Is it hard to chase the school beauty?It doesn't matter, she still has roommates

"Good morning, Brother Huang! I'm here."

While no one was paying attention, she quietly took out two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes that she had prepared beforehand from her bag, quickly stuffed them into Brother Huang's hand, and whispered.

"Brother Huang, this is just a small token of my appreciation. Please take good care of me."

Brother Huang subconsciously took the cigarette, and was about to exchange a few polite words as usual, but his gaze lingered on Xiao Ruoxi's face for a moment, and his brows gradually furrowed.

As if he had suddenly remembered something, his expression changed abruptly, and he slammed the two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes in his hand onto the ground like throwing away a hot potato!
"Xiao Ruoxi! Are you fucking kidding me?!"

Brother Huang's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger and lingering fear, as he pointed at Xiao Ruoxi's nose and cursed.

"Yesterday I thought you wanted to experience life! Turns out you offended that young master Chen from the Beijing entertainment circle and got kicked out of the crew! You gave up a perfectly good third female lead role to come here and play an extra? Are you trying to kill me?!"

He was so angry that his face turned ashen, and he almost spat on Xiao Ruoxi's face.

“Let me tell you! Every guild in Hengdian with even a little influence knows you’ve offended Young Master Chen! Anyone who takes you in is going against a big shot in Beijing’s elite circles! You almost got me into trouble! Get out! Get out of here right now! Don’t let me see you again!”

After cursing, Brother Huang didn't even look at the two packs of cigarettes on the ground or Xiao Ruoxi, who was pale and trembling all over. He walked away quickly without looking back, as if she were some kind of deadly plague.

Xiao Ruoxi stood there blankly, while the other extras waiting for their turn cast all sorts of strange, curious, and even gloating glances at her, making her face burn with embarrassment, as if she had been stripped naked in public.

She silently crouched down, picked up the two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes that had been discarded on the ground, and clutched them tightly in her palms, her nails almost digging into the packaging. Tears of humiliation welled up in her eyes again, but she bit her lip hard and forced them back.

She wasn't going to give up! If one guild didn't work out, she'd find another!
However, reality dealt her an even heavier blow.

She then went to several other guilds she was somewhat familiar with, but she didn't even get to see the person in charge. Instead, she was stopped at the door by her subordinates who coldly told her that they "didn't need anyone" or "the person in charge wasn't here."

It wasn't until they found the sixth place, called "Happiness Guild," that the female manager, known as Sister Li, finally agreed to meet with them.

In a simple office, Xiao Ruoxi pleaded humbly, almost with her last glimmer of hope.

"Sister Li, please give me a chance! I don't care about the role, I'll play any extra, even a minor character, or even just a cameo! I can play anything!"

Sister Li was a smartly dressed woman in her forties. She crossed her arms and leaned against her desk, looking Xiao Ruoxi up and down with a cold, mocking smile on her face.

"Xiao Ruo, right?"

Sister Li's voice was sharp and sarcastic.

"Tsk tsk, you're quite pretty, but what a pity, you're not very bright. You dare to offend even Young Master Chen from Beijing's elite circle? Our little temple can't accommodate a big shot like you!"

Her words were like cold knives, stabbing Xiao Ruoxi's heart again and again.

"I'm not afraid to tell you, given the current situation, not only can you not survive in Hengdian, but you won't even have a foothold in the entire entertainment industry!"
"With just one word from Young Master Chen, who would dare hire you? My advice to you is, while you're still young and have some looks, hurry up and find a factory job, or marry a rich man. Don't waste your youth in this line of work."

Seeing Xiao Ruoxi's face turn deathly pale and her body swaying precariously, Sister Li added a seemingly "kind" comment, but her tone was full of implications.

"Of course, if you really can't bear to leave this glamorous world and insist on working in the entertainment industry... it's not entirely impossible."

She leaned closer, lowered her voice, and spoke with a nauseating ambiguity.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it. Whoever you offended, you should go and beg for help."

"As for Young Master Chen... if you lower your stance enough and appease him, maybe not only will the ban be lifted, but you might even turn misfortune into a blessing in disguise?"

After saying that, Sister Li stopped looking at her, picked up the documents on the table and started reading them by herself, effectively telling her to leave.

Xiao Ruoxi walked out of the Happiness Guild in a daze, Li Jie's last words echoing in her mind like a demonic whisper.

