Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 20

“Don’t think your connections make you superior. I’ll repay every debt, one by one!”

Luo Hu gritted his teeth, snorted angrily, and stormed off to change, his heavy footsteps thudding loudly on the wooden floorboards, his fury palpable.

“What’s wrong? What happened? Aiyo, Brother Luo, what’s wrong?”

“How did you get food all over yourself?”

Luo Hu’s assistant rushed over at the commotion, and upon seeing his client’s disheveled state, immediately pulled out tissues to wipe him clean.

“Someone’s throwing their weight around, that’s all,” Luo Hu sneered, letting his assistant wipe him down while glaring sideways at Qin Zhi, who was still being tightly embraced by Sheng Mingluo.

“Tch—what’s so great about being a Three-Golden-Award-Winning Actress? I’ll just say, ‘Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don’t underestimate a young man in poverty!'”

“Alright, stop wiping. Go take a shower.”

The assistant, too frightened to reply, reluctantly put away the tissues. Judging by his boss’s words, it seemed a conflict had erupted between him and Big Shot Qin, the Best Actress.

“Are you okay?”

“What happened here?”

Fang Qing, summoned by the staff, stared at the scene in bewilderment. Someone brought a broom to sweep the area clean.

By the time Fang Qing arrived, she only saw Luo Hu’s furious retreating figure and the two women locked in a tight embrace. Sheng Mingluo’s face was etched with anxiety, her eyes pleading for help as she looked at Fang Qing.

“I’m fine. I just couldn’t stand him,” Qin Zhi said, trying to regain her composure. She relaxed her body, and the fingers gripping Sheng Mingluo’s hand loosened. Her long hair, slightly disheveled from Sheng Mingluo’s embrace, framed her face with an air of detached indifference.

She had reverted to her former aloof and icy Best Actress persona.

“My boss, my ancestor, you need to think before you act! What if the male lead quits?” Fang Qing clasped her hands together in a mock prayer.

“So what? He can act or not, it’s his choice.”

“The breach of contract penalty from the production company will cover finding a replacement actor.”

“And you… can you let go of me now?”

As if snapping out of a trance, Sheng Mingluo licked her dry lips, her shoes scraping against the ground as she took two steps back.

Feeling the warmth recede, Qin Zhi pressed her slender fingers to her forehead, threading them through her hair to sweep it behind her. A faint red mark lingered on the back of her pale hand.

The wind rustled through her dark hair, as if she hadn’t given the recent incident a second thought.

“Teacher Qin… aren’t you scared?” Sheng Mingluo murmured, her head bowed. She didn’t dare dwell on the potential consequences of that chaotic brawl.

During their previous collaboration, Luo Hu had always acted like a tyrant on set—a smiling tiger, outwardly affable but inwardly scheming, his true motives hidden.

Sheng Mingluo had been fortunate to have a small role and finish filming early. She shuddered to think what might have happened if she’d stayed longer.

“Scared of what? Did you see how I was just now? The only thing I fear is myself.”

“I’m afraid I might lose control.”

Those dark, piercing eyes locked onto her. Instead of showing anxiety about the fight, Qin Zhi grinned brightly.

“You, on the other hand… you’re as timid as a startled cat.”

The corners of Qin Zhi’s lips curled upward as she took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. Her fingertips pinched Sheng Mingluo’s jaw, forcing her to tilt her head back. Their red lips drew close, the skin of Sheng Mingluo’s jaw creasing slightly under Qin Zhi’s grip, her brow furrowing lightly.

“Why aren’t you afraid of me…?”

Sheng Mingluo’s red lips parted and closed. Qin Zhi had expected everyone to be terrified by the earlier scene, but she hadn’t anticipated Sheng Mingluo rushing forward to embrace her, repeatedly urging her to regain her composure.

So many people had shown her fear, whether it was terror or disgust.

“That’s because… Teacher Qin, you’re just sick.”

Sheng Mingluo’s words were slightly muffled by the pinch on her cheek, but her gaze remained earnest as she looked up at Qin Zhi.

Of course, I can’t say it’s because if I pull away, I’ll never get back. If she’s going to be a little crazy, so be it. At least I’ll get back first before cutting ties.

“You… you’d better think that way.”

Her acting wasn’t quite polished enough. Qin Zhi caught a flicker of panic in her eyes, but it didn’t matter. Withdrawing her fingers, Qin Zhi had already lost her appetite.

She watched the Best Actress’s retreating figure.

Sheng Mingluo rubbed her jaw, the pinching still stinging. Does having money make you think you can do whatever you want?!

“Today, we owe you everything. As the boss’s confidante, your kindness is beyond words.” Fang Qing winked at Sheng Mingluo before hurrying after Qin Zhi, fearing the temperamental star might cause another scene.

Whatever. This is just how the plot is supposed to go.

Sheng Mingluo sighed inwardly, recalling the day’s events.

Everyone’s a VIP these days. Is it really so hard for a regular person like me to make a living? Just trying to earn a decent meal is a struggle in this world.

News of the fight between Qin Yinghou and Luo Hu on set spread like wildfire. Most people sided with Luo Hu, as Qin Zhi’s notorious reputation in the industry was no secret.

Of course, they couldn’t say such things openly; they could only whisper about it privately.

“Sigh, did you hear? What did those two even fight about? It’s a shame I wasn’t there that day.”

“I heard Qin Yinghou hits really hard.”

Sitting in the shadows nearby, Sheng Mingluo was having her makeup touched up by the makeup artist. Today’s scene was her return to the mountain villa, where she witnessed the horrific aftermath of the arson and the massacre of her sect.

Sunlight streamed through the massive parasol, while Xu Yun held a small electric fan to cool Sheng Mingluo. The special effects makeup artist meticulously painted wounds onto her face.

From a distance, Sheng Mingluo could hear the staff gossiping clearly. Do they really have the nerve to talk so loudly? Do they think I’m deaf? she wondered, annoyed by their brazen scheming.

“Of course! I was there. You wouldn’t believe how badly Luo Hu got beaten. She even kicked him! His butt must be covered in bruises by now.”

As they talked, the group burst into laughter, clearly amused by the image of Luo Hu being utterly helpless against the beating.

“Holy crap! Do you know what they were fighting about? They’re not enemies, so they couldn’t have just started throwing punches out of nowhere, right?”

Eager for gossip, someone poked the storyteller’s shoulder, and everyone leaned in to listen.

“I think it was about Sheng Mingluo… I’m not sure exactly what happened. I was busy at the time, but when I looked up, I saw Luo Hu and Sheng Mingluo arguing and grabbing at each other. Then Qin Yinghou, looking furious, dumped her lunchbox right on him.”

“Holy sh1t! That’s wild! Sounds like a love triangle drama.”

“Oh my god, this industry is such a mess.”