She Became The Black Lotus’s Pure, Untouchable Love - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Is that so? But I clearly feel that Sister fits my requirements perfectly. Wen Ran couldn’t possibly tell a lie like that…”

Wen Ran maintained her sweet, soft smile, standing beside her as she gazed at the painting Huo Xingyu was looking at. She continued: “Then, what kind of paintings does Xiangxiang like? Who knows, maybe she and I have a lot in common.”

…

“Xiangxiang, your leg is injured like this… regarding the film crew… you aren’t going back for the time being, right?”

Ning Xiangxiang rested her face on her hand, looking at the woman before her with short, neat hair and a slightly square jaw. This was her manager, Sister Luo.

Sister Luo had said these exact words in her previous life.

After Ning Xiangxiang had agreed back then, even after she recovered, she never received another film offer. She didn’t even get the chance to walk a red carpet to generate buzz. At first, she thought it was because the entertainment industry moved too fast and she had become a “has-been” after a few months of absence. Only later did she realize it was because a “perfect wife” for the Fourth Miss Huo couldn’t be entangled in rumors or gossip.

As for Sister Luo, Ning Xiangxiang never saw her again after marrying Huo Xingyu.

Sister Luo’s eyes were shifty and flickering; she didn’t dare look Ning Xiangxiang in the eye. Watching her bustle about the ward—peeling fruit one moment, tucking a pillow under Ning Xiangxiang’s waist the next—Ning Xiangxiang couldn’t help but sigh.

In her past life, her relationship with Sister Luo was a mix of grudges and “revolutionary” camaraderie.

Ning Xiangxiang’s financial contract was held entirely by her stepmother, Liu Si. Sister Luo and Liu Si worked in tandem, leaving Ning Xiangxiang with no knowledge of her earnings or what endorsements she was signing. Eventually, under Sister Luo’s persistent lobbying, Ning Xiangxiang set aside her doubts and married that money-making machine, Huo Xingyu, beginning ten years of life in a gilded cage.

At the same time, she couldn’t deny Sister Luo’s kindness. Most of Ning Xiangxiang’s roles were “vase” characters—the third or fourth female lead in idol dramas. They required little acting but involved serving as a foil to the leads and acting out plot-driving tropes. Unless her character was killed off early, the filming cycles were long and grueling.

Because Liu Si refused to spend money, Ning Xiangxiang had no assistant. Sister Luo, as a manager, had to take on assistant duties—everything from wrapping her in a down jacket in the cold to managing social graces by treating the crew to meals. She handled every step meticulously.

“Xiangxiang? Why aren’t you talking?” Sister Luo sliced the peeled apple in half and handed a piece over.

Ning Xiangxiang took it. She was thinking: Her kindness to me isn’t the key point. The key point was that in her last life, after Ning Xiangxiang married Huo Xingyu, Sister Luo embezzled Liu Si’s money and vanished. It was only when Liu Si came to her sobbing that Ning Xiangxiang realized Sister Luo had been desperate for money.

Adhering to the philosophy that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” she spoke slowly: “I don’t want to…”

Ning Xiangxiang lowered her head, speaking emotionally to the half-apple: “Sister Luo, I’ve already joined the cast and started filming. If they have to replace me and reshoot now, wouldn’t that be a huge trouble for the director?”

She racked her brain for excuses. This time, she absolutely could not let Liu Si lead her by the nose. She had worked herself to the bone for five years to provide for Liu Si and her daughter’s luxury, while her own mother’s life was still held over her head.

How could there be such a cheap deal in this world?

“It won’t be a problem. I’ve seen the script; you don’t have many scenes. We can find a stunt double for the rest,” Sister Luo coached her kindly. “A bone injury takes a hundred days to heal.”

“I’m short on money. I can’t let a double take a cut of my salary.”

“Your doubles are just for positioning; it’s 300 yuan a day. You’re short on that kind of money?”

“Short…” Ning Xiangxiang fell silent for a moment before continuing, “You know what I’m lacking.”

“Fine, I’ll discuss it with Mrs. Liu…” Sister Luo’s smile stiffened slightly. She grabbed her handbag and prepared to head out. “I’ll go handle some things first. You rest well. Sometimes, you don’t need to be so obsessed with work. Who knows? You might turn a corner and find a benefactor. I’ve always thought you were born for a life of wealth.”

“Sister Luo!” Ning Xiangxiang looked at her back. “I think… you must be quite short on money too, right?”

