CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 467 - 459 The Tangerine Sea

Club, private room

"Sister Xia Jin," Jiaqi hadn’t expected to run into the company’s top star here.

"Hello, Jiaqi. I just found out today that you’re playing the third female lead," Xia Jin said with a radiant and gentle smile.

"Then you are...?"

"I’m the first female lead. It just hasn’t been publicly announced for narrative reasons."

Xia Jin looked at the younger actress with disdain hidden in her heart; in truth, she had long known how Jiaqi had secured the role of the third female lead.

"Heh, well, that’s great. Sister Xia Jin, I’ll have to rely on you for guidance then."

"We’ll learn from each other. Director Lu is the one who makes the final calls."

Sitting across from them, Lu Hai chuckled, "Jiaqi’s acting is very good; she has tremendous talent."

The initially delighted Jiaqi inadvertently caught a flash of displeasure deep within Xia Jin’s eyes.

Clearly, she wasn’t happy with Lu Hai’s praise.

Jiaqi immediately grew nervous. She couldn’t compare to Xia Jin’s status; although Director Lu’s compliments were merely the truth, she would inevitably bear the brunt of the fallout.

Xia Jin seemed to sense something and broke into an adorably sweet smile on her exquisitely beautiful face. "Jiaqi, it’s truly a blessing to receive recognition from Director Lu. He has such an excellent eye."

On his somewhat expressionless face, Lu Hai showed a faint smile. "Jiaqi hasn’t studied acting formally, but she performs astonishingly well. Talent is really rare—and she’s not afraid to look unflattering on screen."

Jiaqi’s smile was on the verge of collapse; she wanted to flee immediately.

Xia Jin was often criticized publicly for being unable to shed her stunning beauty.

These words—weren’t they like a dagger stabbing right into her pride?

At the same time, it left Jiaqi puzzled—why was Xia Jin chosen to play the lead in this drama?

Before she could say anything, Xia Jin chuckled softly with her usual grace. "Actors must be willing to let go of their facades, that’s for sure. Director Lu, your ability to recognize talent is unmatched."

Lu Hai gave a faint smile, picked up his glass, and downed the vodka in one gulp.

What the hell!

There seemed to be something off about these two’s relationship.

Logically, Lu Hai should either return the courtesy or compliment Xia Jin as well, but his attitude remained ambiguous.

Jiaqi glanced over to Xia Jin, who was gazing at Lu Hai with a faint, enigmatic smile. Her breathtakingly beautiful face appeared even more mesmerizing under the dreamy lights, her eyes especially—like a siren drawing souls.

Jiaqi couldn’t help but shiver; she couldn’t fathom the relationship between these two.

It was entirely unrelated—like apples and oranges! Besides, wasn’t Xia Jin constantly scrutinized by fans and the media?

"Director Lu, a toast to you!"

Xia Jin said, pouring two tall glasses of vodka until they were brimming.

"Sure, cheers!"

Lu Hai accepted unhesitatingly and drained his glass in one gulp.

Xia Jin gracefully picked up her glass, sipping the alcohol slowly but steadily.

The crystalline liquid tinted her delicate lips a soft red, making her stunning face exude an even more beguiling charm.

Jiaqi stared, transfixed—she’d never seen Xia Jin drink before.

Little did she expect her drinking capacity to be this impressive.

"The long night stretches on; let’s have a few more drinks. It’s dull otherwise," Lu Hai seemed to warm to the idea.

"Sure! When drinking, one should drink to their heart’s content. But let’s not scare my little junior here."

Xia Jin turned toward Jiaqi, her gaze sharp enough to make Jiaqi instinctively want to shrink away.

"Heh! I was just joking about not scaring Jiaqi."

Her gaze swept over Jiaqi like a crescent moon reflected in a lake, with a smirk curling her lips.

"Not at all. I’ll drink with you both," Jiaqi said, her face a vibrant red as she poured herself a glass of champagne and downed it.

