Stand-in Exit, Tycoon Boss Anxious Crazy

Zhuang Linna feigned surprise as she asked, "What? You don't know about this yet? Didn't President Shen tell you? Oh, but then again, there's really nothing worth mentioning to you, is there? After all, Mrs. Gong, the real deal, has returned to the country. What importance could a counterfeit like you possibly hold?"

Zhuang Linna laughed with schadenfreude, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the drama to unfold.

Xiang-Nuan replied calmly, "What's the matter? Have you run out of roles to play, so now you're passing time by playing paparazzi?"

Zhuang Linna's smile froze on her face. She and Xiang-Nuan had debuted around the same time, but while Zhuang Linna had gotten an earlier start, her career had been on a steady decline for the past two years, with three failed dramas to her name. Lately, she hadn't been able to land any good scripts and had been left out in the cold.

"What's there to be proud of? Your current success is all thanks to President Shen's support. I bet he's about ready to kick you to the curb! I can't wait to see your downfall!"

"Well, you might be waiting a while, and since you're not busy, take your time."

"You!"

"You can have the studio first. If you can't beat the ratings, at least try to win the studio space. Otherwise, it'd be too frustrating, right? Consider this a good deed from me, giving you something to be happy about."

Xiang-Nuan turned and walked away without sparing her another glance.

Zhuang Linna was so angry her face turned green. She had snagged the studio, but it only made her feel more aggrieved!

***

Upon returning to the makeup room, Xiang-Nuan's expression also cooled.

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Zheng Xuanlin cursed, "These fair-weather friends must think since Shen Yanshi has a new person by his side, they can ignore you and let Zhuang Linna encroach on your filming time."

In the entertainment industry, it's all too common to see people sucking up or stepping down, changing their attitudes as quickly as the wind changes direction.

"Do you know about Shen Yanshi's situation?"

Zheng Xuanlin's expression changed, and she replied with a forced smile, "I heard a little, but I was afraid it would upset you."

She hadn't expected Zhuang Linna to use it to humiliate Xiang-Nuan to her face.

Xiang-Nuan unlocked her phone to find that Zhuang Linna had deliberately sent her a photo. She zoomed in on the picture, feeling an indescribable pain in her heart.

Counterfeit - such a malicious term.

She had willingly become this substitute. Her relationship with Shen Yanshi was hardly emotional; at most, it was a mutually agreeable arrangement. She didn't even feel entitled to confront him with the photo.

Of course, he had no obligation to inform her about Gong-Nian's return to the country.

Indeed, she wasn't worthy.@@novelbin@@

"Nuan-Nuan, don't take it to heart. President Shen, he..."

"Xuanlin, I want to break it off with him."

"Ah? Nuan-Nuan, don't be rash!"

"I'm not being rash. Zhuang Linna is right, isn't she? With Gong-Nian back in the country, do you think Shen Yanshi still needs a counterfeit like me?"

Zheng Xuanlin stiffened: "But, weren't you two together just last night?"

"Gong-Nian is the Gong family's precious daughter. She's not at my beck and call like I am."

Zheng Xuanlin found herself at a loss for words. Indeed, with the real girlfriend back, it was probably just a matter of time before Mrs. Gong changed her mind. Once she did, Xiang-Nuan would be the first to be cast aside.

Xiang-Nuan frowned in annoyance: "Rather than waiting to be discarded, I might as well look for my own way out."

"What way out?"

"White Poplar is my way out. Contact the production team and tell them I'm willing to cooperate with all promotions, including hyping up a coupling."

"And what about President Shen?"

"That's over."

"Just like that, you can end it?"

Her relationship with Shen Yanshi was far from equal; it wasn't up to her to call it quits.

Xiang-Nuan smiled slightly: "I have a way to make him be the one to end it."

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan