Chapter 9

Outside the stock exchange, the assistant director earnestly tried to persuade her. “I’m doing this to prove a point, but what are you doing? Don’t buy it, don’t buy it. You’re not a top-tier or second-tier star. Buying 100,000 worth of stocks is easy for you.”

Glancing at the stock exchange in front of her, Shen Yan replied seriously, “I know, but precisely because I’m not a top-tier or second-tier star, that’s exactly why I want to buy.”

Assistant Director: “Why won’t you listen to me? Even though I’m on your side, I don’t believe that Chen’s Enterprises stock will make money. I just checked, and it’s been falling. It went up a little yesterday, but today it’s fallen right back down. It looks like it could keep falling.”

As they were talking, several extras from Consort Chen came running toward the stock exchange.

“Quick, quick, let’s go buy Yuran Industries’ stock. Once we buy it, we’ll make money. Look at He Han’s boyfriend, he’s an investor just because of this stock.”

“Yeah, once I make money, I won’t be an extra anymore.”

Seeing them, Shen Yan thought that in a few days, He Han would probably have people blocked in the hotel, because the stock would fall soon.

Shen Yan had warned them, but they didn’t believe her. There was nothing she could do. If she went to argue with them now, they might even say she was jealous of He Han.

“Assistant Director, Chen’s Enterprises stock will definitely rise. I dare to bet all of my current worth on Chen’s Enterprises,” Shen Yan said, and then walked into the stock exchange.

The assistant director looked at her with a pained expression. “We were just pretending to be tough earlier. Why are you being so serious? If you’re so straightforward, how can I bring myself to sell off the stocks I’ve already bought?”

When Shen Yan came out of the stock exchange, she had already purchased 100,000 worth of Chen’s Enterprises stock. The assistant director didn’t go in with Shen Yan; he leaned against the car and said to her, “A total of thirty people.”

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow. “Hm?”

The assistant director continued, “Thirty people from our crew came to buy stocks, and they all bought Yuran Industries.”

The stock situation had gotten the cast of Chen Fei very excited. During their breaks from filming, they would often discuss stocks. Those who hadn’t bought stocks had nothing to talk about with the others. Besides stocks, they were all waiting for Chen’s Enterprises’ stock to keep falling, the very one Shen Yan had warned them about.

When Shen Yan returned to the set in the afternoon, He Han was even more adored than Li Jun. Everywhere she went, it was like she was the center of attention.

He Han’s costume had changed from a maid’s to a concubine’s outfit. Before Shen Yan could ask, the assistant director had already found an extra to explain, “What’s up with He Han?”

This extra happened to be Li San, the one who had clashed with Shen Yan earlier. “Of course, she got a change in her role. She’ll still play a maid, but the emperor has taken a liking to her and made her a concubine. He Han’s boyfriend is an investor, and she’s helping the crew make money too. When we ask her about stocks, she explains everything. The cameramen and lighting crew even make sure to give her the perfect shots for her beauty.”

After saying this, Li San looked at Shen Yan with longing, “I’ve already bought the stocks. Once I make money, I’m going to co-invest with the other extras in a web series. I’ll play the third male lead.”

Shen Yan scanned the set and then curled her lips. “Perfect beauty? I don’t need filters or lighting, and I’m still more beautiful than her.”

Li San wanted to argue but couldn’t come up with a response. He continued, “I even called others to buy the stock, and they’re all thanking me.”

Shen Yan didn’t respond. They should be thanking me that they’re not getting scammed.

Since they were all innocent, Shen Yan said, “Invest carefully. Also, you don’t even know He Han well.”

Li San scoffed, “You’re just jealous, jealous of He Han. You see, her boyfriend calls you ‘junior sister,’ and just because you’re jealous of He Han, you’re trying to stop us from making money with her.”

Li San had this attitude, and others probably shared the same mindset. Shen Yan knew they wouldn’t believe her, no matter what she said.

Looking at the assistant director, Shen Yan said, “You’re my talent scout, right?”

The assistant director proudly replied, “Of course, I’m your talent scout!”

Shen Yan smirked, “Then buy more stocks.”

The assistant director hesitated, about to refuse, but in the end, he reluctantly bought more stocks, trembling as he did. “I believe Shen Yan!”

Li San added, “Assistant director, you’re really worrying the director. When you went out with Shen Yan, the director said it was all because of Shen Yan that you’re like this, and he even said to keep your distance from her.”

Shen Yan didn’t have the energy to argue with them anymore; she needed to check her audition news. She walked straight ahead.

The assistant director thought Shen Yan was angry and was going to try to calm her down, but Li Jun called him over for a scolding instead.

Li Jun yelled, “What does Shen Yan know? He Han’s boyfriend has shown us a way to make money, but why do you have to stick with Shen Yan?”

