Chapter 74: Ruthless Capitalists
Hearing the woman’s words, Gu Hanling raised an eyebrow slightly. The usual coldness between his brows softened a little.
He leaned back on the sofa with a lazy yet elegant posture, giving a slight nod. A silent gesture for Shen Xi to begin singing.
But as she stood there, Shen Xi couldn’t help but feel a bit…
Why does this feel like a private club?
‘Technician No. 666, Shen Xi, you’ve been personally selected by President Gu. Please begin your performance…!’
Ugh… stop overthinking!
Shaking off her wild thoughts, Shen Xi shifted her gaze toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside, raindrops pounded against the glass, creating a rhythmic sound. Almost like a natural backing track.
🎵 "A rainstorm has trapped me here…"
🎵 "Your cold expression will break my heart…"
🎵 "June’s rain, just like you, is so heartless…"
🎵 "With every drop that falls, it stabs into my heart…"
Shen Xi’s soft, gentle voice carried a trace of sadness.
Everything…
The lyrics, the weather, and maybe even… the person.
It all perfectly matched the mood of the song.
Gu Hanling listened silently, a wave of melancholy washing over him. This feeling was foreign to him, yet impossible to suppress.
She said she was singing this only for him. But… was this song written for him?
The answer was obvious.
Trying to suppress the unease in his heart, Gu Hanling instinctively took out a cigarette and lit it. His sharp, handsome face looked a bit gloomy.
Smoke curled through the air.
"Cough, cough—"
Lost in her song, Shen Xi was suddenly choked by the smoke, coughing a few times. Her singing stopped abruptly.
She covered her nose and mouth with one hand, fanning the air with the other. Her delicate brows furrowed in annoyance.
"Big brother, can you not smoke in front of me? I hate men who smoke."
"Especially secondhand smoke. Just smelling it gives me a headache."
Gu Hanling let out a low chuckle. His cigarettes were specially made, unavailable on the market.
Their fresh, elegant scent was rare and expensive. For those who actually enjoyed smoking, even second-hand smoke would be intoxicating.
"I didn't expect the Madam to be such a well-behaved person."
"So many people smoke at school. You never picked it up?"
A faint smile played on the man's lips as he watched Shen Xi with curiosity. Then stepped closer and casually handed her the cigarette.
"Here, give it a try."
"Ew—"
Shen Xi scrunched up her face in disgust, glaring at the cigarette in his hand.
"No way. I tried once in high school and almost choked to death."
Gu Hanling’s deep voice carried a faint, tempting tone.
"Mine won’t."
Shen Xi’s gaze fell on the elegantly designed cigarette in his fingers. For some reason, a tiny spark of curiosity flared inside her.
Could this cigarette really be different from the usual ones?
After all, there was no reason for him to lie about it. Before she knew it, she had absentmindedly reached out.
Her slender fingers delicately plucked the cigarette from his hand, holding it between her fingertips.
She examined it closely. The filter had intricate golden patterns, exuding a sense of luxury.
Slowly, she brought it to her lips. Her soft pink lips parted slightly.
Gu Hanling’s gaze followed the cigarette, landing on her lips. A natural, untainted pink, looking temptingly soft.
Shen Xi mimicked his movements and took a gentle inhale. Not once considering the fact that they were sharing the same cigarette.
Did that count as an indirect kiss...?
The very next second.
"Cough! Cough—!"
She violently choked, her face turning bright red as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Big brother… you lied to me!"
Seeing the woman choking with tears in her eyes, Gu Hanling's smile grew even stronger, and he naturally reached out and patted her back.
Shen Xi gasped between coughs, voice full of frustration.
"If I ever believe you again, I’m a damn puppy!"
"You capitalists are all heartless, darker than coal!"
Shen Xi gave the cigarette back into Gu Hanling’s hand and quickly ran off to find some water.
Gu Hanling smiled, glancing at the cigarette in his fingers. He took a slow drag before finally putting it out in the ashtray on the table.
