Aunt Song noticed she was in low spirits and brought her a bowl of warm tremella and lotus seed soup. "What's wrong? Are you not allowed to go into school to get your things during the break?"
Jiang Mian took the bowl with both hands, quickly flashing a sweet smile. "Thank you, Aunt Song. It's not that. I got them, I was just thinking about the script."
Their school was quite good; you could get in by swiping your student ID and using facial recognition. Many students hadn't gone home for the break, so there were still people around campus.
Jiang Mian scooped up a spoonful of the sweet soup. On such a cold day, a bowl like this was incredibly comforting.
Aunt Song smiled. "Young Madam, you always love everything I make. You're always my biggest supporter."
"Of course, it's because Aunt Song cooks so well," Jiang Mian said.
Jiang Mian finished the bowl in one go and handed it back to Aunt Song. "Another bowl, please."
"Oh, and give Sun Shu and the others a bowl too. It's so cold today."
Aunt Song nodded. "Okay, there's plenty left in the pot. I cooked a lot. The young master will have some when he gets back too."
With so many bowls to serve, Aunt Song naturally didn't do it alone. She called Sun Shu and two bodyguards to help.
They took turns having some.
Though it was cold outside, the warmth of the soup reached their hearts. One of the bodyguards, Xiao Bai, smacked his lips. "The young madam is so kind. Beautiful and kind-hearted."
Xiao Hei saw through him. "You just have a soft spot because you're eating her food and taking her gifts, don't you?"
Xiao Bai puffed out his chest. "Then tell me if she's not good or not."
"She is," Sun Shu said, walking past them. The two men immediately straightened up, their bodies tensing.
Sun Shu grinned. "Slacking off, are we? Go run a couple of laps later."
The two men looked crestfallen. "Captain..."
"I'll allow you to have one more bowl."
...
Shen Tingyu grew more indignant the more she thought about it. Why should Jiang Mian take advantage of her absence? Who did Jiang Mian think she was?
No wonder she...
Liang Qiao saw all this through the car window, gritting her teeth. "Bitch, bitch!"
Her agent reminded her, "We're outside, and there are reporters everywhere. Watch your demeanor."
Liang Qiao's expression changed instantly. She took a deep breath. "What does Luo Fei mean by this? I'm not asking him for resources anymore, so why is he letting Shen Tingyu compete with me?"
The agent was also worried. "Qiao Qiao, what's going on between you and Mr. Luo? He was fine before you left on your business trip, so why did he change when you came back? You're stubborn, why don't you try appeasing Mr. Luo? Just bow your head, and this will be over."
Liang Qiao's chest heaved. Even in her anger, she was still stunningly beautiful. "How would I know what happened? I have no idea! I only found out when I came back that Luo Fei signed a new artist and gave her the best treatment. I don't understand what methods Shen Tingyu used, or if her skills in bed earned his favor."
The two assistants kept their heads down, pretending not to hear.
The agent advised her, "No matter what, you don't need to fight with her. You're a popular actress, and she's a newcomer just starting out. Don't stoop to her level."
"But she's been trending recently, and that variety show was originally intended for me by Luo Fei," Liang Qiao said unhappily.
"The most important thing is to win Mr. Luo's heart. Qiao Qiao, you've been with Mr. Luo for so long. You should know."
Liang Qiao grabbed the agent's hand. "Tell me, is Luo Fei tired of me?"
The agent comforted her. "He won't be, Qiao Qiao. You're much prettier than Shen Tingyu, and in terms of acting, you're miles ahead of newcomers like her. Don't panic. You just need to get this role, and even if Mr. Luo stops promoting you, you won't be afraid."
Liang Qiao nodded. "You're right, you're right. I shouldn't be arguing with her over trivial matters."
She took a deep breath.
"I've put so much effort into this role. I absolutely cannot fail."
If this were in the past, she would have never bothered with a director like Director Wang. Art films were far less popular than commercial ones, but now, she could only hope this film would elevate her career further.
The agent smoothed her skirt. "Compared to you, Shen Tingyu has no advantage. She'll only be humiliating herself."