Exchange of Movie Queens - Chapter 10

Upon receiving the reply, Xi Mo lowered her head to type, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer curling at her lips. “Terrified? Seems like you’ll have plenty more to be terrified about in the future.”

By now, Feng Tangtang—sweeter than sugar—had already been thoroughly tricked by Her Majesty Xi without even realizing it. With no other options left, Ruan Yesheng could only obediently admit defeat: “This lowly servant grows ever more terrified.”

Having played the obedient card, she even attached a terrified emoticon at the end of the message.

The emoticon breathed a hint of liveliness into the otherwise rigid lines of text.

But Xi Mo never used emoticons in her written exchanges, much like her perpetually composed expression. The one Ruan Yesheng had sent was particularly adorable, and Xi Mo knew full well that Ruan Yesheng was anything but the soft, cutesy type—it was all an act of feigned obedience on the outside, while inside she was sharp-tongued and cunning. The stark contrast only fueled Xi Mo’s irritation.

“Don’t send me these,” Xi Mo warned.

Ruan Yesheng replied almost instantly: “Not cute enough?”

“Infuriating.”

After hitting send, Xi Mo suddenly realized she had unwittingly fallen into a back-and-forth text exchange with Ruan Yesheng—and none of it was even about anything important.

Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before she swiftly deleted all the messages.

Between driving, Feng Tangtang stole a glance at Xi Mo beside her. Noticing how intently she had been staring at her phone with an unreadable expression, Feng Tangtang couldn’t resist asking out of concern for her friend, “Ruan Ruan, who are you texting? You don’t seem too happy.”

“Oh.” Xi Mo put her phone away and lazily lifted her gaze, effortlessly slipping into her acting persona. “Your Sister Xi.”

Another message from Ruan Yesheng came in, but she didn’t bother checking. She already knew it would be nonsense. As long as Feng Tangtang remained oblivious and kept feeding her information, Xi Mo would have plenty of time to deal with Ruan Yesheng later.

Feng Tangtang’s eyes lit up. “Sister Xi actually reached out to you?”

“Mhm.”

“What did she say?” Feng Tangtang asked, her mind already racing with possibilities.

It was rare to see Sister Xi engage in such an extended text exchange—usually, she wrapped things up in one concise message, and if it wasn’t important, she couldn’t be bothered to type at all. Yet here she was, giving Ruan Ruan special treatment. Could it be something major?

“Just some stuff about a new project,” Xi Mo replied casually.

Feng Tangtang got so excited that she jerked the steering wheel sharply around a turn.

Xi Mo: “…”

“Is it the new project Sister Xi’s preparing for? Could it be… that supporting female role they haven’t finalized yet?” Feng Tangtang steered the car into the lane, her voice brimming with hope. “Ruan Ruan, does this mean you’re finally getting a role?”

Her eyes shone with anticipation, as if this were the opportunity Ruan Yesheng had been waiting for all these years, and she was genuinely thrilled for her.

Xi Mo studied her beaming face and said nothing.

Feng Tangtang opened the floodgates and began chattering nonstop: “I always knew you’d be perfect for that role. Even though it’s a supporting female character, it’s still a very significant one. With your amazing acting skills, Ruan Ruan, you’d definitely nail it. I’m just a little assistant, tagging along to do my job without any say. Actually, I’ve always wanted to mention you to Sister Xi—weren’t you classmates from the same academy? But I was afraid she’d scold me or fire me.”

Xi Mo glanced over: “Oh? So your Sister Xi is that scary, huh? She scolds you?”

Feng Tangtang shook her head earnestly: “Not really. She’s never actually scolded me. She just seems so aloof and icy, and I’m terrified of making any mistake that might upset her. I feel like I have to be extra careful, or else if I mess up, she’d definitely yell at me—maybe even worse, give me a ‘ten-foot red’ and send me packing back home.”

Xi Mo: “…”

What kind of brain do you have, spinning such wild fantasies?

Scolding you? Wasting my breath on you isn’t even worth the effort!

Feng Tangtang didn’t have any particularly outstanding skills. She was hired in the first place because she was obedient, presentable enough to uphold the company’s image, and wouldn’t overshadow the artists. A personal assistant shouldn’t be too slick or cunning—those types tend to blabber online, and no confidentiality agreement could rein them in. Countless celebrity scandals in the industry were leaked by those closest to them. But they also shouldn’t be too clumsy or inept. Feng Tangtang struck just the right balance in the company’s eyes.

Recalling how she had always been dutiful and efficient in handling tasks, Xi Mo decided to tolerate her overactive imagination for now. With a smile, she said, “That new project is still just talk for now—nothing’s set in stone. After all, casting decisions ultimately lie with the producers and directors. If the producers want to push someone in, given all the behind-the-scenes connections, even the director might not be able to refuse.”

The entertainment industry wasn’t exactly small, but it wasn’t vast either—more like a farm with all sorts of crops. A film crew was just one plot of land, with only so many spots to fill. In theory, the most capable should claim those spots, but there were always outsiders trying to squeeze in.

