Chapter 9

Xitang knew what he was looking at. During those days of suffering day and night after the surgery, as the bandages were peeled off one by one, she was no longer afraid of any gaze. “To look better on camera, of course.”

Zhao Pingjin was noncommittal. “You were pretty enough before.”

Xitang still smiled, “The doctor said that by opening up the corners of my eyes, my facial features would be more three-dimensional.

Zhao Pingjin disapproved, “You looked better before.”

“I appreciate Mr. Zhao’s compliments,” Xitang didn’t mind and smiled, as if he was talking about someone else.

Zhao Pingjin wasn’t going to let her off the hook, “If you’ve had plastic surgery, why are you still filming so many crappy movies?”

When Xitang talked about acting, she suddenly became sincere, “Oh, don’t say that. That’s just how the industry is these days. Whether you go deep into a role or just skim the surface, as long as the audience can enjoy it, that’s a good thing.”

Her attitude was impeccable. This unfamiliar Huang Xitang even impressed Zhao Pingjin.

She had changed so much, her personality, appearance, and demeanor, everything had changed.

When he saw her again in that chaotic film set in Hengdian, it was a truly painful experience. Her voice and smile seemed to still linger in his memory, but it was as if she had suddenly become a different person. She had abandoned everything, even willing to change her face. He liked her original appearance, and even though he had deliberately tried to forget her over the years, he himself almost forgot what she originally looked like.

It was the way he had loved so much. Why would she go under the knife? Just thinking about it made him angry.

The maid, Meiyi, called from outside the living room, “Mr. Zhao?”

Zhao Pingjin said to Huang Xitang, “Come out.”

On the coffee table in the living room, there was a bowl of steaming noodles and two pairs of chopsticks.

The aroma of food filled the air. Xitang sniffed and narrowed her eyes, unable to help but swallow.

Zhao Pingjin pushed the bowl and chopsticks in front of her, “Help yourself.”

Xitang said self-consciously, “I’m not hungry.”

Zhao Pingjin raised his eyes, “Are you hungry or not?”

Xitang nodded reflexively, then paused and shook her head resolutely.

Female celebrities almost didn’t even drink water after four o’clock. That’s how they survived.

Zhao Pingjin glanced at her coldly, “Eat if you want to, don’t if you don’t.”

Xitang looked at him. The noodles were thin, the broth was rich, and there were two golden poached eggs. Zhao Pingjin elegantly drank half a bowl of soup.

She whispered, “Is it past twelve o’clock?”

Zhao Pingjin glanced at his watch and nodded.

Xitang took a spoon, stirred the noodles, and took a small sip. The chicken broth was extremely delicious. She hypnotized herself, “This counts as tomorrow’s portion.”

Zhao Pingjin glanced at her indifferently, “Don’t torture yourself like that, you don’t have the life for it.”

Xitang buried her head and ate a few noodles, then suddenly looked up at him, “Zhao Pingjin, are you married?”

Zhao Pingjin wiped his hands with a napkin on the porcelain plate, paused when he heard this, and his dark eyes, like deep pools, showed no emotion. “Why are you asking that?”

Xitang’s voice was very calm, “Your family always wanted you to get married.”

Zhao Pingjin threw the napkin on the table, stood up, pointed at her bowl, and said coldly and expressionlessly, “Finish it. If you don’t finish it, I’ll deduct ten thousand yuan from your salary this month.”

The next day, Zhao Pingjin went out to do some business.

Xitang was home alone.

She had taken two days off from the crew, and luckily, since she wasn’t the lead actress, the crew had rescheduled her shooting time. She got up early in the morning and was memorizing lines in the living room on the second floor.

Around noon, the maid, Meiyi, came in and said, “Miss Xitang, someone is looking for you at the door.”

Her voice was a little excited.

The driver of the house followed the maid and mumbled, “Mr. Zhao is not home, and you’re not allowed to let anyone in.”

The maid reported proudly to Xitang, “It’s Wu Zhenzhen, a big movie star. I’ve seen her movies.”

Wu Zhenzhen came to see her.

When Xitang went downstairs and saw her, she was wearing a high-end fashion, and after taking off her sunglasses, her makeup and hairstyle were impeccable. No wonder the maid recognized her at a glance.

Wu Zhenzhen saw her bald head, widened her eyes, and couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh my, you really did it.”

Xitang smiled awkwardly, “Zhenzhen.”

Wu Zhenzhen looked around, “Is Mr. Zhao in? I heard someone saw his car at the Jin Mao Grand Hyatt last night.”

Xitang said, “He’s out.”

It was awkward for the two of them to just stand there, so Xitang thought for a moment and said, “Please sit down.”

Wu Zhenzhen sat down. Huang Xitang, with a single sentence, had already assumed the posture of a hostess. She finally came to her senses and said sourly, “I came here just to see for myself. You’ve been with the company for over two years, and I’ve completely overlooked you.”

Xitang had no way to refute it. Wu Zhenzhen thought she was lucky, but in reality, she was just being manipulated. She had experienced it once before. When you’re with people like them, you’re living in a dream.

Zhao Pingjin’s methods of dealing with women were simple and crude, but they were effective. With the illusory vanity of fine clothes and jewelry, believing that they were favored and cared for, when he turned his face on them one day, it would make you fall to pieces.

Wu Zhenzhen said, “I heard that the last woman who lived in this house was Wu Meici.”

Wu Meici, a movie queen, a great beauty.

“It’s a never-ending cycle of beautiful women in a golden house.”

“You’re quite open-minded.”

“Zhenzhen, I learn from you.”

The two of them looked at each other and couldn’t help but smile. Wu Zhenzhen’s smile was as bright as a peach blossom, and it was no wonder she had been so popular for so many years.

Wu Zhenzhen was a little surprised, “I’ve heard more about you from the company recently. When I looked through the old files, I didn’t realize that you were in ‘Orange Boy’.”

Xitang smiled awkwardly, “That was a long time ago.”

“I was still in my third year of college when the film won an award. The film wasn’t released domestically, but I still have some impressions. It was highly praised in the industry.”

“I don’t dare to take credit for that.”

Wu Zhenzhen asked curiously, “Why did you stop acting later?”

Xitang hesitated for a second, then answered calmly, “Something happened.”

Wu Zhenzhen was an old hand in the industry and didn’t ask further. She just looked around the house and said kindly, “If you have any resources, choose your scripts carefully. You’re actually... very suitable for acting.”

Xitang simply replied, “I do enjoy acting.”

Wu Zhenzhen discreetly took in the luxurious furnishings of the house, “What kind of background does Zhao Pingjin have? Is he from Beijing or Shanghai?”

Xitang shook her head, “I’m not really sure.”

Xitang sighed inwardly. Even Wu Zhenzhen, who had been in a relationship with him, seemed completely unaware of his identity. It was true, Zhao Pingjin’s network of connections was layered, and his identity was heavily protected. How could ordinary people easily see through it?

Suddenly, a car horn sounded in the garden. The two women, who were engrossed in their conversation, heard the driver’s loud greeting, “Mrs. Zhou, you’re here!”

Wu Zhenzhen looked out the window, “Who is that?”

A middle-aged woman in a light-colored suit, wearing an Hermès silk scarf, with her hair styled in a fixed wave, walked towards the house with her head held high.

Xitang, however, jumped up like a startled bird, “That’s Zhao Pingjin’s mother.”

Wu Zhenzhen said excitedly, “Really?”

She was a master at networking in the circle. Xitang didn’t care about that anymore and pulled her aside, saying, “Don’t say there’s anyone else here.”