Chapter 5: Retorting People

When Shen Xingman and Qiao Yun arrived, Jiang Xiaoyan and her agent had already come out of the director's room.

In the hallway, the several people met.

Previously, Jiang Xiaoyan had only been teasing through the screen; today was their first face-to-face meeting.

"Shiman sister, good afternoon." She greeted first, sounding quite friendly.

She seemed in a good mood—that was the joy of achieving a goal, also a superficial pleasantry.

Seeing her spring‑breeze proud look, Qiao Yun felt both antipathy and a chill in her heart.

Still arrived late……

She glanced at Jiang Xiaoyan, then at Shen Xingman… frankly, standing together, the superiority was obvious.

Woman looks at woman, one glance decides victory.

Shen Xingman hadn't dressed up much, just covered her dark circles, her long hair loose, no head ornament, plain as could be, but in Qiao Yun's eyes, she was already extremely beautiful—ten Jiang Xiaoyans couldn't match her.

Unfortunately, the director didn't want her.

Qiao Yun momentarily didn't know whom to pity.

As for Shen Xingman's side, she didn't have Qiao Yun's many thoughts, just stood still staring at Jiang Xiaoyan, observed a while then asked Qiao Yun: "Who is she?"

Jiang Xiaoyan: "?"—her forehead instantly darkened, as if smeared with pot soot.

Qiao Yun's habit of feeling embarrassed for others still couldn't be changed; seeing Jiang Xiaoyan suffer made her want to laugh.

but, as a professional agent, she wouldn't laugh.

……unless she couldn't hold back.

"……"

Okay she laughed.

"Jiang Xiaoyan, you don't recognize her?" she covered her mouth and whispered.

"Ah? No way," Shen Xingman truly couldn't understand, raised her eyebrows and asked, "How did you end up like this?"

How come you don't look like on TV.

Qiao Yun cleared her throat softly and said: "No makeup."

Oh. Like that.

"Then it's fine, let's go see the director." Shen Xingman didn't want to argue; she'd been tortured late last night, her condition poor, possibly affecting performance.

"Don't go in." Jiang Xiaoyan immediately spoke to stop, her voice soft but with no hint of friendliness.

There was a hint of provocation in it.

When Qiao Yun and Shen Xingman were joking earlier, she had been snickering on the side, and even now she wore a look of enjoying the show.

How to put it, she thought Shen Xingman really was as the internet said—cold and otherworldly, unsullied by dust, like a heavenly maiden beyond reach.

But upon seeing her today, she really was quite an eye‑opener—in a disappointing way.

Shen Xingman stopped in her tracks.

Seeing that, Jiang Xiaoyan stretched her neck, "I guess the director won't work with you."

After saying that, she glanced askance at Shen Xingman's expression.

No anger.

But her agent Qiao Yun beside her furrowed her brows, seeming, not too pleased.

Catching this, Jiang Xiaoyan grinned, both delighted and letting out a sigh of relief.

Qiao Yun, that agent who once refused to sign her—just a prideful elder sister.

Isn't she said to be strong at business? Why hasn't she gotten a few high‑end endorsements for Shen Xingman? Can't even get movie resources, laughable, still a gold‑medal agent? At best she's fit to manage a vase.

"Qiao Qiao sister, long time no see." She raised her hand, fingers crooked, her expression overly bright.

Beside her, Tan Yun also laughed, pursed his lips, said nothing, because now this situation probably didn't need him—Xiaoyan could handle it alone.

"Shiman sister," she saw no reaction, so she pressed on, voice wanting to be both coy and soft, "The female lead of 《Midsummer》 has already been set, apparently not you."

Shen Xingman pursed her thin lips, sensed the gunpowder smell.

She was born beautiful, her bearing cold and clear; when still she seemed a fine piece of cold jade, also like a pear blossom blooming in early spring frost; when angry her brows slightly knit, the crystal purity on her added a touch of haughty nobility.

The few strands of hair before her forehead couldn't cover the glimmer in her peach blossom eyes; her beautiful face was wholly aloof.

Qiao Yun mentally beat the drum: Quick quick quick quick rebut her rebut her!! Baby give me justice!

One second later her baby yawned.

"……" tmd.

Jiang Xiaoyan seeing both silent, thought they were scared, thus completely let loose: "Qiao Qiao sister, really thanks for making this trip, want me to arrange someone to send you back? Jiang Family's driver is very enthusiastic."

She kept digging her own grave, utterly unaware of the danger.

"Jiang Xiaoyan, everything needs measure, leave a line when doing business, future meetings will be easier," Qiao Yun really couldn't bear to see her hypocritical face, "you count yourself how many times this has been, can't you show some shame?"

"What 'how many times'?" Jiang Xiaoyan shook her head, not comprehending, her clear eyes full of innocence: "Qiao Qiao sister I don't understand what you're saying, my talk with the director about cooperation how did it become snatching?"

Shen Xingman laughed hearing that: "Did she say you snatched it?"

Jiang Xiaoyan startled, a crack appeared on her pure white face, then returned to normal.

But Qiao Yun was pleased.

Retort her, retort her, retort her, retort her!

"Words can't be said like that," Tan Yun pushed his glasses, intensifying the gunpowder smell in the air, "If you lack ability, don't blame the road being uneven. Qiao Yun, keep striving~"

Initially, Tan Yun and classmate Xiao Qiao both took a liking to Shen Xingman, but unfortunately, Shen Xingman chose the latter.

"So—"

Qiao Yun's reply speed was fast, her eyes somewhat sinister: "Your words mean, although you can't get the role, you can still snatch it, right? Tan Yun, your artists aren't unable to get work, why insist on opposing us? Do you really have to rely on power to bully?"

Tan Yun whispered: "Snatching is also a skill; some people still can't snatch."

"You got something?" Shen Xingman blurted out.

She tilted her head, staring at Tan Yun; there wasn't much smile in her eyes.

Tan Yun gently shook his head, thinking Shen Xingman was upset, and sighed, "Nothing."

Shen Xingman lifted her eyelids slightly and teased, "So you're saying you're sick?"

He frowned, silent for a long time.

"Miss Shen, in dealing with people, what's emphasized is mutual respect. You first couldn't even get our Xiao Yan's name right, then you were rude to her manager." He pursed his lips, shook his head helplessly, "Is that the quality a public figure should have?"

The formal "you" drove the point home; Shen Xingman felt she had to say something, and murmured, "Oh, you also know I can't even get her name right."

Jiang Xiaoyan's face fell instantly.

———- Off-topic ———-

Cough cough cough, let's do a little character intro ╰(*′︶`*)╯

Manman: a super-duper extremely beautiful girl with something off in her head.

Miaomiao: very cute appearance, soft and squishy personality, a chuunibyou girl.

Ms. Qiao: not old, 26, somewhat mature, super super super dotes on Manman and Miaomiao.

Er, I won't write about other girls~ Villain missies don't have this standing? (`? ′)?

Hehehe, new person, new work, please everyone support more 【bad laugh】.

It's super sweet, oh.