Chapter Seventy-Seven: Exposed

In the private room.

Li An looked at Rong Qiaoyi, feeling quite troubled. “Qiaoyi, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I already have someone in mind for this role.”

After saying this, he couldn’t help but glance up at Ye Qingqing.

Ye Qingqing did fit the role in the script, but her eyes were too lifeless; she lacked the vibrance he was looking for. She simply didn’t have the right aura.

Rong Qiaoyi’s expression grew unpleasant. She knew Li An’s temperament—unyielding and stubborn, his word was final. Since he’d said there was already someone for the role, it meant someone suited the image better than Ye Qingqing.

But who could possibly appear more innocent than Ye Qingqing?

“Director Li, who is the actor you have in mind? Since you won’t let our Qingqing take the part, shouldn’t you at least tell us who it is so we can be convinced?”

Rong Qiaoyi wore a polite smile, but Li An found her words quite unsettling.

What did she mean by that? Was she doubting his judgment?

“Qiaoyi, we’ve worked together before, which is the only reason I agreed to this meeting today. But you know me—I won’t say anything beyond what needs to be said, so there’s no use in pressing me.”

His words were blunt, cutting straight to the heart without any pretense.

Rong Qiaoyi’s smile faltered, but not knowing what else to say, she could only take a deep breath. “Since you’re unwilling, Director Li, I won’t ask further. This drink is for you, to apologize for being too forward today.”

Seeing her tact, Li An relaxed a little. But just as he met Rong Qiaoyi’s eyes, his head suddenly felt dizzy and his gaze clouded.

Rong Qiaoyi gave a low, meaningful laugh, her voice laced with undeniable persuasion. “Li An, who do you really want to play Wisteria?”

“Su Jing.”

Su Jing?

Rong Qiaoyi’s brows knitted instantly.

Su Jing was beautiful and striking—far from pure or innocent. If Li An weren’t an ordinary person, she might have suspected he was playing her for a fool.

Ye Qingqing’s face twisted in anger. She had already regarded the role of Wisteria as hers; now, hearing this, she felt as if something belonging to her had been snatched away.

“Who is this Su Jing? Why choose her?”

Rong Qiaoyi pursed her lips before speaking, “Su Jing is no ordinary figure. She and I are rivals... I’m afraid the script has been changed. We’ve only seen the first draft, so your image no longer matches Wisteria’s.”

“Forget it, let her have this role. We’ll look for another.”

Landing a lead in Li An’s drama right away would only draw unwanted attention and drag Ye Qingqing into the fray.

Ye Qingqing was dissatisfied but could say nothing, forcing herself to swallow her frustration and listen to Rong Qiaoyi.

It didn’t matter. Once she became famous, Li An would surely regret not choosing her now. By then, even if he wanted her for a role, it would depend on whether she was willing.

Rong Qiaoyi’s eyes returned to their natural shade, and Li An’s gaze cleared as well. He cheerfully drank his wine, still recalling that moment of dizziness. “Qiaoyi, I’m not feeling well, so I’ll take my leave.”

She’d already learned what she wanted, so she didn’t stop him. “All right, Director Li, take care.”

After Li An left, Ye Qingqing finally burst out, “Sister Qiaoyi! What do we do now?”

“No rush. First, let’s sign a popular singer as our mainstay. I’ve heard Gu Qingming is coming back—let’s make the first move and bring him into our company.”

“Qiaoyi Entertainment may be new, but our advantages are no less than those of the big companies. Gu Qingming will definitely agree.”

Little did Rong Qiaoyi realize that the very Gu Qingming she was eager to secure was currently acting as Shen Qingli’s assistant.

Upon returning home, Gu Qingming immediately asked Ping Lang to investigate the timeline between Shen Qingli and Xie Jinchuan. Once he received concrete information, he began plotting his next move.

He had to make Shen Qingli forget Xie Jinchuan; otherwise, what if Xie Jinchuan wanted her back in the future? He absolutely couldn’t let Shen Qingli return to Xie Jinchuan’s arms.

Seeing Gu Qingming’s increasingly grim expression, Ping Lang grew nervous. “Qingming, don’t tell me you…”

Gu Qingming didn’t bother to hide it. Why should he conceal his feelings?

“Yes, Lang, I like President Shen.”

“If I hadn’t gone abroad back then, Xie Jinchuan never would have married her.”

Pain flickered in Gu Qingming’s eyes.

If he’d stayed in the country, perhaps he’d be the one married to Shen Qingli now.

Ping Lang pointed at him, speechless for a long moment, then finally dropped his hand, sighing, “You can’t confess. It would only make things harder for President Shen. Besides, you’ve just returned and don’t even know the current situation here. If you speak out now, you might end up hurting her instead.”

Ping Lang made sense. No matter how reckless Gu Qingming felt, he could never truly disregard Shen Qingli’s well-being.

“Lang, I understand. By the way, when will the contract be ready?”

Gu Qingming quickly changed the subject.

Of course Ping Lang saw through his little ploy but had no choice but to follow along. “Very soon—tomorrow at the latest.”

“Great... Then the day after tomorrow, I can post an update announcing my return.”

Gu Qingming was already making plans; he wanted to restore his fame within a year, back to where it had been three years ago.

He sighed, uncertain if it was even possible.

Ping Lang glanced at him but ultimately kept his thoughts to himself.

Although Gu Qingming’s return had been kept under wraps, word had still gotten out through back channels. Numerous people were scrambling to sign him, all rushing to call Ping Lang in hopes of beating the competition.

But no one expected that they would all receive the same reply—

“Qingming already has a company.”

The news was like a bomb dropped in the water. Even Rong Qiaoyi could hardly believe it.

“What’s going on? Didn’t he just return? How does he already have a company?”

Questions swirled in her mind, and she couldn’t help but wonder if his old company had signed him again and he’d agreed.

Unable to resist, she immediately called the company’s boss, only to be told they hadn’t signed Gu Qingming.

So who had poached Gu Qingming?

For a while, everyone was secretly investigating the company that had signed him, but no one could find out. All they learned was that after Gu Qingming returned, he’d had dinner with Shen Qingli.

Shen Qingli!

When Rong Qiaoyi learned of this, she was so furious it felt as if her lungs were burning. Why had Shen Qingli managed to sign Gu Qingming?

Her company was just getting started, its finances stretched thin—they couldn’t even secure advertising, and she had fewer than ten artists under her wing. Most of them were C-list nobodies, barely recognizable on screen.

Why would Gu Qingming choose them?