TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 3
by VolareThe next morning, Qi Yanwang arrived at the set’s makeup room early as usual.
But as soon as he entered, the atmosphere in the entire room was terribly low. Xiao Min, from the makeup crew, quickly pulled Qi Yanwang to the farthest corner makeup table, fearing he would be innocently implicated.
“Brother, sit here!”
Qi Yanwang immediately understood her intention and quietly sat down. “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Min looked around and whispered, “Ning Xin was rejected?”
“Rejected? What do you mean?”
Qi Yanwang assumed the female lead of the drama had been temporarily replaced and didn’t guess that Ning Xin’s contract had been rejected.
Xiao Min looked around again and lowered her voice. “Xingyue Media rejected Ning Xin; they didn’t sign her!”
Qi Yanwang’s eyes nearly popped out upon hearing such huge gossip so early in the morning.
Three years ago, ever since Zhuo Huaimo started changing partners every few days, he had devoted most of his energy to Xingyue Media.
With his own resources and strength, Xingyue Media had leaped to become the most powerful entertainment company in the country.
The entire industry was saying that anyone Xingyue Media set its sights on was either a Top-Tier (Idol) or A-list celebrity.
Objectively speaking, in Qi Yanwang’s opinion, although Zhuo Huaimo’s taste in partners hadn’t been great in recent years,
the artists he signed, whether in terms of appearance or overall strength, could all hold their own.
When he first heard that Zhuo Huaimo was going to sign Ning Xin, Qi Yanwang was puzzled and even thought Zhuo Huaimo had been bewitched.
Now that he knew Ning Xin had been rejected, Zhuo Huaimo’s curse must have…
died, right?
As Qi Yanwang was thinking, he saw Ning Xin walk in with a dark face.
*Tzzzz—*
She slammed the chair open, throwing the script in her hand onto the vanity. The entire makeup room was filled with the crackling noise she made in anger, but no one dared to utter a word.
Through the makeup mirror in front of him, Qi Yanwang saw Ning Xin sitting behind him, her face flushed with anger, as if even her features had become distorted, with none of the fanfare and radiance of a “talent show champion.”
He figured that Zhuo Huaimo had unintentionally done him a favor, and he inexplicably felt great.
One of the minor actors, who always fantasized about Ning Xin becoming famous and helping her along, timidly asked,
“Ning Xin, what did Xingyue Media say? Is there some kind of misunderstanding?”
“What is there to say? When I went there this afternoon, I didn’t even get to see Zhuo Huaimo!”
“I think there must be a misunderstanding!”
“I think so too. Didn’t Zhuo Huaimo come to see you yesterday? How could things suddenly change?” the others echoed.
“I called Xingyue Media just now, and his assistant said it was indeed Zhuo Huaimo’s intention!” Ning Xin said angrily.
“Then could it be…”
As they were discussing, the assistant director came to the lounge to urge Ning Xin and Qi Yanwang to get on set.
“Ning Xin, Yanwang! The director is calling you!”
“Okay, we’re coming!” Qi Yanwang replied softly.
Ning Xin, still fuming, stood up with a “whoosh,” kicked over the stool, and stormed out.
Xiao Min gently tugged at Qi Yanwang’s sleeve.
“Brother, be careful!”
Qi Yanwang smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine!”
In front of the camera, Director Du was patiently explaining the scene to them.
“Today’s scene is about the female lead learning that the male third had his reasons for leaving, and after slapping Zhuo Huaimo in an emotional outburst, they embrace again!”
Director Du said to Ning Xin, “Ning Xin, perform well, and let’s aim for one take!”
“Okay, no problem, Director!”
Ning Xin forced a smile and replied obediently, but the next second, she changed her expression when she looked at Qi Yanwang.
Filming officially began. After slapping him again and again, Ning Xin couldn’t get into character. Either she forgot her lines or her emotions weren’t right.
“I’m sorry, Director, let’s do it again!”
Ning Xin apologized innocently while repeatedly increasing the force of her slaps.
Everyone could see that she was venting her anger on Qi Yanwang.
Before long, Qi Yanwang’s face was swollen red, with clear handprints on his fair skin.
“Ning Xin, focus! It’s just one line; what’s wrong with you?”
