Chapter 440 Predetermined

Chapter 440 Pre-casting

Wu Jingyi forced a smile, clenching her fists.

"Director Ding, wasn’t the role of Lu Xiaoqin reserved for me?"

That’s what she’d been hearing these days.

Ever since the incident with Wang Moli, she felt as if her sky had fallen.

This was the only silver lining left for her.

She had been eagerly looking forward to it.

Once she appeared on television, her disgraceful past would be forgotten, and everyone would only remember her polished and respectable side.

Ding Jianan shifted uncomfortably, unsure who had spread such an unreliable rumor.

"Comrade Wu Jingyi, you’ve misunderstood."

"What?"

Ding Jianan explained, "The role of Lu Xiaoqin was cast internally from the start—we never planned to hold open auditions. I should have made that clear earlier. My apologies."

It was as if a lightning bolt struck Wu Jingyi’s head, leaving her stunned.

Ding Jianan’s words didn’t just shock Wu Jingyi—they stunned everyone else in Studio 2 as well.

No one knew how the rumor had started, but after being passed around, it had been treated as settled.

After waiting for so long without any denial from Ding Jianan, everyone assumed the role was Wu Jingyi’s.

But now, she was saying it had been pre-cast?

"Director Ding, what do you mean by ‘pre-cast’?" Wu Jingyi’s voice was strained.

What Ding Jianan said next made Wu Jingyi feel as if her face had been slapped.

"Jiang Yu was pre-cast."

Just then, Jiang Yu came over, now wearing her costume.

"Director Ding, the sleeves are a bit too long. Let’s have them adjusted later—no woman would work in ill-fitting clothes..."

The moment Jiang Yu appeared, all eyes turned to her.

She was already in costume—clearly, Ding Jianan wasn’t lying.

"And let’s cinch the waist. Lu Xiaoqin is image-conscious—she’s the type of woman who’d rather go hungry than be seen in last season's styles."

Ding Jianan had someone jot down these details, once again feeling grateful for bringing Jiang Yu into the project.

Some suggestions, even if others thought of them, they wouldn’t dare mention.

Her expression darkened as Wu Jingyi gritted her teeth. "What makes her better than me? Just because she’s better looking?"

Jiang Yu finally noticed her presence and gave a cheerful wave.

"Thank you for the compliment, Deputy Chief Wu," she added smugly. "I really am better looking than you."

Wu Jingyi clenched her teeth until they nearly shattered. How dare this person, whom she had personally driven out of the second factory, still have the audacity to strut around in front of her?

"Director Ding, if you decided on an open casting call from the start, why was there a predetermined choice? Don’t you think this is unfair to the rest of us?"

Ding Jianan froze, then let out a bitter laugh.

"To be honest, the moment I arrived in Beicheng, I went straight to Jiang Yu. This role was reserved for Jiang Yu unless she turned it down. Let me put it this way, Wu Jingyi—even if Jiang Yu refused to play Lu Xiaoqin, I still wouldn’t choose you. What Jiang Yu rejects doesn’t fall to others."

In other words, even what Jiang Yu rejected wouldn’t fall to her.

Wu Jingyi was furious, her anger swelling until her chest ached and her very bones throbbed.

"Why does it have to be Jiang Yu? Of all people!"

Had it been anyone else, she wouldn’t have felt this sickened.

Anyone but Jiang Yu.

Ding Jianan frowned. "The script is hers—isn’t that reason enough for me to reserve a role for her?"

Wu Jingyi’s face paled, momentarily unable to decide which revelation hurt more—that Jiang Yu had snatched the role of Lu Xiaoqin, or that the script for *A Single Spark* had come from Jiang Yu’s hand.

She closed her eyes, memories flooding back, making her feel like a complete fool.

No wonder. No wonder Jiang Yu had been so certain she wouldn’t get the role.

"Jiang! Yu!" She spat the name like venom, hatred burning to its core.

Before coming to the second factory, Wu Jingyi had never imagined this name would haunt her.

She had forced Jiang Yu out, yet it was as if she had never left.

"You’re unbelievable!"

