Chapter 70: Compete

Translator: Larbre Studio  Editor: Larbre Studio

As Ning Qing peeled the apple, she recalled the scene where Lu Shaoming peeled an apple for her mother at the hospital.

The man’s delicate and beautiful yet sleek looking hands had peeled the apple gracefully.

As Ning Qing thought of him, she couldn’t help but smile. For the past couple weeks, they would text one another every night. He was a man of few words and he wasn’t a sweet talker, but she was content with his short replies of “mm” and “okay”.

The man was very busy with his work but whenever she texted, he would reliably message her back within three-seconds. That itself was rare to come by.

“What about peeling an apple makes you smile?” As she was thinking about her husband, she heard a voice of bewilderment.

She lifted her gaze to look at the young man opposite her. The young man was perplexed at her expression; there was doubt and suspicion across his face.

Ning Qing was taken off guard. It was her first time seeing Ou Luo Xi reveal such an expression. As he was curious, he looked around and she got a good view of his eyes. They were shimmering and crystal clear, extremely beautiful.

She felt that Ou Luo Xi was a totally different person on and off set. Off set, Ou Luo Xi didn’t even know how to peel an apple. He’d ask questions like an innocent, naive child. His psychological age seemed to be quite young.

Ning Qing was curious. Behind every interesting person, there was an unknown past and a detailed story.

What kind of story was Ou Luo Xi’s?

Ning Qing passed him a peeled apple and replied, “Because I thought of someone when I was peeling apple skin. I felt happy so I smiled.”

“Oh,” Ou Luo Xi nodded, “Did you think of someone that you like?”

Like?

Like Lu Shaoming?

Ning Qing’s cheeks were rosy, “Mm, yeah, the person I like. Luo Xi, let’s go. The next scene is coming up soon.”

“Okay,” Ou Luo Xi stood up and took down a black jacket from the clothes rack. They then left the room together.

…

Ning Qing and Ou Luo Xi filmed a dancing scene in the afternoon. Then, they needed to find a lake pavilion with beautiful scenery for a romantic scene.

“Director Wang, let’s film it at the pavilion,” Ning Qing pointed at a pavilion on the lake nearby. The scenery there was beautiful.

Director Wang looked and said, “Alright, let’s go there.”

Everyone came to the pavilion and the filming crews were setting up for the shot. Director Wang was telling Ning Qing about things that she needed to take note of for the scene. Suddenly, she heard a frail voice utter, “Sister, are you filming here?”

It’s Ning Yao. Why is she everywhere?

Ning Qing looked up and saw that Ning Yao was walking over with her arms around Xu Junxi. There was an assistant and a few crews behind them.

“Sister, we are filming a scene later. I saw this pavilion earlier but you came first. However, everything is on a first come first serve basis. Can you let us film first?”

“How could you be so unreasonable…” Xiao Zhou was pissed and she wanted to argue with Ning Yao.

What was she talking about? She was obviously jealous of Ning Qing and wanted to cause her trouble every step of the way.

Ning Qing grabbed Xiao Zhou’s shoulders and moved her behind herself. She took a step forward and smiled gently at Ning Yao. “Sissy, it’s correct that everything is on a first come first serve basis. You might not know that I saw your current outfit at the mall a while back. But unfortunately, you bought it first. Before I let you take the pavilion, can you take off your clothes and return them to me?”

“Ha, Haha…” The Street Walker crew saw that Ning Yao came to cause trouble and they were angry. But they saw that Ning Qing easily held their ground, which entertained them.

Director Wang laughed. “Ning Qing, well said!”

Xu Junxi frowned and he was unhappy with Ning Yao. The way she came to fight for the pavilion was simply childish. It was obvious that she offended Director Wang.

She just started her career and had no foundation. She got her female lead role in Pink Lady mainly because of him. There were no secrets in the entertainment circle. The news about her fighting for the pavilion with Director Wang would spread very soon. She would become a joke in the industry due her brazen rudeness.

However, he was even more angry with what Ning Qing had said. No matter how bad Ning Yao was, she was his girlfriend. How dare Ning Qing make comments like “take off your clothes”!

“Junxi,” Ning Yao shook Xu Junxi arm and pouted, “our filming crew picked the pavilion. Tell sister to let us film here.”

Xu Junxi wanted to five Ning Yao a lecture and ease the tension. However, his gaze met Ning Qing’s and he could see the glow of disdain in her beautiful brown eyes.

Her gaze was like a pot of cold water poured upon him. Half a month ago, she returned the jade bracelet and he couldn’t see any sign of feelings in her eyes.

