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I’m Hungry

Hearing this, Su Shen just took a sip of the coffee in her hand and nodded slightly. 

Many people in the entertainment industry had quarrels with production teams over these sensitive questions. Thus, no matter which shows, the staff would divulge the general scale of the questions. However, Su Shen didn’t think it was a big deal since they were going to go public sooner or later.

“There may be a phone call segment later. Is that okay?” The staff asked. 

At this, Su Shen thought for a bit before nodding in the end.

Seeing that she was so cooperative, the staff quickly finished going over the rest of the itinerary with her and left, leaving only Su Shen and Xiao Zhou in the entire dressing room. 

Su Shen wanted to let Xie Yan know beforehand in case he would give it away later. After sending a message over, there was no reply from him even after a long while. God knows what he was doing.

It was not until a staff informed them that the dress rehearsal was about to begin that she stepped foot into the recording studio. The makeup for the rehearsal didn’t need to be that good, it was a different case for the official recording though.

The design of coming onto stage was rather cool. Su Shen would come onto stage with Jiang Yin, and Zhu Qinqin would enter with one of the supporting male leads. The assistant director and crew members were sitting below the stage, and the audience had yet to enter the recording studio.  

“Wow, Jiang Yin, you’re here again!” The hostess laughed teasingly.

Jiang Yin appeared on the variety show once when he was promoting his new album, and it was not long ago either. He came once again, so the hostess couldn’t help but tease him.

“If you’re not welcoming of me, I’ll go home then.” Jiang Yin pretended to be angry and walked back. Several of the hosts immediately laughed and pulled him back. Zhu Qinqin, who was closest to him, held his arm familiarly, but the latter inadvertently broke away from her. 

“How can we not be welcoming of you? You guys’ drama has been so popular lately, even my mom has been chasing after it. Can you divulge a little of the ending?” The host took over the conversation and chatted away. 

Jiang Yin just smiled mysteriously and said, “The ending is that the protagonists are all dead.”

“Omg, you’re so bad. At that time, the audience may send blades to the scriptwriter.” The hostess looked at Su Shen with a smile, “It seems that it is the first time for Su Shen to work with Jiang Yin. What kind of person do you think he is?”

There were no cameras below, only the director and some staff were watching the dress rehearsal. He Hua was also sitting below the stage. Standing next to Jiang Yin, Su Shen replied with a smile upon hearing this, “He’s a great singer and rather humorous sometimes. In private, he doesn’t maintain the image of an idol, which is pretty good.” 

It was a civil response, but Jiang Yin couldn’t help but glance at her, not knowing whether she was telling the truth or not. 

“I heard that Jiang Yin, you’re going to hold a concert soon. Can you give us a little live performance?” The hostess said with a microphone in her hand. 

This must’ve been scripted with Jiang Yin, so he nodded. The OST of their drama began playing. Jiang Yin held the microphone and looked at Su Shen as he slowly sang.  

“The rays of sunrise shone lightly on your fingertips. I miss your dimple-like smile. I remember the dazzling sight of when I first met you, wishing that time could stop…”

The OST was originally sung by Jiang Yin, and the performance just now was pretty good. When the other hosts saw this scene, they all had an intriguing expression, and even He Hua was watching the fun below. He should’ve brought Xie Yan here.   

Jiang Yin’s gaze focused on her, but Su Shen felt uncomfortable, so she stared at the audience with no expression on her face.  

As soon as the music stopped, several of the hosts shouted, “Jiang Yin, have you ever thought about inviting Su Shen to be a special guest at your concert?”

Before Jiang Yin could speak, Su Shen suddenly said with a smile, “I’m tone deaf. His fans might refund their tickets if he asks me.”

“You can sit in the audience and listen to me sing.” Jiang Yin suddenly turned to look at her.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere became awkward. Thankfully, a host quickly reacted and asked, “We all want to go. Are you gonna send us the tickets?”

Su Shen just kept a smile on her face and said nothing. On the other hand, Jiang Yin just said yes with a smile. 

After this topic passed, the hostess looked at the script and continued to the next topic. She looked at Su Shen and asked, “You’ve worked with so many actors. Who do you think is most like your ideal partner?”

This was a question that they had already gone over before, so Su Shen quickly replied with a microphone in hand, “I don’t really have an ideal type, it depends on the feelings.”

“I heard that you introduced Xie Yan to his girlfriend. Is this true?” asked the hostess curiously. 

It was just a rehearsal, and there were no cameras, so Su Shen couldn’t help laughing and nodded a bit. 

The hostess looked at the script and said, “But, there were also rumors that you guys’ relationship was not good before. They said it was because of your poor acting, and that Xie Yan also declined “Little Sunlight”. What do you think?” 

Hearing this, Su Shen held the microphone and said solemnly, “This is actually just everyone’s groundless speculation. Xie laoshi is one of my great seniors. He has taught me a lot, and we are not on bad terms.”

At this, the hostess immediately said, “Since you guys have a good relationship,  do you want to clarify it on the spot?”

“This… isn’t good, right? We haven’t contacted each other in a long time.” Before Su Shen could finish speaking, a staff asked Xiao Zhou to hand over her phone.

She didn’t know if she could call Xie Yan or not, but she could do nothing if the call didn’t connect. Anyways, it was just a rehearsal. Holding her phone, Su Shen scrolled through her contacts.

Fortunately, she just saved his number as “Xie Yan”, so she was not afraid of it being seen by others.

“Actually, I’m also single. Su Shen, you can also introduce a girlfriend to me if you have time,” said jokingly by one of the hosts. 

Hearing this, Su Shen couldn’t help laughing. Just at this moment, the number had been dialed, and that host even specially asked her to put it on speaker. 

Zhu Qinqin, who was standing to the side, watched this scene coldly and felt a little scornful in her heart. She used Xie Yan for clout in the end anyways. She always pretended to be so noble, yet was such a b***h!

“Brr!”

The phone rang a few times, but no one answered. Su Shen didn’t know what Xie Yan was doing, so she could only say to the hosts, “He’s probably busy with something.”

After saying that, the phone was suddenly connected, and a languid male voice sounded from the other end, “When are you coming back? I’m hungry.”

Su Shen: “…….”

With the speaker on, almost everyone on stage heard it, and everyone was stupefied. Below the stage, He Hua frowned and ran up to the stage. 

To her surprise, he was sleeping. Before Su Shen came to her senses, He Hua, who rushed onto stage, snatched her phone and hung up the call. He then waved to the executive director. “It’s an accident. You guys can continue!”

In any case, they were all hosts, so everyone quickly reacted. They had heard of the news through the grapevine, but it was not as shocking as witnessing it with their own eyes. They acted as if nothing happened, and the director asked them to continue rehearsing the other small games. 

Zhu Qinqin, on the other hand, stared at Su Shen. She had never thought that this b***h would hook up with Xie Yan. No wonder she had such good opportunities and resources lately and even signed under He Hua. It was clear as day what was going on!

Although the atmosphere toward the end of the rehearsal was somewhat awkward, everyone pretended that nothing had happened. However, Su Shen was a little embarrassed. She didn’t expect that Xie Yan would be napping at this time. He had never napped before!

After the rehearsal, He Hua was waiting for her in the lounge sullenly. Needless to say, he must’ve had a quarrel with Xie Yan just now, but it seemed that he didn’t win. 

“You guys better go public as soon as possible, so I won’t be on edge all day every day. Xie Yan must’ve done it on purpose, napping during the day. Does he think he is in his seventies and needs a noon break?!” He Hua got angrier the more he spoke. If the news leaked now, people would definitely attack Su Shen for hyping. This was simply asking for trouble!

“Actually, this can’t be blamed on him. I told him I was recording at night, so he must’ve not thought too much about it. You also know that he doesn’t understand variety show tapings.” Su Shen couldn’t help but explain. 

Hearing this, He Hua took a deep breath of his cigarette. Forget it. He’s used to this zuzong’s* willfulness. In any case, this wasn’t the first time.

zuzong – literally means “ancestor”, this term is used by someone to address/refer to another person who is hard to deal with, but they would be willing to satisfy their demands to make them happy

“There are so many people at the TV station. One person spreads to ten, ten spreads to a hundred, and the news can’t be blocked. Forget it. Just take it as a warm-up to you guys going public.” He Hua sighed helplessly and exhaled a smoke ring. 

Ordinary staff would definitely not break the news, and even if someone did, it was useless if there was no evidence. This kind of scandal was basically a norm in the entertainment industry, and everyone was accustomed to it. 

In the afternoon, they rehearsed again. By the time of the recording, the phone call segment had been cut from the rest of the show. Even if Xie Yan already knew that it was part of the show, He Hua still didn’t want him to be a part of it.

Su Shen understood He Hua’s feelings. When the recording ended at 10:00 pm, just as Su Shen was about to call Xie Yan, he happened to call her. 

After the call connected, Su Shen put on her sunglasses and followed He Hua out of the TV station. “En, I just finished work.”

Hearing this, a deep and mellow voice sounded from the other end, “Where are you?”

“I’m at …” Su Shen suddenly saw something and stared at the familiar Bentley parked by the road. Beside her, He Hua snorted, “Such big balls to park here. Is he looking down on the TV station for not having enough reporters?” 

The night breeze blew, and the lights under the building were dazzling. From time to time, staff members of the TV station went in and out of the building since it was common for them to work overtime. 

After hanging up the call, Su Shen glanced at Xiao Zhou behind her. “Go take a taxi home. I have something to do tomorrow.”

“Got it!” Xiao Zhou nodded tacitly. 

Looking at the car parked by the road, Su Shen immediately put on a mask and jogged over. After looking around, she opened the door and got in. 

Xie Yan was dressed in all black, blending into the dark sky. After seeing her enter, he turned to look at He Hua. He Hua was standing outside, seemingly waiting for the chauffeur and seeing if there were any paparazzi around in passing. 

With him on the lookout, Xie Yan turned back to look at Su Shen, who was taking off her mask, and asked tenderly, “Did you eat yet?”

It was better if he hadn’t mentioned this. At the mention of this, Su Shen couldn’t help but frown and looked at him solemnly, “Did you do it on purpose today?”

He Hua was almost angered to death.

Hearing this, Xie Yan’s expression remained the same, and said earnestly, “I didn’t.”

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Real or Fake

Su Shen kept silent and sat there pondering for a while before replying, “I have to discuss this with Xie Yan.”

“You don’t need to discuss it with him. You can make the decision,” said He Hua firmly. 

Taking a sip of the soymilk, Su Shen glanced at Xue Zhixin, who was eating luosifen, and said insipidly, “I have to discuss it with him first.”

Since this kind of matter involved both parties, Su Shen naturally couldn’t make the decision alone. Although Xie Yan wasn’t a xiao xian rou idol, he still had a lot of female fans. If they suddenly went public, there would definitely be fans who would leave his fandom. Although she didn’t think Xie Yan liked to engage with fans, it was better to discuss it with him first. 

“Okay, okay. You guys can take your time discussing this matter, but remember that you have to attend a variety show on the 1st. Has Liu Min informed the production crew about this engagement?” asked He Hua.

