Jiang Mian nodded slightly, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Ji Zhixiu stroked her head, as if caressing a dried fish, "Good girl."
...
Jiang Mian was delayed for two days. When she returned to work, Director Zhang took special care of her, watching over her everywhere. When he saw her, he even asked cautiously, "How are you, are you alright? Can you still act with Shen Tingyu?"
He was really afraid the little girl would be left with any trauma.
Jiang Mian was startled, "Of course I can."
"Alright then, I'll call her over tomorrow."
After making the call, Director Zhang's face turned as dark as water. Jiang Mian asked, "What's wrong?"
Director Zhang forced a smile, "Tomorrow we'll film your scenes with Chang Min. As for Shen Tingyu, it's fine if we don't film with her."
The footage they had shot before could still be used. As for the subsequent scenes, he no longer wanted Shen Tingyu to appear. Such an unprofessional actress was better off not being used!
Meanwhile, Shen Tingyu stood in Luo Fei's office, full of confidence, "How about we make a deal?"
Luo Fei crossed his arms, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes, "What do you have that's worth a deal with me?" His gaze slowly appraised Shen Tingyu, brazen and direct.
Shen Tingyu smiled confidently, meeting his gaze, "I know you don't like me, Mr. Luo, and I know you want someone. We are kindred spirits."
Luo Fei's eyes darkened, "What do you mean?"
"Let's not beat around the bush. I know you like Jiang Mian. The way you look at her is unusual. How about I help you?"
Luo Fei raised an eyebrow, "So, you also know that you are Jiang Mian's substitute?"
"What do you mean?" Shen Tingyu was stunned.
Luo Fei stroked his chin, "I thought you had some self-awareness. The resources I've given you are only because you bear a slight resemblance to her. But your personality is nothing like hers."
His words were filled with longing for Jiang Mian.
Shen Tingyu's mind exploded. This was the biggest joke she had heard today. She was the substitute? Because Luo Fei couldn't have Jiang Mian, he sought comfort in her?
What could be more ridiculous than this? She had always thought Jiang Mian was her replacement, and now she was Jiang Mian's substitute?
Her expression changed drastically.
Luo Fei pretended not to see it, "If you had even a bit of her wildness, and were more obedient, it wouldn't be impossible for you to be with me."
"I'm not interested in you, Mr. Luo." Shen Tingyu took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.
"Alright, why are you angry? It's my fault too for speaking the truth." Luo Fei grinned, "Tell me, what's your plan?"
Getting down to business, Shen Tingyu composed herself. "My plan is to ruin Jiang Mian!"
"No," Luo Fei immediately refused, "If I ruin her, how can I get her?"
Shen Tingyu felt a pang of jealousy at his protection. She lowered her gaze, already planning how to persuade him.
"Listen to me first. As long as you ruin Jiang Mian's career, she'll have no one to rely on. By then, getting her will be easy, won't it?"
Luo Fei thought about it and found some logic. He clapped his hands and laughed, "I think you and I are quite compatible. But speaking of which, how do you plan to ruin her?"
"It seems Mr. Luo knows me very well and already knows I'm preparing to make a move." Shen Tingyu didn't engage with his teasing and instead said, "This is where I need your help."
"First, we need to find Jiang Mian's weakness." She knew that if Jiang Mian's secret of being secretly married for many years was exposed, and with some manipulation, it might not be impossible to ruin her reputation.
But that man was Ji Zhixiu. Shen Tingyu knew this too well. It couldn't be exposed. His influence was enough to keep all media silent.
Even if it were exposed, he could protect that woman from any harm.
Why should she be so lucky? She wanted to make this woman lose all of Ji Zhixiu's affection!
"I need you to help me investigate Jiang Mian." Shen Tingyu continued.
Luo Fei nodded, "I can. But you must tell me before you act."
"What, are you afraid I'll harm her?"
Luo Fei said directly, "Of course, your dislike for her is written all over your face."
"Is it that obvious?" Shen Tingyu curled her lips and stopped hiding it, "Alright, I do hate her."
Even loathe her.
"No matter what you do, I only want Jiang Mian. I want this person. You can't hurt her," Luo Fei declared possessively.
"Don't worry, Mr. Luo. What wasn't finished on Angel Star last time will eventually come true, and you'll win the beauty's heart." Shen Tingyu smiled gently at him.
As she walked out, she ran into Liang Qiao. Liang Qiao saw her coming out of Luo Fei's office and her face was full of anger, "Shen Tingyu, shouldn't you be filming on set at this hour?"
"Mr. Luo called me back," she said faintly, then walked past her.
Liang Qiao watched her retreating back, her fingers trembling with anger, "Doesn't she take me seriously? Does she?"
The little assistant advised, "Sister Qiao, why bother with her? It's beneath you."
Liang Qiao's heart felt blocked when she remembered that Shen Tingyu had rejected the female lead role in the previous drama, and it hadn't even been her turn. After all the twists and turns, it still came back to Shen Tingyu.
It was hard for her not to feel that Shen Tingyu had played her for a fool.
