Reborn a Scummy Alpha, Happily Ever After with the Movie Queen - Chapter 34

The cold water brought Wen Tang back to her senses.

When she returned to the living room, she found Ye Youyi already dressed, holding her phone with a dark expression on her face.

How did her mood sour so quickly in just a few minutes? Wen Tang’s gaze flicked to the phone screen—she’d just ended a call. Someone must’ve said something to upset her.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Tang hesitated for a moment before walking over. In the end, she still didn’t sit down beside her.

“Director Li just called. The shoot in Xuancheng might be delayed for a while.”

Seeing the anxiety in the girl’s eyes, Wen Tang didn’t quite understand why a delay would trouble her so much.

“Isn’t that a good thing? You can take a few more days to rest,” she said tentatively.

Ye Youyi lowered her phone and hugged a cushion to her chest, looking helpless. “Director Li said the issue’s with the funding. She’s been busy trying to secure more investors.”

She hadn’t expected that finally landing a third female lead role would still come with so many setbacks.

First, there was the messy fight over casting. Then the slander online. And now—budget problems.

Her chest felt tight, as if the world were conspiring to remind her that she was always the unwanted one.

She just wanted to prove herself through her work—to show she could shine in her own right, that she was a whole, capable person.

But why was it so hard?

Was it because she’d gone against her mother’s wishes and abandoned the path of dance that the heavens were punishing her—leaving her with nothing to show for herself after all these years?

Her thoughts spiraled. The more she thought, the sadder she felt, until a quiet sorrow wrapped itself around her completely.

Wen Tang watched her the whole time, and the fragile helplessness in the girl’s expression struck something deep in her chest.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly. “Director Li has a great reputation in the industry. I’m sure the funding issue will be sorted out soon.”

Ye Youyi forced a small smile, quickly hiding the moment of vulnerability. The person before her was someone she liked—how could she let her see her weak side?

But the worry on Wen Tang’s face made her momentarily dazed. It reminded her of how, back when she’d first started to like Wen Tang, she’d almost enjoyed acting pitiful around her—just to draw her attention.

At what point, she wondered, did she stop pretending in front of Wen Tang altogether?

She couldn’t remember. But it didn’t matter anymore.

She liked Wen Tang, yes—but Wen Tang’s feelings for her seemed to stop at mere fondness, not affection.

And because she didn’t like her enough, she hesitated, didn’t she?

Ye Youyi’s thoughts tangled as she looked up at Wen Tang, then stood, picking up her bag. “I should head back and wait for news. I won’t bother you anymore.”

Wen Tang watched her walk toward the door, then suddenly stood and caught up, grabbing her wrist.

When Ye Youyi turned to look down at Wen Tang’s hand, Wen Tang quickly released her.

“At least stay and have breakfast before you go?” she blurted out awkwardly.

Ye Youyi smiled faintly. “No need. I’ve already troubled you enough last night.”

Then she walked out, without looking back, and disappeared into the elevator.

Only when her figure was gone did Wen Tang finally let out a frustrated breath. She raked a hand through her hair and called out to the system, irritation lacing her tone. “Why do I feel like she’s mad at me?”

The system nodded solemnly. “I got that impression too.”

Wen Tang frowned even harder. “But why? Wasn’t she upset about the production funding issue?”

Ye Youyi had clearly become gloomy only after taking Li Zheng’s call. Wen Tang had even tried to comfort her—so how did that somehow make things worse?

The system had no clue either. “Who knows? Maybe that’s just how Omegas are—impossible to figure out. You’re much easier; I always know what you’re thinking.”

Wen Tang shot it a look. “Enough with the sarcasm.”

After muting the system, she sat there for a long time, still unable to figure out what exactly she’d done wrong.

Finally, she pulled out her phone and called Wen Qi. “Look into the funding issue with the Moon Spirit Chronicle production team.”

She didn’t know why Ye Youyi was angry—but maybe this was the place to start. If she could solve the funding problem, maybe Ye Youyi wouldn’t be upset anymore.

Beep, beep.

Her phone rang again just as she set it down.

For a second, she thought Wen Qi had worked some miracle and already found the answer—but when she glanced at the caller ID, it was Aunt Mei.

That meant the old lady wanted to see her.

“Aunt Mei?” she answered.

“Miss Wen, the madam wants you to come home this afternoon. Do you have time?”

Wen Tang sighed inwardly, then replied, “Alright. I’ll be there this afternoon.”

The Wen family’s atmosphere had always made her uncomfortable. She much preferred the quiet freedom of living alone in the apartment her original self had bought.

But right now, she was still just an illegitimate daughter without real power. Her father’s whereabouts had only recently been uncovered, and the small victory against the Bai family was still unfinished. She didn’t yet have the standing to refuse the old lady.

When she returned to the Wen residence, Aunt Mei led her straight to the matriarch’s study.

