All that preparation work in the early stages will probably be in vain.
The director would never allow such a thing to happen, but he didn't dare to make things difficult for Zhao Ying, since everyone knew that Zhao Ying's family background was not simple, and the Zhao family alone was enough to give him trouble.
After thinking it over, Liang Shi was the easiest person to bully here.
She's a newcomer with no illustrious family background. Judging from her affordable clothes and the car she drives, she's quite different from a rich heiress like Zhao Ying, who has had a smooth and successful life.
The director, being astute as a shrewd man, quickly grasped the situation and immediately followed up on Zhao Ying's words, saying, "Why don't you and your cousin eat together? Let Liang Shi stay, so I can get to know her, since we'll be filming together later."
"Anyway, there's still plenty of time. We can get to know each other then, right?" Zhao Ying firmly defended Liang Shi. "We've arranged this gathering today. My cousin has a strange temper; she'll explode if she gets stood up."
Zhao Ying's cousin is the daughter of the Zhao family.
Naturally, he's someone the director can't afford to offend.
Zhao Ying also grasped this point.
In this circle, does the Zhao family need to be afraid of Qi Da's wife?
Even if Qi, the general manager of Qida, came, he would still have to greet Zhao Xuning politely.
Mr. Qi's business is large, but not so large that it's untouchable.
They are far from reaching the status of the two prominent families of Haizhou.
They are roughly on par with the Zhao family.
Zhao Ying still wanted to make a living in the entertainment industry and didn't want to have a bad reputation, so she frantically tried to use Zhao Xuning's "tiger skin" as a cover.
Mrs. Qi glanced at Zhao Ying, her bright red lips curving into a smile. "You're Zhao Ying?"
Zhao Ying nodded, "Hello."
"Is she Zhao Yulin's daughter?" Mrs. Qi's voice was gentle, like a kind elder exchanging pleasantries with you.
Zhao Ying nodded again. "Zhao Yulin is my mother. You know her?"
Mrs. Qi smiled and said, "We know each other, we've played cards together."
Zhao Ying: "..."
Zhao Ying was displeased at the mention of this, and she said coldly, "My mother stopped playing cards ten years ago."
Mrs. Qi did not show any displeasure at her rudeness, but instead continued to smile and say, "Yes, that's why we used to play cards together."
Zhao Ying: "...Oh."
Everyone knows that her mother used to be a gambling addict, and her gambling addiction almost caused her to lose the family business.
It was his uncle's family, Zhao Xuning's family, who saved him once.
Otherwise, their family would have fallen apart because of that thing.
Having experienced everything back then, Zhao Ying naturally wouldn't give her mother's mahjong partner a friendly look right now.
However, Mrs. Qi's target was not her; she was merely exchanging a few casual pleasantries.
After exchanging pleasantries, she turned her gaze to Liang Shi. Her eyes were brimming with charm, even without speaking, but Liang Shi felt a chill the moment their eyes met.
Her eyes held many emotions that Liang Shi couldn't understand.
Liang Shi shivered, but when no one could see him, he pinched his leg to force himself to calm down.
She can't rely on Zhao Ying to protect her forever.
Zhao Ying has already helped her a lot.
So even though Liang Shi was afraid, she firmly met Mrs. Qi's gaze and pretended to be calm.
Mrs. Qi looked at her, paused, and said, "I heard you and your mother had a falling out?"
He adopted the posture of an elder lecturing a younger person.
Upon hearing this, Liang Shi frowned, and after a moment replied, "What's it to you?"
Everyone: "..."
Everyone present gasped in unison.
The director was getting anxious and immediately started giving Liang Shi meaningful glances, blinking his eyes so hard they were practically worn out.
But Liang Shi remained unmoved.
Liang Shi carefully recalled the original owner's arrogant attitude and the barbaric and unreasonable images in film and television works.
She gave a 70% performance.
"It's been a long time," Mrs. Qi said with a gentle smile. "Your temper has grown quite a bit."
Liang Shi raised an eyebrow. "Really? Not bad."
Her tone was calm, yet it revealed a hint of defiance.
