The Movie Queen's Mouth is Blessed - Chapter 22

When Jiang Xiaobai saw President Zhao’s call, she sank. Hearing his words now didn’t come as a surprise.

“President Zhao, do you know what essential skill a good actor must have besides acting well?” she asked.

President Zhao had prepared himself for this conversation. He expected Jiang Xiaobai to panic or even beg him to reconsider when he announced the end of their collaboration. No matter what she said, he wouldn’t change his mind.

As a businessman, he couldn’t afford to keep working with someone whose reputation was tatters. It was time to cut his losses.

But her unexpected question caught him off guard.

“What skill?” he asked.

“The skill to protect one’s reputation,” Jiang Xiaobai replied, her voice steady and calm, as if nothing had changed. “President Zhao, how about we make a bet?”

“Oh? What kind of bet?”

“If I can resolve this situation perfectly and restore my reputation, I win. If I fail, you win.”

“And the stakes?”

“If I win, we sign the contract for The King of E-sports immediately. If I lose, the collaboration is canceled.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before President Zhao gave a low chuckle.

“Interesting. I’m not usually one for bets, but I’m curious how you plan to turn this around. Alright, I’ll take the bet. I’ll be watching your next move closely.”

“President Zhao, may I ask you something?”

“You want to know who’s behind the smear campaign online?”

President Zhao’s immediate response made Jiang Xiaobai inwardly marvel at his sharpness.

“Yes. My first thought was your niece, Zhao Shan, since she seems biased against me. But when I saw the article subtly implicating you, I realized I was being too narrow-minded,” Jiang Xiaobai admitted with a self-deprecating tone.

“Jiang Xiaobai, there’s another essential skill an actor must have—seeing the people around you clearly. To portray the complexities of life, you must first understand them. You should know who harbors ill will toward you and whose path you’re blocking.”

With that, President Zhao hung up.

Jiang Xiaobai stared blankly at her phone, his final words echoing in her mind.

Her expression shifted repeatedly before finally settling into a sigh.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Unsurprisingly, it was Dong Ran.

“Someone’s deliberately targeting you. Who did you offend? The entire internet is slandering you now! At this rate, your position in the drama is in serious jeopardy. Xiaobai, this is a huge mess!”

Dong Ran’s eyes were red, her face filled with anxiety. “There’s no other way out now. Avoiding or denying it will only make people hate you more. Xiaobai, listen to me this time. Go online and issue a sincere apology. Admit that you approached Zhang Yishui naively but gave up after he clearly rejected you. After you apologize, I’ll release news big enough to overshadow the criticism against you! Over time, people will forget about this.”

Before coming to Jiang Xiaobai, Dong Ran had already contacted their company and even called the entertainment magazine that posted the article, pleading for leniency. But no matter what she said, there would be no resolution.

From the company’s perspective, Jiang Xiaobai had dug her own grave. As for the magazine, someone had apparently orchestrated this behind the scenes.

In this situation, Dong Ran quickly devised a seemingly terrible but effective plan—

If denial wasn’t an option, then admit it and apologize sincerely!

Two years ago, Jiang Xiaobai was just in her early twenties, still in college. It was understandable that she had feelings for Zhang Yishui, her fellow student. By bravely admitting her past actions and apologizing, people might even respect her for her honesty.

After the apology, Dong Ran planned to release a bombshell the next day—a story about a second-tier actress secretly married with children, complete with clear photos. That news would undoubtedly overshadow Jiang Xiaobai’s scandal!

The public’s attention span was limited. The easiest way to divert their focus was to release an even bigger story, a tactic commonly used in the industry.

Of course, Jiang Xiaobai would still face some backlash, but her acting career could continue. It wasn’t the worst outcome.

Seeing Dong Ran’s genuine concern for her, Jiang Xiaobai couldn’t help but smile.

Dong Ran had no idea about Jiang Xiaobai’s plans, yet she didn’t blame her. Instead, she immediately sought the best solution.

Having such a manager was a blessing.

Of course, suppose it was the original Jiang Xiaobai. In that case, she’d probably explode at the suggestion of admitting her feelings for Zhang Yishui and apologizing.

“Sister Ran, thank you,” Jiang Xiaobai said, walking over to hug Dong Ran and nuzzling her shoulder. “I planned to resolve this tomorrow, but there’s no need to wait. Let’s settle it now and save us the trouble.”

Dong Ran stiffened, unprepared for the usually aloof Jiang Xiaobai to show such affection. She didn’t know where to put her hands until she processed Jiang Xiaobai’s words. “Right, don’t wait until tomorrow. Issue the statement now. Apologizing promptly will show your sincerity.”

She assumed Jiang Xiaobai’s “solution” was to admit her mistake and apologize.

“Quick, sit down. I’ll draft the statement, and you can post it after I’m done,” Dong Ran said, pushing Jiang Xiaobai away and placing her notebook on the table. She began writing furiously, making edits as she went.

“Sister Ran, it’s okay. I’ve already prepared it,” Jiang Xiaobai said, handing her phone to Dong Ran to show the draft in her notes.

“This is…”

Dong Ran took the phone, her eyes widening as she read, her face lighting up with relief. “Xiaobai, is this real?”

“Of course, it’s real. The phone number and timestamp are right there. How could I fake it?”

“This is perfect! Once you release this, it’ll be crystal clear who’s telling the truth and who’s lying!”

Dong Ran tossed her pen aside, leaning back in her chair with a long sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry, Sister Ran. I should’ve told you earlier so you wouldn’t have to worry,” Jiang Xiaobai said apologetically.

“It’s fine. As long as it’s resolved, that’s what matters. You did tell me you had a plan—I just let that magazine’s article get to me,” Dong Ran replied with a wave of her hand.