While Tang Ling from Li Qing's perspective seemed to grow more reliable and stable, what she actually felt inside was alot of anxiety
Walking to her location, Tang Ling spoke to the system "System was it that dog man of a male lead that caused this change to the scene?"
It would be really stupid to call this a coincedence, rather it was plainly obvious why the treatment she received became worse than what she was used to
[Yes, the male lead ordered his assistant to contact Director Yan right after you refused to beg him in the banquet. He threatened him to embaress you on camera for his next film, otherwise he'd rescind the funding that he had promised him prior]
Getting the confirmation from her system didn't really help in solving her confusion, but only added another question
"I had expectd a more grand move than just this, In the original plot, he just plainly supressed the original owner's company and herself, but why am I getting insulted with mud instead?"
The System was also confused at this change but still told his host his thoughts to Tang Ling
[....It should be that the male lead chose to take a different approach with you since you offended him?]
Tang Ling thought of what she had done to the male lead, beating him up in public, having his reputation damaged with the hot search, and refusing to apologize to him in the banquet
Compared to the original owner who was just an innocent roadblock to the heroine's domination of teh entertainment circle, hasn't she become one of the male lead's worst enemies?
Wouldn't it be much more reasonable for the male lead to bankrupt her instead of just this petty act of embaressing her?
Why does the treatment seem way more lax in comparison unless..
A chilling thought came to Tang Ling's mind "System, is there any chance your male lead is a masochist and this move is just to provoke me more to attack him?"
Tang Ling felt that she had found the answer, if this was in Shen Rui's mind, it will have proven why he is inconcistent when she is involved.
Tang Ling couldn't help getting goosebumps from this revelation, she knew the first time she heard about the male lead in the plot, that Shen Rui was a neurosis, but never had Tang Ling though he was this far gone
Tang Ling felt torn, recently she was debating on whether she wanted to take action on the male lead, but now she also needs to contemplate whether he would actually be affected in a bad way from her attacks, if it only fuels his disgusting perversion, wouldn't it have the opposite effects?
Tang ling heaved a sigh full of fatigue, it really is hard to be a task taker these days
[.....I think you're being delusional]
Tang Ling ignored this remark from her system and decided after a few minutes of thinking seriously. Her mission is to stay as the film empress, mission comes first, but since the perveted male lead is still her obstacle, don't blame her for being rude
Opposite to Tang Ling's claim of him being a pervert, The male lead Shen Rui who she thought of as a masochist originally had the idea of making her submit with petty actions such as this mud scene, but what he didn't know was that to Tang Ling, she expected a gun to the knife fight he was preparing
The domineering plan that the male lead thought of was turned into a shameful act of provocation to get her to beat him up in Tang Ling's mind......
If Shen Rui heard this, he would be coughing blood in anger
As the Director shouted action, the props and special effects were set in position and placed on,
.....
In a crowded market at the center of the capital city, Luoyang, of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a young master and his bookboy roamed around in search of a gift for his soon to be married eldest sister. It was the zenith of the Dynasty under Emperor Xuanzong, where peace was stable, and trade across China prospered with the invention of the silk road trade route.
Qin Shu, roamed the lively market that had hundreds of stalls around the city center during the day’s noon, he visited many stalls to no avail, but finally stopped in front of one inconspicuous stall alongside the gate to enter the palace.
Qin Shu spotted a necklace amongst the pile of junk in the stall’s items and picked it up to inspect it, he found the color of this necklace matched alongside with her sister’s favorite item, a pink cherry blossom embroidered silk scarf
"Boss, may I ask how much is this necklace?"
The stall owner who had been counting his earnings for today lifted his eyes lazily and saw that the pink necklace this young man held was just one of the random objects he traded a piece of bread for with a peasant because it looked pleasing to the eyes at the time
He told Qin Shu indifferently "5 silver taels, nothing less" then looked back at his taels greedily
5 silver taels? not too much and not too cheap either
Qin Shu found the price acceptable, and ordered his book boy to bring out the taels, until a white and tender hand stretched out to grab the hand he extended to the necklace
He looked up from the hand to see a beautiful women dressed in a black robe, she had long black hair, narrow phoenix eyes and other beautiful features that immediately hooked his attention.
From just the first look, Qin Shu was able to tell that this was a daughter of a rich family, she had the arrogant posture with a couple of maids and guards behind her
Qin Shu became briefly stunned looking at this random beauty that appeared out of nowhere, and couldn't react for a few seconds
The girl looked at him with her narrow phoenix eyes furrowed together as if displeased, but still kept a 'polite' smile on her face
"I'll give you 10 silver taels, give this necklace to me"
The young lady arrogantly lifted her chin high, looking down on Qin Shu
Hearing the request of the girl, Qin Shu became sober and regained a straight face
"This young lady, I'm sorry but I have no plans of giving this necklace"
Qin Shu hardly thought about her offer before he refused her plainly, it isn't common to find something that he thinks will satisfy his sister and make her happiness
You can't put a price tag on a gift from a family member
When Qin Shu refused plainly, an angry voice came from one of the servant girls behind the arrogant noble girl
"Presumptuous! How dare you speak to our lady like that! Our lady is Murong Yin the dau-"
"Xiaozhi!" Murong Yin shouted to the servant girl who stepped forward, interrupting her reprimand of the man
The servant girl immediately stiffened upon hearing her young lady yelling her name and cowered back behind her obediently ,she looked a little wronged as she let her lady take back the reins
Displeasure started to appear more blatant on Murong Yin's eyes as she repeated a bigger price to Qin Shu with a more cold voice
"20 Taels!" after stating another offer, Murong Yin added on with a no longer 'polite' face 'It's best for you not to get too greedy, my patience is limited"
"This miss, I already said this is not a problem of money, I am preparing this necklace as a gift for someone. I am not able to sell this necklace to you so please respect yourself!"
Qin Shu hearing another request to buy the necklace from the lady became mildly annoyed of her persistence, his impression of the girl coudn't help falling down
"Nonsense, anything can be bought with a price, just name how much and give me the necklace!"
The young lady was no longer calm, showing a fierce expression on her face
Qin Shu felt like talking to this spoiled miss wasn't worth the time or trouble anymore and turned to leave the stall resolutely, showing his back to Murong Yin
"Wait! You can leave, but the necklace stays!"
Taking advantage of the fact that Qin Shu wasn't looking, the young lady wanted to snatch the necklace away, but going against her expectations, Qin Shu sidestepped to the left, leaving herself to be propelled to fall on the muddy tiles below
Bonus (Extras)
Tang Ling: The necklace stays, and so will everything in the stall if I order it!
System: [I wish I could leave]
