"This house looks pretty good," Xia Qingtian said, looking up at the house. "It's a bit out of the way, though. I wonder if we can order takeout."
"Being a bit out of the way is good, it's quieter," Li Mengxiao said softly. "I packed you a snack bag in your suitcase. Be discreet when you eat it around Sister Ning."
"Is it spicy?" Xia Qingtian's eyes lit up.
"Mhm, shhh…" Li Mengxiao winked and whispered, "It's all good stuff."
"Xiao Xiao, you're truly my angel!" Xia Qingtian exclaimed excitedly.
"Hey!" a fierce female voice called out from behind them again. "I'm talking to you! Can't you hear?"
Only then did Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao turn to look back.
"Take the luggage upstairs, and be careful. My things are expensive!" The woman speaking was in her early twenties, with large sunglasses obscuring half her face and long chestnut curls falling over her shoulders. She stood with her arms crossed, looking displeased. "It's like talking to deaf people."
Li Mengxiao turned back and confirmed the woman was indeed speaking to them before replying, "We're not staff from the production crew."
"Not?" The woman then raised her hand and took off her sunglasses. After a second look at Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao, confirming she didn't recognize them, she sneered, "I knew this show was going to be a flop, but I didn't expect just anyone to be able to join…"
"I agree," Xia Qingtian raised an eyebrow slightly. "They really do invite people of all sorts of character. The production team truly isn't picky."
"You!" The woman's eyes widened, clearly sensing Xia Qingtian's jab. "Who are you calling names! Which company are you from? How dare you be so arrogant."
"Gu Group Entertainment," Xia Qingtian replied. "Do you have any instructions?"
Upon hearing Xia Qingtian was from Gu Group Entertainment, the woman clearly faltered, then rolled her eyes. "As if Gu Group Entertainment belongs to you. It's not even certain if Mr. Gu knows about someone like you."
"Mr. Gu might not know me, but he definitely doesn't know you," Xia Qingtian said. "After all, Mr. Gu never goes to places like 【Le Xiaoyao】, so he certainly wouldn't have ordered you."
"You!" The woman's face instantly turned pale, staring at Xia Qingtian in disbelief. "What… what nonsense are you spouting!"
"You know in your heart whether I'm spouting nonsense or not," Xia Qingtian said. She hadn't recognized the woman at first until she took off her sunglasses.
Yu Xianxian.
Her original name was Yu Zhaodi.
Xia Qingtian remembered that this Yu Xianxian had become popular for a while with a low-budget web drama in her previous life. The theme song she sang also charted on several lists, gaining her some fame.
Within a year, she had already become arrogant. At a banquet, she offended a powerful figure, and her past was completely exposed.
She was originally a hostess at a KTV. With a sweet mouth and sharp eyes, she flattered a management member of her current agency, and was then packaged with the stage name 【Yu Xianxian】.
She was marketed as an ethereal fairy, untouched by worldly matters. Her company's persona stated that she grew up living with her grandmother in the mountains, possessing a pure, nightingale-like voice, and the most unadulterated acting and disposition.
If she could have had the patience to refine herself, establishing a foothold in the entertainment industry wouldn't have been impossible.
After all, her persona was quite popular among her fans.
Yu Xianxian's usual thoughtless remarks and uncouth behavior were indulged by her fans, who called it being genuine and true to herself.
But later exposures revealed that not only was she a KTV hostess, she had a history of school bullying at fifteen, ran away from home for love at sixteen, interfered in someone else's marriage at eighteen, forcing the original wife to miscarry, and even mocked the original wife on her personal account, deeming her unfit to be even a hen.
Once these sordid details were unearthed, they were a universe away from her "fairy persona." Her fall from grace was astonishingly swift.
After that, Yu Xianxian completely disappeared from the entertainment industry.
Recalling her recent browser history, Xia Qingtian remembered that the low-budget web drama was just about to premiere, and Yu Xianxian, having gained some popularity, was starting to get conceited.
"I don't understand what you're saying!" Yu Xianxian was panicking inwardly but maintained a semblance of composure.
Just then, several cars arrived. Yu Xianxian moved closer to Xia Qingtian and whispered a warning, "Watch your mouth, or I'll make sure you don't know how you died!"
After saying this, Yu Xianxian quickly walked away and went straight into the villa, even leaving her expensive suitcase behind.
"Qingtian, what is Le Xiaoyao?" Li Mengxiao asked softly, pulling Xia Qingtian's hand after Yu Xianxian left.
"It's nothing, just pretend you didn't hear," Xia Qingtian winked at Li Mengxiao. "Sister Ning is here, shhh."
Li Mengxiao blinked and nodded.
There were indeed many things in this circle that couldn't be discussed in detail. It was better for her to remain ignorant of things she wasn't meant to know.
Over there, Wen Ning alighted from a car, dressed in black fashion, carrying only a handbag, exuding a clean and sharp demeanor.
Other guests arrived simultaneously. With Wen Ning present, the previous unpleasantness did not recur.
People in the industry were skilled at flattering the high and stepping on the low. No one was willing to risk offending Wen Ning.
They were all exceptionally friendly to the artists Wen Ning brought with her.
The production crew began filming after everyone had arrived, re-shooting some entrance footage and greetings before everyone dispersed.
Back in her own room, Xia Qingtian discovered that there were seven cameras installed in the room alone.
"Wow…" she exclaimed involuntarily, dragging her luggage inside. Li Mengxiao followed, helping her make the bed and unpack toiletries with swift, practiced movements.
When Wen Ning knocked and entered, she couldn't help but mentally speculate how long the tidiness of the room would last.
After all, Xia Qingtian had always possessed a talent for making a mess.
"Let's go over tomorrow's work."
Seeing Wen Ning enter, Li Mengxiao began pouring water and preparing fruit.
Xia Qingtian currently had no formal work. Her primary relevant work was all related to Suisui.
Gu Group Entertainment was preparing to promote Xia Qingtian. Coupled with the previous incident at Wanyuan Entertainment, they no longer concealed the fact that Xia Qingtian was Suisui's original voice.
Xia Qingtian had also been busy with motion capture for part of Suisui's album production.
Although some suggested hiring professional dance teachers for motion capture, Wen Ning vetoed it, believing Xia Qingtian's physique was suitable.
While Xia Qingtian discussed work with Wen Ning, in another room on the same floor, Yu Xianxian, nervously hiding in a bathroom without recording equipment, carefully took out her phone to contact her sugar daddy, her gaze sinister. "I want to make her disappear from this world completely!"