Chapter 53 - 53: You ‘re Out
After the first episode was broadcast, all the contestants gained some popularity, but only Tong Fei received a lot of hate comments.
Upon learning of that, she immediately vented her anger by smashing things in her room.
Her followers dared not approach her during this tantrum and kept their distance.
When Tong Fei grew tired of her rampage, she grabbed her phone and called the Tong family.
“Dad! Someone must be messing with me! Has the topic been erased yet?”
She had demanded, not asked. Even in front of her father, she was extremely arrogant.
“My dear daughter, the people are working on it. Did you make an enemy? How dare they do this to you!” he replied.
Tong Fei fell into deep thought.
“Tong Luo doesn’t have this capability at all. Could it be…” Tong Fei began to entertain a possibility as a malicious glint entered her eyes. “It’s the woman called Qi Wu who stays by Tong Luo’s side! She definitely has someone powerful backing her up. Dad, investigate her!”
Tong Fei felt jealousy rise in her the moment she thought of Qi Wu’s ethereal
beauty.
Thus, she kept coming up with malicious speculations about Qi Wu.
How could someone like Qi Wu stay safe in the entertainment industry without any help? There must be someone supporting her. That was why she was so confident in herself!
Tong Fei ended the call after her father agreed to investigate Qi Wu.
The more she pondered Qi Wu’s earlier confrontational words, the more convinced she was of her theory.
That afternoon, Qi Wu and Tong Luo attended their only shared class.
Coincidentally, Tong Fei was also in the same class.
Tong Luo quickly noticed that Tong Fei, who had previously been fixated on her, was now focusing her attention on Qi Wu.
A sense of foreboding washed over Tong Luo.
Tong Luo looked at the person beside her with a worried expression. “Be careful of Tong Fei.”
Upon hearing that, Qi Wu looked up and glanced at Tong Fei, who was seated at the front of the class.
Although she did not say anything, her gaze clearly expressed her disdain.
Tong Fei was visibly angered by Qi Wu’s stare.
She could not wait to know the results of the investigation into Qi Wu. Once she knew who was supporting Qi Wu…Tong Fei would have her revenge.
She would make Qi Wu kneel before her, begging for mercy.
Tong Fei’s entire being radiated with smug glee at those thoughts.
Tong Luo whispered into Qi Wu’s ear, “Look at her eyes. She has a new plan.”
“Are you worried?” Qi Wu asked.
Without hesitation, Tong Luo replied, “Of course, I’m worried!”
Tong Luo had grown somewhat accustomed to Tong Fei’s attacks.
However, if the schemes were aimed at Qi Wu…she did not want to see that happen at all, especially since Qi Wu had that ticking time bomb that was her sugar daddy.
While she had never experienced it for herself, she knew just how strict and demanding the entertainment industry was when it came to women. If people found out about the sugar daddy, Qi Wu was doomed.
“I understand.”
Qi Wu’s answer was very cryptic.
Tong Luo did not get it.
However, she soon understood what Qi Wu meant.
During Shen Xi’s lecture, Qi Wu raised her hand, catching Shen Xi’s attention.
Shen Xi looked at Qi Wu with a hint of bewilderment.
“Miss Qi.”
Qi Wu confidently stood up. “I’m willing to play the part of the arrogant concubine.”
She then turned to look at Tong Fei who was seated at the front. “As for the role of the female lead, I believe Tong Fei is exceptionally suitable for it.”
Shen Xi was rendered speechless.
The lesson Shen Xi was teaching involved a drama where the female lead had grown up in a royal harem. She was a gentle and kind character.
Tong Fei was ill-suited for the role.
Could this choice be based solely on the “Fei” in their names?
Tong Fei suddenly snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing her name.
What was that? Female lead?
Tong Fei, who had been daydreaming and staring at Shen Xi throughout the lecture, did not even know what was going on but thought that Qi Wu was delivering a veiled compliment. She proudly got to her feet.
“You’ve made the right choice. I really am the only one who can play the female lead!”
This proclamation silenced the other students in the classroom.
Most of them had read the comments online and were aware of what people thought of Tong Fei’s controversial behavior, especially how she never knew to lay low. She made so many enemies through those actions.
Qi Wu remained silent and calmly made her way to the front. “Let’s start.”
Tong Fei did not know what Qi Wu was planning, but Tong Fei was the female lead. There was no way she could be defeated by a supporting actress!
Hence, she walked up to the podium as well.
Shen Xi silently glanced at the plot outline written on the board and a flash of derisive laughter flashed across his eyes.
“Since you two are so kind as to volunteer, please show the class what you can do. Remember, stick to the characters you are given.”
Shen Xi heavily emphasized his last sentence.
Tong Fei was overjoyed to see Shen Xi looking at her. Without thinking about it, she nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Mr. Shen. That’ll be no problem!” Qi Wu glanced at Shen Xi. When she turned back around to face Tong Fei, her entire demeanor had changed.
She now exuded an intense arrogance and entitled disposition that came from being raised within the palace walls. All of that was conveyed through the look in her eyes.
“How dare a lowly slave dream of sleeping with the Emperor!”
Tong Fei froze.
Qi Wu’s contemptuous and icy glare made her feel like an insignificant ant.
The emotions caused Tong Fei to momentarily forget the reality of the situation.
Her face twisted in anger. “What did you say?”
She took a step forward. “You would d-”
Slap!
The slap echoed through the room, shocking everyone.
“I can kill you as easily as I can crush an ant. Know your place and your value.”
At that moment, Qi Wu was the perfect embodiment of the haughty concubine who was beloved and spoiled by everyone in the palace.
She even made the character seem more wicked and arrogant than the script said.
In the heat of the moment, Tong Fei went mad and charged at Qi Wu. “How dare you hit me!”
However, her hands were easily caught by Qi Wu before they could hit her.
Qi Wu shifted out of her acting mindset and calmly regarded Tong Fei. “It was required by the script. Didn’t you know?”
Tong Fei was left dumbfounded as she turned to look at the room. She slowly realized that all eyes were on her.
She soon snapped out of her daze and turned to glare at Qi Wu. “You did it on purpose!”
“Yes, I did.”
Qi Wu’s voice was calm while her eyes held neither pity nor compassion, only an icy resolve that came from witnessing the end of a test. “You’re out.”
“What?”
Tong Fei stared at Shen Xi, who stood by the podium.
When she noticed that the smile on the corner of Shen Xi’s mouth had vanished, panic surged within her.
Tong Fei wanted to defend herself but was abruptly cut off by Shen Xi who said, “That’s enough.’
“Tong Fei, you lack the qualities required of an actress. My class isn’t suitable for you. Please leave..”