Chapter 13 – Insight Card, Beep

Chapter 13 - Insight Card, Beep

At the sound of those words, He Zhou became alert. Squinting his eyes, he walked back to Tan Youming and whispered threateningly, "Chubby, think before you speak."

"Big Sis Fei! I saw in He Zhou's Moments that you're looking for a hometown groom with a large sum. You can consider me – we're both from the same hometown. Think about it..."

He Zhou elbowed Tan Youming in the left rib, silencing him, then pushed him into the car. "Still harboring those delusions of being my brother-in-law? Next time, I'll definitely block you on WeChat so you can't spout nonsense."

"I've wanted to since I was young. So what?" Tan Youming clutched his stomach and straightened up, turning his head to look out the window where Tang Fei had disappeared from sight.

"Chubby, last time I mentioned getting married, my cousin gave me a good scolding. Forget about her. She's only focused on acting now – I've never seen her this serious since she was little." He Zhou leaned against the car door and patted Tan Youming on the shoulder.

Then, he took off running. "Big Sis, wait for me. Don't close the elevator."

Tan Youming let out a wistful laugh, massaging his left side. "Ah, I'm heartbroken again."

Years ago, he had even registered a Weibo account specifically to defend Tang Fei against rumors about her junior high school fights. He'd argue with people all night long, and even posted his own middle school transcripts as proof that they were classmates, to bolster the claim that she wasn't a troublemaker. But those times now seemed like a lifetime ago.

This heartbreak felt more complete than when she first rejected his confession.

Tang Fei spotted He Zhou catching up to her in the elevator and gestured for him to come in, expressing her regret: "Ah Zhou, you ruined my chance to cozy up to a wealthy second-generation."

He Zhou: ???

He suddenly realized, soberly, that Tan Youming was now at least considered a high-profile, rich, and handsome man, yet he had turned him down?

"Exactly, sis. We were so close to not having to work for eighty years," He Zhou exaggerated as he picked up his phone to make a call. "I'll go talk to Tan Youming again and explain myself."

"Enough playing around. My dreams rely on my own efforts; reaching the finish line right away would mean losing eighty years of fun," Tang Fei tugged at He Zhou's hand, pulling his phone away.

He Zhou let his phone drop casually. "Auntie, I don't think that's the reason."

"Then what do you think it is?" Tang Fei asked.

"Tan Youming is too young. You're not into age-gap relationships, remember? You like mature men, like that Civilization Hua. You were into guys in their thirties back in junior high, so by calculation, you should be into those in their forties now. He's just not your type, right?"

Bang!

Tang Fei retracted her fist and exhaled. The elevator had arrived at the floor.

"Ahh, ouch, Cousin, you should give a warning next time."

Tang Fei hummed in response, feeling that teasing her younger cousin was indeed a stress reliever. She opened the door to her apartment and frowned at the displaced coffee table and sofa. "Why did everything move?"

He Zhou followed in and rubbed his eyes. "Nothing seems different. They were all here before."

Tang Fei sniffed suspiciously. "There's still a bit of alcohol in the air."

"Could it be from next door?" He Zhou sniffed too and caught a whiff.

"This floor doesn't have many residents. The neighbor's place is empty, and apart from the trainees on the three lower floors, only I live here."

"It must be coming from downstairs then." He Zhou yawned. "Get some rest early. We have an audition tomorrow, so let's be in top form!"

Tang Fei thought about the Insight Card. There were only two of these disposable items—should she conserve them?

He Zhou poured Tang Fei a glass of milk and nudged her towards the bedroom. "Go to bed quickly. We'll be moving soon, so who cares where it's coming from now?"

Tang Fei waited until He Zhou had left, still feeling uneasy and sensing something amiss.

Her finger hesitated before tapping on the Insight Card.

"Use Insight Card"

"Insight into Event - Has anyone entered the room in the last 24 hours?"

[Flashback audio: "The one who tried to throw herself into my brother's arms and splashed soda on Sister Song Li, is she still in the dormitory?"]

"..."

"Check the behavior and motives of involved characters."

This time, Tang Fei was taken aback. Someone had indeed entered her room, and it was someone who had been completely unrelated to her impression!

Guan Mo and Shen Hang were barely mentioned in the original host's memories, yet from their conversation, she discovered an unknown enemy – the direct cause of the original host's death! Guan Mo.

Two hundred thousand yuan, Tang Fei smiled. It turned out that the production team hadn't given a single cent, and this money came from Guan Mo's guilty conscience.

Yet, two hundred thousand was not equivalent to a human life. His motive for stirring trouble was simply because the original owner had teased Guan Yun about her short stature, and also because she had supposedly thrown herself at Guan Mo's brother...

In the original owner's memories, there was indeed sarcasm, but there was no mention of her throwing herself at Guan Mo's brother. Yet, it was listed as one of Guan Mo's motivations without a doubt.

As for Shen Hang, he had been drunk and accompanied Guan Mo in his madness, making sure he didn't overstep boundaries, while also cleaning up after him.

