Chapter 512 Sowing Discord
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CHAPTER 512
~A Week Later~
Fang Qian Qian was a master of manipulation, and she knew that if she wanted to tarnish Andromeda's ascent, she would need to work swiftly.
She could no longer trust her fan, Claire, to do the job that needed to be done. As such she sought other unhanded means.
Her heart was a bubbling cauldron of jealousy and frustration, and she was determined to take the first steps in bringing Andromeda down.
Starlight Apparel's fashion week was just around the corner, a moment Andromeda had anticipated for a long time, but Fang Qian Qian saw a chance to ruin the rising star.
Everyone knew about Yu Weilan's unfortunate accident, a fall that had put her out of commission for a while.
Fang Qian Qian saw this as an opportunity to sow seeds of discord. Not ready tot waste any time, she deviced a plan.
Driving to Yu Weilan's home, Fang Qian Qian put on a mask of concern and care. She arrived at the doorstep and knocked gently.
The door opened to reveal Yu Weilan, her once-confident demeanour now replaced with vulnerability due to her injuries. She seemed surprised to see Fang Qian Qian.
"F-Fang Qian Qian? What brings you here?" Yu Weilan inquired, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her eyes.
It did not take long for Fang Qian Qian to put on a concerned smile. "Hello."
"Hi, please come in," the young lady moved to the side, paving a way for her to come in and she entered the house.
"I heard you were hospitalized for a while after your accident and just wanted to check on you, Weilan."
Yu Weilan led Fang Qian Qian to the living room. She was grateful to have a sar actress visit her.
"Thank you, it's been quite tough. I'm recovering, but it's been a slow process. Please have your seat," she offered.
However, rather than take her seat, Fang Qian Qian leaned in, her voice gentle. "I'm glad you're getting better. But, Weilan, I wanted to talk to you about something that's been bothering me."
Weilan's brows furrowed. "What's wrong, Qian Qian?"
Fang Qian Qian adopted a serious tone. "It's about Andromeda. I don't know if you've noticed, but she's been rising really fast in the industry. It's like she's everywhere these days."
Weilan nodded slowly, her attention piqued. "Yes, I've seen it. She's had quite the journey, hasn't she?"
Fang Qian Qian shook her head with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Weilan, it's not about her journey. It's about how she's becoming the new darling of the industry. I just find it suspicious after your accident and all."
With that, she shifted from her and took her seat.
"Huh, yeah."
"And you know who's behind it all, don't you?"
Yu Weilan's eyes widened. "You mean Ye Yuan. I mean, Liu Xueyi?"
Yu Weilan moved to take a seat beside Fang Qian Qian, her mind filled with thoughts.
Fang Qian Qian leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Exactly. I believe he's doing everything in his power to boost Andromeda's career. And it's not because she's talented. Trust me; I've seen her work. She's got nothing special."
Yu Weilan's brows furrowed further. She had always respected Liu Xueyi and considered him a great actor. Doubt was starting to creep in.
Seeing her words begin to yield friut, Fang Qian Qian pressed on. "And then, Weilan, there's the timing of it all."
"Yeah. Heard she got my role."
"Exactly. Think about it. I mean your unfortunate accident and Andromeda's meteoric rise. Don't you find that a bit too convenient?"
All of a sudden, Yu Weilan's expression shifted from curiosity to suspicion. "What are you getting at, Fang Qian Qian?"
Having pushed and carefully driven the conversation to this point, Fang Qian Qian decided to play her final card.
"Yu Weilan, I can't help but think that perhaps Liu Xueyi had a plan all along. Maybe he wanted to get rid of you to make room for Andromeda. You were his leading lady, after all. And now, she's all over the place, taking the roles you used to get. It's too much of a coincidence, don't you think?"
Weilan was left in stunned silence, the weight of Fang Qian Qian's words sinking in.
Her thoughts swirled with anger and frustration. She felt like she had been betrayed, and the bitter taste of it was hard to swallow.
