HLnovel Chapter 203: The more you play, the better you'll get at it.
Chapter 203: The more you play, the better you'll get at it.
Taking this opportunity, Xue Jiashu led several other supporting actors from the crew to Ning Yao's side, smiling rather gently and politely.
"Want to have dinner together? I brought along an assistant who's a pretty good cook. He's not a Michelin three-star chef, but his signature dishes are so good that even a Michelin three-star chef might not be able to make them. Want to give him a try?"
Ning Yao glanced at Xue Jiashu, shook her head and refused, "No, I'm on a diet."
"Is it because you're dieting, or are you just in a bad mood and have no appetite?" Xue Jiashu joked before his smile faded and he became serious.
"You can't blame your sugar daddy for not wanting you because of your cold personality. You need to learn to please people and soften your temper a bit, then men will cherish you."
Seeing that Ning Yao didn't speak, Xue Jiashu thought that his words had hurt her feelings, so he gave a wink to the actresses around him and softened his tone to persuade her.
"I haven't eaten with you since I joined the crew. We're a couple in the show, so it wouldn't hurt to spend more time together."
The other actresses familiarly stepped forward and put their arms around Ning Yao's arm, as if they had a very close relationship.
"Yeah, even if you don't want to eat, you can still hang out with us. Brother Xue is really good at having fun, he won't let you get bored."
“If you think it’s fun, go have fun by yourselves. You don’t need to call me.” Ning Yao moved her arm away in disgust. She didn’t like getting too close to people she didn’t know well. These actresses were too overly familiar, and she didn’t feel comfortable with them.
"Luo Xiyao, don't push your luck. Now that you no longer have investors backing you up, how dare you act so arrogantly? Who are you trying to impress?"
"It's your good fortune that Brother Xue is thinking of you. It's just a meal. Do you think everyone in the world is lusting after your good looks?"
"Alright, all of you shut up. Who gave you permission to talk to Miss Luo like that?" Xue Jiashu stepped forward, clearly in a position to protect Ning Yao.
Ning Yao's calm eyes swept over the group, a sneer creeping into her heart.
He found people to act with him, with him playing the good cop and the others playing the bad cop, so that she would think Xue Jiashu was a good person who would protect her.
Do you really think she's some naive college freshman? So easily fooled?
"I'm sorry, Ms. Luo, my friend was too direct."
"Everyone is just trying to cheer you up because you've had such a bad experience. There's no unhappiness that a glass of red wine can't solve," Xue Jiashu said, glancing at Ning Yao.
The film crew had already finished work, and there were hardly any people in the hotel lobby; everyone had gone back to their rooms to rest.
Cui Mengmeng was still in the villa. Ning Yao hadn't called her when she left, so she had no idea that she had already left the villa and returned to the hotel.
In other words, Ning Yao is all alone now. If something really happens, without evidence, she won't be able to explain herself clearly.
Xue Jiashu knew that with her personality, she would never scream and shout when she encountered danger.
Besides, they didn't do anything to her; they just invited her over for drinks and a meal. It's perfectly reasonable for actors in the production crew to have a get-together and bond. In the end, there will only be more rumors and gossip condemning Ning Yao, saying that she has a strange personality.
"I'm going back now. If you keep pestering me and nagging, I won't be so lenient."
Ning Yao moved away from Xue Jiashu, and when she sensed that Xue Jiashu intended to use force, a nonchalant smile appeared on her lips.
"You've experienced the power of my fists and legs..."
"It's just a meal, and you're already hitting me? Don't you have any manners?" An actress seemed to be standing on a moral high ground to condemn Ning Yao. Her refusal to eat was considered antisocial and unruly.
"Did you set the rules for this production crew? Not eating is a violation? That's ridiculous!" Ning Yao glanced at the actress, not taking her thin arms and legs seriously.
"Even if you know a little martial arts, you can't possibly take on five people at once, can you?" Another woman, who was taller, was angered by Ning Yao's contemptuous attitude and rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight.
