Acting as the Vicious Second Lead [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 18

“It was you…”

A cry of pure astonishment rang out from the corner.

Everyone turned toward the sound, only to see Xiang Liwei gripping Zhu Qian’s hand. Her face was a kaleidoscope of shock, disbelief, and indignation. Gradually, she released her grip, the emotions in her eyes fading into a profound sense of disappointment.

“You’re the one who leaked the scandal,” the girl interrogated. “Why would you do such a thing!”

Seemingly becoming aware of the gazes from everyone around her, Xiang Liwei clenched her fists and shrank back slightly, looking intimidated. But then, as if her sense of justice had triumphed over her fear, she said firmly: “I didn’t want to suspect you. I wanted to believe in everyone.”

“But the facts have forced me to admit that there really are villains like you in this world.”

The girl’s words were like a stone tossed into a still lake. Immediately, the room erupted in whispers, many of them condemning Zhu Qian.

“So it was Zhu Qian after all. Heh, that definitely fits her IQ.”

“That’s terrifying—leaking things just because you have a disagreement. Having someone like that around, I’d be scared that any embarrassing thing I do would be filmed and posted online.”

“Sigh, if only everyone were as kind-hearted as Xiang Liwei.”

They lamented, believing Xiang Liwei’s words without a shred of doubt. In everyone’s mind, the young girl was the image of pure innocence—someone who would blush and turn shy if teased, someone whose cuteness could melt a heart. It was simply impossible for her to slander someone without proof.

Moreover, there was one point the director agreed with wholeheartedly: if someone filmed on-set occurrences without the “victim’s” consent and leaked them, it didn’t just cause trouble for the individuals involved; it stripped away the other actors’ sense of security, leaving everyone in a state of panic.

It was as if an invisible camera were constantly pointed at them, monitoring their every move. The person behind it was just waiting for them to make a mistake or a misunderstood gesture, only to pair it with a caption that twisted the truth and smear them on Weibo. It was nearly impossible to guard against.

This was exactly what the director refused to tolerate. With a grim expression, he walked toward Zhu Qian.

“Was it you?” The director softened his tone. “I won’t wrong anyone. I want to hear your explanation.”

“I… I didn’t…”

Seeing everyone staring at her, Zhu Qian’s head began to throb. As the director approached, she was hit by a wave of stifling pressure. She stumbled back in a panic, lowering her head as if to flee, avoiding his probing gaze.

Seeing her soul-less, distracted state, the director gave up on communication. He sighed helplessly and said, “Give me your phone. Let me see.”

“No!!” Zhu Qian suddenly shrieked, her voice piercing. She snapped her head up, clutching her phone even tighter. She shook her head, muttering to herself, “It shouldn’t be like this!”

The director now understood; the culprit was undoubtedly Zhu Qian.

“Please cooperate,” he said sternly. He reached out, intending to take the phone by force.

However, this action seemed to flip a switch. Zhu Qian went berserk. She hid the phone behind her back, assuming a stance that suggested she would fight to the death if he came any closer.

“You have to believe me… I didn’t do it, I…” She was becoming incoherent. “Stop looking at me! Everyone go back to your business!”

“Don’t look into this anymore… okay?”

She pleaded with a tearful, miserable face, but she was met only with silence. Facing someone who had lost their cool and their reason, one had to be cautious.

The director withdrew his hand and advised, “If you let us see the phone, we’ll believe you’re innocent. You should understand that honesty is the best policy.”

“No… I said I didn’t do it, so I didn’t!”

Refusing to give up until she faced the inevitable, Zhu Qian stubbornly denied everything. Once she handed over the phone, it would truly be the end.

The tension was palpable as the two remained at a standstill. Just as someone decided to call the police, a timid, girlish voice echoed through the room—

“Sister Zhu Qian, please stop struggling and just admit it.”

To the side, Xiang Liwei frowned, her expression one of utter confusion, her voice melodious: “After all, I saw everything. The account logged into your Weibo is ‘Lu Ren.'”

