Chapter 13
Here it comes!
Pei Xixia summoned twelve full points of focus and concentrated on the battle ahead.
She leaned slightly forward, propped her arm on her crossed leg, supported her chin, and brushed her thumb over her lower lip. A hint of amusement flowed through her eyes. “I only found out yesterday that Miss Yan is my wife’s senior.”
Yan Songlan’s expression was calm. “Yimo was my junior in the same club. We had a few brief collaborations, but that was all years ago.”
Bah! She even dared call her so intimately. So shameless! My cub doesn’t remember you at all!
“Oh? There was such a past between you.” Pei Xixia pretended to be troubled. “Sigh, our Momo is still too introverted. She never takes the initiative to tell me anything. Sometimes when I want to try something fresh with her, she can’t let herself go either. She’s always so conservative—”
As she spoke, Pei Xixia secretly observed Yan Songlan’s reaction the entire time. However, Yan Songlan only listened calmly and gave no response at all.
Pei Xixia gritted her teeth, lowered her voice, and squeezed out a wicked smile. “Miss Yan saw the trending topic from a few days ago, right?”
Yan Songlan finally raised her eyes. “I came across it, but I didn’t pay much attention. Later, didn’t the two of you come forward to clarify things? What about it?”
“Miss Yan has spent more time in this circle than I have, so there’s no need to pretend not to understand while knowing perfectly well. That trending topic didn’t come out of nowhere. It was because Yimo isn’t good enough at pleasing people, so she was deliberately retaliated against.” Pei Xixia did not spell things out clearly. She only smiled ambiguously, her tone lowering just enough. “To be honest, Jiaqi Entertainment itself hasn’t been doing well in recent years. After the fuss she caused, Qi Wanbai is destined not to let us off. I’m afraid the days ahead will be even harder.”
Yan Songlan paused for a moment, as if puzzled. “Didn’t Miss Pei come to discuss cooperation? Why are you telling me all this?”
“I’m laying the truth out for you first, Miss Yan. What, do you dislike us as a hot potato now?” Pei Xixia curled her lips. “I’m telling you all this for no other reason than to express our sincerity. A single bouquet from Miss Yan was able to turn around our Yimo’s public reputation. If you’re willing to give us a small role, wouldn’t that be enough to bring our entire company back to life?”
Yan Songlan’s lips also curved. “Miss Pei is a straightforward person, so let’s speak plainly. Arranging a role for Yimo truly isn’t difficult. However, merely based on the fact that we came from the same school, I don’t seem to have any need to sell you such a large favor.”
“Of course. I wasn’t expecting Miss Yan to be a philanthropist either.” Pei Xixia deliberately gave a hearty laugh, and a bit more seriousness entered her eyes. “Since we’re asking someone for help, of course we have sincerity. It’s just that with what we can currently offer, I don’t know whether Miss Yan will find it worthy.”
“First is topicality. Although Miss Yan is a nationally acclaimed film empress with universal praise, this is your first time directing a movie. You’ll always need some discussion and momentum.” Pei Xixia smiled self-mockingly. “Jiaqi Entertainment may have nothing else, but the one thing we don’t lack is topicality. If Miss Yan’s movie needs early promotion, we don’t mind being your powder keg. Besides, I’ve seen fans online already digging three feet underground for past intersections between you and Yimo. Such good material should be used while it’s available, shouldn’t it? Miss Yan seems to like our Yimo quite a lot. Don’t worry, I’m very magnanimous. Even if your pretend act turns real, I won’t mind.”
A wavering light flashed through Yan Songlan’s eyes.
“Second is controllability. Given our current situation, we have no right to be picky. We will absolutely cooperate with every request you and the crew make. We can also perform for zero pay, as long as you’re willing to provide us with this platform.”
Yan Songlan did not speak. She only took a sip of tea, as though seriously considering it.
Just as Pei Xixia was about to lose patience and activate the Inner-Thought Eavesdropping Card, Yan Songlan slowly raised her head.
“Anything else?”
There was indeed one more thing.
Pei Xixia had not wanted to bring it up on her own, but since Yan Songlan had asked like this, it seemed the current bargaining chips were not enough to satisfy her.
