behind her, close enough that Muye could reach out and pull her into her arms but she clenched her fists instead, holding back. Too soon. Still too soon.

Tang Anhe, completely oblivious to the storm of emotions behind her, spun around cheerfully, holding her hands up to gauge their height difference. “Right at your chest! This height difference is perfect. From now on, I’ll just use Brother Cheng as my model when looking for a boyfriend.”

The comment hung in the air, freezing everyone.

Cheng Muye’s mood, already heavy, snapped with anger at Tang Anhe’s words. In a flash, she grabbed her and pressed her against the dressing mirror. Her face was icy, her hands on Tang Anhe’s soft chest, pressing just a little harder than necessary. “Want to look for a boyfriend? Want to fall in love? Or… want to sleep with someone?”

Tang Anhe cried out, eyes wide and glistening, voice trembling. “Brother Cheng? Ouch… wh-what are you doing?”

Cheng Muye didn’t soften. She held on tighter, gaze sharp and threatening. “If they treated you like that. Groping you, biting you, taking every chance to toy with you… wouldn’t you be scared?”

“I…I—” Tang Anhe stammered, her face burning red, almost painful to look at.

Damn it.

She could feel how much she wanted her, right here, right now.

Her mind full of reckless thoughts, Cheng Muye forced herself to pull back. She let go, spun away, and hurried off.

Tang Anhe stood frozen, frowning and thinking for a long while, yet still unable to understand what Cheng Muye had meant.

“Knock, knock.”

Zhao Fenfang pushed the door open and saw her leaning against the dressing mirror, cheeks flushed. Frowning in confusion, she asked, “What’s wrong? You look like something’s weighing on your mind.”

Fenfang was a perceptive woman, so she immediately noticed the unnatural flush on her face.

A girl’s secret feelings?

Or… maybe she’d had a wet dream?

“Sister Fenfang, if a girl…” Tang Anhe began, thinking of what Cheng Muye had just done to her, but stopped halfway. Maybe Fenfang would just assume she was… silly in love, always daydreaming about romance, just like her cousin, who would spank her whenever annoyed. But pinching that…

“N-nothing. I just… woke up a bit muddled this morning.”

In the end, Tang Anhe didn’t say anything. For one, it was their little secret. For another, she worried that if her cousin found out, she might kick her out. Despite getting handsy at times, Cheng Muye treated her well. As she had said last night, you shouldn’t burn bridges or betray someone who’s been good to you. Yes. She needed to protect her, just as Cheng Muye protected her.

She thought for a moment, then added, “My mind’s still a bit fuzzy… I’ll go calm down in the bathroom.”

Zhao Fenfang sensed something was off, but knowing how carefree and impulsive Tang Anhe usually was, she didn’t think much of it. She simply reminded her, “Hurry and wash up. After breakfast, I still have to do your makeup. We’re running short on time.”

In the bathroom, staring at her flushed reflection in the sink, Tang Anhe let out a quiet sigh and murmured, “Okay… I got it.”

She knew she needed a proper talk with Cheng Muye.

Damn it… couldn’t she keep her hands to herself next time? It had hurt so much.

Supporting her chest with her hands, Tang Anhe grimaced and groaned until the pain finally eased enough for her to start washing up slowly.

By the time she finished and sauntered into the dining room, Cheng Muye had already eaten. As they brushed past each other, Cheng Muye didn’t so much as glance at her.

Seeing Cheng Muye so cold, Tang Anhe pouted, feeling inexplicably upset. She sipped her milk and nibbled on a bun, silently thinking, I just muttered a few words about having a boyfriend. I didn’t do anything to her! She was the one who pinched me and hurt me, and I didn’t even complain—so why’s she giving me the cold shoulder?

Cheng Muye kept up this icy attitude all the way until Tang Anhe had finished her makeup and climbed into the chauffeured car. Sitting in the back seat, her expression still frosty, Cheng Muye barely glanced at her before turning her head away.

Tang Anhe felt even more aggrieved but clenched her teeth, determined not to respond.

The car ride passed in silence until they reached their destination—Changyu Island, a scenic spot in Changqing City.

