This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 26.2

Beside her, Wei Xianghong was speechless for a moment, before glaring at Xia Qingye with a look of frustrated disappointment. Usually, in commercial dramas, the scripts lean toward masculine themes, and there are only one or two significant female roles—sometimes only a single female lead in the entire production.

In Wei Xianghong’s view, this kind of dinner invitation was primarily a chance to show off in front of the director. Yet her artist was great—she had invited the international Film Queen Nie Zhuying along, essentially burying herself in the mud by comparison.

What was the point of this dinner? It was just “making a wedding dress for someone else.”

Xia Yanbo stood by, dumbfounded. After a long pause, he managed to cut in: “Uhm, Qingye, if you’re all going out to eat, what about your brother?”

Xia Qingye looked at him, frowned with some difficulty, and said tentatively, “How about… Brother, I order you some takeout?”

Xia Yanbo’s face immediately fell, and his heart turned stone-cold.

Beside them, Nie Zhuying took great pleasure in this, shooting Xia Yanbo a triumphant glance. She happily suggested, “Great idea! Let’s go have a huge feast and let that ‘Bald Xun’ buy the meal.”

Hearing her nickname for Director Xun, Xia Qingye nearly burst out laughing.

Wei Xianghong was responsible for finding a hotel and making the reservation. As she left the Xia house, she couldn’t help but flick Xia Qingye’s forehead hard. “You… it’s not that I want to scold you, but are you stupid?”

Xia Qingye felt a bit of pain from the flick and rubbed her forehead. She naturally understood the other’s meaning and offered a rare explanation: “Nie Zhuying isn’t the type of person to steal someone’s role. Director Xun’s previous role was originally hers. If you really want to be technical, I’m the one who stole her role.”

Wei Xianghong didn’t know the inside story. She had heard that Director Xun had pre-selected the Film Queen and Film Emperor, but when Chu Rou had leaked that earlier, she assumed it was just a rumor. Without concrete evidence, she wouldn’t believe it.

Hearing Xia Qingye mention it so seriously now, she was surprised. “Really? How do you know?”

Xia Qingye had naturally overheard it. “Nie Zhuying and Director Xun are old acquaintances. With her there, the atmosphere won’t be too awkward.”

“Besides, any script you can find, Zhou Ling can find too. If it’s truly a good script, it can’t be hidden. Moreover, you can’t stop a powerhouse Film Queen from competing for a good role anyway.”

Wei Xianghong was stunned by her artist’s calm and composed mindset. Honestly, this kind of attitude was top-tier in this industry. She now felt that even Xie Zhe’s mindset wasn’t as open as Xia Qingye’s. “I hope you keep that attitude up.”

Xia Qingye nodded. “Thanks for your help today, Sister Xiang.”

Wei Xianghong drove away, pondering Xia Qingye’s words along the way. Finally, she sighed, “I was just overthinking it.”

The circle is only so big; rather than avoiding people, it’s better to do them a favor. Moreover, Nie Zhuying was staying at the Xia house—though she hadn’t had time to ask about their relationship…

During the New Year, all the famous hotels in the capital were fully booked, some even through the entire first lunar month. She visited over a dozen hotels and almost missed the dinner time. As it grew dark, she resorted to asking around her friend circle to see if she could snag a reservation from someone else.

Fortunately, after shamelessly asking around, a friend had a slot. The group that friend had invited was delayed at the airport due to a flight delay during their return trip from vacation, so the spot went to her.

As the host, Xia Qingye arrived early with Nie Zhuying.

Nie Zhuying spent the whole time with her head down on her phone, switching between WeChat and games, or scrolling through Weibo and laughing at funny gossip. Like a total drama queen, she never stopped for a second.

However, the moment Wei Xianghong arrived, Nie Zhuying immediately put her phone away and pretended to sip tea, her expression becoming cool, aloof, and dismissive. As soon as Wei Xianghong stepped away, she peeked at Xia Qingye and frantically whipped her phone back out of her pocket. Her speed was incredibly agile. Xia Qingye watched from the side, caught between laughter and tears, and couldn’t help but tease, “Miss Nie, your persona just collapsed.”

Nie Zhuying didn’t even look up. “You’re not a fan.”

