This afternoon, Su Ding finished her preparations and was about to head to the recording site of a certain acting variety show.
Upon arriving at the makeup room, Su Ding found a corner seat.
There were quite a few artists present, mostly second-tier or newcomers who had just entered the industry. Those with any significant popularity or traffic were in the VIP makeup room next door.
Just as she picked up her makeup bag to start her makeup, she heard the door being pushed open, and the noisy makeup room instantly fell silent.
"Shao Xu? It really is you!"
A female voice came from behind her. Su Ding turned her head in confusion to look and saw it was Sun Meng.
Sun Meng was a childhood friend of Shao Lin and a popular artist under Huang Qi Group. Su Ding was somewhat surprised to see her here, but not entirely unexpected.
Shao Lin had hitched her wagon to the Jin family. With a little pillow talk, Sun Meng, as her best friend, would naturally benefit.
Su Ding raised her face and looked at her calmly, not saying a word.
Sun Meng smiled radiantly and walked closer. "Oh, I heard you're called Su Ding now. How have you been since you left the Shao family unmarried and pregnant back then?"
The onlookers suddenly looked at them with strange eyes, no one daring to speak.
Su Ding's expression darkened. Sun Meng's status clearly did not belong in this makeup room; she had come looking for trouble.
She turned her face away, not wanting to argue with her. "I don't know what Miss Sun is talking about."
Sun Meng sized her up with a smile. "You really have a bad memory. It's okay, we're old acquaintances. I just came over to say hello, nothing else."
As she spoke, she took a necklace from her neck. "There are many directors and investors here today. You can't possibly wear something like this. I think this necklace matches your dress quite well. It's a gift for you."
Su Ding frowned at her feigned closeness, feeling a little nauseated. She replied coldly, "Miss Sun, I've never met you before. I can't accept such a valuable gift."
"It's nothing, it's for you." Sun Meng lowered herself and forced the necklace into Su Ding's hand.
Su Ding did not want to accept it and naturally resisted. Amidst their pushing and shoving, Sun Meng suddenly cried out.
"Ah, my hand!"
A bloody scratch was visible on the back of Sun Meng's hand. It wasn't deep, but it was very noticeable. She winced in pain. "Sister Su Ding, I only wanted to give you a meeting gift. Why would you do this!"
The corner of Su Ding's lips twitched. "Your acting is quite convincing."
She casually tossed the necklace in her hand onto the sofa behind her, as if discarding trash, and sneered, "Then I accept it. Please leave."
Anyone with eyes could see the irreconcilable animosity between the two.
Sun Meng glared fiercely at Su Ding. If Shao Lin hadn't called her yesterday asking her to "take care" of this woman, she wouldn't have bothered coming here.
Su Ding, you're something!
Seeing this, an actress fawned over and stepped forward to speak. "Sister Sun Meng, are you alright? I just saw this lady come in and thought she was staff. I didn't expect her to be your friend..."
Sun Meng received this compliment well. This was exactly what she wanted: to make Su Ding recognize her own status.
She was now a top-tier female artist in the industry, while Su Ding was merely a third-rate actress who had returned from abroad. It would be as easy as lifting a finger to crush her.
Seeing that Sun Meng's expression had improved, the actress realized she had said the right thing and continued, "Exactly, some people really aren't worth being nice to. Giving them gifts and they think you're harming them. Even dogs know to be grateful. She's not even as good as a dog."
Su Ding suddenly stood up, her sharp eyes narrowed, and she chuckled lightly. "Then what breed of dog excitedly rushes forward to sniff at shit and whines obsequiously?"