“Oh, really? That assistant of yours—Wen Li—snapped quite a few photos that night. Didn’t she ask for your permission before releasing those photos?” asked Xu Xiyan.
Xu Xinrou glowered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would my assistant do something like that? You shouldn’t go around accusing others if you don’t have any proof to back up your claims.”
“You better pray long and hard that the rumors from the party—and the wire accident earlier today—aren’t connected to you. It’s not going to be pretty if the truth comes out and it turns out you were behind both incidents,” Xu Xiyan warned.
Xu Xinrou paled a little at that, but her expression quickly returned to normal. She said scathingly, “So now you’re spiting me on Qi Liya’s behalf, eh? Wow, she must have bribed you with a lot of favors.”
Xu Xinrou hated Qi Liya: she was an annoying obstacle who was always snatching roles from her, preventing Xu Xinrou from taking the limelight.
She had asked Huo Jingtang not to offer Qi Liya any more work—to “ice” the actress, in show biz lingo—but he had refused. Qi Liya was still useful to him, and he wanted to wait until filming for “Red Sleeved Beauty” had wrapped up before deciding what to do with her.
Xu Xinrou had gone along with it, but had finally reached the end of her rope earlier that day and sabotaged Qi Liya herself. She had thought that was the end of the matter, but now here was Xu Xiyan accusing her of having masterminded the accident. It irked her to see Xu Xiyan jump to Qi Liya’s defense and speak on her behalf.
Xu Xiyan gave a wry smile as she explained, “No, Ms. Qi did not bribe me with anything. I care about her because she’s worth it. Unlike some people, she’s not the type to pretend to be nice and then stab you in the back. She’s honest. And anyway, this isn’t about her—I’d go up against you any day.”
Xu Xiyan was in a hurry. She did not have time for Xu Xinrou’s nonsense.
She began to move away, but Xu Xinrou said behind her back, “Jing Xi, I’ll be marrying Huo Jingtang soon. Do you know what will happen then to all those who try to oppose me?”
Xu Xiyan let out a long sigh. She had guessed that this was the real reason Xu Xinrou had sought her out: she wanted to rub the fact that she and Huo Jingtang were now an item in her face, and warn her to keep out of her way.
Turning around, Xu Xiyan put on a radiant smile and said, “Oh? You’re going to marry Huo Jingtang? Congratulations! I congratulate you on your masterful seduction skills—you managed to score yourself one of the few golden bachelors in Peijing! I’m so impressed, please, allow me to grovel at your feet, oh mighty one!”
Xu Xinrou’s face turned white. Xu Xiyan had made her accomplishment sound cheap and distasteful.
“Whatever, you’re just jealous. Hate on me all you want! I’ll be Mrs. Huo soon, and when that happens, Yunhai Entertainment will be within my grasp. You’ll be like an insignificant bug to me then. You want to stay in show business? Watch me make your life a living hell!”
There was now a hint of something savage in Xu Xinrou’s exquisite face.
“Fine. Bring it on. We’ll see which one of us gets the last laugh.”
Xu Xiyan was unfazed. She had a photo of Li Dazhuang and Xu Xinrou “on the casting couch,” so to speak, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. The photo had been inadvertently taken by Fang Xiaocheng and Wang Dazhi during one of their vacations.
If Xu Xinrou tried to sabotage her again, Xu Xiyan would not hesitate to retaliate.
“Hmph!” The conversation had ended on a sour note. Xu Xinrou stared daggers at Xu Xiyan before whipping around and climbing into the minivan.
The minivan drove away. Xu Xiyan left the studio lot and returned to Shengshi Yujing to shower and change her clothes. Once she was clean and presentable, she hurried over to First People’s Hospital.
In the hospital, Xu Xiyan learned that Qi Liya had been treated for her injury. There was a small puncture in her lung because she had fallen on a nail, but luckily for her, she had not broken any bones. All she needed was some proper bed rest, and she would be able to go home relatively soon.
Qi Liya was still unconscious, but her assistant, Xiao Ke, was in the room, watching over her. Xu Xiyan decided to come back to visit another day.
…
Aside from Qi Liya’s unfortunate accident, Xu Xiyan found herself busy with another important event: the semifinal for the children’s talent show Ying Bao was participating in would be taking place the next day.
The night before the semifinals, Xu Xiyan and Huo Yunshen stayed up with Ying Bao, who was nestled in her mother’s arms. “Daddy, Mommy, will you come watch my performance tomorrow?”
