Chapter 81: Provoking Smile

“Situ said that something came up and left the seat to me. He has communicated with the organizers about this, so don’t worry, you can sit here.” Adept in taking cues from body language, Chen Nan blurted before Shen Xi posed the question.

Situ must have information that Ms. Cai Ni was Ms. Jiang Yin’s student, hence why he gave up his seat.

Shen Xi was intrigued by Situ Zhangyou’s intentions. Why was he ingratiating himself with an ordinary girl like her?

He presented her flowers on stage during the dance competition.

This time, he gave up the VIP seat to her.

“Help me thank Mr. Situ.” Shen Xi did not refuse. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Su Ruowan in the regular seating.

Despite the far distance and poor lighting, Shen Xi could clearly see the enmity and jealousy burning in her eyes.

All steamed up, Su Ruowan’s burning jealousy made her see red as she darted a wicked glare at Shen Xi.

That was Shen Xi.

Her eyes did not deceive her!

Those were VIP seats exclusive to only showbiz veterans at the top of the food chain and people with the highest achievement.

Shen Xi, that b*tch! Who was she to be given the right to sit in that seat? She was on equal footing with Mom!

Standing up, Shen Xi threw a look at Su Ruowan before letting out a provoking smile.

Gong Zhi sat on her left.

On Gong Zhi’s left sat Li Jingran.

That seat was definitely one that everyone could only dream of. Born into nobility and a prominent figure in showbiz, it would make more sense for Situ Zhangyou to be allocated the seat.

The look on Shen Xi’s face threw Su Ruowan in a right tizzy. Following a rush of blood to her head, Su Ruowan gulped down a bloody taste in her mouth as she clenched her fists tight.

B*tch!

Shen Xi, that b*tch!

That woman was showing off and taunting her!

Exchanging glances in dismay, Su Ruowan’s girlfriends were enraged as well and came to her defense.

“Wanwan, what’s going on? Why is Shen Xi sitting there?”

“That seat is reserved for major stars like Aunt Li. Who does she think she is?”

“Isn’t that man Gong Zhi’s manager, Chen Nan? He’s a big-name manager in China!”

“F*ck! Shen Xi has been waiting to get into showbiz, right? Don’t tell me she has already signed under Chen Nan!”

“Her? The way I see it, the little b*tch must have sold herself to be Chen Nan’s mistress. The only thing she has going for her is that face.”

Rage was tempting Chen Bingbing and the group of besties to interrogate Shen Xi on the spot. The words that came out of their mouth were bitter, spiteful, and harsh.

Resentment was simmering within Su Ruowan.

Shen Xi, that b*tch. Just what was she up to?

Su Ruowan realized that she did not know Shen Xi at all. Shen Xi had become an entirely different person who was impossible to read since that fateful day.

“Wanwan, say something!” Chen Bingbing tugged on Su Ruowan.

With a frown, Su Ruowan meekly replied, “I don’t know myself. Maybe she wants to get into showbiz and signed with Chen Nan.”

Shen Xi, this b*tch. Knowing well that Mom and Gong Zhi were nemesis, Shen Xi deliberately signed under Chen Nan.

Did Shen Xi think that it would catch Mom’s eye and the latter would welcome her back with open arms?

Dream on. By doing so, Mom would only be more annoyed and grow sicker of her!

Calm and collected, Shen Xi sat in the chief VIP seat while watching the red-carpet broadcast on her phone. Soon, Li Jingran finally emerged at the end of the red carpet.

Chapter 82: Belle Of The Ball

Li Jingran looked rather dignified and magnanimous today with that red floor-length evening gown on and her makeup on point. Carrying herself with a natural air of elegance, she captured a mature appeal and exotic charm that was only achievable through the flowing of time.

The reporters moved their camera lenses towards Li Jingran the moment she stepped onto the red carpet. They exclaimed in awe before the film star as Li Jingran looked perfect on the red carpet tonight.

The second she graced the scene was when Li Jingran loved and enjoyed the most. With all cameras directed at her, it was glorious to have all eyes on her.

She glanced at starlets on the red carpet who just made their debut. They were trying to strike a pose to get a few shots after Li Jingran took the spotlight away from them. Oh, how she pitied and felt for them!

Li Jingran had strutted along about ten meters.

All of a sudden.

Someone shouted, “Ms. Gong. Look, it’s Ms. Gong!”