At this point, Sister Luo must have already coordinated with Ning Huaiai and Liu Si. The “benefactor” and “wealthy life” she spoke of referred to Huo Xingyu. But that kind of wealth was a shackle, tightened until it choked her.

After ten years of socializing with countless wealthy wives, the first lesson Ning Xiangxiang learned was that other people’s money belongs to them; only what is firmly in your own hand is yours.

Just like Mrs. Huang, the wife of a Chamber of Commerce president. When her husband cheated, she cried in front of her friends. Just when everyone thought it would be another “I forgive him” routine, Mrs. Huang stormed the mistress’s house, teamed up with the mistress, and extorted a massive sum from President Huang. Afterward, she posted a piece of wisdom in their group chat:

“You think marrying into wealth is a happy life? Bullsht! Happiness is having the money in your own hands. Anyone who steals my money is my enemy; anyone who steals my enemy’s money is my friend.”*

By the time Ning Xiangxiang had died, Mrs. Huang was sunbathing in Europe—the quintessential independent wealthy woman of the new era.

Seeing Sister Luo stop in her tracks, Ning Xiangxiang continued: “I should have earned quite a bit over the years, right? Liu Si is so stingy; how much of a cut does she actually give you?”

“Xiangxiang, what are you trying to say?”

“I want to take back what’s mine. I want to save my mother…” She gritted her teeth. “Sister Luo, no matter how much you need, I will do my absolute best to help you. As long as… as long as you’re willing to help me too.”

Ning Xiangxiang stopped looking for excuses. She realized Sister Luo was the only person who might have a reason to give her a hand.

Sister Luo turned back in astonishment. Ning Xiangxiang was half-reclined on the hospital bed. Her small, exquisite face, pale complexion, and thin frame created a sense of fragility. She looked no different than before. Those deer-like eyes stared straight at her.

But the old Ning Xiangxiang would never—could never—have said such things. She had always been the most obedient, easily manipulated “pretty doll.”

…Even a rabbit bites when cornered?

The phrase popped into Sister Luo’s head. She looked into Ning Xiangxiang’s eyes. The gaze that used to be avoidant and timid now held a spark of raw courage.

“What do you want me to do? You’re still a child; how can I trust you?” She smiled, meeting Ning Xiangxiang’s gaze calmly. “I’ll think over what happened today and give you an answer later. I won’t tell Mrs. Liu.”

“Then… then I want to go to the film set right now!” Ning Xiangxiang reached for the charging cable by the bed.

She knew this couldn’t wait. If it got too late and Ning Huaiai or Liu Si, acting as her agency, officially withdrew her from the film, she would truly have no voice left.

“How are you going with that leg?”

“Didn’t Sister Luo drive here?” She clutched the cable, looking at her expectantly.

Sister Luo arched an eyebrow. “We aren’t in the same camp yet. I’m not helping you.”

“I still have Aunt Chen!”

With that, Ning Xiangxiang opened WeChat and tapped on the conversation with the black profile picture.

…

“Is that so? But I clearly feel that Sister fits my requirements perfectly. Wen Ran couldn’t possibly tell a lie like that…”

Wen Ran maintained her sweet smile, looking at the painting Huo Xingyu was focused on.

Huo Xingyu lowered her eyes to look at her. The bright white gallery lights reflected off Wen Ran’s face. Her round face and downturned eyes gave her a pitiable innocence.

Very different from Ning Xiangxiang, Huo Xingyu evaluated internally.

Ning Xiangxiang was good. In what way? No matter if Huo Xingyu was near or far, she was always in the same place, in their home, obediently waiting for her to return.

“Good” was better.

Huo Xingyu’s heart softened at the thought, and a trace of a smile appeared on her face.

Wen Ran watched her. The dim museum lighting and the sharp spotlights on the art pieces divided Huo Xingyu’s face into light and shadow. Wen Ran was reminded of the classical sculptures she had studied years ago. Huo Xingyu’s beauty was an indisputable, breathtaking splendor—especially when those sharp, overbearing eyes softened with a hint of a smile.

Wen Ran suddenly felt her face flush. She lowered her head and whispered, “Sister?”

Huo Xingyu snapped out of it, turned her gaze back to the artwork, and said, “She doesn’t understand paintings.”

Ning Xiangxiang truly didn’t understand art; she could only distinguish between “pretty” and “not pretty.” Huo Xingyu thought back to the abstract paintings she used to buy and the confused, innocent look in Ning Xiangxiang’s eyes.