This variety show had been booked a long time ago, and it was also one of the promotion activities with the cast. When they signed the contract for this movie, they had already informed them about this, so she just needed to let the director know. 

“Yes.”

Thinking of Liu jie, Su Shen felt a little helpless. There were no banquets in this world that did not end. There was no way around it. 

After hanging up the call, Su Shen sat there alone, drinking the soymilk slowly and biting into the xiao long bao* slowly. She noticed, however, that Xue Zhixin was watching showbiz news over there. 

xiao long bao – often referred to as a kind of dumpling, most noted for having soup with a piece of meat as its filling

“Following Xie Yan’s passionate kiss, our reporter specially contacted a staff of Xie Yan’s studio. The staff said that the authenticity of the video has yet to be confirmed, but they will definitely put an end to some of the false rumors online.”

It was the voice of a female reporter. Sitting there, Su Shen glanced at Xue Zhixin, who was still watching the video, and said, “The said person is here. Why are you still watching the news?”

Xue Zhixin, who was looking at her phone, suddenly turned down the volume and leaned against the sofa helplessly. “Those people married old and ugly rich people. You’re lucky. Not only is Xie Yan handsome, he’s also able to give you a lot of resources and opportunities. Moreover, he doesn’t womanize either. You’ve already reached the peak of life!”

Most of the female stars in the entertainment industry only had two endings. One was to marry rich, then retire from the industry. If it became an unhappy marriage, resulting in divorce, then they would come out of retirement. The other was to marry someone from the entertainment industry because they empathized with each other more. However, most of the people in showbiz were wilder, and there were too many temptations. Thus, there were very few men who would stay faithful, so many couples appeared to be united but were already separated at heart. This was why Su Shen didn’t want to find someone from the industry at the beginning.  

“Maybe I’m just luckier,” said Su Shen with a smile before picking up the script and looking at it.

She originally didn’t believe in love, but she was indeed lucky to have met Xie Yan.

……

It seemed that He Hua had asked someone to remove the headline from Hot Search as it couldn’t be seen at night. Although Xie Yan doesn’t engage with his fans, He Hua was an expert at it. He quickly contacted Xie Yan’s superfans and asked them to inform the other fans to control the comments, trying not to give the antis a chance. 

When fans were made good use of, It was much more effective than buying a water army. He Hua was super familiar with this kind of integrated process. He was originally responsible for Xie Yan’s matters, so he was able to deal with these kinds of matters quickly every time. 

When Su Shen returned to the hotel at night, she took a shower before sending a message to Xie Yan.

Su Shen: He Hua said it’s not a solution to keep our relationship a secret and wants us to go public on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. What do you think?

She didn’t know whether Xie Yan had fallen asleep or not. Just when Su Shen was about to post a selfie onto her Weibo, a notification sounded on her phone. 

Xie Yan: En, I have no objection. 

Seeing that he had agreed so readily, Su Shen suddenly felt helpless. Xie Yan was really not afraid of losing fans!

Su Shen: Okay then. I have to go attend a variety show on the 1st. He Hua said that there would be fans waiting for me at the airport, so you don’t have to come pick me up. I will go see you at night. 

After sending the message, she felt it was improper, so she immediately sent another one. 

Su Shen: Or you can come pick me up in the morning on the 2nd. 

It was better that she went home. After all, all her clothes were at her condo. However, it seemed that Xie Yan had sensed her thoughts as he quickly sent another message over. 

Xie Yan: Your clothes are still here.

Seeing this, Su Shen subconsciously thought of that night and immediately closed her phone, snuggling into bed abashedly. 

At the thought of that night, Su Shen’s heart beat faster, and she didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. When she woke up in the morning, she saw a message from Xie Yan sent last night, telling her to come back earlier that day. The auntie had taken a leave, so he had been ordering takeout for the past two days.  

Su Shen didn’t know what to say. She had already seen through Xie Yan’s scheme. When she went over to his house the first time, he said that the auntie had asked for a leave. Later, she asked the auntie and was told that Xie Yan specially gave her two days off, deceiving her to go over and cook for him. It must be the same this time too. 

She didn’t reply to Xie Yan. For the next two days, she continued to shoot, and the matter of Xie Yan’s passionate kiss gradually subsided under He Hua’s manipulations. On the morning of the 1st, He Hua came over to pick her up to go to the airport. 

There would be fans waiting for her at the airport today. He Hua had also brought a few bodyguards. Since the drama was currently being aired, when photos of fans picking her up at the airport were published, it would add more hype and create the image of her being very popular. The times now competed with influence. Although He Hua could promote her, there was one bad thing. He was a man, so he couldn’t give some styling advice to Su Shen for some engagements and could only hire a stylist. However, Su Shen had heard that He Hua was in touch with a top styling team for her.     

“Look at what kind of engagements Liu Min accepted for you before. They’re all worthless commercial appearances, just for that little amount of money. Do you know how much you’ve lost right now?”

As soon as he got off the flight, He Hua couldn’t help but complain. Although it was unnecessary for him to accompany Su Shen to the variety show, showing up with her now would thoroughly reinforce that she was an artist under him.  

“Who knew at that time? My schedule was empty then, so Liu jie accepted it.” Su Shen couldn’t help but explain. 

A large number of fans holding up Su Shen’s name could be seen outside. He Hua could only lower his voice and said, “Forget it. I’ve canceled the ones I could, and for those that couldn’t be canceled, let’s just treat it as a loss. Your popularity is on the rise now, and your value will increase. I’ll wait until you’re stable before accepting any endorsements and commercial appearances.”  

He Hua’s plan was all about profits, but Su Shen only hoped that she could film at ease during this time, leaving everything else to He Hua to handle.  

“AHHHHH! SU SHEN!”

“SU SHEN, LOOK HERE!!!”

“AHHHHHHHHHHH! SU SHEN, I LOVE YOU!”

As soon as they exited the arriving gate, the group of fans crazily surrounded them. Su Shen lowered her head and pressed down her cap. The bodyguards opened and led the way, with He Hua protecting her at her side. Those fans crazily surrounded them, holding their phones and taking photos fervently. 

This group of fans was all from her fan club, all of which were diehard fans. The photos they took wouldn’t be posted online so wantonly unless He Hua asked someone to publish a post of them picking her up at the airport, only then would they post a few photos. There were also some professional fans part of it, who specialized in managing and controlling the comments under posts of their star’s engagements. Every fan club basically had one. 

When they finally got in the car, those fans surrounded the car and were reluctant to leave while yelling for her to take care of herself, be mindful of her health, etc, which all sounded really heartwarming.

“Your matters and Xie Yan’s matters are coinciding lately. The contract for his Hollywood project is still in the midst of negotiations, so I’ll find a new manager for you as soon as possible. She’s also a partner of our agency. I’ll introduce you guys probably in the middle of the month. She produced many household names before, so she should be more suitable for you,” said He Hua suddenly from the front. 

Hearing this, Su Shen just uttered an “en” and said nothing else. After all, He Hua was a man, and sometimes it was indeed inconvenient. A female manager could help her with makeup and straighten her dress when she attended engagements. 

“By the way, I heard that you’re going to see Xie Yan’s parents tomorrow?” He Hua suddenly turned around with a smile. 

At this, Su Shen just coughed blushingly and said, “En.”

In the entertainment industry, Su Shen was definitely the shyest female artist that He Hua had ever seen, but perhaps Xie Yan liked this kind. He just laughed and said nothing else.  

When they arrived at the recording studio, Jiang Yin and Zhu Qinqin had already arrived. Seeing Su Shen being surrounded by people as if she was the apple of their eyes, Zhu Qinqin immediately walked aside unhappily and played with her phone, pretending not to see her. 

In the afternoon was the dress rehearsal, and at night was the live recording.  Before the rehearsal, Su Shen had to go to the dressing room to get her makeup done. It seemed that He Hua had gone off to chat with the program director.  

This kind of indoor variety show required going over the script. Not long after, a staff came in to go over the itinerary of the show. When they saw her, they greeted her politely. Su Shen remembered that no one had paid her any attention when she went on this show the first time, let alone going over the script. 

“Later, the host may ask questions summed up from some netizens’ questions.” The staff sat on the sofa looking at the script while saying, “For example, there was a rumor that you introduced Xie Yan to his girlfriend. Is that true?”

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Photographed Again

Su Shen closed her eyes and snorted discontentedly. “I’m worried that you lost too little, and my dad is unhappy.”

Hearing this, Xie Yan smiled and said nothing, continuing to look at the road ahead. 

Su Shen, however, suddenly remembered that they were discussing something at first, so she looked up and said, “What were you talking about with my brother-in-law just now?”

They didn’t seem to be familiar with each other, yet they chatted so happily.

“We’ve met before. It was just about some collaborative investments, nothing much.” Xie Yan continued to turn the steering wheel and suddenly turned to look at her, “I’ll come pick you up on the 2nd.”

At this, Su Shen suddenly remembered that he was going to take her to meet his parents. Thinking about it now, she instantly felt a little uneasy.

“Your parents… what kind of girls do they like?” Su Shen asked nervously. 

She had never been so unsure, but when faced with matters about love, she had no confidence at all. 

Glancing at her from the corner of his eye and seeing how apprehensive she looked, Xie Yan just smiled. “They like what I like.”

Hearing this, Su Shen couldn’t help blushing and grasped the corner of her jacket. She turned to look at the scenery outside the window and said nothing. 

When they arrived at the airport, the car stopped at the side of the road, and many people came and went. It was sunny today and somewhat hot. With one hand holding the door handle, Su Shen turned to look at Xie Yan. “I’m going.”

She was wearing a blue plaid dress today. Her sleeves were to her elbows, exposing her snow-white slender arms. Her long black hair was tucked into her ears as it fell down her back, making her exquisite face even smaller. Turning around, Xie Yan held her shoulders and stared at her fervently. “Don’t you have anything to express?”

He was too close, and there were people coming and going outside from time to time. Afraid of being seen, Su Shen could only quickly plant a kiss on his cheek and said, blushing, “I really have to go.”

“What does this count?” Lowering his head, Xie Yan suddenly sealed her lips. Feeling that the person under him froze, he slowly pried open her teeth, and his big hand slowly wandered to her soft waist and gently squeezed it. 

There was a little itch on her waist. Dodging her head, his kiss fell on her sensitive neck. She panted slightly and said, “Xie… Xie Yan… don’t do this…”

Between laughter and tears, she stopped his hand on her waist. Ever since he knew she was afraid of being tickled, Xie Yan liked to torture her like this the most. 

Hearing her soft panting, Xie Yan’s eyes darkened and finally stopped. He just nibbled her neck. Hearing her gasp, only then did he look up and stare at her. “I’ll come pick you up on the 2nd.”

Su Shen didn’t dare say no and just nodded in a hurry. Afterward, the door was unlocked by him. As the sunlight came in, Su Shen immediately got out of the car and put on her cap and mask. Then, she turned around and waved to the person in the car before quickly walking into the airport. 

There were a lot of people at the airport. Without incident, she was recognized when she went through security. Fortunately, she quickly passed through. When she returned to set, it was already 5:00 pm. The paparazzi had been waiting outside. Su Shen pretended not to see them and walked in. 

