Starlet Taotie Chapter 27
Chapter 27 Shen Zhiyan Taken The Initiative
Su Yingxue clutched her phone tightly, staring at the Weibo trending searches in disbelief.
#JiangTaoTangmi’sLatestSpokesperson#
Wasn’t Tangmi under Chu Ruoyu’s management?
And it wasn’t just Tangmi. Ruoxian, the new brand under Chu Ruoyu, had also chosen Jiang Tao as its spokesperson.
Tangmi’s official Weibo account had posted a lengthy message, praising Jiang Tao highly. They believed she was someone who understood the true essence of food, which was also the philosophy behind Tangmi. In the end, it was precisely this shared understanding that had led them to choose her.
The comments below were filled with anticipation and praise as well.
【Aaaaaah! My favorite snack and my favorite celebrity are together now!】
【The great Tangmi has such good taste hahaha!】
【since it’s Jiang Jiang’s endorsement, girls, imma go stock up first~】
Su Yingxue’s knuckles had turned white from how tightly she was gripping her phone.
Although she was supposed to be Chu Ruoyu’s good friend, Chu Ruoyu had never once mentioned making her the spokesperson for either Tangmi or Ruoxian.
Yet now, she had given both endorsements to Jiang Tao.
After hesitating for a long while, Su Yingxue called Chu Ruoyu.
“A’Yu, how have you been lately? Have you solved the problem with the new product development?”
There was a trace of unconcealed excitement in Chu Ruoyu’s voice. “Mm. I think we’ve almost got it figured out this time.”
“Congratulations.” Su Yingxue paused, then deliberately asked, “So, how did the tasting banquet go that day?”
Chu Ruoyu fell silent.
Su Yingxue’s heart sank. In a soft, vulnerable voice, she said, “Actually, I thought about it afterward. Maybe I really did misunderstand Jiang Tao…”
She had deliberately brought up Jiang Tao because she wanted Chu Ruoyu to feel guilty.
Unexpectedly, Chu Ruoyu let out a sigh of relief. “Yingxue, I’m so glad you can think that way! Actually, I feel the same. Jiang Jiang absolutely isn’t the kind of two-face who would steal someone else’s boyfriend!”
Su Yingxue: “?”
I wanted you to feel guilty, not praise Jiang Tao!!!
She was so angry that she almost lost control of her expression and hung up the phone.
Just as she finally managed to calm herself down, her agent called.
It was probably about her acting offers.
She had previously received offers for two shows: one was the female lead in a web drama, while the other was a major-IP production where she would play a supporting female antagonist.
Su Yingxue had been having trouble deciding between them. She had originally wanted to take both. After all, the supporting role did not have many scenes, so squeezing in both schedules should not be a big deal.
Who would have thought that the director of the web drama would be particularly difficult to deal with? He insisted that the lead actress devote herself entirely to the production and would not allow her to work on another project at the same time.
Su Yingxue could only have her agent negotiate with them.
If everyone else could juggle multiple productions, why couldn’t she?
Besides, she knew that the other actors in this drama were all relatively unknown. The investors needed a female lead who could bring in viewership and generate buzz.
At present, she was the only one who met those requirements.
That was the bargaining chip she could use.
Her agent was calling now, so they had probably reached an agreement and the director had backed down.
She thought about it absentmindedly as she answered the phone.
“Yingxue, bad news! Director Cao decided to cast He RanRan as the female lead!”
Su Yingxue froze. “What did you say? How is that possible? He RanRan has no fame at all. How could they possibly choose her?”
Her agent was furious. “That was the case originally. Director Cao was practically ready to give in. Who knew that on the day of the tasting banquet, Jiang Tao brought He RanRan with her. The paparazzi took pictures of them, and somehow their CP became a hit! Now she has fame and buzz, and on top of that, she personally went to Director Cao and promised that she would stay on set throughout the entire production, wouldn’t take another project, and wouldn’t ask for leave. Director Cao and the investors were both very satisfied, so they decided on her.”
Again with the tasting banquet!!!
Su Yingxue bit her lower lip tightly.
That day, she had been in a bad mood because she could not attend, so she had not wanted to see anything related to it at all. She had simply turned off her phone and gone to sleep.
She never imagined she would miss such an important piece of information.
Her agent continued helplessly, “I told you a long time ago. Since Director Cao refused, we should have dropped the supporting role and focused entirely on the female lead. But you insisted on—”
“Enough! Stop talking!” Su Yingxue grew even more irritated. “You said it yourself. Director Cao was already about to agree. If it weren’t for that tasting banquet, what could He RanRan possibly have used to compete with me?”
Her agent was frustrated as well. Many things could change in an instant. Nothing was ever guaranteed to belong to anyone. If you did not want something, there would naturally be plenty of others fighting to take it.
But he could not persuade Su Yingxue, so he could only change the subject. “Let’s set the matter aside for now. Last time, you said a friend of yours helped put you in touch with the fashion industry, and that you were going to be on the cover of this month’s MINA. Is that confirmed?”
Only then did Su Yingxue’s expression improve somewhat.
Previously, Ji Qing had promised to help connect her with people in the fashion industry as compensation.
