I Betrayed the Aloof Movie Queen and Went Bankrupt - Chapter 3

Xu Youzhi didn’t have many hobbies; she just loved to sing. Working as a resident singer in a bar was already the limit of her current capabilities. Fortunately, her friend Li Qingshuang had used her connections to find her another gig at a different bar.

— Be there tonight at 8:00 PM. — Don’t mess this up. Luckily, those previous bosses didn’t spread word of your incident, or you’d be “famous” for all the wrong reasons by now.

Li Qingshuang sent the messages.

In truth, you couldn’t blame the bosses. The only reason they hired her was because Xu Youzhi was beautiful. Her beauty wasn’t the “rich socialite” type; she was more like the idol Yoona—delicate features, a tall figure, and skin as white as snow. She wasn’t jaw-dropping at first glance, but she was easy on the eyes, the kind of beauty everyone could appreciate.

Add to that the fact that she could actually stay in tune, and the owners usually hoped her looks alone would make the bar a hit. Talent scouts had approached her before, but Xu Youzhi had rejected them all.

An owner once asked her in confusion, “I say, Xiao Xu, since you’re so short on money, why don’t you enter the entertainment industry?”

At the time, Xu Youzhi was drinking water. She looked out gloomily at the neon-lit streets, her light brown eyes suddenly turning dark.

As for why someone so beautiful hadn’t become famous—well, beauty attracts the attention of worldly, vulgar men. On her first day as a resident singer, a drunk man had tried to put his hands on her. Xu Youzhi prided herself on having a good temper, but having grown up wealthy and graduated from a prestigious university, she possessed a core of arrogance. She couldn’t stomach their insults and, in a moment of impulse, kicked him right in the crotch.

He was fine, but she lost her job.

After drifting around, she ended up at a second bar last night, only to be complained about because her singing was “too soulful and slow.”

Xu Youzhi took a shower, feeling an intense ache throughout her body. Looking closely, she saw a faint tooth mark on her shoulder. It was light and shallow; it would vanish in a few days. It seemed that during last night’s “affair,” the Movie Queen wasn’t the only one doing the biting.

Xu Youzhi took a deep breath and scrubbed herself hard with shower gel.

After a two-hour nap, she rushed to a bar called “Monica.” It wasn’t a bar in the rowdy sense; it was more of a “quiet bar” with a peaceful atmosphere. Once settled, she began to sing.

She remembered her first gig, how she had refused to go on stage, feeling it was a humiliation to sing for such vulgar people. The owner had sneered at her from the sidelines: “You’re already this poor. What ‘dignity’ do you have left?”

The words were harsh but true. Having fallen from wealth to poverty, Xu Youzhi understood how agonizing it was to be at rock bottom—it felt like having her dignity ground into the dirt.

After a moment of silence, she finally stepped forward.

The music swelled, and her clear, airy voice cut through the layers of light, drawing in the audience members who had been whispering below.

Two women arrived and sat in a corner where they had a clear view of Xu Youzhi. One of them wore sunglasses. Despite being makeup-free, her designer labels and undeniable aura made it seem as though she had walked into the wrong establishment.

“I thought this girl hated places like this?” the older woman remarked with a chuckle.

Jiang Ruoxun watched the sharp lines of Xu Youzhi’s profile without blinking, her voice cold. “She’s doing it for the money.”

“So why are you here? To watch the drama?” the woman asked, surprised.

“Am I really that heartless?”

“Didn’t you say she played you?” the woman speculated. “Back then, you’d had quite a bit to drink and kept muttering to me about how you’d never been toyed with like that before. What now? Are you back on good terms with her?”

Jiang Ruoxun’s voice remained cold, her eyes fixed on Xu Youzhi, who was dressed in white gauze. She shook her head. “Who said she toyed with me? She’s just too simple; she doesn’t know what love is.”

“Hmm?”

“If she really toyed with me, then she’d have to let me toy with her for the rest of her life.” Despite her mature face, her words sounded like a sulking child.

The woman burst out laughing. “Ruoxun… how old are you, getting into a tiff with a young girl? Even if she calls you ‘Sister,’ given the age gap, she should really be calling you ‘Auntie.’ As an elder, you should have some grace.”