The little assistant was afraid she would chase after and scold her, but Liang Qiao gritted her teeth and calmed down for a while, "Forget it."
Why should she compete with Shen Tingyu? There would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Seeing that she had thought it through, the assistant nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Sister Qiao, that's the way to go. It highlights our magnanimity."
Liang Qiao withdrew her gaze and walked towards Luo Fei's office.
Meanwhile, after Shen Tingyu returned home, she swept everything off her vanity onto the floor. Listening to the sound of breaking objects, she felt a slight release of her emotions. She still couldn't understand how she had become Jiang Mian's substitute?
What was Jiang Mian better than her in any way?
Hearing the commotion, Shen's mother walked into the room. Shen Tingyu then realized she had lost control of her emotions.
She closed her eyes slightly, "I'm sorry, Mom. I'll clean it up myself later."
Shen's mother said with concern, "Did something happen? Tell Mom about it."
Shen Tingyu opened her eyes, and two lines of tears fell without warning. "Mom, what do I have to do to marry Ji Zhixiu?"
Shen's mother embraced her. Seeing her daughter so desperate, she also felt heartbroken.
"Mom, can you talk to Ji Zhixiu's mother and ask him to marry me?"
"Tingyu, you're being foolish. His mother doesn't like you."
Shen Tingyu gave a bitter smile, "Yes, I almost forgot. His mother doesn't like me."
"Then what about asking Grandpa Ji? He'll listen to Grandpa Ji, right?" She clung to the last straw.
Seeing her daughter so eager to marry Ji Zhixiu, Ji's mother struggled for a long time before finally revealing the secret.
"Actually, if you want to ask the Ji family patriarch, it's not impossible."
Shen Tingyu's eyes lit up, "What way, Mom, tell me quickly!"
Shen's mother spoke slowly, "Your grandfather and Grandpa Ji made their fortunes together. Grandpa Ji was far-sighted, and his business practices were not as sharp and decisive as Ji Zhixiu's, but always left room for maneuver. Early in the entrepreneurial period, a manager had a dispute with a client and lost his mind. His family blamed Grandpa Ji for the fault, and in a fit of rage, tried to kill him with a knife. Fortunately, your grandfather stopped him."
"It was because of this incident that, although our family can no longer compare to the Ji family, our two families have maintained friendly relations to this day."
"He only told me this after I married your father."
"If you use this to force Ji Zhixiu to marry you, it would seem like you're using a favor to gain something. Most importantly, Tingyu, you know Ji Zhixiu better than I do. Would that man agree?"
Shen Tingyu's heart rejoiced. She didn't expect a twist of fate.
She clasped her mother's hand, "Thank you, Mom, thank you for telling me this news. I'm very happy. Don't worry, I won't force him."
She had to think carefully about how to make Ji Zhixiu willing to marry her.
"I support whatever you want to do, but the premise is, don't hurt yourself. Understand?"
Shen Tingyu nodded vigorously. Of course, she wouldn't hurt herself.
...
Ji Zhixiu didn't expect to see his mother sitting in his office when he returned. He asked calmly, "Why did Mom suddenly come here?"
"Xiu'er, what have you been busy with lately?"
"Naturally, I've been busy with work."
"Your sister has mentioned that woman to me several times. I don't object to you having a woman around, but Miss Jing will be back in a couple of days. Please entertain her for me."
"I won't go." He refused directly.
Ji's mother was surprised he dared to talk back, "What, you don't listen to what I say anymore?"
"Of course I listen to what Mom says. But I don't know this person, why should I entertain her?"
"She's the only daughter of your Uncle Jing. She just returned from studying abroad. Won't you get to know her if you meet her?"
Ji Zhixiu knew what his mother meant; it was a disguised blind date. "I'm not interested right now."
Ji's mother suddenly stood up, "Are you trying to anger me to death?"
"Mom, didn't you say I can't get married before thirty?"
"I'm not asking you to get married, just see if you like her. You can start dating."
"I don't like her."
Ji's mother was almost driven mad by him, but she also understood her son; if he didn't want to do something, no one could make him.
Seeing Ji's mother really angry, Ji Zhixiu softened his tone, "I know Mom means well for me, but instead of introducing me to someone, why not pay more attention to Zhilan? After a failed marriage, she needs to keep her eyes open for the second one and not repeat the same mistake."
This move was called redirecting the blame.
Ji's mother picked up her bag from the sofa, "Neither you nor your sister is easy to deal with!"
She opened the door and walked out, bumping into Fan Cheng who was entering with documents. Fan Cheng stopped, "Madam, hello."
Ji's mother paused, "What has your president been busy with lately?"
Fan Cheng: "Madam, you really should persuade the president to take care of himself and not overwork."
Ji's mother nodded, "I know."
She didn't want to force her son, but she was afraid that if this woman captivated her son, it would be another disaster.
Fortunately, her son was still focused on work, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Fan Cheng walked into the office, "I just ran into Madam."
Ji Zhixiu smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. His voice was devoid of emotion, "It's quite troublesome for my mom to come here to test me."