Chapter 374: Ruoxi, Run
Tang Yifei put on a helpless look. "Don’t even think about the female lead or the second female lead," she said. "They’ve already been decided internally. It’s got nothing to do with us. We should probably focus on the third and fourth female leads! Or even just getting a walk-on role would be fine."
The women were stunned. "Sister Yifei, are you kidding? With your status and acting skills, if even you can’t get the female lead, who did they give it to? Did Director Wang hire an award-winning actress?"
"Don’t you guys know what Director Wang is like? He only uses actresses he himself has made famous. He never hires from the outside. The female lead... isn’t she right over there?"
Tang Yifei jutted her chin in Liu Qingcheng and Lin Ruoxi’s direction.
The group instinctively turned to look and saw Liu Qingcheng and Lin Ruoxi.
The two were stunningly beautiful. Lin Ruoxi, in particular, gave off a feeling of outshining everyone else, despite wearing a plain work uniform.
The women instantly felt an immense, heavy pressure!
"That woman with Liu Qingcheng looks unfamiliar. Is she in the industry?"
"Probably not. She must be a newcomer Director Wang is planning to push."
"If she’s a newcomer, can she even act? This is a huge production worth over a hundred million! How could Director Wang dare to cast a rookie as the female lead?"
"Is there any doubt? She was either forced on him by the producers, or last night..."
"Pah! Shameless bitch! Sleeping her way to the top!"
...
For a moment, the actresses were united by a common enemy.
Liu Qingcheng, unaware that her ’good friends’ had already become severely unbalanced, led Lin Ruoxi over to the cluster of actresses and greeted them enthusiastically.
"Hi Sister Yifei, hi Sister Xiaotong, Little Dove Treasure... This is Lin Ruoxi, my best friend from college."
Lin Ruoxi had a cold personality. Not knowing anyone there, she simply gave the group a slight nod.
The expressions on the women’s faces grew even more displeased.
’What’s she acting so arrogant for?’
’So what if she slept her way into the lead role?’
Chen Xiaotong said sarcastically, "Liu Qingcheng, are you, the supposed second female lead, here to flaunt your victory? I really don’t know how you two have the gall to show your faces here after using improper means to snatch the first and second lead roles."
Liu Qingcheng was taken aback. "Sister Xiaotong, I don’t understand what you’re saying. What first and second female leads?"
Chen Xiaotong snorted. "Liu Qingcheng, we’re all old foxes here, so don’t play innocent. I got inside information that the roles for Director Wang’s big production were finalized three days ago. But today, Director Wang suddenly added an audition. How many times did you have to sell yourselves last night? Why don’t you tell us all about it?"
Liu Qingcheng was furious. "Sister Xiaotong, you need evidence to back up your words! This is slander and defamation! I can sue you for this!"
"Then go ahead and sue! Sue me, if you’re not afraid of your dirty laundry being aired in public! It’s not like I have a role in this production anyway! I’ve got nothing to lose! My conscience is clear! I’m not afraid of trouble!"
"You!"
Lin Ruoxi had no desire to argue. She took Liu Qingcheng’s arm, wanting to leave this place of conflict.
Unfortunately, the other women clearly had no intention of giving Lin Ruoxi that chance.
Two of the actresses shifted to the side, blocking their path.
Tang Yifei said coolly, "Where do you think you’re going? We sisters work hard every day, honing our acting skills, just for a chance to be recognized by the audience! But you two used improper means to snatch the lead and second lead roles. Don’t you think you owe the rest of us an explanation?"
Liu Qingcheng stared coldly at Tang Yifei. "Tang Yifei, I’m one of the people involved, and even I didn’t know we were the first and second female leads! How would you know? I swear on my honor, we have never used any improper means!"
Tang Yifei knew Wang Jing well. It was how she herself had risen through the ranks back then, so naturally, she wasn’t about to let another woman walk all over her.
"Oh? No improper means, you say? Then what happens later when the audition results are announced and it turns out you two are the first and second female leads?"
Liu Qingcheng stiffened her neck defiantly. "What do you mean, ’what happens’? It would only prove that we have the right image and acting skills, and that Director Wang has a keen eye for talent!"
Tang Yifei laughed. "As for image and temperament, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I won’t comment on that. But when it comes to acting, we need to have a serious talk! You, Liu Qingcheng, you do have some acting ability. But does your friend know how to act? Is she a professionally trained actress? What has she been in before?"
Liu Qingcheng was rendered speechless.
Ruoxi was not a professionally trained actress, nor did she have any prior work.
"What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Is there any point in playing the saint after you’ve already sold yourself out?"
"It’s people like you who have corrupted the entire entertainment industry!"
"Bitches, get the hell out of here! You’re not welcome!"
...
Seven or eight actresses surrounded Lin Ruoxi and Liu Qingcheng, looking as if they were ready to start a fight at the slightest provocation.
Liu Qingcheng started to panic a little. She quickly shielded Lin Ruoxi and shouted, "You have a lot of nerve! Causing trouble at Director Wang’s birthday banquet—aren’t you afraid he’ll blacklist you?"
The actresses’ expressions changed. They had all been made famous by Wang Jing. If he wanted to blacklist them, it could be done in a matter of minutes.
Tang Yifei said with great composure, "Director Wang is in urgent need of people right now. If he blacklists all of us, who’s going to act in his films? Don’t let Liu Qingcheng scare you."
The women were reassured. Director Wang had three projects in the works, one of which was a massive production worth over a hundred million. He was short on actors, so why would he blacklist them?
"It’s six-thirty now. Director Wang won’t be here until seven. Let’s tear up these sluts’ faces! We can’t let them ruin our entertainment industry!"
"Sister Yifei is right! There’s safety in numbers. We have to make these two sluts pay!"
Liu Qingcheng was ready to take them on, not afraid in the slightest, and she stared coldly at the eager actresses!
"So what if it’s a fight? You think I’m scared of you?"
Without any warning, Liu Qingcheng lunged, shoving Little Dove Treasure hard on the shoulder!
Little Dove Treasure never expected that, surrounded by so many people, Liu Qingcheng would dare to strike first. Caught off guard, she was shoved square-on!
Little Dove Treasure stumbled back, crashing into two of her sisters. The three of them went down in a chaotic heap!
A small gap appeared in their circle!
Quick-eyed and swift-handed, Liu Qingcheng shoved Lin Ruoxi through the gap and yelled, "Ruoxi, I’ll hold them off! You run!!"
The women’s faces changed. If they scratched up this slut’s face, Director Wang would definitely lose interest in her.
But if she escaped unharmed and went to complain to Director Wang, that would be a disaster!
Tang Yifei shouted, "Sisters, grab her! Don’t let that slut get away!"
The women scrambled to chase after Lin Ruoxi. But to their surprise, Lin Ruoxi had no intention of running. Instead, she turned and walked back to Liu Qingcheng’s side, looking at her with a reproachful gaze.
"Qingcheng, what kind of person do you take me for? You’re one of my two best friends. How could I abandon you and run away by myself?"