She had several scenes at night. Movies were all like this. Although they filmed a lot, the scenes after post-production would be little to none. After all, there was only so much time. 

After airing for a few days, the viewership of the drama gradually increased. The hype of the drama was being maintained well, and Su Shen also gained a number of fans. However, the number of CP fans of Jiang Yin and her were becoming more and more. It seemed that no matter how they clarified it, it was useless.

As her fame rose, He Hua still didn’t accept any of those meaningless engagements for her. In his words, time should be spent on valuable places, and there was no need to attend activities that have no money and no benefits.  

At night, however, Wang Cheng would complain to her that she had stolen his viewership. Otherwise, his xianxia drama would’ve dominated this season. 

Thus, there were often no friendships because of one’s interest in the entertainment industry. However, Wang Cheng was also sanguine. If it was another person, they would’ve definitely remembered it in their heart. 

On the 28th, a video suddenly broke out online. As soon as Su Shen got up that day, she saw that #Xie Yan & His Mysterious Girlfriend Kissing Passionately in the Car# trending #1 on Hot Search.

At the sight of this, Su Shen was shook for a sec. When she clicked on the video, it was very blurry and was taken from the back of the car. Through several layers of glass, Xie Yan’s face could vaguely be seen, but not her face. 

Netizen A: NO! THIS IS NOT MY HUBBY!!!

Netizen B: I just want to know who this woman is. [joy]

Netizen C: As soon as I saw this news in the morning, I was so shaken that I immediately went to grab a jiuxin* pill, but there’s no face again. Thumbs down!

jiuxin – literally “save heart”, it’s a pill that improves blood circulation and relieves chest pain

Netizen D: If you have the ability to photograph, then have the ability to show the woman’s face. [rolls eyes] 

When Su Shen arrived on set, she noticed that those people were looking at her differently, so she immediately entered the dressing room. Inside, Xue Zhixin was eating luosifen* when she entered, and her gaze said everything. 

luosifen – literally “snail rice noodles”, is a Chinese noodle soup and specialty of Liuzhou, Guangxi, it is most famous for its pungent smell from the pickled bamboo shoots in the dish, it does not contain snail meat

“I was wondering why you asked for leave that day, so it turns out it was for a date.” She slurped a mouthful of noodles and shook her head. 

Su Shen coughed and came to the sofa with soymilk in hand before sitting down as she fixed her hair and said toward her, “I didn’t. It was my dad’s birthday that day.”

“Got it. And have a date in passing.” Speaking of this, Xue Zhixin suddenly placed her chopsticks down and leaned over curiously with oil all over her mouth. “Have you guys met the parents? When are you gonna get married?”

Su Shen: “…….”

She looked down somewhat embarrassedly. She then picked up the soymilk on the table and took a sip. It was still too early to talk about these things, it’s better for nature to take its course. 

“We don’t have a plan yet. We’re not in a hurry.” After saying that, Su Shen thought of the video again. She wasn’t certain whether the paparazzi hadn’t photographed her face or not, so she could only pick up her phone and give He Hua a call. 

If it was Liu jie, she would definitely come find her if there was such a thing. However, with He Hua, he would definitely go find Xie Yan first, to tell him to be more careful. 

The phone rang several times before being connected. The other party raised his voice and said without any nonsense, “The follow-up video is already in my hands. You don’t have to worry that it will be leaked. But also, how could you let Xie Yan run wild? It’s in the day, do you not know how many people are at the airport?”

Hearing this, Su Shen felt a little sorry. Both she and Xie Yan were in the wrong. There were indeed many people at the airport, and they didn’t know that they had been photographed either.

But before she could reply, the person on the other end of the call said, “But, you guys have to go public sooner or later. It’s not a solution to continue like this either.” 

Hearing the words from the other end of the call, Su Shen took a sip of the soymilk and said nothing. Meanwhile, Xue Zhixin was slurping the luosifen, making the whole room smell like pickled bamboo shoots. 

Su Shen knew what he meant, but for He Hua to suddenly say this, he must’ve had an idea, so she asked probingly, “What’s your plan then?”

“It’s nothing much.” After a pause, he continued, “This is my plan. You guys’ modern drama will air at the start of June and will end in the middle of the month. I’m thinking of having you guys go public on the Dragon Boat Festival. What do you think?”

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Playing Mahjong

Looking at her mom’s face full of suspicions, Su Shen blinked and plucked up the courage to say, “He… He’s my boyfriend.”

As soon as her words fell, Mama Su’s eyes opened wide, and she immediately looked toward the sofa. She could only see his side profile, but his appearance did not seem bad. As she was about to walk a bit forward, she walked a few steps back as she thought of something and angrily dragged Su Shen to the kitchen with a scowl. 

As soon as the kitchen door closed, she looked outside with a frown. “When did you suddenly get a boyfriend? You’re not lying to us, right?”

Isn’t it often seen on TV that the female lead would find someone to pretend as her boyfriend to deceive her parents?

Su Shen was shocked by her mom’s imagination, so she could only answer honestly, “His name is Xie Yan, and he’s also in the entertainment industry. But, he’s different from others. He doesn’t even film kiss scenes. He’s absolutely different from the people in the entertainment industry you thought of.”

Xie Yan?

The name sounded familiar to her. Frowning, Mama Su stared at her. She suddenly remembered that on Chinese New Year’s Eve, this Xie Yan had called Su Shen. So these two had kept it a secret until now!

“Hmph! He’s great just because you said so? You naive girls are the best to deceive!” Mama Su snorted. Knowing that she still had two dishes to make, she glanced at Su Shen again and said, “Get out quickly! I’ll go and take a look at your sudden boyfriend later!”

Seeing how angry her mom was, Su Shen was a little scared, so she slowly opened the kitchen door and walked out. When she walked towards the sofa with hot tea, she saw that her dad, Xie Yan, and several relatives were playing mahjong!

It seemed like they were playing big just by the lofty amount of cash on the table. Her uncle was frowning, and it seemed that he had lost a lot, while her dad was just smiling and couldn’t tell whether he lost or won.

Su Shen walked over and placed the tea cups on the stool beside everyone. She then pulled a stool and sat next to Xie Yan. Looking at his hand, he was one tile away from winning, but there already appeared two tiles of one dots*, and it wasn’t certain that there would be more in the wall*. 

dots – in Chinese or Japanese mahjong, the standard set of tiles for Mahjong has 36 Dots/Circle, 36 Bamboos, and 36 Characters, numbered from 1 – 9

wall – in Mahjong, the wall is the stack of tiles stacked in front of every player, usually in two rolls on top of each other, waiting to be drawn by each player to create a winning hand

“This tile can’t be thrown. If I throw it, you guys will win.” Her uncle deliberately showed everyone a glimpse of his tile and then proceeded to see if the other three’s expressions changed or not. 

It was a one of bamboos and hadn’t appeared on the table before. No wonder her uncle didn’t dare to throw it. However, the other three people’s expressions remained unchanged, and sat there without saying anything. Seeing this, her uncle pressed his luck and threw the tile out!

“Pong*!”

Pong – three identical tiles, if you have two of the same tiles and another player throws away the same tile onto the table, you can pong it, which helps you get closer to winning

Her brother-in-law immediately turned over two one of bamboos, and her uncle also breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that no one ron* him.

ron – the call when the winning tile is discarded by another player

However, when it was her brother-in-law’s turn to throw out a tile, he also hesitated for a bit before suddenly throwing out a one of dots. 

Just as Su Shen wanted to say something, she saw her dad turning over his hand suddenly. “Ron!”

According to the order, it should be Xie Yan who won, and her dad wouldn’t be able to. However, Su Shen didn’t say anything, and Xie Yan also just calmly mixed and shuffled his tiles with the other tiles on the table, as if nothing had happened. 

Her brother-in-law was just playing along to make her dad happy, giving him a large wad of cash without blinking an eye. 

In Su Shen’s opinion, Xie Yan’s acting was so good that he didn’t even blink an eye when he saw his winning tile. He threw away the game so naturally, poor him. 

“Do you want some tea?” asked Su Shen softly. 

This was an automatic mahjong table, so everyone was already taking their tile. Xie Yan turned his head to look at her and nodded slightly. Su Shen then immediately took the teacup on the side and fed it to his mouth. The tea shouldn’t be scalding hot by now. 

Seeing this scene, Lin Yuanjin drew his tile while smiling, “Shen Shen, when will you invite uncle to drink your wedding liquor?” 

Hearing this, Su Shen’s hand trembled and the tea almost spilled out. She placed the teacup down blushingly. Just as she was about to say something, her dad began his daily scolding ramble, “Look at her, she’s still a child and doesn’t understand anything. It’s hard for anyone to want her.” 

“Why wouldn’t anyone want me?” Su Shen couldn’t help retorting. 

Xie Yan smiled and looked at her tenderly, “There is someone.”

As their eyes met, Su Shen couldn’t help but blush and suddenly got up. She didn’t want to watch them playing at all. In the end, only her dad won from this kind of deceptive playing, and both Xie Yan and her brother-in-law were just giving money away.  

Far away from the mahjong table, Su Shen was sitting on the sofa and watching cartoons with the group of children. Her little nephew naughtily asked her to hold him again. 

It was finally dinner time after a long wait. The mahjong table was also dismissed, and the dinner table was full of people. After Su Shen sat down, Xie Yan sat next to her as expected. Facing the pairs of eyes looking at her, she felt restless and nervous. 

Finally, after her mom sat down at the table, she looked at Xie Yan with a smile and said, “You’re Xiao Xie, right? Auntie didn’t cook much today, please make do, ahaha.”

There were at least a dozen dishes on the table. But, Su Shen knew that her mom was also a smiling tiger. She looked polite on the surface, but no one would know what she was thinking.

“Auntie’s too courteous. If this is considered make do then I might’ve not made do before,” said Xie Yan politely. 

Hearing this, Mama Su waved her hand with a smile and said, “You’re too kind.”

For these sorts of dinners, drinking was inevitable. Su Shen didn’t drink, but for the men, they have to drink. However, as Xie Yan had to drive, he couldn’t drink. Her dad began to probe as soon as he drank. 

“Xiao Xie, what are your plans for the future with Shen Shen?” Papa Su took a sip of wine and said unhurriedly.

Sitting there, Su Shen felt as if she was sitting on pins and needles, so she just focused on eating. Frankly, she hadn’t even thought about any plans, just letting nature take its course. 

“Su Shen’s still in the midst of developing her career, so it depends on when she wants to get married. However, after marriage, I will transition to working behind the scenes and won’t take on many projects, so we won’t be separated for too long,” said Xie Yan earnestly.   

Hearing this, Papa Su nodded with satisfaction. Although he didn’t know if Xie Yan would continue to be so good to Su Shen in the future, this could still be observed for a while longer.

“As for marriage, this matter doesn’t need to be rushed. Su Shen’s still in the midst of developing her career right now. It’s good for you youngsters to get to know more about each other, in case you can’t bear some of this girl’s shortcomings,” said Papa Su with a smile.

