Chapter 21: A Slap on Line Shanshan's Face
Lu Qing grabbed Wen Jing's phone from her. "She doesn't care about these. You are wasting your saliva. Come on, let me see."
She stared at the screen for a while and suddenly burst into laughter. "Haha… Is Li Shanshan just being funny?"
Wen Jing watched with Lu Qing next to her and said, "I told you President Qiao disdains Li Shanshan. This time, it's a real slap in the face. Look at President Qiao's eyes, so arrogant and supercilious. Yet she went in regardless and got blocked out like a criminal. Now everybody says she was throwing herself at him."
In the video, Qiao Yu was walking into the elevator accompanied by his assistants and bodyguards, while Li Shanshan was forcing her way in.
"President Qiao, sorry to disturb you with my abrupt entrance. I didn't know it was you in here." Li Shanshan leaned forward. Her cleavage was jumping out.
Qiao Yu did not speak, as if he did not see her.
Li Shanshan immediately showed frustration on her face. She moved a little closer to him and said in a coquettish voice, "President Qiao, I actually had a lot of questions to ask you when we were in Venice. Do you have time now? Shall we… Ah!"
The surrounding bodyguards suddenly blocked the area in front of Qiao Yu. Li Shanshan was scared and almost fell. She stepped back and hit the wall of the elevator directly.
"What are you doing?" Li Shanshan said in panic. She looked at Qiao Yu who was protected by the bodyguards, and said as if she was wronged, "President Qiao, they…"
Ding! The door opened. Qiao Yu walked out.
The person next to him looked at Li Shanshan and said, "Miss Li, this is a private elevator. You should be able to read Chinese. Also, our CEO is a neat freak and he does not like weird smells. Please keep your distance."
And the group walked out of the elevator. Li Shanshan was left to be mad and humiliated in the elevator, stamping her feet.
What were the strange smells from Li Shanshan? It was referring to her being coquettish! This assistant was insulting her without using vulgarities. Good job!
"Looks like not all guys are blind," Lu Qing said in satisfaction and returned the phone to Wen Jing. She suddenly felt a head next to her and dodged. When she saw who that was, she cursed, "You scared me to death!"
Wen Jing saw Xia Ning and tried to please her. "Look at this, Sister Xia Ning! Don't you think it helps you vent?"
"I thought you were calmer than this. It seems like you are still interested in this kind of gossip." Lu Qing twitched her mouth.
"You should think about how this video got leaked out. I am driving myself back. Help yourself." Xia Ning went past her and walked towards the outside.
Lu Qing and Wen Jing stared at each other. Why was Xia Ning always focusing on something different?
But she was right. This video was spreading out too fast. It might either be Hotel AS's security issue or something else.
As she walked out of the hotel, Xia Ning saw Li Shanshan surrounded by a bunch of reporters. The National Goddess looked a little awkward now.
Was Qiao Yu's rejection of Li Shanshan a surprise? No, it was not surprising at all. Back then, he turned down a lot of girls who were more beautiful and better than Li Shanshan. And she was one of those that were turned down.
Even if that man did not say any cold words, his coldness was enough to make people step back. Because it was harsher than any words.
The rain started pouring suddenly. Xia Ning stopped the car at the curb. She leaned back on the seat and suddenly her eyes stopped at the gate of a tall building. A boy was handing an umbrella to the girl next to him. The girl took it with her head down, her face full of shyness.
She was lost in thought for a moment. No amount of flowers could compare with a man's meticulous care. Women were always easily touched by such tiny gestures.
***
Chapter 22: I Just Decided To Like Him
The British weather was very unpredictable. When you got up in the morning, the sun would be shining, but at night, it would be raining cats and dogs.
Outside the library, the rain was falling. A student wearing a knee-length skirt was holding a stack of books and frowning at the grey clouds in the sky. Who knows when the rain will stop.
She checked her watch. It was already five o'clock. Zheng Ziming was still not here. Her phone was dead and he would not be able to find her anyway. All the umbrellas were gone in the library. Did she have to go home in the rain?
As she was debating, an umbrella appeared in front of her. She hesitated and tilted her head. She saw a handsome but cold face. Simple shirt and trousers could not cover his elegance. He was very tall, almost a head taller than her. Looked like a Chinese.
"Is this for me?" she asked in English.
The man did not say no, but his arm remained the position.
She took it and said with a smile, "Thank you."
He nodded and walked into the rain without any expression.
