The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 45

The last time Zhao Mengting had been mentioned was back when the National College Entrance Examination results were released, during the interview at home with Xiao Li and the cameraman.

The cameraman’s daughter was the one who had been bullied by Zhao Mengting until she died of depression.

Yun Can’er didn’t dare speak, afraid of being overheard by Zhao Mengting. She anxiously tugged at Ning Xiao’s sleeve.

Ning Xiao gave Yun Can’er’s hand a reassuring pat, then took out her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to the cameraman via WeChat.

Ning Xiao: [Image]

Ning Xiao: I happened to see Zhao Mengting at the Beijing Outskirts Film Studio. [Location]

The cameraman replied almost instantly: Thank you. I’m on it.

Ning Xiao: She’s trying to get acting work, so she won’t be leaving the studio anytime soon. I won’t dig further into her business to avoid alerting her.

Zhao Mengting had been active within the Beijing area all along, but Ning Xiao hadn’t heard a peep about her for years. It was clear how cautious she had been—she might have even changed her name.

Cameraman Wang Zhuo: Good. Once I’ve settled things with Zhao Mengting, I’ll definitely treat you to dinner!

Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er waited until Zhao Mengting and the casting director had left before stepping out from their corner.

Watching the chat between Ning Xiao and Wang Zhuo, Yun Can’er asked worriedly, “The film studio is so big and he’s just one person. Will he be able to find her?”

“If he can’t, he still has us, doesn’t he?” Ning Xiao replied. “At worst, when Uncle Wang arrives, you can just ask the casting director. Given Jiang Yunyi’s influence, he’ll tell you.”

Yun Can’er nodded, though her expression remained troubled.

Ning Xiao reached out and pinched her cheek affectionately. “Uncle Wang has been in contact with the other victims’ parents. They’ve never given up looking for her. He isn’t alone, so don’t worry too much, okay?”

Wang Zhuo arrived at the studio that very day, accompanied by five other parents of victims. One of them had a contact at the studio, and they quickly narrowed down their target.

A girl named “Meng Ting.” She had a cute look, a high-pitched voice, and was utterly ruthless in her pursuit of fame. At just twenty years old, she had already slept with at least ten casting directors.

Once Wang Zhuo found her, he didn’t contact Ning Xiao. They would settle their own scores; there was no need to involve outsiders. The less Ning Xiao knew, the better.

However, sometimes even when you don’t look for trouble, trouble finds you.

On Sunday morning, after finishing her scenes, Yun Can’er went to the dressing room to remove her makeup.

The rest of the crew was still filming, and the makeup artists were on set doing touch-ups. Ning Xiao had stepped out to get some water for Yun Can’er. Through a series of coincidences, Yun Can’er was left alone in the room.

Having finished removing her makeup, she looked down at her phone while waiting for Ning Xiao.

Creek! The door opened.

Thinking it was Ning Xiao, Yun Can’er didn’t look up. She said in a soft, pampered voice, “Let’s not leave immediately after we finish this afternoon, okay? I want to have a good look around the studio.”

The footsteps approached, but she heard no response.

Frowning, she turned around and saw Zhao Mengting’s “cute” smile. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes. Why would Zhao Mengting show up voluntarily?

“Hello, sister! My name is Meng Ting, I’m an extra on the crew~” Zhao Mengting walked over, introducing herself playfully.

Seeing that Zhao Mengting clearly didn’t recognize her, Yun Can’er raised an eyebrow. Her current appearance was worlds away from her freshman year of high school. If the Yun Can’er of the past was a dull, ugly duckling, the current her was a noble and elegant white swan. There was no resemblance between the two, so it was natural that Zhao Mengting didn’t know who she was.

“Is there something you want?” Yun Can’er asked coldly.

Spending every day with Ning Xiao, she had mastered her partner’s aloof and arrogant tone perfectly. The moment she spoke, the smile on Zhao Mengting’s face froze.

Zhao Mengting felt a surge of secret hatred. Isn’t she just a minor actress relying on a sugar daddy? Who does she think she is? Recalling the soft, pampered tone she’d heard just now, Zhao Mengting figured the “sugar daddy” must be someone on the crew.

She forced her cute smile to stay in place. “Sister might not know, but a few days ago the director said the crew was short one actress. We all worked so hard to get the chance, but none of the extras were chosen. Instead, you showed up.”

“You really have great luck, sister.” The sugar daddy must be powerful, Zhao Mengting thought sourly.

Yun Can’er still didn’t understand why she was here. She said impatiently, “Get to the point. Don’t waste my time with nonsense.”

Zhao Mengting gritted her teeth and smiled. “You’re so amazing, sister, you must know so many people. I don’t have many friends on the crew. Could you introduce me to some?” She blinked innocently. “I really envy you, and I really admire the person who helped you get this role.”

Yun Can’er: “No. You can leave now.”

Given the way she was talking, no sane person would ever introduce her to anyone.

“Sister, I’m talking to you so nicely, how could you treat me like this…” As Zhao Mengting spoke, tears instantly filled her eyes. With a slight blink, they rolled down her cheeks. She looked as if she were being bullied, appearing pitiful and helpless.

