An Qiuyan's eyes were bloodshot, her delicate, fair face contorted into an unusually ferocious expression.
Hearing that An Qiuyan was unhappy about missing out on the role of the Heavenly Mountain Child Elder, Shen Mingjue smiled, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and comforted her, "It's just a supporting role. If you like, I can arrange ten or eight more for you."
An Qiuyan said softly, "I need to fight for my own roles. If you arrange them for me, what will others think of me?"
All this time, An Qiuyan had been diligently cultivating an image of a strong and independent woman in front of Shen Mingjue, diametrically opposed to Jiang Ling.
The more Jiang Ling relied on the Shen family's resources, the more An Qiuyan insisted on politely declining Shen Mingjue's arrangements.
Although she claimed to want to work hard and strive for herself, An Qiuyan's heart was churning with envy, like a sour lemon.
"You... you're still like this!"
Shen Mingjue sighed, "There are so many ups and downs in the entertainment industry. Being an artist and acting isn't a guaranteed income, and it's very hard work. Why not just quit the industry? I can afford to support you."
An Qiuyan shook her head repeatedly, "No. You know me. A woman needs her own economy and career to be independent. Although the money I earn isn't even a fraction of yours, I still want to spend my own money."
She hadn't become famous yet. If she quit the entertainment industry now, even if Shen Mingjue were willing to marry her, the other members of the Shen family would never agree.
Only with a massive fanbase as her backing would the Shen family members dare not easily trouble her.
Only by becoming popular and possessing immense commercial value would outsiders see her and Shen Mingjue as a perfect match, destined for each other, and stop gossiping behind her back that she wasn't good enough for him.
Shen Mingjue sighed slightly, "Girls like you, so independent and self-reliant, are truly rare. Not like that woman. Every time she comes to see me, she just acts spoiled, asks for this and that, and if I don't give it, she calls me ungrateful."
"That woman? Who is it, Jiang Ling?"
"Yes!"
An Qiuyan blinked her eyes and said weakly, "Ultimately, I'm in the wrong for this. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have broken up with her. I..."
"How can this be your fault?"
Shen Mingjue frowned and interrupted her, "I'm already utterly disgusted with that woman. Even without you, I wouldn't have married her. Moreover, this incident has blown up so much, and I've already lost 500 million for her. Even if she saved my grandmother's life, this is more than enough repayment. Don't speak of that cowardly, selfish woman in front of me anymore."
An Qiuyan nodded gently and obediently, "Okay, let's not talk about her. She's just a passerby in our lives. It's best to forget her!"
Although Jiang Ling was surrounded by negative rumors and scandals, and An Qiuyan envied and hated her to the bone,
she had to admit that Jiang Ling's looks were far superior to her own.
For Jiang Ling to become a top star in less than a year, while the Shen family's financial resources were undoubtedly crucial, her beauty was also an undeniable factor.
If this woman were so ugly that she could ward off evil spirits, no amount of resources would have yielded anything but wasted money.
An Qiuyan feared that Shen Mingjue would be captivated by Jiang Ling's beauty and rekindle his old feelings, showing her pity. That was why she was probing indirectly.
"A passerby, indeed a passerby!" Shen Mingjue murmured softly.
He couldn't help but recall the moment she tearfully signed the contract, her pathetic, pitiable appearance, and felt a sudden wave of restlessness in his heart.