Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 41

Xu Xiaoya searched her memory. Something clicked, and she walked over in her small leather shoes. “Are you Yan Zhen?” she asked.

Yan Zhen looked up, somewhat perplexed. “I am.”

Hearing that response, Xu Xiaoya found it incredibly familiar. After a moment, she realized that the voice was uncannily similar to her sister’s. Combined with the strange relationship between Yan Zhen and Zhao Baoshang and the things her sister had cursed about before, she had a few guesses.

She probably feels annoyed seeing a low-end version of herself, Xu Xiaoya thought with a mocking smile.

Her sister was Xu Fengmei. They were half-sisters from a blended family. Xu Fengmei was eleven years older, so she had taught Xiaoya many things. Xu Xiaoya held her sister in deep respect and gratitude. Thus, she decided to toy with Yan Zhen to vent some of Xu Fengmei’s frustration.

Xu Xiaoya was naturally arrogant and used to bossing people around. She sat on her stool and blatantly ordered Yan Zhen: “You over there, go pour me a cup of water. I’m dying of thirst.”

Yan Zhen heard the command, but she didn’t realize Xu Xiaoya was talking to her. After Xiaoya called out twice, Yan Zhen simply started a ranked match in Honor of Kings, deciding to use the game to soothe her inner awkwardness.

Xu Xiaoya called again, but Yan Zhen remained unresponsive. This one-woman show was becoming embarrassing. Xu Xiaoya was in disbelief; she felt ignored and was almost certain Yan Zhen was doing it on purpose!

This scheming woman!

Xu Xiaoya stood up, wanting to teach this newcomer a lesson. Zhao Baoshang, who had been standing at the door watching for a while, suddenly spoke in a cold voice: “You want me to pour you water?”

Xu Xiaoya froze. What the hell? She hurriedly explained, “How could I possibly ask you to pour water?”

Zhao Baoshang shut the door, cutting off the girls outside who were eavesdropping. “Then who were you planning to have pour it for you?”

“Of course it’s—” Xu Xiaoya pointed at Yan Zhen.

Zhao Baoshang was fuming. “Do you not have hands or feet? You need someone else to pour water for you?”

Xu Xiaoya didn’t know how to respond. Zhao Baoshang sneered, “Are you incapable of speech now? I think you’d be better off living in a hospital. You wouldn’t even have to talk there; just press a bell and someone will pour water for you.”

Xu Xiaoya clenched her fists. “Zhao Baoshang, don’t talk so harshly. Can’t you show some respect?”

“Am I wrong?” Zhao Baoshang shot a dark glance at Yan Zhen, then looked back at Xu Xiaoya. “Besides, what right do you have to demand my respect? Who do you think you are?”

Xu Xiaoya turned pale, her attitude softening. “I… I indeed—”

Before she could finish, Zhao Baoshang interrupted, “Don’t forget, your resources were all asked for by your sister. Some weren’t even agreed to by me; she just took them. That’s called theft.”

This person is completely shameless, Xu Xiaoya thought, her face turning ashen. Her lips trembled and her wide eyes looked eerie behind her colored contacts. She had no idea how to defend herself.

But Zhao Baoshang continued to snap at her like she was possessed. “If I want to, everything you have now can be taken back. And I’ve long since cut ties with your sister. With your pathetic acting, what kind of roles do you think you could get?”

How exactly did I offend Zhao Baoshang? Xu Xiaoya couldn’t figure it out. “What are you going crazy for?”

“Besides, you don’t even know how to serve tea…”

These words felt like a veiled insult. After speaking, Zhao Baoshang shot another fierce look at Yan Zhen, who looked back at her blankly.

Zhao Baoshang barked at Yan Zhen: “What are you looking at me for?! If you have time to look at me, why don’t you think about how to keep yourself from being bullied?”

She gave another cold snort, then, feeling miserable, opened the door and walked out. On her way, she was worried sick about Yan Zhen. Everyone dares to bully the little fan. Right now she has me to protect her, but what will she do when I’m gone?

The door rattled as a passing student helped close it, and the whispering students walked away. The dorm became very quiet, save for the sound of Xu Xiaoya panting in rage. “What kind of person is she…”

Yan Zhen thought about Zhao Baoshang’s words. Looking at Xu Xiaoya’s face, she finally realized she was Xu Fengmei’s sister.

