The Award-Winning Actress’s Exclusive Favor - Chapter 4

Xiao Qi had a private dressing room of her own.

Since it had been prepared at the last minute, the room contained only a few basic necessities, giving her somewhere to change clothes and rest before the awards ceremony and the banquet afterward.

After bringing Wei Xia inside, Xiao Qi sat down on one of the sofas.

Wei Xia touched her earlobe awkwardly, then took a seat across from her and apologized with visible unease.

“I’m truly sorry. Really. Just tell me what you need—I’ll do anything I can.”

Xiao Qi didn’t answer.

Instead, she leaned forward and took a bottle of water from a cardboard box beside the sofa.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the rustling of the box as Xiao Qi pulled out the mineral water.

She handed it to Wei Xia.

Only after Wei Xia accepted it apprehensively did Xiao Qi ask in a gentle voice, “You’re signed with Hongfeng Entertainment, aren’t you?”

“Mm.”

They were both part of the entertainment industry.

Wei Xia had become infamous enough recently that she was a joke outside the industry and an equally well-known joke within it.

The sexual harassment scandal was no small matter. The abuse directed at Wei Xia had pushed her so high on the trending searches that she had even overshadowed Xiao Qi.

So Wei Xia wasn’t surprised that Xiao Qi recognized her.

“Do you know who I am?” Xiao Qi tilted her head slightly, a smile still lingering at the corners of her eyes.

Wei Xia froze and pursed her lips.

Silently, she prayed that Jiang Yiran would hurry over.

Judging from the scene outside, this woman was clearly a very major celebrity. Admitting that she didn’t recognize her would be… extremely rude.

“My name is Xiao Qi. It’s been a long time.”

Xiao Qi didn’t appear surprised that Wei Xia failed to recognize her.

A smile slowly spread through her eyes, and her voice seemed coated in honey, carrying a moist, delicate sweetness. The soft lift at the end of her sentence brushed across Wei Xia’s heart like a feather.

Wei Xia was startled.

It’s been a long time?

They knew each other?

Without showing any reaction on her face, she replied, “It has been a long time.”

Xiao Qi explained, “When you first entered the industry, we worked together on a drama.”

Wei Xia immediately put on a look of realization.

“Senior Xiao, it’s been a long time. A very long time. I’m truly sorry about what happened today.”

“It’s not a serious problem.” Xiao Qi waved a hand.

Wei Xia blinked.

“Huh?”

Xiao Qi asked, “Do you know why I stopped you from explaining earlier?”

Wei Xia shook her head.

Xiao Qi continued, “I have more than a hundred million followers.”

The statement seemed to come out of nowhere.

Wei Xia had never followed celebrities in her previous life, but even she understood what more than a hundred million followers meant.

This woman was a top-tier superstar!

“So if, under those circumstances, you admitted that you were harassing me, you would suffer ten or even a hundred times more abuse than you’re receiving now.”

Xiao Qi explained it calmly, but the outcome she described was devastating.

“Wei Xia, it would destroy you.”

Wei Xia paused before replying with difficulty, “I caused the trouble. I’ll accept the consequences.”

Xiao Qi shook her head.

“I don’t want to see that happen either. Besides, I’m already twenty-six. It wouldn’t be strange for me to have a partner.”

This woman was far too kind!

Wei Xia had never met anyone so beautiful and warmhearted. Being treated with such kindness moved her deeply.

At that moment, Xiao Qi seemed no different from a fairy descended from the heavens.

“Of course, there is also something I need your help with,” Xiao Qi added, abruptly changing direction.

The image of the heavenly fairy shattered.

Wei Xia replied politely, “Please tell me. As long as I’m capable of doing it, I’ll go through fire and water.”

The corner of Xiao Qi’s mouth curved upward.

The ends of her eyes lifted slightly, making her resemble a sly little fox whose ambush had succeeded, proudly swishing its tail.

“It’s nothing that difficult. I have a variety show coming up, and I need a partner.”

Wei Xia: “…”

Someone as famous as Xiao Qi couldn’t find anyone willing to join her?

Just how terrifying was this variety show?

Perhaps Xiao Qi wanted her to serve as the comic relief.

Other people might not be willing, but Wei Xia could do it.

She could even earn some money to pay off her debt.

Just as Wei Xia was about to nod in agreement, Shi Ye pushed open the door.

The moment it opened, Wei Xia heard Jiang Yiran’s humble voice from outside.

“We really can explain everything.”

Shi Ye laughed in anger.

“Explain? How? By saying she publicly harassed Xiao Qi?”

Jiang Yiran immediately fell silent.

Xiao Qi’s popularity was unique in the entire industry.

If they framed it that way, not only Wei Xia but even Hongfeng’s headquarters would be in trouble.

It had happened in public.

During a livestream!

Shi Ye ignored Jiang Yiran and looked toward Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi and Wei Xia sat facing each other on the sofas.

Wei Xia was staring blankly toward the doorway, while Xiao Qi was smiling at her, her body leaning slightly forward.

Even Shi Ye had been caught off guard by what had happened today.

Yet Xiao Qi could still smile?

Shi Ye had not been beside Xiao Qi for only a year or two.

She had started as Xiao Qi’s junior assistant when Xiao Qi debuted at eighteen and joined her group.

Neither of them had had an easy journey.

Xiao Qi was exceptionally strict about protecting herself.

She never accompanied clients for drinks or entertainment, nor did she fight for resources through personal favors. If a project demanded that she compromise, she would rather surrender a larger share of the profits—and then refuse to work with them again.

