I'm a Professional at Being a Scumbag [Quick Wear] - Chapter 8

Le Yi could be sure that this person was being malicious. It wasn’t just his expression and tone; the question itself was problematic. He was subtly lumping her in with those livestreamers who sell products, blurring her identity as an actress. Le Yi wasn’t angry about being called a livestreamer, because in her heart, she didn’t see actresses as superior. Whether it was selling products or acting, it was all just a job. What bothered Le Yi was the way he asked the question, as well as his dismissive look and tone. His ugly behavior was irritating for no reason.

The people at the table, besides the most famous one, Zhu Qiong, were all first or second-tier actors who had been in a lot of popular dramas. Le Yi was the only one who hadn’t made a splash. She looked at the actor who was deliberately giving her a hard time. He looked familiar. She thought she had just seen him in some celebrity gossip.

A lightbulb went on in Le Yi’s head, and she finally remembered who he was. He had been photographed by a paparazzo on a date with Hu Zhiyi. Neither of them had admitted to it, but his current behavior seemed to confirm that it was true. Hu Zhiyi had started as an internet celebrity and had been getting a lot of roles in low-budget online dramas recently. She had a solid fan base, and she was one of the candidates for the fifth female lead role. No wonder he was targeting her; he was sticking up for his girlfriend.

Le Yi’s silence made the man feel a little awkward, so he became even more sarcastic. “Miss Le, you’re not even famous yet, and you’re already acting like a big shot?”

Zhu Qiong was going to let it go, but since he was asking for trouble, she wouldn’t hold back. “You…”

Le Yi tugged on her sleeve, signaling for her to stay calm. Zhu Qiong pursed her lips and said no more, but her expression was not a pleasant one.

Le Yi looked at the man. “Mr. Li, if I remember correctly, you weren’t on the voting list. How did you get the role of Jiang Min?”

Le Yi hadn’t known that Li Xianyun had gotten the role of Jiang Min before she arrived, but she had figured it out now. Besides the director and screenwriters at the main table, everyone else was seated according to their status. The farther away from the director, the lower the status. Le Yi was seated next to Zhu Qiong, partly because of Zhu Qiong’s status and partly because Director Xu Jianchuan was showing her favor.

Li Xianyun was speechless, and his face became even uglier. “Of course, it’s because Director Xu felt I was a better fit for the role.”

Le Yi curled her lips into a perfect smile. “What a coincidence, so did I. So, Mr. Li, are you questioning Director Xu’s judgment?”

Li Xianyun had nothing to say. After all, he had gotten in through the back door with money, and he couldn’t compete with Le Yi.

Xu Jianchuan seemed to be chatting with the screenwriter, but he had noticed them a while ago. He hadn’t said anything because he wanted to see how Le Yi would respond. She was very smart; she knew to use him as a shield. Not many people knew that Li Xianyun had paid his way into the production, but it wasn’t a secret. Anyone could see that he didn’t fit the role. When the assistant director first told him about it, he was strongly against it, but the Tang family added another 100 million in investment, so he had to compromise. He would just go back and change the script to have Li Xianyun’s character die early. He was only the fourth male lead, and cutting a few minutes of his screen time wouldn’t affect the overall story.

Li Xianyun was a typical case of someone who used money to make up for his lack of acting skills. He would often pay his way into big directors’ productions, but despite how much money he spent, he never became popular. It was because she knew his role was not acquired through proper means that Le Yi used this reason to shut him down. Who are you talking to? I was personally chosen by the director. Isn’t that better than someone who used the back door?

Zhu Qiong saw that Li Xianyun’s face was uglier than if he had eaten a fly, and she felt much better. She secretly gave Le Yi a thumbs-up. Le Yi raised her eyebrows and saw Li Xianyun staring at her. She politely gave him a challenging look back. Li Xianyun was so angry that he felt like smoke was coming out of his ears. He was about to crush the wine glass in his hand.

Le Yi pretended she didn’t see it. She calmly drank her coconut water, listening to the director chat with the screenwriter and the male lead. A few hours passed, and not much was said. Le Yi felt she was acting as a decoration, like a vase.

Li Xianyun went out for a bit and came back with a smug expression and a cunning look in his eyes.

