Chapter 77

After finishing her scenes, Kong Xiyan returned to the dressing room. She changed clothes and sat on a stool to remove her makeup while Fu Qiu asked beside her, "Sister Kong, want something to eat to tide you over?"

She hadn't eaten much at lunch, and although she'd soon be heading to the wrap party, Fu Qiu worried she might get hungry.

"No need."

Kong Xiyan playfully winked at Fu Qiu. "We're going to the wrap party soon. I need to save my appetite to eat my fill there."

Fu Qiu turned away and didn't see Kong Xiyan's expression, but Gu Ling glanced over and caught it clearly. Her bright eyes crinkled with a smile, and she quietly looked away.

Since each of them had their own car, Kong Xiyan planned to head to the hotel first after removing her makeup. Just as she was about to get in, Gu Ling jogged over from behind and asked with a slight smile, "Mind if I join you?"

Kong Xiyan looked at her curiously, and Gu Ling explained, "I gave my car to the staff."

The assistant behind Gu Ling muttered under her breath, "You gave it up voluntarily."

Her faint voice wasn't heard. Kong Xiyan smiled at Gu Ling. "Get in."

Gu Ling bent down and got into the car. There were two rows of seats inside. Originally, Kong Xiyan and Fu Qiu were sitting together, but after getting in, Gu Ling said to Fu Qiu, "Sorry, I get carsick easily; would it be okay if I sat a bit more toward the front?"

Fu Qiu, puzzled, looked at her somewhat pale face and nodded. "Sure."

The two assistants sat side by side in the very back.

Gu Ling sat beside Kong Xiyan and turned her head. "Thanks."

Kong Xiyan shook her head lightly. "It's nothing."

Gu Ling: "Any plans for what's next?"

Kong Xiyan was slightly surprised, then quickly recovered. "Nothing much. I'll rest for a while and see."

Gu Ling looked at her thoughtfully, nodded, and lowered her gaze.

The set was a good distance from the hotel. Outside, the wind was biting and snowflakes drifted down intermittently, so the car didn't go fast, rocking gently as it moved along.

Gu Ling was only wearing a thin top paired with a knee-length skirt. Even though the car's heater was on full blast, she still sneezed a few times. Kong Xiyan asked Xiao Qiu to pass the thin blanket from the back, and when she received it, she draped it over Gu Ling.

Having stayed up all night and endured the cold wind for so long, Gu Ling didn't look well. Her face was pale and faintly weary. She pulled the blanket tighter and said to Kong Xiyan, "Sorry, I'm a bit sleepy. Could I lean on you to rest?"

Kong Xiyan glanced at her complexion and was about to agree, but then she turned back to look at Gu Ling's assistant. She waved. "Come over."

Gu Ling's assistant looked confused. "Huh?"

Kong Xiyan smiled lightly. "I'm too thin, not much flesh on my shoulders. It'd be uncomfortable. Come switch places with me."

Gu Ling: "..."

Gu Ling's assistant: "..."

In the car, Gu Ling leaned against her assistant's shoulder but didn't sleep. The assistant lowered her head and whispered, "Lingling, what are you thinking about?"

Gu Ling murmured, "I'm wondering whether it's easier to get a thinner assistant or to get you to lose weight."

Assistant: "..."

What's wrong with being chubby? Don't I have rights? Is being thin the only way to go?!

She roared internally, then silently glanced back at Kong Xiyan's curvy figure and swallowed. Being thin really was the way to go.

An hour later, they arrived at the hotel. Gu Ling and her assistant got out first, followed by Kong Xiyan with Fu Qiu. Not long after they entered, the car door behind them opened, and Xiao Cheng stepped out with a calm expression. His assistant wasn't with him. At the hotel entrance, Xiao Cheng made a phone call, and shortly after, the assistant came running over.

Xiao Cheng exchanged a look with his assistant and gestured with his eyes. The assistant understood and followed him inside.

"Ah Cheng, you guessed right. Tong Yue indeed met with Director Lin's assistant," the assistant said.

Xiao Cheng squinted at the figure already entering the private room. "And?"

The assistant glanced around at the people nearby and whispered, "It's also confirmed that Kong Xiyan is playing the female lead in 'Dawn'."

Xiao Cheng curled his lips. "Got it."

"Come on, let's head in too."

Xiao Cheng led his assistant into the private room.

Today's wrap party wasn't well attended. Because of He Wei's situation, He Lao had barely shown his face recently except when filming, so there was no way he'd attend this party. Everyone else had been arranged away by Director Sun, so only a few came.

Director Sun still couldn't let go of Kong Xiyan's departure. Midway through the drinking, he was still pulling Tong Yue aside to talk about it. Tong Yue deflected every argument flawlessly, giving no opening. After a few exchanges, Director Sun dropped it.

Since it was Kong Xiyan's wrap party, she naturally drew attention as the main figure. Many people came over to toast her. Fu Qiu knew Kong Xiyan had a weak stomach, so she secretly swapped the wine for a soft drink. They managed to send off two waves of people this way. The food happened to suit Kong Xiyan's taste; perhaps because she hadn't eaten much at noon, she ate a good amount that evening.

Gu Ling sat right next to her. Whenever she noticed Kong Xiyan's gaze settle on a dish, she'd turn and pretend to taste it, then watch with satisfaction as Kong Xiyan picked up her chopsticks.

Xiao Cheng, who sat nearby, didn't display his usual smoothness. Instead, he remained silent for the entire meal, occasionally glancing at Kong Xiyan.

