She Became The Black Lotus’s Pure, Untouchable Love - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“…An injured artist?”

What exactly was the motive behind making an injured artist the image ambassador for the foundation??

Yang Pei narrowed his eyes. Huo Xingyu usually couldn’t be bothered with selecting celebrities for promotion—especially for a project like the Charitable Foundation, which was considered peripheral within the Huo Group. Normally, she wouldn’t even spare it a glance.

Her time was reserved strictly for critical and thorny matters.

Yet, looking at that arrogant, exquisite face across from him, he couldn’t find a single clue or trace of her true intent.

Stumped, Yang Pei could only follow her lead. “Zhao Xinci? She just returned from the US after filming a new movie with a major director. She’s in her prime, her momentum is peaking, and she recently suffered lumbar muscle strain from filming.”

“Uh…” Huo Xingyu looked down at the resumes of various celebrities listed in the document. “Are there any with, say… a broken leg?”

Yang Pei fell silent for a moment.

What was Huo Xingyu doing? Why was she asking such bizarre questions? There are so many stars in the industry and news every single day—how was he supposed to know whose leg was broken!

Usually, she was the type to just glance at a document and sign off. Why was she suddenly obsessing over such trivialities today? If he couldn’t answer in front of all these subordinates, wouldn’t it be incredibly embarrassing??

Was she trying to strike at his professional competence? Or was she trying to seize power through these minor details?

Is it not enough that I, as her elder, bow my head to work for her! Yang Pei thought with bitter indignation. One day I’ll replace her. One day I’ll make her bow and call me ‘President Yang’…

Seeing he wasn’t responding, the assistant beside him nudged him with an elbow, discreetly mouthing a hint.

Yang Pei snapped to attention. He coughed twice to clear his throat and said, “Deng Yanxin!”

Yes, Deng Yanxin. The youngest Best Actress winner to date. Since her debut at seventeen, she had swept three “Gold Cups” in just five years. The artistic film she shot this year was even a frontrunner for international awards. Most importantly, Deng Yanxin had just broken her leg filming a period drama last month and was currently using a wheelchair. She perfectly fit Huo Xingyu’s nonsensical “injured artist” and “broken leg” requirements.

“Her schedule must be quite full.”

“Yes, but ever since the last jewelry endorsement, we’ve maintained close communication. Miss Deng said that as long as President Huo needs her, she can clear her schedule of other projects.”

Yang Pei grinned confidently, the flesh on his face bunching into several deep folds. “Miss Deng is extremely popular right now. Her commercial influence is top-tier; her fans showed immense purchasing power during the last jewelry campaign.”

Suitable… it was more than suitable! Deng Yanxin’s status aligned perfectly with the Huo Group’s image. She had been their jewelry brand ambassador before, and the collaboration was pleasant. Surely Huo Xingyu couldn’t refuse or find fault this time?

“She is indeed suitable, but…” Huo Xingyu looked up.

Yang Pei’s heart tightened under that cold, phoenix-eyed gaze. “But?”

“We need a fresh face.”

“A fresh face? The Huo Group has always pursued excellence and distinc… tion.” Seeing the strange smile playing on Huo Xingyu’s lips, Yang Pei’s booming voice trailed off.

“Minister Yang.”

“Yes.”

“Do I seem very kind lately?”

Yang Pei looked at her cold, indifferent, and exquisite face. He had to admit that Huo Xingyu’s beauty was highly aggressive; she was stunningly sharp and refined without being vulgar. But when she smiled, there wasn’t a hint of kindness in it. Her beautiful lips curved up, but the smile never reached her eyes.

It was more chilling than when she wasn’t smiling at all.

Yang Pei shivered, stammering out, “K-kind. Very kind.”

“Is that so…” Huo Xingyu lowered her head to sort through the photos. “No wonder everyone has been so bold as to irritate me lately.”

“Uh…” Yang Pei was speechless, fighting the urge to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. Who would be brave enough to irritate her? Just looking at her from a distance was intimidating enough. Not to mention, this woman was a deeply calculating, scheming “Black Lotus” who could swallow people whole without spitting out the bones.

“President Huo, I actually have a candidate in mind,” Secretary Song spoke up with a smile.

“Speak.”

Yang Pei turned to look as well. He finally understood—Huo Xingyu already had someone in mind. He wanted to see which lucky soul this master and servant duo were putting on a show for.

“I think Ning Xiangxiang is quite good. She’s a newcomer with great potential, and she’s very beautiful.” Secretary Song smiled as she picked up a tablet, pulling up Ning Xiangxiang’s profile and placing it on the desk.

