Chapter 111: The Hidden Threat, Part 1

Guo Kai scrambled around in the room, his eyes filled with panic and worry, drawing everyone involuntarily deeper into the unfolding scene.

It was as if there truly was a reluctant young woman clinging to his side;
As if he really was running along a forest path;
As if a saber-toothed tiger was indeed chasing after him...

Clap, clap, clap—
Song Wan was the first to applaud, her eyes sparkling with admiration, bringing a knowing smile to those around her. Beneath that admiration, a fierce competitive spirit simmered, instantly igniting Guo Kai’s own passion.

He got up from the ground, looked at Song Wan, and after a moment, his eyes narrowed into a smile. With two fingers pressed to his lips, he blew her a playful, seductive kiss.

“You little brat, barely out of diapers, and you actually dare to mimic others in flirting?” Gao Xiang immediately scolded him with a mock stern face.

But the warning hidden in her words was unmistakable to those who knew the situation well.

Guo Kai couldn’t help but glance at Song Wan again, but all he received was a calm smile, nothing more.

He raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and turned to Gao Xiang. “Sister Gao, can I stay here?”

Gao Xiang looked directly at Song Wan.

Song Wan frowned slightly, exchanged a glance with Zhou Qi, then nodded in unison.

Zhou Qi said, “The role of the second male lead is yours. But,” he shifted his tone, “you should know why our crew chose you for this role.”

Guo Kai really didn’t know. At the time, he was filming—though only as an extra, a mere background figure. After finishing, he received a call from Gao Xiang. Knowing her well, Guo Kai was certain she wouldn’t be biased toward him.

Almost on a desperate impulse, Guo Kai immediately rushed to the crew of “Starry Skies.”

—He had asked for the address earlier out of paranoia. Although others didn’t know, as a second-generation figure, he had many ways to find the audition location for “Starry Skies.”

But he hadn’t taken the crew seriously—not because he didn’t want in, but because he knew he couldn’t get in.

Especially after learning that Zhou Qi was directing, he gave up any thoughts of joining—

Just as Zhou Qi knew him, Guo Kai naturally knew Zhou Qi.

Their circles overlapped significantly, so Zhou Qi certainly knew more about him than anyone else and understood his family patriarch’s resolve deeply.

Before receiving Gao Xiang’s call, he had been contemplating giving up.

After the call, he made a firm decision: if the crew wanted him, he would continue pursuing his passion; if not, he would obey his elders and return home to take up the family business.

So the outcome was crucial.

Upon receiving the confirmation, Guo Kai’s mood brightened. “I didn’t know, but it’s definitely good news for me.”

He smiled confidently at Zhou Qi.

Many girls in the room were captivated by that smile, but Guo Kai’s gaze was fixed on Song Wan.

Song Wan’s eyes were indifferent, seemingly unmoved by his smile.

Guo Kai felt an inexplicable heaviness in his heart. Every young girl he had met before would be affected by his smile—if not swooning, at least momentarily distracted.

Song Wan was oblivious to his thoughts, only blinking in puzzlement when Guo Kai looked her way.

Guo Kai thought: “What’s this frustrating feeling?”

Zhou Qi didn’t notice the silent exchange between them, but chuckled at Guo Kai’s unabashed words. “It really is good news for you.” He nodded seriously. “You can check the process online yourself, or ask the crew later. For now, the result is that we’re going to upload your audition video online…”

“Do you mind?”

Zhou Qi’s tone was earnest, as if a single ‘no’ would stop him.

But Guo Kai knew that if he refused, the role would slip away just the same.

How could he hesitate?

He glanced at Song Wan again, but before she could respond, he turned back to Zhou Qi with a steady gaze. “Of course not. This should be good for me.”

He smiled, then looked at Gao Xiang. “Sister Gao, wasn’t I right?”

Gao Xiang glanced at him and rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, you’re right about everything.”

With the confirmation, Zhou Qi wasted no time and immediately instructed the crew’s PR team to take the audition video and publish all the details online, clearly identifying Guo Kai as the newcomer.

Suddenly, Song Wan spoke up for the first time. “Director Zhou, why not upload a video of Han Sen’s previous performances instead?”

Everyone turned to look at her, seemingly shocked by the malice in her words.

Such a beautiful young woman speaking so venomously...

Many instinctively backed away, unwilling to get close to Song Wan.

But she paid no mind to their gazes. The curve of her lips lifted slightly, tracing a cold and resolute determination—

“If he wants to drag the crew through the mud, why not throw the mud back at its original owner? Debt should be repaid, murder avenged—it’s only right and just, isn’t it?”

Gao Xiang’s heart skipped a beat. She felt that the phrase “debt repaid, murder avenged” was no idle threat from Song Wan.

Zhou Qi had long been aware of this side of Song Wan. Rather than surprised, he found her suggestion appealing.

“That’s right, why didn’t I think of that? If he wants to play dirty, we’ll play along until the end!”

“PR, find a copy of Han Sen’s audition tape,” he frowned. “If that’s impossible, just splice together his past performances.”

He sneered viciously, “He said he’s been in the industry for over a decade and can’t be worse than a newcomer? Let’s be the bad guys and wake him from his daydream! Let’s show him just how terrible his acting really is—how laughable!”

This was going for a total showdown!

Guo Kai glanced at Song Wan, the originator of the idea, and felt deeply that this girl was completely different from the women outside—genuine and unpretentious, even when playing dirty, she did it openly and with righteous justification.

Tch, she had truly won his heart!

Guo Kai’s eyes darted about as he secretly pondered how to find out about Song Wan’s habits and life from Gao Xiang. A woman like that—whether or not he could marry her—dating her would be wonderful.

But when he approached Gao Xiang with a casual question, he was stunned by her blunt reply.

“Stop daydreaming. Song Wan is already married.”

What the hell? Song Wan looked so young—was she really an adult?

Guo Kai stared at Gao Xiang in disbelief. “Sister Gao, even if you don’t want Song Wan dating me, or want me to give up, you wouldn’t lie like that, would you? Is that necessary?”

Gao Xiang gave him a big eye roll. “Song Wan probably wouldn’t even look twice at you. Why would I bother lying?”

Guo Kai mulled Gao Xiang’s words over carefully before it finally hit him.

“You mean Song Wan really is married?”

“Why would I lie?”

“But if what you say is true,” Guo Kai found it absurd, “wouldn’t Song Wan’s marriage be kept tightly under wraps? So you wouldn’t let anyone know…”

“And then you wouldn’t go harassing her?”

“Uh…”

“And wouldn’t cause conflict between her and her husband?”

“Uh…”

“Now, do you still think it’s necessary to keep this from you?” Gao Xiang looked at him sideways, a mocking smile on her lips.

Of course it was necessary.

However…

“Sister Gao, if someone else said it, I might believe it. But you say it like this...” Guo Kai’s eyes went deadpan, “Do you really think I’ll have no other way to stop chasing Song Wan?”

Gao Xiang blinked. “Fine, I’ll tell you because Song Wan’s husband is someone from your circle. You’ll find out eventually.”

According to Gao Xiang, the Guo family and Jin family were long-time acquaintances. When Song Wan went home to meet her parents, the elders of the Guo family might be present as well.

By then, the news would definitely reach Guo Kai, so there was no point in hiding it from him.

Guo Kai blinked. “Damn, who is it? Someone with such piercing eyes and nimble hands?”

“Who do you think?” Gao Xiang grinned, clearly enjoying the show.

Guo Kai frowned, racking his brain, but after a long while couldn’t think of anyone. Finally, he eliminated the least likely candidate first: “It definitely isn’t Jin Youqian.”