After Transmigrating into the Role of the Villain Forced to Pamper the Heroine of an Angsty Novel - Chapter 6

Meng Xiayan didn’t say much over the phone, but it was clear he was looking forward to this dinner. After hanging up, he noticed his sister—who was usually nonchalant and intentionally avoided direct eye contact—was staring straight at him.

He twirled his phone on his lap and asked with a smile, “What is it?”

Although Meng Qiuran was looking at him, she maintained her usual indifferent expression. Her tone remained casual, though she had shifted the topic.

“What kind of dinner party has you so excited?”

Meng Xiayan’s smile deepened, but his lips carried a trace of disdain. “Dinner with friends. I found a few female stars to warm up the atmosphere.”

His tone suggested he wasn’t talking about celebrities, but rather bar hostesses at a nightclub.

Perhaps in the eyes of men like him, female stars were nothing more than that.

Meng Qiuran had dealt with many big shots in the capital circles while negotiating business in her past life. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard this tone; she was practically numb to it. But when she thought of Gu Ruolan’s face, she felt a flicker of discomfort.

Seeing her silence, Meng Xiayan joked, “You don’t want to go too, do you?”

Meng Qiuran snapped back to reality and admitted, “Actually, I do.”

It was Meng Xiayan’s turn to be surprised. In the past, his sister avoided such social functions whenever possible and had never shown much interest in celebrities.

“What changed your mind today?” Before she could answer, he added, “You’d better skip this one.”

“Why?”

“It’s a gathering of men. What are you going to do stuck in the middle of that?”

Meng Qiuran truly wanted to go, but she couldn’t make it too obvious. “Those actresses are women, too. Why can’t I go?”

Meng Xiayan frowned, clearly dissatisfied. “How can you be compared to them? You are the eldest daughter of the Meng family. Them? Hmph, just pretty playthings.”

Meng Qiuran decided to adopt the original host’s tactics. She grabbed her brother’s arm, shook it gently, and started acting spoiled. “I don’t care, I want to go! Brother, if you don’t let me go, I’m going to tell Dad!”

Meng Xiayan’s brow twitched. Meng Qining forbade them from having too much contact with the entertainment industry, which was why the Meng family rarely dabbled in the business.

Meng Xiayan only dared to act now because his father was hospitalized.

“You can go, but you aren’t allowed to cause trouble.”

Meng Qiuran arched an eyebrow triumphantly. “It’s not like I have nothing better to do.”

Meng Qiuran went quiet afterward, staring out the window again. Meng Xiayan glanced at her several times, feeling that his sister seemed a bit different since her return. But as long as she didn’t cause a scene or run away, it was a good thing.

In truth, Meng Qiuran was thinking about how to achieve her goal as quickly as possible. It was true that returning home allowed her more contact with Gu Ruolan, but physical proximity alone wouldn’t secure a Grand Slam. She needed money and connections.

The Meng family had plenty of money, but no existing film resources. The Qin family—the original host’s supposed blind date—seemed to have invested in a few movies, but she didn’t want to push herself into that pit.

First, she needed to secure capital, and then find opportunities to meet people with resources.

By the time they reached home, she had formulated a preliminary plan and was waiting for the right moment to tell Meng Xiayan.

Dinner was just the two siblings. Meng Xiayan asked about her plans. “Do you want to work, or do you want to open your own shop?”

“Mhm?” Meng Qiuran decided to test his attitude first.

“Dad and I hope you’ll train at the company for a few years. It’s a good way to meet people.”

“The company” naturally meant their family business. “Meeting people” naturally referred to future marriage prospects.

The original host had said she wanted to open a café, a flower shop, a gym, a restaurant… basically a different idea every few weeks.

Meng Qiuran pressed her temples, pretending to think seriously. After a while, she said reluctantly, “Then I’ll go to work at the company first.”

Meng Xiayan was delighted. He thought it would take a lot of coaxing.

He slid a new card toward her. “Use this for now. Buy whatever you want. Go to work once you’ve rested enough.”

Meng Qiuran hesitated. “I want to go sooner.”

“Why?”

“I have to go sooner or later. Going early lets me adapt faster.” She shrugged. “I’m bored at home anyway.”

She didn’t want to waste time shopping. Wouldn’t it be better to return to her original world and shop with the money she earned herself?

