Chapter 36

Wang Linlin had felt that Leng Xiang was approachable and easy to get along with, and within half an hour, she reverted to her naturally sociable self.

Leng Xiang asked, “Fan benefits?”

Wang Linlin said, “Yeah, just post some selfies, videos, or whatever. Or sing a song? Anyway, it’s all about thanking fans for their support over the years and asking for more in the future—pampering fans, retaining them, the usual routine.”

“That top traffic singer Zhong Xin a while back—she held a concert at the Giant Nest, right? The company wanted to raise ticket prices, but she refused. They forced her to take a bunch of commercial gigs instead, and she ended up exhausted. Still, she came out to comfort the fans, saying it was fine. Fans were crying and cursing the agency for being inhuman, even clashing with her management team online.”

Wang Linlin sighed, then added after a moment’s thought, “Actually, who knows? Maybe Zhong Xin and her team were just playing the ‘abuse-to-retain-fans’ game. It’s all routines anyway.”

Leng Xiang: “…”

Over the years, Leng Xiang had either been fully focused on acting and making money or shelved entirely, so she truly had no idea the entertainment industry played these games now.

Wang Linlin continued, “Besides, Sis Leng Xiang, you’re so beautiful. It’d be a waste not to post selfies. Want me to take some? I studied photography—I guarantee to capture you looking stunning and ethereal!”

Leng Xiang didn’t mind, so she let Wang Linlin snap a few shots.

By a little past eight in the morning, the winter sun had already streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Wang Linlin had Leng Xiang lean against the window edge, sunlight filtering through the glass and bathing her in its glow.

Leng Xiang hadn’t posed for photos in years and felt awkward in the setup, unsure where to place her hands and feet.

Wang Linlin raised her phone. The beauty entered the frame under the sunlight, her dark eyes gazing at the lens—at her.

Leng Xiang hadn’t fussed much with her appearance, but she was still an undisputed beauty.

Her nose was high and straight, her eyes bright and teeth gleaming, her skin radiant as snow—every feature exquisite.

A light blue sweater paired with a gray half-skirt accentuated her slender, graceful waist and perfect proportions, topped with a black coat that lent her an air of elegant intellectuality. In the sunlight, she appeared even more gentle and beautiful.

Leng Xiang offered a faint smile.

Wang Linlin sucked in a sharp breath, screaming silently in her mind.

Why wasn’t someone with a face like Leng Xiang’s famous already? Why!

Was Excellence Media blind?!

Leng Xiang pursed her lips. After waiting a while with no response, she asked, “Is this okay?”

Wang Linlin snapped back to reality, gave an OK sign, and fired off dozens of shots.

She directed a few more poses, snapping away furiously with “click click click.”

By the time Wang Linlin was satisfied, the clock hit exactly eight-thirty—no more, no less—and a knock sounded at the door.

Thrilled with her work, Wang Linlin dashed to open it.

A remarkably tall woman stood there, her height likely over 1.8 meters—nearly thirty centimeters taller than Wang Linlin—and she exuded an aura that screamed “keep away.”

Her brows swept into her temples, her thin lips sharp, her demeanor strikingly heroic.

She carried a domineering presence, like a walking cold front, dropping the midwinter temperature several degrees further.

Wang Linlin instinctively stepped back twice, sensing the woman wasn’t anyone good.

She glanced back at Leng Xiang, then turned with vigilance. “Who are you?”

The woman glanced at her and said flatly, “I’m Director Jiang’s assistant, Tan Ya. Director Jiang sent me to pick up Miss Leng for the set.”

Leng Xiang walked over from the living room.

Tan Ya nodded politely to her. “Miss Leng, it’s eight thirty-one now. Director Jiang instructed me to get you to the set before ten. The drive takes about an hour and a half. Is your luggage ready? I can help if you don’t mind.”

The luggage had been packed the day before.

Leng Xiang said, “It’s ready. Let’s go.”

Within ten minutes, Leng Xiang had her bags and boarded Tan Ya’s car.

Tan Ya drove up front, eyes straight ahead, back ramrod straight.

Wang Linlin and Leng Xiang sat in the back, where Wang Linlin eyed Tan Ya suspiciously several times and whispered to Leng Xiang.

“I just don’t think she seems like a good person.”

Wang Linlin’s whispering lacked any subtlety—her voice was quite loud.

Leng Xiang glanced at Tan Ya. “She’s fine.”

Tan Ya kept driving steadily, showing no reaction.

Leng Xiang found Tan Ya punctual and reliable. She’d just carried a massive thirty-inch suitcase effortlessly, striding ahead without breaking a sweat.

Who knew where Jiang Sisi had found such an assistant.

“Anyway, enough about that.” Wang Linlin handed her phone to Leng Xiang. “These are the photos from earlier. I just snapped them casually, but every single one is amazing. Sis Leng Xiang, you really are super beautiful! There aren’t many in the whole industry who can top you. Pick some—which ones should we post?”

Wang Linlin’s “casual snaps” numbered in the dozens. Leng Xiang stared at the countless images of herself on the screen—each nearly identical, impossible to differentiate. Her head spun, and she handed the phone back.

“You pick,” Leng Xiang said. “Once you’re done, I’ll give you the account login. You handle it.”