After they had all had a few drinks, Director Xu Jianchuan said to Le Yi, “Xiao Le, work hard. You have a limitless future.”

Le Yi didn’t know if he was just exaggerating because he was drunk, but she was overjoyed to be complimented by a director of his caliber. “Thank you, Director Xu! Thank you for giving me this role. I won’t let you down.” She raised her glass and downed it in one go. Xu Jianchuan smiled and told her to sit down.

Not long after she sat down, Li Xianyun put on a show. “Miss Le, I misspoke earlier. This drink is my apology.” He didn’t seem sincere at all, but Le Yi couldn’t embarrass him in public. As she was about to pour her own wine, a waiter beat her to it and filled her glass. “Mr. Li, you’re too kind. We’re all people Director Xu has his eye on. I hope you’ll take good care of me when we’re filming together in the future.”

This was like stabbing another knife into Li Xianyun’s heart. As he lowered his head to drink, a dark glint flashed in his eyes. Just you wait. Tomorrow, you’ll be ruined!

Le Yi put the glass to her lips. She felt that the taste was off. She only took a small sip and poured the rest on the floor.

The meal lasted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Le Yi didn’t drink much wine and was full from all the coconut water. After the meal, Director Xu Jianchuan said he was tired and was going back to rest, telling the young people to have fun. Le Yi and Zhu Qiong were planning to leave, but Li Xianyun stopped them and said he would treat everyone to a foot massage. Le Yi had a feeling he was up to no good and was about to refuse when the second male lead, Lin Fan, said, “Sister Qiong, you’re coming with us, right?”

“Of course! Sister Qiong is the biggest star in this production. If she doesn’t go, we might as well all go home,” the third female lead, Xiao Qing, chimed in. In a few words, they had put Zhu Qiong on the spot. If she didn’t go, there might be press releases about her being a diva tomorrow. Zhu Qiong didn’t care either way; it was all up to Le Yi.

Le Yi sighed. “Let’s go. It’ll be a good opportunity to get to know the other actors, so it’ll be easier to act together later.”

The male lead, Tang Sha, was about to say something but held back. In the elevator, he quietly said to Zhu Qiong, “Be careful of Li Xianyun.” Le Yi was standing with Zhu Qiong and heard him, too. She wanted to ask what he meant, but Li Xianyun had already pushed Tang Sha into the elevator.

Li Xianyun stood next to Le Yi and smiled unctuously. “Miss Le, after you.” Le Yi was uncomfortable. She pulled Zhu Qiong into the elevator with her.

As the elevator started moving, Le Yi suddenly felt dizzy. Zhu Qiong quickly grabbed her. “Xiao Yi, what’s wrong?” The dizziness disappeared as quickly as it came. Le Yi didn’t pay it any mind and told Zhu Qiong she was fine.

******

The spa was close to the hotel. When they arrived, there were already people waiting for them at the door. They went up a private elevator. The men and women were separated, in two opposite rooms. The moment Le Yi lay down, she felt sleepy. She tried to stay awake to talk to Zhu Qiong, but her tongue was getting tangled. Zhu Qiong just thought she was drunk. She helped Le Yi put a blanket on and closed her eyes to rest.

Chu Qiao had been wandering around the hotel. She waited and waited, but Le Yi didn’t come out. She went to a nearby cafe and had five or six free refills of coffee. The waitstaff’s expressions had changed when they looked at her.

Finally, at 4:30 p.m., she saw Le Yi come out, but she turned and went to a spa. Chu Qiao recognized one of the male actors who was with her and immediately followed them. A spa employee stopped her at the entrance. “Hello, this is for staff. Please use the public elevator outside.”

Chu Qiao took a card from her wallet and handed it to them. The employee’s eyes widened. They quickly moved aside. “This way, please.”

Chu Qiao followed them and took the next elevator to the VIP floor, which wasn’t open to the public. She found her way and overheard two men talking in a corner, saying some disgusting things.

“Is the drug you gave them effective?”

“Of course! When have I ever been unreliable? I’ll get rid of the others, and you get it done. You know what to do, right?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to get the photos you want.”

Li Xianyun sneered. His eyes, in the dim light, looked dark and malicious.

You little hussy. Once I get those explicit photos and videos of you, let’s see you try to be so arrogant.

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