Ch 32: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan gradually woke up, her eyes opening to see the blue curtain beside her bed and the poster on the wall detailing proper handwashing steps. She froze for a moment—wasn’t this her university’s infirmary?

“You’re awake? How are you feeling? Any better?”

Hearing the voice, Shen Yunxuan sat up and looked over. Sure enough, it was the school doctor from her university days. She instinctively replied, “I feel fine now. How long was I unconscious?”

The doctor smiled. “You weren’t unconscious. You have low blood sugar. After drinking some sugar water, you lay down for just two minutes to recover. You still seem a bit dazed, though. Have some more sugar water to perk up.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded, took the sugar water, and drank it slowly. Memories from long ago started resurfacing, becoming clearer with each sip.

This was her senior year. The university had finally allowed students to participate in filming, and coincidentally, two production crews had come to the school to hold auditions. She and Qian Yue had agreed to go together, but feeling light-headed and unwell, she had asked Qian Yue to go ahead while she rested in the infirmary for a while.

That day, Qian Yue had been chosen to play the villain in a popular IP drama, a role with plenty of screen time. In the original novel, the villain was as beloved as the protagonist. Shen Yunxuan, on the other hand, had been cast as a stand-in for the lead actress in a film. It was a significant role but exhausting and thankless since she wouldn’t even get to show her face.

They had been good friends, roommates in the same dormitory, but the stark difference in their audition results became a topic of gossip among their peers. Later, in the entertainment industry, Qian Yue’s fans frequently compared the two, often at Shen Yunxuan’s expense. It wasn’t until Shen Yunxuan’s later projects gained popularity and she herself became famous, while Qian Yue’s career stagnated, that public opinion shifted. People began sharing stories of their past friendship, with some accusing Shen Yunxuan of abandoning her best friend after achieving fame.

Her assistant had once told her that the negative rumors were likely instigated by Qian Yue herself to gain publicity. Shen Yunxuan didn’t know if it was true, but early in her career, such incidents had indeed caused her to lose opportunities. Over time, as she learned the ins and outs of the industry and became adept at managing crises, things started to improve.

Naturally, she and Qian Yue grew distant. Shen Yunxuan always thought it was a pity—a once-strong friendship gone just like that.

So… she had been reborn?

Shen Yunxuan felt a mix of emotions. In her previous life, she had acted until she was old, winning numerous Best Actress awards and even receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Oscars. Many interviews and biographies portrayed her life as glamorous, but only she knew how arduous her journey had been.

Now, reborn, she could choose a different path—one that was smoother and easier. Acting had always been her greatest passion. In her old age, she had lamented that she couldn’t act anymore, always feeling like she hadn’t done enough. Now, back in her youthful years, with the chance to spend a lifetime acting again, how could she not be thrilled?

A sense of joy bubbled up from deep within her, lightening her entire mood.

The school doctor noticed and said, “You’re recovering quickly. Make sure to eat balanced meals, rest well, and carry some candy or drinks with you.”

“I understand. Thank you, doctor. I’ll be going now.”

“Go ahead. I heard a production crew is here for auditions today. Good luck getting a good role.”

“Thank you for your kind words!” Shen Yunxuan smiled and left the infirmary.

As she walked, she sorted through her past memories, only to suddenly realize something was off. Why did she seem to have memories of two other lives as well—entirely different worlds from this one?

The memories felt like two books tucked away in a corner. If she didn’t pay attention, she wouldn’t notice them; if she didn’t open them, she wouldn’t know their contents. In just a moment of flipping through these “two books of memories,” Shen Yunxuan knew the experiences of the “wealthy Shen Yunxuan” from two lifetimes. But when she closed these “books,” most of the details slipped away.

It felt as though they were someone else’s lives, yet also her own. Having acted her whole life, Shen Yunxuan had encountered countless bizarre stories. Naturally, she thought these might be the lives of her parallel selves or reincarnations of her own.