Meng Xiayan nodded repeatedly. “Fine, I’ll arrange it as soon as possible.”

The dinner was organized smoothly. On the third night after her return, it took place at the Qidu Mansion—the most famous private club in Anjing.

Big shots often held gatherings here; seeing celebrities was perfectly normal. There was even a saying in the industry: If you can visit Qidu Mansion three times in two weeks, you’re guaranteed to be a hit next year.

It wasn’t superstition; frequent visits meant you had secured major capital. In today’s entertainment industry, capital is king.

Su Yunzi had naturally received an invitation. As soon as she returned from the airport, she sent her assistant to find clothes for the dinner.

She was still brooding over her loss to Gu Ruolan in Berlin, but she had to put on a generous front for the media.

Her manager, Yao Yao, was going over her schedule. “You’re free next week, so I added an interview program for you. Remember to memorize the script.”

Su Yunzi stood before the mirror trying on a cocktail dress, dissatisfied with her slightly protruding belly. “Do people really just get fat the moment they turn 30? I’m eating less and working out more, so why am I still like this?”

The assistant, Xiao Yu, helped her adjust the dress, trying to loosen the waist.

Yao Yao laughed. “You’re too demanding. Most people couldn’t even fit into that dress.”

Su Yunzi gestured for Xiao Yu to stop. She intended to stay in it as-is. She sucked in her breath, looked at the result, and decided she wouldn’t eat anything the night before the dinner.

“You know who’s going to be at this Qidu Mansion dinner. If I don’t work harder, half the scripts sent to me next year will be ‘mother’ roles.”

Yao Yao smiled but didn’t argue. The industry was that realistic.

“I heard there are a few new bosses looking to invest,” Yao Yao added. “They have deep pockets. It’s a good opportunity.”

Su Yunzi asked, “Besides me and Xu Anying, who else is going?”

“Xie Zixuan,” Yao Yao replied.

Su Yunzi snorted. “She really thinks she’s top-tier now.”

Yao Yao paused. “Gu Ruolan is going too.”

Su Yunzi froze, not even finishing the buttons on her casual clothes. “Gu Ruolan is going?” Then she sneered. “I thought she was too ‘aloof’ to bother with these things. I guess winning an award made her more industrious. Maybe she realized she’s 27 and doesn’t have many years of youth left to burn.”

“It was Director Lin’s favor.”

Lin Chuyu was the director of Gu Ruolan’s debut film. He had personally invited her, which was why she agreed to go.

On the day of the dinner, almost everyone had arrived except for Gu Ruolan.

Initially, everyone’s interest fell on Meng Qiuran. Miss Meng had a “reputation” that preceded her; they wondered what kind of eccentric performance she would give tonight.

However, from the moment she got out of the car to the moment she sat down, Meng Qiuran was quiet and low-key, even well-behaved. She spent the time sipping tea, offering only a few substantive words when spoken to.

Beside the usual investors, Meng Xiayan and Xie Yuzong were the new faces. Su Yunzi and the others knew the true protagonists tonight were these two new bosses.

The Meng family’s strength went without saying. The Xie family had built strong ties with high-level officials recently, securing several special projects. Beyond capital, they could provide ease with future regulatory approvals.

Su Yunzi and Xu Anying were industry veterans; they had attended countless dinners like this and knew how to handle themselves. Xie Zixuan, a rising starlet who had just tasted the sweetness of capital backing, was incredibly proactive. Before the dinner even started, she had already toasted the bosses with a round of tea.

Su Yunzi checked the time. Gu Ruolan was thirty minutes late.

Director Lin explained that she had been delayed by filming and was rushing over.

Several big shots waiting together for Gu Ruolan—this was a level of face that very few actresses possessed.

Meng Qiuran sipped her tea, watching these stars—who acted completely opposite to their public personas in private—and felt the entertainment industry was increasingly dull.

Another half hour passed before the door was finally pushed open.

Gu Ruolan and her manager, Yu Youqing, arrived in a hurry.

Meng Qiuran was drinking tea, which didn’t stop Gu Ruolan from spotting her immediately.