"Whether you can take on five at once or not, we'll find out by trying," Ning Yao scoffed, her tone becoming increasingly arrogant.
She was already in a bad mood, and these people insisted on coming up to kill her, which she couldn't stop.
The hotel lobby echoed with groans and moans. Ning Yao had taken down the men Xue Jiashu had brought in just ten minutes, but they were all unable to get up. They lay on the ground, clutching their wounds and wincing in pain.
This scene was witnessed by Director Guo, who happened to be passing by. His eyes lit up, and he was about to say something when an actress on the ground, covering her swollen left cheek, pointed at Ning Yao with her right hand and accused her aggrievedly, "Director Guo, you've come at the right time! Luo Xiyao hit someone!"
"Director Guo, please be the judge for us. Brother Xue just wanted to treat everyone to a meal and get together, but Luo Xiyao started a fight over nothing. If you don't want to go, fine, but what's with her hitting people?"
"She's a newcomer. As seniors in the industry, it wouldn't hurt for us to mentor her, would it?"
"That's right! We meant well, but Luo Xiyao is so ungrateful!"
Without her sugar daddy's backing, Luo Xiyao became unscrupulous and started throwing mud at everyone.
After all, without her boss, what is Luo Xiyao anyway?
Director Guo didn't say anything, but glanced at the person on the ground, feeling amazed but not very angry.
"Director Guo, what do you think is the best way to handle this?"
"There are surveillance cameras here. You can check the footage and see who started it."
Xue Jiashu spoke clearly and logically from the side, as if he were a middleman, not taking sides, and maintaining a completely businesslike attitude.
"Did you beat up all these people?" Director Guo asked Ning Yao.
"Mmm." Ning Yao stood up straight, showing no sign of having done anything wrong, and readily admitted it.
"You're quite skilled," Director Guo praised with a smile, as if his own child had grown up and accomplished something remarkable.
Everyone else was stunned when they heard Director Guo's words. One actress's mouth was agape, as if a duck egg could fit inside it.
After everyone realized what was happening, they slowly stood up from the ground, supporting their arms and asking in confusion, "Director Guo, did I hear that right? You're praising her?"
"We're already in this state, and you not only won't help us, but you also praised Luo Xiyao's skills. What kind of spell did she cast on you?"
"Director Guo, that's not fair! We need to go to the hospital for a medical examination!"
"That's right, this can't just end like this. An apology isn't enough; they also need to compensate us for medical expenses and emotional distress!"
"I noticed you were talking quite loudly, so you should be fine." After saying that, Director Guo looked away and walked straight to Ning Yao, a strange excitement in his eyes.
Where did you learn martial arts?
"I haven't formally studied it, but I've learned it naturally by practicing a lot." Ning Yao didn't understand why Director Guo was asking her this, but she still answered him.
“I’ve discussed it with the screenwriter, and we think adding some action scenes to your character would make the character more well-rounded.”
"I was originally thinking of inviting a martial arts instructor, but I saw that your fighting moves were quite good, so it seems we don't need one." Director Guo was very satisfied with Ning Yao's skills; her martial arts routine was fluid, elegant, and beautiful.
"I'm fine with anything. Just let me know when you and the screenwriter have discussed it, and I'll do my best to cooperate." Ning Yao nodded; it was no big deal.
The two chatted away in the hotel lobby, oblivious to everyone else, until even Xue Jiashu's expression began to change.
"Director Guo? What do you think about this matter..."
"We will cover the medical expenses and compensation for emotional distress caused by this beating. Don't worry, I will call someone to handle it later."
"Luo Xiyao has a bit of a temper, so just don't provoke her. Building relationships is a matter of mutual consent, so if she's not willing, then so be it."
Director Guo's impression of Ning Yao improved more and more, and he unconsciously began to defend her in his words. Before leaving, he even muttered a few words to himself.
"Didn't you all notice that Luo Xiyao's fighting style is exceptionally entertaining?"
"She's so beautiful! Even the stunt doubles can't match her skill!"