Rebirth itself was an extra life, a huge surprise and reward. Shen Yunxuan wasn’t afraid at all. Instead, she saw it as a golden finger of luck. If her career didn’t take off this time, she could always tap into the “wealthy Shen Yunxuan’s” memories to learn how to make money and invest in her own projects.

Thinking of this, Shen Yunxuan couldn’t help but laugh. Her best trait, in her opinion, was her positive mindset. In a place like the entertainment industry, with its ups and downs, being loved or hated was par for the course. A good mindset was invaluable, and it made happiness easier to come by.

Right now, she felt incredibly fortunate to be able to live a second life as an actress.

But first things first—today’s audition. And before that, rescuing a stray puppy.

In her past life, many classmates had laughed at her for only landing a stand-in role, despite her dedication to studying and practicing. But what they didn’t know was that on her way to the audition that day, she had helped someone frantically searching for their missing puppy. After a long search, they found the little dog in a hole dug for a tree transplant on campus.

When she hurried to the audition, all the other roles had been filled, leaving only the role of the female lead’s stand-in. That was how she ended up being selected as a stand-in. Later, she found out that the person who lost the dog was Zhao Yajing, the female lead of the film. Out of consideration, she never mentioned the incident to anyone. Zhao Yajing took good care of her on set, and they developed a cordial relationship—truly a twist of fate.

In this life, although Shen Yunxuan didn’t plan on being a stand-in again, she still felt the need to rescue the puppy first.

Following the original timeline, she soon spotted Zhao Yajing, disguised with a face mask and baseball cap, anxiously searching around. Shen Yunxuan stepped forward and asked, “Hi, what’s wrong? Need help?”

Zhao Yajing replied in a panic, “My dog slipped out of its harness and ran off. I have no idea where it went!”

Shen Yunxuan didn’t waste any time. “I’ll help you look.”

Knowing where the dog was, she quickly headed in that direction. Before long, she found the puppy in a pit and gently lifted it out.

Zhao Yajing immediately took the puppy, saying, “Thank you so much! I was calling its name, but it didn’t respond. I don’t even know if it’s hurt. I’ll take it to get checked right away. What’s your name? I really owe you!” As she spoke, she pulled out her phone to transfer money to Shen Yunxuan.

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “No need to thank me—it’s a small thing. You’d better take care of your dog. I have something to do as well.”

In her previous life, Shen Yunxuan had never expected any reward from Zhao Yajing, and this time was no different. After saying her piece, she left.

Having saved time on the search, she arrived at the audition while many roles were still unfilled. As soon as she entered, she spotted Qian Yue.

Seeing her old friend from decades ago felt surreal. Their friendship had long since broken down, but at this point in their senior year, they had still been close. For a moment, she wasn’t sure how to interact with Qian Yue.

Before she could decide, Qian Yue quickly approached and grabbed her hand. “Yunxuan, you’re here! I’ve already signed you up. Go queue—it’ll be your turn soon.”

Shen Yunxuan froze as she was pulled along. “You signed me up? For what?”

Did Qian Yue do this in her previous life too? She had no memory of it.

Qian Yue shoved a numbered slip into her hand and said, “The best role today—Yu Wanqing, the villain in a super popular IP. Everyone loves her. See how good I am to you?”

Shen Yunxuan was even more surprised. “You signed us both up for this?”

Qian Yue chuckled awkwardly. “No, I didn’t. You know I don’t like studying or practicing, right? I wouldn’t dare go for such a big IP. I may talk big, but I know my limits. I signed up for a stand-in role in the other production. I’ll join the crew, gain experience, and try for a proper role next time.”

Though Shen Yunxuan was deeply shocked, her years of acting as a Best Actress meant she didn’t betray her emotions. With perfect composure, she gently persuaded, “I think you’d do great. Even the teachers say you’re talented. It’d be such a shame to miss this opportunity. Why don’t you try for Yu Wanqing too? You might get the part.”