Hiding away from the camera, Li Jingran’s eyes flickered in disdain and mockery.

That b*tch, Gong Zhi had come to embarrass herself once again.

Gong Zhi really did not know her place even though she was always deemed the loser in the battle of beauty with Li Jingran. When would she ever learn?

With those looks of hers and the lousy stylists under her, god knew where Gong Zhi found the courage to set herself side by side with Li Jingran.

However, it took a while for Li Jingran to realize the cameras that were all over her before, had all disappeared in an instant. Chasing after the blinking lights, it was Gong Zhi in front of the cameras!

Gong Zhi waved and flashed her teeth at her, not hiding the delight and provocation in her smile.

The rush of blood sent tightness in Li Jingran’s chest.

Li Jingran never saw Gong Zhi as a competitor. Yet now, this everlasting runner-up stole the limelight and attention away from her.

Unforgivable!

The awestruck media fixated their cameras on Gong Zhi, refusing to miss a moment.

Dressed in a black evening gown, Gong Zhi carried herself with grandeur and pride of a black swan as well as the fascination of a witch in dark fairy tales. Each simple act brought out a different side to her.

The commanding presence belonging to a queen and empowered woman simply blew everyone away. The people wanted nothing more than to worship and bow down to her beauty.

Gong Zhi was having a ball.

Active in showbiz for over two decades, she had walked countless red carpets, been in the presence of numerous cheers, applause, and honor under the spotlight.

Never once had Gong Zhi felt the alacrity she was experiencing now. It was a hearty feeling of gratification, as though she held the whole world in her hands.

She beat Li Jingran, a nemesis she was in constant strife for over twenty years.

Today was one example. Gong Zhi upstaged Li Jingran, leaving the latter without a picture taken.

She was a queen right now.

Everyone, including Li Jingran, served as prop next to her.

Shen Xi watched Li Jingran put up a calm front as she continued to strut ahead. Letting out a mocking scoff, Shen Xi put away her phone.

For a person who always had the upper hand in life, Li Jingran must be feeling sour because a nemesis, who never was competition, had managed to steal her thunder away.

Li Jingran was infuriated and bitter about having been outshined by Gong Zhi on the red carpet, but her rage took a turn for the worse when she took notice of Shen Xi off the runway.

What was this brat doing here? She was sitting on Situ Zhangyou’s seat!

Turning a blind eye to Li Jingran, Shen Xi crossed her legs and became engrossed in games on her phone.

Li Jingran could not let it go. Fancying herself superior, she fixated on Shen Xi and coldly questioned her, “Why are you here?”

Chapter 83: Make A Fool Of Yourself

Shen Xi blurted, “It’s none of your business.”

These words struck Li Jingran like a thorn in the flesh, prompting her to hiss, “Shen Xi!”

Gong Zhi finally had her revenge after decades of bitterness and rage. Holding her head up high, she walked off the red carpet with a spring in her step and headed towards Shen Xi.

This young lady was awesome!

She really had to give it to Shen Xi. Jiang Yin could stuff it!

Gong Zhi wanted no one else but Shen Xi!

Before she could reach for her seat, Gong Zhi noticed Li Jingran leaning to one side as she engaged in conversation with Shen Xi. Putting on a straight face, she warily walked up to them. “Girl, are you acquainted with Ms. Li?”

Did Li Jingran, the old hag, find out and was now trying to poach Cai Ni away?

Li Jingran was not to have a finger in the pie Gong Zhi had her eye on!

With a poker face, Shen Xi calmly replied, “I don’t know her.”

Having her feathers ruffled, Li Jingran would have passed out due to rage had she not been in the presence of people.

This d*mn brat!

Was Shen Xi teaming up with Gong Zi to piss her off?

Gong Zhi let out a sigh of relief before taking a seat. She held Shen Xi’s arm as though claiming ownership. “Ms. Li, this is my little sister.”

Li Jingran was without another word after nodding and acknowledging the statement.

Sister?

Since when was Shen Xi, that brat, close to Gong Zhi?

Li Jingran was most familiar with the kind of person Gong Zhi was – a combination of a bad temper and horrible personality. She did not have many friends in reality, much less in show business.

It was the first screening of a movie.

Shen Xi and Gong Zhi had a blast watching the show.

Thinking of Shen Xi as a little girl, Gong Zhi instructed Chen Nan to send over some popcorn and bubble tea.

