Chapter 35

Leng Xiang returned home only to realize that she had worn the slippers from Jiang Sisi’s house out with her.

Leng Xiang: “…”

What on earth had she done?

She had been so furious that day that she was capable of doing anything stupid.

Fortunately, it was the middle of the night, and no one had seen her.

Without a second thought, she turned around and threw the slippers away.

Out of sight, out of mind.

A few days later, Shen Cheng suddenly contacted her.

Shen Cheng said over the phone, “Jiang Sisi sent you a package. She probably doesn’t know where you live, so it came to my place first. Do you want to come over and pick it up?”

What could Jiang Sisi have sent her?

With the crew assembly coming up soon, Leng Xiang worried it might be some important documents, so she went to Shen Cheng’s to retrieve the package. Upon opening it, she discovered it was a pair of shoes.

Precisely the ones she hadn’t taken back that day.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Jiang Sisi had done that on purpose!

Shen Cheng looked at the shoes curiously. “Why did Jiang Sisi send you a pair of shoes? And worn ones at that?”

Leng Xiang still had her pride. She would rather die than admit that a few days earlier, at Jiang Sisi’s house, she had fled in panic and forgotten to change shoes, walking out in the hostess’s slippers.

Shen Cheng examined the shoes closely and exclaimed in surprise, “Wait, aren’t these your shoes?”

Shen Cheng looked up at her, puzzled. “How did your shoes end up at Jiang Sisi’s place?”

Leng Xiang: “…”

Please don’t bring it up. Spare me.

Leng Xiang clammed up, which only piqued Shen Cheng’s curiosity further.

Shen Cheng vaguely sensed that something had happened between Jiang Sisi and Leng Xiang while she was in the dark—something that involved taking off shoes.

If the shoes were off, what about the clothes?

Shen Cheng thought Leng Xiang wasn’t the type to wrong herself.

Moreover, Leng Xiang would soon join Jiang Sisi’s crew. They’d see each other during the day and at night, eating and living together…

Shen Cheng watched her for a moment, hesitating. “You and Jiang Sisi…”

Leng Xiang felt a chill under her gaze and declared firmly, “Nothing happened between her and me!”

Shen Cheng opened her mouth, paused in stunned silence, then said, “I haven’t even said anything yet…”

Leng Xiang: “…”

She was utterly at a loss for words.

·

A few more days passed, and Luxury Goods officially began filming. Leng Xiang received the notice to join the crew.

Luxury Goods was an urban light comedy, unlike the ancient wuxia style of Youth Tour, which required Jiang Sisi to drag the entire crew into the deep mountains for three months. The script for Luxury Goods consisted mostly of indoor scenes, with perhaps a few street shots at most.

Since most scenes were indoors and could be filmed anywhere, Jiang Sisi didn’t bother going far. She simply found a studio in the outskirts of B City—without even leaving the city.

Her crew was mostly old hands: assistant director, cinematographer, makeup artist, costume designer, screenwriter, and so on. They all knew each other. After signing contracts, they’d been bored waiting for Director Jiang’s call. Now that filming had finally started, the WeChat group was abuzz with celebrations and red packets the day before.

Watching them fool around, Jiang Sisi tapped her fingers twice and sent out the biggest red packet yet.

First come, first served.

The group erupted in wails of despair from those who got nothing, while the lucky ones celebrated—only to be mobbed. As expected from single folks with years of solo experience, their reflexes were lightning-fast. Hand over the cash!

Jiang Sisi watched the chaos, then sent out dozens more, one after another.

The group lit up with cheers of “Thank you, sugar daddy!”

It was the start-of-filming red packet tradition—everyone gets a share for good luck.

Jiang Sisi never cared much for elaborate kickoff ceremonies or press events. After sending the red packets, she had Shiyue Studio post on Weibo with a few crew photos, announcing she was in seclusion shooting her new film. That was that.

Meanwhile, Youth Tour hadn’t even passed review yet, let alone been scheduled for release.

As soon as Shiyue Studio’s Weibo post went up, it was swarmed.

“Youth Tour still doesn’t have a release date! You’re way too dedicated?? Do you even remember you’re a host?!!”

“Welcome to Star is about to forget your surname! Sisi, snap out of it!!”

“No Sisi for months again, I can’t accept this wuwuwu…”

“Jiang Sisi: A boss who doesn’t want to be a director isn’t a good host.”

“Hahahahaha!! Spot on upstairs!!”

“Ew, why still ‘boss’?”

“I think the Jiang family is venturing into business?”

“Hahaha, you guys don’t know? She owns several companies, including Shiyue Studio. Her net worth got dug up years ago—holy crap, terrifying!!”

