Helping My Ex-Wife Find Love Every Day - Chapter 26

“Fortunately, I was lucky. I signed with Tianji Film and Television last year. At the time, they had a danmei adaptation series, which the company was producing and primarily investing in. They couldn’t find a female lead for a long time. I desperately needed money, so I volunteered.”

“I was a newcomer with no fame, and my total remuneration was less than six hundred thousand. Piecing together a bit more, I managed to pay off the entire loan shark debt.”

Every industry has its own unwritten rules. In the entertainment industry, only A-listers are qualified to negotiate episode-by-episode pay, ranging from five hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand per episode. Although the salary cap policy in the last two years has lowered the price slightly, filming one series still earns an amount an ordinary person couldn’t make in a lifetime.

New actors are not worth much and cannot be compared to them. Their pay is not calculated per episode but as a package deal. A series of dozens of episodes can earn as little as seventy or eighty thousand, or at most a few hundred thousand.

Bai Mengzhao signing with a major company like Tianji Film and Television and coinciding with the crew struggling to find an actress was indeed fortunate. Six hundred thousand for a newcomer was fair, reasonable, and compassionate.

Bai Mengzhao clenched her fist and heavily hammered her thigh. “Those shameless rogues are insatiably greedy. Seeing that I’m an actress, they want to extort me with this issue, asking me for another one million. When I refused, they came to my house to harass me every day. My father, who was perfectly fine, got sick from the stress.”

Qiu Qingshi asked, “Didn’t you call the police?”

Bai Mengzhao drooped her ears. “I did. It was useless. They don’t resort to violence, they just cause a huge disturbance. At most, the police take them in for a short lecture; only serious cases result in detention.”

Qiu Qingshi scoffed. “These people have even figured out a way to collect debts!”

Yao Xiangyi’s finger tapped the corner of the table, analyzing rationally, “Even though they are thugs, they must still abide by some rules of the Jianghu. Otherwise, who would dare borrow high-interest loans from them in the future? They wouldn’t unreasonably demand so much after you repaid the money. Did you offend someone?”

Bai Mengzhao puffed out her cheeks and shook her head, muttering, “I’m just a poor student with no power or influence. I only have a few friends and rarely meet other people. I don’t think I could offend anyone.”

Qiu Qingshi rubbed the rim of the cup with her fingertip. Seeing that the water temperature was right, she urged Yao Xiangyi to take a sip of hot water to moisten her mouth.

Yao Xiangyi picked up the glass cup, sipped, and asked, “When filming on the set, did you see anything you shouldn’t have, hear anything you shouldn’t have, or clash with any senior actors?”

The entertainment industry is vast, and people with poor professional ethics are everywhere.

Bai Mengzhao rubbed her face, thinking carefully. “No… I don’t think so.”

She was just a small fry; offending people wasn’t even within her weight class. No one would pay attention to her.

Yao Xiangyi also figured she didn’t seem like the impulsive, thoughtless type. “…Never mind. Let’s take it one step at a time.”

Logically, an artist’s private life is closely linked to their work, and the agency or manager should help resolve their difficulties. Bai Mengzhao was being harassed by thugs at home, but Tianji Film and Television remained silent, suggesting they didn’t intend to prioritize her development.

That made sense. Tianji Film and Television was the only major company on par with her Jinghong Entertainment. They might not have many Movie Kings or Queens, but they certainly had many talented character actors, and several big-name celebrities had emerged in recent years. How could they spare the attention for someone like Bai Mengzhao?

Yao Xiangyi and Bai Mengzhao were on the verge of developing a “hatred due to wife-snatching.” Yao Xiangyi secretly gloated, wishing her rival’s life was full of misfortunes, but she politely said, “If thugs come looking for trouble again, tell me. I’ve got your back.”

Bai Mengzhao was stunned, showing a mixture of surprise and joy. Her lips struggled to move. “CEO Yao, I…”

Yao Xiangyi handed her a business card. “This has my private number on it. Keep it safe.”

“…I can’t keep troubling you.”

Yao Xiangyi took another sip of hot water. “It’s no trouble.”

