Tang Wanxing offered an explanation.
In reality, her true intention was to record the conversation and, at an opportune moment, release the recording to expose Meng Jingwei and even ruin her.
However, things hadn't gone as planned.
This act of condescending apology was unprecedented in her life.
"Since Film Empress Tang has apologized, if I don't delete it, wouldn't that make me seem insincere?" Meng Jingwei sneered, her words trailing off.
Seeing Meng Jingwei staring at her, Tang Wanxing knew that Meng Jingwei was waiting for her to delete the recording first.
With no other choice, she held her phone screen facing Meng Jingwei, located the delete button, and selected the permanent deletion option.
Once Tang Wanxing had deleted it, Meng Jingwei saved her phone recording, also holding her screen towards Tang Wanxing, and chose to permanently delete the recording.
Witnessing this, Tang Wanxing felt that Meng Jingwei no longer had any leverage. She abruptly stood up, her gloomy face suddenly breaking into a meaningful smile, and turned to leave.
Watching her depart, Meng Jingwei tried to decipher Tang Wanxing's expression but ultimately couldn't understand what she was thinking.
Then, she picked up her phone and, after a series of operations, retrieved the recording she had just permanently deleted, saving and backing it up.
Simultaneously, Tang Wanxing, standing outside the makeup room, had a cold glint in her eyes. As she walked, she lowered her head and operated her phone.
In just two minutes, the recording she had permanently deleted was also retrieved and saved.
In their face-to-face confrontation, the first round seemed to end in a draw, but Meng Jingwei had indeed given Tang Wanxing a stern 'show of force'!
Meng Jingwei finished her makeup and changed her clothes before coming out.
As soon as she emerged, she heard the director scolding someone from afar.
"Sigh, Su Meiyi is also so miserable, being beaten up like that."
"She's a star, her face is all messed up."
"Exactly, it's really laughable."
Several extras standing nearby were discussing what had happened.
Meng Jingwei found it somewhat unbelievable, thinking to herself: Su Meiyi was beaten up?
Who was so righteous, acting on heaven's behalf?
With nothing else to do, Meng Jingwei went over to join the crowd and discovered that Su Meiyi's lips were swollen, and her eyes were bruised purple, resembling panda eyes.
"First Meng Jingwei, now you. Neither of you gives me any peace!" The director slapped his palm against his script. "Today is your scene with Wanxing. How are you going to film with that appearance?"
Su Meiyi, unable to afford offending Director Li, repeatedly apologized, "I'm sorry, Director, I... let the makeup artist do my makeup, I'll be fine."
Director Li was quite demanding when it came to his films, favoring light makeup for the actors, and even most male actors were essentially bare-faced.
Facing Su Meiyi's suggestion, Director Li, though displeased, could only reluctantly agree, "What are you still standing around for? Hurry up. The entire crew of hundreds is waiting for you, you should be ashamed!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Su Meiyi, who had been thoroughly berated, quickly went to get her makeup done.
In the vast film crew, apart from Tang Wanxing, Director Li showed no pleasantries to anyone else.
Meng Jingwei wasn't gloating; after all, she had been yelled at quite badly herself just over half an hour ago.
"Haha, isn't this what they call 'villains get what they deserve'?"
Beside her, Qiao Ziqian suddenly appeared, holding a bag of chips and 'watching the show' while munching on them, utterly engrossed.
"Want some?" He offered a bag of barbecue-flavored chips to Meng Jingwei.
Meng Jingwei shook her head, "No, thank you."
"What are you being humble for?" Qiao Ziqian pushed up his thick black-rimmed glasses. "Brother Shang wants you to go over and rehearse the script."