Reborn! Entangled with the Obsessive Best Actress - Chapter 9

In the entertainment industry, it’s remarkably easy to smear someone’s reputation. All you need to do is exploit their personality flaws and strike hard, and you can effortlessly unearth their dirt.

After all, no one is perfect. A casual dirty joke or a harmless jest can easily be twisted out of context.

Peng Zhi’en had made a habit of this tactic, using it to sabotage his rivals and pave his own path to stardom.

His rat-like eyes darted around as he hatched another scheme. If he could arrange for someone to accidentally bump into Song Qingxing, she was sure to lose her temper.

By installing a hidden camera at the scene, he could capture the entire incident on video. By plunging Song Qingxing into a brief media frenzy, he would buy himself time to reconnect with Xie Jingcheng.

With this plan in mind, Peng Zhi’en began contacting members of the film crew. Had he been dealing with the old Song Qingxing, this tactic might have worked.

But unfortunately for him, the current Song Qingxing was a different person.

Someone who had endured scorn and clawed their way back up would never be so easily provoked by such petty humiliation.

Moreover, as public figures, celebrities have every minor flaw magnified infinitely. The old Song Qingxing had been spoiled rotten by her assistant, manager, agency, and fans, blinding her to this reality.

But now she could.

Because Song Qingxing had experienced it firsthand.

Today’s scene was simple and wouldn’t take long to film. Xie Jingcheng had already rehearsed it thoroughly in the morning.

When acting with Song Qingxing, she remained fully immersed in her role, but compared to her previous reckless performance, where she had completely disregarded Song Qingxing’s well-being, she was now much more restrained.

She was terrified that Song Qingxing might not be able to keep up, which would result in a disastrous scene that would go down in film history.

After a full day of filming, Song Qingxing felt utterly exhausted. Back when she was a top celebrity, she often slacked off and used stunt doubles, so she rarely felt physically tired. But now, fully committed to her role and refusing to use doubles, she had to work like a beast of burden.

“Let me support you,” Xie Jingcheng offered, naturally noticing Song Qingxing’s distress. Her breathing had become noticeably heavier, rapid, and even a little coquettish.

It was easy to misinterpret.

However, Xie Jingcheng was the epitome of self-restraint.

Such labored breathing meant nothing to her. Her composure remained as calm as a still pond.

“Thank you… my sugar daddy,” Song Qingxing said, genuinely too drained to maintain her facade. She tilted her head and rested it completely on Xie Jingcheng’s shoulder.

Her alluring breath brushed against the fine hairs on Xie Jingcheng’s neck, disturbing the tranquil surface of her composure like a pebble dropped into a still pond.

Xie Jingcheng’s composure shattered instantly, like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples across the surface.

Damn it!

How could this woman be so effortlessly alluring?

Xie Jingcheng’s fingers tightened slightly around Song Qingxing’s waist, an urge to pull her into a protective embrace rising within her. But she quickly released her grip.

No! I can’t lose control.

I can’t reveal my weakness.

“I don’t know why you’ve suddenly become so diligent these past few days, but haste makes waste, Qingxing. Things need to be done step by step.”

Xie Jingcheng led Song Qingxing out of the film set, completely unconcerned about whether anyone was taking photos of them.

She had made up her mind to go out with Song Qingxing outside the hotel earlier, and fear was never a factor.

No paparazzi would dare publish any compromising material about her without the Xie Family’s approval.

“You’re right,” Song Qingxing replied wearily. “But I can’t afford to relax now.”

Closing her eyes, she could still smell the musty, moldy air of her rented apartment. She truly couldn’t afford to be lazy anymore.

She embodied more than half of the seven deadly sins herself.

If she didn’t atone properly now, she was doomed to a life of mediocrity.

“It’s getting late. I’ll take you back to the hotel.”

Xie Jingcheng glanced at the sky, now dark with fiery red sunset clouds lingering on the horizon, the last remnants of the day’s glow.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Song Qingxing said, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Our relationship isn’t a burden,” Xie Jingcheng said with a smile as she approached her Porsche. She seemed to have grown accustomed to opening the car door, smoothly assisting Song Qingxing inside.

It was odd, considering she had rarely done such things before—serving or caring for others. These actions felt foreign to Xie Jingcheng.

Even with her younger sister, she hadn’t held her often. Not because she disliked her, but because the child was too noisy.

Back at the hotel, the blinding security cameras that had been outside were gone, perhaps due to Xie Jingcheng’s intervention.

As they stepped into the elevator, a girl holding a steaming cup of coffee rushed past, moving with surprising speed.

Song Qingxing barely had time to react.

The lid of the coffee cup seemed loosely secured, and scalding liquid spilled downward. Xie Jingcheng immediately raised her hand to shield Song Qingxing.

The dark brown coffee splashed across Xie Jingcheng’s face, cascading down to her chest. The scalding heat instantly flushed her face crimson.

The coffee dripped through Xie Jingcheng’s fingers.

The woman seemed momentarily stunned, never expecting Xie Jingcheng to sacrifice her reputation to shield Song Qingxing.

Panic surged through her.

Peng Zhi’en might protect her if she bullied Song Qingxing, but harming Xie Jingcheng would be like destroying a mountain of gold. She would undoubtedly face the harshest punishment.

“I’m sorry…”

The woman frantically pulled a tissue from her pocket and reached to wipe Xie Jingcheng’s face.

“You did this on purpose!”

But just then, her wrist was seized in a tight grip.

“Don’t think I don’t know you aimed right at me when you bumped into me!”

This wasn’t due to Song Qingxing’s sharp eyes or any supernatural perception. It was because, after her popularity waned, she had endured countless similar incidents.

“Now, keep your tissue away from Xie Jingcheng. It might be poisoned.”

Song Qingxing released the woman’s wrist and frantically rummaged through her own bag for tissues. Fortunately, she had wet wipes, which offered a slight cooling sensation compared to dry tissues.

But her lipstick and eyebrow pencil had also fallen to the floor.

People often panic in such situations.

Fingers tremble, limbs move clumsily.

Yu Zhi quickly helped pick up the scattered items and tear open a wet wipe. The bodyguard who had accompanied Xie Jingcheng had kept his distance to allow the two women more privacy.

This momentary lapse in vigilance had led to this incident.

Yu Zhi felt deeply remorseful.

She immediately called the hotel to request ice water and then contacted the hospital.

“It’s okay,” Xie Jingcheng said, remaining relatively calm. She first removed her coffee-soaked jacket, then went to Song Qingxing’s room and began unbuttoning her shirt.

Yu Zhi felt awkward.

“You should leave,” Song Qingxing said, waving her hand dismissively. “I’ll apply the ice packs and water when they arrive.”

By then, Xie Jingcheng had already unbuckled her belt, revealing her slender, pale legs.

Red marks stretched across her shoulder, chest, and waist—evidence of the scalding coffee’s intensity.

It was clear the attacker had intended to disfigure her.