Goddess Strategy GL - Chapter 27

The crabs in the basin waved their claws, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws as they tried to climb out. Ye Ruoqing propped up her chin, gazing intently for a long time, then asked, “Do you feel a kind of life force?”

“…”

“Look at these crabs. As food about to be served on the table, they are still tenaciously hoping to escape their fate. The past doesn’t matter. As long as they have the will, the future is still bright…”

Zhao Xin glanced at Ye Ruoqing, then lowered her head and continued reading.

Ye Ruoqing was full of passion, performing the chicken soup for the soul she had absorbed last night again. Zhao Xin finished flipping through a book, and Ye Ruoqing was still tirelessly preaching and imparting wisdom.

“Everyone has an unspeakable secret. It might be the source of your strength, or it might be the stumbling… gugugugugu… stumbling block in your way forward…”

Zhao Xin put the book down and said, “Your stomach is growling.”

Ye Ruoqing slumped her shoulders in defeat: “Chicken soup for the soul still can’t cure hunger…”

After saying that, she stood up, picked up the basin of crabs, and walked into the kitchen.

Zhao Xin found it amusing and deliberately teased her: “Didn’t you say you wanted to feel the life force?”

Ye Ruoqing poked her head out from the kitchen: “Food is the first necessity of the people. Let’s fill our stomachs first.”

That evening, the ‘life force’ was served on the table, complete with crab tools, ginger, vinegar, and garlic. Tonight, Ye Ruoqing had said she wanted to show Zhao Xin her skills, so the housekeeper left after buying the groceries. Dinner consisted of a few home-style dishes, plus a plate of steamed crabs.

“Didn’t you take on a new project recently? Why do you seem to be reading all the time?” Ye Ruoqing asked Zhao Xin vaguely while gnawing on a crab leg.

Zhao Xin ate crabs very elegantly. She easily twisted open a crab leg and pulled out the meat. The tender and sweet white crab meat was rolled twice in the fragrant vinegar, looking absolutely mouth-watering. In front of Zhao Xin, the crab shells and vinegar dish were neatly placed, unlike Ye Ruoqing, who was chewing and spitting shells everywhere.

“Throw away the one in your hand.”

Zhao Xin really couldn’t bear to watch anymore. She peeled some crab meat and picked it up for Ye Ruoqing. Ye Ruoqing’s hands were oily, with a crab shell in her left hand and a crab claw in her right. The only thing left free was her mouth, so Zhao Xin had no choice but to feed it to her. Enjoying the superstar’s service, Ye Ruoqing was extremely moved.

“The director of this drama is quite rigorous. It’s still in the early stages now, so I have more free time. I’m just reading the original novel a few more times to get a feel for the atmosphere and emotions.”

“Oh, I see… You don’t have to peel it for me, I’ll eat it myself.”

“If you eat it like that, this whole plate of crabs will be ruined by you.”

“I’m a bumpkin from the inland. My hometown is all mountains, and I rarely ate crabs, so don’t laugh at me… Zhao Xin, is your book good? Lend it to me tonight.”

“Don’t you have a laptop in your room? Play on the computer if you’re bored.”

“I’m just curious. I heard from Xiaoyuan that this drama is a big dual-female lead project. Has the other female lead been decided? Can you share some inside information? I promise I won’t tell anyone, heh heh.”

Zhao Xin put down the crab in her hand. She seemed to hesitate for a moment: “About that question… it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but I haven’t met the other female lead yet. I heard she’s a newcomer that the director has been secretly training for a year.”

The director of this art-house film has always been known for speed and quality. It’s not uncommon for him to spend ten years honing a single project. This time, “Fallen Glory” is a period film set in the Republic of China era, telling the story between a female star and a female student.

The theme of “Fallen Glory” is not romance, but it is more complex and profound than love. In the chaos and superficiality of the era, amidst national affairs, human emotions were magnified and twisted. What the director sought was a hint of purity reflected against the backdrop of these complex emotions.

“A newcomer? Shouldn’t a newcomer start with small roles, just like I did?” Ye Ruoqing had too deep an impression of her years as an extra. When she took breaks and chatted randomly with the extras, everyone treated Ye Ruoqing like an elder. In that film and television city, if you randomly grabbed a small-time actor, they could list a terrifying resume of past appearances—that was what they called experience. Extras needed it, second and third-tier actors needed it, and the lead actors needed it even more.

Ye Ruoqing truly couldn’t imagine which actor had such extraordinary talent that they could debut and immediately act opposite Zhao Xin.

“That depends on the situation. Some directors like to train actors. New actors are easier to mold than veterans, so they prefer to use newcomers. Of course, that’s only one reason. Some new actors have strong backing, and that backing is willing to spend a lot of money to hire veteran actors to support the newcomer. That’s also possible.”

“Are you saying… casting couch? A newcomer landing a big role is because of the casting couch?”

Zhao Xin’s expression became a little strange. Ye Ruoqing knew that this girl’s experience had hit a sensitive spot for Zhao Xin, and she quickly changed the subject: “But I’ve seen Director Chen’s art-house films. He’s so serious about his work; it doesn’t seem like he’d compromise for a casting couch.”

“Yes, so I’m not really sure what the situation is this time. My role was confirmed a long time ago, but for that girl, I haven’t even seen her file yet.”

