The Female Lead Repays Every Grudge

How could she pass up an opportunity like this? Of course not.

Just thinking about it was enough to make Xu Chun grin from ear to ear. He Qingli, who’d been keeping half an eye on Xu Chun’s excitement, felt her own mood lift considerably. The agent must have brought good news; that had to be why Sister Xu Chun was smiling so brightly.

“There’s one more thing I have to warn you about,” the agent said seriously. “If you’re sure you want to take this script, you’ll be filming intimate scenes with Yu Sui’an every single day.”

Xu Chun thought it over. “Can’t I use a body double?”

The agent: “?” It honestly hadn’t occurred to her.

“You can,” the agent said. “It’s just that... once word gets out, I’m afraid certain people will seize on it and drag your name through the mud again.” Still, if Xu Chun was set on doing it this way, she and the company could handle it.

“Then it’s settled. Oh—and Sister Yang, I’ll leave the compensation claims against Yu Sui’an and Jiang Zhaolie to you.” She smiled faintly, her ink-black lashes casting delicate shadows over porcelain skin. With her most innocent expression, she said the most ruthless things. “Make sure they don’t get off lightly—I want them flayed alive even if they survive. Don’t let them off easy—especially not their wallets.” They had plenty of money.

And it wasn’t just that they had money. They wanted to scoop up hers too, stuff it into their own pockets, and leave her with not a single cent. Truly wicked.

The agent didn’t quite understand why Xu Chun wanted to drain both their purses, but the prospect of “a large sum of money about to come in” lifted her spirits too. “Don’t worry, leave it to me.” She hadn’t planned on letting Yu Sui’an off the hook anyway.

With the agent’s confirmation, Xu Chun was in a wonderful mood. After ending the call, she blinked and stared at her sweet, obedient little fan, then slung an arm around He Qingli’s shoulder. “I’ll treat you to dinner once the show wraps.”

He Qingli’s face lit up for a moment, then froze. She glanced at Xu Chun cautiously and said in a small voice, “Sister Xu Chun, I’m afraid that won’t work.”

“Hm?” Xu Chun blinked in confusion. “You have work? Recording an album or preparing for a concert?”

“Neither.” He Qingli looked even more guilty. She forced a dry smile, closed her eyes, and threw caution to the wind. “I’m going on a date.”

Xu Chun: “???” So she was the only one on this entire dating show who’d come out wounded.

She immediately withdrew into herself. A perfectly good romance show—her ex-girlfriend had run off with her fiancée, her little fan had run off with another guest, and the rest of the guests had paired off among themselves without any connection to her. Everyone else had someone; she was the only one left alone. Xu Chun felt like crying just thinking about it.

And her fans were still amusing themselves in the comments, mocking her: 【Sis, stop chasing romance all day and focus on your career! The women in your life will always end up running off with someone else. Only your career and the money in your pocket truly belong to you.】

Xu Chun glanced at the comments and grumbled inwardly. Her money didn’t actually belong to her either. The only thing that belonged to her now... was probably that melodramatic novel.

Under the pretext of needing to familiarize herself with the script as soon as possible, Xu Chun asked Yu Sui’an for the book she’d confiscated the night before.

When the other woman handed it over, she was still speaking in that soft, gentle way. “Sister, you should pace yourself—don’t get so absorbed every time you read for a while.”

Xu Chun nodded perfunctorily and left with the book. Yu Sui’an stood there, a dim sadness in her clear eyes, and only after a long while did she seem to collect herself. Her forlorn figure was enough to make anyone’s heart ache.

Her agent had just arrived at the guesthouse. He Qingli’s aggressive on-camera confrontation, which had forced Yu Sui’an to admit fault, had completely disrupted the team’s arrangements. This time, he’d come to discuss with Yu Sui’an how to handle Xu Chun. “Suisui, what are you thinking?”

Yu Sui’an’s agent was a famous second-generation rich kid in the industry. He looked effeminate and harmless on the outside, but he was the most ruthless of all. He hadn’t made anyone famous in years; Yu Sui’an was the most successful artist under him, so he’d naturally made her his prized jewel. He wanted to snatch up every good thing in the world for Yu Sui’an, and he never spared any effort in fighting for her resources and clearing every possible obstacle from her path.

“If you ask me, you shouldn’t go easy on Xu Chun,” the agent said with a cold smile, playing with his fresh manicure as he glanced sidelong at Yu Sui’an. “You’re still too soft-hearted.”

