472: Ulterior Motive

Ulterior Motive

Wen Li snorted disdainfully. "It's so obvious what's really going on between her and the director. She says she's innocent and all, but if this isn't proof of a scandal I don't know what is!"1

"Exactly! Guan Xiaoling wrapped up her scenes the day before yesterday, but the director didn't throw a party for her," said Zhao Ruiqi, seething with envy and resentment.

Xu Xinrou was just as upset, but she kept her feelings from showing on her face. "You should study your script instead of spending your time and energy on idle gossip. Put in a good performance, and the director will give you a leg up in the industry."

Zhao Ruiqi did not think that was fair. "Ms. Xinrou, I know my acting needs work, but what about Jing Xi? She's a terrible actress, her acting doesn't hold a candle to yours! She's just playing the part of a palace maiden. Why is Director Huang giving her special treatment?"

Previously, when Jing Xi had been suspected of murder, most directors would have offered her part to someone else at the first opportunity.

But Huang Guoqiang had merely given Jing Xi time off. When the dust had settled, he immediately asked her to return to the set to continue shooting her scenes.

"Okay, that's enough," warned Xu Xinrou.

Zhao Ruiqi was now part of her clique, which meant Xu Xinrou had to be extra careful about what Zhao Ruiqi said in public. She did not want Zhao Ruiqi to get her into trouble.

Deep down, however, she had been keeping tabs on Xu Xiyan. She knew very well that Director Huang had been giving Xu Xiyan preferential treatment—it was clear as day to anyone who wasn't blind.

She did not believe for a second that Xu Xiyan and Director Huang's relationship was strictly professional.

The actresses were in the middle of removing their makeup when Xiao Ge, the set PA, ran over to inform them of the dinner venue.

Zhao Ruiqi pouted. "Ms. Xinrou, are we going to the wrap party for Jing Xi?"

"Of course we're going! Who knows, we may be able to get something out of it!"

Xu Xinrou gave Wen Li, her assistant, a significant look. Wen Li immediately took the hint.

Everyone was now gathered at the Celebrity Hotel, the venue for the party. Huang Guoqiang had reserved two luxury private rooms.

The main creatives and the principal actors took one of the rooms. The regular staff and the less important actors took the other.

Xu Xiyan ended up sitting next to Zhao Ruiqi, unaware that Xu Xinrou had arranged for them to sit together.

As the director and the investors—the important people—were all in the other room, everyone in Xu Xiyan's room quickly relaxed and enjoyed themselves.

Zhao Ruiqi took it upon herself to make sure everyone's cups were always full. She eagerly poured out drinks and wine for everyone.

Her usual disdainful attitude towards Xu Xiyan had done a 180; she was suddenly overly friendly, and kept urging everyone in the room to toast Xu Xiyan.

Xu Xiyan politely declined everyone who tried to toast her. "Sorry, I don't drink."

Xu Xinrou and Chu Yuhe had sabotaged her once, five years ago, and they had done it by plying her with alcohol. She had since learned her lesson, and was wary about drinking around people she didn't entirely trust.

"How about a soft drink, then? You're the guest of honor at this party, we're celebrating the successful completion of your scenes. You have to drink up, or the rest of us will feel guilty about drinking."

Zhao Ruiqi knew how to get other people to drink. She was being especially pushy now because Wen Li had tasked her with a special mission.

Everyone in the room was now waiting to toast Xu Xiyan, and she could not refuse them all. She was left with no choice but to raise her soft drink in a toast and drink it.

Halfway through the dinner, Xu Xiyan got up to go to the bathroom. She'd had a little too much to drink.

After relieving herself, she was about to exit the stall when she suddenly heard Xu Xinrou's voice from just outside the door.

"Is everything ready?"

The voice that spoke up next was Wen Li's. "Don't worry, everything's set. Little Zhao will take her upstairs, and the rest will be history."

"She lucked out and escaped five years ago, but this time, we'll teach her a lesson she won't forget."

Xu Xiyan waited for the click-clack of high heels to fade into the distance before coming out of the stall.

She gave a wry laugh.

Xu Xinrou and Wen Li had been talking about her, she was sure of it.

Was Xu Xinrou trying to sabotage her again?

With that same ol' trick?

That would explain Zhao Ruiqi's strange behavior: she had been trying her best to ply Xu Xiyan with drinks because she had an ulterior motive.

So their plan was to drug her, take her to a hotel room, and get a man to take advantage of her?

Why was it always the same clichéd trick? Would it kill them to be a little more creative, for once?

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