Su Shen naturally knew that her dad was testing Xie Yan. Although her parents often told her to find a boyfriend, they would be very strict if she really found one. 

Xie Yan nodded slightly and said, “Uncle is right. These matters can be planned slowly.”

At this, Papa Su smiled and said nothing, continuing to drink. After eating a little, Su Shen held her little nephew to go play. 

She was actually somewhat moved. It was the first time that she had seen Xie Yan be so respectful and polite. Unlike before, when they first met, he seemed to not even bother to say an extra word. Now, he was not as aloof as before. 

After dinner, her dad, brother-in-law, and several others sat on the sofa and chatted. Meanwhile, Su Shen and her mom were washing the dishes in the kitchen. But this time, her mom was not so aggravated. 

“Xie Yan’s not bad. There was no artful talk, and he was polite and reasonable. Moreover, he treats you well. Unlike your brother-in-law, who is a shrewd businessman. If he hadn’t treated your sister so well, I wouldn’t have agreed to their marriage!” Mama Su said as she washed the dishes while frowning. 

Su Shen was washing the dishes, and when she heard that, she just smiled and said nothing. It was just that Xie Yan was good at acting. He was not so easygoing in private, else he would’ve been oppressed by He Hua over the years.

“As for marriage, he still needs to be observed for a while. Time reveals a person’s heart. Whether he will always be good to you or not depends on whether he will show his true colors in the future,” said Mama Su seriously. 

Hearing this, Su Shen nodded without saying anything. She just didn’t expect that her mom would let him off so easily. 

When she walked out of the kitchen, most of her relatives had already left. Her brother-in-law was talking to Xie Yan about something, with a smile of a businessman on his face. When Su Shen walked over, the two shook hands again. Then, her brother-in-law and her sister walked towards the front door. 

Su Shen didn’t know where her dad had gone to, so she came to Xie Yan’s side, and after looking around, she looked at him and whispered, “What did you talk about with my brother-in-law?” 

Seeing her, Xie Yan couldn’t help but put his arm around her shoulder, lowered his head, and said softly, “Did you miss me these past two days?”

Su Shen: “…….”

Blushing, she didn’t say anything. However, even without asking, Su Shen could guess what it was about. They were all part of the entertainment industry, so there were many opportunities for the two of them to work together. A businessman like her brother-in-law would definitely not miss a chance to collaborate. 

“Who missed you? You brought a present for my dad yet didn’t bring one for me. When my brother-in-law chased after my sister, he sent her breakfast every day and picked her up and off from work. I received nothing.” Su Shen frowned and suddenly felt that she was too easy to chase after. 

Hearing her words, Xie Yan almost laughed from anger. He caressed her head and said helplessly, “You’re the most heartless person I’ve ever seen. You really think I’m lacking money to act in an idol drama?”

Su Shen: “…….”

Thinking was one thing, but him saying it aloud was another. Su Shen subconsciously blushed and looked down before coughing, “I… I didn’t know you would do that.”

When she thought about it now, Xie Yan was actually quite crazy. In order to chase her, he specially went to act in an idol drama. At that time, many people in the industry were confused, with many concluding that he must’ve been lacking money.

“Cough cough!”

Hearing this, Su Shen trembled all over and immediately took two steps back. Her dad, wearing a pair of glasses, came over with a pot of tea in hand. When he saw the two of them, he walked over to the sofa and sat down with a smile. “It’s a good thing when youngsters are in love. Don’t feel embarrassed.”  

Facing her dad’s teasing eyes, Su Shen coughed and immediately said solemnly, “Dad, it’s late. I have to go back to set later, I’m gonna go first.”

At this, Papa Su nodded. “Go, go. Be careful on the road. Bring Xiao Xie back more often in the future.”

Su Shen nodded blushingly. She then immediately turned around and went back to her room to grab her purse. When she came out, her mom nagged her to eat more. Su Shen then left the mansion with Xie Yan. 

As soon as she walked out of the mansion, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She went through a rollercoaster of emotions for the latter half of the day, but fortunately, nothing happened.  

After getting in the car, Su Shen looked at Xie Yan and asked, “How’s the discussion with your next project?”

That Hollywood project had been repeated by He Hua endlessly. 

“Not bad,” said Xie Yan, turning the steering wheel and backing the car. 

As the car gradually drove away from the mansion, Su Shen leaned against the seat and rested exhaustedly. She couldn’t help but ask, “How much did you lose today?”

Speaking of this, Xie Yan couldn’t help but turn to glance at her. His handsome face had a hint of tenderness. “Are you worrying about my money?”

Previous | Index | Next

Meeting the Parents

No matter how many antis were still causing a ruckus, the viewership of the drama broke records on the first day. However, at the same time, Wang Cheng’s xianxia drama was also airing. Perhaps there was too much hype, the viewership of the xianxia drama starring Jiang Yin and her was even a little higher, but it still needed to be observed whether viewership would decrease later on. 

Netizen A: Those who said my Su Su’s acting was poor, please step out. The General Hospital Ophthalmology Clinic welcomes you. [smiley face]

Netizen B: AHAHAHA if there was no comparison, I wouldn’t even know. Zhu Qinqin’s acting instantly became scum.

Netizen C: Passerby turned fan. Director Li said that Su Shen was the best among the starlets. I finally believe it now. [joy]

Netizen D: Yang Zhi didn’t make any breakthrough with her performance in Immortal Road, still retaining her own style. However, Su Shen performed beyond expectations. In The Song of Troubled Times, she looked so villainous, yet her performance of a sweet, naive young girl was not cringy either. [joy]

Netizen E: I thought Director Li was flattering against his conscience before, but I just want to slap myself in the face now. Su Shen’s acting indeed tops the other starlets. [joy]

Netizen F: This b***h bought a water army to help her brainwash again. She said she had no connections, but why did He Hua recommend you among the many other artists under Huayan Entertainment?

Netizen G: The antis are slandering to the best of their abilities. If fans leave the fandom, I’ll surrender. [smiley face]

For the past two days, Su Shen had been continuously filming, and her matters were still in the middle of being handovered. She wasn’t clear about anything else, except that a few paparazzi lay in wait outside every day. On the other hand, it seemed that He Hua got addicted to fighting with netizens, or perhaps it was to hype the drama. He directly mentioned the netizen who said why he recommended Su Shen.

He Hua V: @Little Bug, Su Shen is an up-and-coming actress under our agency. If I don’t recommend her, do I recommend you? [smiley face]

Netizen A: AHAHAHA He dada’s* still so frank. [joy]

dada (大大) – this is an online honorific to address a respected person in a particular industry who has a status of “O’ Great One” or “Great God” 

Netizen B: Because my Yan ge’s not hardworking, He Hua finally found a hardworking person to share the resources in his hands. [smiley face]

Netizen C: Others are worried that their idol has no resources, while I’m worried about my Yan ge having too many resources to pick from. [joy]

Netizen D: Under Boss He, I wouldn’t be surprised if Su Shen became the leading actress of a big IP. [joy]

He Hua definitely knew how to hype and didn’t need to buy any headlines at all. Su Shen’s name trended on Hot Search every day. If there was no comparison, there would not be any hurt. With the addition of Zhu Qinqin’s poor acting, the discussion of this drama became more and more intense. Those netizens kept boasting about how good her acting was, but Su Shen felt that they were thinking too highly of her. There were many actresses with great acting, it was just that they were not famous.  

On the 25th, Su Shen took an early flight back to Shanghai, but because of how high her fame was recently, there were paparazzi following her nonstop. She got out of the car and entered a store. She then exited from its backdoor and quickly got into another car. 

After finally getting rid of the paparazzi, she immediately rushed home. As it was not a milestone birthday, it was not a big party. However, Su Shen bought a car for her dad, which cost her about 20 million, but it would be delivered in the afternoon.  

As soon as she stepped into the house, she saw a little figure running back and forth inside. When he saw her, he immediately ran over with his short legs. “Auntie!” 

Su Shen held her little nephew in her arms and walked inside with a smile. “Xi Xi gained some weight again. Did Mama feed you a lot of yummy food?”

In the living room sat some of their relatives, all of whom they were pretty close with. Su Shen greeted them one after another with a smile. 

“Nope. Mama doesn’t even allow me to eat chocolate. I don’t like her at all!” The child wrapped his arms around her neck tightly, pouting with unhappiness. 

Just at this moment, Su Ruan, who was sitting on the sofa, immediately got up and walked to her. In less than two steps, she arrived in front of her and lightly slapped the child’s bum twice. “If you don’t get down now, you won’t have any jelly today!” 

The child seemed to be afraid of her and pursed his lips, hugging Su Shen’s neck aggrievedly, as if he was about to cry.

“Xi Xi, be a good boy. If you eat too many sweets, you’ll have cavities. Next time, auntie will make you meatloaf, okay?” Su Shen caressed the child’s face, and her heart softened seeing his aggrieved look. 

Seeing this, Su Ruan couldn’t help chuckling, “If you like children so much, have one soon.”

At this, Su Shen couldn’t help but blush. Just at this moment, the relatives sitting on the sofa also echoed, “Su Shen’s so famous lately. Our Xiao Xin loves watching your drama the most.”

“Yep, yep, yep. I’ve been chasing after that drama on South Hunan TV. Su Shen, did you end up with the male lead in the end?”

Looking at her three paternal and eight maternal aunties discussing, Su Shen just kept silent with a smile on her face. Although her dad had a company, it was not listed. Her family could only be considered a well-off one and couldn’t be compared to those wealthy large families. These relatives of hers weren’t super rich, but they wouldn’t be like those relatives on TV.

“It’s more angsty later. If I tell you the ending, it won’t be interesting.” Su Shen put down Xi Xi with a smile. 

Her words equated to not saying anything at all. Her relatives asked her about the drama one after another, and some matters in the entertainment industry. Everyone was curious about the entertainment industry. Su Shen even signed some autographs for the children of several of her relatives. They said they were going to give it to their classmates. 

Ultimately, she had no choice but to hide in her room. Not long after, Su Ruan came in and closed the door mysteriously as if she was afraid of someone eavesdropping. 

“Didn’t you say that Xie Yan is coming over today? Why didn’t you tell mom? Or, do you want to give them an unexpected surprise?” Su Ruan walked to the window with a grin while she looked at the entertainment news on her phone. “I heard that your endorsement fee is as high as five million now. How much is Huayan giving you?”

It wasn’t anything to hide from, so Su Shen straightforwardly said with a smile, “They’re giving me 70% of it. Although my endorsement fee right now is five million, He Hua is still taking over from Liu jie, so he didn’t accept many endorsements for me because it would be a loss to accept right now. He said that after the drama finished airing, my fame will increase, and my endorsement fee will be higher then.”

At that, Su Ruan couldn’t help laughing, “That’s a really good plan.”

Su Shen definitely didn’t need to worry about resources and opportunities being under He Hua. Su Ruan was just worried that in order to generate revenue, He Hua would accept engagements for her like crazy. 

“Oh right, uh… I’m going to tell dad about Xie Yan right now and then, let him tell mom. Will this be a bit better?” Su Shen looked at Su Ruan somewhat uneasily. 