Qiu Qingshi was nearly turning into a huge vinegar vat. She suddenly knocked the water glass on the table. The water inside jumped, splashing her sleeve.

She shot a dagger-like look at Yao Xiangyi, then explained to Bai Mengzhao, “CEO Yao just has a soft spot for beautiful women.”

[Innocent Lolita reminds you: Affection decreased repeatedly, Sweetness Value -1]

Yao Xiangyi grabbed Qiu Qingshi’s hand, saying anxiously, “I only have a soft spot for you. You are the most beautiful in my eyes.”

Qiu Qingshi kicked her under the table.

Bai Mengzhao: Dog food arrived without warning.

“CEO Yao is busy with work on weekdays,” Qiu Qingshi snatched the business card from Bai Mengzhao’s fingertips and stuffed it into her pocket. “You should still contact me if you have any issues. Didn’t you save my number last time?”

Bai Mengzhao smiled awkwardly but politely.

Qiu Qingshi: Excellent. I have once again blocked the possibility of my wife contacting the third party.

“Since that is the case, Miss Bai, we shouldn’t trouble you any longer,” Qiu Qingshi stood up and extended her hand to Bai Mengzhao. “Thank you for the hospitality. Goodbye.”

Bai Mengzhao stood up too, looking at that delicate, snow-white hand, and shyly shook it.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.

I shook hands with my idol!

Her palm is so soft, her skin so tender, her bones so slender.

My life is complete.

Bai Mengzhao suddenly felt ecstatic.

But only for that one instant, as Qiu Qingshi withdrew her hand.

[Innocent Lolita reminds you: The two female protagonists in the original text had physical contact, Sweetness Value +2]

The Sweetness Value increased! Yao Xiangyi felt deeply relieved. Suddenly, she had a bold idea.

She grabbed Qiu Qingshi’s wrist with one hand and Bai Mengzhao’s wrist with the other, forcing the two to shake hands again.

Bai Mengzhao: “???”

Innocent Lolita: [Sweetness Value +1]

Yao Xiangyi was as excited as Columbus discovering the New World. It turned out the system had a loophole to exploit!

She pulled their hands apart, then clasped them together again immediately.

Innocent Lolita: [Sweetness Value +2]

Qiu Qingshi’s eyes sparked with fire. “Yao Xiangyi, what are you doing?”

When your wife calls you by your full name, be warned! Disaster is likely imminent.

Yao Xiangyi was clearly too accustomed to being the Bàzǒng and didn’t pay attention.

“Shh, don’t make noise.” She tightly pursed her lips, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if facing some life-altering problem and trying to figure out the solution.

Qiu Qingshi was helpless. She couldn’t figure out what trick was up Yao Xiangyi’s sleeve. She let her manipulate the situation, shaking hands with Bai Mengzhao three times, four times, five times…

By the tenth time, Qiu Qingshi gritted her back teeth and squeezed out the words, “That’s enough.”

Yao Xiangyi, conscious of her lack of martial arts ability, feared being beaten. She obediently stopped, finally giving Bai Mengzhao an apologetic curl of her lips.

Bai Mengzhao just said it was fine and saw them off to the car.

The car was driven by the bodyguard. As soon as they drove out of the alley entrance, Qiu Qingshi started raining little “pink fist” punches.

Yao Xiangyi had already sensed the atmosphere was wrong and was prepared for this. Before the pink punches could land on her vulnerable body, she countered with a round of her own pink punches.

Qiu Qingshi acted as if she had suffered a great grievance. “You’re bullying me.”

Yao Xiangyi argued reasonably, “You started it. I was just acting in self-defense.”

Qiu Qingshi refused to admit defeat. “Who allowed you to give Bai Mengzhao your business card, knowing that I don’t like her?”

Yao Xiangyi moved to the window, trying to create distance between herself and Qiu Qingshi.

Qiu Qingshi also moved to the window, trying to create distance between herself and Yao Xiangyi.

Though sitting in the same car, they somehow achieved the strange feeling of being worlds apart.

