Chapter 15: Lofty Aspirations

On the sixteenth floor of the Guangzhong Tower, the meeting was only for casting minor roles and antagonist side characters. The important roles had much higher entry requirements.

However, even for a minor role like the maid by the female lead’s side, Tang Xin couldn’t secure a spot.

The assistant director said, “Your acting is terrible. I’ll give you a disposable villain role that only survives until episode five.”

Tang Xin silently accepted the audition script, her expression falling as she sat in quiet disappointment.

Later, Qi Shu came over to console her. “Don’t be upset. I just heard from Director Liang that the role of the female lead’s maid was given by Lin Shiyin, who plays the female lead, to her assistant. I’m not sure if she’s trying to promote her own people or if she’s deliberately targeting you.”

Tang Xin looked up at Qi Shu, sighed lightly, and murmured, “Sigh.”

No matter how depressing this was, it wasn’t as bad as the realization that she might die in childbirth…

She figured that, as she wasn’t the original Tang Xin, she wouldn’t recklessly bring about her own demise. But as the beautiful little system had said, as long as she stayed in this world, her fate would lead to only one outcome: death.

Specifically, her death.

Based on Yue Yuze’s awful attitude, her most likely demise would be due to: death from childbirth.

How terrifying.

She lowered her head and glanced at her stomach.

Hopefully, there wouldn’t be an “overnight jackpot”…

In the future… in the future, she definitely wouldn’t sleep with that scumbag male lead again.

…Even if she accidentally did, she’d make sure to secretly take the pill, never letting him find out!

“Tang Tang, being part of the cast at all is good enough. For such a large production, just participating is a step forward,” Qi Shu said, trying to comfort her as he noticed her sulking.

The two of them walked out as they talked.

Tang Xin glanced at him and said, “I don’t really care about being in the cast or not. Worst case, we’ll just head back to your hometown and grow tea on the mountain. I’ve got a hundred million—I could lease a huge mountain, and we’d run the business together as bosses.”

Yue Yuze exited another conference room just in time to hear Tang Xin’s bold declaration.

His gaze darkened, and his expression was anything but pleasant.

Ha.

Very generous. The last time she said she’d be the big boss and Qi Shu the deputy boss, and now look—they’d both be bosses, equals this time?

Fan Bei, who was accompanying Yue Yuze, also heard Tang Xin’s statement.

However, he didn’t understand half of it and naturally didn’t feel the same way about it as Yue Yuze.

Just as Fan Bei was about to greet Tang Xin, he saw his boss turn abruptly and head toward the private, password-protected elevator.

Fan Bei: “…”

Before, he thought the boss treated Miss Tang like a stranger, indifferent and detached.

Now, he felt the boss’s attitude toward Miss Tang… was more like that of a moody teenager, awkward and prideful, facing his secret crush.

“Boss, during the meeting earlier, I received an updated electronic list of key roles for Under the Sky from Director Liang. The role of the female lead’s maid was indeed recommended by Miss Lin Shiyin for her assistant, Wen Mi. However, I also recall Director Liang mentioning that Miss Tang had expressed interest in this role…”

Fan Bei hadn’t even finished speaking when he noticed his boss glaring coldly at him.

Did I say something wrong?

“What’s your relationship with Tang Xin?” Yue Yuze asked icily. “Who is she to you, or who are you to her?”

“…” Fan Bei looked utterly wronged. “Boss, I…”

Not only have you learned how to be jealous, but you’ve also mastered being irrationally jealous!

“If she wants a role and doesn’t get it, shouldn’t she come to me herself?”

The elevator arrived at the basement parking lot. Yue Yuze strode out briskly.

Fan Bei was completely bewildered. But later, as he sat in the car, everything suddenly became clear.

So, the boss is waiting for Miss Tang to come begging him?

Boss… Not only are you jealous, irrationally jealous, but you’ve also learned how to be a scheming romantic!

Throughout history, the ones who understood the emperor best weren’t his concubines or his children, but rather… the head eunuchs by his side.

Fan Bei prided himself on being self-aware. He knew that his rise to such a pivotal position in just a few years wasn’t solely due to his abilities; it was also because he understood Yue Yuze so well.

Understanding the emperor’s heart earns his favor.

So, Fan Bei wondered… Should he do something to help his boss in his quest to win Miss Tang over?

Yue Yuze had been dropped off earlier by the villa’s driver.

But now, heading back to the Yue Sen Group from Guangxia, he was riding in Fan Bei’s car.

Fan Bei, however, also had his own driver.

The two of them sat in the back seat.

After some thought, Fan Bei asked, “Boss, when did you start liking Miss Tang?”

He had this feeling… that it might’ve just been in the past few days.

It seemed like the boss had finally started noticing his little wife.

As soon as Fan Bei spoke, Yue Yuze turned to look at him.

Yes, he stared.

The way Yue Yuze looked at Fan Bei was as if he were assessing a patient with a serious mental condition.

“Boss, wh-what’s wrong?” Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?

Yue Yuze smirked coldly, his lips curving into a sneer. “Fan Bei, are your eyes malfunctioning, or is your brain broken?”

Fan Bei: … I refuse to accept this personal attack!

“That woman is foolish and ignorant, greedy and overreaching, completely untrustworthy… Why would I like her?”

Ha, ridiculous!

…Of course, the last part was Fan Bei’s internal monologue, but he felt that the boss’s proud expression spelled it out clearly.

Fan Bei: “…” It’s fine, I’ll just wait for the inevitable moment when reality slaps you in the face.

After all, in the few years he’d worked with the boss, this was the first time he’d seen him use such a tsundere and awkward tone to deny something, all while his eyes unconsciously softened.

You’ve already fallen for her, and you don’t even realize it.

This is… something to look forward to!

Snicker.

Fan Bei chuckled softly.

Yue Yuze shot him a cold glance and asked in a low voice, “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing. I just think Miss Tang is actually quite adorable. And thinking about it, she really doesn’t seem like a good match for you. Hasn’t she been keeping her distance from you recently? This trend… is actually pretty good.”

Hearing this, Yue Yuze didn’t feel comforted at all. Instead, his face grew even darker.

Fan Bei realized that if he continued, he might not live to see tomorrow.

But he was the type who occasionally enjoyed taking risks. Besides, it was the first time he’d discovered just how amusing the boss could be.

“Boss, don’t worry. I think Miss Tang might be more interested in the wealth and power you represent rather than in you personally. After all, she seems closer to Qi Shu.”

…

“Achoo!” Out of nowhere, Qi Shu sneezed violently. A chilling sensation swept over him, making him shiver. “Must’ve caught a cold last night,” he muttered.