A Star Reborn: The Queen's Return

Xia Ling taught her daughter as well. “You need to protect yourself, don’t let someone take advantage of you.”

Xia Yingluo was so overwhelmed by all that was going on, she locked herself up in her bedroom and gave Jin Ling’er a call to vent her frustrations. “I thought I’d live a good life once I got home, but they’re all making things difficult for me! How annoying...”

Jin Ling’er was very sympathetic. “Why don’t you come out for a breather? I just took up a new show and we’re starting our filming. You can come and visit me at work?”

“Sounds good.” Xia Yingluo was overjoyed. Her good friend was starring in a show, of course she had to show her support.

In a couple of days, she packed up her stuff and made her way to the filming location.

It was on the outskirts of town and Jin Ling’er had to lead her in. “Just find a place around here to wait, you can watch me later.”

Xia Yingluo sized the people up curiously. “This must be a huge production, there are so many people around.”

The way she looked around got her a few unfriendly eye rolls. Who was this country bumpkin with no exposure?

Jin Ling’er teased. “You can’t be serious, Miss Xia. It isn’t the first time you’re at a filming set, need you to look so shocked?”

Xia Yingluo smiled sweetly. “I’m just being excited for you.” She’d been to many filming locations indeed, and she even had a lot of fun playing around when she was a child. But she hadn’t expected Jin Ling’er’s first show to be such a huge production; for a newbie who’d just made her debut, it was a good start.

But Jin Ling’er said, “This is a huge film, but I’m just a small character. Female N.”

N...

Xia Yingluo had to stifle a laugh. “Are you feeling aggrieved? If you are, I can find you a better role.”

Jin Ling’er shook her head. “Forget it. You’re so much better than I am as an actress, but you just don’t have ambition, and all you think about is finding opportunities for me.” She pointed a finger to her forehead. “Occupy yourself for now, I’ll get my makeup on.”

Xia Yingluo nodded and watched her leave.

This was the Du family’s location and she didn’t know anyone around here. She explored the surroundings for a bit and found it boring, so she found herself a seat to rest on. She’d only rested for a while when somebody yelled, “Who are you, why are you sitting on Sister Tang’s chair? Leave, leave!”

She’d never been yelled at this way before and couldn’t help but feel enraged. She looked up and saw an angry man, and behind him, a beautiful lady. The lady was in a gorgeous outfit for the show and was looking at her in annoyance. She recognized this beautiful lady, the queen of films in the last two years—Tang Yuan.

No wonder she was so arrogant.

This was the first time Xia Yingluo saw Tang Yuan in person, and she couldn’t help but size her up for a bit. She’d heard Uncle Bai Murong gossip about her before—when this lady had just made her debut, she’d done whatever it took to get what she wanted. She’d slept with male superstars and directors, ostracized other actresses, acted all innocent and elegant before the media and public... there was so much dirty history about her, but she’d made a name for herself nonetheless.

The one who’d told Xia Yingluo off was Tang Yuan’s assistant.

Seeing that she was still eyeing Tang Yuan, he yelled at her again, “Idiot, I’m talking about you. Leave! Who are you, which department are you from?”

Xia Yingluo stopped looking at Tang Yuan and instead looked at him coldly. “Who do you think you are?”

“Wow, you’re questioning me?” The assistant was triggered by her rebuttal. Having been Tang Yuan’s assistant these few years, everyone had had to show him respect wherever he went. And this little girl here was being rude to him? Seeing that the girl was in a simple outfit and didn’t have an assistant following her around, he figured that she was just a nobody. “Xiao Li! Xiao Li! Look at this idiot here, where’d she come from? Get her person-in-charge over here now!”

The employee Xiao Li was shocked to see Xia Yingluo in Tang Yuan’s seat too and knew that this wasn’t a small matter. Tang Yuan was known to be hot-tempered and demanding; she’d even flare up if the person walking towards her on the same path didn’t bow down to her and make way, not to mention somebody taking her female lead seat. Xiao Li hurriedly said, “Brother Qiang, calm down, I’ll teach this idiot a lesson.”

He turned around and spoke to Xia Ling unpleasantly. “Which department are you from? Give up the seat to Sister Tang, and apologize to her!”

Xia Yingluo couldn’t tolerate how they were calling her an idiot. She kept her cold smile on and said, “I’m sitting here and that’s that. Why?”

That was when she remembered that most production crews reserved seats only for the lead characters or big shots, and no one else was to take these seats, as they were a symbol of status. But she couldn’t be blamed for recalling it only now. Back when she played around at the different location sets, no one had used that rule against her. In fact, they couldn’t wait to offer her a seat.

This time, even Tang Yuan was looking at her coldly. She couldn’t be bothered to speak to Xia Yingluo, and instead instructed her assistant. “Get her fired.” Given the influence she had in the production crew, it was a piece of cake for her to fire a small fry.

The assistant Brother Qiang smiled and said, “Yes, yes.”

He then yelled at Xiao Li, “Hurry and find out who she is!”

Xiao Li was uptight too and vented it on Xia Yingluo. “Whoever you are, leave now!” He raised his voice. “Security, security!”

The commotion drew a few people nearby and finally, someone recognized her. He tried to fawn on Tang Yuan and the rest. “I know her! She was brought in by Jin Ling’er. Jin Ling’er is that girl acting as the servant Lan Zhi. She’s here to watch Jin Ling’er film.”

Tang Yuan’s expression got even more awful. “So all sorts of miscellaneous people are allowed in here.”

Brother Qiang chided Xiao Li. “What’s going on with you, letting in just any stray animal, huh? Who’s Jin Ling’er anyway, I’ve never heard of her. She’s barely a calefare[1] and she’s getting others to visit her at work?”

Several others began laughing and shooting disdainful glances at Xia Yingluo.

Xia Yingluo got even angrier as she heard them insult her friend. “Where’s your director, call him over.”

Brother Qiang sneered. “Director? You’re asking for too much. Do you really think Director Fang meets anyone who wants to meet him? Get out!”

Tang Yuan was getting impatient. She was about to film her next scene and wanted to sit down for a rest, rather than have Xia Yingluo waste her time. Her other female assistant could sense her frustration and hurriedly said, “Sister Tang, there’s another chair over there. Let’s take a seat there.”

[1] A person who has a small and minor role in a show or movie. Also used to call someone an extra in their group/clique.