Xu Zifan invited everyone to dinner, but Xia Shuangshuang naturally declined. Everyone knew she was Xu Zifan's ex. If she had performed exceptionally well earlier, dominating the other actresses on set, she might have gone to provoke Xu Zifan. But she had just been embarrassing herself, so why would she go to such an event? After filming was over, she immediately told the director and asked her assistant to pack up and leave.
Aside from a few extras and minor stars who curiously watched her reaction, everyone else completely ignored her, all echoing Xu Zifan's praise of Shi Xueman and Yao Kexin's acting. Everyone acted according to the script; those favored by the sponsor naturally received more face. It was foreseeable that Shi Xueman, Meng Yuncheng, and Yao Kexin would have an even better time on set from now on.
There were quite a few people on set, so Xu Zifan asked Liang Fei to book the whole place and take them to a buffet. It cost 200 yuan per person, and they could choose whatever they wanted. For the first time, Xu Zifan had given out perks, and he chose a mid-range option, suitable for group activities on set. Sure enough, everyone felt much more at ease, not needing to worry about restaurant etiquette or be too reserved. Once at the restaurant, they each found someone they knew to sit with, chatting and laughing while eating.
Xu Zifan sat at a table with the director, assistant director, and three actors he had handpicked. Xu Zifan casually sat next to Meng Yuncheng, while Shi Xueman immediately moved to Meng Yuncheng's other side. The director and assistant director then conveniently let Yao Kexin sit next to Xu Zifan. It wasn't that they had any particular intentions; in these situations, it's generally customary for those of lower status to sit next to the more important figures. They couldn't very well have the director pour tea for Xu Zifan, could they?
Yao Kexin sat next to Xu Zifan, becoming the most reserved person in the room. Aside from pouring tea and wine for Xu Zifan, she ate in silence, seemingly very hungry. Xu Zifan chatted with the director and others about the filming schedule and promotional matters, when he saw Yao Kexin finish a large hairy crab, then eat a fish belly, and a little while later, devour a chicken leg. When he saw Yao Kexin bring over two duck heads, he couldn't help but ask, "Is it good?"
Yao Kexin was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, "Delicious, they're all delicious."
"Hmm..." Xu Zifan hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer to her and advised in a voice only she could hear, "Although the buffet here is delicious and has a wide variety of dishes, try not to mix too many different kinds together, as it's easy to feel unwell. I noticed your assistant isn't here, and it would be troublesome if you felt unwell later."
Yao Kexin's face flushed red instantly. She subconsciously put down the duck head, picked up a tissue to wipe her hands, and whispered, "Thank you, I... I won't eat anymore."
Xu Zifan casually moved an untouched glass of water in front of her and suggested, "You can eat more vegetables; the vegetables here are very delicious."
Okay, thank you.
The assistant director noticed Yao Kexin blushing, nudged the director, and gave him a knowing look. Both exchanged knowing smiles. Xu Zifan's visit to the set and subsequent dinner invitation had been puzzling them, but now they felt it all made sense. Had Young Master Xu taken a liking to Yao Kexin this time? Otherwise, why would he be whispering to her? No wonder Yao Kexin, originally a maid to the female lead, was promoted to the third female lead.
The director looked at Yao Kexin and reflected on her performance recently. A newcomer, she possessed a pure and innocent charm, untouched by the corrupting influence of the entertainment industry. She was exceptionally diligent and dedicated, always humble and polite to everyone on set—a truly wonderful young woman. Moreover, she was remarkably beautiful, arguably the most attractive actress in the entire cast. And playing the radiant and captivating imperial concubine only enhanced the drama further; he was willing to promote her. Unlike Xia Shuangshuang, who, despite being the pre-selected lead, always acted superior—it was annoying to fawn over her.
Over the course of a meal, the director had already made up his mind. Between the new love and the old, anyone with a brain knows which to choose. Also during this meal, everyone present learned that Xu Zifan had started a live stream, and most expressed great interest, installing the app on the spot. Xu Zifan essentially recruited the first batch of viewers for the live streaming platform. Of course, they didn't receive any special treatment.
While they ate, drank, and had fun, Xia Shuangshuang returned to her hotel, sulking. Since her rebirth, she had always felt her life would get better and better, but so far she hadn't reaped any benefits. She thought of Xu Hao again; she hadn't had time to cultivate a relationship with him during this period of filming. Given their relationship, wasn't it unfair that she had still been humiliated in front of Xu Zifan?
Xia Shuangshuang called Xu Hao and exaggerated the story, "Brother Hao, Xu Zifan must have come to cause me trouble. I don't know what he said to the director, but the director scolded me several times today. Isn't he just taking advantage of being the biggest investor? Brother Hao, why don't you invest too? This show is high quality and will definitely be a hit. You can make back double whatever you invest."
Xu Hao coldly refused, "I don't want news of uncle and nephew fighting over a girl to spread. Zifan won't be going there often, so it won't affect you much."
"Brother Hao, you have no idea how petty he is. He hasn't gotten revenge for me splashing water on him yet, so he definitely won't let it go. Brother Hao, I'm your woman now. Are you just going to watch someone bully me? Are you afraid of him?" Xia Shuangshuang felt that no man could tolerate such words.
