After Transmigrating into the Role of the Villain Forced to Pamper the Heroine of an Angsty Novel - Chapter 33

“A regular army?” Gu Ruolan repeated softly, searching her mind for any useful information.

Where a single question for confirmation would usually suffice, Yu Youqing now dug deeper: “I mean the professional teams we often collaborate with, but the people acting right now are definitely not from our partner list.”

Gu Ruolan said frankly, “I don’t know who it could be.”

“Ruolan, think about it carefully again.” Seeing that Gu Ruolan remained clueless, Yu Youqing tentatively proposed a name: “For example… Xie Yuzong?”

Gu Ruolan denied it immediately: “Impossible. I have zero overlap with him; why would he do such a thing?”

Yu Youqing gave an embarrassed, light laugh. “I was just guessing. Don’t get worked up.”

Gu Ruolan wasn’t exactly worked up, she just felt such a guess was devoid of logic and factual basis.

“The issue shouldn’t be too big this time. Relax at home for a few days; Xiang Jing over at Penguin TV knows what to do.”

While Gu Ruolan was on the phone with Yu Youqing, she did notice that the frequency and volume of the scrolling comments on the show had significantly dropped. The sharp wording was also less prevalent than before. Although there was still content that made her uncomfortable, it wasn’t as biting as it had been.

After hanging up the phone, Yu Youqing sighed. Xin Qi, sitting across the desk, looked up and asked, “What did Ruolan say?”

“She said she didn’t ask anyone else for help.”

Xin Qi looked at the TV on the wall. The show was still playing, and people were periodically reporting the ratings fluctuations from the computer. “The moment the comments were at their peak was when the ratings were highest.”

Yu Youqing nodded. “Yes. Heat brings ratings; even a fight is better than being ignored.”

Xin Qi followed the ratings for a while longer. Though they had dipped, they were mostly stable. Only then did she shift her focus to Gu Ruolan’s call. “If it wasn’t someone she hired, that’s even more troublesome.”

“President Xin, someone is clearly backing Ruolan. Although the force used wasn’t massive, it was very timely, which means they’ve been following her closely.”

Xin Qi looked worried and remained silent.

“She says it’s impossible for it to be Xie Yuzong. We’ve worked together for so many years; I believe her reaction just now. She’s telling the truth.”

“Xie Yuzong invested a huge sum into Xinghe; Xinghe wanted to headhunt Ruolan before. If he’s acting through Xinghe, she might not be able to identify it.”

Yu Youqing sighed. “That’s possible. Aside from acting, she really doesn’t pay attention to anything. It’s normal for her not to notice.”

Xin Qi considered for a moment, tapping her finger on the desk. “Hurry up and talk to her about the contract renewal. Don’t let Xinghe find a loophole.” She glanced at the TV again. “Regardless of who moved, keep a close eye. Don’t let them kill the show’s heat entirely, otherwise, our future cooperation with Penguin TV will be difficult to handle.”

The “cooperation” Xin Qi mentioned was, of course, the matter of squeezing in more newcomers.

Xie Zixuan finished her dance practice at the company just as the show was about to air. She simply sent her assistant to buy food and stayed at the office to watch.

She had thought Penguin TV would show some respect for the company and her current popularity. Instead, the part where she was critiqued by Gu Ruolan was kept entirely, without a single cut. At the time on set, she had just felt nervous and pressured; now, watching it on TV, she felt a profound sense of embarrassment.

What a loss of face! She was a newly minted top-tier star; even her stills were released only after being meticulously photoshopped. Being picked apart by Gu Ruolan like that—it was one step away from her just saying she didn’t know how to act.

Fortunately, her fans were loyal and began fighting back in the comments. Even if they couldn’t refute Gu Ruolan to her face, they at least vented some frustration for her. She also felt Gu Ruolan was biased toward Yu Yimeng. They had performed about the same; why did Gu think Yu Yimeng was better? It was just because she looked down on idols-turned-actors who weren’t from film academies.