“The timing isn’t right now.” Yu Sui’an’s lips curved faintly, and she changed the subject. “First, coordinate the compensation with her agent.”

The agent sprang up from his chair in shock. “You’re really going to do this? Think carefully—once I reach out to Xu Chun’s side, people will probably brand us as having a guilty conscience, and then every piece of trash will come rushing over to trample on us...”

“With your personality, you wouldn’t let anyone bully me, would you?” Yu Sui’an said calmly. The agent’s expression stalled, then his face broke into a brilliant smile. “That’s true. Fine—since you insist on doing it this way, I’ll follow your lead.”

“Remember to move fast and secure Jiang Zhaolie.”

The agent came and went in a hurry. Yu Sui’an listened quietly without reacting. Only when there was no one left beside her did Jiang Zhaolie dare approach. “Suisui.” Her gentle voice and deep, affectionate eyes were hard to resist. “Don’t be afraid—no matter what happens, I’m here.”

She lightly brushed Yu Sui’an’s soft, long hair. “Even if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up.”

In the past, Yu Sui’an would have felt wonderful hearing Jiang Zhaolie’s fervent promise. But now, as Jiang Zhaolie’s words of love rang in her ears, Xu Chun’s clear, radiant face flashed through her mind uncontrollably.

She frowned imperceptibly, a trace of bewilderment crossing her limpid eyes, but she quickly adjusted. “Thank you, Zhaolie.” She lifted her delicate face and gazed at the other woman with gratitude. “It’s so good to have you with me.”

Watching her, Jiang Zhaolie desperately wanted to say, “Would you let me stay with you for a lifetime?”

But in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She worried that being too hasty would make the other woman dislike her. If Suisui mistook her for one of those fickle, womanizing, insincere rich second-generation types who toyed with women’s feelings, that would be terrible. So she would rather take it slow and make absolutely sure to leave a flawless impression in Suisui’s heart.

Besides, they still had plenty of time—as long as Xu Chun didn’t interfere.

...

Qiao Wan drove to her destination, parked, and followed the waiter to the private room. After signaling the waiter to leave, Qiao Wan raised her hand and let it hover in midair. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door, which was left ajar. “Auntie, I’m here.”

She felt a little uneasy. She was a victim in this whole scandal too, but would her aunt misunderstand and think she secretly had some kind of interest in Xu Chun?

She knew her aunt wasn’t the type to make a fuss over such things, but this was clearly different. She and her cousin’s fiancée had been caught up in a huge dating scandal, and it had trended on social media. The entire country knew about it. Even if her aunt didn’t care personally, the scandal had still caused quite a stir.

The more Qiao Wan thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. In that moment, she couldn’t help but resent her own cousin Jiang Zhaolie a little. Her fiancée had been dragged through the mud, and instead of helping clear her name and defend her, Jiang Zhaolie had gone running off to curry favor with another woman. If she didn’t like Xu Chun, she should have drawn a clear line and cut ties completely.

First she was entangled with Xu Chun, then ambiguously involved with Yu Sui’an. She wanted to have it all.

While Qiao Wan was biting her lip, lost in these messy thoughts, a cool, graceful female voice came from inside. “Come in, the door’s not closed.”

Hearing the other woman speak, Qiao Wan quickly pushed down her jumbled thoughts and forced a smile. “Auntie, about this—I want to explain it clearly to you.” Qiao Wan felt she needed to elaborate. “The thing between me and my cousin-in-law was a misunderstanding. That night, we just happened to walk side by side for a few steps—who knew it would get photographed and posted online, and the rumors would spread from there.”

As she spoke, she carefully observed Qin Yao’s expression. Though the other woman was already in her thirties, she took such good care of herself that her true age was impossible to guess. In Qiao Wan’s eyes, Qin Yao was the most beautiful person in their family—tall and slender, yet full of power and authority. Whenever she wore a well-tailored designer suit with one hand in her pocket, her eyes drifting carelessly over people, she made one feel an inexplicable urge to submit.

Her presence was always strong. Even when she was warm and relaxed with family, she exuded an aura that could not be underestimated. Children were naturally drawn to beautiful people, and every child in their family was captivated by Qin Yao’s beauty.

Yet for as long as they could remember, they had both loved and feared her. They loved her exquisite, peerless beauty—a profound feast for the eyes; they feared that a single glance from her could make them tremble with anxiety and not dare act up.

