Yu Qiang led Hui Yin to the dance studio, where the other girls had already gathered.
Although Director Peng told them to rest, they came to Shanghai for work and so would not waste this temporary respite granted to them.
"Gao Mei and Chen Lin, right?" One of the girls paused their warm up when the two of them entered. Hui Yin recognized her as the actress playing the role of Cheung Annchi, Bao Bai.
Bao Bai was a tall girl with a slim and athletic figure. Her long hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and Hui Yin had already pegged her as one of the most talented dancers in the group. She was gulping from her water bottle as she shook hands with her and Yu Qiang.
"It's good that you two have become friends." Bao Bai nodded her head in approval. "Your friendship will support the whole show since most of the story would revolve around you both. It's better if you two interact more from now on."
After Bao Bai had left, Yu Qiang leaned over and whispered on Hui Yin's ear: "Tell me, is she Chen Lin or am I?"
"You're having an identity crisis already?"
Yu Qiang wrinkled her nose as Hui Yin laughed. They took up their places among the girls, and Guo Liqin shot Hui Yin a dirty look when they passed her by.
"Ah, no wonder the dance studio stank all of a sudden," she said loudly, making the other girls turn towards her. "It's because there's trash in here."
Guo Liqin sneered, looking with ridicule at Hui Yin. She had been feeling annoyed that she took up a project along with this D-list actress. She was not supposed to be a part of the cast, but her manager had found out that there was a wealthy sponsor behind the show.
Guo Liqin replaced the girl who was going to be Shi Xiaoli at the last minute, thus she had not known that the trash of CY was going to be her co-star.
"Trash?" The girl next to Guo Liqin, An Chu Hua, looked blank. "There's trash in the dance studio?"
"Can't you smell it?" Guo Liqin made an expression of mock surprise. "It's standing just a few feet behind you."
Hui Yin rolled her eyes. It didn't surprise her that Guo Liqin was stupid. Being a crony of Wu Chuntao, what could she expect? She didn't even have to say anything as Guo Liqin was digging her own grave.
Yu Qiang stiffened. "Are you talking about Hui Yin?"
Guo Liqin shrugged. "I'm amazed that you can stand next to her and not cover your nose."
Yu Qiang's face contorted, and her hands balled into fists. "You!"
"That's not very nice." This time, it was Bao Bai who spoke up. "Why are you trying to sow discord when we need to be united as a group? Do you think you're acting alone?"
"It's because I know I'm not acting alone that's why I pointed it out," Guo Liqin said, adopting an earnest expression. "Don't you know that this 'Gao Mei' flouncing in front of you is the bottom-feeder in our agency? She'll only ruin the show."
Suddenly, Hui Yin gasped. She stared wide-eyed at the back of Guo Liqin's cut-off denim shorts in shock. Her cheeks were flushed as she turned her head away, looking embarrassed.
"You...there's a huge red stain..."
Guo Liqin paled. She quickly turned around to look at her rear end on the floor-to-ceiling mirror of the dance studio, but her shorts were spotless, with no hint of the red stain Hui Yin had pointed out.
Guo Liqin raised her gaze and locked eyes with Hui Yin's reflection. The other girl was smiling, a teasing look in her eyes.
"Bottom-feeder? Then why did an experienced actress such as yourself got fooled by the trashy acting skills of an amateur one?" Hui Yin paused. "Oh, and the red stain I was talking about was this."
Hui Yin walked forward and playfully poked Guo Liqin's cheek. "You're blushing too much, Shi Xiaoli. I never once mentioned your shorts, did I?"
Yu Qiang laughed.
The other girls also cracked a smile, even Bao Bai. Done with dissolving the doubts the girls might have about her acting ability, Hui Yin went back to her position and stretched.
She was here to compete with Guo Liqin on acting, not on sharpening her tongue.