After the screening ended, Li Jingran’s manager requested that Shen Xi come along with him while she was on the way to the loo.

Fancying herself as an elder, Li Jingran gazed at her. “What’s your relationship with Situ Zhangyou?”

Li Jingran could not read Shen Xi at all.

Since leaving the Su family, Shen Xi displayed talent and ambition that was beyond even Li Jingran’s wildest dreams.

For the first time, Li Jingran questioned whether driving Shen Xi out of the family was the right decision. Shen Xi’s talents could be of service to the Su family.

“Ms. Li, this is a good look for you tonight.” Shen Xi gave an irrelevant answer to annoy Li Jingran.

Li Jingran’s blood was boiling from the reply. “Shen Xi, don’t play games with me. Stay away from Situ Zhangyou. Quit the wishful thinking and know your place.”

Shen Xi curled her lips in contempt.

Li Jingran pointed at her in warning. “I know what you’re up to. I’m sure you’re trying to seduce Situ Zhangyou. To tell you the truth, a family like the Situs will never take a liking to someone like you!”

What kind of family was the Situs?

Sure, the Situ family was not among the Five Major Families in China, but they surpassed the Gu family who were part of that prestige.

Wanwan was the future daughter-in-law of the Gu family. This fact was long determined and would not be changed.

It would be a slap in the face for Li Jingran if Shen Xi were to marry Situ Zhangyou and become the daughter-in-law of the Situ family.

She could never have Shen Xi, the brat, marrying off to better standing and be above Wanwan!

“How would you know if they don’t like me?” Shen Xi covered her mouth as sweet-sounding giggles escaped her lips.

Hearing the laughter, Li Jingran had the urge to strangle her. She spoke through clenched teeth. “It’s best you take this piece of advice. Otherwise, you would only be suffering and making a fool of yourself, snubbed by the Situ family.

How dare this uncultured brat speak to her like this!

Chapter 84: Poach Talent

“Are men the only thing of importance to you?” Shen Xi pitifully gazed at Li Jingran. “You should take a long view and think big. Men are not everything in life.”

With such pettiness, it was no wonder she could only compete nationally instead of hitting the international stage.

Flipping out from the provocation at last, Li Jingran’s exquisite face turned into a grimace as she raised her hand to slap with all her might. “Brat, who are you to teach me!”

Shen Xi seized her by the arm and tightened her grip, watching the woman glower in pain. She perked her lips. “Ms. Li, don’t put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to men. Do you think he will stay loyal after divorcing once?”

Li Jingran gasped in pain. With her body shaking violently, she let out a furious roar with a menacing look on her face. “Shen Xi! Are you damning me!”

Shen Xi was saying that her husband would leave her? Divorce her?

The brat was looking for trouble!

Not wanting to waste another breath, Shen Xi pushed Li Jingran away and watched her crash onto the opposite table. She then turned to leave.

She took two steps before turning back around with eyes speaking of indifference and ridicule.

“Shen Xi!” Flustered, Li Jingran cried in anger and flipped the dressing table.

D*mn brat!

Shen Xi was sent down to piss her off!

Li Jingran would rather be forever oblivious of the mistaken swap at birth, not knowing that Shen Xi was her biological daughter. She would never have given birth to such a shameless thing!

Had she known this was the outcome, Li Jingran would have strangled Shen Xi to death at birth.

Her manager, Li He knocked on the door.

With eyes bloodshot from fury, Li Jingran turned to him and asked, “Have you found the stylist who did Gong Zhi’s look?”

Everything went wrong for her today. Not only was Li Jingran outshined by Gong Zhi, who she never thought of as competition and looked down on, she even crossed paths with the infuriating brat, Shen Xi.

How did Shen Xi and Gong Zhi know each other?

Why did Gong Zhi, that b*tch call Shen Xi her little sister?

The two were working hand in glove to gang up on her and piss her off!

Li He had been with Li Jingran since her debut. With more than twenty years under his belt, he was no stranger to her temper. Li He took the initiative to clean up the mess on the ground. “No. You know Gong Zhi. No one’s as smart as her in showbiz. It’s not going to be easy to find out. She wants you to make a fool of yourself. Straighten yourself up and don’t give her the satisfaction.”

Facing the cosmetic mirror, Li Jingran fixed her disheveled hair and touched up her makeup.