The latter pondered for a bit, and before she could say anything, a notification suddenly sounded in the room. Su Shen was taken aback, and when she looked at her phone, she found that it was a message from Xie Yan. He said that he had arrived!

Su Shen’s heart began to beat faster inexplicably. She came to the window nervously and found that two cars slowly stopped in the parking lot at the front, among which was Xie Yan’s car!

“What’s wrong? He’s here?” Noticing her change in emotion, Su Ruan also looked out the window. 

It was her first time bringing someone to meet her parents. Su Shen felt inexplicably nervous and ashamed. She was a little scared that her parents would object. In any case, she still hoped to receive the blessing from her family. 

Taking a deep breath, she pretended to be calm and went downstairs. There was a cartoon that children liked watching playing downstairs, and her relatives were also still chatting about skincare and beauty.

Her dad was still sitting on the sofa and chatting with a relative about current hot topics. Su Shen directly walked out of the front door which attracted the attention of the people behind her. 

As soon as she stepped out of the mansion, Su Shen saw Xie Yan getting out of the car. He paid special attention to his clothes today, wearing black trousers and a white shirt paired with a relaxed blazer. He had even styled his hair. Next to him, there was a brand new Aston Martin. She had also wanted to give that car to her dad, but it was too expensive. This kind of limited edition would at least cost 40 million RMB.

“You… why are you so fast…” Su Shen looked left and right before walking up to the car and touching it. “What are you doing…”

“I don’t know what your father likes.”

Su Shen: “…….”

Her dad liked cars the most. How could he not like it?

“I also bought a car for my dad. How am I going to present my car with this!” Leaning against the car, Su Shen snorted. “Moreover, you’ve never given me a present.”

Seeing her pouting red lips, Xie Yan couldn’t help but walk up to her and wrap his arms around her waist. Not seeing her after a few days, he kissed her on the lips. His eyes darkened. “I’m already all yours. You still want a present?”

This was the entrance of her house. Su Shen couldn’t help but punch him on the shoulder with denunciation, blushingly. 

“Shen Shen, who is it?”

Immediately, Su Shen stood up straight with sweat all over her forehead and saw her dad coming out of the door with the newspaper in his hand. 

After seeing Xie Yan, Papa Su couldn’t help but look at him up and down, feeling that he looked familiar. “Is this your friend?”

Sweat broke out on Su Shen’s back. This was the first time in her life that she had been so nervous.

“Hello, Uncle. I’m Xie Yan.” Xie Yan smiled and nodded at Papa Su.

As soon as he spoke, Papa Su suddenly remembered this name, and immediately looked at Xie Yan with realization. “Yes, yes, look at my memory. This brat truly… Why didn’t you invite a guest in for a cup of tea?”

Seeing the enthusiasm on her dad’s face, Su Shen swallowed her throat and pretended to be calm as she looked at Xie Yan beside her before saying softly, “Dad, I… I’m dating Xie Yan.”

Hearing this, Papa Su was stunned. Although he was shocked, he was still a businessman and had a good impression of Xie Yan, so he quickly reacted and glared at Su Shen with some blame. “Why did you just say it now? So preposterous!” 

Her dad was a smiling tiger*, so Su Shen wasn’t sure what he was thinking. At this moment, she could only lower her head apologetically, “I… I was busy.”

smiling tiger – an outwardly kind but inwardly evil person; to hide a dagger with a smile

“Busy, busy, busy! You’re busy every day, busier than even your sister!” Papa Su looked at her unhappily. 

Seeing this, Xie Yan immediately said, “It’s my fault, only coming to see you and auntie now. I hope you guys don’t mind.”

Hearing this, Papa Su naturally waved his hand amicably. “No, no, that’s alright. It’s obvious that this girl was thoughtless. You guys are usually so busy. It must’ve not been easy for you to have the time to come here to celebrate my birthday today.”

Su Shen: “…….”

Xie Yan was busy. Then, was she just idling her days away?

“Dad, this is Xie Yan’s birthday present for you. I also bought you a car, but it won’t be delivered until this afternoon.” Su Shen immediately walked up to the car and touched its roof.

If she didn’t mention it, Papa Su wouldn’t have noticed the Aston Martin. At a glance, he saw that it was the one that he hadn’t been willing to take the splurge on!

“No, no. It’s too expensive, and it’s not even a milestone birthday, no need for a present.” Papa Su quickly waved his hands, appearing solemn. He knew the price of the car before him. 

Just as Su Shen was about to say something, Xie Yan gave the key to her. His handsome face appeared courteous. “Then, think of it as a present from Su Shen. I didn’t know what you liked, and I didn’t think of those things.” 

At that, Su Shen immediately placed the key into her dad’s hand. “You’re in luck. Xie Yan hasn’t even given me a present before.”

Hearing this, Papa Su couldn’t help but knock on her head and said angrily, “Look at you, not a bit civil.”

In the end, he accepted the key and looked at Xie Yan more amicably. After so many years of doing business, he was somewhat accurate in judging people. Although he had heard that the entertainment industry was messy, this Xie Yan seemed to be very attentive to his daughter. There was not a trace of deception in his eyes. 

When they entered, the people inside saw that there was a new guest and couldn’t help but look this way. Several children who chased after stars naturally recognized Xie Yan at a glance and couldn’t believe it, covering their mouths.

Papa Su had been chatting with Xie Yan happily from beginning to end. After entering the mansion, he looked at Su Shen unhappily. “Go and make tea quickly.”

The latter frowned, glanced at Xie Yan, and then went to make tea. Meanwhile, she saw Xie Yan and her dad sitting on the sofa and chatting with her uncles. 

“Is that your friend?” Just at this moment, Mama Su just so happened to come out of the kitchen.

Su Shen was taken aback, with hot tea in her hand. Seeing that her mom just served a dish, she hesitated before taking a glance at Xie Yan, only to find that the group of people seemed to be chatting happily. The children were also sitting quietly aside watching TV, but most of them were looking at Xie Yan. 

“I…” Su Shen suddenly felt a little embarrassed. 

“What’s the matter?” Mama Su turned around and wiped her hands with her apron before taking a serious look at the person on the sofa. “Why did you suddenly bring your friend home today?”

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Agency-Hopping

Xie Yan looked at his watch and then came to Su Shen’s side before whispering, “I’m leaving.”

Hearing that he was leaving, Su Shen naturally breathed a sigh of relief. The man swept a glance around the set before landing his gaze on Zheng Tong for a moment. He then lowered his cap and said, “I’m going to Europe. He Hua will help you with the contract. Remember to tell me if there’s anything.”

Su Shen nodded. She didn’t know if there were any paparazzi nearby, but she still stepped forward to hold his hand and said tenderly, “I’m just acting, don’t think too much about it.”

Seeing that she was so earnest in explaining, Xie Yan chuckled before caressing her face. “I will remember how many times you kissed him.”

Su Shen: “…….”

Without waiting for her to speak, Xie Yan lowered his cap and walked out of the film set. Su Shen stood there and stared at him for a while until the director called for positioning, only then did she run back to the alley. 

She also didn’t want to reshoot the scene again, so she prepared herself for a long time this time. Fortunately, everything went well this time, and the director didn’t have them reshoot it. 

Xie Yan most likely went to Europe to discuss the script, but because of her matter, He Hua didn’t go with him. At night, He Hua informed her to go to Starlight Entertainment to terminate her contract tomorrow. 

Su Shen had no choice but to ask for half a day’s leave from the production crew at a moment’s notice. She then flew to Shanghai early the next morning. He Hua had already been waiting for her at the company headquarters. This was the third time that Su Shen came to the headquarters. The receptionist was stunned when she saw her, but she didn’t block her. 

Starlight Entertainment had a lot of newcomers and would sign many fresh new bloods every year. Su Shen was also one of them. After signing the contract, they would need to work on their physique and get a feel of the camera but these people practically didn’t have any resources. The company would let them have a chance at best in the dramas produced by them. Unless there was a stroke of luck, such as meeting an eminence willing to promote them, they would have to find a sponsor. Thus, the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry were wide. After all, the resources and opportunities were in the hands of a very small number of famous people, but those unknowns occupied more than half of the entertainment industry.  

If it weren’t for her sister, Su Shen might have had no choice but to be an extra in dramas. In fact, the only real opportunity that Starlight ever gave her was that crime drama with Li Hao. 

Along the way to the 5th floor, people greeted her from time to time, and Su Shen responded back to each of them. When she first got signed on, no one paid attention to her at all. But, society was realistic, and the rules were like this.

When they reached the CEO’s office, they knocked twice before the person inside said “enter”, only then did they push the door open and walk in.

In the big and tidy office, there were several different voices talking. There were four people sitting on the leather sofa, and several documents were on the glass coffee table. As per usual, He Hua leaned against the sofa and spoke with the middle-aged man in a black suit across from him. A slightly younger man beside him was reading over the documents. It seemed that he was a lawyer.

“Good morning, Qin zong,” said Su Shen as she walked up to the middle-aged man to greet him.  

At that, Qin zong looked at her with a smile. “Although it’s up to this point, I still want to detain you. We have found a solution to this matter. Additionally, as long as you stay, our company will give you a seaside villa and give you priority in resources and opportunities. What do you think?”

She was at about the peak of her fame right now, which was the most profitable time. Naturally, Starlight didn’t want her to leave at this critical moment, but she would definitely not look back with how things were at this stage. 

After sitting down next to He Hua, Su Shen glanced at Liu jie across from her and said to Qin zong, “I know that the company has been good to me, but you all also know that I’m dating Xie Yan. If our teams merge, it will be much more convenient.”

Seeing that she brought up Xie Yan as an excuse, Qin zong lowered his head slightly and said nothing. He Hua, on the other hand, suddenly said with laughter, “That’s right. She will leave sooner or later. Anyway, it’s just a matter of time.”

“There are no problems.” Just at this moment, the lawyer finished reading the contract and pushed it on the table.

Seeing this, He Hua didn’t say anything more. He looked at Su Shen and pointed at the contract on the table. “Sign it.”

The stamp of Starlight Entertainment’s legal team had already been stamped on it. Without hesitation, Su Shen picked up the pen on the table and signed her name on the two copies of the contract. 

At this point, Qin zong naturally wouldn’t put on a show to offend He Hua. Instead, he looked at Su Shen with a smile. “Although it’s a pity, you were still a part of our company. If there’s any good production from our company in the future, perhaps we can cooperate again.”

They were all civilities, and He Hua was the best at it. He immediately laughed and said, “That’s for sure. There will be a lot of opportunities to work together with the old boss in the future.”

At that, Su Shen just smiled and kept silent. Not long after, she walked out of the office with He Hua. Liu jie didn’t say a word to her throughout. Su Shen glanced at her meaningfully and then left. 

Xiao Zhou was an assistant assigned to her by the company and had a contract with Starlight Entertainment. However, Su Shen was used to working with her, so she brought her over. The salary of an assistant was low, with many averaging three or four thousand a month in the industry. Although they worked themselves to death, six thousand a month was already considered high. Su Shen gave her 10,000 a month, so Xiao Zhou naturally followed after her. 

