Lu Xingzhou’s arrival was out of everyone’s expectations. The outside world only knew that Huanyi’s backer was surnamed Lu and the chairman was someone from the Lu family’s younger generation who appeared out of nowhere. However, not much was known about this chairman.
Xu Qingwan wasn’t clear about this either, not until today. She suddenly realized that the two people that she came across in the garden that night were actually members of the Lu family. In her past life, she had been the daughter-in-law of the Ji family for ten years. Under Duan Rulan’s influence, she gradually withdrew from the entertainment circle after her marriage and switched to socializing with the upper-class ladies and madams. However, despite her broad social network, she was never qualified to come into contact with anyone from the Lu family.
One’s got to know, the Lu family stood at the top of the pyramid that everyone looked up to! Xu Qingwan could still recall how in the past life, the Ji family’s company almost went bankrupt because of a major miscalculation. At that time, all the upper-class ladies who Xu Qingwan had been on good terms became estranged from her overnight. Some people even came to trample over her. However, because of one simple sentence from the Lu family, the Ji family was able to escape from the calamity and maintain their position as the local tyrant of Jiang City.
From then on, Xu Qingwan developed a strong yearning towards this mighty and mysterious family. She once thought about how if she could get acquainted with the Lu family’s people, no one would ever dare to belittle and bully her. If she had the Lu family behind her, wouldn’t she have a better life?
So when Xu Qingwan found out that Huanyi was backed by the Lu family, she had always tried every possible means to get an opportunity to approach them. Unfortunately, the Lu family’s people’s itineraries were classified; she couldn’t even catch their shadow.
She gazed at Lu Xingzhou’s side profile from afar, a look of extreme delight lighting up her face. She had never thought that she had already met the chairman of Huanyi! Xu Qingwan remembered, at that time, Lu Xingzhou was respectful to that man in the Tang suit. Didn’t that mean that man’s status was higher?….. A blush crept up Xu Qingwan’s cheek.
She bit her lip, taking advantage of the time while the vice-director was filling Lu Xingzhou in about the situation to take two steps forward and say, “Chairman Lu, I was just talking with Siyu about the investment withdrawal. You [formal] may not know, the Ji family suddenly said that they want to change Siyu, otherwise, they’ll withdraw their sponsorship. I originally wanted to plead for mercy for her.”
Hearing Xu Qingwan’s voice, Lu Xingzhou seemed to finally notice that there was a person there. He glanced at her carelessly, raised his eyebrow, and laughed, “Oh, is that so?”
Lu Xingzhou’s expression was indifferent. It wasn’t any different as when he saw a stranger. Xu Qingwan’s hand on the side of her body tightened. She somewhat restlessly thought, Don’t tell me this chairman Lu had already forgotten me?
Xu Qingwan remembered, at that time Lu Xingzhou seemed to be familiar with Siyu. Her mind turned and she abruptly whirled around to hold Siyu’s hand and pull the other girl to her side, “Chairman Lu, Siyu is new. It might be that she has a misunderstanding with Ji family. However, you [formal] don’t need to worry. This won’t delay the progression of the shooting.”
When Siyu was unexpectedly pulled over by Xu Qingwan, she immediately frowned. She didn’t know what the latter had up her sleeve.
Lu Xingzhou remained calm and listened to Xu Qingwan for a long time. Her tone was intimate and sympathetic. It was as if she and Siyu were really close to each other and she was worried that Siyu would be kicked off the cast. However, as he listened, Lu Xingzhou gradually grew bored.
“No matter how you put it, it’s still a matter of money, isn’t it?” Lu Xingzhou’s line of sight completely disregarded Xu Qingwan and landed on Siyu. He smiled and said, “Fortunately, I came to take a look. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know that our Huanyi’s artist had been bullied like so.”
Xu Qingwan was stunned. She thought, What kind of Huanyi artist does this Zhou Siyu count as? She (ZSY) debuted from a third-line model company. Who knew what kind of luck she had to be invited to take part in 《Qing Guo》’s audition. Moreover, she was chosen by luck because of her connection with Ji Lin.
As she thought of this, Xu Qingwan’s heart was filled with hatred. If Ji Lin hadn’t been there, then simply based on the opposition from the sponsor —Chairman Wang—, it would have been impossible for Siyu to show up in the production crew! She watched on as the photographs that she sent to Duan Rulan took effect, and the Ji Company brought up the threat to swap Zhou Siyu out or they would withdraw their investment. However, Lu Xingzhou came. Now not only could she not push Siyu out, but she had to work hard to make her stay. After all, it was only in this way that she could leave a good impression on the Lu family.
“Chairman Lu, I’m afraid you [formal] might have misunderstood. Siyu isn’t signed under Huanyi.” Xu Qingwan gently reminded him.
Some of the surrounding people who saw Lu Xingzhou had also wanted to move close to show their faces. However, Xu Qingwan unexpectedly snatched the opportunity first. They secretly rolled their eyes. She sure ran fast!
Lu Xingzhou’s smile remained unchanged, but his gaze grew colder. It made a chill run down Xu Qingwan’s back. She quickly reviewed the words she had said in her mind, trying to find out what she had said wrong. She managed to force out a smile, “Ch-Chairman Lu, you [formal] see, how about….”
“You said that she is not part of Huanyi, but why do I remember that I was the one who personally signed her in?” Lu Xingzhou asked with a faint smile.
Xu Qingwan’s face turned pale and almost instantly she realized that she had been too impatient. Just now, hadn’t she considered herself clever and reminded him? Wasn’t that just slapping Lu Xingzhou’s face? But… but when did Zhou Siyu sign a contract with Huanyi? Why was she (XQW) completely unaware of this?!
“Siyu, you’re too much. I didn’t even know that we are colleagues! You are really unfair….” In her panic, Xu Qingwan had wanted to pull Siyu’s hand, but Siyu avoided it.
“You kept emphasizing that I’m not Huanyi’s artist that I couldn’t find a chance to correct you.” Siyu subtly moved further away from Xu Qingwan. Chen Yue immediately stepped forward to shield her. She watched Xu Qingwan warily, as if the one in front of her was some dangerous monster.
”
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“I!” Xu Qingwan was both embarrassed and annoyed. All the attention from the surrounding people on her felt uncomfortable. She froze on the spot, unable to deny it nor provide any reasonable explanation; she was trapped with no room to advance or retreat.
“Who told you to keep such a low profile?” Lu Xingzhou’s voice filled with merriment sounded at the right moment, providing the perfect follow-up to Siyu’s words.