But what did Zhao Baoshang mean by “I’ve cut ties with your sister”? Had she really given up on Xu Fengmei? Zhao Baoshang’s Death Calamity still required a “Benefactor” to help. Yan Zhen knew Zhao had sought a master years ago; if the master calculated the benefactor was Xu Fengmei, then their relationship shouldn’t be severed now.

Yan Zhen was worried. How could the Eldest Princess stop liking Xu Fengmei? Perhaps it was a side effect of the Love Gu. Once more time passed, Zhao Baoshang would surely find her true feelings again. Thinking of what happened the previous night, Yan Zhen’s face flushed with heat again. If she had refined the antidote sooner, her relationship with Zhao Baoshang wouldn’t be in this current state.

She quietly controlled her game character and accidentally fed a kill to the enemy.

Xu Xiaoya snapped back to her senses, wanting to curse at Yan Zhen to vent, but remembering how Zhao Baoshang had just humiliated her, she didn’t quite dare. She kicked a chair and left the dorm in a huff to go home.

At home, she saw her sister, Xu Fengmei. She rushed over. “Sis, what’s with Zhao Baoshang? You said she still followed your every word, but do you know what she did today—”

Xu Xiaoya wiped her tears. “She scolded me so badly in the dorm. Is she even human?”

Xu Fengmei asked urgently, “What happened?”

After Xiaoya recounted the story, she asked, “She said she has nothing to do with you anymore. Is it true?”

Xu Fengmei paused. A bad feeling rose in Xiaoya’s heart. “Sis?”

Xu Fengmei’s expression suddenly turned distorted and ferocious. “Yes, it’s true.”

Xiaoya backed away a few steps, frightened.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Fengmei suddenly laughed and stepped forward to squeeze Xiaoya’s hand. “It’s just the Zhao family. What’s so great about them?”

“Zhao Baoshang said she was going to blacklist me,” Xiaoya whispered.

Xu Fengmei’s face tightened. “I know. She was always temperamental. But because of that, I have to take a final gamble. Xiaoya, you must help me.”

Xiaoya stared at Xu Fengmei’s expression. She had never seen her sister so serious; it felt like a matter of life and death.

“The fact that you’re in the same dorm as Zhao Baoshang is a stroke of fate. I can’t find anyone else for this but you.”

“What do you want me to do?” Xiaoya asked, confused.

Xu Fengmei clutched a pendant in her hand. “Put this under Zhao Baoshang’s pillow. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Yan Zhen hadn’t seen Zhao Baoshang for two days. Worried about her, she went to the area near Zhao’s small villa after class. The river nearby was clear, and the Feng Shui remained intact without any signs of sabotage. Seeing the harmonious layout, she felt relieved.

The security guard at the gate, now familiar with her, greeted her: “Coming to see your goddess again?”

Yan Zhen smiled. The rumor had spread so much that everyone teased her now. The guard peered behind her. “No gifts today? Usually you leave with a pile of food.”

“I didn’t go inside today,” Yan Zhen said.

“Oh, your goddess isn’t home?” the guard asked. “I just saw her. She must have just left.” He told Yan Zhen her schedule—she mostly left during the day and returned at night. Yan Zhen guessed she was still filming Qing Shan Yuan.

She thanked the guard and prepared to head back. Walking along the sidewalk, she suddenly heard a commotion. A crowd was gathered in the middle of the road around a black car. The driver sat inside, tense, as people pointed and yelled.

“Get out! You hit someone, don’t you know?!” an auntie screamed.

The driver honked. “Get the hell away!” It was too noisy; no one heard him. The driver yelled, “If you don’t move, I’ll run you over!”

Still, no one heard. Frustrated by the banging on his windows, the driver snapped. He stepped on the gas. The crowd shrieked and scrambled out of the way.

“Stop the car!” the auntie yelled, chasing after him after falling.

The driver panicked and floored it. Just then, a white-haired old lady walked out from around the corner.

“Damn it!” the driver panicked. “Move!”

The old lady couldn’t hear him. The driver slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. Hearing the screeching tires, the old lady looked back. Seeing the car hurtling toward her, she fell to the ground in terror. She closed her eyes, thinking she was going to die.

But the pain never came.

