Chapter 6: Gossip Queen (6)

In the end, Aileen angrily left. Meanwhile, Ming Shu was idly holding the phone reading comments online, a cup of tea and a small snack bag at hand.

“Sister Jiang Nian, where did you get that snack?” Tian Yuan encountered such a scene as soon as she returned from seeing Aileen off. She immediately went over to block access to the bag and said, “Stop eating! What would you do if you got fat?”

Tian Yuan was almost crying. Sister Aileen was already enough for me, why did Sister Jiang Nian choose to be so weird now too…

Ming Shu tried to take her snack back, watching Tian Yuan with melting eyes. “Little Yuanzi, give it back.”

“No way. Sister Aileen told you to cut back on food.” Tian Yuan quickly wrapped up the bag and stepped back.

Sister Jiang Nian is still in the mood to eat? Is this what people call turning grief and indignation into appetite?

Her Sister Jiang Nian did not have this skill previously…

Or was it newly acquired?

Organizing her thoughts, Tian Yuan comfortingly told Ming Shu, “Sister Jiang Nian, it’s actually not a big deal. You don’t have to worry about it too much, Sister Aileen will definitely fix it for you.”

Although, she didn’t believe that herself.

“Ugh, I’m so worried,” Ming Shu said.

Hearing this, Tian Yuan finally relaxed. After going through what she had just now, Sister Jiang Nian must be anxious. She released a small sigh and said carefully, “Sister Jiang Nian, you…”

“I’m afraid I’ll starve to death if you don’t return my snack.” Ming Shu held out her hands with a smile.

“…”

She stomped her feet, anger turning her face to a bulging bun. Sister Jiang Nian always knew how to tease her.

Tian Yuan left the lounge with the snack, looking like she was going to complain to someone in tears.

“Wait, leave the snack!”

Ming Shu felt a bit depleted after losing the food. Her mouth began twisting in grief.

She was hungry.

She was so hungry she didn’t have the strength to smile.

Let’s go out for some food.

…

Ning Keqing returned at dusk since she had to film a scene in the evening.

Everyone on the set now knew she was Li Shaonan’s chosen and desperately sought any chance to please her.

But Ning Keqing still wore the same meek face. She didn’t treat them arrogantly because of Li Shaonan.

This unintentionally won her a very favorable impression.

Ming Shu thought Ning Keqing might ask her Money Boss to take revenge on Jiang Nian, yet several days passed and nothing happened. The heat brought on by Jiang Nian bullying a newbie was beginning to fade.

Knowing to wait for a better opportunity—it seemed Ning Keqing had gotten her IQ back.

Interesting. Perhaps it’s time to find another chance to obtain some Hatred Points.

“Sister Jiang Nian, there’s a banquet this evening that Sister Aileen wants you to attend,” Tian Yuan reported to Ming Shu, holding the phone.

A banquet…

Ming Shu thought for a while, eyes softly changing, and then answered with a wide, beaming smile, “Great.”

Banquet equals food.

I have to go.

Checking Ming Shu from head to toe to make sure she had no snacks on her person, Tian Yuan turned around to call Aileen back.

The minute Tian Yuan left, Ming Shu pulled out a box of cookies from the pile of clothes next to her.

“Sister Jiang Nian!”

Ming Shu calmly pushed the cookies back again and picked up the nearest script, pretending to read. “Who hid a box of cookies here? Next time you must warn those cleaning people not to leave things everywhere, what if someone eats them?”

“…”

Sister Jiang Nian, show me more of your exquisite acting.

Tian Yuan found that Sister Jiang Nian had become obsessed with food. She would start to eat anywhere at any time behind her back. Even the prop food couldn’t escape; the props crew had begun to hide from her.

If she ate up all the props, what were they going to use on set!

…

The director allowed Ming Shu a day off for the banquet. They started to get ready in the afternoon, and it took over two hours to put on the gown and do the hair.

Aileen was expecting them outside the hotel.

