This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
After receiving the reply, Xi Mo lowered her head and typed, a barely perceptible cold smile forming on her lips. "Terrified? It seems that you will have plenty to fear in the future."
On the other side, Feng Tangtang, who is sweeter than sugar, has been unknowingly trapped by Queen Xi Mo's words. At this point, Ruan Yesheng has nothing else to say but to obediently acknowledge, "This servant is terrified."
She obediently fell for it, and at the end of the message, there was even a terrified emoticon.
The emoticon added a touch of liveliness to her otherwise formal and upright message.
However, when Xi Mo communicates with others directly, she never uses any emoticons, just like her perpetually composed face. Yet, Ruan Yesheng insists on using cute emoticons, and Xi Mo knows very well that Ruan Yesheng is not the kind of person who appears soft and cute on the surface. It's all an act to sell a false image while hiding a sharp and cunning nature. This stark contrast creates a strong sense of dissonance, which inevitably makes Xi Mo a bit irritable.
"Don't send me these kinds of things," Xi Mo warned.
Ruan Yesheng quickly replied, almost instantly, saying, "Not cute?"
"Detestable."
After Xi Mo pressed the send button, she suddenly realized that she seemed to have fallen into a trap of chatting back and forth with Ruan Yesheng, without discussing anything serious. Her fingertips hovered over the screen for a moment, and then she quickly deleted all those messages.
During a break in driving, Feng Tangtang glanced at Xi Mo beside her. Seeing Xi Mo staring at her phone with a seemingly subtle expression, she couldn't help but ask with genuine concern for her friend, "Ruan Ruan, who are you messaging? You seem unhappy."
"Mm," Xi Mo collected her phone and lazily raised her gaze, showcasing her acting skills to the fullest. "It's your Sister Xi"
Another message from Ruan Yesheng arrived, but Xi Mo didn't look at it. She knew it would be nonsense. As long as Feng Tangtang was there unknowingly leaking information, she would have plenty of time to concoct her plans for Ruan Yesheng.
Feng Tangtang's eyes lit up. "Sister Xi contacted you?"
"Mm."
"What did she say to you?" Feng Tangtang asked while her mind started turning with curiosity.
It's rare to see Sister Xi willingly exchange so many messages with someone. In the past, she would usually respond with just one concise message, and if it wasn't something important, she couldn't be bothered to type or engage further. Now, she's giving Ruan Ruan special treatment. Could it be something very important?
"I just want to discuss some matters regarding a new film," Xi Mo casually replied.
Feng Tangtang became excited, and while making a turn, she gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Xi Mo: "..."
"Is it the new film that Sister Xi is preparing for? Could it be... could it be the supporting role that hasn't been finalized yet?" Feng Tangtang turned the car: "Ruan Ruan, are you finally able to take on a role?"
Her eyes were filled with hope, as if this was the opportunity Ruan Yesheng had been waiting for years, and she genuinely felt happy for her.
Xi Mo looked at her joyful face and remained silent.
Feng Tangtang started talking non-stop, "I knew that role would be perfect for you. Even though it's a supporting role, it's a crucial one. Ruan Ruan, your acting skills are amazing, you can definitely perform it well. I'm just a small assistant, I'll just follow along and do my job, I have no say in anything. Actually, I've always wanted to mention you to Sister Xi. You were classmates in the same institute, right? But I'm afraid she'll scold me or I'll end up being a fried squid."
Xi Mo glanced over and said, "Huh? So Sister Xi is actually so fierce, she even scolds you?"
Feng Tangtang shook her head earnestly, "Actually, she's not like that. She has never scolded me. It's just that she always appears aloof and icy, so I'm afraid of doing something wrong and upsetting her. I have to be extremely cautious, or else if I make a mistake, she will definitely scold me. Maybe she'll even give me a red card, and I'll have to go back to my hometown."
Xi Mo: "..."
What goes on in your mind? You're so good at imagining things!
Scolding you, scolding you would be a waste of my time and energy!
In fact, Feng Tangtang didn't have any particularly outstanding abilities. She was hired because she was obedient, had a presentable appearance that matched the company's image, and wouldn't steal the limelight from the artists. As a personal assistant, she couldn't be too cunning or smart, but she also couldn't be clumsy and inept. Being too cunning and smart would easily lead to gossip spreading online, and the confidentiality agreements she signed probably wouldn't hold up. In the industry, countless scandals of celebrities have been leaked by the people close to them. While being too clumsy and inept would invite disdain. Feng Tangtang's performance at the company was just right in the middle, striking a balance.
Xi Mo remembered that she had indeed been competent and reliable in front of her. She could handle assigned tasks well. So, she tolerated Feng Tangtang's overactive imagination and smiled, saying, "Talking about that new film, it's just talk for now. It's not confirmed yet. After all, the decision of who to cast ultimately depends on the producers and the director. If the producers want to push someone in, it involves complicated factors, and the director sometimes can't refuse."
The entertainment industry is like a farm with a wide variety of crops and vegetables. The production crews are like patches of land, each with its own limited number of spots. It should be based on talent and qualifications to determine who occupies a spot, but there are always outsiders trying to squeeze in.
There are those privileged radishes who have money, influence, and connections. They might not even be radishes but something else, like sweet potatoes, and they can comfortably find a spot to settle in.