The people of Yao Hui were truly comical, thinking themselves superior with their arrogance!

No matter how annoying the original owner was, those were minor issues. She was sarcastic, enjoyed causing trouble, had a bad temper, but she had never resorted to underhanded schemes to harm others. Did he, Guan Mo, really think himself worthy to look down on the original owner?

Tang Fei gained further insight into the privileged class, particularly the spoiled offspring of wealthy families.

Recalling Guan Yin's appearance at the business conference, where he had presented himself respectably, and considering that his younger siblings were also quite presentable, it's surprising to learn that beneath their facade, they're all filled with pus and malice.

Gazing at the steaming cup of milk that He Zhou had heated for her, she drank it greedily. Yet, she found herself utterly unable to sleep tonight.

Resolutely getting up, she sorted through and organized her notes, preparing for tomorrow's audition. Xu Wan's character, a wealthy second-generation heir, carried a minor aura of privilege. At the Happiness Hotel, she was the front desk clerk, and before her true identity was revealed, only subtle hints were needed.

She was a beauty, one who ingeniously capitalized on her allure, toggling between self-doubt and self-assurance in a paradoxical dance. Her nature was rebellious, manifesting in an unusual passion for adrenaline-pumping motorcycle rides.

Her gaze upon men carried a haughty blend of scrutiny and selection, while secretly yearning for someone extraordinary who would remain immune to her allure, providing her with a sense of security.

When she enticed others with her beauty, love was absent; it was merely a test, a quest for a man who valued her beyond her looks. Yet, she repeatedly encountered disappointment.

Blinded by her own allure, she failed to see that when she wielded her beauty as her primary weapon, she inevitably drew those who adored it. This led her to believe that everyone, like her parents, would perpetually seek out youthful beauty.

It wasn't until she crossed paths with the unassuming Lu Zhihao at the Happiness Hotel that emotions began to simmer between them as they grew familiar and understanding of one another.

While Tang Fei could emulate external demeanor and gestures with the help of makeup cards to a large extent, the inner turmoil of the character required her true self. She needed to delve into the psyche of the character, decipher its layers, and then inhabit the role for genuine practice.

The plot could only be revealed through auditions, so Tang Fei devised her own scenarios and filmed them for scrutiny. She magnified every detail from the videos, refining them step by step.

Diligence compensates for lack of natural talent; if she couldn't succeed in one attempt, she would revise again and again.

First comes craftsmanship, then inspiration.

Tired from the late-night efforts, Tang Fei finally fell asleep, reminiscent of the all-night cramming sessions before final exams.

The next morning, He Zhou pulled Tang Fei out of bed and gave her a simple makeup before heading to the Happiness Hotel for the audition.

The production team of "Happiness Hotel" was from Peach Blossom Video, and the audition was held in a hotel adjacent to their building, occupying an entire floor.

Most of those who came to audition for the role at "Happiness Hotel" were students, with a small portion being amateurs lured by job postings on video platforms. Occasionally, there would be someone who had played minor roles before. Among them, she was the most recognizable.

As soon as she arrived, someone recognized her. While waiting outside, whispers could be heard.

"Didn't Yao Hui already terminate her contract? Didn't she quit the industry? Which agency has she signed with? Which character is she trying out for?"

"I haven't seen her agent, so she probably hasn't signed with any company, right? How dare Director Wang invite her? Isn't he worried about Yao Hui's reaction?"

"I'll have someone inquire. Ah, her assistant is here too; I'll approach him for information."

Many staff members of minor celebrities had added He Zhou on WeChat, asking about Tang Fei and whether she had found some influential backing since she managed to secure an audition despite being pressured by Yao Hui's company, which dominated half the entertainment industry.

Could it be that she had found a sugar daddy?

He Zhou deftly dodged their questions. They didn't have any powerful support, but he didn't mind the insinuation of having a sugar daddy—it was all just part of the game.

Those with connections were treated more cautiously; people wouldn't dare to openly trample on them.

After Lan Xiaomei, the hotel owner's daughter, had her turn, it was Xu Wan's character up for auditioning. Those vying for the role couldn't help but direct their gazes towards Tang Fei.

It seemed Tang Fei was going for Xu Wan's character! That made her a competitor.

Tang Fei was dressed simply that day. Even beneath her casual down jacket, her figure exuded curves that made others feel envious, like they needed a lemon to soothe their sourness. Her long legs were a source of envy, not to mention her face that stood out among this group of beauties.

If Tang Fei indeed had a backer capable of countering Yao Hui's pressure, she would pose the greatest threat to them today.

They hoped that Director Wang was truly as rumored, valuing acting skills over appearance. Otherwise, he might be deceived by someone whose talents extended no further than her looks.

Despite acknowledging that they didn't possess Tang Fei's beauty, those present believed they surpassed her in acting. Their initial self-doubt was replaced with a new sense of confidence, and their looks at Tang Fei shifted from envy to disdain.