After leaving Starlight Entertainment’s headquarters and getting in the car, He Hua sent her to the airport to rush back to Jiang City to film. In passing, he threw her a contract. “Have a look.”

Sitting in the passenger seat, Su Shen took over the contract and looked through it. It looked about the same as what He Hua had said last time. 

“This is a family compensation of three to seven. The newcomers at our agency are usually fifty-fifty. Anyways, I’m not good at managing a starlet like you, so I’ll find a new manager for you after a while. But during this period, I’ll take over your affairs for now. The drama starring you and Jiang Yin will air on the 23rd. I’ll release a clarification statement the day after tomorrow stating that you have already changed agencies. You just need to continue to film at ease these two days.” 

After hearing what he said, Su Shen closed the contract and decided to read it carefully after going home. “If you’re busy, you can go check in on Xie Yan first.”

That Hollywood script for Xie Yan was more important than her matter. 

“I also want to go check in on him, but do you think he will rest assured if you’re alone?” He Hua turned to glance at her and said helplessly, “I have so many scripts, but he doesn’t want to accept any. Have you ever seen such a person?”

Hearing this, Su Shen wanted to laugh. This was probably what it meant for something to always conquer another. He Hua would probably follow up by saying that there was no way to deal with a stubborn man like Xie Yan. 

“Filming is very hard. It’s good for him to have a rest.” She said insipidly. 

Looking at these two, He Hua was at a loss for words. Everyone else was scrambling for good opportunities and resources, yet one of them was lazy to the point of not wanting to film and another insisted on playing a supporting role rather than being the leading actress. No wonder they were a couple. 

It was exactly 1:00 pm when she returned to set. With no time to eat anything, Su Shen quickly went to get her makeup done and prepare to film. At night, her sister called, but she didn’t say much about her termination with Starlight Entertainment and just told her to decide by herself. 

The day before the drama aired, Huayan Entertainment finally released a statement, declaring that she had terminated her contract with Starlight Entertainment a while ago and that the rumors online were not true. 

He Hua also reshared the post and even spoke out for her. 

He Hua V: It was I who recommended Su Shen to Director Li, but she passed the audition with her own strength. As for the rumors online, we will take legal measures against them. Those who attack and slander artists of Huayan Entertainment will not be let go. [smiley face]

Netizen A: No wonder her resources were so good, it turns out that Su Shen had switched agencies. [joy]

Netizen B: This clarification clears up everything. I’m convinced by He Hua’s capability. After all, he’s one of the top three agents in the entertainment industry, which was not something to be said so casually. [joy]

Netizen C: This is the epitome of being an ungrateful wretch. Starlight paved so many paths for her. Now that she meets a better agency, she immediately throws herself into their arms. I pity Starlight. 

Netizen D: Do the antis have nothing to say now? Have y’all never heard of a fine bird choosing a tree to nest in? If y’all find a job at a company with a higher salary, y’all would rather stay at a company with a low salary and poor working conditions?

Netizen E: Didn’t the antis say that my Su Su had XXX in exchange for resources? Does your face hurt right now? [smiley face]

Netizen F: Am I the only one focused on the fact that Xie Yan and Su Shen have the same manager? [job]

Netizen G: Poor Su Shen, being splashed by dirty water for so long; how stressful it must’ve been. [heart]

Netizen H: Let’s call it a day. Miss Su has a drama airing tomorrow. It’s all just a publicity stunt. 

The effect of the clarification was not that obvious right now. He Hua said that he would have the water army continue to explain, which not only attracted more attention but also could gradually improve her image with the public.

The drama was to air tomorrow, so the more hype, the better. Not long after, He Hua directly mentioned the netizen who said she was hyping and that it was all just a publicity stunt. 

He Hua V: @Lemon Juice, we aren’t some big company, but we can still afford a few million in advertising. How dark is the heart of those who think to use this to hype? [smiley face]

It didn’t take long for the headline of He Hua arguing with a netizen to be on Hot Search, but most of the netizens were on He Hua’s side. Everyone knew that no one would use this kind of matter to hype, so only a very small number of antis continued to make a ruckus. 

The night before the drama aired, He Hua had her release a clarification statement. The drier the better. After contemplating for half a day, Su Shen finally made a post.

Su Shen V: Purely slander. Thank you. [smiley face]

Previous | Index | Next

Caught In The Act

Su Shen paused in her steps and looked at the person on the sofa in confusion. “Nope. What’s wrong?”

At that, Xie Yan said nothing when a voice suddenly sounded from the laptop, “I’ve known Su Shen for a long time. She’s very earnest and dedicated to her work.”

Zheng Tong’s voice was still being played. Su Shen felt a little helpless. She definitely spoke no more than five sentences with Zheng Tong in private.

“That’s because he was nice to speak out for me. We’re really not familiar with each other.” She explained. 

Xie Yan continued to watch the video and said in passing as he heard that, “I understand. He is nice.”

Su Shen: “…….”

Ignoring him, Su Shen went straight to the bedroom to grab some clothes and take a shower. Xie Yan had to go abroad to shoot next month so he’d just been at home during this period. He didn’t need to attend any engagements either. Su Shen was really afraid that he would just stay by her side. The reporters were fixed on her now, so it was easy to be photographed. If this were to follow, she would definitely be attacked. 

After taking a shower, Xie Yan was still sitting on the sofa reading a script when she came out. Perhaps it was the script of his next work. After drying her hair, Su Shen walked over to pour herself a glass of water and then came to the sofa before sitting down. “It’s my dad’s birthday on the 25th. Are you free that day?”

As soon as her words fell, Xie Yan paused whatever he was doing. He shifted his gaze and landed on her bare face before arching a brow. “You want to take me home?”

Feeling a little embarrassed by his gaze, Su Shen placed her glass down and turned away from him. “I… I just said it casually, and you don’t necessarily have to.”

She was wearing light yellow pajamas, revealing her slender and fair legs. Her neck and ears were slightly red, and her two hands held the throw pillow tightly. After putting down the laptop, Xie Yan leaned over to hold her waist, directly pressing her down onto the sofa.  

“Of course, I will go to my father-in-law’s birthday.” He buried his head in her neck and lightly kissed it. 

Blushing, Su Shen patted his head which was rubbing against her, and said, “Who’s your father-in-law? Shameless.” 

Why didn’t she notice that Xie Yan is like this before? Or do men let themselves go after tasting it?

“Xie Yan.” She suddenly looked at the person in front of her strangely. 

The latter looked up, and his big hand had already slipped into her pajamas, but he still appeared proper. “En?”

As she stopped his restless hand, Su Shen glared at him and said, “Did… you like me from a long time ago?”

She didn’t dare to think about it before. But now, she realized that Xie Yan had treated her differently from way before. But why did he like her, a newcomer?

Facing her curious gaze, Xie Yan arched a brow before asking in a mellow voice, “What do you think?”

Su Shen: “…….”

“I… mhm…” She widened her eyes and placed her hands tenderly on his shoulders, being forced to bear his intense attack.  

Enveloping her soft lips, he sucked them gently as his hand slipped into her pajamas, wandering freely on her smooth skin.

“Xie Yan…” Su Shen looked up and gasped for air while grabbing his short hair, seemingly wanting to say something. 

The air surrounding them instantly became full of enamor. Burying his head in her neck, Xie Yan nibbled it and said muffledly, “I know you know everything.”

His hoarse voice sounded in her ears, and Su Shen’s heart began to beat crazily. Her neck was itchy, and she couldn’t help but blush and push at his shoulder. “I can’t today… I… I… I really can’t…”

His hand was already at the clasp of her bra, but he suddenly stopped before looking up and frowning. 

Seeing the perplexed expression on his face, Su Shen’s face was as red as a tomato. Although she knew that it would make him feel uncomfortable to stop, she had no choice. She really couldn’t today, so she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before saying softly, “I… I really can’t. You can sleep on the sofa today?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t allow Xie Yan to sleep on the bed, but he would only feel more uncomfortable this way. 

Frowning, he took a deep breath while buried in her neck and said hoarsely, “You must make it up to me next time then.”

Su Shen: “……..”

How could she make it up to him? It was usually him who had the say.

Blushing, she nodded slightly. Seeing this, Xie Yan kissed her on the lips again before he got off the sofa and walked towards the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of water from the bathroom, Su Shen immediately ran to the bed and lay down blushingly. She was actually a little relieved that she couldn’t do it today. Else, if Xie Yan had still remembered what she said last time, she wouldn’t be able to film tomorrow for sure. 

Not long after, the other side of the bed sank, and a fiery hot hand appeared on her waist. Su Shen turned around, only to see Xie Yan caress her hair and said hoarsely, “Stop moving around and sleep.”

Seeing him close his eyes, Su Shen also followed after and fell asleep slowly in his arms. 

It was still drizzling nonstop outside. It was not until the morning rays of the next day dispersed the moody clouds. Su Shen got up at 7:00 am since she had to get styled before filming began. However, seeing that Xie Yan was still sleeping, she carefully went to wash up so as not to wake him up.  

When she went out, the driver was already waiting for her downstairs. Xiao Zhou bought breakfast and waited for her downstairs. She felt a little guilty when she saw her coming down. 

Taking over the cup of soymilk, Su Shen said nothing. When the car started to move, Xiao Zhou plucked up the courage to show her sleeve and said excitedly, “Su jie, look, this is my idol’s autograph!”

Glancing from the corner of her eye, Su Shen noticed that there was indeed Xie Yan’s autograph on her sleeve. She didn’t really understand the feelings of fans. Xiao Zhou followed her every day on set and had seen so many celebrities, so she should know that these people were no different from ordinary people. But, why was she still so crazy about Xie Yan?

“You gave him the key just because of an autograph?” said Su Shen, looking at her somewhat mellowly. 

Hearing this, Xiao Zhou immediately waved her hands and said, “No, no. I wanted to call and tell you, but your phone was off.”

Su Shen: “……..”

Okay, her phone did die yesterday.

Arriving on set, everyone was busy setting up the scenery. Seeing that the director was there eating breakfast, Su Shen walked over and asked for a day’s leave from him. After all, she had to go back to celebrate her dad’s birthday on the 25th. Moreover, she was in the midst of terminating her contract, so she couldn’t ask Liu jie to help her ask and could only rely on herself. 

The director was quite easy to talk to and just asked her to come back a bit early to film the night scenes. Naturally, Su Shen nodded in agreement. 

When she arrived at the dressing room, she let the stylist do her hair. She didn’t know what He Hua did, but all those gossip accounts that had exposed her of relying on backhanded methods to get roles had deleted their posts from Weibo. However, the discussion online still varied. He Hua said that he would announce that she had left Starlight Entertainment a day before the drama starring Jiang Yin and her aired. This way, it would wash away all the suspicions about her and promote the drama simultaneously. He doesn’t let any chance of fervor slip from his hands. 

The scenes for today’s filming were for the beginning of the film, and it seemed that the kiss on the cheek scene was part of it. Filming was supposed to start at 9:30 am, but because Ding Yan arrived late, work was delayed until 10:00 am.  

In an alley, Su Shen and Zheng Tong were standing there, and when all departments were ready, the director yelled “action”. 