"I’ve known Director Lu for a long time, and this is the first time I’ve seen him praise a newcomer like this."

As Xia Jin spoke, she refilled their glasses. "Jiaqi, you should work hard!"

"Sure!"

Jiaqi felt as though she’d lost her ability to converse; everything seemed to be under the control of this radiant woman before her, leaving her both frustrated and a little angry.

Lu Hai silently finished his drink, not sparing the two women another glance.

Xia Jin’s smile bloomed fully, bright as a crimson rose soaked in blood.

The soothing liquor soon disappeared, leaving her almond-shaped eyes wavering with a hint of mist.

Jiaqi, however, had reached her limit; she had already consumed nearly two pounds of liquor through sips.

Her semi-unsteady hand placed the glass onto the coffee table with a clinking sound.

A faint blush of drunkenness had spread across her face, and her full lips glistened under the light, looking extraordinarily plush and dewy.

"Jiaqi, you’re drunk. Go home," Lu Hai said coolly.

"Heh, I’m fine. Director Lu, you have no idea—when I heard you were directing this film, I dropped everything to compete for this role. I’ve watched all your movies."

She smiled as she poured herself another drink, biting the tip of her tongue and taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Xia Jin toyed with her glass in her hand, neither persuading nor stopping Jiaqi from drinking further.

Lu Hai watched as Jiaqi drained the liquor, then coldly took the glass from her.

"I’m really fine! Ugh!"

The clear alcohol trickled down Jiaqi’s chin; she was visibly drunk now.

Just as Lu Hai was about to call someone to take her away,

Jiaqi suddenly got to her feet, swaying as she shook her head.

"Excuse me, Sister Juzi, Director Lu—please continue drinking. I need to visit the restroom."

"I’ll take you," Lu Hai said, standing as well.

"No need, you stay with Sister Juzi. I’ll call my assistant."

Jiaqi walked unsteadily as she took out her phone, summoning her assistant from the neighboring room.

Ugh!

As Jiaqi stepped out, Xia Jin threw up into a trash bin in their private room.

"Juzi!"

"I’m fine!"

Xia Jin shoved Lu Hai’s supportive hand away.

"Why do you push yourself like this? You clearly can’t handle so much liquor!"

Lu Hai’s brow furrowed as he handed her a cocktail to ease her stomach.

By now, Xia Jin’s face had changed completely; she was no longer the soft and pitiable flower that required protection.

"Lu Hai, you know full well who Jiaqi’s backer is, don’t you?"

"You’d better not get any wrong ideas."

Xia Jin’s pale face was as icy as a glacier as she bit her lips and spoke each word sharply. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

If her fans overheard this, their jaws would surely drop.

"Juzi, I wasn’t even thinking that—it’s just you overanalyzing."

"Whether or not you were overthinking, you and I both understand. Don’t forget the promise you made to me."

"... Don’t worry; I’ll never break my promise to you."

Xia Jin suddenly laughed, a laugh so desolate that crystalline tears welled up in her eyes.

"Lu Hai, how wonderful it would’ve been if we’d never crossed paths in that snowy storm."

"Juzi, I’m sorry, I—"

"No need to apologize. I’ve already attained what I want. But remember this—you belong to me and no one else."

"I will never betray what we have. I hurt you unintentionally this time."

"I hope it was unintentional."

Xia Jin smiled gracefully, like a plum blossom blooming amid winter’s chill, an arresting beauty.

Outside the club

Jiaqi walked steadily now, while her young assistant followed closely, head bowed.

When she’d helped her seemingly drunken boss out earlier, the scene hadn’t looked like this at all.

Jiaqi now appeared entirely sober. Completely unruffled.

"What exactly is the relationship between Sister Juzi and Director Lu?"

"Could Director Lu really be interested in me?"

"Honestly, their dynamic is just so weird!"

Jiaqi walked on, deep in thought but without any clear answers, completely out of clues.