Qian Yue shook her head with a smile. “Just think of me as someone who enjoys simpler roles. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Qian Yue knew Shen Yunxuan’s personality—she never pushed matters. As expected, after her explanation, Shen Yunxuan nodded in understanding and went to collect the audition materials.

Standing by, Qian Yue kept chattering about how amazing the IP was—the vast fanbase of the original novel, the stellar cast and production team, and the substantial screen time for the villain. She painted it as an incredible opportunity, encouraging Shen Yunxuan to go all out for the role.

While responding appropriately, Shen Yunxuan calmed herself. A secret had been revealed: Qian Yue was also reborn. But this revelation chilled her. In their previous life, Qian Yue’s performance in this drama had been lackluster. The series flopped, and the added romantic subplot between the male lead and the villain alienated fans of the original novel. The villain’s role became a laughingstock, criticized for years, tarnishing Qian Yue’s reputation.

Shen Yunxuan could understand Qian Yue taking the better stand-in role, but she couldn’t fathom why she insisted on pushing her into the role of Yu Wanqing. They had no unresolved grudges, and they had once been friends. Was it simply jealousy over Shen Yunxuan’s brighter prospects? Did Qian Yue want to see her fail?

Or was this Qian Yue’s true nature—something Shen Yunxuan had never noticed before?

Decades had passed since their friendship dissolved, so Shen Yunxuan felt no sadness, only regret. It seemed that even in this life, peace between them was impossible. From this moment on, their friendship was over.

As for Qian Yue’s enthusiasm in pushing her toward the role, Shen Yunxuan found it almost laughable. She loved acting and analyzing scripts, and she had a clear understanding of why this drama failed. Superficially, it was due to the poorly received romantic subplot. In reality, the production’s budgetary mismanagement caused shoddy post-production effects, which ruined the entire show.

Another reason for the drama’s failure was the negative rumors during production, such as the lead actress allegedly suppressing newcomers while they worked overnight shoots and she left early. These contributed to the show’s poor reception.

From Shen Yunxuan’s perspective, these issues could all be resolved since she already knew about them. She still had high hopes for the original story. As long as the script didn’t deviate too much, it would be an excellent project. The production team was solid, and at this point, it was her best opportunity.

She was eager to see if she could turn around a project that had flopped in her previous life. It was a challenging attempt, but if she succeeded, she might take on more projects that had the potential to explode in popularity but failed for various reasons. It would also be a way to make up for past regrets.

After all, her “appreciation for talent” made it heartbreaking to see good scripts ruined by poor execution.

Therefore, Shen Yunxuan didn’t resent Qian Yue’s push for her to take the role. Instead, she decided to go with the flow and audition seriously. However, she didn’t want to owe anyone a favor. She smiled at Qian Yue and said, “Honestly, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve auditioned for this role. I’ve read the novel and love the story—I just don’t know if I’ll succeed.”

Qian Yue thought to herself, Succeed? You only got a stand-in role last time—what success? But her mind raced. What if Shen Yunxuan didn’t get cast and ended up pursuing some other path? Qian Yue believed that success in the entertainment industry depended on luck, and Shen Yunxuan had been luckier than her, rising to fame almost immediately. She had to ensure Shen Yunxuan joined this project to keep her from gaining any traction.

Qian Yue began giving Shen Yunxuan advice, explaining how to emphasize certain aspects during the audition. She was confident, having played the role herself in their previous life, that no one understood the character better than she did. Her advice, naturally, focused on the “essence” of the role.

After listening, Shen Yunxuan frowned and shook her head. “I don’t think the character should be portrayed that way.”

Qian Yue was speechless, thinking Shen Yunxuan didn’t know anything. How could she, who had never played the role, dare to contradict her? Frustrated, Qian Yue guaranteed, “It’s exactly like this. Trust me—if you follow my advice, you’ll get the part for sure!”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “You’re so confident. Why don’t you audition too? I think you’d be perfect for the role. Your appearance suits it better than mine.”