When the cameras were aimed straight at the two of them from the nine o’clock position, Su Shen held a fan in her hand, and the fan slowly slid from Zheng Tong’s forehead to his jaw. She smiled, “Why did this gentleman drag this lady here in such a hurry?”

There were people searching outside. Zheng Tong turned around to look at the entrance of the alley from time to time, having no time to pay attention to her. 

Su Shen parted her red lips slightly and slowly leaned in and said flirtatiously, “Pulling me here and not saying anything. You men are all the same.”

“Quick, go look over there!”

Just at this moment, several patrolmen suddenly passed the entrance of the alley with guns in their hands. Zheng Tong immediately turned around, wrapped his arms around her waist, and turned his back toward the entrance. 

Su Shen blinked and suddenly looked up and softly pecked his right cheek with a smile. Facing the shocked look in his eyes, she giggled and said, “I can see that this gentleman is a novice at first sight. No worries, I’ll teach you.”

Her jade-like finger was already touching his chest and slowly wandering down….

“CUT!”

As soon as the director shouted, Zheng Tong immediately released his hold on her waist. Su Shen embarrassedly nodded slightly and walked out of the alley. There were many staff members coming and going outside. The director was sitting in front of the monitor, and a familiar figure stood beside him.  

Su Shen’s heart skipped a beat. The other party also seemed to have noticed her gaze and looked in her direction. As their eyes met, Su Shen inexplicably felt guilty. She didn’t expect that he would come here openly. She immediately felt ill at ease, but she still braced herself to walk over. 

Seeing her coming, the director said slowly, Su Shen, your eyes aren’t seductive enough. We need to reshoot the scene later.”

After saying that and seeing that Su Shen said nothing, the director looked at Xie Yan behind him with a smile, “A kiss is fine, right?”

With a black cap covering most of his face, Xie Yan glanced at the monitor which was playing the playback upon hearing that and said indifferently, “Too much, and it’ll be a problem.”

Hearing this, Su Shen immediately blushed. Facing the teasing expressions from the surrounding staff, she wished she could dig a hole into the ground. 

“If you continue to watch here, Su Shen certainly won’t be able to do it in one shot.” The director smiled meaningfully at Xie Yan. 

It was just acting. Su Shen immediately coughed and said to the director seriously, “Let’s do it again. I’ll pay attention to my expression.” 

There were still traces of rain on the bluestone from last night. The warm sunlight shone all over the ground. She was wearing a red qipao, outlining her glamorous figure vividly. Looking at her, Xie Yan frowned and said nothing. 

It was the director, however, who couldn’t help but look at the person beside him, “Are you sure you want to continue to watch?”

Previous | Index | Next

Clarification

At that, Director Li’s expression immediately became somber. He didn’t even look at Su Shen and said to the male reporter who asked the question, “I don’t know why there is such a rumor. In my films, actors and actresses are chosen based on whether they fit the character or not. Every role in the film is chosen by me, and no one can intervene. At first, I felt that Su Shen’s image was more suitable for the female lead, and I even wanted her to try auditioning for it, but it was she who wanted to audition for the supporting female lead.”

At this, Ding Yan’s smile became a little forced. Isn’t the director saying that she was picking up a role that others didn’t want?!

“At first, I didn’t think highly of it, but I still let her audition for it. However, her performance was beyond my expectations. Among all of those who had auditioned for this role, no one suited the role more than her. Moreover, she especially learned to smoke for this role. In the beginning, someone joked with me that her acting was very poor, and I was shocked. Although she was not as good as those experienced actors, I haven’t met a newcomer at her age as expressive as her.”

The director’s high praise startled Su Shen. If this was in the palace, it would be a flattering remark containing a double-edged sword. However, with Director Li’s status, what he just said was a thorn in the flesh, and if he said anything wrong, it would also be a slap to his face. 

Therefore, those reporters were exhilarated. No matter whether Su Shen’s acting was good or not, it would be a headline with what Director Li just said. 

“Yep, Su Shen’s usually very hardworking. If she doesn’t understand anything, she would come to find me or Zheng Tong. I think she’s a very earnest and dedicated girl.” Ding Yan added. 

If this was to be dissected very closely, it meant that she flattered those on top and stepped those on the bottom. There were so many people in the crew, yet she chose to ask the two leads. The antis would definitely libel her for wanting to stick to Zheng Tong. 

Just when Su Shen was about to say something, Zheng Tong looked at the camera and said unhurriedly, “I’ve known Su Shen for a long time. She’s really a person who’s just absorbed into her work. Due to an NG, she often has to smoke a lot for a scene. In the end, she would be there coughing.” 

At that, Su Shen couldn’t help but glance at Zheng Tong. They weren’t really familiar with each other, yet he was willing to speak for her. 

Even Ding Yan couldn’t help glancing at Zheng Tong. She couldn’t see that they had known each other for a long time. However, this Su Shen’s really formidable, to actually have so many people speaking out for her. 

Zheng Tong was not a person who liked to get involved in other things in the entertainment industry. Now, he was actually willing to speak for Su Shen. Those reporters seemed to have found another thing to write about.

“Then Su Shen, what do you think about the news that you chased after Xie Yan online?” A female reporter extended her mic toward her. 

Facing so many cameras, Su Shen’s expression remained the same, and replied calmly, “We’re really good friends. It’s absolutely not true.”

“Yes, I remember that Xie Yan’s girlfriend was introduced by Su Shen,” the director interjected with a smile. 

Ding Yan tried her best to keep a smile on her face. If she weren’t facing so many cameras, she would’ve rolled her eyes. 

Su Shen also laughed and said nothing. Yes, she introduced herself.

Perhaps those reporters felt that they had enough news to write about, so they began to ask about the film. After half an hour was up and the interview was over, those reporters took some photos of the set and then left. 

After they left, Su Shen couldn’t help but thanked the director. 

The director sat in front of the monitor and looked at her with a smile. “Just treat me to a wedding toast when you and Xie Yan get married.” 

Su Shen couldn’t help blushing and then found an excuse to leave. 

Filming continued until 10:00 pm. The video of the interview from the day was posted online by those media outlets. Not long after, she shot through to No. 1 on Hot Search. 

Netizen A: Those who said that my Su Su relies on connections, does your face hurt? Does your idol who relies on connections choose not to play as the female lead but as the supporting female lead?

Netizen B: For those who don’t know Su Shen’s acting, go and watch The Song of Troubled Times. Her acting isn’t bad. I feel that with Director Li’s status, he isn’t one to lie. Maybe Su Shen did get the role through her own effort.

Netizen C: Thank you for your clarification, Director Li. Your praise is too high. My Su Su has always wanted to be a great actress. Soon, those antis will come to slander her again. But who told my Su Su to get a slice of such a good cake? Of course, some people will be jealous of her. [smiley face]

Netizen D: I think Su Shen’s acting is not bad but isn’t it a little too much to say that she’s the best of the new generation?

Netizen E: introduced a girlfriend to Xie Yan [sob] why didn’t you just let him be single!

Netizen F: My Crab Cake CP sunk again [smiling with tears]

Netizen G: The biggest mystery in the entertainment industry. So, who on earth is Xie Yan’s girlfriend? [sob]

Netizen H: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Miss Su’s really amazing. All of a sudden, she’s the best among the starlets and to even have Director Li help her boast. How formidable is her background? To even audition for the female lead role. With all due respect, if she doesn’t have connections, how could Miss Su audition for the female lead with her fame?

The comments online were all mixed, and the antis still didn’t stop. She had to rely on terminating her contract with Starlight and having He Hua announce that she had changed to Huayan, only in this way could they perfectly explain why she had such good opportunities. 

It began to drizzle again at night. Sitting in the car and looking at the rain outside the window, Su Shen was somewhat lost in thought. After the car stopped, she put on her cap and walked to the hotel. 

Just at this moment, her phone suddenly rang. It was from He Hua. Su Shen pressed the elevator button before answering the call. 

“I spoke with Starlight’s Qin zong today, and the termination fee is a given. But they agreed not to make it a big deal and just settle it in private. Ten million. I’ll deduct it from Xie Yan’s dividends.”

Hearing the words from the other end of the line, the elevator just so happened to open. Frowning, Su Shen walked in and said, “You didn’t say that at the beginning. You said that the termination fee will be paid by the company. The company’s not Xie Yan’s. You and the others also hold shares. Why is it that Xie Yan’s paying it all now?”

At that, the person on the other end went silent and obviously didn’t expect that she would grasp this hole to help Xie Yan save money.

“Well… Xie Yan was willing to pay for it for you. What can I do?” He Hua said helplessly. 

Hearing this, Su Shen immediately said, “No can do. Even if he wants to, I won’t agree. Anyway, he can’t pay for it. The company has to. I’ll call him later.” 

Ten million was also money, and Xie Yan didn’t appear to be such a fool. It was obvious that He Hua was behind it. This person was such a leech and thief!

“Okay, okay. The company will pay for it. Xie Yan’s done for. When he marries you in the future, he definitely won’t have a secret stash of money left.” He Hua sighed helplessly.  

Su Shen snorted, “That’s our business. Public matters are public. Private matters are private. I’m signing with Huayan, not just to Xie Yan alone.”

He Hua must’ve thought that it was easy to fool her since she was young. She had to read the contracts carefully in the future. 

“Fine, fine, fine. I’ll take you to sign the termination contract once it’s done, and it should be within these two days. Don’t make any statements right now. I’ll have our legal team send a warning to those gossip accounts. As for those who are slandering you, we’ll talk about it after this wind blows,” said He Hua seriously.  

At that, Su Shen didn’t say anything more and quickly hung up the phone. 

Although He Hua was shrewd and liked to entrap people, there was nothing to say about his capability. This kind of old fox indeed had a wide range of connections, but it happened that he met a person like Xie Yan who would not budge no matter what he said. As they say, there was always one thing to conquer another. 

When the elevator reached the tenth floor, Su Shen took out the room card from her pocket and opened the door. But as soon as she opened the door, the light was on inside. 

Clenching her phone vigilantly, Su Shen pressed against the door and swept a glance around the room, only to find the sound of water from the bathroom, as if someone was taking a shower.  

Su Shen took a few steps back and double-checked the room number, confirming that she didn’t go to the wrong room. Clenching her phone, she walked a few steps into the room vigilantly and yelled toward the bathroom from far away, “Who are you?!”

As her words fell, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Su Shen took two steps back on guard and neared the wall. She couldn’t help but shout, “If you don’t come out right now, I’ll call the police!”

At that, the door of the bathroom suddenly opened, and a tall man walked out. He was only wearing a pair of gray sweatpants, and his upper body was naked. His nearly perfect muscles were covered with a lot of water droplets. Seeing him, Su Shen immediately turned around and closed the door blushingly.

“Why are you here? And not wearing any clothes!” Su Shen snorted with her back to him, blushing. She was not Xiao Zhou, so she wouldn’t be so easily seduced by Xie Yan.

Throwing the towel onto the sofa, Xie Yan came behind her in two to three steps and wrapped his arms around her waist. He buried his head into her neck and took a deep breath. “It’s not like you haven’t seen it before. Get used to it slowly.”

