C1 I Have a Grudge

Inside the van.

"Hey, young lady, I practically begged for this audition opportunity, and Young Master Yuu will be there today. You better give it your all and not embarrass me, okay?"

Qiao Xi reminded her, while fishing out a pair of sunglasses from his bag and handing them to Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan stretched lazily and replied nonchalantly, "Got it."

Only then did Qiao Xi nod in satisfaction, grabbing her bag as they got out of the car.

Today, Gu Yuan was dressed casually in a blue crew-neck shirt and overalls, her chestnut hair tied into a ponytail. She looked like a fresh college graduate—lively and bright.

"Let's go," Qiao Xi urged, a bit anxious since they were already five minutes late for the audition.

"What's the rush?" Gu Yuan suddenly stopped and glanced at him. Noticing a hint of trouble in his expression, she casually advised, "Try to stay away from women for a while."

With that, Gu Yuan patted Qiao Xi's shoulder and walked past him into the entertainment building.

Qiao Xi stood there, puzzled, mumbling to himself, "She never cared about me before. Could she be interested in me?"

He shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought. Maybe it was time to find Gu Yuan a therapist. Sure, he was handsome, but how could she possibly like him?

When Gu Yuan walked in, a group of aspiring actors waiting for their auditions all wore expressions of disdain.

"Didn't they say she tried to kill herself? How is she still around?"

"Just another publicity stunt, right? Isn't that her usual trick?"

"She's been dragged through the mud so much, yet she's still not washed up."

A few of the actors who couldn't stand Gu Yuan gathered together, their voices just loud enough to be heard, mocking her. Others watched from the sidelines, snickering at the spectacle.

Gu Yuan removed her sunglasses, revealing her eyes, which glinted with a hint of amusement. She approached the group with a half-smile. "Ladies, if you're going to badmouth someone, remember to keep it down. Being so brazen right in front of me? I do hold grudges, you know."

"If you don't want people finding out about your little arrangement, I'd suggest you keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, don't blame me for not warning you about the kind of person I am." Gu Yuan smiled sweetly, then slid her sunglasses back onto her nose.

The woman she addressed froze, her face going pale as if she'd been turned to stone. Cold sweat broke out as she realized, with disbelief, that Gu Yuan somehow knew her secret. How could she possibly know...?

The woman's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, staring at Gu Yuan in shock, as if she'd seen a ghost.

As Qiao Xi came up, he saw the tense standoff between the two. He almost thought Gu Yuan had caused another scene. Rushing over, he pulled Gu Yuan behind him and gritted his teeth, saying, "Please, just hold on a bit. Once the interview's over, you can do whatever you want."

Gu Yuan shook her head, uninterested. "Forget it."

Just then, a man poked his head out of the interview room and asked, "Is Gu Yuan here?"

"She's here, she's here," Qiao Xi quickly replied, nudging Gu Yuan. "Please, don't let me down."

Gu Yuan glanced at him and smiled slightly. "Don't worry." She was certain this role wouldn't be hers. It had already been promised to a B-list actress, and this interview was just a formality. But seeing the hopeful look in Qiao Xi's eyes, she couldn't bring herself to shatter his dreams.

As soon as Gu Yuan entered, her attention was drawn to a man who seemed surrounded by an aura of death. She quickly noticed something strange about him.

The destiny of a celestial bird, the fate of a mythical creature.