She bid farewell to him entirely!

There was emptiness in Xu Junxi’s heart which swept over his body. His hands clenched into fists and he told his assistant, “Send an invitation to President Dong of Red House and inform him that I am going to rent the lake pavilion for the afternoon.”

“Yes sir!” His assistant turned around and left.

Ning Yao beamed with joy. “Thank you Junxi!” She looked at Ning Qing provokingly.

“Shameless!” Xiao Zhou cursed.

“CEO Xu, I never expect that you would spend so much money to fool me just to make your woman smile.” Director Wang, who was always calm, suddenly grew unhappy. He squinted his eyes and looked at Xu Junxi. “I’ve always thought CEO Xu was a man of integrity. Today, only I realized that CEO Xu is deteriorating in the entertainment circle. If your girlfriend were to become famous, it would be a miracle! Luo Xi, Ning Qing, let’s go!”

Director Wang left.

Listening to Director Wang’s reprimand, Xu Junxi was embarrassed. Ning Yao felt distressed as she only then realized the severity of the matter. She offended Director Wang.

“Director Wang, I…” Ning Yao wanted to explain herself.

The filming crew cleared their filming equipment and Ning Qing walked out from the pavilion with Xiao Zhou by her side. But, she suddenly noticed the sandalwood signage on the pillar of the pavilion. There was a word on the sign.

Memorial!

Ning Qing took a look. Everyone was busy fighting over the pavilion but no one inspected the place.

Yeah, Red House was full of tall buildings, but there was only a pavilion on the lake.

The Dong Family history was interesting. They must be literati who posed as a cultured person among men of letters. They built the memorial at the junction of the lake and the mountain.

The president of Red House ran over with his assistant nearby. As Ning Yao was busy trying to explain herself, Ning Qing had an idea. She returned to the pavilion and saw that there was a long wooden table there. She smiled, “Sister, the scenery here is so beautiful. I want to take a selfie here on the wooden table. You wouldn’t mind, right?” Ning Qing asked, about to sit on the table.

Ning Yao saw that Ning Qing was conquering her territory. She immediately let go of Xu Junxi and ran to Ning Qing. She shoved Ning Qing away and shouted, “Go away, this is my territory!”

Then, Ning Yao sat on the wooden table.

Ning Yao pushed Ning Qing hard. Even though Ning Qing was prepared to be pushed away, she staggered for a few steps.

“Be careful!” Someone helped Ning Qing catch her balance.

She looked up and saw Ou Luo Xi.

Ning Qing was shocked. Huh? If she wasn’t mistaken, Ou Luo Xi already walked about four or five meters away. How can he appear next to her in an instant?

Ning Qing quickly shook her head. Her memory must be incorrect.

The drastic change made people who left the pavilion stop and turned around to look.

“My God!” Suddenly, a tragic voice rang out. The sixty-year-old president ran over and entered the pavilion. He pointed at Ning Yao with his quivering finger and said, “This, this is the table we use to perform memorial rituals for our ancestors. Our Dong family carried on for five generations. Besides laying the food and joss stick for memorial service, the descendants kneel down to pray. You… Who are you? How dare you sit on this table! Such an evil deed!”

Ning Yao was shocked. Memorial?

President Dong waved and the bodyguards behind him came forward and seized Ning Yao’s arm. They were going to eject her from the pavilion.

“President Dong, please,” Xu Junxi quickly stopped.

“CEO Xu, this woman humiliated the Dong family’s ancestors; this can’t be tolerated!”

A scream could be heard as Ning Yao was thrown out from pavilion like rubbish. She landed heavily on the ground.

“Ha, haha…” The surrounding crowd let out a heartening laugh.

Ning Yao’s face grew embarrassed. She felt that her dignity was trampled on. Everyone was pointing at her and laughing.

Ning Qing!

“Ning Qing, you framed me? President Dong, it was Ning Qing who wanted…”

“Ning Yao, stop making an unfounded attack,” Xiao Zhou cut her off, “The memorial signs are hanging around the pavilion. Either you’re blind and you can’t see or you’re illiterate and you can’t read. Everyone saw how arrogant you were when you fought with Ning Qing over who got to film at the pavilion first. Now, you’re trying to shift the blame onto her! Great, where’s your witness? Tell someone to speak for you.”

Ning Yao was at a loss for words. She looked around. The people from Street Walker filming crews were laughing at her. There was no guarantee in a verbal agreement.

She then looked at Xu Junxi. His face was so dark and he was looking at her with great impatience. It was as though he were bored of her.