She gave her all to Liu Entertainment and now she got this—sabotaged just for a non talented actress to rise?
Fang Qian Qian stood up, her expression one of false concern. "I just wanted you to know, Yu Weilan. I know you are a talented and hardworking actress. I couldn't bare seeing this injustice done to you."
"I know. And here I blamed my badluck and was aboutr asking about how the film production was faring but it turns out, I wasn't having badluck at all," she thought out loud.
"I am sorry," Fang Qian Qian voiced again, putting on a more thrilling act of sadness and concern. "I didn't want you to be blindsided by all of this. You're a talented actress, and no one should replace you so easily."
"I understand, Fang Qian Qian and I am truly grateful. The entertainment world needs good souls like you."
"Sure. I broughtr some fruits and heating pad to help with your recovery. It's in my car. I will ask my driver to bring them in for me. Please be fine. I hope you recover soon and get back your place."
"Thank you, truly."
With that, Fang Qian Qian left, leaving Weilan to grapple with the seeds of doubt that had been planted in her mind.
Once the driver came and delivered the goods, she asked her maid to get the things and returned back to the couch.
Her gaze fell on the cast on her leg. Yu Weilan was seething with anger.
Without giving the situation more thought, she picked up her phone and dialled Director Qi's number, her voice cold and determined.
"Yu Weilan. What a pleasnat surprise," Directpor Qi greeted. "How are you?"
Ignoring hsi greeting, she decided to hit the nail on the head.
"Director Qi, I'm okay now. I'm ready to come back to the set. It's time to put things back in order, don't you think?"
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The grand fashion show was just around the corner, and Andromeda had a whirlwind of activities packed.
The event was set to be a dazzling showcase of Starlight Apparel's latest designs, an extravaganza she had been meticulously planning for months.
Every detail, from the models' choreography to the lighting, needed to be perfect.
Her reputation was on the line, and she was determined to shine in the fashion world as brightly as she was doing in the entertainment industry.
Backstage, amid the hustle and bustle, Andromeda's attention was focused on coordinating the final rehearsals. She checked models' outfits, making sure every accessory was in its place.
Her sharp eyes didn't miss a beat, and her stern but constructive feedback was a testament to her dedication.
The venue was a masterpiece of contemporary design.
Glistening lights illuminated the long catwalk, flanked by an audience eager to witness the grand unveiling of Starlight Apparel's latest creations.
The stage design was an artful marriage of modernity and elegance, mirroring the brand's ethos.
As she went through her checklist one more time, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Quicklys he excused herself from a model's makeup session and answered the call, recognizing Manager Zheng Wei's number on the screen.
Deep within her she hoped it wouldn't be a shooting she forgot or an urgent scene that required her presence.
She was sure she had made the week free of such activities to give time to her major work.
"Hello, Zheng Wei," Andromeda said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and fatigue.
"Hello, Andromeda. I hope you're doing well," Zheng Wei responded, his voice holding a hint of concern. "How is your event?"
Andromeda could tell something was amiss from the way he spoke. It meant she was needed and she was already devicing ways on how to escape it in her mind.
She moved away from the bustling backstage area to find a quieter corner, away from prying ears.
"I'm as good as can be expected with the fashion show just around the corner. What's up?"
Zheng Wei cleared his throat. "I have some news, Andromeda, and I thought it was best to tell you right away."
She fell silent, waiting for the bomb to drop.
"Yu Weilan is coming back to the set."
Badump!
Badump!
Her heart drummed hard agaisnt ehr chest as she listened on, waiting for more news before responding.
But none came. Wondering teh reason for her silence, Zheng Wei's concerned voice rang out. "Andromeda?"
Andromeda's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Yes. Yu Weilan? I thought she was still recovering from her accident."
Zheng Wei's voice turned grave. "She has recovered, it seems, and she's determined to return. She called Director Qi today and stated that she's ready to come back to work."
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