Acting as the Movie Queen Love Rival’s Golden Finger GL - Chapter 8

After the Jin Yi Awards ended, it did not take long before some capable person on Douban broke the news: the woman who walked the red carpet with the Nation’s Little Brother, sat in the center of the first row at the Jin Yi Awards, and spoke intimately with CEO Wei Xiao was most likely from the Song Group.

“It’s easy to reach that conclusion if you look through the Jin Yi Awards sponsors. In previous years, that seat was either empty or occupied by the Song family’s young master, Song Jianxi. According to gossip from the beginning of the year, Song Jianxi should have gone overseas to develop his career. A friend of the original poster works at one of the companies under the Song Group and said the Song family’s Third Miss just returned to the country.”

“The friend also said that Song Third returned to the country for Wei Xiao. At the banquet on the night she came back a couple of days ago, she got into a love-triangle battlefield with Wei Xiao and a female celebrity.”

The melon-eating masses replied below:

“OP, hurry up. Here comes another ‘I have a friend’ series.”

“Is the female celebrity He Xilan? Her rumors with CEO Wei have never stopped. Is she probably going to marry into a wealthy family?”

“Is this socialite entering the entertainment industry?”

“OP still hasn’t said what this lady’s relationship with Nation’s Little Brother is. Doesn’t she like the CEO? Speaking of which, this CEO really has been a scumbag all over the entertainment industry.”

Only after quite a while did the original poster reply.

“How should I put this? There have always been rumors on Douban that Nation’s Little Brother has a very good family background. That’s true. Song Third should be his older sister.”

“No decoding for the female celebrity.”

The melon-eaters below immediately exploded!

“!!! I hereby announce that from now on, Song Third is also my sister! Sister!”

“Look at Little Brother’s actual older sister. I’m not worthy of being an older-sister fan, wuwuwuwu.”

“OP, come back and decode it! Groundhog screaming.”

This post directly blew up and could be called the biggest melon of the night. Very soon, entertainment influencers screenshotted it, posted it on Weibo, and pushed it onto the trending searches.

Because the official sponsor list for the Jin Yi Awards was right there, this piece of gossip was still very credible.

There had also been previous rumors about Chen Yuanning’s family background, so netizens accepted that part rather well. After fiercely eating lemons over the Song family socialite, everyone’s eyes locked onto the still-undecoded female celebrity—

“It has to be He Xilan! Her rumors with CEO Wei haven’t stopped since two years ago. The CEO’s most stable understanding flower.”

“Why do beautiful, rich women all fall for scumbags? By the way, I’m standing with He Xilan.”

“They debuted in the same year. Ming Xu has already won Best Actress in a Television Series, so why hasn’t He Xilan won it? The CEO isn’t supporting her?”

“Ke ke, anyone with eyes can tell He Xilan’s resources are insanely good. Ming Xu even has a pile of terrible-film black history that the company accepted for her. Your family’s white lotus has good resources, it’s just a pity she herself isn’t competitive. What can anyone do when her acting is so bad it makes people curl their toes? Eighty percent of her endorsements were probably bestowed by CEO Wei. She’s earned plenty of money.”

“Taking my Xilan away, not engaging. Isn’t the foul, rotten style from that terrible-drama Best Actress? I’m fcking laughing myself to death.”

“Oh-ho, fight, fight.”

The Weibo comments immediately went crooked again and became a battlefield where the two fanbases tore each other apart. But because Ming Xu had just won Best Actress in a Television Series and leapt into the ranks of first-tier talented actors, the Cotton Fluffs’ morale was soaring. Speaking with strength, they pressed He Xilan’s fans, the “Blues,” so hard they could not lift their heads.

Xiwang Entertainment Company, general manager’s office.

Sun Xia, Xiwang’s general manager, received Wei Xiao’s chief assistant, Wang Ping. After Wang Ping finished explaining his purpose for coming, Sun Xia immediately felt as if he had welcomed the God of Wealth today.

Wang Ping said politely, “…So that is the situation. Wei Corporation can participate as an investor and invest in Xiwang’s next large-scale television production. The script is here.”

“The funding, script, and director are all in place. The only requirement is that Xiwang must have Miss Ming star as the female lead. As for the pay…” Wang Ping paused, then smiled. “President Wei treasures talent. The pay will be thirty percent higher than that of a first-tier actress. The specific details will still need to be negotiated with your side.”

As he spoke, Wang Ping handed over the script.

