“So. You’re Mei Jing?” An Ru walked over until she was standing directly in front of Ah Sha.
The reporters in the area quickly gathered around the two women. This was a big scoop in the making! A showdown between the ex and the current girlfriend!
Xiao Hua stood closely beside Ah Sha. If An Ru so much as laid a finger on Ah Sha, Xiao Hua would certainly not hesitate to kick the woman straight to kingdom come.
“Nice to meet you!” Ah Sha greeted An Ru with a sweet smile. Once again, Ah Sha had a.s.sumed the facial expression of a cute, adorable (think the loli culture) little girl.
An Ru bit her lip in hesitation; however, before An Ru could say another word, Wan Qingsi was already leading Ah Sha forward with a hand on the small of her back. “The opening ceremony is about to start soon. You haven’t changed into your outfit yet,” Wan Qingsi said.
Ah Sha turned her head around and waved back at An Ru. “Excuse us, but we have to get going now,” Ah Sha said, adding a provocative wink at the end.
An Ru, who had already been furious before the meeting, lost her cool right then and there. She sprinted towards Wan Qingsi, stopping only when she was standing right in front of him. “What does she have that I don’t!” An Ru yelled, her eyes red and teary.
Ah Sha leaned into Wan Qingsi’s side as trepidation and alarm filled her face. “Qingsi… She…”
Wan Qingsi stifled the urge to laugh and leveled a cold stare at An Ru instead. “You’re a celebrity of Stars Entertainment, and she’s my woman. There shouldn’t even be a compet.i.tion, don’t you think?”
An Ru’s body swayed lightly. Around them, the reporters snapped photo after photo of the scene. A brave one yelled, “President Wan, are you openly declaring that you and An Ru are no longer together?”
“I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding,” Wan Qingsi said, his eyes taking in his surroundings. “Miss An and I never had a relationship beyond a professional one. I’m her boss and she’s my employee, that’s it. As for all the claims she had made in the past about our relationship? They were just her own wishes, nothing more. I have never acknowledged her sentiments, nor have I shown any inclination to reciprocate.”
An Ru felt the blood drain from her face. She never thought Wan Qingsi to be capable of such cruelty. He had just humiliated her and destroyed every single shred of dignity she had left.
Behind An Ru, Tang Yue snorted and followed Wan Qingsi and Mei Jing into the building. Only an imbecile like An Ru would expect Wan Qingsi to treat her unwanted affections with anything other than harsh cruelty. Had An Ru even taken her own status into consideration at all? She was a n.o.body, just another country b.u.mpkin looking for employment at Stars Entertainment.
In that moment, Tang Yue felt extremely lucky that she and Wan Qingsi had once been cla.s.smates. At least she knew the kind of person Wan Qingsi was. So what if you had feelings for him? To him, your devotion and affections were about as disgusting as the contents of a dumpster.
“An Ru, just go inside,” Qi Xiu said, stopping in front of An Ru. “Now do you see?”
The movie was t.i.tled “Apocalypse”, and it was a 3D sci-fi film. Its entire production crew, including the director, consisted of Americans. Stars Entertainment had invested three hundred million dollars in the movie. With this project, Stars Entertainment was striving for perfection in terms of special effects.
The plot revolved around the awakening of a female Taoist master who had been asleep for several tens of thousands of years. On the day of the apocalypse, the Taoist master must lead humanity to defend the world against the a.s.sault of zombies and monsters in order to build a new home. Everyone was taken by surprise, when the cast roles were announced on stage; Mei Jing was not the lead actress.
One of the movie’s characters was a female military officer who got turned into a zombie. Alone, she managed to take the helm of the entire zombie army. Once she was in power, she went on to organize peace negotiations with the humans. At the end of the movie, she sacrificed her own life in the name of peace. That military officer was the second female lead, and she would be played by Ah Sha. Tang Yue would play the Taoist master.
The production crew had decided to keep the name of the lead actor under wraps for now, most likely as some kind of marketing ploy; however, they did drop a few hints that the lead actor would be an international superstar.
Below the stage, whispers and murmurs broke out among the reporters after the announcement had been made; none of them knew what Wan Qingsi was planning. An Ru was sitting on stage too; she had been a.s.signed as the singer for the movie’s theme song. A gloating look formed on An Ru’s face now that she knew Mei Jing hadn’t been given the lead role.
“Qingsi is just playing with her. He has to be. Aren’t all wealthy people like that?” An Ru thought, comforting herself. “There isn’t a single prominent man in this line of work who isn’t the sugar daddy of some female celebrity out there. If Qingsi is truly sincere about a woman, he definitely wouldn’t treat her like just another notch on his bedpost!”
