Zhang Cuiyan and Bai Xinrou left Xiangshan Film City and returned to the capital, which required them to take one bus and two subway transfers.
Zhang Cuiyan, looking weary from her journey, sat on the subway, her face filled with resentment.
"This time I'm going to fight that brat Bai Qianmo to the bitter end! Humph! Now that she has money, she wants to get rid of our family. She even got Xi Ruo into prison. I will never let her live a comfortable life."
Bai Xinrou rubbed her slightly sore calves and looked at the hanging LCD screen opposite her.
The promotional video for "The Phoenix's Journey" is playing above.
Because Bai Xiruo was arrested, although the show's popularity remained high, its quality was still significantly impacted.
Originally, the show had a high rating of 8.1 on Douban. However, due to Bai Xiruo's personal issues, which escalated to the point that the production team had chosen problematic actors, the rating of "The Phoenix's Journey" dropped from 8.1 to 7.4 overnight.
The investors and production team took remedial action, re-editing the promotional video and extensively featuring the male lead, played by Du Muchen, and the couple, played by Bai Qianmo, which received high praise from Bai Qianmo's fans and book readers.
Looking at the aloof, ethereal, and stunningly beautiful girl on the LCD screen, Bai Xinrou felt a surge of jealousy.
"Why is Bai Qianmo so popular? It's all thanks to the Bai family. Otherwise, given all the dirty things she did in the past, who would even care about her?"
Zhang Cuiyan sneered: "Back in our village, everyone in the neighborhood praised you for being smart and beautiful. When they saw that wretched girl Qianmo, they all said she looked gloomy. If she hadn't been lucky enough to marry into the Bai family, how could she possibly compare to you?"
"Speaking of which, Xi Ruo is such an outstanding child. If she hadn't been framed by Bai Qianmo, how could she have done such a thing? Right now, if we want to rescue Xi Ruo, we still have to rely on that brat Qianmo."
Bai Xinrou casually pulled out her phone from her bag and replied absentmindedly, "You're worried about her, but has Bai Xiruo ever cared about our family? Knowing full well that she's your daughter, Bai Xiruo has never called home once since Qianmo returned to the capital. When we call her, she refuses to answer. If you ask me, she deserves to be in this situation."
Zhang Cuiyan's face immediately turned cold: "She is your own sister, the biological daughter I carried for ten months. Even if she doesn't acknowledge me for the time being, the fact that I am her mother cannot be changed."
Bai Xinrou pouted: "Think whatever you want. Anyway, I came to the capital to become a star. I must become someone superior to others."
A young man sitting opposite the mother and daughter heard their conversation clearly.
He stood up and walked over to the mother and daughter.
"Hello, Auntie, is the Bai Qianmo you were just talking about the female celebrity?"
Zhang Cuiyan stared warily at the young man in front of her.
Why are you asking these questions?
It was the first time the mother and daughter had come to the capital, and they were especially carrying the bank card that the Bai family had given them, which had a lot of money on it.
Zhang Cuiyan saw everyone as a bad person with ill intentions, especially those who took the initiative to approach her and her daughter.
The other party seemed to sense Zhang Cuiyan's wariness and hurriedly took out his name tag from his pocket.
"Excuse me, I'm a reporter from Orange Video. I overheard you talking about Bai Qianmo, and out of professional habit, I couldn't help but ask a few questions."
Upon hearing that the other party was a reporter, Bai Xinrou's eyes lit up instantly, and she subconsciously smoothed her long hair.
Bai Xinrou is indeed quite pretty, but she comes from a small town, so her style and demeanor are somewhat rustic.
Especially in a fashion-forward metropolis like Beijing, her cheap clothes made it immediately obvious that she came from the countryside.
“We not only know Bai Qianmo, but we are also her relatives. I am her older sister. I grew up with Qianmo. This is Qianmo’s adoptive mother.”
A glint of light flashed in the other person's eyes.
Just then, the subway arrived at the station.
Zhang Cuiyan didn't want to talk to the reporter anymore, so she pulled Bai Xinrou and got off the subway.
The male reporter, not wanting to miss this opportunity to dig up a juicy scoop, hurriedly got out of the car as well.
"If you two aren't in a hurry to go back, would you mind if I treated you to a simple meal?"
"No need, we have other things to do," Zhang Cuiyan refused outright.
The male reporter frowned, clearly sensing that the older woman was wary of him.
"I think your daughter has a great image. Our Orange Video company happens to have a program to train new trainees. I wonder if this young lady would be interested in participating?"
Bai Xinrou stopped abruptly.
"Mom, it'll only take us the time of a meal, it won't take up much time. Besides, this reporter doesn't seem like a bad person. He even gave us his business card, so what are you worried about?"
Zhang Cuiyan kept her lips pressed together and remained silent, but the male reporter's words also stirred her heart.
Although she came to the capital to save Xi Ruo, she couldn't let the trip be in vain if she failed to save her youngest daughter.
After arriving in the capital, she realized what kind of life she had been living before.
If Xinrou can really enter the entertainment industry, the Bai family will completely turn the tables and become the masters of the house.
Hmph, when the time comes, she'll return home adorned in gold and silver, and let's see if those gossipy women in the village will still dare to look down on her.
*
Xu Hualan made a video call to the old lady of the Xu family in Shanghai.
Although she married into a family in the capital, she and her partner have long resided abroad.
However, Xu Hualan maintained close contact with her relatives in the Xu family, and they would video call each other every few days.
The main reason is that the elderly in the family are concerned about her, and Xu Hualan is filial and sensible, which makes her deeply loved by the old lady of the Xu family.
After chatting with the old man for a while, Xu Hualan asked a question, seemingly casually.
"Grandma, have you ever heard of someone in our Xu family named Xu Jin'en?"
The old lady, who had been in high spirits, clearly became less enthusiastic, and her wrinkled eyelids trembled slightly.
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