Lady By The Pillow - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Fighting for the Role (2)

“Shi Qing, don’t you dare agree to her.”

“Wei Jiuyi”

The screen facing up suddenly showed those three words, and a shadow crossed both of their faces.

Wen Yi squinted, a flash of sharpness in her beautiful eyes. “Looks like you and Wei Jiuyi are getting along well.”

Shi Qing picked up her phone. “Just colleagues who happened to meet; we’re not close yet.”

Wen Yi hummed. “Answer it. Get it over with.”

Shi Qing swiped to answer and put the phone to her ear. “Teacher Wei, is something wrong?”

Wei Jiuyi’s voice was low. “Where are you?”

Shi Qing was calm. “I’m out for dinner. Teacher Wei, have you eaten yet?”

Wei Jiuyi cut through her pleasantries. “Xiao Ya told me. I’m right downstairs from the restaurant. Which private room are you in?”

Shi Qing glanced at Wen Yi, lowered her eyes, and continued in a distant tone. “About the script? Can we discuss it during rehearsals tomorrow? It’s not a good time for me right now.”

Wei Jiuyi gritted her teeth. “Shi Qing.”

She said Shi Qing’s full name. She had never called her that before.

Shi Qing continued, “Yes, we’ll meet at the set early tomorrow.”

Wei Jiuyi angrily warned, “Wen Yi is most likely trying to take your role. Don’t you dare agree to her.”

Shi Qing was as light as a feather. “Okay, see you tomorrow, then.”

Shi Qing hung up the phone on their disjointed conversation, her heart a stormy sea but her face as calm as a clear night. She put her phone on silent and tossed it into her bag. When she looked up at Wen Yi, she was the same calm, unbothered person she had been before.

“So, you’re still planning on going to the set tomorrow?” Wen Yi asked her one last time.

Shi Qing took a deep breath. “Yi-jie, if you were me, what would you choose?”

Wen Yi scoffed. “If I were you, I’d be smart, take the money, and walk away. Because I know I’m not on the same level as my opponent. With just a snap of their fingers, it won’t be just Empress but your entire career in this industry that will be in jeopardy.”

The threat was clear.

Shi Qing was silent.

Wen Yi thought she was hesitating and tried to convince her. “How about it? Think about it again.” She pushed the check back toward Shi Qing.

Shi Qing picked up a small bowl and slowly ladled some soup. As she did, she said, “I’m just thinking about what I would do if I were you.”

“Oh?” Wen Yi gave a cold sneer. “You’re already planning for me. Tell me, what would you do?”

Shi Qing was forthright. “If I were you, after seven years in this company, I would have worked my way up from a third-tier to a top-tier actress. I’d be earning millions, have multiple endorsements, and even though I haven’t won an award, I would have been nominated for Best Actress once. My next step would be to leave the company and start my own studio.”

Wen Yi froze. This was the exact issue she was facing.

Shi Qing continued, “But if I were the only cash cow for the company, they definitely wouldn’t let me go. So, I would help two other artists become successful, so they could be the new cash cows. That way, the company wouldn’t be so focused on me. When I discuss my contract termination, they might even remember that I helped them develop two new artists and be more lenient. It’s a win-win… Don’t you think so, Yi-jie?”

Clink.

Shi Qing placed a full bowl of bamboo fungus soup in front of Wen Yi. When Wen Yi looked up, she saw Shi Qing’s calm face. Shi Qing was smiling gently, but in that moment, Wen Yi saw a profound depth in her eyes.

She had never thought Shi Qing would use the “personal studio” angle to get out of the situation. Real negotiation wasn’t about seeking pity or emotional appeals. It was about an exchange of benefits. If Shi Qing’s career took off, it would indeed help her own plans to go solo.

She had underestimated Shi Qing’s intelligence and, more importantly, her ambition. If Shi Qing were truly unbothered by the world, she would have never said such a thing.

Wen Yi picked up the bowl Shi Qing had filled for her and took a small sip. “Let’s eat.”

Two actresses who hadn’t eaten much a moment ago finished their meal in a few minutes. Soon, Wen Yi’s bodyguard came to the door and said it was time to leave.

Wen Yi got up to leave, and Shi Qing followed her. After they said their goodbyes, Shi Qing went to the first floor and found Dong Ya.

Dong Ya was upset and waited until Wen Yi’s people were far away before she spoke. “I thought she was being sincere and wanted to treat you to a meal, but it turns out she was jealous and wanted to take your role. You didn’t agree to her, did you, Qing-jie?”

“No,” Shi Qing said.

Dong Ya sighed in relief. “That’s good. You can’t judge a book by its cover. She seemed so nice, but it turns out she’s just a backstabbing schemer.”

Shi Qing corrected her. “In this industry, there is no gender and no emotion. Sometimes, one wrong move can send you soaring or bring you crashing down. It was only natural for her to come and talk to me.”

Dong Ya was convinced. “You’re right. I just thought you could trust people. I thought she was a sweet older sister, but her whole persona just fell apart.”

Shi Qing teased her. “Didn’t you go back? Why were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

“I was worried about you! Her assistant was being all cocky, saying that the role of ‘Jiang Ke’ was their artist’s. It made me so angry! So I was secretly listening in the room next door, and… and…”

“And you went and told Wei Jiuyi?”