That made Qian Yue realize she’d been too enthusiastic. She knew too much about the role and the production, which was suspicious given that she hadn’t signed up for this project. Fearing she might slip up further, she stopped pushing. Instead, she said, “I just want what’s best for you. Even if you don’t get this role, you should try for another one. This is a huge IP—just being in the project will help you get noticed. Don’t you think?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded along. “That’s what I was thinking too.”

When her turn for the audition came, Shen Yunxuan felt completely prepared. She had read the original novel, studied the reasons for the show’s failure, and analyzed the characters. With flawless acting skills, the audition was no challenge for her. She deliberately ignored all of Qian Yue’s suggestions, avoiding any connection to her.

Qian Yue watched, frowning in frustration. She thought Shen Yunxuan was being stubborn and ungrateful, ignoring her carefully crafted advice. She decided to check the sign-up sheets to see if she could get Shen Yunxuan another role—anything to ensure she joined the production.

What Qian Yue didn’t realize was that her advice was generic and predictable, similar to what other auditionees were doing. In their previous life, she had been chosen for her decent acting and suitable appearance.

This time, as soon as Shen Yunxuan began her performance, the director straightened in his seat. Within moments, she brought the character to life, capturing its soul in every gesture and expression. The director’s eyes lit up—he felt like he’d struck gold.

When Shen Yunxuan finished, the director clapped the table and exclaimed, “You’re the one! You’re perfect for Yu Wanqing!”

Turning to the school teacher beside him, he said, “Your students are outstanding this year. They’re solidly trained. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of them become famous.”

The teacher smiled and called Shen Yunxuan over. “This is my student, Shen Yunxuan. She’s a diligent reader with excellent foundational skills, resilience, and strong comprehension. She’s willing to endure hardships and learns quickly. Director Xie, please guide her well.”

The teacher’s glowing praise further impressed the director, who smiled and said, “Keep performing like that, and you’ll do great.”

When Qian Yue returned and saw this scene, she was stunned. Why was Director Xie so impressed with Shen Yunxuan? Why was the teacher praising her so highly? None of this had happened in their previous life.

She recalled that, last time, all the auditionees finished before Director Xie and the others discussed the decision for ages before finally choosing her. The teacher hadn’t spoken up for her at all. At the time, she’d thought the teacher was useless, not knowing how to advocate for students. But now, seeing how the teacher enthusiastically praised Shen Yunxuan, she realized it wasn’t about inability—it was about preference. The teacher simply hadn’t wanted to help her. And now, they were showering Shen Yunxuan with compliments!

From behind, Qian Yue hadn’t fully seen Shen Yunxuan’s performance. She only noticed that Shen Yunxuan seemed to use fewer movements, which from her perspective looked unimpressive. Uninterested, she left without watching the full audition, so she didn’t understand what made Shen Yunxuan stand out.

Looking back, she recalled how teachers occasionally praised Shen Yunxuan during their school years. However, Shen Yunxuan was always so low-key, avoiding the spotlight whenever possible. She spent most of her time in the library or the practice room, rarely socialized, and didn’t bother with dressing up, which made her nearly invisible.

But as far as acting went, Qian Yue refused to believe that Shen Yunxuan had been better than her during their senior year. She might not have been diligent in studying or practicing, but her natural talent was undeniable! Teachers, classmates, directors, and even industry veterans had all praised her for her innate gift.

Yet, regardless of her thoughts, the reality was that Shen Yunxuan had landed the role effortlessly and received high praise. This dampened the joy of her own rebirth, leaving her deeply dissatisfied.

She thought bitterly, Is Shen Yunxuan just blessed with good fortune and career luck? Even when the roles change, she still succeeds so easily? And what about me? Am I doomed to fail no matter what? Is it impossible for me to change my fate and make it big?

