Song Xiaoyu found herself trapped in a dilemma.
If she explained things to Song Moli, she would offend Lu Qianling.
But if she didn’t explain, it would be the same as tearing her relationship with Song Moli apart completely.
Song Moli was a top-tier star, while she was nothing more than an obscure, little-known actress.
Her face alternated between pale and flushed, her expression changing several times in quick succession.
After saying that last sentence, Lu Qianling leaned casually against the sofa, watching Song Xiaoyu with the look of someone enjoying a show.
Song Moli, meanwhile, stood indifferently behind the sofa, his expression unreadable.
The two of them seemed to have made an unspoken agreement not to say a word.
Song Xiaoyu finally understood what it meant to feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
Not to mention that there were other people in the lobby, casting occasional curious glances from afar.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. After a long pause, she finally forced out a sentence: “I’m going to the restroom.”
Without waiting for either of them to respond, she walked away on slender stiletto heels.
Lu Qianling clicked her tongue in disappointment.
She had thought Song Xiaoyu would at least struggle a little. She hadn’t expected her to flee in such a sorry state.
Lu Qianling glanced at her watch. There were still a few minutes left before three o’clock.
She stood up and said to Song Moli, “Shall we go?”
Song Moli nodded with a cold expression.
The two walked together toward the elevator, still maintaining their silence.
The elevator was at the top floor and would take some time to come down.
While waiting, Song Moli finally couldn’t help asking, “Have you thought it through?”
Lu Qianling asked back, “Thought through what?”
Song Moli frowned. Was she pretending to be clueless?
But judging from her expression, it didn’t seem like it.
Song Moli realized that he couldn’t see through Lu Qianling at all.
After thinking for a moment, he said, “I mean—have you really decided to take part in this variety show?”
Lu Qianling glanced at him, looking as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Of course. Otherwise, why would I come here?”
Song Moli pressed his lips together and slowly said, “If you want to play at being a loving family, you’ve picked the wrong person.”
Lu Qianling raised her eyebrows. “Is that how you see me?”
So he didn’t think she was trying to harm him?
It seemed her younger brother was actually quite kind-hearted.
Song Moli’s brows knit even tighter.
After another moment of silence, he asked, “Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
Lu Qianling watched the numbers beside the elevator tick down, answering casually, “Didn’t I already tell you?”
Song Moli asked, “Tell me what?”
Lu Qianling turned to look at him. “To prevent others from harming you.”
……
With a ding, the elevator doors opened.
The two entered one after the other.
Song Moli couldn’t help observing Lu Qianling’s expression.
They were riding a transparent observation elevator. Lu Qianling was looking outside, her expression cheerful. “I didn’t expect the view here to be pretty nice.”
Song Moli gave a self-mocking curl of his lips.
He shouldn’t have allowed himself to harbor any hope for her.
From the moment his mother passed away, Song Moli had told himself that there would no longer be anyone in this world to protect him.
And yet, after hearing Lu Qianling’s words just now, he had actually felt momentarily shaken.
Lowering his gaze, Song Moli tucked away all the emotions in his eyes.
The contract signing took place in a conference room on the top floor.
When Lu Qianling and Song Moli entered, the director and Zhang Mian were already there, along with a male assistant.
Zhang Mian looked ashen, clearly having had an unpleasant exchange with the director just moments before.
Seeing the two of them come in, the director immediately greeted them with a smile. “Miss Lu, Moli, you’re here. The contracts are ready. You can sign whenever you’re ready.”
Zhang Mian couldn’t help speaking up from behind. “Director Wang, are you really not going to reconsider Xiaoyu?”
“Xiao Zhang.” The director’s smiling face turned serious in an instant. “Don’t joke around. How could our program engage in something fake or deceptive?”
Zhang Mian: “……”
That wasn’t what you said before.
He had long discussed the idea of having Song Xiaoyu pretend to be Song Moli’s sister with the director.
In order to get Song Moli, who came with built-in popularity, onto the show, the director had not only raised no objections but had even told him to make the act as convincing as possible.
That old fox sure knew how to change faces quickly.
