Chapter 39: Entanglement
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The sun was scorching bright in the afternoon.
A few cars could be seen parked sparsely outside the production base.
Shen Xinran was sitting inside one of these vehicles, with the air-conditioning blowing. She had been calling that familiar number over and over again.
What she received was a continuously engaged tone, no one was picking up the call.
Like a persistent paranoid who had gone berserk, she kept dialing non-stop.
It was only when the phone displayed a low-battery signal, that she finally gave up with a heavy sigh. Leaning back on the car seat, her beautiful eyes had lost their shine.
“Tell me, do you think he has blacklisted my number? If not… why didn’t he answer my calls?” she muttered.
There was no answer.
She was the only one inside the car. The chauffeur, agent, and assistant were not around…
The screen lit up suddenly. She quickly grabbed the phone for a closer look only to be disappointed again.
It was a message from Lin Xue, inviting her to a yoga studio to join a few other celebrities.
She ignored the message and put down the phone. This friend of hers might have some serious shortcomings but she was always full of ideas and suggestions. There was never a dull moment with her and that was helpful to keep her preoccupied.
It was a good way to pass her time…
And the missy had plenty of time on hands right now.
She had rejected many other roles and commercials in order for her to take on this role under Director Xu; and now, the production had seemed to encounter some financial issues. It seemed that the investors wanted to cut their funding. Unfortunately, the production team did not have sufficient money to support the entire production based on their funds alone.
She had had to take a long break due to this unforeseen interruption…
Her agent, together with the chauffeur and assistant, returned with some luggage full of her things in tow.
The three of them looked grim, and no one could blame them. Being forced to stop midway through production was nothing to be happy about.
“Who did Director Xu offend this time to make the major investors withdraw their funding?” The agent wondered grumpily. “This is really… how can anyone withdraw their agreement at the last minute?! This is really unreasonable!”
With his tone full of disdain, the chauffeur chipped in as he started the car, “Isn’t the film close to one-third completion? I think the director was just being petty here, he could very well use his own money to finish the shoot!”
“Chey, what do you know, really? The real splurge hasn’t started yet! We still need to add the special effects and post-production publicity. All that needs money, you know?”
“I heard he has been searching up and down, looking for money, over the last few days. However, no one seems to be keen. This is strange… The director has always been on good terms with that group of investors…”
“That’s enough,” the actress found them too talkative and cut in curtly. “Just take this as an opportunity to give yourself a long holiday. Start the car now.”
Everyone hushed.
They knew she was temperamental. Besides, this rich missy was not in need of money, hence, issues like payment due to stoppage would not bother her at all.
“Oh, right,” the starlet raised a question. “Show me the demand letter that RK sent about the compensation.”
The assistant replied with a start, “Sister Xinran, that letter… has been dispatched to Mr. Shen.”
The woman immediately stiffened when she heard that, with her face looking utterly terrible!
“Who told you to send this to my father?! Do you know what you’re supposed to do at all?!” She sent a slap across her assistant’s face after reprimanding her!
Smack!
The assistant was struck dumb by the actress’s action, as tears welled up in her eyes. She did not understand what was so different this time. In the past, all invoices were sent to her father, so… why was she wrong this time?
Still, the assistant dared not rebut, and only dipped her head low begrudgingly. Sipping her lips tightly, she knew not to argue when the missy flared up, or the situation would get out of control.
On-screen, Shen Xinran might look cheerful and lively, with a bright and sunny disposition. In reality, she was temperamental and unpredictable, almost to the point of being paranoid.
The other two members inside the car were terrified by the actress’s sudden outburst as well. No one dared to say another word. They could only assume that the interruption to the production schedule had affected her mood badly…
The car was in dead silence as the chauffeur drove on without a word.
…
At the same time, inside the CEO office of RK Twin Towers, Lu Lu was patiently teaching Gu Anbao on how to use the handphone.
The latter knew how to use the mobile, of course…
Still, the secretary looked so serious as she was teaching her, that the robot tried to accommodate her by nodding her head in acquiescence every now and then.
There were not many instructions to impart in the first place. Mainly, she was to teach the robot how to make calls, receive calls, send messages, and other basic functions like taking pictures and videos. When the secretary found out that the robot had been watching ‘Little Aerial Police Girl’, she even downloaded a video app for her so she could watch her anime.
After she was done with her training, she made Gu Anbao repeat the steps in front of her. Looking pleased, she praised the robot, “Ruan Ruan is so clever to catch on with just one demo!”
The robot had mixed feelings about receiving such a commendation, though.
Looking bashful, she smiled and replied, “It’s alright…”
Besides giving her the phone, the young secretary had meticulously prepared a cute, round shoulder sling bag to keep her accessories and belongings like phone, charger, face wipes, hair clips, and hair bands…
Gu Anbao kept the phone and slung the bag over her shoulder before standing quietly in front of the secretary. As her little cute ears gave a shake, Lu Lu went starry eyes as Ruan Ruan’s sweet quotient shook through the roof. The secretary could hardly contain the great excitement inside her heart!
“So adorable… Absolutely adorable…” The lady paced around the robot a few times as if she was surveying the Barbie dolls that she used to play with when she was a kid! She looked pretty, regardless of how she was dressed up!
The devil king is so stingy! Why did he only prepare two sets of clothing for Ruan Ruan?! How can these be enough for her?! She should have 20 of these… No! I think not even 200 sets are sufficient! Think about it, this is only the summer. What happens when it comes to autumn… and winter?! All in all, there should be at least 200 sets!
Besides that, there has to be matching shoes, bags, hair clips, etc…
This won’t do! She felt that it was absolutely necessary for her to request a clothing allowance from her boss!
Just as her mood was reaching a climax, Gu Anbao pointed steadily at the phone on the office table and asked hesitantly, “… his phone has been flashing non-stop.”
The man had gone for meetings without his mobile in tow. Ever since it had been left on the table, it had been flashing non-stop.
The secretary turned to have a look at the flashing screen that went bright and dim intermittently.
She threw a disdainful look after taking a glance. “It’s nothing important. This is a call from Shen Xinran. The boss must have found it irritating and set it to silence.”
The robot seemed to harbor a secret fear for this name as she asked hastily, “Is she coming to rent me again?’
Lu Lu answered rather gleefully, “Does she still have the cheek to ask for rental? We’re waiting for her compensation now! Ha ha ha ha!”
As long as I’m not going to be rented out…
She was most worried about this.
The secretary slapped the back of her head right at this point. “Oh, no! I almost forgot to install our numbers in your handphone!” If not because of Shen Xinran’s call, she would have truly forgotten this important task.
She happily walked over to Gu Anbao and took out her phone from the bag. As she hummed a song, she input her number into the phone first, followed by Chen Yuheng’s, Cheryl’s, and then Alan’s.
“Now, you’ll be safe!” Lu Lu told her smilingly. “If you can’t get me on my mobile, you can call Cheryl or Alan.”
As the robot held the phone and looked silently at the second entry in the contact list, her face blushed sneakily once more…
Name: Boss Master
Contact number: 185xxxxxxxx
…