Xu Lingyu looked smugly at Feng Bingbing's expressionless face, smiling brightly.
"Sorry, Bingbing. I was only telling the truth. Don't be mad."
Feng Bingbing smiled too and asked Xu Lingyu, "Sister Xu, what perfume are you wearing today? It smells lovely."
Xu Lingyu froze, but before she could answer, Feng Bingbing fanned the air in front of her nose and said disdainfully, "What a shame. Even such lovely perfume can't cover up that green-tea smell of yours."
Xu Lingyu's expression changed. She pointed at Feng Bingbing. "What do you mean?!"
"Sorry, Sister Xu. Just a moment, please."
Feng Bingbing pressed her palms together and gave Xu Lingyu a small, apologetic bow. Then she held out a hand toward Xiao Zhu.
Xiao Zhu froze, then pleaded softly, "Little Bing, let it go, okay?"
Feng Bingbing's gaze was firm. She crooked a finger at Xiao Zhu, who reluctantly took a face mask from her bag and handed it over.
Feng Bingbing put on the mask and said to Xu Lingyu, "All right, Sister Xu. Now I won't have to smell your bad breath. Go on."
"Feng Bingbing! You dare insult me?!" Xu Lingyu's face flushed with anger. She stood up, ready to attack Feng Bingbing.
"Sister Xu, calm down!" Everyone nearby was alarmed and hurried over to hold her back.
"Sister Xu, you've got it wrong. I never insult people, because I'm pretty good at throwing punches."
Feng Bingbing let out a cold laugh, rolled up her sleeves, and hiked up her white blouse, knotting the two sides together. The toned muscles of her pale stomach showed.
Xu Lingyu froze, suddenly remembering the rumors in their circle that Feng Bingbing had a Taekwondo Black Belt certificate. She struggled angrily. "Don't hold me back!"
But she struggled less and less, until at last she put on a show of finally being talked down and sat back down as quickly as she could.
Feng Bingbing paid her no more attention. She turned and sat down to let the makeup artist touch up her makeup.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At last, the makeup room was peaceful again.
But the peace didn't last long. Xu Lingyu finished her makeup first. Before leaving the makeup room, she followed the principle of tossing out an insult and running. As she passed Feng Bingbing, she sneered, "Some people have sharp tongues, but don't realize they've already become a laughingstock in this industry."
That was, in fact, more or less true. After Feng Bingbing had publicly confessed her feelings at last night's concert and been silently rejected, plenty of people had started gossiping about and mocking her behind her back.
Even some of her endorsements and appearances had been affected.
Xu Lingyu thought her remark had been particularly clever. She hurried to the door, ready to run out if Feng Bingbing sprang up in a rage.
But Feng Bingbing simply sat there calmly, not even looking at her. "Once you start talking about me behind my back, you've already lost. You make me the subject of your gossip, but I don't think you're worth mentioning."
"You—"
Xu Lingyu and Feng Bingbing had debuted around the same time. One was with Baoliyin Entertainment, the other with Yunshi Records.
As rookies promoted by two bitter rival companies, the two had been destined to clash from the start.
Xu Lingyu had graduated from Shanghu Music Conservatory. Confident in her looks and figure, she'd believed she could easily crush Feng Bingbing.
But a few years had passed. Her rival had become the unstoppable Little Diva of the Music Scene, while she was still hovering between first-tier and near-first-tier status.
Feng Bingbing's remark that she wasn't worth mentioning might have been an exaggeration, but it also reflected the gap in their status.
It wasn't like stabbing someone in the windpipe with a knife. It was more like drilling straight through their back door with a power drill.
Xu Lingyu pointed at Feng Bingbing from across the room, her finger trembling, but she couldn't think of a reply.
After a long while, all she could manage was a feeble snort. She stumbled out of the makeup room.
Feng Bingbing continued getting her makeup done without a care. Once the makeup artist had finished touching her up, she stood and headed for the filming set.
Xiao Zhu followed behind, sighing helplessly. "There were so many people in the makeup room just now. Feng Yidao's definitely trending today. Sister Wan Qing is going to tear me apart."
Though Feng Bingbing acted like a lovesick puppy around Senior Lin, she could be downright vicious with everyone else. People in the industry had nicknamed her "One-Slash" Feng.
If someone wronged her today, she paid them back today. She never waited until tomorrow to get even, and she showed no mercy when she tore into people.
Ever since her debut, Feng Bingbing had gone viral countless times for her sharp tongue.
Of course, just like today, it was almost always other people who started by making snide remarks, only for Feng Bingbing to tear them to shreds in response.
Her rivals accused her of being disrespectful, while her fans loved her frank, straightforward nature.
The entertainment industry was already this fake and chaotic. Wasn't there room for one gutsy, outspoken, genuine little firecracker?
In just three years since her debut, Feng Bingbing had risen to Little Diva status. Her flawless looks and decent singing voice helped, but her fan-friendly personality had played a big part too.
Still, that kind of thing was a double-edged sword. She'd made plenty of enemies over the years.
Zhou Wanqing found it a headache. Knowing Xu Lingyu would be there today, she'd worried Feng Bingbing would make her cry. She'd reminded Xiao Zhu over and over to keep a close eye on the little troublemaker.
But somehow, Xiao Zhu still hadn't managed to stop her.
"Xiao Zhu, tell me, have I ever left an innocent person dead in my wake?"
Feng Bingbing stopped and turned to look seriously at Xiao Zhu.
Xiao Zhu thought about it. "Well, no. Little Bing, you never pick on people for no reason. They're always the ones who provoke you first."
"Exactly. I haven't done anything wrong, and I have a clear conscience. Why should I let people bully me without fighting back?"
Feng Bingbing turned and strode toward the filming set. Her ponytail swayed with her long legs, the ends brushing her slender waist and the rounded hips swaying from side to side.
She was bright and youthful, with a bold, spirited air.
Xiao Zhu stared at her, dazed. "Little Bing is so amazing. How does she always lose her head over that Senior Lin?"
Just then, Zhou Wanqing called. "Xiao Zhu, has Bingbing started filming? Is everything going smoothly?"
Xiao Zhu gave a wry smile. "If Little Bing doesn't end up trending later, I guess you could call it smooth."
"...I knew it." Zhou Wanqing sighed, then continued, "Tell Bingbing that everything's settled with Pure Voice. They'll sign the contract in a couple of days, and she'll head to Jiangrong next month to record the show. She's a mentor this time, so remind her to keep her temper in check!"
The next day, at nine in the morning.
Jiangrong Drama Center.
The Jiangsu Province preliminary round of Pure Voice was underway.
The preliminary round wouldn't be broadcast in full on Jiangrong Satellite TV, but the production team would select some highlights for the preview.
Quite a few audience members were seated in the venue, along with several cameras.
"Brother Mu, over here!"
By the time Lin Mu arrived at Jiangrong Drama Center, Fat Tiger was already waiting at the entrance.
"The contestants' waiting area is at the back entrance. This is it, Brother Mu. Number nine just went onstage, and you're number sixteen. It'll probably be a little while."
Fat Tiger had already signed them up and checked out the venue the day before. He led Lin Mu in through the back entrance with practiced ease, then pointed to a room behind the stage.
"All right, I'll head in."
Lin Mu checked the time. He should be done around eleven, which would give him time to get back to the company cafeteria for lunch.
He pushed open the door and walked into the contestants' waiting room.
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