However, Xu Hao remained unmoved. "I know Zifan's personality. He knows what he's doing. Don't overthink it. We'll have dinner together when you're free. Okay, I have something to do. I'm hanging up now."
Xu Hao hung up the phone and a slight smile played on his lips. Xu Zifan targeting Xia Shuangshuang was exactly what he wanted. By not helping Xia Shuangshuang, he remained in an unassailable position. But given Xia Shuangshuang's personality, she would eventually use his influence to bully Xu Zifan. Once the two were at each other's throats, and Xu Zifan learned of their relationship, the conflict would intensify. Then, he would have plenty of reasons to make others believe that Xu Zifan was ungrateful and had turned against him. So why would he care?
"Hello? Hello?" Xia Shuangshuang frowned and hung up the phone, remaining silent.
After a moment, he sneered, "Men, not a single one of them is any good!"
[Host, please don't forget that your ultimate goal is to become a superstar. Don't waste your time on irrelevant people.]
"She's my sugar daddy, not some random nobody," Xia Shuangshuang retorted irritably, then went into the bathroom to shower. A superstar is fine, but she'd much rather marry into a wealthy family and become the president's wife of the Xu Group. Then she wouldn't have to do anything, enjoying endless wealth and luxury every day—wouldn't that be better than working hard as an actress? A superstar and a wealthy wife are on completely different levels. If only the system were a "Wealthy Wife System"!
Xia Shuangshuang took a relaxing bath, applied a face mask, and did her skincare routine. Lying in bed, she started browsing the internet, searching for information about Xu Zifan, Shi Xueman, and Yao Kexin, trying to find any clues connecting them. Time passed slowly, and she read many gossip articles, instinctively feeling that none of them were true. She tossed her tablet aside, turned off the light, and went to sleep, her mind still preoccupied with how to secure Xu Hao's favor and how to regain face in front of Xu Zifan, completely forgetting the punishment the system had mentioned.
She didn't take the punishment seriously at all. After all, it didn't deduct points; it was just mental acting practice, which sounded similar to attending a class, and it was even beneficial for her. But then tragedy struck!
The system said the acting training required performing similar scenes two hundred times, and that meant every single time. Xia Shuangshuang initially managed to get by with the first few takes, but then she became serious, hoping to finish the training as soon as possible. However, no matter how well she acted, the system kept guiding her through the scenes again and again—it was a nightmare, a truly frustrating one!
Xia Shuangshuang longed for dawn to break so she could wake up and stop practicing. But it was no use; she performed exactly two hundred repetitions before finally waking from her slumber. Two hundred repetitions had left her exhausted and numb. She stared at the ceiling for five minutes before belatedly realizing it was still dark outside. She picked up her tablet and glanced at the time, her heart sinking instantly. It turned out that training in her mind didn't waste real time; no matter how long she was inside, time outside remained frozen. Her two hundred repetitions were, in reality, just the blink of an eye.
If the system punishes her for ten or twenty years, wouldn't she be trapped in her own consciousness and unable to wake up? What's even more terrifying is that no one will discover that she is imprisoned, because time doesn't move in reality. In other people's eyes, she has only closed her eyes for a moment!
Xia Shuangshuang grew increasingly terrified. She rolled over, clutching the blanket tightly. The fatigue from the recent training kept her on edge, preventing her from falling asleep. She spent the entire night sleepless, struggling to conceal her dark circles. The system remained silent, and for the first time, Xia Shuangshuang didn't speak to it. She realized for the first time that the Superstar System wasn't just an auxiliary system, but a system that forced its host to become a superstar. She wasn't bound to her savior, but a tyrannical dictator!
After that day, Xia Shuangshuang dared not make any more mistakes, and even if she did, she would quickly and attentively re-enact the scene. In this tense state, acting was no longer a career she loved, but rather a burden that put her under immense pressure. If her life were smooth sailing after her rebirth, she would definitely become more confident and at ease, because the rewards for her efforts would be doubled, and she would especially appreciate the benefits brought by the system.
Unfortunately, Xu Zifan's repeated interference created significant obstacles for her, making her life miserable since her rebirth. Her mood worsened, and she began to doubt herself and the system. As a result, she became mentally stressed, lost interest in her career, and only wanted to marry into a wealthy family and live a life of luxury. Her mindset had changed, becoming completely opposite to the ambition she had when she was first reborn.
This was actually a good thing for the production team; Xia Shuangshuang hadn't caused any trouble, making things much easier for the director and other lead actors. However, after only half a month of this relaxation, Xia Shuangshuang couldn't stand her current state. She was reborn to enjoy life; how could she live such a stifled and miserable existence? Xu Hao's refusal to invest in the film didn't mean his influence was gone. She had been arranged as the slated female lead by Xu Hao's assistant, and that connection still held value. Xia Shuangshuang directly approached the director demanding script revisions. She had thought it through: focusing on acting was one thing, but she also needed to become famous quickly. If she became famous enough and kept rising in popularity, wouldn't the system stop punishing her?
Revising the script is the quickest way, especially since she's the female lead in this year's big production; she definitely needs more screen time!