Chapter 28: Lip Sync

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What he didn’t notice was that the entire time his gaze was following Tang Xiaoxiao’s figure like a shadow, a sweet smile remained on his lips.

After returning to the Lin family, Tang Xiaoxiao wanted to help make the dishes at first, only to be chased out of the kitchen by Grandma Lin. When she left the kitchen, she happened to meet Lin Junhan’s gaze. She giggled unconsciously as she took out her phone with a smile. “Lin Junhan, give me your phone number. If Grandma Lin makes anything good in the future, you have to remember to inform me, yeah?”

Lin Junhan’s face reddened again as he hummed in agreement and told her his phone number. When he glanced at Tang Xiaoxiao’s mobile phone screen, he heard crows cawing in the background.

The little fox that was gloating had actually saved a certain Lin as ‘Wooden Block Lin’ on her phone.

Even though her small prank had been discovered, Tang Xiaoxiao didn’t seem guilty at all. Instead, she cackled happily, “Since we’re so familiar with each other already, it’s normal to have a nickname! Right, Big Wooden Block?”

Lin Junhan, “…”

Just as the three of them were getting ready to eat, Tang Xiaoxiao’s phone started ringing. She glanced apologetically at the old grandma and Lin Junhan before she answered the call. “Hello, how are you, Director Cao? Why are you free to call me today?”

Cao Hao, who was on the other side of the call, was so taken aback he didn’t know to laugh or cry from Tang Xiaoxiao’s barbed greeting. “Xiaoxiao ah, will you die from boredom if you don’t wind me up?”

“Hmm, that’s probably right.” Tang Xiaoxiao continued casually.

“Alright, alright, I won’t be able to win against you anyway,” Cao Hao stopped laughing as his tone turned serious, “I called to ask you about Yang Shan. You know it will be the movie premiere and reporters’ release conference in two days. She must arrive at Donghai City by tomorrow afternoon. I need her to familiarize herself with the venue and schedule as soon as possible, together with the methods of dealing with reporters. Also, how is the preparation for her outfit going?”

With a sigh, Tang Xiaoxiao only said solemnly, “Director Cao, you have to be mentally prepared. Yang Shan, she… I can’t control her anymore. I’ll probably be fired after the premiere release of the movie.”

Cao Hao froze. He remained silent for a very long time before he finally asked, “Zhao Le… he took his chance at her?”

“Even without Zhao Le, I wouldn’t be able to control her.” Tang Xiaoxiao glanced at Grandma Lin and Lin Junhan, gesturing for them to start eating first. “Although I know in the entertainment industry it’s common to see these sorts of people, those who have no shame in kicking someone to the curb when they’ve outlived their usefulness… In the end, they would maintain a degree of professionalism and face towards one another. However, I’m afraid the relationship will be completely severed this time…”

“Why do you say that?” Cao Hao had suppressed his voice a little.

“Do you know what Yang Shan’s mother did after I took Yan Shan home?” Tang Xiaoxiao snorted. “Her mother said that they won’t trouble me any longer since I took care of Yang Shan for more than two months. She even wanted to give me five hundred dollars to pay me for my labor… The evening gown I chose for her was rejected and her mother has chosen one for her daughter personally. You will know when you see her tomorrow.”

“Five hundred dollars?!” Cao Hao barely stopped himself from snorting. “F*cking hell, she had no shame in doing such a thing? To be honest, Xiaoxiao ah, if you hadn’t been helping her from behind the scenes, I would have changed the female lead for this movie long ago! With her immature and self-centered ways in dealing with people, she would have died from the cast and crew’s comments already. Yet, she wanted to kick you away with five hundred dollars?”

Tang Xiaoxiao laughed bitterly. “Director Cao, I was really speechless with these five hundred dollars. This isn’t about money. The main thing is that it is really frustrating to be thrown away like trash now that I’ve outlived my apparent usefulness. I don’t want to care about her anymore either, so after this premiere, there will be nothing between us anymore. Please talk to her personally about the matters of the movie premiere.”

Cao Hao sighed, “That’s good too. Xiaoxiao ah, about what I told you the other day…”

“Director Cao, thank you for your support. However, I really don’t want to debut as an actress right now. My status now is an entertainment manager, not an artist.” Tang Xiaoxiao suddenly laughed, “However, if you can give me some face when I recommend you artists in the future, I’ll be really grateful.”

After exchanging some more courteous words, Tang Xiaoxiao finally hung up and her eyes met Grandma Lin’s gossipy ones instantly. She massaged her temples due to an impending headache before she smiled and said with a whine, “Grandma Lin, you won’t tell others about this, right?”

Grandma Lin patted her chest with gusto. “Of course not, is your Grandma Lin that kind of a person? However… Xiao Tang, did that family opposite us really do such a wicked thing?”

A dark chuckle burst out of her lips as Tang Xiaoxiao purposely said with fake generosity, “Grandma Lin, this is nothing. It’s normal to sacrifice something in face of benefits. This is something really common in the entertainment industry. Oh right, Grandma Lin, your grandson, Junhan is a really good seedling. May I know if he is willing to become a celebrity?”

Before Lin Junhan could speak, Grandma Lin was already smiling eagerly as she piped up, “Of course he’s willing! In what ways isn’t my grandson stronger than that despicable family opposite? Hmpf, they boast and show off in front of me every day. When my grandson becomes a celebrity too, we’ll see how arrogant they can be!”

“Grandma…” Lin Junhan didn’t know to laugh or cry.

As Grandma Lin glared at her grandson, she said with fake anger, “If you want me to go home, you’d better go and become a celebrity properly! If I become happy enough from seeing you on the television one day, I might just go back and see that never-dying old man.”

Lin Junhan smiled bitterly. Grandma was probably the only person in this world who could call his grandfather “never-dying old man”, wasn’t she?

Tang Xiaoxiao was smiling like a little fox as her eyes were fixed on Lin Junhan. Her gaze was rather scary, like a female tiger that had her eyes on her prey. “Wooden Block… Cough, Junhan ah, when I’m free in two days, I will start arranging music, dance, acting and other special training for you. I just need three months, and I promise you will become a qualified super-idol!”

Lin Junhan couldn’t help but shiver as if a chill was running up his spine. Did he fall into a trap set up by a certain fox?

When Tang Xiaoxiao left, she sent most of her stuff home and only kept several sets of clothing as she got on the airplane with Zhao Le and the Yang mother and daughter. Although she wasn’t really welcomed by the group, she still forced herself to go due to her professionalism as a manager. Of course, no one would know if she had any other hidden intentions.

By now, Mrs Yang and Zhao Le hated Tang Xiaoxiao to the core, so naturally, they didn’t even deign to give her nice expressions. When Yang Shan saw Tang Xiaoxiao, she naturally felt so awkward that she wanted to die, so she acted as if she didn’t see anything. On the other hand, Tang Xiaoxiao entertained herself as she looked extremely comfortable and at ease. Her demeanor made Mrs Yang and Zhao Le so angry they wanted to vomit blood!

When they got off the plane, the crew sent Assistant Liu Cheng to drive to the airport and fetch the group. Liu Cheng was the director’s assistant, and also Cao Haoxin’s close aide. However, it was a pity that this Liu Cheng never liked Yang Shan, so he simply greeted the group before he took Tang Xiaoxiao’s only luggage and said while chuckling, “Xiaoxiao, let’s go.”

Mrs Yang raised an eyebrow as she said rather crossly, “Hey, you there. Didn’t you see us holding so many things in our hands? Why are you helping that little girl take her things and not us?!”

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