A wealth-scattering boy had fallen from the sky and wanted to invest in a major production for his company. Sun Xia smiled so hard his eyes nearly disappeared. When he received the script and took a look, he became even more satisfied. “To be able to invite Director Zhao to take action—President Wei is truly thoughtful.”

Zhao Xiao was an old director. In the field of television drama directors, he ranked highly. Having him direct was a guarantee of ratings.

On top of that, the actor President Wei had specified was not some eighteenth-tier internet celebrity with an awl-shaped face, but Ming Xu, whose acting and appearance were both outstanding. This was simply a benefit delivered straight to their door!

Wang Ping pushed up his glasses and said, “You can see President Wei’s sincerity in this cooperation.”

“Yes, yes. President Wei is taking very good care of Ming Xu,” Sun Xia said with tacit understanding.

“We also ask that you arrange for Miss Ming to accept this drama. There is no need to let her know that this was President Wei’s intention.”

Sun Xia savored the meaning for a moment. From the sound of it, was he trying to give Ming Xu a surprise?

He really was attentive! Ming Xu was also impressive. Without making a sound, she had gotten Wei Xiao to spend heavily and deliver resources to her.

As for the fact that the artist under him “had ability,” Sun Xia was naturally delighted to see it happen. He smiled and said, “Please tell President Wei that I will definitely help him get this done!”

As soon as Wang Ping left, Sun Xia hurriedly had his secretary notify Pei Zishu to bring Ming Xu to the company.

“Ming Xu, there is a television drama here. The company has decided to have you play the female lead.”

Ming Xu accepted the script and quickly flipped through it.

Pei Zishu frowned. “President Sun, Ming Xu has already won Best Actress in a Television Series. As for her next arrangements, I believe she should develop toward the big screen.”

This was also what they had previously discussed with the higher-ups. Otherwise, Pei Zishu would not have had Ming Xu accept Director Bei’s film audition.

Sun Xia said indifferently, “That was before. Now, there happens to be a good resource, so let Ming Xu act in one more drama and create profit for the company.”

Pei Zishu’s brows furrowed even more tightly. Among the three leading companies, Xiwang’s higher-ups cared the most about profit. If this drama would bring in more profit than a film, then Ming Xu acting in the television drama had already become inevitable.

But Ming Xu had already won Best Actress in a Television Series. Her acting and appearance were both suited for development at a higher level. Having her act in another time-consuming television drama would truly waste the golden period of her career as an actress.

Whether out of private friendship or professional responsibility as a manager, Pei Zishu was opposed.

At the side, Ming Xu had not lifted her head since receiving the script. Now that she had roughly finished looking through it and gained an overall impression, she placed it back on the desk.

Director Zhao’s distinct style was that he could turn any kind of drama into a love story. A legal drama became lawyers falling in love while fighting lawsuits. A war film became the male and female leads falling in love during wartime.

Sure enough, this script also continued Director Zhao’s melodramatic, lingering romance style. The entire drama was about a man and a woman falling in love in ancient times, breaking up, getting back together, getting back together, breaking up, and falling in love for over eighty full episodes.

Ming Xu moved her gaze away from the script and looked straight at Sun Xia. Her voice was calm, with no anger or joy audible. “Director Bei Hai’s side has notified me to audition for his next film.”

Sun Xia said in surprise, “How come I didn’t know?”

“It was Director Bei’s side privately inviting Ming Xu,” Pei Zishu said, emphasizing the word “privately.”

Resources that did not go through official channels were usually special invitations sent by directors to actors they had their eye on. If the actor was indeed suitable, then the role would be theirs. Barring accidents, the others who came to audition would only be running alongside them.

And as an artist, Ming Xu’s overall strength was excellent. The likelihood of her winning the role was extremely high.

Sun Xia hesitated.

“What type of film is it?”

If it was a commercial film, it might explode in popularity. That was what Sun Xia was worried about.

Pei Zishu sighed. “Director Bei hasn’t notified us yet.”

Sun Xia gave an “oh,” picked up his tea, and took a sip. Although Director Bei had a big name, money that was already in the pocket was the real thing.

Thinking again of what Wang Ping had said about pay thirty percent higher than that of a first-tier actress, the company’s share of that portion was real money. They could also sell Wei Xiao a favor.

Sun Xia made up his mind and said, “Push Director Bei Hai’s audition. Your upcoming schedule will be given to Director Zhao’s side. As for film resources, once you finish filming this television drama, the company will arrange them for you.”

