Chapter 16

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

Cheng Mu laughed heartily. “Xiaoxiao, they already showed me the recording of the scene you acted in with Sister Wen. With your age and acting skills, I can’t help but admire that there really is such a thing as a born actor! With your talent, it would be too much of a waste if you don’t become an actor.

“Once you’re familiar with the entertainment industry, you’ll understand how rare it is for a director to like you this much in this industry. Besides, if it’s like this… it doesn’t really count as stealing a role. The casting is always chosen by the director. If the director thinks that this role suits you, he will give it to you, and there is nothing about offending another person just because he gave you the role. Both the director and you don’t have to be responsible for another person because of a role.

“I’m sure you should also understand that even if Yang Shan gets fame from this movie, she wouldn’t go too far on this path. She doesn’t suit the entertainment industry and doesn’t really know what she should cherish and distinguish. With her character, she will definitely suffer badly one day.”

Tang Xiaoxiao looked down, using her fringe to block Cao Hao and Cheng Mu’s prying of her own gaze and expression. If they could see Tang Xiaoxiao’s expression right then, they would probably be furious, because Tang Xiaoxiao was actually smirking!

Become a celebrity? And then hand her own life to another person and become that person’s money tree and ATM, before she gets tortured to death…?

No! She would never!

Her experience from her previous life told her that if she didn’t have money, power, or influence in the entertainment industry, she could only wait to be played to death! The Ye Yuxin then had just realized that and was preparing to use her resources to restart again in the West, only to be pushed off the roof by Lu Yanfan.

Everything she left behind had been kept in a Swiss bank safe by Ye Yuxin. It did not require a fingerprint, nor proof of identity or a key. One just needed an 81-character passcode to open it.

“I’m sorry, Director…” Tang Xiaoxiao bowed her head down, her voice sounding a little hoarse and disappointed. “I really can’t do this. Shanshan is my friend.”

“Sigh, alright then. You can still consider it later, don’t be so quick to make a decision. We’ll talk about it again during the movie release conference next month.”

As he said this, Cao Hao’s expression seemed to be filled with deep regrets.

The corners of Tang Xiaoxiao’s lips curled up, but her eyes were completely cold.

After they left the set, with Yang Shan’s strong invitation, Tang Xiaoxiao carried her luggage and followed Yang Shan home. When the celebrity returned, she naturally received the exuberant welcome of her parents. Even Tang Xiaoxiao, who was following behind Yang Shan, was welcomed warmly as well. Under such passion, Tang Xiaoxiao agreed to stay at the Yang family for a few days, so she would leave after the reporters’ meet-and-greet session for the crew next month.

…

In the Yang family kitchen.

Yang Shan was still lazing in bed, sleeping soundly while Tang Xiaoxiao had already gotten up early. She was currently sitting on the sofa in the living room, practicing yoga. When she heard that Mrs Yang was cutting vegetables in the kitchen, she burrowed into the kitchen and said with a bright smile, “Auntie, let me help you.”

Mrs Yang laughed as she glanced at Tang Xiaoxiao. “Why would you bunch of girls know how to cook? You should go back to your room and sleep for a while longer.”

“Don’t worry, Auntie. I won’t cause trouble. My cooking skills are pretty good too!” Tang Xiaoxiao picked up a small pan beside her and turned on the natural gas before she used the lighter to ignite the flame. She wiped the pot familiarly before she poured some cooking oil into the pan. “Auntie, are you planning to cook a sunny-side-up?”

“Yes,” Mrs Yang replied, her words filled with arrogance and pride, “I really couldn’t tell that you’re able to do many more things than our Shanshan. Our Shanshan has been doted on and lived a princess life since she was young, and she never does such labor work. Our Shanshan has to eat a sunny-side-up every morning and it’s because of this that her skin is so fair and clean. It’s also no wonder Director Cao would choose our Shanshan. Xiaoxiao ah, let Auntie teach you. If you eat a sunny-side-up every morning, you’ll definitely get fair and clean skin. When that time comes, the director might let you follow behind our Shanshan and act in a small role or something.”

Tang Xiaoxiao looked down and pouted in disdain before she looked at her own skin. It seems… her skin was fairer and smoother than Yang Shan?

“Originally, I didn’t want Shanshan to enter whatever entertainment industry. It’s just too messy. However, now that I look at it, Shanshan seems to like it quite a bit. Even our neighbors praised our Shanshan for being pretty and having the looks of a celebrity. All of them are even fighting to introduce a man to our Shanshan. Tsk, didn’t they look at themselves in the mirror? Just look at the people they introduced, the rich ones have a long, shoehorn-like face, while the ones that look alright are dirt poor! Once this movie is screened in the cinemas, wouldn’t those rich young masters throw money to woo our Shanshan?”

With that said, Mrs Yang glanced at Tang Xiaoxiao’s beautiful side profile in alarm, disdain flashing in her eyes.

“Xiaoxiao ah, our Shanshan owes you for taking care of her during this period. Auntie won’t say anything else. How about I give you some money for you to buy yourself some clothes?” With that said, Mrs Yang placed down the knife she was holding and took out several hundred dollars from her pocket and pushed it into Tang Xiaoxiao’s hands. Then she said with a chuckle, “I’ve already sold the small restaurant I was running and will specifically be Shanshan’s manager from now on. Since we bothered you for so long, it wouldn’t be too nice to bother you anymore, right?”

Mrs Yang’s intentions were clear. She was telling this little girl that this little money was the pay for her labor for taking care of her little princess for two months, so she should scram tactfully!

Seeing that Mrs Yang had pushed several hundred dollars to her, Tang Xiaoxiao was completely dumbfounded. Hello, was she really so easy to dismiss? She had slaved away, picking up the dirty pieces after Yang Shan for two months tirelessly and even helped her woo the cast, director and crew. Not only that, she had helped her apologize and give gifts to make amends, helped her take care of Wen Ruoyi, helped her be more cautious of Zhao Le. She did everything for her to her best ability, and even pushed away Director Cao Hao’s strong invitation, and in the end… once she gained fame, her mother only gave her several hundred dollars to dismiss her?

F*ck, did Mrs Yang really think she was a beggar? The Tang family’s little princess’ monthly allowance was at least five hundred thousand. She poured in everything she could for two months and Mrs Yang thought it was settled just by giving several hundred dollars? She had spent several thousand dollars just to give the crew some favors, yet Mrs Yang wanted to dismiss her with a few f*cking hundred dollars? Did Mrs Yang really think she was f*cking easy to bully?

Go and eat sh*t!

Tang Xiaoxiao suddenly pursed her lips and returned the money to Mrs Yang, before she said with a bright smile, “Auntie, Shanshan was the one who begged me to be her manager back then. This job isn’t over yet, so how can I take your money? Shouldn’t you use this bit of money to buy some clothes for Shanshan?”

Mrs Yang glared at Tang Xiaoxiao, although she already understood the meaning of Tang Xiaoxiao’s words. Ha, sure, she could chase Tang Xiaoxiao, but since it was her daughter who begged Tang Xiaoxiao to come back then, her daughter would have to be the one who dismissed her. As for the few hundred dollars… she should just keep it for her own daughter!

Yang Shan appeared at the kitchen door with bleary eyes. She had only heard Xiaoxiao’s final sentence about buying clothes for her and she woke up immediately. “Mom, are we going shopping today? I still don’t have a suitable outfit for the reporters’ release conference that’s in a few days. Besides, I think I have to wear nice clothes from now on, so should we buy a few more?”