A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

She carefully asked him, “Chairman Du, were you the one who crafted a plan to kick Jiang Bilian out?”

On the other end, Du Zheng did not directly answer her. He only said, “Jiang Bilian did not respect the rules and made Mengqi really angry, so it affected the shooting schedule and progress. I am really unhappy about this and told the director to follow the rules and get rid of those who got in inappropriately and replace them with people who were actually selected in the audition.”

That was why the director sincerely invited Xia Yingluo back.

Unexpectedly, she rejected him.

“So that was what happened.” Jin Ling’er sighed. “Yingluo said that no matter what, she was unwilling to accept this role.”

Du Zheng asked, “Is she throwing a tantrum?” He knew that this girl had a large temper and when she was stubborn, she did not care about anything.

However, Jin Ling’er misunderstood him. In fear, she said, “Chairman Du, don’t be angry. Yingluo doesn’t know that you put in some effort to help her. If not, regardless of how brave she is, she wouldn’t dare to reject you.”

“Well then, is there room for negotiation?” Du Zheng asked.

Ever since Yingluo left home, Shaohui and the rest really missed her, but they were unable to contact her because of the rules. If they were able to see her in a film that the Du Family Corporation was involved in, Du Zheng could secretly take care of her and ease her brother’s mind.

Jin Ling’er was even more fearful. “Chairman Du, Yingluo is really unable to partake in the filming. I… I’ll let you in on something, but you have to promise me not to tell anymore.” After getting Du Zheng’s reassurance, she finally said, “Recently, Yingluo hasn’t been feeling well. When she feels tired, her entire body will ache and she needs a lot of rest. That’s why she isn’t able to film. It’s not because she has something against the crew.”

In a few words, Du Zheng was shocked. “Is she sick?”

“I don’t know what strange disease it is.” Jin Linger frowned slightly. “Even the doctors can’t find the cause. Once, she was in so much pain that she almost fainted. Chairman Du, you really can’t tell anyone about this! If it spreads, the training camp may look down on her because she’s sick and kick her out. What is she going to do then?”

“I won’t tell,” Du Zheng said, frowning. That girl was always healthy, so why did she suddenly fall sick? It can’t be that she’s lying, right? However, it was possible that Xia Yingluo might do something like that.

What if it was a real sickness?

A strange illness that even the doctors could not identify.

No way. He could not be an observer.

In a flash, Du Zheng made up his mind. He said to Jin Ling’er, “Since she can’t film that role and it’s hard to find a suitable actress in a short time frame, how about you replace her?”

“Huh? Me?” Jin Ling’er felt dizzy as a role seemed to fall into her lap. “I… I… Can I do it?” She was not outstanding and only an average student in her acting class. Even if she attended an audition, she would not be able to stand out. “Chairman Du, why don’t you choose someone else from the audition?”

Du Zheng said, “The rest of them have some clashes in the schedule.” In reality, that female assassin role was very small and those who auditioned were not famous. Only a few days of work was required for the filming of the role, and it was not possible that the schedules of those actresses were filled up so quickly. He only used that as an excuse to get Jin Ling’er on board.

Jin Ling’er was elated by this huge surprise and believed him without thinking much about it. “Sure. As long as you don’t look down on me, Chairman Du, I will definitely shoot. Thank you!” At this time, she felt that Du Zheng was really a good person and completely forgot about the conflict she had with him outside the film set.

She happily hung up the phone, rushed to the dormitory and told Xia Yingluo the good news.

Xia Yingluo just came out from the bathroom after taking a shower and a light cherry-colored bath towel was wrapped around her soft body. Water dripped from her long black hair and fell on her white skin. She looked enchanting.

She was really happy for Jin Ling’er. As she dried her hair, she smiled. “Good luck. Make sure you act well.”

However, she had her doubts. “Why did the crew look for you?”

Jin Ling’er could not hide it any longer and told her about how she went to the film set to complain about the unfairness of the situation and met Du Zheng.

After hearing Du Zheng’s name, Xia Yingluo paused in her movements. “Du Zheng from the Du Family Corporation? You told him that I was called Xia Yingluo?”

“Yes, and I even showed him your photo.”

Oh no, she was recognized. No wonder the attitude of the crew towards her completely changed. It was definitely due to something Du Zheng did. She would definitely reject this role, but since it was given to Jin Ling’er, she could not obstruct her good friend’s career progression due to the rules in the Li Family.

She could only turn a blind eye.

Since Du Zheng pretended that he did not do this for her, she also pretended that she did not know about this.

She encouraged Jin Ling’er a few more times before crawling into bed to sleep.

The next day, Jin Ling’er packed her things and joined the crew, leaving her alone in the huge dormitory.

Xia Yingluo had few friends in the training camp. Now that Jin Ling’er was not here and Jiang Bilian’s group regarded her as a thorn in the side, she actually felt quite lonely.

She received Wei Lingnan’s call and was reminded that it was time for their weekly meeting.

This time, the place she went to was a villa that he gave her. The tall man stood in a building that had a surreal science fiction style to it, and he was unexpectedly coordinated with it. He was making a cocktail at the silver-grey bar, and the way he skillfully poured the different kinds of alcohol was a sight to behold.

Xia Yingluo put her chin in her hand as she looked at him.

“Do I look good?” He asked as he pushed a cocktail glass in front of her.

“Yes.” She took it and shook the crystal glass. The man in front of her was clearly a dangerous person, but somehow, she was slowly used to having him around.

She took a sip of the cocktail.

The bitterness was mixed with sweetness. It was a strange combination.

“What kind of alcohol is this?” she asked.

“A celebratory cocktail,” he said. “I only have the recipe. Many ingredients could not be found, so I could only try some alternatives. I even dissolved the antidote in it for you.”

Xia Yingluo did not know what the original cocktail tasted like, but she thought that the one he made was good and she took another sip.

Wei Lingnan said, “Congratulations.”

Xia Yingluo asked, “Why are you congratulating me?”

“Congratulations on successfully defeating Jiang Bilian and stealing the role from her.”

“You know about this?”

“I know everything about you.”

Xia Yingluo looked at him. “Firstly, I didn’t make Jiang Bilian’s role disappear. She was the one responsible for her demise because she offended Yang Mengqi. Secondly, are you monitoring me? Why can’t you let me off the hook with this small matter?”

Wei Lingnan lowered his gaze and made another cocktail for himself. “I am always concerned about you.”