Font Size:
“Still taking a photo together?” The security guard was surprised. “Miss Ye, you’re too kind, treating even stalker fans like this!”
Ye Luoyi waved her hand dismissively. “They love me, and that’s the greatest support I could ask for!”
Yan Xi’s mind was full of black lines.
“Is there no normal person in Tianhui Entertainment?”
She turned and walked out of the building.
The security guard yelled after her, “Little girl, where are you going? We agreed on a photo, why are you leaving now?”
The assistant, realizing something was off, said, “She left so abruptly… She can’t be a fan, right?”
Ye Luoyi’s smiling expression froze, her lips twitching slightly.
At that moment, the three of them finally saw Yan Xi walk to the entrance of the Tianhui building. Without hesitation, she tossed the signed photo, which the assistant had handed to her, into the trash can.
In that instant, Ye Luoyi’s face darkened even more.
Yan Xi stepped out of the building. It had been over ten minutes since Zhou Qingyu had gone upstairs, but she still hadn’t come out or contacted her.
Yan Xi knew exactly what Pei Yubai would say to Zhou Qingyu, and she also understood that, given her current position, there was nothing she could do to change the situation. But she simply wanted to be there for Zhou Qingyu, to keep her company during this difficult time.
If she couldn’t go in through the front door, what about the side door?
Surely Tianhui Entertainment had some backdoor or exit for stars to leave discreetly, right?
Yan Xi looked around, and suddenly a man’s voice came from behind her. “Little girl, are you interested in becoming a star?”
She froze for a moment, then turned around to see a man in his forties standing behind her. His hair was slicked back, with a bit of stubble on his face, giving off a vibe of an artsy middle-aged man.
“Let me introduce myself,” the man said, pulling out his business card and handing it to her. “My name is Sun Qi, the Senior Manager at Tianhui Entertainment. I think you’ve got potential. How about joining the entertainment industry as a star?”
Yan Xi took the business card, eyeing it suspiciously.
The card was made of high-quality material, smooth and thin, yet thick enough to indicate that Sun Qi held a significant position at Tianhui Entertainment.
Yan Xi held the card, saying nothing. Sun Qi began to sell his pitch again, “This is the Tianhui company building. I’m not lying. If you don’t believe me, I can take you inside to have a look.”
Yan Xi’s eyes instantly lit up. “Now?”
“Of course!”
Without hesitation, Yan Xi accepted the business card and followed Sun Qi into the Tianhui building.
On the way, Sun Qi took the opportunity to ask about Yan Xi’s age. Upon learning that she was only 20 years old, he seemed even more pleased.
Stars, after all, live off their youth, and the younger, the better. At this age, still in university, she had plenty of time to pursue a career, which made her the perfect candidate to debut.
Sun Qi didn’t ask further, and Yan Xi didn’t offer any extra information. In reality, she was a graduate student—she had skipped three grades in elementary school, so at 20, she was already in her first year of graduate school. But that didn’t matter; her main goal was to infiltrate the Tianhui building to find Zhou Qingyu, not to become a star.
When they reached the front desk, she unexpectedly ran into Ye Luoyi and the security guard again.
The security guard was astonished. “Aren’t you a fan of Miss Ye? Why are you back again?”
Yan Xi rolled her eyes and replied, “I told you already, I’m not a fan. Didn’t you get it?”
Sun Qi looked confused, and the security guard proceeded to recount what had just happened.
Rather than believing she was a fan, Sun Qi was more inclined to think that Yan Xi was Zhou Qingyu’s assistant.
While an assistant might not be able to afford a high-end dress, it was possible that Zhou Qingyu had given it to her as a hand-me-down. Zhou Qingyu, who casually gave billions worth of resources to Pei Yubai, likely wouldn’t think twice about handing over a 100,000 yuan dress.
“It’s fine, you must have misunderstood,” Sun Qi said, glancing at the security guard and Ye Luoyi. “Have you ever seen a fan look at their idol with such calm eyes?”
Having worked in the entertainment industry for over ten years, Sun Qi could spot a true fan from a mile away.
Ye Luoyi felt increasingly awkward, her smile faltering. She spoke up, “So, Brother Sun, are you bringing her in to deliver something to Teacher Zhou?”
Stars typically referred to other celebrities as “teacher” out of respect.
Sun Qi’s enthusiasm grew as he spoke, “No, I want to sign her as an artist!” His tone was filled with excitement. “Yan Xi has great bone structure and a soft, innocent look. She’s perfect for idol dramas!”
This was a sentiment that Zhou Qingyu had also expressed before—compared to Zhou Qingyu’s bold and glamorous face, Yan Xi’s was more subtle, pure, and gentle. A face like hers had a natural chemistry with male actors, which was crucial for the success of idol dramas.
But Yan Xi had no interest in acting and had already turned down Zhou Qingyu’s offer long ago.
At that moment, Yan Xi stayed silent, pretending to be a naive student eagerly waiting to be signed.
Hearing Sun Qi praise Yan Xi so highly, Ye Luoyi’s gaze darkened.
Ye Luoyi, who had also built her career on the innocent “little white flower” image, couldn’t help but feel a sense of rivalry. Her success, largely built on the fake CP relationship with Pei Yuhai, was now under threat by Yan Xi, who was younger and had a similar image. Although Ye Luoyi understood that Yan Xi didn’t pose immediate competition, the younger actress was still a challenge she’d have to deal with in the future.
However, with the company’s head of talent acquisition pushing for new contracts, Ye Luoyi couldn’t outright oppose Sun Qi’s decision to sign a new face. Tianhui Entertainment had many low-budget idol dramas, and while Ye Luoyi’s status had risen, these small productions were not ones for her. They were perfect for rookies like Yan Xi.
Though she knew she wouldn’t have to compete with Yan Xi for major roles for a while, Ye Luoyi still felt irritated by the situation.
As Sun Qi led Yan Xi into the elevator, he enthusiastically discussed the company’s structure and opportunities. Yan Xi, however, wasn’t paying much attention, her gaze fixed on the third floor where Pei Yuhai’s office was located.
When they reached the body training room, Yan Xi feigned a stomach ache and excused herself from Sun Qi’s side.
Sun Qi, not suspecting anything, assumed she was simply overwhelmed by the excitement of the opportunity and didn’t question her sudden departure. He believed no one would pass up such a chance to enter the spotlight.
Ye Luoyi teasingly remarked, “She said she were delivering something to Teacher Zhou, but it turns out she wanted to sign a contract and debut! This little girl looks innocent, but she’s no fool.”
Aside from the obsessed fans, there are also some pretty girls who deliberately loiter near entertainment companies, hoping to be discovered by talent scouts and sign a contract to become an overnight sensation. This is not uncommon in the industry.
“A little ambition is a good thing,” Sun Qi said. He wasn’t bothered by the fact that his artists had ambition; in fact, he was more worried about the ones who didn’t.
The labels like “pure as chrysanthemum” or “not fighting or competing” are merely personas. The entertainment industry is a huge cesspool, and if you don’t fight, you’ll get drowned.
Ye Luoyi herself had gotten to where she was because of some ambition—she latched onto Pei Yuhai, which had helped her reach her current position. Everyone knew this, but it was an unspoken understanding that no one mentioned.