A vein throbbed in Jiang Ruoxun’s forehead. She had teased herself with that same thought two years ago. But she was only eight years older—where did this “Auntie” talk come from?

Sister was Sister. Even fifty years from now, Xu Youzhi would still have to call her Sister.

By then, Xu Youzhi had finished her set. There was very little applause, but she wasn’t disappointed. She was already thinking about finding other part-time jobs. She had hands, feet, and a brain; there was no need to stare hopelessly at this one small pool of water.

“Miss, these flowers are for you from that gentleman.”

Before she could reach the backstage, someone stepped forward to deliver a bouquet.

Jiang Ruoxun’s eyes sharpened. She felt annoyed. There had been no rivals at the last bar, yet one had appeared right in front of her here. Don’t they know anything about ‘first come, first served’?

As she expected, Xu Youzhi declined. “I’m sorry, I don’t accept flowers from strangers.”

“Just take them,” a man in a white shirt walked over, smiling warmly. “You sang beautifully.”

“Oh, if it isn’t Young Master Qin!” The bar owner was a 150-pound woman who loved dramas and handsome men. Her family background was similar to Xu Youzhi’s past—plenty of pocket money without needing to work. “Monica” only existed because of her father’s investment.

Nie Ruyin tried to take Qin Chaoyang’s arm, but he immediately pulled away.

“I’d like to chat with this lady,” Qin Chaoyang said awkwardly. His behavior was gentlemanly, unlike the slick-tongued men she usually encountered.

Xu Youzhi: “Just call me Xiao Xu.”

“Xiao Xu, Young Master Qin is a famous socialite here in Yuecheng. His family owns a film and television company. That hit drama from a while back was produced by them.” Nie Ruyin wasn’t angry at Qin Chaoyang’s rejection; instead, she enthusiastically introduced him as if setting Xu Youzhi up on a date.

She figured if Xu Youzhi dated a rich guy, she could “fly onto a branch and become a phoenix.”

But Xu Youzhi remained unmoved. She just gave a flat “Oh.”

Nie Ruyin: “?”

“Boss, what’s my performance fee for tonight?” Xu Youzhi only cared about this.

“Three hundred yuan.”

“That’s all?” Xu Youzhi frowned.

“Babe,” Nie Ruyin spread her hands. “Look at the foot traffic. Giving you this much is already generous.”

Xu Youzhi looked around. There were barely a dozen people, all looking listless while drinking and chatting. Someone walking in might mistake the place for a nursing home.

Three hundred yuan was fine. At least it covered a sixth of her rent.

“How about I give you a tip?” Seeing her need for money, Qin Chaoyang pulled out his phone, intending to drop several tens of thousands. “Give me your QR code.”

Xu Youzhi froze.

To her, this felt like she was some “top courtesan” being rewarded by a patron for a performance, with him saying “I want to keep you” under the guise of a “Grand Gift Pack.”

“I don’t need your money.” Xu Youzhi frowned. She still had the pride of a scholar. All she wanted was the fee for her labor. A “tip”? Forget it.

Nie Ruyin hissed, “Youzhi, are you stupid? A Young Master wants to give you money and you refuse? Stop acting so noble.” The subtext was: You should be tying a man like this down.

Xu Youzhi glared at her. “I’m not that kind of person.” She turned and left.

Watching from the corner, Jiang Ruoxun’s brow furrowed. This child is too easy to bully.

Xu Youzhi walked along the street, planning to take the bus home. A car pulled up beside her and honked. Thinking it was Qin Chaoyang, she snapped:

“Don’t treat me like one of those women!”

“What kind of women?” Jiang Ruoxun opened the window helplessly. Her stunning face immediately made Xu Youzhi shut her mouth.

Jiang Ruoxun’s aura was cold, but her face was the “radiant” type rare in the industry. Combined with her education, sexy figure, and proud personality, she had been a “top-tier” icon since her debut. To this day, she remained in the top five of many rankings.

“Oh.” Unconsciously, seeing that face made Xu Youzhi’s anger evaporate.

“Get in.”

“Are you taking me home?” Xu Youzhi didn’t believe Jiang Ruoxun was kind enough to just give her a ride.

