Chapter 4

The makeup artist had done my makeup to look about sixty percent like the original lead actress, Qu Lanying.

Aurora was a well-respected actress in the industry. Normally, she wouldn’t need a stand-in for intimate scenes like this.

But as luck would have it, Xiang Sinian and Qu Lanying were cousins.

They’d grown up together—acting opposite each other was fine, but getting intimate and rolling around naked in bed? That was a bridge too far for them.

I slowly, hesitantly, shed my clothes under the blanket, lying flat on my back like a concubine awaiting her emperor.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sinian. A male assistant was squatting in front of him, applying prosthetic skin and tape for protection.

This was standard procedure for male actors shooting explicit intimate scenes—I’d witnessed it on other sets.

But after Sinian was secured, it seemed… larger than other male actors I’d seen.

He walked over to me, shirtless, and got into bed. Everything was ready.

Director Reed gave the command: “Clear the set! Prepare to roll!”