Mrs. Qi didn't mind her rudeness, but just stared at her intently. After a while, she suddenly said, "Your costume photos taken today are very beautiful. I heard from the director that you have a great talent for acting."
Liang Shi: "..."
The words "None of your business" were stuck in her throat, but she held back out of consideration for the many people present and the director's feelings. However, she still replied rather uncooperatively, "It's alright."
Zhao Ying pulled Liang Shi's arm and spoke up at the right moment: "Sorry, our filming has ended and we're about to leave. We'll stop talking now. My cousin has already messaged me to urge us. I'm so sorry. Auntie, let's have dinner another time."
Mrs. Qi looked at Zhao Ying and asked gently, "You two seem to have a very good relationship."
Without hesitation, Zhao Ying said, "This is my cousin's friend, and I'm her senior, so I should take extra care of her."
"That's great," Mrs. Qi said. "I never imagined Liang Shi would have so many friends."
Liang Shi: "...?"
That sounds so strange.
But with so many people around, Liang Shi didn't bother asking.
She discovered that the fear in her heart could be gradually overcome, probably because Zhao Ying was there to support her, giving her a sense of belonging and security.
She noticed that Mrs. Qi was no longer as afraid as she had initially been.
"Liang Shi, come here," Mrs. Qi called to her. "I have a few words I'd like to say to you."
Liang Shi frowned, and just as he was hesitating, Zhao Ying whispered, "Don't go over there."
Then Zhao Ying asked Mrs. Qi, "Is there anything you can't say openly? Auntie, you're treating me like an outsider."
"It's a private matter," Mrs. Qi said, looking at her. "I wanted to ask her about my daughter, but it's not appropriate for you to hear about it."
Zhao Ying: "..."
Mrs. Qi added, "You met her relatively late, so you probably don't know that my daughter was also her good friend. Back then, they were very close; she would always pester my daughter to call her 'sister.' Never mind."
Mrs. Qi composed herself, her expression softening, and said gently, "It seems you don't know either."
After saying that, he looked at Liang Shi and asked, "Little friend, would you like to come over here?"
--kid.
That's the name she often called out.
Liang Shi got goosebumps all over his body in an instant.
—Little friend, are you being disobedient?
Jiaojiao, bring that child over here.
—Little friend, you can go home if you behave well.
...
Liang Shi looked at her, seemingly understanding what was hidden deep in her eyes.
It is a madness intertwined with despair and gloom.
She closed her eyes and leaned on Zhao Ying's arm for support.
Zhao Ying noticed her reluctance and immediately advised, "Don't go."
Liang Shi shook his head, saying that he had to face it eventually.
She is now facing not only Mrs. Qi, but also her deepest fears.
"It's alright, Sister Ying," Liang Shi reassured her, then strode forward.
There was a lounge in the photography studio, and Mrs. Qi and Liang Shi went in one after the other.
Everyone was stunned.
The director leaned over and asked Zhao Ying, "What's Liang Shi's background?"
"I don't know," Zhao Ying said. "If you want to know, go ask her."
The director who got roasted: "..."
//
The lounge was quiet, and the humidifier on the dressing table was still working, spraying out a fine mist.
Mrs. Qi stood there with her arms crossed, carefully examining Liang Shi. "He has indeed grown up."
Liang Shi's tone was unfriendly. "If you have something to say, say it. If not, I'm leaving."
She's using indifference to disguise herself, acting out a half-truth.
"You went to see Qi Jiao?" Mrs. Qi steered the conversation back on track. "What did you want with Qi Jiao? Was it to catch up?"
Liang Shi frowned: "You were following Qi Jiao?"
"Does my daughter need to be followed?" Mrs. Qi chuckled. "Qi Jiao is very well-behaved; she never hides anything from me."
"Oh." Liang Shi didn't hide anything anymore. "I went to see Qi Jiao. Qi Jiao should also tell you why I went to see her. I went to see one of the children in her class. It just so happens that she is the teacher of that class."
Mrs. Qi looked at her, her tone slightly raised, "Really?"
Liang Shi: "Believe it or not."
Mrs. Qi tucked a stray hair behind her ear, her movements full of charm.
It's just that no one appreciates it.
Her voice turned serious, "Little boy, you're really being naughty right now."