Chapter 19: Saving the PUA’d Supporting Female Lead (19)

After terminating the contract with the film crew, Tang Qi didn’t move out of the hotel immediately. She occasionally ran into people from the crew. But everyone else who saw her just walked away awkwardly. How could Shao Xin… how could she have the nerve to show up?

In her understanding, one-sidedly kicking someone when they were down was already burning bridges.

“I’m coming in~ I’ve wanted to come talk to Senior Sister for a while now. Senior Sister won’t blame me for ignoring you these past few days, right?” Shao Xin’s voice was soft, standing there obsequiously with downturned eyes. Backlit, she could see Tang Qi’s slightly furrowed brow.

Tang Qi’s hair had now grown past her shoulders. You could tell she had tied it up casually, as quite a few loose strands fell around her cheeks, softening her originally cool features with a hint of gentleness.

This time, she had successfully extricated herself from the whirlpool of rumors, naturally taking her fame to another level. Shao Xin concealed the calculation in her eyes. When she spoke again, it was a pitiful plea and self-serving ramble: “I know Senior Sister won’t blame me, right?”

Tang Qi certainly wouldn’t blame her. She nodded accordingly: “Of course.”

Shao Xin’s eyes lit up, but then she heard Tang Qi continue, “We’re practically strangers. Why would I blame you?” She thought Tang Qi was mocking her, but Tang Qi’s gaze was very sincere.

Luo Xue had run off to the restroom when someone knocked. Only Tang Qi and Shao Xin were left in the living room. Shao Xin set down the plate and sidled closer to Tang Qi. She looked up, revealing her pretty collarbone. Her meticulously made-up face held a faint pink, like shyness, or like seduction: “Senior Sister really knows how to joke. How could we be strangers… Is Senior Sister angry about what I said during the interview? My team made me do it… Ah!”

As she spoke, she pretended to stumble towards Tang Qi, trying to fall onto her. Tang Qi subconsciously reached out to catch her, but then she heard the System screaming in her mind: “If Luoluo sees this, she’ll be angry!”

Hearing this, Tang Qi’s hands moved faster than her brain. Before her brain could react, her hands and feet had already withdrawn simultaneously. She even took several steps back.

Shao Xin had never imagined she would fall straight down. A loud “Thud!” accompanied by pain, and she couldn’t help but grimace in pain.

When Luo Xue came out, what she saw was Shao Xin lying on the ground, and Tang Qi standing off to the side as if avoiding a plague god. Seeing Luo Xue, Tang Qi quickly spoke up, as if making a promise: “I didn’t touch her.”

Heavenly Dao be my witness, please don’t let Luo Xue cry again.

Both the System and Tang Qi watched Luo Xue nervously.

Shao Xin picked herself up: “Teacher Luo is here too. You’re always in Senior Sister’s room. Won’t that be bad for Senior Sister’s privacy? Ugh…” She frowned in pain, yet still didn’t forget to sow discord: “I’m not saying Teacher Luo would betray Senior Sister. It’s just that after such a huge incident, it never hurts to be a little careful.”

Luo Xue raised her chin and scoffed: “Of course I’ll be here. Tang Qi is an artist under my management. You probably didn’t know—as of yesterday, I officially became Tang Qi’s Agent.”

Shao Xin couldn’t believe it. A position as important as Agent, how could Tang Qi hand it over to Luo Xue, who had no foundation? Tang Qi was an A-list female star, after all. This was simply boosting Luo Xue up!

“Senior Sister is really good to the people around her. Could you help your Junior Sister out too?” Shao Xin was envious and jealous, only to hear Luo Xue flatly refuse: “No.”

Their eyes met. For a moment, Tang Qi thought she saw lightning arcing in the air between them.

“Senior Sister, you don’t know how badly netizens have been cursing me these past few days…” Shao Xin’s voice was a mix of coquettishness and pleading, twisting through eighteen turns. Luo Xue sat down directly across from her, the corner of her mouth pulling into a mocking arc, but a trace of worry flickered in her eyes.

She knew Tang Qi too well. Tang Qi was cold on the outside but soft-hearted on the inside. Would she…

“Miss Shao, I don’t think we’re that familiar. Could you use a different form of address?” Unexpectedly, Tang Qi spoke bluntly. She walked over and sat down next to Luo Xue: “I’ll just say this plainly. I don’t need a friend like you. You are…”

Tang Qi paused, searching for the right word: “Too scheming, too materialistic. Being friends with someone like you, I’d constantly be afraid of being exposed by you next time. Miss Shao is clearly the type to bend over for a little money.”

Luo Xue’s eyes widened. Even Shao Xin was stunned.

This wasn’t Tang Qi’s character. Tang Qi was always extremely gentlemanly and considerate to everyone.

“Letting bygones be bygones won’t happen between you and me. Miss Shao needs to take responsibility for her own words. First you push a CP, then you say you’re not familiar. You must bear the consequences yourself.”

“And from now on, please show some self-respect. Don’t go plastering yourself onto me for no reason. I don’t want to see any gossip or press releases between us. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to rip off your painted skin in front of everyone.”

Tang Qi hesitated, then thought of something else she felt compelled to say: “I don’t like girls. Especially ones like you. And your makeup is caking. Your face is full of fine lines.”

“Enough!” Even though Shao Xin had thick skin, she couldn’t withstand this kind of mockery. She glared fiercely at Tang Qi, swallowed her anger again and again, and finally stormed out.

