Chapter 25

Leng Xiang woke up from her sleep with a splitting headache.

She glanced at her surroundings. This should be one of the hotel rooms above Black Pool Bar.

Leng Xiang lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for three minutes before covering her head with her hands.

This was the second time she had lain here.

She vaguely remembered getting drunk again, slumping over the bar counter and mumbling something incoherently.

She recalled the glaring lights at the bar that stung her eyes a little. Then, a woman had scooped her up into her arms. The woman’s body felt very soft, but her arms were strong, and she walked steadily. Being held like that felt so comfortable that Leng Xiang kept nuzzling against her.

And the only woman present at the time seemed to have been the Black Pool Boss.

What on earth had she done last night…

Did she have a habit of rubbing up against people whenever she got drunk?

Leng Xiang threw off the covers. Only her outer coat had been removed and tossed onto the bed; her other clothes were still on properly, untouched.

Aside from her head feeling like it was about to explode, there was no other discomfort on her body.

Leng Xiang grabbed a handful of her own hair. What was she thinking? Did she assume everyone was like Jiang Sisi?

Leng Xiang climbed out of bed and saw a box of medicine and a glass of water on the bedside table. The water had already gone completely cold.

It looked like the person who had prepared the medicine and water for her had left a long time ago.

There was a small note under the glass, written in beautiful handwriting.

“You got drunk last night. You might have a headache when you wake up in the morning. Take some medicine—it’ll make you feel better. Drink more water.”

The note was signed with the four characters “Black Pool Boss.”

It seemed the Black Pool Boss had indeed brought her up here and taken care of her.

Only then did Leng Xiang realize her throat was hoarse and parched. She swallowed the medicine, fiddled with the patterns on the glass for a bit, then sipped the water slowly until it was gone before setting the glass back on the bedside table.

The Black Pool Boss was really a nice person. Which bar owner these days would clean up after a drunk customer like this?

Leng Xiang thought of those lips revealed beneath the silver mask. Whenever the Black Pool Boss smiled, it always gave her a subtle sense of familiarity.

The Black Pool Boss also seemed a bit taller than her.

Next time she went to Black Pool, she really ought to thank her properly.

Leng Xiang took a shower and left the hotel room, returning to Shen Cheng’s apartment.

Shen Cheng was just about to head out and ran into her right as she arrived.

This was the second time she had stayed out all night, but Shen Cheng was much calmer about it than last time.

Before leaving the night before, Leng Xiang had texted Shen Cheng that she was going out to relax and might come back late.

When Shen Cheng got home that evening and saw Leng Xiang still wasn’t back, she thought for a moment and called Black Pool Bar to check. The Black Pool Boss had personally told her that Leng Xiang was drunk but resting upstairs with no major issues.

Word had it that the Black Pool Boss was very reliable, with extensive connections in the industry.

Since the boss herself had said so, Shen Cheng felt reassured.

Seeing her, Shen Cheng said, “You’re back.”

Leng Xiang hummed in response. Shen Cheng seemed to remember something and called out to her. “Oh, right—Shiyue Studio sent over a script for you. Take a look at it. I’ll forward it to your email later.”

Shen Cheng paused, then asked, “A couple days ago, Jiang Sisi said she wanted you for the female lead in her new film—is that true?”

A while back, news that Leng Xiang would star as the female lead in Jiang Sisi’s new movie had spread like wildfire, so naturally Shen Cheng had heard about it. When she got back, she asked Leng Xiang what was going on, and Leng Xiang could only recount how Yu Shan had provoked her during the TV station audition and how Jiang Sisi had stepped in to help.

Shen Cheng had been thrilled right away, saying it was a golden opportunity for her comeback.

Leng Xiang couldn’t exactly say it was because Jiang Sisi had slept with her by some stroke of luck, gotten addicted, and now wanted her body again.

Leng Xiang had vaguely explained that Jiang Sisi was just helping her out and that it was a joke.

Shen Cheng didn’t buy it. Jiang Sisi was a renowned director—her words carried weight. Could a joke really make headlines on Weibo?

Leng Xiang told her not to worry about it, that she knew how to handle it, and to just go do what she needed to.

But now the script had been sent to her email. That couldn’t be a joke, could it?

Leaking a script ahead of time was a big deal. If this wasn’t set in stone, there’s no way they would have sent it to her.

Shen Cheng changed her shoes, opened the door, and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, she said, “Come to think of it, I just remembered—the thing with Yu Shan got resolved so quickly. That must’ve been Jiang Sisi pulling strings too, right?”

Qin Wen was a traffic star, after all, and Excellence Media wanted to promote Yu Shan. In that situation, even she hadn’t dared to intervene.

Who in the entire entertainment industry could turn the tables so completely for Leng Xiang, who had been at such a disadvantage?

Leng Xiang said, “Yeah, it was her.”

Shen Cheng replied, “I just feel like something’s off with Jiang Sisi. You two didn’t have any prior connections—why is she suddenly helping you so much?”

Shen Cheng smiled and added, “It couldn’t be that she suddenly watched one of your movies, thought you had amazing talent, and decided to nurture you, right?”

As if something that good would happen.

Leng Xiang said nothing.

Shen Cheng had been an agent for so many years; she knew all about the messy side of the entertainment industry.

She also knew Jiang Sisi’s reputation—her preference for women. If she had taken a liking to Leng Xiang…

Shen Cheng glanced back at Leng Xiang, who stood there quietly, more beautiful than most female stars nowadays.

But her backbone was stiff.

This kind of beauty who wasn’t obedient enough always piqued certain people’s interest.

It wouldn’t be strange if Jiang Sisi had her sights set on Leng Xiang.

Shen Cheng continued, “Jiang Sisi’s crews are notoriously strict and demanding—they really elevate an actor’s status. Plenty of actors go in and come out transformed.”

“Even if you don’t get the lead, playing a supporting female role wouldn’t be a loss.”

Shen Cheng was about to leave but suddenly turned back. “That said, I don’t know why Jiang Sisi is suddenly helping you like this. But if it’s something you don’t want to do, then don’t.”

“You still have me. Don’t worry—we’re not at a dead end yet.”

Shen Cheng stood at the door and said to her, “I’m off to work.”

Leng Xiang was home alone, and the clock hands gradually approached nine o’clock.

Sure enough, Shen Cheng forwarded her an email with the script attached.

For Jiang Sisi, that phone call Leng Xiang had made that afternoon was a signal.

A signal that the deal was done.

And now Jiang Sisi sending the script over was also a reminder.

She stared at the script attachment on her computer, flipped through a couple of pages, sat on the sofa for a while, and finally decided to head out.

No matter what, what had to come would come. She needed to talk to Jiang Sisi.