Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Crushing Force

By the time Jiang Yumian slowly drove her car out of the parking lot, Jing Xiaoyan had checked her phone countless times.

Jing Xiaoyan leaned against the wall near the stairwell, wanting to send a message to hurry her up, but couldn’t think of an excuse to send.

She is really taking her time…

“Why are you still outside?” Sister Guan’s voice came from the private room area.

Jing Xiaoyan looked up and saw Sister Guan walking over with a serious expression. Her face paused. “What’s wrong?”

Sister Guan pursed her lips. Thinking of the people inside, she looked displeased and gritted her teeth. “They are going too far!”

Jing Xiaoyan frowned. Weren’t they having a good conversation before she came out?

Sister Guan frowned. “That Director Liu pushed a newcomer in. It’s the actress sitting across from you.”

There was more than one director inside.

They weren’t originally supposed to come to any launch party, but this movie was being shot by two directors one for the first part and one for the latter part. Both were big-name directors, so they couldn’t refuse to attend.

It was also a coincidence. A major investor for this show poured money into it and invited Director Liu to help. And indeed, having him oversee the campus scenes would be much better.

Director Liu was the one Jing Xiaoyan wanted to collaborate with initially, but after Jiang Yumian told her the director was cheating, she dropped the idea. So, she didn’t say much after going in and didn’t want to make a scene, so she came out.

“Let them push her in. It’s nothing. We’ve seen this kind of situation before.” Although pushing someone in wasn’t a good look, Jing Xiaoyan only frowned and didn’t take it to heart.

She looked down at her phone. The filming was about to start. Arguing wouldn’t help. They brought the person here. It was clearly a notice, not a discussion.

Sister Guan crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at her. “Oh, it’s nothing even if she stole half of your role, right? Then I’ll go in now and tell the director you agreed.”

Ignoring Jing Xiaoyan’s confused expression, Sister Guan exclaimed, waved her hand, and continued, “Isn’t it just letting that actress play the female lead during the student years? Alas… it seems you have a bigger picture. I’ll go tell them right away.”

Jing Xiaoyan immediately grabbed Sister Guan’s hand, a little incredulous. “I was replaced?”

At this time, right before filming starts, they want to replace her?

Sister Guan snorted lightly. Now she knows how serious it is, huh?

“Not completely replaced. Just the campus part was swapped. You’ll play the part after graduation.” Speaking of this, Sister Guan felt angry. She snorted, grinding her teeth. “Because you just won an award, and your popularity is so high now, they pushed someone in to piggyback on your popularity, wanting you to pave the way for her, getting screen time by stepping on you. In the future, she can say she played the female lead in the same movie as you, and her status will go up.”

Jing Xiaoyan had just won the award and had so many announcements and endorsements. She originally wanted to rest for a while, but Director Wu specifically invited her, saying only she could play the female lead in this movie. She read the script and thought it was good, so she took on the role.

Now they were pulling this kind of stunt?

“Then we won’t film it.”

Jing Xiaoyan’s voice was cold. Her mind quickly calmed down. She hadn’t expected it earlier. Director Wu was so sincere when he approached her and treasured the script. Yet now, all this was happening.

She lowered her eyes and looked at her phone.

Jiang Yumian was still on the way and would probably arrive in a bit. If she went in now and resolved this, she could still go have dinner with her. That would be nice.

Sister Guan was stunned. When had Jing Xiaoyan ever been so decisive?

However, this was also the first time they encountered such a thing. She paused for two seconds and nodded. “We’ll go argue first. If it doesn’t work, we won’t film it.”

Jing Xiaoyan put away her phone and walked inside, her expression cold. “No arguing. We’re just not filming it. They were the first to break the contract.”

Jing Xiaoyan pushed the door open and entered. The sound of arguing inside abruptly stopped. Director Wu’s face was dark, staring angrily at Director Liu. It seemed he also just found out about this.

“Sorry, directors. I had something to deal with. Let’s continue eating.” Jing Xiaoyan’s expression eased a bit. She walked to her original seat and sat down as if nothing had happened.