Xia Qingye smiled, wanting to say that Sister Xiang wasn’t a fan either, but after reflecting on it, she sensed a certain “flavor” in the air. Before Nie Zhuying came to the Xia house, she maintained her usual cold style; it was only after they’d shared a few meals and three movies that she became increasingly unrestrained in front of her.

“I might be your fan in the future.”

Nie Zhuying looked at her in surprise. “I didn’t expect you to be captivated by my beauty so quickly. Come, I’ll allow you to be a fan.”

Xia Qingye was forced to pull out her phone, open Weibo, and follow her.

Nie Zhuying nodded with satisfaction. “Now I believe you’re my fan.”

As they were talking, they heard Director Xun’s loud voice: “I told you to hurry up, but you had to dawdle! Look at the time! Are you even ashamed of being late?”

Another man, quite tall—if Xun Guang was a short, stout man, this man was about 1.85 meters and thin as a bamboo pole—followed behind Xun Guang, speaking slowly: “It’s the New Year, what’s the rush?”

Xia Qingye recognized Director Zhuang from her past life immediately.

“Director Xun, Director Zhuang.”

“Xiao Xia, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Wei Xianghong led them into the room. When Xun Guang saw Nie Zhuying, he froze on the spot, utterly shocked. “When Xiao Xia said you’d be here, I thought she was joking. Didn’t you say your schedule was slammed and you wouldn’t be back from abroad for the New Year?”

Nie Zhuying wished she could sew his mouth shut.

Xia Qingye stepped out to have the staff serve the food and wine, then poured drinks for the two directors.

Reversing her usual behavior, Nie Zhuying looked at Xun Guang’s bald head with a teasing gaze. “Stop talking. Come on, I’m going to drink you under the table today. I’ll start with a toast to you both.”

The banquet kicked off with Nie Zhuying’s first glass. Xia Qingye looked at Nie Zhuying’s bold energy and felt a sense of impending doom, sensing she was about to be ditched by this lazy girl. She hesitated with her glass but eventually drained it. Wei Xianghong, completely unaware of her own artist’s low tolerance, kept frantically pouring wine for everyone.

Director Xun was very pleased to be toasted by these two bold women. When he was happy, he was in a good mood. After a few rounds of drinks, he said to Old Zhuang, “Never mind ‘Shadow’ [Nie Zhuying], I mentioned Xiao Xia to you before. She’s a very perceptive kid, the most worry-free one in my crew.”

Hearing this, Wei Xianghong knew they had a lead and immediately kicked Xia Qingye’s leg under the table.

After a few glasses, Xia Qingye had pinched her own thigh until it was bruised just to stay conscious. However, as the alcohol hit, her mind went blank. she just sat there politely like a normal person.

When Wei Xianghong kicked her twice, she just turned back and smiled at her, as if to say, Why are you kicking me?

Wei Xianghong winked at her several times but got no response. In her desperation, she started kicking her frantically under the table.

Seeing Xia Qingye’s “stupid” look, Nie Zhuying’s face darkened. Looking at the frantic Wei Xianghong, she pursed her lips, swirled her glass, and toasted the two directors again. “Director Xun is right. Our ‘Xia-Xia’ is great—good acting, very serious, and no bad habits. Why don’t you consider her, Director Zhuang?”

Xia-Xia?

At Nie Zhuying’s words, Director Zhuang narrowed his eyes and looked at the two women sitting together.

Xun Guang just smiled. “Well? Give us an answer.”

“Then let her come for a tryout. Come, let’s keep drinking.”

Wei Xianghong hadn’t expected success to come so quickly. She immediately picked up her glass and joined in toasting the two famous directors.

They kept drinking until the end. The food was barely touched, but both famous directors ended up drunk under the table, still mumbling, “Keep drinking…”

Nie Zhuying slumped in her seat and rubbed her temples, saying in a commanding tone, “Go see off Director Xun and Director Zhuang, and settle the bill while you’re at it. Come back and pick us up in a bit.”

Wei Xianghong didn’t mind, as this was part of her job. she quickly had the hotel staff call designated drivers to get the two drunk directors into cars. When she turned back, she saw Xia Qingye still sitting there, motionless. She couldn’t help but scold, “My little ancestor, you usually seem so sharp. What was wrong with you today? I was winking at you, but you acted like you couldn’t see!”

Xia Qingye maintained a smile and sat upright.

