Chapter 18

Leng Xiang turned and walked away, and Jiang Sisi didn’t even have time to stop her.

Jiang Sisi looked at the untouched cup of coffee in front of Leng Xiang’s seat and shook her head.

She couldn’t help it; she had gone too far with her words.

As she thought about it, she laughed again. Everyone said Leng Xiang had a straightforward and stubborn temper that made her hard to deal with—like a cold, hard stone. But in Jiang Sisi’s eyes, this stone was actually quite cute.

Leng Xiang left the TV Station, hailed a car, and returned to Shen Cheng’s apartment.

She had even foolishly fantasized earlier about landing the female lead in Jiang Sisi’s new film, but now even the third female lead role was gone.

When Shen Cheng got home that evening, she entered the entryway in the dark and turned on the living room light. She was startled by Leng Xiang lying on the living room carpet.

Shen Cheng patted her chest, still shaken. “You scared me to death. Why are you lying here? If you’re going to sleep, go to the bedroom.”

Leng Xiang lay on the carpet without responding, covering her eyes with one arm. It was impossible to tell if she was asleep or not.

Shen Cheng thought for a moment, then grabbed the blanket from the sofa and draped it over her, planning to quietly turn off the light and head back to her room to sleep.

Leng Xiang suddenly stirred, and Shen Cheng’s hand paused on the blanket. “Did I wake you?”

Leng Xiang lowered her arm, and only then did Shen Cheng notice that her eyes were red.

There were no tears, so it wasn’t clear if she had cried, if she had just woken up, or if they were simply bloodshot from pressure.

Just a couple of days ago, when Leng Xiang learned about Qin Wen’s cheating and confirmed it over the phone with him, her eyes had only been slightly red after hanging up.

Shen Cheng said, “Since you’re awake, go back to the bedroom to sleep. Lying here will make you catch a cold.”

She asked again, “How did the audition go today?”

Leng Xiang sat up from the carpet, hugging the blanket and lowering her head.

Shen Cheng couldn’t see Leng Xiang’s expression clearly, but she keenly sensed that something was off with her.

She asked, “Did something happen this afternoon?”

Leng Xiang shook her head. “Nothing. I didn’t get the part.”

Shen Cheng patted her shoulder. “It’s okay if you didn’t get it. There will be other opportunities. Go to sleep early.”

·

After several peaceful days, trouble struck.

When Shen Cheng rushed back home, Leng Xiang was still making lunch. Seeing Shen Cheng return, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back for lunch? Why are you here?”

Shen Cheng looked serious. “You’re in trouble.”

Leng Xiang was puzzled. “What happened?”

Shen Cheng said, “Someone is deliberately trying to sabotage you.”

Shen Cheng pulled Leng Xiang out of the kitchen and showed her Weibo on her phone.

There were two trending topics with Leng Xiang’s name.

The first was “Jiang Sisi’s New Film Female Lead Leng Xiang.” This had appeared just ten minutes after Jiang Sisi’s comment during Leng Xiang’s third female lead audition—”She’s the female lead in my new film”—and it had stayed in the top five of Weibo’s hot topics. The top comment read: You’re still editing your last movie, and you’re already thinking about the female lead for the next one? So dedicated! By the way, are you going to leave WTS for another three full months and live like a savage in the mountains without coming back?

The comments section was filled with “hahahahaha, spot on summary, big bro.”

The second one was the reason Shen Cheng had rushed back.

An anonymous account had posted two photos. The first was of Leng Xiang and Qin Wen walking together, holding hands intimately.

That must have been from several months ago when she and Qin Wen were still together—no one knew who had snuck the photo.

The other was of Qin Wen and Yu Shan on set, sitting together eating with bright smiles.

The caption was highly provocative and malicious: “Happened to flip through an old photo I took of Qin Wen. Recently, there’ve been rumors about him and Yu Shan. Is someone two-timing, or is someone the homewrecker? [Photo.jpg][Photo.jpg]”

“One photo doesn’t prove anything! Could be a publicity stunt. Anyway, we support you, Boss Qin!!”

“Who’s this woman? She looks familiar, but I can’t place her…”

“I know! I saw her while rewatching past Golden Deer Award-winning films!”