Zhao Xin had not yet met the other actress, but Ren Xi had already met the girl early on.

“Zeng Jiarou?”

Ren Xi met the girl while on vacation. She was enjoying a hot spring therapy session in Mauritius when a girl quietly approached her and offered her a floral tea.

“Miss Ren, I am Zeng Jiarou.”

Zeng Jiarou was very polite. While the therapist was massaging Ren Xi, she quietly knelt beside her. If Ren Xi didn’t speak, she wouldn’t respond. Throughout the entire process, her eyes were modestly lowered, appearing compliant and well-behaved.

This girl was very well-trained. A long time ago, Ren Xi had heard that a certain Li-surname mining boss had picked up a girl who had just debuted and was incredibly fond of her. He lavished her with huge sums of money—villas, jewelry—and almost divorced his wife. Many rich men liked to keep a few female stars, but it was rare to cause such a fuss that almost led to divorce. The romantic affairs of this Li-surname mining boss became the subject of ridicule at many dinner tables. Later, when people met the girl, they sighed, finally understanding why Mr. Li was so devoted. The girl was obedient and knew her place. She didn’t mind the existence of other people, and no matter where she was, she behaved like she was serving an emperor, which truly satisfied a man’s vanity and the dream of a ‘three thousand concubines’ harem.

This girl was Zeng Jiarou.

Mr. Li had even specially opened an entertainment agency for her, and her first movie contract was for “Fallen Glory” with the art-house film director, Chen Si. Mr. Li had put a lot of effort into the casting for this film. No one knew how much money Mr. Li had thrown in, nor how much flattery Zeng Jiarou had given Chen Si. Regardless, this actress, who had barely been out of school for long, thus became the female lead for the notoriously demanding Director Chen. She hadn’t even shown her face yet, but was already touted as the “next Zhao Xin” and sent off for secret training.

Now, Mr. Li’s capital chain had run into trouble, and the agency had no choice but to close down. Worried that his darling would be marginalized in a large company, and having heard that Ren Xi had recently signed several newcomers in preparation for her studio’s transformation, he found someone to plead with her to transfer Zeng Jiarou’s contract.

Mr. Li naturally had his own plans. First, having a movie queen as a co-star to boost her debut film, and then having another movie queen wholeheartedly mentor her—Zeng Jiarou’s future career path could only be described as extremely bright.

This little scheme naturally did not escape Ren Xi’s notice.

After the therapist retired, she leaned against the side of the bathtub, motioned for Zeng Jiarou to come closer, raised her face, and examined her carefully.

“Youth is truly wonderful. You don’t have to worry about another wrinkle appearing on your face after you take off your makeup.”

Zeng Jiarou kept her head slightly lowered, her voice as pleasant as her name: “I actually think that a woman in her thirties is at her most beautiful. She has experience, capital, and after weathering many storms, life enters an expansive phase, just like fine wine—the more mellow, the more fragrant.”

“You are quite good with words.”

This girl indeed had a few tricks up her sleeve. She didn’t flatter Ren Xi by saying she was still young and beautiful like most girls would. Commenting on a beauty is like commenting on calligraphy and painting; there is a big difference between someone with depth and a simpleton. One says the beauty is pretty, the other says where the beauty is, and how beautiful she is.

It must be said that these few words were very pleasing to Ren Xi. Ren Xi asked, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two.”

“How many years have you been with Mr. Li?”

“More than two years.”

“Tsk, quite faithful. Do you know his company ran into trouble recently?”

“I heard some rumors.”

“What if… what if I said a friend of mine really appreciates you and wants to be friends with you, and is also willing to help Mr. Li out a bit? Would you be willing?”

Ren Xi’s words were tactful, but as a proposition for the casting couch, the meaning couldn’t be clearer. She believed Zeng Jiarou understood.

Unexpectedly, Zeng Jiarou thought for a moment and replied: “Since I came to B City, Mr. Li has always worried about me. I am very grateful to him, and I am willing to sacrifice for him. But Mr. Li is a man of integrity. I understand him. He would not be willing to trade a woman for his company, and his reputation wouldn’t allow it either.”

Her reply was delivered with loyalty and righteousness, which even Ren Xi somewhat admired. This girl had high emotional intelligence.

“You really are his solace…” Ren Xi stroked her smooth cheek, and for some reason, she suddenly laughed. She was soaking in the floral hot spring, and with her captivating and seductive laughter, her full body seemed to be on the verge of spilling out.

“It’s a shame.” Ren Xi lifted Zeng Jiarou’s chin and kissed her on the lips. “I’m a straightforward person, and I also like girls who are a little more impulsive. It’s okay if she loves to cause trouble and stir things up, I’d be happy to fix it for her. Anyway, the people in our studio only care about money and status, and never care about what the outside world says. The important thing is that I need to see her true feelings inside. Solaces like you, leave them for men to enjoy. I won’t steal someone else’s love.”

Ren Xi spoke ambiguously, and Zeng Jiarou looked up, confused.

Ren Xi stepped out of the bathtub, disregarding her naked body. She picked up a bathrobe and put it on, the smile on her face gradually fading: “Don’t understand? Then I’ll be clear. I refuse to take your contract. Aren’t you about to shoot a movie with Zhao Xin? You can go to her studio.”