Chapter 25
Nan Chen's razor-sharp eyes squinted as he turned to Ning Ran.
The assistant, Jiang Zhe, knew Nan Chen well and noticed that he is unhappy so he immediately asked the director in Nan Chen's place. "Director Wong, what exactly happened here?"
Naturally, Luo Fei couldn't let the director explain the whole situation because she needed Nan Chen to think that she had been bullied.
"Tell him, director! The script doesn't have that scene in the first place. That Ding Mi added it in the last minute and slapped me, getting my face all swollen."
"Everyone in this industry had to be nice to me as a sign of respect to Nan Chen, but that Ding Mi bullied me. If this news gets out, does that mean that everyone will start thinking that it's alright to hurt me?"
"I'm but an actress. Being slapped is nothing, but Nan Chen's reputation is too important." "Director, if you don't do something about it today, I'll have to back out of this movie," Luo Fei sobbed in between words.
Luo Fei's acting skill had always been terrible, but this time, she aced it.
The director's pressure became enormous instantly. He knew the truth, but Luo Fei was using Nan Chen to pressure him, and he had to admit defeat.
The director walked towards Ning Ran, pointed at her nose, and shouted, "What is wrong with you?!"
"Your role as the second female lead was granted by Nan Chen! You did not treasure this opportunity and caused so much trouble on set!"
"Go apologize to Ms. Fei now! If she doesn't accept it, I will cancel our agreement and hire another actress!"
The director was desperate to show his dissatisfaction so he accidentally spat a little saliva at Ning Ran. Ning Ran moved her head to avoid the spewing saliva but she remained calm. Nan Chen arriving, Luo Fei lying, the director being pressured... she had expected all that.
If Nan Chen had taken a look at the previous two NGS, he would understand that the troublemaker was not Ning Ran.
But she knew he wouldn't do that.
He was the king who controlled a corporate empire worth billions. He didn't have the time to figure out the truth behind these small matters.
At that moment, all Nan Chen cared about was the fact that the woman who was known as his girlfriend had been slapped in public. It didn't matter why she was slapped.
Anything done to hurt his reputation is a mistake.
Mistakes must be rectified and apologies must be made. Nan Chen didn't care enough to listen to any explanation.
An arm could never beat a leg, and as such the leg, being more powerful, would not need to listen to the arm.
In this case, Ning Ran is the arm, and Nan Chen is the leg so she must apologize.
If not, she would definitely lose that role, no questions asked.
Opportunities like these were rare, and she had to think about the kids at home. She must make enough money to give them the best education and ensure that they could grow up healthily despite growing up in a family of a single parent.
Ning Ran decided to apologize.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Fei, I was wrong."
Luo Fei smiled viciously at Ning Ran's defeat.
"What did you say? I couldn't hear you," said Luo Fei gleefully with a hand by her ear.
Ning Ran spat the words loudly and clearly, "I. Said. I. Am. Sorry."
"That's it?" "If everyone is forgiven after apologizing half-heartedly, then the whole place would be a disaster."
"So, what now?"
"On your knees! Slap yourself until you're all bruised and swollen. Only then will you learn your lesson!" Luo Fei said harshly.
Ning Ran frowned like she was thinking of something. Then, she laughed all of a sudden.
"What are you laughing at? How dare you still show me that face!?"
"Ms. Fei's powerful stance reminded me of a saying I learned as a kid - the fox using the lion's power."
"When I was a kid, I could never learn this saying. Now, I finally understand what it meant, and so I laughed."
"Ms. Fei is forcing me to go on my knees using Nan Chen's power. Nan Chen is a powerful man who is using his influence to force an average actress to go on her knees, how noble!"
"They say that to understand a man's true strength, one must examine his equal. Nan Chen treating me, an average actress, as his equal... Wouldn't that ruin his reputation?" asked Ning Ran. She walked towards Nan Chen to glare into that cold, emotionless face.