“She could live a life of luxury and indulgence, but nah, she’s hosting shows AND directing…”

“People richer than you are more talented AND harder working. Guess I’ll forever be a salted fish…_(:з”∠)_”

“Speaking of, Sisi’s new film really cast Leng Xiang as the lead…”

“Leng Xiang was so badass dumping that scumbag! So cool! Super cool!”

“Miss is so cool and straightforward!”

“Miss is super pretty too!!”

“I’ve been a quiet fan for years, but her resources suck—no real breaks…”

“Really? No wonder she never blew up. Such a shame!”

Leng Xiang didn’t use Weibo much, but after the Qin Wen scandal and the headline about starring in Jiang Sisi’s new film, her followers had steadily increased.

When she was at her peak, Weibo didn’t have the massive audience it did now, and her fans numbered only a few hundred thousand—not even a million.

On the day she joined the crew, her followers hit three million.

The new fans loved digging through her old posts, leaving comments, reposts, and likes in droves. Recently, every time Leng Xiang opened Weibo, the flood of DMs and notifications startled her.

Even in her hottest years, it had never been this lively.

But she got used to it eventually.

After years of ups and downs in the industry—explosive fame, awards, and dismal lows—she had grown detached and clear-eyed about it all.

Rising to fame via scandal wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Fire or not, the work that needed doing got done.

Excellence Media sent two assistants, claiming they’d take care of her on set. Leng Xiang saw through it and politely declined, sending them back.

Shen Cheng knew it was her first day and mentioned the day before that she’d send an assistant, arriving at 8 a.m. sharp at her door.

The assistant was Wang Linlin, a fresh college grad in her early twenties with little experience.

She knocked early in the morning, clutching a work logbook.

Upon seeing Leng Xiang, Wang Linlin bowed deeply, gripping the logbook tightly, and stammered, “Hello, Teacher Leng! I’m Wang Linlin, just started this year. Teacher Shen sent me to assist you. Please take care of me!”

Nervous and flustered, she bowed so low that the pen in her pocket fell out, landing with a “smack” on Leng Xiang’s fluffy slippers.

It sounded pretty heavy.

Leng Xiang: “…”

Good thing it was winter; in summer, it would’ve hit her toes.

Definitely a newbie.

Leng Xiang bent down, picked up the pen, and handed it back.

Wang Linlin realized she’d goofed on first meeting her future boss and blushed furiously.

“Sorry, Teacher Leng! It’s my first day—too nervous…”

Leng Xiang couldn’t hold it in and chuckled.

Where did Shen Cheng find such an entertaining rookie?

Leng Xiang smiled. “Don’t be nervous. Come in.”

She stepped aside to let Wang Linlin in. “Don’t call me Teacher Leng. Just Leng Xiang.”

Wang Linlin sat on the sofa, staring in awe. She hadn’t expected Leng Xiang to be so approachable.

She’d thought celebrities were all divas, and from Weibo, she knew about Leng Xiang’s recent drama.

Sure, dumping the scumbag was cool and satisfying, but Wang Linlin had always felt Leng Xiang seemed a bit… aloof?

Ex-boyfriend or not, no matter how trashy, breakups stir emotions.

Wang Linlin had followed the whole melon-eating saga.

She knew the full story: Qin Wen was scum supreme, Yu Shan a total bitch. It riled her up, but Leng Xiang stayed cooler than the onlookers.

Like watching a show that didn’t concern her.

Wang Linlin took the tea Leng Xiang poured her with both hands—warm, not scalding, perfect temperature.

She sipped; it was rose tea, fragrant and refreshing.

Wang Linlin looked at Leng Xiang in delighted shock.

Why had she ever thought Leng Xiang was aloof? What illusion was that?!

Still touched, Leng Xiang said, “Had breakfast? I made some. Join me if you haven’t.”

Wang Linlin nodded vigorously. “I ate on the way.”

After holding back, she blurted, “Teacher Leng…”

Leng Xiang shot her a look, and Wang Linlin corrected herself. “Sister Leng Xiang.”

Wang Linlin grinned sheepishly. “Sister Leng Xiang, you’re so nice—nothing like I imagined.”

Leng Xiang paused.

It had been ages since anyone said that to her, and she had zero defense against such straightforward affection.

Leng Xiang pursed her lips and changed the subject. “Did Shen Cheng brief you on my schedule?”

Wang Linlin opened her logbook. “Teacher Shen did. I’ll stick with you the whole shoot.”

“The crew picks you up at 8:30. Studio’s an hour and a half drive. Arrive at 10, get your room key and check into the hotel. Afternoon meeting, and Director Jiang says dinner with the crew that night—start-of-filming banquet.”

Though new, Wang Linlin seemed reliable.

She rattled it off quickly, then added, “Sister Leng Xiang, your Weibo followers hit three million. Want to post some fan service?”