"Torn it up?" The man raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing through his cold, dark eyes; obviously, he was quite taken aback, as after all, the name "Li Yeqi" was enough to make all women flock to it.
Zhou Bei couldn't decipher the man's emotions, nor dared to speculate on his thoughts, carefully saying, "Yes, Seventh Master."
With rhythmic taps of his fingers on his knee, the man's lips curved slightly, his handsome and deep features carrying a trace of amusement, "She likes tearing so much, have the Civil Affairs Bureau print a hundred marriage certificates and send them to her, let her tear to her heart's content."
Zhou Bei: "..."
Li Yeqi looked up, noting Yan Luoxi's figure had already disappeared around the corner. He narrowed his eyes and commanded in a deep voice, "Back to the mansion."
The drink last night, spiked with something extra—who would dare to serve it to him if not for someone's instigation?
He had only just returned, and already someone was targeting him. It seemed time for a cleansing in his house.
Zhou Bei hesitated, puzzled by the stubble on his chin; he wondered why the Seventh Master, with his unmatched handsomeness, simply refused to shave off that full beard, "What about the lady...?"
"Let her enjoy herself for a few days." Li Yeqi's slender index finger brushed past the corner of his lip, seemingly contemplating something, his sharp eyes softening, his expression suddenly undulating with indescribable ripples.
Zhou Bei's eyes widened as he watched in the rearview mirror, startled. What was the Seventh Master thinking about that made even the corners of his eyes and brows brim with such springtime indulgence?
Yan Luoxi took a taxi to the company. As soon as she walked in, she felt the eyes of either sympathy or pity from around her. But when she looked back, those people pretended as if nothing had happened.
She snorted. In this industry, it was common to bend with the wind. Now that her role had been snatched by Lai Zhiyuan and everyone knew that Lai Zhiyuan was favored, naturally, the winds had shifted.
Yan Luoxi took the elevator up to her floor nonchalantly. Just now, Sister Lin had called her to inform her about an interview program at eight tonight, asking her to come in early for makeup.
She had just lost the role of a secondary female lead; if she didn't take action, she might really be reduced to nothing.
Just as she approached the makeup room door, a sycophantic female voice came from within.
"Zhiyuan sister, your skin is so soft and tender, so close and still, I can't see any pores at all. You're truly born to be a star." The makeup artist Sasha's voice was as exaggerated as ever, just like when she usually flattered her.
"Not at all; I just use masks frequently," the woman responded in a soft voice, with a hint of modesty that was quite endearing.
"What masks do you use? Do share with me."
Yan Luoxi pushed the door open, and everyone in the makeup room turned to look; seeing it was her, surprise flashed in their eyes, followed by a look of schadenfreude.
Yan Luoxi strode directly to her exclusive makeup area, but today, Lai Zhiyuan was sitting there, triggering a sharp pang of pain in her chest.
She remembered how, three years ago when she decided to step into the entertainment industry for Lu Zhaoran's career, Lu Zhaoran had joyfully brought her to the company, pointing to the pink-exclusive chair and promising her.
No matter if she became popular or not, as long as Lingzhen Media was still around, that spot was always hers, and no one could shake her position in the company.
For the sake of that promise, she had willingly nurtured newcomers for him over the past three years, yielding the best resources and boosting many female stars under his banner.
In the end, all her sacrifices had culminated in nothing more than being cheated on.
Yan Luoxi stood beside the pink-exclusive chair, casually resting a hand on the back, and looking at Lai Zhiyuan in the mirror, she said with a mocking smile, "The masks she uses are blended with green tea and white lotus formulas—too many applications, and naturally, the skin becomes as thick and durable as those ingredients."
Laughter rang out around her, as the crowd always enjoyed a bigger spectacle.
Lai Zhiyuan's face instantly turned pale, and she stood up in a fluster, looking pitifully wronged, "Luoxi, you're here, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to use your exclusive makeup spot. It was Zhaoran... no, it was President Lu who arranged it."
This sentence undoubtedly announced to everyone that she was now under Lu Zhaoran's protection, and Yan Luoxi was about to be washed up.
Originally, everyone saw Lai Zhiyuan sitting in Yan Luoxi's exclusive seat doing her makeup and guessed that Yan Luoxi might be getting the cold shoulder, and Lai Zhiyuan's words now undoubtedly confirmed their speculation.
Therefore, the looks everybody gave Yan Luoxi became a mixture of sympathy and schadenfreude. Even though she had given up the best resources for these very people.
Yan Luoxi ignored the gazes around her, took a step forward, and stood in front of Lai Zhiyuan. With her height and commanding presence, she gave Lai Zhiyuan an oppressive feeling of a mountain bearing down on her when she leaned forward slightly.
"You even dare to climb into bed, let alone a chair? Lai Zhiyuan, your innocent act makes me sick to my stomach." Her voice was low, low enough that only the two of them could hear.
Lai Zhiyuan's gaze fell behind Yan Luoxi, and from being subservient, she suddenly gave Yan Luoxi a sinister smile.
Before Yan Luoxi could react, Lai Zhiyuan leaned in and whispered, "No matter how disgusting I am, Zhaoran wants me. No matter how pretty you are, he still thinks your chest is as flat as an airport."
"Shameless!" Yan Luoxi hated it the most when people commented on her chest, a sensitivity that stemmed from her adolescent insecurities. Even now, with her ample bosom, she couldn't avoid the sting of such remarks.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so angry last night that she threw a vase at Lu Zhaoran.
She raised her hand to push Lai Zhiyuan away, but as soon as she touched her, Lai Zhiyuan flew out.
"Ah!"
Lai Zhiyuan screamed as her body hit the makeup cabinet, tumbling to the ground. Makeup tools rained down on her, and she hastily shielded her head and face with her arms.
Everyone in the makeup room stared at Lai Zhiyuan sprawled on the ground, yet no one dared to help her up.
Yan Luoxi was stunned, and suddenly a strong force knocked her aside. She stumbled back a few steps, her elbow hitting the lightbulb on the makeup mirror.
With a "bang," the lightbulb broke, glass shards embedded into her flesh, sending a shiver of pain up her arm. Her eyes reddened, but not a single tear fell, because she saw Lu Zhaoran carefully helping Lai Zhiyuan up.
"Did you get hurt anywhere?" Lu Zhaoran's handsome features were filled with concern, his voice as warm and pleasant as the wind in April.
Lai Zhiyuan nestled in his arms, looking pitiful as she shook her head, "I'm not hurt, just got a fright. Don't blame Luoxi; it wasn't intentional."
Lu Zhaoran's gaze shot towards Yan Luoxi, his eyes brimming with boiling anger and reproach.
Yan Luoxi stood tall, subconsciously pulling her sleeve down to cover the wound on her arm, and before she could speak, she heard Lu Zhaoran say, "Whether it was intentional or not, I will judge for myself. Have Sasha take you to the infirmary for a check-up."
"I'm really not in the way." Lai Zhiyuan's voice was weak.
Lu Zhaoran handed her over to Sasha, who stood by, his voice dripping with tenderness, "Darling, get a check-up so I can rest assured."
"Okay!" Lai Zhiyuan eventually complied. When Lu Zhaoran wasn't looking, she turned and gave Yan Luoxi a triumphant smile, and then followed Sasha out.
Watching this scene, Yan Luoxi was truly disgusted by this woman's top-level White Lotus act.
Lu Zhaoran's gaze was heavy upon her, and upon seeing the hickey on her neck, his eyes pained, his voice laced with cold fury, "Yan Luoxi, come to my office."