Before I could respond, a melodious scoff cut through the air.
I turned to see a stunning woman in a black slip dress—long legs, apple-red lips—leaning against the wall.
Pretty Sister smirked coldly:
"The audacity of rookies these days. D-list nobodies name-dropping Jay Zhao? He wouldn't know you from a street sweeper."
Her voice carried. Sylvia turned to me, wide-eyed: "Xiao Yi... is she talking about me?"
Me: "Take a wild guess."
Original-Ivy would've already lunged to defend Sylvia's honor.
But I'm not her—I appreciate beautiful women. I stayed put.
When I didn't react, Pretty Sister locked onto Sylvia:
"Yes, you. Got a problem?"
Why must even disposable villains be this gorgeous?
"Why assume I wouldn't know her?"
A smooth male voice sounded behind us.
Jay Zhao strode over—white shirt, artfully messy hair—eyes only for Sylvia. I tactfully stepped aside.
Sylvia gasped: "Brother Jay! Why are you—"
"Miss my favorite girl's big day?" He tucked a stray hair behind her ear, gaze dripping honey. Then he glared at Pretty Sister, voice icing over: "Glad I came. Didn't realize my person was being harassed."
Pretty Sister paled: "Jay... you know her?"
Jay cupped Sylvia's face: "She's the most important woman in my life."
Cue construction noises—my internal Barbie Dreamhouse just imploded.
With Jay's arrival, Sylvia forgot I existed. While they whispered sweet nothings, I scouted the room for Pretty Sister.
She'd retreated to the floor-to-ceiling windows, visibly nauseated by Jay's display. I drifted closer, ready to ask her name—
"Su Yunyi! You're up!"
A staff member summoned her toward the audition room. Damn.
Left with no distractions, I wandered toward the stairwell—maybe catch a glimpse of the legendary tryouts.
Halfway there, a voice spilled from the doorway:
"Please! I can't do it—I won't! Let me code instead! Anything but this!"
Huh?
I peeked through the crack. A goddess in white silk pleaded with a stern woman (her agent, probably):
"I'll debug Python till dawn! Just don't make me act!"
The agent crossed her arms: "It's Director Luo's film! Your ticket to Best Actress! Why back out now?"
"Su Yunyi?"
The triple-award-winning villainess? The one destined for jail over tax evasion?