Go find Chen Tianfeng? Beg him? Bow down and admit your mistakes? In that... humble, even humiliating way?
A tremendous sense of humiliation and an unwillingness to accept her dream tormented her heart.

On one hand, upholding one's bottom line could lead to utter destruction; on the other hand, abandoning one's dignity could bring a glimmer of hope...

She wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets of Hengdian, looking at the faces of those around her who were striving for their dreams, even those who were just extras, and filled with hope. Then, thinking of her own desperate situation, which had been pushed to the edge of a cliff, she couldn't help but shed tears again.

I don't know how long I walked, until my legs felt as heavy as lead, and the sky gradually darkened.

Xiao Ruoxi stopped and leaned against a cold corner of the wall, slowly squatting down.

She looked at the bustling traffic and flashing neon lights before her, but felt no warmth whatsoever.

All the roads seemed to be blocked.

Ultimately, the harsh reality and her unyielding desire to act overwhelmed her pitiful self-esteem.

Trembling, she took out her phone again and found the number she had saved but never dialed—the phone number of Chen Tianfeng's assistant, Sister Li.

She took countless deep breaths, as if using all her strength, and pressed the dial button.

The phone rang for a long time before being answered. On the other end came Sister Li's familiar yet repulsive voice, full of sarcasm and cynicism.

"Oh? Isn't this our tough Miss Xiao? What's wrong? Weren't you quite arrogant in the parking lot the other day? You even dared to disregard our Young Master Feng, making us wait for ages without seeing a trace of you."

Is the sun rising in the west today? He actually called me on his own initiative? Could it be... he's desperate and wants to beg our young master Feng for mercy?

On the other end of the phone, Sister Li made a sarcastic remark, then seemed quite satisfied with the silence and suppressed breathing on Xiao Ruoxi's end.

She spoke slowly, in a condescending tone.

"Alright, since you've 'come to your senses,' we'll give you a chance to apologize. Tonight at 8 PM, Young Master Feng is in VIP Room 1 of the 'Hollywood Bar.' If you want to apologize, be on time. Latecomers will not be waited for!"

After saying that, he hung up the phone without giving Xiao Ruoxi a chance to respond.

Hearing the busy tone on her phone, Xiao Ruoxi's heart sank to the bottom. Hollywood Bar... that was one of the most famous nightclubs in Hengdian, a melting pot of all sorts of people, a place of debauchery and excess.

She was a girl, going to see Chen Tianfeng alone in that kind of place... A strong sense of resistance and unease welled up in my heart.

But then she thought again, bars are public places, with lots of people and eyes, and Chen Tianfeng, as a public figure, should have some scruples and wouldn't dare to do anything reckless, right?

Just in case, she bought a small bottle of pepper spray from a roadside shop and held it tightly in her hand, as if it could bring her a tiny bit of security.

At exactly 8 p.m., Xiao Ruoxi arrived at the brightly lit and deafeningly loud "Hollywood Bar" with a heart full of trepidation.

Guided by the waiter, she arrived at the "VIP Room No. 1," located in the most secluded spot.

Pushing open the heavy soundproof door, the scene inside made her heart skip a beat.

She originally thought that a rich young master like Chen Tianfeng, who loved to show off and cared about his image, would definitely invite a large group of friends and acquaintances to a bar to drink, have fun, and make a lot of noise.

However, at this moment, there were only three people in the huge, luxurious private room!

Assistant Wang Li was sitting on the sofa near the door. When she saw her come in, her face immediately lit up with an overly enthusiastic smile that was completely different from her voice on the phone.

In the center of the private room, sitting with his legs crossed, arrogantly swirling the amber liquid in his glass, was none other than Chen Tianfeng himself.

There was also a smartly dressed, shrewd-looking middle-aged woman sitting in front of the karaoke machine, intently watching the screen as she selected songs.

He merely raised his eyelids to glance at Xiao Ruoxi's arrival, then continued with his own business indifferently, his expression filled with the arrogance of a seasoned agent in the industry.

Xiao Ruoxi recognized her; she was Chen Tianfeng's agent, and everyone called her Sister Hua.

This overly "peaceful" scene set off alarm bells in Xiao Ruoxi's mind!

This was completely different from what she had expected!
"Oh my, Ruoxi's here! Come in, come in!"

Wang Li stood up enthusiastically, walked over in a few steps, grabbed Xiao Ruoxi's arm without saying a word, and led her directly to the main seat on the sofa. She practically forced Xiao Ruoxi to sit down next to Chen Tianfeng, while she herself sat down on the other side, forming an invisible encirclement.

