The Scumbag Attackers Regretted It Deeply After My Death - Chapter 28

Rong Jingxi’s expression remained indifferent. She had always been a straight shooter—someone who spoke her mind without hesitation. To those she liked, such as Yao Anna, she was willing to offer warmth even in the face of a cold reception. But to those she disliked, like the woman currently standing before her, she was utterly ruthless.

Lin Jingji’s face shifted uncomfortably at the Alpha’s cold demeanor. She gripped the armrests of her chair tightly, her breath hitching with irritation. What is this? she thought. Am I really that unwelcome? First, she had been snapped at by Director Zou the moment she arrived at the hotel, and now she was being snubbed by this second-tier idol?

Lin Jingji could swallow her pride for Director Zou—she had no choice but to smile and take it—but who did this rising star think she was? What right did Rong Jingxi have to speak to her like that?

“You…”

Yao Anna watched Lin Jingji’s livid face with a detached gaze. She knew the moment the woman opened her mouth that nothing good would come out. Having just been scolded by Director Zou, Lin Jingji was clearly looking for a punching bag, and it seemed she had set her sights on Rong Jingxi.

Although Anna wasn’t particularly close to Rong Jingxi, the Alpha had helped her fend off the unwanted advances of Jiang Nian’an in the past. Anna had a good impression of her and wasn’t about to sit back and watch Lin Jingji use her industry status to bully her.

Does she even deserve to? Anna thought bitterly. Aside from managing one A-list star—Anna herself—Lin Jingji had no other significant achievements to her name.

Cutting her off before she could start, Yao Anna interrupted, “By the way, Rong Jingxi, Director Zou wanted you to go see him once you’ve changed.”

Rong Jingxi arched an eyebrow and gave the elegant, cold beauty a deep, knowing look. “Understood. I’ll wait for you outside then.”

Yao Anna nodded slightly.

Rong Jingxi left the dressing room without sparing Lin Jingji a single glance. She had originally intended to be polite, considering Lin Jingji was Anna’s manager, but the older woman had entered looking for a fight, even using Lu Fanqing to provoke her. Rong Jingxi wasn’t the type to suffer in silence.

She admired Yao Anna because, from the moment they met, she felt they were the same kind of person: the type who settled scores immediately rather than letting them fester. She’s just a manager, Rong thought. I don’t know what she’s so arrogant about.

Once the Alpha had left, Lin Jingji plopped down into the chair Rong Jingxi had just vacated. She looked at Yao Anna, who was getting her hair done, and settled in as if for a long, serious talk.

“It’s a good thing it was me who walked in just now,” Lin Jingji began. “If someone else had seen you laughing and chatting with that little ‘Fresh Meat’ Alpha, who knows what rumors would be flying? You are President Jiang’s fiancée now. You have a marriage contract; you can’t afford to let your guard down like this!”

Had Yao Anna not lived through a previous life, she might have actually believed Lin Jingji’s lies. She cast a sideways glance at the woman and let out a nonchalant chuckle.

Lin Jingji frowned, confused by the reaction. “I’m saying this for your own good. What are you laughing at?”

Yao Anna looked away. Looking at Lin Jingji’s hypocritical face now only made her feel nauseated. “I just realized your acting is quite good. Why didn’t you ever think about becoming an actress yourself?”

Her voice was low, carrying an ambiguous smile that made Lin Jingji freeze. An alarm went off in the manager’s head—she felt as though Anna was speaking in riddles.

Lin Jingji’s appearance was average at best. Only with the help of heavy makeup did she look presentable. She preferred wearing black suits and white shirts with her hair pulled back into a severe, meticulous bun. She thought she looked like a powerful “Boss Lady” from a TV drama, but in reality, she just looked stiff and archaic.

She fancied herself a big shot because she managed several celebrities, headlined by a Movie Queen like Yao Anna. Now that she believed she had also aligned herself with Yao Zhenzhen, her ego had become uncontrollable.

Hearing their exchange, the stylist couldn’t help but steal a glance at Lin Jingji and nearly burst out laughing. With that look and that vibe? A star? The entertainment industry’s bar isn’t that low. A comedian, maybe!

Lin Jingji, busy admiring her “CEO image” in the mirror, didn’t notice the stylist’s smirk. If she had, she likely would have caused a massive scene.

“Anyway,” Lin Jingji continued, “stay away from that Alpha named Rong. On-camera is one thing, but you must be careful off-camera. What if President Jiang comes to visit the set and sees you two together? What then?”

Yao Anna’s brows knitted together. Is she never going to stop?

“Did you hear me?” Lin Jingji turned to face her.

Yao Anna met her gaze with cold, sharp eyes. She sneered, “Are you teaching me how to do my job?”

For a moment, Lin Jingji’s heart skipped a beat. Anna’s gaze was so piercing it felt as if she were looking directly into the depths of her soul. A chill ran down Lin Jingji’s spine.

But the feeling vanished as quickly as it had come. Yao Anna turned back to the mirror, and the suffocating pressure disappeared as if it had been an illusion. Lin Jingji clutched her racing heart, still shaken.