“Of course not,” Jiang Ruoxun said truthfully. “You’re coming to my place.”

“No.”

“My bed is very soft. Are you sure you don’t want to sleep in it?” Jiang Ruoxun said seriously. She wasn’t intentionally being seductive—well, actually, she was. When a woman, especially a “thorny rose,” emits a seductive fragrance, it’s hard for anyone to refuse.

Xu Youzhi hesitated, shaking her head.

Finally, Jiang Ruoxun used her trump card: “If you want to discuss the medical expenses, listen to me and get in the car!”

Xu Youzhi got in.

Jiang Ruoxun drove, leaving her companion behind at the bar. Her friend called, sounding indignant.

“Where are you going?”

“Picking up my puppy,” she said and hung up.

Xu Youzhi felt incredibly uncomfortable. “Can you stop calling me ‘puppy’ in front of other people?”

“What did you call me? No manners,” Jiang Ruoxun suddenly chided. “You should politely call me ‘Sister’.”

“Senior,” Xu Youzhi countered.

How childish, Jiang Ruoxun thought, smiling helplessly.

Back at Unit 902, Jiang Ruoxun didn’t even take off her coat before leading Xu Youzhi by the hand into the bedroom. The woman’s hand was soft and fragrant, yet slightly chilled.

Xu Youzhi asked, “I’ll pay back the medical bills as soon as possible… why did you bring me here?”

The Movie Queen arched an eyebrow, simply staring at her. Then she looked at the large, comfortable bed.

“Don’t be so… scandalous.” Xu Youzhi thought she wanted to “do it” again. Feeling anxious and angry, she squeezed the words out. They weren’t very hurtful; instead, they sounded a bit like playing hard to get.

The other woman didn’t move.

Xu Youzhi’s face turned bright red. Panicked, she blurted out: “I, Xu Youzhi, sell my art, not my body! Don’t humiliate me like that man did!”

The girl shouted this with such intensity it felt like she was ready to walk through fire. But to Jiang Ruoxun, she just looked like an angry little puppy yapping.

Jiang Ruoxun finally couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. Her laughter, clear as a bell, filled the bedroom. Whenever she found Xu Youzhi cute, she couldn’t stay mad; she only wanted to dote on her.

Seeing her laugh, Xu Youzhi felt insulted. Sure enough, in the eyes of the strong, the anger of the weak is just “acting cute”!

“I didn’t realize you had such integrity,” the other woman teased, her eyes alluring. “I just wanted to ask what you thought of the new bed I bought.”

Xu Youzhi’s face flushed instantly.

“Sit down,” Jiang Ruoxun commanded.

Xu Youzhi glared at her.

Jiang Ruoxun was still smiling, but her eyes suddenly darkened. “Sit. Down.”

Xu Youzhi sat down obediently.

Jiang Ruoxun leaned over her, her high-and-mighty posture making Xu Youzhi feel a sense of pressure. Finally, Jiang Ruoxun hooked her arms around Xu Youzhi’s neck. Her eyes brightened, a faint fragrance drifted forward, and Xu Youzhi held her breath.

“Is it soft?” the woman asked, her voice seductive, like a shimmering thread of light.

Soft. It was naturally soft. It even carried a faint scent. It would be so comfortable to sleep in.

“Soft.”

“Want to sleep here?”

Xu Youzhi glared at her and looked away.

“Do you want to or not?” Jiang Ruoxun pressed.

Xu Youzhi shook her head.

Jiang Ruoxun laughed helplessly. “You’re in such a tight spot, why won’t you agree to my request?” she complained plaintively. “I’m very willing to help you.”

Xu Youzhi: “I don’t want to owe you.”

“You won’t owe me,” she interrupted.

“Zhizhi, maybe you didn’t hear me clearly at the hospital. I don’t mind saying it again.” Jiang Ruoxun suddenly lifted Xu Youzhi’s chin. Her cold voice trembled playfully, like musical notes falling into Xu Youzhi’s ear.

The Movie Queen propped her head on her hand, her gaze enchanting. “Be my good little puppy, and I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

Her voice was sometimes sultry, sometimes sober, every word crystal clear—as if she were stating a matter of the utmost importance.

Xu Youzhi’s breath hitched. She looked at her in total shock.