Over there, the director was already personally handing over the contract with great enthusiasm.
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the door was pushed open.
The woman who rushed in stumbled, nearly falling.
Song Xiaoyu had been walking in a hurry the entire way.
She had lingered in the restroom for quite a while earlier, finally steadying herself. Then she checked the time and realized it was already past three o’clock.
She rushed upstairs as fast as she could, afraid that if she arrived too late, everything would be over.
Song Xiaoyu had been in the industry for three years, constantly rotating through minor supporting roles.
She dreamed of becoming famous so badly that when Zhang Mian approached her, she had almost thought she was hallucinating.
That was Song Moli! A regular on trending searches, a newly risen top-tier star!
Zhang Mian said she was the right age, had a suitable look, and even shared the surname Song—that was why he had chosen her.
With Song Moli’s popularity, as long as she played her cards right, she would definitely become famous!
How could she give up such a hard-won opportunity so easily?
Today, Song Xiaoyu was wearing seven-centimeter stiletto heels, and after running all the way, she lost her footing at the doorway and practically crashed in.
The director hadn’t expected this turn of events and froze.
Song Xiaoyu quickly adjusted her posture. Seeing that Lu Qianling was still reading the contract, she let out a sigh of relief.
She spoke eagerly, “Director Wang, I’m Song Xiaoyu. You can call me Xiaoyu.”
The director glanced furtively at Lu Qianling and saw that her expression hadn’t changed.
After a moment’s thought, he cleared his throat awkwardly. “Who are you? What do you need? We’re busy here. You can wait and talk to me in my office later.”
Song Xiaoyu was stunned.
Hadn’t Zhang Mian said the director had already agreed to let her pretend to be Song Moli’s sister?
Why did the director look completely unaware?
But there was no time to dwell on that now. Growing anxious, Song Xiaoyu continued, “Director Wang, I think there may have been some miscommunication. Actually, I came to—”
“Miss—” The director suddenly raised his voice, cutting her off. “Miss Lu and Moli are discussing important matters regarding the program. Irrelevant personnel need to step aside.”
The director said the last sentence while looking at Lu Qianling, deliberately emphasizing the words “irrelevant personnel.”
Song Xiaoyu finally understood.
The director had already decided to let Lu Qianling go on the show, and that remark was also meant for Lu Qianling to hear.
At a loss, Song Xiaoyu looked toward Zhang Mian, hoping he would say something on her behalf.
Zhang Mian didn’t respond at all.
Back when Zhang Mian had approached Song Xiaoyu to pretend to be Song Moli’s sister, he had planned to use this opportunity to cultivate a newcomer who would obey him completely.
But he had no intention of offending the capital backing Lu Qianling for her sake.
Song Xiaoyu bit her lip in despair.
Was there really no hope left?
She had waited for so many years and had finally gotten this opportunity, only for it to now…
Song Xiaoyu looked at Lu Qianling, then at the director, and finally decided to take a gamble. “Director Wang, Miss Lu doesn’t have any experience on variety shows and may not understand how to create good program effects. I hope you’ll reconsider me.”
Then she turned to Lu Qianling. “Miss Lu, with your status, why bother going on a variety show and letting the netizens gossip about you? Perhaps appearing on the show is just entertainment for you, but for me, it really means everything!”
After speaking, Song Xiaoyu looked at Lu Qianling, hoping she would change her mind.
However, before Lu Qianling could say anything, the director spoke first.
“What nonsense are you talking about!” the director snapped angrily. “Miss Lu wants to experience life. What’s wrong with that? Who do you think you are, to compare yourself with Miss Lu?”
After that, the director glanced at Lu Qianling again and added, “Miss Lu is our program’s only choice. We will absolutely not consider anyone else. Stop indulging in wishful thinking!”
The director hadn’t originally planned to be this blunt.
But if Song Xiaoyu continued talking like this and ended up offending their financial backer, it would affect the entire production team.
The director had finally lost his patience.
Even then, he still didn’t feel satisfied, so he turned to the assistant beside him. “Xiao Chen, escort this young lady out. Don’t let her waste everyone’s time any longer!”