She was happily admiring her fans’ crusade to reclaim her dignity when, after a few ad breaks, the wind began to shift. Not only did some highlighted comments disappear, but the new comments started shifting toward other topics—some were even discussing the color and pattern of the host’s tie.

Xie Zixuan set down her food and stared intently at the TV. Her assistant saw her suddenly sit up and lean forward, becoming nervous as well. “Sister Xuan, what’s wrong?”

Xie Zixuan ignored her, calculating what she should do. She couldn’t let this breeze blow over so easily. The previous momentum was fan-led; now, she wanted to add fuel to the fire herself. Seeing the heat drop, she called an acquaintance to explain her intent.

To her surprise, the person who usually cooperated smoothly refused. “Forget it tonight. It can’t be done.”

Xie Zixuan was stunned. “It’s not that hard. Just keep getting it onto the trending list.”

The other party remained resolute in their refusal. She thought it was a price issue and said generously, “I can pay more. Just for tonight.”

“You know someone is suppressing the trending list. And the other party is very determined. Even if you pay more, it’s a waste. That’s why I’m advising you to forget it for tonight.”

Xie Zixuan was unwilling; the opportunity was rare.

“I can’t take the job anyway. If you really want to try, find someone else.” Before hanging up, Xie Zixuan actually sensed a hint of avoidance from the other person—as if they were desperate to get away and didn’t want a penny of this money.

Since her debut, Xie Zixuan had relied on “traffic”; she knew this game all too well. Both her company and she herself understood the traffic codes. She didn’t dare tell the company she wanted to stab Gu Ruolan—they would never agree—but she was just frustrated. She tried reaching out to two other acquaintances she’d worked with; their attitudes were nearly identical: not tonight.

Xie Zixuan snapped out of it. It seemed Gu Ruolan’s side had already taken action. She pushed the lunchbox away and began packing her things to leave. Her assistant stood up in a flurry. “Sister Xuan, aren’t you watching the show anymore?”

Xie Zixuan glared at her crossly. “My embarrassment is already over. What’s left to watch!”

She thought to herself that she’d have to talk to the company tomorrow. They had said the show was to get her face known and to close the distance with big-name actors. Instead, Penguin TV had shown her no respect and had exposed all her weaknesses.

Meng Qiuran hadn’t watched a variety show this seriously in a long time. She watched the shifting comments on the screen while reading the progress reports Yuan Yi sent periodically. It wasn’t until the ending ads played that she finally relaxed.

This incident was beyond her expectations; previously, her focus had been entirely on Gu Ruolan’s clothing. Now it seemed that just because the plot didn’t mention it, didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen. Her focus on Gu Ruolan couldn’t just be about clothes anymore.

The next day was Saturday. Meng Qiuran planned to drop by Sister Lin’s café. Yuan Yi had said it was their unofficial “station.” She didn’t state a purpose, just saying she was passing by and wanted a coffee.

Sister Lin, grateful for the autograph from last time, gave her special treatment. Not only was it on the house, but she even hand-brewed the coffee herself. “Try my craft.”

Meng Qiuran sat by the floor-to-ceiling window. The sunlight streamed in, illuminating her thick black hair and exquisite sweater. Outside was a view of golden fallen leaves—autumn was in full bloom. “Thank you.”

Sister Lin didn’t leave, seemingly wanting to know her evaluation of the coffee. Meng Qiuran took a shallow sip and nodded with satisfaction. “Excellent.”

Sister Lin smiled and promised, “You’re a Super VIP of my shop. Everything’s on the house.”

Ding-ling-ling… The wind chime at the door rang softly; another customer had entered. Sister Lin instinctively turned toward the door and froze. Her smile stiffened at the corners of her mouth. The rapid change in her expression made Meng Qiuran curious, so she turned to look in the same direction.

It was Gu Ruolan.

Though not as shocked as Sister Lin, Meng Qiuran was indeed quite surprised. Gu Ruolan was wearing a mid-length beige trench coat today. Underneath was a pure black satin shirt with two buttons open, lending a hint of sexiness without being revealing. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders with slightly curled ends. She wore large sunglasses, leaving only her striking lips visible on her small, delicate face.

