The Movie Queen Always Wants to Kiss Me - Chapter 17 - I Know My Limits

Tang Anhe glided over, her wedding gown accentuating her exquisite figure. The pure white, flowing skirt swirled around her, making her look like a dreamlike fairy, noble, elegant, and sacred.

No woman could resist the allure of a wedding gown.

No man could resist a woman in a wedding gown.

The photographer noticed her first, his eyes lighting up in awe at her beauty. “Miss Tang, you truly radiate today. Absolutely stunning!” he exclaimed.

He was a young, straightforward man, his gaze full of open admiration and praise.

Having heard such compliments countless times, Tang Anhe remained composed. She nodded and smiled at him, each expression exuding grace and charm. The photographer flushed, his excitement and nerves making sweat bead on his hands as he tried to steady the camera.

Sensing it, Zheng Ye gave his shoulder a light, reassuring pat, breaking the tension. “Come on, hurry up with the shots. It’s scorching out here. Don’t let Miss Tang get heatstroke.” Then, turning to her, he extended his long, fair hand with an easy smile. “Miss Tang, it’s a pleasure to work with you.”

Tang Anhe, caught off guard, hurried to return the gesture. Her earlier composure unraveled instantly, cheeks burning, smile stiff, her voice trembling. “I… I’m honored as well, Mr. Emperor of Acting…”

The moment the words escaped her lips, she instantly despised herself for having said them.

Setting aside the fact that she was an award-winning actress on the same level as him, Zheng Ye should have addressed her as a senior colleague after all her years in the entertainment industry. She really had no reason to be so timid and meek.

She behaved far too petty in front of the actor.

Fortunately, this self-reproach didn’t linger for too long.

The photographer began shooting almost immediately.

Zheng Ye knelt before her with deep devotion, his eyes as tender and intoxicating as a sky full of stars. He presented her with a bouquet and a diamond ring, his voice low and husky. “My dear, marry me!”

Tang Anhe couldn’t meet his gaze, instead glancing sideways at Cheng Muye. She found her staring back, eyes blazing as if sending a single, unspoken message: Marry me!

The moment those words sank in, her mind erupted in a deafening roar. Her face burned crimson, her whole-body trembling.

She must be insane!

Tang Anhe, did a donkey kick you in the head, or did a pig gnaw on your brain?

What kind of nonsense are you thinking!

She chastised herself silently, swiftly turning her gaze to meet Zheng Ye’s handsome face.

Distracted as she was, the tension she once felt before Zheng Ye seemed to vanish. Her demeanor and expressions returned to their natural grace as she slipped seamlessly into the role of a shy, blissful bride.

“Lanxin Diamond Ring—True Love Lasts Forever!”

The moment she delivered the last line, the shoot ended, and warm applause erupted, marking the successful wrap.

Before Tang Anhe could savor the triumph, Song Qiluo pushed through the crowd, rushing over with urgency. “Hurry!” she exclaimed. “The reporters are here.”

Reporters?

For a commercial shoot?

Tang Anhe was still reeling from the surprise when Cheng Muye slid an arm around her. Noticing her confusion, she explained, “They’re not here for good reasons. It’s about the mall situation. They’ve been waiting outside the studio since early morning. Luckily, we had the commercial shoot today and managed to avoid them.”

Only then did Tang Anhe remember that troublesome matter.

“So what should we do? Shouldn’t we hold a press conference to clarify things?”

“Don’t worry about that. Sister Song will handle it.”

They hurried toward the van, but it was already too late—the chauffeured vehicle had been already surrounded by reporters.

To the press, Tang Anhe and the ongoing situation were front-page news. With fresh headlines surfacing one after another, it would have been negligence not to press for answers. The instant their eyes landed on her, the questions came in a relentless barrage:

“Miss Tang, many netizens are speculating that your new Weibo username is a veiled jab at superstar Gu Zixiao. How do you respond to the rumors of tension between you two?”

“Miss Tang, what about the mall incident yesterday? Some say you were deliberately provoking fans. What’s your take on that?”

“Miss Tang, you’ve long been celebrated by netizens as the 21st century’s last ‘socialite’ and ‘lady.’ Now that your image is under fire, is this who you really are—or a calculated performance?”

“Miss Tang, we need an explanation!”

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A cacophony of voices, shouts, and calls, spittle flying everywhere!

Tang Anhe felt like a swarm of flies buzzing incessantly in her ears, so irritated she nearly snapped at them.

