Chapter 155 - Down to the Bottom of the Valley

Xu Feng didn’t expect that Shangguan Ning, who was generally so polite and well mannered, would say something like this. Although she had admitted that she was seeking revenge from Shangguan Rouxue, at least she chose to be open about it. She had nothing to hide.

That made her seem less sinister. Instead, she looked like the better person between the two, for admitting her shortcomings.

That made her seem intimidating, so now everyone knew that she meant business. No one dare mess with her.

Everyone started to suspect Shangguan Rouxue, wondering what on earth was she hiding. What had she done that Shangguan Ning couldn’t even be bothered to conceal her dislike for her.

Shangguan Rouxue felt so helpless. There was nothing she could do to salvage the situation.

Shangguan Ning had not only ruined Rouxue’s only golden opportunity of playing the lead actress, but now Ning was all set to go ahead and sabotage her career as a television hostess, as well.

Who was Ning to make all these decisions on behalf of Jingsheng Enterprise?

This was unacceptable behaviour.

Shangguan Ning was only an assistant. On what ground was she trying to show her authority, especially since she was such a low level employee? What power did she have? Wasn’t she scared of her actions being reported to the senior management?

Shangguan Rouxue suddenly felt like she had lost everything that she had worked so hard to achieve, as the crew members started to leave. The director, scriptwriter and the crew members, who had capitalised so much from her popularity, now treated her like a stranger. They rejected her without a second thought.

The crew members gossipped amongst themselves and gave her sideways glances. Some bits of conversation were even loud enough for Rouxue to be able to listen in.

“Didn’t know that she is pregnant! Why didn’t she tell us anything? She should have at least informed the director. What are we going to do if her belly starts to show, in the middle of the shoot? Our female lead doesn’t get pregnant in the story!”

“That’s right. But isn’t she single? Or maybe she is married but is trying to conceal it. Or maybe she got pregnant before getting married.”

“I saw her having a drink with the director some days ago. She drank so much alcohol. Gosh, doesn’t she know that one mustn’t have alcohol when one is pregnant. And she looks so innocent..who knew she would turn out to be such a hypocrite..”

“Maybe the Director was fooled by her facade too. Look, even the Director has refused to associate himself with her, henceforth. There are so many actresses who want to work with us, I wonder what tricks did she have to use, to convince our Director pick her over everyone else.”

“Exactly! She isn’t that good-looking anyway. Look at the woman who represents the production house. She is much better-looking than the woman we chose for the lead role. Our Director should have cast her instead.”

…

Shangguan Rouxue’s felt like she couldn’t breathe, as she heard the crew insult her.

She had never lost to Shangguan Ning since they were little. Until recently, it had always been Shangguan Ning who was gossipped about, whilst she was the one who got all the praise. She was used to being the winner.

But today, Rouxue had faced bitter defeat. That too, on a public platform.

Why did everything start to change after Shangguan Ning returned to China? Why was everything that rightfully belonged to Rouxue, be denied to her?

Xie Zhuojun had refused to answer her calls now. There was nothing left for him to say. His love for her was not what it used to be. Shangguan Rouxue realised that had she not been pregnant, he would not have hesitated to call off their engagement. Even now, after learning of her pregnancy, he had never bothered to call her and check on her health. Rouxue had a strong feeling that Xie Zhoujun wouldn’t be averse to the idea of aborting the child!

Her mother Yang Wenshu was getting increasingly difficult to live with, after her face was ruined by Shangguan Ning. Even though she used a lot of makeup to mask her facial scars, they were still visible. She had lost confidence and was unhappy from within. She refused to meet anyone.

Her father Shangguan Zheng also used the child as a means to force Xie Dongfeng to keep his official position. The love he had towards Rouxue had completely disappeared. He only chose to check on the well being of the baby, as if it was something he couldn’t afford to lose.

Rouxue’s in laws who used to love her so much were now only pretending to put up a strong public image of a happy family. In the confines of their house, they kept picking on her by saying that if she wanted to marry Xie Zhoujun, she must comply with Family Xie’s traditions. She mustn’t think of her career now. She was expected to be a housewife and devote time to her husband. Also, they did not want her to prioritise Family Shangguan over Family Xie. The couple didn’t want a daughter-in-law who was used as a trading chip, by Shangguan Zheng.

Her friends had deserted her, one after another for some reason. They didn’t even want to greet her when they bumped into her. Even Ji Lili, who was currently abroad, refused to answer her calls any more.

Her career as a news hostess had also taken a serious beating, because the channel had already started to cultivate new talent, all of whom were good looking and well trained. This was exactly why she was eager to get into the film industry. Sadly, the only opportunity she had got, was ruined, thanks to her step sister.

Shangguan Rouxue’s fear made her incapable of thinking straight. She was used to having control over most situations. Now she was no longer in charge of her life. She felt helpless and frustrated.

Everything she had gained with her scheming ways – her fame, her work, her popularity, was slipping out of her grasp.

No, she mustn’t let Shangguan Ning get the better of her. Shangguan Rouxue had to stand up and fight. She was going to reclaim all that belonged to her!

Shangguan Rouxue fiercely bit her lip, and the copper taste of blood stimulated her tongue, making her full of willingness to fight!

She sat up attentively at the sight of the incoming call, and said in a gentle voice, “Hello, Deputy Leader. This is Xue.”

A middle-aged man’s voice spoke from the other side of the phone. He sounded serious and professional. “Shangguan Rouxue, on account of your recent ill health, the channel has decided that you should take a year’s sabbatical. Someone else will fill up for you in your absence. When you are fit enough to resume work a year later, we’ll put you into the next available profile.”

Shangguan Rouxue was stupefied. She said, “No, Sir. I don’t need a sabbatical. Please let me continue working in my current profile.”

Shangguan Rouxue was still not done saying what she wanted to but the Deputy Leader disconnected the line without paying any heed to her.

Shangguan Rouxue shivered. Her phone fell out of her hand. How did the management at the TV channel learn about all this?

The fact that she hadn’t been feeling well and that she was pregnant, were well guarded secrets.

Asking her to take one year off would be equivalent to asking her to resign. A sabbatical at this stage of her career would spell doom for her.She would have no credibility left in the market.

Shangguan Ning had just warned the director that Jingsheng Enterprise wasn’t going to continue with their collaboration with the TV channel and within the hour, the Deputy Leader called her and asked her to resign.

How could that be possible? When did things get so bad?

Why would Jingsheng Enterprise stop collaborating with one of the most prestigious TV channels, only because Shanggua Ning said so? The TV Station and JingShing enterprise worked on a quid pro quo agreement. They aired many advertisements every year, for Jingsheng Enterprise and all of these ads were done free of cost.

So basically Jingsheng Enterprise abandoned a mutually fruitful collaboration only because Shangguan Ning disliked her.

The way things were going recently, it seemed as if her entire life was going to be ruined by Shangguan Ning. All the effort that Shangguan Rouxue had put in, to get where she was, was going up in flames, right before her eyes.

Shangguan Rouxue collapsed onto the freezing marble floor.