A woman draped in white fur stood amidst the snow.
A dark green velvet qipao wrapped tightly around her exquisite curves, with the collar cut into a teardrop shape to reveal her collarbone and fair skin. In the falling snow, her brownish-black hair, permed into large waves, was loosely secured with a hairpin. The jade bead dangling from the end of the pin swayed gently as she walked.
In her eyes lay the desperation and resolve of a desperate struggle. One jade-like hand hung by her side, tightly gripping a dagger.
The biting wind whipped the woman’s long hair into the air, exposing a neck as graceful as a swan’s. The camera panned up to her face. Her makeup was extremely striking, yet it failed to conceal the thick, unyielding determination in the corners of her upturned eyes, making everyone’s breath hitch.
Her slightly reddened eye sockets were brimming with unshed tears, forcibly held back, which made her look exceptionally heartbreaking.
Qiao Qiao was entirely immersed in the scene. Her warm brown hair had been temporarily dyed a conventional brownish-black for the role. This scene depicted the singer she played heading off to assassinate the enemy with the determination of going down together, holding a dagger meant not only for the adversaries but for herself as well.
“Cut! Excellent!” The director watched Qiao Qiao’s performance and could not help praising repeatedly. “Qiao Qiao, you acted wonderfully. Go take a rest and get ready for the interview later.”
The supporting role Qiao Qiao played was actually just a minor link in this patriotic New Year film, created to highlight the growth of the female lead. As a singer worried about her country’s fate and willing to sacrifice herself, she provided a mental shock to the female lead played by Yu Huai, who had just returned from studying abroad.
When Sister Zou pitched this script to Qiao Qiao, the director did not hold high expectations for her performance. Yet Qiao Qiao delivered beyond expectations, outstanding enough that she could not be ignored. Furthermore, she was an extremely dedicated actress who still came to film even with her foot injured like that, far better than those arrogant and ignorant youngsters.
As soon as Qiao Qiao wrapped up, her assistant and a few others immediately pushed a wheelchair over to her. Someone nearby reached out to help her up, but Qiao Qiao frowned. “Thank you, I can manage.”
She sat down in the wheelchair with difficulty, and as her assistant’s hand touched her, her mind suddenly recalled that laughable situation from this morning.
Sister Can Can holding her had been caught right in the act by Sister Zou.
Before she could even explain, and before Sister Zou could even question it, the person holding her had spoken unhurriedly, without panic or haste: “We can talk about things later. Let me serve her some food first.”
Serve her?
Where did she ever let her serve her?
Zou Jingzhi’s feelings were utterly complicated.
Guangyu Media did not have rigid rules, and the romantic lives of its artists were not restricted. Therefore, she felt that if Qiao Qiao was truly dating this woman, she would not stand in the way.
Having managed Qiao Qiao for so long, she had never seen anyone close by her side.
She knew Qiao Qiao’s personality well: sensitive and independent, never letting anyone easily cross into her safe zone.
Yet this woman had clearly breached the perimeter, and without Qiao Qiao even realizing it.
Under the watchful eyes of Sister Zou and Sister Can Can, Qiao Qiao finished a very grueling meal.
She felt like an animal locked in a cage, undergoing inspection by a zookeeper and the zoo director.
Clearly, Sister Can Can was the zookeeper.
Under the zoo director’s piercing gaze, Qiao Qiao finally spoke up, pointing at the calm person beside her: “Sister Zou, let me make a formal introduction. This is Sister Can Can.”
Zou Jingzhi: “Xiao Qiao, did you bang your head?”
Qiao Qiao wanted to tell Sister Zou who Sister Can Can was too! But she did not even know herself.
She only now belatedly realized that without knowing Sister Can Can’s true identity, she had inexplicably trusted her.
“Finished eating?” Ni Zijing put the bowl away and asked casually, “Are you busy today? What do you want for lunch?”
Qiao Qiao did not answer. Sister Zou said, “I received word that President Ni is coming over tonight to host a banquet for the cast and crew. Qiao Qiao, you must go this time! I have already prepared your gown.”
“You are making me go even like this?” Qiao Qiao pointed at her foot.
“A wheelchair! You are going even if I have to push you.” Sister Zou said earnestly, “Just look at how much President Ni helped you this time. Shouldn’t you go give her a toast?”
Noticing Sister Can Can let out a soft chuckle, Qiao Qiao raised her eyes to look at her. “What are you laughing at?”
Ni Zijing’s voice was low, carrying a hint of amusement. “This President Ni sounds quite formidable.” She looked at Qiao Qiao, then shifted her tone: “Of course, you are even more formidable.”
How could Qiao Qiao not know what she was referring to? Wasn’t it about her earlier claim that President Ni had her covered?
Sister Zou was still right here, so she could not throw a tantrum and had to hold it in.
“What do you want for lunch?” Ni Zijing picked up the tray and stood to the side, lowering her head to hide her smile. “I can push you to the banquet when you are ready.”
It was about time to formally introduce herself, wasn’t it?
Qiao Qiao: “No need, Sister Can Can, you are too polite.”
Ni Zijing said in a deadpan tone, “I said I would take responsibility, so it is settled. I will come pick you up when you finish up.”
She gave Qiao Qiao zero chance to refuse.
After she left, Sister Zou called the assistant over to do Qiao Qiao’s makeup, snorted a few times, and said, “Did you eat your fill? I will take responsibility, what do you want for lunch? Do you still remember that you are a female celebrity? Keep your figure in check, do you hear me?”
Qiao Qiao placed a hand over her still-flat abdomen. “I didn’t eat much, it won’t affect my appearance on camera.”
