Chapter 63: Neither Provoking Trouble Nor Fearing It

Just before filming was about to begin, an unexpected incident occurred at the scene. With so many actors present, the place was in a chaotic uproar, and someone from the neighboring crew barged in, shouting.

The man, his hair styled in garish foil curls, strode arrogantly up to the crew members, his face full of disdain. “Hey! Can’t your group quiet down a bit? How are we supposed to film? Do you have to be so selfish?”

He was addressing the crew’s location manager, affectionately known as Uncle Yuan, a man usually known for his genial temperament. Wearing his yellow work uniform, Uncle Yuan was caught off guard, momentarily stunned by the man's rebuke.

The crowd of extras, previously chatting and noisy, fell silent, all turning to look toward the doorway. Lin Xi and Wen Jin Jiang He were standing furthest inside, unaware of what was happening. Director Lu and Lu Yuxiu were still in the lounge, temporarily absent.

Lin Xi exchanged a glance with Wen Jin and walked out, stopping an onlooker to ask what had happened.

At this moment, the assistant director stepped forward, standing beside Uncle Yuan and confronting the man. He was not someone to shy away from trouble. “If our group disturbed your filming, I apologize on behalf of the crew. But please, sir, don’t speak so unpleasantly. It makes everyone look bad, and after all, we’re neighbors.”

But the man paid no heed, snorting derisively. “Unpleasant? You’re too selfish, and now you won’t even let anyone speak? So many people here—are you running a vegetable market?” He exaggeratedly gestured, drawing a circle with his finger around the crowd.

His narrow face twisted with a vicious sneer, eyes and nose distorted in arrogance. Some at the set were angered by his overbearing attitude, and a few even rolled up their sleeves, ready to confront him, though others quickly restrained them.

Lin Xi was already simmering with irritation, and now she was even more repulsed by the man's vile demeanor. Why should the staff of Prosperity endure such treatment?

She strode forward, as if ready for a fight; Wen Jin tried to hold her back but failed. Lin Xi confronted the man without hesitation. “Are you a staff member from the neighboring group? Who gave you the right to come here and shout? It’s normal for things to be noisy in Hengdian—do you not know that?”

Her words fell, and the vast set became silent. Everyone was astonished that the usually gentle Lin Xi was so bold, not the least bit intimidated. Many gave her a thumbs-up from behind, finally venting their frustration.

Had the man approached with a better attitude, things wouldn’t have escalated; did he think everyone would just accept it?

Uncle Yuan stepped forward, signaling Lin Xi, “Lin Xi, let’s not make trouble if we can avoid it.”

“No, Uncle Yuan, we can’t let them act so brazenly,” Lin Xi replied firmly, shaking her head.

The man snorted coldly, refusing to back down. “So you think you’re in the right just because you're loud? And now you won’t let others say a word?”

Lin Xi didn’t even bother to look at him. His level was too low, just someone trying to puff himself up. She had no regard for such people. Lin Xi considered herself spoiled since childhood, fearless and undaunted, having confronted countless people before. Compared to her, a mere assistant was nothing.

“Our assistant director has already apologized. What, you still want to push your luck? Who gave you the courage to come here swaggering and insult our staff? Who’s your boss? Does he think Hengdian belongs to him, that everyone must obey? That’s quite the ego! Sending a little assistant to argue with us—do you think we’re easy to bully? Go back and tell him to come himself. We’d consider being quieter if he shows up and proves himself!” Lin Xi rattled off her words fluidly, not even pausing for breath, her composure unshaken.

The man’s face turned crimson from humiliation, his mouth opening and closing, unable to utter a single word.

“You! You, you, you!” His finger trembled as he pointed at Lin Xi, as if he’d seen a ghost. “You’re Lin Xi!”

Lin Xi cast him a contemptuous glance, her eyes sharp as blades. “That’s right, I’m Lin Xi. So what?”

Instantly, the man’s face darkened, purple and black like a frostbitten eggplant, his voice rising. “You’re the one who stole our Sister Jiang’s resources!”

“What did you say?” Lin Xi narrowed her eyes at him, her simmering anger suddenly ignited. “So you’re Jiang Ziqi’s assistant?”

The man blinked nervously, avoiding Lin Xi’s gaze.

“And you dare say I stole her resources? It’s your Sister Jiang who tried to snatch mine! The fact is, the client didn’t even want her—doesn’t that sting? If you can’t afford to get online, I’ll sponsor you a phone. Surveillance footage has been released, and yet you dare accuse me to my face? Do you think I’m easy to bully?” Lin Xi’s retort left him speechless.

Everyone at the Prosperity set was utterly stunned, bowing in admiration before Lin Xi. The gentle little rabbit had transformed into a masterful debater, leaving them in awe. Today, they truly saw Lin Xi in a new light.

Wen Jin secretly admired Lin Xi; she could never match that fearless, commanding temperament. She stepped forward to stand by Lin Xi’s side, tugging at her sleeve.

Lin Xi turned, raising an eyebrow playfully at Wen Jin. The assistant director also cast her a look of approval.

Jiang He, listening to the entire exchange, finally piped up, “So the neighboring group is Jiang Ziqi’s crew?”

Lin Xi scrutinized the man, watching him pretend to be calm as he nodded. He felt like a monkey on display, a grown man being berated by a young woman—utterly humiliating!