Wang Linlin took her phone back and froze at the words, then lit up with excitement.

Leng Xiang’s personal Weibo account! The verified one!

A celebrity’s Weibo was crucial—every word scrutinized, posts handled with utmost caution.

Handing it over for management was immense trust!

Leng Xiang hadn’t thought that deeply. She rarely posted anyway, with sparse activity and little familiarity, so delegating to Wang Linlin made sense.

Clutching the Weibo login, Wang Linlin felt dizzy with resolve. This was her first real task—Leng Xiang trusted her, so she’d do it perfectly!

At exactly ten, Leng Xiang arrived at the set.

The crew was at the Film and Television Base on the outskirts of B City, where most leads lived locally.

Normally, actors with light schedules could commute from home if they didn’t mind. But Jiang Sisi’s production mandated hotel stays for everyone—from leads to extras—no exceptions.

Tan Ya dropped Leng Xiang straight at the crew hotel, got her room key, and carried the luggage inside.

It was a standard double room, spacious and empty of people, though some bags on the floor indicated her roommate for the coming months had arrived first.

After setting the luggage down, Leng Xiang thanked Tan Ya and saw her out.

Tan Ya said, “Rest up. Director Jiang will hold a meeting with the leads this afternoon. I’ll notify your assistant of the exact time.”

Wang Linlin stood right behind Leng Xiang. Tan Ya’s gaze passed over Leng Xiang, locking eyes with her.

Wang Linlin, timid to her core, shivered under the stare and backed up two steps.

Damn, she’d badmouthed her in the car…

Recalling Tan Ya hoisting that thirty-inch suitcase single-handedly, Wang Linlin figured Tan Ya could toss her off the building effortlessly.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. This was the twenty-seventh floor.

Tan Ya said, “Miss Wang Linlin?”

Wang Linlin blurted out, “Here!”

Tan Ya: “…”

Leng Xiang: “…Pfft.”

Holding back the laugh was the utmost sincerity Leng Xiang could muster.

Wang Linlin’s face flushed crimson: “…”

What had she just done?!

Tan Ya looked at her with an amused half-smile, seemingly entertained, her expression softening. “If you don’t mind, let’s exchange contacts.”

Wang Linlin, red-faced, fumbled out her phone and added Tan Ya on WeChat.

Tan Ya left after adding her. Fresh off her blunder, Wang Linlin didn’t linger and bid Leng Xiang farewell.

“Sis Leng Xiang, I’ll sort the photos later and show you the picks. I’m off—you rest well.”

Assistants stayed on another floor.

The hotel offered buffet meals. Leng Xiang ate lunch, napped briefly, and at two in the afternoon, Wang Linlin knocked with her work notebook in hand.

Leng Xiang eyed the densely packed pages. “What’s all that?”

Wang Linlin said sheepishly, “Teacher Shen told me your habits and preferences. I was afraid I’d forget, so I wrote them all down.”

An assistant’s job was caring for the artist, though Leng Xiang had no special tastes—she could adapt to anything.

Wang Linlin added, “Director Jiang said meeting at two-thirty.”

“Where?” Leng Xiang asked.

“A District Film Studio,” Wang Linlin replied.

Leng Xiang checked the time. “Let’s go.”

The base divided into ABCD zones: AB for modern dramas, CD for ancient ones.

Luxury Goods’ early scenes were in a spacious studio room, strewn with cameras and light boards.

This was Su Qing and roommate Jiang Chuan’s home in the script—nearly set up, where the next week’s shoots would happen.

When Leng Xiang arrived, the room was full of people.

Jiang Sisi ran a casual meeting. She, the assistant director, screenwriter, lighting crew, leads, and supporting cast had dragged in little stools, sitting in a circle like elementary kids on a field trip.

Leng Xiang had expected a conference room and felt a pang of suffocation at the sight. This crew hardly looked cohesive—like hand them a melon each, and they’d gossip on the spot.

Had Jiang Sisi really made her past works with this team?

Jiang Sisi and her crew were old hands; the cast and staff were chatty in group chats, laughing in clusters.

Jiang Sisi sat in the center and smiled when she spotted Leng Xiang. “My female lead is finally here.”

Beside her sat Li Guchuan, head of Gu Chuan Entertainment and top actor, who had friendship-invested in his buddy’s film and starred as the male lead. Hearing Jiang Sisi, he turned to look at Leng Xiang.

He had been curious about her since accompanying that poker game Jiang Sisi hosted.

Seeing Jiang Sisi, Leng Xiang’s mind flashed to that night at her place—pinning her down, then fleeing.

And those shoes she’d sent…

…

Calm down, don’t overthink. Forget past grudges—you’re working now!

Wang Linlin found two stools in the corner and passed one to Leng Xiang, who took a deep breath and sat.

Pei Shuang, playing Jiang Chuan in Luxury Goods, sat next to her and smiled in greeting.

Leng Xiang acknowledged her.

With everyone gathered, Jiang Sisi clapped. Chatter faded, silence fell.

Leng Xiang had barely sat when a soft touch brushed her foot.

Looking down, a massive Ragdoll cat rubbed against her, lifting its fluffy head. Those familiar glassy eyes gazed up quietly and obediently.

Leng Xiang gasped.

Jiang Sisi had brought Xiangxiang to set?!