Wu Jingyi’s pupils were so bloodshot they looked ready to burst.

Jiang Yu smiled back, tilting her head.

"I’ll take that as praise."

Wu Jingyi let out a hollow laugh, her expression contorted with rage.

"Director Ding, it seems I misunderstood. I won’t disturb the filming any longer—the factory is waiting for me to get back to work. With such dedication, Director Ding, I hope this drama doesn’t end up dead on arrival."

She straightened her back, chin held high, and stalked off under the crew’s stares.

Ye Zhu watched her retreating figure and sidled up to Jiang Yu.

"She’s going to hate you now."

Jiang Yu chuckled. Ever since she’d foiled the spy operation, those people had already had her marked.

From the moment Wu Jingyi entered the factory, she had had it out for her.

Hatred? It barely registered.

Only after Wu Jingyi left did Ding Jianan call the crew back.

This was Jiang Yu's first time acting, and she encountered many novel things. Going into it with a playful attitude, she unexpectedly found it quite enjoyable.

Her scenes weren’t many, and Ding Jianan prioritized filming her parts first. Rushing through it, they finished filming her scenes in just half a month.

The scenes to be shot in Shanghai were postponed until after the New Year.

It was already Little New Year, and every household was getting ready for the holiday—Jiang Yu was no exception.

Though she hadn’t worked these past few months and the mill hadn’t paid her wages, it didn’t affect her comfortable lifestyle at all.

She bought a whole sheep from Lai Liuzi, and as usual, the whole family got together for the New Year.

Listening to the firecrackers outside, Jiang Yu stood in the courtyard, her face lit up with happiness.

Another year had passed.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, as the night deepened, everything gradually quieted down.

Jiang Yu checked the time, covering her mouth as she yawned, struggling to keep her eyes open to stay up for New Year’s.

"Sister-in-law, if you’re not going back to the Second State Cotton Mill, why not team up with me?"

Lai Liuzi felt something was always missing in his ventures and wanted to pull Jiang Yu in.

Jiang Yu laughed. "If I join, you’ll get less of the cut."

"No way! With you around, my business would only grow bigger!"

He Feiyan kicked him. "What nonsense are you spouting? Can you say things like that?"

Lai Liuzi laughed awkwardly. "Just a slip-up, just a slip-up."

But it was his genuine thought.

Jiang Yu shook her head. "I like taking some time off at home."

Lai Liuzi didn’t press further, though he wondered—was this really just "some time"? How long had Jiang Yu been resting already?

To outsiders, she seemed to have lost her spark, no longer the spirited Deputy Chief Jiang of the past.

Jiang Yu didn’t care, but whenever he overheard such remarks, he felt stifled.

The Second State Cotton Mill didn’t close for the New Year, and everyone stayed on duty on the first day of the year.

Luckily, the second day was off, so it didn’t interfere with visiting family.

Jiang Yu had no plans to return—her relationship with her parents had publicly fallen apart, and whether she went back or not, people would talk.

Jiang Ting, however, also seemed unwilling to return this year, using her pregnancy as an excuse to avoid the hassle.

Though Jiang Yu wasn’t going back, she at least asked Jiang Li to bring some money to her folks.

As for Jiang Ting, she didn’t send anything.

"Jiang Ting, it’s just once a year. Don’t you have anything you’d like me to bring back for you?"

Jiang Ting was broke, and with a child on the way, she needed to save every penny.

"Just tell my parents that once the baby is born, I’ll make it right with them."

She hadn’t secured a job for Jiang Hao, but Wang Meili was temporarily appeased by the two hundred yuan from the Jiang family, which kept things quiet for a while.

But given her nature, if she didn’t bring it up before, she surely would after the New Year.

Jiang Ting didn’t dare go home now—that’d be like asking for trouble.

Jiang Li scoffed, "Back when you married into the city, your parents bragged everywhere about your good fortune. Now they’ve realized—a daughter’s luck means nothing if she’s ungrateful."

Jiang Ting froze for a second. "I’m pregnant now. My parents will understand."

Jiang Li didn’t bother responding and left.