Ah Sha returned to the movie set because Tang Yue had recovered from her leg injury; they had to pick up the slack by doing the scenes whose filming had to be postponed due to Tang Yue being indisposed.
That night, when they were wrapping up the day’s work, Ah Sha noticed a man entering the movie set with a freaking entourage. Tang Yue was sporting a huge grin when she hurried over to receive the man’s arrival.
“Young miss, that’s the second young master of the Wen family,” Xiao Hua said.
“Oh,” Ah Sha said. “Looks like the Wen family has released him.”
“Hmph. They’ll probably lock him up again,” Xiao Hua said menacingly. “What the h.e.l.l is he even thinking? Had he rubbed his eyes with sh*t or something? Can’t believe he actually fell for Tang Yue.”
Ah Sha didn’t respond, because Tang Yue and Wen Pinyu were already heading over to her.
“Ah Sha!” Tang Yue smiled at Ah Sha. “Meet my boyfriend, Wen Pinyu!”
“Pinyu, this is Mei Jing,” Tang Yue said. “Remember that time my arm got injured? Good thing she was around to replace me as the lead actress. Otherwise the company would’ve suffered huge losses!”
Ah Sha snorted inwardly. “Typical,” she thought. “She’s starting to play with fire again the moment her backer showed up.”
The disdain in Wen Pinyu’s eyes when he looked at Ah Sha was plain as day. Even though he had been sent overseas by his family, he had been following any news about Tang Yue; he knew that this young starlet, Mei Jing, had s.n.a.t.c.hed away a lot of opportunities from Tang Yue.
“I’ve already heard about Miss Mei’s actions. Thank you for looking out for Yueyue while I was gone.” Wen Pinyu paused to give Ah Sha a warning glance. “But now that I’m back, I’ll personally take care of her.”
Ah Sha batted her eyelashes and tucked her fists below her jaw in a beautiful pose that would make Xi Shi proud. “Oh, so you’re the infamous Young Master Wen! Wow, you’re so handsome. No wonder Tang Yue is so crazy about you!” Wen Pinyu felt even more disgusted as a result.
Tang Yue cursed inwardly. She knew that Mei Jing was just acting, but she had no idea how to expose her.
Wen Pinyu couldn’t even stand the sight of Ah Sha. “Let’s go!” he said, putting his arm around Tang Yue’s waist. Moments later, the pair left.
Xiao Hua shook her head. “Just look at how smitten they are with each other.” Then, Xiao Hua glanced at Ah Sha, her eyes filled with glee. “Then again, you and the young master are a match made in heaven!”
Wan Qingsi arrived at the movie set just in time to see Tang Yue leaving with Wen Pinyu.
“Wen Pinyu was released by his brother.” Wan Qingsi frowned. “That’s very strange.”
Ah Sha knew where his train of thought was heading towards. “Yeah. The Wen family had been prohibiting Wen Pinyu and Tang Yue from seeing each other. And yet now they suddenly release him and allow him to hang around in S City? Weird.”
“Before this, the Wen family had arranged for Wen Pinyu to marry the youngest daughter of the Li family.” Wan Qingsi paused when he noticed Ah Sha’s frown. He craned his head over and kissed her. “Let’s not talk about them. What do you feel like having for dinner?”
“Something mild.” Ah Sha’s usually didn’t feel like eating anything on hot, humid days.
Wan Qingsi thought for a moment. “Cantonese cuisine it is, then!”
When Ah Sha saw Wen Pinyu and Tang Yue, the first thing that came to her mind was an old Chinese idiom: enemies are bound to meet in a narrow road!
The Cantonese restaurant that they picked was designed based on the palace during the Tang dynasty with muslin curtains adorning the VIP booths. When Tang Yue saw Ah Sha and Wan Qingsi heading towards the VIP booth, she deliberately step out from her own booth to greet them. After that, she even waved happily at Wen Pinyu who was sitting inside her booth. “Pinyu, let’s have Senior Wan and Ah Sha join us!”
Wan Qingsi was not in the mood for Tang Yue’s game. Alas, before he could refuse the offer, Wen Pinyu had already stepped out from Tang Yue’s booth. “President Wan! Long time no see. Come! Join us!”
“How wonderful! Let’s join them then! The more the merrier!” Ah Sha grinned at Wan Qingsi as she clapped happily.
Wen Pinyu frowned. “What the h.e.l.l does Wan Qingsi see in this woman anyway?”
The four of them sat in pairs with each pair sitting across from the other. “I must expose Mei Jing’s true side to Wan Qingsi,” Tang Yue thought. Ah Sha, on the other hand, was staring at Wen Pinyu boldly. Ah Sha had already seen Wen Pintang’s photo when she was at Ying Qingcang’s office, and she must admit that the people from the Wen family were blessed with good looks.
