Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 42

They left as two perfectly fine individuals, but returned as an awkward pair.

 

“Something’s up!”

 

Xia Niao stroked her chin, then fixed her gaze on the two of them.

 

Eager to uncover the reason, she pressed, “What happened? Did something go down while you were out?”

 

Qiao Huihui replied with a cold expression, “Nothing.”

 

Unconvinced, Xia Niao persisted, “No way. Your face is telling me there’s definitely something.”

 

She adjusted an imaginary pair of glasses and said solemnly, “The eyes of Xia Niao—Sherlock Holmes—are sharp as ever!”

 

Then, Shen Nanqing shot her an icy glare, instantly deflating her enthusiasm.

 

Lowering her head, Xia Niao muttered, “Fine, fine, I won’t ask anymore… My bestie has secrets with someone else now. My heart is broken, waaah~”

 

Her exaggerated whine was a clear imitation of Shu Bailian’s signature theatrics.

 

Le Xingshan, who had been watching the scene with amusement, chimed in with a smile, “I know what happened.”

 

Xia Niao’s eyes lit up instantly.

 

Qiao Huihui, startled, widened her eyes, her heart pounding nervously.

 

Le Xingshan suppressed a laugh and hinted meaningfully, “Just now, Huihui wanted to take a bite of something to taste it, but Nanqing didn’t let her.”

 

Qiao Huihui sighed in relief—only to freeze halfway as she realized the implication.

 

Who knew Sister Le could be so sneaky, dropping subtle hints like this?

 

Xia Niao, however, misunderstood. Recalling how Shen Nanqing often policed Qiao Huihui’s junk food intake in the dorm, she assumed it was the same situation.

 

Avoiding Shen Nanqing’s gaze, she gave Qiao Huihui a sympathetic look. “Ah, sis… you’ve suffered.”

 

Qiao Huihui forced a smile, though internally, she was at a loss for words.

 

The girls made it back to the filming base without incident—no accidental fan encounters or chaotic chases.

 

Then again, maybe they just weren’t famous enough yet.

 

The moment they returned to the dorm, Xia Niao started rummaging around for a basin, eager to tackle that dreaded task.

 

Qiao Huihui sat on her bed, watching the commotion while working on the poster she’d promised someone.

 

The more she drew, the more miserable she felt, her expression growing increasingly pitiful, as if she’d been forced into something against her will.

 

Shen Nanqing frowned. “What’s wrong?”

 

Qiao Huihui quickly shook her head, subtly shielding the tablet in her arms. “Nothing, just a tricky part to draw.” No way could she let Shen Nanqing see this—her dignity would be utterly destroyed.

 

Her expression seemed genuine enough, so Shen Nanqing nodded and didn’t press further.

 

Art wasn’t exactly her area of expertise.

 

But Qiao Huihui found herself unable to continue. Just then, Xia Niao reappeared with a plastic basin from who-knows-where, so she set her work aside and climbed down to watch, planning to finish it late at night.

 

Inspiration always struck better in the quiet of the evening.

 

Shen Nanqing was about to join them when her phone buzzed twice, displaying a new message.

 

The moment she saw the sender’s name, her pupils constricted, and the air around her turned icy.

 

Zhao Wenlu: I’m waiting at the base entrance. You have ten minutes. Hurry up.

 

Clenching her teeth, Shen Nanqing fought the urge to crush her phone. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.

 

Zhao Wenlu, her agent, was one of the people who teamed up with the company’s top star to suppress her.

 

Didn’t this guy usually treat her like air? He only dragged her out when he needed to prove his loyalty to Yu Yao. What was he up to now?

 

She didn’t want to deal with him, nor did she want to see that disgusting person. But with the contract in his hands, she had no choice but to comply.

 

At least she could terminate the contract in two months. She pinched her palm to steady herself, forcing her expression back to calm indifference before standing up.

 

As she headed for the door, Qiao Huihui called out in confusion.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Shen Nanqing replied naturally, “I’m going to the supermarket downstairs.”

 

Qiao Huihui didn’t notice anything amiss and nodded. “Then hurry back.”

 

Once outside the dorm, Shen Nanqing closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, her entire demeanor had shifted—cold, unyielding, and detached, as if ready for battle.

 

She didn’t rush to meet him as demanded. Instead, she walked slowly, her phone buzzing incessantly with impatient messages from the man.

 

By the time she finally reached the entrance, her agent, leaning against his car, already looked displeased.

 

Shen Nanqing stopped in front of him. Zhao Wenlu’s face was dark with anger, but he held back.

 

There were paparazzi lurking around, and fans hiding in the building across the street. If he scolded Shen Nanqing in public, it would definitely be caught on camera.

 

So, despite his fury, the man forced a smile and said amiably, “Get in the car first.”

 

Shen Nanqing remained expressionless, her attitude unchanged.

 

Without a word, she got into the car. The man opened the other door and slid in as well.

 

They hadn’t driven far before his true colors emerged.

 

Zhao Wenlu glanced at Shen Nanqing through the rearview mirror and sneered. “Think you’ve grown wings now?”

 

Shen Nanqing replied indifferently, “I wouldn’t dare.”

 

Zhao Wenlu’s brow furrowed instantly. He hated this attitude of hers the most—someone who relied on him for survival yet never bothered to flatter him, almost as if she looked down on him.

