Yan Luoxi curled up on the couch, her fingers lightly resting on her chin as she pondered, “Not long ago, you suggested I take the variety show route, remember?”
Tian Lingyun nodded, “I remember.”
“I’ve looked into it and Lu Zhaoran doesn’t invest much in variety shows, and his connections there aren’t extensive.
If I want to make a comeback from this desperate situation, taking the variety show route seems like a good choice.”
Tian Lingyun pursed her lips and said cautiously, “Erluo, variety shows have reached a saturation point nowadays.
With the ban imposed by your agency, you could easily be ignored by the resident MCs.”
Lesser-known artists might even get cut from the final edit, leaving them with very little screen time and essentially just a wasted effort.
Yan Luoxi lay dejectedly on the couch, her voice low, “I know, my fame isn’t sufficient at the moment.
Unless I have a very strong backer, appearing on a variety show would result in me being utterly ignored.”
“It’s not like there are no solutions,” Tian Lingyun thought to herself as she watched her disheartened figure.
The last time Erluo was framed, she became a hot topic on Weibo and gained a lot of fans.
Additionally, the set of photos they released afterward showcased her fierce image, paving the way for her acting career.
A spark of hope lit in Yan Luoxi’s eyes as she threw herself at Tian Lingyun, wrapping her arms around Lingyun’s waist, “Sweetie, I knew you would have a solution, tell me quickly.”
“Remember I mentioned a while back that my friend sold the rights to a film company?
They are very supportive and are now starting to plan an internet drama.
I’ve seen the script, and it’s brilliant.
The leading lady’s character matches the image from the photos that went viral on your Weibo recently,” Tian Lingyun said, smiling as she dodged out of her embrace.
Yan Luoxi wrapped her arms around a pillow in front of her chest, “An internet drama?”
“Yep, several web series have been big hits recently, making stars out of quite a few actors.
Before, when you and Lu Zhaoran were on good terms, I never considered letting you take part in something like this.
But now that Lu Zhaoran intends to ban you, and you can’t act in TV dramas, web dramas should be fine,” Tian Lingyun responded.
Yan Luoxi thought seriously for a moment.
She had heard of web series before, back when she was not yet blacklisted.
Some actors mentioned them with disdain, seeing them as an unconventional path.
“Will I need to audition?” Yan Luoxi asked.
“Are you asking for a beating by even asking that?
Of course, you’ll need to audition.
So I’m just recommending you for the part; whether you can secure the leading role and turn the tables on your fortunes depends on you,” Tian Lingyun said with a disdainful look.
Yan Luoxi promptly snuggled up, lying back on her legs and saying cheerily, “I thought that if I clung to your coattails, I wouldn’t need to audition and could get the part directly.”
“You wish,” Tian Lingyun said, flicking her forehead with her finger.
They chatted for a while about the web series and planned to order something to eat before going home.
The waiter knocked and entered, “Miss Yan, Miss Tian, sorry to interrupt.
Hai Tang Private Room’s Mr.
Qi invites you both for a late-night snack.
Please join him.”
Yan Luoxi instinctively thought of the aloof and domineering man from before, truly an unyielding character.
“Who is Mr.
Qi?” Tian Lingyun asked, confused.
“Some inexplicable person, no need to bother with him.
Waiter, please bring us two servings of Italian pasta.
We’ll eat and then head home,” Yan Luoxi decided to brush it off.
After all, she had just brazenly kissed him and really didn’t have the face to see him again.
The server insisted, “Miss Yan, I’m sorry, but if you don’t go over there, Seventh Master said he would come to find you himself and ask whether you’re not planning to take responsibility for the forceful kiss just now.”
“…” Yan Luoxi’s brain short-circuited as she stared blankly at the server.
Tian Lingyun looked at her with a half-smiling gaze, “It seems during those two hours you disappeared, you were flirting with a man?”
Yan Luoxi quickly covered her mouth, her face flushing red as she argued, “Don’t talk nonsense, I’ve only met him three times and was knocked down by his dog once.
How could I have flirted with him, it was all an accident, an accident.”
Tian Lingyun’s clear black-and-white eyes seemed to say, you’ve even been knocked down by his dog, do you still think you can clear your relationship with him? You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Yan Luoxi, feeling dejected, let go of her and stated weakly, “I really didn’t force a kiss on him, it was truly an accident.”
Tian Lingyun patted her head, “Good girl, you should deal with the mess you’ve stirred up yourself; I won’t join the excitement.”
After that, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and left with graceful composure.
Yan Luoxi, driven to madness, eventually followed the server to the private room.
When she arrived, the room was silent, and she immediately noticed the man smoking by the floor-to-ceiling window; his whole being seemed about to blend into the dense, ink-like darkness outside.
She stood at the edge of the door, raised her hand, and knocked on the door, uneasily saying, “Um, why are you the only one here?
Has everyone else left?”
Li Yeqi turned around, his inscrutable black eyes fixating on the lovely woman standing at the doorway.
He beckoned her with his finger, his voice low and husky, “Come here!”
Yan Luoxi involuntarily shivered, his voice so soothing it was as if it could impregnate her ears.
When she thought about their unintended kiss just now—or rather, the accidental brush of their lips—
She stood by the door, not moving, squeezing the real leather strap of her bag, “It’s not quite appropriate for an unmarried woman and an unmarried man to be alone in a room together, right?
Weren’t you planning to have a late-night snack?
I’ll treat you.”
Li Yeqi, observing her awkwardness, felt an undercurrent stirring in his gaze.
He muttered a muffled laugh, “Scared to come in, in case I devour you?”
This natural teasing was as if they were lovers of many years.
Yan Luoxi’s ears burned; she always felt his attitude towards her was inscrutable, “Seventh Master is joking.
Someone as prestigious as you probably wouldn’t like to get entangled with a little star like me.”
“When did we get untangled?” Li Yeqi stubbed out his cigarette, took steady steps towards her, not too fast nor too slow.
At that moment, Yan Luoxi had the urge to turn and flee.
Her heart was in turmoil as she stood stunned, watching the man stop in front of her.
He was so tall, she had to tilt her head back just to see his face.
Li Yeqi looked down, his cool and aloof breath pressed forward, the man’s scent enveloping her, his deep eyes locking onto her firmly, he spoke softly, “Hmm?”
Yan Luoxi involuntarily stepped back, her breath intertwined with the powerful scent of his pheromones.
Her tongue tied, “I…
you…”
Watching her flustered and helpless manner, the amusement in the man’s eyes deepened, his desire to tease growing stronger, “So you forcefully kissed me and now you’re thinking of walking away without a word, huh?”
With each word he spoke, his head drew closer to her, and by the time he uttered the last word, his cool lips were almost touching hers.