Yu Shushu glanced at the formidable competitor Pei Jin and continued, “Speaking of which, this matter does involve Pei Jin. Mrs. Wang is the biggest investor in Epiphyllum. Yesterday, Bai Chi and I saw him enter a private booth alone with Mrs. Wang, and they didn’t come out for a long time.”
“Little Jin got a seat at Mrs. Wang’s table to discuss roles based on his own merits. Why didn’t your artist have dinner with Mrs. Wang? Was it because he didn’t want to?”
Li Qianqian let out a cold laugh, refusing to take the bait and follow that line of conversation.
Yu Shushu looked at Li Qianqian in disbelief, never expecting her to speak so sharply. She turned her head to see Pei Jin still sitting there in a daze.
Having been an agent for so many years, she was quick-witted and sharp. She immediately guessed that Pei Jin must have latched onto Li Qianqian somehow, which was why she was willing to argue with Li Baichi just to protect him.
“Qianqian, I apologize. I’m not the best with words, but I meant no harm. I just wanted to give you a heads-up—some minor artists put on a show in front of you but act differently behind your back. Not much of what they say is true. You might want to be careful about trusting them fully.”
“If you’re only here to slander my artist, then you can get out too.”
Li Qianqian lifted her gaze to glance at her, having no interest in playing this hypocritical game with her, nor any intention of indulging her.
Hearing those words laced with thorns, Yu Shushu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, cold to the bone.
But remembering the resources in Li Qianqian’s hands, she could only force a smile.
“Well then… let’s talk business. I came to ask about the Epiphyllum script. Bai Chi has always loved this kind of sunny-young-man role.”
“Mhm.” Li Qianqian responded perfunctorily, flipping through the contract in her hands.
Seeing that Li Qianqian wasn’t taking the initiative to offer the role to her artist like she used to, and wouldn’t even spare her a glance, Yu Shushu couldn’t help but clench her fingers, feeling humiliated inside.
She couldn’t help but blame Li Baichi for being irresponsible—he said he’d come ask about the role, then stormed off in a fit, leaving her to face this alone.
Yu Shushu couldn’t bring herself to ask directly, so she probed as tactfully as possible: “Qianqian, how do you think Bai Chi’s chances are if he goes for the audition?”
Li Qianqian paused her movements, a hint of amusement curling at the corner of her lips. She said unhurriedly, “I’m not the director. Why are you asking me that?”
Yu Shushu frowned, slightly irritated. She had no patience left to stay here and endure Li Qianqian’s attitude. She might as well go back and persuade Bai Chi.
After all, a sister who dotes on her brother that much couldn’t stay tough for long.
But she still had to keep up appearances, so her expression remained gentle.
“I figured since you two are siblings, you’d know each other pretty well, so I wanted to hear your thoughts. Since you’re not too sure either, I’ll go back and talk it over with Bai Chi.”
“Mhm.” Li Qianqian glanced at the retreating figure and the office door closing behind her, then turned to look at Pei Jin, who had been sitting there for a while, sizing him up from head to toe.
Pei Jin’s body stiffened instantly. He gripped the male-lead-two contract in his hands, so nervous that cold sweat was forming.
Especially with Li Qianqian’s gaze boring into him like needles on his back. His mind raced through countless possibilities, finally landing on one conclusion: Li Qianqian had taken a liking to him.
Why else would she suddenly be so nice to him, even going so far as to offend her most beloved brother?
In all his years in the industry, plenty of people had extended olive branches to Pei Jin, and he had turned them all down.
If Li Qianqian was playing that same game, then fine—he’d just drop this project.
Pei Jin took a deep breath. “Li Qianqian, let me tell you something. I, Pei Jin, would rather die than submit to you!”
“Once you get back, make sure you—”
Both voices sounded at the same time, and Li Qianqian’s unfinished words were abruptly cut off.
The air was silent for a long moment. Li Qianqian looked utterly confused. “Huh?”
Seeing her innocent, bewildered expression, Pei Jin remained wary. “You go first—what were you about to say?”
“I was going to say, once you get back, remember to study the script carefully, tidy up your appearance—shave that stubble—eat your meals on time, and take care of yourself before you join the production.”
The book described Pei Jin’s daily life as extremely undisciplined, which was why Li Qianqian couldn’t help but add those extra reminders.
Pei Jin: “??”
That’s it?
No way!
It had to be the courtesy before the force!
“You can go now.” Li Qianqian waved her hand, signaling he was dismissed.
“Oh… okay.” Pei Jin couldn’t believe that Li Qianqian just wanted to show concern for him?
He got up in a daze and walked toward the door, half-convinced and half-doubtful, with a vague sense of unease stirring inside.
“Wait.” The sweet, clear female voice sounded again from behind.
Pei Jin’s body stiffened. He stopped in his tracks and couldn’t help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. See, he was right after all—Li Qianqian wouldn’t just change her ways.
She was probably too embarrassed, hemming and hawing. It would be a miracle if he walked out of that office door unscathed!
He turned around, and just thinking about the filthy words he was about to hear, his face darkened like he’d swallowed something foul.
“What else?”
“Oh, right—if Xi Jiayi comes looking for me later, tell her I’m not in the office. Let her rest easy and not do anything rash. She can wait until I get back to discuss things.”
Li Qianqian shoved the documents in her hand into the drawer, then stood up and hurried toward the door.
Pei Jin was left alone, unable to snap out of it for a long time. He stared at the empty office, hardly able to believe it.
She really just left?
Not tempted by his body?
Had he really been overthinking things?
Imperial Dynasty Bar
Inside the bustling, noisy hall, people came and went, red and green lights flashing in the dim environment. This was a high-end entertainment club in the capital—those who could afford to come here were either wealthy or powerful.
Li Qianqian remembered that in the original book, it was written that Gu Shinian injured his hand here today, which led to him never being able to pick up an instrument again.
Speaking of which, the main reason he had come to Imperial Dynasty to work as a male model was that the original owner had signed him but never given him any resources. To support his grandmother, who was critically ill in the hospital, he had no choice but to find side work.
When she arrived, she was stopped at the door because she didn’t have a membership card.
“No membership, no entry.”
Li Qianqian tried to bluff her way through. “I do have one, I just forgot to bring it. Can you make an exception today?”
“Still can’t enter.” The security guard was stubborn.
“Then I’ll just sign up for one now, right?” Li Qianqian said boldly, pulling out her black card and handing it over.
A bank card appeared conspicuously in front of the security guard. His habit of feeling secondhand embarrassment for others kicked in again, and he slowly averted his gaze.
Li Qianqian: “…” Damn, she’d grabbed the wrong card.
“Miss, you should just leave. I don’t want to be that kind of security guard who looks down on people. Our club has clear rules—if you can’t enter, you can’t enter. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”
The security guard let out a sigh. He often read those novels about not bullying the young and poor, so this kind of scene felt somewhat familiar to him.
“Oh, right, I have an electronic card. Can I go in now?” Li Qianqian was out of options, so she could only open her phone and pull up the electronic card that her mother-in-law had previously shared with the original owner.
If she went back now to get her black card and then returned, it would be too late. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and use her mother-in-law’s card to get in.
“Yes, yes, of course. Please come in, honored lady.” The security guard scanned it, and his attitude did a complete one-eighty.
The sixty-seven-year-old age on the electronic card information shocked him deeply—the young lady looked so youthful, yet she was actually that old.
As soon as Li Qianqian entered, she headed straight for the bar. “Excuse me, is there a male model here named Gu Shinian?”
“Yes, there is… but he’s already been reserved.” The front desk girl was a stunning beauty with a gentle smile on her face.