Director Du had clearly lost his patience, but considering the schedule, he turned to Qi Yanwang and asked,
“Yanwang, can you continue?”
“Yes, Director, let’s continue!”
Qi Yanwang used his tongue to push against his swollen cheek, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fist, and he looked at Ning Xin with a cold glint in his eyes, scaring her into taking a step back.
“Zhuo Huaimo is treating everyone to coffee!”
Someone shouted from the crowd.
Everyone looked over, and A Jian, followed by several staff members, was bringing in coffee, but Zhuo Huaimo himself was nowhere to be seen.
Then, A Jian walked toward the corner of the set. Zhuo Huaimo, dressed in a black casual tracksuit with a baseball cap, casually crossed his long legs on the sofa, having witnessed everything that just happened.
Ning Xin was immediately shocked and almost lost her footing. In other words, her clumsy acting and unprofessional attitude had just been completely exposed.
But even so, she didn’t want to give up the chance to try again.
She tidied her hair and approached him with her sweetest smile.
“Zhuo Huaimo, when did you arrive?”
Zhuo Huaimo slowly stood up, his narrow eyes half-closed, his voice cold.
“When you were doing NG after NG!”
“Zhuo Huaimo, I was just…”
Zhuo Huaimo interrupted her and walked directly to Director Du. “I suddenly came to visit the set. I hope I’m not delaying your progress?”
Everyone knew perfectly well that Ning Xin’s NGs wouldn’t take that long, even if they drank coffee until they threw up.
Director Du smiled helplessly, knowing that this kid was being sarcastic again.
“You’ve come at the right time; give them some guidance!”
“Guidance? Guidance also requires the other person to have the aptitude. What can I do if you bring me a donkey?”
Zhuo Huaimo pretended to be troubled and patted Director Du on the shoulder.
“Use your talent for making things difficult to restore your vision from back then. I remember that back then, not just anyone could play even a small maid in your hands!”
Zhuo Huaimo’s words made Ning Xin’s face turn green and then white, and she bit her lip tightly but dared not say a word.
“Host, what are you doing? Didn’t you choose Ning Xin as your next target?”
“Damn it, I couldn’t help it!”
After being reminded by the System, Zhuo Huaimo remembered the purpose of his visit.
Ning Xin was arrogant, conceited, and vain, which fit his target profile perfectly.
Especially that day, when he heard her coveting Qi Yanwang’s body, he was even more determined to teach this woman a lesson.
He had originally come today to “go through the motions.”
Actively approach her, release his charm, and within three days, the woman would take the initiative to confess.
With his face and godlike hormones, almost no woman could escape this routine.
But unexpectedly, when he arrived on set today, he saw this damn woman slapping Qi Yanwang’s face again and again.
Damn, such a beautiful face; how could she do it?
Zhuo Huaimo was furious. If he wasn’t worried about causing trouble for Qi Yanwang afterward and being targeted by the crew, he would have rushed up and held Ning Xin down, letting Qi Yanwang slap her back!
Beauty was before him, and lust clouded his mind!
In the end, he couldn’t resist, so he had A Jian buy coffee, interrupted the filming, and subtly insulted Ning Xin!
“Host, go coax her!”
“Coax my ass!”
Zhuo Huaimo directly ignored the idiotic System and turned to look at Qi Yanwang, thinking,
“I’d be interested in coaxing this one!”
He took an iced drink from the bag and strode to Qi Yanwang’s side, casually handing it to him.
Qi Yanwang was stunned for a moment, looking at Zhuo Huaimo, not reacting, as if he were confirming whether he was really giving it to him.
Zhuo Huaimo met his eyes for the first time, and his heart trembled. He quickly regained his composure and pointed at his cheek, feigning calmness.
Qi Yanwang instantly understood that he wanted him to use the ice pack to soothe his face.
This man was the center of the storm himself. Every time he encountered him, nothing good came of it.
Moreover, every time he saw him, he would remember the award that should have been his. He didn’t want to have too much interaction with him, so he glanced at him, polite but distant.
“No need!”
With that, he turned and left!
Zhuo Huaimo was dumbfounded. “He left? Did he just reject me?”
“Yes, Host! He rejected you very clearly!” The System added fuel to the fire promptly.
Zhuo Huaimo looked incredulous. “Someone can actually reject Zhuo Huaimo?”