The Movie Queen Always Wants to Kiss Me - Chapter 48 - The Fallen Flower Has Feelings, But the Flowing Water Is Indifferent

Life in the entertainment industry exposed one to every kind of depravity. Pedophiles, sudden deaths during extreme S & M, orgiastic drug-fueled parties, compared to these, homosexuality was hardly shocking.

Yet those few words An Shanghua overheard during the call had planted a different kind of suspicion in her chest. Reclining on the bed, she set the phone aside, glanced toward the woman at her side, and murmured, “Could Anhe truly be that close to the Cheng family’s young lady?”

Song Qiluo had been waiting for this question. She didn’t hesitate, her lips curling in a knowing smile. “Mother, you saw the footage yourself. That hunting dog lunged at Anhe, and it was Cheng Muye who fought it off, even letting herself be bitten in the process. Think about it. Would anyone in an ordinary relationship go to such lengths? Besides, she wasn’t Anhe’s bodyguard anymore by then. She had no obligation to protect her.”

It was almost impossible to believe there wasn’t some deeper motive.

An Shanghua’s brows knit even tighter. She had poured years into shaping Tang Anhe, polishing her into the perfect socialite. And now, was all of that to be thrown away because of some entanglement with another woman?

“Does Old Master Cheng know of this?” she asked sharply.

“If that old fossil had found out, he would’ve come after us long ago. Still, we can’t afford to let our guard down. After all, the Cheng family’s only young lady is hardly an ordinary person.”

The weight of that truth sank into An Shanghua’s chest. Her gaze turned cold as she lowered her head and dialed Tang Anhe’s number again.

No answer.

She waited, then tried once more. Still no response.

Her patience snapped, her tone as sharp as a blade. “Qiluo,” she ordered icily, “go and bring her back.”

Song Qiluo gave a helpless shake of her head. “Mom, Anhe won’t listen to me. Just yesterday, when I refused to take her to Cheng Muye’s place, she forced her way out of the car and nearly hurt herself. I was scared half to death. Honestly, she’s not someone you can reason with these days. Since we’re about the same age, I really can’t bring myself to speak too harshly to her.”

Half of what she said was fabricated, but that didn’t matter. An Shanghua believed every word. Her face turned icy, her breathing harsh with suppressed anger, and for a moment she nearly lost her composure. “Outrageous! The older she grows, the more insolent she becomes!”

Song Qiluo, worried for her mother’s health, quickly reached out to pat her shoulder, her voice full of concern. “Mom, please don’t get worked up. I’ll talk to her. I promise I’ll have a proper talk with Anhe. Don’t let this upset you and harm your health.”

“What else do you plan to say to her? You’re her cousin… no, practically her sister, since you grew up together. And yet you can’t even keep her under control? All my efforts on you have gone to waste.”

“I’ve let you down,” Song Qiluo answered, bowing her head in contrition.

“You—oh! Oh, you!”

But the truth was, An Shanghua’s disappointment went deeper than her words. She had invested everything into Tang Anhe, grooming her into a shining star with limitless potential.

And what had become of it?

In just a handful of years, one scandal after another had left her reputation in tatters. If she were to fall into a same-sex scandal now, her entire career would crumble to dust. The very career An Shanghua had spent half a lifetime building for her!

No.

This had to be stopped at all costs.

An Shanghua cleared her throat, coughing heavily. Her pallid complexion revealed her exhaustion, but she steadied herself and forced her tone into something firm. “Do you have a plan? No matter what it takes, Tang Anhe must not remain entangled with the Cheng family’s daughter.”

Seeing her mother take the bait, Song Qiluo’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Don’t worry, Mom. I already have a solution.”

An Shanghua coughed again, her voice urgent despite her frailty. “Tell me.”

“Anhe’s reputation had been slipping lately, and decent film offers were few and far between. I kindly recommended Director Cheng Mo’s upcoming TV series Beauty in Turmoil to her, but she flatly refused. Could you try persuading her instead?”

Cheng Mo was not yet thirty, but his name already carried enormous weight in the industry. Every project he touched was destined for praise. Brilliant as he was, his eccentricities were equally notorious. He was a heavy drinker, often seeking inspiration at the bottom of a bottle, and once drunk, his behavior grew reckless. More than once, he had been known to take liberties with actresses on set.

Of course, none of these scandals ever reached the public. With the Cheng family shielding him, who would dare stir the waters? Still, those within the circle knew well enough what he was capable of.

An Shanghua knew too, which was why she hesitated for a long moment before answering, “We’ll see. I’ll try reaching out to other directors first.”

The idea of Tang Anhe falling prey to a drunkard’s whims made her stomach turn.

A flash of ridicule crossed Song Qiluo’s eyes, but before she could speak, An Shanghua’s phone began to ring.

The caller ID read: Song Xian.

The moment she saw the name, An Shanghua’s brows knitted into a frown.

Song Qiluo noticed too. Quick as a fox, she picked up the phone and ended the call before her mother could react.

“You still keep in touch with him often?”

The him was none other than Song Qiluo’s father, Song Xian.

Song Qiluo shook her head firmly. “No, hardly ever. It must be because my birthday is coming soon. He probably just wanted to wish me an early happy birthday. He does that every year.”

The excuse was plausible enough.

An Shanghua’s expression softened with guilt. She herself had never remembered her daughter’s birthday so carefully. Over the years, she had neglected her too much.

