Chapter 70 - Compete (1/2)

Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio

As Ning Qing peeled the apple, she recalled the scene where Lu Shaoming peeled an apple for her mother at the hospital.

The man’s delicate and beautiful yet sleek looking hands had peeled the apple gracefully.

As Ning Qing thought of him, she couldn’t help but smile. For the past couple weeks, they would text one another every night. He was a man of few words and he wasn’t a sweet talker, but she was content with his short replies of “mm” and “okay”.

The man was very busy with his work but whenever she texted, he would reliably message her back within three-seconds. That itself was rare to come by.

“What about peeling an apple makes you smile?” As she was thinking about her husband, she heard a voice of bewilderment.

She lifted her gaze to look at the young man opposite her. The young man was perplexed at her expression; there was doubt and suspicion across his face.

Ning Qing was taken off guard. It was her first time seeing Ou Luo Xi reveal such an expression. As he was curious, he looked around and she got a good view of his eyes. They were s.h.i.+mmering and crystal clear, extremely beautiful.

She felt that Ou Luo Xi was a totally different person on and off set. Off set, Ou Luo Xi didn’t even know how to peel an apple. He’d ask questions like an innocent, naive child. His psychological age seemed to be quite young.

Ning Qing was curious. Behind every interesting person, there was an unknown past and a detailed story.

What kind of story was Ou Luo Xi’s?

Ning Qing pa.s.sed him a peeled apple and replied, “Because I thought of someone when I was peeling apple skin. I felt happy so I smiled.”

“Oh,” Ou Luo Xi nodded, “Did you think of someone that you like?”

Like?

Like Lu Shaoming?

Ning Qing’s cheeks were rosy, “Mm, yeah, the person I like. Luo Xi, let’s go. The next scene is coming up soon.”

“Okay,” Ou Luo Xi stood up and took down a black jacket from the clothes rack. They then left the room together.

…

Ning Qing and Ou Luo Xi filmed a dancing scene in the afternoon. Then, they needed to find a lake pavilion with beautiful scenery for a romantic scene.

“Director w.a.n.g, let’s film it at the pavilion,” Ning Qing pointed at a pavilion on the lake nearby. The scenery there was beautiful.

Director w.a.n.g looked and said, “Alright, let’s go there.”

Everyone came to the pavilion and the filming crews were setting up for the shot. Director w.a.n.g was telling Ning Qing about things that she needed to take note of for the scene. Suddenly, she heard a frail voice utter, “Sister, are you filming here?”

It’s Ning Yao. Why is she everywhere?

Ning Qing looked up and saw that Ning Yao was walking over with her arms around Xu Junxi. There was an a.s.sistant and a few crews behind them.

“Sister, we are filming a scene later. I saw this pavilion earlier but you came first. However, everything is on a first come first serve basis. Can you let us film first?”

“How could you be so unreasonable…” Xiao Zhou was p.i.s.sed and she wanted to argue with Ning Yao.

What was she talking about? She was obviously jealous of Ning Qing and wanted to cause her trouble every step of the way.

Ning Qing grabbed Xiao Zhou’s shoulders and moved her behind herself. She took a step forward and smiled gently at Ning Yao. “Sissy, it’s correct that everything is on a first come first serve basis. You might not know that I saw your current outfit at the mall a while back. But unfortunately, you bought it first. Before I let you take the pavilion, can you take off your clothes and return them to me?”

“Ha, Haha…” The Street Walker crew saw that Ning Yao came to cause trouble and they were angry. But they saw that Ning Qing easily held their ground, which entertained them.

Director w.a.n.g laughed. “Ning Qing, well said!”

Xu Junxi frowned and he was unhappy with Ning Yao. The way she came to fight for the pavilion was simply childish. It was obvious that she offended Director w.a.n.g.

She just started her career and had no foundation. She got her female lead role in Pink Lady mainly because of him. There were no secrets in the entertainment circle. The news about her fighting for the pavilion with Director w.a.n.g would spread very soon. She would become a joke in the industry due her brazen rudeness.

However, he was even more angry with what Ning Qing had said. No matter how bad Ning Yao was, she was his girlfriend. How dare Ning Qing make comments like “take off your clothes”!

“Junxi,” Ning Yao shook Xu Junxi arm and pouted, “our filming crew picked the pavilion. Tell sister to let us film here.”

Xu Junxi wanted to five Ning Yao a lecture and ease the tension. However, his gaze met Ning Qing’s and he could see the glow of disdain in her beautiful brown eyes.

Her gaze was like a pot of cold water poured upon him. Half a month ago, she returned the jade bracelet and he couldn’t see any sign of feelings in her eyes.

She bid farewell to him entirely!

There was emptiness in Xu Junxi’s heart which swept over his body. His hands clenched into fists and he told his a.s.sistant, “Send an invitation to President Dong of Red House and inform him that I am going to rent the lake pavilion for the afternoon.”

“Yes sir!” His a.s.sistant turned around and left.

Ning Yao beamed with joy. “Thank you Junxi!” She looked at Ning Qing provokingly.

“Shameless!” Xiao Zhou cursed.

“CEO Xu, I never expect that you would spend so much money to fool me just to make your woman smile.” Director w.a.n.g, who was always calm, suddenly grew unhappy. He squinted his eyes and looked at Xu Junxi. “I’ve always thought CEO Xu was a man of integrity. Today, only I realized that CEO Xu is deteriorating in the entertainment circle. If your girlfriend were to become famous, it would be a miracle! Luo Xi, Ning Qing, let’s go!”

Director w.a.n.g left.

Listening to Director w.a.n.g’s reprimand, Xu Junxi was embarra.s.sed. Ning Yao felt distressed as she only then realized the severity of the matter. She offended Director w.a.n.g.

“Director w.a.n.g, I…” Ning Yao wanted to explain herself.

The filming crew cleared their filming equipment and Ning Qing walked out from the pavilion with Xiao Zhou by her side. But, she suddenly noticed the sandalwood signage on the pillar of the pavilion. There was a word on the sign.

Memorial!

Ning Qing took a look. Everyone was busy fighting over the pavilion but no one inspected the place.

Yeah, Red House was full of tall buildings, but there was only a pavilion on the lake.

The Dong Family history was interesting. They must be literati who posed as a cultured person among men of letters. They built the memorial at the junction of the lake and the mountain.

The president of Red House ran over with his a.s.sistant nearby. As Ning Yao was busy trying to explain herself, Ning Qing had an idea. She returned to the pavilion and saw that there was a long wooden table there. She smiled, “Sister, the scenery here is so beautiful. I want to take a selfie here on the wooden table. You wouldn’t mind, right?” Ning Qing asked, about to sit on the table.

Ning Yao saw that Ning Qing was conquering her territory. She immediately let go of Xu Junxi and ran to Ning Qing. She shoved Ning Qing away and shouted, “Go away, this is my territory!”

Then, Ning Yao sat on the wooden table.

Ning Yao pushed Ning Qing hard. Even though Ning Qing was prepared to be pushed away, she staggered for a few steps.