 

He wanted to berate her as usual, but something made him stop.

 

Shen Nanqing noticed this, her eyes flickering.

 

Whatever could make Zhao Wenlu act out of character was definitely not good news.

 

Sure enough, the agent, seasoned after years in the industry, quickly adjusted his expression back to his usual smiling facade. “Xiao Shen, don’t say Brother Zhao never thinks of you. I’ve secured a great script for you this time.”

 

A script?

 

Shen Nanqing looked up.

 

Since when did Zhao Wenlu have good intentions? More like a weasel paying respects to a chicken.

 

The man either didn’t notice her skepticism or simply didn’t care. With a condescending tone, he continued, “Your sister Yao Yao specifically mentioned you and got you a role from the director.”

 

Yu Yao…

 

Hearing that name, Shen Nanqing felt a wave of nausea but suppressed the urge to vomit.

 

She scoffed mockingly. “Since when is Yu Yao so kind? Isn’t she dead set on crushing me?”

 

Zhao Wenlu choked, seemingly caught off guard by her bluntness.

 

Some people—they do evil but insist on wrapping it in the guise of goodwill. Expose their malice outright, and they’ll only grow furious with shame.

 

Zhao Wenlu no longer cared about saving face at this point. He said bluntly, “You really think you’ve made it just by joining a talent show? Stop dreaming. I’m doing you a favor—you’d better appreciate it.”

 

Shen Nanqing acted as if she hadn’t heard him. Leaning back lightly against the seat, she tapped the car window. “I’m not going.”

 

“You—!” Zhao Wenlu slammed on the brakes, his face flushing red with anger.

 

“Ungrateful bitch!” he turned and snarled viciously.

 

Shen Nanqing looked at his expression and suddenly laughed. “What can you do if I refuse to act? Kidnap me and force me to perform?”

 

“Just a reminder—kidnapping is illegal.”

 

Of course, Zhao Wenlu wouldn’t resort to kidnapping. Shen Nanqing knew this man well. Though cruel and malicious, he still didn’t dare cross certain legal lines.

 

Zhao Wenlu pulled the car over to the side of the road, glaring at Shen Nanqing with venomous eyes, panting heavily from rage.

 

Shen Nanqing curled her lips slightly. “Brother Zhao, it’s been so long since we last met. When did you develop asthma?”

 

Zhao Wenlu was seething, his expression murderous. After a moment, as if struck by a thought, he took something out and dangled it in front of Shen Nanqing.

 

Her eyelids twitched slightly, and her expression shifted.

 

Finally regaining his smugness, Zhao Wenlu grinned. “If you refuse to go… you’ll never see this again.”

 

Shen Nanqing’s gaze darkened. She took a deep breath and asked, “How did you get that?”

 

It was her mother’s keepsake—the only thing her parents had left her.

 

But it had mysteriously disappeared last year. She had thought she’d lost it herself and had been consumed by guilt ever since. Never had she imagined it would end up in Zhao Wenlu’s hands.

 

Zhao Wenlu seemed to relish her helplessness, taking his time to savor the moment before replying triumphantly, “Bribing hotel staff—easy enough to find.”

 

Shen Nanqing lowered her eyes. “I really underestimated how low you could sink.”

 

To think he’d even stoop to stealing.

 

Suppressing the urge to snatch it back, she reminded herself inwardly—don’t act rashly.

 

She would reclaim her mother’s keepsake, but not like this.

 

Shen Nanqing asked coldly, “What script? What role?”

 

Seeing her yield, Zhao Wenlu was in high spirits, grinning so widely his gums showed. “If only you’d been this obedient from the start.”

 

“It’s Yao Yao’s drama. You’ll play her maid—lots of screen time.”

 

Shen Nanqing scoffed inwardly. She had expected as much.

 

Yu Yao—ever since the director had praised Shen Nanqing during her first acting role, this woman had held a grudge.

 

After years of colluding with the company’s higher-ups to suppress her, Yu Yao had climbed to the top as the company’s leading actress. Yet she remained petty and vindictive.

 

Now that Shen Nanqing showed signs of rising again, Yu Yao had promptly sent her lapdog Zhao Wenlu after her.

 

But this was typical of her.

 

A woman who slept her way to resources, lacking any real acting talent yet jealous of anyone more capable. The moment someone outshone her, she would cut them down, keeping them trampled underfoot.

 

Shen Nanqing glanced at Zhao Wenlu again, feeling nothing but disgust.

 

That Yu Yao would even debase herself to win over such a repulsive man spoke volumes about how low she truly was.

 

As Zhao Wenlu turned the car around, Shen Nanqing asked, “How long will filming take? I still have a contract with Qiaohua to fulfill.”

 

Actually, if they wanted to suppress Shen Nanqing, making her withdraw from the competition would be the best method. But that was nearly impossible to achieve, so they had to settle for the next best option—having Shen Nanqing play a supporting role to Yu Yao, further tarnishing her image.

 

Withdrawal was out of the question. Qiaohua wouldn’t just stand by and watch their second-place contestant, whom they had heavily promoted, suddenly disappear.

 

Zhao Wenlu said, “Don’t you have a week? It’ll only take five days to shoot.”

 

After all, it was just a minor role—the kind that would be written off quickly.

 

As they spoke, the car arrived at the entrance of the filming location. He stopped and said to Shen Nanqing, “Go back and pack your things. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.”