SY - 81

Song Zhi was a bit stunned by the scolding.

She glanced at Song Luo, who was evidently also a bit baffled, not understanding why he was being yelled at.

A busy signal hummed from the phone.

After a long moment, Song Zhi finally asked him in confusion, “Did you, like, string her along?”

“I barely said a few words to her.”

He stretched his long legs, sat up from the sofa, and prepared to go outside for a cigarette.

The gossip-fueled blood in Song Zhi’s veins began to burn fiercely.

“No, wait, even though she has a bad temper and can be a bit bossy, she wouldn’t just curse at someone for no reason. Song Luo, honestly, did you get her pregnant?”

He frowned, the cigarette filter chewed up. “Am I some kind of asexual being?”

“Then why did she call you a scumbag?”

Song Luo frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, “Could it be that she’s mad I didn’t take her ‘order’?”

“Wow.”

Song Zhi fell silent.

Was Zhang Fanfan so desperate that she was looking for a gigolo?

No way.

Song Luo was too lazy to waste any more time on the matter; it had nothing to do with him anyway.

He was only polite to her because she was Song Zhi’s friend.

Whatever.

He grabbed his jacket and put it on. “I’m going out to buy a pack of cigarettes.”

Song Zhi frowned. “Smoke less.”

He was quite consistent in his smoking habit.

Jiang Yanzhou had even quit under her supervision.

Song Zhi felt it was truly necessary to find herself a sister-in-law.

________________________________________

A certain top-tier magazine held an anniversary celebration, and almost all the artists they had worked with were invited.

Song Zhi had just finished filming behind-the-scenes footage and was curled up in the makeup room texting Jiang Yanzhou.

That annoying man had been incredibly clingy lately. If she didn’t reply to his messages for a while, he’d ask her tearfully if she didn’t love him anymore.

Song Zhi complained to Xiao Xu, who just rolled her eyes in response.

“Sister Song Zhi, can you please stop showing off your love in front of a single dog like me?”

Song Zhi covered her face, blushing, and sighed, “It’s truly a sweet burden.”

Xiao Xu: “...”

After her hair and makeup were done, she decided to go to the restroom before changing clothes.

Because once she changed, going to the restroom would be a huge hassle.

That big skirt, just thinking about it made it seem difficult.

She had just arrived at the restroom when she ran into Zhang Fanfan touching up her makeup.

Her eyes were red and swollen, with dark circles underneath.

It was clear she had cried all night.

The two of them weren’t exactly compatible to begin with, and they always ended up bickering when they met.

“Oh dear, is this a breakup?”

Zhang Fanfan gave her a resentful look, uncharacteristically not retorting, and walked past her.

Song Zhi was a little puzzled. Could this thing also lead to guilt by association?

Was she hating her too, while hating Song Luo?

In the past, Zhang Fanfan was like a peacock with a fighting rooster’s spirit, always trying to be number one, no matter the event, strutting and showing off.

Today, she actually missed such a good opportunity.

She even bothered to fight for the center spot in collaborations, standing at the very edge with a disheartened expression.

This magazine was highly renowned in the fashion industry, so this anniversary celebration garnered a lot of attention.

Furthermore, almost all the former members of that girl group attended, and everyone was waiting to watch the drama unfold.

When it came to internal squabbles in the entertainment industry, SGIRL was the strongest.

Xiao Linghua, whose real name was Xu Ling, debuted as a child star, hence the cute stage name.

As the former lead vocalist and leader, Xiao Linghua and Zhang Fanfan would clash the moment they met.

The two of them were like fire on dry kindling—igniting at the slightest touch.

It was said that the former had just recognized a godmother and was thriving in the fashion industry.

Previously, out of fear of Zhang Fanfan’s family background, she never dared to unleash her full potential in their feuds. Now, with someone backing her, her confidence was bolstered.

Upon seeing her backstage, she didn’t hesitate at all and immediately started provoking her.

“Oh dear, those eyes look like they haven’t recovered from double eyelid surgery, have they? Which hospital did you go to? So I can avoid it in the future.”

Zhang Fanfan was already in a bad mood, and this little troublemaker just had to walk right into it.

She sneered mockingly, “That face of yours, with only your eyeballs being real and everything else man-made, can’t handle any more tossing around.”

Xiao Linghua had indeed had a lot of work done. On this point, she knew she was in the wrong, but it didn’t really affect her. She just took it as Zhang Fanfan being stubborn.

Zhang Fanfan clucked her tongue to her assistant, “Look at that, Sister Linghua’s miraculously crafted face. Modern medicine is too advanced; squinty eyes, buck teeth, and a flat nose can all be transformed into an eight-country mixed-race look.”

“You...!!”

Xiao Linghua was truly enraged now, her whole face pale.

Zhang Fanfan rolled her eyes. “Move aside quickly, Grandma, or I’ll spill the beans about your breast implants too.”

There were many people coming and going in the hallway. Xiao Linghua was terrified that she would actually shout it out loud.

After all, she was capable of doing something like that.

Just then, Lin Wangshu came out of the dressing room after changing.

The three quarrelsome figures of the entertainment industry just happened to meet.

Xiao Linghua didn’t like Zhang Fanfan and also looked down on Song Zhi.

She hated the latter out of envy.

Having a pretty face allowed her to have privileges. She would subtly flatter directors or producers, effortlessly securing good resources.

This time, she even latched onto a big sugar daddy.

Her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head. “Are flies swarming now, one after another?”

Song Zhi raised a hand and fanned it in front of her. “I was wondering why I could smell something from afar. After all these years, has sister not had her sweat gland surgery yet?”

She looked genuinely concerned, without a hint of insincerity.

But her words implied that Xiao Linghua had body odor.

Indeed, she did have a slight odor under her arms, but it was hereditary and not strong, easily covered by perfume.

No one else in the industry knew about it.

They only knew because back when they were in the group, they shared a training room every day and even lived together.

Xiao Linghua usually kept this secret well-hidden, terrified of others finding out.

She lowered her voice, warning Song Zhi, “You stop spouting nonsense here.”

Song Zhi’s attitude of admitting fault was good: “Sister, I’m sorry, I was being thoughtless.”

That exquisite little face was filled with wronged endurance.

Zhang Fanfan couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped forward, “No, Xu Ling, what did Song Zhi say to you that made you threaten her like that? Did she go around telling everyone you have body odor or put it on a billboard?”

Her shout was loud, and the busy people around them all turned their gaze over.

They watched the drama unfold while whispering amongst themselves.

“Xiao Linghua actually has body odor?”

“That’s absolutely insane. No wonder she sprays so much perfume.”

“I knew it! Her face just looked like she had body odor.”

“You could tell that?”

“Of course.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, it seems those rumors weren’t false after all. Xiao Linghua really was the group’s bully back then. It’s been so long since they disbanded, and she’s still bullying her former teammates, relying on her leader’s authority.”

Xiao Linghua’s face alternated between green and red, but she couldn’t flare up.

She could only accept her bad luck, suppressing her anger, and leaving. As she passed the two, she deliberately bumped their shoulders as if to vent her frustration.

Zhang Fanfan was practically overjoyed seeing her humbled.

She held it in until she entered the lounge before bursting out laughing.

Song Zhi opened a bottle of water, taking small sips, and asked her, “Not sad anymore?”

At her reminder, Zhang Fanfan suddenly remembered that she was still sad because of Song Luo.

She buried her head, not speaking.

Song Zhi leaned against the chair back, her long legs crossed. “Tell me, how did Song Luo string you along?”

She looked up. “How did you know?”

Song Zhi chuckled, “I answered the phone, of course I knew.”