The two bodyguards in the front, quiet as chickens: “…………”

They arrived home just as dawn was breaking. The faint morning light pierced through the floating thin clouds, and a hazy glow spread across the world.

The warm, red sun broke through the eastern sky, its edges tinged with pink. As soon as Qiu Qingshi stepped inside the house, she was drawn to it.

Truly beautiful.

She walked toward the balcony, standing in the breeze.

Taking a deep breath of the cool air, she looked back at Yao Xiangyi, who had collapsed onto the sofa. She skipped over and pulled Yao Xiangyi’s wrist. “Come watch the sunrise with me.”

She was always like this. They could argue and fuss, but she never held a grudge.

Yao Xiangyi loved to indulge her. Not truly angry with her, she let Qiu Qingshi drag her to the balcony, returning midway to grab two throw pillows to sit on.

They sat shoulder-to-shoulder, gazing up at the sky.

The morning sun gathered in their eyes.

Qiu Qingshi was mischievous. She plucked a strand of hair, held the tip, and used it to scratch the nape of Yao Xiangyi’s neck.

The sensation was sharp and unbelievable.

Yao Xiangyi shook like a sieve, tucking her neck in, dodging Qiu Qingshi’s “attack.”

“Stop being naughty.”

Qiu Qingshi, having had her revenge, laughed mischievously. Unable to scratch her neck, she moved to scratch her earlobe.

This spot was even more sensitive.

Yao Xiangyi couldn’t take it anymore and struggled to escape. Qiu Qingshi wouldn’t let her, pouncing and hugging her waist, pressing her face against Yao Xiangyi’s back, shaking with happy laughter.

“Beg for mercy.”

Yao Xiangyi said with backbone, “I won’t.”

Qiu Qingshi pinned her down and continued scratching.

Yao Xiangyi had no choice but to concede. “I was wrong, I was wrong.”

“What was wrong?”

“I won’t randomly hand out my business card to people anymore,” Yao Xiangyi said, her breathing ragged. Her small, rounded earlobes were rosy red, like ripe cherries.

Qiu Qingshi gave her ear a light tap, as a lesson. “That’s for being arrogant and having a bad temper.”

Only after the lesson was delivered did she stop.

Precisely at seven o’clock, Qiu Qingshi posted a moment on her social media.

Caption: [Love you [Heart Emoji]]

The post included two photos. One was of the rising sun, and the other was of her hand tightly laced with Yao Xiangyi’s, their wedding rings on their ring fingers sparkling brightly.

Quite a few of their ‘plastic’ girlfriends (fake friends) were up early and commented one after another.

Plastic Girlfriend #1: [Didn’t you cheat? Did you divorce Yao Xiangyi so quickly? And now you’re showing off a big diamond ring, are you marrying your new lover?]

Plastic Girlfriend #2: [Same question.]

Plastic Girlfriend #3: [Same question +1]

Plastic Girlfriend #4: [Same question +2]

Plastic Girlfriend #5: [Same question +10086]

Qiu Qingshi replied universally: [?????????]

Suddenly, Sutila  called in a frantic rush.

Qiu Qingshi answered.

Sutila’s first sentence was a lion’s roar: “I beg you two, if you can’t control yourselves, go rent a room at the hotel next door! Why are you hugging in the movie theater? Why are you kissing in the safety passage!!!”

Qiu Qingshi tilted her head. “I was photographed?”

Yao Xiangyi’s phone had run out of battery and turned off, and Qiu Qingshi had specially configured her phone not to receive app-related push notifications, resulting in their private world being too quiet.

Hearing this, Yao Xiangyi quickly grabbed her iPad and opened Weibo. Movie Queen Qiu stood out, single-handedly dominating the top three hot searches.

#QiuQingshiCheating

#QiuQingshiMovieTheaterDate

#QiuQingshiSafetyPassageKiss

A shocking purple-red “HOT” tag was affixed to the end of every one of them.

The fourth spot was hers, a simple, dry #YaoXiangyiUgly

The fifth spot was #WouldYouCheatIfYourLoverWasUgly

Yao Xiangyi: That cuts deep…