“Are you done talking? If you are, step aside. I have things to do.” Wang Xiaoke’s gaze blatantly conveyed two words: Childish!

“Don’t rush.” The gentle tone sent shivers down Wang Xiaoke’s spine as Feng Ning leaned in closer. Speaking softly by her ear, he said, “Oh, and don’t bother thinking about using those old photos of you and Lu Ming to sway your father. Between the two of us, you’re better off staying as the disgraceful mistress you are.”

“You tampered with my computer!” Wang Xiaoke was furious. She had never met someone so shameless and despicable.

Feng Ning smiled charmingly, exuding confidence. He even pretended to console her. “Don’t get worked up. If you cause a scene here, you might lose your job.”

Wang Xiaoke clenched her fists tightly, her anger almost overwhelming her. Gritting her teeth, she retorted, “Don’t think a little bit of kindness will make you shine like the sun. Just wait and see.”

“Feng Ning, what are you doing over here?”

Just as tension filled the air between them, a concerned voice cut in.

The newcomer was a woman in her thirties. Though slightly out of shape, she exuded a capable and professional aura.

When Feng Ning saw who it was, her expression immediately softened. The woman was her manager, Liu Ruiwen.

“Ruiwen, what’s the matter?” In front of her manager, Feng Ning transformed into a harmless little rabbit.

“Mr. Song will be visiting the set today,” Liu Ruiwen said quietly. “You need to make a good impression. If you seize this opportunity, it could be your big break.”

“Is the information reliable?” Feng Ning was highly concerned about the news Liu Ruiwen brought and had no interest in picking on Wang Xiaoke anymore.

“The whole company is buzzing about it right now. You should get ready. Although it’s already decided that you’ll be the female lead for this drama, you still need to attend the audition as a formality. Otherwise, people might gossip,” Liu Ruiwen reminded her.

“I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Ruiwen.” Feng Ning replied, though inwardly, she didn’t take it seriously.

She was extremely confident in her looks. In this era, where appearances were everything, Feng Ning believed that all she had to do was stand in front of the camera, and those ordinary women would pale in comparison. If the director didn’t choose her as the female lead, he must be blind.

Wang Xiaoke, however, wasn’t interested in Feng Ning’s affairs. She was more curious about the “Mr. Song” they mentioned.

Whenever she heard the surname Song, the image of that man would involuntarily pop into her mind.

Could it really be such a coincidence? This wasn’t a TV drama.

Wang Xiaoke shook her head and mocked herself: “Wang Xiaoke, you must have been watching too many dramas or reading too many novels to think of such absurd things all the time.”

However, ten minutes later, as Wang Xiaoke looked at the tall figure surrounded by a group of people in the distance, her mind went completely blank.

The man wore a high-end black suit that was clearly custom-tailored. His jet-black hair was slicked back, though a single strand fell across his forehead, giving him a slightly rebellious charm. His almond-shaped eyes, high nose bridge, sensuous yet moderately thin lips, and handsome features made him look nothing short of stunning.

Wang Xiaoke rubbed her eyes. There was no mistake—it really was Song Yi.

But why was he here? Wang Xiaoke was utterly baffled.

What’s more, he was walking straight toward her. What did he want?

“If you dare go back on your word, I’ll take you to court.” The man’s words from before echoed in her mind, sending a chill down her spine. Her hair stood on end as she immediately turned to flee.

“Stop right there.” A cold and stern voice came from behind her, completely different from what she remembered.

Pretending not to hear, Wang Xiaoke continued trying to escape. Then Director Zheng’s booming voice rang out behind her like a gong.

“Wang Xiaoke! He’s talking to you. Stand still already!” The thunderous voice echoed in her ears, and she froze in place as if pinned by an immovable force.

“Turn around,” the man’s voice ordered, laced with indifference.

Time seemed to stop. The seconds dragged on unbearably.

Slowly, Wang Xiaoke turned her head, meeting that familiar, handsome face. Forcing a smile, she struggled to mask her panic.

“Am I that frightening? You run as soon as you see me,” the man said, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s, looking down at her from above.

You’re scarier than ghosts and demons right now, big brother!

Wang Xiaoke desperately wanted to speak the truth, but she couldn’t. Gritting her teeth and swallowing her fear, she forced herself to lie, saying, “Not at all. Seeing you just makes me feel…inferior.”

“You do have a strong sense of self-awareness,” the man said with a slight nod, like a king issuing his decree.

Wang Xiaoke: “…”

Why did Song Yi’s demeanor feel so off today?

It was as if that night’s incident had never happened. The man didn’t confront Wang Xiaoke further and walked past her without a word, his face emotionless.

Even after he disappeared into the distance, Wang Xiaoke remained standing in place, dumbfounded. There was no unexpected proposal, no threats of taking her to court. The calm progression of events made her feel inexplicably uneasy.

“Xiaoning, the results of your audition are out. The director’s team feels your personality doesn’t quite align with the female lead’s character, so I’m sorry,” Liu Ruiwen said apologetically.

“But wasn’t it already decided that I would play the female lead? Why the sudden change?” Feng Ning protested, unwilling to accept it. She had been waiting for this opportunity for so long.

Liu Ruiwen sighed, feeling bad for her. “That’s Director Zheng’s decision. However, there’s still a supporting role in the script that I think suits you well.”

“Alright, thank you, Sister Ruiwen,” Feng Ning said.

But deep down, hearing Director Zheng’s name immediately made her think of Wang Xiaoke. She had already found out that Wang Xiaoke was here because she was writing the script for Director Zheng.

Could Wang Xiaoke be taking revenge? Thinking back on the things she had done before, Feng Ning’s uneasiness grew. She couldn’t believe Wang Xiaoke was some benevolent saint.

“Wang Xiaoke, are you the one sabotaging me?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Wang Xiaoke replied, completely clueless about what had set this woman off again. Feng Ning seemed to have made a habit of attacking her at every turn.

“Wasn’t it you who bad-mouthed me to Director Zheng, leading him to give my female lead role to someone else?” Feng Ning demanded, looking as if she wanted to tear Wang Xiaoke apart.

Wang Xiaoke shrugged. “If someone else took your role, it just means you weren’t good enough. What’s the point of blaming me? I think you’re the one with a persecution complex.”

Wang Xiaoke was astonished by Feng Ning’s wild imagination. It was one thing for Feng Ning to be conniving herself, but she also had this habit of assuming everyone else was just like her. It was hopeless.

“Get back here and explain yourself!” Feng Ning persisted, refusing to let it go.