The only difference was that Wen Pintang seemed more elegant and cla.s.sier, like he was a man of depth. Wen Pinyu seemed like a man of many talents whose actions weren’t restricted by conventions and traditions. Even so, Wen Pinyu wasn’t as appealing as his big brother.
“If you keep staring at me, Miss Mei, I might think that you are interested in me,” Wen Pinyu said in a mocking tone. As he spoke, he had even shot a pointed glance at Wan Qingsi.
Ah Sha’s eyes were still sparkling when she clapped her hands. “You’re just nice to look at, Young Master Wen. Looking at you soothes the soul!”
When she felt Wan Qingsi’s hand tightening on her waist, Ah Sha quickly added, “But I still prefer my Qingsi!” Then, she leaned into Wan Qingsi.
Wan Qingsi fed her a piece of fish. “Then you should look at me more,” he said.
“You’re so nice to women, President Wan,” Wen Pinyu said, not even bothering to hide the contempt from his tone. “Trash like her? I don’t want her even if you give her to me,” he thought.
Tang Yue frowned. Wen Pinyu had clearly placed Ah Sha into the “foolish, brainless woman” category. Clearly, that wasn’t what she intended.
“Aww, senior, you’re so nice to Ah Sha!” Tang Yue handed the bowl of soup that she’d just ladled to Wen Pinyu. “Do you still remember An Ru? She was forced to retire after she bullied Ah Sha.”
Wen Pinyu seemed a little taken aback at that revelation. He knew who An Ru was, especially after finding out that she was the daughter of the Hong Kong Triad. He’d actually expected Wan Qingsi to end up with her. The current situation was something that he never saw coming.
“My, my, President Wan! How ungrateful of you!” Wen Pinyu said in a joking tone. “You have a woman who’s so crazy about you, and you just tossed her aside? Why though? I mean, it’s women. It’s fine if you keep a few of them around, isn’t it?”
Ah Sha immediately gave Wan Qingsi a hurt look. “Qingsi, please don’t keep other women. Please? I’ll be obedient!”
Wan Qingsi pinched her face. “I’m not keeping other women, don’t worry!” Then, he glanced at Wen Pinyu. “I’m definitely no match for Young Master Wen when it comes to enjoying life. I heard there’s an arranged marriage awaiting you at the capital. With the Li family, right?”
Tang Yue visibly blanched. Wen Pinyu quickly shook his head in denial. “Yueyue, that’s just a baseless rumor. It’s not true.” Wen Pinyu glared at Wan Qingsi. “Who told you?”
“Oh, your big brother,” Wan Qingsi said. This time, it was Wen Pinyu who went pale. Wen Pintang was the one calling the shots in the Wen family these days. In fact, Wen Pintang was the one who sent Wen Pinyu away back then. “Sh*t, now he suddenly sent me back…” Wen Pinyu thought. “Could it really be for the arranged marriage?”
Ah Sha smirked at Tang Yue. Then, she feigned an innocent look. “Ah! Sister Tang Yue! Don’t worry, you’re so beautiful. I’m sure Young Master Wen will keep you around even after he got married. He’ll never leave you. I’m sure of it!” Ah Sha glanced at Wan Qingsi. “It’s common among rich people to keep mistresses, right, Qingsi?”
“Well, not me, for sure,” Wan Qingsi said. “But Young Master Wen is a different story. The Wen family isn’t just an ordinary family after all.”
Under the table, Tang Yue nearly broke the skin of her palm with her own fingernails. She regretted ever asking these two to join them for dinner.
Wen Pinyu was preoccupied with thoughts about his arranged marriage, so he never cared about Wan Qingsi’s comment. Ah Sha’s appet.i.te came when she saw Wen Pinyu and Tang Yue losing their appet.i.tes. Ah Sha enjoyed the rest of the meal with Wan Qingsi, after which they bid farewell with the couple with the long faces.
“Don’t p.i.s.s off Wen Pinyu when I’m not there,” Wan Qingsi said when Ah Sha stepped out of the shower.
Ah Sha curled her lips. “Didn’t you notice the way Tang Yue keep hinting that I’ve been bullying her?”
“She’s trying to pit Wen Pinyu against you.” Wan Qingsi picked up the towel and began drying Ah Sha’s hair. “She a.s.sumed that I wouldn’t act out of fear for the Wen family. And you were deliberately acting childish in front of Wen Pinyu. At this point, I’m pretty sure Wen Pinyu a.s.sumes that I won’t do anything even he destroys you.”