When Ming Shu’s car appeared and parked, Aileen suddenly became alert and quickly moved toward it.

The lurking reporters also came to life. These people were familiar with all of the stars’ cars, probably more so than with their own.

Ming Shu hadn’t showed up in public these days, but here she was now. How could they not be excited?

The car door opened and a figure in purple stepped out.

Ming Shu was wearing a light purple strapless gown with some lace that decorated the chest. She looked both lovely and sexy. The three-dimensional waist design enhanced the outline of her perfect body, and her slender and fair-skinned legs were exposed past the hem, which was short in front and long in back.

The Host had long, slightly curled hair. Ming Shu let it fall freely over her snow white shoulder and back, partly hiding the skin and making her look very alluring.

At first, the reporters were stunned by Ming Shu’s beauty. Then all of a sudden they streamed to her, throwing out sharp questions one after another.

“Miss Jiang, about the news that you were bullying a newbie on set, is it true?”

“May I ask you, Miss Jiang, how far you’ve gotten with Mr. Zhou, who was rumored to have an affair with you last week? Is he your boyfriend at present?”

Aileen held Ming Shu’s arm and reminded her, “Don’t talk.”

The hotel staff had arrived to help keep the order, clearing way for Ming Shu’s passage.

“Miss Jiang, do you have any personal grudge against Miss Ning?” someone suddenly asked.

Personal grudge?

Nonsense.

I only take scheduled appointments.

As Ming Shu was about to answer that question, there was an uproar behind her.

A Bentley pulled up beside them. It was Li Shaonan’s exclusive car, known by many people in the circle—no wonder they were so enthusiastic.

He was the tycoon of the entertainment industry.

Li Shaonan got out first. With the way his swift, fierce gaze swept over everyone, the temperature inexplicably dropped and the bubbly crowd quieted down. He walked across to the other side of the car to open the door and reached one of his hands out.

Ning Keqing put her hand in Li Shaonan’s and stepped out of the car. She was wearing a white dress that dragged on the ground and showed off her snowy skin. Her hair was in an up-do, two curly strands framing her face. Flushed cheeks and restless eyes made her look like an elf accidentally dropped down to this world. Anyone who saw her would want to protect and cherish her.

“Oh my god! Boss Li is here!”

“Who is the woman beside him?”

Reporters were not bold enough to sidle up to Li Shaonan, so they just took pictures at a distance. Li Shaonan was like a king; placing Ning Keqing’s hand on his arm, he escorted her to the hotel.

Ming Shu was standing in their way, so they had to walk by her if they intended to enter.

“Sister Jiang Nian.” Ning Keqing volunteered a greeting in a somewhat afflicted tone.

“…” What the hell? Have I done anything to wrong you?

Li Shannan had to stop for Ning Keqing, and his cold stare turned on Ming Shu like the blade of a knife. Aileen’s hands were sweating. In relation to what happened last time, Li Shaonan had yet to do anything, but that didn’t mean he would let it pass.

Cruelty shining in his eyes, Li Shaonan said, “Miss Jiang is very bold.”

“Am I?” Ming Shu said liltingly. She kept her formal smile even as Aileen covertly pinched her hard. “I’m scared of myself when I start acting bold.”

The air pressure around Li Shaonan dropped lower. “I’ll be waiting, then.”

“Li, it was my fault last time. You promised not to blame Sister Jiang Nian.” Ning Keqing pulled at Li Shaonan’s arm slightly, looking like she really was begging him to forgive Ming Shu.

Yet, beneath everyone’s notice, her other hand sent several beads scattering at Ming Shu’s feet.

They were all in long gowns and the color of the beads was very similar to that of the carpet. Plus, everyone was distracted by other things, so even Aileen didn’t notice Ning Keqing’s action.

However, Ming Shu saw it. She rapidly picked up her dress and stepped back. With a small smile, her voice rang out: “Well, Miss Ning, such valuable beads shouldn’t be discarded. They’re worth a lot of good food!”