Chapter 46- The National Goddess Raised by the Best Actor(25)

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Chapter 46

Li Zhuo’s anger flared. “All you’ve got is a sharp tongue, huh?”

He sneered, his disdain for an actor daring to challenge him evident.

“I’ll return that compliment to you as-is,” Ji Yang replied, still smiling. “But Zhuo Shao, you should tread carefully. Falling in the same place twice would be…”

(TL/N: Shao -> Boss)

He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, but the implication—stupid—hung heavy in the air.

Li Zhuo was livid, his teeth grinding audibly. “Are you threatening me?”

The memory of his last misstep, when he’d forced a change in the male lead and driven Xu Yuan away, only to be reprimanded and confined by his grandfather, was still fresh. He’d only just regained his freedom after groveling for half a month.

“No, just a reminder,” Ji Yang said lightly, his tone calm as ever.

Li Zhuo’s eyes narrowed. His gaze swept over Ji Yang with thinly veiled contempt. “Then let me remind you to keep your tail tucked in this industry. Don’t act like you’re untouchable.”

As the most favored youngest son of the Li family, Li Zhuo knew that even if he messed up once or twice, his family would shield him. Ji Yang, however, didn’t have such a safety net—one wrong move could ruin him.

“I will,” Ji Yang replied flatly, his expression unreadable, as though he hadn’t heard the veiled threat.

Li Zhuo turned and stormed off. Xu Ping, sensing the tension, looked between Ji Yang and Li Zhuo before excusing herself with a hurried, “I’ll be right back,” and chasing after her husband, Xu Dong.

“Seasoned actors and Zhuo Shao just don’t get along, huh?” Xu Wan commented with a delicate sigh. Her voice was soft, her tone carrying just a hint of regret. “I was really looking forward to collaborating with Ji Qianbei again—it’s such a pity.”

(TL/N: Qianbei -> Senior)

The way she spoke, with her gentle demeanor and suggestive undertones, was designed to provoke curiosity and attention. It was clear she was trying to flirt, though subtly.

Before Ji Yang could respond, Xu Ruier chimed in, her voice sweet and playful, “Gege, why are you here? Did you come just to see me?”

(TL/N: Gege -> Brother)

Her question carried a lilting tone, her coquettishness shining through.

“Mm, Chen Xu is here, and I came along with him,” Ji Yang said, his eyes softening as he smiled at her. “After this, I’ll take you out for dinner. Didn’t you say you were hungry?”

Xu Ruier bit her lip, feigning a pout. “But I still have to stay for a bit longer. Gege might have to wait for me.”

(TL/N: Gege -> Brother)

The interaction was intimate and playful, making Xu Wan’s smile freeze as she stood awkwardly to the side. She tried to interject but found herself entirely sidelined, her annoyance simmering as the exchange continued.

“No problem,” Ji Yang replied.

Just then, a server approached Ji Yang. “Excuse me, Mr. Ji, Mr. Chen Xu is requesting your presence.”

Ji Yang glanced over to where Chen Xu stood beside the Xu family patriarch. Dressed in a flamboyant burgundy suit, Chen Xu gestured toward Ji Yang with a grin that could only be described as peacock-like.

“I’ll go see him,” Ji Yang said, giving Xu Ruier a reassuring glance.

She nodded understandingly.

Once Ji Yang left, Xu Wan’s smile twisted into something sharper as she turned to Xu Ruier. “So desperate to interrupt me, aren’t you? Do you think stopping me from talking to him will change anything? Do you plan to cling to him forever? It’s pathetic.”

“I don’t mean anything by it,” Xu Ruier replied nonchalantly, tilting her head. “I just thought it was a bit rushed, given that your thing with Zhuo Shao isn’t even over yet, and here you are eyeing someone else.”

“You—”

“Jiejie,” Xu Ruier interrupted, her tone firm and deliberate. “Don’t you think it’s inappropriate? You’re making it look like Gege is picking up trash. Wouldn’t you agree?”

(TL/N: Gege -> Brother , Jiejie -> Sister)

Trash.

The word landed like a slap. Before Xu Wan could recover, Xu Ruier was already walking away, leaving her seething with humiliation and rage. Her nails dug into her palms, leaving crescent marks as she trembled with fury.

Xu Ruier, Xu Ruier—just keep provoking me.

Her gaze shifted toward Ji Yang and Chen Xu, standing together with the Xu patriarch. The old man was positively beaming, clearly delighted by Chen Xu’s presence.

Chen Xu wasn’t just anyone. He was the third son of Chen Wei, the head of one of the four major families. He was in charge of the entertainment division, leagues above the Li family. His attendance at the Xu family banquet was a rare honor, likely due to a distant connection between Chen Wei and the Xu patriarch.

The Chen family was known for its strict discipline and unparalleled achievements. Their descendants were renowned for their intelligence and shrewdness. Chen Xu, with his fox-like cunning and ever-present smile, was a master manipulator—she’d once tried to seduce him but had been seen through instantly, leaving her no choice but to steer clear of him since.

For Ji Yang to have a close relationship with Chen Xu meant he was far more capable than she’d realized.

The realization only fueled her obsession.

The more she observed Ji Yang, the more determined she became. She would have him, no matter the cost.

