8 pm. Ran Xueyi and the others started to enter the private room in a hotel that Director Xiao and Producer Long booked for tonight's party.
Ran Xueyi went there together with Adelle, her manager and they both greeted the significant staff members and production crews there.
Everyone was glad to have her there and even praised her for having good manners and behavior even though she was already a big star. Compared to other artists these people already met in the past, who are all full of arrogance and lack manners, Ran Xueyi really did great to make everyone like her.
As more and more people entered the room to enjoy the party, more and more drinks were being poured and people also became more unrestrained.
Even Ran Yue, who was not in the mood to play with these people couldn't help herself and finished a bottle of wine.
Of course, the investors and brand sponsors of the film also came to see all these mega-stars and artists have fun with themselves.
Seeing Ran Xueyi being so silent while sitting with her manager, they couldn't help but want to offer her some drinks.
Ran Xueyi didn't refuse them and clinked her own glass of wine against theirs and politely spoke to them. But she only pretended to take a sip before setting it down in front of her.
Nobody noticed that Ran Xueyi was only pretending and even if they did, they didn't call her out for that.
"Director Xiao, it's almost 9 in the evening, when is our big investor coming?" Mr. Pei glanced at the door that was clearly shut.
Director Xiao briefly swept his glance at Ran Xueyi before he said, "The big investor has something important to do so they couldn't come."
Hearing him, the corner on Ran Xueyi's lips lifted before going down.
Mr. Pei smiled and no longer mentioned this mysterious 'big investor'. Previously, he was the biggest investor in the film, sponsoring his own artist, Shen Yi, to become the male lead. But as soon as he relaxed a bit and turned his head around, he didn't expect that someone would actually invest more money in the film and take his place!
This somehow made him a bit unhappy, but he knew that Director Xiao wouldn't mistreat Shen Yi so he relaxed a bit more.
On the other hand, Mr. Pei secretly sighed to himself and was glad that he chose to invest in this film.
Who knew that Director Xiao and Producer Long actually had Ran Xueyi become part of the cast!
Now, he didn't have to worry about not getting his money's worth.
Mr. Pei was not the only one thinking like this. The investors who were sitting with him were also sighing inwardly. They thanked their own decisiveness and quick thinking that they ended up investing. They also started to give more attention to Ran Xueyi and treated her better.
At another table, Jia Yi was sitting beside another actress named Steffanie Chang. Steffanie's eyes were boring holes even with the distance between her and Ran Xueyi. Nobody knew what sort of conflict the two had, but one could already tell that it was a one-sided battle.
After all, even though Steffanie has been glaring at her, Ran Xueyi didn't even glance their way. It was simply embarrassing.
Jia Yi, as quiet as she was, couldn't take it any longer and directly asked the actress: "What's wrong with you?"
"With me?" Steffanie glared at her.
"Yes, you. You look like a dog about to bite someone's head, why are you glaring at her?" Jia Yi gestured with her chin at Ran Xueyi.
Steffanie pursed her lips together and took a deep breath before sighing. She said, "I'm just angry at her. Sister Jingjing could have been the female lead of this film, but it ended up being stolen from her by that woman!"
Jia Yi frowned: "What do you mean? Can it be you're wrong? Why would someone like Ran Xueyi steal somebody's role?"
Steffanie scoffed at her words and argued back, "Sister Jingjing was just a call away from getting the role. The directors also expressed their praises of her acting during the audition. But who could have expected that by the time that the cast was announced to us, it was actually Ran Xueyi who got it?! Isn't this proof enough that she stole it?"
Jia Yi felt that something was wrong with her explanation. But seeing Steffanie looking like a vengeful spirit about to possess someone, she kept her mouth shut and let her continue.
"Sister Jingjing is also a national treasure with several awards and trophies in her hands! Why must she be robbed like this?" Steffanie slapped the bottom of her drink on the table, making a loud noise, but in the midst of the loud ruckus and music, it didn't catch anyone's attention.
Steffanie felt even more irritated when she saw that everyone seemed to be looking at Ran Xueyi and treating her like a princess.
Jia Yi seemed to think of something, but she hid her thoughts quickly and seemingly happened to say, "Ah, is that why Mr. Pei looked so annoyed?"
"Hm?" Steffanie quickly caught it and asked, "What did you just say?"
Jia Yi shook her head, but under Steffanie's intense glare, she finally revealed her thoughts, "It's nothing really... But I heard Shen Yi saying that Mr. Pei got angry at Director Xiao this morning... I heard that another big investor came to invest in the film."
"Do you think this big investor is backing Ran Xueyi?" Steffanie asked and frowned.
Jia Yi shrugged and a wry smile was on her lips, "I don't know about that. I mean, Ran Xueyi should not need someone to back her up right? She's even gotten an award overseas so I doubt she needs anyone to support her..."
Steffanie was surprised to hear this and she couldn't help but give Jia Yi another quick glance. She never saw Jia Yi being so talkative until today. But this notion disappeared as soon as she caught the other's double meaning words.
"...I understand."
No one knew what Steffanie understood, but the smile that appeared on her lips was a bit too strange.
Even Jia Yi, who seemed to have mentioned this matter to her with no other intentions, shuddered.
Steffanie was known for being such a spoiled brat. Her father turned out to be her agency's CEO and grew up having everything handed to her on a silver platter. Moreover, she was Bai Jingjing's biggest fan.
What do you think will happen if she heard a rumor that Ran Xueyi robbed the female lead role from Bai Jingjing using an investor?
Thinking of the upcoming chaos and drama between these people, Jia Yi couldn't stop herself from feeling excited.
...
Ran Xueyi did not know what Jia Yi and Steffanie had in plan for her. She continued to speak amiably with the directors and other stars in the film when suddenly Adelle said to her, "Xueyi, I have something urgent to do. My things have arrived at my apartment but no one's at home so nobody could receive it."
"Oh, let's go there then." Ran Xueyi was about to stand up to accompany her, but Adelle held a hand to stop her.
"No need! Just stay here... my apartment is too far and I still have to open my things to check if anything broke."
"Well, I can just go with you and help you check them." Ran Xueyi also felt that it was already too late in the night and wanted to go back home. But Adelle seemed resolute in trying to make her stay there.
This made Ran Xueyi feel that something was wrong and wanted to ask her. However, Adelle didn't even wait for her response before she took her bag and left, looking like a robber who broke into a bank and was being chased by police.
A few minutes later, Adelle send her a very strange message.
[Adelle: Oh, that's right!]
[Adelle: I forgot to tell you that I hired a new assistant to help me when I'm not around. The assistant will be with you in a bit so wait for him before you leave!]
Ran Xueyi's frown deepened, but thinking that she really did need an assistant who could help Adelle handle other things, she decided to not leave the party early and wait for the assistant to arrive.
As the night deepens and the party becomes even more messier with people getting drunk, Ran Xueyi was starting to lose her patience. She couldn't wait for the assistant to arrive and she really needed to come back home before midnight.
Just as the last thread of patience was about to be torn apart, an actor came to stand in front of her.
Ran Xueyi recognized him to be the male lead actor, Shen Yi.
Shen Yi harmlessly smiled at her, "Are you planning to go home? I'm also planning to leave early so I thought you might need a ride home without your manager with you."
Ran Xueyi looked up at him and was about to respond to his invitation when she heard someone speaking behind Shen Yi.
The voice said, "There's no need. I will take her back."
The owner of the voice stepped out of Shen Yi's shadow and revealed himself.
It was Song Yu Han, who had come to take Adelle's place.
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