Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 397 Chilling to the Bone

The next morning, we arrived at the Dream Realization Courtyard.

The 18 dancers who had been selected in advance followed Wang Luyao and Zhang Yunfeng onto an Iveco van, heading to the Bayi Film and Television Base with anticipation.

Their task today was to play supporting roles to highlight the stunning appearance of Yu Ji [Guan Zhilin], so the girls with the best looks were actually left out.

Wang Yan was naturally not in the car either.

She sat by the window in the practice room, gazing at the slowly departing Iveco van, her eyes filled with both hope and trepidation.

At this moment, Li Xiaoran, who had also failed to be selected, leaned close to her and said with a grin, "Yesterday you and Li Xiang..."

"What Li Xiang?!"

As if she had been bitten, Wang Yan scolded in a harsh tone, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Li Xiaoran was completely bewildered by her scolding. Li Xiang was a male dancer in the dance troupe and Wang Yan's most steadfast suitor.

Wang Yan had always been indifferent to Li Xiaoran, but last night when Li Xiaoran was taken out to dinner by Chang Jihong, she happened to see the two of them holding hands and walking on the street.

That's why she teased Wang Yan about it today, but she didn't expect Wang Yan to react like this.

"what happened?"

Li Xiaoran said innocently, "What's wrong with that? Our dance troupe doesn't forbid dating..."

"Shh~"

Wang Yan interrupted her again, and then, without saying a word, dragged Li Xiaoran out of the practice room.

Once they reached a secluded corner, Wang Yan said irritably, "Don't talk nonsense. If word gets out, people will think that something happened between me and Li Xiang."

"I do not have it."

Li Xiaoran rubbed her wrist, which was sore from being gripped so tightly, and said aggrievedly, "I clearly saw you and Li Xiang holding hands and walking down the street..."

"You must have seen wrong!"

Wang Yan's tone carried a hint of fierceness.

Li Xiaoran shrank back a little, but still couldn't help but retort: ​​"But Manager Chang saw it too, how could we both mistake one person for another?"

"Manager Chang? You mean Manager Chang who oversees the actors?!" Wang Yan asked anxiously, her face visibly draining of color.

Although Li Xiaoran didn't know what had happened, she was also nervous because of Wang Yan. She swallowed and whispered, "Manager Chang heard that I was determined to become an actress, so he specially invited me to dinner last night to have a heart-to-heart talk. On the way there, we saw... we saw... what happened to you?"

Halfway through her sentence, seeing that Wang Yan was trembling like a leaf, Li Xiaoran couldn't help but support her with concern: "Sister Yan, are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine."

Wang Yan forced a smile, saying he was fine, but his body leaned limply against Li Xiaoran, as if he couldn't stand up without her help.

"How about I help you to see a doctor?"

"Need not!"

Wang Yan resolutely refused. She took a deep breath and struggled to stand firm. After a moment of silence, she suddenly asked, "How long does it take to drive from here to the August 1st Film and Television Base?"

"Half an hour should be enough, right?"

Li Xiaoran roughly estimated the time.

Wang Yan nodded and then said, "Let's go back to the practice room."

"you……"

Li Xiaoran was a little worried, but seeing that Wang Yan had already started walking back on her own, she hurriedly followed.

Back in the practice room, Wang Yan found a corner to sit down, pulled out the script for the role given to her by Xian Qiran, and pretended to be reading it attentively.

Others were envious and jealous, but Li Xiaoran could tell that she was actually daydreaming and not really trying to understand the character.

Thinking about the strange situation just now, she became more cautious and secretly kept an eye on Wang Yan's every move.

About forty minutes later, Wang Yan was seen quietly leaving the practice room when no one was paying attention.

Seeing this, Li Xiaoran pretended to be tired and sat down by the window to peek. She saw Wang Yan walk around outside for a while before going into the gatehouse.

After a slight hesitation, Li Xiaoran couldn't resist her curiosity and followed.

As they approached the gatehouse, the old gatekeeper came out, lighting a cigarette. Seeing Li Xiaoran, he casually tossed away his match and asked curiously, "What, are you making a phone call too?" "Ah? Yeah, that's right."