Xu Wan spun on her heel and made her way toward Li Zhuo. If she couldn’t win cleanly, she’d fight dirty.

Ten minutes later, Xu Ruier found herself intercepted by Li Zhuo again.

He approached her with the same shameless grin as before, as though nothing had happened earlier. He didn’t even mention Ji Yang this time, instead holding up a glass of wine and motioning for a toast.

“Zhuo Shao, you’re quite persistent,” Xu Ruier said with a soft laugh. She had done some self-reflection lately. The timid, submissive persona she had once used to shield herself was no longer necessary. Her words and demeanor were now more relaxed and approachable.

“Well, it depends on whether Ruier is willing to give me this honor,” Li Zhuo replied, his eyes fixed on her.

“Of course.” Xu Ruier clinked her glass lightly against his and downed her drink in one go. She smiled faintly. “Does this count as giving Zhuo Shao face?”

Li Zhuo’s narrowed eyes gleamed with satisfaction as his gaze shamelessly roamed over her. A smug, triumphant smile tugged at his lips.

So, Ji Yang supposedly likes this girl?

That only made him want to sample her flavor even more.

If he could humiliate Ji Yang, wouldn’t that be satisfying?

The drug would kick in within five minutes. After that, she wouldn’t be able to control herself, no matter what happened.

“Mom’s calling for you upstairs,” Xu Wan said, appearing at just the right moment. She gestured toward the upper floor, where Xu Ping was indeed beckoning.

Xu Ruier didn’t suspect anything and offered Li Zhuo an apologetic smile before turning to leave.

Upstairs.

Xu Ping sat on the bed, looking visibly exhausted. She had just endured another bout of morning sickness and was left weak and drained.

At her age, being a high-risk pregnancy, the later stages were proving increasingly difficult. Yet, as she placed her hand on her growing belly, she felt a bittersweet joy.

Soon, she would bear the Xu family’s heir. Everything the Xu family had to offer would belong to her son. After enduring years of humiliation, she was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Xu Ruier pushed the door open, and Xu Ping lowered her hand from her belly, her expression turning stern.

“Ruier, what’s with your attitude toward Zhuo Shao? You’re being far too willful!”

Her scolding came sharply, without preamble.

“Zhuo Shao is doing us a favor by coming here. How do you think it looks to others when you act this way? Besides, this is a golden opportunity! If you handle it well, you might marry into the Li family and become a strong support for your brother in the future!”

Xu Ping’s words came fast and harsh, her tone filled with blame.

If this had been in the past, Xu Ruier might have vehemently argued back. Now, however, she simply replied coldly, “I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to?” Xu Ping’s voice rose sharply. “Then what do you want? You’re still young; what do you know? Do you think I’d ever harm you? If Zhuo Shao gets upset, how do you think your father and grandmother will react?!”

“So what should I do?” Xu Ruier’s face hardened as she looked at her mother. “Seduce him? Strip down and climb into his bed? And then be branded the same way as you—a woman who relies on men, shameless and willing to stoop to any low?”

The words Xu Ping had heard Grandma Xu hurl at her countless times now echoed back at her, spoken by her own daughter.

Xu Ping was stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief. “What did you say? Say that again!”

“How have you endured all these years? Has it been worth it?” Xu Ruier continued, her voice steady and unyielding. “You’re willing to suffer for wealth and status, but I’m not. I refuse to live like you.”

These words had been buried deep inside her for too long, threatening to consume her if she didn’t let them out.

Xu Ping, veins bulging with fury, raised her hand as if to slap her. But Xu Ruier stood motionless, meeting her mother’s eyes.

“Go ahead and hit me,” Xu Ruier said. Her voice was calm, even defiant. “Consider it repayment for giving birth to me.”

Xu Ping froze mid-motion, her fist trembling as she held back. Her voice quivered with frustration. “You’re my flesh and blood. Hitting you would hurt me more. Ruier, I’m your mother—I would never harm you. Don’t you understand that? But the things you’ve said… I’m so disappointed in you.”

With a sigh, Xu Ping clutched her belly and shuffled out of the room, looking thoroughly defeated, as though her heart had been shattered.

Xu Ruier watched her leave, her face emotionless. If anything, she felt pity and contempt.

Xu Ping lacked any fallback. At the moment, Xu Ruier’s rising status was her sole bargaining chip in the Xu family, her son’s future security. For that, she could even tolerate humiliation.

Human nature, Xu Ruier thought, could be so cruelly thin.

“Xu Ping just left. It’s about time. Go on,” Xu Wan said into the phone, her tone casual.

“Make sure no one comes upstairs. I don’t want an audience,” Li Zhuo replied eagerly, his voice laced with excitement.

He ascended the stairs with light steps, practically giddy. When it came to women, he was never one to hold back. Xu Ruier was a delicate beauty, and he had every intention of savoring her fully.

This would only be the first time. It wouldn’t be the last. He knew plenty of ways to manipulate public figures, and Xu Ruier would soon be at his beck and call.

“Of course,” Xu Wan promised, though her gaze turned icy, her expression unreadable.

As she watched Li Zhuo’s back disappear up the stairs, she shook her head slightly.

Apologies, Ruier.

This was the perfect opportunity to destroy her—and Xu Wan had her own plans.