The way An Ru saw it, Wan Qingsi’s divulgence of the fact that Mei Jing was his woman would only damage Mei Jing’s career in the long run; everyone would no doubt a.s.sume that Mei Jing was just another one of Wan Qingsi’s kept woman, someone whom Wan Qingsi gave benefits to in exchange for s.e.xual favors. Such claims would definitely be a considerable blow to Mei Jing’s future as an actress.
“Could it be that Qingsi had refused to acknowledge his relationship with me for my own protection?” That thought brought a surge of joy to An Ru’s heart.
Woe to those who refuse to accept reality; these people usually meet horrible ends. If An Ru knew what would befall her in the future, she never would have entertained such delusional thoughts. Then again, life doesn’t offer any do-overs.
After prayers were offered and incense sticks were burnt, the opening ceremony drew to a close.
That night, Xunxun and Ah Sha returned to Ying’s residence for dinner. At the dining table, Xin Qing pointed at the newspaper and asked, “You’re playing the villain this time?”
“Technically, my character isn’t the villain, mommy. She’s just in a different position because she’s a zombie.”
“But she’s not the main protagonist!” Xin Qing was still struggling to grasp the idea that her own daughter wasn’t given the lead role in a movie produced by her own company.
“Here, mommy, check it out.” Ah Sha took out the script from her handbag. “Essentially, my character and the Taoist master play equally important roles in the plot. Labeling the Taoist master as the lead actress just sounds nicer since her role in the movie is more positive.”
Understanding dawned on Xin Qing. “So it’s your choice, then!”
“Mmhm!” Ah Sha unlocked her tablet and swiped the screen twice. “Mommy, take a look at my character’s outfit in the movie. How nice! Her weapon of choice is a long whip. How cool is that!”
“Well, as long as you’re happy with it,” Xin Qing said with a smile, glancing in the direction of the study. Ying Qingcang had summoned Xunxun into the study the moment they arrived.
“Ah Sha, tell me the truth, okay? Are you guys hiding something from me?”
Ah Sha went still for a second. Then, she recovered quickly and said, “What! What else could we be hiding from you? It’s just that thing before. You know, about the Mo family framing me for murder. But everything’s fine right now!”
“Do you guys take me for an idiot?” Xin Qing said with a steely look on her face. “Spill. What’s going on?”
Ah Sha stuck out her tongue sheepishly and sat quietly to one side. Just then, w.a.n.gw.a.n.g ran over with Chengcheng in tow. “Has sis made you angry again, mother? Then you should hurry up and marry her off!”
“Pfft!” Xin Qing failed to contain her laughter. “Go,” Xin Qing told Ah Sha, “tell your father and Xunxun that it’s time for dinner.”
After dinner, Ah Sha winked at Ying Qingcang before she left the house with Xunxun.
“Are you going to tell me or not?” Xin Qing threatened Ying Qingcang by grabbing a fistful of his hair. Ying Qingcang merely chuckled and carried her upstairs.
“It’s nothing, actually,” Ying Qingcang said as he began taking off Xin Qing’s clothes.
Xin Qing glared at him furiously. “You guys are keeping everything from me these days. Even the incident where Ah Sha was framed I had only found out through the newspaper. You guys, you guys keep hiding things from me. What’s the meaning of that? Do you guys think so little of me?”
Xin Qing’s tears fell down in patters, the sight of which drove Ying Qingcang into an instant panic.
Without ado, Ying Qingcang picked her up and ran into the bathroom. He placed Xin Qing into the tub and stripped off his clothes with great haste. Then, he lowered himself into the tub before pulling Xin Qing into his arms.
The two of them had been taking baths together everyday for the past few years, so Xin Qing had long since stopped feeling shy about sharing a bath with him. At the moment, she was contented to just let herself be held by Ying Qingcang as she cried.
“Xunxun gave me some intel on Ying Muhai.”
Xin Qing flinched. “Rong Siman’s son?”
“Mm!” Ying Qingcang ran a towel gently over Xin Qing’s body. “We never expected William and Elder Li to be so wealthy. When I came back to register Ying Enterprises after the bombing, I thought Rong Siman had taken out all the funds. But it turns out that there’s still a huge amount stashed away.”
Sensing the tautness in Xin Qing’s body, Ying Qingcang began ma.s.saging Xin Qing’s calf. “Don’t worry, okay?” he said comfortingly. “He’s planning to use those funds to avenge Rong Siman’s death. If they’re still in hiding, it means they’re still not confident to take us on yet.”
“We have to track him down as soon as possible,” Xin Qing said earnestly. Ying Qingcang kissed her on the lips. “Of course,” Ying Qingcang said. “I’ve already sent my people to find out his whereabouts. It’s time we eliminate the root cause of the threat once and for all. I won’t give him the chance to harm you and our children.”