But she had been born with everything an idol needed.

She never truly needed to compromise.

Simply cooperating professionally was enough to earn the company enormous profits.

After building a powerful fanbase and proving her immense commercial value, Xiao Qi began venturing into film and television.

Even while her idol career was thriving, she still chose to move into acting.

She was extremely selective about scripts.

Because she had only just transitioned from being an idol, the film industry initially refused to accept her. With few choices available, she selected strong television scripts as a stepping stone.

She had joined her first film without accepting a salary.

The production was poor, but the script was excellent.

The crew had cast her because they needed her popularity to recover their costs.

She had accepted because she wanted an official path into the film industry.

The Best Newcomer award had opened the door for her.

Step by step, Xiao Qi had built her career steadily.

No matter how difficult things became, she had never allowed anyone to take advantage of her.

Who in the industry didn’t want to create a romantic pairing with Xiao Qi for publicity?

Yet whenever anyone so much as tried to attach their name to hers, Xiao Qi would issue an immediate clarification.

But this time…

Why was it different?

For a moment, the room fell silent.

The overhead lights spread softly across the room.

The hotel manager had lit incense inside, filling the air with a refined, elegant fragrance.

“Really, we sincerely hope you’ll give us a chance.”

Seeing that no one was speaking, Jiang Yiran could only try explaining again.

“Don’t judge Wei Xia by how she is now. She actually has amnesia. That’s why she caused such a disaster.”

Xiao Qi looked surprised and asked Wei Xia, “You have amnesia? Why?”

Shi Ye covered her forehead.

“Wait. You actually believe that?”

Wei Xia hurriedly explained, “It happened two days ago. I slit my wrist and lost too much blood. My brain probably hasn’t recovered properly.”

Shi Ye: “…”

Who was she trying to fool?

Xiao Qi nodded in sudden understanding.

“So that’s what happened.”

Shi Ye: “…”

She was fooling you!

Xiao Qi looked Wei Xia over again.

Wei Xia was dressed very plainly today, and beneath her cuff, white gauze could be faintly seen wrapped around her wrist.

A shadow flashed through Xiao Qi’s eyes.

“Does it still hurt?”

Wei Xia moved her wrist and replied casually, “A little. It’s nothing serious. I should be able to have the stitches removed tomorrow.”

The clean white gauze concealed the gruesome wound.

It also concealed the past and the life that had belonged to someone else.

Xiao Qi’s voice softened, carrying a trace of concern.

“You needed stitches?”

Shi Ye finally couldn’t bear it anymore.

“How did the conversation get here? Isn’t the current situation more important?”

The reporters outside were practically about to storm into the room.

Twenty trending topics were already circulating, and Xiao Qi’s fan community had completely erupted.

Could Xiao Qi please give them a definite answer?

“As for that…” Xiao Qi said slowly. “We’ve already reached an agreement. I want her to accompany me on a variety show as compensation.”

“What did you say?!”

Shi Ye’s voice rose sharply despite herself.

“You’re saying she caused this disaster, and then…”

You’re rewarding her?

The rest of the sentence died beneath Xiao Qi’s gaze.

“So for now, let’s publicly accept this relationship,” Xiao Qi told Shi Ye.

“Their situation at Hongfeng is already extremely difficult. If we deny it, they won’t be able to explain what happened today. They’ll have no place left in the entertainment industry, and they won’t be able to answer to their company either.”

“But for me, it’s only a small favor.”

With a thud, Jiang Yiran dropped to her knees in front of Xiao Qi.

“Thank you, Sister Xiao! I knew you were beautiful and kindhearted! We’ll definitely do our best to make this up to you.”

Shi Ye raised her head toward the ceiling and released a long breath.

Two unknown nobodies.

What could they possibly use to compensate Xiao Qi?

A deep sense of helplessness spread through her, like watching her carefully raised cabbage get devoured by a pig.

Xiao Qi, however, seemed to respond well to Jiang Yiran’s flattery.

“Mm. As for the variety show I mentioned, I’ll have Sister Ye discuss it with you.”

Jiang Yiran nodded, almost crying.

What kind of heavenly angel was this?

Not only was she helping them, but she was even giving Wei Xia work.

Shi Ye sighed.

She knew Xiao Qi had always made her own decisions. This wasn’t something she could control.

She could only accept her fate and tell Jiang Yiran, “Since they’re temporarily presenting themselves as a couple, you’ll need to be careful when you leave later.”

“You’re tied to our Xiao Qi now. Not a single piece of damaging news can be allowed to come out.”

Jiang Yiran froze halfway through standing up.

She said weakly, “That isn’t something we can control. Wei Xia, she…”

She had a natural talent for attracting scandals.

Her guilty voice grew quieter and quieter as she turned toward Wei Xia.

Wei Xia waved her hands beneath Jiang Yiran’s stare.

“Why are you looking at me? I’ve lost my memory. Besides, other people can say whatever they like.”

Shi Ye and Xiao Qi both turned to look at her.

Wei Xia immediately changed direction.

“But I’ve always conducted myself properly and obeyed the law. How could I possibly do anything that would give people something to criticize?”

Shi Ye: “…”

She was quite slippery.

Xiao Qi seemed satisfied.

She took out her phone and said, “Let’s add each other on WeChat. That way, I can contact you about whatever happens next.”

Wei Xia sighed.

“All I have left is myself.”

She didn’t even know what else she could offer as compensation.

Xiao Qi replied calmly,

“That’s enough.”

Wei Xia: “…”