CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 189: SCHEMES

Liu Jun also felt quite helpless. If Chang Wan wasn’t cast as the lead, this movie couldn’t continue.

He struggled for a long time before changing the cast, but fortunately, Pang Meiqi understood and stepped aside to take on another project.

As Liu Jun spoke, he kept sighing.

Tian Xiang could understand the helplessness he felt.

Liu Jun: "If you have any requests, just let me know. Just don’t quit."

With one already gone, Liu Jun didn’t want any trouble from Tian Xiang’s side either.

If she also left, this drama might as well not happen.

Tian Xiang: "Director Liu, I’ll do as you say. Don’t worry, I’ll cooperate earnestly with the work ahead."

This small matter wasn’t worth giving up her role for.

Liu Jun let out a sigh of relief.

Since many roles in the drama were cast from the school, and the school hadn’t started yet, those people weren’t back, so the whole morning was mostly scenes of Tian Xiang and Chang Wan. Many scenes had been previously shot with Tian Xiang and Pang Meiqi, but now were being redone.

Besides wasting time, the main issue was that Chang Wan’s professional skills were not as good as Pang Meiqi’s. Playing the lead role, she always had a villainous vibe and could get stuck multiple times on one scene.

By the end of a day’s shooting, Tian Xiang’s throat was about to smoke.

In the afternoon, Meng Cheng’an came after work to pick her up. The crew had arranged a car to take her back.

After what happened before, the production studio not only added a car but also assigned assistants to everyone, becoming more cautious and thorough in this aspect.

Halfway, they passed by a pharmacy, and Tian Xiang asked the driver to stop so Meng Cheng’an could buy her some throat medicine.

Meng Cheng’an: "Not feeling well?"

Tian Xiang: "My throat is a bit dry."

Meng Cheng’an quickly bought a pack of medicine for her.

At night, when they were lying in bed preparing to rest, Tian Xiang finally told him about the casting change.

"It’s just more scenes with others, nothing else."

Meng Cheng’an held her without speaking, only after a while he asked, "By the way, there’s just over a year until graduation. Do you have any plans for the future?"

Soon, Tian Xiang would be starting the second semester of her third year.

Her current career paths were generally either joining a troupe or a production studio.

Given the current situation, joining a production studio was definitely the best choice, as her fame had already risen, and she was more interested in this aspect.

Tian Xiang: "What do you think?"

Actually, she was fine with both performing on stage and acting.

Meng Cheng’an: "Join the production studio; there seems to be more development potential in this area in the future."

Tian Xiang was a bit surprised, "What’s up with you today? Did the sun rise from the west?"

Although he had never opposed her filming movies and TV series, it was clear he didn’t like it, especially those scenes involving hugging—so petty.

Meng Cheng’an: "Chunching is just a few years. You can join the production studio first, then later move to a troupe or the cultural department."

This arrangement was fine with her. Tian Xiang hugged his waist tightly, "Okay, I’ll listen to you."

In the days that followed, Tian Xiang was constantly busy with filming.

But once school started, she could only work on weekends.

After school began, the news that Chang Wan had been promoted to lead quickly spread through the school.

Everyone was puzzled as to why Pang Meiqi, who seemed well, was no longer acting.

The team certainly wouldn’t disclose what happened to Chang Wan, and Tian Xiang wasn’t about to gossip behind her back. When asked, she just said Pang Meiqi had something else and that the casting change was the factory’s arrangement, which she wasn’t clear about.

But gradually people started saying it was because Chang Wan used her family connections to squeeze Pang Meiqi out.

Normally, Chang Wan already had an air of arrogance at school, and her reputation only worsened now, with everyone starting to fear her.

On weekends, during filming in the makeup room, Chang Wan jokingly asked Tian Xiang if she was the one spreading the rumor about squeezing out Pang Meiqi.

Tian Xiang laughed, "Not to mention that I can’t be bothered with your affairs and disdain to speak. Even if I did say it, isn’t it the truth?"

Chang Wan’s smile froze on her face, and she stopped talking.

Tian Xiang chuckled and left with the two assistants arranged by the crew.

Chang Wan really wished she could glare her to death.

In the end, Pang Meiqi being squeezed out was all Tian Xiang’s fault.

If she hadn’t smeared glue on Chang Wan’s chair, none of this would have happened, and there would have been no role change either.

She was clearly the instigator, yet in the end, it was Chang Wan who was blamed.

Chang Wan threw the comb in her hand down, feeling angry.

Beside her, the two assistants exchanged a silent glance, feeling somewhat frustrated as well. Of all people to be assigned to, it just had to be her.

Ever since being promoted to lead, her temper had grown increasingly worse.

On the other side, as Tian Xiang left, Meng Cheng’an came to meet her.

It was the weekend, so Meng Cheng’an didn’t need to work and had come specifically to be with her.

As they walked out, they ran into Lu Feng, who had come to see Chang Wan, but neither party acknowledged the other, acting like strangers.

Lu Feng ended up staying, as people said he had gone to the Ministry of Culture. Although he’s currently just a minor employee, he had at least planted his roots here.

His relationship with Chang Wan was also made public, and he no longer had to sneak around, able to openly see her and be with her.

Previously, Tian Xiang didn’t quite grasp why that incident happened to Chang Wan, but now she saw it clearly.

From the start, it was all Lu Feng’s plan.

He wanted to use Chang Wan to stay here, and she was just a part of his scheme.

Tsk tsk, who would’ve thought?

Back then, seeing Chang Wan in trouble, Tian Xiang secretly laughed at her foolishness, only to realize later that she wasn’t much smarter herself!

Tian Xiang let out a long sigh.

Beside her, Meng Cheng’an asked, "What’s wrong?"

Tian Xiang: "Nothing."

The two held hands and prepared to go back.

Meng Cheng’an: "When will this group be finished?"

Tian Xiang: "Now that we only film on weekends, it’ll probably take another two months."

The series is short, only a dozen episodes or so.

Meng Cheng’an: "After you finish filming this, I need to go abroad. Don’t take any more work until I return, alright?"

Tian Xiang: "Alright."

Every day she was either at school or filming, so she needed a break too.

Two months later, the filming was finally completed.

Tian Xiang let out a sigh of relief, and any work that came her way afterward, she temporarily turned down.

Meng Cheng’an needed to go on a business trip, not only abroad but also to Hong Kong, where he stayed for over ten days.

He spent over a month traveling before coming back to discuss with Tian Xiang his intention to apply for unpaid leave from his job and partner with someone to start a magazine.

Tian Xiang: "Do what you think is best."

In recent years, private businesses were becoming increasingly popular, and Tian Xiang felt like the times really were changing.

With his wife’s support, Meng Cheng’an quickly got things started.

Other members of the Meng Family didn’t say much when they saw him switching careers.

A hundred years ago, the Meng Family had actually risen through entrepreneurship.

Thanks to family connections, Meng Cheng’an quickly obtained a publication license and began his entrepreneurial venture.