As people age, they grow sentimental and An Shanghua was no exception. Thinking of all the birthdays she had missed, she sighed and said quietly, “Mom isn’t forbidding you from contacting him. But you know very well he’s no good father. Ever since Anhe entered the industry and started earning money, he’s treated her like a cash cow, showing up only to collect debts. Drinking, gambling, womanizing, every vice you can name… he’s rotted away. I don’t want you dragged into his mess.”

“How could that be? Dad… he… he didn’t…” Song Qiluo mumbled, feigning reluctance.

“It’s okay, as long as he didn’t do anything wrong.”

An Shanghua let the matter drop.

The mother and daughter exchanged a loaded glance, then lowered their heads in silence.

Each carried their own burdens.

Tang Anhe’s heart was weighed down with unease as she looked coldly at the uninvited guest before her.

It was Liu Wei, head of Lanxin Company, the one who had overseen her during the diamond ring commercial shoot. Liu Wei was a young and capable beauty, sharp yet charming, her presence commanding attention wherever she went. At that time, she had been unusually close to Cheng Muye.

Had they kept in touch afterward?

Cheng Muye was never one for socializing, rarely seen lingering in anyone’s circle. For Liu Wei to turn up here at Yu Zhaoning’s villa, their relationship could not be a mere casual acquaintance.

The thought of Cheng Muye flitting from one novelty to another ignited a sharp pang of jealousy in Tang Anhe’s chest. Her words turned bitter, edged with venom.
“Brother Cheng isn’t hospitalized, why bring flowers? Oh, but I recall she’s allergic to pollen. Uncle Xiang, Uncle Xiang! Quickly, put those flowers away.”

The lie slipped from her lips too smoothly.

Cheng Muye leaned back, watching with an amused gleam in her dark eyes, a teasing curve playing on her lips.

Liu Wei’s lovely face twisted with fury. She was naturally inclined toward women. At first, she had mistaken Cheng Muye for a man, a casual, amusing companion, nothing more. But once Weibo revealed the truth, everything shifted. Not only was Cheng Muye a woman, she was also the Cheng family’s heiress. In that instant, Liu Wei fell.

To her, Cheng Muye was perfection incarnate, talented, striking, wealthy, with a status few could rival. And her orientation? That was obvious enough. With such androgynous allure, it would be a waste if she didn’t prefer women.

Liu Wei’s intentions were anything but pure. After plenty of scheming, she finally unearthed Cheng Muye’s recovery location and hurried over at dawn. Yet what she found was an award-winning actress already by her side—Tang Anhe.

Unbelievable. Then again, perhaps not. Tang Anhe had been in the industry for years without a single rumored romance. Clearly, there was more beneath the surface.

In that moment, Liu Wei was convinced she had stumbled upon the truth. Her chest ached, her pride splintered. Even her flowers had been mocked, how ruthless this award-winning actress was.

Fine. The rival was formidable. Then the only path forward was clear, she would have to win Cheng Muye over first.

“Miss Cheng, how is your leg injury?”

Liu Wei’s gaze lingered on Cheng Muye, her voice soft and tender, brimming with concern.

Alas! The falling flower is affectionate, yet the flowing water remains indifferent.

Cheng Muye’s expression stayed cool and distant. “It’s fine. Thank you for your concern, Miss Liu.”

But Liu Wei refused to retreat so easily. Keeping her gentle smile, she added, “Miss Cheng, your heroic display that day was truly unforgettable.”

Her words carried genuine admiration. The swiftness and agility Cheng Muye had shown that day were feats not even most men could match. In another era, she would have been hailed as a warrior of extraordinary valor.

Cheng Muye could hear the sincerity in her tone, and her icy reserve wavered.

After all, one does not strike back at an offering hand, especially when that hand reaches out with unfeigned praise.

Her features softened ever so slightly as she murmured, “It was merely an urgent situation. Saving lives came first. There was nothing heroic about it. Miss Liu flatters me.”

“Not at all,” Liu Wei countered. “That video of you fending off the hunting dog is everywhere online now. Millions of views already. The audience’s judgment speaks for itself.”

Cheng Muye only offered a faint smile in reply. She rarely logged onto Weibo, and such matters meant little to her.

Liu Wei continued, describing the endless comments beneath the video, how people praised her as “handsome,” “cool,” “fearless.” Cheng Muye, having heard similar words before, responded only with the occasional nod. Yet her steady gaze resting on Liu Wei, casual as it might have been, gave the impression of an intimate, focused exchange.

And that was enough to drive Tang Anhe nearly mad with jealousy.

Cheng Muye’s attention had always belonged solely to her. Now, to see it turn toward someone else, it was unbearable. As if something precious, something she thought was hers alone, had been snatched away right before her eyes. The frustration clawed at her chest, and she could neither seize it back nor swallow the pain.

She tried several times to speak, but each time Cheng Muye only gave her a fleeting smile before turning back to Liu Wei. The neglect stung, and eventually Tang Anhe lost the courage to interject altogether.

After nearly ten minutes of light conversation, Cheng Muye suddenly offered to show Liu Wei around the villa. That was a privilege Tang Anhe herself had never been given. The realization made her chest tighten with indignation.

Her cheeks burned red. Clenching her fists, she shot up from the sofa with a sharp movement.