Lin Xi had no time for his feelings, finding it all absurd. As for Jiang Ziqi, she had no fondness for her. After Sister Zhou sent her the video, Lin Xi saw through Jiang Ziqi’s duplicity—a facade in public, a different face in private, twisting facts and hiding her true nature. Lin Xi despised such people. After clearing her name on social media, she had no intention of causing trouble; otherwise, Jiang Ziqi would have been blacklisted long ago.

Now, Jiang Ziqi had stumbled onto Lin Xi’s path again, revealing her poor character and lack of respect for others. Lin Xi cared nothing for whoever was backing her—this so-called Mr. Qiao. Lin Xi, when unruly, even surpassed Fourth Brother. Clearly, Jiang Ziqi was courting disaster.

Lin Xi’s tone turned icy as she delivered her verdict. “No wonder. I saw a saying once—when you beat a dog, you have to look at its master. No wonder your manners are so poor. Being Jiang Ziqi’s assistant explains everything.”

The man’s face turned ashen. He thought mentioning Jiang Ziqi would intimidate Lin Xi, but she didn’t care at all. Now he was utterly panicked, realizing he’d gotten himself into trouble.

“Go back and tell Jiang Ziqi, if she comes to our group again to throw her weight around, I won’t mind sparring with her. I’ll be waiting,” Lin Xi’s gaze was sharp as a blade, her voice devoid of any warmth.

The man was so chastened he couldn’t utter a word, fleeing in a hurry.

“Clap, clap, clap!” As he left, applause broke out across the set, everyone looking toward the source. The extras parted, creating a path.

Lin Xi turned to see Lu Jin and Lu Yuxiu approaching.

Lu Jin unabashedly praised her. “Well done, Lin Xi! I was listening from the back, thinking I’d have to step in myself, but you unleashed the aura of the Empress and won a crushing victory!”

Lin Xi, her anger subsiding, realized she was being teased, blushing and hiding behind Wen Jin. “Oh, I just can’t stand such arrogance.”

Jiang He joked from the side, “This is the first time I’ve seen Lin Xi lose her temper! So scary! I won’t dare provoke you again!”

Lin Xi curled her lips, waving her hand in a mock ancient salute. “No problem!”

“Hahaha!” The gesture drew peals of laughter from everyone on set.

Lu Yuxiu had been watching Lin Xi closely. He’d seen clearly that the surging murderous aura she displayed was not something an ordinary person could possess.

As for Jiang Ziqi, she was nothing but a madwoman. Her audacity came from that “Mr. Qiao” behind her. Zhou Jun had recently neglected things, allowing this Qiao to run wild.

He narrowed his eyes, suspecting that Mr. Qiao was probably Qiao Zongmin, the president of Yangang Entertainment. This warranted investigation.

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In the neighboring crew, the director anxiously glanced at Jiang Ziqi, who was leisurely scrolling her phone. He summoned an assistant. “Is Miss Jiang still not ready?”

The assistant wore a complicated expression. “I asked just now and got nothing but cold shoulder. She said the neighboring crew was too noisy, she couldn’t concentrate on her lines or get into character. She kept making excuses and sent her assistant over to argue.”

The director sighed helplessly. He had no choice; the main investor in this drama had instructed him to accommodate Jiang Ziqi in every way. With such backing, he couldn’t risk offending her.

The man—Wang Sheng—dragged himself back to Jiang Ziqi’s set. She was reclining in a lounge chair, sipping milk tea handed to her by Qian Ling.

“Wang Sheng, you’re back? What took you so long?” Qian Ling spotted him first and turned to ask.

Wang Sheng had followed Jiang Ziqi since her debut, knowing full well she had powerful patrons. Emboldened by her backing, he had developed a haughty personality, untouchable in the industry. But today, his usual attitude had met its match, and now he was at a loss for words, fearing she might fire him in anger.

Sweating nervously, Wang Sheng fidgeted, unable to speak, terrified she’d dismiss him.

Jiang Ziqi was already impatient, frowning as she glared at him. “What’s wrong with you? Can’t you even handle this small matter?”

“Jiang...Sister Jiang,” Wang Sheng stammered, “The neighboring crew is Lin...Lin Xi.”

“What did you say!” Before he finished, Jiang Ziqi exploded, hurling her milk tea to the floor, her anger erupting.

Lin Xi again! She had recently suffered a bitter loss online, and when she complained to Qiao Zongmin, he scolded her for causing trouble. She had swallowed her frustration, and now, unexpectedly, she ran into Lin Xi again!

“What did she say?” Jiang Ziqi’s face was grim, gripping the chair arm, teeth clenched.

“She...she said, you’re throwing your weight around...low-class...and if you provoke her again, she won’t mind sparring with you,” Wang Sheng stammered, blurting out everything, appropriate or not.

“What! Lin Xi is too outrageous—such arrogant words!” Qian Ling’s eyes burned with fury.

Jiang Ziqi’s veins threatened to burst, hatred surging in her chest like a tidal wave. She shrieked, her voice sharp as a knife, “Ah! I’ll make her pay for this!”

Her voice thundered, echoing in the director’s ears. He exchanged a helpless glance with the assistant director, both seeing deep regret in each other’s eyes.