Chapter 163
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Chapter 163: Jiang Shuyan’s Choice
It was as if she saw a glimmer of hope—Jiang Shuyan’s once despondent and defeated gaze regained a trace of brightness.
Those autumn-water-like eyes forced out a hint of charm as she glanced sidelong at Ye Xiao.
Her expression carried a mixture of shyness and flirtation as she spoke softly, “If you really can help me, little sister, then whatever you want to do to me… I’ll leave myself at your disposal.”
Perhaps in the past, she would’ve firmly rejected Ye Xiao with righteous indignation.
She wasn’t into girls—she had no special feelings toward them. But now, she had already completely bowed to reality.
Ye Xiao raised her eyebrows slightly, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. “Sister Jiang, in this situation, other than me, do you even have another choice?”
Ye Xiao’s devilish whisper echoed in Jiang Shuyan’s ear and reverberated through her mind.
She slowly closed her eyes. Memories from four years ago flashed through her head like a revolving lantern.
Four years ago, she was still a university student. With outstanding looks and sweet charm, her ever-smiling, radiant face looked like it could drip water if you pinched it.
At that time, she was at her peak in terms of beauty—no less stunning than Xiao Ruotong, perhaps even slightly surpassing her.
At first, Jiang Shuyan was lucky.
In her sophomore year, she participated in an acting competition show and successfully attracted millions of fans, winning first place in the public vote.
Because of that, she caught the eye of a director and ended up starring in a TV series that became a viral sensation.
With solid acting skills, the aura of a rising star, and a refined temperament, she seemed destined for fame—if not for the scandal that exposed her as a homewrecker.
Unfortunately, even if you’re beautiful and talented, that doesn’t guarantee success.
Does the entertainment industry lack pretty women? Not at all!
Every year, the number of students taking arts entrance exams increases.
Countless attractive, pure, and charming young women rush into this industry one after another.
So many people study acting and hone their skills—all chasing the dream of stardom.
But how many actually become nationally famous?
That probability isn’t even one in ten thousand.
Some spend half their lives in the business, and still end up doing bit parts, playing background characters, lying on the ground as dead bodies or extras in battle scenes.
Those lucky few who explode in popularity before even graduating and land lead roles are extremely rare.
This society has never lacked capable or well-qualified people.
What most people lack is simply resources.
She had once been a rising star with limitless prospects.
She even caught the eye of the famed director Master Bao, and passed the audition for the female lead in a blockbuster film with a five-hundred-million investment.
But just when she was at her peak—
The dark side of the entertainment industry reached out its filthy claws.
The unspoken rules—something almost everyone in the business understands, but no one says aloud.
It wasn’t just Master Bao’s casting couch. There were also the producer’s, and the investors’ own unspoken rules.
To secure the lead role, she would have to submit to the director, producer, and investors—each taking a turn.
Three disgusting, fat pigs.
Some naive newcomers to the industry believed that if they just endured it once, became the lead, and gained stardom, they wouldn’t have to deal with this again.
So they told themselves: Just think of it as getting bitten by a dog, pand gave in.
Only then did the industry reveal its true face.
Once isn’t enough?
If you give in once, it’s only natural to be asked again and again.
Because a person’s bottom line can always be lowered.
Once you compromise once, you’ll keep compromising.
Jiang Shuyan came from a decent family background—not too different from Ye Xiao’s when she first arrived in this world. She was considered a second-generation rich girl.
At the dinner meeting, she sternly rejected Master Bao’s disgusting proposition and left with a cold face.
The next day on set, the director deliberately gave her a hard time. Hot-tempered and still angry from the night before, Jiang Shuyan ended up arguing with the director right on set!
Unfortunately, a video of her cursing him out was secretly recorded, edited, and uploaded online.
The incident: Jiang Shuyan throws tantrum on set, curses famous director—blew up overnight.
Next came her replacement in the lead role.
Her agent tried to plead with the investors, setting up a hotel meeting.
Then came the next scandal: a video titled “Jiang Shuyan’s secret rendezvous with a rich man at a hotel, exposed by the wife in person.”
Two damning incidents! Her image as a sweet, innocent girl crumbled instantly. From “Shuyan-meimei” she became the homewrecking b*tch everyone wanted to spit on.
She had still been too young!
She thought rejecting the unspoken rules just meant giving up one role.
After all, she had multiple lead offers lined up.
But was it really that simple? Once you offend someone in this circle, you think you can just walk away? Too naive!
These people have decades of experience. If they want to crush you, it only takes a moment.
Jiang Shuyan had been careless, and they found her weak spot easily.
Then with a round of media hype and exaggerated stories—she was finished.
Things were far worse than she’d imagined. Her agency dropped her completely, and she even had to pay breach-of-contract penalties.
Only then did she realize how full of loopholes the contract she signed was.
When you made money, the company took most of it. When you lost money, the company held you entirely responsible—and demanded compensation too.
When you were doing well, everyone wanted to flatter you. Once you fell, everyone wanted to step on you. Like drinking water—only you know whether it’s warm or cold.
Jiang Shuyan had thought that tonight’s last chance would just mean swapping out Master Bao for another disgusting old man.
But she had no choice—if that greasy old man could really help her, she would accept it.
What she didn’t expect was to run into Ye Xiao—a cute little “sister,” not some lecherous old man. That, at least, was a stroke of luck.
As she followed Ye Xiao to the Shangri-La hotel front desk to get a room, countless thoughts filled Jiang Shuyan’s mind.
Now, all she could hope for was that this girl in front of her could actually help her get through this.
But such a young girl, in such a rush—they had just met, hadn’t even spoken for ten minutes, and were already opening a hotel room together.
Yes, Ye Xiao was far more pleasant to look at than those greasy perverts—but deep down, was she really any different?
With no shame at all, Ye Xiao held Jiang Shuyan’s hand—this once-famous actress—and strolled right into the hotel lobby.
She handed over both their ID cards and got a room.
The whole time, Jiang Shuyan seemed dazed, as if still trying to convince herself.
Ye Xiao looked like nothing more than a snot-nosed kid—what was there to be afraid of?
As they entered the elevator, in the closed space, Jiang Shuyan instinctively reached up and stroked her cheek.
She had clearly worn her mask properly—so why did it still feel like everyone was pointing at her and whispering?
