Chapter 26 Compensation Is Required

Before Ning Lan could let her thoughts wander, the director sent someone over to fetch her.

Gathering herself, Ning Lan turned and headed toward the set.

There, Yun Fu stood already, her red dress blazing like fire. The breeze played with her hair, making her look like an immortal from a painting.

Ning Lan dug her nails so deep into her palm she nearly broke the skin, just to keep her emotions in check. “Sorry to trouble everyone,” she managed.

Her assistant had also been sent out to buy things. Soon enough, gifts would be delivered to every member of the crew—Ning Lan had always been skilled at navigating these matters.

She curled her lips into a polite smile and nodded to the director. This time, she swore, she would not let what just happened repeat itself.

But when she turned around, she met Yun Fu’s gaze. In that instant, panic grew wild in her chest like weeds. The lines she had once memorized so fluently vanished from her mind, leaving her blinking uncertainly, stranded in place.

“Cut! Again!”

“Qianxuan, you—”

“Cut! Again!” Bai Yu’s expression darkened.

“Cut!” Bai Yu looked even more displeased.

After sixteen takes, Bai Yu finally snapped. With a bang, he threw down his megaphone. “Ning Lan! You can’t even remember three lines? If you can’t act, I’ll find someone who can!”

Ning Lan’s face turned ashen in an instant.

She glanced toward Yun Fu, who stood quietly to the side, arms crossed, her face unreadable—almost mocking.

Still, Ning Lan had to apologize. “I’m sorry, Director. I’ll do better.”

After all, she was the leading actress, and the production had the backing of Star Entertainment. Bai Yu sighed and told her to rest for a while, not saying more.

He, too, cast a glance at Yun Fu, who stood by with her head bowed in quiet contemplation. That face—stunning beyond compare—was so composed, as if nothing could touch her, yet as if she saw through everything.

Watching her, Bai Yu felt more certain than ever that casting her had been the right choice.

The admiration in the director’s eyes did not escape Ning Lan. She trembled with anger. All those praises and compliments had once been hers—now, they belonged to Yun Fu.

Ning Lan was seething, especially as, despite her token gifts, the crew’s expressions remained unchanged. They still blamed her for holding up the schedule.

Damn Yun Fu. With her around, nothing ever went right!

The endless retakes had worn down everyone’s patience. In the end, it was only through Bai Yu’s weary indulgence that they managed to move on.

During the break, the crew finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside.

A riot of colors filled everyone’s vision—more than a dozen people entered, each holding a massive bouquet of roses.

White, pink, red, and even green—an explosion of hues, breathtakingly beautiful.

What’s more, each flower bearer was dressed identically, their movements disciplined and coordinated as they presented the bouquets.

“Who’s the rich boss? This must be tens of thousands of roses—so romantic!”

“I’m going to cry. If only they were for me.”

“Dream on. Obviously, they’re for the leading lady.”

Hearing this, Ning Lan’s lips curved in satisfaction. She glanced at Yun Fu, lounging on a chair with her eyes closed, and finally felt a trace of relief.

Her usual entourage caught her gaze and exchanged knowing looks before chiming in.

“Lan Lan, President Du really is devoted to you. Someone else was his girlfriend, but she never got this kind of treatment.”

“Ha, forget flowers—didn’t President Du once refuse to buy even a lipstick? Someone had to shamelessly cling to him.”

“No one can beat her in shamelessness, but look—when President Du met our Lan Lan, he changed completely. That’s true love!”

Ning Lan playfully tapped their arms, cheeks flushed with feigned embarrassment. “Oh, stop it, you all.”

She stepped forward and accepted the first bouquet of red roses, lowering her head to inhale their intoxicating fragrance.

For a moment, she was taken aback. Could these be the famed soilless roses unique to Country F? Legend had it their beauty was unparalleled, their scent fresh and heady.

Ning Lan could not suppress her delight, nor the pride that shone on her face.

Those around her looked on with envy. Her close followers didn’t waste the opportunity to flatter her.

“Wow, President Du is so romantic! So many roses—I’m jealous.”

“Yes, Lan Lan, you’re so lucky. With a husband like this, what more could anyone want?”

“I could die of envy—President Du really knows how to treat you.”

“Soon, Lan Lan will be the daughter-in-law of the Du family. With President Du spoiling you like this, life will only get better.”

Surrounded by praise, Ning Lan’s smile bloomed even brighter. She handed the flowers to someone nearby. “Hold these for me.” Then, with practiced ease, she took the delivery slip from the courier and signed her name.

“All right, I’ve received them. You can go now.” She glanced back at the director and crew, noting the shift in their expressions, and her smile deepened. “Please tell Star Origin I love the flowers.”

“Oh, and please have them sent to my dressing room.”

Just as she hugged the bouquet and started to lead the way, a voice from behind stopped her.

“Put them down!”

A man in black stepped forward, face expressionless, exuding an intimidating presence as he fixed Ning Lan with a steely gaze. “Miss, who told you to sign for these? These flowers aren’t for you. You accepted them without asking, and even touched them—by rights, you owe us compensation.”

His words landed like a thunderclap, stunning everyone into silence.

But the shock on each face was different.

Ning Lan’s face turned ghostly pale, as white as the sheet behind her—ghastly.

“How… how can that be…”

The man in black cut her off. “These are crystal roses from F State, Country F. Only a hundred or so are grown each year. You’re holding a bouquet of ninety-nine stems—one bouquet, one hundred and sixty thousand. Please pay up.”

The room was thunderstruck once more.

One bouquet for one hundred sixty thousand—so many bouquets, the total must be over a million.

And they weren’t even for Ning Lan. Then who were they for?

Ning Lan stared in disbelief, lips trembling, her face shifting between red and white. Those who had been fawning over her stood silent, as if their throats had been seized.

The men in black stood before them, their presence so formidable that not even the bouquets softened the aura of iron and blood surrounding them.

Ning Lan’s hands trembled. The stares from all around felt like resounding slaps landing on her face.

Gritting her teeth, she managed to ask, “Who are the flowers for?”