"Hey, you…" She looked at his figure leaving in the rain in surprise. He had only one umbrella and gave it to her…
She went to the library afterward but never saw him again.
Later she learned from the international students' circle that he was indeed an international student from China. His major was Economic Management. He had very good grades and was popular in the circle. His name was Qiao Yu. What a warm name! But he was very calm and cold. She could not resist being curious about him.
Heavy coursework stopped her from thinking about the guy she had only met once. But she did not expect to see him again on the street. And it was when some girl was confessing her feelings for him.
"Asteria, you have a lot of studies to do today. We need to go home earlier… Asteria, what are you looking at?" Zheng Ziming next to her finished packing his stuff and looked over. Following her eyes, he frowned. "Qiao Yu? How come we see girls confessing to him every other day?"
She did not reply and kept staring at the guy. He actually directly walked away in front of the girl, not even looking back.
"Another loser!" Zheng Ziming was not surprised.
She stared at Zheng Ziming. "Do you know a lot about him?"
"The finance boy. Everyone knows." Zheng Ziming hummed. "This guy is very popular with girls. Even those blondes in our school like him. This kind of situation happens a few times a week."
"Does he have a girlfriend then?" she asked calmly.
"Probably not. I've never heard of any girl getting close with him." Zheng Ziming answered without thinking. Suddenly he realized something and looked at her with caution. "Why are you asking about this? Please don't tell me…"
But when he looked back, the girl was gone.
She walked to the man who was shining like the sun and smiled at him. "Hello, my name is Asteria. I'm from China. Oh, my Chinese name is Xia Ning."
Qiao Yu darted a look at her and moved forward, ignoring her as usual.
Xia Ning followed him. "Don't you remember? Last time outside the library, you lent me your umbrella. I really want to thank you for that. Sorry for making you get wet. I didn't bring the umbrella today. Could you give me your contact info? I will return the umbrella to you soon."
"No need," he said as if he was saving his words, without stopping his steps.
She followed on. "I can't do that. I need to return the borrowed stuff."
"You can throw it away," Qiao Yu said coldly.
"How can I just throw it away? It's not broken." She frowned.
"I don't use anything touched by others. Don't follow me." Qiao Yu walked faster and left her.
Zheng Ziming walked over and frowned at her. " See, you got the cold shoulder. Asteria, don't go crazy and fall for him. You will suffer…"
She stood at the same place, watching him leave and smiled suddenly. "I don't care. I just decided to like him."
Because no one knew how she felt. It was like a closed world was finally embracing a ray of light. Suddenly, it was spring.
***
Chapter 23: A Press Conference
It was still raining and the couple at the gate left. Xia Ning returned to herself. She checked the time and drove away.
Inside the CEO's office at SE, Xia Ning was standing in front of the desk, looking at the tabloid in hand. The title was, 'Newcomer confronting reporters, who is behind this arrogance?'. In the photo, she had a poker face. To those who read the paper, she looked like she was upset.
Sometimes, even she admired the efficiency of the paparazzi. What happened in the morning showed up on paper in the afternoon.
President Zheng felt a headache when he saw Xia Ning. "How many times have I told you not to respond to the reporters? We've already planned a press conference to clear the air for you. But now, people will throw dirt at you for going to Zeng Jun's audition without an invitation." As he was speaking, he felt angrier and yelled at the assistant at the door, "Go find Lu Qing! I want to ask her how she is managing all this."
"President Zheng." Xia Ning looked up at the angry middle-aged man in front of her and put the tabloid on the desk. "Auditioning for Director Zeng's movie was my idea. It had nothing to do with Lu Qing. Also, I don't think responding to the reporters was wrong. I've never done all those things. We should have the press conference as planned."
Looking at her jade-like eyes, President Zheng's face changed. This girl was only in her twenties, but the look in her eyes was as if they belonged to a powerful person. What an actress. He frowned. "But now this press conference won't make a difference! People will still think you have someone behind you."
Xia Ning listened and smiled slightly. "Of course it makes a difference. I have to tell others that I have nothing to do with the three gossips from before. As to whether there is someone behind me, they can guess however they like."
President Zheng stared at the calm girl in front of him and had the urge to kick her out.
In fact, it would normally be okay to respond a little to the gossips. Plus, the media liked catching the wind. Even someone like Lin Nan still had dirt thrown at him. It was just that recently, SE did not have any actresses with potential except for Cheng Feixuan. He naturally did not want Xia Ning to fall on her way, therefore it was inevitable that he worried about her a lot.
