Full Marks Hidden Marriage: Pick Up a Son, Get a Free Husband Chapter 3
Chapter 3: The Little Boy in the Bar
Five years had passed.
Within the Eton bar, along a hallway on the deserted upper level.
Ning Xi had spent the whole night drinking to entertain some investors. Her head throbbed intensely, and she sought a spot that was tidy and serene to clear her mind, yet she hadn't anticipated Chang Li trailing after her. She had no choice but to muster her resolve to handle the situation, “Sister Chang, do you have something to discuss?”
“Ning Xi, tell me, did you sign up for the audition for the leading female role in《Land Under Heaven》?”
“Yes, what's wrong?”
“You're forbidden from attending tomorrow!” Though Chang Li served as her manager, she was blocking her from trying out for this part that major entertainment firms were fiercely competing over.
Ning Xi showed no shock at all, merely arching her eyebrows as she inquired: “Why?”
“You acted on your own without telling me and now you question the reason? Weren't you aware the company already set Ning Xueluo up for the audition?”
“That doesn't appear to clash with the company's plans.” Ning Xi offered her a subtle smile, “Did Ning Xueluo send you to confront me? Could it be she's worried that I, an obscure minor actress, might steal her part?”
“Do you honestly believe you could take Xueluo's role? You're just daydreaming! Listen up, it's pointless to try. The Ning family poured 30 million into this film, so Xueluo has the position locked down!”
“So why the panic?”
“As my client, you must follow my directives!” Chang Li declared as if it were only natural.
“Heh, so Sister Chang remembers I'm one of your talents.”
“Ning Xi, I'm not in the mood to argue with you. Since you're being defiant, don't fault me for getting rough!”
Just as her words ended, Ning Xi sensed a forceful shove from the back. Taken aback, she tumbled into the nearby storage room, and her cellphone was snatched too.
With a loud slam, the door closed tight.
……
The sounds of steps beyond the entrance gradually faded.
Realizing cries wouldn't help, Ning Xi stayed quiet. She rested against the door and sank down to the ground, her face showing calm detachment.
Back when she first joined the company, Ning Xueluo had held back somewhat, limiting herself to having Chang Li assign her mere supporting villain parts at worst. But now she was getting more daring and crossing lines. She was even stooping to such a crude trick……
If she couldn't secure the role this round, she'd need to figure out an escape from Starlight Entertainment……
In the midst of her jumbled reflections, a faint noise reached her ears.
Perhaps a rat?
Ning Xi traced the origin of the noise and glanced that way—then froze in place.
There was a small boy concealed behind a pile of crates……
The child seemed around four or five years old; he resembled a delicately sculpted jade figurine, pale and tender, like a tiny steamed bun. He huddled in the corner, trembling, his deep eyes brimming with wariness and alert.
Wait, how could a kid end up in a bar's storage area?
No one would be insane enough to drag their child to such a place, would they?
“Hey, little bun, what's your name? How'd you wind up here?”
“Did you slip inside?”
“Did someone lock you in too?”
“Want some candy?”
After pestering him for what felt like ages, the boy stayed mute, but his shaking intensified, like a terrified young animal.
In the end, Ning Xi stopped trying to talk; it wasn't her concern regardless.
Thus, the grown-up and the kid settled into separate spots in the room without issue.
Suddenly, the overhead bulb flickered intensely before extinguishing.
In the pitch black, Ning Xi faintly caught a clattering noise. After straining to hear, she figured it resembled the sound of chattering teeth.
Ning Xi chuckled softly and addressed the little bun, “Afraid of the dark?”
The clatter halted briefly, then grew louder.
Wow, he was really timid.
Ning Xi dusted off her rear and rose, then approached the child……