Xia Liyou opened her groggy sleepy eyes, revealing a soft smile. "What's up? Why are you so happy?"
Just by hearing her voice, one could feel her exuberance, as if she was prancing joyfully on her own.
After Ai Wei had laughed for a while, she finally subsided her joy, and spoke: "You know what? Qi Guanguan's role of the second female lead has been cut off. So satisfying! She thought she was so great just because her family has some money. The director dismissed her without a second word this morning. Although I didn't see Qi Guanguan's expression, I feel so delighted just thinking about it."
Saying that, Ai Wei began laughing again at the other end of the phone.
Listening to her hearty laughter, Xia Liyou zoned out for a moment.
When was the last time she laughed heartily and exuberantly like Ai Wei?
All she remembered was Ou Chengtian's words: "If it weren't for your nosiness, I wouldn't even spare you a glance. Do you know how annoying your laugh is?"
Although, Xia Liyou never quite understood how her meddling had bothered him, it was those words that made her gradually restrain her laughter. She was afraid—afraid of annoying another person like Ou Chengtian.
The current Xia Liyou, doesn't want any more trouble.
"Liyou, Liyou, are you listening?" Ai Wei shouted into the phone, thinking, did her laughter scare Liyou off?
Liyou came back to her senses and let out a small chuckle, "Go ahead, I'm still here."
Ai Wei exhaled in relief and said with a hint of empathy, "Although Qi Guanguan is gone, your scenes have to be reshot. Additionally, I don't know what the director was thinking, but he's changed your role again."
Xia Liyou's expression remained unflustered. She calmly asked, "When will I be shooting my parts?"
"There are two scenes tonight, will you come directly or should I pick you up?"
Xia Liyou was taken aback, replied with a wait, and jumped out of her bed. Before she could even put her slippers on, she raced to the mirror to check the marks on her body.
Although they had faded quite a bit compared to last night, they were still prominent.
The faint and deep red marks stood out starkly on her fair skin.
As they were shooting a summer play, her neck and arms would be visible, and inevitably, these marks would be noticed.
"Ai Wei, I have been feeling unwell recently. Could I film my parts in a few days?" Xia Liyou hesitantly broached her request. Although she knew the chances of her request being accepted were slim, she wanted to try.
Ai Wei anxiously asked, "Liyou, are you unwell? Have you seen a doctor? Do you want me to take you to the hospital now?"
With Ai Wei's barrage of concern, Xia Liyou felt the warmth in her heart.
Ai Wei was a colleague, and also her friend. Aside from Ai Wei, no one showed concern for her like this.
A small smile crossed Xia Liyou's face, warm and beautiful. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I just can't go out these days. Can you ask the director for a few days' leave for me?"
Ai Wei hesitated for a moment before answering, "I'll try. If it doesn't work out, we simply won't film the play."
"If we really don't film it, aren't you afraid that Ai Ge will chase you down and scold you?" Xia Liyou teased.
"Well, let him scold me. He can't kill me. If he kills me, my mom will fight him to the death," Ai Wei responded confidently, without any fear.
The entertainment company Xia Liyou works at is a five-year-old company named ANGEL that has still not made a name for itself.
And Ai Wei is the daughter of the boss of this company, also her agent as well as her assistant.
The company is always understaffed, so one person often has to undertake the work of several people and there are no fixed positions.
Wherever you were needed, that's where you would be.
So, Ai always considers each and every opportunity to perform crucial.
Since ANGEL doesn't have much fame, it can't attract any actors. However, it was the only entertainment company willing to accept Xia Liyou.
Therefore, Xia Liyou, being the loyal type, has been staying here and hasn't gone anywhere else.
However, Ai Wei is different from Ai. She values every person by her side more than opportunities to perform.
So, a significant reason for Xia Liyou to stay at the company is also because of her.
After ending the call, Xia Liyou walked towards the bed. When she saw the spot where Ou Chengtian had slept last night, she spaced out for a moment.
She had no idea when he had left.
Xia Liyou gave a rueful smile, took out a random piece of clothing from the wardrobe and put it on.
The clothes in the wardrobe were neatly arranged. Mrs. Butler always carefully ironed the clothes and place them inside.
Even if all these clothes were from a few years ago.
Ever since the Xia Family went bankrupt, she hasn't bought a single piece of clothing.
Every cent she earned was used to repay the debt.
Although she was only adopted by the Xia family, she didn't abandon them because the Xia family was kind to her, and she just cannot disregard them.
She has a younger brother and a mother lying in the hospital, even though they bear no blood relation to her. However, the kinship built over decades made her consider them her family.
Does it really matter if they are not related by blood?
It's a pity that she couldn't save her father's life, but Xia Liyou didn't blame him.
Although choosing to jump off the building due to bankruptcy was a foolish decision, she couldn't bear to blame him.
Because he gave her meticulous fatherly love.
Compared to her biological father, what he gave her was much, much more.
A succession of footsteps abruptly interrupted Xia Liyou's reminiscence. She snapped out of her thoughts, got up and opened the door, only to find Mrs. Butler holding something and coming upstairs.