She entered like an ordinary guest, but upon closer inspection, one could find she was a bit tense and awkward. Meng Qiuran glanced behind her; no one. Gu Ruolan had come alone today.

Sister Lin snapped out of it and hurried over. “Welcome.” She made a subtle gesture to invite her in but didn’t rush her.

Gu Ruolan pursed her lips, not taking off her sunglasses. “Are there any empty private rooms?” She meant the kind she had used last time with Meng Qiuran.

There weren’t many private rooms, and they were usually only open during dinner hours, but since Gu Ruolan asked, they would be available. “Yes, yes. Please follow me.” Sister Lin stepped aside, indicating she would personally lead the way.

Gu Ruolan thanked her softly. “Sorry to trouble you.”

Sister Lin took a deep breath, trying to stay calm for fear that being too excited would draw the attention of other guests.

Meng Qiuran was curious: was Gu Ruolan really just here for coffee? But she wasn’t so gossipy as to proactively follow and ask. After confirming it was Gu Ruolan, she had already turned back to her seat. However, to get to the private rooms, one had to pass her position.

Sister Lin, nervous yet excited, said casually, “What a coincidence, Miss Meng is also here for coffee today.”

Gu Ruolan froze, instinctively looking into the shop. She hadn’t expected the woman to be sitting just a few steps away with her back to her. But she already recognized that back. It wasn’t the chunky-knit sweater from last time; today Meng Qiuran wore a dark green, slim-fit piece. The texture was very fine and soft, hugging her form. It was a demanding garment; someone slightly heavier would look like a barrel, but Gu Ruolan felt it suited Meng Qiuran unexpectedly well. She hadn’t noticed how slender she was before.

Passing Meng Qiuran’s table, Gu Ruolan slowed her pace. Her purpose for coming today was actually to talk to Sister Lin, but she hadn’t expected to run into Meng Qiuran. Pretending not to know her would be rude, but she didn’t know what to chat about either. This hesitation caused her speed to slow to a crawl.

As she passed, Meng Qiuran also looked up. There was very little surprise in her eyes; she must have known she was there. Gu Ruolan pursed her lips and greeted her softly: “Hello.”

The corners of Meng Qiuran’s mouth curved slightly. “What a coincidence.” She glanced at the coffee in front of her and a piece of matcha mousse. Bathed in the faint golden light reflected off the table, she looked very at ease. “Enjoy.”

Meng Qiuran didn’t invite her to join. She simply said flatly, “The coffee here is quite good. You should try it.”

Gu Ruolan was led into the private room. Because it wasn’t opening time yet, the area was dim. Sister Lin quickly turned on all the lights and took Gu Ruolan’s order personally. Gu Ruolan took off her sunglasses and laid them on the table, setting her folded trench coat beside her. She stated her purpose for the visit concisely.

Sister Lin hadn’t expected she was here for her and was overwhelmed with flattery. But since her idol was here for business, she had to feed her first. She eagerly introduced the shop’s specialties.

Gu Ruolan thought for a moment and said, “Then give me the same coffee as Miss Meng.”

Sister Lin asked with a smile, “Do you want the matcha mousse too?”

Gu Ruolan shook her head. “Just the coffee.” As an actor, there were many things she couldn’t eat freely.

Although Yu Youqing said the ones who moved last night looked like a professional team, Gu Ruolan still wanted to confirm if her die-hard fans were involved. Perhaps because her last visit here was pleasant and felt safe, she hadn’t deliberated long before deciding to come. She hadn’t expected Meng Qiuran to be here; she had said last time she didn’t come often—it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.

Sister Lin brought the coffee, and Gu Ruolan invited her to sit across the table. “What would you like to know?”

Sister Lin was older than Yuan Yi and the others, and owning her own shop made her much steadier, though her voice still held uncontrollable excitement.

“Did you watch Light of Stars last night?”