Acting Spoiled and Arrogant [Rebirth] - Chapter 13

The host on stage stood dazed for a moment, deafened by the thunderous cheers. She had absolutely no idea that Lu Xingxian would suddenly appear at this moment!

It wasn’t until Zuo Xian nudged her that she snapped back to reality. Clutching her script, she frantically mentally re-ordered the flow. “Wow—it looks like the mystery character played by Sister Xingxian is going to have some incredible chemistry with Xianxian in Jun Lin!”

Lu Xingxian walked slowly onto the stage. Amidst waves of non-stop screaming, she eventually came to a stop right between the host and Zuo Xian.

Hearing the host’s comment, Lu Xingxian smiled. She didn’t elaborate, simply stating, “Yes.”

As she spoke, she reached out and gently patted Zuo Xian’s head. Her gaze was soft and warm as she added softly, “In Jun Lin, my relationship with Xianxian is very… unconventional. You can all look forward to it.”

The crowd fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting again. Aside from the name “Lu Xingxian,” Zuo Xian actually heard people shouting her own name as well.

She blinked, not quite processing it.

Unconventional? How come I didn’t know?

Zuo Xian looked up, meeting Lu Xingxian’s eyes as the latter continued to pat her head. Her face flushed, and she awkwardly turned her head away. Usually, at home, Lu Xingxian only wore light makeup. Zuo Xian was used to that, and though she always thought she was beautiful, it was manageable.

But seeing Lu Xingxian up close with such exquisite, professional makeup… she actually felt a bit shy.

Lu Xingxian naturally sensed Zuo Xian’s discomfort and smiled imperceptibly.

Their relationship was completely hidden from the entertainment world. After all, when Zuo Xian entered the industry, she relied on her own drive to forge a path. Luckily, she had the face for it and decent luck, so her journey had been relatively smooth so far.

She had absolutely never relied on a “backer” to open back doors for her.

And her connection with Lu Xingxian was known to no one except their families.

Zuo Xian spaced out for a moment on stage. When Axian walked over and said “Xianxian,” everyone else thought she was referring to the character Lin Xianxian. Only Zuo Xian, locked in that gaze, knew… Lu Xingxian was talking to her.

The Zuo Xian sitting right here.

The event eventually wound down. After Lu Xingxian’s appearance, the conversation revolved almost entirely around her. However, she seemed to have another appointment to catch, so she departed shortly after her brief appearance.

Only then did the atmosphere stabilize. Both Zuo Xian and the host let out a synchronized sigh of relief.

This crowd was way too hard to handle!

Zuo Xian wrapped herself in her heavy coat and followed Chen Shuang into their small van.

With today’s press conference over, she had the New Year’s holiday to rest. However, because the production was already moving and she had joined last minute, things were urgent. Even with the next two days off, Zuo Xian planned to study the script and watch the others’ performances. After all, it had been years since her last life; she couldn’t rely on old memories as her only trump card.

In the car, Chen Shuang looked at Zuo Xian and said, “This role is officially settled now. Once the news of you joining the cast is confirmed, the company will start receiving audition invites and brand collaborations over the next few days!”

She spoke while already envisioning the future, but as an experienced manager, she didn’t let one small role go to her head. “From now on, you must watch your words and actions, do you hear me?”

Zuo Xian nodded absentmindedly. While the entertainment industry was a “deep pool,” the challenges faced changed with age. Conflicts between stars were often age-related; a veteran actress in her thirties usually wouldn’t have friction with a twenty-year-old rookie. It was mostly peer competition. Zuo Xian, with her mature mindset, didn’t feel like bickering with these “little sisters” who had just entered society. As long as they didn’t provoke her openly, she couldn’t be bothered.

She glanced out the window just as Sun Jiayi and another actress were boarding their vehicle. Their setup was much more impressive—a proper RV. They didn’t even need to put on coats to board, meaning the AC was already blasting inside!

So luxurious!

Zuo Xian set her phone down. She hadn’t forgotten the incident with her little assistant and was about to hop out to “take a stroll” when Chen Shuang spoke.