Ning Xiao pushed the door open to find this exact scene. She paused and asked, “What’s going on?”

With her back to Ning Xiao, Zhao Mengting trembled at the voice, covered her face with her hands, and began to sob.

Yun Can’er: “…” Ning Xiao: “…”

Yun Can’er mouthed to Ning Xiao: This is Zhao Mengting.

Ning Xiao nodded.

Yun Can’er finally understood what she was trying to do—she wanted to frame her for bullying an extra.

She thought to herself that if Zhao Mengting hadn’t had so many lackeys at Boming High, or if she hadn’t been the daughter of the Zhao family, the bullying might never have happened. Her intelligence… was truly limited. She hadn’t even figured out who she was before rushing in to frame her.

Yun Can’er crossed her arms and asked the sobbing girl, “Do you even know my name?”

Zhao Mengting froze, nearly forgetting to keep crying. “N-no,” she sobbed.

“Heh,” Yun Can’er sneered. “Should I call you stupid, or just plain idiotic, Zhao Mengting?”

Hearing that name a name she had abandoned three or four years ago—Zhao Mengting felt as if the blood in her veins had turned to ice.

How? How could she know her full name? She had been going by “Meng Ting” at the studio; no one knew her real name. Why was this person so certain?

Zhao Mengting looked at Yun Can’er through her tear-blurred eyes, once again certain she had never met her. “Sister, you must be mistaken. I’m not Zhao Mengting, my name is Meng Ting.”

“Is that so?” Yun Can’er said indifferently. “Zhao Mengting, we were classmates, after all. Your lies are useless to me. Do I need to take a photo of you and post it in the Boming Class 1 group chat?”

“No!” Zhao Mengting looked up in horror. “Who the hell are you?!”

Yun Can’er smiled. “Who am I? I think you should remember my name. I’m Yun Can’er.”

“Impossible!” Zhao Mengting blurted out. Yun Can’er was just an ordinary schoolgirl. This person was so beautiful; how could she be that plain Yun Can’er?

“Why impossible? A girl changes as she grows. I’ve only become more beautiful, unlike you, hiding everywhere like a rat. Zhao Mengting, after bullying so many people, do you really not have nightmares at night?”

With her disguise stripped away, Zhao Mengting dropped the act. “I’m not a rat. Those cowards were the rats. Hah, I only picked on them a few times and they actually killed themselves? Those types of cowards would be nothing but societal trash even if they were alive today.”

“Zhao Mengting, you’re shaking. Are you afraid?” Ning Xiao stepped from behind her to stand beside Yun Can’er, a mocking smile on her lips.

Zhao Mengting’s pupils shrank at the sight of her. “No way! She really is Yun Can’er?”

“You’re Zhao Mengting and she’s Yun Can’er. What’s so strange about that?”

Zhao Mengting couldn’t stay a second longer. Once, she had been a high-and-mighty young miss just like Ning Xiao. Now, she was just a rat whose father was in prison, hiding every day from her enemies.

“For the sake of us being high school classmates, don’t tell anyone I’m here. I’m begging you,” Zhao Mengting pleaded, showing weakness.

Ning Xiao neither agreed nor disagreed. She simply said, “You can go.”

Zhao Mengting’s arm twitched neurotically. Yun Can’er was startled and quickly moved to shield Ning Xiao.

Ning Xiao pulled her back behind her, smiling. “Don’t worry, she doesn’t have the guts to do anything to me.”

Yun Can’er kept her eyes fixed on Zhao Mengting, not relaxing for a second. Zhao Mengting was like a venomous snake, as long as she had a breath left, she’d try to bite and inject her poison.

Knock, knock, knock! A knock came at the door. Zhao Mengting gritted her teeth and retracted the small knife she had hidden in her sleeve.

The makeup artist and a few supporting actors walked in chatting and laughing. Seeing the atmosphere in the room, they paused. Zhao Mengting took the opportunity to bolt.

The people in the room blinked, confused. “Was that Meng Ting? What did you say to her? Why did she run off?”

“Her name is actually Zhao Mengting,” Ning Xiao said. “She was a classmate of ours in high school.”

The others nodded in realization. “Ah, just catching up then.”

As for why she ran, nobody asked. Everyone at the studio was savvy enough to know that asking too many questions led to misunderstandings. They wouldn’t ask to her face, but they’d certainly gossip about it later.

Zhao Mengting had originally intended to frame the actress who “stole” her role for bullying an extra, but upon discovering it was Yun Can’er, her face turned pale.

She had asked Ning Xiao not to tell anyone, but Ning Xiao hadn’t agreed. Even if she had, Zhao Mengting’s paranoid nature wouldn’t have allowed her to believe it.

She couldn’t stay at the studio anymore.

Acting decisively, she returned to her lodgings to pack. Carrying her suitcase, she snuck out of the rented room and called a taxi from a corner. Within two minutes, a car pulled up. Without checking the license plate, she pulled the door open and hopped in.

“Driver, to the station.”

“You got it. Sit tight.” The driver looked in the rearview mirror and smiled.

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