The strong scent of perfume mixed with the smell of smoke and alcohol made Xiao Ruoxi feel a little dizzy.

She sat stiffly, her body tense, her fingers instinctively reaching for the pepper spray in her bag.

Chen Tianfeng seemed to only then notice her, slowly turning his head. His eyes, hidden in the dim light, scanned Xiao Ruoxi up and down with undisguised scrutiny and amusement. A cryptic smile played on his lips. He didn't speak, but simply swirled his wine glass.

The oppressive silence almost suffocated Xiao Ruoxi.

She knew she had to speak up, even though every second felt incredibly humiliating.

She took a deep breath, lowered her eyelids, and used all her strength to force her voice to sound humble and submissive as she spoke in a low voice.

"Young Master Feng... I'm sorry. What happened in the parking lot yesterday was my fault. My friend and I were too impulsive and offended you. Please forgive us this time. I really love acting and want to stay in the crew. Please... give me another chance."

After saying these words, she felt as if her cheeks were on fire, and her self-esteem had been trampled underfoot.

However, she was met with a contemptuous sneer from Chen Tianfeng.

He put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and got close to Xiao Ruoxi. His breath, reeking of alcohol, was almost blowing on her face. His voice wasn't loud, but it was full of naked malice and unquestionable authority.

"Forgive you? Sure."

He paused, his gaze roaming over her like a venomous snake, before finally uttering that utterly despicable request.

"It's simple. Tonight, stay here with me. If you make me comfortable, I'll consider... forgiving you."

"You...shameless!"

Xiao Ruoxi instantly sprang up from the sofa like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, trembling with anger. Her face turned from red to white as she pointed at Chen Tianfeng, her voice sharp with extreme rage.

"You're dreaming! Even if I never act again in my life, I would never agree to such a despicable request!"

Chen Tianfeng seemed to have anticipated her reaction. Instead of getting angry, he smiled, slowly took out a cigarette from the pack, lit it, took a puff, and then spoke leisurely, his tone full of teasing and cold threat, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Oh? You've got some backbone, haven't you?"

He exhaled a smoke ring and continued.

"Xiao Ruoxi, haven't you figured out the situation yet? Do you think I'm discussing this with you?"

His voice gradually turned cold.

"Let me tell you, in Hengdian, in this entertainment industry, if I want to blacklist a nobody like you with no background or connections, it's as easy as crushing an ant!"
"I don't even need to get involved personally. Just a few phone calls from Wang Li and you'll be unable to work in any film crew or guild in Hengdian! You won't even be able to play a minor role!"

As he watched Xiao Ruoxi's face grow paler and paler, he increased his stakes, his tone carrying a suffocating sense of oppression.

"You think you'll be fine once you leave Hengdian? Ha, how naive! The influence of our Beijing circle far exceeds your imagination! As long as I say the word, no matter which city or film crew you go to, no one will dare to hire you!"
By then, forget about acting; you won't even be able to find a job serving tea and water in this industry! I'll make sure you have absolutely no place to stand in the entertainment circle!

After a blatant threat, he changed the subject and offered a tempting bait, his voice seductive.

"Of course, if you behave and stay tonight... I can not only get you back to the set immediately and continue playing your third female lead role, but I can also get the screenwriter to add more scenes for you!"
When the show airs, I'll include you in all the promotions and announcements! I'll make you go from an unknown nobody to a rising star overnight! Whether you're completely ruined or soar to new heights... it's all up to you.

They used every trick in the book—coercion, bribery, and threats!

However, faced with this threat and temptation that could shake many girls struggling at the bottom of society, Xiao Ruoxi showed no hesitation or greed, only growing anger and contempt!
Looking at Chen Tianfeng's self-righteous face, she felt utterly disgusted!
Just as Chen Tianfeng thought she was about to give in, and triumphantly raised his glass to take another sip—

Xiao Ruoxi suddenly reached out, grabbed the almost full glass of red wine on the coffee table in front of her, and splashed it hard and accurately at Chen Tianfeng's face with lightning speed!

The deep red wine poured over Chen Tianfeng's head and body, staining his expensive clothes a mess. His hair stuck to his forehead and dripped down, making him look extremely disheveled!
"Scumbag!"

Xiao Ruoxi straightened her back, as if pouring all her grievances and anger into those two words; her voice was clear and resolute, echoing in the private room. (End of Chapter)