After much of the meal had passed, Xiao Cheng suddenly asked to switch seats with Gu Ling. Gu Ling furrowed her delicate brows and looked at him. "Something up?"

Xiao Cheng pointed toward Kong Xiyan's direction. "I'd like to have a word with Sister Kong."

Gu Ling's eyes were clear and bright, carrying a hint of curiosity. "Go on, I don't mind playing messenger."

Xiao Cheng held back. "Forget it."

Gu Ling smiled, lowered her eyes, and a flicker of contempt passed through them.

Just as everyone was clinking glasses, Kong Xiyan's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, stood up, excused herself to the others, and stepped out. The corridor was nearly empty. She walked straight to the far end, and only when she reached the window did she answer.

"Hello."

The window was half open, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, making her cough twice.

Chi Wanzhao frowned upon hearing her voice. "Where are you?"

Kong Xiyan glanced around. "At Jinhuai."

"I sent you a message at noon; there's a wrap party this evening."

Chi Wanzhao paused, then slid his gaze over the scenery outside. Seeing the characters for Jinhuai, she pressed her lips together. "I'm nearby. I'll pick you up and we'll head back together."

Kong Xiyan quickly said, "No need, that's too much trouble."

Chi Wanzhao said, "No trouble, it's on the way."

Kong Xiyan's voice grew a bit sweeter. "Okay."

After hanging up, her eyes immediately curved into crescents, and the corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily. The cold wind from the half-open window still blew in, but she felt refreshed.

Kong Xiyan hurried back to the private room to retrieve her bag. After telling Fu Qiu she was going to the restroom, she left again.

Xiao Cheng, who had been sitting in his seat, thought for a moment, then also stood up and headed out.

In the restroom, Kong Xiyan tousled her long hair, carefully went over her makeup, and finished by applying lipstick. She thought it looked too bright, so she pressed her lips with a tissue in a few places. Only when she was satisfied did she look at herself in the mirror, smiling softly, her long lashes slightly curled and her bright eyes full of joy.

She stepped out and immediately saw a man standing at the restroom entrance. Her expression, which had just been bright, turned cold. She brushed past Xiao Cheng as if he weren't there.

Xiao Cheng called out, "Sister Kong."

Kong Xiyan actually had little regard for Xiao Cheng—whether it was his deliberate attempt at familiarity the first time or his flattery afterward, she didn't like him. He was too slick, and his eyes were shifty, making her uncomfortable. But since he'd called out to her, she couldn't just walk away without a word. She paused, turned her head, and smiled. "Mr. Xiao, is something the matter?"

Xiao Cheng caught a glimpse of her freshly groomed appearance, and a flicker of admiration lit his starry eyes.

Online chatter said that Kong Xiyan's most unassailable asset was her acting.

But there was also her looks.

Although Xiao Cheng had never managed to climb high in the entertainment industry, he'd encountered countless beautiful women over the years. Yet he'd never seen anyone quite like Kong Xiyan—from a distance, she looked like a fairy stepping out of a painting; up close, she was even more exquisite.

He'd actually had designs on Kong Xiyan from the very beginning.

Unfortunately—she never gave him a chance.

Xiao Cheng smiled.

If she didn't give him a chance, he'd create one.

Seeing that Xiao Cheng remained silent, Kong Xiyan frowned. "Mr. Xiao?"

Snapping back to reality, Xiao Cheng saw Kong Xiyan, an arm's length away, looking at him with puzzlement. He smiled. "Sister Kong, actually, there's something I'd like to show you."

With that, he took out his phone, swiped a few times, and brought up a photo of Kong Xiyan and Zhou Sheng. It was taken at the restaurant where they were standing close together, though their expressions weren't clearly visible.

"Sister Kong, you must know what this photo implies." At the height of her fame, if word got out that she was being kept or any other scandal emerged, the consequences were obvious.

Kong Xiyan lowered her head to stare at Xiao Cheng's phone, thought for a moment, then asked, "What are you trying to say?"

"I want the male lead role in 'Dawn,'" Xiao Cheng said. "I'm sure you can manage it, Sister Kong. I'll hold on to this photo for now and delete it when the time is right."

He smiled. "I'd heard for a while that you and Assistant Zhou have an unusual relationship; seeing it with my own eyes at the restaurant that day really startled me."

His expression didn't show any sign of being startled. Instead, there was a smugness, as if everything was in his hands.

Kong Xiyan said nothing.

Xiao Cheng added, "Sister Kong and Assistant Zhou—quite a good match, really."

Kong Xiyan gave a light laugh and raised her gaze. "Xiao Cheng, I didn't want to say this to you, but seeing how you are now, I have to offer you a piece of advice."

"Those who do evil will meet their own end."

After finishing, she smiled and left, while Xiao Cheng behind her immediately turned cold. He stared sullenly at her back with a venomous, sinister look.

He was so focused on watching where Kong Xiyan had gone that he didn't notice two people standing at the corner behind him. Chi Wanzhao had heard the whole scene and turned to look at Zhou Sheng, smiling a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her voice sent a chill down one's spine. "Assistant Zhou, do you know what 'those who do evil will meet their own end' means?"

Zhou Sheng hurriedly stepped back, his back unconsciously tensing. "President Chi, let me explain—"

Chi Wanzhao scoffed. "Go explain that to this year's bonus."

Zhou Sheng: "..."