Gu Ruolan likely hadn’t expected the person who was slacking off in a small bar restroom a few days ago to suddenly transform into a member of a high-level dinner party at Qidu Mansion. Moreover, looking at the seating, she was clearly on the “boss” side, unlike Su Yunzi and the others.

Meng Qiuran quickly averted her gaze, putting down her teacup with ease. Then, with renewed interest, she looked at Gu Ruolan again with an expression similar to everyone else’s.

She acted as if she had never seen Gu Ruolan, let alone held her while walking through a dark, foul alley.

Gu Ruolan was indeed a Movie Queen; her expression was unreadable. Her gaze fell on Meng Qiuran like a speck of dust in the air—completely unnoticed.

Director Lin took the initiative. “Ruolan, why are you so late?” He signaled for her to explain. These bosses might look calm, but anyone kept waiting this long would be unhappy.

Gu Ruolan walked to her seat and picked up a teacup. “There was a sudden change in my filming schedule today, so I’m late. I’ll substitute tea for wine and apologize to everyone.”

Since Gu Ruolan arrived, Meng Xiayan’s eyes had been glued to her, a cryptic smile on his face as he drank his tea. But Xie Yuzong wasn’t so easy to appease. Even after the tea was finished, he wouldn’t let it go.

“One cup of tea to brush us off? We’ve been waiting for you for a full hour. A Movie Queen’s time is precious, but our time isn’t cheap either.”

As he spoke, the other bosses smiled knowingly. No one spoke up for Gu Ruolan, let alone helped her out.

Su Yunzi and the others had previously dropped subtle hints about Gu Ruolan’s arrogance; now they were simply enjoying the show.

Gu Ruolan knew tonight’s dinner was complicated, and she was late, but Xie Yuzong’s tone and gaze repulsed her.

Yu Youqing had the waiter bring a larger glass, which she filled herself. “Ruolan had a food allergy in Berlin; she hasn’t fully recovered. I’ll drink this toast of apology on her behalf.”

A full large glass—it was a sincere gesture.

Gu Ruolan frowned, wanting to stop her.

Xie Yuzong tapped his chopsticks and lifted an eyelid. “Can you be compared to a Silver Glow Movie Queen?”

The expressions of Gu Ruolan, Su Yunzi, and the others all shifted slightly. Anyone with experience knew that this Young Master Xie was going to be difficult to please.

This dinner had actually been organized by Meng Xiayan behind the scenes. If things turned sour at the start, Gu Ruolan might actually leave. He had heard of her temper, so he stepped in to smooth things over.

“It’s no big deal. It’s not like she’s late every time. Besides, it was for work. Why be so serious?”

Xie Yuzong stopped tapping his chopsticks but didn’t immediately relent. He looked at the glass in Yu Youqing’s hand. “Half a glass each. Drink this, and we’ll let it go.”

At this point, any further bargaining would be a true insult to Xie Yuzong’s face. Meng Xiayan felt half a glass wasn’t too demanding, so he didn’t intervene further.

Yu Youqing gripped the glass, looking at Gu Ruolan with concern. Usually, it wouldn’t matter, but after what happened in Berlin—and with a filming start date looming—it would be a problem if anything went wrong.

Gu Ruolan gave her a reassuring look, signaling for her to hand over the glass.

Suddenly, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor rang out, sharp and abrupt.

Everyone looked toward the source: Meng Qiuran had stood up.

She looked at Gu Ruolan across the table with a smile. “Is half a glass of wine really that difficult? If word gets out, people will think we’re all ganging up on the Silver Glow Movie Queen.”

Xie Yuzong’s face stiffened. He had been a bit of a bully. Having it pointed out so bluntly made him look bad.

Gu Ruolan frowned privately, wondering what this woman was up to. They had finally bargained down to this point; she would have gritted her teeth and drunk it, but now it seemed a new complication was arising.

Meng Qiuran walked over to Gu Ruolan, took the wine glass from her hand quite flippantly, and then very pointedly looked her up and down.

Gu Ruolan bit her lip but didn’t look away.

Meng Qiuran once again took the initiative to avert her eyes and addressed the others. “Half a glass of wine is boring. We should let the Movie Queen explain to everyone… the real reason she was late.”

Gu Ruolan frowned and said in a low voice, “I already explained, it was the film crew…”

Meng Qiuran turned to look at her. “I want details.”