Ah Sha chuckled. “That’s kinda true, isn’t it? Surely, you wouldn’t p.i.s.s off Wen family for the sake of some starlet, right?”
“That’s why you need to stop causing trouble,” Wan Qingsi said, tapping her on the nose. “If the Wen and Li family joined forces through marriage, it wouldn’t benefit the Ying family at all.”
“Why?” Ah Sha tossed her hair and climbed under the covers.
Wan Qingsi dimmed the lights and then lay down beside her. “Because one of the daughters of Li family has a crush on Jiang Qianren,” Wan Qingsi said, wrapping his arms around Ah Sha. “But Jiang Qianren nearly killed her because of the woman spoke ill of Aunt Qing. After that, the woman was sent overseas.”
Understanding dawned on Ah Sha. “If the Li family and Wen family joined forces through marriage, they wouldn’t fear the Jiang family anymore. They’d definitely try to harm Xin Enterprises.” A devious smile formed on Ah Sha’s face. “In that case, I have to help Tang Yue!”
Ever since Wen Pinyu returned to S City, Tang Yue’s net worth had begun to rise; Wen Pinyu had openly shown his affections to her regardless of whether she was allowed to be married into the Wen family. As far as things went, Tang Yue had successfully reaped the benefits of being with a man.
A dinner party would be held today to celebrate the completion of Apocalypse’s filming. Wan Qingsi had some other business, so he couldn’t attend. Zhou Na was with Ah Sha, though only at the beginning of the party. After they had met a few people and shake a few hands, Zhou Na pretty much gave Ah Sha the freedom to do whatever she wanted.
Ah Sha noticed Tang Yue approaching her with Wen Pinyu, her knight in shining armor. “I must congratulate you, Ah Sha. Senior found a way to get you nominated for the awards before the movie even hit the screens.”
“Miss Mei Jing, you replaced Yueyue as the lead actress last time,” Wen Pinyu said, looking at Ah Sha mockingly. “Why didn’t President Wan just nominate you for the best lead actress?”
“Oh, I have no idea!” Ah Sha lowered her fruit juice. “Can these nominations be done so casually?”
Tang Yue smiled. “Weren’t you the one who insisted him to do it? Well, I guess someone in the panel owed him a huge favor then!”
Wen Pinyu frowned. “As people, we must know our own place, Miss Mei Jing. I suggest you practice some self-restraint.” Wen Pinyu glanced at Tang Yue before his eyes went back to Ah Sha. “Look at Yueyue, always so considerate about me. She never asked me for anything.”
“Haha! Oh, what a wonderful woman you are, Sister Tang Yue!” Ah Sha said, grinning at Tang Yue. Tang Yue clenched her jaw tight. Naturally, she had figured out the reason for Ah Sha’s laughter.
“Young Master Wen, it’s true that the woman beside you never asked you for anything,” Ah Sha thought. “But that’s only because she doesn’t need to. She’ll have everything the moment she married into the Wen family…”
Tang Yue deliberately changed the subject. “Hey, how come Senior Wan isn’t here with you today?”
“Well, President Wan won’t have the time for other women very soon.” Wen Pinyu stared at Ah Sha pointedly. “Do you know who Ying Xin is?”
Ah Sha smiled. “Of course! She’s the daughter of the Ying family!”
“Oh, right!” Tang Yue said as if she just thought of something. “I think Ying Xin is coming back soon.”
Wen Pinyu nodded. “The end of this year, I heard.”
“Then what about Ah Sha?” Tang Yue asked in a worried tone. “I mean, when the time comes…”
Ah Sha feigned a look of panic. “Oh no, I’m not allowed to see Qingsi again once Miss Ying returns, am I?”
“What a good actress,” Tang Yue thought, wishing she could slap Ah Sha right then and there.
Wen Pinyu bought Ah Sha’s act, thinking that she really was afraid. Wen Pinyu laughed gloatingly and said, “Of course. The Ying family will never allow Wan Qingsi to have a woman other than their daughter. It’s best if you leave him alone. If you end up p.i.s.sing off the Ying family? Well, let’s just say that you’ll have to say goodbye to your career.”
“I don’t believe you!” Ah Sha clenched her teeth. “I’m going to talk to Qingsi about this. He won’t abandon me! He won’t! Boohoo…”
After Ah Sha had run out, Wen Pinyu wrapped an arm around Tang Yue’s waist. “There,” he said. “I got revenge for you. That foolish woman won’t be jumping around for long.”
“Poor girl,” Tang Yue said, pulling her lips into a tight line. “I have to find a way to expose Ah Sha’s true colors!”