“Save room for tonight.” Sister Zou looked ready to pinch Qiao Qiao’s ear and tell her to go.
In the entertainment circle, everyone knew how to be smooth and versatile, but Qiao Qiao just had to be stubborn about it.
Qiao Qiao said nothing, slowly twisting a hair tie around her fingers. Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, making even the air in the room feel uncomfortable to breathe.
Sister Zou spoke again, “Did you hear me?”
“You know I don’t like socializing with those people.” Qiao Qiao didn’t even raise her eyes, her voice turning languid: “I heard you.”
“Qiao-jie, Qiao-jie! Your acting just now was so good! That look in your eyes really made my heart ache.” The assistant’s praise pulled Qiao Qiao out of her trance. She took a sip of the water handed to her by the assistant and saw someone stepping over in small heels, coming to a halt right in front of her.
Judging by that arrogant posture, Qiao Qiao could guess who it was even without opening her eyes.
“You’ve gotten quite capable, haven’t you, Qiao Qiao? Learning how to generate hype now?” Yu Huai, dressed in a Republic-era noblewoman costume, looked down at Qiao Qiao from a height.
It was all this Qiao Qiao’s fault!
Originally, promotional materials before the reshoots used her as the hot topic, but as soon as Qiao Qiao’s fall happened, it caused Qiao Qiao to blow up in popularity instead, stealing all her spotlight.
“I’m not in the mood to argue with you today.” Qiao Qiao lifted her eyelids slightly, looking unconcerned.
“Where did you find that person? Did you deliberately hire someone to follow you and take pictures?” Yu Huai sneered. “You say you don’t care about your reputation, but you couldn’t sit still after all. Are you trying to use this momentum to grab Guangyu’s next big IP? Just you?”
Yu Huai simply couldn’t stand Qiao Qiao’s self-righteous attitude, while simultaneously harboring an inexplicable jealousy toward her.
She and Qiao Qiao had once been students together in the performance department. Right out of school, Qiao Qiao landed a drama and became popular for a period, overshadowing Yu Huai. It wasn’t until Qiao Qiao went abroad and later returned that her popularity had already declined.
Meanwhile, Yu Huai had clawed her way up to second-tier status. Watching the person who used to be ahead of her lose to her brought joy to her heart.
Being able to watch Qiao Qiao take a hit brought her even more joy.
Qiao Qiao’s expression remained bland as she cast a very indifferent glance at Yu Huai. “Finished?”
Yu Huai choked for a second, then snapped unpleasantly, “You found a good backer so you’ve grown a spine, huh? Let me tell you, you’re just a supporting actress, got it!”
The assistant clenched a fist nearby: “Don’t push people too far!”
“I’m pushing people too far? How am I pushing anyone too far?” Yu Huai’s voice sharpened, drawing the curious glances of several crew members nearby.
If Sister Zou had been around, Yu Huai would have left after a few words at most. With Sister Zou away on business today, Yu Huai was clearly determined to make trouble. Annoyance welled up in Qiao Qiao’s heart; thinking about how she still had to do an interview with Yu Huai later, her impatience was already written all over her face.
Qiao Qiao’s mind raced.
Yu Huai wasn’t from her company, and her team was formidable, having crafted a persona of being fierce and straightforward for Yu Huai over the years. Even when Yu Huai bullied people outright, her fans would rush to the comments to shout that Huai Huai was just being real and wonderful!
Right now, she was just a supporting actress in this crew. Since Yu Huai was the female lead with higher status, nobody would step in to help even if she was truly bullied. Qiao Qiao didn’t actually care about the dirty water Yu Huai tried to splash on her, but what she hated most was when people dragged innocent people around her into it.
Qiao Qiao finally raised her eyes, which looked bright and crystalline under the lights. Just when everyone expected her to blow a fuse, Qiao Qiao curved her lips into a smile.
She spoke up: “What did you just say?”
“Did you break your ears along with your leg?” Yu Huai blurted out mercilessly. “I said you found a backer! Must be your backer who bought reviews to control public opinion for you! And here I thought your acting was so great, who knows what kind of cheap trash that person you found is. All that affectionate look in your eyes, totally fake, right?”
Everyone around slowed down their movements, seemingly curious about how Qiao Qiao would react.
Gossip was human nature, let alone when it happened right in front of their eyes.
Yu Huai delivered these words casually, but if anyone added their own spin and spread it around, there was no telling what it would morph into.
Cheap trash?
Qiao Qiao chewed on those two words in her mind.
Yu Huai just called Sister Can Can cheap trash, right?
Qiao Qiao looked at the whole bottle of mineral water still gripped in her hand.
It was the one the assistant gave her earlier, which she had only taken two sips from.
Without hesitation, she unscrewed the cap and poured it straight onto Yu Huai’s face.
Putting her full force behind it and squeezing the bottle, the ice-cold water splashed all over Yu Huai’s face, neck, and clothes. Her makeup was ruined, her clothes were soaked, and she looked an absolute mess.
“Is it more satisfying for you to run your mouth with snide remarks, or is it more satisfying for me to dump a whole bottle of water on you right now?” Qiao Qiao pinched the empty bottle and smiled slowly, narrowing her eyes at Yu Huai in triumph.
Yu Huai let out a series of shrieks, the freezing water making her shiver. Seeing Qiao Qiao’s smile and the surrounding whispers, she lost control and raised her hand toward Qiao Qiao.
“What do you think you are doing?”
As these words rang out coldly beside her ear, her raised hand was caught by a grip so powerful it made her scream out in alarm.
When she caught sight of the newcomer’s eyes, even Yu Huai couldn’t help shuddering.
This person…