The filming of “Apocalypse” would begin in three days. In the meantime, Ah Sha was diligently memorizing her lines at home. When Xunxun came home that night, there was a tall and buff foreign man with him.
Ah Sha leaped up in joy the moment the foreigner removed his cap and sungla.s.ses. “Depp Cage?”
“Hi! You must be the Chinese chick who had Ken wrapped around her little finger! It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Depp!” said the man with his arms wide open. He was just about to step in to hug Ah Sha when a frowning Xunxun stood in his way.
“Hey, Ken! Quit being so petty and let me hug your girl. My G.o.d, she looks even more adorable in person!”
Ignoring the daggers flying out from Xunxun’s eyes, Ah Sha stepped in and gave Depp a brief hug. After that, she clutched Xunxun’s arms playfully, swinging it from side to side. “How come you never told me about you and Depp knowing each other?”
“What’s there to tell anyway? It’s not like he and I are close.”
Depp clutched his chest and feigned a hurt look. “Ouch. You’re heartless, Ken. Like it or not, we’re two people who had slept in the same bed before. How could you…”
“Shut the h.e.l.l up! I only got dragged into that sh*tty situation because of you.”
“Hurry up and tell me,” Ah Sha said anxiously. “How did you guys know each other?”
Well, the truth sounded rather absurd and perhaps a tad melodramatic. It turned out that Xunxun had been a fortuitous witness of Depp’s kidnapping. At the time, the kidnappers were worried that Xunxun might alert the police, so they ended up abducting Xunxun too, and that was how Xunxun and Depp ended up spending two days tied up together on the same bed.
“Ken was so cool back then,” Depp said, his eyes suddenly turning starry. “He managed to subdue the kidnappers and save me! And I was like, dayum! This guy’s Chinese Kung Fu could kick some serious a.r.s.e!”
All of a sudden, a thought occurred to Ah Sha. “Wait a minute. Don’t tell you’re the mysterious lead actor of this movie?”
“At your service!” Depp exclaimed, placing his right fist against his left palm. “Oh, by the way, Ken’s chick. You and I are going to be lovers in the movie! How about that, huh?” Depp winked at Xunxun gloatingly.
Xunxun smirked. “Sorry to disappoint, but Ah Sha will be playing the second lead.”
“For the love of G.o.d, why?!” Depp exclaimed.
“Oh, it’s my own choice,” Ah Sha quickly cut in. “I like the character.”
Depp sprang to his feet. “No, no, no. This won’t do. I’m going to make some calls to the producers and have them change the script immediately. I want to play lovers with your sweetheart over here.”
Xunxun gave him a threatening look. “Go ahead, make the call if you dare. I’ll just tell your father that you…”
“Alright! Alright! Fine! I won’t make the call!” Depp yelled. “Don’t you dare tell him.”
After that, Depp was chased out of the apartment by Xunxun. G.o.d only knew where the man was going to stay for the night.
“Why don’t we let him stare here!” Ah Sha suggested.
Xunxun gave her a pointed look. “But you’re usually so loud at night. What if you wake him up in the middle of the night?”
Speechless, Ah Sha turned her head away. She would decidedly ignore a man who had taken shamelessness to such level.
Three days later, Xunxun drove Ah Sha to a forest reserve in the suburbs of S City; most of the movie’s filming would take place there.
“Be careful, okay? I’ll come to pick you up tonight.”
Ah Sha kissed him. “Where’s Depp?”
“He can get here on his own,” Xunxun said, a dark scowl forming on his face. Another bout of pa.s.sionate make-out session ensued after that. By the time Ah Sha was allowed to get out of the car, her lips looked red, swollen and thoroughly kissed.
Xiao Hua stood waiting beside the crew van. “Young miss, hurry up. Time to get changed!” she yelled, waving at Ah Sha.
After she had done her make-up and put on her costume, Ah Sha sat in front of the crew van, basking in the sun. Tang Yue, who was dressed in a white robe, approached Ah Sha from afar. The wide hemline and the loose cuffs of Tang Yue’s robe gave her movements a gliding effect. It was like she could float up into the sky any time.
Tang Yue took a seat leisurely. “Ah Sha, you have no issues with the company decision, right? I mean about the a.s.signment of our roles,” Tang Yue said, looking at Ah Sha threateningly. “I’m sure you know that the senior had intended for you to take the lead role, but then he probably decided against it. You’re just a rookie after all. You’re not going to blame me for s.n.a.t.c.hing the role away from you, right?”
Ever since finding out that Ah Sha wasn’t as innocent as she seemed, Tang Yue had dropped all pretence in front of Ah Sha. After all, it was common knowledge to everyone that both of them couldn’t stand each other.
“You’re not good enough to s.n.a.t.c.h the role away from me. I didn’t get it because I don’t want it.”
That one comment brought an instant change to Tang Yue’s expression.