Dong Ya was caught. “I had no choice…”

Shi Qing’s tone was more scolding. “What did I tell you before?”

“You said… that I shouldn’t have any private contact with her, so that I wouldn’t be taken advantage of.”

“Then why did you go to her?”

Just as she finished, a familiar voice came from behind. “—I told her to.”

Shi Qing turned around, and the security light in the stairwell turned on with the sound of footsteps. Under the light, Wei Jiuyi walked toward them, her black trench coat making her look cold and imposing. She stared at Shi Qing.

“I went to look for you earlier, and you weren’t there, so I asked Dong Ya. Teacher Shi, you should know that your assistant isn’t a very good liar.”

Shi Qing’s eyes narrowed, and her smile was not a happy one. It was almost a warning. “Teacher Wei is right. So, in the future, if you have something to discuss, please don’t make things difficult for my assistant.” She turned to Dong Ya, her voice much softer. “Xiao Ya, let’s go.”

She had only taken two steps when an arm grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her back. “Hey!” Shi Qing stumbled back, her body hitting Wei Jiuyi’s chest. Her hand accidentally touched something soft, and she quickly pulled it back, planting her feet to regain her balance.

“What are you doing?” Shi Qing asked in a low voice.

Wei Jiuyi’s presence was oppressive when she wasn’t talking. Her eyes alone looked like they could swallow a person whole.

Dong Ya nervously tried to intervene. “97, what are you doing? Let’s just talk!”

Shi Qing quickly glanced toward the lobby, which wasn’t far from their hallway, and warned, “Let go of me.”

“No.”

“Then what do you want to do, Teacher Wei? Do you want to call everyone over to see a famous actress arguing with her former fling?”

Wei Jiuyi didn’t let go. Fang Fei and Wen Yi’s appearances had worn down her patience, and her anger was a smoldering fire at the bottom of a haystack, ready to burst. “Did you agree to Wen Yi’s offer?”

“Please let go.”

“You haven’t answered me.”

“I don’t think I need to answer you.”

“Did you agree? Are you giving her the role? Is that what you’ve wanted to do all along? You want to distance yourself from me and not work with me, and Wen Yi gave you the perfect opportunity, didn’t she? What did she offer you? How much money did she give you that you would so easily give up such a great role!”

Dong Ya stomped her feet in frustration. What in the world is going on?! Although she was worried about Shi Qing being bullied, the role of “Jiang Ke” was very important to Shi Qing. How could she measure its value in money?

It’s all my fault! Dong Ya had called Wei Jiuyi over, thinking her status as an award-winning actress would pressure Wen Yi, but after Shi Qing came out, she was so happy that she forgot to tell Wei Jiuyi. Wei Jiuyi must have been waiting in the parking lot for so long.

What should I do?

Dong Ya opened and closed her mouth a few times, wanting to help but afraid of making things worse. Wei Jiuyi must be furious, and Shi Qing must be just as mad at being misunderstood. What should I do?

Just as she was wondering whether to suggest they talk in the car, Shi Qing spoke.

“Wei Jiuyi.”

She used her full name.

Wei Jiuyi’s anger vanished immediately. Her hand on Shi Qing’s arm paused, and her fingers trembled slightly.

Shi Qing’s voice was a little hoarse, as if she were exhausted from a long day, or as if she were struggling to hold back a sob. “If I were going to compromise with her, I wouldn’t have brought you home in the first place.”

If she couldn’t tell the difference between a temporary inconvenience and a long-term career goal, how could she have seen the fierce, defiant look in Wei Jiuyi’s eyes through the rain and fog?

The soft words landed, and a microwave beeped in the distance. The sound went from her left ear to her right, and the hand holding her arm shamefully let go.

Shi Qing’s judgment was sharp. Wei Jiuyi was just a cat. When she got angry, she would throw things around, but a gentle stroke on the head would calm her down. She would retract her claws and just stare at you with her green eyes.

Wei Jiuyi looked like a child who had done something wrong. Her teeth twitched, and the darkness on her face faded, leaving only the coldness from her black trench coat.

“If she still gives you trouble, I can help.”

Shi Qing shook her head, a sigh in her voice. “Do you know why she came to me?”

Wei Jiuyi, of course, knew. “You took her role.”

Shi Qing hummed in agreement. “When you take someone’s role, you have to deal with the consequences. I only took a supporting role and this is what happens. So what about you? You won Best Actress right after you debuted, and your second movie is a leading role in Empress. Have you thought about how many people you’ve offended?”

Wei Jiuyi didn’t respond.

Shi Qing gave her a deep look. “Being too famous can be dangerous. You already have enough enemies to deal with. I don’t want you to make more because of me.”

Wei Jiuyi listened in silence. Her height of 173 cm didn’t give her any advantage. She hung her head, lost in thought. She didn’t agree or disagree; she was like a vast ocean. If you threw a rock into it, it would quickly sink to the bottom.

After a long while, she finally said, “My car is downstairs. Let’s go back together.”

Shi Qing gently refused. “No, it’s not a good idea for us to be seen together.”

She turned and left. Dong Ya, who was following behind her, couldn’t figure out what had just happened. How could a few words change both of their moods so drastically?

97’s face was still grim, but she seemed relieved. Shi Qing was smiling, but her mood had plummeted.

She really couldn’t figure these two out.