Nie Zhuying leaned over, covered Xia Qingye’s mouth with her hand, and glared at her sharply, trying to find a reaction. Instead, her palm felt wet—she’d been licked. She immediately wiped her hand on Xia Qingye’s clothes in disgust. “Can’t you fix this bad habit of yours?”

Xia Qingye continued to smile.

Nie Zhuying poked Xia Qingye’s cheek with her finger. Seeing no resistance, she pinched the smooth cheek hard. It felt quite nice, so she couldn’t resist bullying her a bit more.

“You don’t know? She was drunk a long time ago.”

Five glasses at most—her tolerance was truly pathetic.

“What!”

“She’s! Drunk! You take us back later, carry her upstairs, and put her in her room.”

Nie Zhuying had learned her lesson and chose to stay far away from Xia Qingye, giving Wei Xianghong remote commands: “Help her up now, toss her in the back seat, and drive us back.”

Wei Xianghong still didn’t quite believe she was drunk. She waved a hand in front of her, and seeing no reaction, she finally believed Nie Zhuying.

Fortunately, Xia Qingye was a well-behaved drunk (except with Nie Zhuying).

Wei Xianghong hired two designated drivers—one to take them back to the Xia house and another to drive the car Xia Qingye had brought. She had also drunk quite a bit and didn’t want to risk their safety.

Sitting in the back caring for Xia Qingye, she saw the girl fall asleep against the window almost immediately, looking incredibly sweet. “By the way, Miss Nie, thanks for speaking up for Qingye today.”

Nie Zhuying hummed in acknowledgment.

Wei Xianghong wanted to ask about their relationship, but seeing the other woman’s head tilted against the car seat as if she’d fallen asleep, she didn’t want to disturb her. She just thought about Nie Zhuying calling her “Xia-Xia.” It sounded quite intimate.

If she had known Nie Zhuying usually just called her “Hey,” she probably wouldn’t have thought that.

The Xia house was dark, looking as if no one was home. Nie Zhuying pulled out her phone, realized she had Xia Qingye’s number but not Xia Yanbo’s, and silently put it back. She walked to Wei Xianghong and patted Xia Qingye’s cheek. “Hey, wake up. Do you have the keys?”

Wei Xianghong found the sight of her talking seriously to a drunkard quite amusing. “The keys should be in her bag or her pocket. Check for them.”

Nie Zhuying resignedly searched the bag and finally found the key in a down jacket pocket. After some effort, the two of them got the “happy drunk” upstairs.

Wei Xianghong acted like a worried mother, helping the drunkard take off her shoes and coat. Finally, she told the spectating Nie Zhuying, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, “She might be thirsty later; please prepare some water. I’ll be heading out now.”

Nie Zhuying nodded slightly in agreement.

She watched Wei Xianghong leave, closed the door, turned off the lights, and went upstairs. After a shower, she was exhausted. However, thinking of the drunk woman next door, she resignedly went down to pour a glass of water and left it in Xia Qingye’s room. Back in her own bed, just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard a loud THUD from the next room.

She immediately got up. In Xia Qingye’s room, the person on the bed was gone; she was hunched over the toilet in the restroom, vomiting.

“Drunkard.”

“Blegh—”

Nie Zhuying waited until she finished, then forced her to rinse her mouth and wash her face before finally allowing her to go to sleep. Just as she was about to head back to her room, she saw Nuonuo trotting over, following the scent. She looked at the woman sleeping soundly on the bed, and then at Nuonuo whimpering around her feet.

“Nuonuo, come here. Give your ‘sister’ a kiss.”

Nie Zhuying held Nuonuo and quietly approached the bedside. She gently placed Nuonuo by Xia Qingye’s pillow. “Nuonuo, kiss her. Hurry up.”

Nuonuo wandered around the edge of the blanket, then wiggled his way inside and began crawling forward. Nie Zhuying was stunned, having no idea where the little guy had gone. she quickly reached into the blanket, grabbed his back legs, and pulled him out. “That was close.”

Seeing that even this commotion didn’t wake the person on the bed, she grew bolder.

She searched the desk and found a black pen. Leaning over Xia Qingye, she first wrote the character “Xia” on her forehead, then drew two turtles on her cheeks.

Looking at her masterpiece, Nie Zhuying let out a giggle. “Hmm, let’s add two more words.”

And so, the words “Drunkard” appeared on Xia Qingye’s chin.