<Li Yao> drove to an office building in the downtown area. From afar, he could already see the words "Sheng Shi Entertainment..."
This company sounded familiar...
"The production team requires that we have a meeting here today to announce the specific filming arrangements and to let all the guests get acquainted beforehand since we're not filming the show today. You can relax a little."
<Qin Wei> sighed,
"You say relax, but I feel more nervous."
<Li Yao> laughed and pushed up his glasses,
"Don't worry, I'm here right? You just smile, and leave the rest to me."
...
"Teacher Qin, the company's meeting only allows you to attend alone. Your agent and assistant cannot come along."
She had planned to rely entirely on <Li Yao> to handle things, but when they arrived in the lobby, he wasn't even allowed to enter.
"Alright, then you go up by yourself, Weiwei. Call me when you come out."
<Li Yao> didn't fight for himself at all. He waved to <Qin Wei> and flashed a bright smile.
<Qin Wei> was unsatisfied. She asked the staff again,
"Why can't I bring my agent? He handles a lot of matters, without him I'll be clueless."
The staff member asked her to go in and reassured her,
"Because you can't bring your own staff during the trip either, so consider today a chance to get used to it early! And don't worry too much, we don't have any business matters to discuss with the agent today."
She took the elevator up to the 21st floor. The staff directed her to the conference room, then left.
"So where is the conference room..."
The hallway was empty, without a single person she could ask.
<Qin Wei> could only rely on herself. But just as she passed the first door, she saw a familiar figure inside.
"Sheng Lin?"
Inside sat a man busy writing something.
It was the actor who had filmed Peach Blossom Spring with her not long ago.
But the two could only be considered nodding acquaintances - they barely interacted on the show. <Sheng Lin> didn't talk much, but worked diligently. He was a very polite young man.
<Sheng Lin> also heard someone calling him. Looking up, he saw <Qin Wei> standing at the door. Of course he recognized her as well. He put down what he was working on and came to greet her.
"Teacher Qin, please come in and sit."
<Sheng Lin> brought her a chair. After she sat down, he picked up his pen again,
"I was just coordinating the route and budget with the production team. I'm calculating the expenses now."
"Oh, please continue with your work." After <Qin Wei> spoke, someone else walked in.
"Excuse me, is this the production team for Star Star?"
The person who came in was a middle-aged woman. <Qin Wei> immediately recognized her.
"Teacher Qin Kaili, hello." <Qin Wei> quickly stood up to invite her to sit.
<Qin Kaili> looked at <Qin Wei>,
"I know you, White Eagle Best Actress winner. I also won that award when I was young."
<Qin Wei> nodded, "I'm familiar with your work, Teacher Qin is my senior. I've watched many of your shows and like them very much."
"Sister Kaili!"
A clear and cheerful voice rang out from the doorway again. The three looked over to see a woman with sunglasses and designer clothes waving at them.
<Chen Chen>, a professional female singer gifted by the heavens with a wonderful voice.
<Chen Chen> took off her sunglasses and walked straight towards <Qin Kaili>, giving her a big hug.
"Sister Kaili, long time no see!"
The two chatted, completely ignoring <Sheng Lin> and <Qin Wei> standing beside them. The two also couldn't interject at all, and could only exchange helpless glances with each other.
"Hello, I'm <Chen Chen>. Little handsome, you're our tour guide this time?"
<Chen Chen> noticed <Sheng Lin> to the side and took the initiative to shake hands with him.
<Sheng Lin> also introduced himself extremely politely.
<Chen Chen>'s gaze drifted towards <Qin Wei>. But just as <Qin Wei> was about to introduce herself, <Chen Chen>'s eyes suddenly avoided her and she turned around to sit with her back facing <Qin Wei>.
<Qin Wei> was confused.
Just then, noise could be heard from the hallway. Two men in suits and sunglasses walked in first, then made a "please" gesture toward the door.
A woman in stilettos and a Chanel haute couture suit walked in.
Her assistant behind her carried in a chair for her to sit on, then placed an opened bottle of Voss sparkling water on the table.
"Sister Xin, do you need anything else?"
The assistant asked diligently. The woman didn't reply, only waved her hand. The assistant immediately stood to the side with the bodyguards.
<Qin Wei> witnessed the whole thing and couldn't help but say,
"Weren't we not allowed to bring our own staff?"
As soon as she spoke, the three who had arrived earlier looked at <Qin Wei> in surprise. Her words also attracted the attention of the woman who had just entered so theatrically.
She turned her head, took off her sunglasses, and laughed coldly,
"I wondered who it was. <Qin Wei>! You're here too?"
<Qin Wei> didn't detect anything odd in her words, so she replied,
"Yes, I'm <Qin Wei>. I'm here to participate in the show's filming."
The woman snorted after hearing her response and complained to her assistant,
"How come she's here too? President Lin didn't even give me a heads up. If I knew she was coming, I wouldn't have come. Nothing good ever happens with her around, I'd get upstaged unintentionally."
The assistant smiled carefully and lowered her voice to whisper in her ear,
"This show isn't exclusively ours. Her people on the cooperating company's side recommended her. President Lin said it would be hard to refuse..."
Of course <Qin Wei> didn't hear any of this. She also couldn't be bothered to intentionally eavesdrop. But the word "upstaged" let her guess that this woman must have some history with the original owner.
However, that was between her and the original owner. <Qin Wei> felt no guilt. On the contrary, this woman's unfriendly attitude from the start made <Qin Wei> dislike her.
"So who are you?"
<Qin Wei>'s question was met with silence from everyone. The atmosphere instantly became very awkward. Even the assistant's expression changed.
"This is Teacher Liu Xin, the top actress of Sheng Shi Entertainment. She's an outstanding artist who has been nominated for the White Eagle Best Actress Award multiple times and is a promising future winner."
The assistant hurriedly introduced her. But it was clear <Liu Xin> enjoyed the praise.
<Qin Wei> nodded, "What Miss Liu said is right. There's still half a year left, who knows if other outstanding works may come out."
<Liu Xin>'s eyes were wide open as she stared openly at <Qin Wei>.
"<Qin Wei>, do you not have internet at home? Have you not seen what people are saying about you online? Has anyone contacted you for any acting jobs in the past half year? Any endorsements? You only accepted a minor variety show that made no splash at all. Face reality, your time is over."
<Qin Wei> looked at the woman before her. Not only did she dislike <Liu Xin>, but the feeling was clearly mutual. Neither hid their attitude and tensions rapidly escalated.
But <Qin Wei> didn't show any anger. Her expression remained calm. She sized up <Liu Xin> before suddenly retorting,
"I didn't make any waves with the variety show I accepted, yet you seem to follow me closely enough to know about it!"
<Liu Xin>'s face was nearly black from anger.