Sister Guan raised an eyebrow and sat down silently. Director Liu’s gaze was fixed on her face. She was Jing Xiaoyan’s agent. Everyone in the industry knew Jing Xiaoyan listened to her. Whatever she said went.

Director Liu cleared his throat, wanting to see her expression first. She was furious before going out. How could she be so calm now? Did she agree?

“Um, I haven’t had a chance to introduce you. This is…”

“I know.”

Seeing Director Liu point to the actress beside him, Jing Xiaoyan interrupted him somewhat impolitely, but a polite and proper smile was still on her face.

Before the person across could continue, Jing Xiaoyan picked up her chopsticks, which were barely used, and said carelessly, “This is the female lead of Director Wu’s movie. Sister Guan already told me.”

She raised her eyes, not even glancing at the actress. It wasn’t disdain; she just didn’t want to look. She looked at Director Wu and nodded to him.

Director Wu quickly shook his head. Just as he was about to say something, Director Liu cut him off. “Oh, come on! She’s not just a female lead. She’s just playing the early stages. She fits the persona of the early stages better, and the investor is very optimistic about the two of you playing the role together.”

This statement clearly implied that this person was pushed by the boss, the higher-up, and that they should be mindful of the situation.

Director Wu’s built-up anger instantly died down halfway.

Jing Xiaoyan smiled. “She does fit.”

Hearing her say this, Director Liu clapped his hands, overjoyed. “Exactly! Look at you, Old Wu!”

“So, since there’s a more suitable female lead, I won’t interfere. Congratulations to the two directors for finding a better-suited actor for the script. I hope to see your new work soon.”

Jing Xiaoyan put down her chopsticks and got up immediately. Sister Guan also picked up her coat to follow suit. The people who were just laughing were stunned and quickly called out to them.

“Not acting anymore?” Director Liu stood up immediately. “Guan Jing!”

Seeing Jing Xiaoyan being so infuriating, Sister Guan, who had been holding back her laughter for so long, finally turned around and could laugh freely. Now that she was called back, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

She turned to him. “What do you want?”

Jing Xiaoyan also turned around, blinking and feigning ignorance. “Does Director Liu have something else? Sister Guan is very busy.”

“That.”

Before Director Liu could say anything, the male actor, Zhang Yan, who had been barely noticeable, raised his hand. He was the male lead this time.

“If Sister Xiaoyan isn’t acting, then you should change the male lead too. I was actually planning to retire and only came because of her.”

He truly wasn’t panicking at all and wasn’t afraid of offending anyone. He looked at these people calmly. There were a few unfamiliar faces here.

Jiang Yumian stood by the door with her arms crossed. She didn’t know which kind person left a gap for her, but the door wasn’t fully closed. She heard everything clearly.

She pursed her lips, mouthing “Sister Xiaoyan,” then softly scoffed.

They had been arguing for so long and still weren’t done. She was hungry.

She sent a message to the rich sister to complain, and even recorded a clip to send over. Gotta share the gossip.

Sea Cotton has Baby: See! I told you this Director Liu wasn’t a good person!

Sea Cotton has Baby: I don’t know what Jing Xiaoyan’s agent was thinking, taking the role without investigating properly.

Jing Xiaoyan touched her vibrating phone, couldn’t help but take it out to check. Seeing who sent the message, a faint smile was in her eyes. She’s finally here.

She resisted the urge to turn around and walk out. She put away her phone and looked at Zhang Yan, nodding to him.

Seeing that none of them wanted to act, Director Liu didn’t dare mention anything about the contract, as they were the ones who breached it first.

He raised his hand, speaking cordially, “I couldn’t help it. The investor is the boss now. Why can’t you understand?”

Director Wu, who had been suppressing his anger, slammed his hand on the table. “Investor my ass! No one but Jing Xiaoyan is going to play the female lead in this script. I’ll just let it rot if I have to!”

