Bab 17: 015, There are always treacherous subjects watching me!_1
Noon, 12 p.m.
Chu Liangxia, who had been studying videos, was forcefully dragged by Lun Yi to the cafeteria to replenish her energy.
Her eyes were sore from the research, and it was indeed a good time to catch her breath.
The station's food had always been excellent, and even someone as picky as Chu Liangxia had nothing to say about the cafeteria uncle.
Lun Yi learned halfway through that Qin Yajun had finished recording her program, so she decisively ditched Chu Liangxia to go find her. Helplessly, Chu Liangxia had to get two servings of food.
Arriving a bit late, the cafeteria was already packed. Chu Liangxia found two more secluded spots, only to realize that Lou Yingying and her good friend were sitting at the next table.
No sooner had she sat down than she heard them gossiping.
And they were gossiping about an acquaintance.
"The second female lead in 'Eclipse of the Heart' is that Du Wenyin, right? I saw her today, she was recording a program with Sister Qin."
"I've heard of her. It's said she graduated from the arts college, debuted in her senior year, and for two years she's been on the fringes of the 18th tier. But she must have a strong background. She got famous from the 'Eclipse of the Heart' promotion."
"Pfft, the original second female lead for 'Eclipse of the Heart' was supposed to be the popular Zizhuo Xi. Although Zizhuo Xi is quite an acquired taste, her acting is solid and she has lots of fans. Now the role has been snatched away by Du Wenyin, who doesn't have any works to her name... hehe, the onlookers are all waiting to see her acting skills."
Lou Yingying chuckled lightly, adding meaningfully, "Who can blame her when she's willing to go all out? For the sake of a role, she can do anything."
Hearing this, Chu Liangxia paused in her meal, the corner of her eye sweeping over Lou Yingying's delicate face.
Sour grapes, eh...
This must be the scene they're talking about.
Anyway, it had nothing to do with her, and Chu Liangxia leisurely looked away, intending to continue her meal, but unexpectedly caught sight of a figure approaching from that direction.
The person in question was the center of the next table's topic, Du Wenyin.
Du Wenyin had a good foundation; her appearance might not stand out in the industry, but it was above average. She had an aura cultivated from a privileged environment, and even a simple knitted sweater worn on her stood out in the cafeteria.
Seeing her carrying her tray of food closer, the people at the next table silently closed their mouths.
After all, they were only bold enough to speak behind her back, not to her face.
Du Wenyin walked over slowly, after casting a cold glance at the next table, she headed straight for Chu Liangxia and approached the empty seat in front of her.
"This seat is taken."
Lifting her eyelids slightly, Chu Liangxia spoke in a calm tone.
With a small smile on her lips, Du Wenyin directly pushed aside the food on the table and placed her own tray down, then sat opposite her.
"The person isn't here, taking up space is just wasteful."
Meeting Chu Liangxia's cool gaze, Du Wenyin spoke provocatively.
Chu Liangxia looked at her for a moment and then at the meal she had left for Lun Yi. She didn't rise to Du Wenyin's bait and instead quietly continued eating her own meal.
"You've become more and more tolerant, haven't you?"
Leaning back lazily, legs crossed, Du Wenyin speared some vegetables with her chopsticks, her voice laced with obvious scorn.
Chu Liangxia didn't engage, she didn't even look at her.
Du Wenyin, Chu Liangxia's cousin and the daughter of Chu Yunxiao's sister, had grown up together, but their relationship was always poor and strained.
Such an exchange of cold jeers and sneers was not a new experience for Chu Liangxia.
"I heard you're friends with Zizhuo Xi." Regardless of Chu Liangxia's reaction, Du Wenyin continued.
Chu Liangxia paused slightly in her actions.
Zizhuo Xi was indeed her friend, and they were quite close.
Both of them were graduates of the film academy; Zizhuo Xi was a year ahead of her, and they both shared a passion for photography and met at the same photography club. Because they got along well, they subsequently spent a lot of time together. Zizhuo Xi entered the entertainment industry four years ago. With good looks and a strong presence, coupled with solid acting and well-chosen scripts, she rose to fame quickly. Just one year after graduation, she was already being considered for lead actress roles.
"I didn't steal her role," Du Wenyin stated coldly, her gaze fixed on Chu Liangxia.
It seemed like a defense, yet sounded more like an assertion.
"I know," replied Chu Liangxia impassively.
"You know?"
Looking up at her, Chu Liangxia's eyes conveyed a firmer certainty, "The roles she wants, you cannot snatch away."
"Heh," Du Wenyin let out a scoff, anger exploding from the depths of her eyes, "You seem quite pleased to hear them slander me."
"Not pleased, per se," Chu Liangxia lightly curved her lips, yet spoke the blunt truth, "but certainly relieved."
"Well, I have some less comforting news for you," the expression on Du Wenyin's face changed abruptly, her eyes darkened with mockery, "You might not be aware, but your dear stepmother just found out she's pregnant this morning."
"Does that concern me?"
Chu Liangxia tilted her head, seemingly indifferent.
"If you're not coming back to the Chu Family, then indeed it doesn't concern you."
Dropping the statement coldly, Du Wenyin then rose to her feet.
Fed up and uninterested in eating anymore, Du Wenyin left with cold eyes under the watchful gaze of the public.
Chu Liangxia paused for a moment, feeling the curious eyes upon her, but didn't bother to pay them any heed and continued eating with her chopsticks.
Only, for some reason, she had lost her appetite.
Although she had no desire to return to the Chu Family, such matters were not hers to decide.
Since there was one Feng Family, there would be a second; in these families, marriage served only to maintain interests. Chu Yunxiao had not raised her with all this care just to fail to make full use of her.
Especially a pretentious and affected woman like Lou Ruhui, with the new bloodline secured and Chu Yunxiao's long-standing desire for a son, she would undoubtedly become the favorite. When that time came, her word would be law, and naturally, there wouldn't be any good arrangements left for Chu Liangxia.
Chu Liangxia felt a headache coming on.
It seemed she would have to find time to lay out her fortune properly.
The meal felt tasteless, and by the time she finished, Lun Yi still hadn't shown up.
After calling Lun Yi, the reply was that she was still in line for Qin Yajun's autograph and told her not to wait.
Chu Liangxia, who had matters to attend, didn't have any intention of waiting doggedly for Lun Yi's cold meal. She got another portion of food packed up and then carried it towards the office.
But—
On the way, she was intercepted by a person she recognized.
"Miss Chu, what a coincidence."
Makeup artist Jiang Shan approached her, her smile gentle and spring-like.
Chu Liangxia stopped and scrutinized her for a moment.
After a brief pause, Chu Liangxia's lips curled into a smirk, "It doesn't seem very coincidental."
"I was, in fact, waiting for you," Jiang Shan admitted, the smile on her face deepened.
"Is there a matter?" Chu Liangxia asked in a neutral tone, neither warm nor cold.
"Shall we find a place to sit down?" Instead of stating her purpose directly, Jiang Shan proposed.
Chu Liangxia's gaze flickered with a touch of apathy, "I'm quite busy."
"Alright then, I'll be straightforward," Jiang Shan chuckled and then stepped closer to Chu Liangxia. Wearing high heels, she stood a few centimeters taller than Chu Liangxia. She leaned in slightly, locking eyes with Chu Liangxia and asked with deliberate emphasis, "The Weibo account named 'Yunliu's Summer,' it's yours, isn't it?"
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone