Chapter 11: Rescue

Because what she said was absolutely correct—Shen Ran's upcoming two months of bookings are all gone: two endorsements, three web dramas, and a popular variety show, all of which had been negotiated, now vanished overnight.

Just now at the banquet, Shen Ran earnestly tried to retain the investors.

But obviously, the investors' stance was clear: as long as it's you, Shen Ran, I absolutely don't want you.

It felt like a helplessness against fate.

"Earlier, the second female lead of 'Stars and Frost' had contacted you, and your foolish manager, seeing you weren't the female lead, pushed you away," Lin Wan clicked her tongue twice, shook her head, "I guess now you might not even get that second lead. Do you know how popular that role is?"

Shen Ran was momentarily dazed, her heart sinking darkly.

She had thought these events were coincidences, but it turned out someone was targeting her from behind.

She could only ask, "Why? Is… is it that I posed some threat to you?"

Lin Wan laughed, humiliating her: "What threat could you possibly pose to me? Trying to snatch the main female lead or the top‑tier endorsement?"

Shen Ran bit her lower lip, silent, her embarrassed face flushed bright red.

"Just be a little web‑drama star, why must you jump out and meddle?" Lin Wan's attitude was extremely hostile, far from the decorum a female star should have.

But after that remark, Shen Ran recalled something…

"Is it because I helped Shen Xingman?"

Lin Wan's expression changed.

Shen Ran also recalled the events.

That was probably about half a year ago, when Shen Xingman was embroiled in a 'diva' scandal.

Because she was a top‑tier star, a famous public figure, the moment the rumor spread it sparked heated discussion across the web; some fans condemned her, others jumped on the bandwagon, and within a few hours Shen Xingman was thrust into the eye of the storm.

But Shen Ran, as a party involved, knew it was a misunderstanding, presented evidence to clarify, and denounced the marketing accounts for stirring up false narratives, thereby halting the online bullying in the most effective way.

Afterwards the two followed each other on Weibo and established some offline contact.

Yet, due to Shen Ran's nature, she didn't want to intrude too much, so the contact gradually faded. To her, Shen Xingman was a distant moon in the clouds—visible but unattainable; merely maintaining a nodding acquaintance was already an honor.

But she truly couldn't understand why, after helping Shen Xingman, she herself suffered.

When the smear video surfaced, Shen Xingman faced a flood of vilification and attacks from netizens; anyone who saw injustice shouted out—such a simple principle, and any hesitation would betray one's conscience.

Lin Wan continued, "Do you think that because you helped her, the lady surnamed Shen would thank you and treat you as a good sister?"

Shen Ran didn't understand: "No, I never thought that way. I was just helping purely."

Heh, how noble.

Pure assistance.

So what was she aiming for after all that careful planning? She finally seized a chance to deal with Shen Xingman, only to have a troublemaker mess it up—who wouldn't be angry?

Lin Wan sneered, "You can't help anyone else, you have to help Shen Xingman? Don't you know I'm at odds with her?"

Shen Ran suddenly fell silent, disbelief, grievance, and bitterness flashing in her eyes.

Should she apologize? Yet she clearly did nothing wrong.

"Not blacklisting you is already giving you face, and you still want to keep being the sweet drama lead?" Lin Wan really enjoys this scolding; it's satisfying, comfortable.

Shen Ran felt a chill run through her body.

She was a girl easily misled, especially as Lin Wan wore a confident, assured expression, making her even more anxious.

"The director of Stars and Frost shouldn't be like that… He told me that if I'm willing, I can turn back to him at any time…"

So Shen Ran's next step was to contact the director, to see if she could salvage anything.

But as soon as she said that, Lin Wan grinned, "If I told you that the female lead of Stars and Frost is me, would you still come? Or rather, would you dare to come?"

Shen Ran was instantly silenced.

For a moment, Shen Ran wanted to burst into tears; she had done a good deed, yet ended up being slandered by others, a fate she could not accept.

"I remember," she gritted her teeth, mustering courage, "Shen Xingman was the online‑vote first, shouldn't the director…"

The rest of what she wanted to say fell silent.

Because Lin Wan's face was so hideous, Shen Ran was frightened and forced the words to stick in her throat.

"The director simply doesn't want her, what's the problem?" Lin Wan didn't want to lose in an ugly way.

Every time she thought of Shen Xingman's cliff‑edge first‑place vote count, she felt a sickening pain.

She had thought she would be the longest‑lasting rising star among the little flowers, but unexpectedly Shen Xingman burst onto the scene midway and even surpassed her later, putting her at a disadvantage.

"If you hadn't collided with my line of fire, you wouldn't be in this situation today; being a phoenix in a chicken coop isn't that easy, looks alone are far insufficient—look at yourself, even if you work hard all your life, you still won't live as comfortably and happily as a rich second‑generation."

Shen Ran's eyes were slightly reddened.

Her academic credentials weren't high, unlike Lin Wan, who could utter elaborate, lengthy sentences.

"Do you see clearly? This is the gap of family background."

Jiang Xiaoyan is a reverse example: no acting skill, but with backing, she still became popular. As for Shen Ran, she has skill, no backing, and after years of effort her Weibo followers haven't even reached ten million.

"Little chick, accept reality; the end point of your struggle can't even reach someone else's starting point."

Shen Ran finally couldn't hold it together, trembling all over with sorrow.

"The female lead of 'Stars and Frost' will be officially announced soon; why not guess who it will be?" she said.

Shen Ran's eyelashes darkened subtly, and she quickly understood the meaning behind her words.

"As for that Shen Xingman you mentioned," Lin Wan smiled innocently, "If she really wants to act, I can have the director give her a second female lead. What do you think?"

"—I don't think that's great."

A light, gentle female voice came from the corner.

Both turned their heads together and saw Shen Xingman, dressed in a formal gown, standing behind them.

Instantaneously, Lin Wan's smile wavered.

From not far away, Shen Xingman gave her a slight smile, lifted her heavy dress, and walked slowly toward her.

Qiao Yun also followed Shen Xingman over, said nothing, and reached out to support the slender Shen Ran, caring like an older sister: "Are you okay?"

A few simple words, yet unusually warm, Shen Ran seemed to feel she now had a support: "Thank you."

Qiao Yun wiped the sweat from her forehead.

The tiny gesture moved her greatly; the air around no longer felt cold, but rather a little warm.

"Why did you come?" Lin Wan stepped back slightly, as if disliking Shen Xingman's approach.