Jing Xiaoyan and Guan Jing were both startled. They hadn’t expected Director Wu to be so unyielding.

Jiang Yumian’s eyes widened. This director is good! Worth befriending!

She now wished she were sitting inside watching them argue. So exciting!

“You motherfucker, say that again?” The man who had been slumped over the table was also roused. He stood up drunkenly, pointing at Director Wu.

“Oh, look how angry Boss Guo is. Old Wu, he’s just kidding, just kidding.” Director Liu simultaneously tried to calm the obviously drunk man and signaled to Director Wu with his eyes.

Director Wu knew the few unfamiliar faces present were brought by Director Liu, but he hadn’t expected the investor to show up.

There was more than one investor, but only this one came. Seeing Director Liu’s fawning look, this was likely the biggest one.

Jing Xiaoyan didn’t want to waste any more time. She didn’t know this Boss Guo and didn’t care who he was. She just wanted to leave now.

“You all eat. Sister Guan and I will be leaving first.” She was still calm, showing no signs of tension in this explosive situation.

Hearing she was about to come out, Jiang Yumian instantly stood straight, planning to go to the side staircase for a “chance encounter.”

But before she could take a step, there was a crash inside. The sound of a wine bottle smashing on the table was harsh.

The table was a mess.

Perhaps the drunk man still had a shred of sanity and didn’t throw it directly at someone, or Jing Xiaoyan wouldn’t be standing right now.

Since it was thrown in Jing Xiaoyan’s direction, it was hard for the liquid not to splash on her.

“You’re ungrateful, you bitch! What kind of woman can’t be found? Is the entertainment industry short of one actress like you?”

“You’re fucking cheap…”

“Who are you calling cheap!” Before Jiang Yumian even pushed the door open, her voice had already entered the private room. “Do you dare to say that again for me to hear?”

She couldn’t stand hearing even one insult toward Jing Xiaoyan, let alone a second.

After entering, her eyes immediately found Jing Xiaoyan. Seeing her being shielded by Sister Guan and a man, looking at her, she finally felt relieved.

Director Liu saw this little ancestor, Jiang Yumian, walk in and immediately sat down on the chair, lowering his head like a quail, not daring to make a sound. He even reached out and tugged at Boss Guo’s clothes.

But his kind warning was ignored. Boss Guo directly slapped his hand away.

Perhaps he was too drunk or didn’t clearly see who had walked in. He staggered, pulled out a chair, and walked toward Jiang Yumian. “Who the hell are you! Do you want to die?”

Jiang Yumian kicked him in the stomach without thinking. She wondered if he could withstand the kick after drinking so much.

“Who the hell am I? I’m Jiang Yumian!”

She kicked the man, who was already squatting down in discomfort, twice more and added, “Jiang Yumian! Did you hear clearly!”

Boss Guo was furious, but he couldn’t stand up straight. He opened his mouth and yelled, “You dare to kick me!”

Jiang Yumian looked at the messy table. The broken glass shards were very noticeable. What if Jing Xiaoyan got hurt!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She kicked him again. “I’ll say it again: Jiang! Yu! Mian!”

Now, Boss Guo finally heard the name clearly. The alcohol scare sobered him up. He stared at her with wide eyes, finally realizing which wealthy young lady this was.

His finger trembled as he pointed at Jiang Yumian. “You! You are Jiang Yumian! Your mother is Jiang…”

“That’s right! My mom is Jiang Jiyu! You wait and see if I want to die or if you don’t want to live!”

Jiang Yumian kicked him again after saying that.

The person being kicked didn’t dare to make a sound anymore and collapsed onto the floor.

Everyone in the room stared dumbfounded at the sudden appearance of Jiang Yumian. Is this the crushing force of capital against capital?

So arrogant, so damn satisfying!

Jing Xiaoyan was standing behind Jiang Yumian at some point. After she finished kicking the man, she reached out and tapped her back, calling her softly, “Mianmian.”

Jiang Yumian’s back stiffened. Oh no, oh no, I went too far. My lady-like image is completely ruined!

Support