“Doesn’t understand art?” Wen Ran smiled as if relieved.

What kind of wife did Huo Xingyu need? Background, looks, taste, and education were all essential. Wen Ran already felt she surpassed that 5th-tier starlet in all those areas.

She wanted to say more, but when she turned, she saw Huo Xingyu frowning at her phone.

Huo Xingyu was staring silently at the red notification dot on WeChat. The profile picture of the person she was chatting with was a young girl hugging a Samoyed, her face half-buried in the dog’s fur, showing only deer-like eyes curved with laughter.

The incoming message read: Are you free? Can you come pick me up? 🥺 Followed by a sticker of a pitiful little pig sitting on the ground.

She instinctively replied: Where to?

As the message sent, Huo Xingyu waited for a reply. She swiped up on the chat history and saw the previous message: Especially the one in the lead—he’s so handsome! Total K-drama male lead material!!

In an instant, her face darkened. Without waiting for the other side to respond, Huo Xingyu quickly fired off another message: Not free.

…

Ning Xiangxiang stared at “Aunt Chen’s” blunt refusal and fell silent.

The Aunt Chen she grew up with was always smiling and agreeable. No matter what she said or wanted, Aunt Chen was always on her side. Why was she so cold and curt on the internet?? What had happened to put her in such a bad mood?

She sighed and typed: Ning Xiangxiang: You’re busy! It’s okay, I’ll go by myself!] [Ning Xiangxiang: If you’re in a bad mood, you can talk to me. Don’t bottle it up alone. I love you the most!

Feeling like it was still missing something, she sent several “kiss” and “heart” stickers.

Sister Luo saw the disappointment on her face and teased, “What? Aunt Chen can’t make it?”

“Aren’t there plenty of taxis outside the hospital?” Ning Xiangxiang gritted her teeth. “Push me down there. I’m going to the set myself.”

“Fine…” Sister Luo nodded in approval. “I’ll arrange for some paparazzi too. We’ll spin a narrative of you being ‘down-to-earth’ and ‘hardworking’ despite your injury. Ning Xiangxiang, you’ve actually gotten smarter.”

Seeing her confused look, Sister Luo smirked. “Otherwise, with your track record of nine flops out of ten and usually being the fourth female lead, how do you think you landed so many endorsements?”

With a publicity goal in mind, Sister Luo became re-energized. She packed Ning Xiangxiang’s few belongings and even managed to buy a wheelchair while handling the discharge paperwork.

After an hour of bustling, just as she was about to push Ning Xiangxiang out, Sister Luo stopped. She crouched down and examined Ning Xiangxiang’s face. “What did you just eat? Why is your complexion so rosy?”

“Uh, the chicken soup Aunt Chen sent?”

Sister Luo rolled her eyes, pulled a cushion and eyeshadow from her bag, and proceeded to give Ning Xiangxiang a look of “post-injury fragility.” She swept reddish eyeshadow onto the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose to create a “teetering on the edge of tears” look of grievance.

Satisfied with the result, Sister Luo said, “The paparazzi are already downstairs. When we get down there, act weak. Don’t be like your usual self—lunging into the car the moment the door opens. Do you understand? Delicate.“

Ning Xiangxiang nodded and pulled down her wide-brimmed hat. Sister Luo pushed her out the door.

Everything was going according to Sister Luo’s plan. The moment they exited the hospital, Ning Xiangxiang felt the cameras. With an actress’s instinct, she could sense where the paparazzi were and the frequency of the shutters.

Sister Luo pushed her toward a taxi. She reached for the door handle, but then another car parked next to the taxi honked.

Sister Luo froze and turned to look. A white Aston Martin Rapide was stopped behind them. Thinking they were blocking the way, Sister Luo moved to shove Ning Xiangxiang into the taxi quickly, but then the window of the Rapide rolled down.

Huo Xingyu sat in the driver’s seat. Her vivid, glamorous features were set in a cold expression as she looked at Sister Luo. Her gaze carried a hint of scrutiny as it landed on Ning Xiangxiang.

Ning Xiangxiang stared at the sudden appearance of Huo Xingyu, completely stunned.

She couldn’t tell if the sudden chill she felt was from Huo Xingyu’s ice-cold gaze or the air conditioning blowing out of the luxury car. She only knew that the paparazzi hiding in the bushes behind them were likely aiming their “telephoto cannons” and snapping away like crazy.