“Apocalypse” became a huge box office hit in the country on the third day it hit the screen. It wasn’t just big hit within the country; due to Depp’s involvement, the movie was highly praised outside the country as well. Some time during mid-September, Ah Sha was nominated as the best supporting actress for the Hundred Flowers Award. It turned out that Ah Sha wasn’t the only one who got nominated; Tang Yue was nominated as the best lead actress for the same award.
Ah Sha was sitting in an office inside the Stars Entertainment’s HQ working out her bonus share with Zhou Na when she found out about the news. “Young Master Wen’s return is so timely, don’t you think!”
Zhou Na’s eyes were practically shining at this point. Ah Sha would earn a 0.3% commission from the total box office sales of “Apocalypse.” Zhou Na herself would earn a portion from that sum as well. Based on the current box office sales, Zhou Na’s estimated her earnings to be close to be one million.
“She might act smug now, but it’s never easy to marry into a family as prominent as the Wen family,” Zhou Na said all the while entertaining thoughts about getting a bigger house this year. “Wasn’t Zhuang Yan deeply involved with the son of a government official a few years back? The relationship was pretty intense from what I can tell. She even announced that she would stop making movies. But look how that turned out?”
That event was known all over the country. Things seemed to be going well for Zhuang Yan at first, but everything changed when the guy’s fiance showed up. Just like that, Zhuang Yan’s status went from “the love of his life” to “the other woman.” Not even a teary and emotional love declaration could win the guy over. In the end, the difference in their respective statuses became a chasm that was too wide to bridge. The relationship ended.
“Ah, but you’re different!” Zhou Na said suddenly. She realized that Ah Sha and Wan Qingsi was in a similar situation as well. “I mean, President Wan’s feelings for you are genuine.”
Ah Sha waved her off. “Don’t worry. Just focus on counting your money!”
The award’s presentation just so happened to fall on Ah Sha’s birthday. Wan Qingsi had already started acting strange a week earlier. Ah Sha had no idea what he was up to.
“Sis! The girls in our cla.s.s all said that you’re prettier than that Tang Yue.” Ah Sha returned to Ying’s residence today to deliver the award’s invitation card to her family. Her whole family would be present at the award ceremony that day. Ying Qingcang’s appearance in such an event was to be expected and would, therefore, not rouse any suspicion.
Ah Sha poked Chengcheng’s cheeks. “Well, looks like the girls in your cla.s.s have great tastes.”
“That’s why I said she has a sugar daddy. She’d never even be nominated otherwise!” Chengcheng said boldly.
Smack! Xin Qing’s palm connected with Chengcheng’s tiny b.u.t.t. “Where did you learn to say things like that?”
Ying Cheng was four years old this year. He was the most ordinary child in the Ying family; because he had never received any strange genetic-modifying injections. To Xin Qing, raising Ying Cheng was the only time she felt like a real mother.
w.a.n.gw.a.n.g and Xiao Rui? Hah. Xin Qing wanted to cry whenever she thought about those two. As for Ah Sha? It was pointless to even think about it, since Ah Sha was practically raised by Xunxun…
“I heard my brother talking to his friends,” Chengcheng said, reaching out with his meaty palm to touch Xin Qing’s face. “They even said that sis isn’t as pretty as you mother!”
Ah Sha narrowed her eyes. “Wow, this kid really knows how to make a girl feel special,” Ah Sha thought. “Yeah, I wonder who he takes after…”
Beside them, w.a.n.gw.a.n.g raised his head from his laptop’s screen and glanced at Chengcheng. “Sis, Chengcheng was selling your photos at school,” w.a.n.gw.a.n.g said. “Ten bucks a piece.”
“Chengcheng?” Ah Sha said sternly, glaring at Ying Cheng. “Is that true?”
Xin Qing was starting to panic as well. “Oh, you brat. Where did you even get your sister’s photos?”
“He secretly took photos of her every time she comes home,” w.a.n.gw.a.n.g tossed another statement at them. “There’re all exclusive, limited editions.”
Chengcheng covered his face and pretended to cry. “Boohoo… You’re a bad person, brother!”
“Mommy, are you sure you didn’t let my mother-in-law give you an injection when you’re pregnant with him?” To Ah Sha, a four-year-old child would still be drooling and begging for sweets. Her little brother, however, was clever to otherworldly levels.
Xin Qing pretended to be angry and yelled at Chengcheng. “You’re not allowed to sell your sister’s photos again, you hear?”
“What! You’re selling Ah Sha’s photo?” It just so happened that Wan Qingsi had stepped out from Ying Qingcang’s study and overheard Xin Qing’s statement. “Chengcheng, what kind of photo were you selling?” Wan Qingsi growled.
