ON SET
"WHY?!"
A loud screech pierced through the air, attracting the attention of everyone around.
The crew had all been in position and the makeup artists were doing some final touch ups while waiting for Director Li to returned. They had perked up when they saw a figure approaching, but it was Mo Rui Han instead, and he was wearing a dark expression.
However, when Director Li did return, he had walked past them towards Xia Ting's trailer with a complicated expression on his face.
The crew had all gathered and whispers broke out amongst them as they could hear an argument happening inside.
Xing Yu was slightly curious, and tried to focus on her character instead, when Xia Ting's loud 'WHY' had distracted her.
Everyone was now even more interested. What could be happening inside?
Just as they were all about to die from curiosity, the door to the trailer flew open and slammed against the trailer violently as Xia Ting stormed out.
Director Li and Xia Ting's manager, Zhang Ru Yi, tailed behind her, both with equally distressed expressions.
A few of the crew members and extras who were friendly with Xia Ting spoke up.
"Sis Ting, what happened?"
"Why are you so upset, Xia Ting?"
Liu Xing Yu's attention had also been captured by Xia Ting. She watched as Xia Ting ignored the concerned questions and headed straight towards her, almost like a bull storming towards a red flag!
Xing Yu masked her surprise as quickly as it came. She stood still, waiting to see what the girl was about to do. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Xia Ting's hand reach towards her and she could not dodge in time.
Pain burned through her scalp as Xia Ting gripped clumps of Xing Yu's hair within her hands and pulled.
"Ah!" Xing Yu cried out instinctively.
"YOU BITCH!" Screeched Xia Ting, her eyes furious.
Xing Yu was confused by her words, but first organised her priorities. First... let's get out of this... it hurts.
With an annoyed expression, Liu Xing Yu gripped Xia Ting's wrist, hard. Although she wasn't the strongest, she still had quite a bit of power, and Xia Ting screamed in pain when her grip tightened. Mo Rui Han had moved to help Liu Xing Yu, but upon seeing that she could handle herself, he stepped back.
Feeling that Xia Ting had released her grip on her hair and stopped pulling, Liu Xing Yu released her hand and stared at her.
"What's the matter?" She asked calmly. Seeing her apathetic attitude, Xia Ting got even more riled up.
This bitch was trying to act innocent?
"YOU STOLE MY ROLE AND YOU STILL DARE TO ASK ME WHAT THE MATTER IS?" Xia Ting's voice got even louder and more hysterical. Her chest was heaving as she breathed heavily from anger.
Hearing this, everyone broke out into whispers again, and even Xing Yu was so surprised that her calm facade slipped. She tried to understand the situation at hand.
I stole her role?
No matter how much Xing Yu thought about it, she couldn't figure out what was happening. She eventually turned to Director Li.
"Director Li, what does she mean?" She said, puzzled. Director Li had an unwilling expression on his face, but got interrupted before he could even respond.
"Stop trying to act innocent! You must've done something to get my role in this film, something despicable!" Xia Ting shouted, her eyes filled with hate. When Director Li had told her about the change earlier, she had kicked up a big fuss and even called her agency, only to be told that the decision was final. No one told her why or how this happened, but Xia Ting was sure that the bitch Liu Xing Yu had used some underhanded means!
How else would she get this role!
Upon hearing her words, Xing Yu and everyone around understood what had happened.
Liu Xing Yu was replacing Xia Ting as the main lead!
Xing Yu's eyebrows lifted and her mouth opened in surprise. Where was this even coming from?
However, even in her shock, she caught what Xia Ting was trying to imply with her words, and so did everyone else. She was trying to say that Liu Xing Yu had slept with someone for her role! Xia Ting, your viciousness really is a force to be reckoned with!
"You're really something! Really, really something! To think you would even resort to such underhanded means to steal from me!" Cried Xia Ting, purposely trying to add oil to the fire.
Everyone around started to glare and Liu Xing Yu, believing that she had pulled dirty tricks.
Xing Yu wanted to retaliate, because she had never sold her own dignity for a role! But she didn't even know what was going on, and even she herself knew that this was extremely unusual and suspicious. How was she to prove herself?
From a corner, Director Li suddenly felt immense pressure that chilled his blood. He looked weakly at Mo Rui Han, only to feel his soul leave his body.
He looked furious!
Director Li immediately understood what Mo Rui Han wanted him to do.
"Aiya... Xia Ting, that's not the case... our investors called and said that they believed this would be a good opportunity for a talented actress like Liu Xing Yu to further her career! They picked her because she has talent!" Director Li insisted, inserting himself in between the two women.
"Which investor?" Xia Ting's eye's narrowed. She knew that her company had contributed the most, and it was only because she had begged Mr Pang, one of the members of StarTime's board of directors, to secure her a role in this film! No other investor could have a bigger say in such decisions except StarTime.
Hearing her words, Director Li sweated profusely. He cast a sideways glance at Mo Rui Han, only to see him shake his head stiffly.
Although the exchange was quick and subtle, Xing Yu had caught it immediately, and she looked from Director Li to Mo Rui Han, the gears in her mind turning.
Director Li's mind was also running a mile a minute.
Your grandmother! How was he supposed to explain this to them if Mo Rui Han won't let him reveal his interference in the matter! From the earlier interaction, Director Li knew that he should not reveal that Mo Rui Han was behind this, unless he wanted to die!
Thinking, Director Li decided that there was nothing he could do except lie. After all, Mo Rui Han had said that he would be responsible for any issues with StarTime, so he felt a bit more emboldened.
"StarTime Entertainment!" Declared Director Li confidently.
"My company? Why would my company let this bitch steal my role! Don't be ridiculous!" She snapped.
"Did you forget that it's also Liu Xing Yu's company? Is it not normal for them to promote their own artists? You're already very famous, so they wanted her in the main lead to boost her career!" He snapped back, growing more and more confident. Also, he wasn't a fan of how Xia Ting was talking to him.
Hearing this, those who didn't know about Xing Yu's problem within the company felt that it made sense. However, those from StarTime and others in the know still felt that something was fishy. Wasn't she blacklisted within the company?
Xia Ting was thinking the same thing, and her blood boiled. Did she sleep with Mr Pang? Or another big shot in the company? That thought angered her. Liu Xing Yu only belonged in one place, and that was below her!
However, just then, Xia Ting had an idea and smirked. Fine, Liu Xing Yu could use connections, but she still had no talent! Let's see how she'll get through this!