"Pfft! Hahaha—Oh god… hahaha, I’m dead! I’m really dead!"
Xiao Nuomi was in the living room, laughing so hard she rolled off the sofa onto the floor.
Song Yuan, just back from her run, opened the door and saw her lying on her back, kicking her little legs like a fat orange cat.
"What’s wrong, are you mutating?"
"Brother Yuan, look!" Nuomi jumped up and ran to her, holding her phone. "Brother Mao is dishing that Xia Yiran got several endorsement offers because she went viral with some leaked photos from 'Challenge It!' But her agent wanted to shop around and held off signing… and guess what? After that episode of 'Challenge It!' aired, the manufacturers all went silent. Her agent called them, and they wouldn’t even reply!"
Nuomi finished in one breath, giggling uncontrollably. "What do you call this? What’s yours is yours, and what’s not yours, you can’t chase!"
Song Yuan casually said, "Oh," and was about to go take a shower when she suddenly stopped, raising an eyebrow in confusion, "Brother Mao?"
"Ah, that's the entertainment reporter who leaked the full video for us last time. He's opened his own studio now. After he got a taste of success from us, he's been quite grateful and very friendly to Sister Weiwei."
Conversely, he wasn't polite to Xia Yiran at all.
"Oh~" Song Yuan remembered. "He's the one who calls out for his mom when he gets hit."
Nuomi tutted twice. "Brother Yuan, who else could withstand your two punches?"
It was already tough not to call out for grandma!
Just then, Xia Wei Liang rushed out of her room, wearing a black T-shirt, casual straight-leg pants, sneakers, and her long hair down with a baseball cap, her face bare.
Song Yuan pulled a slice of whole wheat bread from the kitchen. "Open up."
"Ah~" Xia Wei Liang bit into the bread, then took the milk Song Yuan handed her, calling out to Nuomi, "We can't be late for the first script reading!"
"Don't worry, I checked. The hotel is very close to us! Sister Huan said she already sent a car over. It should be downstairs by now."
Five minutes later.
Xia Wei Liang was still standing at the main entrance, not even a car in sight.
Nuomi returned, exasperated after finishing her phone call. "The company said they temporarily assigned the car to Chu Qiao’s team and they don’t have any spare cars. They told us to take a taxi, and the company will reimburse the fare…"
Hearing Chu Qiao’s name, Xia Wei Liang understood.
They were sworn enemies. Before, Xia Wei Liang always overshadowed her, relying on her good family background and beauty. Even without acting skills or works, she was doted on by Meiyu.
Thinking back now, she must have been quite hateful then.
Later, Chu Qiao became Meiyu Media’s princess after a wildly popular drama, and the first person she tried to bring down was Xia Wei Liang!
For some reason, she found out Xia Wei Liang was attending Director Zhou’s script reading today, so she deliberately commandeered her car to humiliate her.
Little Nuomi was fuming. "Are they kidding us? Do we lack that little bit for a taxi fare?? If someone photographs Sister Weiwei taking a taxi, who knows how they'll write about it!"
Xia Wei Liang agreed. "They'll definitely write it to be as humiliating and pathetic as possible."
"Exactly! Hey, Sister Weiwei, where are you going? You’re not… you’re not actually going to take a taxi, are you? We can call a car service!"
Nuomi watched as Xia Wei Liang crossed the street directly and went to a row of shared bicycles parked there. She found one, scanned the code with her phone to unlock it… Sudan Fiction Network.
Nuomi was stunned.
"Sister Weiwei… we’re not that pathetic, are we?!"
Xia Wei Liang smiled, straddled the bike, and cheerfully tossed her long hair back. She nodded towards Nuomi. "That car service, it's yours."
Xia Wei Liang truly didn't care about the company's treatment. Having seen through the fickleness of human relationships in her past life, she was content and happy just to have a job in this life.
Life wasn't a script; there weren't so many opportunities to cheat and win! One had to take it step by step, focus on accumulation, and achieve breakthroughs through diligent effort!