She opened her eyes to find a young girl carrying her on her back. They were sheltered under the eaves of a small supermarket. The car had crashed into the community guardrail; the front was wrecked, and the driver was unconscious inside.

Yan Zhen called for an ambulance. Someone nearby asked, “Little girl, where did you get the courage to help an old person? Aren’t you afraid of being scammed?”

Yan Zhen said, “That elderly lady has a face of wealth and nobility; she wouldn’t do something like that.”

The bystander didn’t believe it, looking at the old lady’s cheap clothes with disdain. “I wouldn’t touch her. These days, one wrong move with an old person and you’re bankrupted for life.”

The old lady, seemingly in shock, walked over to Yan Zhen. After the reporter and bystanders explained what happened, she realized she had just escaped death. If it weren’t for Yan Zhen, she would be gone.

“Little girl, thank you so much,” the old lady said.

Yan Zhen waved her off. “It was nothing.”

The old lady found Yan Zhen more and more likable. She took out her phone and made a call. Within minutes, a Land Rover pulled up, and two upright military officers stepped out. The bystander’s jaw dropped. This old lady is actually from a noble family?

The old lady didn’t care about the people who had doubted her. She sent the driver away in the Land Rover and looked at Yan Zhen. To her, Yan Zhen looked elegant and brave.

“Little girl, you saved my life. Tell me if there’s anything you want.”

Yan Zhen smiled. “Madam, you have a fate of longevity and peace. Even if I hadn’t saved you today, you would have been fine.”

“Oh? You can tell fortunes?” the lady asked, delighted.

“I only know the basics,” Yan Zhen said modestly.

“Then read mine?” the lady asked, intrigued.

Yan Zhen smiled. “As I said, you have a fate of longevity. As long as your grandchildren don’t cause trouble, you will be peaceful. If they do get rowdy—say, demanding to do some dangerous activity—just light an incense stick in the southwest corner of your house for three days. On the fourth day, they will change their mind.”

The lady laughed. “I can’t control my grandson’s thoughts. But if something like that happens, I’ll do as you say. Why don’t you come to our house for a meal?”

Yan Zhen declined. “I have to get back to school.”

The lady was disappointed. “Classes? I wanted to introduce you to my grandson.” She took a business card from her guards and tucked it into Yan Zhen’s pocket. “Remember to call me if you ever need help.”

That afternoon, the news of the crash hit the TV. The reporter mentioned the dangers of summer fatigue while driving.

The old lady watched the news at home. “People these days are so reckless.” She turned to see her grandson entering. “How do you have time to visit?”

Shao Lei smiled. “Grandma, I missed you.”

“Just say what you want,” she said, seeing right through him.

“Grandma knows me best. I have a favor to ask. I want to go to the North Pole.”

“Then go. Why discuss it with me?”

“I want to fly a helicopter there myself,” Shao Lei said, leaning in. “Dad won’t agree. I only have you.”

Her face changed. “By yourself? In a military helicopter? No! Who gave you that idea?”

Shao Lei got angry. “I’m an adult! Why can’t I?”

“You don’t have a flight license! You haven’t considered how many days it takes! You act without thinking!” She started scolding him. Shao Lei, annoyed, yelled back and ran out of the house.

The house grew quiet. The lady kept muttering about her grandson. Suddenly, she remembered what the girl had said that afternoon.

Could it be such a coincidence?

She was skeptical, but remembering her grandson’s stubbornness, she stood up, took an incense burner, and placed it in the southwest corner. She lit the incense and bowed three times.

The news of the girl saving the old lady continued to broadcast. Though the girl’s face wasn’t clear, Zhao Baoshang recognized her immediately.

It’s Yan Zhen!

Zhao Baoshang clutched her phone, staring at the screen as if she wanted to eat it. Li Ping asked worriedly, “Boss, are you okay?”

That question was like a time bomb. Zhao Baoshang stood up and rushed out of the room, only to rush back a moment later, her hair disheveled. She paced the room several times, suppressing the urge to find her fan.

What kind of sht antidote is this? It hasn’t worked at all!

Zhao Baoshang was so angry she wanted to call her fan, but remembering the cold shoulder she gave her at the dorm, she couldn’t bring herself to lose face.

On the news, the reporter’s voice transitioned from the car crash to the latest entertainment gossip.