Just as President Zheng was losing it, the door opened. A man walked in.
"Yo, are you still not done yet, President Zheng? This is getting too long. Please don't add more gossips to Miss Xia. But Miss Xia is probably not into your kind." The man looked like he was in his twenties, with his hands in his pockets. He was handsome and had a straight nose with thin lips. His smile was very playful.
President Zheng looked at his frivolous son and got mad. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zheng Ziming smiled a little. "Just livening up the atmosphere here! I was afraid that you will get too depressed. The press conference is ready. So can I pick up our future Best Actress Miss Xia now?"
"Okay, go do whatever you need to do. Get out of my face now." President Zheng looked at the two with displeasure and kicked them out.
Xia Ning nodded and walked out directly. Zheng Ziming smiled at his dad, walked out with her and closed the door.
"I've been out for a month and your scandals are flying everywhere. Did you offend the Goddess of Love? Should I take you to a temple?" Zheng Ziming turned his head and looked to Xia Ning next to him and started making fun of her.
Xia Ning darted a glance at him. "Not as many as yours. You've changed five or six girls during your month away." She walked straight into the elevator and looked at the guy outside. "What's the matter? Don't we have a press conference? Let's move."
Zheng Ziming looked at the girl in the elevator and wanted to explain. But he saw her emotionless eyes. He walked in without saying anything.
***
Chapter 24: Did I Throw You On The Casting Couch?
The press conference was crowded. All the reporters down there were taking photos and everyone was dazzled by the flashes.
Zheng Ziming stood up to tell the reporters to stop taking photos and listen to him. The whole crowd quieted down immediately.
"Recently, there have been a lot of rumors on the Internet about Miss Xia Ning, an actress under SE. I believe if you've read them online, you would have already known those stories are untrue. But you are still after them. SE had to host this press conference for the sake of the reputation of its artists. This is Xia Ning's schedule for April 3rd to April 6th, when she was allegedly traveling with a rich businessman in Japan, in a hotel with a fuerdai, and with another actress in a bar. At that time, she was at Z City shooting a commercial for Haicheng Real Estate, a subsidiary company under Haicheng Group. Below is the statement from Haicheng Real Estate." Zheng Ziming showed the statement in his hand. The reporters below started taking photos.
Xia Ning sat next to Zheng Ziming and was almost blinded by the flashes. She mildly admired Zheng Ziming's calmness. No wonder he was from a family in the entertainment business.
Zheng Ziming put the statement on the desk and continued. "SE will send the statement from Haicheng to everyone. Today, I want everyone to acknowledge Xia Ning's innocence. Although she only debuted a year ago, she is a very hard-working actress. Otherwise, her first movie would not be able to win her the Best Newcomer Award. Anyone with a brain would know one person can't be at four places in one day. We don't know who is throwing dirt, but we want to tell that person, the gods are watching what you are doing. It is only a matter of time when karma gets you." As he spoke, he nodded at Xia Ning.
Xia Ning understood him and stood up to walk out under Lu Qing and the others' cover.
The reporters saw that and immediately surrounded her.
"Miss Xia, the Internet says you offended some big name and that led to the dirt. Is that true?"
"Miss Xia, we heard you went to audition for Director Zeng's new movie, but you did not get an invitation. How did you audition successfully?"
"Miss Xia, since your debut, you have had non-stop gossips. Does your family know about this? Do you have anything to explain? Also, everybody knows that it's difficult to audition for Director Zeng's movie. Many say you threw yourself on the casting couch…"
Since the earlier rumors were cleared, the reporters would not hang on to it. Naturally, they wanted some other topics. The only one left was Xia Ning's audition with Director Zeng today.
Xia Ning suddenly stopped and stared at the excited reporters, her eyes cold as ice. "You know that my family will be disturbed. So what's with the gossips filled with your exaggerations? You said I threw myself on the casting couch. Were you distrusting me or Director Zeng? Also, I don't think I have that kind of charm. Can I take it as you are complimenting me?"
That reporter did not think Xia Ning would refute her question directly. She went blank for a second under Xia Ning's cold eyes. When she returned to herself, she stuck her neck out. "Then how come you were able to audition for Director Zeng's movie without an invitation?"