“I think…”

“I don’t care what you think! Go and hand out lunch boxes for me!”

“………”

Everyone in the crew knew about Li Jun’s dissatisfaction with Shen Yan, and with the crew mostly supporting He Han, who they thought would help them make money, Shen Yan felt somewhat isolated. The assistant director wanted to help Shen Yan, but he could hardly say anything. Either he was sent by the director to hand out lunch boxes or to buy this or that.

In any case, Li Jun was dead set on not letting the assistant director get too close to Shen Yan.

If it were someone else, they might have found the situation awkward, but not Shen Yan. She minded her own business and even seemed somewhat aloof, making people feel like she was unapproachable.

In a few days, it would be clear who was right.

Shen Yan didn’t want to engage with anyone, but someone was bound to try to provoke her.

As the sun set and a cool breeze swept through, He Han walked up to Shen Yan, with someone fanning her to keep her cool.

“Junior sister, what are you doing?” He Han said as she approached Shen Yan.

Shen Yan replied indifferently, “You want to fight?”

He Han froze, thinking that since Shen Yan had been isolated, she might start buttering up to her now that He Han had taken the initiative.

Before He Han could say anything, others rushed to speak out.

“Shen Yan, what are you doing?”

“Yeah, you’re bullying He Han, and she’s been so nice to you.”

“She’s just jealous of He Han.”

He Han put on a pitiful act, “Don’t be like this, everyone. My junior sister probably just doesn’t want to talk to me.” Then she said, “By the way, junior sister, if you don’t want to share a room with me, I’ll move out later.”

Everyone around them chimed in.

Shen Yan slowly stood up, furrowing her brows. “He Han, don’t you think that I’ve been bullying you? I think what I did was wrong.”

Internally, He Han sneered. Shen Yan thought she was going to apologize, but what would that matter? Whatever Shen Yan owed her, she would get it back.

He Han replied, “You’re my junior sister, and I won’t argue with you.”

A sharp slap echoed through the air.

Everyone held their breath, some even taking a step back. Shen Yan had just dared to confront the director and slap He Han!

He Han’s face turned red, and this wasn’t the first time she had suffered at Shen Yan’s hands. She could accept it before, but why was it that even though she had the upper hand now, Shen Yan could still act so arrogantly and slap her like that?

Shen Yan shook her wrist. “What I did was really wrong. Since everyone’s already throwing the blame of bullying He Han onto me, if I don’t do something, I’ll be sorry for myself.”

The assistant director loudly called out, “Dinner’s ready, dinner’s ready, lunch boxes are here, and there’s chicken legs today!”

Shen Yan glanced at the assistant director and walked over to him to get her lunch box.

The assistant director made a gesture with his mouth, signaling her, “Chicken wings.”

Today, the crew was serving chicken legs, and the assistant director even added a pair of chicken wings for Shen Yan.

After getting her lunch box, Shen Yan was about to head back to eat. She was about to say something to the assistant director, but he quickly avoided looking at her. He was afraid that she would ask him to buy more stocks.

Just as Shen Yan turned around, she saw He Han, who had now realized what was happening. He Han raised her hand, ready to strike Shen Yan. Shen Yan grabbed her wrist with one hand and said in a calm tone, “If you have the guts, keep climbing up until you reach a position where I won’t dare to hit you.”

The crew members who had finished work gathered around, watching the confrontation between Shen Yan and He Han.

He Han tried to strike with her other hand, but Shen Yan quickly let go and stepped back. She spun around gracefully, the hem of her dress drawing a beautiful arc in the air, and she finally stood firmly. He Han fell to the ground, pointing at Shen Yan, her voice full of suppressed anger, “Shen Yan, you’re going too far!”

At this moment, Li Jun also walked over, shouting, “What’s going on?”

Shen Yan crouched slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at He Han, “Don’t provoke me.” After saying this, she stood up, nodded at the assistant director, and returned to her spot to start eating her lunch.

The extras, who had been filming for so long and were hungry, wanted to watch the drama unfold, but they had to eat too. Plus, since the assistant director had just mentioned there were chicken legs, they all rushed to him to get their lunch boxes. A few extras, hoping to please He Han, stayed behind, blaming everything on Shen Yan.

He Han shoved those people aside and ran up to Li Jun, saying, “I want to add more scenes. I think a character like Lan Fei, who doesn’t want to compete with others, must also be very kind-hearted. So, if someone falls into the water, Lan Fei would definitely save them.” She leaned forward and added, “Besides, whether this scene airs or not, isn’t it up to you?”

Li Jun hesitated for a moment, but He Han quickly said, “Zhang He wants to have dinner with you. He’s recently bought more stocks.”

Li Jun replied, “This plot is good. It fits well with Lan Fei’s character. Go talk to the screenwriter about it.”