Anger flared within her. She refused to accept this. I’ve been reborn—surely this is heaven’s way of giving me a chance to defy fate and change everything! Let Shen Yunxuan have her current streak of good fortune. The show is bound to flop. No matter how good her career luck is, it won’t survive the backlash from fans of the original work when it bombs. There’s no way Shen Yunxuan can stay this lucky forever!

Plastering on a smile, Qian Yue approached Shen Yunxuan to congratulate her. The teacher, noticing Qian Yue, asked if she had auditioned. Qian Yue replied that she had secured the role of a stunt double for the film’s lead actress. The teacher merely nodded and said nothing further, only reminding Shen Yunxuan to prepare well.

This stark difference in treatment made Qian Yue even more resentful. She pulled Shen Yunxuan outside.

The teacher’s assistant watched their retreating figures and commented softly, “I didn’t expect Qian Yue to take a stunt double role. It doesn’t seem like her.”

The teacher sighed. “She has talent, but without effort and dedication, it’s wasted. Maybe enduring some hardship will help her focus.”

The assistant was mildly surprised but didn’t press further. After four years of university, everything that needed to be said had already been said. Qian Yue had never listened and even complained that the teacher was too strict. She had grumbled numerous times about the school restricting students from taking outside acting jobs, saying she only attended university to break into the entertainment industry and that the school’s rules were counterproductive.

Now that she finally had a chance to act, the assistant couldn’t help but wonder if Qian Yue would actually shine. But seeing her take a stunt double role left her puzzled—she couldn’t understand Qian Yue’s thought process.

Outside, Qian Yue felt slightly better after pulling Shen Yunxuan away. No matter what, she had changed their starting points in this life. Perhaps their life paths would also swap. After all, she had secured the better opportunity for herself and knew about countless other chances in the future. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan had just stepped into a pitfall, and whether she could climb out was uncertain.

Feeling the need to celebrate, Qian Yue suggested with a smile, “Let’s go for a big meal to celebrate your joining such a great production and wish me success in achieving my goals.”

Shen Yunxuan was about to politely decline when a group of students nearby noticed them and gathered around to congratulate her.

“Shen Yunxuan, you were amazing today! Your performance was outstanding—so good the director chose you on the spot. Incredible!”

“Shen Yunxuan, treat us to some candy so we can share your good luck and land good roles ourselves!”

“You really blew us away today. The production rarely picks such major roles from students, and you nailed it in one go. Impressive! No wonder the teacher always praised you as the most hardworking.”

“Yeah, we’re convinced. While we were goofing off, you were studying. There’s no competing with a true overachiever.”

Qian Yue’s face darkened. In her past life, when she had been chosen for this role, she hadn’t received such enthusiastic congratulations. Only a few close friends had half-heartedly praised her talent, mentioning how lucky she was to land such a good role despite not putting in much effort. Thinking back now, those words felt less like compliments and more like passive-aggressive jabs at her laziness.

At that moment, someone turned to her curiously and asked, “Qian Yue, what role did you get? With your looks, it must be something great, right?”

The stunt double role she had snatched at the start of her rebirth suddenly felt difficult to mention. It wasn’t a role anyone would admire.

Someone else chimed in, “I heard Qian Yue got the stunt double role for the film’s lead actress. She was the only one who signed up for it.”

The group exchanged awkward glances.

“Oh… that movie. Isn’t it a low-budget production? Qian Yue, shouldn’t you have tried for a supporting role instead of taking a stunt double job?”

“Isn’t that the least desirable role today?”

The group murmured amongst themselves for a bit before dispersing. But as they walked away, Qian Yue clearly heard someone snickering, “She always acts like a big star, but all she got was a stunt double role. What a joke.”

Her face turned pale, her chest heaving with frustration. She had never imagined that in this life, it would be her turn to face ridicule!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