Having the chance to participate in Director Zhou’s film was the first step in changing her life!
Coincidentally, the hotel where the script reading was held was near Xia Wei Liang’s apartment. Xia Wei Liang leisurely rode her bicycle, enjoying the breeze, feeling quite relaxed.
"Brother Yi, Brother Yi, look, isn't that Empress?"
Yan Zhi leaned halfway out the car window, rubbing his eyes hard until he saw Nuomi and then exclaimed, "Brother Yi! It's her, it's her!"
As soon as he heard her name, Xiao Yi turned to look out the window.
Xia Wei Liang was leisurely riding a shared bicycle, occasionally turning to chat with her assistant, her fair, unadorned face filled with smiles.
She was wearing a black short T-shirt. When she rode, a small section of her slender waist was occasionally revealed, her skin so fair and delicate it was alluring…
Xiao Yi's gaze darkened as he slowly withdrew his eyes.
"I heard that Chu Qiao is Meiyu's current top actress, and Chu Qiao and Xia Wei Liang have been at odds since they joined the company! It’s unimaginable, her life must be very difficult now!"
Seeing that his boss didn't say anything, Yan Zhi spoke softly, "Brother Yi… should we give them a ride? Two young girls, quite pitiful…"
"No need."
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze fixed stiffly on the other side of the car window. "She will refuse too."
"W-Why?"
Brother Yi!
Don't you care about her?!
Xiao Yi’s lips curved slightly as he said faintly, "She has her pride."
The journey from the apartment to the hotel was less than twenty minutes by car.
Parking the car in the non-motorized vehicle area outside the hotel entrance, Xia Wei Liang felt refreshed and even stretched. Nuomi, however, was panting. "Sister Wei, why don't you go in first? I… can I catch my breath here?"
"Little girl, you need to exercise! I'll remember to have Brother Yuan arrange it for you in the future!"
"Ah~~ Sister Weiwei… no!"
Xia Wei Liang chuckled, slinging her large canvas bag over her shoulder, and walked into the hotel alone.
As soon as she stepped into the parking lot, her eyes were blinded by flashes. She hadn't expected to encounter paparazzi here and instinctively lowered her head to avoid the lens.
But the other party didn't relent and even strode forward, calling her name, "Xia Wei Liang! Xia Wei Liang!"
Xia Wei Liang frowned and quickened her pace, wanting to enter the hotel.
If it weren’t for Director Zhou’s script reading today, she wouldn't have minded teaching him a lesson on the spot.
But that person became even more aggressive, directly blocking her path and stopping her, his camera almost shoved into her face.
Xia Wei Liang gritted her teeth.
Damn it, her fists were itching.
Just then, a large hand reached out, directly grabbing her arm and pulling her behind.
Xia Wei Liang looked up blankly. A tall figure blocked the small patch of sunlight above her head. Beneath the sapphire blue shirt, through a thin layer of fabric, she could vaguely feel the powerful tension of his muscles.
"Movie Emperor Xiao?!"
"What are you doing?"
Yan Zhi and Da Yang cornered the reporter.
Yan Zhi raised his hand and poked the man’s forehead, again and again. "Are reporters this shameless now? They used to follow from a distance, but now they’re shoving cameras in people’s faces? What’s the meaning of this? Huh? I’m asking you, what’s the meaning? Speak, speak!"
Da Yang, a true man of steel, was also very angry, saying in a low, muffled voice, "Hmph! Bullying a woman! Not a man! I despise you!"
Xiao Yi stood not far away, his face darkened throughout, his hands naturally tucked into his pockets, exuding a terrifying aura of fierce energy.
"Uh… Teacher Xiao, what a coincidence!"
Xia Wei Liang poked her head out from behind him with an awkward smile, waving her slender little jade hand to greet him.
Xiao Yi slowly turned his gaze, his brow furrowed. "Didn't your company arrange a car for you?"
Xia Wei Liang was stunned. Although it was a little awkward, she still honestly replied, "The company cars are all quite busy. Not a single wheel is idle, and I didn't dare to bother them."