Chengcheng hid behind Ah Sha in fear. w.a.n.gw.a.n.g, however, was dead set on betraying him. “Oh, a lot of different photos,” w.a.n.gw.a.n.g said. “He has the ones where she was brushing her teeth, when she was in her pajamas, having dessert, when she was s.p.a.cing out…”
With each example, Wan Qingsi’s face turned a shade darker.
“Ying… Cheng…” Wan Qingsi growled and yanked Chengcheng from Ah Sha’s arms. “If I find out that you’re selling your sister’s photos again, brat. I’ll put the photo of your naked b.u.t.t right in front of Caesar’s front entrance!”
Chengcheng had long since been reduced to tears. He shuddered. “I… I… wouldn’t… dare…”
“Serves you right!” Xin Qing jabbed Chengcheng’s head with a finger.
After Wan Qingsi and Ah Sha left, Xin Qing noticed the sour look on Ying Qingcang’s face. His sullen expression lasted throughout the entire night. “Did you quarrel with Xunxun again?” Xin Qing asked when they were both lying in bed.
“That brat is planning to propose to Ah Sha on her birthday,” Ying Qingcang said grumpily while he ma.s.saged Xin Qing’s calve.
“Huh. Not bad, eh? He even bothered to ask for your permission first.” Xin Qing sighed. “Well, I’m guessing he would take her to have their marriage license done after he proposes.”
“No way!” Ying Qingcang growled. “Ah Sha isn’t even 18 yet!”
Xin Qing nudged Ying Qingcang with her elbow. “I was under 18 too when I married you.”
For a moment, Ying Qingcang was. .h.i.t by a wave of guilt, but he quickly came up with an excuse. “Our case isn’t the same. We’re bound by fate. It’s like we’re made for each other. So age didn’t matter because we’d be together sooner or later.”
All of a sudden, it became clear to Xin Qing whom Chengcheng took after.
“Well, you can’t stop them anyway. So why don’t you save yourself some bitter feelings, hm?” Xin Qing reached out and ran her fingers through Ying Qingcang’s hair. Ying Qingcang, of course, wouldn’t let the chance slip by. He climbed on top of Xin Qing and said, “How about you comfort me, hm? What say we go for one extra round tonight?”
The award ceremony took place during the end of September. Interestingly, Wan Qingsi seemed even more nervous than Ah Sha. He had picked out Ah Sha’s dress himself: a white, form-fitting minidress with flowers arranged from satin and rhinestones attached to its neckline.
The dress brought out the delicate and graceful nature of Ah Sha’s appearance, making her look like a beautiful daffodil. At the same time, the red b.u.t.terfly hairclip that she wore on her hair rendered her appearance utterly bewitching.
When they were about to leave for the event, Wan Qingsi kept staring at Ah Sha’s legs. “d.a.m.n it. Now you have to walk around in that short dress for everyone to see,” he grumbled.
Then again, it couldn’t be helped. Being 163cm tall, Ah Sha would seem too pet.i.te in one of those long, train dresses; minidresses suited her best. Today was Ah Sha’s first red carpet event, and Wan Qingsi wanted her first red carpet event to be a perfect and memorable one!
After he had led Ah Sha down the red carpet,
A voice interrupted Ah Sha. “Congratulations! The best supporting actress, I’m impressed!” Ah Sha turned and saw Tang Yue slowly approaching before stopping in front of her. Tang Yue was wearing a long dress which left her shoulders bare.
Ah Sha raised her gla.s.s. “You’re welcome.”
Wen Pinyu appeared beside Tang Yue. “With Yueyue being the best lead actress and you being the best supporting actress, plus the fact that you’re both from the same company, everything’s worked out perfectly, wouldn’t you say?”
“Oh, wow! Now I know how powerful you are Young Master Wen!” Ah Sha stared at Wen Pinyu with a look of admiration. “People are saying on the internet that Sister Tang Yue is terrible in acting. I was actually worried that you weren’t able to get her nominated!”
Tang Yue just glared at Ah Sha whereas Wen Pinyu lost it right then and there. “You’ve just insulted Yueyue! Apologize immediately!” he yelled.
“I… I didn’t!” Ah Sha pouted. “Just read the articles online. That’s really what they are saying.”
Tang Yue had begun taking a lot of flak from netizens after the nominations list for the Hundred Flowers Awards was released this year. The public’s impression of Ah Sha had always been negative. To them, Ah Sha was just another mindless, brainless and asinine little actress without backbone. Even so, the public was stunned by Ah Sha’s outstanding acting skills after “Apocalypse” was released.