While clearing the mess, Li He consoled her. “Don’t get worked up. Gong Zhi merely found a great stylist and won over you once. She’s been at the losing end for over twenty years.”

Li Jingran’s voice had calmed down by the time she unrolled a lipstick. “Proceed with the search. I don’t care what methods you resort to, find out who the person is. Spend what it takes to poach that talent.”

She may seem gentle in putting on her lipstick, but color was washed off her knuckles from the overexerted force. Veins were also popping out the back of her hand.

That vile woman, Gong Zhi embarrassed her in front of the whole nation.

Payback was a b*tch!

No matter the price and cost, she must get Gong Zhi’s stylist on her side!

Chapter 85: Devious And Pretentious

Feeling joyful for the first time ever, Gong Zhi could not cease laughing in her dressing room. She was amused just by the thought of Li Jingran hitting the ceiling and completely flipping out.

“Lil sis, you must join me for a meal next time.” Gong Zhi had not forgotten who she owed it to.

This girl said that her mother was waiting for her at home with dinner ready. With her parents worried if she was home late, the girl insisted on going home. It was not like Gong Zhi could make her come against her will.

“Okay.” Putting on her backpack, Shen Xi politely excused herself. “Well then, Ms. Gong Zhi, I should get going.”

“Don’t address me so formally. There’s no need for formalities between us. Consider me your older sister if you think highly of me.” Gong Zhi intimately pulled on her hand. “Don’t be a stranger.”

There was no shortage of stylists.

However, true masters who could pull off bringing out the best look in a person were hard to come by.

It was every celebrity’s dream to shine and become the belle of the ball.

Every single detail, apart from the celebrity’s endowed looks and bearing, was in the mercy of a good stylist.

Ms. Cai Ni was the stylist Gong Zhi needed. No matter the cost, Gong Zhi wanted to be on good terms with her and keep her by her side.

“Sister Zhizhi.” Shen Xi immediately addressed her differently.

With many friends, came many windows of opportunities and this rang true wherever. There was no reason to keep others at arm’s length.

“That’s better.” Pleased, Gong Zhi patted her arm before tipping her assistant the wink.

The assistant handed her a paper bag that had been prepared.

Gong Zhi personally gave Shen Xi the paper bag. “This is my gift to you. Please don’t refuse. I know that you’re not short of this but it’s a token of my sincerity. Do accept it. You have helped me a lot today and I’ve never been as happy as today in over two decades.”

Not just this time, Gong Zhi wanted to get the one-up on Li Jingran the next time, and countless times thereafter.

“Thank you, Sister Zhizhi.” Shen Xi expressed her gratitude before leaving with the present.

It was a handbag in the paper bag, a Hermes limited edition handbag worth around 200,000 yuan. Nevertheless, she did not feel guilty accepting the gift since it was a fair exchange.

If she refused to accept the gift, Gong Zhi would not be at peace of mind, thinking that Shen Xi was unwilling to be a friend.

With future potential artists of their company coming into showbiz, these people would be seeking assistance from the veterans. Having some connections would only come as an advantage at work.

Su Ruowan was ballistic. Not only was Mom outshined by that old b*tch, Shen Xi, that b*tch appeared to be close to Gong Zhi.

She exited the auditorium and advanced to the backstage to find her mother. It never occurred to Su Ruowan that she would run into Shen Xi.

Holding a huge paper bag in her hand, Shen Xi emerged cold and noble with a group of people following behind her. It was as though she had not noticed Su Ruowan as they passed each other.

“Shen Xi,” Su Ruowan called out to her.

Shen Xi continued walking away without acknowledging Su Ruowan.

Su Ruowan dashed over and came in her way. Throwing Shen Xi a pitiful look, she made an accusation. “Why did you do that to Mom?”

Shen Xi was clear on the fact that Gong Zhi and Mom were rivals, yet she still hung out with Gong Zhi!

“A good dog doesn’t get in the way.” Shen Xi coldly scoffed and blatantly shoved her out of the way. “Get lost!”

Su Ruowan caught a glimpse of a person coming out in the opposite direction when she lifted her head. Stumbling, she conveniently collapsed onto the ground and let out a painful cry.

It was not a heavy push on Shen Xi’s part. Nonetheless, Shen Xi did not want to give her the satisfaction while in public. Watching as Su Ruowan deviously and pretentiously took a fall, Shen Xi curled her lips in contempt.

As expected.

The next thing she knew, a stern and angry voice was heard.