"I also did not invite you today. Why did you come?" Xia Ning arched her eyebrows up and looked at her with a ghost of a smile. "Did I throw you on the casting couch?"
The crowd quieted down immediately and it was followed with waves of laughter. No one knew whether it was for the reporter's rudeness or Xia Ning's humor.
That reporter did not expect Xia Ning to ask her something like this. She was left in shock as Xia Ning walked out with the crowd. How come Xia Ning is so different from what they described?
***
Chapter 25: Grew Up On The Same Pants
Sitting in the car, Xia Ning was casually browsing on her phone. Zheng Ziming in the passenger seat turned around to look at her and could not help but smile. "I thought your claws were gone. Didn't realize your mouth is still that smart. But you did a good job confronting that reporter. I saw your fans are supporting you on the Internet."
Xia Ning looked down and started browsing the Weibo topics. 'Did Xia Ning throw a female reporter on the casting couch?'
In only a short time, the views had reached a few million.
"Lemon 1 is so awesome. Love you, love you. @SKXiaNingV."
"That reporter is brainless, looking at people through colored spectacles. You dig people's dirt for money shamelessly and won't even let others work hard for opportunities?"
"As an anti-fan, I have to say Xia Ning's reply touched my heart. I'm her fan now."
"The reporter is right. Xia Ning is a nameless actress with only one newcomer award. Without an invitation, how did she audition for Director Zeng's movie? I don't believe at all that nobody is backing her."
"The commenter above is stupid. Director Zeng has said a long time ago that he would not use any famous actress for the leading role. He wants a new actress instead. Xia Ning is only striving for opportunities so what's wrong about that? The commenter above must be a useless loser with no purpose in life."
"I don't know who Xia Ning is, but am I the only one who is curious about the audition results?"
Xia Ning went through the posts and her eyes fell onto the one titled 'Li Shanshan's Elevator Gate'. She quickly turned off her phone and looked up to see Zheng Ziming's sarcastic look. She frowned. "Why are you in the car?"
"…" Zheng Ziming was a bit speechless. So did you think it was just air that has been sitting in front of you?
Lu Qing glanced at Zheng Ziming and said coldly, "Young Master Zheng wanted to send you home, but I was worried."
Zheng Ziming heard that and glared at Lu Qing. "With me here, what are you worried about?"
"It is you being here that makes me worry." Lu Qing smirked. How could she let Xia Ning be alone with a playboy like him? It might then become a headline like 'Newcomer falling for scion: A complete revelation of Xia Ning's casting couch stories', and Xia Ning would never be able to clear her name.
Zheng Ziming looked at Xia Ning who was sitting in the back. "Asteria, look at your agent. What an attitude."
"You should blame yourself for your own reputation." Xia Ning arched her eyebrows up. "But I do want to thank you for today."
"Don't be so polite with me. We have a better relationship than that." Zheng Ziming smiled.
Lu Qing looked at the traffic lights and asked curiously, "What relationship do you have?"
"We grew up in the same pants 2 ." Zheng Ziming glanced at Lu Qing provocatively.
Lu Qing heard that and shot a look at Xia Ning sitting in the back, whose face was emotionless. She measured Zheng Ziming with her eyes, and suddenly shivered a little and looked back forward again, driving.
Zheng Ziming realized something he did not know surfaced in her head. He frowned. "What's with your attitude?"
"Young Master Zheng, I understand. Please relax. I will not discriminate against you." Lu Qing nodded with seriousness.
Zheng Ziming almost spat out blood.Come on, I don't care if you discriminate against me or not. No your eyes are not right. I like girls! And no, I don't want to be a girl!
When Xia Ning got home, Zheng Ziming walked out first. He shouted at her as she was about to walk up the stairs, "Asteria, he is in S City."
Xia Ning walked forward as if she did not hear him.
Zheng Ziming watched her disappear in front of him and sat back on the passenger seat with anger.
Bang! He shut the door.
"Please, Young Master Zheng, take it easy on the door. It didn't do anything." Lu Qing saw his unpleasant face and asked, "Who were you talking about when you said to Xia Ning about someone coming back?" It was after that that his face changed.
Zheng Ziming sneered. "He is an arrogant, mean and shameless bastard and everyone hates him. What are you doing, drive!" He glanced over at a black Bentley nearby and found it very familiar.
"Sure." Lu Qing started the car obediently. She knew Zheng Ziming was not happy now and there was no need to upset him more. But she was thinking in her mind, is that person as bad as you?