14 – Mission Reward: Bai Mei Struck by Lightning When Going Out
Bai Mei was completely stunned by Yan Qing’s slap.
She hadn’t even laid a hand on Yan Qing, yet her own face burned with a searing pain so intense she could barely feel her own skin. But the humiliation of being slapped by an artist under her management stung even more.
“Yan Qing, how dare you hit me?” she raged.
The girl curved her cunning fox-like eyes. “Didn’t Ms. Bai want to experience what it feels like to hit someone? The effect of force is mutual. Since both hitting and being hit involve the same force… I’ll reluctantly try it out for my dear manager.”
Tuo Tuo nodded smugly and vigorously beside her.
[Congratulations, Host, for completing the random task!]
[Task reward: Bai Mei gets struck by lightning the moment she steps outside!]
Bai Mei was fuming. She pointed at Yan Qing’s nose. “I see you don’t want to survive in the entertainment industry anymore! Do you even remember who I am? I’m your manager!”
“Yan Qing, don’t forget! You signed a slave contract with the company! Even if I ordered you to kneel and lick my shoes, you’d have to obey. If you want to make money in this industry, you have to suck up to me. And now you dare hit me?”
Yan Qing had heard these words hundreds of times.
She had been abducted by traffickers as a child and sold to Orange Blossom Media to become a trainee, but this path was far from easy.
The company was harsh, her manager exploited her, and they even took a cut from her already meager appearance fees.
“So what if I hit you?”
Yan Qing lifted her delicate face slightly, her exquisite features radiating a dazzling brilliance. “Planning to terminate my contract?”
She had long wanted to stop wasting time at Orange Blossom.
Bai Mei’s expression changed instantly. “Don’t even think about it! Yan Qing, you should have known when you signed that slave contract—you’re stuck at Orange Blossom for life, and I’m your only manager!”
She had skimmed plenty of profits from Yan Qing.
Thanks to the exploitative contract, she knew Yan Qing couldn’t do anything about it, so she often deducted from her appearance fees and secretly pocketed the money…
That’s why she would never let Yan Qing go under any circumstances.
“My only manager?” Yan Qing’s red lips curved slightly.
She glanced at Bai Mei with a ripple in her eyes. “I hope that when Orange Blossom Media goes bankrupt, you’ll still have the nerve to say that—instead of begging me to get you out of prison.”
Bai Mei didn’t understand her meaning for a moment.
Although Orange Blossom Media was far inferior to Glitter Star Entertainment, it still held a small foothold in the entertainment industry. It wouldn’t go bankrupt so easily. Besides, what could a washed-up nobody like Yan Qing possibly do?
“Get that beast out of here!”
Bai Mei glared angrily at Tuo Tuo, finding it utterly irritating. Moreover, this creature had been targeting Xia Xia. She couldn’t allow anything that threatened Su Jinxia to exist.
Yan Qing raised an eyebrow. “And if I don’t?”
“Then get out with it! From now on, the company won’t care if you live or die! And don’t even think about getting another apartment assigned to you!” Bai Mei threatened sharply.
Tuo Tuo gnashed its little teeth, glaring furiously at Bai Mei.
[Damn bastard! Is that all you’ve got? Kicking out my host? Don’t worry, Host darling! The ultra-luxury villa Tuo Tuo prepared for you is ready!]
Who would want to stay in her shabby little apartment anyway?
Yan Qing rubbed Tuo Tuo’s fluffy little head and glanced at Bai Mei. “I couldn’t ask for more.”
She might as well make use of the villa she earned from her tasks.
She had been looking for an excuse to leave the company-assigned apartment, and Bai Mei’s threat came at just the right time.
“Xiao Bei, let’s go.” She cast a lazy glance.
Xiao Bei was still standing there, dazed. “Huh…”She knew better than anyone just how poor her Yan Jie was. Forget renting a new apartment—they might not even be able to afford a single night at a hotel on such short notice…
But she obediently followed behind Yan Qing anyway.
Bai Mei was furious. “Fine! You’re really something! Let’s see where you can go after leaving this place!”
She knew Yan Qing all too well.
This little bitch had no background, no connections, and not a penny to her name. She would always have to rely on Bai Mei.
Yan Qing raised an eyebrow with an air of defiance, fished the apartment key out of Xiao Bei’s pocket, and tossed it along with her own key right into Bai Mei’s face. Then, she strode away, pulling Tuo Tuo along with her.
“Ouch—” Bai Mei winced in pain again.
The sharp edge of the key had scratched her face. She hurriedly grabbed the keys and vented her anger by kicking the coffee table hard.
“Crash—”
Porcelain and glass cups shattered all over the floor.
Bai Mei stomped her feet in rage. Watching Yan Qing’s resolute retreating figure, she clenched the keys tightly and stormed out of the apartment.
Then, she locked the door firmly from the outside.
Yan Qing was already out of sight. Fuming, Bai Mei took out her phone and headed downstairs. “Get the marketing accounts to dig up some dirt on Yan Qing! I want her reputation ruined until she’s—”
“Crash—” A sudden flash of lightning lit up the sky.
Just as Bai Mei reached the lobby, the blinding light of the lightning streaked past her eyes, fierce enough to tear the sky apart.
She grumbled under her breath, “What lousy weather.”
“Sister Mei? What did you say?” The lightning seemed to have disrupted her phone signal.
The person on the other end of the call could only hear static.
Bai Mei frowned impatiently. She opened her umbrella and stepped outside, hoping to find a better signal. But just as she redialed the number, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck her!
“Boom—”
Another flash of lightning followed immediately.
Bai Mei looked up in terror, but before she could react, the thunderbolt and lightning struck her squarely on the head, piercing right through her skull. “Ah—”
A piercing scream echoed afterward.
She collapsed unconscious, her hair even emitting wisps of dark smoke…
“Tsk.” Yan Qing sat on the eaves, watching the spectacle unfold.
Holding an umbrella, she swung her legs lightly, feeling quite pleased as she watched Bai Mei get struck by lightning and faint. “See? Doing bad things really does invite heavenly punishment.”
She kindly called 120 for Bai Mei.
Then, Yan Qing nimbly jumped down from the eaves, strolled leisurely toward the roadside under her umbrella, followed by a happy alpaca wagging its butt.
…
Yushui Bay.
The most luxurious villa district in Jiangbei, China, known as the gathering place for A-list celebrities and top-tier elites in the entertainment industry.
Xiao Bei stared blankly at the extravagant villa in front of her, nervously clutching the straps of her backpack. “Yan… Yan Jie, what are we doing here? We definitely can’t afford to rent a place in Yushui Bay…”
“Who said anything about renting?” Yan Qing replied calmly.
Xiao Bei breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good…”
“This villa is mine from now on.”
Xiao Bei stared at her in shock.
She stammered, “Yan Jie, I know you’re upset about being kicked out by Sister Mei, but we need to face reality with a clear head. We can’t just daydream…”
“Click.”
But before Xiao Bei could finish her plea, a crisp sound caught her attention. She turned her head to see her Yan Jie inserting a key into the villa’s lock.
And then…
Another “click.”
The damn door actually opened!!!