At this, a trace of coldness instantly surfaced in Ji Xiangchen's expression. Stealing roles? He had never stooped to fighting others for roles, nor would he use those despicable tricks to steal someone else's role.
He had not stolen his role in "Great Chen Dynasty," much less obtained it through the Ji Family.
He had earned it through his own efforts.
Everyone in the industry who knew him thought he had relied on the Ji Family to establish himself.
But that was not the truth. Ji Xiangnian wanted him to leave the entertainment industry and return to take over the Ji Family's work.
Not only did he refuse to help, he even put pressure on Ji Xiangchen's agency.
The pressure from Ji Xiangnian and Ji Xiangyi meant he could not get any good opportunities at all and could only take small roles. Over the past two years, he had worked his way up from an extra to the third- or fourth-tier actor he was now.
He had only been able to play the third male lead in "Great Chen Dynasty" because he had previously played a small role in one of Director Wang's productions.
Director Wang had seen that he acted well and was willing to endure hardship. He had said the cast for his new production had not been finalized yet and asked him to audition.
That was how he had landed this role.
Ji Xiangchen already had a conflict with Zhou Lu, and now Zhou Lu was slandering him again, claiming he had obtained this role through improper means.
Few people could put up with that.
Fang Ning had said she would not tear away someone else's umbrella, but that did not mean he never would.
Ji Xiangchen stopped walking and snapped out of his thoughts, his expression immediately darkening. "I stole your role? When? If I did, show me the evidence. You don't have the ability yourself, so you accuse other people of stealing. Disgusting."
"You have no evidence, so I'll let it go this time. But if I hear you spreading slander and rumors again, I'll have a lawyer sue you immediately."
As he spoke the last sentence, Ji Xiangchen gave Zhou Lu a pointed look, his eyes carrying a cold warning.
Ji Xiangchen had come from the same womb as Ji Xiangyi. How could he not have any ruthless genes?
Perhaps he had previously taken blows without fighting back and insults without answering because those vicious genes deep inside him had not yet been awakened.
But today, Ji Xiangchen did not want to be a pushover anymore.
Faced with such a composed Ji Xiangchen, Zhou Lu's expression stiffened. He clenched his fists tightly, wanting to argue back but not knowing how.
Indeed, how could something like this, where it felt as though someone had stolen an opportunity, leave any evidence? How could a director tell you that someone else had stolen your role?
Watching Ji Xiangchen's back as he slowly walked away, Zhou Lu clenched his fists even tighter, veins bulging on the backs of his hands.
Only a moment later, the resentment in Zhou Lu's eyes faded.
He shifted his gaze toward the direction Ji Xiangchen had come from. After a long while, he seemed to think of something. His eyes shifted, and the corners of his mouth slowly rose.
Ji Xiangchen, Fang Ning, they...
That evening, after eating the dinner Ji Xiangchen had given her, Fang Ning was memorizing her lines in her room.
The director's assistant came running over to tell her there was a late-night gathering, with the director treating everyone to a meal. It would also let the actors get to know one another to make the subsequent filming easier.
With a free dinner on offer, Fang Ning immediately tossed her script aside, quickly got dressed, and went out.
The gathering was in an open-air barbecue courtyard behind the hotel, a space the hotel had specifically set aside for guests to hold activities.
By the time Fang Ning arrived, there were already plenty of people, and almost all the seats were occupied. There were also dedicated barbecue staff helping grill the food, and waves of fragrance drifted from the grills.
Fang Ning looked around and discovered that Ji Xiangchen had actually come out too. He sat in a corner by himself, with no one beside him, tending to the barbecue all alone.
This reminded Fang Ning of how those people had kept saying during the day that he had a bad temper. Perhaps that was also why no one else dared approach Ji Xiangchen.
The book said Ji Xiangchen was a lonely child with no one to keep him company, who liked to disguise himself with indifference.
Looking at that thin, lonely figure, Fang Ning felt awful. Without hesitation, she walked straight over.
"Ji Xiangchen."
Ji Xiangchen was a little surprised to see Fang Ning and put down what he was holding. "Why did you come over?"
Fang Ning pointed around them. "There are too many people, and you looked pretty bored all by yourself, so I came over. You don't mind, do you?"
[Poor handsome boy, barbecuing all alone. So pitiful.]
Ji Xiangchen curled his lips. How was he pitiful? He was not pitiful at all, okay?
But Fang Ning wanted to join him.
Naturally, Ji Xiangchen had no objections. He tidied the things on the table and made room for Fang Ning.
Just as Fang Ning sat down, Director Wang and the assistant director came over.
Perhaps the other tables were simply too crowded to squeeze into. Director Wang, who had arrived later and had no seat, came over too. "Fang Ning, Ji Xiangchen, you don't mind us joining you, do you?"
At that very moment, the veteran actress who had acted opposite Fang Ning during the day also appeared. "Everyone, it's packed all around us. You don't mind one more, do you?"
Within just a few minutes, the barbecue spot where Ji Xiangchen had originally sat all alone immediately became lively.
Fang Ning was not someone accustomed to quiet gatherings. Once the directors and the others came over, she kept tending to the barbecue on the table.
"Here, Director Wang, have a chicken wing. This is delicious."
"Teacher Yu, this grilled pork belly is really good."
"Oh, it really is good."
"Ji Xiangchen, have one. The chicken wings are grilled really well. This is the biggest one on the grill, so it's for you." As Fang Ning used the tongs to give Ji Xiangchen a large grilled chicken wing, she lowered her voice and spoke quietly to him.
In Fang Ning's eyes, Ji Xiangchen was practically half family. He had even brought her takeout that evening. She had already automatically counted this ready-made younger brother-in-law as a relative, so naturally, she had to look after him a little.
Ji Xiangchen looked up. Hearing words that made him feel cherished by family, he froze, not knowing how to react.
Fang Ning thought he did not like eating it. "Oh, you don't like this?"