This woman was truly difficult to deal with.
Pei Xixia could only speak again. “You saw through me. Actually, while my mother was alive, she enjoyed doing good deeds and sponsored many poor students. One of them has now grown into a popular rising screenwriter in the industry. Please allow me to keep his identity confidential for the time being. A few days ago, he agreed to provide Jiaqi Entertainment with a comedy film script. I can guarantee that this script will definitely explode in popularity. If Miss Yan is willing to help us through this difficult period, we’re willing to give this script to you for free.”
In truth, there was no such person at all. Pei Xixia was talking about herself.
She had already decided to secretly work herself to death writing the script. She was just not very willing to take the fruits of her own labor and respectfully offer them up to Yan Songlan.
Yan Songlan smiled and looked at her with a probing gaze. “Miss Pei, from what you’re saying, you probably haven’t received this script yet, right? Then how can you be so certain it will definitely explode?”
Pei Xixia did not know how to convince Yan Songlan, but at this moment, she could not show fear. She smiled mysteriously on purpose. “Miss Yan doesn’t believe me?”
Yan Songlan once again slowly lifted her teacup, but this time, she made a toasting gesture toward Pei Xixia.
Pei Xixia forcibly suppressed the joy in her heart and clinked cups with her. “Does this mean Miss Yan agrees?”
Yan Songlan said, “These three bargaining chips carry enough weight. Deal. However, my authority is limited. I can only guarantee that Yimo will receive a small role. Don’t set your expectations too high. In addition, I hope we can privately draft a contract to protect both of our rights and interests.”
Pei Xixia replied, “Of course. Miss Yan being willing to pull us up at a time like this is already help in the snow. In a few days, I’ll personally send the contract to your private email. However, I ask Miss Yan not to tell Yimo about these things. She has always been strong-willed, and I’m afraid that if she learns the truth, she won’t cooperate.”
Yan Songlan laughed softly. “Miss Pei, listening to you speak really is interesting. I’m finding it somewhat difficult to understand your true attitude toward Yimo.”
Pei Xixia’s heart tightened. What did that mean? Had she exposed herself? She forced down the tension in her heart and maintained that careless, cynical manner. “Attitude? Miss Yan couldn’t possibly think I care about her, could you? I only feel that if she causes a scene in public, it’ll be ugly for both sides, won’t it? As for anything else, I don’t care. She’s just an Omega. As long as our family can rise again, won’t I be able to have as many as I want?”
After saying this, she immediately activated the Inner-Thought Eavesdropping Card.
Yan Songlan’s cold laugh instantly sounded in the space of her mind. “Rise again? She really knows how to dream. This useless trash is still just as stupid, even if she was lucky enough not to die. Looking at it this way, the variable should have appeared on Lu Yimo or Qi Wanbai’s side. Let’s leave it like this for now. In any case, no matter how I look at this move, I’m the one profiting.”
…Sure enough, Yan Songlan possessed awakened awareness! She knew that according to the normal progression, “Pei Xining” should already have been stabbed to death by now!
Fortunately, she should count as having bluffed her way through. At the very least, Yan Songlan did not suspect her now.
Still, even so, being called “useless trash” made her so angry!
Of course, Yan Songlan did not know that her inner thoughts had been exposed. She still wore an elegant, reserved smile. “Miss Pei truly loves to joke. Then let me wish us a pleasant cooperation.”
The two exchanged more meaningless pleasantries. Facing such a sinister enemy, Pei Xixia did not dare relax her guard for even a moment and remained in a state of high tension the entire time.
In the end, Yan Songlan promised that after receiving the contract Pei Xixia drafted, she would send Lu Yimo an audition invitation within a week. She would find a few people to serve as decoy candidates and put on a show, ensuring that Lu Yimo absolutely would not notice anything unusual.
When she left, Pei Xixia discovered that not only were her palms damp with cold sweat, but once the wind blew, her entire body felt chilly.
She quickly called a taxi and rushed back to Songge Manor. Near midnight, the entire manor was pitch-black. Pei Xixia felt a little guilty and did not dare face Lu Yimo, so she returned to her room in the dark.
