After Being Dumped by the Film Empress, My Acting Skills Soared - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

PQ is a new streaming media giant that integrates fashion magazines with film and television media. Over the years, it has become the most influential company for promoting talent in the entertainment industry. For the rising starlets of Shao Niannian’s generation, if they haven’t secured a solo cover for PQ, they can’t truly boast about their achievements.

Shao Niannian is one of the only two starlets without a PQ solo cover. Every day, her fans are so anxious they swarm Weibo to scold her agent, Gao Hui, for being incompetent. Gao Hui, in turn, is so stressed she yells at Shao Niannian—who simply rolls over in bed and continues to lie there.

“If I get on PQ, can you help me get a role in Jiang Yan’s new project?”

Gao Hui gritted her teeth. “If you work hard, you’ll definitely get to act with Jiang Yan.”

Shao Niannian sneered. “That’s what you said before. Then I spent two years working like a clockwork orange, moving from one set to the next without a break. And the result? You couldn’t even manage to get her contact information for me…”

Gao Hui felt exhausted. “My dear girl, do you think Jiang Yan’s contact info is that easy to get? I pulled so many strings back then. Even Director Lin, who has collaborated with Jiang Yan on so many scripts, doesn’t have it. Where am I supposed to find it for you?”

“And even if you did have it, what would you say to her?” Gao Hui took a sharp turn, driving Shao Niannian—who was already fully made up and dressed—toward the PQ fashion show venue. “With your stuttering-whenever-you’re-nervous chatting skills, even if a meat pie fell from the sky and her contact info landed right in your lap, you’d just end up being a ‘zombie’ contact in her list for ten years.”

Slumped in the back seat, Shao Niannian silently fiddled with her fingers. That was clearly not what she wanted to hear.

Seeing her silence, Gao Hui nudged her. “Stop lying down; we’re almost at the venue. Put on your best face. Don’t go spreading negative energy to the fans with all that sighing.”

One second, Shao Niannian was huddled in the back seat playing with her fingers; the second the car stopped, a bright, radiant smile bloomed on her face. Her green tulle gown with a trailing train, paired with a pearl necklace, made her look absolutely stunning.

Gao Hui watched Shao Niannian’s transformation through the rearview mirror and finally felt her heart settle. As Shao Niannian was about to step out, Gao Hui hurriedly added: “Lülü is inside. Keep an eye on her for me. Whatever you do, do not let her hide in the bathroom to play video games.”

“You two ancestors… you worry me more than anyone.”

Shao Niannian’s brilliant smile looked as if it were glued to her face, showing no trace of her previous attitude.

“I’ll try,” she said before closing the door. “But if Lülü offers to carry me to Master rank in Honor of Kings, I probably won’t be able to refuse.”

“After all, not everyone gets the chance to be carried by Lülü.” Shao Niannian added righteously, “Usually, you have to give her a red envelope just to get her to carry you.”

Before Gao Hui could unleash a string of curses, Shao Niannian slammed the door shut. Gao Hui gestured wildly inside the car, but Shao Niannian couldn’t hear a thing from the outside.

“Wow, there are so many people.” Shao Niannian waited in line for the red carpet according to the usher’s instructions. Looking into the distance, she saw Lülü, dressed in a blue mermaid-tail gown, already at the front of the line waiting to enter.

Shao Niannian tilted her head and counted the people ahead of her. When she got to her own spot, her eyes widened. Good grief… eighteen…

How long would eighteen people take? By the time she got in, Huo Lülü would have likely “escaped to the bathroom” to recruit people for a match.

With so many people around, Shao Niannian found it hard to maintain her bright smile. Whenever she was in a crowded place with strangers, she instinctively put on a cold face. If she wasn’t facing a camera, it was difficult to stay in character.

While wondering when it would be her turn, she heard the rapid click of high heels behind her. Amidst the flurry of noise, she caught a name she was most familiar with.

“Wen Jing, why do you have to be so stubborn?” a woman whispered urgently.

Shao Niannian tilted her upper body slightly, perking up her ears to eavesdrop on the gossip behind her.

PQ had no specific dress code for the stars. Wen Jing had chosen a simple black strapless gown, a safe choice. Wen Jing stood there with a cold face, looking as proud as a black swan, staring ahead at the crowd and completely ignoring her manager.

The manager was anxious. “Best Actress Jiang personally sent someone to give you access to the VIP channel! Why do you insist on standing back here? With so many people in front, when do you think you’ll get in?”

“It’s so cold today! Are you crazy? I really don’t understand you. Best Actress Jiang—”

Wen Jing irritably interrupted, “Shut up. If you like her so much, I suggest you just go be Jiang Yan’s manager.”

“Don’t say such things!” The manager gritted her teeth and patted Wen Jing’s arm. Seeing that Wen Jing truly wanted to ignore her, she couldn’t keep nagging—after all, many ears were listening. “Fine, fine. Do whatever you want.”

Once the manager left, Shao Niannian’s mind was in a whirl. Wen Jing had only acted in one drama with Jiang Yan, and they were already close enough for Jiang Yan to offer her a VIP entrance? And Wen Jing actually refused it!

Help! Do you know who that is?! That’s Jiang Yan! How could you refuse Jiang Yan?

The only thought in Shao Niannian’s head was: Wen Jing refused Jiang Yan. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. They had both collaborated with Jiang Yan in one project, yet one was so close to her while Shao Niannian hadn’t even touched the fringes of her shadow.

If her emotions could manifest as a physical person, Wen Jing would probably be getting a sound thrashing from Shao Niannian’s anger right now.

“Hey, little green midget, finished eavesdropping?” Wen Jing said coldly, her gaze shifting downward to land on Shao Niannian, who was a few inches shorter than her.

Shao Niannian’s body stiffened. She blinked nervously, wondering if Wen Jing was talking to her. She might not be great at much, but her eavesdropping skills were…

“You’re the only one wearing a green dress.”

…actually quite terrible, Shao Niannian grumbled internally. I told her not to pick green; it’s too conspicuous! But Gao Hui insisted! Now I’ve been caught red-handed!

“Annyeonghaseyo,” Shao Niannian said with a smile, turning to Wen Jing and trying to pretend she didn’t understand Chinese.

However, Wen Jing merely narrowed her eyes and proceeded to list off every film and drama Shao Niannian had acted in over the years.

“I heard you’re a ‘starlet with rotten acting.’ Coincidentally, so am I,” Wen Jing said bluntly, seemingly unbothered that she was insulting herself as well.

Shao Niannian: “…”

“I wouldn’t say my acting is rotten… I still have some…”

Wen Jing: “Your first drama was also with Jiang Yan, right?”

“Yes.” Shao Niannian couldn’t understand why Wen Jing was steering the conversation in this direction.

“Do you hate Jiang Yan?”

“…”

“Oh, you like Jiang Yan.” Wen Jing understood. Her light brown eyes flickered, and her cold face suddenly broke into a faint smile. Her hands, which had been in the wind for a while, were icy cold.

When she gripped Shao Niannian’s arm, it sent a shiver through her.

“Since you like Jiang Yan… tell me, do you want me to help you?” Wen Jing curled her lips into a standard smile, her phoenix eyes upturned slightly. She didn’t look friendly at all.

Shao Niannian could sense a strange hostility emanating from Wen Jing. Her usually slow brain was now racing, warning her that following Wen Jing’s lead would lead to a cliff. It was dangerous.

But her body was faster and more honest than her brain.

“Sure,” Shao Niannian asked cautiously. “Can you really help me?”