Under these circ.u.mstances, Tang Yue, whose acting skills were mediocre to begin with, ended up being pushed out of the spotlight. At the end of Apocalypse, Ah Sha’s character sacrificed herself in the name of peace, which brought the audience in the cinemas to tears. Needless to say, the poor director of the movie was criticized to no end for that ending.
In just a short month, Ah Sha’s Weibo account had gained several hundred thousand new followers. The slogan “don’t die, we love you!” flooded her Weibo page.
Wan Qingsi had praised her more than once for that. “Wow! My Ah Sha truly had clairvoyant abilities! She could figure out which character would be popular among the audience before the filming even started!”
.
Wen Pinyu sneered. “If you insist on putting it that way, Miss Mei Jing, then let’s just wait and see who gets the award tonight!” With that, Wen Pinyu led Tang Yue away with his hand on the small on her back. Tang Yue turned her head slightly to look give Ah Sha a smug smile.
Ah Sha laughed derisively. All of a sudden, she felt a presence behind her. Then, a pair of arms wrapped around her. “What are you laughing at?”
“I think Young Master Wen is going to do something to prevent me from winning this award.”
Wan Qingsi glanced at Young Master Wen who had entered the room reserved for the panel of judges. Then, he kissed Ah Sha’s forehead. “He’ll end up humiliating himself if he tries.”
“Well, he obviously has a plan in place,” Ah Sha thought, feeling all her worries slipping away. After that, she followed Wan Qingsi to their seats, since the award ceremony was about to start.
The awards for the more technical side of the movie’s production were presented first. As expected, “Apocalypse” won the award for the best special effects. The theme song that An Ru performed had also won the award for the best OST, too bad she couldn’t be here to claim the award.
Wan Qingsi excused himself to the bathroom when the winner for the best supporting actress was about to be announced. Ah Sha was worried that he might not make it back in time to see her on stage. Then again, her worries were unfounded when the MC made his next announcement. “Now, to present the Hundred Flowers Award for the Best Supporting Actress, let’s put our hands together and welcome Stars Entertainment’s President Wan Qingsi!” Only then did Ah Sha know why Wan Qingsi had excused himself to the bathroom just now.
On the stage, Wan Qingsi only had eyes for Ah Sha; it was as if Ah Sha was the only thing that existed in his world. When he opened the envelope, Ah Sha’s sharp senses allowed her to detect the slight change in his face. The look was gone quickly, and he announced her name with a smile.
Ah Sha stood up to receive congratulatory hugs from everyone. Then, she made her way to the stage. As she was walking past Tang Yue, Ah Sha noticed the horror-stricken look on Wen Pinyu’s face; he looked as though he had just seen a ghost. In fact, Ah Sha thought he might be planning to charge onto the stage. Before Ah Sha could think about it further, she saw Wan Qingsi stretching his hands towards her.
On the stage, Ah Sha took the trophy from Wan Qingsi and recited the acceptance speech she’d memorized beforehand.
After her speech, Wan Qingsi lowered his head and whispered beside her ear, “You’re the best lead actress in my eyes. I’ll give you a private award ceremony tonight.” Then, he kissed Ah Sha on the lips right in front of everyone. A chorus of cheers broke out below the stage and the reporters began snapping photos like there was no tomorrow.
Beside them, the MC began shouting excitedly. “Did you see that, everyone? Did you see that!”
Ignoring the MC’s exaggerated reactions, Wan Qingsi led Ah Sha down the stage. Next was the announcement of the winner for the best lead actress was about to be announced. Tang Yue was already prepared to stand up moments before the presenter made the announcement. A moment later, however, she felt nothing but shock and chagrin. The name that came out from the presenter’s mouth wasn’t hers, but another actress’ instead.
Tang Yue’s face went pale, and she swayed in her as if she was about to pa.s.s out. Those who had congratulated Tang Yue earlier was now looking at everywhere but her, shifting in their seats awkwardly. Wen Pinyu stood up and helped Tang Yue into her seat while whispering words of comfort to her. As he did, a look of fear and anxiety formed on his face. Moments later, Wen Pinyu gave Ah Sha a look of hatred.
“You did it?” Ah Sha squeezed Wan Qingsi’s hand.
Wan Qingsi sneered. “He had the nerve to threaten the panel to remove your name from the award. This is me giving him a taste of his own medicine.”
The atmosphere during the post-award party was thick with tension. Everyone knew about what happened. A scowling Wen Pinyu stood at the center of the room where the party was held; beside him was Tang Yue, whose eyes were red and puffy.
When Wen Pinyu saw Ah Sha entering the room on Wan Qingsi’s arms, he lost his temper. “Wan Qingsi! You have to explain yourself to me tonight!”