Chapter 2: Xiao Qu Doesn't Intend To Steal Your Female Lead

Opening the latest issue of the fashion magazine, Qu Xizhi's heroic attire occupied all the pages of the magazine. On the cover, Qu Xizhi is wearing a men's French shirt. The meticulous cuffs and neckline made her look very dignified. Although the heavy smoky makeup and dark red lips all suggest that she is a genuine woman, the picture of her slim smoky gray tube style horse pants tucked into the knee-length black British high boots, slender figure and the faint smile on her lips made her look very handsome.

A knock on the door made Zhao Ling set the magazine aside. Without lifting her head, she said 'come in' and lowered her head blankly to look at the computer.

Gu Xizhi walked in wearing a dark green suit and high heels of the same color, the clear dark circles under her eyes after insomnia were fully exposed on fair skin. She stepped on the red carpet and sat down in front of Zhao Ling, and casually put the reddish-brown saddle bag aside, "Director Zhao, you asked for me?"

Zhao Ling handed a dozen of materials on her left hand to Gu Xizhi together with the fashion magazine just now, "Take a look at her appearance in men's clothing, and then tell me your opinion." Gu Xizhi took the magazine curiously, but twitched at the sight of the woman's face in the magazine.

It's her again! Why does she see this unlucky woman everywhere she goes?

Yes, she admits that Qu Xizhi is very good-looking, even prettier than her. She also admits that Qu Xizhi is very popular, much more popular than her. It is reasonable for her to be liked, but does no one think about her feelings? 

She is already very frustrated. Is it really necessary to let this person appear in front of her all the time to provoke her?

Gu Xizhi stretched out her finger to caress the person on the cover, took a closer look and pushed the magazine back to Zhao Ling, "It's so-so, what's wrong?"

Zhao Ling was startled, raising her eyebrows, "So-so?

Gu Xizhi spoke boldly, "Probably because her image of Su Daji is too successful, I can only think of a vixen when I see her, she's the same even in men's clothing."

Gu Xizhi knew that she had lied shamelessly again. Qu Xizhi was born in a wealthy family, and her different family education gave her the good manners of the upper class. Although her appearance is too beautiful to look coquettish, her own temperament is actually very elegant and noble, which is even more apparent when she is dressed as a man.

In the entertainment industry where there are so many beauties, all types are breathtakingly beautiful, and it is not for nothing that she is called the number one beauty among so many beauties.

Zhao Ling put away the magazine, and said in a neutral tone, "But Director Jiang thought she looked pretty good and decided to use her in "Wangchuan River".

Gu Xizhi couldn't understand the connection between this incident and her magazine photo, but when she heard that she had robbed her project again, she immediately stood up, "What did you say?

"I prepared for half a year for this TV series, if they like to change people, will they just change people?"

"Sit down first." Zhao Ling leaned on the dark brown sofa and looked at her calmly, "Xiao Qu doesn't intend to steal your female lead role, Director Jiang wanted to use her to play the role of male lead, and it just so happened that this is a great challenge for Xiao Qu and she is also willing to give it a try."

Gu Xizhi heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that she had retained the role of the female lead, dragged the documents in her hand and sat back on the sofa, with a look of fatigue and fear in her eyes.

After about two seconds, Gu Xizhi suddenly raised her head to look at Zhao Ling, almost bouncing off the chair. Her expression was rich and agitated, "Did you say she is playing the leading role?"

Zhao Ling gestured to the material in her hand with her mouth, "That is the draft of the proposal."

Gu Xizhi didn't even look at it, "No, I don't agree with this."

Zhao Ling kept twirling the pen in her hand and leaned on the sofa casually looking at her, "But the matter has been settled."

"Then I will resign from this role." As firmly as before, "In short, I will not act with her, let alone act opposite her."

Zhao Ling glanced at her lightly, leaned over and put down the pen in her hand, motioned Gu Xizhi to sit down, "Don't worry, think about this carefully."

Gu Xizhi hesitated as she looked at Zhao Ling, who was not in a hurry either. Instead, the woman slowly picked up the teapot on the tea plate and poured her a glass of tea.

Gu Xizhi took the tea, Zhao Ling leaned back in the chair, and said without any haste, "Actually, if you really don't want to act, I won't force you. After all, there are still many people who want to play this role, and you just lost the best actress, maybe you don't need such a role."

Gu Xizhi was taken aback, "Are you threatening me?"

"Threats are too serious. You know that Director Jiang can push you out. Since you have been preparing for so long, don't back down easily. Show some professionalism. If you can't do this or that, then you'll never come at par with Xiao Qu.

Gu Xizhi's hand holding the teacup froze slightly, and obvious injuries flashed across her dark eyes.

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=1849307This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

If anyone has been compared with another very outstanding person for five years, then they should know how Gu Xizhi feels at this time.

In a place like the entertainment circle, everyone hopes to be on the front line all the time. Gu Xizhi has worked hard for five years, but she is a second-tier star that is often forgotten by the audience. She is compared to Qu Xizhi, who's popular all over the nation. She can bear others saying that she is not as good as Qu Xizhi, can bear others saying that she is not as popular as Qu Xizhi now, but can't bear others saying that she will never be as good as Qu Xizhi.

That person is just a coquettish vixen, why can't she be compared to her, an upright professional actor?

But, to let her have an emotional scene with that woman... Gu Xizhi only felt that there was a lot of anger in her heart, but she couldn't vent it.

After drinking all the tea in her hand in one gulp, Gu Xizhi leaned over, picked up her saddle bag and wrapped herself up. She stepped on her dark green, 10-centimeter high heels and turned away with only one sentence, "Give me three days to think about it."

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T/N: This is the 2023 version, minimal changes so far. Author changed cigarettes to tea, and 12-cm heels to 10.