"Sigh—" Xiao Mi let out a heavy sigh. She discreetly pressed the button to end the recording and then reached out to gently pat Liu Jia's shoulder.
"Don't be too upset. We'll see how things go with Shi Xin Xin! She'll definitely end up in a terrible state."
Liu Jia didn't look up, only replying in a low voice, "Mm, the plan should be put into action within these few days. If I find an opportunity, I'll inform you proactively. You've been by Shi Xin Xin's side all along, and if you discover a good chance, you can also notify me. We'll act according to the situation."
A wry smile appeared on Xiao Mi's face. "Alright! In any case, don't cry anymore. Girls who cry all the time will become ugly, old, and get wrinkles. I'm leaving now."
As she finished speaking, she stood up and left the makeshift lounge set up by the film crew.
The moment she walked out the door, Xiao Mi glanced back at Liu Jia, who was still seated. Liu Jia maintained her previous posture, motionless, her face buried in her hands, seemingly in extreme, uncontrollable pain.
A woman deeply entangled in love, unable to extricate herself. Knowing love is unattainable yet still stubbornly pursuing and struggling.
Should I pity her? Or deem her tragic?
Xiao Mi stretched, murmuring to herself, "Should I feel fortunate? Fortunately, I don't have a man I like, otherwise…"
Just then, a clear, familiar voice rang out from not far away, and at the same time, a sprightly figure dashed towards Xiao Mi. "Hey, Xiao Mi, I've been looking for you everywhere, and you were here all along."
Xiao Mi turned her head and saw it was Shi Xin Xin.
Shi Xin Xin's small face was flushed red by the cold wind, tiny beads of sweat dotted her nose, and she was panting. It seemed she had been searching for Xiao Mi for quite some time.
Seeing Shi Xin Xin's breathless state, Xiao Mi felt a pang of concern. She took out a tissue, wiped Shi Xin Xin's nose, and asked while doing so, "Finished filming? Are you tired?"
Shi Xin Xin took the tissue and shook her head, saying, "Not tired."
She was clearly exhausted but always stubbornly claimed otherwise! When would this girl's stubbornness change?
Xiao Mi didn't expose her, simply looking at her with a smile. The world always had such girls—pure and kind, straightforward and enthusiastic, always thinking of others, with no self-interest or suspicion in their hearts.
If Shi Xin Xin knew that at this very moment, someone was trying to win over her assistant behind her back, plotting to frame her, what would she think? Would she be sad?
Seeing the troubled look on Xiao Mi's face, Shi Xin Xin quickly grabbed her hand and asked with concern, "Xiao Mi, what's wrong? I haven't seen you for just over an hour, and your complexion looks so bad. Did you catch a cold?"
Xiao Mi sighed and didn't answer immediately. She looked around and found the surroundings noisy and chaotic, not a place suitable for conversation.
She looked down at her watch. It was already half-past eleven in the morning. The morning's scenes were finished. The next scene was scheduled to start at three in the afternoon!
This meant she had ample time to explain to Shi Xin Xin everything "terrible" that had happened today—that is, Liu Jia's plot.
Xiao Mi took Shi Xin Xin's hand and walked towards the parking lot. "Let's go have lunch first. I'll tell you some things while we eat."
In the bustling and prosperous West District, two young women, wearing masks and baseball caps, walked side by side into a Western restaurant with thirty years of history.
In the spacious and quiet private room, Danish melancholic ballads and heavenly piano music occasionally drifted. The waiter politely opened the door of the private room and served two young women inside with fine steaks and exquisite side dishes.
Shi Xin Xin tore open the cutlery packaging on the table, skillfully picked up a knife and fork, and with great dexterity, cut a piece of tender, juicy beef. Then, she opened her small mouth and took a bite with an "Awooo!" sound.
"Mmm, so delicious, this taste is unforgettable the moment it enters your mouth!" Shi Xin Xin made an exaggerated expression and then took another bite.
It wasn't until she had eaten about two-thirds of the steak that she suddenly realized that Xiao Mi, sitting opposite her, had remained motionless since the food was served, as if she were frozen.
Today was truly strange. Facing such a tempting and delicious steak, Xiao Mi, who was usually a glutton, remained completely still? No reaction? This was not her usual behavior at all.
Shi Xin Xin suppressed a chuckle and waved a hand in front of Xiao Mi.
"Hey, are you silly? Why aren't you eating?" Shi Xin Xin asked.
Prompted by Shi Xin Xin's question, Xiao Mi suddenly snapped back to reality. She responded absentmindedly and then began to cut her steak. However, after only two cuts, she froze again, her eyes vacant, her gaze dazed, looking preoccupied.
Seeing Xiao Mi like this, Shi Xin Xin lost her appetite. She put down her knife and fork and said with a solemn expression, "Xiao Mi, just say it. Anyone can tell something's up with your preoccupied look! Tell me, what is it?"
Xiao Mi looked up at Shi Xin Xin, stammering, "Uh, well, why don't you eat first? I'm afraid you won't be in the mood to eat after you hear it."
But Shi Xin Xin insisted on having Xiao Mi tell her. Xiao Mi knew Shi Xin Xin's personality and realized she couldn't refuse her. So, she sighed and recounted everything she had encountered that morning, without omitting a single detail.
Including how she met Liu Jia, how Liu Jia poured out her obsession with Yue Ran and her hatred for Shi Xin Xin, and then how Liu Jia hoped Xiao Mi would help her…
After finishing her story, Xiao Mi played the recording. Although the recording was noisy and chaotic, the conversation between Liu Jia and Xiao Mi could be heard clearly.
After listening to the recording, Shi Xin Xin's face instantly turned as pale as paper.
The knife and fork in her hand clattered to the ground. But she didn't pick them up, only murmuring repeatedly, "How could this be, how could this be?"
Xiao Mi sighed, put her phone back in her pocket, and comforted her, "Xin Xin, there are plenty of people like Liu Jia in the entertainment industry. You have to get used to it."
This statement immediately enlightened Shi Xin Xin, giving her a feeling of sudden realization.
She raised her head abruptly, the previous pain, doubt, and struggle vanishing, replaced by resolute determination.
"Xiao Mi, we shouldn't alert the enemy. We should turn their plan to our advantage, fight fire with fire, and use this opportunity to make Liu Jia suffer the consequences of her own actions! I want to let her know, I want to let everyone who wants to bully me know that I, Shi Xin Xin, am not to be trifled with! I will not sit idly by!"