As soon as Wen Tang entered, the old lady smiled kindly and gestured for her to sit.

“Been busy with work lately?”

Wen Tang didn’t enjoy exchanging pleasantries with the old lady. She gave a perfunctory reply. “It’s fine. Not too busy.”

Old Madam Wen hadn’t asked out of genuine concern anyway. After a few minutes of small talk, she got straight to the point.

“The other day, during your date with that young lady from the Ning family—did you end up waiting a long time?”

Wen Tang pressed her lips together, trying to think of a tactful response.

Before she could speak, the old lady sighed. “I only heard about it recently. Apparently, the Ning girl did go to Xingyue that day, but the elevator broke down and gave her quite a scare. She’s been recuperating at home ever since.”

Hearing this, Wen Tang suddenly remembered—after she gave up waiting that day and came down the elevator, she did notice a crowd gathered outside another one.

So, it was because of that.

“I heard from Xingyue’s manager that you waited quite a while for Ning Xu. That made me happy,” Old Madam Wen said, her tone softening with affection. “Since you clearly have feelings for her, why don’t you go visit her at home?”

Back when she first learned of Ning Xu’s accident, the old lady had already considered sending Wen Tang to check on her. But after hearing that the Ning family had sent Ning Xu to their old estate in Jiangnan to recover, she decided not to intrude.

Now that Ning Xu was back in the capital, that idea resurfaced.

“Grandmother, I don’t think that’s very appropriate.”

Before Wen Tang could finish explaining, the old lady’s kindly expression darkened. Wen Tang hurried to add, “I mean, if I had gone right after the incident, that might have been fine. But now it’s already been several days—if I visit her only now, the Ning family might think our Wen family is being perfunctory.”

She racked her brain for excuses, managing to string together a rather convincing one.

Old Madam Wen seemed somewhat persuaded.

“Well, perhaps you’re right. It wouldn’t be suitable right now. Omegas like to look their best in front of Alphas, and she’s still recuperating. I suppose she wouldn’t want to see you while she’s unwell,” the old lady mused. “Then wait until she’s better. Go visit her then—and make sure to keep her company.”

Wen Tang mentally tuned out the rest.

After politely wrapping up the conversation, she once again left the Wen residence.

As she stepped out of the small villa, she saw Wen Xin approaching from the opposite direction.

Their eyes met, and Wen Xin’s face immediately darkened.

As they brushed shoulders, Wen Tang heard her mutter under her breath, “How’s life as a little assistant treating you?”

The scorn in her tone made Wen Tang stop in her tracks.

She was already fed up with the Wen family, and after being half-coaxed, half-threatened by the old lady just now, her temper was barely contained. She hadn’t expected this insufferable Wen Xin to provoke her again.

“You should know that better than anyone,” Wen Tang shot back coldly, making no effort to hide that she already knew it was Wen Xin who had arranged for her to become Lin Shuang’s assistant.

Sure enough, Wen Xin looked momentarily surprised—then burst out laughing.

“Oh? So you found out? And what of it? Grandmother favors me, the Wen family belongs to me. You’re nothing but a bastard child born out of filth—stop deluding yourself into thinking the Wen family will ever be yours!”

“Time will tell. Don’t speak too soon.”

Wen Tang didn’t even want to look at her anymore. She had no interest in arguing with someone so shallow and brainless.

Casting her a cold glance, she pressed her lips together and walked away without another word.

Wen Xin watched her retreating back, let out a mocking laugh or two, and didn’t bother to stop her.

The very next day, Wen Qi sent over detailed information about the Moon Spirit Chronicles production team’s financial troubles.

It turned out that the show’s biggest investors had originally been the Yang Corporation and the Bai Corporation. But after Young Master Yang got beaten up at Silverlight, he quickly learned to keep his head down—and the Yang

Corporation pulled all its funding.

As for the Bai Corporation, that went without saying.

They were already bankrupt and dissolved. The entire Bai family had been arrested, and their investments were long gone.

The Moon Spirit Chronicles had been operating on a decent budget thanks to several investors, enough to finish the show—yet now, when only the final segment in Xuancheng remained to be filmed, the money had run dry.

After reviewing the documents, Wen Tang called Wen Qi.

“How much liquid capital do I currently have access to?”

Most people didn’t know the full story—they simply thought the production had offended the Yang Corporation, so no other companies dared to invest.

But Wen Tang remembered that this drama would later become a massive hit for its sincere production values and outstanding performances.

She figured it was worth investing in, well, that, and also, it was partly her fault.

The Yang heir had been the one she punched. The Yang Corporation had been warned off by Madam Wen on her behalf. The Bai Corporation had collapsed because of her secret maneuvers.

It was because of her that Moon Spirit Chronicles had fallen into financial crisis.

If she didn’t help them now, her conscience wouldn’t rest easy.

And besides—she didn’t want to see that helpless, sorrowful look on Ye Youyi’s face ever again.