Pei Zishu still wanted to speak. “President Sun, Ming Xu has enormous potential. I think—”

Sun Xia impatiently cut her off. “Enough. Director Bei may be an old director, but he hasn’t produced anything notable in recent years either. Who knows what kind of script he has? Over here, Director Zhao’s production team and script have already been revealed, and the investor is in place. They can start filming as soon as they say the word. Isn’t that more secure than Director Bei’s side?”

Ming Xu listened to the person in front of her rattle on and on. Finally, her old employer tapped the glass table, narrowed his eyes, and said to her, “Ming Xu, you’re popular now, but in the past, the company also poured resources into cultivating you. Now it’s time for you to repay the company.”

Sun Xia leaned back against the sofa, looking at her as if victory was assured.

With a contract restraining her, he indeed could do this.

Ming Xu was surprised that she could be so calm, but this calm was also very familiar. Every time she encountered a disadvantage, her mind instead became clearer.

Just like now. She understood with absolute clarity that she leaned more toward Director Bei’s audition invitation. Perhaps the role would not belong to her, but she wanted to go.

It was like a little girl who did not know what was inside her Christmas present before unwrapping it. For once, she wanted to take a gamble. Her intuition told her that there would be a surprise inside.

Unfortunately, Santa Claus only existed in fairy tales.

In the end, Ming Xu still picked up the script and left Sun Xia’s office, her back carrying a detached distance.

After returning to Pei Zishu’s office, Pei Zishu immediately began cursing. “Shameless stinking dog of a man! Saying they gave you all those resources—as if it wasn’t because you were capable and they earned money by relying on you.”

“All these years, your schedules never stopped. Wind or rain, they could still send you out to make money. Wherever the pay was high, they stuffed you there. Endorsements and variety shows, good or bad, they accepted them all. They’ve made themselves plenty satisfied.”

“Just looking at how they’re disregarding your future to make you take this, this television drama, it’s obvious they’re counting on you to go clink-clink-clink as their money tree!”

Ming Xu still had the mood to pour her a cup of cooled boiled water, her voice steady. “Cool down.”

Pei Zishu took it and drank it clean. “Why aren’t you angry? Don’t tell me you’ve gone stupid from anger?”

Ming Xu laughed lightly, dispelling a bit of the coldness between her brows and eyes. “Do you know what I was thinking just now?”

“Smashing President Sun’s teacup lid onto his Mediterranean bald spot?”

“Terminating my contract.”

The cup in Pei Zishu’s hand slammed onto the desk. “Are you serious?”

Ming Xu smiled, calm and unbothered. “I just had the thought.”

Pei Zishu wanted to speak but stopped herself. In the end, she swallowed her words and only said, “Then this drama—”

“Accept it for now.”

Pei Zishu said all right.

Pei Zishu knew Ming Xu did not want to accept it. But she knew even more that although Ming Xu seemed cold on the surface, in her heart, she always remembered other people’s kindness toward her.

Even though the company and she were bound only by the cold, profit-driven relationship of a contract, all these years, she had still kept a trace of old-employer sentiment in her heart.

But today, Sun Xia had worn that sentiment completely away.

Pei Zishu sighed inwardly.

Li Man followed beside Ming Xu as they arrived together at the underground parking garage on level B1, preparing to drive Ming Xu home.

Ming Xu’s car had a low-key appearance, the most common black sedan. In the parking lot, it was utterly unremarkable. Sometimes, Li Man even had to spend ages remembering which section the car had been parked in.

But today, as soon as the elevator doors opened, Li Man found it at a glance.

Among the formation of cars, there was only one slender, beautiful woman leaning against a car. No matter who came, she would be the first thing they saw.

Hearing movement, the beauty turned to look toward the elevator. Her soft, light chestnut curls brushed over the rearview mirror, revealing a delicate face with almond eyes and peachy cheeks, pale brows and red lips.

Especially in the moment when she seemed to have finally waited for the person she had been waiting for, and her brows and eyes suddenly lit up brightly, she was even more adorable.

Li Man finally managed to come back to herself. When she looked more carefully, she realized the car the beauty was leaning against was Sister Ming Xu’s.

“Sister Ming Xu, is this your friend?” Li Man asked subconsciously.

Ming Xu pressed her pale lips together slightly, curled her fingers, lowered her brows, and said, “Her? You almost saw her last time.”

“Which time?” Li Man humbly asked for guidance.

“The time you came to pick me up at the hotel.”

As she spoke, Ming Xu stepped forward and walked over there.

Li Man hurriedly thought back. Then the image of that post-event bed appeared in her mind—

Holy crap!

Author’s Note:

gkd: Hurry up.

Song Jianzhi waited until Ming Xu appeared, and her eyes went bling, lighting up. So cute.