Ning Xiangxiang? Who was that?

A brief look of confusion flashed across Yang Pei’s face. He felt like he had heard the name somewhere, but he had absolutely no memory of her. He swiped through the tablet, looking at various photos of Ning Xiangxiang.

Finally, his gaze stopped on a promotional still of her in a school uniform. In the photo, Ning Xiangxiang had a high ponytail with stray hairs framing her face. Her pink lips were biting a pen, revealing a hint of a pearly canine tooth. She was holding a book with her brows furrowed.

—Yang Pei fell silent—

Wasn’t this the second female lead from that “youthful angst” campus idol drama his high-school-aged daughter watched day and night?

He looked up at Huo Xingyu in confusion, then back down at the photo. He truly couldn’t see how these two people could possibly have any connection.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered that Huo Xingyu might have a romantic entanglement with an actress. After all, it was no secret that his freak of a niece liked women. But Yang Pei assumed that with Huo Xingyu’s nitpicking, hyper-critical nature, if she were to “find some fun” in the entertainment industry, the target would be at least a multi-award-winning Queen or a top-tier “A-list” star.

This Ning Xiangxiang…

Yang Pei looked at her suspiciously. He felt there was no need to scheme against Huo Xingyu anymore—at this rate, he might receive news that she had developed a split personality within a few days.

…

Looking at Deng Yanxin sitting in the wheelchair before her, Lin Junruo seriously considered a career change. If everyone in the world could learn one superpower, she was currently praying to heaven to let her master the art of “Earth Tunneling.”

She wanted to burrow into the ground like a mole, rush to the airport at top speed, buy the earliest flight, and flee this city overnight—quitting the industry forever. If she had sinned, she prayed for the punishment of the law. Anything was better than accidentally mistaking this prestigious Best Actress winner for Ning Xiangxiang and wheeling her out of the hotel.

If she were to be sentenced, she hoped the judge would carry out the execution immediately rather than leaving her to face Deng Yanxin’s playful, mocking smile alone.

Lin Junruo wanted to cry but had no tears left. She stood awkwardly, unable to run and unable to stay. Who would have thought that she’d be reading the woman’s autobiography last night and meeting the living legend this morning?

She wanted to apologize but didn’t know where to start. Would the Movie Queen believe the ridiculous—yet true—explanation that she had just “picked up the wrong person”?

Just as she was about to trip over her own feet in anxiety, Deng Yanxin smiled and said, “I recognize you.”

“R-really?!”

With just that one light sentence, her anxiety and embarrassment were instantly sublimated. Everything bad became wonderful under the impact of the fact that Deng Yanxin actually knew who she was!

Lin Junruo felt shy but plucked up her courage. “Have… have you seen my work?”

She was flattered. Lin Junruo knew she basically had no “body of work” to speak of; in the vast entertainment industry, she was a “nobody” among “nobodies.” And yet, a three-time Best Actress winner remembered her!

“Of course. You did a food commercial, right?”

“Yes! I did! You actually saw it!”

“Yes. I was losing weight for a role at the time. Watching you eat that fried chicken made it look so delicious that I couldn’t help but eat some myself…” Deng Yanxin’s eyes crinkled into kind crescents. “Because of that one meal, I had to fast for two days afterward.”

…Was that a compliment on her acting? Why did she detect a hint of dangerous displeasure in Deng Yanxin’s tone?

Lin Junruo gripped the hem of her shirt, resisting the urge to bolt. She forcibly pivoted the conversation. “I… I’ve liked you for a long time. I’ve always viewed you as my goal and idol. Your acting is truly, truly amazing. I’ve bought all your movies on Blu-ray!!”

“Did you really buy them all?”

“Really! I even bought your autobiography. I practice the ‘Mirror Reflection Method’ every day. I will definitely, definitely work as hard as you to be a good actress.”

Lin Junruo thought she saw a glimmer of expectation in Deng Yanxin’s eyes, so she kept nodding her head like a chick pecking at grain.

“That’s all a lie.”

“Pardon?”

“The book says I worked hard, but in terms of acting, I’ve never actually put in any effort.”

“I was born knowing how to act,” Deng Yanxin said with a sweet smile.

In an instant, the light in Lin Junruo’s eyes vanished. She went from an admiring puppy wagging its tail to someone whose worldview had been shattered, drooping her head in profound sadness.

The curve of Deng Yanxin’s lips tilted upward just a bit more.

How can someone be this easy to tease?

Deng Yanxin spoke up: “Want my contact info? I can teach you.”