Ning Yao’s heart had reached an all-time low.

“Forget it, Xiao Zhou. My sister is so barbaric and unreasonable. As long as CEO Xu takes care of her, she will have her way. CEO Xu is powerful and influential, my sister can do whatever she wants. Don’t be bothered, let’s go.” Ning Qing looked aggrieved. She pulled Xiao Zhou’s hand and left.

The filming crews of Street Walker followed. Director Wang bid farewell to President Dong and couldn’t help but nod at Ning Qing. The girl had meticulous forethought and wisdom. Most importantly, she had a clever and nimble heart.

In the entertainment circle, there were plenty of people who could act well in front of the cameras, but there were hardly any that could put on such a convincing show behind the scenes.

“Junxi…” Ning Yao stood up with difficulty and walked to Xu Junxi.

She knew that Xu Junxi was bothered by what Ning Qing said. His face grew grave after Ning Qing spoke.

Ning Qing was so brutal. She knew where Xu Junxi’s bottom line was!

Ning Yao wanted to comfort Xu Junxi, but before her hand reached him he said, “Reflect on what you’ve done.” Xu Junxi left heartlessly.

Ning Yao stiffened on the spot.

…

The filming in the afternoon went smoothly and the filming crews got to leave early.

Xiao Zhou put a jacket over Ning Qing and they chatted as they walked.

“Ning Qing, let me tell you something. Xu Junxi passed by our filming location this afternoon and you happened to be acting with Ou Luo Xi. He stood by the door and watched for quite a while.”

Ning Qing buttoned up and couldn’t be bothered “Let him watch as he wishes. Don’t bother with him.”

“No,” Xiao Zhou panicked, “Ning Qing, you don’t understand. I mean Xu Junxi watched you for a long time. His gaze wasn’t simple. He didn’t even blink.”

Ning Qing stopped and she thought for a while then her beautiful brown eyes suddenly beamed with a brightness of wisdom, “Xiao Zhou…” She beckoned for Xiao Zhou to come closer.

Xiao Zhou got closer and they whispered in one another’s ears.

“Wow, Ning Qing you’re too amazing.” Xiao Zhou exclaimed in surprise.

…

The dinner was held in a restaurant. Both the crews of Street Walker and Pink Lady, alongside other filming crews that filmed at Red House all gathered together.

There were many big shots and famous directors who gathered there. Director Wang brought Ning Qing to get to know everyone. When they passed by a table, Director Wang met his best friend in the directors’ circle, Director Zhang.

Director Zhang smiled. “Bro, it’s been a while. Since we’re both here, let’s sit together. Let’s see your rising star.”

Director Wang led Ning Qing around and introduced her one by one. Among the group, there was Chinese director who was nominated for an Oscar, a producer nominated for Lifetime Achievement Award, a famous singers, some front-line celebrities…

Ning Qing followed behind Director Wang as she greeted everyone. She didn’t speak much but she was gentle and quiet. Everyone took a liking to her.

Of course, Ning Qing saw two familiar faces. Xu Junxi and Ning Yao. Oh well, it was an important event. Xu Junxi definitely came to introduce Ning Yao to everyone else.

Look, it’s true love.

Director Wang sat next to Director Zhang while Ning Qing saw that there was an empty seat next to Xu Junxi and another empty seat next to Ning Yao. Without much thought, she walked to the empty seat next to Xu Junxi.

Ning Yao saw and panicked. She hated Ning Qing and Xu Junxi coming into contact, especially in private. Reflexively, she called out, “Sister, come sit next to me.”

Suddenly, the table went quiet. Ning Yao spoke and everyone looked over.

Ning Qing smiled and played along. “Okay. Let Yaoyao arrange the seating, I’ll listen to you.”

Yaoyao arrange the seating?

Ning Qing’s carefree comment pushed Ning Yao to become an object of public criticism. The people on the table were all seniors in the entertainment circle.

Who is Ning Yao? No one cared about her but she dared raise captious remark.

“Ning Qing, sit next to CEO Xu. We are smoking here. It’s unhealthy for girls to inhale so much second-hand smoke,” Director Zhang stole a glance at Ning Yao and said gently.

“Alright. Thank you for your concern, Director Zhang.” Ning Qing turned around and sat next to Xu Junxi.

Ning Yao was about to explode in anger and she received unfriendly gazes from the people around the table. Xu Junxi was talking to them about the upcoming movie and they intended to let her make a quick appearance in the movie. But because of what Ning Qing said, no one was willing to continue discussing the topic.

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