Chapter 1298
A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return
Li Lei re-established the security system at home and even got Xia Moyan over to check on the fengshui, install a death gate, and all sorts of high-tech systemsâall in order to prevent a highly dangerous person like Wei Lingnan from entering his daughterâs room.
Xia Ling taught her daughter as well. âYou need to protect yourself, donât let someone take advantage of you.â
Xia Yingluo was so overwhelmed by all that was going on, she locked herself up in her bedroom and gave Jin Lingâer a call to vent her frustrations. âI thought Iâd live a good life once I got home, but theyâre all making things difficult for me! How annoying...â
Jin Lingâer was very sympathetic. âWhy donât you come out for a breather? I just took up a new show and weâre starting our filming. You can come and visit me at work?â
âSounds good.â Xia Yingluo was overjoyed. Her good friend was starring in a show, of course she had to show her support.
In a couple of days, she packed up her stuff and made her way to the filming location.
It was on the outskirts of town and Jin Lingâer had to lead her in. âJust find a place around here to wait, you can watch me later.â
Xia Yingluo sized the people up curiously. âThis must be a huge production, there are so many people around.â
The way she looked around got her a few unfriendly eye rolls. Who was this country bumpkin with no exposure?
Jin Lingâer teased. âYou canât be serious, Miss Xia. It isnât the first time youâre at a filming set, need you to look so shocked?â
Xia Yingluo smiled sweetly. âIâm just being excited for you.â Sheâd been to many filming locations indeed, and she even had a lot of fun playing around when she was a child. But she hadnât expected Jin Lingâerâs first show to be such a huge production; for a newbie whoâd just made her debut, it was a good start.
But Jin Lingâer said, âThis is a huge film, but Iâm just a small character. Female N.â
N...
Xia Yingluo had to stifle a laugh. âAre you feeling aggrieved? If you are, I can find you a better role.â
Jin Lingâer shook her head. âForget it. Youâre so much better than I am as an actress, but you just donât have ambition, and all you think about is finding opportunities for me.â She pointed a finger to her forehead. âOccupy yourself for now, Iâll get my makeup on.â
Xia Yingluo nodded and watched her leave.
This was the Du familyâs location and she didnât know anyone around here. She explored the surroundings for a bit and found it boring, so she found herself a seat to rest on. Sheâd only rested for a while when somebody yelled, âWho are you, why are you sitting on Sister Tangâs chair? Leave, leave!â
Sheâd never been yelled at this way before and couldnât help but feel enraged. She looked up and saw an angry man, and behind him, a beautiful lady. The lady was in a gorgeous outfit for the show and was looking at her in annoyance. She recognized this beautiful lady, the queen of films in the last two yearsâTang Yuan.
No wonder she was so arrogant.
This was the first time Xia Yingluo saw Tang Yuan in person, and she couldnât help but size her up for a bit. Sheâd heard Uncle Bai Murong gossip about her beforeâwhen this lady had just made her debut, sheâd done whatever it took to get what she wanted. Sheâd slept with male superstars and directors, ostracized other actresses, acted all innocent and elegant before the media and public... there was so much dirty history about her, but sheâd made a name for herself nonetheless.
The one whoâd told Xia Yingluo off was Tang Yuanâs assistant.
Seeing that she was still eyeing Tang Yuan, he yelled at her again, âIdiot, Iâm talking about you. Leave! Who are you, which department are you from?â
Xia Yingluo stopped looking at Tang Yuan and instead looked at him coldly. âWho do you think you are?â
âWow, youâre questioning me?â The assistant was triggered by her rebuttal. Having been Tang Yuanâs assistant these few years, everyone had had to show him respect wherever he went. And this little girl here was being rude to him? Seeing that the girl was in a simple outfit and didnât have an assistant following her around, he figured that she was just a nobody. âXiao Li! Xiao Li! Look at this idiot here, whereâd she come from? Get her person-in-charge over here now!â
The employee Xiao Li was shocked to see Xia Yingluo in Tang Yuanâs seat too and knew that this wasnât a small matter. Tang Yuan was known to be hot-tempered and demanding; sheâd even flare up if the person walking towards her on the same path didnât bow down to her and make way, not to mention somebody taking her female lead seat. Xiao Li hurriedly said, âBrother Qiang, calm down, Iâll teach this idiot a lesson.â
He turned around and spoke to Xia Ling unpleasantly. âWhich department are you from? Give up the seat to Sister Tang, and apologize to her!â
Xia Yingluo couldnât tolerate how they were calling her an idiot. She kept her cold smile on and said, âIâm sitting here and thatâs that. Why?â
That was when she remembered that most production crews reserved seats only for the lead characters or big shots, and no one else was to take these seats, as they were a symbol of status. But she couldnât be blamed for recalling it only now. Back when she played around at the different location sets, no one had used that rule against her. In fact, they couldnât wait to offer her a seat.
This time, even Tang Yuan was looking at her coldly. She couldnât be bothered to speak to Xia Yingluo, and instead instructed her assistant. âGet her fired.â Given the influence she had in the production crew, it was a piece of cake for her to fire a small fry.
The assistant Brother Qiang smiled and said, âYes, yes.â
He then yelled at Xiao Li, âHurry and find out who she is!â
Xiao Li was uptight too and vented it on Xia Yingluo. âWhoever you are, leave now!â He raised his voice. âSecurity, security!â
The commotion drew a few people nearby and finally, someone recognized her. He tried to fawn on Tang Yuan and the rest. âI know her! She was brought in by Jin Lingâer. Jin Lingâer is that girl acting as the servant Lan Zhi. Sheâs here to watch Jin Lingâer film.â
Tang Yuanâs expression got even more awful. âSo all sorts of miscellaneous people are allowed in here.â
Brother Qiang chided Xiao Li. âWhatâs going on with you, letting in just any stray animal, huh? Whoâs Jin Lingâer anyway, Iâve never heard of her. Sheâs barely a calefare[1] and sheâs getting others to visit her at work?â
Several others began laughing and shooting disdainful glances at Xia Yingluo.
Xia Yingluo got even angrier as she heard them insult her friend. âWhereâs your director, call him over.â
Brother Qiang sneered. âDirector? Youâre asking for too much. Do you really think Director Fang meets anyone who wants to meet him? Get out!â
Tang Yuan was getting impatient. She was about to film her next scene and wanted to sit down for a rest, rather than have Xia Yingluo waste her time. Her other female assistant could sense her frustration and hurriedly said, âSister Tang, thereâs another chair over there. Letâs take a seat there.â
[1] A person who has a small and minor role in a show or movie. Also used to call someone an extra in their group/clique.