These words were so vulgar that Su Shen turned red from anger. Every time he would say these dirty words, she would become speechless. 

“Hmph, I… I didn’t see you at all last time, and I don’t want to see you… take off your clothes either!” Su Shen stammered for a long time before uttering these words blushingly.

Hearing this, Xie Yan chuckled while burying himself into her neck. “But, there’s still a mark you scratched on my shoulder. Wanna see it?”

His teasing tone almost made Su Shen deceased. Thinking that he had actually said it out loud, Su Shen suddenly wanted to ram her head against a wall out of embarrassment. 

Seeing that the body in his arms was trembling from anger, Xie Yan stopped teasing her and pinched her cheek. “Xiao Zhou gave me the key.”

Xiao Zhou came back early, but she didn’t expect it was to open the door for Xie Yan. Su Shen glared at him and then walked towards the sofa. 

Taking off her cap, Su Shen took off her coat while looking at him. “He Hua said that you were going to pay the termination fee for me? Why not the company?”

Knowing that she was shy, Xie Yan went and put on a T-shirt. When he came back, he replied insipidly, “Ignore him.”

Hearing this, Su Shen ran to the other side of the room and poured herself a glass of water. “I was wondering why you were suddenly so dumb to get ripped off by him. He really won’t miss any chance of ripping people off.”

“Are you helping me save money?” Sitting on the sofa, Xie Yan stared at her with a laptop in his hand.

There were only two lamps lit in the living room, and it was not particularly bright, so Su Shen’s red ears went unnoticed. After drinking a sip of water, she then put down the glass and walked towards the bedroom.  

“I’m going to take a shower. Play by yourself.”

Just when she was about to go grab some clothes and take a shower, Xie Yan, who was looking at the laptop, suddenly asked solemnly, “Are you familiar with Zheng Tong?”

Previous | Index | Next

Terminating Contract

Su Shen had already made up her mind regarding her relationship with Xie Yan. Her dad’s birthday was on the 25th and it would be a good day to break it to them. However, if this matter was not resolved, her parents might directly have her retire from the entertainment industry.  

“At dad’s birthday this month, but please help me out a little at that time. You know mom, she…” 

Before she could finish her words, sounds of a child’s laughter came from the other end of the line. “Don’t worry. Mom is stubborn, but she’s soft-hearted. As long as you like him and he is not a person with bad morals, she definitely won’t break apart the pair of mandarin ducks. I very much support you in pursuing your career. No matter if it’s someone else’s money or family money, it’s not as comfortable as using your own money. No matter what, I will always support you.”  

Su Shen felt very moved. The biggest gain in this life was having a family who loved her, which cannot be exchanged for anything.   

“I know. I will find a way to resolve this matter,” said Su Shen earnestly. 

Knowing that she had her own thoughts, Su Ruan didn’t say much and just cautioned her before hanging up the call. 

In the early morning, a hint of the morning sun was already hanging in the sky. The golden rays of sunlight sprinkled on the earth as if to dispel the humidity of last night. The production crew was still as busy, and Ding Yan still didn’t come. Needless to say, it was impossible for her to get up so early, but it was too troublesome to change to another actress now. Moreover, it would also offend Ding Yan. The producer could do nothing but endure.  

Leaning against the wall of the corridor and looking at her phone in a daze, Su Shen actually had already thought of a way to explain everything. In this way, no matter what good resources she had in the future, no one would doubt her. But if she did so, she would undoubtedly let Liu jie down. 

After pondering for a while, she finally called Liu jie’s number. It rang for a long time before she answered the phone. Not long after, Liu jie’s voice came through, “The company has been trying to deal with the matter online, but the most troublesome thing is not the person who wants to ruin you. You’ve been doing well recently, which has threatened many people’s interests, and you have offended a lot of people. Now, they all want to step on you. This is the most difficult part.”

There were phone calls coming in from time to time from the other end. Clearly, Liu jie had already returned to the company. 

“I see. I’ll wait a bit more then.” Su Shen felt that she should trust Liu jie once more. 

At that, the other party responded before hanging up the call. 

The comments online didn’t damper Su Shen’s mood. Filming went pretty smoothly for today’s scenes. However, after a day of simmering, the comments online were getting more and more intense. Although the headline was taken down from Hot Search, the topic #Su Shen Stealing Roles# had over 80 million hits. All the major forums and threads were as long as skyscrapers, analyzing the resources and opportunities she had since her debut. The final conclusion was that she must’ve had a sugar daddy behind her. 

Netizen A: As soon as she debuted, she was the leading actress for a web drama, followed by a supporting female lead role in a big IP. She stepped on Fan Meng and boasted about how good her acting is, and even stole roles from Mu Yao and Yang Zhi. If a newcomer didn’t have a formidable background, how could she have these awesome opportunities?! 

Netizen B: My poor Tang Xuan, a Best Actress in Drama yet her role was actually snatched by a C-list starlet. The entertainment industry is too complicated. 

Netizen C: I thought Fan Meng was disgusting enough, but I didn’t expect this b***h to be even more disgusting. You guys can form a team of b***hes. [smiley face]

Netizen D: My Su Su’s family background is so good, so how could she need a sugar daddy? It’s just because my Su Su had blocked someone’s way. The truth will come out sooner or later!

Netizen E: Su Shen’s really the epitome of a white lotus. She looks innocent and pure on the surface. Before, she bound herself to Jiang Yin, but when she saw that it was more suitable to hype a CP with Xie Yan, she then threw him aside. I want to vomit at the sight of her now. [vomit]

Netizen F: Rumors are really based on just one’s mouth now. Stop talking nonsense, and show evidence if you have the ability to! 

Netizen G: Miss Su, you rock! No doubt about it! Taking down the headline on Hot Search as soon as it appeared. Can’t afford to offend you! 

Currently, there was a sudden downpour of antis flooding the comments on her Weibo, and some passersby were also beginning to turn into an anti. If it went on like this for long, it would not only affect her reputation but also affect her resources and endorsements. 

During the day, Xie Yan called her, but she didn’t have the time to answer it as she was still filming. Until at night, after hesitating for half an hour, she finally gave He Hua a call. 

The call connected after three rings, and He Hua’s leisurely voice instantly sounded, “I thought you would only believe in your Starlight.”

Standing in front of the French window and looking at the busy and bustling city outside, Su Shen went silent for a bit before saying insipidly, “What do you think I should do then?”

He Hua had been waiting for her to say that, and this was the only way to solve the problem as matters stand. As for Liu jie… 

“Do whatever you want, but you have to think it over. This is not what I’m forcing you to do. In fact, you should’ve done it a long time ago, or there wouldn’t be such a matter as today. In this industry, relationships are important, but the most important thing is one’s own interests.”

Hearing the words from the other end of the line, Su Shen paused before saying softly while looking out the window, “Then, you deal with it. I don’t want this to continue any longer.” 

At that, the person on the other end naturally laughed and said, “Do you really think I did nothing?”

Su Shen said nothing. The person on the other end said lightheartedly, “I know that your production crew will open up to allow the media to visit tomorrow. I’ve already spoken with the production crew. The director will speak out for you. As for your contract with Starlight, I’ll go discuss it with them personally. You can leave this to me. Don’t make any statements, I’ll make a statement when the time comes.” 

It was apparent that He Hua had planned it long before, but she had no choice. Starlight’s PR was indeed too bad. Su Shen had given Liu jie time, but up to now, the company hadn’t made any formidable counterattacks. She could wait, but if it went on like this, she didn’t know what her parents would think.  

After hanging up the call, Su Shen went to take a shower and go to bed. The next day, the production crew would open up for the media to visit, but it was in the afternoon. There was still filming in the morning, so she had to get there early in the morning to get styled. Just in time, Liu jie arrived. 

Noticing that the atmosphere was amiss, Xiao Zhou, the makeup artist, and Xue Zhixin all went out. When there were only the two of them left in the dressing room, Liu jie lit a cigarette and sat down on the sofa. “The company’s working on a solution. I think you should give the company another chance. This is not a small matter. I hope you understand.”

As long as she terminated her contract with Starlight and He Hua announcing that she had long joined Huayan Entertainment, it would not be strange for him to help her get a supporting female role in a big IP with his status in the industry. With this, it would explain how her resources and opportunities were so good before, and those rumors would be discredited. No matter how those people would libel her as a role snatcher, it would be useless. 

“I know what I’m doing. Even if I don’t terminate the contract right now, there will still be such a day when I get married to Xie Yan in the future. As terminating the contract now can help me solve this problem, I can only do it. I know that the company has been great to me, but at this time, I can’t joke about my reputation. I can tolerate it, but Xie Yan can’t, and neither can my family. I hope you can understand.” Su Shen said earnestly. 

Their eyes met. Liu jie said nothing. The woman in front of her was wearing a royal blue qipao, which showed off her already good figure to be even more exquisite and vivid. Among the entertainment industry full of beauties, that attractive and refined face of hers was at the forefront. She remembered that when they first met, she was still an heiress who was willful and reckless. Liu jie didn’t think she would have much development, because the entertainment industry never lacked beauties and EQ decided everything.  

Unknowingly, the willful and reckless heiress became more reserved and steady, and even her acting improved. Liu jie thought that she would bring forth an A-list actress, but it seemed that things had already been out of her control. 

Liu jie exhaled the smoke slowly. When it dispersed in the quiet dressing room, she suddenly said, “My words remain the same. I hope you can think it over. I can’t make a decision on this matter, Qin zong and the others won’t agree either. You’re violating the contract, there will be a lawsuit.” 

“If He Hua can’t even solve this, I don’t think he will pull me over so confidently,” said Su Shen with a laugh. 

Looking at the calm woman in front of her, Liu jie took another deep breath of smoke before standing up with a perplexed expression and sweeping a glance at her. “I’ll see what the company will say.”

As soon as her words fell, she quickly left on her high heels. When the dressing room was closed, Su Shen sighed again. She didn’t want to come to this. Everyone had feelings, and so did she and Liu jie. However, what He Hua said was right. Feelings were not worth more than one’s own interests. She was only human after all. 

Often, there were cases where artists would terminate their contracts with their former agency, followed by a nasty dispute in the entertainment industry. However, Su Shen believed that He Hua would solve it amicably.  

The comments online didn’t decrease but increased instead. It was not until the afternoon when the media came to visit that Su Shen had just finished a scene, and then several of the main cast and the director gathered together to accept an interview. 

The director stood in the middle, with Zheng Tong and Ding Yan beside him. Su Shen was at the far side. However, she still felt that those cameras were flashing toward her. After all, this was her first appearance after the scandal, and the media naturally hoped that she looked haggard. 

“I heard that this play will be very melodramatic. Director Li, will you be able to film the essence of the original work?” a female reporter asked. 

Facing the dozens of mics in front of him, the director laughed and said composedly, “The adaptation will definitely be different from the original work. The feeling I want should be a little different from the original work.”

The other staff on set were all busy, and the media visit was only for half an hour. After that, they had to resume filming. 

At that, a male reporter extended his mic and continued to ask, “What do you think of the rumor about Su Shen and the film online?”

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