“No… Anna, I really am doing this for your sake. Getting close to Rong Jingxi brings you no benefits. She’s only second-tier, while you’re A-list. Why lower your status to befriend her?”

“Don’t forget, she is also a lead in this show,” Yao Anna said, trying to suppress her rising rage.

She knew very well that now was not the best time to retaliate against this nagging woman. Previously, she hadn’t been sure if Lin Jingji had already teamed up with Yao Zhenzhen. But after seeing them enter the banquet hall one after the other, she was certain they were already working together in secret.

Fine, Anna thought with a cold internal laugh. She had to be patient. She would use this greedy woman to strike at Yao Zhenzhen. Remembering how badly the two of them had ruined her in her previous life, she couldn’t wait to let Yao Zhenzhen taste the bitterness of betrayal.

To succeed, she had to refrain from snapping at Lin Jingji and avoid showing any weaknesses. The problem was, this hypocritical woman was incredibly noisy, and Anna’s patience was wearing thin.

“She is the Alpha lead, yes, but acting is just acting,” Lin Jingji droned on. “Anna, you’re a veteran in this industry. You’ve done plenty of films and played many roles. You should know how this works.”

Anna, truly annoyed now, snapped, “I get it!”

Satisfied that she had finally “convinced” her star, Lin Jingji stood up. “Is there anything else you need me to prepare? If not, I’ll head back and check on you another day.”

Don’t bother coming back, Anna thought. But she kept up appearances, saying coldly, “Go handle your business. If I need anything, I’ll call Yaoling.”

Yaoling was her assistant. According to the timeline, she should be away on her honeymoon right now.

“Oh, right,” Lin Jingji said casually. “Yaoling won’t be coming back. I’ve hired a new assistant for you. She’ll report to the hotel tomorrow.”

Not coming back?

Yao Anna’s eyes snapped up, staring directly at Lin Jingji. “Why? Yaoling is my assistant. Even if she were to be fired, that’s my decision. What right do you have to go over my head and dismiss my staff?”

One second, she was telling herself to stay calm; the next, she felt like she was going to explode. In her previous life, Yaoling was the only person who had been truly sincere to her. Though she was just a small assistant who couldn’t offer much power, without Yaoling’s companionship and care, Anna would have had a mental breakdown long ago.

Anna owed her. She hadn’t been able to repay Yaoling in her last life, and she had planned to make it up to her once she returned from her honeymoon. And now, Lin Jingji had fired her without a word?

To hell with staying calm.

Lin Jingji was startled by the fierce, predatory look in Anna’s eyes and instinctively took two steps back, swallowing hard. “You…”

But Lin Jingji quickly recovered. Seeing Anna glaring at her and showing no respect in front of the stylist, she grew angry. “She’s just an assistant! Is this really necessary? I told you, I found a replacement who starts tomorrow. Don’t worry, the company is paying the new girl’s salary.”

Lin Jingji thought Anna was being completely irrational. All this anger over a measly assistant?

“I think it’s very necessary!” Anna’s face was a mask of rage. She demanded, “Give me a reason for firing Yaoling. Who gave you the authority to act so unilaterally?”

“Yao Anna! Don’t forget, I am your manager! I have the right to manage your affairs!”

Pushed by Anna’s questioning, Lin Jingji finally snapped. She kicked the chair behind her over and glared back. She had been holding in her own resentment ever since Anna had gone behind her back to hire internet trolls to tarnish her own reputation.

Looking at Lin Jingji’s ugly, frantic state, Anna’s eyes remained icy. She watched the fuming woman and asked in a calm, terrifyingly level voice, “I won’t ask a second time. Who told you to do this? Tell me.”

“Are you ever going to drop it?” Lin Jingji barked, frustratedly running a hand through her hair.

“You’re not going to say? Do you truly think I can’t survive without you?” Yao Anna let out a low, mocking laugh.

It was a direct threat. With her current market value, if she expressed a desire to leave, the top three entertainment agencies would be fighting over her. Anna was banking on the fact that her contract with the current company was nearing its end. Lin Jingji would never let her biggest “cash cow” walk away.

Sure enough, Lin Jingji froze. Her fire instantly died out. Swallowing her pride, she approached Anna, picked up a bottle of water from the side table, unscrewed the cap, and handed it over with a fawning smile.

The speed of her 180-degree turn made the stylist’s eyes widen in disbelief. What a piece of work this woman is!

“Anna, have some water and calm down… I didn’t mean to keep it from you. It’s just… I’m not really supposed to tell you…”

Yao Anna ignored the water. She caught the stylist’s eye in the mirror and signaled for her to continue. The stylist cautiously stepped forward to finish the hair.

Lin Jingji stood there awkwardly, her heart boiling with resentment, but she dared not show it. It was clear that Yao Anna held all the cards now. After a moment of silence, the manager let out a heavy sigh.

“Fine, I’ll tell you. Okay?”

Only then did Yao Anna look down at her, her red lips parting slightly. “Speak.”