“She won a Golden Deer Award? Why don’t I remember her at all?”

“Aww, our Shan Shan and Qin Wen are so good together. Who’s this? Isn’t she Jiang Sisi’s new film female lead, that Leng Xiang? Hyping it up before filming even starts? Necessary?”

“Upstairs, don’t call our Shan Shan a vase just because Jiang Sisi said so. She is a vase.”

…

…

The internet was abuzz, with arguments raging in the comments.

Qin Wen was at the peak of his popularity and had a loyal fanbase. Yu Shan, though a newcomer, had semi-public rumors with Qin Wen that had garnered her a small group of fans.

These two fan groups defended their idols fiercely. Qin Wen’s fans wouldn’t admit he was two-timing, and Yu Shan’s fans refused to believe she was the homewrecker.

Coincidentally, there were also several high-engagement “relationship analysis” posts online, all subtly pointing fingers at Leng Xiang.

Leng Xiang hadn’t responded in time, allowing the other side to seize the high ground.

Some said Leng Xiang was using Qin Wen and Yu Shan for hype to land Jiang Sisi’s new female lead role through shady means. Others claimed it was all publicity for Jiang Sisi’s upcoming film.

Most accused Leng Xiang of being the third party, inserting herself between Qin Wen and Yu Shan.

At a time like this, Yu Shan posted an ambiguous Weibo.

Actress Yu Shan V: Qin Wen and I haven’t been together long, but we truly love each other. Whether someone is deliberately stirring things up or what others say, we’ll keep going together. Thanks for the concern, everyone. [Smiley.jpg]

Qin Wen hadn’t made any statement.

Leng Xiang finished scrolling through Weibo without saying a word and prepared to return to the kitchen to continue cooking, but Shen Cheng grabbed her.

Shen Cheng asked anxiously, “What the hell is going on?”

Leng Xiang said, “It’s just what it looks like.”

Shen Cheng said, “Who posted those photos? I suspect it’s deliberate. Who have you offended?”

Leng Xiang thought to herself that, in this recent period, the only person she might have offended was that one.

Yu Shan had tried to get revenge twice but failed both times. In a fit of anger, she created an anonymous account to leak the info, then distanced herself while riding the hype wave for exposure—and dragging Leng Xiang down in the process. Why not?

Few in the industry knew she and Qin Wen had dated back then; she had kept it secret to avoid affecting their careers. Now, even those who knew might not speak up for her.

But there was one person.

Leng Xiang suddenly remembered something and reached into her pocket. That forgotten business card was still there.

Jiang Sisi knew Qin Wen had been with her before and that Yu Shan was the one who inserted herself as the third party.

Leng Xiang stood up, walked through the living room into the kitchen. Shen Cheng followed, growing more anxious at her silence.

Shen Cheng analyzed the situation. “If no one steps in to suppress this, it’ll only get worse online. They’ll paint you as the homewrecker, and it could even affect the box office of Jiang Sisi’s recently wrapped film. What if they blame you for it?”

This had nothing to do with Jiang Sisi originally, but the public wouldn’t see it that way.

Audiences only knew Jiang Sisi’s words were gold. If her new lead was a homewrecker who ruined a happy relationship, using her was wrong—and they’d boycott her current film in theaters.

But it wasn’t unsolvable. Jiang Sisi could just issue a statement that she hadn’t signed a female lead yet, and she’d be out of it.

Leng Xiang wouldn’t shake this off so easily. She was already in a tough spot, and plenty in the industry had been blacklisted forever over less.

Jiang Sisi hadn’t made a move yet, as if she didn’t care at all, and hadn’t issued any statement.

The rice cooker in the kitchen beeped. The rice was done. Leng Xiang brought out the two dishes from the kitchen, her expression still calm.

Shen Cheng fumed, “Can’t you take this seriously?!”

Leng Xiang pressed her into a chair and set out bowls and chopsticks for her.

Leng Xiang picked up some food with her chopsticks and placed it in Shen Cheng’s bowl. “I have this under control. Eat first.”

She appeared nonchalant on the surface, but her other hand was in her pocket, clutching the business card tightly.