Chapter 24: Tell Me Where She Is

Shen Li, who had always been the most obedient to her sister, understood immediately.

"I understand, Sister. I stopped being sad a long time ago; I was just feeling a bit wronged."

Shen Ci smiled upon hearing this. "Since you like this industry, you must be prepared for emergencies at all times. Don't let your tears flow easily. The entertainment industry is ever-changing; it's entirely possible that before you've even wiped away the tears from feeling wronged, an even better role will come looking for you in the next second."

Shen Li nodded with a smile. Beside her, Zhao Meina also added, "Sister is right. Besides, our teacher said in our very first class at school that there are only small actors, no small roles. Shen Li is so beautiful that even if she plays an extra, she will definitely be remembered."

"Exactly, exactly."

Her roommates nodded in agreement.

With roommates like these supporting her, Shen Ci felt much more at ease, even if she wasn't by her sister's side.

However, the next day, Xu Zishan deliberately sat near Shen Li in the cafeteria to show off.

"Shanshan, you're really something, securing such an 'important' role without making a sound."

"Right, 'A-Yu' is the character with the most screen time among those auditioned that day, isn't she?"

"In the original novel, this character also has the most scenes among all the maids; she doesn't even exit the story until the later stages."

Several students from Class 8 crowded around Xu Zishan, flattering her. Everyone privately knew that her father had invested money into the production.

Her family had the resources, so she was bound to be the one to stand out among her peers in the future. Therefore, even though everyone knew she was a "sponsored talent," they still wanted to stay on her good side.

Xu Zishan glanced at Shen Li and said in a tone that couldn't hide her smugness, "Maybe the director thinks I have potential. Anyway, I feel like I could play anyone; I don't really mind."

After saying this, she gave a slight, innocent nod, as if she were affirming her own words.

Shen Li and her friends were sitting at the adjacent table, so they naturally heard everything. Wang Chuhan rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Bringing capital into a production and then wanting to brag to the whole world—how shameless."

"Exactly." Sun Yuan curled her lip and placed a piece of pork rib onto Shen Li's plate. "Shen Li, don't pay her any mind. Anyone who gets involved with people like that will just have bad luck."

If it hadn't been for her sister's words yesterday, Shen Li would surely still be spiraling into internal conflict.

But after reflecting on her sister's analysis, she realized that for a newcomer's debut, playing a villain was indeed not a very clever move. Furthermore, the character of "A-Yu" was unfaithful and ungrateful, with a particularly malicious and ugly personality. During her audition, she had only performed a small segment of the plot; if she actually joined the crew, she might not be able to fully inhabit such a wicked role.

Being replaced wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Seeing her calm expression, her friends exchanged glances, knowing she truly didn't care. Zhao Meina said with a smile, "Sister's words really do work."

In the evening, Shen Ci rummaged through the designer clothes she had recently bought in her dormitory, thinking she should dress more formally for the cocktail party.

However, after trying on a whole round, she realized that although she had bought a pile of designer items, not a single one was intended for a cocktail party. After all, she had never imagined she would be invited to an investor's gala.

"I have a Dolce & Gabbana dress, it's new. Do you want to try it on?" Gu Lianxing suggested, leaning against the bed frame.

Shen Ci scanned Gu Lianxing's supermodel-like slender figure and looked hesitant. "I probably won't be able to fit into your dress, will I?"

"I bought a loose version; you should be able to wear it."

As she spoke, Gu Lianxing pulled out her suitcase and began searching. Before long, she pulled a dress in a dust bag from the very bottom.

Shen Ci put it on to try it, and to her surprise, it fit perfectly.

At the very least, it looked much more professional than her own clothes.

Gu Lianxing patted a chair. "Sit down, I'll give you some big waves."

Looking at the curling iron in Gu Lianxing's hand, Shen Ci subconsciously touched her right forearm. Suppressing the discomfort in her heart, she shook her head. "No thanks, I don't like curly hair."

Gu Lianxing didn't notice anything unusual and simply nodded. "You're beautiful; you'll look good no matter what."

At the Huading Starlight Building, 7:00 PM, Shen Ci arrived as scheduled.

"Miss Shen, you're very punctual."

Lu Jinzhao had rushed out to meet her the moment he received the message. Even though Shen Ci was wearing borrowed clothes and hadn't done her hair specifically, the admiration in Lu Jinzhao's eyes was hard to hide.

It was a casual yet low-key beauty.

He gallantly extended his arm, and Shen Ci gracefully took it. It was merely the social etiquette between men and women at an upper-class party; there was nothing to avoid.

Little did they know that the moment the two entered the banquet hall, their walking silhouettes were captured by a camera shutter.

"Qiqi, what are you photographing? Do you know them?"

In the distance down the corridor, Lin Biqi let out a triumphant snort. "Hmph, that girl just now is the Shen Ci I told you about—the one trying to seduce Brother Li Xiao. I've looked into it; the school is buzzing with rumors that Shen Ci broke up with Brother Li Xiao abruptly. There must be something fishy going on. Brother Li Xiao must suspect she's already found a replacement. I didn't expect I'd actually catch them on camera today."

As she spoke, she sent the photo she had taken to Li Xiao.

[Brother Li Xiao, is this the kind of woman you're still pining for?]

Li Xiao had waited for three days at the West District female dormitory without seeing Shen Ci. He had happened to go home today, and unexpectedly received such a photo.

In the photo, Shen Ci was wearing a black dress, with nearly half of her fair, beautiful back exposed. It created a strong visual impact against the black fabric—a beauty so unrestrained that it felt piercing to Li Xiao.

She had always been conservative; even when he had begged her to wear black stockings once, she had refused. Now, she was dressing so sexily for another man?

[Where is this?]

Li Xiao's fingers were trembling uncontrollably as he typed. His eyes were fixed intensely on the photo on the screen, as if he were about to breathe fire.

At the dining table, Li Xiao's parents noticed their son's abnormality and instinctively exchanged a glance.

Li's mother asked concernedly, "Son, what's wrong?"

Li Xiao gripped his phone, acting as if he hadn't heard his mother's voice.

Lin Biqi did not reply immediately after receiving Li Xiao's message. She knew he must be furious right now.

But it wasn't enough. She wanted to make him anxious and violent. Once his anger reached its peak, she would definitely make that Shen Ci pay!

Just as Li's mother was about to step forward to check on him, Li Xiao, unable to wait any longer for a reply, suddenly grabbed the wine glass in front of him and smashed it to pieces!

"Ah—!"

Li's mother let out a startled scream. Only then did Li's father speak up to scold him, "Xiao-zai! What kind of madness is this all of a sudden?"

"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry." Li Xiao took a deep, forceful breath, struggling to suppress the surging rage in his chest. He sent another message to Lin Biqi, demanding an answer: [Tell me where she is immediately, or don't ever show your face to me again.]

Looking at the message, Lin Biqi's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Even through the screen, she could feel Brother Li Xiao's fury.

She replied unhurriedly: [Huading Starlight Building, Top Floor, V8 Banquet Hall.]