The blasted rainstorm has been pouring all afternoon.
At night.
Gu Hanling showed no intention of leaving, and Shen Xi had no choice but to stay another night in the inner courtyard suite. She really didn’t want to walk all that way just to catch a taxi.
So, once again, she became a cuddle pillow for the night. But in the middle of the night, a serious realization suddenly hit her!
Uh… maybe she had just gotten too used to this, but…
She completely forgot how many nights she had already slept with him!
Thinking it over, she'll just stay another night. Whether it's enough or not, she'll just give the guy a good bluff and tell him it's finished.
…………………………………………
The Next Day.
Shen Xi finally returned to Su City TV.
There was still some time before the Top 6 Finals, and today was mainly for reshooting promotional videos and posters.
Since the semi-finals had gained a ton of viewers and online buzz, the network had increased its promotional efforts.
As soon as she stepped into the makeup room, she saw Sister Na already sitting there, fully made up, with a phone in her hand.
Muttering curses under her breath.
"You’re stuck at the enemy’s C-position, and you’re STILL not attacking? What the hell are you doing?!"
"What kind of shooter is this? Are you just here to feed the enemy? Damn it! Can you stop dying already?!"
While throwing out curses, her fingers were moving quickly across the screen. Shen Xi came closer to look, it was kind of like the 'King of Glory' from her previous life, but when she saw the game title that was shown it said 'Pesticide of the Dead'???
Uh… that was actually its real name? Whoever came up with that must be a naming genius.
"Damn it, lost again!"
Frustrated, Sister Na threw her phone onto the table.
Shen Xi couldn’t help but smile. This was totally her thing!
Back in her previous life, besides reading novels, gaming was one of her only two hobbies. And she was pretty damn good at it, too!
"Sister Na, wanna duo? I’ll carry you to victory!"
Sister Na looked up and saw Shen Xi. The anger on her face instantly disappeared, replaced by a bright smile.
"Oh hey, Xiao Xi! Come, come, come!"
The two quickly teamed up and entered the game. Shen Xi picked her best marksman, while Sister Na chose a support hero to back her up.
As soon as the match started, Shen Xi showcased her flawless gameplay, clearing minion waves, stealing jungle creeps, and quickly building up an economic lead over the enemy team.
"Damn, girl, your skills are solid!"
"It’s all thanks to you, Sister Na. Great support!"
After all, this was her favorite pop diva, so Shen Xi was more than happy to butter her up a little. In the end, Shen Xi completely carried the game, destroying the enemy’s base with ease.
"We won! Finally, a victory today!"
Sister Na put down her phone in excitement. As she looked at the stunning woman beside her, she liked her more and more. It’d be a shame if someone like Shen Xi didn’t sign with her company.
"Xiao Xi, do you have any free time after this show ends?"
"I’m a total newbie, plenty of free time."
Sister Na slapped her thigh in excitement.
"Perfect! I have a friend who's a director. He’s casting for a historical drama and still needs a second female antagonist, someone with breathtaking looks."
"Not many lines, but I’ve seen your stage presence. Once we finish filming promos, I’ll show you the script. Wanna give it a shot?"
Nearby, a few staff members who overheard the conversation stared in shock.
Everyone knew Sister Na had a tough personality, but she was straightforward and incredibly generous. Still, this was on another level.
That director she mentioned?
He was one of the top ten in the country.
His temper was legendary, but funding was never an issue for his productions. They were always big-budget projects.
Hearing this, Shen Xi hesitated for a moment.
Originally, she had planned to revive hit scripts from her past life and invest in her own productions.
But this singing competition made her realize. She lacked experience.
Getting a role with actual lines and a decent amount of screen time would be a great opportunity to learn more about the film industry.
Besides, who was Shen Xi?
She was practically born for villain roles in this world. This was her specialty!
After a brief moment of thought, Shen Xi smiled and accepted the offer without hesitation.
"Sister Na, I’d love to try."