Although she was not yet at the level of a top-tier celebrity, Ji Qing had still managed to get her the cover of the near-top-tier MINA, and it was the October issue at that.
There had always been a saying that magazine covers had a “Gold is September, Silver is October”* hierarchy.
(TLN: 金九银十 is China’s annual autumn spending frenzy; a period when businesses push hard to sell, governments encourage consumption, and consumers expect deals. September is gold because it's the strongest kickoff while October follows closely but with slightly less intensity, taking silver.)
Su Yingxue naturally would have preferred the September issue, but the time had already passed, so October was still quite good.
Among actresses her age, she should be the first to land a cover for a near-top-tier magazine. This would also raise her market value.
Her agent let out a sigh of relief. “As long as you make the cover. The higher-ups at the company were furious when you lost the female lead in Director Cao’s drama. They were planning to cut your publicity budget. Luckily, you have MINA’s feature cover to back you up. Otherwise, we’d be in trouble.”
Su Yingxue repeatedly assured her agent that she would definitely get the October cover of MINA. Only then did he hang up.
Just as she was wondering whether she should urge Ji Qing about it, Ji Qing’s video call came through.
It must be MINA, they must have confirmed her feature.
Su Yingxue immediately adjusted herself and answered the call. “Ji Qing ge ge, I was just about to call you! We really are on the same wavelength.”
Ji Qing’s expression, however, did not look very good. “Yingxue, there’s something I need to tell you…”
“Ji Qing ge ge, go ahead.”
Ji Qing pressed his lips together and said quietly, “The October cover of MINA that I promised you before… it might not be happening anymore…”
Su Yingxue froze. She forced a smile. “Ji Qing ge ge, that’s not a funny joke.”
“I’m not joking.” Ji Qing sighed. “MINA hasn’t been selling very well this year, so they’re planning to make some changes. They’ve decided to make October’s cover a double cover featuring two people. They chose Jiang Tao and He RanRan, so your cover can only be moved to November…”
November?!
What use was such a pointless cover?!
Su Yingxue was so angry that her head throbbed.
Jiang Tao!!
Why was it Jiang Tao again!?!
Why did everything always go so wrong whenever Jiang Tao was involved?!
Seeing that something was off with her expression, Ji Qing asked worriedly, “Yingxue, what’s wrong?”
Su Yingxue came back to herself. “N-No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking… Fu ge just told me that Director Cao had originally cast me as the female lead, but somehow it became He RanRan. So that’s why…
“Ah, Ji Qing ge ge, I didn’t mean anything by that. It’s all my fault for making you and Fu ge worry about me.”
Ji Qing felt even guiltier. “Yingxue, don’t worry. I’ll definitely find another way to help you.”
Su Yingxue was filled with impatience, but she still responded perfunctorily. “Okay. Then I’ll have to trouble you, Ji Qing ge ge.”
After ending the video call, Su Yingxue angrily threw her phone onto the sofa.
Jiang Tao!
Jiang Tao!
Jiang Tao!
She had never hated anyone this much before.
But without Han Ziheng, she did not even have a way to teach Jiang Tao a lesson!
It was then, she suddenly thought of something.
She opened her contacts and, sure enough, found a phone number—Sun Jianxian; Jiang Tao’s former manager.
Su Yingxue’s expression turned cold. She would absolutely not let Jiang Tao off easily!
…
Tong Tong was busy preparing everything Jiang Tao would need for joining the production.
Last time, when they filmed 'Divine Chef', Jiang Tao did not have many scenes. The entire shoot only took around five days.
But in ‘Lingxiao Chronicles’, Jiang Tao had a much more substantial role.
And the production would not be filmed entirely at the film studio. Later, they would also have to travel to various outdoor locations, so there was quite a lot to prepare.
In other words, aside from recording ‘Our Village’ every week and the shooting of MINA’s cover next week, Jiang Tao would practically have to live on set.
Tong Tong was going down her checklist item by item when she saw Jiang Tao drag two suitcases out.
“You forgot the most important things!”
Tong Tong was startled. “What are they?!”
Jiang Tao opened them.
The two suitcases were filled entirely with food.
Tong Tong: “……”
She should have known!!!
…
After arriving at the hotel arranged by the production team, the two had just finished unpacking when Jiang Tao announced that she was hungry and wanted to go out for something to eat.
However, when they opened the door, the door directly across from them happened to open as well.
Shen Zhiyan and his agent walked out together.
“What a coincidence!”
Jiang Tao immediately furrowed her brows.
Shen Zhiyan asked gently, “Are you going out to eat?”
Jiang Tao: “What does it have to do with—”
Shen Zhiyan: “I know this area pretty well. There are a few good places nearby. Want to try one?”
Jiang Tao immediately changed her tune. “Then I’ll trouble you.”
With that, she took Tong Tong by the hand and obediently stood behind Shen Zhiyan, waiting for him to lead them to good food.
Shen Zhiyan smiled. He was not bothered at all by the way she treated him like a human GPS.
His agent, on the other hand, was horrified and clutched his chest.
Shen Zhiyan had taken the initiative to suggest going out to eat!
Shen Zhiyan had taken the initiative to invite a girl to a meal!
Either one of those alone was enough to make the trending searches!!!