“When you do something wrong, isn’t an apology only natural? How can you deny the debt?”

Every word was a stinging truth, becoming the final straw that broke Zhu Qian.

“Stop talking!” The string of reason in her mind snapped. She went completely mad, raising both hands to claw at her hair, her expression deranged.

Listening to Xiang Liwei’s hypocritical words, Zhu Qian could only see the girl’s two-faced nature. She thought about how this girl was just as despicable as her, yet played the part of the ultimate innocent. It was nauseating.

Her grip failed, and her phone slid out of her hand. It hit the floor with a heavy thud.

At the sound, Xiang Liwei flinched like a startled white rabbit.

“I know, but…”

Zhu Qian watched the girl’s mouth opening and closing and suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to tear it apart.

“I told you to stop talking!”

With a hysterical scream, she lunged at the girl. Xiang Liwei’s eyes widened slightly, her face blank and her body unmoving, appearing as though she couldn’t react in time to avoid the assault.

The situation was critical.

Suddenly, in the nick of time, the director spun around. His small frame exploded with extraordinary power as he lunged forward, firmly grabbing Zhu Qian’s arms and pinning her down. The movement was seamless.

“Don’t just stare, help me!”

The two men closest to them snapped out of it and rushed forward to grab the woman’s arms, one on each side. By the time they had her secured, the director was drenched in sweat. He wiped his brow and bent down to pick up the fallen phone.

Seeing her phone taken away, Zhu Qian knew it was over. She deflated like a punctured balloon. She wept as she apologized: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

“I shouldn’t have let my jealousy get the better of me after seeing the promotional photos. I made a mistake.”

She repented over and over, claiming she shouldn’t have posted the photos online.

Because of the near-incident, the actors crowded around to offer comfort. In the middle of the throng, Xiang Liwei smiled and waved her hands, saying she was fine. Then, she lowered her eyes, hiding the gloom within them, her smile turning chilly.

Undoubtedly, Zhu Qian had not realized her true mistake. Her mistake wasn’t taking photos of actors or posting them to Weibo.

Her mistake was specifically trying to blacken Yin Ni. Had the target been anyone else, Xiang Liwei wouldn’t have even spared a glance.

Even worse… she had taken photos of Yin Ni.

At that thought, Xiang Liwei’s gaze turned dark. That person… only I am allowed to take secret photos of her.

At the agency, Qin Xiaoxiao held her phone and composed a short post for Weibo.

Yin Ni V: Miss Zhu Qian, is playing with alt-accounts fun? @Lu Ren

The sentence was simple and sharp. It sidestepped the “assaulting the director” controversy and pointed the spear directly at Zhu Qian.

Her manager was worried: “Are you sure it was her?”

“Certain,” Qin Xiaoxiao said with a stretch after posting.

In reality, she was able to confirm Zhu Qian’s identity thanks to her “cheat” ability. The scene was saved in her mind like a video; she only needed a moment to check it frame by frame. Matching the perspective of the photos “Lu Ren” had leaked, the culprit was obvious.

At the time, there were six actors sitting in that general area, but when she had struck the pose of hitting the director, Zhu Qian was the only one holding her phone and pointing the camera directly at her.

Knowing it was her, Qin Xiaoxiao also knew that Zhu Qian loved to use her seniority to bully newcomers. So, Qin Xiaoxiao researched Zhu Qian’s past dramas and contacted the rookie actors she had worked with. After confirming they had been oppressed, she told them they had one chance—not to fear retaliation, as she would handle any fallout—and to speak their grievances.

As Qin Xiaoxiao smugly anticipated the dramatic scene of Zhu Qian’s downfall, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift.

However, just as she finished her post, the production crew released an official statement.

Scanning the announcement, the manager—who was following the trending topics closely—read through it at lightning speed. She looked at Qin Xiaoxiao, stifling a laugh.

“I regret to inform you.”

“This time, you have no choice but to be whitewashed.”

The smile on Qin Xiaoxiao’s lips froze. “What did you say?