Luo Xue, like a robot, slowly turned her head to look at Tang Qi. Tang Qi, fearing she would cry, quickly said, “I chased her away.” Her tone carried a hint of seeking credit.

Luo Xue blinked: “You chased her away because of me?”

“Afraid you’d be angry.” Tang Qi confessed honestly. “You can tell me about people you don’t like. You don’t need to hold it in. I’ll stand up for you.”

Luo Xue remembered that when she was with Li Chengyu, every time she conflicted with others, Li Chengyu’s stance was always on the other person’s side. He would even team up with others to reprimand her.

She had argued back, and Li Chengyu had been self-righteous and confident: “I’m your boyfriend. If I side with you, what will people think of me?”

What had she wanted most back then… oh, someone who would stand by her side, no matter what.

Tang Qi called room service and had an egg brought up. She peeled it and used it to gently soothe Luo Xue’s eyes.

Luo Xue stared at Tang Qi’s face, feeling the soft egg on her skin. This person had already appeared now. But when would she be hers?

Tang Qi’s fans celebrated for days after her name was cleared. Some people online still made snide remarks. So what if Tang Qi was vindicated? Could lost endorsements come back?

These comments made the previously happy fans feel down again. When they learned Tang Qi’s Agent had changed from a well-known Ace Agent to the unknown Luo Xue, they were even angrier.

People began to foretell Tang Qi’s decline, claiming she was no longer favored by her company.

Some even went to the newly created Weibo of Luo Xue to curse her.

Just as these comments were boiling over, the previously closely-watched film mega-production suddenly officially announced its Female Lead. Tang Qi’s name was prominently in the Female Lead position.

Everyone was dumbfounded. The selection for this drama’s Female Lead had been mired in controversy, with various factions all wanting a hand in it. And in the end, the role landed on Tang Qi.

In an instant, the internet boiled over again. Her fans wanted nothing more than to proclaim it to the world.

Just when everyone thought this was the peak, a world-renowned luxury brand directly announced its spokesperson. Tang Qi’s name once again appeared before everyone’s eyes.

“What kind of psychedelic operation is this? How did Tang Tang suddenly get endorsements?”

“I don’t know either, but that doesn’t stop me from being happy. What were those lost ones before? Lost sesame seeds, gained a watermelon.”

What made fans even happier was that Eldest Uncle Tang came to Tang Qi’s company to cause trouble several times. The company didn’t hesitate to call the police. The whole family was taken away for endangering public safety. Although they were only held for two days before being released, they had learned fear and slunk back to their hometown in defeat.

Following them back to their hometown was a court summons.

With several such bombshells dropping in succession, Tang Qi’s fans no longer had the energy to worry about the Agent matter. Outsiders couldn’t help but lament Luo Xue’s good fortune. Only Luo Xue herself knew that this was all Tang Qi escorting and protecting her.

The original film crew regretted their decision after Tang Qi cleared her name. The Director personally came to see Tang Qi, earnestly and sincerely pleading with her, hoping she would continue fulfilling the contract.

Tang Qi also knew she had indeed brought quite a bit of trouble to the crew at that time. Plus, she had already shot half the drama. After some hesitation, she agreed.

The Director left, thanking her profusely. What she hadn’t expected was that the Director somehow found out about Shao Xin’s matter. To appease Tang Qi, he directly kicked Shao Xin out of the crew and replaced her with someone else to play the Second Female Lead.

When that drama finished filming, she seamlessly transitioned into the set of the new drama, playing a Female General who fights on the battlefield.

The filming workload for this drama was immense. Even Tang Qi could only rest at dawn every day. Luo Xue naturally followed her, helping her handle surrounding matters.

“Host, Li Chengyu got the song he wanted.” The System, silent for a long time, suddenly popped out. Tang Qi was rehearsing lines. Her expression didn’t change at all. She only asked after finishing the scene, “He had no money. How did he get it?”

“The Female Lead gave him the money.” The System exclaimed, “Host, isn’t it strange? The Book of the World wrote that this song only appeared two years later, but why is it in his hands now?”

Tang Qi didn’t answer. The System continued rambling: “He rose to fame relying on that song. Should we…”

“No need.” Tang Qi tossed down the towel in her hand. “Wait for him to get famous!”

Tang Qi’s filming for this drama took a full half-year. When she finally left the crew, Li Chengyu had indeed become wildly popular because of that song. An originally unknown little celebrity had suddenly become a nationally renowned singer.

Comparatively, Tang Qi, who hadn’t had a drama air in six months, was much more low-key. She took Luo Xue on a trip abroad, thinking to relax a bit.

She never expected to see an interview with Li Chengyu even at the airport.

When the Host asked him about his most unforgettable romantic experience, Li Chengyu looked at the camera with a desolate expression: “It’s actually quite embarrassing to say. I had a first love in college. She was the woman I loved most back then. It’s just that she thought I was a poor guy and quickly broke up with me.”

“But I don’t blame her. My parents were in poor health. My tuition was cobbled together from relatives. It was normal for her to leave me.”

The Host, also a fan of Li Chengyu, spoke indignantly: “Then she must really regret it now.”

“I don’t need her to regret it. I just hope she lives well.” Li Chengyu’s tone was filled with deep emotion. “But it was also because she left me that I found the determination to participate in the Talent Show.”

Watching Li Chengyu’s interview, Luo Xue was stunned by his shamelessness. She truly hadn’t imagined someone could be this brazen.