For the next several days in a row, Pei Xixia did not see Lu Yimo.
Every day, she left early and returned late, going to the company to write.
In her original world, she had always written sweet, satisfying, brainless web dramas. She had never come into contact with film scriptwriting before, so she had to learn from scratch. Although film scripts required fewer words, the pacing was fast and conflicts were dense. For a writer like her, who relied entirely on padding the word count to earn money when she had no inspiration, this was an enormous challenge.
As for why she did not write at home, there was only one reason: the company could still provide free staff meals.
She really wanted to see Lu Yimo, but without a proper excuse, she hesitated several times and never made up her mind to knock on Lu Yimo’s door.
During this period, she received the second mission issued by the system.
“First Stage, Mission Two
Warm Reminder: Detected that the target character’s wariness has eased somewhat. Please use sincere praise to continue lowering hostility!
Mission Requirement: Sincerely and passionately praise the target character three times, allowing the target character to fully feel the host’s friendliness. Please note that the praise must be specific and meaningful, not vague or generic. Settlement will be based on whether the target character’s psychological trauma value decreases.
Example Reference: ‘Momo, the line revision suggestion you just made was absolutely brilliant. It immediately made the character’s motivation reasonable. It was practically a stroke of genius! I’m proud of you!’
Mission Success Rewards: Cash times 50,000; Skill Point: Sensitive Tear Glands Level One, uses unlimited, cooldown 24 hours; Skill Point: Professional Fake Smile Level One, uses unlimited, cooldown 24 hours; title ‘Little Lark’
Mission Failure Punishment: Mouth ulcers lasting one month, smiling foolishly.”
Little Lark was already too lazy to complain. She only thought, a little dazed, that time really passed quickly. Without realizing it, a week had already gone by.
That day, by the time she finished writing and returned home, it was late at night again.
After taking off her clothes, Pei Xixia discovered that the wound on her arm had completely scabbed over. Normal bending and stretching also almost no longer caused any tearing sensation.
These days, she had been showering with plastic wrap around her arm and had not dared wash for too long. She felt like her exhaustion had never been properly rinsed away.
Pei Xixia decided to reward herself with a bath.
The bathroom was at the corner of the second floor. When she had cleaned her room earlier, Pei Xixia had noticed that there were many fancy imported bath bombs Pei Xining had bought in the past. They had been thrown into a box by the foot of the bed and had never been opened. Pei Xining had probably forgotten about them.
Although Pei Xixia could not understand the words on them, they had not expired yet.
She picked an amber-colored one and sniffed it. It seemed like a mixed scent of vanilla and plum wine, warm with threads of intoxication. If she soaked for a while, she would probably be able to sleep well.
After filling the bathtub with water, Pei Xixia placed the bath bomb inside. Very soon, amber ripples spread through the water, flashing with fine flecks of gold. The air was also mixed with a reassuring fragrance.
Pei Xixia stepped into the bathtub, lay down heavily, and enjoyed the long-lost relaxation.
At the latest, Yan Songlan’s side should send the audition invitation in the next two days. Then she would have a proper reason to go see Lu Yimo.
This mission actually was not very hard. After all, Momo was so cute. It would be easy to find things worth praising at random. Being this Little Lark should be fairly simple.
Steam rose, and mist filled the air. Pei Xixia was soaked in warmth, and faint sleepiness gradually came over her.
She slowly closed her eyes.
In the air, there seemed to be faint threads of another scent spreading little by little until they filled the entire bathroom.
Pei Xixia’s mind was dizzy. She thought to herself that this bath bomb was pretty high-end. It even had top and base notes.
Suddenly, an abnormal crashing sound came from the corridor. Immediately after that, there was the metallic clatter of something shaking. Pei Xixia abruptly sat up in the water, rubbed her eyes, and only then realized that the door lock was being violently shaken.
Pei Xixia’s first reaction was to grab a bath towel and protect her chest. “Who is it?!”
Had an enemy come knocking?!
From outside the door came Lu Yimo’s furious voice, accompanied by heavy breathing.
“Pei Xining! Get out here!”
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