Chapter Twenty-Six: She Is Uncle Yang's Daughter

What does she mean by this? Huh? Assigning next quarter’s project to that intern—was this a slap in her face? As a director, she hadn’t succeeded, but that intern had—Shangguan Ranran, you really are something!

“Damn it.” How dare she? Shangguan Miaomiao smashed her cup in fury. No, she had to change her strategy.

—

“Miss Bai, Director Shangguan from the Shangguan Group has asked to meet with you about an endorsement deal!” Feng Jia, Bai Xi’s agent, was delighted. Though her artist was the eldest daughter of the Bai family, she had never landed many endorsements, invitations, or variety shows. Even this drama was funded by the Bai family.

But the Shangguan Group was a top-tier conglomerate. If they wanted to meet her artist, that meant something.

“The Shangguan Group? Are you sure it’s really them?” That was something countless artists could only dream of.

“What time did they say?”

“She said she’d work around our schedule.”

“Then let the director know—I’m taking off this afternoon. Help me arrange the meeting,” Bai Xi said, her heart leaping with joy. It was the Shangguan Group! Once she secured this endorsement, she couldn’t wait to see Xia Wanqing’s reaction.

Just thinking about Xia Wanqing’s frustrated expression made her happy.

“What did you say? Taking time off? She’s barely even started filming!” Before the director could reply, Xia Wanqing exploded with anger. What was Bai Xi up to?

Today was a key scene for both the second and third female leads—the second persuading the third to leave the male lead, only to get slapped.

“Our Miss Bai has an appointment with the Shangguan Group for an endorsement. She’s taking time off, whether you approve it or not,” Feng Jia retorted arrogantly. If they landed this deal, who would dare speak ill of Bai Xi again?

“The Shangguan Group? Oh my God, isn’t that…”

“Why would the Shangguan Group choose her as their spokesperson? Maybe there’s some mistake?”

“If they were looking for someone, wouldn’t they pick our lead actress Zhen Mi, or even our leading man?”

“Maybe she’s just using this as an excuse to skip work?”

The crew whispered cautiously among themselves.

—

“Did you say the Shangguan Group’s endorsement?” How could Ranran choose someone like that? She wasn’t even a pretty face.

“Sorry, everyone, I have something to attend to this afternoon and won’t be able to shoot with you all. Please forgive me.” Bai Xi’s eyes shimmered gently, her delicate frame behind Feng Jia making her seem all the more petite and captivating.

Xia Wanqing wanted nothing more than to tear apart that fragile act. Always playing innocent in front of others, but in private, who knew how venomous her gaze could be.

Their feud had begun from the casting process and had only deepened since.

“Then tell us, which member of the Shangguan Group invited you?”

“Director Shangguan. Surprised? I bet it’s an invitation you’ll never receive in your life.” Bai Xi whispered in Xia Wanqing’s ear as she walked past.

Could it really be Ranran? Xia Wanqing stared at her retreating figure, bewildered.

If Bai Xi was taking time off, filming would be impossible. There was no point in her staying either—she needed answers.

…

“Hey, Ranran, did you miss me?” Xia Wanqing’s tone was all teasing.

“Wanqing? How do you have time to call me? Aren’t you filming?” Shangguan Ranran was surprised.

“Don’t mention it. I’m downstairs at your company—come down, quick!” Xia Wanqing urged.

“All right, I’ll be right there.”

Shangguan Ranran and Xia Wanqing went to a nearby restaurant for lunch, chatting as they ate. They ordered a bottle of brandy, tomato and meat sauce spaghetti, black pepper steak, filet steak, pan-fried eggs, German potato salad, and creamy broccoli soup.

“I heard you were looking for a spokesperson?”

“How did you know? We’ve already chosen someone. Are you interested?” Shangguan Ranran slowly sliced her steak.

“You’ve chosen? Did you really pick Bai Xi?” Why? Xia Wanqing couldn’t understand—was it her so-called pure image?

“Bai Xi? What does she have to do with this?”

Relief washed over Xia Wanqing. “So it’s not her? Then why did she say on set that your company wanted her as the spokesperson?”

“How could that be? Our next spokesperson is Zhen Mi. Who told you otherwise?”

“Bai Xi herself,” Xia Wanqing said, sipping her drink and cutting her steak. “She mentioned Director Shangguan, so I thought you’d agreed.”

“Director Shangguan? Shangguan Miaomiao.” So she wanted to switch the spokesperson? Did she really think Bai Xi could handle it?

“Someone in your company shares your surname? Then why is she saying you’re hiring Bai Xi?”

“She probably wants to change the spokesperson,” Shangguan Ranran replied, taking a sip of her drink. She seemed to forget that she now made all the decisions for the sales department.

“Her? Tch, what taste,” Xia Wanqing sneered, hacking at her steak as if it were Bai Xi herself.

“It’s not about her as a person, but about her position,” Shangguan Ranran said, pushing aside her steak and moving on to the eggs.

“So, she wants Bai Xi to deal with you? Did Bai Xi offend you somehow?” Xia Wanqing twirled her pasta.

“She hasn’t offended me, maybe she just thinks I’m in her way.”

“And by the way, she’s Uncle Yang’s daughter.”

“What? Uncle Yang’s daughter? How could such a good man have a daughter like her?”

Who could say? Ranran wondered that herself. Uncle Yang bore the surname Shangguan because it was bestowed by her father.

Uncle Yang had been saved by her grandfather, who pitied him as an orphan and raised him in the Shangguan household. Though he served as the butler, he was considered half a master himself. And Uncle Yang had always been grateful, never overstepping his bounds—unlike his daughter, who seemed to have forgotten her roots.