What does it have to do with you? Bunch of busybodies sticking your noses where they don’t belong.

She thought it but dared not say it aloud.

Tang Anhe watched silently as Song Qiluo stepped forward. “We’ll answer these questions at the press conference later,” she said. “It’s hot out, and Anhe has been filming commercials for hours. Shouldn’t we let her rest in the car first?”

Click, click, click—

How could the reporters let them off so easily?

A male reporter with a round belly spoke bluntly. “Miss Tang needs a break after filming just one commercial? And what about us? We’ve waited half a day at Anxin Studio and then traveled all the way here. Don’t we deserve a break? Miss Song, celebrities are precious, but does that mean we reporters are born to toil endlessly?”

His words immediately drew a chorus of agreement from the crowd.

Every profession has its hardships. The rapidly rising annual sudden death rate among journalists was itself a major social concern.

Song Qiluo hadn’t anticipated such a collective backlash. She hurried to clarify, “Sorry, that’s not what I meant, everyone—”

“Nobody asked you to come here!”

Tang Anhe couldn’t bear seeing her cousin compromise her principles and muttered under her breath.

That single remark was enough to ignite the journalists’ fuse.

The male reporter stepped forward, his voice sharp and tinged with bitter humor. “Of course no one invited us. Who says we’re lowly and must scrape a living off Miss Tang? Poor us—braving wind and rain only to be scowled at by you celebrities!”

His provocative words sparked the others, and soon the reporters were all chiming in.

“Miss Tang, that’s going too far.”

“Exactly! She clearly looks down on us reporters.”

“Just because she’s pretty, she acts like she’s hot stuff, as if we haven’t been the ones promoting her!”

“She’s probably past her prime anyway. Otherwise, why would she resort to flirting with fans in the mall yesterday just to stir up publicity?”

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Each cutting remark stung worse than a slap in the face.

Tang Anhe seethed with anger, ready to retort, but Cheng Muye grabbed her arm and shielded her as they made their way toward the chauffeured van.

Seeing her push through, the reporters naturally closed in tighter.

Tang Anhe hadn’t even had time to change out of her wedding dress. The long train dragged across the ground, getting stepped on repeatedly. Worried about damaging it, she frowned. “Please don’t crowd me. This dress is very expensive. If it gets ruined, I can’t afford to pay for it.”

Her words immediately sparked another wave of controversy.

A male reporter thrust his microphone toward her. “Miss Tang, we know you’re wealthy, but isn’t flaunting your riches like this a bit much?”

The other reporters murmured among themselves.

“What’s wrong with Tang Anhe? Her words are so harsh!”

“Everyone knows she’s wealthy. Last year, her per-episode fee hit seventy million yuan, setting a new record for highest-paid actress.”

“But even with all that money, she shouldn’t behave like this! So arrogant!”

“Is the new generation of wealth flaunting starting again? She’s practically crushing the last straw of social equality!”

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“Pfft! You’re the instigator of this rotten social trend, a vermin infesting society!”

The final insult still spat out by that male reporter.

Damn it! How dare he speak to her like that!

Cheng Muye finally couldn’t hold back. She grabbed his tie, strode forward, and pinned him against the door of the chauffeur-driven car. Standing taller than him, she looked down with an air of superior disdain. “Esteemed Mr. Journalist, I am Cheng Muye, Miss Tang’s bodyguard. Like all of you, I am a commoner, a hardworking soul. Might I ask you a few questions?”

The male reporter hadn’t expected someone to suddenly grab him, especially someone with such an imposing presence. For a moment, he felt intimidated. But he was no novice in journalism. He quickly regained his composure and replied, “Sir, let’s talk this out calmly. No need for physical force!”

Song Qiluo hadn’t expected Cheng Muye’s sudden move either. She hurriedly whispered, “Xiao Cheng, let him go. Don’t provoke—”

Before she could finish, Tang Anhe interrupted. “Sis, leave it. Brother Cheng did the right thing.” She turned to Cheng Muye, winking mischievously. “Well done, Brother Cheng!”

“Well done what?” Song Qiluo angrily shook off her hand and snapped, “Enough! Don’t cause any trouble!”

Cheng Muye, sensing that Song Qiluo didn’t want to upset the reporters, quickly offered a reassuring smile. “It’s fine, Sister Song. I know what I’m doing.”

Her voice was light, cheerful, and confident, her smile radiating assurance.

Song Qiluo froze, taken aback. “Xiao Cheng, you—”