“Also, I’ve already made arrangements regarding Sun Jiayi. Watch yourself these next few days and don’t let the paparazzi catch you doing anything odd. Tonight, I will post a formal lawyer’s letter to Sun Jiayi on my Weibo, and I’ll have several side accounts leak screenshots from the video that ‘fan’ sent you…”

What followed was the standard PR playbook: The manager speaks up, issues a decisive legal threat instead of hollow social media arguments, and gives the opponent no room to breathe before dropping the final “ace” up their sleeve.

Zuo Xian listened, then added with a mischievous glint, “Contact a few entertainment gossip accounts to repost it too… their followers are full of people looking to eat ‘melons’ (gossip).”

Chen Shuang agreed. Then she looked at Zuo Xian and asked suddenly, “Xianxian, did you and Lu Xingxian… know each other before?”

Zuo Xian didn’t even stop scrolling on her phone. With a straight face, she said, “How could I possibly know her? If I actually knew a super A-lister like that, would I really be working this hard at open auditions and putting up with people’s attitudes?”

Chen Shuang thought about it and realized she was right. In this world, people who could fly but chose to ride a bicycle were indeed rare.

Laughing at her own thought, Chen Shuang shook her head. “Regardless, Lu Xingxian did you a huge favor today. If you get the chance later, it’s never wrong to show her some extra courtesy and flattery…”

She glanced at Zuo Xian’s face. Some people were born with a look that made others feel comfortable and instinctively like them. Zuo Xian was that type of person. After spending these days together, Chen Shuang found that Zuo Xian possessed a level of composure far beyond her years. Even if she just sat there silently, being with her was pleasant.

Add it all up, and it was hard for anyone not to like her. This was the first time Chen Shuang felt so genuinely willing to be a star’s manager—not only was she completely unguarded, but she sincerely wished for the girl’s success.

“What do you mean by that?” Zuo Xian put her phone away, pulled her coat over her, and lay down on the cramped back seat for a nap.

Suddenly, the small van shuddered from an impact.

Zuo Xian wobbled in the back and asked dazed, “Sister Shuang, what happened?”

They hadn’t even started the engine yet; it was impossible for them to have hit someone else.

Chen Shuang steadied herself. Their front end had been hit by someone else’s rear. What was wrong with that driver? Couldn’t they see a car parked right there?

Given the drama of the past few days, Chen Shuang had Zuo Xian get out for safety. “Stay here, I’ll go check.”

They were still at the press conference venue with security nearby, so even a personal enemy wouldn’t be this blatant. The car that hit them was a private vehicle, not a luxury brand.

The moment Chen Shuang stepped out, the other driver hurried out as well, looking apologetic. “I’m so sorry! My driving skills aren’t great. I accidentally hit your car while reversing!”

Chen Shuang looked at the van. The damage wasn’t severe, but the front was noticeably dented. Since it was a company car, she’d get a scolding if she went back like this. She didn’t want to cause a scene and was about to suggest a private cash settlement when the driver pulled out a business card.

“This is from my boss… she invites you both into the car to discuss compensation.”

Chen Shuang took the card and her eyes nearly popped out. Lu Xingxian?!

Zuo Xian, who had walked up behind her, was struggling to hold back a laugh the moment she saw the car. By the time she saw the card, she couldn’t help herself. She said provocatively, “It’s no big deal. The damage isn’t serious, we can fix it ourselves.”

The car window slowly rolled down. A face behind sunglasses peeked out, her tone sounding rather helpless. “Xianxian.”

Zuo Xian’s eyes crinkled. She spoke toward the window, “Oh! Sister Xingxian, what a coincidence!”

Chen Shuang was stunned for only a second before she perceptively pulled the confused driver away to give the two women space to talk, even offering the driver a cigarette.

The driver looked at his boss’s helpless face and felt equally wronged. He’d been a driver for decades, and this was the first time a boss had ordered him to intentionally hit another car—without hurting the passengers but making enough noise to get their attention!

What kind of job is this!

Author’s Note:

Driver: Feeling wronged.

Sister Shuang: ???? Didn’t you say you didn’t know her????