Chapter 92: Bow Out

Ning Yan also wanted to have a drink; not to celebrate, but to vent. Although he didn’t like the leading actress of the TV series, he liked its subject—it was very inspirational despite being a youth idol drama. He was really reluctant to give it up.

“Who are you going to ask out for a drink?” Ning Yan thought that the Xiao Family had to be busy at this time.

Something suddenly occurred to Ning Yan and he asked, “Did you read the news? About the Xiao brothers being stampeded by journalists when they accompanied Xiao Rou to watch a movie last night?”

He Wanyi shook her head. She had been filming a night scene last night and didn’t know Xiao Yao was stampeded by journalists. “What happened?” She hurriedly took out her phone and searched for the news.

But she didn’t find anything related to the matter. “There’s no news about it.”

Ning Yan took a look at He Wanyi and said flatly, “Of course there’s nothing about it now. I happened to see it when I was browsing for news online—only three minutes passed and there was no more news about them going to the cinema on the internet. And also, it’s reported that Hongguang Entertainment has been shut down by the court for bribery and tax evasion.”

“Was it about the Xiao brothers being reported by Hongguang Entertainment?” He Wanyi was surprised.

Ning Yan nodded and replied, “Yes, so you should be able to tell how well the Xiao brothers protect Xiao Rou. You’d better not ask them to come out for a drink now. They must be under the close watch of journalists. Besides, you are also a famous star who is always followed by a bunch of paparazzi. If you’re photographed staying with Xiao Rou, that would be a piece of breaking news. Perhaps you’ll end up getting caught up in the Xiao Family’s big show.”

He Wanyi thought he was right. Xiao Rou and her brothers were probably hiding from journalists. It was better for her not ask to Xiao Rou to come out until the matter was over.

Ning Yan said, “But I’m not in the mood to celebrate with you today. I’ve decided to stop being a director and become an actor instead.”

With raised eyebrows, He Wanyi asked, “Director Ning is going to take my job?”

“Take your job?” Ning Yan snorted arrogantly. “I can’t be an actress, okay?” He tossed his hair back and walked out.

Looking at the noisy studio, He Wanyi realized for the first time that this was not a set but a source of gossip and evil. She smiled and thought this was probably the last day she was going to be here.

As soon as Ning Yan walked out of the film studio, a large number of cameras was aimed his way.

“Director Ning, what do you think about the scandal regarding the leading actress of your drama series? Will you continue to let Miss Xiao Jinning serve as the leading actress?”

“Director Ning, it’s said that you didn’t like Xiao Jinning from the very beginning. Did you know about what happened between Xiao Jinning and the Xiao Family before it was reported?”

“Can you say something for us, Director Ning?”

“Director Ning, is Xiao Jinning here today?”

Listening to their questions, Ning Yan raised his hand and the journalists immediately turned silent. Ning Yan said, “I’m not going to answer any question about Xiao Jinning, and I do not know whether the producer will fire Xiao Jinning or not. What I want to say is that Xiao Jinning is still the leading actress of this drama right now, but I, Ning Yan, am going to bow out of it.”

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The crowd was immediately in an uproar. The journalists exchanged looks before all of them rushed up to Ning Yan. “Director Ning, is it because of Xiao Jinning?”

“Director Ning, what will happen to this drama if you quit?”

“Director Ning, do you mean you are giving up the drama?”

“Director Ning, ‘When We Were Young’ is your first TV series since you shot your last one two years ago. Are you really going to give it up?”

“Director Ning, will you still shoot TV series in the future?”

“Director Ning, if the producer changes the leading actress, will you return to be the director of this TV series?”

Ning Yan frowned and answered, “It’s up to my company.”

That was his excuse. After all, He Wanzhou had made him do it, so it was natural that he should be the one to answer these questions for him.

A journalist of keen perception immediately came up and asked him, “Director Ning, do you mean that it is your company’s decision for you to give up this TV series?”

Ning Yan raised his eyebrows. “When did I say that? I just said it’s up to my company whether I can come back.” Then as he began to walk, he said, “Okay, this is my answer. Excuse me, please.”

Ning Yan’s receding figure looked resolute. The other cast members hated Xiao Jinning bitterly. Did she know how hard they had tried to get the chance to work together with Director Ning? Now their efforts were ruined by her. Why didn’t Director Ning just fire Xiao Jinning instead of quitting?”

As soon as Ning Yan left, the journalists swarmed into the studio and started interviewing the crew…

The crew told them none of Xiao Jinning’s scenes were directed by Ning Yan himself and that they were not surprised that Ning Yan chose to bow out, because Ning Yan thought Xiao Jinning’s acting skills sucked from the very beginning… Ning Yan hadn’t even looked at her when she was shooting scenes.

He Wanyi, who had escaped through the back door, looked at the crazy journalists with a shake of her head and said to her little assistant, “These journalists are working too hard.”

Xiao Jinning, who was all wrapped up and standing in the middle of the crowd, stared at the big screen on the road and clenched her hands. Damn it! It’s all because of Xiao Rou. It’s all because of that little b*tch that Chengyu did this to me and Mom and Dad drove me out!

Xiao Rou! Xiao Rou! Why do you keep going against me, pushing me to this point!

She was no longer a dazzling star but a street rat instead. She even had to wrap herself up every time she went out!

Xiao Jinning wasn’t able to stop herself from trembling when she had listened to Ning Yan’s answer to the journalists’ questions. “I’ll make you pay for what you did to me!”

On the other side of things, Xiao Sa and Xiao Jing found Tang Xi in the park not far from her school. The faces of the two brothers were still bruised black and blue, even though they had applied medicine, so they wore caps and masks. Seeing the car parked on the road, they exchanged a look and exclaimed together, “This girl drove without a license!” How audacious she was!

Tang Xi didn’t know what they were thinking. Seeing them coming over, she rushed to greet them. “There are too many journalists at the school gate. Are there many journalists outside our house?”