Everyone’s Heartthrob [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Entertainment Circle Sister-in-Law (5)

He Rujing learned of Li Jingyan’s actions a step ahead of Meng Ke.

Her well-formed brows knitted in displeasure as she tossed the documents onto her desk. “He has disappointed me greatly,” she said coldly.

Sister Ji understood Li Jingyan’s character; she knew that while he appeared upright and open, he was actually narrow-minded and vindictive. Still, she tried to defend him: “Perhaps it was Jingyan’s assistant…”

Her voice trailed off under He Rujing’s sharp gaze.

“Regardless of who did it,” He Rujing paused, her voice turning icy, “I do not wish to see a next time. I also expect you to protect the artists under your management.”

He Rujing’s lack of sentimentality made Sister Ji feel a surge of annoyance. This annoyance was immediately redirected toward Li Jingyan.

Su Yi had been perfectly well-behaved, doing nothing but filming obediently every day. How exactly had she provoked Li Jingyan? The more Sister Ji thought about it, the more she couldn’t swallow her anger. Leaving He Rujing’s office, she immediately called Li Jingyan’s manager. “You had better keep a leash on your artist, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Sister Ji was a naturally intimidating figure; after this threat, the other manager became terrified, wondering which blind fool had provoked this “Great Buddha.”

Meng Ke listened quietly to the system’s report on Li Jingyan’s antics. Finally, the woman, who had shown no reaction for a long time, curled her red lips. “Interesting.”

The system waited. That was it? Just “interesting”? It couldn’t help but ask: “Host, aren’t you angry?”

Meng Ke was confused. “Why should I be angry? Li Jingyan is so desperate that he’s resorted to such underhanded means. What is there to be angry about?”

They say humans are visual creatures, and it’s true. If this were the past, people would surely have followed the trend and criticized Su Yi to vent their own frustrations. But today, the sun rose from the west. Someone had started a thread meticulously analyzing Li Jingyan’s past actions; the timeline was so detailed and the heat so high that it became a trending topic in the blink of an eye.

Surprisingly, no one was blaming Su Yi.

Meng Ke smiled, tossed out the phrase “reaping what one sows,” and returned to her hotel.

Meng Ke’s role in The Execution was significant but not overwhelming. Aside from this drama, Sister Ji had only assigned her a few advertisements and fashion resources. While she had skipped some events due to filming, the weekend’s “Fashion Night” was where every actress fought for the spotlight; Meng Ke could not be absent.

After finishing her scenes, she hopped into her van and left the set. Sister Ji took this event very personally. Almost as soon as Meng Ke arrived home, Sister Ji sent over a dozen of the latest haute couture gowns. “Pick whichever one you like,” she waved grandly.

Now that Su Yi was her artist, Sister Ji wouldn’t let her lose.

Meng Ke looked at the dresses and took a sip of water. “Whatever.”

Sister Ji stared at her, and Meng Ke smiled slightly. “I trust your vision, Sister. Every piece you pick is exquisite.”

Sister Ji didn’t fall for the flattery and ruthlessly forced her to try on every single outfit. It took four or five people until 10:00 PM to finish. Sister Ji was torn; every dress looked perfect on Meng Ke, as if tailor-made.

Finally, she pointed. “That one.”

A dress as intense and dazzling as a red rose. Even Sister Ji, who was used to seeing beauties, lost her breath for a moment when Meng Ke emerged. She was satisfied and left, reminding Meng Ke: “Remember to control your food intake for the next two days.”

After three days of lounging at home, Meng Ke felt itchy from the lack of activity. The system saw her rolling around on the bed and was about to ask if she felt sick when she sat up abruptly.

“I feel…” Meng Ke started.

The system held its breath.

“A bit lonely?”

Perhaps she was getting older; she couldn’t stand the silence. The house was cold and empty.

The system was speechless. After a while, it suggested tentatively, “Should I… find you a man?”

Meng Ke glanced at it. The system shook its head. “Never mind. If a scandal broke out now, He Rujing would kill you.”

“Oh?” Meng Ke propped herself up on the bed, smiling. “He Rujing would kill me?”

The system nodded.

“Then how about…” Meng Ke paused. “You just bring He Rujing over to keep me company?”

The system looked up in shock. Meng Ke was still smiling as if it were a joke, but the system felt something was off.

“Do you have a name?” Meng Ke asked. The system shook its head. “From now on, you’re called Xiao Jiu (Little Nine).”

“Xiao Jiu,” Meng Ke’s “devilish” voice rang out a moment later. “Find a way to get He Rujing here.”

Fashion Night arrived. Actresses displayed all their charms—pure, charming, sexy. It was a dizzying feast of beauty.

Suddenly, all sound ceased. It was as if the world had been paused.

Li Jingyan was posing on the red carpet, but the media had stopped clicking their shutters. Confused, he turned around. In that instant, the world came alive again. Everyone moved; every lens abandoned him to focus on the person behind him. The sound of shutters and flashes fell like heavy rain.

Furious, Li Jingyan looked at the intruder.

First was a flash of extreme red and extreme white. Under the lights, Meng Ke in her red dress was like a scorching sun—bold and dazzling. Her dark hair and red lips made her skin look snowy, almost translucent.

Su Yi had always been “the sexy type,” but today, though the style was the same, she seemed several tiers above everyone else. Even Li Jingyan felt it. He stared at her with a face like frost.

Meng Ke saw Li Jingyan. He was dressed meticulously and looked like a handsome gentleman. If it were the original host, she would have stared, but Meng Ke had no interest. After satisfying the media, she walked toward the carpet.

When she was only two or three steps away, anyone else would have offered a hand to a lady in a heavy gown. Li Jingyan, however, cast a look of disgust as if she were a plague and walked away alone, showing no gallantry. He wanted everyone to know he had nothing to do with Su Yi—that she was the one clinging to him like “dog-skin plaster.”

Meng Ke froze in place appropriately, a hurt expression appearing on her face. The man’s coldness and the woman’s helplessness immediately sparked the crowd’s imagination.

She looked desolate, her eyes filling with tears that she stubbornly refused to let fall. Even the system felt pity: “Host, don’t cry over a mere man, he’s not worth it…”

“I know,” Meng Ke whispered, though her expression became even more pained.

Just as several men were preparing to step forward to break the awkwardness, someone beat them to it.

He Rujing appeared in a formal suit, her tall figure carrying an aura that outshone any artist present. She remained cold and distant, her consolation simple: “Let’s go.”

Without waiting for a response, He Rujing raised a hand and protectively shielded the red-eyed woman by her side. Her body blocked the cameras and the prying eyes, tenderly preserving the woman’s last shred of dignity.

Meng Ke leaned against her, smelling the cold fragrance of He Rujing’s perfume, which matched her “silver snow on a high mountain” temperament.

“Thank you,” Meng Ke whispered with a slight sob.

He Rujing looked down, her tone still cold. “No thanks needed.” She watched Meng Ke for two seconds, then handed her a tissue.

When Meng Ke didn’t move, He Rujing sighed imperceptibly. She unfolded the tissue, refolded it, and gently wiped the stubborn tear from Meng Ke’s lower eyelid.

“There’s nothing to cry about,” He Rujing said. “It’s just a man.”

Meng Ke blinked, and a tear slid down her cheek. She asked softly, “If his fans unite to demand you blacklist me or terminate my contract… will you agree?”

The fear in her eyes was heart-wrenching. He Rujing hadn’t expected her to be worried about her job at a time like this. She stared at Meng Ke and said firmly, word by word:

“No one can dictate to me. Especially not those who try to dispose of my artists behind my back.”