As for radishes who have nothing or are disliked, they can only find another spot to move to.
Feng Tangtang encouraged, "But there's still hope, right? Sister Xi has a high position in the production crew, the absolute leading actress, and a guarantee for ratings. I heard that it took a lot of effort and a high salary to cast her in this drama. She used to mainly focus on films and wasn't keen on doing TV dramas. Sister Xi's words carry weight, and if she genuinely recommends you, I think it's very likely."
Xi Mo tilted her head slightly, finding the words "high position," "absolute leading actress," and "words carry weight" quite pleasing to hear from this single-minded sweet candy.
"Ruan Ruan," Feng Tangtang called.
Xi Mo turned to look at Feng Tangtang.
Nervously, Feng Tangtang asked, "So, what did Xi Mo actually say to you?"
Xi Mo smiled and replied: "Actually, it's hard to say. Tangtang, nothing is confirmed yet, so don't mention it to anyone."
Feng Tangtang nodded eagerly: "Don't worry, I know that. I won't say anything until it's confirmed. The company also has explicit rules about it."
Xi Mo tactfully probed: "Do you really want me to pursue acting?"
Feng Tangtang was surprised: "Didn't you always want to act? You told me before that even if you could perform under the spotlight for just one scene, it would be fulfilling."
Xi Mo leaned back in her chair, gazing at the fleeting lights and shadows outside the window, and her pupils reflected the splendid colors.
It's unclear whether she didn't hear or if she truly took the words to heart.
Feng Tangtang drove the car into the underground parking lot, and as the car engine quieted down, she whispered, "There's something I've been wanting to ask for a long time, Ruan Ruan. Please don't think I'm being nosy. You were clearly the female lead before, so why haven't you been able to get roles lately?"
Xi Mo got out of the car and stood still.
"Who knows," Xi Mo smiled, "I guess I'm just unlucky. Not the lucky radish."
She could only offer such a vague response.
After all, she wasn't the same Ruan Yesheng.
Feng Tangtang thought she had touched upon something painful for Ruan Yesheng, so she tactfully stopped probing further, silently reproaching herself for being too curious and nosy.
They took the elevator together to the apartment. Xi Mo didn't know which floor or room belonged to Ruan Yesheng, so she quietly followed Feng Tangtang, neither walking too far ahead nor lagging behind, maintaining a casual distance between friends.
Feng Tangtang was ecstatic about the news that Ruan Yesheng might have a role to take, unaware that her good friend Ruan Ruan was just an empty shell, while inside dwelled the notoriously difficult Queen Xi.
She skipped along like a big white marshmallow sprinkled with powdered sugar, eagerly walking all the way to the apartment, pressing the elevator button for the corresponding floor. When they arrived at the door of the apartment, her footsteps finally came to a halt.
Xi Mo knew this was Ruan Yesheng's room, so she naturally took out the key and opened the door.
When she opened the door, she deliberately assumed her identity as the "owner" of the room.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Ruan Yesheng had captivating eyes that were as beautiful as flowers and water, but Xi Mo, being astute and sharp-minded, quickly scanned the entrance. She distinguished between the main and guest shoe cabinets and bent down to open the guest cabinet, taking out a pair of slippers for Feng Tangtang to change into. There weren't many guest slippers in the cabinet, indicating that few guests visited Ruan Yesheng.
Feng Tangtang entered while changing her shoes, and Xi Mo opened Ruan Yesheng's own shoe cabinet and saw the Doraemon-themed soft slippers placed in the most ventilated and convenient spot.
Xi Mo: "..."
No matter how much she liked cute and girlish things, it couldn't hide the fact that the woman had issues!
Xi Mo frowned and hesitated for a moment before stepping on the pitiful face of the Blue Fatso and walked in. Seeing Feng Tangtang in front of her, she transformed back into the female host and said: "Tangtang, what would you like to drink? I'll get it for you."
Feng Tangtang replied: "Just water, I'll pour it myself."
Xi Mo was quite satisfied with Feng Tangtang's response, saving her from the trouble of serving beverages. After all, she didn't want to serve others drinks.
Following Ruan Yesheng's previous instructions, Xi Mo recalled the positions of the necessary items. On the coffee table, there was a document, which was a recent contract for a magazine advertisement that Ruan Yesheng had signed. Ruan Yesheng must have looked at this document before leaving, and Xi Mo noticed that the time indicated on it was approaching, just a few days away, on Monday.
For such a mediocre cosmetics magazine to ask her to replace Ruan Yesheng for a cover shoot, it's simply too much of an upgrade.
Xi Mo found a cardboard box and casually put the document inside. She also tidied up a few things.
Seeing her actions, Feng Tangtang said, "Are you cleaning up right after coming back? You just got discharged from the hospital, take more rest. I still have to go to Sister Xi's place later, so I won't have time. I'll come and help you clean in the evening."
"I'm not cleaning up," Xi Mo replied without raising her head. "I'm moving out."
"Moving out?" Feng Tangtang was clearly shocked by this sudden decision. "You've been living here so well. Why?"
Xi Mo turned her head and glanced at her with a mysterious look. "Because this apartment is haunted. I'm scared."
Feng Tangtang: "..."
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