Even now, in front of Qin Yao, Qiao Wan unconsciously straightened her posture and put on her most spirited expression.

Qin Yao’s expression didn’t change. She pushed a teacup toward Qiao Wan and slowly raised her narrow, slightly sharp eyes. “You’ve met her?”

Qiao Wan nodded, thought for a moment, then said, “Auntie, Cousin Zhaolie has been...” She hesitated, unsure whether it was because she’d been humiliated herself that she now felt a pang of sympathy for Xu Chun. She pressed her lips together and began to tattle on Jiang Zhaolie. “On the dating show, right in front of my cousin-in-law, she was getting lovey-dovey with another woman. It’s a terrible look.”

“I suspect Cousin wants to toy with her and then abandon her—she’s having an affair.”

Qin Yao’s half-smiling eyes fell on Qiao Wan, and Qiao Wan immediately felt a flicker of guilt. Speaking ill of her cousin in front of her aunt... that did seem a little inappropriate. But this was her cousin’s fault in the first place.

Qin Yao didn’t respond to that. Instead, she changed the subject. “How much longer until they arrive?”

“I’ll call and ask right now.”

...

Jiang Zhaolie suddenly got a call from her company assistant. Confusion flickered through her eyes. Hadn’t all the company matters already been arranged? Unless something was extremely important and urgent, it could be left to the special assistant.

After mentally running through a few possibilities, Jiang Zhaolie answered. The other party got straight to the point. “President Jiang, the company hopes you’ll withdraw from the variety show immediately.”

“Why?” Jiang Zhaolie frowned in displeasure, then let out a cold laugh. “Now they even dare to meddle in my personal affairs? What’s next—will I have to report everything I do in advance and get their approval before I act?”

The assistant, having been scolded for no reason, felt quite bitter. She steeled herself and relayed the message. “President Jiang, you’re engaged, after all. Your open interactions with Miss Yu on the show will affect your personal image and reputation—and the company’s stock as well...”

Jiang Zhaolie was instantly annoyed. If Xu Chun hadn’t shouted out the relationship between the three of them at the top of her lungs that day, none of this would be so troublesome. She gritted her teeth, her attitude firm. “Withdrawing from the show is impossible. Go tell them now—the show ends when the show ends, and only then will I come back.”

Xu Chun’s furtive footsteps paused. Jiang Zhaolie’s company was pressuring her to withdraw from the show?

Jiang Zhaolie was in a terrible mood. When she turned and saw Xu Chun—the very person who had started all this—her brow furrowed sharply. Her face darkening, she lashed out for no reason. “You’re probably dying for me to leave too, aren’t you? The farther from Suisui, the better?”

Xu Chun immediately looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. Seeing that the other woman had the air of someone who’d pester her all day if she didn’t answer, Xu Chun cleared her throat and took back the half-step she’d taken. “You misunderstand. How could I think that?”

“I’m dying for you to stay on the show—the three of us loving each other in front of the whole country.” Xu Chun smiled brightly. “If I could, I’d even hope the three of us could hold a grand ceremony on the show and let everyone witness our splendid wedding. Wouldn’t that be exciting?”

Jiang Zhaolie’s eyelid twitched violently. Then Xu Chun added, “But if your company really has urgent business, I can look after Suisui for you in the meantime.”

“In return, you can introduce me to your wealthy second-generation friends. I don’t have any ulterior motives—I just want to make more friends.” Xu Chun blinked and asked sincerely, “What do you think?”

Jiang Zhaolie: “...” I can hear that abacus of yours clacking all the way from my great-uncle’s place overseas.

Under Xu Chun’s gaze, Jiang Zhaolie smiled slightly, her tone amiable. “Xu Chun.” Xu Chun’s eyes lit up with anticipation—only to hear Jiang Zhaolie say, “Don’t even think about it.”

Xu Chun’s smile froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of Yu Sui’an walking toward them. She rolled her eyes, and Jiang Zhaolie instantly felt a bad premonition. She wanted to cover Xu Chun’s mouth, but it was too late. Xu Chun staggered back half a step in disbelief and asked, the words rushing out like a raging river: “What? You’re saying you still can’t forget your old feelings for me?!”

Yu Sui’an stopped dead. Her gaze fixed blankly in their direction, then landed on Jiang Zhaolie.