…
“Oh, really? That assistant of yours—Wen Li—snapped quite a few photos that night. Didn’t she ask for your permission before releasing those photos?” asked Xu Xiyan.
Xu Xinrou glowered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would my assistant do something like that? You shouldn’t go around accusing others if you don’t have any proof to back up your claims.”
“You better pray long and hard that the rumors from the party—and the wire accident earlier today—aren’t connected to you. It’s not going to be pretty if the truth comes out and it turns out you were behind both incidents,” Xu Xiyan warned.
Xu Xinrou paled a little at that, but her expression quickly returned to normal. She said scathingly, “So now you’re spiting me on Qi Liya’s behalf, eh? Wow, she must have bribed you with a lot of favors.”
Xu Xinrou hated Qi Liya: she was an annoying obstacle who was always snatching roles from her, preventing Xu Xinrou from taking the limelight.
She had asked Huo Jingtang not to offer Qi Liya any more work—to “ice” the actress, in show biz lingo—but he had refused. Qi Liya was still useful to him, and he wanted to wait until filming for “Red Sleeved Beauty” had wrapped up before deciding what to do with her.
Xu Xinrou had gone along with it, but had finally reached the end of her rope earlier that day and sabotaged Qi Liya herself. She had thought that was the end of the matter, but now here was Xu Xiyan accusing her of having masterminded the accident. It irked her to see Xu Xiyan jump to Qi Liya’s defense and speak on her behalf.
Xu Xiyan gave a wry smile as she explained, “No, Ms. Qi did not bribe me with anything. I care about her because she’s worth it. Unlike some people, she’s not the type to pretend to be nice and then stab you in the back. She’s honest. And anyway, this isn’t about her—I’d go up against you any day.”
Xu Xiyan was in a hurry. She did not have time for Xu Xinrou’s nonsense.
She began to move away, but Xu Xinrou said behind her back, “Jing Xi, I’ll be marrying Huo Jingtang soon. Do you know what will happen then to all those who try to oppose me?”
Xu Xiyan let out a long sigh. She had guessed that this was the real reason Xu Xinrou had sought her out: she wanted to rub the fact that she and Huo Jingtang were now an item in her face, and warn her to keep out of her way.
Turning around, Xu Xiyan put on a radiant smile and said, “Oh? You’re going to marry Huo Jingtang? Congratulations! I congratulate you on your masterful seduction skills—you managed to score yourself one of the few golden bachelors in Peijing! I’m so impressed, please, allow me to grovel at your feet, oh mighty one!”
Xu Xinrou’s face turned white. Xu Xiyan had made her accomplishment sound cheap and distasteful.
“Whatever, you’re just jealous. Hate on me all you want! I’ll be Mrs. Huo soon, and when that happens, Yunhai Entertainment will be within my grasp. You’ll be like an insignificant bug to me then. You want to stay in show business? Watch me make your life a living hell!”
There was now a hint of something savage in Xu Xinrou’s exquisite face.
“Fine. Bring it on. We’ll see which one of us gets the last laugh.”
Xu Xiyan was unfazed. She had a photo of Li Dazhuang and Xu Xinrou “on the casting couch,” so to speak, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. The photo had been inadvertently taken by Fang Xiaocheng and Wang Dazhi during one of their vacations.
If Xu Xinrou tried to sabotage her again, Xu Xiyan would not hesitate to retaliate.
“Hmph!” The conversation had ended on a sour note. Xu Xinrou stared daggers at Xu Xiyan before whipping around and climbing into the minivan.
The minivan drove away. Xu Xiyan left the studio lot and returned to Shengshi Yujing to shower and change her clothes. Once she was clean and presentable, she hurried over to First People’s Hospital.
In the hospital, Xu Xiyan learned that Qi Liya had been treated for her injury. There was a small puncture in her lung because she had fallen on a nail, but luckily for her, she had not broken any bones. All she needed was some proper bed rest, and she would be able to go home relatively soon.
Qi Liya was still unconscious, but her assistant, Xiao Ke, was in the room, watching over her. Xu Xiyan decided to come back to visit another day.
…
Aside from Qi Liya’s unfortunate accident, Xu Xiyan found herself busy with another important event: the semifinal for the children’s talent show Ying Bao was participating in would be taking place the next day.
The night before the semifinals, Xu Xiyan and Huo Yunshen stayed up with Ying Bao, who was nestled in her mother’s arms. “Daddy, Mommy, will you come watch my performance tomorrow?”
…