Changyu Island got its name from the abundance of fish, shrimp, sea cucumbers, and shellfish in the area. Once a thriving hub for fisheries, it had contributed significantly to Changqing’s GDP. With tourism now booming, the government had launched a new wave of development and planning. Visitors flocked to the island for fishing trips and seaside adventures, turning it into a thriving boon for the local community.

Watching the car’s path, Tang Anhe realized they were headed to Changyu Island. She had shot films there before, so she knew the area well. Excitement brightening her voice, she turned to the passenger seat and asked Song Qiluo, “Sis, are we going to Changyu Island?”

Flipping through a file, Song Qiluo murmured, “Mm.”

Tang Anhe’s eyes lit up at the confirmation. Blushing slightly, she asked eagerly, “What kind of commercial are we filming there? Am I going to be the official ambassador for Changyu Island?”

Song Qiluo chuckled as soon as she heard it. “You? With all your current scandals, and you want to be the face of Changyu Island? Here, take a look at the contract and figure it out yourself.”

Tang Anhe grabbed the file and skimmed it quickly. She realized it was for a diamond ring endorsement. The shoot itself was simple: handsome men and beautiful women on a beach, enacting proposals and declarations of love. Naturally, there was also the tagline: “Lanxin Diamond Ring—True Love is Eternal.”

It really was a straightforward commercial. No wonder Song Qiluo hadn’t let her prepare in advance.

But Tang Anhe’s assumption wasn’t the whole story. The real reason Song Qiluo had kept it from her was that the male lead in the proposal scene was Emperor of Acting Zheng Ye. Song Qiluo worried that if Tang Anhe knew ahead of time, she might try to stir up chaos under the guise of “building chemistry.”

Tang Anhe, unaware of this, froze when she saw the name. “Sis! Sis! The Emperor of Acting is in this too? I get to shoot with the Emperor of Acting? Really?”

Song Qiluo ignored her, absorbed in the file.

Realizing she was being deliberately ignored, Tang Anhe didn’t press further. Instead, she beamed, her face lighting up like a blooming flower. Forgetting the mini cold war with Cheng Muye, she nudged her with her elbow. “Hey, Brother Cheng, you know the Emperor of Acting, right? Zheng Ye, the male lead in Deserted Island Prey. He’s really handsome and has a great temper.”

Cheng Muye, unable to bear hearing her praise someone else, became even colder. Shifting slightly aside, her tone flat and emotionless, she said, “Don’t know him.”

“A superstar, an Emperor of Acting, and you don’t know him? Ugh, you’re way too ignorant.”

“Not interested.”

“How can you not be interested? Fine, let me cultivate some interest for you. Zheng Ye is 28, debuted at 13, has starred in seven major films, and at 26, won the Emperor of Acting title with Deserted Island Prey. In recent years, he’s been developing internationally and is quite famous abroad…”

She rambled on, her voice high-pitched and slightly noisy.

Cheng Muye clenched her teeth, fuming with frustration, but Song Qiluo was even more impatient.

“Can’t you act with a little more dignity? Remember, you’re the Best Actress. Must you behave like some brainless fangirl?” Song Qiluo slammed the file shut, turning to glare at her with a face cold enough to freeze the air. “Tang Anhe, what’s gotten into you these past few days? Did winning Best Actress make you think you’re special, that you can just let yourself go? Let me tell you, it won’t happen! With that attitude, you won’t even keep the title for a year!”

The tone was harsh, and Tang Anhe felt a deep sting. She couldn’t help but feel resentful—what was wrong with her liking Zheng Ye? He was a prodigiously talented young man, handsome and captivating. Which female star in the entertainment industry wouldn’t be drawn to him? There was no need to put on airs, pretending to be some untouchable goddess. Besides, celebrity couples were everywhere in the industry… so why couldn’t she be one of them?

“Can’t hold the title? Then don’t. Whoever wants it can have it. As if I care.” She muttered the words to herself, then lowered her gaze to the person beside her. Seeing Cheng Muye’s sharp brows furrow and her handsome face tense, her heart skipped a beat for reasons she couldn’t explain.

She knew Cheng Muye was upset with her, yet no matter how she tried, she couldn’t figure out what she had done to provoke her.

So pure and simple, she couldn’t possibly realize that while she saw Cheng Muye as her “bro,” Cheng Muye was thinking of her in an entirely different way.