Radishes with money, power, or strong backing—or maybe not even radishes at all, perhaps just sweet potatoes—could still snag a comfortable spot to lounge in.

As for the radishes with nothing to their name or those that just weren’t likable? They’d have to make way.

Feng Tangtang encouraged her: “But there’s still hope, right? Sister Xi holds a lot of weight in the crew—she’s the undisputed lead actress and a guaranteed ratings draw. I heard they had to offer her a sky-high salary after multiple attempts to get her on board. She usually sticks to films and rarely takes on TV dramas. If she really puts in a recommendation, I think it’s very possible.”

Xi Mo tilted her head slightly, finding this simple-minded sweetheart’s words—”holds a lot of weight,” “undisputed lead actress,” “her word carries influence”—rather pleasing to the ear.

“Ruan Ruan,” Feng Tangtang called out.

Xi Mo turned to look at her.

Feng Tangtang asked nervously, “So… what exactly did Sister Xi say to you?”

Xi Mo smiled faintly. “Honestly, it’s hard to say. Tangtang, nothing’s confirmed yet, so don’t go spreading this around.”

Feng Tangtang quickly nodded. “Don’t worry, I know this. I won’t tell anyone until it’s confirmed. The company has clear regulations about it.”

Xi Mo probed indirectly, “Do you really want me to act that much?”

Feng Tangtang looked surprised. “Haven’t you always wanted to act? You told me before that even just performing once under the stage lights would be thrilling.”

Xi Mo leaned back in her seat, gazing at the fleeting shadows of trees outside the window, her pupils reflecting the dappled light.

It was unclear whether she hadn’t heard or simply chose not to respond.

Feng Tangtang drove into the underground parking lot. As the car engine quieted, she softly said, “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a long time, Ruan Ruan. Don’t think I’m prying. You used to be the lead actress—why haven’t you gotten any roles since then?”

Xi Mo got out of the car and stood still.

“Who knows?” Xi Mo smiled. “Just bad luck, I guess. Not the lucky carrot.”

She could only give such a vague answer.

After all, she wasn’t the real Ruan Yesheng.

Feng Tangtang thought she had touched on a sore subject and tactfully dropped it, silently scolding herself for being too nosy.

They took the elevator up to the apartment together. Xi Mo didn’t know which floor or unit belonged to Ruan Yesheng, so she subtly stayed close to Feng Tangtang—not too far ahead or behind, maintaining a casual distance between friends.

Feng Tangtang was too excited about the possibility of Ruan Yesheng getting a role to notice that her dear friend Ruan Ruan was now just a shell, with the notoriously difficult-to-please Xi Mo inside.

Bouncing along like a fluffy, sugar-dusted cotton candy, she pressed the elevator button. Only when they reached the apartment door did she finally stop.

Xi Mo knew this had to be Ruan Yesheng’s place. She naturally took out the keys and opened the door, making sure to assert her “ownership” of the apartment.

Ruan Yesheng had captivating, alluring eyes, but Xi Mo’s sharp instincts quickly scanned the entryway, distinguishing between the host and guest shoe cabinets. She bent down, opened the guest cabinet, and handed Feng Tangtang a pair of slippers.

The sparse selection of guest slippers suggested Ruan Yesheng rarely had visitors.

As Feng Tangtang changed her shoes and walked in, Xi Mo checked Ruan Yesheng’s own shoe cabinet. There, in the most convenient and well-ventilated spot, was a pair of Doraemon slippers.

Xi Mo: “…”

No amount of cute, girlish preferences could hide the fact that that woman had issues!

Her face stiff, Xi Mo hesitated before stepping on the poor blue robot’s round face and walking in. Seeing Feng Tangtang ahead, she smoothly switched to hostess mode. “What would you like to drink, Tangtang? I’ll get it for you.”

“Just water is fine. I’ll pour it myself,” Feng Tangtang replied.

Xi Mo was pleased—one less thing to worry about. She had no intention of serving anyone drinks anyway.

Recalling Ruan Yesheng’s earlier instructions, Xi Mo mentally noted the locations of essential items. On the coffee table was a contract for a magazine advertisement Ruan Yesheng had recently signed. She must have reviewed it before leaving. Xi Mo glanced at it—the deadline was approaching, just a few days away, on Monday.

Just some third-rate makeup magazine—having her replace Ruan Yesheng for the cover shoot was practically an undeserved honor.

Xi Mo found a cardboard box and casually tossed the documents inside, then packed up a few of her belongings.

Feng Tangtang saw her actions and said, “Cleaning as soon as you get back? You just got out of the hospital—you should rest more. I have to go to Sister Xi’s place later and won’t have time, but I can come help you clean tonight.”

“Not cleaning.” Xi Mo didn’t even look up. “I’m moving out.”

“Moving?” Feng Tangtang was clearly shocked by the sudden decision. “But you’ve been living here just fine—why?”

The award-winning actress turned her head and gave her a long, eerie look. “Because this apartment… is haunted. I’m scared.”

Feng Tangtang: “…”