Her words were clear and resonant, causing everyone's gaze to waver.
Things in this circle were inherently messy and complicated.
Sun Liyan clenched her fists, wishing she could tear Wen Yan's face apart.
Did she feel uncomfortable if she wasn't opposing her?
She looked pleadingly at Wen Ya, but Wen Ya frowned and said, "Yan Yan isn't that kind of person, Wen Yan. Stop slandering her. Before this, you've always held a grudge against her."
Wen Yan found it amusing. It was clearly Sun Liyan who had wronged her, yet now it seemed like she was the one being petty.
"Since you believe Sun Liyan, let's just see."
"Alright," Wen Ya agreed.
Sun Liyan's heart fluttered with panic.
Yet, she had to follow the crowd to watch the recording.
As the playback began, Wen Yan pointed at their faces, "You can zoom in a bit here."
After zooming in, the scene of Xu Rujing hitting Sun Liyan became visible. Xu Rujing struck Sun Liyan, who quickly covered her face, but the movement was forceful, and she then fell to the ground, spitting blood.
Wen Ya: "What does this prove? I can only see that Xu Rujing hit Yan Yan! With such an obvious situation, sister, are you still going to defend Xu Rujing?"
She frowned, her expression filled with helplessness.
Someone immediately chimed in, "Exactly, Senior Xu was truly out of line this time. How could she hit so hard during filming? And so brutally, it's clearly revenge!"
"Yes, Senior Xu is too heartless. I don't even dare to film with seniors anymore."
"How vicious, no wonder she was blacklisted before..."
Listening to the murmurs, Wen Yan met Wen Ya's eyes, which held a condescending, dismissive gaze. At this moment, Wen Yan finally realized how naive she had been. With just a few words from Wen Ya, black could be turned into white, and there were plenty of people eager to curry favor with her.
A chill ran down her spine.
Her clear eyes instinctively glanced towards Ye Zong.
The man's dark eyes were deep and cold, his emotions impossible to fathom.
Sun Liyan was at the peak of her triumph.
Being friends with Wen Ya was indeed beneficial.
At this moment, she also realized that Wen Ya and Wen Yan still had a conflict, primarily because Wen Yan was too foolish to appreciate Wen Ya's kindness.
"Wen Yan, thanks to you, everyone has seen that Xu Rujing hit me. I'm so miserable, being bullied by a senior like this. I demand you apologize online right now, or I'll expose you!" Sun Liyan's arrogance reached its zenith.
Xu Rujing clenched her fists.
This was worse for her than simply leaving the set.
"I... leave!" Xu Rujing managed to utter.
Her eyes reddened.
After so many years in the industry, she was being bullied so severely by a junior.
She was powerless to resist.
She glanced at Wen Ya, but Wen Ya merely gave her a faint look before turning away, as if she were insignificant. Such a look only fueled Xu Rujing's anger and despair.
She turned to leave, but Sun Liyan blocked her path. "Did I allow you to leave?"
"I won't apologize. I'm leaving the set, are you satisfied?"
"Then I took that slap for nothing! I want to hit back!" Sun Liyan was incredibly audacious.
Xu Rujing's expression finally changed.
Even Wen Yan couldn't stand it anymore.
This was simply too much bullying!
Sun Liyan was relying on Wen Ya as her backing, acting with impunity and even bullying seniors. Wen Yan also knew that part of the reason Sun Liyan was bullying Xu Rujing like this was because of her; she had given that piece of clothing to Xu Rujing.
A ruthless glint flashed in Sun Liyan's eyes, and she suddenly reached out.
But a slender hand caught hers, preventing her from moving.
"Wen Yan, what are you doing?"
Sun Liyan was annoyed.
"Sun Liyan, aren't you being a bit too aggressive?" Wen Yan questioned.
"Is it your place to interfere in my affairs?" Sun Liyan retorted dismissively. Looking at the clear and beautiful face, she swung her hand to slap.
Wen Yan, caught off guard, instinctively closed her eyes. The expected pain never came.
Instead, a familiar male presence enveloped her. She opened her eyes to see Sun Liyan looking astonished, staring at Ye Zong.
Ye Zong threw her hand away.
This scene astonished everyone.
Why would the aloof Ye Zong meddle in such matters? And moreover, it was about Wen Ya's friend.
Wen Ya's eyes narrowed.
She knew that those in power were inherently gentlemanly. Could it be that Sun Liyan's shrewish behavior had displeased him?
"Ye Zong, Yan Yan was just too angry, that's why she acted like that." Wen Ya instinctively reached out to link her arm with Ye Zong's, but the man subtly withdrew his hand, his demeanor distant and cold, his eyes filled with icy chill. "She hit herself, and it's worth getting angry over?"
Wen Ya's breath hitched.
Everyone was also somewhat dumbfounded. Why was Ye Zong undermining Wen Ya like this?
Wen Ya quickly composed herself, offering a faint, helpless smile. "Ye Zong, I know sister is your employee. Alright, let's prioritize harmony. Yan Yan will endure some grievance for Ye Zong's sake."
Sun Liyan felt extremely unwilling. "So that's how it is. Fine, I'll let it go this time. It was just a slap, I'm fine."
Yet, her words dripped with a palpable sense of grievance.
Any man seeing this would surely feel pity.
But Ye Zong's gaze remained devoid of warmth.
Director Han, a shrewd observer, quickly intervened, "I believe Miss Xu didn't do it intentionally. It was all a misunderstanding. Let's let this matter go. I'll treat everyone to lunch."
"Is Director Han's eyesight also failing?" the man suddenly said.
Director Han froze for a moment, then looked into Ye Zong's bone-chillingly cold eyes and had a sudden realization.
This powerful figure wasn't here to support Wen Ya at all...
"Sun Liyan!" Director Han immediately turned his gaze to her. "Apologize to Ru Jing!"
Sun Liyan stared at Director Han in shock. "Director Han, what are you saying?"
"Isn't it clear from the recording? When Ru Jing hit you, she didn't use any force. Sun Liyan, I never expected you to be this kind of person. This is the first and last time! Apologize to Ru Jing now!" Director Han exerted direct pressure.
The situation instantly reversed 180 degrees.
Sun Liyan's eyes welled up with tears of grievance. This was the first time she had felt so wronged since entering the industry.
She looked at Wen Ya with a wronged expression, but Wen Ya was currently contemplating Ye Zong's mood and didn't respond. Sun Liyan knew she had no other choice.
"Senior Xu, I was wrong!" Sun Liyan said with great grievance, then turned and ran away.
The crowd immediately began to console Xu Rujing. "Ru Jing, don't be too angry. Sun Liyan is just like that, arrogant. She hasn't been popular for long, and she already disrespects seniors. What will she be like in the future?"
"I didn't see clearly just now, but looking closely now, Sun Liyan is truly scheming and terrifying. We must be wary of her in the future."
"Ru Jing, calm down. We won't stoop to her level."
Xu Rujing's expression was calm, finding the situation ironic. Just moments ago, these same people were speaking in Sun Liyan's defense.
"Ru Jing, Sun Liyan has apologized, so let's put this behind us. I've ordered lunch, let's all eat together," Director Han said.
Xu Rujing nodded. She knew that dwelling on the matter would only make her seem petty.
The director's priority was naturally for everything to proceed smoothly.
Lunch arrived quickly. People ate and chatted in small groups, but many still kept glancing at Ye Zong and his entourage.