Li Xiaoran answered vaguely in a bit of a panic, thinking to herself that Wang Yan was here to make a phone call, but was it really necessary to be so secretive about making a phone call?

The gatekeeper didn't think much of it and laughed, "That's perfect. I'm going to the restroom. You guys keep an eye on things for me."

As he spoke, he slowly walked towards the toilet.

Li Xiaoran waited until he had walked a little further away before she went to the door of the gatehouse and listened carefully.

"Yes, I want to ask Li Xiang something. Okay, okay, thank you."

It was indeed related to Li Xiang, and this call was probably made to Wang Luyao, since Wang Luyao was the only one among the people in that car who had a mobile phone.

After a moment, Wang Yan spoke again: "Li Xiang, please don't do anything foolish... I'm not afraid you'll drag me down with you, but please don't act recklessly. What if someone dies... I know you know what you're doing, but doesn't she have a tumor in her brain? Who knows what might happen if she bumps into something..."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoran instinctively covered her mouth tightly, afraid that she would scream out loud.

Li Xiang actually tried to harm Rosamund Kwan on set because of Wang Yan!
This is too...

"Li Xiang!"

At this moment, Wang Yan's voice suddenly rose: "If you keep doing this, I will never talk to you again... I know you don't ask for anything in return, but I really don't want you to do this... Do you really think I'll be happy if you help me this way?!"
I completely misjudged you! I thought you would understand my thoughts, but I never expected... I want to become famous through my own abilities; I want to become a big star step by step, not through such underhanded means!

The more righteous and eloquent Wang Yan was inside, the more terrified Li Xiaoran felt outside.

When Wang Yan spoke to Commander Wang privately last time, everyone gossiped behind her back that she was trying to curry favor and climb the social ladder.

Later, although Commander Wang publicly shared the information he had gathered with everyone, the final result was that Wang Yan was selected as the substitute.

As a result, the rumors that Wang Yan was "scheming and adept at maneuvering" not only did not dissipate, but instead became even more rampant.

Because of her close relationship with her, Li Xiaoran was initially reluctant to consider conspiracy theories, but now...

She actually wanted to use Li Xiang to climb the social ladder!

Li Xiang might think that Wang Yan called to stop him because she didn't want him to harm Guan Zhilin.

However, based on Wang Yan's previous behavior, Li Xiaoran could clearly realize that the reason Wang Yan wanted to stop Li Xiang was because Manager Chang and she had seen the two of them walking on the street yesterday.

If Li Xiang really does something, he could very well drag Wang Yan into an abyss of no return.

Unfortunately, Wang Yan is now making grand pronouncements, which not only salvaged her plot from being exposed but also conveniently labeled Li Xiang as someone who doesn't understand her.

The two will probably break up next, and Li Xiang, who is unaware of what is going on, will feel ashamed and think that his dark thoughts have offended Wang Yan. Little did he know that the reason he had such thoughts was actually the result of Wang Yan's deliberate guidance!

That's terrifying! That's terrifying!

Despite the sweltering heat of 37 degrees Celsius, Li Xiaoran felt a bone-chilling cold. Did becoming a big star require resorting to such ruthless means?!

At this point, Wang Yan and Li Xiang's call was coming to an end. Fearing exposure, Li Xiaoran quickly and quietly escaped back to the practice room.

After hanging up the phone inside, Wang Yan first let out a heavy sigh, then showed a look of disappointment and regret.

She had meticulously planned this for three days, and if Chang Jihong and Li Xiaoran hadn't accidentally stumbled upon it...

what a shame!

"what?"

Just then, a puzzled voice came from the gatekeeper.

Wang Yan snapped out of her daze and smiled, "Uncle, now that you're back, I'll go back to practice too."

"go Go."

The security guard waved his hand and said, "If you need to make a call, just come over. As long as you don't talk for too long, the higher-ups won't care about the phone bill."

"Thank you, uncle."

Wang Yan walked lightly towards the door, but just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard the security guard mutter, "Where's the other one? Wasn't she going to make a phone call too?"

Wang Yan paused, turned around stiffly, and asked, "Uncle, who is the other one you're talking about?"

"The one with the whitest skin, what was its name again..."

"Li Xiaoran?!"

(End of this chapter)