The President Made Me Trend

“Well, I have to act alongside you for these scenes, don’t I? Shen Meng, your acting is so bad that the director’s voice is probably hoarse from shouting ‘cut’ repeatedly. How could I not feel exhausted? If you’re going to act, at least take it seriously. Dragging others down like this is truly disrespectful.”

Recognizing Shen Meng’s sour grapes, Mo Qinghuan retorted effortlessly, watching as Shen Meng’s face turned a mix of pale and flushed.

Gu Bei had claimed that since Mo Qinghuan was the lead actress, most of his scenes were with her. Shen Meng, on the other hand, had to interpret the script on her own, without the benefit of collaboration. This lack of discussion left her struggling to grasp the emotions and expressions of her character, Wu Shui, which often resulted in her missing the mark. The director had already called “cut” several times, and even the surrounding film crew members were beginning to worry about Shen Meng’s performance.

Trying to suppress her temper, Shen Meng couldn’t bear being mocked. She clenched her fists and snapped back, “You all deliberately exclude me when reading the script! Mo Qinghuan, what kind of charm do you have? Not only have you bewitched Mr. Lu, but even Gu Bei, who just met you, is completely smitten. Hmph!”

“Having charm is certainly better than lacking it, Shen Meng. Instead of obsessing over where my charm comes from, why not focus on your acting skills? Want to guess how likely your fans are to abandon you after watching your performance in the theater?”

Mo Qinghuan leaned closer to Shen Meng, lowering her voice in warning. “If you want to keep stirring trouble, I’ll gladly play along. But if you want to finish filming this movie and get out of here sooner, then stop creating unnecessary drama. Taking you down is no challenge for me. Think carefully about what you want to do.”

It wasn’t that Mo Qinghuan was backing down; she simply couldn’t afford to waste her energy juggling acting and verbal sparring with Shen Meng. Of course, if Shen Meng continued to claw at her, Mo Qinghuan wouldn’t hesitate to be the hunter who cut off her prey’s limbs.

After finishing a scene, Mo Qinghuan took a break. Watching her walk away, Shen Meng gritted her teeth in frustration. She dreamed of wrapping up the shoot quickly so she wouldn’t have to witness Lu Yucheng and Mo Qinghuan flaunting their affection anymore. Determined, she resolved to take her performance seriously.

Even as Mo Qinghuan sat down to rest, she still hadn’t spotted Lu Yucheng or Huo-Jie. Xiaoxue handed her a cup of water, which she accepted and sipped lightly, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of the two. But they were nowhere to be found. She asked, “Xiaoxue, do you know where Mr. Lu and Huo-Jie went?”

“I saw Mr. Lu pulling Huo-Jie aside earlier, looking all mysterious,” Xiaoxue replied honestly. As Mo Qinghuan’s assistant, she wouldn’t dare inquire about what secrets the two might be discussing.

So they had disappeared together. Mo Qinghuan narrowed her eyes, pondering the situation.

Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the film crew’s area, Huo-Jie was startled by Lu Yucheng’s question. “What? Mr. Lu, are you saying Qinghuan didn’t tell you about that incident? Sigh, Qinghuan is so stubborn. She clearly suffered, so why wouldn’t she speak up and let you handle it for her?”

“Enough with the nonsense. You’re Qinghuan’s agent. If she won’t speak, then you will,” Lu Yucheng demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. He wouldn’t tolerate anyone speaking poorly of Mo Qinghuan-not even Huo-Jie.

Realizing this, Huo-Jie quickly nodded and adopted a respectful tone, recounting the incident with Shen Meng and the photos in full detail, embellishing it slightly for effect. She concluded with a concerned expression, saying, “Mr. Lu, Shen Meng has gone too far. She showed those staged photos to almost everyone in the film crew. Even though some people know it was all Shen Meng’s scheme, many still believe there’s something going on between you two, with Qinghuan painted as the homewrecker. Mr. Lu, you must help Qinghuan!”

“This matter started because of me, so of course, I won’t stand idly by. Don’t worry-I won’t let Qinghuan suffer any longer,” Lu Yucheng assured her.

Huo-Jie thought she saw a deep, intimidating glint in Lu Yucheng’s eyes. She knew Shen Meng’s days of causing trouble were numbered, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

Lu Yucheng then called his secretary and instructed, “Arrange dinner with that person tonight. Make sure it’s at the most exclusive venue.”

That person? Huo-Jie had no idea who Lu Yucheng was referring to, but seeing that it was getting late, she excused herself. “Mr. Lu, Qinghuan still needs me back at the set. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Go ahead,” Lu Yucheng replied. But just as Huo-Jie was about to walk away, he called her back with a somber expression. “Also, let Qinghuan know I have an important company meeting tonight and won’t be able to join her for dinner. Tell her to rest well.”

Huo-Jie nodded and watched as Lu Yucheng strode away. When she returned to the film crew, she noticed Mo Qinghuan’s gaze seemed off, as if she had been waiting for her. Feeling awkward, Huo-Jie forced a smile and said, “Qinghuan, have you finished your scenes? Does this mean the shoot will wrap in the next couple of days? I had a stomachache earlier and went to the restroom. You wouldn’t believe how unsanitary the crew’s facilities are…”

“I sent Xiaoxue to look for you in the restroom earlier,” Mo Qinghuan interrupted, her voice carrying a hint of danger. Huo-Jie froze, glancing at Xiaoxue, who was shaking her head. Mo Qinghuan had seen through her lie instantly, leaving Huo-Jie speechless.

Mo Qinghuan then smiled faintly and continued, “Did you find the crew’s restroom so dirty that you decided to go to a cleaner one farther away?”

“That’s right, Qinghuan. You’re so sharp-that’s exactly it. The crew’s restroom is unbearable, and you know I have a bit of a cleanliness obsession,” Huo-Jie quickly latched onto the excuse Mo Qinghuan had provided, hoping to smooth things over. But just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Mo Qinghuan suddenly slammed her hand on the table.

The loud noise startled both Huo-Jie and Xiaoxue. Mo Qinghuan, visibly upset, demanded, “Huo-Jie, when did you start lying to me? What did you say to Yucheng? Tell me the truth!”

“Qinghuan, it’s not my fault. Mr. Lu insisted on asking-he’s just too concerned about you,” Huo-Jie admitted, realizing she couldn’t hide the truth any longer. She sighed, lamenting Mo Qinghuan’s strong-willed nature. Why insist on solving everything alone when Lu Yucheng was willing to step in and make things easier?

As expected, Mo Qinghuan had guessed correctly. Lu Yucheng hadn’t ignored her silence; he had simply chosen not to pressure her, opting to question Huo-Jie instead. Frowning, Mo Qinghuan looked at Huo-Jie’s puzzled expression and finally explained her reasoning. “Ever since Yucheng and I got together, he’s faced a lot of rumors and slander. I don’t want to add to his worries because of me. Huo-Jie, please, if you plan to report anything in the future, get my approval first, okay?”

“Understood, Qinghuan. Please don’t be angry,” Huo-Jie replied awkwardly. But she couldn’t help but wonder-if the person you’re reporting to already knows, can it still be called reporting?